Daryl Hall and John Oates: Some Things Are Better Left Unsaid

9/11 Tribute: Taylor Swift: Didn't They

VH1 Biography of Whitney Houston

A to Z Challenge 2015: Universal Concepts: S is for Sad Songs

Sad songs: we love them, but we hope we never have to live them.

I'm one of the lucky few who have had a romance that has lasted since my teen years up into my middle years and is still going strong. Most early romances lead to heartbreak, and that's the sad truth.

Listening to and singing sad songs can be cathartic. Sing and cry, if that's what you need to do. Write a sad song or poem of your own. Don't be ashamed! Let your feelings show.

~DJ Sadie~

Miley Cyrus: The Twinkle Song

Miley Cyrus can actually be very funny. She has a quirky sense of humor. I like her in this video. I'm not so keen on her when she's doing the "brazen sexpot" thing. It isn't sexy, and it isn't ridiculous in an enjoyable way. It's embarrassing.

~DJ Cheesy~

Bryan Adams: I'll Always Be Right There

I don't know these folks, but what a beautiful video for this song. Seriously, I'd rather see stuff like this any day than the overproduced, oversexed videos that we end up being overexposed to.

I also wanted to thank everyone who so kindly commented on my personal introduction. You all rock!

~DJ Illsa~

Hannah Cho: Sure Thing

This young lady has a lovely voice and a lot of talent. Subscribe to her You Tube channel. Who knows, someday she may be famous!

~DJ Sally~

Gloria Estefan: Don't Let This Moment End

One Direction: More than This

Nice young men with nice voices. I wondered if this was going to be a cover of the Bryan Ferry song. I wasn't sure what to think of that, but after listening to this, I think they could have pulled it off.

"Boy bands" tend to get a bad rap. Personally, I don't care if a band is popular or lesser known, or what particular formation it takes. I only care if I enjoy listening to them. These fellows are easy on the ear.

~DJ Tempest~

Lady Gaga & Beyoncé: Telephone

Say what you will about Lady Gaga, there is no denying her creativity. There may be times when she tries a little too hard to show how different she is, but she does come up with some very interesting ideas.

Gaga evidently has been strongly influenced by Madonna. Like said predecessor, the revealing nature of her costumes is not designed to appeal to the male gaze as is the case with so many female pop stars. The costumes are designed to push limits and to be somewhat startling. Gaga may be considered seductive, but she is not in any way submissive.

Musically speaking, the tune is catchy and danceable. I know I have been living in a cave, as I had not actually heard it until now. It will be going into my "Club Mix" playlist.

~DJ Tempest~

New Discoveries: Terry He

Terry is a young Canadian hip hop and soul musician. You can find out more about him on his You Tube channel and Facebook page.
The featured song is a gentle, romantic number suitable for all listeners. The video tells a story, and the young women in the video are co-stars rather than objects to be ogled. 
I hope that Terry has a long career ahead of him. With all the "shocking" and "outrageous" acts in pop music today, it's refreshing to find a musician whose focus is good songwriting with a positive outlook. Terry He gets two thumbs way up from me!

~DJ Tempest~

We Interrupt Your A to Z Reading With This Cringe-Worthy Pop Tart Fail

Ugh.
Holy cultural appropriation, Batman!
Girlfriend learned a few Japanese phrases, and now she "totally understands" the Japanese people.
I first found out about this travesty of a video here.

My guess would be that Avril Lavigne hasn't had a hit in a while (has she? I don't actually know, I've never been a big follower.) so she's trying to outdo Miley Cyrus. While she doesn't manage to look quite as ludicrious, she, like Miley, is trying way too hard for sexy. Instead of sexy, she manages to look clueless.

If one wasn't paying attention to the inane lyrics, the tune is catchy and danceable, and Avril doesn't have an unpleasant voice. To any rate, her voice doesn't grate on my ears nearly as much as Miley Cyrus'. However, one only has to watch the video for a few seconds to have an eye-popping, "what the fuck is this shit" reaction. Personally, I think Avril watched one too many Japanese Lolita fetish and cheesy lesbian slumber party videos while in her hotel room on tour. For the record, I have no issue whatsoever with lesbian attractions or interactions. I am ridiculing the type of "lesbian" porn that is created for the male gaze and really does not care a whit about actual lesbian sexuality.
Maybe my friends and I were boring, but I never went to a slumber party where the idea of making out with each other would even have been suggested. I suppose it happens, but not as often as the lad mags would lead hopeful, horny fellows to believe. I think we did each other's hair at one slumber party. Usually we watched bad movies until we were told to go to bed by the hostess' mother, ate lots of popcorn, and talked about guys.
Sorry, Avril, but fail. Oddly enough, Japanese women aren't all cute Anime fembots. They have varied personalities and interests. 
Also, those dancers look depressed to the point of root canal. I suppose I would too if I needed money so badly that I agreed to be in this video.

~DJ Petra~

Natasha Bedingfield: Soul Mate

Incompatible, it don't matter though
'cos someone's bound to hear my cry
Speak out if you do
you're not easy to find

Is it possible Mr. Loveable
is already in my life?
right in front of me
or maybe you're in disguise

Who doesn't long for someone to hold
who knows how to love you without being told
somebody tell me why I'm on my own
if there's a soulmate for everyone

Here we are again, circles never end
how do I find the perfect fit
there's enough for everyone
but I'm still waiting in line

Who doesn't long for someone to hold
who knows how to love you without being told
somebody tell me why I'm on my own
if there's a soulmate for everyone

If there's a soulmate for everyone

Most relationships seem so transitory
They're all good but not the permanent one

Who doesn't long for someone to hold
who knows how to love you without being told
somebody tell me why I'm on my own
if there's a soulmate for everyone

Who doesn't long for someone to hold
who knows how to love you without being told
somebody tell me why I'm on my own
if there's a soulmate for everyone
If there's a soulmate for everyone

Dark Subject Matter in Mainstream Culture: Thoughts by Codera

Codera discusses why people seem to be accepting of dark subject matter in visual media but can't seem to accept it in music.

I'm lazy, so I'll cut and paste my reply!

I'm trying to picture One Direction performing a Cannibal Corpse song, and it made me pee myself laughing!

I'm old enough to be your mother--possibly pushing old enough to be your grandmother. I remember the old Satanic Panic of the 1980s. Heavy metal music was going to send us all to hell! People were burning records. It was ridiculous.

I have a theory that perhaps the imagery in movies and such makes it easier for people to say "this isn't real," whereas the lyrics to a song trigger different parts of the brain. I've studied just enough psychology to make me dangerous! ;-)

Maybe when a person hears a song with disturbing subject matter it makes them think. It might trigger something inside them, and they can't reconcile it by looking at a picture and saying "I know that's not real." So perhaps they'd prefer to listen to light, poppy stuff because it doesn't make them think so much. It's just an idea that came to mind.

Cannibal Corpse isn't really my cup of tea, and I'm not too much for gore in movies either. I prefer my doom and gloom to be a bit more cerebral. I like Satyricon and Immortal, and I prefer a movie like "Let the Right One In" over "Saw."

On the lighter side (at my age, I'm not ashamed to admit that I have one) I like the Vampire Diaries. Musically, my lighter side prefers the Bee Gees to Lady GaGa. I told you I was old!

I enjoyed your thought-provoking discussion. It's always inspiring to find people of any age who know how to use their gray matter!

Peace.

 

I'd like to suggest that you all take a minute to check out Codera's video and subscribe to his channel. He's a smart young man who actually uses his mind. That may be a dangerous thing! ;-)

 

~DJ Dolly~

Barris - Sebatas Pandangan

Here are some young fellows with a nice sound. I honestly don't understand what they're saying, but they sound lovely when they say it!

~DJ Blooming Psycho~

Niall Horan of One Direction: Solos

Female Pop Singers Playlist

The Fabulous is Off the Scale

If you don't have the chops to back up the flamboyance, all you have is flash.

Adam Lambert, however, has skill as well as showmanship. He is an excellent vocalist and an unforgettable performer.

To Adam Lambert, Riff Cherry, and my Son

A beautiful video featuring Adam and his little godson.
This video was made in honor of the birthdays of Adam and Riff.
Today is my son's birthday.
23 years ago today, I was in horrible agony.
It was worth it!

He was born at 8:19 A.M. on May 8, 1990 via C-section with me knocked out cold cause things weren't going too well at that point.

I haven't been a very good person in life, and I don't think I deserve much, but somehow I got this miraculous gift anyway.

Without him, I would not be alive today, and I mean that.

We should always be grateful for our young ones, and for those who offer them their love and support.

I know there are some out there who think people like Adam shouldn't be allowed to be part of raising children, just because he's gay.

I say bullshit.

Love is love. 

There are some who will say people like me shouldn't be allowed to raise children because I'm mentally ill.

I could have used a fuck of a lot more help.

I could have used having people to listen to me and help figure out what was going on, instead of berating me and telling me to "just stop thinking/feeling/being like that."

But in the end, my son and I made it through.

This is a great day in history.

I'm here because I need to be here to help my son achieve his goals.

I know Adam wants to help his godson achieve his goals.

So, we're pretty good people, regardless of what anyone else might think.

Cross-posted to:

Crazy Town in Looney Land

KHEL 666

Undead in the Netherworld

If This Is It