15-0 @ Maui Invitational

In case you wanted to relive it, dukeblueplanet always does a nice job. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXJQXjhuxmI]

Tyler's shot was epic, even the fourth time watching it.

-B

On Bruno Mars

I often feel bad about posting so many videos. I feel like it is the way in which we all communicate now a days, so it seems fitting. You may know Bruno Mars (or Peter Gene Hernandez). Or have heard his stuff. If you haven't at least heard his name, you've been living under a rock.

Here's the deal with him: He is phenomenal. He is 25 years old, from Hawaii, and has been somewhat of an instant success. Let me list the songs that he has had a hand in since his career took off:

[I've had to edit this list three times to add to it....when Glee covers four of your songs in a season...and you're not Madonna...you've got something big]

You may be thinking to yourself, that's a lot of songs in the space of a year for one guy.

Yes it is.  All radio hits.  All extremely successful.  Allison and I have a joke that "Just the Way You Are" is on every time we are in the car.  Because it is.

In watching some of the YouTube clips (and there are tons) it is more possible to see the talent that this kid actually possesses.  Whether it is in an interview situation, remixing Nirvana and Michael Jackson, doing requests at a live acoustic show, or straight up covering Michael (tell me his voice doesn't sound so close to Michael's); this kid's got it.

What strikes me though, is the content of the songs.  With the songs that he explicitly sings on (do not count Flo Rida's song or Cee-lo's), the content is not the typical stuff that our trashy culture has been putting out recently.

The songs are about love, with eyes only for one, considering beauty (without the need to change), fixing the world if you had the money, and the lengths that one would go to for another.  It is refreshing to see an artist become popular and not have all of their songs be about sex, drugs, or getting shot.  It also helps when they are good at what they do. I feel as if we need lots more of THIS type of influence (not perfect, religious, or anything by any means...but good, somewhat wholesome music) in our culture and on our radios.

This isn't to say that his songs are clear of foul language and worldly desires, but they seem a bit...more real than a lot of the other stuff on the radio.  I find it intriguing to say the least.

If only he could stay off the crack.

If he can keep clean, he's gonna be huge.  Bigger than he is now, for sure.  There aren't a lot of people in the world with this kind of talent and charisma.

Don't believe me?  Watch this:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjhCEhWiKXk]

BTW, his album is $5.99 on Amazon for a limited time.  Eat it up.

-B