random thoughts on music & entertainment
Of course, the biggest news in the music world was Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke. I already wrote about them at http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2013/08/over-reactions-to-miley-cyrus-and-robin.html
I also mentioned the controversy of Lorde's song "Royals" at http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2013/12/oh-lorde.html
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Macklemore and his producer Ryan Lewis had major hits this year with "Thrift Shop", "Can't Hold Us", and "White Walls".
But the song that had the most impact was "Same Love", with Mary Lambert singing the chorus. The song details the many struggles LGBT individuals face in trying to gain social acceptance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlVBg7_08n0
The song and video was actually released in late 2012, but didn't really get to start mainstream attention until 2013.
While Lady Gaga already had her "Born this Way" song, and LGBT artists had hits for years (and decades), those songs tend to be either the super-flamboyant (and therefore, easy to ridicule) or just general love songs that could apply to any relationships (ie. Elton John's classic "Can you feel the love tonight")
However, "Same Love" was the first song that address the LGBT acceptance issue in a very serious tone and got mainstream radio airplay. While it will take years to fully understand a song's impact, I will not be surprised that years later, many music fans will say
- "this song helped me understand my LGBT peers/siblings/cousins/etc",
- "this song was the first that express how I really felt"
- "this song save my life"
- "I wish this song came out when I was younger"
I'll go as far as saying "Same Love" will live on as a legendary social commentary song on the same level as
- Grandmaster Flash and Furious Five "The Message"
- Queen Latifah "UNITY"
- 2pac "Keep Ya Head Up"
- Nonchalant "5 o clock"
- Coolio "Gangsta's Paradise"
- "Self-Destruction" featuring KRS-ONE, Public Enemy, MC Lyte, Heavy D, Kool Moe Dee, and a few other rappers
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Hawaii's own Bruno Mars made my favorite song of the summer "Treasure"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPvuNsRccVw
In that video, the former "little Elvis" is portraying Micheal Jackson of the late 1970's.
And early next year, Bruno Mars will get closer to "King of Pop" status as he performs at the Super Bowl half-time.
Yes, I think Bruno Mars is the next King of Pop. A few years ago, I thought it would be Chris Brown, but that was until his infamous domestic violence case. But I think Bruno Mars is legit talent, has longevity potential, and (unlike Micheal Jackson or Chris Brown) hasn't been accused of abusing other people.
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Justin Bieber was the king of teen pop the last few years but is now moving out of the teen phase. However, I do think all these years of taunts of "Bieber is gay, Bieber is soft" has now got him to over-compensate with a wanabee gangsta swagger and acts of aggression . There is the time he attacked a paparazzi in London and in LA as well as a a DJ's assistant in South Korea.
He was also speeding through his luxury community in LA, and was confronted by former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson. This time, Bieber backed down when he was confronted by a real tough guy.
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/entertainment/2013/06/justin-bieber-feels-entitled-fumes-keyshawn-johnson/
In other Bieber news, his biggest hit of the year was "#thatPOWER" with will.i.am
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGIgXP9SvB8
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Eminem made a comeback this year with "Bezerk." The video featured legendary multi-genre producer Rick Rubin, and recreates scenes from Beastie Boys videos, mixed in with fight videos commonly seen on YouTube. It was like bringing aggression back to hip-hop.
Eminem also had a hit "The Monster" featuring Rihanna. Here Eminem reflects on the craziness of his rap career and the fame.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHkozMIXZ8w
And just when you thought Eminem had calmed down, he had a song "Rap God" which is a freestyle rhyme in which he just comes with whatever outrageous rhyme comes to mind. The reason it got attention was the line in which mentions "break a motherfucker’s table over the back of a couple faggots and crack it in half" --- again, Eminem using the word "faggots. Eminem still gets irritated when people protested his use of the word "faggot"
http://www.salon.com/2013/11/08/eminems_homophobic_lyrics_are_the_worst_kind_of_throwback/
I don’t know how to say this without saying it how I’ve said it a million times.
I say so much shit that’s tongue-in-cheek. I poke fun at other people, myself. But the real me sitting here right now talking to you has no issues with gay, straight, transgender, at all. I’m glad we live in a time where it’s really starting to feel like people can live their lives and express themselves.
Eminem likes to say stuff just to get attention. He has the right. He shouldn't be surprised if what he says to get attention ..............actually gets attention.
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Pitbull & Christina Aguillera had their hit "Feel This Moment" which will probably get played at many New Year's parties tonight!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jlI4uzZGjU
And you can hear samples of A-ha's "Take on Me" at various parts of the song, giving a sense of nostalgia to the 1980's generation, while still sounding relevant to this EDM generation.
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Kesha followed up her success with last year's "Die Young" with a few more party jams.
C'Mon (my favorite Kesha song for this year)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Rwwqqc5Gk4
"Crazy Kids" (featuring will.i.am)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdeFB7I0YH4
"Timber" (featuring Pitbull)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHUbLv4ThOo
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Drake is known as one of the top rappers of the last few years, but my favorite songs from Drake are the ones in which he sings instead of rap. I can't explain why, I just feel singing is Drake's under-utilized talent.
Drake's big hit of the year is his love song "Hold On, We're Going Home"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dls6lgpBDyY
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Pharell appeared on Robin Thicke's mega-hit "Blurred Lines" (also featuring T.I.) and he had another great hit record with Daft Punk called "Lucky"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NV6Rdv1a3I
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Now on to the EDM scene
How many groups end their career with their biggest hit ever?
The Swedish House Mafia been in the underground scene for years but they broke up this year. But they went out with a bang, not a whimper. Their last song was their first mainstream hit "Dont You Worry Child" (featuring John Martin)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1y6smkh6c-0
As you can see from their video, they made their goodbye performance very special and nostalgic, and gained a new audience that never heard of them before.
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Icona Pop had their big hit "I Don't Care, I love it"
but their best song of the year was "All Night".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4w9iUTiBrw (lyric video)
The video of the same song inspired by the 1991 film "Paris is Burning",
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LNuNJLlq8eQ (official extended version)
.
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Zedd produced 3 major hits this year, and I love them all.
However, within the EDM scene, the DJ/producer hogs most of the credit, the singer is usually gets 2nd fiddle in the credits. That's similar to the old-school rap, before mid-1980s when the MC got top billing in the credits.
So in the interest of fairness, I'll also mention the singer for these Zedd's songs.
--featuring Foxes -------"Clarity"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IxxstCcJlsc
-- featuring Matthew Koma -------"Spectrum"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IsuVMdnF8A0
-- featuring Haley Williams (of Paramore) -------"Stay the Night"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-gyZ35074k
Another example of the DJ/producer overshadowing the singer was Calvin Harris (the producer) song featuring the Ellie Goulding (the singer)
"I Need Your Love"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtKZKl7Bgu0
Also from the EDM scene Avicii (producer) featuring Aloe Blacc "Wake Me Up"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcrbM1l_BoI
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From very early in 2013, so early that by now, people forgot it's from this year, was the viral hit "Harlem Shake" by Bauer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qV0LHCHf-pE
Someone made a video with the song, starting with one guy dancing and everyone else ignoring that guy. Then everyone starts dancing like crazy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=384IUU43bfQ
And there's tons of copycat videos on YouTube.
However, the "Harlem Shake" was around decades before the viral hit, and it didn't look what you saw on those videos.
Harlem residents respond to the so-called "Harlem Shake" videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IGH2HEgWppc
Real Harlem kids doing the Real Harlem shake
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kNFFVGiaiU
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Also related to EDM, there's a vocalist that would overshadow any DJ/producer ----- PSY.
Last year, he took the world by storm with "Gangnam Style".
He had a follow-up song this year "Gentleman". Catchy song, but ridiculous video. Pulling chairs and other pranks is getting old already.
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Now back to the pop scene
Back in 2011, Rebecca Black had her viral hit "Friday". It was a fun, catchy song that got a severe over-reaction by cyber-bullies.
This year, Rebecca Black had another song "Saturday". Yeah, another day of the week. But this time, the singer is in high school and sings from a bit-more mature perspective. Even many who ridiculed "Friday" felt she did better with "Saturday".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVCzdpagXOQ
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Other great hits of the year
Bonnie McKee with her song "American Girl".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Uh6VZF0R5U
From Iceland, we got Of Monsters and Men
"Mountain Sound
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gEVaniPOmU
Pink and fun's Nate Reusse "Just Give me a Reason
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpQFFLBMEPI
Capital Cities "Safe and Sound"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47dtFZ8CFo8
Shiny Toy Guns "We'll Find Somewhere to Hide"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yv3RVVi8Zrk
Demi Lovato "Neon Lights"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9uDwppN5-w
3) Other Entertainment News
In the movie world, the big news was the death of actor Paul Walker. Walker gained some fame with his appearance in the high school football movie "Varsity Blues" But his biggest claim to fame was the "Fast and Furious" film series.
What I'm about to say might shock people, but here I go ........................... I have still never seen any of the "Fast and Furious" films.
OK, I'll wait until you'll get over your shock!
The main reason is that I hardly watch movies, period.
I haven't been to a movie theaters in years. I don't rent DVDs nor use Netflix.
OK, I know that's a lot of shock for some readers to handle.
But if you read the blog post http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2013/07/cars-and-tvs.html you might remember this
I'm much more of a music fan than a TV/film fan . TV shows are 30-60 minutes long. Films are about 2 hours long! When do I have time in my schedule to accommodate that?
Songs are just about 5 minutes long!
And a series of songs don't have to fit a 30-60 minute format!
Music is a much more time efficient form of entertainment for me!
This is why you might notice on my "year in review" blog posts, I talk a lot of the year's music, but not so much on TV/film.
I did watch "Varsity Blues" back around 1999, back when I was living with my grandma. But after the turn of the millennium, my TV/film use has been dramatically reduced. The "Fast and Furious" films series came shortly after that time.
Don't get me wrong, I already know who he was, and I already was aware of the "Fast and Furious" film series, I just never seen those films and don't have as much exposure to Paul Walker's work as other people do.
I did see this YouTube video about Paul Walker's charity "Reach Out Worldwide"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiGCqsq9aCE
I thought that was a cool video and I give my respect to Paul Walker for helping out people in need.
