MTV Buzzworthy Blog › Taking Back Sunday

Not every music video can feature dramatic, sweeping crane shots of snow-capped mountains and sullen, pensive stars precariously perched atop a cliff. Or naughty surprised faces and kinda-sexy come-hither winks. And not everyone can writhe around in body paint like Beyonce can or baffle us like Lady Gaga. Some of our favorite music videos of 2011 went straight for the LOLs using parody, satire, good old-fashioned sight gags and intentionally bad overacting. Here, in no particular order, are some of the, well, funniest funny videos of 2011.

+ Katy Perry, "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)" -- If Katy Perry had only given us Rebecca Black, it would've been enough for us. But she packed her "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" video with over-the-top cameos, including Kenny G blowing sax on a roof, Deborah Gibson and Corey Feldman AND HANSON!

+ Chromeo, "When The Night Falls" -- We're pretty sure that you can't get pregnant just by LOOKING at Chromeo's Dave 1 and P-Thugg... or CAN you? Regardless, the kid is not my son, but Chromeo better be ready to shell out thousands in child support.

+ Jessie J, "Who's Laughing Now" -- In her Emil Nava-directed video, lil Jessie J goes back to school and draws strength from bullies and haters while real Jessie J, posed as a lunch lady in serious need of a makeover, hits back with a raised middle finger and the best revenge of them: BEING FAMOUS BEING AND PAID.

+ Ke$ha, "Blow" -- Unicorns, Muenster cheese and Ke$ha are pretty much all you need to create organic hilarity, but Ke$ha totally raised the bar when she killed -- and mounted! -- James Van Der Beek.

+ Duck Sauce, "Big Bad Wolf" -- A-Trak and Armand Van Helden LITERALLY turn into d***heads in Keith Schofield's ragingly inappropriate, howlingly hilarious "Big Bad Wolf" video. But they find love, so it's almost sweet, right?

+ Beastie Boys, "Make Some Noise" -- Elijah Wood's Ad-Rock impression is scary-good. But Danny McBride as MCA and the Beasties' musical history in cameo form is almost genius.

+ Black Keys "Lonely Boy"-- If you thought that one continuous shot of a man dancing outside of a motel wouldn't be funny, then you thought way way wrong.

+ We The Kings, "Friday Is Forever/ Rebecca Black 'Friday' Mashup" -- Sometimes the funniest videos are the cheapest. And we mean that lovingly, We The Kings. Their "Friday Is Forever" video is a mashup of Rebecca Black's "Friday" and a bizarro joyride with Black Swan, Ke$ha, and Charlie Sheen all in the same car.

+ Foo Fighters, "Walk" -- Dave Grohl is fed up with just about everything, pulls a Michael-Douglas-in-"Falling-Down," minus the super unfortunate haircut, plus the unsatisfying cheeseburger, ends up tased. Guitars, not guns!

Check out more of the funniest music videos of 2011 after the jump!

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Related Content The Funniest Viral Videos Of 2011, The Biggest Pop Music Trends Of 2011, Watch MTV's Top Music Videos, Follow Buzzworthy On Twitter

Tags A-Trak, All Time Low, Beastie Boys, Best Of 2011, Black Keys, Bruno Mars, Chromeo, Drive A, Duck Sauce, Foo Fighters, Jessie J, Katy Perry, Ke$ha, Lady Gaga, Mac Miller, Pusha T, Rebecca Black, Sara Bareilles, Snoop Dogg, Taking Back Sunday, Tyler The Creator, We the Kings, Weird Al Ya, Wiz Khalifa

Adam Lazzara and John Nolan from a little band named Taking Back Sunday stopped by MTV HQ recently, and not trying to rub it in or anything, but they were really nice and cute and charismatic IRL. For those of you who don't happen to work here (sorry), we were privy to their Buzzworthy Live performances of "Faith (When I Let You Down)" and "Sad Savior" on video, and now we're going to share them with you! Because we're also nice!

First up, Adam and John rearranged "Faith (When I Let You Down)" to accommodate their acoustic performance. They took the original, heavier version and slowed it down to an intimate coffeehouse level. But no worries because Adam assures us that this version is "still awesome." Spoiler alert: He's right.

Up next, watch "Sad Savior," which kind of had us turning into a 13-year-old schoolgirl. "They're just so cuuuuute. And their songs are so gooooood!" Except we don't have braces anymore. Or a perm. Or an NKOTB nightgown. (JK, still have that.)

+ After the jump, watch Taking Back Sunday's Buzzworthy Live performances of "Faith (When I Let You Down)" and "Sad Savior."

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Related Content Watch More Taking Back Sunday Videos, Follow Buzzworthy On Twitter

Tags Buzzworthy Exclusive, Buzzworthy Live, Taking Back Sunday, Videos

Taking Back Sunday premiered their "Faith (Never Let You Down)" video this morning on MTV and MTV.com, and it tells the tale of one cat's meteoric rise to overnight internet stardom and his roller-coaster ride through fame, which leads him down the road where many too-famous-too-fast careers end: p0rns. But the story has a happy ending as the cat realizes who his true friends are -- Taking Back Sunday, of course.

That the "Faith (Never Let You Down)" video is a.) hilarious and b.) FEATURES A CAT would've been more than enough for us here at Buzzworthy, where "cat lady" is a compliment. BUT director Chris Marrs Piliero, who also directed Britney Spears' "I Wanna Go" video, dropped an incredible Britney Easter egg into Taking Back Sunday's new video, referencing both "I Wanna Go" and Britney's cult classic, "Crossroads."

In the "I Wanna Go" video, Britney Spears strikes back at paparazzi, wielding a weapon of mass destruction in the form of a magic microphone capable of cutting through cyborg photographers. In a brief shot at approximately 2:50 into the video, (the screen shot above took me FOREVER to capture, by the way, so I do hope you appreciate it), we see that the movie theater behind Britney is (FINALLY!) playing the long-anticipated sequel to her 2002 cult classic, "Crossroads," entitled "Crossroads 2: Cross Harder," which is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the tongue-in-cheek "Die Hard" sequel "Die Harder." Which brings us to Taking Back Sunday's protagonist OMG WTF TBS cat, who auditions for  "Crossroads 2: Cross Harder" at approximately 1:34 into the video. Sadly, he did not get the part and ended up in porn.

The "Cross Harder" reference and collision of Britney and Taking Back Sunday's worlds basically had us like this...

+ Read more after the jump!

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Related Content R. Kelly Remixes Britney's 'Till The World Ends', Chris Marrs Piliero Talks Working With Britney, Follow Buzzworthy On Twitter

Tags Britney Spears, Taking Back Sunday, video

Credit: Phillip Graybill

What do 80 million YouTube views get you in 2011? Is it guaranteed fortune and fame, or delusions of grandeur and ephemeral notoriety? In the new video for "Faith (When I Let You Down)," Taking Back Sunday hilariously explore the dilemmas of internet celebrity through a cat's point of view. (You guys know how we feel about cat videos.)

In the Chris Marrs Piliero-directed clip (Britney Spears' "I Wanna Go" -- eagle-eyed fans will catch a small Britney-related Easter egg), a short film of Taking Back Sunday's cat goes viral, and our feline star ditches the band to go totally Hollywood. He appears on an "Ellen"-like morning show and relishes his newfound stardom. But a series of failed auditions for films like "The Big Meowski" and "Apocalypse Meow" lead to seedier ventures in which other meanings for "cat" are usually employed.

Thus begins the inevitable descent from internet celebrity to internet jerk to the rapid approach of fame's fifth minute. All it takes is one bad day and a hot coffee in a fan's face, and suddenly you're doing lines of catnip and wallowing about what might have been. Luckily, as the song and video prove, your true friends will still be there for you.

"Faith (When I Let You Down)" is the first single off Taking Back Sunday's recently released eponymous album.

+ Watch Taking Back Sunday's "Faith (When I Let You Down)."

Related Content New Song: Taking Back Sunday 'This Is All Now', Follow Buzzworthy on Twitter

Tags Cats, Taking Back Sunday, video

If you're a true Taking Back Sunday fan, then you know that the band earned their beloved post-hard-core pop-punk band status the hard way. They hustled as an indie band, organically building their fan base show after show until a major label took notice. So it pleases us even more to report that Taking Back Sunday's new single is as true to their original sound as we would have hoped. And that's not surprising, since the band recently reassembled their original lineup from the early 2000s, a belong Taking Back Sunday era many fans still cling to.

"This Is All Now," slated to appear on Taking Back Sunday's self-titled fifth album, set for release June 28, begins with lead singer Adam Lazzara's unmistakable vocals, supported by an intentionally simple guitar and drumbeat. Then, as only Taking Back Sunday can, the song erupts to reveal driving guitars and layered harmonies (guitarmonies?) plowing us into the chorus.

Taking Back Sunday has gone through some fairly public band drama, so lyrically, it's hard to ignore the somewhat obvious reference to a departed member when Adam wails, "Next time you're standing on that stage/You're lying to yourself!" Or, maybe they just watched Black Swan and they're all up in Natalie Portman's character's head. Who are we to speculate?

Either way, Taking Back Sunday has conveniently provided us with a "This Is All Now" lyric video, so we'll let you decide. Taking Back Sunday is about to embark on an exhaustive world tour and are set to shoot a video for "Faith (When I Let You Down)" with Chris Marrs Piliero.

+ Listen to Taking Back Sunday's "This Is All Now."

Related Content Follow Buzzworthy On Twitter

Tags Taking Back Sunday, video

I've been going to The Bamboozle ever since the festival started back in 2005, and in the years since, I've witnessed some stellar live performances and total backstage debauchery. I've heard Jared Leto descend from a helicopter and witnessed The Jonas Brothers play an outdoor stage to a near-empty field. I've seen Fall Out Boy cause a stampede and Jeffree Star walk around with a parasol. Ah, the 'Boozle: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

This year's Bamboozle was no different. In addition to Lil Wayne and Mötley Crüe making their first appearances on the bill, alumni like Thrice, Circa Survive and Dashboard Confessional all returned to the stage. Plus, fans were treated to a reunion of Long Island emo legends The Movielife. Oh, and Taking Back Sunday -- with the semi-new addition of original members John Nolan and Shaun Cooper -- performing Tell All Your Friends in its entirety. NBD.

So for this week's column, I'd like start a virtual circle pit to celebrate all of my favorite Bamboozle bands. Please remove any spiked wristbands and get ready for music by Taking Back Sunday, New Years Day, Against Me! and Say Anything.

Finally, and if you'd like to keep up with all my musings, please visit my website and follow me on Twitter (@redpatterndress).

1.) Taking Back Sunday's "Liar": In terms of weather, you can usually count on one of two scenarios at Bamboozle: blistering hot or rainy cold. Two years ago, when Taking Back Sunday was headlining, it happened to be fuh-reezing. I watched most of their set on the side of the stage, and while they sounded AMAZING and I didn't want to miss a second, I was worried my bladder might explode. So I quietly excused myself to go to the bathroom. Unfortunately the metal stairs were still slick from the afternoon downpour, which caused my feet to go in two different directions and my bum to bang down hard on the cement. Not my finest moment -- but at least it had a killer soundtrack!

Listen to "Liar"

2.) New Years Day's "Ready, Aim, Misfire": I first learned about New Years Day back when The Bamboozle was held at Asbury Park in New Jersey (and was then known as Skate And Surf Fest). Someone on the boardwalk handed me their CD, and when I got back into my car, I popped it in and instantly fell in love. Fronted by Ashley Costello, a zombie-loving girl singer with a booming voice, the band would often get compared with Paramore, but I always thought they were totally different. I mean, would Hayley Williams ever sing a line like, "Your love is my heart disease"? I think not.

Listen to "Ready, Aim, Misfire"

3.) Against Me!'s "Thrash Unreal": When I went to the 'Boozle last year, I was really stoked to see Against Me! I'd watched them a million times on Warped Tour, but hadn't seen them in ages. When they launched into "Thrash Unreal," these two girls in front of me started losing their s***. Here I am, trying to enjoy my favorite politi-punk band and these two drunks keep bumping into me because they're flailing around like one of those inflatable air dancer balloons, serenading each other with the chorus at the top of their lungs: "No mother ever dreams that her daughter's gonna be a junkie." Their parents would've been proud.

Listen to "Thrash Unreal"

4.) Say Anything's "Admit It!!!": In my not-so-humble opinion, I think Say Anything's debut album ...Is A Real Boy is one of the best albums of the past 10 years, and I will stop at nothing to hear the band play live. At Bamboozle a couple years ago, the band must've played three times on three different stages, and I was stage right for each show, stomping my feet, pumping my fists and singing along to every word. Thankfully, a large guitar cabinet hid me and my embarrassing antics from the audience. Whew!

Listen to "Admit It!!!"

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Tags Against Me!, Circa Survive, Dashboard Confessional, Fall Out Boy, Hayley Williams, Jared Leto, Jeffree Star, Lil Wayne, Motley Crue, New Years Day, Paramore, Say Anything, Soundtrack Of My Life, Taking Back Sunday, The Bamboozle, The Jonas Brothers, The Movielife, Thrice

(Credit: Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

+ It's been a good week for Lil Wayne. First the New Orleans rapper released his first, post-incarceration single, "6'7," and now news comes that Weezy will headline Bamboozle in New Jersey. (Idolator)

+ Other Bamboozled acts announced include Gaslight Anthem, Wiz Khalifa, Taking Back Sunday and...Motley Crue. (MTV News)

+ According to the film's director, the Gwyneth Paltrow flick Country Strong was partly inspired by Britney Spears! (MTV News)

+ Foo Fighters mainman Dave Grohl has been tapped to make an appearance in the upcoming Muppets movie. Do we hear a drum-off with "Animal"? (Rolling Stone)

+ Taylor Swift got a pretty spiffy present from is-he-or-isn't-he/possible boyfriend Jake Gyllenhaal: a $10K guitar. (Celebuzz)

+ The delightful kids choir of PS 22 will be performing at next year's Oscar ceremony. They received the news from none other than Oscar co-host Anne Hathaway. (Just Jared)

+ Finally, start your day the right way: check out Videogum's 12 best animal videos of 2010. (Videogum)

Tags Anne Hathaway, Britney Spears, Dave Grohl, Foo Fighters, Gaslight Anthem, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jake Gyllenhaal, Lil Wayne, Motley Crue, PS 22, Taking Back Sunday, Taylor Swift, Wiz Khalifa

At long last, Taking Back Sunday has finally confirmed what we suspected all along -- and reported last week. The band's original lineup -- including guitarist/singer John Nolan and bassist Shaun Cooper -- which recorded TBS' debut album, Tell All Your Friends, has officially reformed.

In other words, hell hath frozen over, y'all. Brrrrrr!!

"Given the history and the years that had passed, I don't think any of us really knew if hanging out again let alone writing and playing together would actually work," explained singer Adam Lazzarra in a statement released by the band on Monday. "For it to feel so comfortable and effortless so quickly made us realize that we had to give it a chance.”

We're all for mending fences, but Taking Back Sunday's recent game of musical chairs leads us to ponder some bigger questions: Do fans really care about the retroactive lineup change? Will you move on to the next item on your bucket list now that you can see Adam and John duet "You're So Last Summer" when the band plays live in the not-so-distant future? Would you be more stoked if guitarist/singer Fred Mascherino had rejoined?

Let us know what you think about the new-old Taking Back Sunday! Take to the comments and duke it out!

Speaking of fight clubs -- which we're not because the first rule of fight club is not to talk about fight club -- if you're having a hard time remembering the way things used to be, take a look at Taking Back Sunday's first videos, like the one below for "Cute Without The 'E' (Cut From The Team)."

Related Content Taking Back Sunday -- The Way They Were

Tags Adam Lazzarra, Fred Mascherino, John Nolan, Shaun Cooper, Taking Back Sunday, video

Earlier this week, we reported a lineup shake-up in the world of Taking Back Sunday: Guitarist Matt Fazzi and bassist Matt Rubano took to the band's Web site to announce that they would no longer be playing with TBS.

The departure was seemingly sudden and a total bummer for Matt² fans everywhere but what seemed even stranger were the rumors that original members guitarist John Nolan and bassist Shaun Cooper were set to join the fold.

Taking Back Sunday has yet to make an official statement, but they have released a weird hunting video that hints at the truth behind a possible Tell All Your Friends-era reunion. Take a look at the clip below and be sure to pay close attention to the scrolling text at the end, which says, "Sometimes it takes some time to remember where you were headed in the first place and the people you intended to go there with. There's no hard feelings, just the future."

Deep, man. Deep.

Tags John Nolan, Matt Fazzi, Matt Rubano, Shaun Cooper, Taking Back Sunday

(Credit: TakingBackSunday.com)

Yesterday, Taking Back Sunday bassist Matt Rubano and guitarist Matt Fazzi took to the band's official Web site to announce their departure from the group. In separate statements, both musicians expressed their deepest sadness about the situation and thanked the fans profusely for all their love and support.

"To Taking Back Sunday fans, there isn't anything I can say that will express the way I feel toward you," says Rubano. "It's literally been a dream come true, and you were the cast of that dream. I am happy to have met and befriended so many of you. I will miss you all."

Fans' tears were barely dry when a series of creepy Twitter messages started to hint at the unexpected and nearly impossible -- that original TBS members guitarist John Nolan and bassist Shaun Cooper (who originally left the band in 2003 and soon teamed up to form Straylight Run, which announced their "indefinite hiatus" earlier this year) were rejoining the fold. Gasp!

Almost 15 hours ago, Nolan posted the following on his Tumblr: "My legal team has advised me not to comment at this time." Judging from his latest tweet, Cooper's lips were a little looser by saying, "I have a feeling things are about to get extremely weird. ... "

No official statement has been made from TBS HQ. Stay tuned as this story develops! You know how we do.

Tags John Nolan, Matt Fazzi, Matt Rubano, Shaun Cooper, Straylight Run, Taking Back Sunday