but I was playing basketball and landed wrong on ny right ankle. It's swollen and hurts like a mug!
Perhaps tomorrow I'll feel up to it. For now, more ibuprofen!
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Waxing and waning
You know what song is getting played into the ground?
When Forget You was a novelty hit on the web, it was fun. The retro stylings of Cee-Lo Green made for something fun and fresh. Now it's been driven into the ground. Please please PLEASE kill this song.
This song is growing on me for some reason:
He's not the best singer, the beat is average, and the lyrics are kinda corny. Against all odds this song is growing on me. It's nothing amazing, but it's pleasant, a welcome turn from some of the ear-achingly bad music on the radio today.
When Forget You was a novelty hit on the web, it was fun. The retro stylings of Cee-Lo Green made for something fun and fresh. Now it's been driven into the ground. Please please PLEASE kill this song.
This song is growing on me for some reason:
He's not the best singer, the beat is average, and the lyrics are kinda corny. Against all odds this song is growing on me. It's nothing amazing, but it's pleasant, a welcome turn from some of the ear-achingly bad music on the radio today.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Kirko Bangz - What Your Name Iz?
It seems all you need for success these days on a single is to sound a little like Lil' Wayne.
Verse 1
"girl what's up
I met you in tha club
next thing I know you was naked in my tub
yo panties over there yo bra over there
I swear to God I tell that p*ssy get up over here
like I am scorpion
no mortal kombat
but I swear to God she get that d*ck and come back
call me mr comeback
come back shaun michael's
swear to God I hope that little woman got geiko
we bustin out her windows
now we in tha car
I say b*tch where you going she say I forgot my bra
Ii tell her gotd*mmm
b*tch here come yo maannnn"
So to sum up, you met a girl in the club, then had sex with her. Your sexual prowess is so high that she'll come back, despite the fact that she already has a man. In a world where growing numbers of people have AIDS, HIV, and other STI's are growing resistant to treatment, why do we abide by song advocating one night stands?
"all I wanna know girl what yo name is
I see them other n*ggas they be on that lame sh*t
and I can take care of you and them girls you came with
but first you gotta tell me what yo f*ckin name is
what yo name is
girl what yo name is
what yo name is
what yo f*ckin name is
what yo name is tell me what yo name is
and I am so cooler than them dudes you came with"
AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! You don't know the name of the woman who you bedded? The chorus to this song, now being played on radio stations and listened to by millions of people is a man asking a woman what her name is? What kind of folks are listening to this and deciding to nod their heads mindlessly?!?!
The second verse ends in an extremely awful manner.
"just let do this sh*t
let me chop it up and let me screw this sh*t
i say (i say) let me do this sh*t
ch ch ch chop it (chop it up) and let me screw you b*tch"
How crass can you be? There's no attempt at seduction. Just straight up "Let me screw you b*tch."
The rest of this song is another repeat of the chorus and him repeatedly talking about her riding his d*ck.
I wish I could like this song. Listening to it a few times to write this post I really got to feeling the beat. THe guitar, the laid back groove... I just can't stand the message on top of it. Listening on Youtube, Kirko Bangz isn't an untalented rapper. I just want to see him garner some success on something other than the same old, lame old content like this song. I'm all for artists putting their own spin on song themes, but this type of song, disrespectful of women doesn't need anyone else performing it.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Gorilla Zoe - Twisted (ft. Lil John)
Do you remember when Lil' John was a certified hit maker? Get Low, Yeah... the man had a string of hits. A Lil' John feature was a sure fire way to be at the top of the charts.
That time has passed, but Gorilla Zoe didn't get that memo.
Good grief, I heard this song and then checked out the video, and my first thought was the same as the YouTube commentors. Gorilla Zoe is trying to be Timbaland!
Dude, we have plenty of dance and drink in the club songs, and we didn't need your lane addition to the genre.
There's not anything in the lyrics worth dissecting. Gorilla Zoe needs to develop some musical coherence before he tries to do any reinventions. He came out initially as part of Boyz n da Hood, dropped Hood N*gga as his first solo single, and then went off the rails. When he released the song Lost, I believed it, because it was a terrible departure. Not even a Lil' Wayne verse could save that (primarily because it was one of Wayne's heavily auto-tuned verses. Never a good look).
Zoe should just accept the fact that he was a one hit wonder, and quit while he's ahead. This whack track isn't doing him any favors. Zoe isn't being Zoe on this track, he's trying to follow a road to success that's been forged by others. (That only work if you're Lady Gaga).
That time has passed, but Gorilla Zoe didn't get that memo.
Good grief, I heard this song and then checked out the video, and my first thought was the same as the YouTube commentors. Gorilla Zoe is trying to be Timbaland!
Dude, we have plenty of dance and drink in the club songs, and we didn't need your lane addition to the genre.
There's not anything in the lyrics worth dissecting. Gorilla Zoe needs to develop some musical coherence before he tries to do any reinventions. He came out initially as part of Boyz n da Hood, dropped Hood N*gga as his first solo single, and then went off the rails. When he released the song Lost, I believed it, because it was a terrible departure. Not even a Lil' Wayne verse could save that (primarily because it was one of Wayne's heavily auto-tuned verses. Never a good look).
Zoe should just accept the fact that he was a one hit wonder, and quit while he's ahead. This whack track isn't doing him any favors. Zoe isn't being Zoe on this track, he's trying to follow a road to success that's been forged by others. (That only work if you're Lady Gaga).
Monday, April 25, 2011
Rocko - Goin Steady
Hey all my Savannah people, do you remember this 2001 joint by Camoflauge?
Yeah, today's song is essentially the same thing.
Rocko delivers a spoken word intro that really gets to the crux of the matter.
"Hey my name is Rocko and I'm an addict
I'm addicted to money
I love fast cars, I love jewelry,
I love p*ssy
but I don't love these women
I dont know what it is about me, I dont know, I just can't do it
I just cant help it, I refuse to be in a commited relationship because, I just..
I just dont like that sh*t ya know? I'm sorry I need help"
I don't think this man has a heart. He doesn't love women, but he loves sex. No wonder he's so cool with Gucci Mane, he expressed this same sentiment on I Don't Love Her. The guy clearly does need some help if he views the woman as nothing more than a sex object. I can only pray he never has any children, particularly daughters. He would have no frame of reference to begin to communicate with them!
Let's take a look at a few selections from this manifesto of disfuctionality.
"if you looking for a dude girl I ain't yo guy
I'm not gone come over ever day
I'm not gone talk to you
on the phone all the time you f*ckin stalker you
look, I ain't tryin to be rude but
I ain't tryin' to eat your food
I'ma keep it funky with you girl we aint that cool"
Sure, he'll have sex with you, but don't expect a relationship here. Talking to you? Every day? That's too much like having a stalker for Rocko here. No, he has to be free to pursue other women. And why are you getting so upset? It's not like he's trying to eat your food. No, you two aren't on the "share a sandwich" level of a relationship yet.
"you ain't my main squeeze it ain't like we go togetha
you just my little buddy we ain't going steady
girl we just be f*cking we ain't going steady
you just my fun girl baby you know betta"
This is a portion of the delightful chorus. Women, if you have a "friends with benefits" situation, know he's got the same arrangement with as many girls as he can. Why do women consort in these modern day harems?
The second verse is the same as the first. He needs a party girl. He doesn't mind being boyfriend number 2, he's "just here to pleasure you."
People, let's think critically about a song before we mindlessly bob our heads and led the words sink into our subconscious minds. Listen to what it's saying before you start moving your body to the beat. Women, this is a song about a man who is just using you for sex, and he's putting that on the table and expecting you to be cool with this. We see falling marriage rates across the board, and ladies, falling for lines like this (because let's be honest, this is "art" imitating life) is why. You don't have to accept being part of a harem. There is a guy out there who cares for you as a person, not just for that good good.
Dudes doing this, go get some help. Monogamy is a wonderful thing, and beyond that, it's not healthy to view women just as sexual objects.
Yeah, today's song is essentially the same thing.
Rocko delivers a spoken word intro that really gets to the crux of the matter.
"Hey my name is Rocko and I'm an addict
I'm addicted to money
I love fast cars, I love jewelry,
I love p*ssy
but I don't love these women
I dont know what it is about me, I dont know, I just can't do it
I just cant help it, I refuse to be in a commited relationship because, I just..
I just dont like that sh*t ya know? I'm sorry I need help"
I don't think this man has a heart. He doesn't love women, but he loves sex. No wonder he's so cool with Gucci Mane, he expressed this same sentiment on I Don't Love Her. The guy clearly does need some help if he views the woman as nothing more than a sex object. I can only pray he never has any children, particularly daughters. He would have no frame of reference to begin to communicate with them!
Let's take a look at a few selections from this manifesto of disfuctionality.
"if you looking for a dude girl I ain't yo guy
I'm not gone come over ever day
I'm not gone talk to you
on the phone all the time you f*ckin stalker you
look, I ain't tryin to be rude but
I ain't tryin' to eat your food
I'ma keep it funky with you girl we aint that cool"
Sure, he'll have sex with you, but don't expect a relationship here. Talking to you? Every day? That's too much like having a stalker for Rocko here. No, he has to be free to pursue other women. And why are you getting so upset? It's not like he's trying to eat your food. No, you two aren't on the "share a sandwich" level of a relationship yet.
"you ain't my main squeeze it ain't like we go togetha
you just my little buddy we ain't going steady
girl we just be f*cking we ain't going steady
you just my fun girl baby you know betta"
This is a portion of the delightful chorus. Women, if you have a "friends with benefits" situation, know he's got the same arrangement with as many girls as he can. Why do women consort in these modern day harems?
The second verse is the same as the first. He needs a party girl. He doesn't mind being boyfriend number 2, he's "just here to pleasure you."
People, let's think critically about a song before we mindlessly bob our heads and led the words sink into our subconscious minds. Listen to what it's saying before you start moving your body to the beat. Women, this is a song about a man who is just using you for sex, and he's putting that on the table and expecting you to be cool with this. We see falling marriage rates across the board, and ladies, falling for lines like this (because let's be honest, this is "art" imitating life) is why. You don't have to accept being part of a harem. There is a guy out there who cares for you as a person, not just for that good good.
Dudes doing this, go get some help. Monogamy is a wonderful thing, and beyond that, it's not healthy to view women just as sexual objects.
Friday, April 22, 2011
One Republic - Secrets
I hate this song. I hate the chorus. I can't really put my finger on why though. Something about it just annoys me. The singer says he's sick of all the insincere, but he sounds insincere.
Rock today just sounds too slick and overproduced. There isn't any soul in the music, it's just kind of there. I want some substance in my music. Such bands exist (Radiohead and Muse come to mind), but popular rock is just embarrassing.
I think you can listen to a CD and determine if it's going to be of lasting quality, or is going to be a guilty pleasure. Back in the late 90's and early 2000's I knew that Limp Bizkit was going to be a guilty pleasure. You didn't have to be a genius to know that in 10 years Nookie was going to make you laugh. I also knew that Smashing Pumpkins had several discs that would largely hold up. I'll never give my son a copy of Significant Other, but I'll happily pass along Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness.
I want to start hearing some cultivated quality music, something that isn't just a one-hit wonder.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
OH SNAP! NEW LADY GAGA!
Just kidding.
Buy if you play this Eurythmics track for a Gaga fan, they'd probably be fooled. She didn't just rip of Madonna.
I've been asked before if I would cover "Born this Way" and I declined to do so. I don't like the song, but it's for the same reasons everyone else criticizes it. It's like a Madonna track from the 80's. I've heard that before. I'm also not going to touch her new song "Judas" beyond this post. Look folks, Gaga is trying to keep her spotlight vibrant, and what better way than to tweak the noses of the Christians, and right around Easter too! The song sucks, but I won't do a full post on it. I want to do as little as possible to contribute to her web traffic.
Buy if you play this Eurythmics track for a Gaga fan, they'd probably be fooled. She didn't just rip of Madonna.
I've been asked before if I would cover "Born this Way" and I declined to do so. I don't like the song, but it's for the same reasons everyone else criticizes it. It's like a Madonna track from the 80's. I've heard that before. I'm also not going to touch her new song "Judas" beyond this post. Look folks, Gaga is trying to keep her spotlight vibrant, and what better way than to tweak the noses of the Christians, and right around Easter too! The song sucks, but I won't do a full post on it. I want to do as little as possible to contribute to her web traffic.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
New Weird Al!
http://www.weirdal.com/
He has a blog post on the front page that explains why this song is free on YouTube, instead of being on his album. To make a long story short, he came up with the idea, asked permission for release, and she said "record it and then I'll let you know." He recorded it, and she said no.
I've never been a Gaga fan, and this is super lame of her.
Good can still come of this though. Al had a parody of "You're Beautiful" called "You're Pitiful" that would have been the lead single on Straight Outta Lynwood. James Blunt gave the ok, but Atlantic said no. What did we get for his troubles? "White and Nerdy"!
I hope this will inspire Al and he can have another hit on the magnitude of "White and Nerdy."
UPDATE UPDATE
Lady Gaga's manager admitted he did not send the parody to Gaga. She's now heard it and approved it. I can't wait to see the video!
(No bad song today. Going to a dinner after work at Imperial Fez, and I don't think composing a blog post at dinner would be polite.)
He has a blog post on the front page that explains why this song is free on YouTube, instead of being on his album. To make a long story short, he came up with the idea, asked permission for release, and she said "record it and then I'll let you know." He recorded it, and she said no.
I've never been a Gaga fan, and this is super lame of her.
Good can still come of this though. Al had a parody of "You're Beautiful" called "You're Pitiful" that would have been the lead single on Straight Outta Lynwood. James Blunt gave the ok, but Atlantic said no. What did we get for his troubles? "White and Nerdy"!
I hope this will inspire Al and he can have another hit on the magnitude of "White and Nerdy."
UPDATE UPDATE
Lady Gaga's manager admitted he did not send the parody to Gaga. She's now heard it and approved it. I can't wait to see the video!
(No bad song today. Going to a dinner after work at Imperial Fez, and I don't think composing a blog post at dinner would be polite.)
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Gucci Mane - I Don't Love Her
Unless you've been living under a rock, you've heard about Gucci Mane's recent arrest. He picked up a woman under the guise of taking her to breakfast. When he had her in the car he informed her he'd rather go to a hotel, and offered her $150. She declined his invitation, and he pushed her out of the car.
As of this writing, he's in prison still. Could he make the $5,000 bail? Sure! But then he'd leave the Dekalb County prisons and head to Fulton County jail because of this newest probation violation.
I hope for the sake of good music, he stays in prison for a long, long time.
Now... on to today's song!
(The video is edited, and if you want to test your stomach, check out the numerous unedited versions on Youtube.)
We start off with the chorus.
"I love things about her (but I don't love her)
I love the way she treat me (but I don't love her)
I love the way she f*ck me (but I don't love her)
I love the way she suck me (but I still don't love her)"
WHAT IS THIS CRAP?!?!?!
This is the chorus to the song. I know most rappers hate women, but this takes it to a whole new level. A chorus that blatantly says "you're a sex object and nothing more."
"I'ma trapholic all I do is ball
Tear the mall down now trick
Don't flag me down see me down town rarri
I didn't mean to sh*t on you, excuse me sorry"
... You have money, a nice car, and go to the mall. Sounds more like a chick bragging to me.
"Verse so slick make my video marvelous"
Aside from the fact that this verse is one of the weakest that Gucci has ever dropped, how exactly can a verse make a video better? Music videos live and die by their artistic direction, not really by what is said during the video.
"Polo to the floor Ralph down like Carlton
Try the CEO they gone put you on a carton
I didn't mean no harm but my diamonds are dumb plenty rocks on my arm"
Can we get past the Fresh Prince references?
Does anyone think they'll end up missing if they mess with Gucci Mane?
"Me & Rocko the Don, East Atlanta the Slum
Where I'm from got a gun in the club havin fun
And after its done no more coaches to call it
After party bachelor party they shudda called it"
I wonder why he's calling East Atlanta out as the slum. There are sketchy, slummy parts all over Atlanta.
I hope he does take a gun into a club so he can get busted for violating his probation again. Officers, I'd say bragging about it on record is probable cause.
(Rocko)
"Man I love the way she shake it
I like her cause she groovy
Love to see her naked I love to watch a movie
I like her she the coolest"
This is the probably the least offensive part of the song. You like her because she's groovy and the coolest. You also like to see her naked, but compared to the rest of the song that's downright tame.
"Good head on her shoulders I love the way she use it
Aye I like the way she f*ck me love the way she suck me
Love how everytime we play she catch it like rugby"
Yeah, there we go! Get to the sex talk. Liking the way she uses her head, haven't heard that one before. Except in multiple songs over the past several years!
"I love she know whats up with me she love me cause I'm gutta
I like a lot about her though but still don't love her
Still super cool though yeah she my lil' buddy
She be sharper than a pencil
Yeah she my lil' cutty
Shawty say I'm dirty but when I see her she wanna hug me
Super swagga carats mack all my b*tches love that"
Can we please have some originality? I've said it over and over, and I really mean it. How many times do we have to hear about girls liking a rapper because he's so gutta, so hood, as such a nice car or great jewelry? It's boring, and I wish people would look past a hot beat and see it.
(Webbie)
"Love how she be swallowin' my n*t then she be throwin me up
I like the way she f*ck but still I hate when she be blowin me up"
And we start off nastier than the previous two imbeciles. I wonder if he can get grosser?
"All the bustas ah sweat her only ballers can get her
She ah flipper I love she do whatever I tell her"
You're with a submissive, promiscuous woman who only gets with men who have money.
"Yeah I like her a lot but still don't love her at all
I hate p*ssy *ss n*ggas & I'm in love with the mall"
You're in love with the mall? I hope I'm mishearing the lyric, but it would fit in with how much rappers these days brag about jewelry and clothes. It's all a little suspect.
"I got a crush on white diamonds & I got a thang for kush
that sour diesel my favorite you betta watch how you look"
You gotta make a drug reference or two.
"Quick to take ya lil diva & treat that hoe like a sl*t
She was suckin on gucci I had my d*ck in her butt"
SERIOUSLY? This line came out of someone's mouth, was recorded, and then it was pressed on to CD's and sold to people who willing bought it. What is wrong with these people? People are free to do what they wish in their bedrooms, but please, keep it off of the airwaves. How many kids are gonna hear this on the radio, then easily find an unedited version? When did songs with anal sex references become alright?
"You know I'm bad b*tch crazy 187's my favorite
Infatuated with money free boosie boo the streets crazy"
And we end with a cry to free incarcerated rapped Lil' Boosie, who is in jail on murder charges. Every rapper in jail isn't there for unjust reasons. Learn some common sense.
I don't see this song on the charts yet, but here in Atlanta, home to Gucci Mane, it's getting massive radio play. It's only a matter of time before it attempts to spread.
As of this writing, he's in prison still. Could he make the $5,000 bail? Sure! But then he'd leave the Dekalb County prisons and head to Fulton County jail because of this newest probation violation.
I hope for the sake of good music, he stays in prison for a long, long time.
Now... on to today's song!
(The video is edited, and if you want to test your stomach, check out the numerous unedited versions on Youtube.)
We start off with the chorus.
"I love things about her (but I don't love her)
I love the way she treat me (but I don't love her)
I love the way she f*ck me (but I don't love her)
I love the way she suck me (but I still don't love her)"
WHAT IS THIS CRAP?!?!?!
This is the chorus to the song. I know most rappers hate women, but this takes it to a whole new level. A chorus that blatantly says "you're a sex object and nothing more."
"I'ma trapholic all I do is ball
Tear the mall down now trick
Don't flag me down see me down town rarri
I didn't mean to sh*t on you, excuse me sorry"
... You have money, a nice car, and go to the mall. Sounds more like a chick bragging to me.
"Verse so slick make my video marvelous"
Aside from the fact that this verse is one of the weakest that Gucci has ever dropped, how exactly can a verse make a video better? Music videos live and die by their artistic direction, not really by what is said during the video.
"Polo to the floor Ralph down like Carlton
Try the CEO they gone put you on a carton
I didn't mean no harm but my diamonds are dumb plenty rocks on my arm"
Can we get past the Fresh Prince references?
Does anyone think they'll end up missing if they mess with Gucci Mane?
"Me & Rocko the Don, East Atlanta the Slum
Where I'm from got a gun in the club havin fun
And after its done no more coaches to call it
After party bachelor party they shudda called it"
I wonder why he's calling East Atlanta out as the slum. There are sketchy, slummy parts all over Atlanta.
I hope he does take a gun into a club so he can get busted for violating his probation again. Officers, I'd say bragging about it on record is probable cause.
(Rocko)
"Man I love the way she shake it
I like her cause she groovy
Love to see her naked I love to watch a movie
I like her she the coolest"
This is the probably the least offensive part of the song. You like her because she's groovy and the coolest. You also like to see her naked, but compared to the rest of the song that's downright tame.
"Good head on her shoulders I love the way she use it
Aye I like the way she f*ck me love the way she suck me
Love how everytime we play she catch it like rugby"
Yeah, there we go! Get to the sex talk. Liking the way she uses her head, haven't heard that one before. Except in multiple songs over the past several years!
"I love she know whats up with me she love me cause I'm gutta
I like a lot about her though but still don't love her
Still super cool though yeah she my lil' buddy
She be sharper than a pencil
Yeah she my lil' cutty
Shawty say I'm dirty but when I see her she wanna hug me
Super swagga carats mack all my b*tches love that"
Can we please have some originality? I've said it over and over, and I really mean it. How many times do we have to hear about girls liking a rapper because he's so gutta, so hood, as such a nice car or great jewelry? It's boring, and I wish people would look past a hot beat and see it.
(Webbie)
"Love how she be swallowin' my n*t then she be throwin me up
I like the way she f*ck but still I hate when she be blowin me up"
And we start off nastier than the previous two imbeciles. I wonder if he can get grosser?
"All the bustas ah sweat her only ballers can get her
She ah flipper I love she do whatever I tell her"
You're with a submissive, promiscuous woman who only gets with men who have money.
"Yeah I like her a lot but still don't love her at all
I hate p*ssy *ss n*ggas & I'm in love with the mall"
You're in love with the mall? I hope I'm mishearing the lyric, but it would fit in with how much rappers these days brag about jewelry and clothes. It's all a little suspect.
"I got a crush on white diamonds & I got a thang for kush
that sour diesel my favorite you betta watch how you look"
You gotta make a drug reference or two.
"Quick to take ya lil diva & treat that hoe like a sl*t
She was suckin on gucci I had my d*ck in her butt"
SERIOUSLY? This line came out of someone's mouth, was recorded, and then it was pressed on to CD's and sold to people who willing bought it. What is wrong with these people? People are free to do what they wish in their bedrooms, but please, keep it off of the airwaves. How many kids are gonna hear this on the radio, then easily find an unedited version? When did songs with anal sex references become alright?
"You know I'm bad b*tch crazy 187's my favorite
Infatuated with money free boosie boo the streets crazy"
And we end with a cry to free incarcerated rapped Lil' Boosie, who is in jail on murder charges. Every rapper in jail isn't there for unjust reasons. Learn some common sense.
I don't see this song on the charts yet, but here in Atlanta, home to Gucci Mane, it's getting massive radio play. It's only a matter of time before it attempts to spread.
Monday, April 18, 2011
Gucci Man can wait until tomorrow!
Today I'm gonna take a moment and be a little mushy.
Four years ago I met a good looking lady and we started dating. Nine months after dating her, I asked her to marry me, and she said yes. Fifteen months later, on April 18, 2009, we exchanged vows at the church where we met with my father officiating the ceremony and became man and wife.
Happy second Anniversary to my lovely wife. I love the life we've made together. You've brought so much joy into my life. I love our son (technically my stepson to all the strangers reading this, but what's a little biology? I've been there since he was not quite 2. He's my son.) to death as well. I have a wonderful family, and I can't wait to expand it and have many more years together.
With the mushiness out of the way, I'd like to keep it musically related. I'll throw in the introduction music from our reception.
First, this was the groomsmen song:
The bridesmaids came out dancing to this number: (corrected)
Last but not least, my new bride and I came out to this:
That's how awesome my wife is. We came out to freakin' Thunderstruck!
Tomorrow, the madness resumes. On deck is One Republic, Lil' Wayne, and the teased Gucci Mane.
(Big thanks to my big sister Michelle for redesigning my blog. All those older, hard to read posts should look much better.)
Four years ago I met a good looking lady and we started dating. Nine months after dating her, I asked her to marry me, and she said yes. Fifteen months later, on April 18, 2009, we exchanged vows at the church where we met with my father officiating the ceremony and became man and wife.
Happy second Anniversary to my lovely wife. I love the life we've made together. You've brought so much joy into my life. I love our son (technically my stepson to all the strangers reading this, but what's a little biology? I've been there since he was not quite 2. He's my son.) to death as well. I have a wonderful family, and I can't wait to expand it and have many more years together.
With the mushiness out of the way, I'd like to keep it musically related. I'll throw in the introduction music from our reception.
First, this was the groomsmen song:
The bridesmaids came out dancing to this number: (corrected)
Last but not least, my new bride and I came out to this:
That's how awesome my wife is. We came out to freakin' Thunderstruck!
Tomorrow, the madness resumes. On deck is One Republic, Lil' Wayne, and the teased Gucci Mane.
(Big thanks to my big sister Michelle for redesigning my blog. All those older, hard to read posts should look much better.)
Thursday, April 14, 2011
A preview of tomorrow
Take a listen of things to come. This is probably the worst thing I've ever heard in my life.
Put in a Windows 95 Install CD...
and you'll find today's Good Tunes Thursday!
I remember this video blowing my mind when I first got a Windows 95 PC. A music video on my computer?! WHOOOOAAAA!
It's a great video, and such a great, great song. It certainly added a nice touch of levity after hearing some so, so news.
I remember this video blowing my mind when I first got a Windows 95 PC. A music video on my computer?! WHOOOOAAAA!
It's a great video, and such a great, great song. It certainly added a nice touch of levity after hearing some so, so news.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Diddy - Dirty Money - Coming Home
why why WHY WHY WHY?!?!?
Why does this man continue to make music?
His last album (2006's Press Play) sold over 700,000 copies, so I guess it's because idiots will buy what he puts out, but I can't for the life of me figure it out.
Back in the 90's Puffy was acceptable because he had great production, good ghost writers, and could get guest appearances from his labelmates on Bad Boy. Today, he has none of that. Go ahead, off the top of your head, name a single from Press Play. You can't do it, because that was forgettable trash.
Scraping together two girls from the leftovers of Dannity Kane, Diddy - Dirty Money is the most pointless group in recent memory. The girls contribute nothing to this track. They sing on the chorus, but you might as well have gotten anonymous female studio voice number 7 to do it, since they're totally devoid of any distinguishing vocal characteristics.
I'd also like to comment on the video. Watch it, and take careful note of Diddy's face during the first and second verses. Have you ever seen someone look so noncommittal? He looks like he's mumbling the lyrics! It's not until the third verse (where he starts bragging about cruising through Harlem) that we see him act like he cares about the video.
Some thoughts on verse 1:
"I hear "The Tears of a Clown"
I hate that song"
Quick! Listen to The Tears of a Clown. Here it is:
Man! Smokey Robinson? Yes sir! That is a quality hit. How can you hate this song? Diddy you are a clown, but you have to get past the name and just enjoy quality! You've been listening to your own crap so long that you've forgotten what good music sounds like.
"what if the twins ask why I aint marry their mom
how do I respond?
what if my son stares with a face like my own
and says he wants to be like me when he's grow?"
You know Puff, you could just, oh, I dunno... MARRY THEIR MOTHER. You have 5 kids, 3 of them with the woman you are currently with. Perhaps if you'd take that step and man up, that question wouldn't come up. You also wouldn't have to worry so much about your son wanting to be like you. He might end up emulating some of your more positive aspects. I'm not sure what those are, but I'm sure they exist.
Some thoughts on verse 2:
""A House is Not a Home", I hate this song"
Again, listen to this classic by Luther -freakin- Vandross!
HOW CAN YOU HATE THIS?!
(I know he likely doesn't actually hate either of these songs, but I like to take things at face value and overlook that he's attempting to tie in the titles of much better songs to his lyrics)
"is a house really a home when your loved ones are gone
and n*ggas got the nerve to blame you for it
and you know you woulda took the bullet if you saw it
but you felt it and still feel it
and money can't make up for it or conceal it
but you deal with it and you keep ballin?
pour out some liquor, play ball and we keep ballin?"
Ah, you had to be wondering when he would bring up the death of Biggie. Any song Diddy does that has an ounce of emotion will include a reference to his departed friend. But... what does that have to do with "is a house really a home when your loved ones are gone"?!??!!? It's like he took another verse and dropped it in the middle here because it rhymed! I have proof that is what happened. Look at what comes next.
"baby we've been living in sin
cause we've been really in love
but we've been living as friends
so you've been a guest in your own home
it's time to make your house your home
pick up your phone, come on"
I don't think those lines about living in sin because you've been in love but living as friends make much sense, but they fit in to the theme of "A House is Not a Home" that the initial lines establish. Maybe the lines about his twins and son were supposed to be here? Alternately his ghost writer had a heartfelt verse, but Sean decided to add a Biggie reference and mention liquor and ballin' to fulfill some rap cliche quota.
Some thoughts on verse 3:
It's just some dumb filler and another reminder that he lost his dog Biggie, and that he's a better man now.
Look, Diddy is obviously a smart businessman. Forbes recently disclosed that he's worth in the neighborhood of $400 million. He's got clothes, cologne, and liquor as parts of a burgeoning empire. What he lacks though, is musical skill. Now that beats have moved beyond wholesale lifting of classic songs, he's not much of a producer. He's never been able to write rhymes, and he himself said "Don't worry if I write rhymes, I write checks." My advice would be to stop worrying about trying to say other people's lines. Be happy to sit back and write checks. The world will be better when you quit putting out music that only has any traction because of your connection to one of the greatest rappers ever.
Why does this man continue to make music?
His last album (2006's Press Play) sold over 700,000 copies, so I guess it's because idiots will buy what he puts out, but I can't for the life of me figure it out.
Back in the 90's Puffy was acceptable because he had great production, good ghost writers, and could get guest appearances from his labelmates on Bad Boy. Today, he has none of that. Go ahead, off the top of your head, name a single from Press Play. You can't do it, because that was forgettable trash.
Scraping together two girls from the leftovers of Dannity Kane, Diddy - Dirty Money is the most pointless group in recent memory. The girls contribute nothing to this track. They sing on the chorus, but you might as well have gotten anonymous female studio voice number 7 to do it, since they're totally devoid of any distinguishing vocal characteristics.
I'd also like to comment on the video. Watch it, and take careful note of Diddy's face during the first and second verses. Have you ever seen someone look so noncommittal? He looks like he's mumbling the lyrics! It's not until the third verse (where he starts bragging about cruising through Harlem) that we see him act like he cares about the video.
Some thoughts on verse 1:
"I hear "The Tears of a Clown"
I hate that song"
Quick! Listen to The Tears of a Clown. Here it is:
Man! Smokey Robinson? Yes sir! That is a quality hit. How can you hate this song? Diddy you are a clown, but you have to get past the name and just enjoy quality! You've been listening to your own crap so long that you've forgotten what good music sounds like.
"what if the twins ask why I aint marry their mom
how do I respond?
what if my son stares with a face like my own
and says he wants to be like me when he's grow?"
You know Puff, you could just, oh, I dunno... MARRY THEIR MOTHER. You have 5 kids, 3 of them with the woman you are currently with. Perhaps if you'd take that step and man up, that question wouldn't come up. You also wouldn't have to worry so much about your son wanting to be like you. He might end up emulating some of your more positive aspects. I'm not sure what those are, but I'm sure they exist.
Some thoughts on verse 2:
""A House is Not a Home", I hate this song"
Again, listen to this classic by Luther -freakin- Vandross!
HOW CAN YOU HATE THIS?!
(I know he likely doesn't actually hate either of these songs, but I like to take things at face value and overlook that he's attempting to tie in the titles of much better songs to his lyrics)
"is a house really a home when your loved ones are gone
and n*ggas got the nerve to blame you for it
and you know you woulda took the bullet if you saw it
but you felt it and still feel it
and money can't make up for it or conceal it
but you deal with it and you keep ballin?
pour out some liquor, play ball and we keep ballin?"
Ah, you had to be wondering when he would bring up the death of Biggie. Any song Diddy does that has an ounce of emotion will include a reference to his departed friend. But... what does that have to do with "is a house really a home when your loved ones are gone"?!??!!? It's like he took another verse and dropped it in the middle here because it rhymed! I have proof that is what happened. Look at what comes next.
"baby we've been living in sin
cause we've been really in love
but we've been living as friends
so you've been a guest in your own home
it's time to make your house your home
pick up your phone, come on"
I don't think those lines about living in sin because you've been in love but living as friends make much sense, but they fit in to the theme of "A House is Not a Home" that the initial lines establish. Maybe the lines about his twins and son were supposed to be here? Alternately his ghost writer had a heartfelt verse, but Sean decided to add a Biggie reference and mention liquor and ballin' to fulfill some rap cliche quota.
Some thoughts on verse 3:
It's just some dumb filler and another reminder that he lost his dog Biggie, and that he's a better man now.
Look, Diddy is obviously a smart businessman. Forbes recently disclosed that he's worth in the neighborhood of $400 million. He's got clothes, cologne, and liquor as parts of a burgeoning empire. What he lacks though, is musical skill. Now that beats have moved beyond wholesale lifting of classic songs, he's not much of a producer. He's never been able to write rhymes, and he himself said "Don't worry if I write rhymes, I write checks." My advice would be to stop worrying about trying to say other people's lines. Be happy to sit back and write checks. The world will be better when you quit putting out music that only has any traction because of your connection to one of the greatest rappers ever.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Chris Brown - She Ain't You
Chris Brown releases some impressively schizophrenic singles. At the moment Look at me Now is sitting at number 6 on the Billboard 100 and Yeah 3X is at number 36. (He also has older singles in the 90 rankings, and is on a single with T-Pain) This song is riding in the upper 30 of the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart, and looks like it could follow the rest of his singles into Billboard 100 land.
It only took one line to set me off with this song.
"And when I’m with her its only bout the sex"
I am sick and tired of this song refrain. Is it really that difficult to keep your junk in your pants? For a world famous music star the temptations are a million times larger than with ordinary men, but everyday guys will play this song for their significant other because they got a little too drunk at the club and couldn't say no to the chick who came on to him.
The chorus is pure indecisiveness:
"I think I better let her go
Cause I can’t leave you alone
Every day that I’m with her, all I want is you
I wanna leave but I’m afraid
That you don’t even feel the same
And now I realize that she ain’t you
Oh (no she ain’t you)
Whoa oh oh (Na na na)
Whoa oh oh (Na na na)
She ain’t, no she ain’t you"
This is ridiculous! This isn't a song about comparing a new love to an old lost love. This is about a guy who has a side chick and ended up getting found out.
"You make it hard for me to see somebody else
I’m calling her your name
Yea its messed up, cause I’m thinkin’ bout you
It’s your fault babe
I never wanted us to break up
No not this way
But you don’t understand it girl"
"It's your fault babe
I never wanted us to break up"
He cheated, and it's her fault? WHHHAAATTT?!?!
"I never wanted us to break up
No not this way"
Ah, so you wanted to dictate the terms of the breakup? Getting caught cheating wasn't an idea you had, eh? That's what happens. Women always know.
I can't care about your forlorn words of missing the girl you cheated on. You chose to cheat, you got caught, and you deserve to be lonely. Jerk.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Analytics fun!
Hey folks, I've got to thank everyone for coming to the site and reading. Even with no new content for the past few days, I've gotten a huge traffic spike. I'm beginning to get comments from people other than my wife and friends.
I'd like to share a few interesting analytic stats.
Visits:
I started this blog on January 26th. For the 26th - 31st - 67 visits
February - 135 visits
March - 315 visits
So far in April 435 visits.
Wow! A third of the way through the month and Visits are already higher than last month.
Searches are the leading way that people are finding the blog now. Right now Racks, J Lo and Pitbull, Travis Porter, and Boo are the leading terms. People are searching for lyrics (or searching for how awful the song is).
A few standout odd search terms:
"avril lavigne what the hell, stupid song"
"awful songs"
"bad song from 90s"
"biloxi this is the real mother"
"can someone explain katy perrys et to me"
"does any one know what the f*ck yc says on racks on racks"
"for you i'd risk it all lyrics by tokio hotel"
"i’m tryna bath my ape in your milky way what does that mean"
I'd like to share a few interesting analytic stats.
Visits:
I started this blog on January 26th. For the 26th - 31st - 67 visits
February - 135 visits
March - 315 visits
So far in April 435 visits.
Wow! A third of the way through the month and Visits are already higher than last month.
Searches are the leading way that people are finding the blog now. Right now Racks, J Lo and Pitbull, Travis Porter, and Boo are the leading terms. People are searching for lyrics (or searching for how awful the song is).
A few standout odd search terms:
"avril lavigne what the hell, stupid song"
"awful songs"
"bad song from 90s"
"biloxi this is the real mother"
"can someone explain katy perrys et to me"
"does any one know what the f*ck yc says on racks on racks"
"for you i'd risk it all lyrics by tokio hotel"
"i’m tryna bath my ape in your milky way what does that mean"
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
No new posts for the next few days, sorry folks.
I'm involved in the Atlanta Passion Play, and with dress rehearsals the rest of this week and performances this weekend, I'm not going to have the time to spare to write.
Here's a sneak peak of songs on the list to write about next week:
Diddy Dirty Money - Coming Home
Chris Brown - She Ain't You
I'm taking suggestions for next week. Heck, if you want to submit a review, shoot me an email, and if it's up to snuff I'll post it and give you credit.
Here's a sneak peak of songs on the list to write about next week:
Diddy Dirty Money - Coming Home
Chris Brown - She Ain't You
I'm taking suggestions for next week. Heck, if you want to submit a review, shoot me an email, and if it's up to snuff I'll post it and give you credit.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Sincerity in hip-hop
When I Shazam a song, it's for one of three reasons.
1) The song is amazing
2) The song is awful
3) The song is bizarre
Reason number three hit today, and I discovered I was listening to this:
I know this track is a little old, but a Modest Mouse sample? Nice!
Beyond the beat, I like Lupe's flow. I also like his message here. Lupe comes off as a legit guy. Perhaps because he's never been a part of the whole "money, cash, hoes" posse.
On the opposite side of the sincerity chasm is this:
For a guy who made his millions by getting girls to say "I am getting so hot, I'm gonna take my clothes off" in a chorus, this is the most disingenuous thing I've heard in ages. Does anyone really believe that Nelly misses any woman this much? If you start off as a party rapper, can you do anything else? Would this be believable is Nelly weren't such a one-note rapper?
Rap is one area where your first impression with the public is everything. Folks like Nas debut with Illmatic, and can get away with an Oochie Wally every now and then. Maybe if Nelly had dropped his own It Ain't Hard to Tell we'd take him seriously. If you start as a pop party rapper, I don't think you can ever do serious stuff. Has anyone crossed the pop line to legit subjects?
1) The song is amazing
2) The song is awful
3) The song is bizarre
Reason number three hit today, and I discovered I was listening to this:
I know this track is a little old, but a Modest Mouse sample? Nice!
Beyond the beat, I like Lupe's flow. I also like his message here. Lupe comes off as a legit guy. Perhaps because he's never been a part of the whole "money, cash, hoes" posse.
On the opposite side of the sincerity chasm is this:
For a guy who made his millions by getting girls to say "I am getting so hot, I'm gonna take my clothes off" in a chorus, this is the most disingenuous thing I've heard in ages. Does anyone really believe that Nelly misses any woman this much? If you start off as a party rapper, can you do anything else? Would this be believable is Nelly weren't such a one-note rapper?
Rap is one area where your first impression with the public is everything. Folks like Nas debut with Illmatic, and can get away with an Oochie Wally every now and then. Maybe if Nelly had dropped his own It Ain't Hard to Tell we'd take him seriously. If you start as a pop party rapper, I don't think you can ever do serious stuff. Has anyone crossed the pop line to legit subjects?
Friday, April 1, 2011
Chris Brown and Rihanna, together again... in this post
First up is Look at me Now by Chris Brown:
This only gets half a post, because it's only half crap. Busta Rhymes is always an excellent guest rapper and Lil' Wayne continues in his quest to guest star on a song with everyone on Earth. What makes up the crap in this song (besides the annoying blippy beat) then? Chris Brown!
"Yellow model chick
Yellow bottle sipping
Yellow Lamborghini
Yellow top missing
Yeah yeah
That sh*t look like a toupee"
Liquor brag, car brag, colorism. Nice start!
"I get what you get in 10 years, in two days
Ladies love me
I'm on my cool J
If you get what I get what would you say
She wax it all off, Mr Miyagi
And them suicide doors, Hari Kari"
"She wax it all off, Mr. Miyagi" has got to be one of the most spectacular lines I've heard in a long time. It's delivered with panache, but it's uniformly awful. There have to be better ways to combine 80's nostalgia and let us know about a woman's pubic hair. Hopefully it won't involve Teen Wolf though.
"Lil n*gga bigger than gorilla
Cause I'm killing every n*gga that
Try to be on my sh*t
Better cuff your chick if you with her I can get her
And she accidentally slip fall on my d*ck
Ooops, I said on my d*ck
I aint really mean to say on my d*ck
But since we talking about my d*ck
All of you haters say hi to it
I'm Done"
"I'm Done." I wish this was Chris Brown talking about his career. How do you have a number one album with writing like this? It's the ultimate in lazy rhyming when 4 of the last 5 lines of your verse are "my d*ck."
Next up is S&M by Rihanna:
A lot of ink has been spilled on this song. I'll add my little bit to this ocean. First, Rihanna isn't a very good singer, and it's especially evident here. Secondly, here is another song that is bringing up alternate sexual behaviors (Katy Perry Kissed a Girl, Brittney did 3, and now Rihanna is promoting S&M). Thirdly, I wonder if she forgot the safe word?*
* For the record I dislike Chris Brown, and domestic abuse is no laughing matter. However, it is a bit peculiar to have a domestic abuse victim come out in a Rolling Stone interview and talk about their enjoyment of spanking and being tied up. I think Rihanna takes her bad girl image promotion as her primary job. She's not a spokesperson for anything (unless she's being paid).
This only gets half a post, because it's only half crap. Busta Rhymes is always an excellent guest rapper and Lil' Wayne continues in his quest to guest star on a song with everyone on Earth. What makes up the crap in this song (besides the annoying blippy beat) then? Chris Brown!
"Yellow model chick
Yellow bottle sipping
Yellow Lamborghini
Yellow top missing
Yeah yeah
That sh*t look like a toupee"
Liquor brag, car brag, colorism. Nice start!
"I get what you get in 10 years, in two days
Ladies love me
I'm on my cool J
If you get what I get what would you say
She wax it all off, Mr Miyagi
And them suicide doors, Hari Kari"
"She wax it all off, Mr. Miyagi" has got to be one of the most spectacular lines I've heard in a long time. It's delivered with panache, but it's uniformly awful. There have to be better ways to combine 80's nostalgia and let us know about a woman's pubic hair. Hopefully it won't involve Teen Wolf though.
"Lil n*gga bigger than gorilla
Cause I'm killing every n*gga that
Try to be on my sh*t
Better cuff your chick if you with her I can get her
And she accidentally slip fall on my d*ck
Ooops, I said on my d*ck
I aint really mean to say on my d*ck
But since we talking about my d*ck
All of you haters say hi to it
I'm Done"
"I'm Done." I wish this was Chris Brown talking about his career. How do you have a number one album with writing like this? It's the ultimate in lazy rhyming when 4 of the last 5 lines of your verse are "my d*ck."
Next up is S&M by Rihanna:
A lot of ink has been spilled on this song. I'll add my little bit to this ocean. First, Rihanna isn't a very good singer, and it's especially evident here. Secondly, here is another song that is bringing up alternate sexual behaviors (Katy Perry Kissed a Girl, Brittney did 3, and now Rihanna is promoting S&M). Thirdly, I wonder if she forgot the safe word?*
* For the record I dislike Chris Brown, and domestic abuse is no laughing matter. However, it is a bit peculiar to have a domestic abuse victim come out in a Rolling Stone interview and talk about their enjoyment of spanking and being tied up. I think Rihanna takes her bad girl image promotion as her primary job. She's not a spokesperson for anything (unless she's being paid).
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