Now, of course this isn't a celebrity gossip blog, but I was interested to hear that Lindsay Lohan got a tattoo of a Billy Joel song lyric. The lyric reads: “Clear as a crystal sharp as a knife / I feel like I’m in the prime of my life.” Now I've never heard this song, but the lyric is interesting. Primarily the "prime of my life" phrase. Isn't that a short period of time? Why would someone get this as a permanent marking? Well, I don't know because I don't have any tattoos.
But song lyrics are poetic, they are memorable. Whatever reason there are some song lyrics I think are pretty awesome but as tattoos, well let's explore that.
"Promiscuous", Nelly Furtado
Lyric: "I'm out of this world come with me to my planet."
This could work, if you're from Mars. It would probably be a good conversation starter, but really. This would be fun for a time, but forever, I'm not so sure.
"Express Yourself," Madonna
Lyric: "Don't go for second best, baby. Put your love to the test."
This is one of my all-time favorite Madonna songs, so I'm partial. I think if you like to empower yourself or have an activist viewpoint, this would be awesome. But just to say this to yourself is awesome enough.
"What Goes Around...Comes Around," Justin Timberlake
Lyric: "What goes around, comes around, goes around comes back around."
Again, I'm seriously partial but this is for anyone who believes in karma, dharma, and maybe even some Greg! I think if you like to remember consequence and action, as well as mom's advice, this is for you.
"In My Life", The Beatles
Lyric: "In my life, I've loved them all"
This song is so beautiful and who doesn't love the Beatles? But above all, it reminds us of love and memories. This is great for the sentimental and those with philosophical musings about pop songs. I guess I should count myself in that club.
Lohan Tattoo
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Gaga Does It Again
Lady Gaga or should I say Jo Calderone from Jersey has some explaining to do. Her act was not completely original as thought. The first pop star to perform in drag was Annie Lennox at the 1984 Grammys. This isn't the first time she's been accused of plagiarism in the pop world.
A couple of months ago Bette Midler herself pointed out that she was the first pop star to don a mermaid outfit onstage. There was also the debate over rather or not she bit off Madonna's style in the song "Born This Way" which rhythm sounds eerily similar to "Express Yourself."
Now while she gets credit for being unique, she also as Kelly Osbourne stated, needs to provide proper credit. It's like when a student writes a paper and deliberately or unintentionally plagiarizes and then doesn't acknowledge it. It can only get you so far.
In popular culture, it's better to cite your references or influences than to just let the media or other people catch on to what you are doing. It would be better if Lady Gaga said that she was influenced by past artists than say, I thought of this, but I love this, which is what she always seems to say.
Let's hope she'll be more astute to give credit before the public starts to fail her.
Gaga Copying Lennox?
A couple of months ago Bette Midler herself pointed out that she was the first pop star to don a mermaid outfit onstage. There was also the debate over rather or not she bit off Madonna's style in the song "Born This Way" which rhythm sounds eerily similar to "Express Yourself."
Now while she gets credit for being unique, she also as Kelly Osbourne stated, needs to provide proper credit. It's like when a student writes a paper and deliberately or unintentionally plagiarizes and then doesn't acknowledge it. It can only get you so far.
In popular culture, it's better to cite your references or influences than to just let the media or other people catch on to what you are doing. It would be better if Lady Gaga said that she was influenced by past artists than say, I thought of this, but I love this, which is what she always seems to say.
Let's hope she'll be more astute to give credit before the public starts to fail her.
Gaga Copying Lennox?
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
The Song was Better Than the Video
Everyone always talks about how the book was better than the movie, but what about the song being better than the video? With all of the singles released by artists, there isn't always a slam dunk in a video. Below, I'll give you some examples of what I mean.
Katy Perry, "Firework"
I know this just won Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards, but I beg to differ. Even though this was Katy's third consecutive #1 single, the video doesn't have that affect to me. This video is typical of message songs which try to use real people as part of the treatment (i.e., Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful"). The effects looks somewhat cool, but there's not enough in my mind to make this different or memorable enough to capture an award as big as the Video of the Year.
Drake, "Best I Ever Had"
Mr. Drizzy Drake thought he was doing a good thing when he got Kanye West to direct his debut clip. Unfortunately, he was wrong. When the song lyrics directly contradicts the content of the video, there is an inherent disconnect. The scantily clad girls in a gym who are trying to act athletic just give this video a dwarfed, cliched effect. Fortunately, he redeemed himself in his successive clips.
Justin Timberlake, "Senorita"
This video was better made unreleased. It's obvious that this is the last video from his debut album because he's done so much in the last three videos, he can't possibly bother to think enough for one more decent video. Scantily clad women dancing in a club is about as original as butter on toast for breakfast. Not only that, but the stilted feel of the video I believe corresponds to the fact that this was a sad radio edit rather than the full brilliance of the song. Gee whiz, JT, gee whiz.
Katy Perry, "Firework"
I know this just won Video of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards, but I beg to differ. Even though this was Katy's third consecutive #1 single, the video doesn't have that affect to me. This video is typical of message songs which try to use real people as part of the treatment (i.e., Christina Aguilera's "Beautiful"). The effects looks somewhat cool, but there's not enough in my mind to make this different or memorable enough to capture an award as big as the Video of the Year.
Drake, "Best I Ever Had"
Mr. Drizzy Drake thought he was doing a good thing when he got Kanye West to direct his debut clip. Unfortunately, he was wrong. When the song lyrics directly contradicts the content of the video, there is an inherent disconnect. The scantily clad girls in a gym who are trying to act athletic just give this video a dwarfed, cliched effect. Fortunately, he redeemed himself in his successive clips.
Justin Timberlake, "Senorita"
This video was better made unreleased. It's obvious that this is the last video from his debut album because he's done so much in the last three videos, he can't possibly bother to think enough for one more decent video. Scantily clad women dancing in a club is about as original as butter on toast for breakfast. Not only that, but the stilted feel of the video I believe corresponds to the fact that this was a sad radio edit rather than the full brilliance of the song. Gee whiz, JT, gee whiz.
The $100 Million Man
If you haven't heard Michael Vick just signed a deal for a reported $100 million for six years of play with the Philadelphia Eagles. $40 million is guaranteed. He will be with the Eagles through the 2016 season. What does this mean? Well besides the fact he's already made more money than most of us even dream of in a lifetime, he stands to have more money than a small nation. But my question is, why now?
In this economy most of us, can't barely get arrested, let alone get a job, but job security? That's gone the way of the landline phone. It barely exists. People are making ends meet doing anything the can and now people hear that Michael Vick probably will never have to work again after 2016.
The Eagles are going to use Michael Vick as a franchise player. The franchise player means essentially that Michael Vick will serve as the face and the prototype for what all other Eagles' players should be. This is remarkable considering that not so long ago Michael Vick was one of the most vilified sports figures in recent memory for his association with dog-fighting. But now he's rebounded in a big way.
The only problem with this story is that it doesn't happen like this in everyday life. Once you have a criminal record, it sours the rest of your life. It patterns how people see and associate with you before they can get to know you and no matter how hard you try, this stigma will follow everything you do, especially getting honest work.
I give Michael Vick a ton of credit for owning up to his past and confronting the various parties who doubted his character. But I still feel uneasy talking about this kind of money for anyone who works for an average a year when there are teachers, coaches, mentors, and other figures who influence our everyday lives and don't get merely as much as they deserve.
I just hope that in a few years we won't be talking about the $100 million man who blew his second chance.
Michael Vick $100 Million
In this economy most of us, can't barely get arrested, let alone get a job, but job security? That's gone the way of the landline phone. It barely exists. People are making ends meet doing anything the can and now people hear that Michael Vick probably will never have to work again after 2016.
The Eagles are going to use Michael Vick as a franchise player. The franchise player means essentially that Michael Vick will serve as the face and the prototype for what all other Eagles' players should be. This is remarkable considering that not so long ago Michael Vick was one of the most vilified sports figures in recent memory for his association with dog-fighting. But now he's rebounded in a big way.
The only problem with this story is that it doesn't happen like this in everyday life. Once you have a criminal record, it sours the rest of your life. It patterns how people see and associate with you before they can get to know you and no matter how hard you try, this stigma will follow everything you do, especially getting honest work.
I give Michael Vick a ton of credit for owning up to his past and confronting the various parties who doubted his character. But I still feel uneasy talking about this kind of money for anyone who works for an average a year when there are teachers, coaches, mentors, and other figures who influence our everyday lives and don't get merely as much as they deserve.
I just hope that in a few years we won't be talking about the $100 million man who blew his second chance.
Michael Vick $100 Million
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