Taylor Swift – Mean

Taylor Swift is probably the only country singer that I would admit to liking. Wait, I lied, Leanne Ryhmes back in the 90s was good too. Let’s just say, country music isn’t my cup of tea.

I love the messages Swift conveys with her lyrics. She is actually a good role model. Although, she dates guys WAY too old for her… but regardless, with her music, she keeps things simple, but relays good messages that I think people of all ages need to hear.

I loved her song, “Innocent” that referred to Kanye West. That was the first country song I bought. I noted the significance of the event to myself. Again, let me emphasize that I’m not a fan of country music. For that song, I saw her perform it live at the MTV VMAs where it premiered, so it was a little special to me, and the lyrics really hit me as well.

For Swift’s latest release, she goes after the bullies. It’s simple, but I love it. She sings about bullies will always be mean, and she’ll move on, and the music video reflects that idea by showing kids being picked on, and then growing up and getting good jobs and moving on with their lives. This music video and song does target high schoolers, but me, being quite far from high school, can still relate, and people are still mean out of high school, so I can still relate to the message.

You could say this song could be about West. I think Swift has already addressed the West fiasco, and has moved on. Swift is adorable, and I really like her good-hearted messages. Go girl.

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Mr. Hudson Feat. Kanye West, Chipmunk feat. Keri Hilson and Eric Turner in Street Fighting Man

The new way to hear about artists? Have them featured with today’s biggest artists.

I like this music trend, where artists take other newcomers under their wing, collaborate and bring to light these new talents.

I really like Mr. Hudson’s “Supernova”. I actually could really do without Kayne’s rap. I like the music video, I know lights in music videos are going to get bigger and bigger.

Chipmunk has Keri Hilson in, “In the Air”. It’s just a light-hearted song.

I was also wondering who Eric Turner was in the song “Written in the Stars” with Tinie Tempah. He’s a Swedish/American singer, in a band called Street Fighting Man. Not a big fan, but I’m excited to see what is coming next in Turner’s career, as I loved, “Written in the Stars”.

Katy Perry’s “E.T.” New Music Video

I’ve already commented on how Katy Perry’s latest single, “E.T.” sounds like t.A.T.u.’s “All the Things She Said”. You can check out that blog here.

Now, moving on, I wanted to comment on this beautiful music video. The video starts in a junkyard and a faint old-fashioned song is heard in an echo. Can’t help but think of Disney’s Wall-E, where a robot is alone in a junkyard, looking for love. Katy Perry plays different aliens, floating in the air, and also on Earth. The make-up and colors are amazing. Music videos are blowing up lately. Lady Gaga, Britney Spears and Katy Perry have all recently released music videos with amazing colors, visuals, out-of-this-world effects and strong club anthems.

I’m loving it, I love pop, I love music videos, and the “music video” is back in style now. Now there is a ton of money poured into these music videos. I hope this lasts, because this is the ultimate art-form; to pair music to moving images.

I really don’t like Kanye West rapping graphically about sex in the music video. The lyrics that Perry sings isn’t so graphic, and West just seems like he doesn’t know what to say. And I’m sorry, but that sunglasses plug is just as subtle as the sun itself. @_@

Anyways, love the music video, I like the song, but as I mentioned in my other blog, I wish it didn’t sound so much like t.A.T.u. But I do see a trend in music videos and I really hope it lasts and continues to push boundaries in the arts.

Katy Perry’s “E.T.”, a lot like t.A.T.u’s “All the Things She Said”

Upon hearing  Katy Perry’s latest single “E.T.” I couldn’t help but be reminded of t.A.T.u’s “All the Things She Said”. Right at “0:46” when the chorus starts up, is basically the same lead into “All the Things She Said” at “0:23”.

I think there are a lot of similar chords, the basic rhythm of the song is similar and the instrumentation as well.

And just looking up these songs, apparently I’m not the only one who thought this (and here I am thinking I’m original, hah!).

The song “E.T.” is fine on its own, but I just want to go back to “All The Things She Said” because that’s still a better song. Way more catchier and apparently the inspiration for “E.T.”.

What do you think of Perry’s latest single? Let’s hope for something a little more original next time.

 

Here’s an acoustic mash-up I did of both of the songs. Please check it out!

Katy Perry/t.A.T.u. Cover “E.T.” and “All the Things She Said”

Kanye West’s latest on the Radio- “All of the Lights”

Kanye’s latest on the radio is “All of the Lights” featuring Rihanna, Fergie, Elton John and apparently countless others. Kind of dizzying to figure out who is singing what.

The lyrics are about making mistakes (something West is well acquainted with), a little bit about the recession, Michael Jackson, and of course, lights, all the spotlights that West is under. Nothing completely groundbreaking, but I appreciate how Kanye West has discussed the mistakes he’s made in his songs. Fergie also comes in talking about the recession and almost falling back into drugs.

I feel like most songs that are popular are usually about the “Me” generation. About how “I” will get through this, or everybody better watch out when “I” walk into a room or how “I” am amazing. A lot of delusional self-confidence flying around in pop music today. I think it’s more than ever that teenagers and women are losing their self-confidence because we compare so much to those in the media. Why do we compare so much? Because it’s thrown in our faces all the time. What is Lohan doing now? How many models a day is a girl subjected to see? And with instant updating of who is doing what, constant comparison is a bombardment on our everyday lives. It’s human nature to compare, it’s how we gauge who we are in contrast to others.

This self-reflecting mirror is getting so microscopic that we are constantly looking at what is wrong with ourselves. In this economy as well, people not being as successful as years past, um, yeah, there is a crisis of confidence and people want to listen to music to lift them up. Let them know that they are not alone. I think that’s why people are so forgiving of West. People are moving on and he’s the battered hero, he’s falling down and we want to see him rise up again. With his album “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”, people have responded so well and the album mostly focuses on making mistakes. Oh yeah, and it’s quite catchy as well.

What do you think of Kanye West’s past mistakes? What do you think of his last album?