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Thursday, January 08, 2004
The next video (and single):

After having been spoofed on "Saturday Night Live" and every late-night talk show, "American Idol" will get another comedy licking courtesy of Fountains of Wayne, who mock a televised talent show in their new video for "Mexican Wine."

The power-popsters' video for the second single off Welcome Interstate Managers opens with the pseudo show's host announcing last week's returning champions, Katie and Linda Lipschitz of Piscataway, New Jersey. Asked what song they'll perform, the 10-year-old identical twins shout, " 'Mexican Wine' by Fountains of Wayne!" and break into song.

Although Katie's on harpsichord and Linda's playing guitar and "singing," it's Fountains singer Chris Collingwood's voice we hear.

"American Idol" host Ryan Seacrest had agreed to participate in the video, which was shot in Los Angeles in December, but scheduling conflicts prohibited his appearance, according to the band's spokesperson. Chris Applebaum (Britney Spears, Kid Rock), who also directed FoW's "Stacy's Mom" video, helmed the satire.

The scene shifts to the deck of a "Big Pimpin' " yacht for the song's second verse, where Collingwood, bassist Adam Schlesinger, guitarist Jody Porter and drummer Brian Young are performing for a fabulous crowd amid a line of dancers. The bandmembers also mingle with the crowd until a pillow fight between nubile young ladies breaks out.

The set then changes to a mock-up of Duran Duran's "Rio" video, complete with a scuba-diving swimsuit model sipping a glass of Mexican wine underwater.

The final scene returns to the talent show's soundstage, where little Linda Lipschitz stands behind a makeshift kitchen counter. Her sister is absent until Linda removes the lid from a big, simmering pot. There she finds Katie's head, framed by black beans ? ? la Wall of Voodoo's "Mexican Radio" video ? and singing the remainder of the song as the judges rejoice.


Dude, that sounds awesome. And I totally disagree about it being a parody; I think Adam and Chris have a big soft spot for everything being referenced therein. The Idol thing is particularly cool, honestly--I think they really would love to see their songs being sung there, because that songwriter tradition (Bacharach, etc.) is what they're firmly within. Too bad Seacrest couldn't do it, though.

And "Mexican Wine" being the next single is real cool. That's my second-favorite track on the album, no question. (This week, anyway.)