Make A Star’s 6th Best Music Video contest and its $100 cash prize went to Southeastern Michigan duo Mahoney and their video for the hard-charging power pop choon ‘Turn Off The Lights and Turn On The Stereo’.

Directed by former Open Mic talent contest comedian Marty Stano, the hilarious video sees the dynamic duo performing a high-energy aerobics routine in some very 1980s outfits.

The band brought out a strong crowd of fans, many from their home state, and that support combined with high judge scores all around helped Mahoney open out a big lead on their challenger, South African rock band 12th Avenue, and their video for ‘Over The Edge’.

Click to watch Mahoney and 12th Avenue music videos

Mahoney’s music is a solid rock and roll recipe, with the hard edged, angular simplicity of The White Stripes and an ample sense of fun and humor. Add a brilliantly directed music video by a proven comedian to the mix, and it all adds up to two guys from Southeast Michigan becoming the 6th winner of Make A Star’s $100 Best Music Video contests. Who will be winner number 7?

The action has already begun, as Best Music Video 7 is currently in the semi-final round, and Mahoney are at it again, with their live in the studio video ‘Ms. Jones’ competing against Los Angeles pop starlet Tenaj and her nightclub dance hit ‘What’s Your Status’.

The other semi-final sees former Make A Star Fuse winners Sea Monster bring their classic New York garage punk anthem ‘That’s All’ back for another round of bull fighting madness, this time competing against Phoenix, Arizona band Element 115 and their ode to the automobile called ‘Hot Cars’.

You always watch this goody goody demure girl snuggle up Clark Kent on the hit tv series Smallville. And now, Kristin Kreuk is sure to warm up the big screen as this hot and sexy young actress plays the lead role of tough chick Chun-Li in the upcoming Street Fighter film.

Born in Canada, 25-year old Kristin is of Dutch and Chinese descent. Her first television appearance was in Edgemont, a teen soap opera set at a Vancouver-area high school. After shooting its first season, she landed the lead role in a television movie Snow White: The Fairest of Them All, which aired on ABC in 2002.

Kristin’s biggest break came when her agent sent an audition tape to screenwriters who were putting

together the cast of a new show entitled Smallville, which revolves around the life of teenager Clark Kent before he becomes Superman. The hot and sexy actress was originally unsure about auditioning for Lana Lang’s role, but was impressed upon reading the graveyard scene from the pilot episode that when she was offered the role, she immediately accepted it.

In addition, the hot and sexy actress is also the spokesmodel for Neutrogena’s new worldwide ad campaign, thus following the footsteps of fellow teen stars such as Jennifer Love Hewitt and Mandy

Moore. In 2005, she renewed her contract for another two years, making her the company’s longest-serving model spokesperson.

Aside from Smallville, hot and sexy Kristin made her first feature film in 2003, which was a cameo

appearance in Eurotrip. In 2004, she took the role of Tenar for the Sci-Fi Channel’s two-part

miniseries Legend of Earthsea and signed on to the independent feature film Partition in 2005. In the

summer of 2006, she starred in a short film called the Dream Princess, which was a modern sci-punk

retelling of the tale of Sleeping Beauty. Her next film is Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li.

Years after they were pop star deities, Duran Duran is returning to the touring circuit and bringing their amazing hits to fans all across the country. The British New Wavers were undoubtedly one of the most popular bands of the ’80s, and a persistent fascination with that decade and its culture has yielded new fans with each passing year.

Duran Duran was formed way back in 1978-long before the dawn of New Wave, which was of course a genre that spilt from the punk and post-punk music of the ’70s. The band members were friends from school who had grown up with colorful British rock icons like David Bowie and Roxy Music in their sights. The vamping, make-up laden rock heroes inspired them in their own quest for pop dominance.

The band was named after a character from the science-fiction film Barbarella, and went through extensive line-up changes in its first couple years. By 1980, the band was making inroads in the growing New Romantic scene, and earned their first record contract with EMI. They issued a single, “Planet Earth,” which did well on the charts, but it was their look rather than their sound that would drive the band’s popularity. They began releasing music videos, which were always colorful and stylish, and often had sexual content that only helped them win over fans (“Girls on Film,” which was banned from the BBC, is one such example). The media pounced on the band, turning them into icons overnight, and dubbing them the faces (and sound) of New Wave.

The band’s self-titled 1981 release did well, but its follow-up, 1982’s Rio, is considered a ’80s classic. There’s good reason for that, considering the number of hits that are packed into the album, with “Hungry Like the Wolf” being the undisputed favorite song on the album.
The band was huge in Europe, but would they make an impact on America? MTV would ensure that they would. The first music video channel of its kind in America, MTV helped promote the band through their videos, paving the way for New Wave’s rise in the states as well. The haircuts, the make-up, the preening-you have Duran Duran to thank for much of it. Likewise, Duran Duran and similar bands helped make MTV a hit.

With the release of Seven and the Ragged Tiger, the band had their first American smash. But the constant touring and wild living was starting to take a toll. They took a break, the band splitting and individual members working in side projects like the Power Station and Arcadia. But by 1986, some band members weren’t feeling a connection to the band anymore, and started to break away.

Everything started to dissolve. Notorious, Duran Duran’s 1986 record, went double-platinum but was critically panned; 1988’s Big Thing slipped in the charts and was panned. By 1990, it was clear the band wasn’t in touch with the musical scene anymore.

But there’s still an eager market of listeners who love the band’s early work. They’ve recouped from their long sojourn, and Duran Duran tickets are back on sale.

As seen on http://www.ecouchcoach.com -

With Game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals just hours away, it seems like the perfect time to write a fantasy football article with a hockey title.

Oh, who am I fooling?  Hockey sucks (unless it’s live, then it’s awesome).  Hockey is for guys named Sergei and dentists.  But, since hockey is better than Nicholas Cage, I’ll let the hockeyites think this is hockey-themed.
Organized Team Activities are heating up, and the fight for carries, pass attempts, receptions—and fantasy points—is on. What battles are the most intriguing?  Glad you asked, Couch Cushions.  Oh, and despite Mighty Ducks being an awesome movie, no “Oreo Line.”

Scoring line
Mark Sanchez vs. Kellen Clemens

The marquee faceoff of the summer.  This one’s like Gretsky facing off against Messier, only if Messier was Messier and Lemieux put together.

Okay, so maybe not quite, but it’s an intriguing battle.

Let’s not fool ourselves: Kellen Clemens is probably bad at sports, and only a little better at throwing footballs.  There’s a small sample size issue here—Clemens has only been in the league three years and started a run of games last in 2007—but Clemens has never been surrounded with a ton of hype.  The man is 26 and was just referred to in a wire article as “career backup Kellen Clemens.”  Not good for a young man.  Plus, Clemens threw ten interceptions, was sacked 27 times, and threw only five touchdowns in the eight games he started in 2007.  For a second-round quarterback, that might be the only chance he gets.

Mark Sanchez has had similar success in the NFL as Kellen Clemens, which is to say, “none.”  Sanchez never really set the world on fire at USC, and hasn’t taken a professional snap not in Jets gym shorts.  But—and this is why I think Sanchez will start the season for the Jets—he’s getting paid $28 million dollars guaranteed for the next five years, with $50 million attainable.  Just like no one puts Baby in a corner, no one pays Sanchez $28 million to model headsets.

John Madden once said “Brett Favre is Brett Favre.”  Is either Sanchez or Clemens worthy of being called “Brett Favre,” just like…um…Brett Favre?  No, but there can only be 30 starting quarterbacks in this league, and whoever starts for the Jets has a chance to be ranked in the high 20s for quarterbacks.  Jerricho Cotchery and Chansi Stuckey are decent receivers, and there will be plenty of running in new coach Rex Ryan’s game plan.

The pick and prediction: Mark Sanchez, 13 GS, 2,800 yards passing, 16 TD, #23 best fantasy quarterback

Checking line
Joseph Addai vs. Donald Brown

Enough of these quarterback pretty boys.  This is hockey Sparta! fantasy football.  It’s all about those point-producing “checkers,” running backs.

Addai flew onto the fantasy football scene in his 2006 rookie year, posting a thousand-yard season.  Fantasy owners loved his high reception totals (40) and eight touchdowns wasn’t bad for Dominic Rhodes’ platoon mate.  Plus, the Colts won the Super Bowl that year, which Drew Brees’ fantasy owners will tell you makes the impact of a piss in the ocean.

2007 was Addai’s banner year, with Kenton “Never trust a man with two first names (to  be the second leading rusher)” Keith stealing only 121 mop-time carries.  Again, a thou for Addai and an almost doubled touchdown count.

Enter 2008.  Injuries.  A so-badd-I’m-spelling-it-with-two-ds-BADD running offensive line in the Circle City.  Addai gets labeled as a guy who can’t hit the hole fast, and can’t break a tackle in the backfield.  Dominic Rhodes steals half of Addai’s carries, Addai’s yardage gets cut in half and Go-Go-Joe runs for only five touchdowns.

And so Bill Polian, that guy who is better than you at drafting, picks up Donald Brown out of Connecticut.  Donald Brown is moderately fast (ran 4.51 in the 40).  Donald Brown is a moderately good blocker.  Donald Brown will probably be a little better than Addai in goalline situations.

Moderately.

Which, in fantasy, means “stay away.”

Joseph Addai has been “da man” for only one season in his post-high school life: 2007.  The year after that was his worst as a professional.  Addai was never top dog in Baton Rouge, and while a good football player, is probably not a 300-carry back. Donald Brown led the nation in rushing last year, but isn’t flashy in any certain part of the game.  So it’s not like the Colts are going to use Addai and Brown in certain situations to maximize their output.  This will be a strict job-share.

The pick and prediction: Do you feel lucky?  Well, do you, punk?  Addai has been held out of practice after a summer knee scope.  Brown’s getting the practice reps.  Make Addai your 19th overall running back (comparison is Derrick Ward, Marshawn Lynch, Ryan Grant, Kevin Smith) and Donald Brown your 25th overall (Felix Jones, Jamal Lewis, Willie Parker).

Alvarez is a premier acoustic guitar manufacturer that specializes in high quality instruments. Alvarez started building high quality acoustic guitars in 1965. As evidenced by the sound of their instruments, they are very passionate about what they do. They have a reputation for crafting guitars that have exceptional tone and quality, and they do so by hand. Their shop is located in St. Louis, MO.

The Alvarez guitar line as we know it today started with a Japanese luthier named Kazuo Yairi who worked in partnership with an American company to design these guitars. Yairis family is known for creating high quality, hand made instruments. The companys current, skilled luthiers continue this tradition.

Alvarez does not use computers and other high tech devices to help build their guitars. Computer assisted guitars have a very uniform sound across the board. The Alvarez guitars are unique from instrument to instrument. Building them by hand gives each guitar their own character. That is why it is important to find luthiers and other workers who are both skilled and passionate.

They pride themselves on their wood seasoning process. Done correctly, this can be considered the key to the sound. Wood types such as mahogany and rosewood are both air dried and kiln dried for long periods of time- sometimes as much as fifteen years. This aging process helps develop the tone and gives it a rich quality. The guitars are then shaped into their various styles.

Alvarez has a complete line of high quality guitars. Their acoustic guitar styles include the Dreadnought series, crafted in a shape and style similar to other Dreadnoughts, Alvarez classic guitars of various styles and woods, and Alvarez folk style guitars, including some cutaway models. For a complete list of styles, visit their website.

There are also plenty of famous and accomplished musicians who play Alvarez guitars. These include Ani DiFranco, Bret Michaels, Carlos Santana, Graham Nash, Kipp Winger, Laura Clapp, and David Crosby. For an extensive list, please visit their website.

Here are some reviews of Alvarez Acoustic Guitars (source Harmony Central):

About the Alvarez 5054 12 String

Got started more than half a century ago. I m what we now like to call a multi-instrumentalist. Play in half a dozen bands, jazz, blues, metal, punk, Cajun and Irish.

This is a great guitar. The first time you pick it up you immediately recognize that it “has something”. And it ain t just me, I ve had some friends (including some well-known players) try it out and give it a thumbs-up.

I m not saying I would trade my Guild for it, but I ve not come across a comparable second choice. And considering that nowadays this is a sub $400 guitar it s an outright bargain.

About the Alvarez AC 60SC

I have been playing guitar for over 30 years and have owned all types of guitars and gear. I was without a nylon stringed guitar for a while and developed a nylon jones. I began looking for a classical guitar, with a cutaway and built in electronics. I checked out guitars at 2 stores and chose this one for it s acoustic sound. I did not even plug it in at the store. I liked the characteristics in her voice. I came back the next day and traded my steel-string acoustic in on her.

As I said before, this guitar is like a wonderful woman. One that should be treated well and caressed. Playing her should be like making love.

If guitar playing can be that much fun everyone should take it up.

Hip hop fashion. “Hey guys, what you need are a little more hip, and a little more hop”. We were spellbound by the outfits and accessories sold at the best hip hop clothing stores and the background of this culture back in the retro years. Hip hop was a subculture by the African American that swept across the world as soon as it came out. The music and the clothing serve as part of the expression and attitudes of hip hop culture.

Evolution of punk fashion. In the eighties, the punks rose up to show offensive, appalling and disobedient statement to the world. Punk clothing style is all about rebellion and compelling no-no statement. “I got my own way of living that I do not give a damn to anyone or anything”. Ripped hoodies, torn clothing, bondage pants, combat boots and bullet belts said it all.

Off-the-shoulder vs big shoulders look. As long as shoulders are being concerned, there are two kind of extreme looks for women’s choices. Off-the-shoulder look was inspired by Flashdance in the early eighties. It is so famous that it often makes a comeback in contemporary fashion show as well as the favorite style in the design of sexy clothing and sheer clothing. Big shoulders came the other way round. Women wore shirts or dresses with shoulder pads to cover the blemish of their shoulders. Though it looked manly it was one of the 80s clothing trends much adored.

Clip-on-one-side t-shirts and tight jeans. You might wonder why people clipped on their oversized t-shirts on one side. It was probably because they did not want the gigantic t-shirts to eclipse the sweet three quarter leggings. Bleached and ripped tight jeans were another rocking stuff to put on due to the punk influence. Again, both men and women wore tight, and really tight jeans back then.

Shawls. Tracing back history, you did not see this little stuff in antique clothes anywhere on the old earth. With our time machine, we went back to the vintage era but still did not see something which was even close to a shawl. We finally saw it in the 80s retro clothing when its emergence somehow struck the fashion tipping point. Shawls became so popular that you saw a wide variety of styles, fabric and colors, worn with many other types of outfits on various events. It was never wrong to say that this creation was one of the most popular clothing accessories of the decade.