This past Saturday night was one of the most invigorating evenings of my entire life.  No, really, it was. I had the opportunity to witness history as a captive part of a studio audience, watching everyone’s beloved and charmingly vulgar Golden Girls’ Rose Nyland host the iconic 35-year-old TV institution, SNL.  The show was a triple treat, serving a special Saturday Night with Betty White, and a musical performance side of H.O.V.A. hero, Jay-Z.  The combination of cultural classics was enough to stimulate every synapse in my body as I both cracked up and cried at every knee slapper.  Unfortunately for the man next to me, it was his knee I ended up repeatedly slapping, as I just could not contain myself. I mean, come on – Wizard of Ass? Betty’s raunchy remarks had me responding Pavlovian style…I (and the guy seated next to me) didn’t stand a chance.  Betty wowed us with her winning wit, ageless spirit, impeccable comedic timing, and timeless beauty…she also wowed us with her ability to talk dirty via muffin metaphor and to create one bad-ass, successfully scary death-metal version of “Thank You For Being a Friend” – I think that’s when I actually full-on decked the poor guy next to me in the face, as I was laughing (a.k.a. mildly head-banging) so hard.

JAY-Z affectionately dedicated his “Forever Young” performance, featuring Mr. Hudson, to the one-and-only Betty White, a victorious nod to octogenarians (and Alphaville fans – see below) everywhere.  Everyone was a winner that night including yours truly, who ended up getting the golden ticket to meet the evening’s golden girl. Betty was every bit as graceful and gracious in person, and I have this priceless picture to prove it…Note:  it was not taken by the guy who sat next to me.  Overall, it was an evening I will remember for the rest of my life, and getting to meet Betty White in person was by far the cherry on top…(please, hold the muffin).

“Sound Advice” Trivia Moment: Alphaville is an ‘80s German synth-pop group whose 1984 song “Forever Young” is the song that Mr. Hudson covers in JAY-Z’s Blueprint 3 version.  Consider yourself Allison Hagendorf Music Maxim-ized.

In honor of my Saturday Night with the “Forever Young” Golden Girl, and her ability to snag the strongest SNL ratings in 18 months, my Sound Advice is to check out these golden moments in SNL Musical Guest history. Stay gold, Ponyboy.

1. October 18, 1975—Simon & Garfunkel

On the second episode of SNL, host Paul Simon is joined by former musical frienemy, Art Garfunkel, to perform “The Boxer”.  Lack of eye contact and awkward body language on stage reveals that there is indeed some beef behind these folk fighters.

2. April 17, 1976 – Patti Smith Group

Performing on the night before Easter, Patti gives many SNL viewers their first taste of punk spirit and sound as she opens “Gloria” with the impromptu line “Jesus died for somebody’s sins but not mine”.  That’s my kind of chick. (Yes, Easter pun intended)

3. December 17, 1977 – Elvis Costello

Scheduled to play “Less Than Zero”, Costello stops mid-song to play the controversial, anti-media “Radio, Radio”. He is banned from SNL, but the ban is lifted in 1989 when he returns to perform again. His aim was true. (Cue: “Aaaa-llison….”)

4. February 14, 1981 – The Funky Four Plus One More

They were the first rap group to perform on SNL, a title erroneously given to Run DMC.  They were also notable for having a female MC. Notable indeed.

5. October 31, 1981 – Fear

A fan of Fear, Belushi got this ballsy band booked on the show.  The band failed to tell anyone they were busing in their own “dancers” which included Henry Rollins, Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat & Fugazi, and members of the Cro-Mags. Belushi also jumped in on the frenetic festivities which resulted in set and equipment damage. SNL panicked and yanked the performance off the air and replaced it with a short. Fear successfully instilled fear that year.

6. October 18, 1986—Run DMC

As the second hip-hop/rap group to perform on SNL, they helped pave the (Walk This) Way for other hip-hop acts on TV as they were the first to air on MTV.

7. January 11, 1992 – Nirvana

Nirvana was the first band ever to get the honor of playing SNL twice.  “Nevermind” had just struck number one on the Billboard sales chart, knocking the King of Pop off the top spot. They nailed “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Territorial Pissings” and then performed “Heart Shaped Box” and “Rape Me” later in 1993.  Incredible.

8. April 22, 1992—Pearl Jam

They performed “Alive” and let me tell you, Eddie made me feel alive all over – did I say that out loud? Oh well.

9. October 3, 1992—Sinéad O’Connor

Nothing compares to Sinead’s pugnacious political stunt on SNL when she yelled “Fight the real enemy!” while shredding a picture of the pope.  Regardless, she looks amazing bald, which is a feat in itself.

10. October 2, 1993 – Cypress Hill

DJ Muggs lights up a joint on-air and the band trashes their instruments after playing “I Ain’t Goin’ Out Like That”. Well apparently they did go out like that because SNL threw them out and they were banned from returning.

11. April 13, 1996 – Rage Against The Machine

The band was asked to leave after only playing one song. Despite SNL asking them not to, they draped upside-down American flags from their amps to provide a juxtaposition to the SNL host that night, Republican Presidential candidate Steve Forbes. The band was banned and said a big “Beep” to SNL.

12. October 14, 2000—Radiohead

With the recent release of their album Kid A, viewers knew they were in for a more experimental, ambient showing from Radiohead.  But they may not have been expecting this over-the-top trippy performance, complete with a full brass section.  Some felt it bizarre, some loved it. Regardless, it was a golden moment stuck in many a (Radio)head.

13. October 23, 2004 – Ashlee Simpson

Lip syncing, doing the “jig”, blaming innocent and talented band musicians, and indigestion.  That disturbing combination made it worthy of being in this list. Moving on…

14. November 20, 2004—U2

U2 was one of the few bands to actually play 3 songs on the show and brought down the SNL house by playing the U2 classic “I Will Follow”.  The cameras revealed a star-struck SNL cast watching in awe as music fans as opposed to comedic actors.  It was a Beautiful Day…(U2 didn’t play that song that night, but whatever).

15. November 15, 2008 – Beyonce

Black Leotard + Justin Timberlake “Single Ladies” sketch + Beyonce = SNL Golden Moment

16. October 3, 2009 – Lady Gaga

She managed to say “shit” without getting bleeped, got into a cat-fight with Madonna, and plays a stegosaurus-inspired keytar. Nice.

17. May 9, 2010 – Jay-Z

The King of Rap is tough enough to look hot in a vest, yet sensitive enough to bow to the one and only Betty White. See, even The Black Album baron woos White.

To see some of my previous posts from “Sound Advice from Allison Hagendorf” visit the Maxim archives here:  Allison Hagendorf Maxim Music Maven

This week’s column comes from Sin City. Yep, I’m talking VEGAS, baby! I’m hosting an event and discussion with Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz (pictured below) about his role as an entrepreneur, businessman and brand. Although we talked about his many endeavors—from his book, clothing and merch company Clandestine, to his comic book mini-series Fall Out Toy Works—I made sure to get the scoop on his favorite Vegas bands, Vegas stories and, of course, his SOUND ADVICE.

Alllison: What’s the best Sound Advice anyone’s given you?
Pete: Jay-Z [said to me] before we played the Garden, “There’s a lot of people out there, don’t fuck it up.”

Allison: What’s some Sound Advice you’ve give to bands first starting their careers?
Pete: Don’t be afraid of failure. Most of us fail hundreds of times before we succeed.

Allison: Who are your favorite bands from Vegas?
Pete: Panic! At the Disco, The Cab, The Killers, Wayne Newton.

Allison: What is your craziest Vegas story?
Pete: It started with absinthe. I don’t remember the rest.

Allison: What are your Top 5 Vegas-inspired songs?

Pete: “Luck Be a Lady” — Frank Sinatra

“Vegas Two Times” — Stereophonics

“Las Vegas Dealer” — Gomez

“Viva Las Vegas” — Elvis Presley

“Straight to the Top (Vegas)” — Tom Waits

BONUS PICK: Dean Martin’s Vegas Medley “Drink to Me Only”

I’m Allison Hagendorf and I love meat.  I could probably eat more wings than you and I would wrestle you to the ground over the last one.  Now all’s fair in wings and war, and at the end of our carnivorous competition, I’d make sure to at least buy you a beer.  Then I’d crank up AC/DC’s “Have a Drink On Me,” because that’s what I do and that’s why I’m here. I’m a soundtrack sorceress who will be giving MAXIM men, “SOUND ADVICE.”

After eight years of globe-trotting, scouting unsigned bands, making Grammy-nominated records for Sony, and interviewing artists such as One Republic, Sean Kingston, and Judas Priest’s Rob Halford as Fuse’s newest host, I’ll be recommending songs and soundtracks that are good for you.  Sort of like a sound doctor giving you a tune-up…and speaking of tune-ups, I’m starting off by prescribing that you put on Motley Crue’s “Dr. Feelgood”, and text me in the morning.  Or maybe not.  Let’s take things slow.

Sound Advice #1 - “Happiness is a warm beach”

I’m writing from Miami where I’m attending the SOBE Wine & Food Festival.  If you haven’t learned already, I love food just as much as I love my music, I actually follow national food events like a band on the run.   Over the next few days, I’ll be wining and dining with Food Network personalities, chefs, and fellow food fans, but of course I’ll be making time to bask on the beach. So while most of you are shoveling yourselves out from the blizzards of 2010, I’ll be diggin’ my feet into the warm sands of Miami Beach.

Here are 17 songs to help you defrost.

Beach Chair – Jay-Z Feat. Chris Martin

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Beyonce, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga are Grammy’s top ladies

By: Glenn Gamboa

All the single ladies, all the single ladies. For this year’s Grammys, it’s all about the single ladies – and the married one, too.

Beyoncé, whose “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)” is up for song of the year, leads all artists at tonight’s ceremony with 10 nominations. Taylor Swift, whose multiplatinum “Fearless” was the top-selling album of 2009, is up next with eight nominations. Other top nominees include Lady Gaga, with five nods, and Colbie Caillat with four. It’s the first time female artists have been the top two Grammy nominees since 1999, when Lauryn Hill, Sheryl Crow and Shania Twain led the night.

Beyoncé, Swift and Gaga will duke it out in all three of the top categories – album, song and record of the year. No band or single guy can say that this year, not the Black Eyed Peas, not Kings of Leon, though “Use Somebody” is up for song and record of the year, and not Maxwell.

“The nominations definitely reflect what’s happening in the music industry,” says Jay Frank, author of the book “Futurehit. DNA” and CMT’s senior vice president of music strategy. “It was ‘The Year of Taylor’ across the board, and Beyoncé’s somebody who’s always made hugely successful music and is now getting her critical due as well.”

However, many, including Frank, say the domination of female artists at the Grammys also signals a broader shift in the music industry. “It’s a reflection of the shift online,” Frank says. “Traditional radio has not always been as receptive to female artists as they are to male ones. But today, when so much music is discovered and consumed online, more and more people are likely to sample a song when it’s connected to a female image.”

The 360-degree performers

The numbers back that up. In 2009, the two biggest-selling albums of the year were from women – Swift’s “Fearless” and Susan Boyle’s “I Dreamed a Dream” (Boyle’s album came out in November, missing this year’s Grammy deadline). If you remove Michael Jackson’s “Number Ones” from the equation, since it was released in 2003, and its 2009 sales came mainly due to his untimely death, then women were responsible for the top three albums (Gaga’s “The Fame” would be No. 3) and four of the top five (the soundtrack to the “Hannah Montana” movie would be No. 5).

Another reason for the strong female showing at the Grammys is that music fans are increasingly becoming attracted to a different kind of female artist, says Allison Hagendorf, host of Fuse’s “The Pop Show.”

“I call them the 360-degree female performer,” says Hagendorf, who worked at Columbia and Epic Records as an A&R rep before moving to the cable music channel. “They are great performers, talented and skilled songwriters and businesswomen with relentless work ethics. They are undeniable.”

Although there are numerous female artists who have balanced these talents for years, Hagendorf says the new generation of singers has an additional talent. “They are great at making themselves as ubiquitous as possible,” she says.

Beyoncé, Swift and Gaga all certainly fit the bill. In addition to their musical pursuits, Beyoncé is an established actress and clothing designer. In fact, it’s Beyoncé’s extracurricular work that gave her the edge in nominations, as she landed nods for her work in “Cadillac Records” – “At Last” in the best traditional R&B vocal performance category and “Once in a Lifetime” as best song written for a motion picture.

Swift will be making her movie debut in “Valentine’s Day” next month, while Gaga has already signed on as a creative director of Polaroid and released her own line of headphones. Perhaps the most telling sign is that all three wrote or co-wrote their entries in the song of the year category, a Grammy that goes to the songwriters, not the singers.

‘People want authenticity’

Writing their own material is one of the main keys to their success, Frank says.

“The audience can sense when something is manipulated,” Frank says. “People want authenticity. They are begging for authenticity from their artists. Taylor helped set that trend. She is a singer-songwriter who is perfectly aimed at the young market. But the audience responds to her authenticity. On the surface, she’s writing a little pop song, but her feelings and the way she expresses them makes her a modern-day Joni Mitchell.”

In other words, a song like “Fifteen” is far more believable when Swift, who was 19 when she released it, writes and sings it than when it is written by 40-something men living in Sweden.

Authenticity is also something Grammy voters, most of whom are artists in one field or another, truly value, as well as command of all parts of the recording process, meaning both ladies may have good nights tonight. Beyoncé and Swift even coproduced their entries for record of the year.

Producer Benny Blanco – who has worked with Britney Spears, Katy Perry and, more recently, Ke$ha, on her No. 1 single “Tik Tok” and on her No. 1 album “Animal” – says these days he gravitates toward artists he can write with, such as Santigold, Jazmine Sullivan and his new discovery, Neon Hitch.

“I’m in it for the music,” he says. “I like to work with people who are involved. I can’t work with an artist who’s like a T-shirt on a coat hanger anymore. People are tired of manufactured pop stars, and so am I. I’m into working with people who write, so we can inspire each other.”

Blanco is quick to point out that he thinks there is room on the pop music landscape for all sorts of artists. “I’m not gonna Kanye West anyone, I think they’re all deserving,” he says, adding that he doesn’t worry too much about the gender of the artists he works with or how intense their work ethic is, as long as the songs turn out well.

He does add that maybe there is a simpler explanation for this year’s female-dominated Grammy night. “Women rule the world,” Blanco says, jokingly. “Would you rather see Ke$ha or some chubby guy dancing in a video?”

Check out the full story here:

http://tinyurl.com/HagendorfGrammyPreview

PASSION PIT - Manners

CAGE THE ELEPHANT – Cage The Elephant

WHITE LIES – To Lose My Life…

K’NAAN – Troubador

FLYLEAF – Memento Mori

PITBULL – Rebelution

PHOENIX – Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix

EMPIRE OF THE SUN – Walking On a Dream

Note: (This album technically was released at the end of 2008, but was rereleased in 2009 and I absolutely love it, so I’m counting it. Tomato. Tomahto.)

Consider this your prescription for musical medicine. Enjoy.

Fuse is ringing out the year with one last hurrah by counting down the top hits of the year and breaking down the biggest events in the world of music. Catch the marathon of the “Top 40 of ’09: The Year in Music” presenting this year’s top hits, as voted by viewers.

The end of year special, hosted by  Toure’ and Allison Hagendorf, airs all day Thursday, December 31st starting at 12pm ET and will take viewers into 2010.
Fans voted at Fuse.tv for their favorite music video, as thirty-two of the year’s most popular songs went head-to-head in a bracket-style tournament competing for the number one spot. Artists in the bracket included Paramore, Lady Gaga, Kid Cudi, JAY-Z, Kelly Clarkson, Metallica, T.I. and many more. Battling it out for the highest honor was Britney Spears’ Circus against Papa Roach’s Lifeline in the final round. For a second year in a row Britney took the top prize landing at number one; last year Spears’ Womanizer beat out Paramore’s That’s What You Get.
“Top 40 of ’09: The Year in Music” also tackles the wildest moments of the year. From the beefs to top singles, the break ups and make ups, Fuse wraps up ’09 with all the ups and downs, including Britney’s triumphant return, digital download chart toppers Flo Rida, Miley Cyrus and The Black Eyed Peas, a tweetastic year in the world of celebs, and everything in-between. Don’t miss Rihanna, Lady Gaga and 50 Cent talking about their reactions to the tragic death of Michael Jackson, and the cast of New Moon calling out some of their favorite bands, including Kings of Leon and Bon Iver.

However, I’ve been following this band since 2000 listening to their album, “United”. You may recall the band’s song “Too Young” was in the film, Shallow Hal, with Jack Black and Gwyneth Paltrow. But it was 2004’s album, “Alphabetical”, that really got me into the band with songs like “Everything is Everything” and “Run Run Run”.  In addition to the music, I was immediately won over by their extremely tight live show. And let’s be honest, it was also a plus that they were French.

Anyway, fast forward to 2009 (and a few albums later). PHOENIX released their latest album,”Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix” which is a masterpiece. They toured this summer and had one of my favorite new bands, Passion Pit, opening for them.  

TONIGHT I got to see PHOENIX in a very special, intimate setting. The band played a private stripped performance at the PC Richard Theater in the Clear Channel building. It was a short set but they played some of the highlights from their most recent album including, “1901″, “Lisztomania”, and my personal fave, “Lasso”. The band also performed their cover of fellow French band AIR’s “Playground Love”. You can check it out here:

So even if you don’t dig Crepes, Cheese, or  Onion Soup (which personally I can’t relate to if that is the case) you will definitely love French band, PHOENIX.  Dig in!

I haven’t seen something this cute since the infamous and beloved panda baby sneeze

My work here is done. You’re welcome.