Thursday, June 19, 2008

Next on American Bandstand, a young gentleman named...FIFTY Cent

I was on the Allan Handleman show in North Carolina last night promoting the book. This was my second time on the show, and his listeners called in with some pretty good barguments. I'll write more about the show in a later post, but wanted to quickly get this new bargument on the blog. I missed the guy's name who suggested it, but I think it's perfect. Need to fiddle with the wording before putting it on the site. The bargument, after my initial tinkering:

You can take one musical group or performer from the last 10 years back to 1958, where you'll be a struggling record producer. Who do you bring?

2 comments:

Michael Valliant said...

That's a mind-bender, Hanks, for two reasons: 1) only being able to reach back 10 years, and 2) taking them back to 1958.

Rap wouldn't catch on then, nor would anything too modern or trendy now. So you need someone who has some timeless, universal appeal. I think in '58, your chances for breakout success would be better with a male recording artist than female (I don't agree, mind you, but you are staking your livelihood on success. And I think being able to write your own songs would be big, ruling out really any American Idol typed stooge.

Chris Isaacs or Harry Connick, Jr. could be solid choices. But I think I like Pharell. He's got the croner's R&B voice; can change it up with N.E.R.D.; straight-up emits music--played the drums behind Sting, Springsteen, Van Zandt, etc., during the Joe Strummer/Clash tribute at the Grammys; and has produced and come up with the tracks themselves on more hit singles than almost anyone else out there in the last 10 years.

He's adaptable and would make it stick. Cha-ching.

Anonymous said...

This is why Valliant is in media relations and not talent relations.

Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, and Chuck Berry were all rock stars in 58. Who has the 50's rock star aura?

Weezer. Hands down.

I am better than Clive Davis....

~Farmar