This song was written at a time when some critics were saying that LL Cool J’s popularity and creativity was waning. The “mama” of the title was LL Cool J’s grandmother, who told LL Cool J to keep doing what he was doing and “knock his critics out.” Don’t call it a comeback because LL Cool J never left and this song and music video proved it.
The video was directed by Paris Barclay, who would go on to become one of the busiest and most respect television directors in the industry. A winner of multiple Emmys and a two-time president of the DGA, Barclay has directed episodes of NYPD Blue, Lost, Sons of Anarchy, ER, The West Wing, CSI, The Shield, House, and a countless number of other shows.
Tragic Comic was a third third and final single to be released off of Extreme’s third album, III Sides to Every Story. This was Extreme’s last single to crack the UK Top 40, reaching #15.
The video for Tragic Comic features Extreme’s lead singer, Gary Cherone, trying to have the perfect date with his neighbor and failing in almost every way. Even when things look like they’re finally going right, she ends up falling down an elevator shaft. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find the name of the actress who played Cherone’s neighbor in this video.
As for Gary Cherone, he is probably best known for being Van Halen’s third lead singer. Cherone joined the band in 1996, replacing Sammy Hagar. He stuck with Van Halen for three years, recording one album with the band. Though Van Halen III was a success by most standards, it still didn’t sell as much as previous Van Halen albums and Cherone and the band amicably parted ways in 1999. If nothing else, Cherone is probably the only person to ever leave Van Halen on relatively good terms.
This video was directed by Paris Barclay. Today, Barclay is best-known as an Emmy-winning television director. Among the shows that he’s worked on: NYPD Blue, ER, The West Wing, CSI, Lost, The Shield, House, Law & Order, Monk, Numb3rs, City of Angels, Cold Case, Sons of Anarchy, The Bastard Executioner, The Mentalist, Weeds, NCIS: Los Angeles, In Treatment, Glee, Smash and The Good Wife, Extant, and Manhattan, Empire, and Scandal. Barclay also served two terms as the president of the DGA.
Through the Shattered Lens 