‘Living the dream’ started as a joke, but now it’s true…

August 13, 2008 by mememoi

The Washington Post published an intriguing and sweet profile of the Boys yesterday, which I initially missed in the madness of this week’s print stories and appearances (that I have yet to catch up on)!! There is a lot of the retread in there, But there are a couple of nice, new moments for fans like us.

However, for my own part, I disagree with the assertion towards the end (which you see in many other places) that the primary reason people love them is simply the “purity and faithfulness” angle. I admire and respect that part of their persona very much, but it was not what held my interest. To be quite honest, what has hooked me about them is what normal, culturally-savvy and fun guys they seem to be…in some ways despite that more easily recognized, clean-cut part of their personalities.

Anyway – A few of my favorite segments, after the jump:

“The boys were talking to me the other day and were like, ‘Dad. Dad? DAD!’ ” says Kevin Jonas Sr., the trio’s father and co-manager. “Finally I turned around and said, ‘Guys, don’t be frustrated. If I can’t hear, it’s your fault.’[The girls] are always screaming, and it gets loud; the decibel level is medically intense” — 115 to 120 decibels at a typical Jonas Brothers concert, he says. Sandblasting is roughly 115 decibels. At 120, you’re getting into jet-on-a-runway territory and closing in on the pain threshold.

…

” ‘Living the dream’ started as a joke, but now it’s true,” Kevin Jr. says. “It’s really awesome. . . . We waited so long to have a tour bus, to have an audience to play in front of — to have anything, really.”

…

What the JoBro-slagging music critics don’t know, the little girls understand — though Rolling Stone did just award “A Little Bit Longer” four stars out of five, calling it “as assured as any American rock album released in 2008″ and declaring the brothers the messiahs of power pop. (”We were shocked,” Nick says about the review. “I thought they had the wrong band.”)

Aw! We all knew they certainly did not have the wrong band.

[Via: Just Jared; Washington Post]

Posted in Da Newz, Say What?, To Read | Tagged Joe Jonas, Jonas Brothers, Kevin Jonas, Nick Jonas | 27 Comments

27 Responses

on August 13, 2008 at 4:38 pm coolmom

This was a very interesting piece (in the Washington-effen-Post, no less!).

If I had to quibble, I would just say that I didn’t like how Kevin was dismissed: “Kevin Jonas(20, the other one)” and here: Kevin, a rhythm quitarist who has the misfortune–or, perhaps, the very great fortune–of being in a band with two guys who tend to overshadow him.

Am I being oversensitive to ask why these venerated publications (NY Times and Washington Post) are taking for granted the lowest common denominator assessment of Kevin? Is this fair?

Don’t get me wrong, the article is pretty cool, aside from the overly facile and overly used reasoning that goodness=popularity when it comes to JB. I’m getting really sick of that.
on August 13, 2008 at 4:41 pm coolmom

BTW mememoi, I added two links to “Did Someone Say Fantastic?” that you will FOR SURE want to read.
on August 13, 2008 at 4:44 pm cpaig

ME TOO Coolmom!

And I would say that this writer has never seen them perform live -because Kevin is definitely a MAJOR energy on the stage!

I just feel bad when I see Sh$# like that because I am afraid it hurts his feelings.
on August 13, 2008 at 4:58 pm coolmom

You’ve got to be right cpaig. Anyone, with any kind of intelligence, who has seen Kevin on stage could NOT dismiss him.

I worry how these comments affect him too. I hope he knows that the people who don’t understand his contribution to the band are musically ignorant. Or too young to appreciate him. Or clueless about what goes on behind the scenes of being a major music act. Or rude, insensitive jerks. . .the list goes on.

Viva la Kevolution!
on August 13, 2008 at 5:46 pm coolmom

Per my google alerts, people have been commenting the Post article about the Kevin content.
on August 13, 2008 at 5:50 pm cpaig

Cool! I will check that out.
on August 13, 2008 at 6:23 pm Amanda

The gossip sites are showing pics of JB supposedly filming their next vid in a park-like setting in New York. Nick is on a white baby grand piano and Joe has a guitar. Can we assume, then, that “A Little Bit Longer” will be the next single?! I thot, somewhere I read that “Lovebug” was the next single.

Whatever it is, they are supposed to be performing ‘the next single’ on the MTV VMA’s on Sept. 7th.
on August 13, 2008 at 7:07 pm cpaig

For some (unknown reason) I really think they will be performing “Love Bug” on the VMAs (Maybe they should perform “Shelf” with all of the great press it is getting!).

I agree it looks like they are filming “A Little Bit Longer.” I love the song, but can’t imagine they will play it at the VMAs – not the way to start an awards show.
on August 13, 2008 at 7:14 pm mememoi

Hmmmm…I remember the next single being said to be Lovebug too…we’ll see.

I hope that is what they perform at the VMAs. And I am still utterly convinced they are going to pair them up with Tokio Hotel somehow.

I tend to agree on shelf. Men, in particular, are going gaga over it. (I think because it is more organic sounding in the album recording.)
on August 13, 2008 at 7:24 pm mememoi

Hey, gals:

http://gawker.com/5036661/washington-post-offends-jonas-brothers-fans-bitchily-apologizes

http://idolator.com/400349/jonas-brothers-fans-launch-intimidation-campaign-against-washington-post-critic

!!!!
on August 13, 2008 at 7:58 pm Amanda

While I detest the ‘Kevin haters’, I wish the whole subject would just go away.

There are three talented, good looking brothers in this band.

‘Nuff said.
on August 13, 2008 at 8:57 pm mememoi

Well, put Amanda…

People seem to love to hate; meanwhile I can’t conceive of spending my time on that sort of thing, and hope I will never understand it.

Sometimes I wish the younger fans wouldn’t take the bait. But it is SO hard not to, I can still understand that.
on August 13, 2008 at 9:15 pm cpaig

Mememoi those links for Idolator and Gawker are great! Power to the JB Fans!
on August 13, 2008 at 9:39 pm flamom

I always feel bad for the guys in bands that get less attention. There are always those guys – Ringo Starr, George Harrison, Andy Taylor, everyone in Bon Jovi who’s not Jon or Richie – etc. It can’t be helped I guess but it is sucky. I usually have one guy I like more than the others – but with the JB I just love them all so much. And I like them all so much.

I would not want to see A Little Bit Longer on the VMAs. I definitely want a rocking song. I would not mind the tap dancing either! Joe looks adorable in a bow tie! For some reason IMO he pulls it off better than Nick.
on August 13, 2008 at 10:03 pm Amanda

Entertainment Weekly’s review posted under “Did someone say fantastic”! Nice one!

P.s. flamom, can’t believe yours haven’t shown up. One of mine did, but I’m not even sure if it was the Team Jonas or the Jonas Brothers Merch.com one. Or are they one and the same? I’m pretty sure I ordered it twice.

p.s.s. bow ties don’t do anything for me on any of them… although I love when they dress up…
on August 13, 2008 at 10:09 pm mememoi

Oh, I love bowties!! More on Joe, for sure.

(That was part of our father’s signature look in his heyday.)
on August 13, 2008 at 10:43 pm coolmom

Bowties are cool. They are so art deco. A man has to be very confident to merit a bowtie. JB has the panach to carry them off.

I would love them to do Lovebug for the VMA’s. Lovebug is a song that presents everything that makes them wonderful. And it has a theatrical quality that would work in a showcase setting. It’s a showstopper number, that’s what they need for the VMA’s.
on August 13, 2008 at 10:51 pm cpaig

Coolmom – totally agree about “Love Bug” and the VMAs It will blow them away!

Love the bow ties, gotta say.
on August 13, 2008 at 11:01 pm joefan

As far as the sepeculation surrounding what video they were filming in Central Park, Disney says the guys were filming something for the 3-D movie…
http://justjared.buzznet.com/2008/08/13/jonas-brothers-central-park/
on August 14, 2008 at 12:58 am flamom

I know Amanda! I can’t believe it either. I hope they get here tomorrow.

On the CD-VU, there is one section where the boys are really dressed badly. There is just no way to put it differently. It is the one with Nick’s PLEATED pants. Low waist and pleats are a bad combo. I hate pleats anyhow. Oh and low waist, pleats and skinny pants are really not good. Joe and Kevin don’t look right either.

Does anyone else agree Michelle T. is not such a good stylist? Or is it just me???????
on August 14, 2008 at 1:10 am mememoi

Haha, flamom! I think she is good, but I think styling can go over the top pretty easily…especially when the guys get so much attention that I am sure she always wants to make a bigger and better statement…which can go wrong.

But yeah, I can agree I was not super keen on some of their looks on the CDVU+. But it depended…from certain angles, I liked Joe’s Fievel hat. I missed those pants ofNick’s though!

I think they look their handsomest in their more chilled out looks (like their concert clothes)…you kinda can’t beat the suit jacket, t-shirt, and jeans look they wear so well.
on August 14, 2008 at 1:53 am flamom

I can kind of go both ways with rock fashion – I loved Duran Duran and all the glam guys back in the day, so I could appreciate ties, fedoras, shiny fabrics and white jazz shoes back in the day. But I kind of moved on to jeans, tees, Converse, etc. I think I like the simpler looks – jackets are nice, I agree.

I guess I just don’t GET what Michelle T. is doing with them at times. I don’t want to see jazz shoes in 2008. And I would prefer darker shoes, especially if they’re cowboy boots.

Did you see Nick’s rolled up khakis at the DC GAmes concert? huh? I did not dig that look. Usually Nick looks pretty awesome but I don’t like the “he-capris” so much. (Troy in HSM2 is A-OK with them on though! LOL!)

I still love Joe’s Burning Up tee! It’s so cool. And I love some of the darker jeans Nick’s been wearing lately. Plus the pants SEEM to be loosening up just a little … although Nick’s are super long and scrunched up a lot.

I love love love Nick’s headband in the DC Games. I really do. That kid is so cute.

I like Joe in any hat except the top hat.
on August 14, 2008 at 12:40 pm mememoi

Wow – awesome style assessment, flamom. I can’t find a place to disagree (well, maybe on Troy).
on August 14, 2008 at 1:39 pm flamom

Thanks mememoi! I did not want to come across as overly negative.

I know – re Zac Efron, he can do no wrong by me. (I’m not as involved with him – just a passive onlooker!) LOL!

We’re hardest on those we love the most …
on August 14, 2008 at 2:27 pm cpaig

I know the pants you mean Flamom and I noticed the pleats. I kind of liked them though – That look is TOTALLY a “Newsies” Look – the pleated pants/henley look. (where’s my cigar?…)

I agree about Joe in a top hat.

They were ALL guilty of wearing manpris at one point this spring/summer.

They have all also sported the bow tie lately – so they spread it around.

I can’t hate things they obviously love though – like the funky pocket shirt, and Kevin’s boots.

I love Nick’s dark Jeans too – Didn’t like Joe’s Jean on TRL – a little too GAP 1992.
on August 14, 2008 at 2:30 pm mememoi

I can hate the $175 funky pocket shirt that looks like a Fruit of the Loom that’s been through the wash several hundred times. (ooh burn)

As long as they know I love THEM, though.
on August 14, 2008 at 3:29 pm coolmom

I like Nick in the pleated pants and henley. The other guys looks in that pic are my least fav of the album.