My rock ‘n’ roll heroes taught me it’s better to burn out than to fade away, and I wouldn’t be a very good minion if I didn’t take that to heart.

For the past two years, I’ve revelled in trying to make the couch potatoes of the world a little more music-savvy with this column, Telly Tunes. Each week I scoured the tube for music television news, trends and topics, as well as tried to bring readers the freshest tunes to check out.

I love music. Music is my world. Music defines me. It always will, but a gal knows when to say when – and the time is now, fair readers. Telly Tunes is taking a break to make room for a new, exciting project soon to be revealed.

I’ve learned a lot while writing this column. I discovered the ins and outs behind the music on television series through my interviews with Grey’s Anatomy music supervisor Alexandra Patsavas and CSI’s Rudy Chung. I fulfilled a dream when I interviewed one of my music idols, Elvis Costello, about his fantastic music show Spectacle: Elvis Costello With.... I did several columns about the death and resurrection of the TV show theme song, but not without including the best of Canadian themes.

I learned the coolest music on TV is usually on kids shows like Yo Gabba Gabba and Sesame Street, which took the term “street cred” to a whole new level. I’ve lamented the old days of music television, but found hope in new music channels like AuxTV. I reminisced about my cartoon music idol Jem, complained about commercials that ruin songs, and asked fellow TVGuide.ca staffers which musicians they would date and what albums would they bring on a deserted island.

I celebrated the worst celebrity albums, marvelled at shows like Glee, came up with five ways to fix the Junos with City and Colour’s Dallas Green and of course, as an bona fide Saturday Night Live nerd, I couldn’t get enough of writing about the show’s hilarious spoofs and musical guests.

I discussed controversies like the Oscars and music licensing, celebrated milestones for the hilarious Video On Trial and ranted about d-bags like Gene Simmons.

Over 100 columns I’ve toiled away on, all in the name of music.

So now it’s time to say “so long, farewell” and move on to other fun projects because I’m not just a one-trick pony. Music isn’t my ONLY bag, man. I have a few tricks up my sleeve and this new venture will hopefully be just as exciting for you as it will be for me. I’ve enjoyed every minute chatting about music with you all. Hope you, in turn, enjoyed reading it.

Keep on rockin’!

That’s all she wrote,
Jessica Russell

 

Any comments or questions? Email me at jessica.russell@tvguide.ca.

 

 

Jessica’s musical nerdiness started at a very young age thanks to Jem and the Holograms, CFNY’s Free At Last compilations and an early introduction to Nirvana. She has since developed a penchant for effeminate indie rock, soul/mod revivalists, Scandinavian singers and old school hip-hop.

After a stint as a music writer at Toronto’s acclaimed NOW magazine, Jessica now aims to make the couch potatoes of the world a little more music savvy in her column Telly Tunes.

 

 

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