University of Vermont sex educator Jenna Emerson is back with a new song to make us laugh while teaching such axioms as "Sex is better when it's wetter, take it from me."
"Under the Sheets" is Emerson's latest The Little Mermaid-themed parody song, combining her two passions: comedy and sex ed. She debuted the project in 2020 with "I Want to Be a Sex Educator," a comedic riff on "Part of Your World." Dressed as the titular mermaid in the music video, Emerson sang on the rocky shores of Lake Champlain.
For "Under the Sheets," she switched up from cosplaying Ariel (an obvious choice, as Emerson herself is a redhead) to Sebastian the crab, who extols the benefits of using lube during sex.
The videos allow Emerson to combine her job and her favorite hobby. "I started out writing these songs in 2019 at a comedy night I used to host," she said in a phone interview, referring to "Sex With Jenna" at the now-defunct Revelry Theater in Burlington. "I'd make these raunchy parody songs and sprinkle in little bits of helpful information."
For every "wet" joke in the songs, there are plenty of tips, such as that glycerin can lead to yeast infections. Good to know!
Both Little Mermaid parodies are up on Emerson's YouTube page, and one more video might be on the way.
"I think it needs to be a trilogy," Emerson said. "We need to do something with Ursula, I'm thinking. I mean, the comedic potential in parodying a song like 'Poor Unfortunate Souls' is just off the charts!"
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Courtesy
Pete Sutherland
The latest edition of Farmers Night at the Vermont Statehouse in Montpelier is a special one: a tribute to late, great folk musician Pete Sutherland. The Burlington native, who died in November 2022 from cancer, was a skilled multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter and teacher who played in bands such as the Clayfoot Strutters and Pete's Posse and led Young Tradition Vermont, a folk program for young Vermont musicians.
The Farmers Night series was established in the early 1900s and showcases artists from all over the state in the House chamber. For more information, visit legislature.vermont.gov.
Filmmakers Holy Smokes dropped a new video last week, continuing a hot streak of creating visuals for some of the 802's best hip-hop acts.
Their latest joint is for former 99 Neighbors rapper maari's new track, "Eyes Wide Shut." A moody affair shot mostly around dusk and in an empty movie theater, the video follows maari as he's stalked by a white rabbit.
"I'm just praying this rap game will never turn me into a ghost," he raps while staring at a cake with a flaming "99" candle. Then someone blows it out, in a not-so-subtle reference to the dissolution of the popular hip-hop collective this year.
It's another quality video from the filmmaking duo of brothers Pat and Seamus Brennan, who have created clips for local rappers such as Conswank and Charlie Mayne. Watch "Eyes Wide Shut" on YouTube.
The alt-country keeps coming from Montréal, following recent releases from the likes of Nora Kelly, whose excellent Rodeo Clown dropped last summer. The latest Canadian honky-tonk export is Clay Hazey, former frontman for the folk-rock band Cape Cartel. He goes country on his first solo record, which is scheduled to drop on June 1.
In anticipation of the album, Hazey has released a set of singles to streaming services. "Red" and "Not Hard to Forget" are both on Spotify, while "Past Two feat. Sierra Lundy" debuts on Friday, April 26. The tracks show off Hazey's transition to all things western swing and pedal steel, with a mix of traditional tones and hints of grittier terrains. Check them out at clayhazey.com.
Seven Shows Not to Miss
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Spoon
Rodrigo y Gabriela at the Flynn, Burlington, May 2
The Wailin' Jennys at the Paramount Theatre, Rutland, May 12
BLKBOK at Spruce Peak Arts, Stowe, May 30
Negativland & SUE-C at Epsilon Spires, Brattleboro, June 1
Pixiesand Modest Mouse at Place Bell, Laval, Québec, June 9
Rosebud Baker at Vermont Comedy Club, Burlington, June 28 and 29
Spoon at Higher Ground Ballroom, South Burlington, September 15
Bio:
Music editor Chris Farnsworth has written countless albums reviews and features on Vermont's best musicians, and has seen more shows than is medically advisable. He's played in multiple bands over decades in the local scene and is a recording artist in his own right. He can often be found searching for the perfect soft pretzel or listening to a podcast about the X-Men.
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