Top 10 Thursday: Top 10 Politically Charged Songs

Hello, everyone! As I've said before, politics and music can work together to make powerful statements to make us question the world around us, full of hypocrisy, shameful acts, and in short, people. But some people are more aware of it than others. So let's count down these top 10 moments of awareness.

10. "Give Peace a Chance" - John Lennon

I was going to put "Imagine" on here, but I look at that song as more of a commentary on humanity as a whole, rather than the political side of the matter. I feel that this song gets its message across straightforward. Whatever your view on the world around you, let it be peaceful. It's a simple song, but sometimes simplicity is the route to go when writing a politically oriented song. Give peace a chance! Simple message, simple rule. He doesn't even suggest that you SHOULD follow it, he just suggests to give it a chance. A peaceful suggestion for a peaceful song. Imagine that.

9. "Down By the Riverside"

You'll notice that there's no artist listed for this one. This is because "Down By the Riverside" is one of those songs that dates way back to gospel songbooks. That means it's been covered by a lot of artists, many recordings appearing before World War II. "Down By the Riverside" is an anti-war song, so maybe people should have taken its advice to not study war no more.

8. "Ohio" - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

"Ohio" was written in response to the Kent State Shootings of 1970. It's the best-known response song to the shootings, and as such it's the one to end up on this list, as it has made the biggest impact. It was also very controversial, getting banned from many AM stations at the time due to its direct mention of Richard Nixon in the lyrics. Today, Neil Young is still known for his political activism concerning Albertan tar sands earlier in the year, but he's always been an outstanding force in speaking up for what is right. Rock on, Neil.

7. "Gimme Shelter" - The Rolling Stones

The late 60's were probably some of the craziest times, politically speaking. The war in Vietnam, Charles Manson, race relations. Mick Jagger felt as though he needed shelter from the storm. And so "Gimme Shelter" was written to provide that shelter, if metaphorically. The refrain about war just being "a shot away" was very real in 1969, and it was a scary time. This song perfectly summed up those times.

6. "Killing in the Name" - Rage Against the Machine

Can't have a political Top 10 without at least one Rage Against the Machine song. They're like the Michael Moore of music. This is the first song I ever heard by Rage Against the Machine, and I still love it to this day. It's just a pounding, unforgettable political song, with its guitar riffs helping you to remember the song, and its lyrics helping you to remember the problems in the world. Yeah, it's repetitive, but the song sinks in for that very reason, ending with one of the most straightforward anti-establishment messages ever. Fuck you, they won't do what you tell them.

5. "Say it Loud - I'm Black and I'm Proud" - James Brown

When one of the most prolific black artists in the 60's releases a song like this, it's time to listen. James Brown's song became an anthem of the Black Power movement, and it's easy to see why right from the title. The song inspired confidence in many black people during rough times, and his since been sampled in many different hip hop songs, from Eric B. and Rakim to LL Cool J to 2 Live Crew. With this song, James Brown helped to lead the world to racial equality. And that feels good. And that was a stupid pun.

4. "Blowin' in the Wind" - Bob Dylan

I have a ton of songs from the 60's on this list, and it's probably because it was the most politically radical decade of recent history ("recent" being a loose term, I guess). Bob Dylan chimes in early with "Blowin' in the Wind", a song meant to be an ambiguous answer to a series of hard questions. "Blowin' in the wind" could mean that the answer is right in front of you in the air, or that it's hard to grasp, like a leaf blowing in the wind. And that's kinda how people felt; one way or the other, sometimes wavering between certainty and uncertainty. And Dylan knew how to sum it up with his masterful storytelling.

3. "God Save the Queen" - Sex Pistols

Sex Pistols are back! And why shouldn't they be? If I make a list of controversy and change, then the Sex Pistols are bound to show up. This song most likely pushed the already ostracized Sex Pistols into full hatred by the monarchy. And I can't really blame them. Comparing the Queen's reign to a fascist regime is most likely going to boil the blood. The song was written to sympathize with the working class in England, and the monarchy screwing them over. The Sex Pistols might have been screwed over, too, as this song only made it to #2 on the "Official" British chart, but reached #1 on the British NME singles chart. A little bit of chart-fixing? Maybe. But the song became iconic of the punk rock movement, and has cemented the Sex Pistols as important political figures in music.

2. "Born in the USA" - Bruce Springsteen

This is probably the winner of the song that is misunderstood most often on the Fourth of July.

Man, this song is a lot of things, but patriotic it is not. Despite the title, the song calls out the mistreatment of Vietnam War veterans by Americans. The war was a loss for the U.S., so many Vietnam veterans were ignored or even shunned by American people. born in the USA indeed. Unfortunately, the song is widely misinterpreted as a patriotic anthem by people who don't actually listen to the lyrics, something that constantly bothers Springsteen. Oh well. At least people enjoy the song on the most basic level.

1. "My Generation" - The Who

Of all the politically oriented songs that came out in the 60's, this is the one song that I feel summed up the attitudes of many people most succinctly; it was a new generation, and new ideals were taking the places of the old ones. This song was especially written for that Mod generation that I talked about earlier in the Beatles overview. A specific subset of that new generation that felt that older folks just didn't get it. It's the basis of change, and the opposition to the prevention of change. It's essentially the attitude of any other politically oriented song. There's a new generation, new rules, and if you don't like it, fuck off. The Who couldn't have put it any better.

Boy, all these politically oriented songs make me want to do something to change the world! But first I need to beat my high score on Candy Crush. Later!

Watch-for-it Wednesday: "Leave the Night On" - Sam Hunt

Okay... is it me, or is country music slowly falling out of favour?

Take this, for lack of a better word, "jam" for example. I haven't heard this in a while, so I looked it up and this song just tumbled out of the Top 40 this week. And Florida Georgia Line's newest hit that I covered just this week is already falling fast as well. And I don't see any new country music rushing in to replace it, either. What the hell is going on?

Well, let's go to this latest entry on the Heatseekers chart, Sam Hunt, and see if we can get any answers from him.

This is "Leave the Night On", which is currently the highest country single on the Heatseekers chart. It's... okay, I guess.

Honestly, that's how I feel about a lot of recent country music. Occasionally you get the odd song that really impresses me or the odd song that really pisses me off, but most of the time it operates at just a 6/10 for me. That is to say, meeeeeeh.

There's nothing bad about this song. Nothing at all. Technically, it's perfect. But oh god, is perfect boring.

And I don't mean perfect is boring like Freddie Mercury belting his heart out is boring. I mean when you just go for a perfect-sounding song and nothing else, then it's boring. I mean perfect in the sense that only record companies would find it perfect.

And I feel that record companies would find this song absolutely perfect. But I don't. I find it completely average. It's like if generic pop music punched country music in the face. There's nothing here that makes this guy stand out at all. Jesus Christ, Taylor Swift was once more country than this guy.

Not that I think country music has much of an identity anymore. And that might actually be the problem. Country music listeners are getting fed up with this poppy country music, and pop music listeners already have enough to select from, so they don't need a nobody like Sam Hunt coming in on the scene. Maybe two years ago this guy might have been all the rage, but he came in at the wrong time, and I think everybody's tired of this sound.

Hot 100 Success:

Will he have it?

The noticeable lack of country on the charts, and the failure of other country artists to make their impact this year tells me "no".

Should he have it?

He seems like a nice enough guy. But asking me if he should have success on the charts is like asking me if I want watered-down tomato juice on my burger instead of ketchup. No thanks. I'll stick to artists with personality. Take that, record companies!

CanTunes Tuesday: "Necessary Evil" - Nikki Yanofsky

Let's go back to the Winter Olympics of 2010.

That Winter Olympics was held in Canada that year, and one of the theme songs for that Winter Olympics was Canadian singer Nikki Yanofsky's "I Believe". I didn't really have any problem with it... that is, until it got played over and over and over and over again until I never wanted to hear that stupid song ever again in my life! And then it was used for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London! How does that work? Was it really that great of a song that it had to be used again?!

So 2012 was the year I swore off Nikki Yanofsky and that stupid song forever. And now... she's back. And... she sounds like Beyoncé, for some reason.

And Nikki Yanofsky does a better Beyoncé than Beyoncé these days, and I'm sorry I ever doubted her.

It's like she studied Beyoncé songs to find out the winning formula, and I don't quite know how she did it, but she did it. She's got just the right amount of attitude and the right amount of charm here.

Okay, so she doesn't sound like Beyoncé throughout the whole thing, mostly in the chorus. And the lyrics aren't perfect.

Yeah baby, it's okay if it drives me mad, cuckoo

Cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs?

But I can look past that because Yanofsky has something that I realize she always had: control. She had it with "I Believe", a song I can tolerate now that they don't play it at the Olympics anymore, and she has it with this song. It's got great strings, a great voice, and a catchy-as-all hell hook. Catchier than anything Beyoncé's wrote in the past few years.

So I'm back on Nikki Yanofsky again. Hopefully this song doesn't get overplayed at the 2016 Olympics, and we'll all be good. Hopefully.

Monday Musings: How involved should musicians get in politics?

Isn't it great when musicians step away from their chosen profession and choose instead to talk about the world around us and how we can fix it?

Uh... heh-heh...

No, but seriously, it's important for all people to become involved with their country and their world around them. So, that includes musicians, even if their methods are questionable. But how much should musicians get involved? When do they stop being musicians and start being politicians?

Well, in my opinion, there's no line between the two, and indeed, the two components can work together. That's because music is about feelings. And political feelings and opinions are part of what makes music work. Not only can music change opinions and emotions, it can help to change the world around us.

So, my answer to the question is that musicians should get involved with politics as much as they feel comfortable with. Of course, if every musician was overtly politically oriented, that would be a little boring and monotonous. But as long as we have a wide variety of different topics and feelings on those topics in music, then we can look forward to an interesting world in music. And an interesting world in politics.

"Dirt" - Florida Georgia Line

Maybe I was a little rough on Florida Georgia Line.

The reason I say that is because I kind of like this new song they have. It's called "Dirt", and while that opens itself up to a lot of easy jokes, it's not your average filthy Florida Georgia Line song.

You get your hands in it, plant your roots in it

Dusty head lights dance with your boots in it

As far as I can tell, it's literally a song about dirt, and it's still the least filthy song this duo has. Imagine that!

It's... almost a love song to dirt, and all its wonderful incarnations, like

It's that elm shade red rust clay you grew up on

and

That plowed up ground that your dad damned his luck on

and

The mud on her jeans that she peeled off and hung up

Okay, so they're not making love to dirt. They're using dirt as a symbol for all the memories they have living the country life. All I can say is, it's a lot better than when they tried to compare a girl to a song that made them want to roll their windows down and cruise.

However, I'm still disappointed, because god dammit, I wanted to make fun of Florida Georgia Line again. But if they keep releasing songs like this... I'm gonna run out of material. And they're one of the last artists that I thought I would run out of material for. But no, here we are with "Dirt", a legitimately good, well-thought-out song by Florida Georgia Line. I'm as baffled as you are. Has the world turned upside down? Well, I'm not on the ceiling yet, but if notoriously bad artists keep releasing good songs, I might have to adjust to ceiling life. I'd better get some new furniture.

Weekend Wrap-up (Jul. 20-26 2014): Maroon 5 in Concert and on CD

What's on tap today? Let's take a drink.

Beyoncé has posted a teaser for 50 Shades of Grey on Instagram, with what sounds like a slowed-down version of "Crazy in Love". The full trailer has also been released. You can watch the Instagram video here and the trailer here.

Maroon 5, Sam Smith, and 5 Seconds of Summer are set to headline the iTunes festival in London. Other performers include Pharrell Williams, Blondie, and Calvin Harris. It will be held throughout the month of September.

In other Maroon 5 news, they have unveiled their cover art for their new album, V. They have also unveiled their track list for the album, which includes a duet with Adam Levine and Gwen Stefani, entitled "My Heart is Open".

British electronic pop group London Grammar has had to cancel concert dates in Australia due to the sickness of lead singer Hannah Reid. The group's shows in Melbourne and Sydney have been postponed to March 2015.

Ariana Grande's grandfather has died. Ariana has taken to Twitter to pay tribute to him, and has recently appeared on Good Morning America just after sharing the news. Ariana's busy schedule has not been shifted or postponed.

A month after Casey Kasem's death, his body has been taken from Washington's Gaffney Funeral Home to Canada, leaving his family with no specifics as to the whereabouts of his remains. Widow Jeannie Kasem is said to be hiding the body from his family, continuing an ongoing battle between the two sides.

Finally, have you ever wanted to see Channing Tatum rap with Biz Markie? Well, here you go.

Flashback Friday: "Colors of the Wind" - Vanessa Williams (1995)

So, does anybody remember Pocahontas?

If you do, then you most likely remember it for its most famous song, "Colors of the Wind". It's one of the most recognizable Disney tunes for its powerful message both within and beyond the movie. So, naturally, let's look at the cover version for the movie's soundtrack. Does the cover do it justice? Would any cover do it justice?

Well, in regards to this cover, I applaud Vanessa Williams for trying, but I think I'll stick with the original.

It's not that this version is bad, or that Vanessa Williams is a bad singer. It's just that this song really fits well into the narrative, so seeing someone else singing it while just... standing there... doesn't really do it for me. I think the song really works as both a visual and musical experience, which is why it works so well in the movie. Maybe if they really took some chances with the music video it could work, but it is a soundtrack video, so they can't really do that much. It's a shame, because Vanessa Williams has a great voice. There's just something about this for me that doesn't fit, though.

So, that said, would this work if anybody other than Judy Kuhn sang it? Well, let's take a look at Vanessa Hudgens' version...

Okay, that's enough, that's enough. No, this could not work with any other artist. "Colors of the Wind" fits a little too well into the narrative of Pocahontas. So much so that any artist covering it would either be redundant or terrible. No seriously, Jesus Christ. What where they thinking with that Vanessa Hudgens version? "Hey, you know what could make a classic Disney song about being at one with nature better? Shitty techno!" Stupid new Disney.

I love "Colors of the Wind", but unfortunately for Vanessa Williams, only in its original version. I can't paint with all the covers of this song.

Top 10 Thursday: Top 10 Beatles Songs

Let's keep up this Beatles trend with my top ten Beatles songs!

Now, before I begin, this list was incredibly difficult to make, probably my hardest. I'm still not sure I got it quite right, and there are a lot of damn good songs I'm leaving off the list, so bear with me. If there's a song I left off, comment and say so! I welcome other people's opinions as much as my own. Unless you're wrong. Don't be wrong. Anyway, without further ado, let's get down to it!

10. "Don't Let Me Down"

Simply the amount of soul put into this song edged it into the Top 10. This is a love song written by John Lennon to Yoko Ono, and while it's not quite the best Beatles love song ever recorded (more on that later), it is still a tear-jerker. you can really feel the emotion in every crash of the drums and every wailing note John belts out on the chorus. It's a very melancholy song, but The Beatles make it work all the way through. So I didn't let them down, and put this song at #10.

9. "Twist and Shout"

In 1963, The Beatles released their debut album, Please Please Me. On that album was a song called "Twist and Shout", a cover song. Incidentally, it's my favourite song off of that album. The Isley Brother's version that came before this is pretty good, but John just ramps up the energy to a whole new level by pushing his voice to the absolute limit. Seriously. The reason it's the last song on the album is because John Lennon physically could not do it twice, and it had to be recorded last. So appreciate "Twist and Shout" not only for an awesome cover, but for a cover that went that extra mile to sounding good.

8. "Blackbird"

Sometimes I wish The Beatles had stripped it down a little more often and just had one singer with a guitar. Because when they do, it's magic, such as with "Blackbird". This song is just flawlessly composed from start to finish, right down to the bird sounds at the end. It was a song McCartney wrote in response to the Civil Rights Movement of the late 60's. with "blackbird" meaning a black girl, and... wow. Just one look at the lyrics, and you can feel the soul oozing out of this one. Beautiful song. Beautiful.

7. "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"

I just think if you're going to write a song about an affair you've been having, all you need to do is add a sitar in there and you're good to go. The song was written by John Lennon, but the sitar was actually George Harrison's idea. Good on him, because it really helps to accentuate the song. It makes it sound starkly different in comparison to their other songs, or anything else played during that time. Isn't it good, Norwegian wood? Yes, yes it is.

6. "A Hard Day's Night"

What can I say? Once that guitar strums, the song has me hooked. It is the textbook definition of a perfect pop song. Anyone looking to write catchy tunes that will skyrocket to the top of the charts should study this song, because it is just AM Gold. It's so much fun and so easy to sing along to, and it never loses its energy. It keeps you hooked for a good reason; it's a damn good song throughout. After a hard day, just listen to this and let loose.

5. "Help!"

Wow, I really have a thing for the title tracks, don't I? Well, it makes sense why they decided to name their albums after these fantastic songs. This song's desperation just shines through, right to the title. It's literally calling out for help. Which is what Lennon was subconsciously doing about his Beatles career, which was no doubt a great thing for him, but also overwhelming. It was one of Lennon's favourite songs, describing it as one of his "most honest, genuine Beatles songs". Given the sheer desperation shown in the music and the lyric, I can't blame him for a statement like that.

4. "Let It Be"

So... yeah, again with the title tracks. Well, this one comes off of The Beatles' last album and is arguably one of their most famous songs. And so this is one of my more obvious choices, but seriously guys. Listen to this song. It's a masterpiece. Right from the beginning to the end. There's a reason this song became so famous: it's a perfect title track for The Beatles' final album, summing up their overall message in three simple words. It rocks.

3. "A Day in the Life"

Sgt. Pepper is overall my favourite Beatles album. and there were a lot of songs on that album that unfortunately got cut from this list as I went through each album, song by song. But this one remains as one of my favourites, being forever the magnum opus of the delightfully kooky album, with Lennon bringing the album back down to Earth, and then HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT WHAT IS HAPPENING oh hi there Paul McCartney. It's a perfect end to the album in every sort of way, stunning in its composure. I feel almost unworthy for talking about it, so you can only imagine how I feel about the remaining two songs to come. Oh boy, indeed.

2. "Come Together"

I think that this is the first Beatles song where I felt like I had to memorize the lyrics, so I could sing along with this song flawlessly. Why? Because god damn it, this song is so freakin' cool. Cool, calm and collected. It doesn't stray from its simple melody that much, but it doesn't need to, because that is a kickass melody. And I haven't brought him up yet, but good God, I have to give some credit to Ringo Starr here for an awesome drum performance. Collected when it needs to be, then when the instrumental part kicks in, boom. All over the place. Just goes to prove that all four Beatles are talented. But this next song highlights my favourite Beatle, as you'll soon find out...

1. "Something"

George Harrison is my favourite Beatle. Lennon, McCartney, and yes, even Ringo are all stellar, but Harrison always seemed to have a better head on his shoulders than the three of them. And when he got to write his own songs, they had that aura of maturity and togetherness to them. While for the most part I've preferred Lennon and McCartney songs for the purpose of this list, it had to be a Harrison song that would eventually shine through. And this is his best, and this is The Beatles' best. It's such a beautiful song in its lyrics and melody. Definitely one of the best love songs of all time. There you have it: my favourite Beatles song. Agree? Disagree? Comment below!

Watch-for-it Wednesday: "I'm Ready" - AJR

What in the hell is going on with this song?

No, seriously. Is this a prank? Or am I actually hearing SpongeBob SquarePants on a quasi-hit song? 

For the two of you out there that don't know this, SpongeBob SquarePants is a beloved cartoon watched by millions of children across the world. And now the titular character (heehee, "titular") has one of his most famous catchphrases sampled in this song. Which catchphrase might that be? This one right here. (Hint: It's not "Go SpongeBob!")

...Why? Why on earth would they ever do that? Are they trying to use the weirdest sample possible in order to win some ill-conceived Guinness World Record? Who the hell are AJR anyway? Let's see.

AJR are a group of brothers: Adam, Jack, and Ryan. They are an indie pop group that compose their own beats and write their own lyrics, all in the living room of their apartment. That's pretty impressive on its own, especially in these times, but they've also opened for the likes of Demi Lovato and The Wanted. So, yeah. These guys are legit. Now on to the next question: What possessed them to use a SpongeBob sample in their song?

Well, it looks like for some of their songs, AJR likes to build them around a sample that's a little off the wall. And for this one, it looks like SpongeBob fit the bill. I'm not sure how well the sample works, but the rest of the song is great. It's got this great melody with the piano on the verses, and the clapping in the chorus, and then the drum beats... it really is a good song. Just, that sample... it's too weird, like intentionally so. It puts me off of the song just a little. I want to like the guys, but I'm torn between SpongeBob and music. I'm sure the rest of you have encountered this problem somewhere in your life.

Hot 100 Success:

Will they have it?

The music video is an interesting one. It continually shows AJR's success on social media... then at the end of their video, it shows that this success was all in their heads. So, it's really a matter of what side of the video comes true. I think the former side is prophetic: I can see these guys being a more talented version of One Direction, which we've already had this year, but hey. Battle of the boy band-compared, anyone?

Should they have it?

I do like these guys, even if I disagree with some of their more outlandish music choices. Yeah, I'll root for 'em. Go AJR!

CanTunes Tuesday: "Heaven in Our Headlights" - Hedley

Hey, it's Hedley again.

Last time we checked in with Hedley, they were busy ripping off Daft Punk. Now it looks like they're still not sure what to do with themselves, as they try to retain their once non-sellout image. And here we are with "Heaven in Our Headlights".

But all this song really does for me is emphasize how much Jacob Hoggard needs his band. The guy's got a really strange voice. It's like he's trying to sing and dry-heave at the same time. When he's got a band drowning him out... I mean, backing him, it doesn't sound that bad. But here, where the band has pretty much vanished to wherever the rest of Maroon 5 went? Yeah, Jacob's voice should not be playing front and center. And there was a time when I could legitimately say that I liked Hedley. But they've forgotten long ago what it is that makes them work, and this song definitely isn't it.

Even with "Crazy for You", I could kind of enjoy that song because it reminded me of Daft Punk. This just sounds like Jacob Hoggard singing over a margarine tub. Yeah, the music's that non-descript that I'd rather think of delicious margarine than think of this. There's a part where there's whistling... which doesn't really fit into the song at all, but at least it's interesting. In the sense that an off-white wall is more interesting than a white wall, but it's something.

Yeah, that's my biggest problem with this song. It's so... nothing. I liked their previous song that sounded like this, which was "Kiss You Inside Out", because the mood was consistent and Hoggard sounded good for once in his career. This is like if "Kiss You Inside Out" didn't work at all. The mood is inconsistent (is it a party song or a love song?) and Hoggard's voice over a nondescript beat just doesn't work here. While Hoggard goes, "Oh, whoa", I go "Oh, no." Sorry Hedley. Looks like you've hit your stride. It happens. Say, is this a gray hair? I gotta go get this checked out, seeya guys later.

Monday Musings: Let's finally talk about The Beatles

Hey! How 'bout dem Beatles?

Early readers of this blog might remember that I teased talking about The Beatles quite frequently. Here I'm talking about The Beatles!... no wait, it's Badfinger! Well, maybe here I'll talk about The Beatles... no wait, Cream! CREAM! Of course, the surprise is ruined if you read the title of the blog entry... but let's not waste time on the details. Now that I'm coming up on my one-year anniversary (in about three months or so), I thought I'd spare some time to talk about them

...

The Beatles are awesome.

Yeah, if you were expecting a counterculture, hipster, naysaying opinion, you've come to the wrong place. I love The Beatles. I think they were fantastic artists, and Sgt. Pepper is one of my favourite albums of all time.

But... all that said, are they a little overrated?

Well, let's look at the facts: not only are The Beatles remembered for their catchy pop rock tunes and their innovative album statements, they're also remembered for being one of the most influential bands in rock's history. That's a huge order to fill. So, how influential were they, really? Let's take a look.

Rolling Stone editor Robert Greenfield has compared The Beatles to Picasso, saying that "in the form of popular music, no one will ever be more revolutionary, more creative and more distinctive..." which is all well and good for a Rolling Stone editor to say, but how does their influence translate into pop music today?

Well, during the early 60's, many people were getting tired of acts like Fabian and Frankie Avalon, et cetera et cetera. The Mods, a youth subculture of the time in Great Britain, were highly influential in propelling the British Invasion to its popularity. Many British Invasion bands had a following among mods (The Rolling Stones, The Kinks), and some even had rhythm and blues elements specifically tailored for mod culture (The Who). But The Beatles were the ones that combined mod culture and pop music, therefore becoming the most successful of the bunch.

And even today, they set a high standard for success. They are still the best-selling band in music history, selling between 600 million and 1 billion records worldwide. They are still the only ones to hold all top 5 positions on the Billboard Hot 100 in one week. They still have the most number-one hits on the Hot 100, with twenty. Truly, their popularity at the time suggests that they must have been influential on pop music.

And indeed they were. Taking counterculture ideals and mixing them in with catchy tunes was nothing short of a brilliant idea, and the reason for The Beatles' success and legacy. They're not my personal favourite band in the world, but it's impossible not to respect them for their smarts and their talents that send them to the top of many people's lists when considering the greatest bands of all time. Bottom Line: The Beatles are fookin' awesome. Thanks for reading.

"Break Free" - Ariana Grande ft. Zedd

Florida Georgia Line... Maroon 5... Jason Derulo... oh God, when will the madness end?!

Oh, thank God. Ariana Grande can bring me back to music nirvana. Not the band Nirvana, but... the concept... in Buddhism... you know what I mean! Let's cleanse the soul of Billboard with some Ariana Grande... whoa, what's with all the buzzing and shit?

Oh, this is Ariana Grande featuring Zedd. Zedd is one of those EDM DJs, and while I've consistently liked his songs, this is a little bit of a harsh opening. Come on, man. You're not even the main credit.

Thankfully, once that buzzing ends, we get Ariana Grande's great voice, as it should be on her track. Now, what is this song about? Well, it's about an ex-boyfriend that Ariana has found it hard to let go of, but now she is feeling great about her single life, and... wait, hold on a second.

This is the same thing that "Problem" went through! And while I loved "Problem", and still do, I don't know if we need a second one. I mean, is it really that necessary? What about the rest of what 2014 is offering us?

Eh...

Meh...

Guh...

...You know what? Bring on the second "Problem".

I can also accept this song because while it is thematically like "Problem", it doesn't sound like "Problem". "Problem" sounded like a great mix of modern and old ideas in music, from the jazzy saxophone to the whispery chorus (thanks Big Sean). This is a tad more generic, but it's still saved by Grande's voice, and the fact that she's never done an EDM song before, so even though we've heard the sound before, we've never heard it coupled with Grande's voice.

Overall, I'd say I definitely prefer "Problem" to this song, but this is still a worthy inclusion in the Hot 100. Worthier than any of the three songs above, I'll tell you that. Bring on the Grande! She can do ten different versions of the same subject, for all I care. We need more summer jams! Ones that don't suck, specifically. It just feels so good, to finally be able to compliment something. Here's to the rest of summer being magically musical.

Uhh... I'll be back next week to cover this. God damn it!

Weekend Wrap-up (Jul. 13-19 2014): Radiohead, Cher, and FIFA closing ceremonies

What have we got this week?

Radiohead will begin production of their ninth studio album in September. Since their last album in 2011, Radiohead have been keeping busy with solo projects, including Thom Yorke's band Atoms for Peace.

The World Cup is over, and with it came a crowd-pleasing performance from Shakira and Santana. Ivete Sangalo, a Brazilian singer, also came out to entertain the crowd, who were out of their seats and dancing to the music. A great improvement from the opening ceremony this year.

Jay-Z, along with many other New York celebrities, has paid tribute to the soon-to-retire Derek Jeter with a video put together by Nike's Jordan brand. Watch it here.

Cher's Dressed to Kill tour is set to become one of the most successful tours of 2014, already grossing over $50 million in its first leg, and coming back in September to make even more money. It is Cher's first tour since her Living Proof Farewell Tour, which ran from 2002 to 2005.

Artists such as Rihanna, Swizz Beats, and Waka Flocka Flame are getting involved with the discussion on the Isreali-Palestinian conflict on Twitter. Some are experiencing controversy due to actually weighing in with their political opinions, but Swizz Beats and Waka Flocka Flame refuse to back down from their "free Palestine" tweets.

Some sad news in the music industry as Richard Nichols, The Roots' manager and producer, has died at the age of 55 from leukemia. I think The Roots are a terrific band, and 55 is just way too soon to leave this world,. My condolences to the family of Mr. Nichols and to The Roots. He will be missed.

Another death in the music world, Tommy Ramone, the last surviving founding member of The Ramones, has died at the age of 65. Rest in peace to him and condolences to his family as well.

Flashback Friday: "Modern Woman" - Billy Joel (1986)

Let's talk about Billy Joel.

Billy Joel might just be one of the most perfect pop stars to ever exist. He's smart, talented, fun, and makes great music. "Piano Man", "Tell Her About It", "Uptown Girl", "It's Still Rock and Roll to Me". Hell, I even have a place in my heart for "We Didn't Start the Fire", despite it being one of his laziest songs. But today we look at one of my very favourites by this artist, "Modern Woman".

Everything about this song is just perfect to me. From the pulsating beat backing it up to the poetic lyrics sang in perfect rhythm to the synths to the horns to the guitar... it's really too good to exist on the pop charts. Of course, it didn't exist for long on the charts, because, well, people don't know what's good for them. But it did reach #10 in 1986, so it was a hit, just not a huge one.

I still love the song, though. It plays out the narrative of a guy who's off of his game when talking to women, and then meets this modern woman, and then all these paranoid thoughts flow through his head.

Now you're in trouble, maybe she's an intellectual
What if she figures out you're not very smart
Or maybe she's the quiet type who's into heavy metal
Boy, you got to get it settled cause she's breaking your heart

The song plays out in an upbeat tone, contrasting the feelings portrayed in the lyrics, which show restraint and uncertainty.

You've got your plan of attack
That won't attract the modern woman

It's a somewhat dark song that plays out in a completely different manner, and I love it. I'm sure Billy Joel loves it too.

From Wikipedia:

Though the song was quite successful, Joel has since said in interviews he does not care for it, and subsequently it has been left off most of his compilation sets

Huh. Well, that's just one man's opinion. Of course, it's the guy who made the song, but it's still just one man. *sigh* Time to re-evaluate my music taste again.

Top 10 Thursday: Top 10 Publicity Stunts in Music

As I think I've said before on this blog, sometimes the music isn't enough. But even then, sometimes the image isn't enough! Sometimes, to get the public to notice you, you have to do some crazy, outlandish thing that gets you noticed. And these people sure know how to get noticed. Here are the Top 10 Publicity Stunts in Music!

(Stories found on spin.com and nme.com.)

10. U2 pulls a Beatles rooftop performance for a music video

It's true that The Beatles were the first to perform publicly on top of a roof, but U2 took that idea and brought it one step further by filming it for their "Where The Streets Have No Name" music video. Those are real police officers shutting the band down. According to the director of the video, Meiert Avis, getting shut down was part of the whole idea. Adam Clayton has stated that U2 felt that bands "should shake things up". And that's exactly what they did by shutting down the streets of LA for a rooftop concert.

9. Trent Reznor's Year Zero alternate reality game

Anybody can just announce that they have a new album coming out. But when you turn the announcement into a mysterious scavenger hunt, fuck yeah, that's cool. With help from a marketing group called 42 Entertainment. Trent Reznor created this game to hype up the upcoming Nine Inch Nails album Year Zero. The game paid off, with the album reaching #2 on the Billboard 200 and the promotional single "Capital G" reaching #6 on the Modern Rock chart. All in a day's play. Or a couple months of gameplay.

8. Josh Freese essentially whores himself out

Josh Freese is an artist that has fallen into the background of alternative rock music. He's played with many star bands, such as Guns N' Roses, Devo, and Weezer, but he had yet to become a superstar himself at the time. So to raise money to produce his solo album in 2007, Since 1972, Josh began a Kickstarter campaign where donations would get him to do anything from washing your car to massaging your feet, to even playing in your band for a whole month. He ended up gathering enough donations to make the album, and made a bigger name for himself in the process than he ever had before.

7. The Clash take over a New York casino

When a band performs in New York, you would expect them to perform at Radio City Music Hall, or Madison Square Garden. But what The Clash did was a little different. They performed at Bond's International Casino for seven nights, reducing the casino's venue from 4,000 to less than 2,000. The casino then canceled on other bands so that The Clash could stay for sixteen nights. When the New York Fire Department finally shut them down on May 30th, 1981, The Clash had created enough buzz for their next album to be their biggest hit in the U.S., reaching the Top 10.

6. Kanye West raps on the sides of buildings

A guy like Kanye needs all the positive press he can get. So what better way than to go full dictator and project your face onto the sides of buildings? This stunt happened in major cities such as New York, Sydney, and Berlin, to name a few. Kanye was rapping the song "New Slaves", off his then-upcoming 2013 album Yeezus. This no doubt helped Kanye's new album to debut at #1 on the charts. Of course, when someone is rapping at you on the side of a building, you better listen.

5. Garth Brooks becomes Chris Gaines

As Garth grew tired of country music in the late 90's, he decided to try a different approach. That approach being to change your entire identity for the sake of trying on a new genre. During his time as Chris Gaines, Garth Brooks was the subject of many punchlines, but his Greatest Hits album released at the time went platinum, and it kept people talking about Garth Brooks... or Chris Gaines.

4. John and Yoko's bed-in

Despite some... shockingly off-colour comments about Martin Luther King, all John and Yoko wanted to do with this stunt was to promote peace. And promote peace (and themselves) they did. This stunt polarized fans of Lennon: some were unhappy due to his growing association with Yoko in his music, while others loved the stunt. But for whatever purpose, the stunt got people talking about the duo and about peace. Try giving it a chance. Stay in bed all day. Hey, I can get behind that logic.

3. Michael Jackson builds monuments for himself

Michael Jackson needed no ego-stroking in the 80's. But by the mid-90's, he was somewhat falling out of favour. To combat the fade into obscurity, Mike's record label built a series of statues commemorating his upcoming double album. The statues were placed all around Europe, one floating down the River Thames in London, another in the Netherlands, and yet another in Berlin. Is it me, or are these stunts becoming more and more dictator-like? Oh well. HAIL MICHAEL!

2. The Sex Pistols play a song of questionable taste on the Queen's cruise

Yeah, just about any Sex Pistols fan can probably guess which song was played. After being banned from just about everywhere in England, the Sex Pistols took to a cruise on the River Thames, a celebratory cruise for the Queen's 25th anniversary on the throne. And what new single were they looking to promote on said cruise?

Yep. Probably the most insulting song directed at the Queen ever recorded. Predictably, the police cracked down on the Sex Pistols and their manager, but "God Save the Queen" reached #2 on the UK charts, blocked out by only... Rod Stewart. Well, no plan is perfect.

1. KISS donate their own blood to the ink of a Marvel comic

I could have gone with the most successful stunt on the list (most likely the Clash) or the most prolific (John and Yoko) or even the most controversial (Sex Pistols ahoy). But for my #1 pick, I decided to go with with the single most bizarre publicity stunt I could find in the world of music. And that dubious honour goes to KISS, which isn't really surprising, seeing as their entire career could be described as a publicity stunt. But this act is especially strange. In 1977, KISS partnered up with Marvel comics to essentially turn themselves into superheroes. To create buzz for the comics, they had their blood drawn by nurses in public, then were photographed mixing it into the ink. That is truly weird. And truly unsanitary, I'd think. Don't kiss your KISS comic, is all I'm saying.

And that concludes my Top 10 publicity stunts in music! One could argue that this is a publicity stunt to get my blog more attention, but it's really not. You'll know it when you see it. If it ever happens. I'm honestly not sure. Where was I going with this? Oh yeah: Enjoy the rest of your day!

(Now seriously, all I need is a pair of moose antlers, a couple planks of plywood, and...)