'Bitch Slap' ...

May 24, 2010 2:57 PM

'American Idol' (Season 8) top 25 finalist and kooky contender, 'Norman Gentle' (IRL -- Nick Mitchell) in his debut music video: 'Bitch Slap.'

Norman (who aspires to be this generation’s Weird Al Yankovic) talks to the L.A. Times about the video shoot.

posted by ericb (35 comments total)

"I told them I was more of a character performer, but they talked me into trying to do a song that was a perfect fit for Norman Gentle called 'Bitchslap!' Then, right after we recorded it, the news came out that Simon is leaving 'Idol,' so we thought to do two versions, a censored one called 'Brit Slap!' and the original 'Bitchslap!' So now that were putting out a record, I told them Norman Gentle as a cabaret character was too limiting, so we have to go by the name 'Gentle' now, like Chris Daughtry's 'Daughtry.' In my mind, it is the only way Norman could do it!"

posted by ericb at 3:00 PM on May 24, 2010

I don't know now, but I think just became pregnant.
posted by The Whelk at 3:06 PM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

how, rather.

knowing now would also help.
posted by The Whelk at 3:06 PM on May 24, 2010

Is Leslie Hall his stylist?
posted by Madamina at 3:09 PM on May 24, 2010

I thought Weird Al was this generation's Weird Al.
posted by filthy light thief at 3:14 PM on May 24, 2010 [12 favorites]

Sometimes, when I do the SongFight! thing, I hear a song and I think "well, it's not a bad song, but it's a shame [the guy can't sing|the arrangement is bad|the timing is off|the lyrics suck|whatever]. But hey, he wrote and recorded it in about a week, out of his bedroom or something, so yay for art!"

But those folks (and I've been in that category more times than I want to admit) don't go out and make videos. If they did, this is exactly what I think it would come out like, which is a big giant ball of meh. It's not a good song, it's not performed or recorded well, and the video is boring as fuck.

With all the undeveloped talent out there than can be nurtured into awesomeness, is this really they best they can do with nurturing? Bah.

get off my lawn
posted by davejay at 3:15 PM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

OK, I give up. How exactly does one plan to do a censored song?
posted by kanewai at 3:16 PM on May 24, 2010

really
posted by Substrata at 3:28 PM on May 24, 2010

I was going to mention Leslie Hall. Except I was going to say this is like Leslie Hall without the joy.
posted by Astro Zombie at 3:29 PM on May 24, 2010

knowing now would also help

There is no now, here.
posted by dobbs at 3:38 PM on May 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

He made American Idol much more interesting last season. His performances lacked blandness, they were entertaining as opposed to treacly or boring. I love that he's making a go of it:

If you were to see Simon again, what would you say?
I would give him a hug, and then they would call security. No, I would probably tell him how funny I thought he was on the show, and thank him for giving me and "Norman Gentle" the opportunity to go as far as we did in the competition -- because let's be real, he has a lot of power there -- and because it changed my life, and now I am getting to do what makes me happiest: entertaining people.

posted by artlung at 3:39 PM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

I am so damn tired of AutoTune on every damn pop song. And that D-A-Bm-G chord progression is so played out -- are commercial songwriters just not trying anymore?

Other than that... meh.
posted by spoobnooble at 3:46 PM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Doesn't sound any better or any worse than any other song on every radio station (that I've heard).
posted by jeffmik at 3:59 PM on May 24, 2010

"Famous for being famous" does not mean you're talented.


Go away and take Lady Gaga with you.
posted by L'OM at 4:03 PM on May 24, 2010

Norman (who aspires to be this generation’s Weird Al Yankovic) talks to the L.A. Times about the video shoot.

So will Weird Al pass down the torch like when Madonna smooched Britney?
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 4:23 PM on May 24, 2010

Weird Al is every generation's Weird Al, but Gentle Norman, or whatever, has a shot at being this generation's Ray Stevens (looking at his early pop/rock "Gitarzan", "Ahab the Arab" period, not so much the later country/"Streak"/patriotic song turns, but who knows what Normy will be doing in 10 years)
posted by oneswellfoop at 4:26 PM on May 24, 2010

He's an entertainer, and his live performances on Idol were great. The director on this video, otoh, not so much.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 4:37 PM on May 24, 2010

I went to high school with Nick, he was exactly like this back then. I'm happy that he's getting the attention.
posted by splatta at 4:42 PM on May 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

i was bored with this song less than 1 minute into it, which is an accomplishment, cause I even listened to Brokencyde all the way through.
posted by empath at 4:57 PM on May 24, 2010

i wish new york really was that cool.
posted by artof.mulata at 4:57 PM on May 24, 2010

"Famous for being famous" does not mean you're talented.

More of an indication of toxicity.
posted by philip-random at 5:10 PM on May 24, 2010

I came here to say something bitchy.
posted by oddman at 5:40 PM on May 24, 2010

Aren't New Yorkers used to "weird" stuff like this? How much were they paid to OMGREACT to a guy wearing sparklies singing in Times Square?
posted by Evilspork at 5:51 PM on May 24, 2010

What the heck is Nigel Barker doing in this video?
posted by iamkimiam at 5:56 PM on May 24, 2010

Your first mistake is assuming you'd actually find New Yorkers in Time Square.
posted by JaredSeth at 6:08 PM on May 24, 2010 [4 favorites]

Or Times Square even.
posted by JaredSeth at 6:09 PM on May 24, 2010

Time^2(-d)
posted by swift at 6:18 PM on May 24, 2010

I closed the window when I saw the Times Square TGIFriday's.

I thought, "This will not end well".

I tried to give it another chance, but there were so many distractions!

The "confused tourist" shots!
The jorts!
That damn ubiquitous "generic catchy pop song" chord progression!
The "LOOK AT ME BEING SO ZANY! TEEHEE!" vibe!

I'm not a music snob by any means, but ye-gads!

BUT! You know what? He's having fun, he's doing his thing, bless his heart. More power to him. I can't judge.

He still needs to ditch those jorts, though.
posted by chara at 6:40 PM on May 24, 2010

Those would be the tourists. And the naked cowboy must be pissed.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 6:44 PM on May 24, 2010

Those would be the tourists.

Like the cabbie?
posted by Evilspork at 7:04 PM on May 24, 2010

Yeah, it's the new thing. For $400 a day you can pretend to be a NYC cab driver from the country of your choice. Full makeup and dialect class included.
posted by Joseph Gurl at 7:08 PM on May 24, 2010

MeFi helps my vocabulary. Thanks chara, now I know what a "jort" is.

And I think it's kind of a good look for him. I'd rather see him in jorts than shirtless.

That's entertainment!
posted by artlung at 7:23 PM on May 24, 2010

I had to look up jorts also, but my search led here. Where I learned: Jorts are perhaps the easiest way to recognize people you will not like.
posted by kanewai at 7:51 PM on May 24, 2010

That "jean short" article on Wikipedia is great. "garment worn by women or men that covers the pelvic area, the buttocks, and the legs, stopping between the top of the thigh and the knee". Is "jeans with the legs cut off" too simple for them?
posted by smackfu at 7:59 PM on May 24, 2010

Nigel Barker, noted fashion photographer.
posted by alltomorrowsparties at 11:52 PM on May 24, 2010