2022 saw the return to full time touring and consistent album release cycles. With many artists forced off the road for 2 years, creativity flourished and a ton of great music was released in 2022. Many newer artists really broke through in 2022 with new music, solidifying their sound. Here are our Five Fave: 2022 Newer Artists Rock Albums.

#5 – Bad Omens – The Death Of Peace Of Mind

Bad Omens is one of the fast risers in the rock world today. Frontman and producer Noah Sebastian has been steadily building a strong following. The band is rounded out by guitarist Nicholas Ruffilo and Joakim “Jolly” Karlsson, with Nick Folio on the drumkit. They have perfected their own style of modern rock, with sufficient levels of angst to satisfy the current generation of rockers.

Standout Tracks: Like A Villain, Concrete Jungle, The Death Of Peace Of Mind

#4 – Dorothy – Gifts From The Holy Ghost

Dorothy dropped a different kind of album this time around. The sound is still based in the blues, but the message is much more optimistic and forward looking. This is an album about redemption and rejuvenation. Dorothy Martin has one of the strongest voices in rock today, and you can feel every emotion flowing from her soul.

Standout Tracks: A Beautiful Life, Rest In Peace, Black Sheep

#3 – Black Swan – Generation Mind

Black Swan is a throwback supergroup formed in 2020, and Generation Mind is their second album. The band consists of hard rock legends Robin McAuley (McAuley Schenker Group) – Lead Vocals and Background Vocals, Reb Beach (Winger, Whitesnake) – Guitars and Background Vocals, Jeff Pilson (Dokken, Foreigner) – Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Keys and Background Vocals and Matt Starr (Ace Frehley, Mr. Big) – Drums and Percussion. Their blend of hair metal styles coalesces perfectly this time around. This is an album that could have been released in the 80’s, yet it sounds fresh and exciting now. These are extremely talented musicians who are pure joy to listen to.

Standout Tracks: Eagles Fly, Generation Mind, I Will Follow

#2 – Fire From The Gods – Soul Revolution

Fire From The Gods adds a touch of reggae and hip hop to the nu-metal mix. The collective energy of lead guitarist Drew Walker, bassist Bonner Baker, rhythm guitarist and backing vocalist Jameson Teat, drummer Richard Wicander and lead vocalist AJ Channer provides a light of hope and progress. Akil Jelani Channer loves to bring his social consciousness into the lyrics, providing a roadmap to progress for the listener. The burdens of facing injustice can be felt deeply, and the lyrical and musical catharsis allow the listener to let go and move forward.

Standout Tracks: SOS, Thousand Lifetimes, Be Free

#1 – Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows (D.R.U.G.S.) – Destroy Rebuild

In 2011, Chiodos vocalist Craig Owens formed a Warped Tour supergroup called Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows and released one of the greatest albums ever made – D.R.U.G.S.. After 2 years of touring, the band broke up. A decade later, Owens has brought back the project with new musicians and in 2022, released Destroy Rebuild, which is another of the greatest albums ever made. Owens is a master at crafting songs that reel from quiet beauty to out of control urgency, and back again. Every single song has a vocal or musical hook that grabs you and gets you excited to listen. The lyrics are thought provoking and some of the song titles are ridiculously clever, which is one of Owens’ trademarks. It is impossible to pick only 3 standout tracks, but the 3 standout titles are “Supercalifragilisticexistentialcrisis”, “(Are we not drawn onward to) NEW ERA” and “What’s the Code for Heaven’s Gate?” – none of which are even remotely related to their lyrical content. Most of the songs are about personal growth, and are quite inspiring.

Standout Tracks: Outcasts VS Everyone, Destiny, The Longest Road

Five Fave: 2022 Newer Artists Rock Albums first appeared on Game On Media.

2022 saw the return to full time touring and consistent album release cycles. With many artists forced off the road for 2 years, creativity flourished and a ton of great music was released in 2022. Some of our all time favorite acts came back with stellar material. Kudos to any artist who isn’t satisfied playing only the old hits and keeps creating. Here are our Five Fave: 2022 Classic Rock Albums.

#5 – Skid Row – The Gang’s All Here

Skid Row has been searching for a suitable replacement for Sebastian Bach since 1996. They have finally found their lead singer in Erik Grönwall, who spent the last decade fronting Swedish glam band H.E.A.T, after winning Swedish Idol in 2009. His vocal range and showmanship are the perfect complement to the riffs and pop rock beats of Dave ‘The Snake” Sabo, Rachel Bolan, Scotti Hill and Rob Hammersmith. “The Gang’s All Here” is a catchy, fun ride reminiscent of the band’s mega-hit debut album.

Standout Tracks: Time Bomb, Not Dead Yet, Tear It Down

#4 – Sammy Hagar & The Circle – Crazy Times

Sammy Hagar never slows down. He just keeps on starting businesses, writing music and performing live. This time around, his bandmates are known as “The Circle”, with his old buddy Michael Anthony on bass, Jason Bonham on drums and Vic Johnson on lead guitar. This is their second album of mostly new material, born out of their lockdown sessions. Some feature Sammy on acoustic guitar, while others are full band productions.

Standout Tracks: Be Still, Crazy Times, Father Time

#3 – Ann Wilson – Fierce Bliss

Ann Wilson, legendary voice of Heart, released her first solo album with original material, “Fierce Bliss”. It shows that her incredible vocal range and passionate performance has not dropped off a bit after 5 decades on the stage. There are a few covers sprinkled in, and few can cover a song the way Ann Wilson can. The originals are heartfelt and well done.

Standout Tracks: Greed, Black Wing, A Moment In Heaven

#2 – Journey – Freedom

“Freedom” is the 15th studio album from Journey and the first in over a decade. Arnel Pineda delivers outstanding vocals on his third effort with the legendary band. Randy Jackson returned to slap the bass (yes, that Randy Jackson dawg) but has since left the group. Drummer and producer Narada Michael Walden helped write most of the album, along with mainstays Neil Schon and Jonathan Cain, and has also departed. The album itself is long and full of songs similar to ones from throughout their entire career. The emotions run deep and that is why we all love Journey.

Standout Tracks: You Got The Best Of Me, Still Believe In Love, United We Stand

#1 – Queensrÿche – Digital Noise Alliance

Queensrÿche version 2.0 is a band that has earned its continued relevance and demands your attention. Despite the lineup changes and retirements, they continue to press on, through sheer effort and talent, by playing shows and writing songs. Michael Wilton and Eddie Jackson are the heart and soul of this band, and they are the thread that lets you know which band you are listening to. Todd LaTorre excels on vocals, Casey Grillo is dynamic on drums and Mike Stone returns to add soulful guitar to the mix. “Digital Noise Alliance” is the most complete album of Queensrÿche’s modern era. Each song brings a different vibe and every experiment works.

Standout Tracks: In Extremis, Hold On, Behind The Walls

Five Fave: 2022 Classic Rock Albums first appeared on Game On Media.

2022 saw the return to full time touring and consistent album release cycles. With many artists forced off the road for 2 years, creativity flourished and a ton of great music was released in 2022. Nothing gets your heart racing and blood pumping like heavy music. Here are our Five Fave: 2022 Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Albums.

#5 – Slipknot – The End, So Far

Slipknot released “The End, So Far” and it is a unique chapter in their history. Within an hour of music, the band travels roads both familiar and unexpected. The songs are heavy without being frantic. Corey Taylor uses all of his range, from guttural growls to plaintive pleas. If this is “The End”, it is a fitting final chapter. If not, then there are even more exciting days ahead for Maggots around the world.

Standout Tracks: Yen, H377, Finale

#4 – Soulfly – Totem

Soulfly has been a metal machine, turning out 12 albums since 1998. Vocalist / guitarist Max Cavalera has always led the way. His son Zyon Cavalera has been on the drums since 2012 and bassist Mike Leon on bass since 2015. “Totem” plays upon the elements of traditions such as meditation and tribal prayer ceremonies. The trip is bumpy and loud, but well worth taking.

Standout Tracks: Spirit Animal, The Damage Done, Totem

#3 – Motionless In White – Scoring The End Of The World

Chris “Motionless” Cerulli and Motionless In White continue to refine their sound and their songwriting skills. “Scoring The End Of The World” is yet another master class in accessible modern metal. Few vocalists can sing clean and dirty with equal skill, and few bands can wring melodies out of the typical nu-metal chug. Guitarists Ricky “Horror” Olson and Ryan Sitkowski drop in and out of the special effects with perfect timing. Drummer Vinny Mauro and bassist Justin Morrow drive the beat to fit the current mood within each song. MIW has created another dose of horror-pop which should draw even more fans into their wicked web.

Standout Tracks: Werewolf, Masterpiece, We Become The Night

#2 – Machine Head – OF KINGDOM AND CROWN

Robb Flynn, lead singer and guitarist of Machine Head, has done it again. The first album with new band members guitarist Wacław Kiełtyka and drummer Matt Alston is another banger. Jared MacEachern has covered bass and backing vocals for a decade, and the overall sound is familiar. Similar to Dave Mustaine and Megadeth (who narrowly missed this list with their excellent The Sick, the Dying… and the Dead!), you know who you are listening to, no matter who else is filling out the lineup. The concept behind this album is an intertwined tale of Ares, who loses the love of his life and goes on a murderous rampage, and Eros, who loses his mother to overdose, gets depressed and goes on a killing spree, ultimately murdering Ares’ love.

Standout Tracks: N0 G0ds N0 Masters, Arr0ws In W0rds Fr0m The Sky, Bec0me The Firest0rm

#1 – Parkway Drive – Darker Still

Thirty seconds into the opening track of “Darker Still”, fans of Parkway Drive get everything they have come to love from the Australian powerhouse. “Ground Zero” quietly sums up the last 3 years of isolated uncertainty which gripped the world. Winston McCall painfully whispers “The fights, the falls, the scars and broken bones. Beneath it all, the cracks begin to show. The hate, the hurt, we’re no better off alone.” then screams as only he can. Guitarists Jeff Ling and Luke Kilpatrick enter with the heavy, yet hummable riffing and bassist Jia O’Connor and drummer Ben Gordon blast beat into the fray. Just like that, we are off and running and the passion and precision never let up. There is not a missed step on this entire album. It is pure perfection and an emotional journey through the darkness, headed towards the light at the end of the tunnel.

Standout Tracks: Ground Zero, Glitch, Darker Still

Five Fave: 2022 Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Albums first appeared on Game On Media.

2022 saw the return to full time touring and consistent album release cycles. With many artists forced off the road for 2 years, creativity flourished and a ton of great music was released in 2022. Sometimes it is good to get out of your comfort zone, and look for music on the edges of your genre. Here are our Five Fave: 2022 Something Different Rock Albums.

#5 – Kitarō – Six Musical Portraits

Kitarō is a multi-instrumentalist who has been creating wondrous soundscapes for more than 4 decades. “Six Musical Portraits” is a sampler of some of his best work. His music is excellent to listen to when relaxing, practicing yoga, meditating or falling asleep.

Standout Tracks: Caravansary, Dance Of Sarasvati, Planet

#4 – Rammstein – Zeit

The German headbangers have created another metal masterpiece. If you don’t mind singing along in a foreign language, or just want to exercise those neck muscles, “Zeit” is an excellent choice.

Standout Tracks: Armee Der Tristen, Angst, Adieu

#3 – The Pretty Reckless – Other Worlds

Taylor Momsen and The Pretty Reckless continue to grow as musicians and performers. “Other Worlds” is a collection of acoustic versions, cover songs and reimagined mixes.

Standout Tracks: Loud Love, 25 [Acoustic], Only Love Can Save Me Now [Acoustic]

#2 – Coheed and Cambria – Vaxis II: A Window Of The Waking Mind

Coheed and Cambria have been telling the fictional story of the Amory Wars for 9 albums. “Vaxis II: A Window Of The Waking Mind” is the direct follow-up to 2018’s “Vaxis I: The Unheavenly Creatures”. Check it out if progressive, sci-fi influenced, rock musicals sound intriguing to you.

Standout Tracks: Ladders Of Supremacy, Rise Naianasha (Cut The Cord), Window Of The Waking Mind

#1 – Mark Tremonti – Mark Tremonti Sings Frank Sinatra

Mark Tremonti, the creative engine behind Creed, Alter Bridge and Tremonti, did something unexpected and magical in 2022. Accompanied by surviving members of Sinatra’s band as well as various top-notch players, Tremonti cut 14 classics for Tremonti Sings Sinatra, which he gifted to the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) as part of his new organization Take A Chance For Charity. 100% of the album’s proceeds will go to NDSS to help people with developmental disabilities. 

Tremonti’s voice sounds amazing, and he studied and practiced for a long time, driven to give these songs and their original artist the respect that they deserve. Mark explains “Frank Sinatra raised more than a billion dollars for charity and that is a fact I wish the public knew more about. Beneath his cool and calm persona, he had a big heart. Doing this charity in his name was another way the stars had aligned. I decided to do this record to raise funds for families and individuals with Down syndrome. This project is the start of a new purpose that I will have for the rest of my life.”

Standout Tracks: Luck Be A Lady, I Fall In Love Too Easily, That’s Life

For more information on Take A Chance For Charity and NDSS, visit https://tremontisingssinatra.com/

Five Fave: 2022 Something Different Rock Albums first appeared on Game On Media.

2022 saw the return to full time touring and consistent album release cycles. With many artists forced off the road for 2 years, creativity flourished and a ton of great music was released in 2022. With so many of my favorite artists releasing albums in 2022, this list was extremely difficult to put together. Fortunately, these bands delivered some of their strongest material to date, so the hardest part was sorting them. Here are our Five Fave: 2022 Mainstream Rock Albums.

#5 – Nothing More – Spirits

Nothing More released “Spirits” in 2022, an album 5 years in the making. With their self-titled 2014 debut and 2017’s “The Stories We Tell Ourselves” delivering hit after hit after hit, expectations were high for this creative band. Jonny Hawkins, Mark Vollelunga, Daniel Oliver and Ben Anderson put in the work and it shows. “Spirits” continues the unique path which Nothing More has charted for itself, full of the entire spectrum of sounds and emotions we have come to expect. Special effects, spoken word interludes and dramatic shifts in tone and tempo provide the perfect backdrop for deeply personal lyrics touching on love, mental health, socio-politics and philosophy.

Standout Tracks: You Don’t Know What Love Means, Best Times, Spirits

#4 – Halestorm – Back From The Dead

Halestorm has been steadily climbing the ladder to rock superstardom for more than a decade. Lzzy Hale has one of the best voices in rock and roll history. She possesses the ability to craft songs which fans can identify with, and all are welcome for the ride. “Back From The Dead” captures so many of the feelings and emotions that the world has experienced in the past few years. No matter the issue – love or loss, injustice or isolation – these songs offer cathartic release and cautious optimism. The album is a musical self-help therapy session, whether you are listening alone, or better yet, experiencing it live in concert, as part of the community that feels best screaming along together. Arejay Hale, Joe Hottinger and Josh Smith know how to inject joy and emotion into any song.

Standout Tracks: Raise Your Horns, The Steeple, Wicked Ways

#3 – Shinedown – Planet Zero

Shinedown has built a career diving into the darkness, and documenting a way out. “Planet Zero” is largely a warning of a possible future where we lose our humanity. Tucked within a science fiction concept album are subtle clues about how to recapture the brightness and brilliance that we all have within. Brent Smith, Barry Kerch, Zach Myers and Eric Bass complement each other perfectly. Each moment gets what it needs, whether that is a full out sonic assault, or a tender touch.

Standout Tracks: Daylight, America Burning, Dysfunctional You

#2 – Ghost – Impera

Ghost is one of the most creative rock bands of all time. Led by Tobias Forge, who transmogrifies from one religious icon to another, and a merry band of Nameless Ghouls who remain anonymous at all times, Ghost loves to play with religious concepts and traditions. “Impera” conceptually takes a look at the rise and fall of empires, and how that is playing out today. With each album, the band seems to grow sonically and consistently, and “Impera” is infectious and enjoyable from start to finish. They were even tapped to write a song for the final “Halloween” movie – “Hunter’s Moon” – a view of events from inside the mind of a serial killer. Literally every song has something special which grabs you and won’t let go. “Impera” is an album that gets better with every listen.

Standout Tracks: Hunter’s Moon, Spillways, Griftwood

#1 – Alter Bridge – Pawns & Kings

You can set your musical memory clock to Alter Bridge. Every three years, Mark Tremonti, Scott Phillips, Brian Marshall and Myles Kennedy deliver an exquisite package of emotional songs to add to the collection. 2004 introduced “One Day Remains”, 2007 brought “Blackbird”, 2010 dropped “AB III”, 2013 built “Fortress”, 2016 saw “The Last Hero”, 2019 sent “Walk The Sky”, and 2022 gave us “Pawns & Kings”. While each of these albums contains great music, this release is my favorite since “AB III”. There are many sonic pathways chosen, and all of them pay off. There is plenty of inspirational lyrical content, finding the truth and light in the darkness. And, of course, there is so much delicious guitar wizardry, you can listen to “Pawns & Kings” over and over again.

Standout Tracks: Sin After Sin, Stay, Pawns & Kings

Five Fave: 2022 Mainstream Rock Albums first appeared on Game On Media.

The original Law & Order is back after more than a decade away. Although it never really went away, as it has dominated the syndication market on several different channels. The first half of most shows focused on the detectives of the 24th precinct investigating crimes, following leads and questioning suspects. After they arrested a suspected criminal, they handed the case off to the District Attorney’s office and sometimes showed up in court to testify.

In honor of its glorious return to the franchise, here are our Five Fave: Law & Order Detectives.

#5 – Anthony Anderson – Detective Kevin Bernard (Season 18 – 21) 50 episodes

Detective Bernard has been one of the steadiest, most professional officers in the series. He consistently tries to do the right thing in the right way, and calls people out to hold them accountable. He also shows a sly sense of humor, mixing it up with his partners and his Lieutenants.

#4 – Benjamin Bratt – Detective Reynaldo “Rey” Curtis (Season 6 – 9, 20) 95 episodes

Rey Curtis was always determined, to solve crimes and to support his wife and daughters.

#3 – Chris Noth – Detective Michael “Mike” Logan (Season 1 – 5) 111 episodes

Mike Logan was the O.G., lasting through multiple partners, showing them all how it was done.

#2 – Jesse L. Martin – Detective Edward “Ed” Green (Season 10 – 18) 198 episodes

Detective Green was the grittiest, most authentic detective in the squad. He used all of his intellect and emotions to get through difficult circumstances, and always delivered the goods.

#1 – Jerry Orbach – Detective Leonard W. “Lennie” Briscoe (Season 3 – 14) 273 episodes

The legendary Jerry Orbach cracked wise and outsmarted criminals for an astounding 273 episodes. An old school cop, with personal demons and self-deprecating sarcasm, who managed to survive in a young man’s game for a long time. Lennie Briscoe has the most, and best, one-liners of any character in any television series.

Five Fave: Law & Order Detectives first appeared on Game On Media.

The original Law & Order is back after more than a decade away. Although it never really went away, as it has dominated the syndication market on several different channels. While the second half of most shows focused on the Executive District Attorneys prosecuting the cases, we all know that the key to the success of the case (and the show) was the performance of the Assistant District Attorneys. Benjamin Stone, Jack McCoy and Michael Cutter would be nothing without their outstanding ADA’s.

In honor of its glorious return to the franchise, here are our Five Fave: Law & Order Assistant District Attorneys.

#5 – Odelya Halevi – A.D.A. Samantha Maroun (Season 21) 1 episode (so far)

It has only been one episode so far, but it is clear to see that A.D.A. Samantha Maroun is going to be a force to be reckoned with. She has already shown empathy, creativity and the ability to step in and deliver a persuasive closing argument.

#4 – Alana De La Garza – A.D.A. Connie Rubirosa (Season 17 – 20) 85 episodes

Miss Rubirosa was a perfect blend of passion and patience, navigating obstacles both personal and professional during her tenure.

#3 – Richard Brooks – A.D.A. Paul Robinette (Season 1 – 3) 66 episodes

The first A.D.A. Paul Robinette set the tone for the series, proving to be an equally important main character, and not just a sidekick. He also set the bar for style, with tight suits and that fade.

#2 – Angie Harmon – A.D.A. Abbie Carmichael (Season 9 – 11) 78 episodes

A.D.A. Abbie Carmichael could entrance you and frighten you at the same time, with her dark black eyes and her razor sharp wit. She never hesitated to make her feelings known, whether it was to her bosses, her witnesses or the defendants.

#1 – Elisabeth Röhm – A.D.A. Serena Southerlyn (Season 12 – 15) 85 episodes

A.D.A. Serena Southerlyn was the most dynamic character on the show, often conflicting philosophically with Jack McCoy and ultra-conservative D.A. Arthur Branch. Her character’s big reveal on her final episode was unexpected and powerful. When re-watching the show, Elisabeth Röhm’s subtle performance becomes even more brilliant.

Five Fave: Law & Order Assistant District Attorneys first appeared on Game On Media.

Everybody watches the Super Bowl. Actually, everybody watches the Super Bowl commercials. It is the one sporting event of the year where you actually run to the bathroom during game play. Every year, millions are spent trying to be funny, surprising, memorable and hopefully raise brand awareness. The 2022 Super Bowl commercials were no exception. There were celebrity pairings, old songs brought back, talking animals and movie previews. There were a lot of telephone and electric car ads, but I challenge you to remember which vehicles were being hawked by characters from Austin Powers to The Soprano’s to Schitt’s Creek. Here are our Five Fave Super Bowl LVI 2022 Commercials.

#5 – BMW – Zeus & Hera

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Salma Hayek brought the ultimate star power, playing the gods Zeus and Hera, attempting to retire in peace. The neighbors keep bugging Zeus to zap them with some power, frustrating him to no end. Hera rewards his patience by giving him a boost direct from an electric BMW. Their pet is priceless.

Best Line: Don’t forget to take Peggy for a walk.

#4 – Flamin’ Hot Doritos and Cheetos – Push It

A jungle explorer drops some Flamin’ Hot Doritos and Cheetos in the jungle, and the tried and true trick of humanizing animals slowly builds to perfection, with a freestyle rendition of Salt N Pepa’s “Push It”. You can’t beat dancing animals.

Best Line: The fox beat boxing.

#3 – Verizon 5G Internet – The Cable Guy

The best case of resurrecting an old movie character was Verizon’s on the nose use of Jim Carrey as “The Cable Guy” who can’t believe you can get internet service without cable. A great pairing that actually fits the product and explains its value, brilliantly acted.

Best Line: Hidden fees? I love those.

#2 – Rocket Mortgage – Barbie Dream House

Anna Kendrick helps a little girl get Barbie her dream home, using Rocket Mortgage. The clip is chock full of typical catch phrases from home improvement and house hunting shows. It also finds a way to cleverly introduces Rocket Homes as a home finding tool. An amazing concept executed to perfection.

Best Line: I found a fixer upper castle on Rocket Homes.

#1 – E*TRADE – E*TRADE Baby “Off The Grid”

My instant favorite Super Bowl Commercial was the recruitment of the E*TRADE Baby to come out of retirement and help people invest wisely. The second it starts, and you see the baby realize he has been found, the laughs start and never stop coming. The more you think about it, the more clever the entire premise becomes.

Best Line: They’re taking financial advice from memes!

(spit take) I’ll get my onesies.

Five Fave: Super Bowl LVI 2022 Commercials first appeared on Game On Media.

The general consensus is that Tom Brady is the greatest quarterback in NFL history. Everybody knows about his stats and accomplishments. That’s fine. There are many other outstanding players, and one of the great joys of sports is the never-ending debate over everything. So let’s put that aside and talk about something undeniable – Tom Brady is the LUCKIEST quarterback in NFL history. Sure, you have to put yourself in a position to have good things happen to you, but the level of unbelievable things that his opponents have done against him is ridiculous. We are not even going to consider the facts that the entire NFL passed on drafting him at least 5 times, and that Drew Bledsoe “Much He Had To Go To The Hospital” let the New York Jets crush him rather than running out of bounds, giving TB12 his chance. Here are our Five Fave: Reasons Tom Brady is the Luckiest Quarterback Who Ever Lived.

#5 – Raiders v. Patriots 2002 Playoffs – The Fumble AKA The Tuck Rule

In the 4th quarter of the 2001 season AFC Divisional Playoff game between Jon Gruden’s Oakland Raiders and Bill Belichick’s New England Patriots, Raiders corner back Charles Woodson sacked Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, causing him to fumble which was recovered by Raiders linebacker Greg Biekert. The play would have iced the game for Oakland, who may have gone on to the Super Bowl. Jon Gruden may have never been traded to Tampa Bay and the Buccaneers may not have won the next Super Bowl. The refs reviewed the play and somehow decided that they could read Tom’s mind and determine that he was actually just trying to tuck the ball, which somehow meant he was still throwing the ball. It was a fumble, and his 1st Super Bowl win is illegitimate.

#4 – God Hates Carolina Panthers Kicker Jon Kasay

Super Bowl XXXVIII, which followed the 2003 season, featured the return of the New England Patriots and the arrival of the 1995 expansion team Carolina Panthers, who had gone from 1-15 in 2001 to a thrilling Super Bowl run in 2003. The game was scoreless for almost 27 minutes before an explosion of points leading to a 14-10 Patriot half-time lead. By the way, this was THAT half-time. The one where Justin Timberlake ripped Janet Jackson’s top off, exposing her breast (whose nipple was covered by a pasty). Nobody else scored in the 3rd quarter, but then one of the most exciting 4th quarters happened, with 5 TD’s and 4 lead changes ending up with a 29-29 tie with 1 minute left and Overtime likely. It was at this point that God apparently had decided on his punishment for the half-time partial nudity, and that fell on Panthers kicker Jon Kasay, who had once explained his missing a game-winning field goal vs. the Buccaneers by stating that “God must not have wanted me to make that kick”. Kasay booted the kick-off straight out of bounds, giving Brady the ball on his own 40 yard line, and granting the time and field position to allow the real hero of New England, Adam Vinatieri, to kick the Super Bowl winning field goal with 4 seconds left.

#3 – Atlanta Falcons Dan Quinn and Kyle Shanahan Slowly Choke

21-3 at half-time. 28-3 half-way through the 3rd quarter. 28-12 half-way through the 4th quarter. 28-20, ball on the 22, under 4 minutes left, a field goal almost certainly ices the game. Head coach Dan Quinn (more on him next) allows Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan to call a passing play, resulting in a sack, leading them out of field goal range, and giving Mr. Brady the opportunity to complete the largest comeback in Super Bowl history, eventually winning in overtime. Quinn absolutely, positively should have known better, as he was a first hand witness to our next lucky break. RUN. THE. BALL.

#2 – Seattle Seahawks Pete Carroll Turns Off Beast Mode

The Super Bowl after the 2014 season was one of the most exciting games ever played.  The New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks went back and forth, and the Seahawks were on the brink of clinching back-to-back titles, and denying the Pats who had not actually won a Super Bowl in 10 years, despite having the “Greatest Of All Time” at quarterback. Hmmm. Anyway, all the Seahawks had to do was activate “Beast Mode”, which was to give bruising running back Marshawn Lynch the ball from the 1 yard line with 26 seconds left (and a time-out just in case he was somehow stopped short) and BOOM (as in Legion of) – Seahawks dynasty. But oh no, they threw a pass, from an obvious passing formation, and it was intercepted. You have got to be kidding me.

#1 – Green Bay Packers Matt LaFleur Wusses Out

He hasn’t won the Super Bowl quite yet, but the NFL did move it to his home stadium after TB12 signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers failed to run into a wide open end zone on 3rd down, instead once again forcing it to his only reliable receiver, Davante Adams (good thing they drafted a 3rd string QB in the 1st round this year instead of a stud WR). They let a receiver get open with seconds left in the half for a Hail Satan touchdown. The same guy who let that happen also gave up an earlier touchdown, and made an obvious holding penalty when he could have gotten the Bucs off the field with seconds left in the game (good thing they didn’t draft a cornerback or safety in the 1st round). The worst thing of all, though, is just giving up, kicking a FIELD GOAL when you are down by 8 and the ball is inside the 10 with only 2 minutes left. Don’t let the MVP who threw 50 TD’s this year have another shot. No, Matt LaFleur, count on a defense that hadn’t really stopped much. Mr. Brady, your Super Bowl awaits, just walk this way.

Five Fave: Reasons Tom Brady is the Luckiest Quarterback Who Ever Lived first appeared on Game On Media.

2020 has been an atypical year for the music industry. The usual album and tour cycles have been turned on their heads. Some bands chose to hold their albums for when touring starts up again. Some bands found creative ways to release their albums, many with livestreams to go with it. Other bands took the opportunity to record and release unexpected music, and much more of that will be coming in 2021. This year, we really embraced things that were new. That could mean bands that were new to us, famous friends going solo, or EP’s written in direct response to the current world events. Here are our Five Fave: 2020 Rock Albums.

#5 – Bring Me The Horizon – POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR / FEVER 333 – WRONG GENERATION

Bring Me The Horizon and FEVER 333 both produced EP’s this year, reacting in real time to current events. POST HUMAN: SURVIVAL HORROR clocks in at 32 minutes. WRONG GENERATION is a tight 18 minutes. Combined, they make a respectable album’s worth of material, so we are recognizing them together. BMTH created the song of the year – pandemic category – with “Parasite Eve”. F333 delivered the song of the year – social justice category – with SUPREMACY. The rest of each EP is full of on-topic desperation and immediacy, with cathartic releases of aggression and anger. Together, they will stand as the soundtrack to 2020.

#4 – Clint Lowery – God Bless The Renegades

Clint Lowery, guitarist / back-up vocalist / songwriter from Sevendust, has worked on several solo projects before, but this is his first proper album. He followed it up with a full band tour, opening for Alter Bridge, one of the best shows of the abbreviated touring year. This album shows all of his passion, thoughtfulness and musical beauty. He even managed to squeeze out another EP, “Grief & Distance”, during the pandemic.

#3 – Adelitas Way- Shine On

Rick DeJesus and Adelitas Way keep pushing ahead and pushing boundaries. With guitarist Tavis Stanley leading the way, and Tre Stafford and Andrew Cushing manning the rhythm section, this band continues to explore what rock and roll is, and they have cranked out a ton of great material over the past few years. “Shine On” is full of empowerment and encouragement, things we all need right now.

#2 – Corey Taylor – CMFT

As if leading two of the most prolific and successful bands, Slipknot and Stone Sour, wasn’t enough, Corey M-F Taylor reached Mark Tremonti status by creating a third incredible band. Corey grabbed his guitar, a piano and several of his closest friends and took a journey through the history of rock and roll, complete with a hip-hop collabo with Tech N9ne. “CMFT” is a brilliant album from a bunch of guys clearly having fun.

#1 – H.E.A.T – H.e.a.t II

H.E.A.T is a bit confusing, but let’s see if we can figure them out. I discovered them on the Monsters Of Rock Cruise, where hair metal bands from the 1980’s performed, but they are a modern act. Their singer has been Erik Grönwall for the past decade, including on this album, yet he has left the group and original vocalist Kenny Leckremo has returned. “H.e.a.t II” is their 6th album, and they labeled it as number 2. I give up. I do call it my favorite rock album of the year. Full of energy, anthemic choruses, killer vocals and shredding guitars.

Five Fave: 2020 Rock Albums first appeared on Game On Media.

What are New Year’s Resolutions? People are always analyzing their intentions, adjusting their behaviors, and attempting to improve their lives. Whenever a new year begins, we give ourselves permission to start over, to let go of our past failures to better ourselves. We wipe the slate, delete the logs, swab the decks, clear the clutter, and resolve to do things differently.

What do we need to keep our resolutions going?  We need inspiration. We need metaphors that help us wrap our heads around what we have resolved to do, and why. We need help stopping, starting, increasing, decreasing whatever it is that is most important to us.

My metaphorical musical inspiration this year is “learning to fly”. The dream of flight has always inspired ambition. The idea of learning is a necessary humbling of our ego – to admit that we have failed, and perhaps we don’t know why we fail, or how to succeed. Taking steps toward educating ourselves is an attempt to fly beyond our current limitations. Shinedown, in particular, has always inspired me, giving me the courage to start my own consulting business over 15 years ago, an endeavor which succeeded for a decade, until it was time to take on another opportunity.

Here are our Five Fave Inspirational New Year’s Resolution Songs.

#5 – Mr. Mister – Broken Wings

Baby, don’t understand
Why we can’t just hold on to each other’s hands?
This time might be the last if fear unless
I make it all too clear I need you so, ohh

Take these broken wings
And learn to fly again, learn to live so free
When we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up and let us in
Take these broken wings

Baby, I think tonight
We can take what was wrong and make it right
Baby, it’s all I know that you’re half of the flesh
And blood that makes me whole, I need you so

So take these broken wings
And learn to fly again, learn to live so free
When we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up and let us in
Take these broken wings
You’ve got to learn to fly, learn to live, love so free
When we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up and let us in
Yeah, yeah
Let us in
Let us in

Baby, it’s all I know that you’re half of the flesh
And blood that makes me whole
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

So take these broken wings
And learn to fly again, learn to live so free
And when we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up and let us in
Take these broken wings
You got to learn to fly, learn to live and love so free
When we hear the voices sing
The book of love will open up for us and let us in
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, ooh

#4 – Pink Floyd – Learning To Fly

Into the distance, a ribbon of black
Stretched to the point of no turning back
A flight of fancy on a windswept field
Standing alone my senses reel
A fatal attraction is holding me fast
How can I escape this irresistible grasp?

Can’t keep my eyes from the circling sky
Tongue-tied and twisted
Just an earthbound misfit, I

Ice is forming on the tips of my wings
Unheeded warnings, I thought I thought of everything
No navigator to find my way home
Unladen, empty and turned to stone

A soul in tension that’s learning to fly
Condition grounded but determined to try

Can’t keep my eyes from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted
Just an earth-bound misfit, I

Above the planet on a wing and a prayer
My grubby halo, a vapor trail in the empty air
Across the clouds I see my shadow fly
Out of the corner of my watering eye
A dream unthreatened by the morning light
Could blow this soul right through the roof of the night

There’s no sensation to compare with this
Suspended animation, a state of bliss

Can’t keep my mind from the circling skies
Tongue-tied and twisted
Just an earth-bound misfit, I

#3 – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – Learning To Fly

Well, I started out down a dirty road
Started out all alone
And the sun went down as I crossed the hill
And the town lit up, the world got still

I’m learning to fly but I ain’t got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing

Well, the good old days may not return
And the rocks might melt and the sea may burn

I’m learning to fly (Learning to fly)
But I ain’t got wings (Learning to fly)
Coming down (Learning to fly)
Is the hardest thing (Learning to fly)

Well, some say life will beat you down
Break your heart, steal your crown
So I’ve started out for God knows where
I guess I’ll know when I get there

I’m learning to fly around the clouds
But what goes up (Learning to fly)
Must come down

I’m learning to fly (Learning to fly)
But I ain’t got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing
I’m learning to fly (Learning to fly)
Around the clouds
But what goes up (Learning to fly)
Must come down
I’m learning to fly (Learning to fly, learning to fly)
I’m learning to fly (Learning to fly, learning to fly)
(Learning to fly, learning to fly)

#2 – Foo Fighters – Learn To Fly

Run and tell all of the angels
This could take all night
Think I need a devil to help me get things right
Hook me up a new revolution
‘Cause this one is a lie
We sat around laughing and watched the last one die

Now I’m looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something to help me burn out bright
I’m looking for a complication
Looking cause I’m tired of lying
Make my way back home when I learn to fly high

I think I’m done nursing the patience
It can wait one night
I’d give it all away if you give me one last try
We’ll live happily ever trapped if you just save my life
Run and tell the angels that everything’s alright

Now I’m looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something to help me burn out bright
I’m looking for a complication
Looking cause I’m tired of trying
Make my way back home when I learn to fly high
Make my way back home when I learn to…

Fly along with me, I can’t quite make it alone
Try to make this life my own
Fly along with me, I can’t quite make it alone
Try to make this life my own

I’m looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something to help me burn out bright
I’m looking for a complication
Looking cause I’m tired of trying
Make my way back home when I learn to
I’m looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something to help me burn out bright
I’m looking for a complication
Looking cause I’m tired of trying
Make my way back home when I learn to fly high
Make my way back home when I learn to fly…
Make my way back home when I learn to…

#1 – Shinedown – Fly From The Inside

Here’s the weight of the world on my shoulders
Here’s the weight of the world on my shoulders
On my shoulders

All alone I pierce the chain
And on and on the sting remains
And dying eyes consume me now
The voice inside, screams out loud

I am focused on what I am after
The key to the next open chapter

‘Cause I found a way
To steal the sun from the sky
Long live that day
That I decided to fly from the inside

Every day a new deception
Pick your scene and take direction
And on and on I search to connect
But I don’t wear a mask and I have no regrets

I am focused on what I am after
The key to the next open chapter

‘Cause I found a way
To steal the sun from the sky
Long live that day
That I decided to fly from the inside

I can’t escape the pain, I can’t control the rage
Sometimes I think that I’m gonna go insane
I’m not against what’s right, I’m not for what’s wrong
I’m just making my way and I’m gone

Here’s the weight of the world on my shoulders

‘Cause I found a way
To steal the sun from the sky
Long live that day
That I decided to fly from the inside

That I decided to fly from the inside
That I decided to fly from the inside

Five Fave: Inspirational New Year’s Resolution Songs first appeared on Game On Media.

2020 has been an atypical year for the music industry. The usual album and tour cycles have been turned on their heads. Some bands chose to hold their albums for when touring starts up again. Some bands found creative ways to release their albums, many with livestreams to go with it. Other bands took the opportunity to record and release unexpected music, and much more of that will be coming in 2021.

Plenty of our familiar favorites dropped albums this year. For long-time fans, it was a welcome respite from the world, a warm blanket of sonic soothing. We got new music from AC-DC, Bon Jovi, Deftones, Green Day, Hollywood Undead, Ice-T and Body Count, In This Moment, Ozzy Osbourne, Pearl Jam, Puscifer, Sevendust, Smashing Pumpkins, and Testament. Here are our Five Fave: 2020 Rock Albums From Familiar Favorites.

#5 – Body Count featuring Ice-T – Carnivore

Ice-T is a genius in all types of entertainment. Body Count is his rap-rock outlet. Ernie C is his guitarist and he continues to crank out original rock, as well as re-imagining old rap songs and cover songs.

#4 – Pearl Jam – Gigaton

Pearl Jam covers a lot of musical ground on “Gigaton”. You may not like it all, but you are bound to love some of it. This is the kind of album that grows on you over time, so give it a few listens, and it may surprise you.

#3 – Sevendust – Blood & Stone

The boys in Sevendust just continue to evolve and improve as songwriters. This album grooves and drives and takes you on a journey.

#2 – Ozzy Osbourne – Ordinary Man

Despite health issues that have postponed several attempts at touring, somehow The Ozzman made it into the studio and created one of his best albums. Guitarist and producer Andrew Watt had worked with Ozzy on a Post Malone song, and he recruited Chad Smith and Duff McKagan, with assists from Malone and Sir Elton John. The album is diverse and brilliant, perhaps the coda to a 50 year career that began with Black Sabbath.

#1 – Bon Jovi – 2020

Bon Jovi had finished this album, and booked a world tour to support its release, when the world stopped turning. Jon Bon Jovi, inspired by the pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement, held the release, and wrote 2 more songs. “Do What You Can” and “American Reckoning” speak directly to society’s problems and promise. Overall, this album is full of heartfelt story telling, echoing Bruce Springsteen, and represents Bon Jovi looking outward, trying to make sense of it all.

Five Fave: 2020 Rock Albums From Familiar Favorites first appeared on Game On Media.

While researching TV shows for articles, and scouring all of my streaming subscriptions for something to watch, I realized that I kind of have a “type”. I am intrigued by bad-ass brunettes who stand up for themselves, and help others. Apparently, I also love science fiction characters. Here are my Five Fave TV Celebrity Crushes.

BONUS – 1960’s Crush – Elizabeth Montgomery

Elizabeth Montgomery portrayed the good witch Samantha Stephens on the comedy show “Bewitched”. She was cute and clever, and mostly was from before I was born, but her reruns continue to air to this day. The show is mostly in black and white, so it is hard to say if she was a brunette or not. =)

#5 – 1970’s Crush – Lynda Carter

Lynda Carter was TV’s “Wonder Woman”, the Amazonian princess, whose secret identity was Diana Prince, Navy Yeoman Petty Officer First Class. As a kid, I was crazy into the DC Super Friends, aka Justice League, and this was the first superhero I remember seeing “in real life”.

#4 – 1980’s Crush – Alyssa Milano

“Who’s the Boss?” was a silly TV sitcom in the 1980’s, but it did have a secret weapon, at least if you were a teenage boy during the show’s run. Alyssa Milano was the true star of the show, IMHO. We essentially grew up together. Later she went on to appear in “Melrose Place” as Jennifer Mancini. Then she starred spectacularly in “Charmed” as another good witch, Phoebe Halliwell.

#3 – 1990’s Crush – Eliza Dushku

Eliza Dushku first rose to TV prominence as a vampire slayer named Faith on “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” and its spinoff “Angel”. She then went on to portray Tru Davies, a woman with paranormal abilities, who could hear the dead speak, relive the previous day, and try to prevent their untimely demise, on “Tru Calling”. Her most impressive work came in Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse”, in which she played Echo, a woman whose mind was wiped clean, and then imprinted with specific personalities and abilities, in order to accomplish secret missions.

#2 – 2000’s Crush – Jessica Alba

Jessica Alba was the breakout star of the sadly short-lived series “Dark Angel” from James Cameron. She portrayed X5-452, a genetically enhanced nine-year-old female super soldier who escapes from custody. The show picks up a decade later, after an EMP attack which has left the world in shambles. Alba is now Max Guevara, and she secretly searches for others like her. She went on to movie fame as Nancy Callahan in “Sin City” and in other films.

#1 – 2010’s Crush – Emmy Rossum

Emmy Rossum is the heart and soul of “Shameless”, as Fiona Gallagher struggles to raise her siblings and her parents. She isn’t a witch, a doll, a princess, or a super soldier, but she is a hero nonetheless. Like all good characters, she screws up, a lot, but always with the best of intentions.

Five Fave: TV Celebrity Crushes first appeared on Game On Media.

2020 has been an atypical year for the music industry. The usual album and tour cycles have been turned on their heads. Some bands chose to hold their albums for when touring starts up again. Some bands found creative ways to release their albums, many with livestreams to go with it. Other bands took the opportunity to record and release unexpected music, and much more of that will be coming in 2021. Heavy Metal has always been a cathartic release, and that was much needed in 2020. There were plenty of incredible headbangers to help us get through it all. Here are our Five Fave: 2020 Mainstream Metal Albums.

5 – Lamb Of God – Lamb Of God

This self-titled album from metal masters Lamb Of God is everything you hope for. The sounds, the screams, the lyrical messages, are all American metal at its best. Vocalist Randy Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and new drummer Art Cruz are in perfect sync.

4 – Trivium – What The Dead Men Say

Trivium has been kicking ass and taking names for a long time. They consistently deliver crushing tunes, full of aggression and lyrics that make you think. There is plenty to love about “What The Dead Men Say” and we simply cannot wait to finally hear these songs performed live.

3 – Killer Be Killed – Reluctant Hero

The second release from supergroup Killer Be Killed is outstanding.  The band has three lead singers, and they all take their moments to shine. KBK is The Dillinger Escape Plan vocalist/guitarist Greg Puciato, Soulfly / Cavalera Conspiracy / ex-Sepultura frontman Max Cavalera, Mastodon bassist/co-vocalist Troy Sanders and Converge drummer Ben Koller.

2- Armored Saint – Punching The Sky

Legendary thrash masters Armored Saint dropped their first new album in 5 years, and all of the pent-up energy is fully released on “Punching The Sky”. John Bush, Joey Vera, Jeff Duncan and the Sandoval brothers, Gonzo and Phil, are still as relevant and impressive 4 decades in as they have ever been.

1 – Avatar – Hunter Gatherer

Sweden continues to produce creative and dynamic rock bands, who continue to push themselves with each album release. Avatar continues to push boundaries with “Hunter Gatherer”, possibly their most completely satisfying effort to date. Check out their upcoming livestream specials coming in January.

Five Fave: 2020 Mainstream Metal Albums first appeared on Game On Media.

2020 has been an atypical year for the music industry. The usual album and tour cycles have been turned on their heads. Some bands chose to hold their albums for when touring starts up again. Some bands found creative ways to release their albums, many with livestreams to go with it. Other bands took the opportunity to record and release unexpected music, and much more of that will be coming in 2021. In doing research for the end-of-year lists, I discovered new albums that I had not even known about, from bands I had only vaguely heard of. Here are our Five Fave: 2020 Metal Albums You May Have Missed.

5 – Odraza – Rzeczom

Odraza comes from Kraków, Poland and they sing in Polish. Their album “Rzeczom” is sonically similar to Germany’s Rammstein.

4 – Katatonia – City Burials

Katatonia is from Stockholm, Sweden. They returned from a well-earned hiatus with “City Burials”, an excellent album in the vein of Tool, Nine Inch Nails and Deftones.

3 – Dark Tranquillity – Moment

Dark Tranquillity hails from Gothenburg, Sweden, the birthplace of Swedish melodic metal. Three decades in, they dropped “Moment” in 2020, with 2 new guitarist joining the band. The sound is reminiscent of early Dream Theater.

2- Spirit Adrift – Enlightened In Eternity

Spirit Adrift is a metal project based in Phoenix, Arizona, which has been very active for 5 years. In 2020, they slimmed down to Marcus Bryant on drums and Nate Garrett handling everything else. The result is “Enlightened In Eternity”, which harkens back to the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal from the early 1980’s.

1 – Paradise Lost – Obsidian

Paradise Lost, from Halifax, West Yorkshire, England, has been consistently cranking out albums for 30 years. Their 16th, “Obsidian”, evokes the Seattle sound made famous by Alice In Chains and Soundgarden.

Five Fave: 2020 Metal Albums You May Have Missed first appeared on Game On Media.

The 2020 New York Jets football team is awful, historically awful. In a record-setting season for scoring points, where quarterbacks routinely throw 4 touchdowns in a single game, the Jets, led by an alleged offensive guru in Adam “Crazy Eyes” Gase, only managed to throw 4 TD’s total in their first 8 games. Amidst talk of “Tanking for Trevor”, the Jets have recently managed to blow leads against the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders in mind-boggling fashion, as they desperately cling to a one game “lead” over the Jacksonville Jaguars for the #1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. It takes a lot to out-Jets the Jets, but the Jets are certainly giving it a shot. So, let’s look ahead, as all J-E-T-S fans are conditioned to do, with our Five Fave: New York Jets 2021 Bold Predictions.

#5 – Jets Owner / U.S. Ambassador to the U.K. Woody Johnson Sells 50% of Jets to Donald Trump

New York Jets owner Robert “Woody” Johnson IV repays Donald Trump for sparing him the in-person embarrassment of owning the team for the past 4 years by naming him United Stated Ambassador to the United Kingdom. He fulfills Trump’s dream of being part of the NFL by selling him half of the worst franchise in the league, quite the bargain, and an excellent use for all of those “Stop The Steal” donations. This time, the league approves, remembering that blocking Trump from buying the Buffalo Bills led him on his crusade to become President and trash the league and it’s players for silently protesting.

#4 – Jets Hire a TV Coach

With Donald Trump now on board, he follows the only hiring practice he knows, picking people he sees on TV. The Jets bring in the coaches from the network halftime shows for interviews. Trump realizes that he has been punked by Chris Christie, when he learns that Tony Dungy is not, in fact, an Italian from New Jersey, and he is quickly dismissed as a candidate. Jimmy Johnson refuses to leave South Florida, explaining that old people simply do not move from Florida to New York, a logic that even Mar-a-Lago Donny can comprehend. Bill Cowher is convinced to resume coaching, with a $20 million annual salary. Kyle Chandler leaves the waiting room in disgust, thinking he was thisclose to getting the job.

#3 – Jets Trade Down, and Completely Out, of the 2021 Draft, Stockpiling Picks in the 2022 Draft

After a long history of throwing away valuable picks in order to slightly move up in the draft, only to pick legends such as Mark “Butt-Fumble” Sanchez and Sammy “Ghosts” Darnold, the Jets about-face and start dealing down. Concerned that #1 prospect Trevor Lawrence is going to pull an “Eli Manning” and demand a trade, they cleverly preempt this embarrassment by trading away the pick they tanked so hard for. Excited by getting so many things for just one thing, GM Jared Kushner excitedly trades away ALL of the Jets 2021 picks for future picks.

#2 – Trump Changes Team Logo to JET$, Team Colors back to Gold and Navy

Nobody likes the latest incarnation of the New York Jets logo and uniform. The design is boring, and the logo now reads JFTS, for some reason. Donny & Woody want to go back to the beginning, when they were called “The Titans of New York”, but Tennessee has the name now. They settle for the original Gold and Navy colors, focusing on Gold, Trump’s favorite color. They replace the tiny football in the logo with a bag of coins, add a $ to the team name – J-E-T-$ – and get shiny gold helmets like Notre Dame.

#1 – Jets Sign Sponsorship Deal with Hooters, Renames Team to New York Hooters, Changes Colors to Orange / White

Woody Johnson learns about team sponsorship during his time ambassadoring in the UK. With the “Deal” maker / rule breaker now part of his team, the New York Jets become the first NFL team to be completely sponsored, when they sell all naming rights to the Hooters restaurant chain. They change their name to the New York Hooters. They change their colors to Orange / White, since nobody is using those anymore. The cheerleaders now wear short shorts and cut-off T-shirts, as they launch buffalo wings into the crowd. With zero draft picks, and a coach who didn’t really even want to coach again, the Jets, I mean the Hooters, still Suck! Suck!! Suck!!!

Five Fave: New York Jets 2021 Bold Predictions first appeared on Game On Media.

The 2000’s are the dark ages of television theme songs. The majority of shows have instrumentals. Several shows grab portions of songs already recorded and released. If you were a TV jingle writer, you were basically S.O.L. in this millennium. We scoured the landscape, and barely came up with 5 originals. Here are our Five Fave TV Theme Songs From The 2000’s.

#5 – Chappelle’s Show – Cedric “Catfish” Turner & Malcolm Prince

Dave Chappelle’s short-lived, yet legendary sketch comedy show featured a casual, improvised intro song. This one is simple, to the point, and lets us get right into the show.

Chappelle’s Show
Written & Sung by Cedric “Catfish” Turner & Malcolm Prince

Chapelle’s Show.
Chapelle’s Show.
Chapelle’s Show.
Chapelle’s Show.
Chapelle’s Show.
Woo-hoo.
Let’s start the show.

#4 – Two And A Half Men

The infamous Two And A Half Men made short order of letting us know exactly what the show was about – Men…

Two And A Half Men
Written by Chuck Lorre & Lee Aronsohn / Sung by studio singers

Men, men, men, men, manly men, men, men (Ooh)
Men, men, men, men, manly men, men, men
Men, men, men, men, manly men
Ooh-hoo-hoo, hoo-hoo, ooh
Men, men, men, men, manly men, men, men (Ooh)
Men, men, men, men, manly men, men, men (Ha)
Men…

#3 – Firefly – Sonny Rhodes

Joss Whedon can simply do no wrong. Firefly was an incredible space western starring Nathan Fillion, Morena Baccarin, Alan Tudyk, Gina Torres, Adam Baldwin and Summer Glau in the early stages of their careers. This amazing show was never given a chance, cancelled after one perfect season. The movie Serenity, named after the ship, tied up most of the loose ends. Joss is Boss, and he even wrote this killer song.

The Ballad Of Serenity
Written by Joss Whedon / Sung by Sonny Rhodes

Take my love, take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don’t care, I’m still free
You can’t take the sky from me

Take me out to the black
Tell ’em I ain’t coming back
Burn the land, boil the sea
You can’t take the sky from me

There’s no place I can be
Since I found Serenity
You can’t take the sky from me

#2 – Sons Of Anarchy – Curtis Stigers

Sons Of Anarchy is among the greatest drama series ever produced. The theme song drops you brilliantly into the minds and attitudes of the bikers who inhabit the world of Charming, CA. A great theme song always gets you pumped to keep watching, and this one does the trick.

This Life
Written by Curtis Stigers, Dave Kushner, Bob Thiele, Jr. & Kurt Sutter / Sung by Curtis Stigers & The Forest Rangers

Riding through this world all alone
God takes your soul, you’re on your own
The crow flies straight, a perfect line
On the Devil’s Bed until you die

Gotta raise some hell, ‘fore they take you down
Gotta live this life
Gotta look this world in the eye
Gotta live this life until you die

#1 – The Big Bang Theory – Barenaked Ladies

This beloved, weird, annoying, popular show went on and on, and is now streaming and syndicated everywhere. At least the theme song is amazing, created by one of Canada’s best bands ever – Barenaked Ladies. It all started with a big bang.

The Big Bang Theory
Written by Ed Roberston / Sung by Barenaked Ladies

Our whole universe was in a hot dense state
Then nearly fourteen billion years ago expansion started. Wait…
The Earth began to cool
The autotrophs began to drool
Neanderthals developed tools
We built a wall (we built the pyramids)
Math, science, history, unraveling the mystery
That all started with the big bang! (Bang!)

Since the dawn of man is really not that long
As every galaxy was formed in less time than it takes to sing this song
A fraction of a second and the elements were made
The bipeds stood up straight
The dinosaurs all met their fate
They tried to leap but they were late
And they all died (they froze their asses off)
The oceans and pangea
See ya wouldn’t wanna be ya
Set in motion by the same big bang!

It all started with the big bang!

It’s expanding ever outward but one day
It will pause and start to go the other way
Collapsing ever inward, we won’t be here, it won’t be heard
Our best and brightest figure that it’ll make an even bigger bang!

Australopithecus would really have been sick of us
Debating how we’re here they’re catching deer (we’re catching viruses)
Religion or astronomy, Encarta, Deuteronomy
It all started with the big bang!

Music and mythology, Einstein and astrology
It all started with the big bang!
It all started with the big bang!

Five Fave: TV Theme Songs From The 2000’s first appeared on Game On Media.

TV in the 1990’s got quirkier and bolder, as cable television boomed, and new stations sprung up all the time. This made for some highly focused entertainment, as the new networks took chances to attract an audience. It was also the last hurrah for theme songs, as shows began going with instrumentals, or using previously recorded material. Presenting our Five Fave TV Theme Songs From The 1990’s.

#5 – South Park – Primus

The funniest, grossest, yet smartest cartoon on television continues to be South Park. Trey Parker and Matt Stone have always walked the fine lines of potty humour, satire, and spoof, and we usually “learn something” by the end of each episode. Behind the crude animation and cruder characters are spot-on insights into human nature that we all really can learn from. Genius disguised as comedy – the court jesters of our time.

South Park – Primus
Written by Les Claypool / Sung by Matt Stone, Trey Parker & Les Claypool

Les Claypool & Stan and Kyle
I’m going down to South Park
Gonna have myself a time
Friendly faces everywhere
Humble folks without temptation

Les Claypool & Cartman
Going down to South Park
Gonna leave my woes behind
Ample parking, day or night
People spouting, “Howdy, neighbor!”

Les Claypool & Kenny
Heading on up to South Park
Gonna see if I can’t unwind
I like girls with big fat titties
I like girls with big vaginas

Les Claypool
So come on down to South Park
And meet some friends of mine

*Fart*

#4 – Family Guy – The Griffins

The theme song that almost wasn’t. Seth MacFarlane was pressured to not even have an intro song, but he stuck to his guns and he was right. This homage to All In The Family and other classic shows has become a classic itself. They also take the opportunity to poke fun at themselves throughout the series, proving that absolutely nothing is too sacred to be parodied.

Family Guy
Written by Walter Murphy & Seth MacFarlane / Sung by Seth MacFarlane, Alex Borstein, Seth Green & Mila Kunis

Lois Griffin
It seems today
That all you see
Is violence in movies
And sex on T.V

Peter Griffin
But where are those good old-fashioned values….

The Griffins
On which we used to rely?!

All
Lucky there’s a family guy!
Lucky there’s a man who
Positively can do
All the things that make us…

Stewie Griffin
Laugh and cry!

All
He’s our Family Guy!

#3 – The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air – DJ Jazzy Jeff & Will Smith

Does art imitate life, or does life imitate art? Will Smith, who used to rap as The Fresh Prince, did actually move from Philadelphia to California, to star in this beloved TV show. The rest is creative license, and made for some riveting and memorable television. Just let him tell you.

Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Written and Sung by DJ Jazzy Jeff & Will Smith

Now this is a story all about how
My life got flipped turned upside down
And I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there
I’ll tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel-Air

In West Philadelphia born and raised
On the playground is where I spent most of my days
Chilling out, maxing, relaxing all cool
And all shooting some b-ball outside of the school
When a couple of guys who were up to no good
Started making trouble in my neighborhood
I got in one little fight and my mom got scared
And said “You’re moving with your auntie and uncle in Bel-Air”
I begged and pleaded with her day after day
But she packed my suitcase and sent me on my way
She gave me a kiss and then she gave me my ticket
I put my Walkman on and said “I might as well kick it”
First class, yo, this is bad
Drinking orange juice out of a champagne glass
Is this what the people of Bel-Air living like?
Hmm, this might be all right
But wait, I hear they’re prissy, bourgeois, and all that
Is this the type of place that they should send this cool cat?
I don’t think so, I’ll see when I get there
I hope they’re prepared for the Prince of Bel-Air

Well, uh
The plane landed and when I came out
There was a dude, looked like a cop, standing there with my name out
I ain’t trying to get arrested yet, I just got here
I sprang with the quickness like lightning, disappeared
I whistled for a cab and when it came near
The license plate said ‘Fresh’ and it had dice in the mirror
If anything I could say that this cab was rare
But I thought “Nah, forget it, yo, Holmes, to Bel-Air!”

I pulled
Up to a house about seven or eight
And I yelled to the cabbie “Yo’, Holmes, smell ya later”
Looked at my kingdom, I was finally there
To sit on my throne as the Prince of Bel-Air

#2 – The Drew Carey Show – The Presidents of the United States of America

Drew Carey’s classic sitcom didn’t always have this as its opening tune, but their penchant for elaborate dance numbers, combined with this cover version of Cleveland Rocks, made for its best. How much fun is it to sing along to? So fun, that the Cleveland Browns, the team whose logo is a color, should change their name to Cleveland Rocks and put a guitar on their helmet! Ohio!

Cleveland Rocks
Written by Ian Hunter / Sung by The Presidents of the United States of America

Hey…
Three, four!

Ah-ah-ah

All this energy callin’ me
Back where it comes from
It’s such a crude attitude
It’s back where it belongs

All the little kids, growin’ up on the skids are goin’
Cleveland rocks, Cleveland rocks
Jumpin’ Jane Jean is moonin’ James Dean, goin’

Cleveland rocks, Cleveland rocks

Mommy knows, but she don’t care
She’s got her worries too
Seven kids, and a phony affair
And the rent is due

All the little chicks, with the crimson lips go
Cleveland rocks, Cleveland rocks
Livin’ in sin, with a safety pin, goin’

Cleveland rocks, Cleveland rocks

I got some records from World War II
I play them just like me granddad do
He was a rocker and I am too
Now Cleveland Rocks
Yeah Cleveland Rocks

Cleveland Rocks, Cleveland Rocks
Cleveland Rocks

Ohio!

#1 – Friends – The Rembrandts

Who knew that the most popular show of the 90’s, with the catchiest sing-along theme song of all time, would one day become the theme song for an entire year?  Does anything else sum up 2020, The One With The Pandemic, better than this?

So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s D.O.A
It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear
When it hasn’t been your day, your week
Your month, or even your year

So go ahead, stock up on snacks and drinks, put on your comfiest sweats, sit on the couch and binge out on Friends.

I’ll Be There For You
Written by Danny Wilde, Phil Solem, Michael Skloff, Allee Willis, Marta Kauffman & David Crane / Sung by The Rembrandts

So no one told you life was gonna be this way
Your job’s a joke, you’re broke, your love life’s D.O.A
It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear
When it hasn’t been your day, your week
Your month, or even your year, but

I’ll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I’ll be there for you
(Like I’ve been there before)
I’ll be there for you
(‘Cause you’re there for me too)

You’re still in bed at ten and work began at eight
You’ve burned your breakfast, so far things are going great
Your mother warned you there’d be days like these
But she didn’t tell you when the world has brought
You down to your knees that

I’ll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I’ll be there for you
(Like I’ve been there before)
I’ll be there for you
(‘Cause you’re there for me too)

No one could ever know me
No one could ever see me
Seems you’re the only one who knows
What it’s like to be me
Someone to face the day with
Make it through all the rest with
Someone I’ll always laugh with
Even at my worst, I’m best with you, yeah

It’s like you’re always stuck in second gear
When it hasn’t been your day, your week
Your month, or even your year

I’ll be there for you
(When the rain starts to pour)
I’ll be there for you
(Like I’ve been there before)
I’ll be there for you
(‘Cause you’re there for me too)

Five Fave: TV Theme Songs From The 1990’s first appeared on Game On Media.

The 1980’s were a crazy time in America. Many things were changing, and society was experimenting, while money was flying across the globe. Perhaps in reaction, there were many family sitcoms that went out of their way to teach life lessons. Their theme songs were often inspiring and hopeful, bouncy tunes that are stuck in our heads decades later, full of sweetness and kindness. Presenting our Five Fave TV Theme Songs From The 1980’s.

#5 – Diff’rent Strokes – Alan Thicke / The Facts Of Life – Gloria Loring

The spin-off trend went to new levels in the 1980’s. The housekeeper from Diff’rent Strokes spun off to be the caretaker of a girls school on The Facts Of Life. Husband and wife team Alan Thicke and Gloria Loring helped write both theme songs, with Thicke singing the Diff’rent Strokes theme, and Loring singing The Facts Of Life theme. When Thicke went on to star in his own show, he neither wrote nor sang the theme. We include 2 versions of the Facts opening, as the show was drastically different in its first season, with many of the girls going on to be our most famous movie stars.

It Takes Diff’rent Strokes
Written by Al Burton, Gloria Loring & Alan Thicke / Sung by Alan Thicke

Now, the world don’t move to the beat of just one drum
What might be right for you, may not be right for some
A man is born, he’s a man of means
Then along come two, they got nothing but their jeans

But they got, Diff’rent Strokes
It takes, Diff’rent Strokes
It takes, Diff’rent Strokes to move the world

Everybody’s got a special kind of story
Everybody finds a way to shine
It don’t matter that you got not alot
So what
They’ll have theirs, and you’ll have yours, and I’ll have mine
And together we’ll be fine….

Because it takes, Diff’rent Strokes to move the world
Yes it does
It takes, Diff’rent Strokes to move the world

The Facts Of Life
Written by Bob Walden, Gloria Loring, Al Burton & Alan Thicke / Sung by Gloria Loring

You take the good
You take the bad
You take them both and there you have
The facts of life
The facts of life

When the world never seems
To be living up to your dreams
Then suddenly you’re finding out
The facts of life are all about you

When there’s someone that you care about
It really isn’t fair
They’re out to slow you up
When you’re growing up

When you let them flirt
And then you hurt
A waiting when your date is late in showing up
Then you’re growin’ up

When it’s more than just the birds and the bees
You need someone telling you please
There’s only one conclusion
There will always be confusion over you
It takes a lot to get ’em right
When you’re learning the facts of life

You’ll avoid a lot of damage
And enjoy the fun of managing
The facts of life
They shed a lot of light

If you hear ’em from your brother
Better clear ’em with your mother
Better get ’em right
Call her late at night

You got the future in the palm of your hand
All you gotta do to get you through is understand
You think you’d rather do with out
You’ll never muddle through
Without the truth
The facts of life are all about you

#4 – The Greatest American Hero – Joey Scarbury

Way before Deadpool, a sudden superhero attempted to harness newfound powers, with humor. The Greatest American Hero was a bubblegum show that entertained. It’s song was also bubblegum pop, aspiring to the heights this hero and his show never quite reached, but never stopped trying.

Believe It Or Not
Written by Mike Post & Stephen Geyer / Sung by Joey Scarbury

Look at what’s happened to me
I can’t believe it myself
Suddenly I’m up on top of the world
It should have been somebody else

Believe it or not, I’m walking on air
I never thought I could feel so free
Flying away on a wing and a prayer
Who could it be?
Believe it or not, it’s just me

Just like the light of a new day
It hit me from out of the blue
Breaking me out of the spell I was in
Making all of my wishes come true

Believe it or not, I’m walking on air
I never thought I could feel so free
Flying away on a wing and a prayer
Who could it be?
Believe it or not, it’s just me

This is too good to be true
Look at me falling for you

Believe it or not
Believe it or not
Believe it or not
Believe it or not

Believe it or not, I’m walking on air
I never thought I could feel so free
Flying away on a wing and a prayer
Who could it be?
Believe it or not, it’s just me

#3 – Family Ties – Jeff Barry & Tom Scott

Family Ties may be the greatest family show of all time. Michael J. Fox and Justine Bateman perfectly captured sibling life with parents who mean well, but don’t see the world in the same way as any of their children. No matter how they felt, or what happened, the family was always there for each other, no matter what. Sha la la la.

Without Us
Written by Jeff Barry & Tom Scott / Sung by Johnny Mathis & Deniece Williams

I bet we been together for a million years,
And I bet we’ll be together for a million more.

Oh, It’s like I started breathing on the night we kissed,
And I can’t remember what I ever did before.

What would we do baby, Without Us?
What would we do baby, Without Us?

And there ain’t no nothing we can’t love each other through.

What would we do baby, Without Us?

Sha la la la.

#2 – Growing Pains – B.J. Thomas & Jennifer Warnes

Alan Thicke was the thoughtful, patient father who always managed to see the positive in any situation. Kirk Cameron always tested that patience, but ultimately accepted the advice and learned the lessons, usually the hard way. The theme song fit perfectly in one of TV’s greatest family sitcoms with a heart.

As Long As We’ve Got Each Other
Written by Steve Dorff & John Bettis / Sung by B.J. Thomas & Jennifer Warnes

Show me that smile again. (Show me that smile)
Don’t waste another minute on your cryin’.
We’re nowhere near the end (nowhere near)
The best is ready to begin.

Oooohhh. As long as we got each other
We got the world spinnin’ right in our hands.
Baby you and me, we gotta be
The luckiest dreamers who never quit dreamin’.

As long as we keep on givin’
we can take anything that comes our way
Baby, rain or shine, all the time
We got each other, sharin’ the laughter and love.

#1 – Cheers –

Cheers was absolutely must-see television. Even as cast members left, other future stars arrived. Ted Danson held it down, as the foil to Shelley Long, Kirstie Alley, Kelsey Grammer and Woody Harrelson. The heart of the show were Carla, the waitress and the regulars, Cliff and Norm. This sweet theme song made you feel as if you were personally welcomed into the bar each week.

Where Everybody Knows Your Name
Written by Judy Hart Angelo & Gary Portnoy / Sung by Gary Portnoy

Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you’ve got
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot
Wouldn’t you like to get away?

All those nights when you’ve got no lights
The check is in the mail
And your little angel hung the cat up by its tail
And your third fiance didn’t show

Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name
And they’re always glad you came
You wanna be where you can see
Our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows your name

Roll out of bed, Mr. Coffee’s dead
The morning’s looking bright
And your shrink ran off to Europe and didn’t even write
And your husband wants to be a girl
Be glad, there’s one place in the world

Where everybody knows your name
And they’re always glad you came
You want to go where people know, people are all the same
You want to go where everybody knows your name

Five Fave: TV Theme Songs From The 1980’s first appeared on Game On Media.

Television in the 1970’s reflected the turbulent times at the turn of the decade. In the midst of an endless controversial war, social justice struggles, political scandal, and the earth-shattering achievements of the moon landing and space exploration, TV became grittier and more inclusive. Presenting our Five Fave TV Theme Songs From The 1970’s.

#5 – Good Times – Jim Gilstrap & Blinky Williams

There was hardly a successful TV show in the 1970’s that didn’t generate a spin-off. Good Times is a double spin-off, birthed by Maude, which was spawned by All In The Family. The show focuses on a poor black family in Chicago. The writing and acting was strong, with all characters helping each other through the daily struggle to raise a family and make ends meet.

Good Times
Written by Dave Grusin, Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman / Sung by Jim Gilstrap & Blinky Williams

Good Times
Any time you meet a payment
Good Times
Any time you meet a friend
Good Times

Any time you’re out from under
Not getting hassled, not getting hustled
Keepin’ your head above water
Making a wave when you can

Temporary layoffs
Good Times
Easy credit rip-offs
Good Times
Scratchin’ and surviving
Good Times
Hanging in and jiving
Good Times
Ain’t we lucky we got ’em
Good Times

#4 – Welcome Back, Kotter – John Sebastian

Welcome Back, Kotter may have introduced the concept of 20-somethings portraying high school students. For sure, it introduced us to John Travolta, as class clown Vinny Barbarino, the leader of a multicultural band of misfits known as The Sweathogs. Kotter was a teacher who returned to Brooklyn, and attempted to inspire Vinny, Freddy “Boom Boom” Washington, Arnold Horshack and Juan Epstein. A timeless comedy, with a heart. The theme song wraps around you like a warm blanket.

Welcome Back
By John Sebastian

Welcome back
Your dreams were your ticket out
Welcome back
To that same old place that you laughed about

Well the names have all changed since you hung around
But those dreams have remained and they’ve turned around
Who’d have thought they’d lead ya
(Who’d have thought they’d lead ya)
Back here where we need ya
(Back here where we need ya)

Yeah. we tease him a lot ’cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back

Welcome back
We always could spot a friend
Welcome back
And I smile when I think how you must have been

And I know what a scene you were learning in
Was there something that made you come back again
And what could ever lead ya
(What could ever lead ya)
Back here where we need ya
(Back here where we need ya)

Yeah, we tease him a lot ’cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back

And I know what a scene you were learning in
Was there something that made you come back again
And what could ever lead ya
(What could ever lead ya)
Back here where we need ya
(Back here where we need ya)

Yeah. we tease him a lot ’cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back

Yeah. we tease him a lot
Welcome back, welcome back
‘Cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back, welcome back

Yeah. we tease him a lot ’cause we got him on the spot
Welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back
Welcome back, welcome back, welcome back

#3 – Laverne & Shirley – Cyndi Grecco

Laverne & Shirley were two strong women, working blue-collar jobs at a brewery in Milwaukee. They got into endless hijinks with their neighbors Lenny & Squiggy. The show spun off from Happy Days, and continued to use crossovers through their runs. The song intro is something that star Penny Marshall used to sing in her youth, and really has no meaning, other than to put a smile on your face every time an episode began.

Making Our Dreams Come True
Written by Charles Fox & Norman Gimbel / Sung by Cyndi Grecco

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.
Schlemiel! Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated!

We’re gonna do it!
Give us any chance, we’ll take it.
Give us any rule, we’ll break it.
We’re gonna make our dreams come true.
Doin’ it our way.

Nothin’s gonna turn us back now,
Straight ahead and on the track now.
We’re gonna make our dreams come true,
Doin’ it our way.

There is nothing we won’t try,
Never heard the word impossible.
This time there’s no stopping us.
We’re gonna do it.

On your mark, get set and go now,
Got a dream and we just know now,
We’re gonna make our dream come true.
And we’ll do it our way, yes our way.
Make all our dreams come true,
And do it our way, yes our way,
Make all our dreams come true
For me and you.

#2 – All In The Family –

All In The Family is one of the most controversial and enduring shows in television history. The topics they raised have not yet been solved in America, 50 years later. The main lesson that still resonates loudly today is that we don’t always share the same views, ideas and solutions as the people we care the most about – our family. Yet we can discuss things openly, agree to disagree, and sit down together in love and peace. No matter how offensive Archie Bunker could be, he didn’t seem to intend to offend, and he could always generate some morsel of sympathy, particularly when Edith brought him back from the edge. This is one of the only shows I can think of where the main actors deliver the theme song, in character.

Those Were The Days
Written by Lee Adams & Charles Strouse / Sung by Carrroll O’Connor & Jean Stapleton

Boy the way Glenn Miller played
Songs that made the Hit Parade.
Guys like us we had it made,
Those were the days.

And you knew who you were then,
Girls were girls and men were men,
Mister we could use a man
Like Herbert Hoover again.

Didn’t need no welfare state,
Everybody pulled his weight.
Gee our old LaSalle ran great.
Those were the days.

{In the longer version}

People seemed to be content,
Fifty dollars paid the rent,
Freaks were in a circus tent.
Those were the days.

Take a little Sunday spin,
Go to watch the Dodgers win.
Have yourself a dandy day,
That cost you under a fin.

Hair was short and skirts were long.
Kate Smith really sold a song.
I don’t know just what went wrong,
Those were the days.

#1 – The Jeffersons – Ja’net Dubois and Oren Waters

Once again, we have a spin-off. Perhaps the most successful instance of this approach was The Jeffersons, whose characters were introduced on All In The Family. George and Weezie Jefferson became so successful, they were able to move on up to a penthouse apartment, complete with a sassy maid. Their neighbors were a mixed race couple and an eccentric foreigner.  A classic show with an amazing theme song.

Movin’ On Up
Written by Jeff Barry & Ja’net Dubois / Sun by Ja’net Dubois and Oren Waters

Well we’re movin’ on up, to the east side
To a deluxe apartment in the sky
Movin’ on up
To the east side
We finally got a piece of the pie

Fish don’t fry in the kitchen;
Beans don’t burn on the grill
Took a whole lotta tryin’
Just to get up that hill

Now we’re up in the big leagues
Gettin’ our turn at bat
As long as we live, it’s you and me baby
There ain’t nothin wrong with that

Well we’re movin’ on up
To the east side
To a deluxe apartment in the sky

Movin’ on up
To the east side
We finally got a piece of the pie

Five Fave: TV Theme Songs From The 1970’s first appeared on Game On Media.

The 1960’s were the golden age of television. TV became a national sensation. Stars were born and genres were created. There is hardly a movie or TV show this century that wasn’t inspired by, based on, or rebooted from the 1960’s. It also spawned some of the most memorable TV theme songs of all time. Presenting our Five Fave TV Theme Songs From The 1960’s.

#5 – The Beverly Hillbillies – The Ballad of Jed Clampett – Paul Henning

The American Dream – strike it rich and head out West. Y’all come back now, y’hear?

The Beverly Hillbillies

The Ballad of Jed Clampett by Paul Henning

Come and listen to my story about a man named Jed
A poor mountaineer, barely kept his family fed,
And then one day he was shootin at some food,
And up through the ground come a bubblin crude.

Oil that is, black gold, Texas tea.

Well the first thing you know ol Jed’s a millionaire,
The kinfolk said “Jed move away from there”
Said “Californy is the place you ought to be”
So they loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverly

Hills, that is. Swimmin pools, movie stars.

The Beverly Hillbillies!

Well now it’s time to say good bye to Jed and all his kin.
And they would like to thank you folks fer kindly droppin in.
You’re all invited back next week to this locality
To have a heapin helpin of their hospitality

Hillbilly that is. Set a spell, Take your shoes off.

Y’all come back now, y’hear?

#4 – The Addams Family – John Barto

Snap those fingers! Who’s your favorite monster family? The Addams or The Munsters? Who has the spookiest theme song?

The Addams Family Song
by John Barto

They’re creepy and they’re kooky
Mysterious and spooky
They’re all together ooky
The Addams family

Their house is a museum
When people come to see ’em
They really are a scream
The Addams family

Neat
Sweet
Petite

So put a witch’s shawl on
A broomstick you can crawl on
We’re gonna pay a call on
The Addams family

They’re creepy and they’re kooky
Mysterious and spooky
They’re all together ooky
The Addams family

Strange
Deranged
The Addams family

#3 – The Flintstones – Hoyt Curtin, Joseph Barbera and William Hanna

Yabba Dabba Doo! Everybody’s favorite prehistoric family.

The Flintstones
by Hoyt Curtin, Joseph Barbera and William Hanna

Yabba-dabba-doo!

Flintstones, meet the Flintstones
They’re the modern Stone Age Family
From the town of Bedrock
They’re a page right out of history

Let’s ride with the family down the street
Through the courtesy of Fred’s two feet

When you’re with the Flintstones
Have a yabba-dabba-doo time
A dabba-doo time
We’ll have a gay old time

Flintstones, meet the Flintstones
They’re the modern Stone Age Family
From the town of Bedrock
They’re a page right out of history

Someday maybe Fred will win the fight
Then the cat will stay out for the night

When you’re with the Flintstones
Have a yabba-dabba-doo time
A dabba-doo time
We’ll have a gay old time

We’ll have a gay old time!
Yeah!

#2 – The Brady Bunch – The Peppermint Trolley Company

The family that made rebounding from divorce fun! Whatever happened to the “other” Mom and Dad?

The Brady Bunch
by The Peppermint Trolley Company

Here’s the story of a lovely lady
Who was bringing up three very lovely girls
All of them had hair of gold, like their mother.
The youngest one in curls.

Here’s the story of a man named Brady
Who was busy with three boys of his own.
They were four men living all together
Yet they were all alone

Till the one day when the lady met this fellow.
And they knew that it was much more than a hunch,
That this group must somehow form a family,
That’s the way we all became the Brady bunch.

The Brady bunch, the Brady bunch.
That’s the way we became the Brady bunch.

#1 – Gilligan’s Island – The Wellingtons

Do you ever NOT sing this song when you get on a boat, or have a 3 hour meeting?

The Ballad of Gilligan’s Island
by The Wellingtons

OPENING
Just sit right back
And you’ll hear a tale
A tale of a fateful trip
That started from this tropic port
Aboard this tiny ship
The mate was a mighty sailing man
The skipper brave and sure
Five passengers set sail that day
For a 3 hour tour, a 3 hour tour
The weather started getting rough
The tiny ship was tossed
If not for the courage of the fearless crew
The Minnow would be lost, the Minnow would be lost
The ship set ground on the shore of this
Uncharted desert isle
With Gilligaaan
The Skipper too
A millionaire, and his wife
A movie star
The Proffessor and Mary Ann
Here on Gilligan’s Isle

END THEME
So this is the tale of our castaways
They’re here for a long long time
They’ll have to make the best of things
It’s an uphill climb
The first mate and his skipper too
Will do their very best
To make the others comfortable
In the tropic island nest
No phone, no lights, no motor cars
Not a single luxury
Like Robinson Crusoe
It’s primitive as can be
So join us here each week my friends
You’ll sure to get a smile
From 7 stranded castaways
Here on Gilligan’s Isle!

Five Fave: TV Theme Songs From The 1960’s first appeared on Game On Media.

1995 was a decade where music took many interesting turns. “Alternative” wasn’t just a new genre, it was a true description of the multiple choices listeners had, as new artists emerged with unique sounds, established artists went solo, and everybody pushed musical boundaries. Glam and bubble-gum were in the rearview mirror, grunge had turned mainstream, country was going pop, and hip-hop was starting to dominate, eventually finding its way into rock and roll. 25 years ago, these albums rocked our world and continue to remain in our consciousness, and on our playlists.

This list features 4 of the all -time best mainstream debut albums, and the solo debut from the former lead singer of 10,000 Maniacs. Shirley Manson, Natalie Merchant, Gwen Stefani, Jewel and Alanis Morrissette have been on the front lines fighting for female empowerment, respect and inclusion for 3 decades. Their voices have helped shaped a generation of strong women. Here are our Five Fave 1995 25th Anniversary Albums – Female Vocals.

#5 – Garbage – Garbage

Drummer Butch Vig had already reached legend status in the industry by producing “Nevermind” by Nirvana and “Siamese Dream” by The Smashing Pumpkins, when he decided to form a band that went beyond simple grunge, adding in sampling and searching for a powerful female vocalist. After enlisting Duke Erikson and Steve Marker, they created Garbage, ultimately recruiting Scottish singer Shirley Manson. The result was a killer album with a new variation on the rock sound, featuring hits “Stupid Girl”, “Queer” and “Only Happy When It Rains”.

#4 – Natalie Merchant – Tigerlily

10,000 Maniacs was one of the most successful alternative bands of their time, rising from college indie popularity in the 1980’s to pop superstardom in the 1990’s. They performed at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration gala. Their MTV Unplugged session led to an amazing album and huge hit cover of Bruce Springsteen & Patti Smith’s “Because The Night”. Then vocalist Natalie Merchant decided to go solo. Tigerlily was her solo debut, spinning out 3 hit singles “Wonder”, “Carnival” and “Jealousy”. It also contains several beautiful ballads, with sparse instrumentation and Natalie’s hauntingly stunning vocals.

#3 – No Doubt – Tragic Kingdom

It’s hard to imagine a world without Gwen Stefani in it, but until No Doubt dropped their 1995 album Tragic Kingdom, few outside of Orange County, California knew what a unique and special talent she was. Mega-hits “Just A Girl”, “Spiderwebs” and “Don’t Speak” feature a woman in charge of her own life, speaking her own truth.

#2 – Jewel – Pieces Of You

Jewel was living in a van, playing coffee houses in San Diego, California, strumming her guitar and crooning her deeply personal vocals, when she was discovered. She actually recorded several of the tracks on her debut album live at The Innerchange cafe, giving those tracks a raw, vulnerable touch. Other songs, which became hit singles years after the album’s release, were recorded at Neil Young’s ranch studio, using his band to fill out the sound. “Who Will Save Your Soul”, “Foolish Games” and “You Were Meant For Me” eventually became huge hits, but there are so many hidden gems on this album, touching on abuse, domestic violence, special needs and addiction.

#1 – Alanis Morrissette – Jagged Little Pill

After recording two albums in Canada as a teenager, a frustrated Alanis Morrissette found her way to Los Angeles to begin working with producer and multi-instrumentalist Glen Ballard. They wrote and recorded one song per day, with few vocal takes. This rawness and immediacy helped overshadow any imperfections through sheer force of will and honesty. Despite her youth, Alanis was able to capture the frustration and hypocrisy experienced by millions of people, at any age. Every song has its own spirit, spiced with hope, yet spiked with sarcasm. “You Oughta Know”, “Hand In My Pocket”, “All I Really Want”, “You Learn” and “Head Over Feet” were all massive hits, but every other track could have hit as well. The biggest song of all is the much-debated “Ironic”, whose lyrics are ironically not technically ironic at all, but maybe that was the point all along? This album was turned into a Broadway musical, showing its staying power and universal appeal.

Five Fave: 1995 25th Anniversary Albums – Female Vocals first appeared on Game On Media.

1995 was a decade where music took many interesting turns. “Alternative” wasn’t just a new genre, it was a true description of the multiple choices listeners had, as new artists emerged with unique sounds, established artists went solo, and everybody pushed musical boundaries. Glam and bubble-gum were in the rearview mirror, grunge had turned mainstream, country was going pop, and hip-hop was starting to dominate, eventually finding its way into rock and roll. 25 years ago, these albums rocked our world and continue to remain in our consciousness, and on our playlists. Here are our Five Fave 1995 25th Anniversary Albums – Male Vocals.

#5 – 311 – 311

311 launched themselves into the mainstream with their self-titled album. Although it took a while to catch fire, their unique blending of styles, including elements of hip-hop, gave them a place in rock history. Their legendary live shows continue to thrill audiences, and they have methodically added to their catalog every 2 to 3 years. The songs they are still best known for, “Down” and “All Mixed Up”, are from the “311” album.

#4 – White Zombie – Astro-Creep: 2000 – Songs of Love, Destruction and Other Synthetic Delusions of the Electric Head

Astro-Creep: 2000… is the 4th and final White Zombie album. Rob Zombie continued to great success as a solo act, and kept a handful of White Zombie songs in his live sets. The biggest (and best) of those is “More Human Than Human”, inspired by the motto of the human replicant manufacturer Tyrell Corporation in Blade Runner. The album is full of quotes from old horror and cult classic films, showcasing Zombie’s artistic flair, also evident in his live extravaganzas.

#3 – Oasis – (What’s the Story) Morning Glory

Ahh, what could have been. Oasis hit the ground running with their first album, “Definitely Maybe”, and smashed through all barriers with their second, the start-to-finish classic “(What’s the Story) Morning Glory”. Lead vocalist Liam Gallagher and his brother, guitarist/vocalist Noel Gallagher were bigger than The Beatles, at least in their own mind. They instantly began living out their own “Behind The Music” episode in real time. Ego, fame, substance abuse and sibling rivalry doomed the band. Although they pressed on in various forms for another decade, they never recaptured the magic of this album.

#2 – The Smashing Pumpkins – Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

“Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness” is the epic centerpiece of Billy Corgan’s career leading The Smashing Pumpkins. A 28 song, 2 hour sprawling musical landscape, an entire alternative radio station in itself. From the orchestral “Tonight, Tonight” to the brit-pop “1979”, with tons of dreamy ballads in between, no sound is left behind. The highlights for most were the grungiest, angstiest tracks – “Muzzle”, “Zero” and “Bullet With Butterfly Wings”. 25 years later, The Smashing Pumpkins are set to drop another double album.

#1 – Foo Fighters – Foo Fighters

The first Foo Fighters album is a Dave Grohl solo album, recorded in a week, with Dave playing all instruments. It was meant only as catharsis after the suicide of Kurt Cobain and the end of Nirvana, but instead it launched one of the greatest rock acts of all time. After putting a band together to tour, Foo Fighters took off and shows no signs of slowing. While this may not be their best album, it is clearly the most important, as it set the stage for what was to come, and gave Grohl the confidence to step out front. Dave Grohl can do no wrong.

Five Fave: 1995 25th Anniversary Albums – Male Vocals first appeared on Game On Media.

Words by Johnnie Crow, Images by Freddy Salazar and Vernon L. Gowdy III

Sadly, Edward Van Halen, ground-breaking guitarist for the legendary California rock band Van Halen, has lost his long battle with cancer. He excited millions and inspired generations with his unique sounds and artistic style. Few artists have been able to create something so new and different, that it becomes instantly recognizable and endlessly imitated. Eddie played with flair and his solos are as famous as his painted guitars. He also spent a lot of time crafting riffs that became timeless classic songs. We love you Eddie, we miss you Eddie, and we thank you for the music which will live on forever. Here are our Five Fave Eddie Van Halen Guitar Riffs.

#5 – Finish What Ya Started – OU812

On the second VH album with Sammy Hagar on the vocals, Eddie branched out in new musical directions. Finish What Ya Started is a chill and funky riff that simply grooves from start to finish. In the era marked by piano, keyboards, and power drills, this stands out as one of Eddie’s more memorable riffs.

#4 – Panama – 1984

On the final VH album with David Lee Roth in the classic era, ‘Jump’ may have gotten the headlines, and ‘Hot For Teacher’ may have been video of the year, but the tastiest guitar licks are in ‘Panama’. A classic good time party song with ambiguous lyrics, this is the capstone on the SoCal party era of Van Halen.

#3 – Jamie’s Cryin’ – Van Halen I

The first Van Halen album is a landmark, chock full of incredible songs. One of catchiest riffs is the hook on ‘Jamie’s Cryin”, a hook so catchy it became part of a huge hip-hop single, ‘Wild Thing’ by Tone Loc.

#2 – Unchained – Fair Warning

‘Unchained’ features one of the most “Eddie Van Halenesque” riffs of them all. From the first note you heard on your transistor radio in 1981, you knew this was Van Halen. The mark of a true genius.

#1 – Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love – Van Halen I

Of all the instant classics on Van Halen’s 1978 debut album, ‘Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love’ has to be the tune that inspired the most budding guitar players to pick up an electric and an amp and try their hardest to figure out exactly how he was doing that. Apologies to DLR purists, but they didn’t make official music videos in the 70’s, so here is the live Sammy version from 1986 Live Without A Net.

Honorable Mention – Everybody Wants Some!! – Women And Children First

While this song doesn’t technically have a famous “riff”, it does have an extended intro full of guitar licks and tricks. It essentially is a song that starts with a 90 second guitar solo, that just continues throughout the rest of the tune. Plus one of the greatest movie scenes of all time.

Five Fave: Eddie Van Halen Guitar Riffs first appeared on Game On Media.

For the past 5 years, the Del Mar Fairgrounds has hosted San Diego’s biggest music festival, KAABOO Del Mar. With an idyllic location adjacent to the beach and the Del Mar Racetrack, the festival grew into THE destination for every genre of live music, world-class comedy, craft food and beverages, and art. The festival was sold and planned to move to downtown San Diego, in and around Petco Park, but this year’s event didn’t happen. So let’s take a look back at our Five Fave KAABOO Del Mar Musical Performances.

#5 – 311 KAABOO Del Mar 2015

311 Kaaboo 15

18 photos

#4 – Gavin DeGraw KAABOO Del Mar 2016

Kaaboo 16 Gavin DeGraw

13 photos

#3 – Dave Matthews Band KAABOO Del Mar 2019

Kaaboo 19 Dave Matthews Band

11 photos

#2 – Duran Duran KAABOO Del Mar 2019

Kaaboo 19 Duran Duran

16 photos

#1 – Aerosmith KAABOO Del Mar 2016

Kaaboo 16 Aerosmith

25 photos

Five Fave: KAABOO Del Mar Musical Performances first appeared on Game On Media.

2020 has been a tumultuous year, to say the least. A worldwide pandemic, an historic human rights movement, and the death of legendary musicians has rocked the world unlike any year in recent memory. Live concerts, festivals and tours have come to a stop. Planned album release cycles have been put on hold. Several artists have released singles that help us connect and deal with the issues that 2020 has forced upon us. These are our Five Fave Rock Singles of 2020 So Far.

#5 – Shinedown – Atlas Falls

“We need music, and each other, now more than ever as we all are witnessing a global pandemic, unlike anything we’ve ever seen in many generations. Years ago during the writing and recording of the ‘Amaryllis’ album, there was a song that meant a great deal to us titled “Atlas Falls.” It has never been more clear to us than right now, that the time has come for the never before heard song, “Atlas Falls” to arrive. We’ve partnered with an incredible organization, Direct Relief, who are doing important work globally to help the medical community receive the protective equipment they need in order to save lives. As the world responds to this global pandemic, we want to offer a message of optimism and faith in humanity. We ask that you share this anthem of strength and show the world how you’re delivering optimism and awareness during this time.” – Shinedown

It won’t pull me down
The weight of impossible days
I’ll stand tall
I’ll rise up and carry us all the way

#4 – Black Veil Brides – American Skin (41 Shots)

“‘American Skin (41 Shots)’ is a song originally written and performed by Bruce Springsteen inspired by the police shooting and death of a young black man named Amadou Diallo in New York City in the late 90’s. Tragically the subject matter of this song is as relevant today as it’s ever been and so we wanted to share with you our own rendition of this song and urge you to donate to support the movement for justice and anti racist organizations. While obviously a song alone will not be an inflection point for societal change, we as artists wanted to share something in support of this incredibly important time in history and direct you to organizations who are at the forefront of effecting real change and fighting against the systemic oppression and racism that the black community and people of color face every single day.” – Black Veil Brides

If an officer stops you
Promise me you’ll always be polite
And that you’ll never ever run away
Promise Mama, you’ll keep your hands in sight

#3 – Machine Head (feat. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage) – Stop The Bleeding

“I wrote and sang the lyrics on Wednesday May 27th, 2020, the day that the four officers who murdered George Floyd were (originally) not charged with anything. This day was engulfed in protests and riots across America. I drove into Oakland, past large demonstrations already happening and, in a fury, wrote down everything I was feeling after watching the horrific footage. Within hours, what I wanted to say, what I needed to say, had been recorded in the song.” – Robb Flynn, Machine Head

I stare and look out at the world in disgust
These men are dying over nothing just
Good men stand up and show your bravery
For a lost democracy
Our democracy

#2 – FEVER 333 – Supremacy

“The advantages we predict we will see if crossing demographics musically to proliferate a message that MUST find its way over the barriers of genre. Music and art have served as the catalyst for socially inclined movements for as long as we can remember, but for some reason, at a time where we are now granted the ability to see how deeply flawed our system is, we have slowed the charge for change. FEVER 333 has dedicated its entire platform to that change from its inception with its music, activism, even its own charity fund that sees a percentage of proceeds funneled from all profits the project receives. This is not a marketing method this is a tool for change. Please consider widening this message for the people with FEVER 333 by joining us in this effort.” – FEVER 333

When time turns into history
The story that we’ll tell will be
When we were marching for our lives
You stood on the other side

#1 – Nonpoint – Remember Me (A Frontlines Tribute)

“Essential by definition is something that is absolutely necessary; extremely important. A worker can be defined as person who does a specific kind of work. A person who achieves a specified thing as in, ‘They are working miracles.’ With this video our band is celebrating only one thing. We hope you will join us to honor, give thanks, cheer and revere those who are essential. Who work countless hours and months on end. Who put their lives at risk to keep you safe. Who leave their families just to help you feed yours. Who give their service to brave the frontlines of something mankind faces together. Who you may never meet, have the opportunity to say thank you to or whose name you may never know.” – Nonpoint

Will you remember me?
Can’t you remember why?
Even though you didn’t ask me to
I risk my life for you

Full Lyrics:

Shinedown – Atlas Falls

The push is always part of us
And gravity’s never a friend
Deciding on who we can trust
And finding our way to crescendo, to the unknown

We’ll never make it outside
Lest we unlock the past and release
The future that we’ve left to die
For too long we’ve taken placebos
But the unknown, is awakening

Don’t give up now, there’s already so much at stake
If Atlas falls, I’ll rise up and carry us all the way

No, we can never look back
Return to the salt and the sea
The quiet is only a trap
And I will not take the placebos
‘Cause the unknown is awakening
But I will crescendo

Don’t give up now, there’s already so much at stake
If Atlas falls, I’ll rise up and carry us all the way

It won’t pull me down
The weight of impossible days
I’ll stand tall
I’ll rise up and carry us all the way

Keep moving forward now
Keep your head above the clouds
I’m right with you, I will lift you
Just hold on

Don’t give up now, there’s already so much at stake
If Atlas falls, I’ll rise up and carry us all the way

It won’t pull me down (moving forward now)
The weight of impossible days (keep your head above the clouds)
I’ll stand tall (I’m right with you, I will lift you, just hold on)
I’ll rise up and carry us all the way
I’ll carry us all the way
(Keep moving forward now)

Black Veil Brides – American Skin (41 Shots)

41 shots
And we’ll take that ride
Across this bloody river
To the other side
41 shots
Cut through the night
You’re kneeling over his body in the vestibule
Praying for his life

Is it a gun? Is it a knife?
Is it a wallet? This is your life
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
No secret, my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin

41 shots
41 shots
41 shots
41 shots

41 shots
Mary gets her son ready for school
She says, “On these streets, Alex
You’ve got to understand the rules
If an officer stops you
Promise me you’ll always be polite
And that you’ll never ever run away
Promise Mama, you’ll keep your hands in sight”

Is it a gun? Is it a knife?
Is it a wallet? This is your life
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
No secret, my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin

Is it a gun? Is it a knife?
Is it in your heart? Is it in your eyes?
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)

41 shots
And we’ll take that ride
Across this bloody river
To the other side
41 shots
I got my boots caked in this mud
We’re baptized in these waters (we’re baptized in these waters)
And in each other’s blood (and in each other’s blood)

Is it a gun? Is it a knife?
Is it a wallet? This is your life
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
It ain’t no secret (It ain’t no secret)
No secret my friend
You can get killed just for living in your American skin

Machine Head (feat. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage) – Stop The Bleeding

The endless scroll of human tragedy
I swipe along as the days go by
Another brother murdered out in the streets
I connect to the shame, we don’t know what it’s like

Born lucky ’cause the color of skin
America, your heart is caving in
Somehow I thought this was the land of the free
Where is our humanity?
Our humanity

Beating after beating
Throat choked under knee
Help me, please
Because I can’t breathe
Just stop the bleeding
Body after body
Piled up in the streets
Stand and fight
Not another life
Just stop the bleeding

And some will claim it’s a conspiracy
The fake news out to undermine
When riots fight off white supremacy
Never given a choice, so they’re drawing a line

I stare and look out at the world in disgust
These men are dying over nothing just
Good men stand up and show your bravery
For a lost democracy
Our democracy

Beating after beating
Throat choked under knee
Help me, please
Because I can’t breathe
Just stop the bleeding
Body after body
Piled up in the streets
Stand and fight
Not another life
Just stop the bleeding

Our strife
Our struggle
Fight through these open wounds
Our strife
Our struggle
Fight through these open wounds

Beating after beating
Throat choked under knee
Beating after beating
Throat choked under knee
Help me, please
Because I can’t breathe
Just stop the bleeding

Body after body
Piled up in the streets
Stand and fight
Not another life
Just stop the bleeding now
The bleeding now
The bleeding

Our strife (our strife)
Our struggle (our struggle)
Fight through these open wounds

FEVER 333 – Supremacy

Born into a world
Where we’re dying to be free
But we’re living underneath their supremacy
Yeah, yeah, yeah

See I was raised in the west
Where we stay stressed
Where they lie if they have to
To make an arrest
‘Cause we living in the shadow of the suburbs
While the price of this house is going upwards
I don’t understand how
The poor get robbed by the rich
And they calling it a handout
(Aw, hell nah)
And it’s evident
The neighborhood fucked up
Got us sending letters to the president

Tell me, can you hear us?
Through the sounds of the sirens
And you wonder why the streets getting violent
Another mother shed tears at the cemetery
Burying a first born child (damn)
I’ve been watching through the years
Got my nerves firing, waking up screaming
And we live in a cold sweat
Segregated, they consider us a known threat
So we hopeless, ayy

Born into a world
Where we’re dying to be free
(I just wanna be free, let’s go)
But we’re living underneath their supremacy
(Looking out from, we ain’t out from their supremacy)
One day you’ll see us
But until then we’ll all sit and wait
For the rapture
(Ain’t no more waiting)

They trying to relegate my DNA
Break it down into something easier to hate
They afraid of the outcome
‘Cause the race they call human
Keep evolving and they know they will get outrun
(That’s why, huh?)
Still behind on the times, yeah
Protest culture on strike like lightning (damn)
Losing hold and control, so we rising
Put the muzzle on, but we won’t stay silent

Born into a world
Where we’re dying to be free
(I just wanna be free, let’s go)
But we’re living underneath their supremacy
(Underneath, under their supremacy)
One day you’ll see us
But until then we’ll all sit and wait
For the rapture (What you waiting for?)
(Go and get it)

When time turns into history
The story that we’ll tell will be
When we were marching for our lives
You stood on the other side

When time turns into history
The story that we’ll tell will be
When we were marching for our lives
You stood on the other side

When time turns into history
The story that we’ll tell will be
When we were marching for our lives
You stood on the other side

Nonpoint – Remember Me (A Frontlines Tribute)

Will you remember me?
Can’t you remember why?
Even though you didn’t ask me to
I risk my life for you

You may never know my name
You might not even care
But when the world is burnin’ down
You’re gonna want me there
Gonna want me there

On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life
On the frontlines
Knowin’ tomorrow, I may not be alive
On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life
On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life

Fightin’ for your…

When you need protection
Without an agenda
Without an intention
When you’ve given up
You’ve lost your direction
I’ll be your glimmer of hope
I’ll be your north star
I’ll be your north star

On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life
On the frontlines
Knowin’ tomorrow, I may not be alive
On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life
On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life

On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life
On the frontlines
Knowin’ tomorrow, I may not be alive
On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life
On the frontlines
Fightin’ for your life

Fightin’ for your life

Five Fave: Rock Singles Of 2020 So Far first appeared on Game On Media.

Let’s start this with an open mind and an open heart. We all care about the police. We all support the police. We all need the police. We respect the stressful nature of their job and the difficulty of the positions they place themselves in. We all recognize that they are individual human beings, with everything that comes with that. They are the law, but they are not above the law. When they break the rules, they need to be held accountable. When they cannot do their job fairly and treat people equally, then they need to find another job.

Police procedural dramas have long been a staple of television. This format allows for the opportunity to see each police officer on their own terms. We get some insight into their personal baggage, attitudes and experiences. We get a chance to see if they have the willingness and ability to learn and adapt. The best shows examine the grey areas between regulations and reality, between criminal and victim, between protector and perpetrator. In all cases, there are officers who cross the line, and departments that investigate the incidents and hold people accountable when they have gone too far. Really, that is at the core of what is being demanded as far as police reform. We want to hold the police accountable to their own rules and regulations under the law, the same way anyone else would be.

5. Gotham

Gotham, created by Bruno Heller, based on Batman comic books, ran for 5 season from 2014-2019. While many well-known characters are featured growing into their iconic roles, the show is actually centered around the origin story of eventual Commissioner James Gordon, portrayed by Ben McKenzie. Gordon’s rise through the Gotham City Police Department (G.C.P.D.) is dramatized, beginning with the murder of billionaires Thomas and Martha Wayne. Their teenage son Bruce witness this event, and he is mentored by Gordon as he walks his own dark path towards one day becoming a vigilante known as Batman, the Dark Knight. While obviously fictional, this show is the most realistic of all of the comics-based television series. Bruce Wayne is a trust fund kid with well-deserved anger issues, but his only “superpower” is being rich enough to buy favor with the local police force. Criminals such as Penguin, Catwoman and The Riddler feature prominently (and are brilliantly acted), as street criminals navigating the city’s underbelly while manipulating the organized crime families. The series largely avoids the fantasy element, sticking reasonably close to plausibility in most major areas. Gordon and his on-again, off-again partner Harvey Bullock, played by Donal Logue, tread the layers of corruption that hold Gotham together, from the crime families through secret societies, political offices and the department itself. Nobody is clean, and lines are crossed often, while characters debate the alternatives of not acting. Gotham is a surprisingly realistic look into the shades of grey between good and evil, and the complexity of managing city life.

4. Dexter

Dexter, created by James Manos Jr., ran for 8 seasons from 2006-2013. Michael C. Hall portrays a blood-spatter analyst in the Miami Police Department crime lab, who is secretly a serial killer who targets murderers who are able to evade the criminal justice system. Fueled by a “dark passenger” born of his witnessing his mother’s brutal murder as a child, and guided by a code imbued in him by his deceased adopted policeman father (James Remar). Jennifer Carpenter plays his sister Debra Morgan, a detective in the same house, giving them ample time to interact socially and professionally. Each season features a story arc centered around a serial killer that both the police and Dexter hunt in their own ways. Dexter’s code of targeting only other serial killers who stay ahead of the laws and the police makes him a sympathetic anti-hero that you actually find yourself rooting for. Every person has a dark side that could show when confronted with violence and injustice, and allowing that side to be satiated through a fictional character is a cathartic experience. The guest stars are legends who allow Dexter to question and analyze himself and his opponents, including John Lithgow, Jimmy Smits, Julia Stiles, Edward James Olmos and the amazing Julie Benz.

3. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, created by Dick Wolf, has run for 21 seasons and counting, from 1990-2020 and beyond. This unit focuses on New York City’s crimes involving sexually based offenses. Spun off from Law & Order, this show also pulls its story ideas from actual events. There continue to be more and more sex crimes coming to light in real life, and this show has consistently been a beacon for encouraging victims to face their fears and come forward with complaints. Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson and Ice-T as Detective Fin Tutuola have held down the fort for 2 decades. The cast was outstanding from the jump, with Dann Florek, B.D. Wong, Richard Belzer and Tamara Tunie working well together in dealing with the most heart wrenching of crimes. Christopher Meloni starred as Detective Elliot Stabler and Benson’s partner for the first 12 seasons. He dealt with the horrific nature of his work and his struggle to balance that with raising a large family. This contrasted with Benson’s life a single woman who invested almost 100% of herself into her work and victim advocacy. No police show more clearly shows the difficulty of maintaining professionalism in the face of the most disgusting behavior that humans are capable of.

2. Law & Order

Law & Order, created by Dick Wolf, ran for 20 seasons from 1990-2010. The show’s unique take on the genre involved following fictionalization of a crime seen in real-life headlines from the police investigation and arrest through to the court prosecution and sentencing. In this way, we are able to see how the detectives actions and results are interpreted by the district attorney’s office and the court proceedings. Police actions are cross examined by the assistant district attorneys during their pre-trial investigations, as well as by the defense attorneys during the trial. The show began featuring Chris Noth, Dann Florek, Steven Hill, George Dzundza and Michael Moriarty, with only Richard Brooks as A.D.A. Paul Robinette varying even slightly from a “white male” dominated cast. The show became more engaging and truly hit its stride after adding S. Epatha Merkerson as Lieutenant Anita Van Buren. She ran the 27th Precinct detective squad with efficiency and compassion, despite constant harassment and prejudice due to her being a woman of color in a powerful position. Sam Waterston joined as Executive Assistant District Attorney Jack McCoy, a bleeding heart who risked his career and reputation on numerous occasions while holding the police department to the highest standards to which we all aspire to. He was provided with a parade of beautiful young women as his assistant, with Angie Harmon, Elisabeth Rohm and Alana De La Garza leading the way. The underlying pressure of an attractive woman working for a male boss was explored many times over. The District Attorney role was a place to explore the political nature of the criminal justice system, showing how electability and fund raising could tilt the scales of justice. Steven Hill, Dianne Wiest and real world Presidential candidate Fred Thompson were 3 completely unique characters who wore their politics on their lapels, but rarely let it effect how they let their people prosecute justice. The detective squad had numerous faces throughout the years. Fan favorites included Jerry “Nobody puts Baby in a corner” Orbach as Det. Lenny Briscoe, Jesse L. Martin as Det. Ed Green, Benjamin Bratt as Det. Rey Curtis, Jeremy Sisto as Det. Cyrus Lupo, and Anthony Anderson as Det. Kevin Bernard. These detectives confronted systemic racism and bias on a daily basis, and attempted to work things out while dealing with each other and the general public.

1. NYPD Blue

NYPD Blue, created by Steven Bochco and David Milch, ran for 12 seasons from 1993-2005. The show centers on the detectives of the 15th Precinct of Manhattan in New York City. The show was anchored by Dennis Franz as Detective Andy Sipowicz, a recovering alcoholic struggling with a history of bigotry and racism, while trying to learn empathy and show compassion between angry outbursts. The show ran through a series of high quality partners for Andy, from David Caruso as Det. John Kelly, to Jimmy Smits as Det. Bobby Simone, to Ricky Schroeder as Det. Danny Sorenson, to Mark-Paul Gosselar as Det. John Clark. The rest of the casting was specifically chosen to represent race, gender and sexual orientation, allowing for uncomfortable situations to be addressed candidly. The show placed social issues front and center at all times, using the detective squad, uniform police, IAB, victims, suspects and criminals to openly confront substance abuse, race, injustice, unexpected death, homosexuality, feminism and sexism. No character was without flaw. The most important aspect of the show was illustrating the ability of people to recognize and acknowledge their own biases, course correct, and apologize to each other. People need to live together and work together, especially when they disagree. An open and honest dialogue can be helpful in achieving this goal. Few jobs provide the constant opportunity to observe the sad results of disagreement, and few jobs require the constant necessity to overlook such disagreements to achieve justice and work with others.

Five Fave: Police Procedural Dramas first appeared on Game On Media.

Happy Mother’s Day to all of the wonderful mothers out there who literally made us, and figuratively made us who we are. There have been some great videos released this year, and these are some of the best. In honor of all women, here are our Five Fave Women Who Rock Our World.

5. Cristina Scabbia of Lacuna Coil

4. Maria Brink of In This Moment

3. Lacey Sturm formerly of Flyleaf

2. Lzzy Hale of Halestorm

1. Amy Lee of Evanescence

Five Fave: Women Who Rock Our World first appeared on Game On Media.

So you’re still doing your part staying home in self quarantine. Now is the perfect time to catch up on your binge watching. With as surreal as life has been lately, you may as well ride the wave and explore the most implausible of comedic situations. Here are our Five Fave Netflix And Quarantine – Insanely Ridiculous Comedy Series:

5. Arrested Development – 5 Seasons, 84 Episodes, plus a Season 4 Remix with 22 Episodes. Starring Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Will Arnett, Michael Cera, Alia Shawkat, Tony Hale, David Cross, Jeffrey Tambor, Jessica Walter, Ron Howard.

Arrested Development features Jason Bateman who revels in suffering through the role of the “good son”, while the rest of his self-centered family members get into one jam after another. The plot points and characters are truly ridiculous, and the jokes are so subtle and plentiful, it sometimes takes repeated viewing to appreciate it all. The original 3 seasons ran from 2003-2006 on Fox. Netflix reunited the entire cast for an uneven 4th season in 2013. They extended and re-mixed it in 2018, which was much better. That led into the final season which was released in 2 parts. The first 3 seasons are must-watch, and then you can decide if you want more.

4. Friends From College – 2 Seasons, 16 Episodes. Starring Keegan-Michael Key, Fred Savage, Nat Faxon, Annie Parisse, Jae Suth Park, Cobie Smulders, Sarah Chalke, Zack Robidas, Billy Eichner.

A group of friends from college struggle to grow up and live responsible lives. They have a tough time letting go of substance abuse, infidelity and self-destructive behaviour. Friends From College is very cleverly written and well acted by this experienced all star cast. Plus you can knock the whole series out in a weekend.

3. Shameless – 10 Seasons, 122 Episodes. Starring William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, Justin Chatwin, Cameron Monaghan, Jeremy Allen White, Shanola Hampton, Steve Howey, Ethan Cutkosky, Emma Kenney, Laura Wiggins, Joan Cusack.

This show is so wrong, it somehow ends up right. First of all, you are absolutely going to hate the main character, Frank Gallagher, and you are supposed to. You are going to love the 6 kids he neglects, forcing them to band together to fend for themselves as a team, growing up dirt poor in Southside Chicago. Their neighbors are a delight, and despite gratuitous sex, drugs and violence, Shameless is often very raw and emotional. You will end up caring about and screaming at every character as they make mistake after mistake, yet somehow find a way to pick up the pieces and keep moving forward with hope. It is the perfect binge show, as there are so many episodes, and you find yourself wanting “one more” every time one ends.

2. Weeds – 8 Seasons, 102 Episodes. Starring Mary-Louise Parker, Hunter Parrish, Alexander Gould, Kevin Nealon, Justin Kirk, Elizabeth Perkins, Allie Grant, Andy Milder, Tonye Patano, Romany Malco.

What’s a single Mom living in suburbia, raising 2 teenage boys, to do, in order to keep up with the Joneses and make ends meet? Sell weed, of course. Weeds is a classic case of getting in over your head. Your head will spin as the story takes an insane amount of twists and turns. The charming family fights to stay one step ahead of the law, the cartels, the neighbors and each other. Featuring well established actors, and amazing newcomers, the story pulls you in and takes you on a crazy ride.

1. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt – 4 Seasons, 51 Episodes. Starring Ellie Kemper, Jane Krakowski, Tituss Burgess, Carol Kane.

Tina Fey and Robert Carlock created this quirky, subtle and weird comedy about a midwestern teen named Kimmy, who was kidnapped by a religious cult leader and held underground for years with 3 other sister-wives. After her rescue, she moves to New York and tries to make it as an adult, even though she has only experienced life as a child and an apocalyptic refugee. She meets a cast of hilarious characters who help her learn the ways of the world. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is surprisingly sweet amongst the absurdity.

Five Fave: How To Netflix And Quarantine – Insanely Ridiculous Comedy Series first appeared on Game On Media.

This week, the 25th James Bond film, No Time To Die, was set to be released in movie theaters worldwide. The fifth and final chapter featuring Daniel Craig as 007, is highly anticipated, as many consider Craig to be the ultimate Bond (#2 at worst) and his feature run has been the most consistently excellent in the 5 decades of the franchise. While we wait, let’s take a look back on what makes James Bond 007 so special. Without a doubt, many tune in to see who the exotic, glamorous, dangerous and unforgettable “Bond Girls” will be. Some of the world’s most famous models and actresses have been tangled up with the agent with a license to kill, and love. With almost 100 beautiful and talented women to choose from, we took the liberty of creating two Five Fave lists.

Here are our Five Fave Bond Girl Characters:

5. Casino Royale with Daniel Craig – Vesper Lynd (Eva Green)

4. Quantum Of Solace with Daniel Craig – Camille Montes (Olga Kurylenko)

3. The Spy Who Loved Me with Roger Moore – Major Anya Amasova “XXX” (Barbara Bach)

2. Tomorrow Never Dies with Pierce Brosnan – Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh)

1. You Only Live Twice with Sean Connery – Aki (Akiko Wakabayashi)

Here are our Five Fave Bond Girl Names:

5. Die Another Day with Pierce Brosnan – Giacinta “Jinx” Johnson (Halle Berry)

4. Thunderball with Sean Connery – Dominique “Domino” Derval (Claudine Auger)

3. GoldenEye with Pierce Brosnan – Xenia Onatopp (Famke Janssen)

2. Goldfinger with Sean Connery – Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman)

1. Dr. No with Sean Connery – Honey Ryder (Ursula Andress)

Five Fave: Bond Girls first appeared on Game On Media.