Musically-related things I have observed in a week off from blogging and instead watching cable TV include but are not limited to...

I learned that MHD (MTV/VH1/CMT's hi-def network) actually plays music. I'm sure this won't last long before they start showing Laguna Beach reruns and Fat Joe's Streetball Tournament, so I'm gonna enjoy it while I can. In that vein, here are my random thoughts on 6 hours worth of DVR'd hi-def music videos:

• Having CMT included in the rotation really sucks. I mean, really sucks. This is precisely what that fast-forward button was created for.
  
• All female country singers sound exactly alike. I mean, exactly.
• Apparently, Justin Timberlake is bringing sexy back. I was unaware that sexy had gone anywhere. Too bad his song started out catchy but ended up overrated and repetitive, isn't it? Also, the spy chick in the video is bony and scary. In a video for a song called "SexyBack," shouldn't the chick at least be, I don't know... sexy?
• Hey Five For Fighting, 1993 called and it wants its crappy video back. Just about every generic easy-listening guy from '93 was on lines 2 through 5, all demanding their falsetto back. Just figured I'd let you know, dude.
  
• Natasha Bedingfield's video is much better on mute. Much, much better. Wow, talk about a terrible song.
  
• Adam Riff is right, Rhianna looks like the damn Alien. Fivehead! No wonder the dude in the video is cheating on her.
  
• At first I thought the dude from Train was the most punchable music video artist in the world, but then that Fort Minor video came on. Hello, pretentious! But, not to be topped in that contest, James Blunt came up to assert his dominance. Holy crap, this guy is lucky he doesn't just get randomly punched out while walking down the street. Coincidentally, I think that might be what happened in that Train video. Go figure.
• That new Fiona Apple video for "Not About Love" is really good. Pretty much as quirky as she is (a good thing). Please, god, don't tell me that's her real boyfriend. I mean, I know the girl is insane, but c'mon. Yet notice how I wouldn't be surprised in the least if he was?
  
• Wow, I miss Dave Matthews Band. I mean, Julia Roberts? Thanks for the memories, but I think we're done here, guys. It's not me, it's you. Seriously.
  
• I don't think Gorillaz are capable of making a bad video. At least I haven't seen one yet if they have. El Manana is extra-cool, in fact.
• Kelly Clarkson. Fast forward, thanks. What hath thou wrought, American Idol? Can't she go away like the fat dude and the elf dude did? And that kid with the fro? I swear, he was working the counter at the convenience store down the block from me a few weeks ago. Honest to god.
  
• Hey, Chili Peppers, if you're going to rip off Nirvana's In Bloom in your video, don't add insult to injury by impersonating them from MTV Unplugged, too. The worst part is watching you guys thrash around as if you're really rocking out. Dani California is one of your most generic mid-tempo songs ever. Don't even try to fake it anymore, man. You're all older than me, for god's sake. And I'm old.
• Speaking of generic, what up, Nickelback? Still making the same song over and over and giving it a new name each time? Well, I guess it's working out okay for you. Keep it up!
• Speaking of generic part two, hey, check it out! Hoobastank's video is just as generic as they are!
• Was Pink always Kelly Clarkson with "crazy" hair and a nose ring and I just didn't realize it?
• Hmmm, Disturbed covered Genesis' "Land of Confusion." It's actually not a bad cover, but the video makes V For Vendetta look subtle in it's political message. Restraint, thy name is Todd MacFarlane...
• Ok, saving the best for last, it's confession time. Jacob is right... That new Christina Aguilera song is catchy as hell. I love it. And the video looks really, really good in HD. Plenty of gratuitous cleavage shots of Christina's fake breasts seal the deal. And really, if that's what music videos aren't all about, why do artists keep making them? Honestly. I need to find a way to save just that 5 minutes on the DVR because I swear I've watched it a dozen times now. So what if I lost roughly 50 IQ points in the process? I'm still in triple digits, and that's what really matters. That and the fact that I can listen to songs with incredibly-well chosen big band samples and a catchy beat. Who produced that song anyway? If they did the rest of the album I might consider downloading it. Ha! Did you think I was gonna say buy? Shyeah, right.

Ok, that's enough for one night (um, week?) Only other thing I can say is that the new iTunes is pretty friggin' sweet. Go download it. You know I just wanted to sneak one more link into this post to break my record.