Category: In

Something Strange in the Neighborhood

7/8/2016

Who are you going to call when the supernatural is unleashed in your neighborhood? Hopefully some professional parapsychologists or the ghostbuster team.

The ghostbuster team is getting a reboot on July 15th and hopefully the ghosts have been getting themselves prepared to do some haunting and get caputred. Their about to get sucked up and spit out all in the magical realm of 3-D.

Ghostbusters is one of the most high profile action films of summer 2016. It's also going to be the funniest. Civil War broke our heart and who knows what the fuck Batman v Superman was about. The new Ghostbusters films follows in the footsteps of the original films and TV shows. Quirky and beloved it was one of the highlights of the eighties, right behind Madonna grinding with her rosary beads.

The cast is phenomenal. All of Hollywood's funniest ladies are here. Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones are all here to reinterpret the originally male driven comedy.

Melissa McCarthy

Kate McKinnon

Leslie Jones

Kristen Wiig

The meninists of the world have cried foul on this reinterpretation, but what is the point of a reboot if not to change and make the old new again? What would Batman be if not the depressingly dark creation that Christian Bale made out of it? Not the blockbuster trilogy that came from it.

It's the most disliked movie trailer on YouTube and much like the Orlando shooting was a hate crime against the LGBT and Latino community, so is the male gaze hatred of the new Ghostbusters driven by sexism. Boys don't like to see women run the show.

The new Ghostbusters is sure to pass the Bechdel test and isn't that amazing?

The movie also features Chris Hemsworth as Kevin, a secretary. Chris gets all geeked out with a pair of glasses. He's the most beautiful nerd to ever step foot on the silver screen and he's the necessary man candy we get to objectify this summer.

Ghostbusters is also set to release a soundtrack to accompany the move the day it comes out in theatres. It features a string of A-Listers and three different versions of the “Ghostbusters” theme song covered by Walk The Moon (“Shut Up and Dance”), Pentatnoix, and the original by Ray Parker Jr.

Buy "Ghostbusters"

The official lead single is by alt-rocker Elle King (“Ex's & Oh's). It's a firey song called “Good Girls” that may or may not be the song of the summer.

Buy"Good Girls"

Other heavy hitters on the album include a new song by Zayn stylized as “wHo”. Punk acting boy band 5 Seconds of Summers has it's hands in “Girls Talk Boys”, Fall Out Boy and Missy Elliott get together on “Ghostbusters (I'm Not Afraid), where as producer Mark Ronson (“Uptown Funk”) pairs Passion Pit and A$AP Ferg on a new song called “Get Ghost”.

The soundtrack is bound to be an eclectic masterpiece just as central to the film as the one to Guardian of the Galaxy's was.

Ghostbusters opens on Friday July 15th in theaters near you and it will be sure not to let you down.

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(I Get So) Sentimental

2/5/2016

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You don't realize quite how sad your life is until someone asks you what you're doing. It was a Thursday night and someone asked me what I was up to. I told them I had my three romantic comedies lined up and a bowl of popcorn to eat my feelings with. I'd spent the better part of the day listening to Taylor Swift, so it was only appropriate.

I was feeling sentimental and it wasn't just because I was listening to the Donna Summer song of the same name. There's something so reassuring about romantic comedies. They have a tried and true formula and you know that no matter what happens at the end, no matter how much they fuck up, they will be there for each other.

These are the three movies I picked that day. I grew up on rom com's and I'm sure there are better ones, but these movies are perfect for February

Buy "Sentimental"

Monster-In-Law
2005
Jennifer Lopez knows how to do a romantic comedy. This list would be incomplete without one of her films on it. This movie is iconic. Jane Fonda returns to the silver screen. Wanda Sykes is there. We got some cute eye candy with Michael Vartan. It's devilishly funny.

Jennifer plays Charlie who gets engaged to Kevin (Michael Vartan). His mother (Jane Fonda) tries to break them apart. She believes Charlie is not good enough for her son. There's love, a bath tub scene. Cake. Wanda Sykes does a great job playing the sidekick to the monster in law. Spoiler, that everyone ends up happy. It's another success in the J. Lo canon that includes The Wedding Planner and Maid in Manhattan.

27 Dresses
2008
The Katherine Heigl led 27 Dresses plays with the tropes of a romantic comedy. Katherine Heigl plays Jane the eternal bridesmaid and never the bride. She is hopelessly in love with her boss who near the beginning of the movie starts dating her sister (!).

But, wait. There's more. Reporter Kevin Doyle (James Marsden) wants to write a story on her. He complements her eccentricities as she does his. They love, they fight, they cry. They sing karaoke to “Benny and the Jetts”. This movie has it all. It honestly breaks my soul how much I have in common with Katherine Heigl.

Music and Lyrics
2007
Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant are no strangers to the field of romantic comedies. Take Drew's 50 First Dates or Ever After and Hugh Grant's Did You Hear About the Morgan's? or Bridget Jone's Diary as recommendations. The plot of this film pairs aging pop artist Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant) with plant lady Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore) to write a hit song for pop superstar Cora Corman (Haley Bennett) entitled “Way Back Into Love”.

This movie has a great backing cast. Brad Garrett takes a turn as Alex Fletcher's manager and Kristen Johnston makes a stab as Sophie's fun loving sister. This is the most straight forward feel good movie of the three. It has a great soundtrack featuring iconic “Budha's Delight” and heart rending “Way Back Into Love” as well as a few stabs of eighties pop pastiche with “Pop! Goes My Heart”. One of my all time favorites.

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Best Albums of 2015

1/1/2016

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This list is a review of all of the albums I've bought this year. They are all rated on a scale of 1 to 5 bubbles. My favorite song is listed along with the album. This is determined solely based on how many times I've listened to it individually.

Music comes in so many different forms and textures that it's hard to say definitively what album is “better” then another. I never did buy Adam Lambert's The Original High, but from what I've listened to it's a stellar return to form. The same goes for Selena Gomez's Revival. When I heard Justin Bieber's new album Purpose I found it to be acceptable plodding mid tempo fair. However that said, I know quite a few people who really enjoy his new musical direction. Ellie Goulding's Delirium is not in my taste, but if you're a fan of her earlier work her new seventeen track epoch should satisfy

The most important news in music this year is the continuing lawsuit between Kesha and Dr. Luke. She is asking to be released from her contract after revelations of physical and mental abuse on the part of her record producer Dr. Luke. Sony Music has refused to let her out of her contract and is siding with Dr. Luke. A growing protest has started, creating the trending hashtags #FreedomForKesha and #SonyMusicSupportsRape.

Sign the petition to release Kesha from her contract here.

Buy Badlands

Badlands: Halsey
4 Bubbles
Halsey has been the breakout indie artist of the year. Her brand of electropop has yet to conquer radio, but her debut album shows what has made her such an internet phenom. The album starts out strong, and although lingers a little too long on it's closing sixteen tracks shows that there's only room for her to go up from here.

Most Played Song: “Ghost”

American Beauty/American Pyscho: Fall Out Boy
4 Bubbles
This was the first Fall Out Boy album I've ever bought. A true sacrilege. This is what modern rock is supposed to sound like in 2015. Every track is a fiery stomper and after fourteen years proves that Fall Out Boy still has the passion that made From Under The Cork Tree so spectacular.

Most Played Song: “Uma Thurman”

Buy American Beauty/American Pyscho

Broke With Expensive Taste: Azealia Banks
2 ½ Bubbles
The album originally dropped too little digital fanfare in 2014 finally saw it's physical release in 2015. Azealia Banks is the beleaguered rap artist more known for her trans-phobic discourse and public melt downs. Her first album, although full of solid moments tends to drag and concepts run into one another. And, nothing on the album quite replicates the viral sensation of “212”. The best cuts off the album tend to be the singles.

Most Played Song: Tie between “Heavy Metal and Reflective” and “BBD”

Buy Broke With Expensive Taste

Breathe In. Breathe Out.: Hilary Duff
5 Bubbles
The much besieged fourth studio album, it finally saw it's release after being pushed from it's release date in October of 2014. This album's concept has ranged from folk to a mainstream pop sound courtesy of Swedish hit maker Tove Lo. Released eight years after her groundbreaking Dignity, the album is pure pop. Not every song is a five star experience, but it plays like a cohesive album. Every song is good, many are excellent, all can stand by themselves, and it reflects the dedicated affection that Hilary paints it with. Album standouts range from the Ed Sheeran penned “Tattoo” to lead single “Sparks” or the cute duet of “Nights Like This”. My favorite song off the album happens to be shared with current taste maker, Taylor Swift.

Most Played Song: “Breathe In. Breathe Out.”

Buy Breathe In. Breathe Out

Buy Cry Baby

Cry Baby: Melanie Martinez
4 Bubbles
Concept album by former Voice contestant Melanie Martinez it's responsible for some of the darkest pop moments in 2015. Rape and family dysfunction are just some of the themes Melanie touches on as “cry baby”. This album is full of some of my favorite songs of the year such as “Dollhouse” and “Pity Party”. It's also responsible for the worst song of 2015. “Sippy Cup” is the best example of what this album does wrong. But, on the same flip of the coin, some people adore this song. Melanie Martinez is not good at subtlety, but the albums flair for remaining true to it's core makes it a compelling and worthwhile artistic statement.

Most Played Song: “Cry Baby”

Double Vision: Prince Royce
2 ½ Bubbles
Intended to be the global breakout for Latin superstar Prince Royce, Double Vision is his debut English album. Known for hits like “Darte Un Beso”, Double Vision was primed with A-List heavy weights in the form of Snoop Dogg, Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull, and Tyga. Neither single “Stuck on a Feeling” or “Back It Up” took off on American radio the way they were supposed to. When this album sticks towards it's pop leanings it stands strong, however when it slows down it tends to lose a lot of it's focus. Although, a consistently playable record it doesn't have the fun factor of Enrique Iglesias's Sex and Love or the charming personality of Enrique's breakout record “Hero”

Most Played Song: Tie between “Stuck on a Feeling” featuring Snoop Dogg and “Back It Up” featuring Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull.

Buy Double Vision

The Eephus: Wondaland
3 ½ Bubbles
A joint EP released by Janelle Monae's recording mates on Wondaland none of the songs on the EP live up to the fun of singles “Classic Man” and “Yoga”. The bonus remix of “Classic Man” featuring Kendrick Lamar does little to liven up the final two songs off the EP, which are both slow burns.

Most Played Song: “Yoga” featuring Jidenna.

Buy The Eephus

Emotion: Carly Rae Jepsen
4 Bubbles
The much lauded album by Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen it features “Really Like You” a song that intended to return her to the top of the charts with a cameo studded music video. The album is a glossy, easy breezy, down your throat listen, even at 17 tracks long. An accomplishment that goes much further then any of the album's singles did.

Most Played Song: “Your Type”

Buy Emotion

Buy Deja Vu

Deja Vu: Giorgio Moroder
4 Bubbles
Disco heavy weight Giorgio Moroder returned to the studio with a list of musical superstars. See the tracklist complete with names like Britney Spears, Kelis, Kylie Minogue, Sia, and Charli XCX. The album's taste in the past is also what makes it current. As DJ, Giorgio gives us a playlist of ecstatic songs, and though his musical wizardry tends to work better for his female counterparts, Deja Vu is a constant and thoroughly rewarding record.

Most Played Song: “Deja Vu” featuring Sia

Fifty Shades of Grey: Soundtrack
4 Bubbles
Bolstered by hits “Earned It” and “Love Me Like You Do” this is the soundtrack that chronicled 2015's response to Basic Instinct is best to listen to on a slow rainy day. Full of slow burns and quintessential love songs, it's darkly atmospheric and features two Beyonce remixes that could hold the album down by itself. Album closer “I Know You” is a must listen by Skylar Grey.

Most Played Song: “I'm On Fire” by AWOLNATION

Buy Fifty Shades of Grey

Home: Soundtrack
3 Bubbles
Rihanna not only voiced the lead for animated film Home, but also lent her voice to 3 of the album's 8 songs. The best of these additions is “Towards The Sun”. The album also features tracks from Kiesza, Charli XCX, and Jennifer Lopez. This album will just have to bridge the gap until we get Anti. Jennifer Lopez shines on the delicate ballad “Feel The Light” that closes the album.

Most Played Song: “Feel The Light” by Jennifer Lopez

Buy Home

The Fool: Ryn Weaver
2 ½ Bubbles
This album hinges on an experimental electronic influence that is well captured on buoyant songs “Pierre” and “Octahate”. Ryn Weaver never quite matches the magic that made her contemporary, Halsey's debut so fascinating. It's a listenable if unremarkable debut. The Fool also features one of the most pretentious songs of 2015 finalized with the spoken word outro on “Traveling Song” that consists of talking about “turtle soup”

Most Played Song: “Octahate”

Buy The Fool

Honeymoon: Lana Del Rey
4 ½ Bubbles
Arguably her most critically lauded album yet, Honeymoon finds Lana Del Rey reveling in her own brand of off kilter pop. This album although not quite as good as last years Ultraviolence still has plenty of moments that reinforce why Lana Del Rey is such a popular staple. No more clear than in the explicit and summery lead off “High By The Beach”. Honeymoon stands as one of the most consistent pop releases of 2015 that's unlikely to in over anyone not impressed with her prior releases. A perfect addition to Lana Del Rey's ever growing canon.

Most Played Song: “Terrence Loves You”

Buy Honeymoon

How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful: Florence and The Machine
4 Bubbles
The first release from the indie rock band in four years it finds Florence Welch deepening her outlook on themes explored on their other two studio albums. The album is bolstered by her voice and big strings. Some songs falter in their length and remarkability, but the album is focused none the less and features some of the most anthmetic and personal work of her career.

Most Played Song: “What Kind Of Man”

Buy How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful

Skrillex and Diplo Present Jack U: Jack U
3 ½ Bubbles
One of the most celebrated DJ releases of the year it features production work by two of the most boundary pushing producers of this decade with Skrillex and Diplo teaming up to form the power duo Jack U. The expectation I had for this album was set high and oddly enough the album doesn't consistently push hard enough. That however doesn't stop it from being a wild 35:25 minute ride featuring the worldwide hit “Where Are You Now” that catapulted Justin Bieber back into the spotlight.

Most Played Song: “Febreeze” featuring 2 Chainz

Buy Jack U

Buy Love Stuff

No Good: Ivy Levan
4 Bubbles
Despite featuring production from Diplo and guest vocals from icon Sting, none of the singles released from No Good found a mainstream audience. Ivy Levan powers through with her trademark husky voice and material that places a different spin on the fifties aesthetic that Meghan Trainor made popular in 2014. Ivy Levan shines the best on the roof shakers and mid tempo fare, rather then when she slows it down on closing tracks like “Misery” and Whitney Houston inspired “It Ain't Easy”.

Most Played Song: “The Dame Says”

Love Stuff: Elle King
3 ½ Bubbles
Daughter of comedian Rob Schneider, Love Stuff finds Elle King snarling her way through a debut of modern rock. While some of the material pushes her too far (see “Last Damn Night” and “I Told You I Was Mean”) the album regardless has numerous highlights including the surprise sleeper hit “Ex's & Oh's”. She's at her best on tracks that showcase her fiery personality and when she's at her most vulnerable like “Make You Smile” or “Cocaine Carolina”.

Most Played Song: “Make You Smile”

Buy No Good

Peace is the Mission: Major Lazer
3 ½ Bubbles
Another Diplo helmed DJ set, his production as Major Lazer is decidedly reggae themed. Featuring global smash “Lean On” the album powers through some of the most fun dance music produced this year. The album features guest vocals from superstars Ellie Goulding and Ariana Grande.

Most Played Song: “All My Love (Remix)” featuring Ariana Grande and Machel Montano.

Buy Peace Is The Mission

Pitch Perfect 2: Soundtrack
3 Bubbles
The album fares just as well as the movie did. The more you liked the movie, the more you'll appreciate the accompanying soundtrack. As so often is the case the sequel proves to be not as good as the original. Besides the movies chronicled performance it also features new music from Ester Dean and Jessie J.

Most Played Song: “Crazy Youngsters” by Ester Dean

Buy Pitch Perfect 2

Rebel Heart: Madonna
4 Bubbles
Plagued by leaks, Rebel Heart turned into the longest album of Madonna's career the final tracklist coming in at 19 tracks long. While this album doesn't find it pushing boundaries the way previous Madonna releases like American Life and Ray of Light have it does find Madonna engaging in mainstream sound, much to her credit. The album features work by Diplo and Kanye West and an intriguing guest spot by Mike Tyson. The album is unwieldy and at times aimless, but mostly it is a positive reflection of what Madonna can contribute to music in the 21st century.

Most Played Song: “Bitch I'm Madonna” featuring Nicki Minaj

Buy Rebel Heart

Storyteller: Carrie Underwood
4 Bubbles
Carrie Underwood returns with a studio set built to tear country music apart. It's not a Carrie Underwood album if there's not a murder and there's plenty of that here. Carrie Underwood takes a back seat on this album, largely relegating herself to telling other people's stories. The album has everything that a blockbuster country album needs to shine. It's plays more consistently then 2012's Blown Away, which lost some of it's steam near the end and only works to reinforce how much we've missed Carrie in our life.

Most Played Song: “Dirty Laundry”

Buy Storyteller

Reflection: Fifth Harmony
3 Bubbles
An initial glance at this album would show it to be one of the glossiest releases of the year. The first five opening songs are exemplary of what processed pop is supposed to sound like. It's the final six tracks that sink into the nineties influenced R&B that Ariana Grande does so well, except on Fifth Harmony they play like throwaway B-Sides. The album although promising doesn't show the full potential of the group.

Most Played Song: “Top Down”

Buy Reflection

Sremm Life: Rae Sremmurd
4 Bubbles
Rap's latest and greatest duo, Rae Sremmurd dazzle with the ridiculous jangling of “No Flex Zone” and “Unlock The Swag”. The album benefits from guest appearances by Nicki Minaj and Big Sean. A thoroughly fun ride and the antithesis of what Kendrick Lamar is trying to do with the genre.

Most Played Song: “No Flex Zone”

Buy Sremm Life

Title: Meghan Trainor
3 ½ Bubbles
Chronicling the joys of a heteronormative world, Meghan Trainor does little to push or offend the base line of American values. The album is full of quirky oddities that make it more then just eleven different versions of “All About That Bass”. Title is at it's best with songs like the titular title track and “Dear Future Husband”, which go down just as sweet if you don't put too much stock in the lyrical content. However, she's surprisingly fun when pushing boundaries as she does on “Bang Them Sticks”.

Most Played Song: “Bang Them Sticks”

Buy Title

True Colors: Zedd
2 ½ Bubbles
German DJ, Zedd delivered his second studio album with the Selena Gomez led “Want You To Know”. The album often times finds him not pushing boundaries or giving us parodies of the top 40. Although, this works on “Beautiful Now” that is strongly reminiscent of something Ryan Tedder would produce. Despite a few notable tracks it falls short of an engaging concept album.

Most Played Song: “Papercut” featuring Troye Sivan

Buy True Colors

Buy Wild

Wild: Troye Sivan
2 Bubbles
The preview to his debut album Blue Neighborhood, this EP shows Troye Sivan's inability to replicate more then one substantial moody electro pop ballad per musical outing. “Wild” shines much like “Happy Little Pill” did on Tryxe. The EP would have benefited from the inclusion of “Papercut” an equally somber number found on Zedd's album True Colors. The other 5 of the 6 songs on Wild fail to make any impact and only undermine the fact that Troye Sivan can make amazing music. Instead of working on creating more thoughtful engaging songs like “Wild”, the EP is full of songs that serve as a canvas for experimental electronic influences that are supposed to count as his artistic vision.

Most Played Song: “Wild”

Savages: Five Knives
3 Bubbles
Unknown dance pop group Five Knives dropped one of the most fun and disposable albums of the year. Kicked off with the banger “Savages” and followed by a stream of trashy similarly minded ilk, the album although not about to redefine mainstream sound is exactly the kind of music to listen to when you've got your lip gloss on and the wind in your hair.

Most Played Song: “Savages”

Made in the AM: One Direction
4 Bubbles
More then likely this will be the fifth and final album by One Direction. Their upcoming hiatus a chance for them all to grope for Justin Timberlake stardom. Building on the mature pop/rock sound they've experimented with on their past two albums, Made In The AM is a testament and tribute to the reasons boy bands work their way into our hearts.

Most Played Song: “Perfect”

Favorite Album of The Year: Breathe In. Breathe Out by Hilary Duff

Buy

Favorite Song of the Year: "Breathe In. Breathe Out" by Hilary Duff

Buy "Breathe In. Breathe Out."

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An LGBT Christmas

12/25/2015

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Merry Christmas bitches! It's the final day of the 12 Days of Bubbles. The marathon blogging spree is over. Exams are done. I'm with family.

…

And, when thinking about what the most religious, holy thing to talk about for Friday Favorites, I thought to myself “who are the most fucking gay celebrities that I love?” In this endeavor I have compiled a list of some pretty kick ass LGBT singers.

As wonderful as the LGBT community is our representation on radio is minimal at best. See Sam Smith and his lack of personal pronouns in all of his hits so he doesn't “alienate people”. Because, as we all know LGBT is offensive and gross and disgusting and the brave heterosexuals and cisgenders shouldn't have to put up with us. Least of all on the radio or their TV screens.

I'm going to be trying to include people that you might not be aware of. Some people you would have to do some research to find. Therefore as much as I love my gay boys, Elton John and Ricky Martin, they won't be on here. Similarly, everyone's favorite bisexuals Fergie, Madonna, and David Bowie did not make the cut.

Beth Ditto (Gossip)
Lesbian
“Obsession” would be an understatement for my feelings on Beth Ditto. Lead singer of rock band Gossip, she's the body positive LGBT icon you've been looking for. She's gorgeous. See my Snapshot Saturday I did on her (read here). And, more importantly a voice so distinctive, it's unlikely anyone could replicate it's wail.

She released a self titled EP full of four pop oriented tracks. Most of her work with Gossip is rock based. Standing in the Way of Control and Music For Men were there commercial break through. Specifically, their ubiquitous song “Heavy Cross”. Their last album explored an eighties pop melody and lived up to it's title of A Joyful Noise.

Buy"Heavy Cross"

RuPaul
Gay
Drag queen extraordinaire and also the topic of a Snapshot Saturday (read here). RuPaul has maintained an interesting music career. Since, his second studio album, Foxy Lady, he's remained an independent dance artist. His work is disco inspired empowerment and R&B.

His most popular song was “Supermodel (You Better Work)” when it almost went top forty in the nineties. My personal favorite album by him is Redhot and it's feel good anthem “Looking Good, Feeling Gorgeous”. Recently, he's emerged an artist on the outskirts of mainstream with the self promotion through RuPaul's Drag Race. Making “Sissy That Walk” a surprise club hit and it's parent album Born Naked his highest charting since Supermodel of the World.

Buy "Sissy That Walk"

Troye Sivan
Gay

Arguably the most well known of all the celebrities on this list, Troye Sivan is the youtuber who started the trend of “coming out online”. He released his debut album The Blue Neighborhood this December. Without a hit in sight his album and EP sales are stacking up well against who are having top ten hits. Marking a clear need for any kind of LGBT representation in the music industry.

All of his music is experimental electro pop. The trend among hopeful pop stars who want to carve out their own niche in the industry without alienating the top 40. His single “Wild” notably marked him using male pronouns to address his lover.

Buy "Wild"

Tegan & Sara
Lesbians
Canadian duo Tegan & Sara have always been on the outskirts of pure mainstream success. They have quirky good looks and have slowly been building a fanbase since their debut album Under Feet Like Ours in 1999. Their biggest mainstream success in the United States came recently when “Closer” hit the radio long enough for them to have their first charting song.

Heartthrob marked their biggest mainstream attempt and is a good place to start investigating their discography that plays well against their pop/rock leanings. Funny enough their biggest success came with a collaboration with The Lonely Island for the Lego Movie Soundtrack. “EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!!!”

Buy "Closer"

Laura Jane Grace (Against Me!)
Transgender

A strong example of the lack of transgender representation in media, Laura Jane Grace made waves back in 2012 when she announced that she identified as a woman and was undergoing gender confirmation surgery to Rolling Stone.

It raised the profile of her band Against Me! and allowed for their biggest commercial success Transgender Dysphoria Blues that still only charted as high as 22 in the United States. Valid and to the point it's one of the most gripping punk rock releases of 2014.

Buy "True Trans Soul Rebel"

Halsey
Bisexual
Halsey is what the self deprecating cool kids listen to. Gorgeous. Sexy. Stunning. Breakout indie star of the year, she has a loyal and growing fan base. Her music falls into line with the moody electro pop that her contemporaries are favoring, yet doing something more with it.

There is a never ending list of amazing bisexuals. And, yet their sexual orientation is consistently erased and made to be either heterosexual or homosexual. Take Lady Gaga and Freddie Mercury. Halsey defied her record label's insistence on making her lover in “Ghost” a man and traded him in for a lush woman instead. Halsey spreading bisexual awareness one video at a time.

Buy "Ghost"

Charice
Lesbian

Filipino singer Charice was championed by Oprah. Had the highest charting album for an Asian act in the United States and all but disappeared. Her voice has the controlled range that Ariana Grande is praised for. Charice just lacked the right producers that shot other strong voiced divas like Mariah Carey to fame.

When announcing her sexual orientation, Charice said “that she understood if people didn't want to be her fan anymore.” As if that was an acceptable reason to dislike her. She's stayed mostly out of the public light, since then but she still has two strong albums full of ballads to capture you with.

Buy "Pyramid"

I hope you've found some cool LGBT singers to add to your playlist. If there's anyone you think I should add be sure to comment below.

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Work It!

12/11/2015

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The QUEEN is back.

Imagine. I'm just sitting there alone, in the library, scrolling through my social media, when I see Missy Elliott's new music video flash before my eyes. It was manna sent from heaven. Rap god apparent, Missy Elliott was back from an extended hiatus.

The public has been clamoring for a Missy Elliott come back. Clamoring might be a strong word. Most of us forgot about Missy and then she came up on that stage with Katy Perry at the Super Bowl and literally murdered us all by bringing “Work It” back. The most iconic of all of Missy Elliot's hits.

It's not that surprising that Katy brought Missy out. Back in the days of global domination and chart success with Teenage Dream, Katy had Missy do a remix of “Last Friday Night (TGIF)”

Missy Elliott has not been releasing solo material, but she's been putting her foot back in the studio. When Skrillex and Diplo got together with Kiesza and produced the bombastic “Take U There”, they turned right around and had Missy Elliott drop some bars. It's literally better then my entire life.

Buy "Last Friday Night"

Buy "Take U There"

After Janet Jackson released “No Sleeeep” and it did marginally well for the aging R&B diva, she teased her album Unbreakable with a collaboration with Missy Elliott, “Burnitup!” The songs a little retro, a little done before, and also one of the best songs to come out of her canon. And, it united her with Missy Elliott.

Buy "Burnitup!"

Missy Elliott is a goddess. She was part of the insurgence of female rappers in the nineties. She was right there with Lil Kim, Queen Latifah, Left Eye, Foxy Brown, and Eve. I miss the days of female rappers. Now all we have is Nicki Minaj and Dej Loaf trying to make it big.

The new song from Missy is called “WTF (Where They From)”. It's fire. This is the first of new music we've heard from her since “Best Best” in 2008. We have been waiting seven years for a new Missy Elliott album.

The last album we had from Missy was The Cookbook. It had that one good Ciara collaboration on it, “Lose Control”. Not to be confused with the iconic "Lose Control" by Kevin Federline.

Since, then we have been lost in the ocean, just waiting for Missy Elliott to return and gift us with her presence again. “WTF (Where They From)” has reminded us why we miss her. In a smart move she's included Pharrell on the track. His contribution is a few throwaway, absolutely delicious verses. With his enhanced radio presence after the massive hit that was “Happy” his appearance is sure to help garner radio play.

The music is nothing we haven't seen before, but it's a fun ride. There's some rhinestones on the lips. Reminiscent of J. Lo's “Goin' In” video and Latrice Royale's time on RuPaul's Drag Race. Some stimulated dance sequences. Puppets. A few people rolled up into body bags. Missy Elliott is back and about to let us have it.

Buy"WTF (Where They From)"

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THE Michael Kors

11/27/2015

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Michael Kors is a legend in the fashion industry. I love him. I considered buying one of his backpacks. The $300 kind. It was gorgeous. It deserved me. It deserved to be on my body. It's to bad that my minimum wage job doesn't support such extravagance.

There is not a part of my body that makes me say that I'm not obsessed with Michael Kors. He's really funny. I read an interview on him and he's great. I love him and his husband Lance Le Pere. Their the cutest. They are my life goals.

Lance Le Pere (left) and Michael Kors (right)

Michael Kors was founded way back when in 1981. It's the kind of high priced luxury, that although expensive isn't too out of reach. If I'd really wanted that backpack it could have been mine.

Michael Kors is known for their handbags. When I went into the Michael Kors store that's what was on display. Their logo is just as recognizable as Louis Vuitton or Chanel. Michael Kors has that kind of brand recognition.

I've always wanted a pair of their shoes. The flats. The heels. I would wear it all. I could empty my bank account buying Michael Kors. It has that timeless elegance about it. And, what's more we all deserve something high fashion in my life.

The man behind the brand is really cool. Michael Kors is known for “being real” just like Jennifer Lopez. He's self deprecating. I want to be rich and successful and have people wonder how humble I am.

I love the way he devotes his time and money. He's a huge supporter in AIDS research and assistance. Much like Elton John and not unsurprising considering his experiences in New York during the height of the AIDS epidemic. The foundation he does most of his work with is God's Love We Deliver.

He's also an ambassador for the United Nations. He works with their World Food Programme and helps to get food to school children in needy parts of the world.

I've always thought well of him, but reading about him really changed my perspective. If you have money, you should want to make a change in the world, and it's great that he does that. That he's trying to change the world

Michael Kors brand has been described as “too safe”. I don't think. It's true that his clothing doesn't push the boundaries that some fashion houses do. But, it's also not rooted in the same cycle of repeat, redo that is so much apart of Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger..

His brand isn't changing the world of fashion, it's not edgy. But, there's something about it. Not every $200 coat makes me consider buying it. That's how much I spend on clothes a year, so to spend that much on one jacket. It has to be more then just a name.

It has to be something more and in his own way that's what Michael Kors does. He's not going to start the next punk phase, but there's an idealism to his clothes that you can't find from every designer.

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Emotional Kiss

10/2/2015

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It's gotten to the point that I've gotten so frayed by this. There's this constant tearing down of Carly Rae Jepsen's first album Kiss and this over the top praise for Emotion.

This blog hasn't accurately reflected how much I like Carly Rae Jepsen. I've mentioned Emotion once or twice in compilation posts of other albums to buy, but I've yet to sit down and tell you in six hundred words or less how much I like Carly Rae Jepsen.

You know Carly Rae. The sweet voiced Canadian behind “Call Me Maybe”. The definitive song of 2012. Her own success hurt her. No one wanted to hear anything after this. Even, with synth goodness of “Good Time”, no one bought it's parent album Kiss.

Buy "Call Me Maybe"

I lived for this album. If I was blogging at this time I would have put Kiss as one of the best albums of 2012. This album came out the same week as P!NK's The Truth About Love. I know, because I had to choose which one to buy with allowance of $20 a month.

Kiss was just such a good album, but everyone over looked it because of how over they were “Call Me Maybe”. That was okay with me. I bopped to this album.

Now were here in 2015 and people are praising Emotion. Her latest album featuring the kind of hit “I Really Like You”. Even with a Justin Bieber appearance it couldn't reignite her hit status. But, everyone is praising this album. They all love it. Carly Rae Jepsen is a Queen now apparently.

Buy "I Really Like You"

This is my problem. I like Emotion. I like Emotion a lot. It's certainly one of the best pop albums of 2015. It's no Breathe In. Breathe Out, but I have been living. Carly Rae Jepsen herself has torn apart Kiss and I am just not about this life.

Kiss was a masterpiece. And, so is Emotion. But, there not even that different. It's not as if this a new Carly Rae Jepsen. It is not that. It's a vague update of the same eighties influenced pop she started out with. These albums are clearly by the same singer.

I'm just done with Kiss being torn apart. I love that album. I love every song on there. Maybe, not that duet with Justin Bieber. But, that album has a warm place in my heart. It's my baby.

I just need people to stop coming for Kiss and praising Emotion. These albums are gold and I'm sorry you missed out on it round one.

Letting you know right now that it's hard to see Emotion on a store shelf. It doesn't stand out at all. Right now my personal favorite song on the album is “Your Type”. Mainly because every single word describes my life. It was in that moment I realized I have the love life of a middle schooler.

Buy "Your Type"

The funniest track to me is “La Hallucinations”. It's catchy. It's good, but it's about the media and all the lies they've said about her. I know she's famous. But, she's always been squeaky clean to me. Like I've never heard of her getting naked with some boy. Breathing on some bong. I guess she needed to address the haters, but I didn't even know this was a problem. If you're watching TMZ, then your not really looking for quality reporting.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, buy Kiss and Emotion. Complete your Carly Rae experience.

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Translation Please

8/21/2015

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Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author.

I was in a round of Knowledge Bowl. High school. The teacher said, “none of you are going to know this.” I along with everyone else told him to ask the question anyway. He asked for the name of the author of 1Q84. I told him it was Haruki Murakami. He was pleasantly surprised.

The first time I was introduced to Murakami was by this wonderful lesbian I had in my French. I would never say that we were friends. She wasn't the kind of person who had friends. She had lovers. I don't know if I would say we were even particularly close, but I don't know if she's knows the kind of impact she's had on my life.

She was unapologetic about her sexual orientation. It was empowering. It's how I try to be now. She introduced me to Lana Del Rey and Murakami. She's a goddess. I hope she's doing well wherever she is.

This girl was always in a book and day I asked her what she was reading in class one day. It was 1Q84 and she told me Murakami was one of her favorite authors.

I didn't end up reading it until that summer. That's when I did all my reading and I stumbled upon it in the library and I picked it up. I read it in three days. If you've ever seen 1Q84 you should know that's an accomplishment.

This novel is a tome. It was published as three separate books in Japan before it was finally published as one volume there and in the United States. It's an intense read and all these years later not the novel I would start a beginner in Murakami on. This is a novel you need to carve out time for. Someone asked me what was this book about and I told them what wasn't it about.

I love 1Q84. I love the titles deliberate riff on George Orwell's classic. I love the book. I've been told by some that they found the ending disappointing. I don't agree. Murakami is the kind of author that book club's can read. He's a superstar in Japan. Much like E.L. James or J.K. Rowling is in America.

If you want to start reading Japanese literature there's no better place to start then Murakami. He deals often times with this mystical realism and his prose is amazing. One word by Murakami is better then anything I could ever come up with.

This summer I finally picked up another few books after Madonna: An Intimate Biography, China Rich Girlfriend, and Kim Kardashian's Selfish. I love Murakami and I said I need to read more. I read Norwegian Wood and I'm honestly so conflicted.

It was a good read. I must admit. It took me a little under a week. I must say that seventy page chapter was unnecessary. This is not a book I would start someone on. I do love everything Murakami does, but I wouldn't consider this his best. I did enjoy the titles reference to The Beatles. That's something Murakami is always doing. Tying his novels to music. Classical music most often.

Definitely make time to read Norwegian Wood if you want. I would never stop you. Murakami never falls flat, but it is not my favorite.

The book of his that I am obsessing over is his latest release. It sold over a million copies in it's first week on sale in Japan. It's a fast paced read and I think a good introduction to Murakami. It's not as much of a commitment as 1Q84 or some of his other work.

It's entitled the Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage. I don't want to give much away, but it's certainly one of my favorites reads in a long time. There's actually a lot of similarities to the male leads in both Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and Norwegian Wood. Something I might not have noticed if I hadn't read them both back to back.

Both leads are just kind of apathetic if likeable. The one thing I must warm you about is the sex scenes. Murakami is very direct. This is PG-13 material, but he doesn't hold back either.

The Colorless Tskuru Tazaki is about this man who thinks of himself as colorless, while everyone who was important in his life had a “color”. That's all I'm really going to say about it. If you want to know more google at your own risk. It's a quick fast paced read. Trust me. I'm obsessed with it. I can't stop thinking about it.

What I love about my friend group is that I actually have people who will let me talk about Murakami with them. That's when you know you've picked the right friends. The kind of people who read Murakami in their off time are the kind of people you want to know.

Unless you live in Japan, because there's not a person who doesn't read their Murakami or at the very least go to their nearest retailer and pick themselves up a hardcover copy.

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The Winning Team

7/24/2015

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It's been a few weeks and I'm still glowing over the Supreme Court's decision in the Obergefell v. Hodges case. I wanted to take the time out to shout out the true MVP's in this trial. The five supreme court justices who voted in favor.

I'm fangirling over Sotomayor, Kagan, Ginsburg, Breyer, and Kennedy as embarrassing as that might be. I stan for them. They seem pretty cool. We will not speak of the other four justices who really need to get on the winning team. Honestly, I was surprised that the verdict was as close as it was with 5-4 in favor. I thought it would be a much higher majority.

What I'm really waiting for is the Lifetime Original Movie in which the four dissenting justices are cast as the villains. This was a historic decision and to be on the wrong side of social change is going to be really embarrassing for them. In a few decades we will have people saying that it took to long for this decision to be made.

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote the majority opinion for this case. I feel like that's a big deal. Honestly, I didn't pay as much attention as I should have in my U.S. Government class. I definitely feel like Kennedy could have gotten it when he was younger. He's 78 now and I feel like in his twenties it would have been good. He went to Harvard and Stanford. So, he's smart. I just feel him.

Then, you have Ruth Bader Ginsburg. I feel like she would not approve of me saying this, but she's kind of a bad ass. I love her. Definitely, one of my favorite Supreme Court Justices. She's fiery. She's really short. She's only like 5'1. Some people call her the Notorious RBG (an homage to the Notorious B.I.G.). I love her and I am not surprised that she was one of the pro supporters of same sex marriage.

“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.”
Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Ruth Bader Ginsburg is bae if we're being perfectly honest. I love her. She went to both Cornwell and Columbia. Stand up for higher education.

The only other male who voted for this was Stephen Breyer. He's Jewish. Has that sexy bald spot going on. Bill Clinton picked him. He's gone to Stanford, Oxford, and Harvard. Someone went hard as fuck in their educational studies and I salute him. Turn up Stephen Breyer.

Sonia Sotomayor is also bae. We needed something other then white men on the Supreme Court and I'm so glad Obama picked her. I love her and that hair be on point all the time. I remember when Obama picked her. My father was so upset. I can't remember why, but I'm sure I blocked it out for a reason. Her education also be on fleek. She went to Princeton and Yale. Listen to Mama Nicki and stay in school and you too can be on the Supreme Court.

If you've seen Pitch Perfect 2 you might remember that one of the pieces of hate mail they received after Fat Amy showed her vagina to the president was from Sotomayor. Just a little fun trivia fact for you there. She's also Puerto Rican. Representing with Jennifer Lopez. I just need Sonia Sotomayor to slay everything.

Elena Kagan is our final Justice. She kills it to. She's also Jewish. I didn't know there was so much Jewish representation at the Supreme Court. Turn the fuck up for that. She was also picked by Obama. She's gone to Harvard and that's the same school Elle Woods went to and in my book that's all that matters.

All of the female Supreme Court Justices voted in favor of this ruling.

I'm just going to let that sit there Ruth Bader Ginsburg was quoted as saying that she thought there should be 9 women on the Supreme Court. I agree with her. We've had 9 men for so long that there's no reason there shouldn't be a time that we have 9 women.

Shout out to my favorite Supreme Court Justices for just being awesome. Changing the world and pushing social change is something I wish I had the ability to do and do so effortlessly. While, rocking those loose fitting gowns. Kill it.

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High Off My Love

6/26/2015

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I said I wouldn't do it. I said to myself. I'm not going to blog about Paris Hilton's new song. And, to be fair I've waited since May 15th, which was over a month ago at this point. I just couldn't resist talking about all the bondage and sexiness on display in “High Off My Love”. Paris Hilton is queen to me.

The very first article on this blog was a Media Monday and it was on Paris Hilton's then new song “Come Alive”. It was airy and breathy and stunning really. I say this was from an unbiased point of view. It's been almost a year, since it was released and I can look at it objectively now.

“High Off My Love” is the third single from Paris's yet untitled second studio album that was due for release back in December of 2013 when “Good Time” was thrown into the world. I loved that song in 2013 and most certainly would have blogged about it then. I loved “Come Alive” and I love “High Off My Love” now.

I'm honestly not sure what is holding Paris Hilton from dropping this album. We've been waiting, since 2013. Her last album was not some commercial juggernaut. There aren't any expectations. We can say she's waiting for one of these songs to break through like “Stars Are Blind” did, but Paris was popular back then for being scandalous. Unless she plans on snorting cocaine off of Lindsay Lohan's body and calling it gum she is not going to have a hit. She's polarizing and radio does not play with that.

This waiting thing is what is bothering me. We were supposed to have “High Off My Love” back in October of last year. Then, Paris kept putting it off. Shifting the release date around from February to the finally stated May 15th. It made me salty and I was being a bitch refusing to blog about it.

And, yet here I am.

The question truly is what don't I like about this song. It has Hilton's trademark vocals that match up with Britney Spears vocal prowess quite well. I like the trap beat.

I don't know what Birdman is doing on the song. His inclusion seems unnecessary. It's certainly not the kind of star power she needs to get a hit.

If Paris wanted to go for a spotlight song she should enlist someone like Lana Del Rey. That would have people talk. Lana Del Rey would never do it, but it would be a fascinating collaboration. Someone intersting and prevalent that's what Paris needs.

Now, in this video there are sexy shirtless men in masks. Something about masquerade balls is a turn on. There are Paris Hilton clones. There's seduction. There is some good “Justify My Love” vibes that any Madonna fan will appreciate. Especially with the recent popularity of 50 Shades of Grey. Bondage is in.

The real problem I have with this video is that it's not scandalous unless your living in 1982. All of Paris's videos have been high quality productions. That is not going to get people talking. Paris wants to be taken seriously and I respect that, but it is not the way she is going to obtain commercial domination.

What Paris Hilton needs is a Miley Cyrus “We Can't Stop” kind of video WITH a song that is ear catching like “Uptown Funk”. It needs to be a slam dunk on both counts or she won't crack the 100 most popular songs in the country. But, I digress. Watch the video. Put it on repeat. Download the single. No one else is going to.