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June 26, 2009

Legend

Michael Jackson was the greatest entertainer in the world. Could that same argument be made about anyone else of our generation? Madonna? No...although close. Britney? No. Justin? No. But in one way or another they all owe something to the King of Pop. Jackson wasn't the best singer of all time but he could own the stage with his dancing and could reach through the screen in his videos and inspire people. Many in the industry looked to Michael Jackson as a modern day Fred Astaire, one who could glide, waltz (albeit in his own version), and sing as if the dance floor was created for him. The moonwalk was ridiculous. Jackson was our answer to Elvis. He truly earns any notoriaty he has earned as a performer.

Thriller was, without a doubt, the best pop record of our generation. I must have listened to that record 1,000 times as a kid. The album sold 26 million in the States alone, compare that to Britney's biggest seller, Baby, One More Time, which sold 12 million. Everyone had to have that album and of course, everyone remembers the video with the same name. One Saturday when I was in the 3rd grade my parents had gone to run errands, I made the mistake of turning on MTV...there he was sitting down in the theatre to watch a scary movie with his girlfriend...of course, we all know what happens next. That video freaked me out in the middle of the day and gave me many nights with visions of dead people fresh from the grave surrounding my bed. It could be argued that Madonna has made videos just as scary, although not intentionally. Has there ever been another pop album that won the Grammies for both Male Pop Performance AND Rock Performance? I don't think so.

One of my roommates who is younger asked me why Michael Jackson was so big. I guess he was the first of the modern day pop star. He was the original triple threat. He could sing, dance, and perform like no other. He was like the Spice Girls, N Sync, Lady Gaga, Christina Aguilera, all 8 seasons of American Idol, and Britney all wrapped up together in one person...he was that big! That classic! I can play Off the Wall at a party and know that people are going to start connecting with laughter and fun conversation just because MJ is blasting in the background!

He was an amazing writer. Have you ever listened to the words of Man in the Mirror? It's quite a convicting song. Don't forget We Are the World. Of course, incredibly cheesy, but man, at the time that song was so infectious everyone had to buy a copy...to this day it's the highest selling single of all time. The dude was a musical genious. He was the quintessential pop star, and more. Today, despite all the weirdness that has permeated his life over the past 15-20 years, (let's be honest, it's been quite a long road of Elephant Man bones and Liz Taylors), I remember him as an incredible, musician, performer, and artist!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 1:13 AM | Comments (1)

June 24, 2009

Don't Forget Mixtape Contest 2009!

That's right America! It's official, Sweet Chicken's First Annual Mixtape Contest starts today! Since I was a youngster I have always had a knack for putting together the best mixes. In middle school it was all about finding the perfect songs by R.E.M., the Cure, and Violent Femmes. In high school it was Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana. Lately, Bon Iver and Vampire Breakfast, as my sister mistakingly calls 'em on a regular basis, have always been included.
Just put together a list with 12 songs or less and send it my way. There are 5 judges that will need to hear the songs, therefore make sure they can be found on YouTube. You can email me your list at: nathanglo@gmail.com and put MixTape in the subject line.
You ask, "What about a theme Nathan?" Guess what...You name the theme! This is where creativity will play a part. For example, I could make a list called, "Summer Mix 2009," which could include songs from this summer, or songs that were big during the summer in years gone by, or whatever, just come up with a theme and stick with it!
There will be prizes given away for the best, as well as other prizes. All participants will get a copy of the winning CD.

Mixtape Lists due by: July 3rd at midnight
How many songs? no more than 12
Where to send the list? nathanglo@gmail.com
Don't forget the theme!
Make sure the songs are on YouTube!
Good Luck to All Participants!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 10:08 PM | Comments (2)

Sweet Chicken Nuggets; Vol. 8

Beastie Boys are Back!

The Brooklyn Three are coming back! Their 8th studio album comes out on September 15th. The title? Hot Sauce Committee Part 1. Hopefully they'll actually go on tour in the Midwest. (A note to the Beastie Boys themselves...PEOPLE LIVE IN OTHER PLACES THAN CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK!!!!)

Obama taking Chris Carpenter's Spot

It's been confirmed that President Obama will throw out the first pitch at the All-Star Game in here...ST. LOUIS! Looking forward to it, to bad tickets are over $1,000.

Venga E.E. U.U!

What a feat! USA beat Spain in a huge upset for the FIFA World Cup! Spain had won 15 games in a row...they saw America coming I'm sure. The final score was 2 - 0! Pobresitos!

Gaga and Kanye...together?

It was announced this week that Lady Gaga and Kanye West will be touring together in the Fall. However, neither will open for the other...no headliners here, they're going to perform together! Don't forget the Midwest guys!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 9:44 PM | Comments (0)

June 22, 2009

Edward Cullen Meets Buffy

This is pretty incredible.

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 9:40 PM | Comments (0)

Scarred Tissue

The other night I was washing dishes and turned to say something to my roommate, the glass broke that I was washing...and I kept on washing, not realizing that I had put a serious gash in my hand. We went to the ER and came back to find friends, White Castle, and beer waiting on me. What great people I have! A big shout out to Bob and Heidi!
I figured it would be only appropriate to post a look at before and after...

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 9:20 PM | Comments (0)

Northwoods at the Pageant!

If you don't have anything going on this Friday you should head over to the Loop! My favorite band that has performed at the Chapel is playing a free show at the Pageant! The Northwoods are equal parts Kings of Convenience and Simon & Garfunkel, with a little Nickel Creek thrown in. The show starts at 8 p.m. and doors open at 7. Did I mention it's FREE?!?!

The Northwoods we're just voted St. Louis' Favorite New Band in RFT. You can check 'em out for yourself, they're on itunes and at myspace.

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 8:05 PM | Comments (0)

Lady Gaga - Paparazzi, Acoustic Style

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 7:53 PM | Comments (1)

June 21, 2009

Casualties of the State

Here's a recent picture from the soon-to-be-released movie...you'll get to see me on screen also. This production is working hard...it's gonna be a great film!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 8:14 PM | Comments (0)

Mixtape Contest 2009!

That's right America! It's official, Sweet Chicken's First Annual Mixtape Contest starts today! Since I was a youngster I have always had a knack for putting together the best mixes. In middle school it was all about finding the perfect songs by R.E.M., the Cure, and Violent Femmes. In high school it was Beastie Boys, Pearl Jam, and Nirvana. Lately, Bon Iver and Vampire Breakfast, as my sister mistakingly calls 'em on a regular basis, have always been included.
Just put together a list with 12 songs or less and send it my way. There are 5 judges that will need to hear the songs, therefore make sure they can be found on YouTube. You can email me your list at: nathanglo@gmail.com and put MixTape in the subject line.
You ask, "What about a theme Nathan?" Guess what...You name the theme! This is where creativity will play a part. For example, I could make a list called, "Summer Mix 2009," which could include songs from this summer, or songs that were big during the summer in years gone by, or whatever, just come up with a theme and stick with it!
There will be prizes given away for the best, as well as other prizes. All participants will get a copy of the winning CD.

Mixtape Lists due by: July 3rd at midnight
How many songs? no more than 12
Where to send the list? nathanglo@gmail.com
Don't forget the theme!
Make sure the songs are on YouTube!
Good Luck to All Participants!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 6:51 PM | Comments (7)

June 18, 2009

Carrie Getting Married.

This couple is getting married this weekend. She's my cousin. That's where I'll be the next few days. Way to go tiger!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 10:32 AM | Comments (0)

June 17, 2009

Airports of the Future

Don't you hate airports? I do. They're so lonely, impersonal, and cold...and germy. I would love to spend less time in them as possible. I was reading in T, New York Times' Magazine, about the future of airports. This is what they had to say about the future of airports, "The Next Generation Airport is a superhub constructed offshore on a man-made island. All check-in and ticketing is carried out online. Smart-bag tags embedded with radio-frequency identification chips allow luggage to be conveyed directly from bag drops to the plane with no manual handling, lowering the risk of lost baggage." The whole thing seems kind of scary, but so cool...like airports, Jetson's style. Landings will be able to be adjusted according to flight paths and wind flow. Since the airport will be at sea, there's no neighborhood to bother, and thus, 24-hour flights can occur. There's even a garden on top! You know, things are really moving up in air traffic control!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 9:04 PM | Comments (0)

June 14, 2009

So You Think You Can Dance

Last year in my dissapointment of American Idol being over I was looking for something to fill the void. A reality show that was about talent, and not evil, loud people looking for their money and and their 15 minutes of fame. I found it, it's called So You Think You Can Dance. I never realized how dance can communicate emotions, laughter, nationality, culture, and how creative it can be...dance can tell a story. Check out this video from one of the couples on last week's episode. Pretty phenomenal!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 7:50 PM | Comments (4)

June 9, 2009

Zack is Back!

This is pretty awesome!

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 10:57 PM | Comments (2)

Website Madness!

I've been enjoying the latest in website madness...these are just a few of the greatest...

blogotheque.net One of my old roommates told me about this one...he used to live in France, that's where this one comes from...really good live performances, plus, you get to see what French hipsters look like...check out what Bon Iver did with For Emma, Forever Ago

thisiswhyyourefat.com Ever wonder why we have an obesity problem in our country? Two words, The Clogger. People send in photos of the filthiest of American fare, such as this one, scalloped potatoes with cheese in between thirty slices of bacon.

boxofficemojo.com This website has more charts and stats than the MLB. It's a great one for movie fanatics like myself.

fuckyoupenguin.blogspot.com You know how a puppy can look right through you with those beady eyes, it's almost abusive how manipulative it is. You just can't say "no" to that face! This website attempts to help us all stay strong. Here's an example:

The headline: Why are you doing this to me?

threadless.com There is not a better shirt shop online. Designers submit their art, people vote, the winners get shirts made! It's pretty awesome.

analogik.com If I know anything about electronic music it's because of this website.

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 9:53 PM | Comments (0)

The Past Month or So...

I've been so busy with work and everything else that I haven't had much time to work on the blog. (Heidi, this part is for you...) I'm so sorry that I haven't written much on my blog lately. I'm sure you've all been waiting...and waiting for more SWEETCHICKEN. Welp, I'm back to it. I gotta say...it's fun to keep it up, but a lot of work. I had to take a break without intentionally doing so. What does the summer look like for me you ask? Continuing down the road of foster care case managing...and making a movie. My good friend, Alan Lamberg wrote a screenplay loosely based on The Brothers Karamazov, with a focus on the chapter entitled, The Grand Inquisitor. My other friend, Jeremy Cropf, who happens to be in film school at NYU is directing. I've been working on camera stuff, and working the slate as well...that's right, I'm the guy that lifts up the black and white bar, then clicking the board and saying, "Scene 23, take 2." It's been good, fun, and a lot of work. We're talking 10/11/12 hour shoots on the weekend. I wasn't expecting to be so busy...but it's good at the same time. Alan sent me a photo via facebook entitled, Living the dream." If I could do anything with my life and know that I wouldn't fail at it I'd probably be working on a movie set. I guess I am living the dream in a way. We have a lot of fun putting sets together, selecting locations for the various shoots, writing the screenplay, preparing for production, getting craft services together, selecting costumes, memorizing lines, rehearsing the lines, and having a finished product that is rewarding. I've seen some edited work and it definitely looks like a step above what has come in the past. I'll keep you posted. Here's a few photos from out time...

I've also been working on some plants on the back porch and inside as well. I've found that while my job can be pretty defeating at times I need projects that are encouraging and bring life into my life, if you will. Watering the flowers and organizing them to get a lot of sun has been therapeutic. Most of these were way small at one time...not now though. It's been fun.

Along with making a movie, I've been seeing some movies. Wolverine sucked. Star Trek was pretty awesome. I'm so not a Trekky, but I really enjoyed the movie.
I've been to some great shows. I went to Flight of the Concords at the end of April. Speaking of pretty awesome...it was great! They came out in homemade alien costumes and did a electronic bit. The entire show was funny, and corky as only they can be.
I went to the Decemberists last weekend at the Pageant...amazing! Last time they were in town I left the venue so excited. I had the same reaction this time. Their music tends to be very theatrical, and their shows are the same way. There were two sets, the first one was their new album, The Hazards of Love , in it's entirety, and the second were some of their most famous, including my personal favorite, Shankill Butchers. Here's one off their latest album, it's called, The Rake's Song, and was freaking amazing live!

I've been digging this band lately that are not necessarily new, but new to me. They're called MGMT. Electronic con Rock, pretty genius...it's like Of Montreal without so much drugs and craziness, OK, after you see the video you might disagree. But you should check 'em out below none the less...

Posted by Nathan Gemayel at 9:18 PM | Comments (5)