CanTunes Tuesday: "Never Gone" - Andee

So who the hell is Andee?

Wait, I know this song... sorta, kinda. Well, welcome to the world of Canadian adult contemporary, Andee! Where if you're not Sarah McLachlan or Alanis Morissette, people barely know you exist. Enjoy it!

Yeah, I still don't know Serena Ryder well enough to pick out her voice from a crowd of pop singers, so I'm certainly not going to do well with Andee. Especially with nondescript songs like these. It's like... a bunch of ideas for an adult contemporary hit, but the project never really finishes and we're left with just hearing those snippets of ideas. So, how do they all come together? How, indeed.

I don't know. I'd give it points for trying, but... I don't know if it really is. I can't even pinpoint the mood of this singer. Is she angry? Jealous? Happy? Vengeful? Lame? Yeah, this is lame.

I don't get this song at all. It revolves around the message "It'll be like I was never gone", which I guess means that it'll be easy to come back to her after this guy is done sexin' another woman? But... why do you want him back? He's cheating on you!

Actually, as the song moves along it gets sadder and sadder. This new girl actually moves in with the guy, and I guess he's calling Andee saying "I miss you"?

Does she know you've been calling me at night
Saying "I miss you, baby you were right"

Okay, no. I'm sorry, this is just not happening like she's narrating it. No human being would ever behave like this... except maybe the lead singer of Hinder, but jury's still out on whether he's an actual person or a crappy post-grunge android. No, this is either all happening in Andee's head, or it's just a really crappy story.

I mean, what is the point? She keeps saying he'll "realize" it's like she's never been gone, but it sounds like he already does! It sounds like he's got one foot out the door already! So what are you harping about? And why should I care? I don't really care. So maybe it's time I screech this review to a halt, and hope that Andee finds more success in Québec than here.

Wow, it sounds just as presumptuous!

Monday Musings: Is death a cash cow?

There is much to be said about death. Where do we go? Will I ever see my loved ones again? Does Satan have a chair reserved for me? Those kinds of questions. But when a famous musician dies, a question pops up with somehow more cynicism than the Satan question I asked earlier: Is death a cash cow?

Now obviously I don't mean a cash cow for the dead performer, because as they say, you can't take it with you. I mean a cash cow for the inheritors, the family, and artists who try to capitalize on the death of a performer. Did someone say "Puff Daddy"?

Okay, that's a little harsh. Obviously Puff and Biggie Smalls were very close with each other, since Biggie was under his record label. Still, you can't deny the success that the song garnered. It's one of the best-selling singles of all time, in fact. So is someone's death, no matter how tragic, a good way to cash in?

Well, a prominent death in the music industry definitely shakes things up. And in that midst, there's bound to be some people that can benefit from it. Yeah, it is admittedly a really cynical point of view, but money is a huge part of what makes the world go round. And when musicians die, people pay money for their records in overdrive. Whoever is lucky enough to get that money really benefits.

So, is death a cash cow? Maybe not consciously, but there is an element of big profit from a musician's death. I don't really understand the mentality behind suddenly buying albums after a musician's death, but you can't deny that it\s there. And for whatever reason, mourning brings in the money. Sad but true.

"Chandelier" - Sia

I think I'm getting a little out of the loop, pop music wise. Case in point: the first time I heard this song was when somebody performed it on America's Got Talent.

Despite my general distaste for singers on this show, this one impressed me. So much so that I decided to look up the original song, seeing as it's on the pop charts as well. In the Top 10, in fact. I guess it's pretty much my duty to do so. So let's take a listen to Sia's version.

...Great. Now I've got two great versions of the song and I can't decide which one I like better! What a problem to have, huh?

On one hand, Sia's version is more spectacular and showy. It sounds like it had a lot of work put into it, and the end payoff is well worth all the work.

But on the other hand, Emily West's version sounds a little more tangible. It sounds like it's coming from a real place, whereas Sia's sounds like it's coming from fantasyland. Sia's version is a little too distanced from authentic emotion, whereas Emily nails this perfectly.

But as I said, both versions are absolutely fantastic. Sia's original lets the full potential of the song's melody of the song shine through in an exciting and memorable way, and West's cover downplays the music to let her beautiful voice shine through and make it sound more like a personal story. Bravo to both of them. 

What can I say? Two great versions of a great song. I don't want to choose between the two, but if I had to, I'd choose Sia's just for being a little more interesting. And after all, she is the original artist and she would know her song best. But Emily West still did an original take on the song and it paid off well. She's through to the next round, and yes, I do watch America's Got Talent. Sue me.

Weekend Wrap-Up (Jul. 27-Aug. 2 2014): Dear Waka Flocka Flame, Count Me In

Shut up, Waka Flocka Flame. I regret that decision.

Kevin McGlynn, a 53-year-old homeless man in New York has been charged with stalking and harassing Rihanna by hand-delivering several letters to her apartment in Manhattan. He has also allegedly sent at least four letters to Rihanna while she was in California, according to authorities. He is currently being held without bail.

Two members of feminist punk rock group Pussy Riot are suing the Russian government for human rights violations over their arrest after their demonstration at a Moscow cathedral in 2012. They claim that the investigation and prosecution amounted to a violation of human rights. They have taken the case to the European Court of Human Rights, because they didn't receive a fair trial in Russia. In the event of winning the case, the two members have pledged to give any compensation received to human rights organizations.

Linda Ronstadt has been honoured with the National Medal of Arts by Barack Obama, who has admitted to having "a little crush on her back in the day". Totally understandable, Barack. Other recipients of the award include The Brooklyn Academy of Music, composer John Kander, and artist James Turrell.

Katy Perry, so far this year, has topped the list for most-played music videos on YouTube. "Dark Horse", released early this year, has racked up more than 500 million views. Coming in second is Shakira and Rihanna's "Can't Remember to Forget You", with more than 350 million plays. For the complete Top 10 list, go here.

Carlos Vives has earned his fifth number 1 single on Billboard's Tropical Airplay chart with "Cuandos Nos Volvamos" jumping from #2 to the #1 spot. Vives' last chart-topping hit on Tropical Airplay was "Volvi A Nacer" in 2012, spending four weeks at the #1 position, the most of any of his singles on that chart.

And if I had to pick a favourite news article this week, this would be it: Chance the Rapper has released a rap cover of the Arthur theme song. Just, just listen to it. It says more than I ever could.

Flashback Friday: "1-2-3" - Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine (1988)

GLORIA ESTEFAN AND MIAMI SOUND MACHINE ARE IN THE BUILDING!

And today, we're gonna learn how to count to eleven with them!

1-2-3-4 come on baby say you love me

So that's 1, 2, 3, 4, come, on... wait, those aren't numbers! What a rip-off!

Okay, so let's talk about Gloria Estefan and this song for a second, because it does eventually go up to 11, in more ways than one. Gloria Estefan started out with Miami Sound Machine in the late 70's. They quickly gained popularity in the United States, peaking during the late 80's and early 90's. This song was one of their biggest hits, peaking at #3 on the Hot 100 and helping the album Let It Loose to go multi-platinum. So, what was so special about Gloria Estefan and her backing group Miami Sound Machine?

Well, despite the fact that this song is a confusing resource for those learning to count, it is a song and band that are full of energy. And you can tell from not only the song, but the video. One of my philosophies with music is that I can give a lot of leeway to a song or artist if they at least seem like they're having the time of their lives up on stage. And that's definitely the case with these guys. Look at them! I would have loved to see these guys in concert. Unfortunately, Gloria doesn't perform with Miami Sound Machine anymore, but she still looks like she has enough energy to carry a show all by herself.

And I think that's what appeals to me, and I think it's what appealed to a lot of people in the late 80's. I wouldn't even call it ridiculous like hair metal was; it was just fun. It makes you want to get up and dance. And if you'll excuse me, that's exactly what I feel like doing. Dancing and counting. What a combo! Now this is the life. Dance with me! 1, 2, 3, 4...

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.