In the mess of awards shows that crowd our airwaves, the mtvU Woodie Awards take the college cake for nominating bands you might actually find in the hazy glow of our inch-wide-and-begging-to-be-sat-on iPod screens.
The Woodies, in their fourth year, were determined by online votes. And though the answers may or may not have been revealed on mtvU's site after the live show in New York, we decided we'd relay who we thought should have won. The Shins led the pack of nominations-and sadly lost every one.
Phallic jokes aside, the awards, which premiere Nov. 15 at 7 p.m., will televise the winners and answer our burning question: People actually still listen to Linkin Park?
Performing Woodie
Who actually won: Muse Who should have won: Daft Punk
Attention cronies: These guys wrote that one song that was sampled in Kanye's "Stronger." With the same precision practiced by the chief of surgery for a minion of time traveling wizards, at this summer's Lollapalooza, Daft Punk unfolded a glistening array of sub-harmonic shaking, bit-crushing, dance/club/hypno-pop that has put every single sensory experience in my entire life to shame. Two Franco-LED-encrusted robots piloted atop a neon pyramid hybrid while mixing, spinning and remixing well-constructed electronic dance music beat whatever stupid group won this award.
-Ryan Brady
Viral Woodie
Who actually won: The Academy Is... "We've Got a Big Mess on Our Hands" Who should have won: T-Pain featuring Yung Joc, "Buy U A Drank (Shawty Snappin')"
This Woodie-awarded to the most downloaded, streamed, etc.- should have gone to T-Pain. Chances are you heard his song no fewer than 18,000 times this year between pre-gaming, actual gaming, drunk gaming, dorm parties, frat parties, apartment parties, road trips to White Castle and lovemaking. Listen to T-Pain's sweet vocals and make like he does-whenever your game is lacking at a party, just say to the girl you're talking to, "Let's get drunk and forget what we did." You're an inspiration, T-Pain.
-Jeremy Gordon
Left Field Woodie
Who actually won: Madvillain Who should have won: Klaxons
The classic Pabst Blue Ribbon-drinking, American Apparel-adorning hipster choice, I know. Really I just don't know jack about the other nominees. On lonely nights when I'm wearing my Day-Glo tights, PBR in hand, that one Klaxons song "Golden Skans" is there for me. I give it props for being my musical tissue paper.
-Kasia Galazka & Kate Puhala
Woodie of the Year
Who actually won: Gym Class Heroes Who should have won: Gym Class Heroes
This award, a.k.a. "The music you lived your life to this year," goes to upstate New York's Gym Class Heroes. The band beat bad girl Amy Winehouse and hip-hop legend Common as college students' favorite artist. It makes sense. Who else better understood Internet crushes, special ring tones for significant others and the necessity of removing clothes? And let's not forget the sexy front man Travis McCoy whose lyrical prowess proves that he can match wits with the best emcees. This year, Gym Class Heroes went from YouTube favorites trying to mend their papercuts to fun-loving campus favorites who are As Cruel as School Children.
-Niema Jordan
Be the first to comment on this article!