Commentaraoke

Sky Smith and E

2010-07-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

Check out this kick-ass version of Eddie Money's "Take Me Home Tonight" by Sky Smith and his dad, E. Working on booking them as special guests for Commentaraoke Reboot --
maybe in the fall? Can I afford to book them? The question is Can I afford NOT to?
I think we know the answer.

Hope that you're enjoying a SUPERLATIVE summer!

Peace, Love & Understanding,

Dougie Lynn Gordon

A Day at the Office

2009-10-26T17:22:00.000-07:00

The Daily Page/ISTHMUS covers Commentaraoke

2009-10-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

THE DAILY PAGE/ISTHMUS has a nice feature-ette on Commentaraoke up on their website...

http://www.thedailypage.com/daily/article.php?article=27201

Look under third sub-headline, "Audience participation."

Thanks to Bob Koch and ISTHMUS for their interest and support.

cheers,

DG

Adam Schabow/Dane 101 Commentaraoke E-Interview

2009-10-16T11:29:00.000-07:00

Adam Schabow of Madison pop groups, The Shabelles, and co-creator/co-host of Madison internet talk show, DRUNKDIAL 101, e-interviewed me re. Commentaraoke for DANE101.com.

Here's the link...
http://www.dane101.com/arts/2009/10/16/commentaroke_an_interview_with_doug_gordon

Thank you to Mr. Schabow for his interest and support.

77 Square feature story on Commentaraoke

2009-10-15T10:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Katjusa Cisar and our good friends at 77 SQUARE for their coverage of Commentaraoke...

http://host.madison.com/entertainment/music/article_d6a37744-b8d6-11de-a0c0-001cc4c03286.html

2009-10-01T19:16:00.000-07:00

"IT IS ON LIKE FUTON-A-THON!":
COMMENTARAOKE RETURNS TO THE FREQUENCY
ON MONDAY, OCT. 19TH AT 6:00 P.M.

Following a successful world premiere at The Frequency in Madison on Sept. 21st, Commentaraoke returns to The Frequency for Episode #2. Commentaraoke allows people to unleash their inner (Weird Al) Yankovic by creating and performing parody lyrics to the pop songs of their choice.

“Karaoke has become too safe and too sanitized,” says organizer Doug Gordon. “It’s too domesticated. I want to put the danger back into karaoke because you can’t spell karaoke without...uhhh, scratch that last part. I think you know what I mean. The Gomers are kicking serious karaoke ass with Gomeroke, of course, but I think that Commentaraoke is the next logical step in the Darwinian evolution of karaoke. And when I say ‘Darwin,’ I’m referring to both Charles Darwin and Darwin Sampson, owner of The Frequency, who is graciously allowing me the opportunity to take karaoke to the next level,” Gordon said to no one in particular over a Cobb salad at a trendy bistro just off Capitol Square.

Is he worried about falling victim to the dreaded sophomore jinx, he asked himself as he typed this press release? “No, not at all. This one is going to be bigger and better. We’ve also got a great triple bill of opening acts who’ll be performing short opening sets, set-ettes actually – Barenaked Cockburns (a mashup tribute to my fellow Canadians Barenaked Ladies and Bruce Cockburn), HiphoP Lovecraft (a hip hop tribute to horror fiction master H.P. Lovecraft) and Joe Soko, who’ll perform slightly demented children’s music.”

As if that isn’t enough, Gordon stresses that admission to this entertainment extravaganza is free. “But hey, if people want to feel like they’re more hip than they already are, I’m happy to put them on the guest list. Just drop me an e-mail.”

You can find out more about Commentaraoke by visiting the Official Commentaraoke website, conveniently located at www.commentaraoke.blogspot.com. There’s a list of all of the available songs there. Gordon also takes requests and has a B.Y.O.B.T. (“Bring Your Own Backing Track”) policy.

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The Nod joins the Commentaraoke lineup

2009-09-16T09:02:00.001-07:00

We're delighted to report that The Nod (well, 50 percent of the band, anyway) will join us at the world premiere of COMMENTARAOKE at The Frequency in Madison, Wisconsin on Monday, Sept. 21st at 6 PM. Admission is FREE!

Brett Newski and Larry Eric Maloney will entertain us with with a short acoustic set, including the single, "Frustrating (The Shit Out of You"), from their SHODDY HEART EP.

As The Nod's official bio says:

"A band birthed 18 months ago in the belly of Madison, Wisconsin, The Nod is well past its infancy, though still nibbles on the easily-digested rewards of each live show -- playing for people, catching adrenaline buzz, having a PBR with fans and friends, hearing new bands, forming new allies, and contributing a little more to the music scene with each performance.

The Nod's SHODDY HEART EP was released in August of 2009. An organic and upbeat record, the disc encompasses truthful songs molded from stories of loss, gain, selfishness, selflessness, juilt, elation, regreat, and optimism. The record acknowledges that what goes around comes around...to some degree, only some of the time. We've all been stabbed in the heart before, figuratively...hopefully. Sometimes we return the favor and stick someone else right back. Either way, we get burned, but we wouldn't play with fire it if wasn't a little bit of fun."

See you there!

2009-08-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

2009-08-23T14:35:00.000-07:00

COMMENTARAOKE GIVES MADISIONIANS THE CHANCE TO UNLEASH THEIR INNER YANKOVICS

World Premiere at The Frequency Monday, Sept. 21st at 6 PM

“Two words sum up today’s culture: ‘authenticity’ is one, and the other is, well ... ‘karaoke.’ Most artists spend their lives trying to authenticate (or make true) today’s karaoke culture, but you have to be a magician to do that. Karaoke is mouthing other people’s songs; it is life by proxy, liberated by hindsight and unencumbered by the messy process of creativity.”
– Malcolm McLaren

The time has come to bring “the messy process of creativity” to today’s karaoke culture and,in the process, take karaoke to the next level. That’s why Doug Gordon is proud to present the world premiere of Commentaraoke at The Frequency, 121 West Main Street in Madison, on Monday, Sept.21st, at 6 PM. Admission is free.

“Commentaraoke will give people the opportunity to unleash their inner (Weird Al) Yankovics,” says Gordon. “They’ll be able to communicate their innermost thoughts and feelings in an infectious musical form by singing original lyrics to pre-recorded backing tracks of our favorite songs from the ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, ‘90's and beyond.”

“The possibilities are endless. I imagine that someone will perform a commentaraoke about Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen’s recent announcement that he won’t defend Wisconsin against a lawsuit which challenges the state’s new domestic partner registry. Maybe they’ll take Van Halen’s ‘Jump’ and turn it into ‘Stump.’ Or maybe Madison comedian Mark Kump will show up and sing ‘Kump.’ Who the hell knows? And I’m sure we’ll have several commentaraokes about Brett Lorenzo Favre’s decision to come out of retirement for the 19th time and sign with The Minnesota Vikings – songs like ‘Viking Horns’ (to the tune of Mr. Mister’s #1 smash hit, ‘Broken Wings’), ‘You Better You Brett’ (The Who’s ‘You Better You Bet’) and ‘Ruining Your Legacy’ (Sarah McLachlan’s ‘Building A Mystery’). I imagine the chorus of ‘Viking Horns’ will go something along the lines of ‘Take these Viking horns/And stick them somewhere where the sun don’t shine.’”

Gordon has big plans for “Commentaraoke.” He’s hoping to turn it into a multimedia franchise to find America’s next great song parodist. “I think ‘American Yankovic’ has a nice ring to it, don’t you?” As for the rumors that Paula Abdul could be a judge on ‘American Yankovic,’ Gordon thinks those rumors are greatly exaggerated. “I’ve been in show business long enough to never say never but I’m not holding my breath,” Gordon says pensively. “Plus we had kind of a messy breakup. Personally, I think there’s a much better chance that Jon Gosselin will be one of the judges. And maybe some of his kids. After all, they’re the ones who are going to be the Yankovics of tomorrow.”

People interested in participating should visit the official Commentaraoke website, conveniently located at www.commentaraoke.blogspot.com. A song list will be posted soon. “We also take requests,” Gordon says. “And, of course, we have a “B.Y.O.B.T.” (“Bring Your Own Backing Track”) policy.

As if all this interactive musical mirth and mayhem won’t be enough entertainment, Gordon is proud to announce that Commentaraoke will kick off with short opening sets by The Soup Nazis (“The World’s Hottest Seinfeld Tribute Band”) and Elvish Costello. “The Soup Nazis are scheduled to perform ‘Jerk Store’ and ‘Spongeworthy’ from their forthcoming debut EP,” Gordon reports. “The timing is perfect because this is the day after the new season premiere of HBO’s ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’ which will feature the “Seinfeld” reunion storyline.”

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2009-08-10T17:04:00.000-07:00

Introducing Commentaraoke

2009-05-31T10:24:00.001-07:00

It's the latest variation on the karaoke craze -- COMMENTARAOKE!

COMMENTARAOKE allows people to unlock their inner ("Weird Al") Yankovic by writing new lyrics to classic pop/rock songs of the '70s, '80s, '90s and beyond!

For example, take the Beach Boys' 1988 mega-hit "Kokomo" and give it the COMMENTARAOKE treatment to create a political, satirical song about the disputed region in the Balkans and you've got "Kosovo"!

Everybody's a comedian and everybody loves to sing so it goes without saying that everybody will love to sing humorous songs! And so they shall be able to with COMMENTARAOKE!

And before too long, we'll find the "Weird Al" Yankovics of tomorrow with the new live-event/web/TV series, AMERICAN YANKOVIC!