It's that time of week again! So, what happened this week?
Nicki Minaj has released a new song featuring Soulja Boy. The song is called "Yass Bish!!", and hints at Minaj dropping a single from her upcoming album, The Pink Print. To hear the song, click here. Warning: this link contains Soulja Boy.
Avril Lavigne has recently gotten some media attention that wasn't "Hello Kitty"-related: she reportedly charged $400 to take photos with fans in Brazil. The caveat: fans were not allowed to touch Avril, and in fact had to stand at least an arm's length away from her. To be fair, after being attacked by a crazy fan in Brazil, I'd be taking precautionary measures too. It's too bad the situation ended up so... awkward.
Ariana Grande's new single "Problem" featuring Iggy Azalea is creating buzz as having the potential for having one of the biggest digital sales debuts ever, working to best Flo Rida's "Right Round" back in 2009, which had over 600,000 downloads.
Monica Lewinsky is firing back at Beyoncé for a not-so-flattering lyric in her song "Partition". Lewinsky takes issue with the lyric "He Monica Lewinskied all on my gown", saying that it should be "Bill Clintoned" instead, since the stains on Lewinsky's dress were not her own. Okay, next piece of news before I gross myself out.
Rihanna's Instagram account has recently gone AWOL. It has reportedly not been deleted by Instagram, leading the conclusion to be drawn that Rihanna did it herself. She should probably be back soon, as her Twitter account still appears active. So, for you people not getting your Rihanna selfie fix, take heart at the notion that it probably won't be long before her Instagram is up and running again.
Lorde will be performing her new single "Tennis Court" at the Billboard Music Awards, marking the first time the New Zealand singer will perform the song on television.
Finally, John Legend's "All of Me" has recently reached #1 not only on the Hot 100, but also on the Adult Pop Songs Chart. His song is the first R&B ballad to crown the chart since Boyz II Men's "One Sweet Day", 18 years ago!
Saturday, May 10, 2014
Friday, May 9, 2014
Flashback Friday: "Sugar" - Flo Rida ft. Wynter Gordon (2009)
Uh, Flo Rida!
...
He... he exists! Yep, that Flo Rida sure does... exist! But other than that, what else does he do?
Yeah, not that much from what I've seen. All he appears to do is guest rap with crappy verses on songs with great choruses. Wait... he's not the guest rapper on all these songs? He fooled me.
Suffice it to say, Flo Rida has not exactly carved out a distinct personality for himself. And yet... his songs are inexplicably popular. Well, not inexplicably. You see, Flo Rida is good at one thing and one thing only: Having catchy choruses in his songs.
That's the part that sticks in your head in Flo Rida songs: the chorus. Half the time he has no part in even singing the chorus! Whenever there's a guest singer on his songs, they always outshine Flo Rida. Always.
Today I will look at Flo Rida's least popular hit, but still popular enough to be called a hit. It's called "Sugar".
No, not quite. Here it is:
Okay, so here is the catchy chorus of this song:
Da double dee double di
Da double dee double di
Da double dee double di
Rrrrrrgggghhh.... GET OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT!
Okay, this is just cheating. Of course a song's going to sound catchy if you use one of the most earwormy tunes known to man as your chorus!
To be fair, though, that's not the entire chorus of this song. In fact, let me post the lead-in to the Eiffel 65 rip-off, to provide a little context:
Da double dee double di
Da double dee double di
Well, I tried. I tried to provide context, but I'm only working with the source material I have.
Okay, this went from cheating to just being lazy. Instead of finishing the chorus this time, Flo Rida just inserts the nonsense from "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" and hopes it would works. And you know what? When listening to the entire chorus... it doesn't. It really doesn't.
In fact, I actually like the chorus before it rips off Eiffel 65. Maybe if he had finished it, or hell, just ended it right there, this song would be a lot more tolerable. When the chorus of a Flo Rida song doesn't catch my ear, there are literally no redeeming qualities to the song.
But in the interest of providing a well-thought-out opinion, let's see what Flo Rida has to say anyway.
...
He... he exists! Yep, that Flo Rida sure does... exist! But other than that, what else does he do?
Yeah, not that much from what I've seen. All he appears to do is guest rap with crappy verses on songs with great choruses. Wait... he's not the guest rapper on all these songs? He fooled me.
Suffice it to say, Flo Rida has not exactly carved out a distinct personality for himself. And yet... his songs are inexplicably popular. Well, not inexplicably. You see, Flo Rida is good at one thing and one thing only: Having catchy choruses in his songs.
That's the part that sticks in your head in Flo Rida songs: the chorus. Half the time he has no part in even singing the chorus! Whenever there's a guest singer on his songs, they always outshine Flo Rida. Always.
Today I will look at Flo Rida's least popular hit, but still popular enough to be called a hit. It's called "Sugar".
No, not quite. Here it is:
Okay, so here is the catchy chorus of this song:
Da double dee double di
Da double dee double di
Da double dee double di
Rrrrrrgggghhh.... GET OUT OF MY HEAD! GET OUT!
Okay, this is just cheating. Of course a song's going to sound catchy if you use one of the most earwormy tunes known to man as your chorus!
To be fair, though, that's not the entire chorus of this song. In fact, let me post the lead-in to the Eiffel 65 rip-off, to provide a little context:
My lips like sugar
My lips like sugar
This candy got you sprung
This candy got you sprung
So call me your sugar
So call me your sugar
You love you some
You love you some
I'm sweet like
...
So... just to clarify... you're sweet like
Da double dee double di
Well, I tried. I tried to provide context, but I'm only working with the source material I have.
Okay, this went from cheating to just being lazy. Instead of finishing the chorus this time, Flo Rida just inserts the nonsense from "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" and hopes it would works. And you know what? When listening to the entire chorus... it doesn't. It really doesn't.
In fact, I actually like the chorus before it rips off Eiffel 65. Maybe if he had finished it, or hell, just ended it right there, this song would be a lot more tolerable. When the chorus of a Flo Rida song doesn't catch my ear, there are literally no redeeming qualities to the song.
But in the interest of providing a well-thought-out opinion, let's see what Flo Rida has to say anyway.
Hey, I've got a mouth full of cavities
What?
Hey, I've got a mouth full of cavities
...One line in! One line in and Flo Rida has already failed me. Bravo, sir. You've officially set the suck bar to a new low. Sorry, Chris Brown. Looks like you'll have to try a little harder next time.
Okay, so "Eric," you may ask. "What's so bad about the 'cavities' line? It's part of the sugar metaphor! It's actually quite clever!" Well, here's my rebuttal:
If you're going to use sugar as a metaphor for getting it on, then you don't mention a grossly negative thing about sugar! I mean, what was his next line? "And a bloodstream full of diabetes"? It sort of rhymes, anyway.
I look at the "cavities" line and if I see "sugar" as a metaphor for sex, or at least a descriptive word for how it feels... or tastes... then I can only assume that "a mouth full of cavities" just means Flo Rida's packed with STDs from this girl. Was that sexy in 2009...?
But the worst part about Flo Rida's verse is that this is the only thing even worth mentioning. Nothing else is worth a second look. Nothing. What a waste.
So ironic that a song called "Sugar" leaves nothing but a bitter taste in my mouth. The only thing I like about this song is part of the chorus, but I can't forgive the total annihilation of the chorus with Eiffel 65. And I don't even hate "Blue (Da Ba Dee)", but inserting it into another song immediately destroys any credibility it might have had. This song sucks a big fat lollipop. See, that's a bad thing. I tried to go with the sugar meta- oh, just forget it.
Thursday, May 8, 2014
Top 10 Thursday: Top 10 Movie Soundtracks
Wow, the movies. I'm really hung up on the movies, aren't I?
Well, it's not hard to do, given that movies play a very big part in the common North American life. They tell stories, they captivate you, they pull you in and never let go. And a big part of why movies do that is the soundtrack. So today, in honour of soundtracks, here are my Top 10!
Well, it's not hard to do, given that movies play a very big part in the common North American life. They tell stories, they captivate you, they pull you in and never let go. And a big part of why movies do that is the soundtrack. So today, in honour of soundtracks, here are my Top 10!
10. The Graduate
When you're ordering a soundtrack for your movie, a good thing to remember is to go heavy on Simon & Garfunkel. That's exactly what The Graduate did, and it truly paid off for the film and for the duo, skyrocketing the soundtrack to the top of the album chart and raising the profile of Simon & Garfunkel.
9. The Bodyguard
Yeah, sing it, Whitney! It'd be a crime for me not to include this soundtrack on the list. Not only is it the best-selling soundtrack of all time, it helped turn already-superstar Whitney Houston into a viable movie star. Of course, the soundtrack is carried by the song above, but that's perfectly okay in my eyes. Whitney's magnum opus on a soundtrack is just what it needs to get it this far.
8. Magical Mystery Tour
Roll up for the magical mystery tour! Not the film, which was a complete flop, but the soundtrack that came with it. Magical Mystery Tour remains one of my favourite Beatles albums, and that's not a differing opinion from the public. The soundtrack was far more well received than the film, nearly earning The Beatles a Grammy for Album of the Year in 1968. Only The Beatles could have their soundtrack outshine the film it appears on.
7. Frozen
Perhaps I'm still reeling off of love for the movie, but Frozen's soundtrack is damn good. Not only does it have "Let it Go", but "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" and "For the First Time in Forever" are both equally solid tunes, if not better. Kristoff's song "Reindeers Are Better Than People" is also a sweet little song. Between all its songs, Frozen is probably Disney's sweetest soundtrack yet, actually. Makes me want to build a snowman. No, no it doesn't. Good riddance, winter.
6. Saturday Night Fever
If you're going to make a dance film with John Travolta, it better have some jivin' tunes. So you should call in the recently disco-turned Bee Gees, who will be more than happy to supply you with plenty. Before disco died, this movie helped to peak its popularity in the late 70s with its jive talkin' and alive stayin'. And stay alive it does, as the soundtrack has been added to the Library of Congress's National Recording Registry. Disco may be dead, but Saturday Night Fever lives on.
5. Titanic
Say what you want about Celine Dion. Hell, I don't even particularly like Celine Dion. Seriously, say what you want. Too much fluff, and not enough substance for me. But "My Heart Will Go On" is fantastic for Titanic's soundtrack. James Horner creates a masterful soundtrack to frame the movie, going from wistful and dreamlike to to intense and throbbing to sad and remorseful. There's a reason Titanic won so many awards, and there's a reason why Best Original Score was one of them. This movie and soundtrack are masterpieces alike.
4. This is Spinal Tap
This is Spinal Tap was a brilliant satire of the hard rock and heavy metal bands at the time, and the soundtrack says it all. With songs like "Tonight I'm Gonna Rock You Tonight", "Big Bottom", and "Gimme Some Money", the soundtrack made the movie. In fact, it was so spot-on that it left many wondering if Spinal Tap were a real band. I figure they may as well be.
3. 8 Mile
A movie starring Eminem is obligated to have a forceful, pounding soundtrack, starring Eminem as well. And 8 Mile certainly doesn't disappoint, with not only Eminem, but also 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Rakim, Nas, and many others contributing blistering rap songs to the soundtrack. 8 Mile rocks as hard as its star's premise promises, and its songs help to move along the tale of B-Rabbit.
2. The Lion King
Seriously, is there a single song from The Lion King that isn't good? You have to give Elton John credit for making the greatest Disney soundtrack of all time, bar none. Obvious choice? Yeah. But I also feel it's the right one. The chilling sinisterness of "Be Prepared". The unbridled optimism and fun of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King". The classic "Hakuna Matata". The Lion King truly is king when it comes to Disney music.
So, it takes a lot to top The Lion King. But I think that a soundtrack that has not one, but two of my favourite 80's jams deserves it. And there were a lot of rockin' 80's soundtracks. But this one, I feel, stands head and shoulders above the rest. Here it is, my number 1 pick for the best movie soundtrack:
1. Flashdance
Flashdance accomplished everything it said it would in the title; it was flashy, and it was dancey. And of course, this includes the soundtrack. Who doesn't like "Flashdance"? Not only that, but it also includes "Maniac", one of my other favourite songs from the 80's. Actually, '83 was just an all-around good year for music. And Flashdance's soundtrack was the centerpiece of it all. What a feeling!
And that's my list! Agree, disagree? Other soundtracks worth mentioning? Leave 'em in the comments, people! Ciao for now.
3. 8 Mile
A movie starring Eminem is obligated to have a forceful, pounding soundtrack, starring Eminem as well. And 8 Mile certainly doesn't disappoint, with not only Eminem, but also 50 Cent, Jay-Z, Rakim, Nas, and many others contributing blistering rap songs to the soundtrack. 8 Mile rocks as hard as its star's premise promises, and its songs help to move along the tale of B-Rabbit.
2. The Lion King
Seriously, is there a single song from The Lion King that isn't good? You have to give Elton John credit for making the greatest Disney soundtrack of all time, bar none. Obvious choice? Yeah. But I also feel it's the right one. The chilling sinisterness of "Be Prepared". The unbridled optimism and fun of "I Just Can't Wait to Be King". The classic "Hakuna Matata". The Lion King truly is king when it comes to Disney music.
So, it takes a lot to top The Lion King. But I think that a soundtrack that has not one, but two of my favourite 80's jams deserves it. And there were a lot of rockin' 80's soundtracks. But this one, I feel, stands head and shoulders above the rest. Here it is, my number 1 pick for the best movie soundtrack:
1. Flashdance
Flashdance accomplished everything it said it would in the title; it was flashy, and it was dancey. And of course, this includes the soundtrack. Who doesn't like "Flashdance"? Not only that, but it also includes "Maniac", one of my other favourite songs from the 80's. Actually, '83 was just an all-around good year for music. And Flashdance's soundtrack was the centerpiece of it all. What a feeling!
And that's my list! Agree, disagree? Other soundtracks worth mentioning? Leave 'em in the comments, people! Ciao for now.
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Watch-for-it Wednesday: "Latch" - Disclosure ft. Sam Smith
Well, let's just latch right on to some dance music.
This is "Latch", by British house duo Disclosure featuring vocalist Sam Smith. "Latch" has so far reached #57 on the Hot 100, gearing it to enter the Top 50. Disclosure is a fairly young duo, starting in 2010 and gaining commercial success in the UK in 2012. But "Latch", their first successful UK single, has also become the first single to make it fairly far in the Billboard hot 100 chart. A fame starter in two countries has to be good. Right? Right?
Well, I like it.
I'm not the biggest fan of dance music in general, as I don't really dance. But if a dance song sets a good mood, then yeah, I'm down to boogie a little. Just only in the comfort of my own room, with the doors and windows shut and blocked, where no one will ever see me. Ever.
"Latch" has a pretty simple message in its lyrics: a couple in love. (By the way, props to the video for including a lesbian couple. Good on ya.) The intimacy expressed in the music and lyrics is astounding. Sam Smith just sells it.
Now I got you in my space
I won’t let go of you
In the wrong hands, lyrics such as these may sound a little too possessive and/or rapey to be romantic or erotic. Thank God they didn't get Kristina Maria to do this song, am I right? Heh heh... I hate her so much. Anyway, "Latch" makes the lyrics work by expressing the same feelings from both people.
I’m so encaptured, got me wrapped up in your touch
Feel so enamored, hold me tight within your clutch
Pronouns: Aren't you glad you studied them in school?
I'd be very happy if we got more dance music like this, and less Lil Jon exploitation.
TURN DOWN FOR WHA-
Yes, yes, Lil Jon. You've had your chance already. Well, let's get right down to the meat and potatoes. The fries and gravy. The bread and butter. The... is anyone else hungry?
Hot 100 Success:
Will they have it?
Disclosure and "Latch" feel like the dark horse artist and song this year. I'm going to say yes, they will have success. At least with this song.
Should they have it?
Disclosure seems smart enough and socially conscious enough that I'll give my blessing for their Hot 100 success. We could use more Disclosure music over here.
This is "Latch", by British house duo Disclosure featuring vocalist Sam Smith. "Latch" has so far reached #57 on the Hot 100, gearing it to enter the Top 50. Disclosure is a fairly young duo, starting in 2010 and gaining commercial success in the UK in 2012. But "Latch", their first successful UK single, has also become the first single to make it fairly far in the Billboard hot 100 chart. A fame starter in two countries has to be good. Right? Right?
Well, I like it.
I'm not the biggest fan of dance music in general, as I don't really dance. But if a dance song sets a good mood, then yeah, I'm down to boogie a little. Just only in the comfort of my own room, with the doors and windows shut and blocked, where no one will ever see me. Ever.
"Latch" has a pretty simple message in its lyrics: a couple in love. (By the way, props to the video for including a lesbian couple. Good on ya.) The intimacy expressed in the music and lyrics is astounding. Sam Smith just sells it.
Now I got you in my space
I won’t let go of you
In the wrong hands, lyrics such as these may sound a little too possessive and/or rapey to be romantic or erotic. Thank God they didn't get Kristina Maria to do this song, am I right? Heh heh... I hate her so much. Anyway, "Latch" makes the lyrics work by expressing the same feelings from both people.
I’m so encaptured, got me wrapped up in your touch
Feel so enamored, hold me tight within your clutch
Pronouns: Aren't you glad you studied them in school?
I'd be very happy if we got more dance music like this, and less Lil Jon exploitation.
TURN DOWN FOR WHA-
Yes, yes, Lil Jon. You've had your chance already. Well, let's get right down to the meat and potatoes. The fries and gravy. The bread and butter. The... is anyone else hungry?
Hot 100 Success:
Will they have it?
Disclosure and "Latch" feel like the dark horse artist and song this year. I'm going to say yes, they will have success. At least with this song.
Should they have it?
Disclosure seems smart enough and socially conscious enough that I'll give my blessing for their Hot 100 success. We could use more Disclosure music over here.
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
CanTunes Tuesday: "Move Like a Soldier" - Kristina Maria
Ugh, can't I just review another good Down with Webster song?
"Royalty"! Can I review that song? I need to prove to America that the vast majority of Canadian music isn't garbage!
*sigh*
This is "Move Like a Soldier" by Kristina Maria.
Kristina Maria is an artist whose personality I find repulsive, yet... white-bread boring as well. It takes a special kind of artist to do that, I'd say. Oh boy, let's dive in!
I’m going nuts here
Thinking how I could’ve been brave, not a quitter
Yes I can stop now, but I’m going to practice my aim in the mirror
Nothing objectionable here, I suppose. Could be a Hunger Games theme at this point, if the Hunger Games series recognized random Canadian artists. But I digress. Back to the song.
Tonight, I’m holding out till the morning
I’m holding out till the morning comes
And I can have your attention
Show you how I’m the only one
Perseverance is nice. So, you're going to be the only one to do what?
TO BREAK DOWN YOUR WALLS
HIJACK YOUR BRAIN
RUN THROUGH YOUR VEEEEINS
Aaaah! Jesus.
I’m going to move like a soldier (Awful trap voice: I’m going like a tank)
I’m going to move like a soldier (Awful trap voice: I’m go-going like a tank)
Stop! Stop! What the hell are you talking about?
Is this supposed to be, God forbid, romantic? Because let me tell you right now, it's not. And if I'm expected to sympathize with Kristina Maria here, well... let's just say that a girl threatening to break down your walls, hijack your brain, and run through your veins should probably be put into custody.
Seriously, "move like a soldier"? What kind of twisted imagery are we going for here? You act like you want to love this guy, but this doesn't sound like love! This sounds like war!
Instead of letting me down, I should be feeling you up
Instead of running away, I should be making you stay
Yes, well, treating a man's body like a battle ground is not the way to my heart. Or my hormones. I honestly can't tell is this is supposed to be a love song or a sex song, and either way it fails. Miserably. Kristina Maria's tone is so off. It just doesn't work. She talks about "holding on to the moon" and shit in her verses, but whatever mood she might set in the verses is completely, completely destroyed by her forceful, pounding chorus. It just hits you in the face like a stack of bricks. Ow.
At least when Miley Cyrus said "break your walls" in "Wrecking Ball", you could interpret it as wanting the guy to open up to her. This chorus just hammers violent imagery into you until you have no choice but to believe she is literally going to break down your walls. And the music doesn't help. It literally feels like my brain is being hijacked, and not in a good way... if there is a good way that my brain can be hijacked, and my veins could be run through, and my skin could be crawled through... ugh. This song is not only unpleasant, it's gross.
So, let's bring this back to Kristina Maria's personality as an artist, which is bitchy, catty, and overall unpleasant from what I've heard... yet also, boring. Just listen to this song:
"You don't have the right to cry"? Who the hell are you to dictate another person's feelings? Shut up.
This song isn't as bad, but Kristina's established personality makes it suck by association. Kristina sings about how "karma's gonna get" this guy, when I'm just waiting for karma to get her for being such a toxic person. Yet her music also sounds half-assed, rather than truly angry.
Kristina Maria speaks to a very angry, yet mellow, population, I suppose. But when her anger isn't misplaced, it's poorly thought out and reflects badly on her. She's pretty much the Cher Lloyd of Canada, if you will, only with less personality. What an awful artist. Canada, please stop buying this girl's music. It's not worth it. Hell, if you want to stay homegrown, choose Alanis Morissette. Now there's a woman who uses anger correctly. Rock on Alanis, and go away Kristina.
"Royalty"! Can I review that song? I need to prove to America that the vast majority of Canadian music isn't garbage!
*sigh*
This is "Move Like a Soldier" by Kristina Maria.
Kristina Maria is an artist whose personality I find repulsive, yet... white-bread boring as well. It takes a special kind of artist to do that, I'd say. Oh boy, let's dive in!
I’m going nuts here
Thinking how I could’ve been brave, not a quitter
Yes I can stop now, but I’m going to practice my aim in the mirror
Nothing objectionable here, I suppose. Could be a Hunger Games theme at this point, if the Hunger Games series recognized random Canadian artists. But I digress. Back to the song.
Tonight, I’m holding out till the morning
I’m holding out till the morning comes
And I can have your attention
Show you how I’m the only one
Perseverance is nice. So, you're going to be the only one to do what?
TO BREAK DOWN YOUR WALLS
HIJACK YOUR BRAIN
RUN THROUGH YOUR VEEEEINS
Aaaah! Jesus.
I’m going to move like a soldier (Awful trap voice: I’m going like a tank)
I’m going to move like a soldier (Awful trap voice: I’m go-going like a tank)
Stop! Stop! What the hell are you talking about?
Is this supposed to be, God forbid, romantic? Because let me tell you right now, it's not. And if I'm expected to sympathize with Kristina Maria here, well... let's just say that a girl threatening to break down your walls, hijack your brain, and run through your veins should probably be put into custody.
Seriously, "move like a soldier"? What kind of twisted imagery are we going for here? You act like you want to love this guy, but this doesn't sound like love! This sounds like war!
Instead of letting me down, I should be feeling you up
Instead of running away, I should be making you stay
Yes, well, treating a man's body like a battle ground is not the way to my heart. Or my hormones. I honestly can't tell is this is supposed to be a love song or a sex song, and either way it fails. Miserably. Kristina Maria's tone is so off. It just doesn't work. She talks about "holding on to the moon" and shit in her verses, but whatever mood she might set in the verses is completely, completely destroyed by her forceful, pounding chorus. It just hits you in the face like a stack of bricks. Ow.
At least when Miley Cyrus said "break your walls" in "Wrecking Ball", you could interpret it as wanting the guy to open up to her. This chorus just hammers violent imagery into you until you have no choice but to believe she is literally going to break down your walls. And the music doesn't help. It literally feels like my brain is being hijacked, and not in a good way... if there is a good way that my brain can be hijacked, and my veins could be run through, and my skin could be crawled through... ugh. This song is not only unpleasant, it's gross.
So, let's bring this back to Kristina Maria's personality as an artist, which is bitchy, catty, and overall unpleasant from what I've heard... yet also, boring. Just listen to this song:
"You don't have the right to cry"? Who the hell are you to dictate another person's feelings? Shut up.
This song isn't as bad, but Kristina's established personality makes it suck by association. Kristina sings about how "karma's gonna get" this guy, when I'm just waiting for karma to get her for being such a toxic person. Yet her music also sounds half-assed, rather than truly angry.
Kristina Maria speaks to a very angry, yet mellow, population, I suppose. But when her anger isn't misplaced, it's poorly thought out and reflects badly on her. She's pretty much the Cher Lloyd of Canada, if you will, only with less personality. What an awful artist. Canada, please stop buying this girl's music. It's not worth it. Hell, if you want to stay homegrown, choose Alanis Morissette. Now there's a woman who uses anger correctly. Rock on Alanis, and go away Kristina.
Monday, May 5, 2014
Monday Musings: Are Movies Still Important for Billboard Hits?
So, today's Monday Musing, we'll deal with a topic that I'm not as well-rounded for talking about, but that is no doubt connected to music: The movies.
Yes, remember this little gem? Well, you should. Because it's still here, in our collective minds. I recently had the pleasure of actually watching Frozen recently, and it is truly an instant classic. Go out and watch it if you haven't already. It's fantastic. But that's not the important aspect for the purposes of this blog. I want to talk about how the soundtrack has topped the Billboard album chart for twelve weeks. You know, I thought that YouTube videos were the new movies in terms of a visual medium dictating Billboard chart trends, but this has me thinking: Are movies still important?
Well, yes. Movies are still important. No matter if people are viewing them on Netflix or in the theater, movies are still a huge part of people's lives, and the focus of a lot of critiquing. But are they still as important to Billboard hits as they used to be? That's where I come in, and I'll see if the trends ring in favour or out of favour of the silver screen.
One thing I can look at to determine whether movies still have a glaring presence on the charts today is Billboard's recent list of the Top 50 Movie Songs of All Time, ranking the hits based on how big of a hit they were. Looking at the Top 10 of this list, we can determine that movies stopped being important to Billboard hits about 20-some years ago. Looking back a little, however, we start to see hits from the 21st century, such as "Lose Yourself" and "Independent Women". Honestly though, the most recent entry to make the list was 2006's "Check on It", used during the closing credits of The Pink Panther. And it only sits at number 50. So it could be argued that no, movies don't have nearly the same effect on Billboard hits as they used to.
But then you look at a movie like Frozen, and its effect on Billboard. Not only has the soundtrack album refused to budge from the top spot on the album chart for quite some time now, but "Let it Go" has become and honest-to-goodness Billboard Hot 100 Hit, still refusing to drop out of the Top 10. Even other songs from the album have charted, despite not really becoming hits. So it's not really fair to say that movies have dropped out of the Billboard consciousness completely. But is Frozen just an anomaly in a long-dead Billboard factor? Have there been other movie hits recently?
Well, there's been a few. Remember this?
Of course if you're a Twi-hard, you will. That's Bruno Mars' "It Will Rain", a song featured on whatever Twilight movie was popular at the time I really don't care. It was a pretty big deal in early 2012, peaking at #3 on the Hot 100 and making the year-end list at #26. There was also this,
which was the lead single off of Step Up 3's soundtrack album. So, the hits are still there. They're just not quite as prominent.
So, to answer the question, "Are movies still important for Billboard hits?", I'm gonna go ahead and say that they're not really that important, and that YouTube is more important right now. Yes, there are still hits, but I think Frozen is a complete fluke (or, its grossing of a billion-plus dollars at the box office may have something to do with it) and we won't see a movie make this much difference in the Billboard charts anytime soon.
Yes, remember this little gem? Well, you should. Because it's still here, in our collective minds. I recently had the pleasure of actually watching Frozen recently, and it is truly an instant classic. Go out and watch it if you haven't already. It's fantastic. But that's not the important aspect for the purposes of this blog. I want to talk about how the soundtrack has topped the Billboard album chart for twelve weeks. You know, I thought that YouTube videos were the new movies in terms of a visual medium dictating Billboard chart trends, but this has me thinking: Are movies still important?
Well, yes. Movies are still important. No matter if people are viewing them on Netflix or in the theater, movies are still a huge part of people's lives, and the focus of a lot of critiquing. But are they still as important to Billboard hits as they used to be? That's where I come in, and I'll see if the trends ring in favour or out of favour of the silver screen.
One thing I can look at to determine whether movies still have a glaring presence on the charts today is Billboard's recent list of the Top 50 Movie Songs of All Time, ranking the hits based on how big of a hit they were. Looking at the Top 10 of this list, we can determine that movies stopped being important to Billboard hits about 20-some years ago. Looking back a little, however, we start to see hits from the 21st century, such as "Lose Yourself" and "Independent Women". Honestly though, the most recent entry to make the list was 2006's "Check on It", used during the closing credits of The Pink Panther. And it only sits at number 50. So it could be argued that no, movies don't have nearly the same effect on Billboard hits as they used to.
But then you look at a movie like Frozen, and its effect on Billboard. Not only has the soundtrack album refused to budge from the top spot on the album chart for quite some time now, but "Let it Go" has become and honest-to-goodness Billboard Hot 100 Hit, still refusing to drop out of the Top 10. Even other songs from the album have charted, despite not really becoming hits. So it's not really fair to say that movies have dropped out of the Billboard consciousness completely. But is Frozen just an anomaly in a long-dead Billboard factor? Have there been other movie hits recently?
Well, there's been a few. Remember this?
Of course if you're a Twi-hard, you will. That's Bruno Mars' "It Will Rain", a song featured on whatever Twilight movie was popular at the time I really don't care. It was a pretty big deal in early 2012, peaking at #3 on the Hot 100 and making the year-end list at #26. There was also this,
which was the lead single off of Step Up 3's soundtrack album. So, the hits are still there. They're just not quite as prominent.
So, to answer the question, "Are movies still important for Billboard hits?", I'm gonna go ahead and say that they're not really that important, and that YouTube is more important right now. Yes, there are still hits, but I think Frozen is a complete fluke (or, its grossing of a billion-plus dollars at the box office may have something to do with it) and we won't see a movie make this much difference in the Billboard charts anytime soon.
Sunday, May 4, 2014
"Sing" - Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran is back and... better than ever?
It's certainly different. The biggest departure I've ever heard Ed Sheeran take from his music. But is it better? Well, that's a question that can only be answered in the rest of this blog post. That's why you're here, isn't it? I thought so. Let's begin!
Ed Sheeran's mainstream success begins in 2011, where his first single "The A Team" blew up in the UK, selling over 58,000 copies in its first week. His success continued into America, when "The A Team" received radio airplay there and ended up becoming a hit there as well. And as far as his wild success in America goes... well, that's about it. None of his other singles have really caught on the way "The A Team" did, and it may have resigned Sheeran to one-hit wonder status.
Until now, with his new song, "Sing".
Okay, where did this come from? It completely flew under my radar, and now it's sitting pretty in the Top 20. And like I said, this is not your typical Ed Sheeran song. Possibly because Pharrell Williams played a huge hand in making it.
Yep, there he is. Pharrell's already cemented to become one of the biggest stars of 2014 (with his hat co-starring, of course). So to help write and produce a song for fading flame Ed Sheeran to boost him back into our minds seems like only the noble thing to do. This song shows us a whole new side of Ed Sheeran: The sexy side.
I need you darling
Come on set the tone
If you feel you’re falling
Won’t you let me know
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
I've seen a lot of sides of Ed Sheeran. There's been the sweet, sensitive boy, the... sweet, sensitive boy, and... the sweet, sensitive boy. Actually, this is not only a whole new side, it's the only other side I've seen. So how well does it hold up?
It's an okay song, I guess. Pharrell's production and lyrics really shine here, meeting every expectation you have for the man. The only problem is... Sheeran's reputation precedes him.
Specifically, his sweet, sensitive reputation and his sweet, sensitive voice. I'm just having a little trouble buying this, because despite the production and lyrics, Ed Sheeran's still singing this song. At some points he makes it work, but at some points it just falls flat. He doesn't have the right voice to carry a song like this.
That said, the song is extremely catchy and I do like Ed Sheeran. So I will give this song a pass. Just not one of my favourites of the year so far.
It's certainly different. The biggest departure I've ever heard Ed Sheeran take from his music. But is it better? Well, that's a question that can only be answered in the rest of this blog post. That's why you're here, isn't it? I thought so. Let's begin!
Ed Sheeran's mainstream success begins in 2011, where his first single "The A Team" blew up in the UK, selling over 58,000 copies in its first week. His success continued into America, when "The A Team" received radio airplay there and ended up becoming a hit there as well. And as far as his wild success in America goes... well, that's about it. None of his other singles have really caught on the way "The A Team" did, and it may have resigned Sheeran to one-hit wonder status.
Until now, with his new song, "Sing".
Okay, where did this come from? It completely flew under my radar, and now it's sitting pretty in the Top 20. And like I said, this is not your typical Ed Sheeran song. Possibly because Pharrell Williams played a huge hand in making it.
Yep, there he is. Pharrell's already cemented to become one of the biggest stars of 2014 (with his hat co-starring, of course). So to help write and produce a song for fading flame Ed Sheeran to boost him back into our minds seems like only the noble thing to do. This song shows us a whole new side of Ed Sheeran: The sexy side.
I need you darling
Come on set the tone
If you feel you’re falling
Won’t you let me know
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
I've seen a lot of sides of Ed Sheeran. There's been the sweet, sensitive boy, the... sweet, sensitive boy, and... the sweet, sensitive boy. Actually, this is not only a whole new side, it's the only other side I've seen. So how well does it hold up?
It's an okay song, I guess. Pharrell's production and lyrics really shine here, meeting every expectation you have for the man. The only problem is... Sheeran's reputation precedes him.
Specifically, his sweet, sensitive reputation and his sweet, sensitive voice. I'm just having a little trouble buying this, because despite the production and lyrics, Ed Sheeran's still singing this song. At some points he makes it work, but at some points it just falls flat. He doesn't have the right voice to carry a song like this.
That said, the song is extremely catchy and I do like Ed Sheeran. So I will give this song a pass. Just not one of my favourites of the year so far.
Saturday, May 3, 2014
Weekend Wrap-Up (Apr. 27-May 3 2014): YMCA, Mariah, and Glee
As we work our way through a new month, let's look at some more music news!
Justin Bieber dropped a new song last week called "Hard2FaceReality". No comment on the title, but listen to it here.
Victor Willis of The Village People has banned the L.A. Clippers from using the song "Y.M.C.A." during their games due to racist comments made by owner Donald Sterling. Willis has followed up with an official notice. This really just goes to show the extent to which Sterling's remarks offended, and despite the prevalence of racist people in power, how much we have progressed as a society to provide such backlash to such remarks.
In lighter news, Willie Nelson has received his fifth-degree black belt in the martial art of Gong Kwon Yu Sul. It turns out that while pursuing his career in music, he has also been practicing martial arts for decades. Hey, it's news to me.
In light of PSY becoming an international sensation thanks to YouTube, Billboard has released a list of the most-watched K-pop videos in the past few months, both in America and globally. Check out the list here.
After hinting at it, Mariah Carey has officially announced her 14th album, Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse. The YouTube clip announcing the project explains that the album is based on her "first and only self-portrait". The album will feature last year's hit "#Beautiful", as well as guest spots from Nas, Mary J. Blige, and R. Kelly.
Naya Rivera has been dropped from her record label, Columbia Records. After little success with her debut single, "Sorry", Columbia has dropped her from the label without releasing a full-length about. Rumours also persist that she has been fired from Glee, after a feud with co-star Lea Michele.
Finally, 5 Seconds of Summer are slated to perform at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards, to be held May 18th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. They will join a lineup of previously-announced artists such as Jason Derulo, OneRepublic, Imagine Dragons, and John Legend.
And that's it for this week! Seeya tomorrow with another pop song!
Justin Bieber dropped a new song last week called "Hard2FaceReality". No comment on the title, but listen to it here.
Victor Willis of The Village People has banned the L.A. Clippers from using the song "Y.M.C.A." during their games due to racist comments made by owner Donald Sterling. Willis has followed up with an official notice. This really just goes to show the extent to which Sterling's remarks offended, and despite the prevalence of racist people in power, how much we have progressed as a society to provide such backlash to such remarks.
In lighter news, Willie Nelson has received his fifth-degree black belt in the martial art of Gong Kwon Yu Sul. It turns out that while pursuing his career in music, he has also been practicing martial arts for decades. Hey, it's news to me.
In light of PSY becoming an international sensation thanks to YouTube, Billboard has released a list of the most-watched K-pop videos in the past few months, both in America and globally. Check out the list here.
After hinting at it, Mariah Carey has officially announced her 14th album, Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse. The YouTube clip announcing the project explains that the album is based on her "first and only self-portrait". The album will feature last year's hit "#Beautiful", as well as guest spots from Nas, Mary J. Blige, and R. Kelly.
Naya Rivera has been dropped from her record label, Columbia Records. After little success with her debut single, "Sorry", Columbia has dropped her from the label without releasing a full-length about. Rumours also persist that she has been fired from Glee, after a feud with co-star Lea Michele.
Finally, 5 Seconds of Summer are slated to perform at the 2014 Billboard Music Awards, to be held May 18th at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. They will join a lineup of previously-announced artists such as Jason Derulo, OneRepublic, Imagine Dragons, and John Legend.
And that's it for this week! Seeya tomorrow with another pop song!
Friday, May 2, 2014
Flashback Friday: "Rich Girl" - Daryl Hall & John Oates (1977)
If I was a rich girl, na na na na na- oh, it's the other song.
This week, once again, we're back in the 70s, this time with "Rich Girl" by Daryl Hall and John Oates. This is a short song, clocking in at under two and a half minutes. Sometimes, a short song is just what you need to get a simple point across. And what is the point that Daryl Hall is trying to get across? Well, it's that rich people are entitled assholes.
You're a rich girl, and you've gone too far
'Cause you know it don't matter anyway
Specifically, this rich girl is an entitled asshole, leeching off of her rich parents and basically contributing nothing to society. At least, that's what it's supposed to be about. To me, the guy just sounds jealous.
Don't you know, don't you know
That it's wrong to take what is given you
Why? Why should you refuse to accept something given to you? Should I not have received all those birthday presents as a kid? Thanks a lot, Daryl. Now I'm suffering from 7-year-old guilt.
I feel like this song could have worked, but it's never really specified why the narrator has such contempt for this rich girl. There's vague statements:
It's so easy to hurt others when you can't feel pain
I suppose it could be argued that she acts rather snobby because she's a rich girl, or her heart has grown cold or whatever, but I don't really buy it. There's no specifics to justify this prejudice. Wait a minute...
It's so easy to hurt others when you can't feel pain
And don't you know that a love can't grow
A... love? Is this guy trying to be a gold digger and failing?
You're a rich girl, and you've gone too far
Gone too far how? Did she reject your advances because you were leeching money off of her leeching money?
Oh, wow. Oh... wow. I don't even think I have the right interpretation here, but even so... this just made the song a little more poignant for me. It's amazing how music works. No matter how obvious the lyrics are, any kind of interpretation can be made. Or at the very least, if you've got a catchy song like this one, you can listen to it anyway without thinking too hard.
God, a gold digger. I really am crazy sometimes.
This week, once again, we're back in the 70s, this time with "Rich Girl" by Daryl Hall and John Oates. This is a short song, clocking in at under two and a half minutes. Sometimes, a short song is just what you need to get a simple point across. And what is the point that Daryl Hall is trying to get across? Well, it's that rich people are entitled assholes.
You're a rich girl, and you've gone too far
'Cause you know it don't matter anyway
Specifically, this rich girl is an entitled asshole, leeching off of her rich parents and basically contributing nothing to society. At least, that's what it's supposed to be about. To me, the guy just sounds jealous.
Don't you know, don't you know
That it's wrong to take what is given you
Why? Why should you refuse to accept something given to you? Should I not have received all those birthday presents as a kid? Thanks a lot, Daryl. Now I'm suffering from 7-year-old guilt.
I feel like this song could have worked, but it's never really specified why the narrator has such contempt for this rich girl. There's vague statements:
It's so easy to hurt others when you can't feel pain
I suppose it could be argued that she acts rather snobby because she's a rich girl, or her heart has grown cold or whatever, but I don't really buy it. There's no specifics to justify this prejudice. Wait a minute...
It's so easy to hurt others when you can't feel pain
And don't you know that a love can't grow
A... love? Is this guy trying to be a gold digger and failing?
You're a rich girl, and you've gone too far
Gone too far how? Did she reject your advances because you were leeching money off of her leeching money?
Oh, wow. Oh... wow. I don't even think I have the right interpretation here, but even so... this just made the song a little more poignant for me. It's amazing how music works. No matter how obvious the lyrics are, any kind of interpretation can be made. Or at the very least, if you've got a catchy song like this one, you can listen to it anyway without thinking too hard.
God, a gold digger. I really am crazy sometimes.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
Top 10 Thursday: Top 10 Gay Anthems
I've been bringing up this topic a couple times in my reviews, so I feel that it's appropriate to establish myself as an ally in the LGBT community's continuing struggle for rights. And with that in mind, here I present to you the top ten gay anthems. Now, I will fully admit to not being an expert in this field, and as a result will also admit that this list would look better and be more accurate coming from a gay person. But I feel like it's important for a straight person to recognize the LGBT community with lists like these. So, on to it!
10. "Your Disco Needs You" - Kylie Minogue
"Your Disco Needs You" was released in 2001 and has since been hailed as one of the greatest gay anthems of all time. Indeed, its inspiring tone and disco references resonated well with the gay community. Most recently, the song was used in a music video promoting equality in Russia during the Sochi Olympics. I recommend you give it a watch; the caricature of Vladimir Putin is entertaining and the video is quite heart-wrenching.
9. "Vogue" - Madonna
Madonna has been hailed as not only a gay icon, but "the greatest gay icon" according to the magazine The Advocate. So it's only fitting that one of her magnum opuses became well-received among the gay community. Madonna's own experiences with the gay community trace back to her days as a teenager, and has stated that she "wouldn't have a career if it weren't for the gay community". In celebration of this positive influence,
10. "Your Disco Needs You" - Kylie Minogue
"Your Disco Needs You" was released in 2001 and has since been hailed as one of the greatest gay anthems of all time. Indeed, its inspiring tone and disco references resonated well with the gay community. Most recently, the song was used in a music video promoting equality in Russia during the Sochi Olympics. I recommend you give it a watch; the caricature of Vladimir Putin is entertaining and the video is quite heart-wrenching.
9. "Vogue" - Madonna
Madonna has been hailed as not only a gay icon, but "the greatest gay icon" according to the magazine The Advocate. So it's only fitting that one of her magnum opuses became well-received among the gay community. Madonna's own experiences with the gay community trace back to her days as a teenager, and has stated that she "wouldn't have a career if it weren't for the gay community". In celebration of this positive influence,
8. "Same Love" - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft. Mary Lambert
I put "Same Love" pretty low on this list, because I know a lot of people have problems with it. But I feel like the fact that the dialogue was introduced at all in the notoriously homophobic genre of hip hop earns it a spot on this list. I honestly don't really see what problems people have with this song. It's not completely from a straight guy's perspective. It has a gay singer on the chorus! Yes, gay rappers deserve more recognition. But it's a process, and the fact that Macklemore got the wheel rolling deserves recognition in itself.
7. "I Will Survive" - Gloria Gaynor
Honestly, this song could be used as an anthem for just about anybody. It's that powerful. The original meaning of the song is recovering after a bad breakup, and doing so with style. "I will survive" is just such a great mantra for the gay community, and like I said, anybody really, to use.
6. "I'm Coming Out" - Diana Ross
Both the lyrics and the fabulous beat really sell this one as a gay anthem. I mean, "I'm coming out" is kind of an easy comparison to make, but all the lyrics relate well. It's also a very positive-sounding song, which is good for a revolution.
5. "I Want to Break Free" - Queen
If there's anything to cement this as a gay anthem in people's eyes, it's the music video, which shows all four members of Queen gender-bending. Combine that with the iconic words of Freddie Mercury, "I want to break free", and you have yourself a statement. Maybe a silly statement, as the video was meant to be a parody of Coronation Street, but it still works. Actually, the song has been regarded worldwide as an anthem for fighting against oppression. The video has not been as widely regarded, but such a powerful song statement can be appropriated for the use of other fights against injustice.
4. "True Colors" - Cyndi Lauper
Throughout Cyndi Lauper's career, she has been a strong supporter of LGBT rights. So it might be surprising to know that her song that has been widely accepted as a gay anthem was never really intended that way, or at least not explicitly so. However, Cyndi has always loved the fact that her song was adopted by the gay community, and has since co-founded the True Colors Fund, an organization dedicated to eradicating LGBT youth homelessness.
3. "I Am What I Am" - Gloria Gaynor
The second of two Gloria Gaynor songs to make the list, this one was composed for the musical La Cage aux Folles. The musical focuses on the prejudice a gay couple faces, and the song illustrates one character's pride in being a drag queen, and how he refuses to change for anyone. Once Gloria Gaynor had covered it, it had shown itself as a rallying cry for the gay pride movement.
2. "Born This Way" - Lady Gaga
The only hit song I've ever heard to include the word "transgender", Lady Gaga's gay anthem is all-inclusive. It was one of the few gay anthems on here actually meant to be written as a gay anthem, which prompts some to call it one of the best. In 2012, Lady Gaga launched the Born This Way Foundation, an organization dedicated to the empowerment of youth. Both the foundation and the song help to empower LGBT youth.
1. "Beautiful" - Christina Aguilera
No song has empowered the gay community more than "Beautiful" during the 21st century. Its message of self-empowerment and feeling beautiful has definitely resonated with the LGBT community. It has been covered as part of the It Gets Better Project, and Stonewall, an LGBT rights organization in the United Kingdom, named it the most empowering song of the decade for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. "Beautiful"'s simple yet powerful message and its effect on the gay community earns it the Number 1 spot.
5. "I Want to Break Free" - Queen
If there's anything to cement this as a gay anthem in people's eyes, it's the music video, which shows all four members of Queen gender-bending. Combine that with the iconic words of Freddie Mercury, "I want to break free", and you have yourself a statement. Maybe a silly statement, as the video was meant to be a parody of Coronation Street, but it still works. Actually, the song has been regarded worldwide as an anthem for fighting against oppression. The video has not been as widely regarded, but such a powerful song statement can be appropriated for the use of other fights against injustice.
4. "True Colors" - Cyndi Lauper
Throughout Cyndi Lauper's career, she has been a strong supporter of LGBT rights. So it might be surprising to know that her song that has been widely accepted as a gay anthem was never really intended that way, or at least not explicitly so. However, Cyndi has always loved the fact that her song was adopted by the gay community, and has since co-founded the True Colors Fund, an organization dedicated to eradicating LGBT youth homelessness.
3. "I Am What I Am" - Gloria Gaynor
The second of two Gloria Gaynor songs to make the list, this one was composed for the musical La Cage aux Folles. The musical focuses on the prejudice a gay couple faces, and the song illustrates one character's pride in being a drag queen, and how he refuses to change for anyone. Once Gloria Gaynor had covered it, it had shown itself as a rallying cry for the gay pride movement.
2. "Born This Way" - Lady Gaga
The only hit song I've ever heard to include the word "transgender", Lady Gaga's gay anthem is all-inclusive. It was one of the few gay anthems on here actually meant to be written as a gay anthem, which prompts some to call it one of the best. In 2012, Lady Gaga launched the Born This Way Foundation, an organization dedicated to the empowerment of youth. Both the foundation and the song help to empower LGBT youth.
1. "Beautiful" - Christina Aguilera
No song has empowered the gay community more than "Beautiful" during the 21st century. Its message of self-empowerment and feeling beautiful has definitely resonated with the LGBT community. It has been covered as part of the It Gets Better Project, and Stonewall, an LGBT rights organization in the United Kingdom, named it the most empowering song of the decade for lesbian, gay, and bisexual people. "Beautiful"'s simple yet powerful message and its effect on the gay community earns it the Number 1 spot.
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