Kids' Stuff, Sugababes and Artificial Sweetener
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Artist:
Wednesday afternoon, I went down to the Grove and Farmer's Market on Fairfax & 3rd to meet up with my pal Greg Proops and grab a slice of green-apple pie at Du-par's Restaurant. It was a lovely, almost-autumnal day in Los Angeles, and Greg - an agile-brained, unsparingly cynical, crazily funny stand-up comedian, improviser, TV host, and actor - was in fine form, recounting tales of on-the-road show-biz terror, and some more whimsical and affectionate reflections about his current day job as a cast member on the popular tween-skewed Nickelodeon channel sitcom "True Jackson, VP."
On "True Jackson," Greg plays Max - a benignly eccentric publisher who has hired the titular True, a plucky teenage girl, to bring youthful insights to the editorial staff of his big-time fashion magazine. It turns out that a number of the teen actors in the cast are major music fans, and, according to Greg, have astonishingly eclectic tastes. One kid went as crazy as a Baby Boomer over the remastered Beatles albums. Another has his own feather-boa-wearing glam-rock band and reveres the likes of Bowie, Led Zep and Motley Crüe. And a third proclaimed to Greg that her favorite song in the entire universe is Nat King Cole's "Orange Colored Sky." No lie.
It just so happens that "True Jackson, VP" is on my 7-year-old niece's radar, along with other Nick fare such as the animated mega-hit "SpongeBob SquarePants" and her absolute #1 TV series at the moment, "iCarly." When my brother informed the niece that I was hanging out with Greg, she said, "You mean Max, right?" And then she asked if Greg knew the stars of "iCarly," and, if so, she wanted to know if he could get her an autographed photo of those guys. Cheeky little monkey. As far as I'm concerned, she'll get an autographed "True Jackson, VP" cast photo - and like it!
I've sat and watched each of the aforementioned programs with my niece. Consequently, I can understand the D.I.Y. appeal of "iCarly" over the more traditional workplace screwball-farce elements of "True Jackson." The two female leads of "iCarly" - Miranda "Carly" Cosgrove and Jennette "Sam" McCurdy - are shown at school and at home, doing their best post-mod, junior-high versions of Lucy & Ethel and producing their goofy webcast for all of their Internet fans. I assume that wee viewers can more easily imagine doing their own webcast than working in the adult world of publishing.
Then, there's the skill of Cosgrove, the young actress who made such a splash in the Jack Black film comedy "School of Rock." Playing a sarcastic-beyond-her-years brainiac, she looked and sounded like a miniature version of grown-up, nasal-voiced sitcom star Fran Drescher of "The Nanny." Cosgrove's Catskills-resort-entertainer comic timing and big personality have served her well on "iCarly." But the Nickelodeon machine has seen fit to take her beyond mere sitcom stardom, and like the teenage-girl icons of the Disney Channel (Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, etc.), Cosgrove is being groomed for a pop-music career. To that end, a few songs have been rolled out - foremost among them, an insanely catchy thing called "About You Now" that was debuted as a video on Nick and promoted and promoted in inescapable fashion.
In the clip's puppy-lovey storyline, Cosgrove is a mall-rat with a crush on a boy, but she mistakes his attentions for another girl as a relationship-killer - until the happy ending. The production is canny and slick, and the electronic voice manipulation of auto-tune makes sure that Cosgrove can finesse those vocal hooks. On the other hand, I realized that this was a remake of a song that had already been a hit in the U.K. by a model-sexy pop-singing trio of grown-up girlies called Sugababes. There was something a little disturbing to me (too sweetened, borderline inappropriate?) about the diminutive, pubescent Cosgrove doing this number that I associated with a seductive, quasi-sophisticated act like Sugababes. Of course, I also don't endorse those little-girl beauty pageants with 9-year-olds who are painted, dressed and glammed up like Miss Universe contestants. As with auto-tune, the artifice can be off-putting when there's too much of it or it's in the wrong place.
My quibbles aside, you can see both videos for yourself right here, and come to your own conclusions:
Miranda Cosgrove - "About You Now"
Sugababes - "About You Now"
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Comments (25)
In our house... we absolutely love iCarly.. even me! lol..We all die laughing watching "Carly" and "Sam" and "Freddie" and of course wacky "Spencer". And we all have the stomach WE-OOOO thing down... hahah. I actually like Miranda better than Miley, Demi, and and Selena. She is such a natural.. and VERY quirky. VERY fun.. We've watched True Jackson.. and that is also very funny. But if I were to choose over the two.. it would have to be iCarly!
Fun post Mike!
Thanks, Kori. And let it be known that I, too, prefer Miranda to the others, and have enjoyed her work in "School of Rock" and on "iCarly." She has a long career in comedy (and who-knows-what-else) ahead of her if she avoids the pitfalls of those child stars who took the wrong path to adulthood.
Cosgrove, of course, played the devilishly bratty little sister on Drake and Josh. Talk about I Love Lucy gags. They did the pie factory gag, but with sushi. My son is a big iCarly fan, so I've seen it all on there too. How about the Andy Griffith show where they let Barny sing a solo but turn the mic down and tell him to whisper, while a good singer actually sings. iCarly did a similar thing with current technology. It's cute, Cosgrove is cute. And I hope the star maker machine doesn't eat her up. Good work in show business can be great training for someone with the talent, wisdom and guidance to use it right. For every Shirley Temple, how many Britney Spears and Lindsey Lohans do we crank out. Judy Garland. ... Tanya Tucker, who seems to have turned it around. Rosemary Clooney, who was a little otder, granted, but went down hill hard before pulling out to become a beloved musical treasure in her later career. Hope springs.
Anyway. I never heard of this Sugarbabes. That one looks like a Motown beauty from my adolescence. Their singing is better and more natural. Hers more compelling, strangely. I like the newer instrumental setting and the performance shots, as opposed to the mall stuff. Cosgrove's series theme song is pretty good. Has a neat video, too.
Damn, Spike. I almost forgot that Cosgrove sings the "iCarly" theme song - and with much less electro-manipulation on her voice, but scads of charm. She's a talent, f'sure. And to be honest, I think McCurdy has some chops, too. It'll be interesting to see where they go after the series ends.
Hmmm. Young Master Ivylander is also an iCarly acolyte, so I often hear the music from the next room, and and it's interesting to hear how that resolutely unsyncopated, New Wavey style lives again. (Also in themes to anime shows.) The Motors live again! (Or maybe The Knack.) I must confess that the guitar wall in the Cosgrove rendition is most aurally satisfying, and that some of the production gimmicks in the Sugababes original are slightly showoffy and irritating. Both acquit themselves pretty well, And rather than thinking the tween version creepily inappropriate, I think it just becomes a different song when a young girl sings it - it's about crushing and changing your mind, and those are both things 13-year-olds are masterful at.
....there's so much i missed. (thank god)
Also, MTK, props to Proops for being part of the English (and far superior) cast of "Whose Line Is It, Anyway?" Why the hell did they ever take the reruns off Comedy Central? Oh, yeah, "Mind of Mencia".....
No need for a plot summary on these for me..I get a good dose. Unfortunately my son has also figured out how to use the DVR. He likes all those shows, but I prefer Sponge Bob hands down to all of 'em. Best tuneage there for me..once even heard my new hero Stew (Negro Problem,Passing Strange) doing the classic ode to SB's pet snail, Gary's Song..and then there's the episode where SB shreds on guitar in his wizard outfit..and then..
Garys Song by Stew
All I know is that this post featured the lovely Heidi over the Sugababes. Therefore I approve of all it's content.
And no, I am not ashamed I know the Sugababes by name...
I sneak my peeks at "I-Carly" - no younguns in residence to request, but I totally agree with your modern "Lucy" angle Mike, it has a madcap vibe. Had never even heard or noticed of "True Kackson" until this very evening, my visiting grandson asked me to change the chanel from that girly show....he's a Spongebob addict (me too.)
On the day front, part of my 9 to 5 pits me as one of the gurus deciding how much of some "I-Carly" merchandise gets packed on them big boats in China, but I swear my interests are not self-serving.
A very nice cover of a good pop song, and a better stye to launch than a lot of em. Thanks for the great read!!
Yes, I am another one with young charges who has been exposed to iCarly and True Jackson. It always makes me giggle every time I see Greg Proops on there; I get warm flashbacks to his appearances on the UK version of "Whose Line?" in a NIN T-shirt. You truly rub shoulders with the talented there, Mr. Knife.
As for the tunage, I feel a bit less skeevy enjoying the Sugababes version.
ivylander: True. The Cosgrove version really emphasizes the power-pop sound, and that's nice. I guess pervy is in the mind of the beholder. If I had never seen the Sugababes, I might be less uneasy about little Miranda's love dilemma. Meanwhile, I'll convey your admiration to the prodigious Mr. Proops.
dmdm: Past tense? This stuff is going on, even as we MOG it up...
Cody B: You really are plugged into the Nick aesthetic. I also prefer SpongeBob, but I happen to be a cartoon fan from the get-go. In any event, thanks for bringing Stew to the table.
Joxley: Ashamed? You should be proud!
scotfree: Madcap indeed. You're most welcome. And keep that balance of trade in order! Perhaps "iCarly"-mania will tip it back in America's favor.
Dale: I have to agree with you about the Sugababes' original, as much as I like the slight rearrangement of Cosgrove's. Regarding Greg, he and I have been buddies (and fellow S.F. Giants fans) since his early days on stage in San Francisco - years before he became the U.K.'s favorite Yankee wit. He still works the British Isles on a regular basis, but his home address is now in L.A., so we hang when I'm down here and we can find the time. Believe me, I consider his friendship an honor.
Problem with knowing The Sugababes names: They keep kicking girls out of the group! Just 2 weeks ago the last original member left. (After 9 years.) I'm full of admiration that these musical chairs have not made any difference to their success.
Jonh: Whoa! Could they be the hot-U.K.-babe version of Menudo?
LOL! The British media were thinking they were the hot UK-babe version of The Pussycat Dolls. Wrong! Menudo it is.
I come back to MOG to see a post on iCarly? Didn't see that coming. :)
My daughter loves iCarly while she looks down her little 9 year old nose at the likes of Hannah and Demi. I was won over when an episode a year or so ago featured a rock band (Spencer was trying to break into the rock world with some drums scavenged from the garbage) and on a local TV show they mentioned The Showbox. Research department FTW!
iCarly is set in Seattle, you know. :)
I see that Spongebob is running new (should I say, "ALL NEW!) episodes now. Those musical Spongebob moments are high points for me too. The episode where Squidward has to put together a half-time band and the climactic musical number of the otherwise lackluster movie, the Goofy Goober Song. "the wizard who saved us"
Spongebob Squarepants The Movie - Goofy Goober Rock - Free videos are just a click away
Cody- a fellow Stew fan!
I am seeing his and Heidi's new musical Punk Princess at the NY Musical Theater Festival later this month.
MTK- Miranda C is definitely very talented- loved her in School of Rock. I'm not a fan of iCarly- though my 10-year old daughter sure is. Guess the show's creators know their audience.
When MOG is fixed, I will be doing a massive Stew post...but I will wait til than. Until then, everybody on this MOG needs to become Stew fans..You can not not like Stew (and Heidi). I'm serious. If you don't know Stew, you better ask somebody!
Cody- agreed. Stew and Heidi more than just rock. They do it all...and they do it all well, too! Their music for Passing Strange was amazing.
yes, more love for the show Icarly. I feel like a perv watching that show but with a 4 year old at my side it makes it ok....... wait, that sounded even creepier than before. LOVE THE POST MIKE, KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK............(running for cover)
Jonh: The Pussycat Dolls? Really? At least the Sugas can sing.
amber: That's MOG for ya. Expect the unexpected. And let me say that your offspring shows impeccable taste.
Spike 1: Awesome! So rockin'! But I expect no less from the Spongey one.
Fasted7: Actually, the more I watched "iCarly" and "True Jackson," the more I admired their craft. And what the hell! Here's a shout-out to Keke "True" Palmer, who, like Cosgrove, should have a long and successful career as an actress.
Cody: So you want us to Stew in our own juices until then? Diabolical!
Rawkkiddoh: Thanks for the encouragement. And don't worry, man. No harm. No foul. Just some innocent fun.
"Listening is Waiting"-Stew. Soon come MTK.
A while back. I had a post I think I called The Kids Are Alright. It was about the youth embracing our "older" music and putting out some pretty sweet punk and power pop (when not on the hip hop tip). Drake Bell (Drake and Josh) is one of those too. Check these out.
C.B.: Yeah, mon.
MusicRX: I'm just grateful that there are young people who aren't succumbing to the insane notion that "American Idol" produces real music.