Re-Lips Of An Angel

This blows my mind.
I just received the following e-mail:

Sharon Lord:

I couldn’t get enough of that song.

Did you see the video?

I loved it because it had the whole Guns’nRoses guitar, he’s got Steven Tyler’s moves…the video is so 80’s MTV and he sings it like a rock star…he gives it everything. It just worked.

I’m sure you have a better source of video than this, but this is a link to the video if you haven’t seen it…

Yahoo Music Videos H

It’s one with the 4 stars next to it

Have a good night!

So I fire up my browser, find the link and start watching the video… It’s the exact same girl who dumped Eric on "Entourage", Emmanuelle Chriqui!

Once upon a time, you would have said "Duh!" Back in ’82 or ’83, when we were all glued to MTV. When every record exec had the station playing in his office throughout the day. Back when we were all in it together.

But we haven’t had that spirit here since 1989. Or 1990. Not since "Smells Like Teen Spirit". Sometime in the nineties, we all tuned out. It just took Napster for the labels to realize it.

Our culture is now extremely diverse. Each person charting his own course. Based on recommendations from friends and links. We’re all explorers, not unlike the voyagers of yore, sailing off to new territories. We’re the masters of our own domain.

So, I’d never seen the video for "Lips Of An Angel". I didn’t have to. That’s so last century. Major media thinks we’re paying attention. But think of all the people who rejected the overhype of the underrated Simpsons movie. We’re geared for disappointment, we’re just hanging back, at the endless buffet, waiting for something worth partaking in.

And I can’t wholly recommend "Entourage". The entourage is despicable. Unless you consider them to be a cartoon. But supposedly it’s based on Marky Mark’s life. If this male-bonding, wreaking havoc upon women and society, is the desirable way of life, I want no part.

Still, there’s Eric. The only reasonable character in the posse.

And, having graduated to Vince’s manager, he connects with the agency’s progeny, Malcolm McDowell’s daughter Sloan.

Has there been a Sloan since "Ferris Bueller"?

And this one is just as cool. She doesn’t encroach upon Eric’s lifestyle, she lets him be him. Until he wants to go on location for the better part of a year. Relationship or career. Always a balance, always a question. Which side do you come down on? Without someone to share, it doesn’t mean much. But, if you’re seething on the inside because you’ve forgone your dream, your relationship is not gonna be too good.

Eric picks the movie business.

He doesn’t forget Sloan, as long as he doesn’t see her he’s o.k. But Sunday night, he ran into her by the pool, looking as inviting as ever. What do you say? How do you act? How do you explain the babe by your side? When Eric says he’s babysitting Vince’s friend’s friend, does that make him more appealing to Sloan, or does she see him as a loser?

He did the wrong thing breaking it off. He can’t function. All he can do is think about her. He picks up the phone, but she doesn’t recognize his voice. He gets past the awkward moment and opens his heart. And after the quietude, she says those words we dread hearing. She’s met someone else.

And HBO isn’t network. This is not a soap opera. Sloan’s not coming back. She’s deep history, like that girl you had that moment with in high school you didn’t double down on.

And other than Ari’s shenanigans, Eric’s emotional roller coaster was the highlight of the show. It stuck with me.

And then I’m watching this fucking Hinder video.

The lead singer is pained. As he picks up the receiver to talk to his old girlfriend…

Honey why you calling me so late?
It’s kinda hard to talk right now
Honey why are you crying? Is everything okay?
I gotta whisper ’cause I can’t be too loud

His girl’s in the corner of the room. She’s lithe and blonde, a rock star trophy. But he’s not connected to her now. He’s in the vortex, between her and who came before.

And the video switches from abode to studio. Where the new babe is still by his side.

It’s funny that you’re calling me tonight
And, yes, I’ve dreamt of you too
And does he know you’re talking to me
Will it start a fight
No I don’t think she has a clue

And suddenly they’re driving up PCH. Her brown skin is shining in the sun, he’s got those sunglasses on. He’s with her. Sloan.

This is a read-only blog. E-mail comments directly to Bob.