Well, technically, I did say I would do this every Wednesday of December... so I figured I'd finish things off with the only appropriate Christmas song to play after Christmas: The Twelve Days of Christmas.
Yeah, did you know that the twelve days of Christmas occur after Christmas? So technically, we're still in the midst of them, which makes this song relevant!... and... horrible. I hate this song. I mean, really hate this song. Every incarnation I've ever heard is so monotonous, so pointless, and so annoying that I can't stand it. What's the point of this song? Well, maybe to be fair, I should take a look at the history of the song, given that it's a traditional carol, and therefore must have some religious significance.
...nope! It's just a stupid song about gifts. Okay, this song has no reason to exist. It has no point! Why do I care about gifts that other people get? And the melody just never changes... it's a chore to get through. This is one Christmas carol that I can definitely do without. And with that, have a happy new year! I'll be back in January with my Top 10 of 2014, as well as a whole whack of new songs for 2015!
Welcome back to CanTunes Tuesday! I- "Where's your Top 10 list?" I have the schedule all worked out, just bear with me- "We want to see your Top 10 list!" The Top 10 list is coming, I- "Nobody cares about Canadian music!" All right, SHUT UP! Look, the Top 10 list will be coming on Friday, all right? FRIDAY! Now then... in the spirit of Canada, let's all take a deep breath, apologize, and- "We want to see your Top 10 list!"
Moving on... Okay, so Burton Cummings. Canadian music legend. The Guess Who under his belt, one of the most iconic Canadian rock groups. So how does his solo career fare? Does he have songs that measure up to the caliber of "New Mother Nature" and "American Woman"? Well, there's only one way to find out: let's look at one such song, "Stand Tall"!
In late 1976, "Stand Tall" became Burton Cumming's biggest solo hit in America, peaking at #10 on the Hot 100 and #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. So what's the song about? Well, it's about heartache: Never been this blue Never knew the meaning of a heartache But it's also about getting over heartache, and putting your emotions into perspective:
Stand tall, don't you fall For God's sake don't go and do something foolish All you're feeling right now is silly human pride While life might get you down, it's important to put your problems into perspective. The feelings of heartbreak will pass, so don't throw your life away. It's a good message, and a great song. Something meaningful and relevant to a lot of people. Looks like Burton Cummings was just fine on his own!
This year being the first I've fully scrounged through, from January right to December, I'm more excited than ever to reveal my Bottom 10 picks for the year! Now, as a refresher, these songs come strictly from Billboard's Year End chart of 2014. They are the most popular and most prevalent bad songs of the year. Maybe shit stunk worse, but shit did not stink more often. Now a lot of these songs will be repeated from earlier blog posts this year, but that's the function of this post: I hated a lot of songs this year, but which ones did I hate the most? Let's find out in 3... 2... 1... 10. "Classic" - MKTO
A lot of the time, songs that end up on this list start out as "meh", but when I really think about it, I really start to loathe them. I mostly criticized the lyrics in my initial review, but these lyrics are serious problems. They're just so shallow, vapid and meaningless. And while I praised the music in my initial review of the song, this is reminding me more and more of Glee. I hate Glee. In fact, I really hate Glee. Here's how you stay off this list: don't remind me of Glee. 9. "Don't Tell 'Em" - Jeremih ft. YG
...Okay, I'm reading this review over. Before I talk about the song... what the hell is this: "but he's kind of like the bay of hale with a needle in it, in terms of personality" What's a bay of hale? You got me. I guess I must have been exceedingly tired when I wrote this. Probably just tired of Jeremih continuing to be recognized. Why? We don't need this guy around. He's not interesting, he's not creative, and partnering with perpetually uninteresting producer DJ Mustard just lowers his credibility even further. We really don't need you in 2015, Jeremih. Please go away. 8. "Burnin' it Down" - Jason Aldean
Look, I don't think it's much of a secret that I don't exactly have a liking for modern country music. But for all the faults of Florida Georgia Line, at least they sound like they're having fun with their music. Jason Aldean sounds like he hates country music as much as I do. Again, I think I dismissed this song earlier as being "not that bad" back in August, but the more I thought about it, the more I resented just how generic and uninteresting this song is. This is seriously the most boring country song I've ever heard! I've heard stupid country songs coming out the wazoo, and at least I can just shake my head at those ones. But this? I don't have a clue what to do with this. It just sits there without doing anything and it doesn't give you anything to like about it. Also, the "burnin' it down" thing still gets me. Does your girlfriend have chlamydia? Seriously, help me out here. 7. "Best Day of My Life" - American Authors
Oh yeah, now here's a song I disliked from the get-go. I remember the day when American Authors created one of the worst days of my life with "Best Day of My Life". This song just offers nothing to me. It's vapid, shallow, almost pandering in its simplicity. It still sounds like a kid's song, and a bad kid's song at that. I need to lose at least a few brain cells to be able to enjoy this one. 6. "A Sky Full of Stars" - Coldplay
Now this one actually hurts a little, because I actually used to like Coldplay. I could see where the criticism came from, but at least they had their own thing! This is Coldplay trying on EDM, and it goes over about as well as that skinny 9th-grader trying on a football uniform. If Coldplay was boring before, they are seconds away from death now. Never have I heard a Coldplay song more disposable than this one. Hell, this might be one of the worst EDM songs I've ever heard. 5. "Summer" - Calvin Harris
Oh, right, right. There was also this "summer anthem" that turned out to be dead on arrival. And when you put Calvin Harris at the wheel, you can't expect much more than that. This song offers nothing. Calvin Harris just sucks, and I'm almost glad winter is here so that this song has even less relevance. Next! 4. "Stay With Me" - Sam Smith
Uh... that intrigue I was feeling when this song came out? Gone, gone, gone. Forget about it. Sam Smith is a boring artist, and this song is less intriguing and moreso just confused. And if it was enjoyable to listen to, that would be one thing. But this song is so boring I have less to say about it than a Calvin Harris song. That's pretty damn bad. Stay away from "Stay With Me". 3. "Show Me" - Kid Ink ft. Chris Brown
Have you ever heard the anti-pickup line in music? I have... but I don't know what it is right now. No, I do know. It's that stupid line, and that line makes up the hook of this song. And that says all you need to know about "Show Me". It's a horrendously stupid song with unbelievably unlikable artists, and to top it all off, MUSTARD ON THE BEAT, HOE, a lyric I may actually hate more this year. So much failure in one song, and yet so much success on the charts. Gag me. 2. "Trumpets" - Jason Derulo
I wish there was a single word I could use to describe how much I hate this song. As is, the only thing I can say that accurately show how much I hate it is that I think it's the worst Jason Derulo song. That's pretty big, and I don't think I need to say much more. Well, that, and it was advised by my doctors that I stop commenting on Jason Derulo. Probably for the best. Well, without further ado, let's get to #1! What could possibly be worse than "Trumpets"? 1. "Animals" - Maroon 5
"What?" you're asking. "Some dopey Maroon 5 song is worse than that terrible Jason Derulo track? Have you lost your damn mind?" Yes... and maybe. But let's get into why I hate this song so much that it is my pick for the worst hit song of 2014. Once upon a time, Maroon 5 was a band that, if nothing else, could at least be called a band. They had their own styles, and actually some pretty good songs. Somewhere along the line, that changed. I don't know exactly what happened, but the word "sellout" is sometimes thrown around for these guys, and with good justification. These guys are so ingrained into pop music sludge that I don't think they'll ever get out at this point. Speaking of points, this song has none. Listening to it more and more, it stops being about anything, merely serving as an example of Adam Levine's incompetence to write anything with any sort of emotion anymore. Maybe if this were creepy, I would like it more, because at least then it would have a point. But the music overshadows the lyrics in such a way that it just sounds like nothing. Nothing at all. And though some would argue that sounding like nothing is still better than sounding like Jason Derulo, I would rather have his gross, despicable personality around than this hunk of empty space any day. Maroon 5, go away.
Hey everybody! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Well, in Canada, the day after Christmas is known as Boxing Day. Think of it as a Christmas Black Friday. So, for today's pick, I've decided to go with "Gangsta Lean" by DRS. No thematic connection, just wanted to see if anybody measured up to Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
You see, both groups had their biggest hit mourning the loss of a friend through R&B crooning. So the comparison is natural. How does DRS measure up to a hit that came two years later? Well, despite similarities, the songs are also very different. "Crossroads" goes all over the place, while "Gangsta Lean" tends to stick to one tone. Each stylistic choice suits the song well, but each also hinders it a little. "Crossroads", while an incredibly engaging song throughout, has the tendency to lose me a few times through its fast-paced lyric-spitting. And "Gangsta Lean", while seeming more like a mourning song, doesn't do as much to distance itself musically from, say, a Boyz II Men song about boning a chick. So each has their highlights and their flaws. Which is the superior song? My love for creativity is telling me to go with "Crossroads", but I honestly think that "Gangsta Lean" gets the job done better. It sets the mood through its music and lyrics, and the singers sound like they're giving it their all. You really hear the heartbreak over their friend's death. So there we have it, the last Flashback Friday of 2014. But I can't help but feel there's some unfinished business...
...what? What are you doing back? I thought I got rid of you!
AHHH! Bad country and worse country! Take your pick as to who's who!
AHHHH! NOT THE BUTTS! NOT THE BUTTS! THEY'RE IN MY SOUL! MY SOOOUUUUULLLL Coming soon: The worst hit songs of 2014
Merry Christmas Eve, everybody! Welcome to another installment of Winter Wonderland Wednesday! Hey, you know what's weird? Women sexualizing Santa.
Not that I don't support the equal sexualization of both genders, but... Santa? Really? A schlubby, old, white-bearded fat guy who lives up in the cold, un-steamy North? Not to mention that he's married? Oh well, to each their own. There's been many a cover of "Santa Baby", even a rap version that I actually really like. But after taking a crack at the song herself (uh... tread lightly, because this version is not that great) Ariana Grande has written a new Christmas song this year called "Santa Tell Me", which doesn't deal with Santa as the object of her affection, but simply a means to get to the object of her affection.
It's interesting, to say the least. You don't hear very many newly written Christmas carols fighting their way into the common scope these days. The last one to really break through doing that was Mariah Carey, and... well, I guess if anyone can follow it up, it's this decade's Mariah Carey. So how's the song? It's cute enough. It's essentially a song about a crush, with Santa Claus thrown into the mix to make it Christmas-y. That's not to say it's poorly conceived, though. I think it works rather well. That said, I don't think this song will be as enduring as Mariah Carey's powerful contribution. It's cute, but that's pretty much it. It doesn't have much of a commanding presence, and there's really no reason for it to stick around next year as a result. But for this year? Yeah, I'm happy I got to hear it. It's a decently catchy, different song worthy of my holiday time. With that said, have yourselves a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah, a Kwazy Kwanzaa, a Tip-top Tet, and a solemn and dignified Ramadan.
Uh, I've talked about Celine Dion here before, right?
Ah yes, "Because You Loved Me". Oh man... I was pretty rough with Celine Dion. All things considered, her heart's in the right place. I just wish her disposition was a little more bearable. I mean, she can sing. She just doesn't sing about things that are relevant to me, or even specific. Hell, if she did a party song, I'd probably be on board!
Eh... I guess this is close enough. I'm not sure how well Celine's voice meshes with the gospel choir, but at least this song has a pulse to it. And Celine, God bless her soul, is trying, if half-heartedly. Maybe love could move molehills, at least. It's just kind of interesting to hear an artist that is famous for slow, meandering love songs to pump it up a little. I mean, it's still authentically Dion, and I wouldn't ask her to completely abandon her style. But this does have a more energy than many of her other songs, and I can't fault it for that. I guess Celine Dion's okay overall. Not an artist I'd listen to on a regular basis, but I don't think her presence in pop history is exactly harmful to the public, either. Maybe I'm just feeling charitable because it's Christmas time.
You know, I like Ed Sheeran's new angle just fine, but I also feel that he may be straying a bit too far from his roots. Sensitive, soulful cutie-pie roots. Where's a good balance between the two? I'd say it's this song.
"Thinking Out Loud" is my favourite Ed Sheeran song. It combines what was good about old Ed Sheeran, and what's good about new Ed Sheeran. Essentially, it's Ed Sheeran, fully refined. So, to understand where I'm coming from, let's go over both sides of Ed Sheeran again. What works about them, and what doesn't work about them.
So let's start with old Ed Sheeran first. This one was a certified sweetheart. He knew how to write songs about girls and for girls. And dammit, his cheeks just looked so pinchable while he was doing it! The cheeks on his face, I mean.
Okay, so it's obvious what works here. He's got that soulful cuteness that's bound to make all the girls swoon. But it also puts him in a position of being typecast as an artist, because many of his earlier singles sounded the same. Acoustic guitar, crooning voice, sweet lyrics. Fine if that's what you're aiming for, but it doesn't give you a whole lot of range.
Fast forward to April 2014, where Sheeran releases the debut single off his new album, x. That new single is called "Sing".
Well, it's certainly more exciting and a hell of a lot different from his older stuff. But the problem with "Sing" and his other experimental songs kind of stem from the problems with his older music: he's already built up this reputation, and that makes the new Ed Sheeran kinda hard to buy. I like "Sing". I like it a lot, in fact. But my affinity for that song doesn't completely erase my disbelief that Ed Sheeran is now this suave, funky musician that wants to get it on. His reputation precedes his newest album. So this is where his newest hit, "Thinking Out Loud", comes in. I think it bridges the gap between old and new perfectly. It kind of starts out that way, too. It's slow and meandering, like an old Sheeran song, but the guitar also sounds more lively, like a new Sheeran song. This is exactly the song that Sheeran needs for me to really get into him as an artist. With more songs like this, he might just supersede his reputation without being too alienating. But I'm just thinking out loud.
Do you remember when I talked about The Temptations?
Remember when I went over their single "I Wish it Would Rain" back around Valentine's Day, and how I said it perfectly summed up feelings of people who may not have a significant other that day? Well, just in time for Christmas... here's a song that does not connect thematically whatsoever. "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", everybody!
This one's a little bit longer than our first offering. About nine minutes longer. But who's counting? When you have awesome music like this, there's no need to look at the clock! Indeed, this is a long song, but it's well worth it to take a listen if you have the time. The instrumentals on this song are just great. With the thumping bass, the wailing horns, and the rattling drums, it sets the Motown scene perfectly. "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" tells a narrative that revolves around a group of siblings asking their mother questions about their father. They demand to know if the things that they have heard about their smeared father are true. And every time, Mama simply replies, Papa was a rolling stone Wherever he laid his hat was his home And when he died, all he left us was alone Oh yeah, uh, he's dead, too. This song is just so full of emotion, and the lyrics combined with the vocal performances in particular really sell that emotion. The mother's words really convey a world-weary disposition, but also someone who wants to protect her kids from bad images of their father. The siblings, meanwhile, are distraught and want answers. Unfortunately, all they get is the chorus, despite the detail they go into with what they hear about their dad. A drinker, a lecherous pervert, even a criminal. A hypocritical one at that. Heard them talking about Papa doing some store front preachin' Talked about saving souls and all the time leeching Dealing in death, and stealing in the name of the Lord Long story short, Papa doesn't exactly resemble a poster boy for good morals. What's interesting about the mother's choral reply is that she doesn't try to praise Papa all too much. She just spares her children the details. Based on the chorus, Papa still sounds like a scumbag. But maybe the mother doesn't detail too much information because she not only wants her kids to forget about Papa, but she herself does as well. She just wants the problem, and the questions, to leave. While the instrumentals are funky, I think the true heart of the song lies in the singers. The story is great, and it's told well through voice and through lyrics. It's a great song that deserves to be twelve minutes long.
Yeah, hi. I won't lie, that awful Band Aid 30 song really put me in a sour mood. Man, I just need a Christmas song filled with love and joy, not pretentiousness and patting each other on the back! Let's get back to basics. What is Christmas about? Well, it's about Jesus. But in a broader sense for those who may not be as religious, it's about love. Love for one another and joy of the season. And ooooooh, bay-bee, have I got a song that encapsulates that.
It's Mariah Carey back in her heyday. In 1994, you knew a Christmas song by Mariah Carey would have had to blow up on the charts. And, it did. Blowing up the charts internationally, it became Carey's biggest hit around the world. Something about combining Christmas with the biggest pop star of the 90's must have really struck chords with people. But that's not to take away from the song. It is indeed a very worthy addition to the holiday canon that we're used to. "Sleigh Ride", "Jingle Bell Rock", "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", all those classics. I think Carey's song holds up along with them. It's undeniably catchy, for starters. The beat just bounces along with the jingle bells, and though the lyrics are pretty simple, it works because Christmas isn't really supposed to be a challenging time. I can forgive mediocre lyrics a lot more in a Christmas song than anywhere else, especially since there's only so much you can do with the holiday. I mean, yes. It's not exactly the most original of songs. There have been Christmas love songs before, dare I say better ones. ("Please Come Home for Christmas" probably being my favourite of the bunch.) But... there's just something about the joy of this song that makes it such a worthy Christmas staple. Carey sounds like she's having the time of her life singing it, and you can't help but enjoy it for that reason alone. Well, I must say. This has brightened my mood quite a bit! Maybe I'll get to enjoy Christmas this year, without any more bad songs making it onto my radar. I guess we'll find out next week if Billboard has decided to be naughty or nice.
Today, we're gonna look at an artist that has OFTEN been declared one of the standout stars of this new generation... and has OFTEN been acclaimed by critics... and OFTEN... okay, here's "Often" by The Weeknd.
So, the critically acclaimed thing I was talking about wasn't a lie. While this guy's commercial success hasn't been along the lines of, say, Drake, The Weeknd has become a critical darling, even receiving comparisons to the late, great Michael Jackson. And while I can definitely see where those comparisons come from... really? This guy? The guy I said offered less to a song than Ariana Grande? The guy I said could be replaced by Usher? Look, I'm not denying the guy's talent. He definitely has some, and it's nice to see somebody with actual talent making it big. But good God, when critics latch onto someone, they just never seem to want to let go. Take this song for example. It might be good. It's got this slow beat, and The Weeknd complements it with his slow, tender vocals... okay, I need to get some new adjectives because it sounds like I'm describing a chicken roasting. But see, then there's lyrics like this. Bitches down to do it either way, often Kind of kills the mood when you call 'em bitches, Weeknd. I don't know if you're trying to fit in with your rap buddies, but it really doesn't fit the mood at all. So with that lyric kinda deviating from the mood, as well as the fact that this song is not particularly interesting, combined with the notion that Miguel, Usher and Frank Ocean are already doing R&B better, I can't find myself to go out of my way listening to The Weeknd. Not so often, anyway. Kind of like how often she rides the wave. And with that, I wave goodbye to CanTunes Tuesday until next time!
Is it bad for me to say that I wish Meghan Trainor's lips would stop movin'?
Okay, let's look at this song: It's pretty much "All About That Bass" without the positive body message. Same tone. Same ear-grating vocals. Even the same lyrical structure, where about three or four lines change per verse but then you're essentially hearing the same thing over again, and why are you hearing the same thing over again, it's so tedious aaaaaggggh! Uh... my stance on "All About That Bass" has fallen somewhat. I still think there are good elements of it. Some uplifting lyrics, legitimately nice singing. This... does not have as much of that. If your lips are moving, If your lips are moving If your lips are moving, then you’re lyin’, lyin’, lyin’, baby Now, look. I get that not every song can have a positive message. And I wouldn't want that, anyway. I like a little sass with my music sometimes. I don't even have a problem with the above lyrics. They're a decent dis at this dishonest guy. But while I can take sassy lyrics, I can't take trite ones. Boy, look at me in my face Tell me that you’re not just about this bass Oh, for... is this just a running joke for you now, Trainor? I gave you bass, you gave me sweet talk Do you literally have nothing else to offer than your "bass"? Do you think that your badonkadonk is the only reason why guys give you the time of day? Because... honestly, that's a little saddening. But that's all you give to us... well, other than this: And I'm a classy girl, I'mma hold it up Followed immediately by: You're full of something but it ain't love Ah, yes. Class to its full extent. And the song just keeps on repeating itself... like, why? It's not like the cluster of lyrics she chooses to repeat are that good... well, not many of these lyrics are good. I admit the chorus is kinda fun to listen to, but I'll take "All About That Bass" over this any day. Meghan Trainor, if your lips are movin', then I hope they aren't singing this.
Ah, Savage Garden. When they weren't making honest-to-god catchy bangers, they were making... this.
Needless to say, I prefer the catchy bangers. Although this song does have some merit. This line, for example, is hilarious. I knew I loved you before I met you I think I dreamed you into life *snort* Yes, that's right, Darren Hayes. This girl did not exist before you imagined her. You created this wonderful being, which in turn, makes you a wonderful being. Actually... can we go back to the first part of that line? I knew I loved you before I met you Before you came into my life I missed you so bad Whoa. Whoa! So this is where Carly Rae got her inspiration from! In fact, I'm going to look that up right now... Okay, so searching her on allmusic.com gives me no indication that Savage Garden inspired her. But... dammit, the line doesn't make sense either way. At least Savage Garden does try to contextualize it, albeit hilariously. This girl that Darren Hayes meets is his "dream girl", i.e. literally the girl in his dreams. I knew I loved you before I met you I have been waiting all my life Yeah, nice rhyming "life" with "life" there, bud. Other than that moment, this song really doesn't do anything for me. It's like "Truly Madly Deeply", except somehow even less butch. I want to stand with you on a mountain I want to bathe with you in the sea Less butch than that, remember. At least he wants to climb a mountain in that one. This one is just... nothing, nothing at all. He says that she's the girl of his dreams, but there's nothing to indicate why. No description, and barely any emotion. You knew you loved her before you met her... why? Why did you love her? Can you answer that? If not, then what are you offering us? Little more than a blank slate! I can tell that this song was made just so people would have a slow dance at prom. It's so vague and lovey-dovey that it makes me want to throw up. The only thing that saves it is that one hilarious line, but other than that? A total wash. Speaking of wash, I need to go check on my laundry, which I'm positive will prove to be more interesting than this song. Seeya.
Full of love, and passion, and goodwill toward men, right? Not something to whine about, right? Well... see... here's the thing: Charity singles are generally garbage. It's not even that there aren't good ensembles sometimes; indeed, most charity singles have great ensembles of artists. But I think The Simpsons got it right when they parodied charity singles: "Though we can't get him out, we'll do the next best thing. We'll go on TV and sing, sing, sing!" But I have no problem with concerts being organized to bring about justice. Live Aid, Live 8, hell, even the terribly misguided Live Earth. So what is it about charity singles that drive me up the wall? Well, there is the cheese factor, which does really get to me. Singing about poverty in such a whimsical way... God, it's awful. But what really annoys me about charity singles, and this new one in particular, is the egocentric nature of it all. Watch this video.
Nothing like cutting from a shocking and heartbreaking scene to a bunch of British celebrities high-fiving each other! Give me a break. As bad as it is, though, that moment pretty much sets the tone for the rest of the video. Ooh, look how sensitive One Direction are! Look how caring Ed Sheeran is! Bite me. And I guess we can't talk about ego without talking about Ego-Man himself, Bono. Well, tonight thank God it's them instead of you That was Bono's line in the original "Do They Know It's Christmas?" song, and by god, do I hate it. Yes, that's right, Bono. This is what people are thinking. We Westerners are so hateful and selfish! Thank you for bringing this issue to the light and being the better person for it! ...He has a better line in the new version, but it's still not great. Well, tonight we're reaching out and touching you Eeugh! Get your hands off me, Bono. Please. I'm sure there is some element of good intention that goes with these songs, and that's why despite my loathing hatred for them, I can't fault someone for liking them. But there are better ways for artists to go about solving social justice issues. Ones that require some degree of humility, ones that don't beg for recognition or the regaining of relevance! And I just don't get that with these songs. And holy crap, does Ellie Goulding sound out of place or what? Listening to this song has made me realize that Ellie Goulding's appeal comes from her almost otherworldly vocals, and unfortunately these go to show how out of place she sounds singing with an ensemble. Why am I judging this song critically? It's obviously not meant to be a good song; it's meant to be a charity song. Well, screw that! Put some effort into your damn ensemble, and then maybe I'll donate. So the Scrooging begins.
Didn't we have enough of this guy this year? I mean, "Life of the Party" is a song that gets worse every time I hear it. Something I don't need to hear is another mumbly-mouthed, boring, lagging Shawn Mendes song! No sir!
So the video starts with him brushing his teeth. Hey, it's already more exciting than "Life of the Party". And then... it actually starts out rather interesting. And Shawn's voice surprisingly fits the tone. Holy crap, he should be making music like this! I mean, the lyrics still aren't that great. Pretty vague and trite. But this is still way better than his first hit! It bounces, at least. And really, what more can I legitimately ask a pop song to do? I'm not exactly picky when it comes to mindless entertainment, and if Shawn wants to make these types of songs, then I say more power to him! I wish I had more to say about it, though. This video's pretty lame. That's about it.
Wow, it's amazing how uninterested I can get when I review a Selena Gomez song.
Y'know, say what you will about Miley Cyrus; at least you can definitively say that there's something out there, some twisted algorithm of madness only visible to her line of sight that inspires her music. With Selena, though? Two words: Cookie, and cutter. I can't figure out what keeps drawing people to her music. Other than the aura of familiarity it gives off, there is seriously nothing that Gomez offers to the music scene. She's merely the Disney star that never grew up... well, the non-fictional one, anyway. But has all that changed with her new dark and depressing single "The Heart Wants What It Wants"?
Hey guys! Remember Nelly! No? Well, you should. He was the featured rapper on one of the biggest country songs of last year, and yeah, I just threw up a little in my mouth typing that. But before he contributed to the ever-growing cesspool of bro-country, he had a career all on his own. A career that involved... melodic rapping?
You know what? It's the season of Christmas, I'm doing something different! Yes, welcome to Winter Wonderland Wednesday! Every Wednesday this December, I will be looking at a holiday song that made its way onto the Billboard chart! There's a lot to choose from already, but let's go with a song off of one of the most popular Christmas albums this year. This is "Mary, Did You Know?" by Pentatonix.
The weird thing about reviewing Christmas music is that you're almost certainly going to be reviewing a cover of a cover of a cover song. People don't typically make new Christmas songs, especially not today. So I need to judge the song on its own merit, and possibly compare it to other covers of the past. So, the original song. This one is surprisingly recent, actually. First written in 1984 by Christian songwriter Mark Lowry, it has gone on to be a country song, a gospel song, and now an a capella song. So, how does this version hold up? Well, I'm going to tell you something right now: I think that choir music is some of the most beautiful music you can possibly hear around Christmastime. ("Carol of the Bells" is one of my all-time favourites.) And no matter how small the choir is, there's a sense of harmony and togetherness when you hear a group of voices singing together. So, yeah. This song does it for me. It's a beautifully composed track, with everybody doing their part to add just the right tone to the song. Man, I love listening to Christmas music! It must be because I love Christmas so much, but there is not a song out there that can dampen my mood!
