Bebo

Paul Mansell <astonwoodhouse>

"MarlowFM"

	Jonas Brother - part 2	553 dagen geleden
	We were escorted down to the studio at ten to 12 only to be told that the band were still rehearsing so we'd have to go back upstairs to the 'holding area' again. When we finally made it through into the TV studio see pics here http://www.bebo.com/PhotoAlbum.jsp?P... a very friendly floor manager quickly got most the kids settled in the front row, Phoebe and Issy included, and we shuffled long the second row so we could be close, but not embarrassingly so, to them. The floor manager however had other plans and asked if we'd mind moving back along the row to allow more kids to be in shot. No problem; we hardly fit the viewing demographics for the Disney Channel that's for sure. We shuffled back along the row clutching bags, jackets, bottles of water and the girls' goodie bags and I plonked myself down on the very end seat. 'Sorry Sir...' pointing at me... 'would you mind moving back a couple of rows?' Upsticks again and duly decamped to the back row... just settling down when he says... 'awfully sorry about this, but would you mind moving to other side of the studio... your wife can stay where she is though..?' As I follow his instructions he calls out to another dad who was in the centre of the same row, 'Sir... would you mind joining him...? Thanks a lot.' Having been a member of TV studio audiences before I'd played this game of musical chairs on more than one occasion so I soon sussed what the problem was. The other chap looked slightly bemused... the only other bald guy amongst us I must point out. Yes, you've guessed it. The lights were flaring off our shiny pates and ruining the camera shots! So, enough of scene setting I hear you cry, what was the flipping music like? Well, I was pretty sceptical that any band managed by Disney could have any real musical substance, not that I wish to denigrate Disney at all, but I couldn't see Vampire Weekend or Band of Horses signing up to the whole chastity before marriage ethos that these four boys from New Jersey have adopted. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonas_B... to get a snapshot of their careers to date. The phenomenal success of their guest appearance in Hannah Montana led to the starring roles in the next big Disney musical film aimed at our kids this summer, Camp Rock. On this occasion, the boys were performing purely acoustically. They began with S.O.S off their most recent CD eponymously named Jonas Brothers. I have to say they do great harmonies and their voices are definitely complementary, although I think I would rate the youngest brother, Joe, as having the strongest vocal talent. Having since listened to the CD which has them playing electric guitars, accompanied with keyboards and drums, and is highly produced, the music is more 'stadium' rock on most tracks than these four acoustic renditions would indicate. The second number they did was Hold On, which even with just two acoustic guitars had a rather anthemic quality. Their penultimate number, Goodnight and Goodbye, has 'a nod' towards a reggae rif, albeit at a machine gun pace on the CD, but even with just a couple of guitars they imparted a lot of passion. I think my favourite was their final number, Hello Beautiful. Maybe it's because I'm an ageing romantic, but this is a great ballad with some half decent guitar sequences. Again on the CD you get the full orchestra but not too many whistles and bells that it spoils the simplicity of the song or overwhelms the sentiments. The oldest Jonas Brother, Kevin, is the executive producer of their recordings and plays a major part in their management structure; from all accounts a very shrewd operator. He reminds me of a young Tom Hanks in looks, but my wife reckons if you gave him a woolly hat to wear it's Mike Nesmith of Monkees fame. Actually the youngest brother reminded me of Davy Jones, not so much in stature or even looks but more in his demeanour - although he does have the Davy Jones style eyebrows. Joe Jonas just looks like a cheeky chappy that's bunked off school to have a laugh, but he's a talented musician and singer and when they eventually break up I suspect he will have the most enduring career although I reckon Kevin will be the wealthiest. So, if your kids or younger siblings were going to get into any 'brand' inspired pop music, they could do far worse than The Jonas Brothers. They produce some very listenable music that stands repeated plays, so you won't find yourself trying to rip out the CD player on a long car journey when the pleas to play it again can't be ignored. So the film, Camp Rock, comes to the UK in August so be prepared to add Jonas Brothers CD's, DVD's, books, games etc to Christmas stockings this year. I've already told Phoebe and Issy to hold fire putting their signed Jonas merchandise on ebay until the autumn!!
	geplaatst door Paul Mansell