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Monday, September 14, 2009

In Defense of Kanye West

Posted by Matt Davis on Mon, Sep 14, 2009 at 8:06 AM

Like everyone else, I have some thoughts.

Kanye-West-grabs-the-mic--001.jpg

WILD WILD WEST: THAT NICE WILL SMITH WOULD NEVER HAVE DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS

1.He was right. Taylor Swift's video does suck compared to Beyonce's. I mean, REALLY. What were they thinking, giving it to her? I loved West's insincere apology, referring to how he "really liked" Taylor Swift's "lyrics about cheerleading." That says it all. Still, local blogger Jack Bogdanski checked out a Kanye West CD from the public library recently, (?!) and now is justified in finding a reason to "eject it at track 9." As far as I'm concerned, this story just jumped the shark.

2.If West was so wrong, well, he'd be justified in telling us he learned his behavior from a recent outburst by a South Carolina Republican. And I haven't seen the Twittosphere light up over that in quite the same way. When a Republican lawmaker interrupts the President in a speech on health care reform to a joint session of congress, we don't feel empowered to be outraged. But that's how America works—we get indignant about the small stuff. Fine, West was an idiot. But this widespread indignation? The pitchforks? It's totally misplaced, and in my view, it reveals something ugly about all of us. Angry mob: Go after Joe Wilson!

3.Serena Williams, too. Why is what she did any worse than Andy Roddick or John McEnroe? Because she lost the match as a result? I don't think so.

4.If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it. If you liked it then you should have put a ring on it. Get the ringtone here.

Comments (29) RSS

Showing 1-29 of 29

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Look at how pretty her hair is.

I guess I'm missing the point here. OR AM I?

Posted by kiala on September 14, 2009 at 8:16 AM | Report this comment

Kiala, you're fired.

Posted by Will Radik on September 14, 2009 at 8:41 AM | Report this comment

Surprised you can pop music CDs at the library? Mmmm- you can get tons of music at the library. Check it out and add it to iTunes; totally free and safe, no digital piracy issues, no virus issues. The best way to pirate music.

Posted by nestchick on September 14, 2009 at 8:48 AM | Report this comment

The best part of the Andy Roddick tirade is when he asks the ref six times in a row "do you have ears!? you're an idiot" I hope he got fined at least $10k just because his shit talk was lame.

Posted by Skinny City Girl on September 14, 2009 at 8:50 AM | Report this comment

Christ, the "OMG popular music at the public library!!!" comment is ignorant, even by Matt standards.

Posted by meow\ on September 14, 2009 at 9:22 AM | Report this comment

Please, MTV loves it when Kayne does stupid sh**t like this because otherwise no one would watch the boring VMA's, duh.

If Kayne's CD is available for check out at the public library that should prove how bad he sucks. If memory serves everything is always checked out except for Crystal Gayle, Wiggles Live or Kayne West.

It would be refreshing if you didn't ALWAYS play devils advocate, mix it up a bit.

Posted by Unreal on September 14, 2009 at 9:49 AM | Report this comment

This was orchestrated by MTV and Kanye, perhaps even Swift! Knowing Kanye's erratic and outlandish behavior in the past, why would MTV give him a front-row-corner seat closest to where Taylor Swift would be accepting the award?

The VMA's have always been a place for celebs to cash in on publicity stunts. MTV's latest stunt may even top their own 2003 Video Music Awards, when Madonna, Christina Aguilera, and Britney Spears felt the overwhelming need to share their faux-lesbian threeway kiss with TV viewers at home. Celebrities need an audience.

Posted by ihatepdxnerdglasses on September 14, 2009 at 9:55 AM | Report this comment

agree with ihatepdxnerdglasses - you've all been easily tricked into caring about the fucking VMAs.

Posted by Commenty Colin on September 14, 2009 at 10:09 AM | Report this comment

I think Leno had a hand in this uber lameness too.
How anyone ever made Kanye West a star is mind boggling by even Milli Vanilli standards.

Posted by D on September 14, 2009 at 10:14 AM | Report this comment

I haven't a clue who these people are.

Posted by pdx97217 on September 14, 2009 at 10:14 AM | Report this comment

Yeah, I can't figure this out either. Was she receiving an award, and he ran up on stage and took the mic?

Posted by ROM on September 14, 2009 at 10:25 AM | Report this comment

I guess this is proof that people still watch videos.

Posted by meerkat on September 14, 2009 at 10:29 AM | Report this comment

MTV shows videos now?

Posted by D on September 14, 2009 at 10:49 AM | Report this comment

I'm surprised any of them were on there. All of their music sucks.

Posted by Jebus on September 14, 2009 at 11:24 AM | Report this comment

I am pretty much under the impression that MTV hasn't been relevant since oh, say the early 90s. And Kanye is incredibly overrated.

Posted by Beer Batter on September 14, 2009 at 11:31 AM | Report this comment
Posted by Matt Davis on September 14, 2009 at 11:56 AM | Report this comment

Speaking of libraries, this is sad:

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA66…

Also, the Clackamas County library system is great for music, the waiting lists generally aren't as long as Multnomah.

Posted by Alison Hallett on September 14, 2009 at 12:02 PM | Report this comment

Innit though. I'm gonna go get me some Beyonce right now...

Posted by Matt Davis on September 14, 2009 at 12:44 PM | Report this comment

I've been playing tennis all my life and bratty outburts like those by country club tools are not uncommon at all. But, Serena saying "I'm going to shove this fucking ball down your fucking throat" crosses the line from bad insult into the territory of unnecessary threat.

Jesus Davis, what the hell's your problem? What do you need to be to work on the Merc staff, a second grade dropout? I mean I'm ONE FOOT from your fucking comments and you know what? You're a disgrace. I've been dealing with your shit for ten years.

Posted by two squatting women on September 14, 2009 at 1:20 PM | Report this comment

Two squatting women, that's a ten thousand dollar fine for abusive language. Make the check out to "Portland Mercury."

Posted by Wm. Steven Humphrey on September 14, 2009 at 1:31 PM | Report this comment

Anyone named Taylor can suck it, and that includes Taylor Dayne, James Taylor, Courtney Taylor-Taylor, Lord & Taylor, and Zachary Taylor (fucking Whig!).

Kanye who?

Serena: Worse than McEnroe or Roddick because she's BLACK. And a WOMAN. Right? Why not codify it formally in the US Open bylaws: "Uppity behavior by non-white non-males shall be discouraged by all available means, including assessment of the heaviest applicable fine." You read it here first, folks!

Posted by Grapleberry Assface on September 14, 2009 at 2:04 PM | Report this comment

On the other hand, if I were physically threatened by any TENNIS PLAYER and I happened to be sitting on that particular committee, I'd vote for the biggest fine too.

Posted by Grapleberry Assface on September 14, 2009 at 2:08 PM | Report this comment

You keep James Taylor out of this.

Posted by atomic on September 14, 2009 at 2:33 PM | Report this comment

Love Serena more than ever.

Posted by The Guilty Carnivore on September 14, 2009 at 3:30 PM | Report this comment

Good. More Crystal Gayle for me.

Posted by Aquatic Hitchhiker on September 14, 2009 at 11:23 PM | Report this comment

Interesting! Maybe Kanye was just using up his democratic right "Freedom of Speech,"rather than playing the hypocrite. Maybe the world would be a better place if more people speak their minds rather than play the hypocrite. The only problem is that maybe he should have found a more discrete way to deal with it. But, he perhaps just wanted to present the raw truth rather than decorating it with lies to make it pleasing to the public.

I have not seen the video but he must have some real good reason to do what he did.

Maybe Kanye need to visit www.lulu.com and www.amazon.com and check out "Rainbow Talents' Words of Wisdom"

Winsome Ebanks
AKa Rainbow Talents
www.rainbowmovememts.webs.com
rainbowtalents777@yahoo.com

Posted by rainbowtalents on September 18, 2009 at 10:46 AM | Report this comment

Re: “In Defense of Kanye West”
Interesting! Maybe Kanye was just using up his democratic right "Freedom of Speech,"rather than playing the hypocrite. Maybe the world would be a better place if more people speak their minds rather than play the hypocrite. The only problem is that maybe he should have found a more discrete way to deal with it. But, he perhaps just wanted to present the raw truth rather than decorating it with lies to make it pleasing to the public.

I have not seen the video, but he must have some real good reasons why he reacted that way.

Maybe Kanye need to visit www.lulu.com and www.amazon.com and check out "Rainbow Talents' Words of Wisdom"

Winsome Ebanks
AKa Rainbow Talents
www.rainbowmovememts.webs.com
rainbowtalents777@yahoo.com

Posted by rainbowtalents on September 18, 2009 at 10:49 AM | Report this comment

It doesn't MATTER whether Beyonce's video was better than Taylor's or not. What matters is Kanye being an uncouth idiot (once again) and taking the mic from Taylor. It was completely without class and without a clue as to how things work in society. South Park got his character spot on!

Posted by Scottrobb on September 19, 2009 at 6:41 PM | Report this comment

Regarding: "Freedom of Speech", that is ABSURD and a real stretch. Are you just plugging yourself or... It has nothing to do with his rights. He is a guest and another guest had the mic. It was not his turn to speak, it was hers. In this society to interrupt is rude; to grab a microphone from someone to do so is 10x worse.

Posted by Scottrobb on September 19, 2009 at 6:45 PM | Report this comment

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