For anyone who was concerned that I had fallen off the face of the planet, you'll be happy to know I'm back. I've been working 14 hour days, with barely a lunch or bathroom break and have been just too mentally exhausted to string 2 words together once I actually get home. So let me tell you about one of the only fun things I've done of the past 3 weeks. There are barely any words to describe this awesomely bizarre blast from the past, but I'll try my best to give you all the details.
Several Friday nights ago, the Goog and I went to see the Cincinnati Reds versus the Colorado Rockies. Friday nights are always a fun night to go to the ballpark because not only do you get to watch a baseball game, but you also typically get live music and fireworks. This Fridays in particular was a very special night. It featured the musical stylings of
...wait for it...
M. C. Hammer
Yes, as in the guy that really is too legit to quit the music industry even 20 years after his last hit song. I'm telling you, it was Hammertime, ALL the time. 6 straight hours of Hammertime with a small amount of baseball thrown in the mix. As if people actually go to Great America Ballpark to watch
baseball.
The first little taste we had of the Hammer was during the pregame show, when he and his crew of dancers came out in their finest tracksuits to sing a handful of songs that I had never heard of before, but one that the Goog was familiar with called "Have You Seen Her". The really sad part was the stage was set up way out in Right field and there were maybe 50 or few people surrounding the stage. His dancers were really something. Some of them look like they were his originally dancers from 20 years ago, some of them look liked ex-convicts, and a few of them looked like ladies he had just picked up off the street before the game, but they all seemed to be just phoning in their performance.
LOOK how close to Hammertime!! I think the Goog is crying tears of joy.
Of course, No M.C. Hammer night would be complete without a member of the grounds crew dressed in a classic gold Hammer suit.
After his pre-game concert, Hammer changed into a Reds costume and became the game's honorary captain.
*
Then some actual baseball was played. No need for a recap of the baseball...*
Seventh inning stretch and it's Hammertime again. This time, he serenading us with "Take Me Out to the Ballgame":
A couple things to note during this video:
- MC Hammer may or may not have been hammered.
- The Lemon Chill guy yelling "LEMON CHILL" over "crackerjacks"
- The Goog yelling "REDLEGS" over the "home team" part
- Lemon Chill guy once again: "It's not Hammertime, it's Lemon Chill time, let's go!" How long do you think he's been holding onto that gem?
*
Some more baseball was played. In typical Reds fashion, the pitcher loaded the bases and ALMOST gave up the tying run. The Goog got mad that the game was almost tied; I got mad that I might have to stay for extra innings.*
After the Reds managed to win, it was time for the post-game concert. This time Hammer went for a classy look: A tuxedo with Hammer pants, a bandanna and glasses. All the dancers were wearing Cincinnati Reds hat during the pre-game concert, but switched to Oakland A's hats during the post-game concert. (For the significance of this, head over to Wikipedia to be schooled on the
1990 World Series). Hammer first came out and did a couple songs like "Turn This Mutha Out" and "Pray" and others that I simply had never heard before. I was really mad when he finished his set and walked off the stage without singing either of his 2 "good" songs.
The lights go down and the crowd starts going wild as through the 2,000% base, we can start making out the tune to "U Can't Touch This." I'm going to warn you that this video contains only about 5% of actual Hammer rapping and the rest is all screams and base. Plus, halfway through the video the guy in front of me decides that is the perfect time to take an iPhone video of...the people BEHIND us, which throws my camera out of focus. As you can see, though, people were
actually really into the concert. People were going insane!!
The concert ended and the fireworks began. They
were decent fireworks, but nothing really out of the ordinary. That is, until the fireworks music faded, and MC Hammer came back on stage and started singing "Too Legit to Quit" during the fireworks finale! At first I thought it was a mistake, like Hammer didn't show up to the dress rehearsal and was like "oh snap, I forgot to do Too Legit to Quit" and just started rapping even though he wasn't supposed to do so. It wasn't until the end of the song, when Hammer was doing his Hammer-dance in sync with the fireworks did I realize it was planned all along. Not even Disney World can put on a fireworks display that includes the one and only MC Hammer dancing live to a fireworks finale. It...was...AWESOME.
