Recently, I was just sort of browsing through a random set of blogs here and there and I ran into a posting about a new version of Michael Jackson's "Beat It" featuring Fergie, in the same type of vein as what Natalie Cole did with "Unbelievable", singing along to the original recording. The poster mentioned that it was horrid and not worth listening to - so of COURSE I had to hear it for myself! (I am a firm believer in listening to anything at least once, just to see how good or bad it is in your own opinion. I have heard some songs that people love that I despise, and the reverse has been true as well.)
Now, first, I guess I should mention that despite his personal tastes and the various scandals surrounding him, I do appreciate M.J.'s music. It has soul and style, and in it's time was rather unique. Even now, I don't think anyone ever did anything quite like it, though I am not a musical historian, so I could be wrong on that account. Still, despite my upbringing of 70s rock, 80s New Wave and then eventual appreciation/love for hair bands, and then my progression to various forms of alt/metal/prog/hard rock, I always did appreciate the music of M.J. My brother was a huge fan, collecting every album and recording he had ever done, and even had the signature red fleather zipper jacket. So I can remember doing renditions of "The Girl is Mine" and "Beat It" (complete with the air guitar solo) with my brother, when I was in my early teens, and he was a late single-digit age.
So, I went to YouTube - the place everyone should go to get a glimpse/listen to something that they are interested in - and found a recording of the song in question. Remarkably, I was not disgusted by the song, and actually enjoyed it, listening to Fergie stretch her vocal chords to hit the high notes. The music sounded a little bit different as well, if I am remembering the original correctly, so it was kind of an interesting find.
Now with YouTube, they always seem to have that little sidebar menu that shows you other related videos, and I saw that there were other songs, including "You Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' 2008" with Akon. That one was impressive! The slow start with Akon's light, lyrical voice was a different take on it, and then the upbeat swing to the song just made it take off. It was a toe-tapper for sure, and I was definitely listening to that one with a close ear.
There were a couple of others that I remember as well, I think "P.Y.T 2008" was one, with Will.i.am that wasn't too too bad, and another with Will.i.am that I actually didn't like at all, but I can't remember the name (oh yeah, it was The Girl is Mine - the original was far better, in my humble opinion). And then one with Kanye - "Billie Jean 2008"? - that one I didn't like. It was too slow, and all it really was, was a more modern hip-hop or R&B rhythm added to the song, which really didn't add anything useful in my opinion. It certainly didn't make it better, and actually lessened my enjoyment of the song.
Still, what I heard definitely made me want to go buy the album, and I may do that at some point in the not-too-distant future.
So all of this reminded me of a few other remakes that I have heard in the last few years that I actually liked. I was a fan of some of Genesis's later stuff, and Phil Collins's work as well. One song that was always one of my fave's from Genesis was "Land of Confusion", and a couple of years ago, I guess, I heard the version by Disturbed. I was taken aback! I didn't expect a song like that to come out of Disturbed (though "Shout" was an equally shocking remake that they did and was also quite good, despite the "Ice-ice, baby!" remark in it which still makes me laugh), but they did a great job doing justice to the song, both making it their own, and paying tribute to the original. I remember the video from Genesis with the puppet characters from that show in the 80s... I am currently searching Google for the name of it... Spitting Image! That's it! Right, so it had the Spitting Image puppets for the video, and the one by Disturbed had some sort of anime-type video that was a lot grittier and less humorous, and maybe more representative of the overall tone of Disturbed. It was a good choice, I think, and I don't think a direct remake of the video with caricaturized versions of the band would have worked out. This was a good choice by the makers of the video.
The other one that really hit home with me was an old song by the great Ronnie James Dio, from his band Dio, the album and title song: "Holy Diver". The band Killswitch Engage did a great cover of the song, and even tribute to the sadly produced video done by Dio. If you have never seen the video (or if you don't know the song at all), go YouTube it. Watch the Dio video first. It's a classic for the heavy metal genre (the song), and the video is something that should not be missed (ahem!). I simply have no words that describe how much the video disturbed me - not for the content, but the simple fact that I could have produced the same thing with $50, a couple of random people, and a borrowed video camera - and I am talking about in 1983-ish or whenever it was made (I would have been 13 at the time). The one by Killswitch Engage takes some of the cheesiness of the original and adds an extra bit of humour to the whole thing. I couldn't help laughing while I watched it, but the actual song itself is quite well done.
Anyway, I think that is all I have to say on all of this for now. If you read this and have anything to say, please drop in a comment or two. I'd love to hear what other people think.
Cheers!
Slyde
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
On the Night Shift
So I work the night shift. It's nearly 3 a.m. and, while I am actually sitting here waiting for a call to come through, I am not actually doing anything at this particular moment.
Don't get me wrong: I like the fact that I can sit here and type away about stuff in the middle of the night, but it doesn't happen often, so I am taking advantage while I can. The work I do is not as easy as I long ago thought this type of job would be, so any break that comes along is welcome relief to the drone and drear of doing phone tech support for 10 hours at a stretch (with lunch thrown in, so I am actually "at work" for 11+ hours a day).
I can remember when I thought that people who worked on tech support didn't really have the skills to do anything more, and that it was a low-end job in the high-end field of IT. I used to work as a consultant, and a programmer, and even as a systems analyst, so I was sure that the jobs I did were better than tech support. But I didn't realize just what a difficult job those tech support folks had. Talking to people who don't know much about computers, and guiding them through the process of figuring out what is wrong and then fixing it is not a simple task at times. Then there's the issue of irate customers who want to yell at you because their computer is not working the way they think it should, or it isn't working at all. It's stressful!
Now, granted, not everything that I do is using my full potential, but just as I have a new respect for people in the custodial field (after doing custodial work for a couple of years), I have a new respect for anyone who answers a phone on a technical support line.
This isn't to say that everyone who works as a phone support technician is good at what they do, and I have run into incompetence in both those I have had to call for support, and those I have had to clean up after once they had given bad support advice. But for those who are good at it, and do it well, my hat is off to you (and to myself - I do alright! ;)
For two years, I have taken calls from people who have systems that don't start, whose sound doesn't work, who have just upgraded to a new operating system, who have broken system components, or who have virus/malware issues with their systems. There have been those who are very understanding about the fact that this kind of thing happens sometimes, and some who are completely incensed at the idea that the manufacturer of their computer is not responsible when they go to some site and accidentally pick up an infection on their system. People who fall asleep at the wheel, so-to-speak, and people who don't listen, or who interrupt constantly when you are trying to speak to them, some who swear at you and call you some of the worst names... The list goes on and on, I guarantee you.
The worst part of it is being called incompetent or stupid, or whatever because you can't figure out the solution to the problem. Yet, here I am working my tail off, trying to find a solution and coming up with a blank or coming up with the information that others have found before me that there simply is no fix for the particular situation.
Anyway, that's just my little take on tech support. And, I work the night shift where some of the most... "interesting" people can occassionally reach you. People who are drunk or stoned, or who have forgotten to take their medication should not be calling tech support at 3 in the morning. Seriously. "I'm an IT guy, and I know compluters, and I am an expert and my ssound doesn't work. Fiksh it!" Yes, sir, let's unmute your sound and try again. "Oh... uh... thanksh... how did that happen?"
How, indeed?
So, there, now you know a little more about me. I am a hardware phone tech support person for a large computer manufacturer, and I used to be a programmer. And a janitor. And I work overnights. 10(11) hours at a time.
Next time you talk to someone on phone tech support (internet, phone, computer, cable company, etc.), remember that they are people too, and they are doing their job (hopefully) to the best of their abilities. And if you can do a better job yourself, don't call us and blame us for the world's ills. Please. Just do it yourself, or give us the benefit of the doubt that maybe we know what we are doing and are going to do whatever we can to help you out.
That is all. Thank you.
Cheers!
Slyde
Don't get me wrong: I like the fact that I can sit here and type away about stuff in the middle of the night, but it doesn't happen often, so I am taking advantage while I can. The work I do is not as easy as I long ago thought this type of job would be, so any break that comes along is welcome relief to the drone and drear of doing phone tech support for 10 hours at a stretch (with lunch thrown in, so I am actually "at work" for 11+ hours a day).
I can remember when I thought that people who worked on tech support didn't really have the skills to do anything more, and that it was a low-end job in the high-end field of IT. I used to work as a consultant, and a programmer, and even as a systems analyst, so I was sure that the jobs I did were better than tech support. But I didn't realize just what a difficult job those tech support folks had. Talking to people who don't know much about computers, and guiding them through the process of figuring out what is wrong and then fixing it is not a simple task at times. Then there's the issue of irate customers who want to yell at you because their computer is not working the way they think it should, or it isn't working at all. It's stressful!
Now, granted, not everything that I do is using my full potential, but just as I have a new respect for people in the custodial field (after doing custodial work for a couple of years), I have a new respect for anyone who answers a phone on a technical support line.
This isn't to say that everyone who works as a phone support technician is good at what they do, and I have run into incompetence in both those I have had to call for support, and those I have had to clean up after once they had given bad support advice. But for those who are good at it, and do it well, my hat is off to you (and to myself - I do alright! ;)
For two years, I have taken calls from people who have systems that don't start, whose sound doesn't work, who have just upgraded to a new operating system, who have broken system components, or who have virus/malware issues with their systems. There have been those who are very understanding about the fact that this kind of thing happens sometimes, and some who are completely incensed at the idea that the manufacturer of their computer is not responsible when they go to some site and accidentally pick up an infection on their system. People who fall asleep at the wheel, so-to-speak, and people who don't listen, or who interrupt constantly when you are trying to speak to them, some who swear at you and call you some of the worst names... The list goes on and on, I guarantee you.
The worst part of it is being called incompetent or stupid, or whatever because you can't figure out the solution to the problem. Yet, here I am working my tail off, trying to find a solution and coming up with a blank or coming up with the information that others have found before me that there simply is no fix for the particular situation.
Anyway, that's just my little take on tech support. And, I work the night shift where some of the most... "interesting" people can occassionally reach you. People who are drunk or stoned, or who have forgotten to take their medication should not be calling tech support at 3 in the morning. Seriously. "I'm an IT guy, and I know compluters, and I am an expert and my ssound doesn't work. Fiksh it!" Yes, sir, let's unmute your sound and try again. "Oh... uh... thanksh... how did that happen?"
How, indeed?
So, there, now you know a little more about me. I am a hardware phone tech support person for a large computer manufacturer, and I used to be a programmer. And a janitor. And I work overnights. 10(11) hours at a time.
Next time you talk to someone on phone tech support (internet, phone, computer, cable company, etc.), remember that they are people too, and they are doing their job (hopefully) to the best of their abilities. And if you can do a better job yourself, don't call us and blame us for the world's ills. Please. Just do it yourself, or give us the benefit of the doubt that maybe we know what we are doing and are going to do whatever we can to help you out.
That is all. Thank you.
Cheers!
Slyde
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
A Place to Rant
Hello anybody. I have decided to try out blogger for a new blog, and see if I can manage to keep myself going with it on at least a semi-regular basis. I used to have a blog elsewhere, but after a while, I found that no-one was reading it, no-one was commenting on my posts, and that basically made me decide to stop using it. It's not so much that the people who read it didn't appreciate it; the problem was there were only about 5 people who ever looked at it, and only 2 who ever commented on it.
So, here I am, starting over and attempting a new blog. First off, I guess I should tell you a little bit about me.
I was born in the late 60's (so late, it was just days to the 70's) in a small town not too-too far from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I grew up in and around Toronto until I was around 16, then moved a few hours north to the town of North Bay. After completing high school and college, I moved to Ottawa (Canada's capital) to work as a computer programmer and systems analyst, then moved to the states briefly (Omaha, NE and Seattle, WA) before returning to Ottawa to be with the woman who eventually became my wife.
In between birth and now, I have been to a few places, seen a few things, experienced a few experiences, and developed an opinion on many things. I do find that some of my opinions are fluid, and I can occasionally see both sides of an argument, but every so often, I see my side and I am convinced I am right. I know, that's called being human! I do enjoy writing, and find that most of the time I speak in a very loose prose, especially when blogging and that kind of thing. I like to just say what I would say if I was talking to someone and just opening my mouth and letting the words spill out until there was nothing left. I do occasionally edit what I write, but for the most part, it comes out just the way I wrote it the first time. And, I usually don't plan what I write for my blogs to much extent - I have ideas of what to say, and I start with the idea and expound upon it like there was no tomorrow. Like this paragraph. Time to stop!
OK, interests (what is this, a dating interview?): hiking, biking, inline skating, playing piano, writing music, recording music, listening to other people's music, learning new instruments, reading other people's stories, writing my own stories, playing computer games, watching sci-fi movies and TV shows, watching other TV shows not sci-fi (and a few movies in that "genre" as well - there are two genres: sci-fi, and not sci-fi). I am a cat person, though I do like dogs too and have owned dogs before, but for me, a cat is truly a best friend or a bitter enemy (I may blog about that some day). I'm a Capricorn, love the colour green, and... OK, yeah, this is starting to get silly now.
At this particular moment in time, I don't have anything else but this introductory post to offer, but I may come up with something to just drop in here later on. If no-one looks at this post, then no-one will ever know! If anyone drops in, be sure to come back sometime and see if there was anything interesting that I may have had to say. I will talk about current events, news of the weird, the local radio station (the morning show used to read my old blog when I talked about them - mayhap I will get them to drop in here sometime as well), the TV shows I like and watch, music... you know, whatever! And if you have anything to say about anything I have to say, I always enjoy hearing other people's points of view.
Catcha on the flip side!
Cheers!
Slyde
So, here I am, starting over and attempting a new blog. First off, I guess I should tell you a little bit about me.
I was born in the late 60's (so late, it was just days to the 70's) in a small town not too-too far from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I grew up in and around Toronto until I was around 16, then moved a few hours north to the town of North Bay. After completing high school and college, I moved to Ottawa (Canada's capital) to work as a computer programmer and systems analyst, then moved to the states briefly (Omaha, NE and Seattle, WA) before returning to Ottawa to be with the woman who eventually became my wife.
In between birth and now, I have been to a few places, seen a few things, experienced a few experiences, and developed an opinion on many things. I do find that some of my opinions are fluid, and I can occasionally see both sides of an argument, but every so often, I see my side and I am convinced I am right. I know, that's called being human! I do enjoy writing, and find that most of the time I speak in a very loose prose, especially when blogging and that kind of thing. I like to just say what I would say if I was talking to someone and just opening my mouth and letting the words spill out until there was nothing left. I do occasionally edit what I write, but for the most part, it comes out just the way I wrote it the first time. And, I usually don't plan what I write for my blogs to much extent - I have ideas of what to say, and I start with the idea and expound upon it like there was no tomorrow. Like this paragraph. Time to stop!
OK, interests (what is this, a dating interview?): hiking, biking, inline skating, playing piano, writing music, recording music, listening to other people's music, learning new instruments, reading other people's stories, writing my own stories, playing computer games, watching sci-fi movies and TV shows, watching other TV shows not sci-fi (and a few movies in that "genre" as well - there are two genres: sci-fi, and not sci-fi). I am a cat person, though I do like dogs too and have owned dogs before, but for me, a cat is truly a best friend or a bitter enemy (I may blog about that some day). I'm a Capricorn, love the colour green, and... OK, yeah, this is starting to get silly now.
At this particular moment in time, I don't have anything else but this introductory post to offer, but I may come up with something to just drop in here later on. If no-one looks at this post, then no-one will ever know! If anyone drops in, be sure to come back sometime and see if there was anything interesting that I may have had to say. I will talk about current events, news of the weird, the local radio station (the morning show used to read my old blog when I talked about them - mayhap I will get them to drop in here sometime as well), the TV shows I like and watch, music... you know, whatever! And if you have anything to say about anything I have to say, I always enjoy hearing other people's points of view.
Catcha on the flip side!
Cheers!
Slyde
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)