Category: With

A Voice From Heaven

1/28/2016

It was New Year's Day when I found out about the passing of singer Natalie Cole. I was laying in bed. I'd just woken up from a hard night of playing scrabble and watching The Dark Knight Rises. It was not the way for me to start the New Year.

I've never been a massive fan of Natalie Cole, but she's an icon. I don't have any of her albums, but I like her. I've always liked Natalie Cole. She's the daughter of Nat King Cole. She was a child of a musical family. She was gorgeous, especially in her sixties, and I just don't know who wouldn't stand for Natalie Cole.

On February 6th 1950 an angel was born. She was a born and raised Los Angeles native. She lived, breathed, and eventually died there. She was sixty five when she passed away. That's why it took me by storm. I've always thought of her as so incredibly young. If Aretha Franklin passed away, I would have been less shell shocked.

During the seventies, Natalie Cole was a musical force. She had three top ten hits and a string of other charting and top forty entries. Her voice was praised and of course her musical heritage didn't hurt her chances at radio.

She had a steep decline for a few years after the seventies. Most, probably expected her platinum selling Unpredictable and it's number five hit “I've Got Love On My Mind” to be the career defining moment for her. Not knowing her biggest success was yet to come.

During this time Natalie Cole suffered with a lot of drug and substance abuse. It wasn't until 1983 that she entered rehab for her addictions to crack cocaine and heroin. She outlined most of this in her autobiography Angel on My Shoulder. Her drug use contributed to her long term health decline and is one of the reasons we lost her so soon.

In 1987 she reemerged as a pop star with a cover of Bruce Springsteen's “Pink Cadillac”. I love this song and this version. I just love hearing her sing about a thinly veiled ode to the vagina. It's great.

Buy "Pink Cadillac"

The biggest success in her career came surprisingly late. At this point she'd been in the industry for close to twenty years. Longer if you included her guest appearance on one of her father's albums as a child. In 1991 she released a cover of her fathers songs on the album Unforgettable... With Love, it achieved wide claim critical and commercial success. Becoming her first number one album, eventually going seven times platinum and taking home six Grammy's.

It came as a shock as she'd refused to sing her father's songs live up to this point. She never had another album match it's success. Although, her next three albums were certified varying degrees of platinum or gold. Her last studio album harkened back to this idea of treading in her father's footsteps when she released an album of Spanish songs entitled Natalie Cole en Espanol. Similarly titled to her father's Cole Espanol.

Her last years were successful. Arguably she reached her peak when she starred as a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race. Where could she really go after reaching the peak? Although, never to have a number one hit, she remains a staple in the music community, and her presence will be missed.

Natalie Cole (left) with RuPaul (middle) and Amber Riley (right)

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Tradition of Christmas Eve

12/24/2015

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Look at this nice heternormative clip art I found!

Christmas Eve has always been a major part of Christendom. It's the gear up to the celebration that is Christmas. It's our turn up night before the turn up. Christmas day goes pretty much as planned for the masses. Children wake up. We open presents. Families pretend to love each other for the rest of the day. They might even play a board game, but Christmas Eve isn't so definite.

For day 11 in the 12 Days of Bubbles I asked my friends and acquaintances just what they do for Christmas Eve. I felt like an underground reporter uncovering the truth.

My Christmas Eve is a family celebration. We spend the day together and we open one gift from under the thee. We spend the rest of the day together. It's really great if you love and care about your family.

The other half of my family does something more materialistic that has little to do with spending time with each other. On Christmas Eve they go out shopping, because they enjoy putting things off to the end. It's essentially a marathon. They run out get, gifts and wrap them up and as a group we open all of them together at midnight on Christmas Eve.

At this point they all go their separate ways, back to their humble abodes, and wait for Christmas morning to spend time with the family they live with. It's exhausting.

I tried to ask the twins what they do, but despite phone calls and harassment I never did get a response. This is what happens when you try to get information out of people during exam week.

Now Joyce did respond. I think her's is very traditional. You know she is very Catholic and together as a family they go to midnight mass. I'm not Catholic enough for that, but if I was I do think that would be a bundle of joy and anticipation.

My dear, now departed neighbors would go caroling. Singing door to door with their church. I would rather be home passed out under a pile of blankets listening to Bette Midler. Which, consequentially is what I'm usually doing on Christmas Eve. Traditions are great, but sometimes you need to stay inside.

The only Scorpio that matters informed me of her Christmas Eve rituals. There was a lot of “hahaha's” involved in her response, which leads me to believe that she actually enjoys spending time with her family.

Her's follows the plot outline of mine. They open one Christmas present. Then, this is where they veer off into uncharted territory. They “bake cookies” and “enjoy spending time with each other”. In the great American tradition of family values she is leading the life of the Cleaver family.

In my household if someone doesn't cry or yell or have an emotional breakdown it's really not Christmas. Last year my father about punched me across the face and that's my idea of a good time.

Now in the most surprising turn of events this is where I ask you to comment and tell me about your Christmas Eve traditions. I see other bloggers being interactive and asking you questions, so I am following in that great tradition.

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Model Cancellation

11/19/2015

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With the CW canceling America's Next Top Model on it's 22nd cycle, the real question is where will our next supermodel come from?

Truthfully America's favorite reality modeling competition did little in creating household names or faces. As exciting as Analeigh Tipton's role in Crazy Stupid Love was, she's hardly a household name. Chantelle Brown Young is the only one I've seen in high gloss ads and that's probably due more to her skin disorder vitiligo then her appearance on the show.

Tyra Banks has long kept us entertained. I admit that over the course of 22 cycles, I strayed. I was not present at every moment, but I really do think it was time. 22 seasons later, America's Next Top Model has run it's course. Still, the fact that Naomi Campbell's The Face is on is questionable

There have been so many great judges on America's Next Top Model. The judges are what make the reality show. What would Dancing With The Stars be without it's Bruno? American Idol without it's Simon Cowell? Canceled.

Over the course of 22 cycles I've had my favorites. I always liked Nigel Barker. Even after he went to the dark side and became part of The Face. I know a lot of people liked Twiggy when she was on and certainly Janice Dickinson was a good time for the four seasons she was a main host.

Nigel Barker

Twiggy

Janice Dickinson

The shade of Miss J Alexander and Andre Leon Talley are not to be missed. Miss J is the most iconic of all the judges. His legs are so oiled and so good. They are my goals. Andre Leon Talley is best friends with THE Anna Wintour. And, no one can convince me that he wasn't the inspiration behind Nigel in The Devil Wears Prada.

Andre Leon Talley

Miss J Alexander

Jay Manuel

There was also Jay Manuel, although not quite a judge, he was vital to the show. He put on the contestants photo shoots. No one can replace him or his *NSYNC style hair. Not to mention Raja, winner of RuPaul's Drag Race made guest appearances doing make up on America's Next Top Model.

There are so many iconic moments on top model. Not just because of who Tyra is. We can never forget when she yelled at Tiffany. “We were rooting for you! We were all rooting for you!” The only important thing that ever happened on top model.

Cycle 7 stopped my mother. She was so mad. There was so much drama. Ripped dresses, tripped runways. My mother has never forgiven Caridee. One of the few top model contestants to have a Wikipedia page. If you mention that girl, my mother will bring Melrose back to life and shame you.

Carridee and Melrose

As sad as it makes me to see this icon of my childhood disappear into reruns, it really was time. I am enjoying Cycle 22. I'm living for Nyle and I hate how much I love Hadassah, but what can you do for love? Soon this will all be in reruns and we'll have nothing better to watch then The Face.

The only person who's happy about this is Naomi Campbell. Tyra must be devestated. This show saw it all. That time the media shamed her for gaining weight. Her telling us she was happy the way she was. Her losing the weight again. Tyra preaching the beauty of the big forehead. America's Next Top Model has changed the face of beauty. One bitch slap at a time.

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Something Borrowed, Something Blue, & Something To Read

9/10/2015

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I didn't spend a solid two days reading a book to not tell you about it. I've finally gotten around to reading Emily Giffin's Something Blue. I swear I thought her last name was Griffin not Giffin. Emily Giffin is a queen in the category of romance novelist.

I love her work. It's quick, fast paced, and always delectable in a tasteful way. I own a few copies of her books. All of them are courtesy of my older sister. Her husband forced her to get rid of all of her books in exchange for an e-reader. Now she has a kindle and a non existent book case.

My mother was the recipient of some of her books. My mother only reads Christian fiction and I came into contact with two novels by Giffin. Her breakout novel Something Borrowed and Baby Proof (my former personal favorite).

Now I would love to delve in the intricacies and of her other works like Heart of the Matter and Love The One You're With, but we have a star filled movie and two novels to tear apart.

The first book I read by her was Something Borrowed. The one that had a feature film tie in. It was the romantic comedy of summer 2011. I saw it twice in theaters. Once with the twins and the second with my great Aunt. The last time I watched it was when I was on my 19th birthday after my mother bought it for me at Target.

Now Something Borrowed tells the story of Rachel stealing her best friend Darcy's fiancee Dex days before their wedding day. Talk about sharing. Now Rachel does come across more sympathetic then my little blurb suggests. This was Emily Giffin's first novel and frankly not her best. It was however enjoyable, although I never quite gelled with the lead love interest.

He might have been attractive and wealthy, but he was an ass. He was indecisive and I was not about him. He needed to get his shit together. It was the same thing in the movie. Each time I read the book or watched the movie I hoped she would end up with her best friend Ethan. I didn't want Rachel with Dex. She was too pure of a cinnamon roll for him. Needless to say I didn't get what I wanted.

We were supposed to side with Rachel. After all Darcy was a bitch, but I always sided with her. I liked Darcy. I've always had a thing for the bitch.

Darcy is immaculately played by Kate Hudson in the film version. And, frankly Ginnifer Goodwin was her typical boring self as Rachel in the film. Although, shout out to her for keeping that role alive on Once Upon A Time. I think Ginnifer Goodwin is boring but she seems really sweet. I love what they did with Ethan in the movie. He was so cute and funny and if we're being honest it's the reason I started crushing as hard as I do on John Krasinski. Although, I do live for him and Emily Blunt's romance.

The lead was as dull and flat and two dimensional as could be expected. Dex was played by a reasonably attractive Colin Egglesfield. Although, I've always thought his face was somewhat disproportionate.

Kate Hudson played Darcy

John Krasinski played Ethan

Ginnifer Goodwin played Rachel

Colin Egglesfield played Dex

It might not sound like I enjoyed this movie, but it's a guilty pleasure. I live for it. If you need a good rom com please watch it. Queue it up on your Netflix.

This was not the corner piece in Emily Giffin's career in my opinion. Until I stopped at the library and picked up Something Blue. The follow up to Something Borrowed that tells the story from Darcy's perspective.

Author Emily Giffin (far right) reading a copy of Something Borrowed

It killed my body. Darcy is vain shallow and pretentious. She's a bitch and frankly far more entertaining a story teller then Rachel was. This book was my life. Of course Darcy stumbles upon some realizations and becomes less of a self centered bitch with the perfect life.

This book slayed. I say skip reading Something Borrowed and just read Something Blue. It gives you all the background information you need and it's ten times more entertaining. I'm honestly so upset that the movie version wasn't successful enough to warrant this sequel. Because, it is more of a sequel then a retelling of the original novel.

Something Blue knocked Baby Proof off the top of my favorite books by Emily Giffin. Kate Hudson deserves to shine in a sequel. It would be so good. It could be a television series. You could put on Lifetime if they would make it. I would live.

The summer is technically over, but if you have time on your hands or a free weekend to grab a book may I suggest Emily Giffin. Pick at random or go for Something Blue. You won't go wrong.

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Giorgio By Moroder

8/13/2015

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Legendary record producer. Italian. Giorgio Moroder is one of the most legendary people that you may or may not have heard of. I've brought him up a few times on the blog and mentioned him on the YouTube channel. He's worked with everyone from Blondie to Daft Punk and is an icon in his own right.

Personally, I'm surprised that he's never worked with Madonna. This is the man who built the disco sound. During the eighties Madonna had relatively small set of collaborators, but still when she went retro with Confessions on a Dancefloor I'm surprised she didn't enlist Giorgio Moroder.

The man is in his late seventies at this point. But, as he addressed in a recent song he released “74 is the new 24”. The person he most directly helped achieve international stardom was Donna Summer. He produced most of her iconic hits. The ones that everyone knows.

These range from “Bad Girls” and “Hot Stuff” from Donna's highest selling album Bad Girls to her breakout hit “Love To Love You Baby”. Her duet with Barbra Streisand “No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)” was also deftly handled by his hit making skills. Other accomplishments with Donna Summer include “Last Dance”, “MacArthur Park”, “On The Radio”, and “I Feel Love”. Giorgio Moroder is the man who pioneered the sound that disco heralded.

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He never found another voice that mirrored the success he had with Donna. But, he still translated his skills into multiple hits for other singers. He's the man responsible for Blondie's most iconic hit “Call Me”. This isn't that surprising as it was written for the movie American Gigolo. The highlight being Richard Gere's full frontal scene. Giorgio Moroder was the man behind the soundtrack.

In his later career he made a lot of work with the film industry, producing and writing the instrumentals that heralded a movie. Some of these included Cat People (David Bowie was in it), Flash Dance, and Over The Top.

Surprisingly enough he was not one of the main producers behind the Top Gun soundtrack. The movie that launched Tom Cruise to super stardom and the soundtrack that sold over 9 million copies in the United States. He was however the one behind two of it's most prominent hits. The song that launched Berlin “Take My Breath Away”. Otherwise known as the love theme to Top Gun and the always up tempo Kenny Loggins “Danger Zone”.

Giorgio Moroder was anything if not pliable to what different artists need. The vivacity a Kenny Loggins track produces is inherently different then what would be required of a Donna Summer hit.

He lay dormant to the pop scene for two solid decades. Then, what was old became new again. Dance music was back in. The sound Giorgio Moroder lead was back. This was made infinitely clear when Daft Punk enlisted him for their Grammy award winning Random Access Memories. The album that's sold 3.2 million copies and allowed him to return for a solo debut as a DJ.

Not only as Giorgio Moroder being hosting raves in the desert. He recently dropped his own LP in the style of Calvin Harris and David Guetta featuring numerous high profile guest stars. On Deja Vu he hits his stride with his female lead tracks.

Sia nails it with “Deja Vu”, Kylie Minogue voice throbs over an addictive bass with “Right Here, Right Now”, Charli XCX sounds every bit the rebel she is with “Diamonds”, Britney Spears nails and I dare I say improves “Tom's Diner”, but the highlight is most certainly Kelis's “Back and Forth”. Kelis hasn't sounded this good or this current since her collaboration with Calvin Harris on “Bounce”. It's gritty and ecstatic.

It's all thanks to Giorgio Moroder.

Buy "Right Here, Right Now"

Buy "Tom's Diner"

Buy "Back and Forth"

Buy "Deja Vu"

His two dalliances with male artists just don't land. “Tempted” gives off a filler track vibe that Cobra Starship is famous for delivering. And, the Mikky Ekko led “Don't Let Go” is far too serious for such a light and enjoyable album.

The one thing Deja Vu proves is that 74 might not be the new 24, but it certainly has circled around to it. Giorgio Moroder sounds current without sacrificing his artistic merit and with over 40 years in the industry, there's a lot.

Buy Deja Vu

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The Hills Are Alive!

7/16/2015

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Two musical throwbacks in a row? Yes. After Grease I was inspired to watch The Sound of Music. Not so much inspired as I have to show you the culture that exists in this movie. Both Te Amo and Rosencrantz had never seen it. It was time to fix that. I also hadn't seem them yet this summer. And, I can also promo my video “The Hills Are Alive With The Sound Of.... Shut Up I'm Trying To Talk Here” (I'm convinced this should be the title of the next Fall Out Boy hit).

Subscribe to the Bubble Righted Channel on YouTube.

What is there really to say about The Sound Of Music other then Gwen Stefani sampled “The Lonely Goatherd” in her hit “Wind It Up” from her last studio album The Sweet Escape? There's so much to say. I wish I'd known I was writing this and I would have taken notes.

Buy "Wind It Up"

Christopher Plummer slays by the way, I'm slick obsessed with him. He was kind of hot in this movie in a protective kind of way. If your into being sheltered and cared for. It's good. He was the stereotypical dad knows best.

This movie is so family friendly, wholesome, entertainment. That's why the soundtrack sold so many copies. This movie is built on reprisals of quality songs sung by different people. It can be a little much. This movie is almost three hours long. Thank God we have learned to cut movies down. Watching this again was an experience.

This was the star vehicle for Julie Andrews. Queen of Genovia. Julie Andrews was already a star, but this was the movie that solidified it all. She was the young nun Maria. This replaced Gone With The Wind as the highest grossing movie of all time. This was a cultural revolution the way Glee was.

The one thing this movie reminded me of is how much I hate children. They were all kind of terrible. The only thing that really warmed my heart is that Liesl didn't end up with that Nazi. Praise. The only love we need is between the outspoken governess and the stern captain.

Boomer told me that he hadn't seen it after I told him I watched this with Rosencrantz and Te Amo. I told him. I'm not watching it again. I need some time to recover. It's good, but it's a marathon.

This movie could have just been a sweet romantic comedy and then you get the Nazi's involved. That is such a mess. It's terrifying actually. The first part of the movie is Julie Andrews and Christopher Plumber realizing they belong together and the the second part is the entire family escaping Austria with the help of Uncle Max and a few spry nuns.

My favorite character and most certainly the person I would be if I was in this movie would be the Baroness. She's evil. But, she's not too evil. The worst thing she does is tell Maria that the Captian is in love with her. The horror of it all. She's manipulative, but she knows when she's beat. I love it. I have respect for her.

The Baroness was played by Eleanor Parker, who deserves a separate Throwback Thursday herself. She was Hollywood glamour. I enjoy her performances. She died a few years ago at the age of 91. I really like her. She was beautiful, she was sensual.

Now what makes this movie so classic and iconic. That I don't have the answer to. What made Gaga's rendition of “The Sound of Music” the highlight of The Academy Awards. It wasn't just her sterling vocals. It was the fact that this movie has a soft spot in the hearts of the world. If you haven't seen it, you need to, it's a cultural landmark. Is it my favorite movie, no. But, you can't trust someone who doesn't like The Sound of Music.

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Grease Is The Word

7/1/2015

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There's nothing more iconic then Grease. It's one of those movies everyone has to see. There's not a single person who doesn't like this movie. You can't trust someone who doesn't like Grease. If they don't like this movie their obviously going through some mental issues that you don't have the time to help them work through.

This movie came out in the summer of 1978. Not only was the movie a smash, but it's soundtrack became the definitive Grease. It boasted the Frankie Valli led theme song “Grease”, two outings with Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta in the lead with “You're The One That I Want” and “Summer Nights”, along with the Olivia Newton John solo “Hopelessly Devoted To You”. It's no surprise that it went on to sell over 28 million copies worldwide.

I became a proud owner recently and I might I add that it was the best decision of my entire life. If you grew up with this movie in your life. You need the soundtrack. Anyone who decides to get rid of it should be hospitalized.

Of course I suffered through the movie again, so I could accurately throwback. Let's just start with that cartoon intro. I have a soft place for it in my heart. It's so cute and adorable. It's perfect actually. It invokes childhood and that's what this movie is for most of us.

I feel like the obsession that Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta had with one another was never really expressed well enough. Now don't get me wrong. John Travolta was kind of hot with that cigarette dangling out of his mouth. What happened to him. Neither of them aged particularly well, but Olivia is 66. She looks good, I just feel like John got his face pulled one too many times.

Rewatching this movie as an “adult” I caught so many things. Danny and Kenickie had there three friends. They acted a fool. They were basically the three stooges. All of the T-Birds acted out masculinity. Danny and Kenickie had that moment when they were like “I love you as a bro” and then they pretended to be chill. Because, real men don't have emotions or care about people. Whatever.

As a child I never caught that Rizzo was pregnant. Rizzo is honestly my favorite character. I understand and relate to her the most. She's a strong female. Who just kind of powers through with this strength. She's also queen bitch of the Pink Ladies and lord knows I need that jacket. My favorite song in the whole movie is “There Are Worse Things I Could Do”. She lists all these things that are terrible things, but the worst possible thing she can do is cry in front of Kenickie. I feel that on a spiritual level. There are plenty of boys that have made me cry, but I be damned if I'm going to cry in front of them.

The romance between Kenickie and Rizzo is also a lot closer to my heart. Kenickie is supposed to be this bad boy who has all this sex, but he lost his virginity to Rizzo. Do not be mistaken. When there in that car he says “it broke. I bought it in the 7th grade.” He's talking about a condom. He wanted to be cool. That's it. Rizzo decides it doesn't matter and they have sex.

When she gets pregnant and Kenickie finally finds out he wants to be there for her. Yes. He's excited when it turns out she isn't, but they're barely out of high school. That's not as douchey as it seems. I just love them. I love them so much.

This movie is problematic. There's no denying that. However, watching it with a critical eye I realize that Sandy wasn't the only one changing. Danny tried changing for her. Danny at his core was a good guy. It was all the posturing with the T-Birds that made him act like an ass. Whenever, he hurt Sandy's feelings it was to impress them.

The only time I don't see why he was so insistent was when they were in the drive in movie and he kind of forced himself on her. That seemed unnecessary. It's the kind of thing Danny Zuko was supposed to do and that's why I think he acted on it.

He also tried sports for Sandy. He decided to go prep for Sandy at the end, and then Olivia Newton-John came out in that sexy skin tight black patent leather and slayed the world with that hair. Sandy made the change so she could be with Danny, but I really feel it was something she was comfortable doing. The reason her ears weren't pierced was because of her father. She was a good girl.

Sandy's friends and the people she aligned herself with were the delinquents. I think this transition was for her. Now, that doesn't mean this isn't problematic, but it's the way it is. It's also ironic that they both tried to change for each other when the theme song of Grease literally says “we can be who we are”.

The dance was pivotal. Marty through herself at the older announcer. Rizzo slayed up and down that fucking gym floor in that red spotted dress. I just love Stockard Channing. Killed it. Of course Danny fucked up again when he let himself dance with Cha Cha, who as Frenchie put it was “the best dancer at St. Bernadette's with the worst reputation.” Cha Cha was hot, though. I blame Danny and I also don't blame him.

"Beauty School Dropout"

Frenchie is the only one who made it in Grease 2 (and no we're not talking about that train wreck). She turned her hair a lovely shade of pink. She was sweet and loveable. Frankie Avalon sang to her and told her not to become a beautician unless she wanted to style hookers. Which, really sounds like a lot of fun.

The car scene where they raced on thunder roadvmade my day. I teared up a little. It was amazing. My father cut the “Greased Lightening” scene out of the VHS tape. I guess he didn't want me seeing John Travolta gyrating in suggestive manners. He didn't want me to get the wrong idea.

The only other thing about this movie that I just adored was how short the boys shorts were. To have been alive in the racist homophobic era of the fifties would have been so much fun.

Someday I hope to also be dressed in skin tight leather. A cigarette in my hand. Cue the music and say “Tell me about it. Stud.” And crush the cigarette under my stiletto. Grease is life goals

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Hold Your Breath For Eight Years

6/17/2015

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On the 16th Hilary Duff released her fourth studio album Breathe In. Breathe Out. This is my millionth friendly reminder to buy it. We had to wait for eight years for this album. I am not waiting another eight years. What the actual fuck was that Hilary.

In commemoration of the album event of the year. I'm rehashing all her past albums and reliving my childhood. I feel like it doesn't count. But, the Lizzie McGuire Soundtrack. Every 19 year old has that album or has it had it at some point in their lives or at the very least has a working concept of it. I can't honestly sit here and tell you it's high quality recording. What I can tell you is that “Why Not” is still my shit and Taylor Dayne's cover of RuPaul's “Supermodel” is amazing.

Buy "Why Not"

The “Tide Is High” is also on there. We have all sang to that song with hairbrush in hand. That's the moment I realized me and Lizzie McGuire are the same person. I've also shouted out the lyrics to “You Make Me Feel Like A Star”. If your a late 90's kid this soundtrack is essential.

Her first album was Metamorphosis (or her Christmas album, but I'm not even going there). Please don't buy Metamorphosis. I love it, because it's my childhood Not, because it's quality recording. It's on the level of ...Baby One More Time and that was not the highlight of Britney's recording career. Highlight is definitely “Come Clean”

I have a friend and I love her to death, but she was morally offended by the fact that Hilary Duff named her album Metamorphosis. She was like no that's tied to Kafka, Hilary Duff can't just do that. I rolled my eyes. She's philosophical and I'm a pretty face. She probably had a point.

Buy "Come Clean"

We're skipping over the Cinderella Story Soundtrack. Mainly because I don't have it and secondly because “Our Lips Are Sealed” is not a quality Hilary Duff recording. Her second album was self titled. I think it's a little lengthy, but it gives a lot of good Avril Lavigne vibes. Some songs could have been cut, but I feel it in every part of my body. The personal stand out for me is “Weird”. But, I have and will rock out to “Fly”, “Shine” and even to the cliched lyrics of “Rock This World”. I have no shame.

Buy "Weird"

Then, she did a greatest hits. God, knows why. It was called Most Wanted. I got it a Salvation Army for one dollar. It was the greatest find of my life. None of the new recordings are worth mentioning. The only one I've listened to on repeat is “Break My Heart” and if it wasn't so applicable to my life I would never listen to it.

Buy "Break My Heart"

Fast forward three years from 2005 to 2008 and the newest Hilary Duff album is Dignity. This is the first album I ever bought. I can't judge it from a reasonable perspective. It's perfect. It's a five star album. It's what I compare every album I buy to. It's dance and sexy. “Gypsy Woman” is a fun song on the album. My niece and I can turn up to that song. My personal favorite is still going to have to be “Play With Fire”. It's been eight years and I can rap every word to that song flawlessly. It's kind of embarrassing.

Buy "Play With Fire"

What's actually embarrassing is how I got this album. I was a shy young child who did not understand the concept of the alphabet and I went up to a clerk and I asked if they had “Hilary Duff's Dignity”. They laughed. I wanted to die. I got the album and I listened to it every day for a month and every other day for three months. I know most of the words by memory and there is now wear on the CD from all the times I've played it.

There was another random greatest hits. See my Snapshot Saturday day I did on it's lead single “Reach Out” for my opinion. It's flawless for an unnecessary greatest hits.

Link to full article: Reach Out & Touch Me

Now here we are in 2015 and the newest installment is here with Breathe In. Breathe Out. I can't be subjective. Your just going to have give me a few months to read it or label it certified ten times platinum. Right now I'm gagging and in love. Get yourself a copy and enjoy your summer properly.

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We Live For Pat Benatar

6/4/2015

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Sometimes I forget that Pat Benatar is a classically trained opera singer and that I can't hit the notes that she can hit. That doesn't stop me from trying. I am that person who will jam out to Pat Benatar in the shower. I grew up on Pat Benatar. It was christian music, Celine Dion, and Pat Benatar. It was really great. Faith Hill was there too.

My love for Pat Benatar definitely comes from my childhood. My father loves all that eighties rock. He's such an archetype for the middle aged white heterosexual male. I don't feel male singers. So many just disgust me at their core. It's so funny, because my father doesn't consider Pat Benatar a “rocker”. I just feel like that's drenched in misogyny. Because, Pat Benatar is a rocker. If you want to come for Sheryl Crow and not file her under rock. Okay. But, you can't come for Pat Benatar.

Right now Pat Benatar is on her 35th anniversary tour. My father bought tickets. For him and my mother. I am the hardcore Pat Benatar fan in this family and I'm just like what the actual fuck. I am trying to convince him to bring me along. He probably won't. It's fine. I didn't want to spend time with him anyway.

I could have been a child of the eighties as far as the music goes. I jam pretty hard to some of these people. Now, I don't know if I would have been a Pat Benatar fan. I do enjoy a strong female, but in all honesty, I would have been on that Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Samantha Fox train. If you don't know who Samantha Fox is you need to get on that. She gave us good sexual realness in the eighties with “Touch Me (I Want Your Body)”. It's slinky and the exact opposite of quality recording.

The eightes were a great time for women in rock. Debbie Harry was fronting Blondie, Joan Jett was killing it solo and with the Blackhearts, Stevie Nicks was not letting up, and Pat Benatar was releasing a string of hits from 1979-1985. Pat Benatar was an album a year girl. Much like Rihanna was dipping and doing it for us.

Her break out hit was “Heartbreaker”. The classic, iconic, hard rock song. She followed it up with “We Live For Love”, which has those warm chugging guitars, and I love it. This is probably where my father is coming from when he says she isn't a rocker. She's had some very pop moments like “We Belong”, but balancing between pop and rock is part of being a successful musician.

Buy "Heartbreaker"

Buy "We Live For Love"

Her follow up album was Crimes of Passion and it's certainly the defining moment of her career as far as sales and hits go. It features “Hit Me With Your Best Shot”, “Treat Me Right”, and “You Better Run”. All hard rock staples. This is also the album that has “Hell is for Children” on it. It discusses child abuse and really does what music is supposed to do. Talk about social issues and comment on them. Love songs are great, but once in a while we really do need to make a statement. Crimes of Passion is definitely one of her most coherent albums. It also includes one of my favorite album only tracks “Wuthering Heights”.

Buy "Wuthering Heights"

She followed this album with five more albums and subsequent hits “Fire and Ice”, “Little Too Late”, “We Belong”, “Love is a Battlefield” and “Invincible”. Pitch Perfect 2 covers “We Belong” and did they succeed the way Pat did. No of course not. But, it's a classic song. “Love is a Battlefield” was on her live album and Joyce loves this song. She knows every word. Joyce and I jam out to Pat Benatar. My place of business also places that song. It is not my favorite Benatar song, but I feel it.

Pat Benatar kept her name out there during the eighties. It's why she's still as remembered as she is. She had a string of consecutive hits and she was hard to get away from. It was after Seven The Hard Way that she took a three year break between studio albums. Then, she released Wide Awake In Dreamland (which has a horrible album cover) and it had a hit. It sold well, but it was not the colossal success of her other lead singles and “All Fired Up” really doesn't rank among Pat Benatar's most recognizable hits.

Her singles had lukewarm response, then she took another three year break. Recorded a jazz album. It just was not a solid plan. She didn't transition into the nineties. People weren't feeling it. This was the time of TLC and the alternative sound of Nirvana. When she did go back to her rock sound radio was not receptive to it. Maybe if she'd gone a Courtney Love/Hole kind of sound she could have maintained her success. But, then I feel like the only reason we really bought into Courtney Love's band is because of Kurt Cobain and the massive success he had with Nirvana.

Madonna was also charting new territory at the time. Female singers had a shelf life of a decade. Madonna was the one trail blazing. Pat Benatar was not able to reap the benefits that Britney Spears and Mariah Carey have been able to by maintaining their careers without people looking at them side eyed.

Personally, I would be here for a Pat Benatar comeback and I definitely think with the right kind of promotion Pat could release a new album of solo material and sell. Look at what Bruce Springsteen has been doing. I think she has a market if she wants it. I'm sure she doesn't need the money, though. She's killing it with these tours. The woman is also 62. Pat Benatar has earned the right to sit down if she wants to. We're still going to love her anyway.

We live for Pat Benatar.

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He Hit Me (It Felt Like A Kiss)

5/21/2015

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Singer Little Eva is claimed to be the inspiration for the Crystal's song “He Hit Me (It Felt Like a Kiss)”. She was regularly being beaten by her boyfriend and when asked why she put up with it, she said something to the effect of “He does it because he loves me.” Now, the only reason I know this song is because my great aunt enjoy the Crystals, and as a child she would pull out the record machine and slip it on.

That's why when I was listening to Lana Del Rey's “Ultraviolence” I was pleasantly surprised to hear her referencing such a hauntingly straight forward song, sung in such a sweet complacency you wonder if they were one of Lily Allen's inspirations.

The shocking thing about Little Eva is that she was a star. She made the song “Locomotion” popular long before Kylie Minogue gained recognition with it in the United States. Her name can be added to a long list of popular women who have faced domestic abuse. Jessica Simpson, Tyra Banks, even Oprah who has stated that “love doesn't hurt.”

Buy "He Hit Me (And It Felt Like A Kiss)"

But, these women have simply joined a pedigreed list of women who include Tina Turner and Whitney Houston. You may even remember when Romanian singer Alexandra Stan was hospitalized after physical violence from her manager. Domestic abuse continues to happen, and it seems only natural to look back on what in pop culture has done to justify or bring awareness to it. Let's not forget not only abuse towards women, but also children. You may remember that Woody Allen made headlines recently for the sexual abuse of his daughter during her childhood.

This is something The Color Purple author Alice Walker, directly addresses with Celie's character who is not only verbally and sexually abused by her father, but follows her into adulthood where her husband takes a much more physical toll on her body.

"I have had, basically, my face bashed in, and I never did anything about it.” - Tina Turner

Even, Joan Crawford was accused (after her passing) that she physically and verbally abused all four of her children. Many have stated that they believe Christina Crawford's claims to be false. The simple timing publication of her book led to many eyebrow raising questions.

Her mother had just passed and many have said that she waited until after her mother died to publish a tell all so she could not only get part of her mother's estate, but cash in on her mother's passing. Who knows what's true. Their relationship was most certainly not perfect no matter what it was. You don't write a tell all ruining the reputation of the mother who love you unconditionally. There is truth built into Christian Crawford's retelling. Also, if you haven't seen the movie Mommie Dearest, you need to. It's a cult classic for a reason and it's terribly bad (Although, Faye Dunaway does a terrific job as Joan Crawford).

As far as the cinema goes there are many to choose from, but one of my personal favorites is the heartbreaking The Burning Bed. Farrah Fawcett stars in the lead role of an abused housewife.

It tells the real life story of a woman who has been abused for so long by her husband that she ends up setting the bed they share on fire. Farrah Fawcett does a terrific job and its one of the most heartfelt performances I've ever seen her give. A must watch, It's not on netflix, but if you see it in the stores pick it up. It's well worth the price of admission.

Now, this is a guilty pleasure. If you've never seen Julia Roberts Sleeping With the Enemy, you need to. This movie is at it's core a psychological thriller with a candy coated plot. Not nearly as deep as The Burning Bed, the lengths to which Julia Robert's is willing to go to end her abusive relationship is astounding. This is one of my favorite movies and it's not hard to connect with her abject fear.

Many songwriters have dealt head on with abuse over the years, not just the Crystals. Many of them you may know: Martina McBride's “Concrete Angels”, Kelly Rowland's “Dirty Laundry” (You may not have actually heard this song, but you know of it. This is the one where everyone said she was jealous of Beyonce. But, who isn't?), and of course “Hit Me Baby One More Time”. I still can't believe Britney tackled a tough issue at such a young age.

Hard rocker Alice Cooper wrote the song “Only Women Bleed” (Which is not about menstruation as some people suggest), but instead that only women are affected in times of domestic abuse. The great Tina Turner even covered it in 1999 for a greatest hits of Ike and Tina Turner of all things.

RuPaul, Madonna, and Pat Benatar all deal with child abuse with “Never Go Home Again”, “Oh Father”, and “Hell is for Children”. “Never Go Home Again” is certainly more directed towards a gay audience. Yes, Frankie shouldn't have to wear makeup in order to hide the scars, but a lot of it deals with the emotional side of abuse of not being able to be who you want to be. While, Madonna deals with her personal childhood in a stunning ballad that implies that her father was not only verbally abusive, but physically abusive, but that “He didn't want to hurt me. He didn't want to live this way.” Then, you have Pat Benatar with cold precision sets down the facts of child abusive in a sometimes graphic manner. Although, not a major hit, any Pat Benatar fan is likely to recognize it as one of the standouts from her album Crimes of Passion. One of the few hard 80's rock songs that songs just as hard twenty years later as it did when it was written.

“Alive” may or may not be directly about spousal abuse, but battered women have collectively used it as an anthem, and nothing stops it from being one of the most stunning songs of Jennifer Lopez's career.

A sobering fact is that according to the World Health Organization forty percent of women murdered are killed by a spouse or partner.