Country Fried JT

 While Justin Timberlake is still not giving the world more sexy to bring back, he is busy trying to help artists on his fledgling Tennman label take off. The latest offering being FreeSol, a hip-hop/rock outfit based in JT's hometown of Memphis. He personally signed them after convincing them not to go to Atlanta to pursue their career in music. The result? Well, so far it's been a lot of cool promotions like the pop-up show in New York City and a couple of videos, but no national attention beyond the internet.
 Their latest single, "Role Model" follows "Hoodies on Hats Low" which also featured Timberlake. And while both of them include him, there is none of JT's signature falsetto. No. JT is going straight gangsta. And by that I mean he's trying to rap. Is it good? Umm, that depends on your definition of good. But as a fan, I've heard better and worse.
 More than that is the point of "Role Model." It is very interesting. Even though I think Justin is adapting the "jerk" character that people sometimes make him out to be, the greater point of the song is that artists/entertainers cannot possibly set the example some parents look for. And for someone who's been famous as long as Justin I think he understands the ridiculous demands the public has on him as someone who grew up in front of our eyes.

 Of course, the song is nowhere near as eloquent or interesting but I'll give Mr. Timberlake points for tackling something a lot of people don't want to address. I think we all have to stop considering celebrities role models, as hard as it may be. Yes they entertain us but they know no more about life than we do. Because if that were the case I still wouldn't laugh when Justin says yayer as if it were really cool.

Sweet as Candy?

 Mandy Moore is set to star in an ABC sitcom about the differences that exist between the family you're born into and the family that you create when you grow up. Mandy Moore has been one of the premier examples of a pop star turned actor in the past ten years, she has had roles in many movies and several guest television spots. Will this work? Maybe.
 This show sounds interesting in the fact that people don't talk about the families that are formed when they marry, it simply becomes the primary family they align themselves to. Experiences with your first family simply become more treasured memories. However, there is always an underlying conflict between who you side with. I think this will make for interesting television.
 I say this because I think ABC and other networks are finally coming off the remake train after the spectacular failures of several shows that were reboots, remakes, or reinterpretations of the past. The biggest success stories have been original comedies. Why? Because everyone needs a laugh right about now.
 Here's hoping Mandy Moore has a successful sitcom and ABC has a new hit.

Cutting Loose

 Today marks the release of the new Footloose. And while I haven't seen the original, I'm sure this remake has high expectations (at least in terms of box-office gross). It stars former Dancing with the Stars pro Julianne Hough and former backup dancer Kenny Wormald.
 Julianne Hough left Dancing with the Stars a couple of seasons back to pursue her career in country music as well as acting and so far she's succeeded in country music while only really jumping into acting just recently. Will this movie blow her up? I don't know. Lori Singer was the lead in the original and honestly, I'm trying to remember what she was in. However, Hough has two things going for her: charm and dance moves. And she's already had national exposure so this might work.
 Kenny Wormald, on the other hand, was on the MTV short-lived reality series Dance Life which chronicled the lives of backup dancer. He's danced in videos like "Promiscuous" and went on tour with Justin Timberlake in 2007. But he really is an unknown. Kevin Bacon was very much the same way and now there's a cultural phenomenon named after him (6 Degrees of Separation). But the challenge for Kenny is that he has to bring his own spin on the role and make it a way in for himself rather than be one of those people on Where are they Now?
 Only time will tell how this movie does, but let's just hope we forget about Blake Shelton's version of "Footloose."

Goodbye, Angels

 ABC has decided to cancel Charlie's Angels a mere four weeks into the season. Why? Ratings were criminally low. I think it just goes to show that the remake train is quickly running out of steam. While some remakes have succeeded, like Hawaii Five-O, others have not.
 The reason Charlie's Angels didn't take off was probably because of lack of a name star. I know Minka Kelly is on the show, but most of us only know her as Derek Jeter's latest ex-girlfriend. Also, Charlie's Angels didn't have much of a plot to begin with so of course it's hard to make something out of nothing but a string of long hair and visuals.
 What ABC should do is try to create a new drama based off of situations people are actually interested in rather than trying to make lightening strike twice. A show that actually holds our attention and not something that we already are familiar with.
 And they should really consider trying to do something different.

Lloyd Hits Below the Belt

If you've heard R&B crooner Lloyd's latest retro-fused track, "Miss That (Dedication to My Ex)" you would probably think this is a nice song about a broken hearted guy, right? Wrong. Lloyd is really singing about missing a certain part of his ex-girlfriend in the unedited version. I'm sure you're asking two questions, one: Who is Lloyd? And, two what part of his ex is he lamenting?
 Lloyd, is an R&B star with what I would consider fledgling success. He hasn't had a real huge hit to cross over on top 40, but he is very visible appearing on tracks by Lil' Wayne among others. Why is he talking about his ex-girlfriend in such a way? Well, I think you could probably attribute that to desperation for a hit and also just trying to seem cool.
  It's never cool to refer to a woman by her body parts, much less one of the most intimate parts of her body. To me, this song is a new low. Have people ran out of ideas so much that they think it's appropriate to promote the mistreatment of women by referencing them only by parts of their anatomy? Or have we accepted the fact that some people will do anything for attention rather than being cognitive of real artistry? I hope not.
 I've personally decided to boycott the song. If it comes on the radio, the dial will be turned. If it's on television, the channel will be changed. I've said many times free speech is great, but it gives no one any right to promote the degradation of women, the beliefs that sexuality is the key to romantic acceptance, and that you have to change for approval of anyone. I'm actually thinking of writing Lloyd, to let him know how I really feel because they only way change will happen is if someone speaks up.
 And believe me, you don't want to listen to this song at any cost.

The Worst Album Title Ever

 Jason Derulo has gotten on my nerves more than any other male popstar this year. Why? Unlike Bieber, he doesn't have the right grooming from an elder statesman like Usher and unlike Usher his songs get stuck in your head for the right wrong reasons (hook, beat, repetitiveness). Not only that, but he lacks vocal ability, songwriting ability, and originality. If you haven't seen his videos, it could best be summed up by a panelist on the MuchMusic show, Video on Trial: "Take a Justin Timberlake video and 1/2 the budget and this is what you get."
 And what's worse he's cockily named his album Future History. If that's not dumb, then it's at least misguided. His vocals sound like they've been processed through a vocoder and a cheese grater and the songs are so bad. I don't even know how people listen to his music, it's so bad. Aside from a deceptive sample he used on his very first single, I knew he was a hot mess one-hit wonder waiting to happen. Why?
 Essentially he embodies the true qualities of The Poor Man's Male Pop/R&B star. As I mentioned earlier, his videos are cheaply made. And the concepts also show no insight as he admitted the concept for "In My Head" was based on that for JT's "Like I Love You." Let me tell you, it's as much as an homage as Beyonce's video for "Countdown" is unique.
 But back to the fact of the title, Future History. I seriously doubt we'll remember him or this album in a couple of years, much less in twenty to twenty five years like any of Jason's influences. I just hope people stop buying his music so he has time to get a real job.

Bieber's Pulling A Britney

 I know that headline is alarming on the surface, but don't worry this has nothing to do with see-through bodysuits, snakes, or schoolgirl outfits. Justin Bieber is making major declarations about his personal life alot like Britney Spears did when she was just starting out. Bieber is claiming that he won't have kids until after he's married. Britney Spears infamously (and falsely) declared she's not having sex until she's married when the truth was she already had long before she blew up. Now nobody knows what Bieber is doing or not doing with girlfriend Selena Gomez but hopefully someone is going to talk to him about what he shouldn't be saying.
 Britney Spears was in the same situation, in a relationship with another high-powered teen idol, Justin Timberlake and made astoundingly grand claims about them marrying and living happily ever after. As we all know, it didn't end that way. It ended with "Cry Me A River" and for all intensive purposes, Bieber is painting himself in a corner much similar to Britney. Selena and the Biebs went public late last year after tons of rumors and sightings circulated. Britney and JT went public at the MTV VMAs in 2000 after the same kind of tabloid fodder eventually came to ahead. It was rumored that Britney was the one who pushed for the public announcement; similarly Justin wanted to tell everyone how crazy he was about Selena. Selena, to me reminds me a lot of Justin Timberlake back in the day. They both found themselves at the center of their respective projects, but tried to live without much fanfare while their respective romantic partners are caught up in a frenzy. Selena, also like JT values her privacy and tries not to talk too much about Justin unless she has to. JT, in a similar fashion would answer questions but it was obvious that wasn't what he wanted to do.
 And now with the constant quotes that Bieber is circulating he's pushing the relationship into a place that Selena isn't ready to consider just like Britney more than likely overdid the future talks with Justin. Not that it's a bad thing for young stars to talk about their future but to paint so much certainty into the situation forces their respective boyfriend/girlfriend into making heavy decisions that they are too young to face. Selena Gomez has yet to say how she sees her future and only recently has Justin Timberlake actually mentioned a future life with children.
 The point here? Never make a gland declarative statement about your relationship or personal life before you can know for sure what will happen. Britney eventually did have a marriage and children, just not with Justin. And Bieber, may end up doing the same if he doesn't quit while he's ahead. Besides, I'm sure he doesn't want to be the subject of the next breakup smash.

Bieber Babies/Marriage