411 Music Fact or Fiction 02.01.12: Ride The Pythons

Posted by Joseph Lee on 02.01.2012

Was Hulk Hogan lying about almost joining Metallica? Is the music video for the Red Hot Chili Peppers' latest single worth checking out? Would we want to see Barack Obama perform on American Idol? 411's Jeremy Thomas and Tony Acero debate these topics and more in this week's 411 Fact or Fiction: Music!


Welcome to another edition of Fact or Fiction: Music. I'm your host, Joseph Lee.

This week we have Tony Acero taking on Jeremy Thomas.

Round 1
1) You would watch President Obama sing on American Idol.
Jeremy Thomas: FACT. Come on, are you kidding? That would be awesome. First off, Obama has a pretty decent voice and since he would be pairing up with Al Green on a song we already know he can do, there's little likelihood of it sucking. Besides that, think of the possibilities. Secret Service guys as backup singers, Joe Biden dancing for no reason off to the side...okay I'm kidding about that obviously, but yes I would watch him sing on AI because it would be one of those once-in-a-lifetime things like Bill Clinton playing the sax on The Arsenio Hall Show. The publicity would be good for both the president and Idol, so why not?
Tony Acero: FACT. But probably on YouTube, like several days later. American Idol has never, ever, really been my thing. I don't watch much television, and when I do, the last thing I want to see is a bunch of would-be singers whose names we will forget shortly thereafter. If Obama came on to sing, I'm sure it would bring in some viewers, and I'm sure it would give him a bad name in some households. I find it charming, personally. Obama gets a bad rep, but he seems like a personable guy, and certainly one of the more jovial Presidents we've had in some time. So yeah, I'd watch it, but it would be just out of curiosity and most like a week or so later.
Score Card: 1 for 1

Round 2
2) Remixing John Williams' Super Bowl music with dubstep is a horrible idea.
Jeremy Thomas: FACT. When I try to think of two things that belong together less than John Williams' Super Bowl score and dubstep, I have a hard time coming up with anything. Maybe Hank Williams' now-dead Monday Night Football theme and dubstep, but that's about it. Listen, not everything has to be cool and hip in order to bring in the younger crowd. Everyone's gonna be watching anyway, and remixing the Super Bowl theme is just flat-out dumb, either with dubstep or not. No thank you.
Tony Acero: FACT. Mixing anything with dubstep is a horrible idea. This growing trend has infiltrated my family, with my 19 year old little sister thinking it's the coolest music EVAR! No, silly delinquent, it's not. It's annoying. I'm sure there are some fans out there, and congratulations to you, but why remix a classic song that really isn't demanding it. The fans of this type of music don't really strike me as football fans. Is this really being considered?
Score Card: 2 for 2

Round 3
3) With the additions of Cee Lo Green, Nicki Minaj and LMFAO, the Super Bowl halftime show could be fun.
Jeremy Thomas: FACT. Well, it will definitely be better than the Black Eyed Peas were, but that's practically damning with faint praise. No seriously though, listen...I'm not a big LMFAO fan, but I do like Cee Lo and Nicki Minaj. I'm not hugely hyped over Madonna but she'll bring the spectacle and the pedigree while Cee Lo, Nicki and yes even LMFAO will bring the less reverent and more energetic stuff. All in all I'm guessing we're in for a fun time here.
Tony Acero: FICTION. Sounds like a bit too much going on, here. Cee Lo annoys me from time to time, and I can only hope that he's wearing something normal (yeah right). LMFAO don't entice me much, and nearly every LIVE show Nicki has put on has proven to be somewhat lackluster. Look to have a possible seizure due to the excessive flashy clothing and unnecessary neon.
Score Card: 2 for 3

SWITCH

Round 4
4) Hulk Hogan is probably lying about almost joining Metallica.
Tony Acero: FACT. I answer this with one or the other because I have to. If there was an option titled, "I COULD GIVE A FUCK LESS," then I'd do that whole "A thousand times THAT," thing that y'all know and love. Since it's not, I'll go with Fact. This man is nothing but lies, from beginning to end. From radio interviews to Rent A Center commercials, I can't believe anything he's saying and would just as soon not hear about him anymore. I wasn't a fan of his when he was in his prime and I'm still not. Poor old guy just wants that damned spotlight, don't he?
Jeremy Thomas: FACT. Whenever Hulk Hogan opens his mouth these days I assume he's probably lying, but this in particular was egregious. It was somewhere along the lines of him claiming he was offered the lead role in The Wrestler in on the blatant lie scale. Really, Metallica? Come on, does anyone really take this bullshit seriously? In no way, shape or form do I believe that Hogan was nearly the bass guy in Metallica. Let's not even speculate; it's this simple. Hogan said that he used to be a session musician before he was a wrestler, and that was when Lars asked him to be the bass player. Hogan was working regularly for Continental Wrestling Association in 1978 in Memphis, while Metallica didn't form 1981 in Los Angeles. Facts say no, Hulkster, sorry.
Score Card: 3 for 4

Round 5
5) You're interested in a new song from ABBA.
Tony Acero: FICTION. Not a fan, so I don't really have much of an interest in a new song. They're not my cup of tea...hell, I don't even like cups of tea.
Jeremy Thomas: FICTION. Listen, ABBA had its time but that time is not now. Look, I get that Mamma Mia! was a big hit on the screen and that probably encouraged ABBA to try to revitalize their career, but they're not going to escape their 1970s disco persona. It's just who they are, and they should revel in that. But I have no desire to hear the band put together anything new and I don't think the world wants it either, for the most part. They'll get a few headlines and get some YouTube hits, but ultimately their single is going to get lost in the shuffle and they'll go back to obscurity.
Score Card: 4 for 5

Round 6
6) You enjoyed the music video for Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Look Around."
Tony Acero: FICTION. I love the song, but the video left something to be desired. If I want side scrolling, I'll play Super Mario. Anthony is lookin like a Buff Borat, and the concept - even while matching the lyrics, somewhat - is disorienting. I put the album in my Top 10 of 2011, so don't think I'm knocking the music, the song, or the album, but this video didn't do it for me.
Jeremy Thomas: FACT. It was the kind of fun video that the Chili Peppers are known for. I certainly wouldn't put it among their greatest videos or greatest songs, but it was good on both counts. They always manage to put together good concepts for their music videos and generally even if I don't love the song, I'll enjoy the video. In this case I thought both were a thumbs up.
Score Card: 4 for 6

Anything you agree with? Disagree with? Sound off in the comment section.

Only a four for six this time, as they disagreed a couple of times. Next week should be a big one with the Madonna Super Bowl show and the Grammys coming up, so come back in seven for a brand new edition!