Is "Tik Tok" the feminist party anthem of 2010?

kesha, looking kind of 90s and kind of hot, in esquire

Ada, MMM-Bop is totally on my ipod! So is Party in the USA, which I saw Miley perform live. She was so bad. But so fun!

As you note, so were a lot of performers in the 90s. Like Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer who, by the way, I saw in concert–TOGETHER–my freshman year of high school. Not to brag or anything.

Okay, now, let’s talk about Ke$ha. I just saw that “Tik Tok” is the number one song on itunes right now. Which is cool, because I like Ke$ha. Partly because I am in my 30s and so I find a party anthem with the lines “Ain’t got a care in the world, but got plenty of beer” and “Before I leave, brush my teeth with a bottle of Jack” to be hilarious. HOWEVER. This song would have made me cry when I was 15, significantly more earnest, and dreaming of getting away from girls who just wanted to party and drink. (In NY, I imagined, rightly, I would be able to party and drink…while discussing feminist theory. We’ll bring the whiskey on the 13th!)

Anyway, looking at this list from the 90s, it still seems super-radical to me. I mean, we had Madonna! (#7 on this list and #1 in 1990.) We had Sinead O’Connor (#12), who sang complicated songs about love and politics, shaved her head, and blasphemed the pope! We had Liz Phair, who sang one of the best songs about sex and sexism ever! (True, at #91, she is not Gaga/Swift/Beyonce popular, but she still made it onto a mainstream list, above Public Enemy and Prince). We even had Alanis (#14), who was always considered sort of a lightweight—and yet, what does it mean that, in the 90s, hearing a girl so brazenly confronting a guy who had dumped her actually seemed not quite riot grrrl enough to some of us?

One of the things I like about 90s music is that it seemed like women were singing about their actual, complicated experiences. I mean, Salt ‘n’ Pepa are on the list for “Whatta Man,” which congratulates a guy not just for being good in bed and respectful, but for spending time with his kids.

The feministy triumverate of today—Lady Gaga, Beyonce (who got her start in the 90s with Destiny’s Child), and Taylor Swift—seem more invested in celebrating both romance culture (putting a ring on it, romeo and white dresses) and hookup culture (poker faces, video phones). In the 90s, it seems like women had a kind of bravado that was about confronting men about the emotional fallout of hookup culture or romance culture. But for Gaga, B, Taylor, and Ke$sha, it seems like a different kind of bravado: more about rejecting that fallout altogether or about transcending it. (This might be the time to bring up “Blah, Blah, Blah.”)

I can (mostly) enjoy the New Bravado, but I also like 90s-style wallowing.

Anyway, I have more to say about the feminist evolution of Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears; the awesome (NOT FEMINIST) rap songs of the 90s; and #1 90s band Nirvana, which was fronted by a boy in a dress before all the boys wore dresses. And about the potential stealthiness of the aforementioned oos women. But for now, I’ll just say that I am glad we  are talking about this today, before tonight’s Grammy’s, which are all about the ladies. I can’t wait for the liveblogging to begin.

[Via http://90swoman.wordpress.com]

From "Noah's Arc" Star To Beyonce's Back-Up Dancer???

This could be one of the greatest moments in entertainment for the Black GLBT community, or this may end up being a major step backwards in a career of an icon within the Black GLBT community — an epic fail.  The two biggest celebrities worshiped by the Black GLBT community will share the same stage on live television tonight at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles — according to one of the stars himself, Jensen Atwood.  He announced that he will share the stage with current queen diva of the Black GLBT community R&B sensation Beyonce.

You heard that right.  The hunky actor that mesmerized many millions of fans into watching the internationally-known cult classic “Noah’s Arc” TV series and film stated on his Facebook update that he will be “one of sixty dancers” that will back-up Beyonce.   Sccrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhh-eh-eh-eh!!!  Did he just say ONE of SIXTY dancers?

If anything, let’s hope he is the principal dancer or the leading male in the performance.  Beyonce, or anyone in her entourage of gay employees, should know who Jensen is and the clout he has (or had) within the Black GLBT community for being the breakout star of a star that tops all of Black GLBT pop culture, or maybe tied with Janet Jackson’s influence on modern music with Beyonce being third and the current queen.  You get my damn point!

Who is Jensen’s management?  Let’s hope they have the sense to turn this questionable career move into an iconic moment.  Perhaps this post will do the trick just to prove me wrong.  It could be their last minute “genius” idea that they forgot to come up with until I put in my two-cents.

Hell.  Beyonce should even recognize him on stage.  That would trump Lady Gaga’s “thank you” to the gays at the MTV Video Music Awards, at least to the Black “kidz.”  They’re both Virgos — that is Virgo power for that azz.  Then again, Beyonce IS a Virgo…it’s all about her.  She didn’t look genuine in giving Taylor Swift her shine last year at VMAs as well as Jennifer Hudson for her work in their movie Dreamgirls.

Enough of the ranting…I will wait and see if I can recognize Jensen within the one of sixty dancers or THE ONE of sixty dancers.  Check out his updates below which I posted here.  If I were to place my bet, he would just be one of the sixty and the one.

I had to post up the comments from the stans/fans too because I think “congratulations” and “kudos” are too early on this.  Many of your would call me hater on this, but I’m not.  I always a realist and not a delusional starfucker.  I will check my favorite divas on here too when necessary.  You heard how I hated Toni Braxton’s duet with Trey Songz, and she is the singer I listen to the most besides Mary J. Blige and Janet Jackson.

In my opinion, the news of anyone becoming a back-up dancer for the grandest Black gay icon of today, Beyonce Knowles, sounds spectacular – anyone but another leading Black GLBT icon, especially from the ultimate TV show and movie of Black GLBT pop culture.  That is like Janet Jackson and Madonna dancing in the background for Lady Gaga or Britney Spears. That is like Barbra Streisand, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston singing back up for Christina Aguilera.

[Via http://worldwidewaddie.com]

FASHION & MUSIC: "SWIM" by Madonna

MUSIC: Swim
ARTIST: Madonna
MODEL: RicoRacer Flux
PHOTOGRAPHER: Talyia Tarber from Kiss My Camera Studios
FASHION:
Swimwear: Seraphina Canucci Tan Shorts
Bracelet: Sey
Necklace:
INFO: This is my swimwear picture submission to the BESTYLE Male Calendar 2010 Contest.

WATCH:

LYRICS:
SWIM by Madonna

Put your head on my shoulder baby
Things can’t get any worse
Night is getting colder
Sometimes life feels like it’s a curse

Bridge:

I can’t carry these sins on my back
Don’t wanna carry any more
I’m gonna carry this train off the track
I’m gonna swim to the ocean floor

Chorus:

Mmmmm
Crash to the other shore
Mmmmm
Swim to the ocean floor

Children killing children
While the students rape their teachers
Comets fly across the sky
While the churches burn their preachers

Bridge2:

We can’t carry these sins on our back
Don’t wanna carry any more
We’re gonna carry this train off the track
We’re gonna swim to the ocean floor

(chorus)

Let the water wash over you
Wash it all over you
Swim to the ocean floor

So that we can begin again
Wash away all our sins
Crash to the other shore

Mmmmmm

(bridge)
(chorus)
(bridge2)

Crash to the other shore
Swim to the ocean floor
Mmmmmm

* NO copyrights infringement intended. I do not own the music or video.

[Via http://csltm.wordpress.com]

Brian Frasier-Moore @ NAMM Interview

Check out this interview of Brian Frasier-Moore by HarmonyCentral at the 2010 NAMM event, where Brian talks about his signature snare drum by TAMA! Brian says that the prototype has already been on stage – you guessed it: at Madonna’s Sticky & Sweet Tour! Brian says that he’ll go on tour with Christina Aguilera in February and back to Madonna in 2011! (get ready!!!!!!!)

Brian talks about his signature snare drum by TAMA (click on the photo to watch the video)

You can see how excited & proud Brian is when he gets to talk about his signature snare – and honestly, we couldn’t be happier for him! Here’s a nice video of Madonna performing “Vogue” so you can get a taste of Brian’s drumming! To find more info about the snare go here.

[Via http://axestaticprocess.wordpress.com]

Bargain Bin Classic: "American Life"

Is it peculiar that my favourite Madonna album is also her least commercially successful one?

Don’t get me wrong. I love Ray of Light, Confessions On A Dancefloor and even the contemporary R&B-flavoured Hard Candy.

But American Life was the first time I felt that Madonna was being necessarily provocative.

This album is essentially a record of the times. With Bush’s war on terror and a global displacement of hope in the air, American Life challenges the American dream and materialism in a society where more is never nearly enough.

In the title track and ‘Hollywood’, the Queen of Pop unmasks the glorified lifestyle of the rich and famous.

“How could it hurt you when it looks so good?” she asks.

Having said that, I don’t think American Life is quite the subversive ‘anti-consumerist’ record that the first two singles depict it to be.

For the most part, this album is life-affirming and cathartic with themes of finding love (‘Nothing Fails’), brokenness (‘X-Static Process’) and loss (‘Mother & Father’).

Sonically, American Life is probably the most interesting Madonna record yet. Co-produced with little known producer Mirwais Ahmadzais, the pair created an edgy pop sound blending acoustic guitar riffs with hard, synthetic electronica.

An all round arty and personal record – American Life is the thinking person’s Madonna record.

American Life (2003)
Reported world wide sales: 4 million copies
Key tracks: ‘American Life’, ‘Nothing Fails’, ‘Mother & Father’ and ‘X-Static Process’

[Via http://feedlimmy.wordpress.com]

Rainy Day Jukebox

For those who are trying to avoid rain, hail, sleet, snow, floods and landslides, or if you just want to turn up the volume to put somebody’s voice on Mute,  here are a few Bests.  Enjoy.

Best Flower Song

Best Talk-To-The-Hand-Cuz-The-Face-Ain’t-Listenin’-Song

Best Thing to Play Through Ceiling-High Speakers with Sub-Woofers

Cockiest Man Song

Best Pick Yourself Up Out of Your Funk Song

Best I Miss You Song

Best Anti-War Song in the Whole Wide World

Most Polite Blow-Off Song (The Manic Version for Those With Short Attention Spans)

Best Puppy Love Song

Best Love Song

Craziest Press Conference

Best-That’s-A-Big-Bowl-of-Wrong-Song

Best Sh*t I Screwed Up Song

Classiest Break-Up Song

Best Entering the White Light Song

Best Song to Play While Your Plane is Taking Off…..or Not

Best Lullaby for a Little One

[Via http://maia1111.wordpress.com]

Jamie Foxx & Madonna Courted To Replace Simon On “American Idol”

American Idol creator Simon Fuller is on the hunt for a big name to replace Simon Cowell when the music mogul exits the nation’s most-watched show at the end of the current season. In fact, Oscar-winning singer/actor Jamie Foxx and The Queen of Pop herself, Madonna, are being courted to replace Cowell, who’ll leave the show in May, Idol snitches blab in the Feb. 1 issue of Life & Style Weekly.

Interscope Records co-founder Jimmy Iovine is also rumored to be a strong contender for the judging job. Cowell is leaving show to bring his British smash hit show The X Factor stateside.

[Via http://thehiphopconsultant.wordpress.com]