Michael Brennan, superstar! If you don’t know the 48-year-old visual artist from Moorestown, New Jersey that’s likely because you haven’t yet heard the customized song, written for him by platinum-selling pop-rock goofballs Barenaked Ladies. And what did Brennan do to deserve such an honor? Well, he clicked. More specifically, he clicked on a song called "Diamond Ring" from Delta bluesman Mississippi Fred McDowell’s album, This Ain’t No Rock and Roll (Arhoolie Records), last December, making it the official 100-millionth track to be downloaded from the digital music retailer eMusic.com. Hence, his prize. "Michael Brennan" is available starting today for one month, before being bundled on eMusic with the new album Barenaked Ladies Are Men (Desperation Records/Nettwerk).
Mind you, the Ladies have always been shticky (if they could get Chan Marshall or Morrissey to perform "Leah Greenblatt You Are a Wonderful Pretty Princess"? Now, that would be noteworthy), and we’re not above a little commercial bribery in the form of immortalization-via-song; the avant-pop artist Momus even once offered customized odes for a price to fans in order to dig himself out of label debt. But what do EW.com readers think — is this cute or crass? Or are we just jealous Mr. Brennan gets to be King for a Day (fine, for a month)?
Comments (1-7) of 7 Add your comment
Would they have just plugged any name into that chorus (Thomas Aquinas’ really, really, really cool yeah)? At least when they did this on Whose Line is it Anyway, you could watch them come up with their lame lyrics on the spot.
Jealous. I do love me some BNL.
Eh. The gimmick isn’t fun. I did like this gimmicky music video. You might check out “Sweep the Legs” , the music video spoofing The Karate Kid, with actors from the movie in it. If you’ve seen the movie, it’s pretty funny, imo.
There’s far more to these “goofballs” than “One Week” and a silly name. Take a listen to tracks such as “The Flag,” “Brian Wilson,” “Maybe You’re Right,” “Am I the Only One” and “War on Drugs” (to name but a few) and you’ll realize that they are also capable of beautiful, brilliant, poignant work.
I agree with Jen. I find it a bit sad that in America they’re mostly known for the fairly lame “One Week”. I prefer their older tracks like “The Old Apartment”, “Brian Wilson”, and their cover of “Lovers in a Dangerous Time”. As far as their goofier songs go, “Yoko Ono” is my favourite.
Let’s not neglect “Blame It On Me”, “Upside Down”, “Take It Back”, and “Fun And Games”.
i speak for michael brennan’s everywhere when i say its great to be michael brennan