Reconfronting the Psychic Wall of Energy: A Comparison of the Sound of SpongeBob

I'm different. Crazy even. But even if you're the slightest bit like me, you automatically know one of the best cartoons ever made, without a doubt, is SpongeBob SquarePants. It's a cartoon that takes everything that makes both animation and comedy amazing, mixed with original concepts and characters, to make something undeniably unique.

Despite a gradual decline in quality over the years, nearly fifteen years SpongeBob has been entertaining television audiences worldwide. However, its best work can be summarized in 87 minutes with a little film called The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.


Now, don't think The SpongeBob Movie is just any other cash-grab TV-based film. No, this film is everything SpongeBob represents in one amazing film. Though, such representatives of SpongeBob are not only its fantastic comedy and beautiful animation, but the style in which they present it. In that sense, the core principle that makes The SpongeBob Movie work is its soundtrack.

The soundtrack truly makes the movie what it is, due to its unwavering originality. The album does feature classic SpongeBob originals (tracks like "Now That We're Men" sung by the actual characters), but, otherwise, it takes the giant risk for a kids movie: to feature indie artists on the soundtrack.

While they're not Justin Timberlake, they capture the essence of the film in a way I've seldom seen done for a soundtrack. It's intended single track "SpongeBob and Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy" even weaves the entire story of the movie in a way that fluidly fits into the nautical tone of the movie.

Having said all this, my fear expands tenfold upon the news of Pharrell, the noted composer of Despicable Me 2's "Happy" (also known as that song from 2013 we still can't get out of our heads), will be writing and performing, with his newly-reunited band N.E.R.D., the song for the new SpongeBob movie, Sponge Out of Water. "Happy" was great and all. It's a perfect anthem for something like the Despicable Me franchise. But for SpongeBob?

The song he penned for the new movie is called "Squeeze Me". Prior to its release, the band had described the song as psychedelic, other-worldly and paralleled to "what the Beatles did with 'Yellow Submarine,'" or so said N.E.R.D. band member Hugo to Variety. The track itself however was officially released January 5th to mixed reviews. I was mixed.


(source: Rolling Stone)

I'll be frank, it is a good song. It's got funky beat (nowhere near "Uptown Funk," though) and has a generally fun feel. While that sounds good and all, it still is not necessarily meant for SpongeBob.

The original soundtrack worked because of what it was -- original. While it really can't be matched, the Sponge Out of Water should be a companion album to its predecessor and, from what we've heard, the successor sounds atypical of every other kid's movie soundtrack.

At it's core, "Squeeze Me" is a carbon-copy pop song with a SpongeBob theme. Nothing more, nothing less. But, SpongeBob deserves better than just standards.

With the original soundtrack, songs like “SpongeBob and Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy” and “Just a Kid” had depth and spoke to the message, rather than the bright colors. Not just as something to play during TV spots.

I understand things have changed since 2004, but, on the whole, soundtracks have become a more important, crucial part of the film. Films like Guardians of the Galaxy have turned even compilation albums into an art form unto its own. Thus, I don’t see why the successor to such an amazing soundtrack has to digress to Smurf-level territory.

Still, can anyone really match “Ocean Man?”

Ween’s “Ocean Man” was the track that made the album feel like an organic juxtaposition to the kid’s comedy that filled the brunt of the movie. It perfectly counteracted the funny with serious in a film titled SpongeBob SquarePants, for crying out loud. And the track itself was not even created for the film like the others; instead, it was taken from the Ween album The Mollusk. Regardless, the song fit and provided the solemnity to bring a zany, all-over-the-place film back to earth.

I can’t say I hate this new song, nor do I think I will rule out the entire soundtrack when I end up purchasing it, but I feel like they can certainly do better. And likely they could do so by looking to “Ocean Man” for musical inspiration.

For the time being, I will withhold more judgment upon Pharrell’s curating until I hear his two other songs, “Patrick Star” and “Sandy Squirrel,” and whatever music materializes from the film as it reaches theaters this February. 

Can’t guarantee I’ll post further thoughts on the soundtrack or the movie itself, but I hope to continue posting here in the future.

School's Out... and Back in Again

Hi, this summer is awesome... warts and all... but, since I'm getting homeschooled. I'm getting a lot of stuff to go on my curriculum. You see it's awesome how you can go to school at home. We actually thought of it because we're so busy now with my auditions, and Ms. Carrie's acting classes, and all the kids that want to play with me at dad's office. But it's weird, we used to laugh at homeschooled kids.

So, nowadays we're getting back to Ms. Renee Kemper's voice classes to work on getting into Narnia. Last time we met at the "non-constructed" part of Playhouse on the Square, she said I was really good with my vocals on my songs and warm-ups.

Yeah, summer begining to ending by now, sorta. But I'm trying to last the fun till August. Only, this summer's gone by, especially with the death of Michael Jackson, the new specials on TV (ex., He Could Be the One, Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana), and all the fun I'm having. Especially the Lincoln Log mansion I made today.

I'm also looking forward to seeing G-Force, and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, which I woulda' seen already but I've been waiting to go at the right time with Braxton. The movies... I haven't really had time for this summer, but I'm hoping to get back to that when dad gets a bit more patients this year.

Well, to cut this blog short, have a happy end of summer this July. Watch G-Force and I'll be back soon. Have a happy day from us at Journey to Tennesee.

Speckles the mole, my favorite character in G-Force (upper left).

Me at the park (upper right).

The Last Day

Hey, I'm back and I've been having fun this past week. And guess who won American Idol.... Kris Allen. I mean that for me was a total rip-off. So to explain the title, today is the last day of school. Yes, the last day of school, and Mother's Day in Bolivia or Día de la Madre. So anyway, I'm so happy and excited. Also, it starts off a summer of Journey to Tennessee. Say goodbye to Lakeland Elementary. Oh, and I am also getting home-schooled next year. There may not be time with kids but I will have time with Mom and have lunch with my Dad every day.


Well, besides that I saw Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian on the 23rd. It was awesome. In my opinion it was better then the first movie, or as my cousin, Braxton would say, "Boom, Boom, Fire Power". This a way awesome movie. It had many great actors in it. Ben Stiller came back as the protagonist of the movie, Larry Daley. Also back is Robin Williams as Theodore Roosevelt, and Jedediah & Octavius played by Owen Wilson and Steve Coogan. And many new characters such as General George Armstrong Custer, of World War II, played by Bill Hader, Amelia Earhart, first woman pilot, portrayed by Academy Award nominee, Amy Adams, and the new pharaoh antagonist and big brother of Ahkmenrah, Kahmenrah, whose actor, Hank Azaria also did other characters in Night at the Museum 2 such as, the famous statue, The Thinker, and the Lincoln Memorial statue of Abraham Lincoln. It also had small, but funny cameos of Darth Vader and Oscar the Grouch. So anyway, it was totally awesome... B.T.W., You're gonna wanna read this next paragraph. It's going to also describe as totally awesome.

Now two days ago, the 25th, I got invited with my parents to a pool party with the Sotos and many of the church families. I had the greatest time, unfortunately, my mom and dad (but mostly my dad) didn't put any sunscreen on me. So like after that I was itching in my shirt I took it off having my mom realizing that I had just been sunburned. Currently I'm not wearing a shirt and I am wearing Hawaiian Tropic© Burn Relief on my arms, back, and belly. Because of this I yesterday did not go to school. But that did not stop me from going to school today (with a shirt). B.T.W., You also might like this next paragraph which this one will be described by these four words (not counting the quotations) "Boom, Boom, Fire Power".

Enough with the B.T.W.s. Today was a great day of school, we drew what we want to do this summer. And we had a Compliment* party, my mom came too, since we had to give back The Secret Garden video that we had borrowed from Mrs. Whitten. So she stayed for the party and for the rest of the day at school. During our indoor recess, I made a board game with the help of Chandler. It was awesome, but unfortunately I didn't win. Wha, wha, wha, whaaa..... I know it's not that cool in written form, but it's a funny sound affect. So I had a great time.

I hope this starts of a new summer generation of this blog. So hope I'll have time to blog you tommorrow. Anyway, for all the readers reading this blog, which I hope there are some reading out there, I wish you a Happy Summer, and Día de la Madre. Goodbye, blog you later, America.


*In my class we add a letter to the word, compliment, whenever we got a compliment. When finished with the word we have a pizza party.


Me havin' fun on my last school day (Upper right)

The Underground

Hey, I'm back. Max is here. As I said in my last post, I was working on something since I didn't get in The Muny. I wanna tell you about it. I have been writing a script so me and my cousins can make a movie to show to the other members of my family (the Jessops).

It shall be called "The Underground", the topic is the underground, obviously. Starring... Max Jessop, Braxton Anderson, Brigitte Anderson, Myles Jessop, Darrin Jessop, Kylie Anderson, Samantha "Sammie" Jessop, and Kendall Anderson as Donavan. Rated PG. I also wrote, produced, directed, provided music, and chose the location to many scenes.
The movie's preimere is at my aunt Angela's house at 7:00, on the day after it's finished filming. I don't know when that will be so... After the priemere it will go on DVD sold at the price of 7.00 or on special occasions (including SpongeBob SquarePants' Birthday) lower to at least the price of 1.00.

Until then me the cast and crew will be filming the movie starting the filming this summer of 2009. Thank you for reading this. For more info read this again. This post will now self-destruct in one year.