Dylan. There is only one!

Only in America can small town Minnesota boys grow up to be rich, famous and successful in multiple trades. Bob Dylan, one such small town boy, recently received the 2016 Nobel Prize in none other than literature. In honor of this milestone in the great Bob Dylan’s life let us take a moment to follow his footsteps to this very moment.
He grew up in the little town of Hibbing, Minnesota and though he was raised in a close Jewish community his earliest years encompassed that wonderful invention known as the radio. He became immersed in music and by the time he reached high school age it seemed Dylan knew his destiny included music.  In the 1960’s Dylan settled in New York where he obtained every aspiring musician’s dream: a record deal. He began recording and on March 19,1962 and at the age of 20 he released his debut self-titled album, Bob Dylan. The trip to success had begun and he had no intention of stopping.
Through the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and now 2000’s Dylan has recorded and released multiple hits and albums. Between 1962 and 2016, Bob Dylan has released over 30 albums, many of them reaching silver, gold, and platinum status.
In June of 1988, Dylan began what became known as the “Never Ending Tour”. In other words, he is constantly on tour! Since 1988 he has performed over 100 concerts a year, a larger number than most of his musical contemporaries or new bands can hope to reach. Over the course of the “Never Ending Tour”  has acquired many new fans, both young and old.  It seems the music of this menstrual never goes out of fashion.
Mr. Dylan has accumulated many accolades in his time as a musician but has not limited himself to just singing and songwriting.  He has had success in most areas of his life. A great example of this is his award of the Presidential Medal of Freedom (The Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian award, recognizes exceptional meritorious service. The medal was established by President Truman in 1945 to recognize notable service in the war. In 1963, President Kennedy reintroduced it as an honor for distinguished civilian service in peacetime). In 2012 Robert A. Zimmerman (aka Bob Dylan) received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and in 2016 he won the Nobel Prize for Literature. This was no small feat. In fact, this amazing man remains only one of two people to ever receive both the Nobel Prize and an Oscar (Wikipedia).
Dylan has certainly made a name for himself that I am sure no one is going to forget very soon. He is distinguished and revered and honestly quite successful. I think now the only thing left to say is, Congratulations Bob Dylan on an incredible career and life!

-Rachel Driscoll

 

Review of Sierra. Hmm. Another Album MUST HAVE or…MUST MISS?

Sierra

What goes around comes around, so you better watch your step. This seems to be the opinion of the country female duo Maddie and Tae in their recently released single “Sierra.” This twangy ballad tells about a snobby girl who Maddie and Tae hope gets hers.

Released on May 16, 2016 the song “Sierra” made a very bold statement against mean girls who think they are better than everyone else.  Maddie Marlow and Taylor Dye, more familiarly known as Maddie and Tae, wrote the song about a girl whom Maddie knew in high school. Marlow told in an interview that Sierra was a former friend in Junior High School. However upon reaching High School Sierra turned on Marlow and became a veritable monster (YouTube). Maddie stated, “This Sierra girl would send me home crying . . .”

The song, though based off the girl Sierra, was written as a kind of therapy for Marlow. According to Maddie she never meant the song to be released. She only needed some closure and this song was her way of ensuring that happened. She obviously must have changed her mind.

“I wish I had something nice to say/About that girl and her million-dollar face/But beauty only gets you so far,” the opening lyrics to the song state. They continue by insinuating this girl, allegedly called Sierra does not have a heart: “A heart of pure gold is something very rare/And the only one she has is on that necklace that she wears/Acts like she’s some kind of movie star.”

The chorus uses the girl’s name and tells her how she cannot get away with the way she treats people and that someday it will all come back to bite her. “Sierra, Sierra, Girl, let me tell ya/ One day, you might need those friends that you ditched/ Sierra, Sierra Life ain’t all tiaras/You’re gonna find out that karma’s a…” Thus far I could not agree more. Treating other people wrongly and acting better than everybody only goes so far. The next part of the song I could not agree with, however. Maddie states, “To tell the truth, I ain’t even mad/ ‘Cause I know the universe is gonna get you back.” Ok, that is not so bad. Then they say this, “Ohh, I hope that I’m around when/ You get knocked up or get knocked down.” Sorry, folks, I cannot agree with that one.
Speaking as someone who has had friends stab me in the back I can understand exactly where Maddie and Tae are coming from. I also agree that someday all the bad things you have done in your life will come back to haunt you. I support Maddie and Tae 100% on that, but I do not agree with wishing ill of somebody no matter how much they hurt you.

In conclusion I have to say that, although “Sierra” is most definitely an amazing song it is not perfect. All things considered however I can see myself listening to it an embarrassing number of times in the future.

 

Taylor Swift, Where did you go?

If you had asked me two or three years ago what I thought of when I heard the name Taylor Swift I probably would have said role model, a wholesome girl and a philanthropist. Ask me the same question now and I really do not know what my answer would be. I certainly am not implying that Swift is not still those things, but I do not believe those descriptions fit her as well as they used to.  When her album “1989″ was released in late 2014 Miss Swift made an abrupt change in herself that certainly did not go unnoticed.

Taylor Swift held the girl-next-door image from the very beginnings of her career. She sang innocent songs about young love, falling in love, falling out of love, getting your heart broken into a million, tiny pieces, getting married, and happily ever afters. Her costumes were modest and basically she was every girl’s best friend, sister, and role model all wrapped up into one person. Let’s fast forward  ten years or so. . . .  Swift has renounced her country princess status and opted for Queen of Pop. Her songs no longer center around falling in love (or when they do they are rare) instead they embrace the fact that love “is just a game of cat-and-mouse” as she called it in the lyric booklet that came with her “1989″ album. And although she claims she “. . . would rather be nice than sexy,” as the article “Taylor Swift Just Wants to Be Nice” told, the message really is not getting across (contactmusic.com). Do I even need to mention her “Bad Blood” or “Blank Space” music videos?

Here is the thing. I honestly did not mind the drastic change in hairstyles. I even could have handled the crop tops but the change in her music just seemed unnecessary. I cannot help but wonder if this radical change took place because of the media. Swift stated that pop “. . . felt more natural. . .” in an interview which tasteofcountry.com posted on their cite. But does “natural” really mean the road which offered the least resistance? Did more comfortable mean completely changing Swift’s wholesome image?

Let’s rewind for just a second.  Pre-1989 era Swift’s wardrobe consisted of sun dresses, heels and modest, feminine,  clothes which seemed slightly reminiscent of days past. Something that might have come out of a 1950’s movie. Let us put some key words into bold: MODEST, FEMININE, 1950’s. Descriptions which today make the media cringe. Her songs were sweet and innocent. And because of this received some heat as well as a good dose of mockery. Need I mention the goat parody of her song “I Knew You Were Trouble.”

Now let us fast forward. Swift has appeared in crop tops and mini skirts and yes even a halter. But if you thought that was out of character for the “Love Story” songstress then you obviously did not see her Vogue magazine cover coming. Swift appears unrecognizable. Her hair is bleached and she is wearing clothes not even a Martian would have the audacity to wear!

Who is this person? Does anybody have the answer?

As a Taylor Swift fan and a teenager I was greatly disappointed in her. But I think it is time to stop hoping that somehow the girl who sang “Tim McGraw” will somehow magically come back. I think that Taylor Swift as we knew her is a piece of history that we will always remember with a certain nostalgia. However I do not believe that Taylor is ever going to return.

Rachel

Rachel says “No!” and Meghan should listen.

Meghan Trainor Says NO!
The message is plain and simple. NO. “My name is NO. My sign is NO. My number is NO.” The new single from “All About That Bass” songstress Meghan Trainor, takes her music on a rebellious turn.

Right before the 2016 Grammy Awards, Meghan Trainor, songwriter of “Lips Are Moving,” decided to drop the blonde, good-girl look and opt for a sassy red-head vibe. With her new “do,” Trainor introduced ger new single “No,” which matches its redheaded author’s looks with an even more feisty message.

Trainor told in an interview with Ryan Seacrest, host of On Air With Ryan Seacrest, that the inspiration for “No” came after a meeting with her Label, which went somewhat awry. Trainor’s Label complained that she did not have a single to release. Meghan Trainor admitted to her frustration at this and went back to “. . . write [the single] . . . right now.”  The result was the feisty and rappy song “No.”

I, myself, am not much into rap, however I found this song hard to get out of my head once I had heard it. Unfortunately, I really am not quite sure what the message is. Is Trainor trying to tell young girls, be wary of men coming up to you out of nowhere and saying how beautiful you are how you are “. . . not like the other girls.” Basically using flattery as a way into your affections. If that is the case I fully support Trainor. Or is it Trainor just getting annoyed at a guy who is paying her a compliment? Like I said, however, the message, in my opinion, seeems a bit foggy.

The music video for this number one hit, in keeping with a pattern it seems, also makes little to no sense and does not seem to have anything to do with the song. Of course have we ever seen a music video that does coincide with the song.

On March 21, the long awaited music video was released. I honestly do not have words for it. It appears to be just another excuse for revealing costumes and suggestive movements. The choreography included less that impressive dancing by girls dressed in everything from crop tops to fishnet stockings. Really? What has any of that to do with the song Trainor presented to her audience?

The location of the video was a warehouse. Again, where is the logic in this when Trainor said herself that the song was about having some guy come up to her in a nightclub? “The scene is me in a club, and the dude comes up to me . . .” (No (Meghan Trainor Song) Web).

I am sorry, Miss Trainor, but I have to say that this was a very big fail as far as music videos are concerned. I do not know what the producers were thinking, but I for one prefer storylines to make some sense and have some relationship to the story in the song.

 

-Rachel

The Good, The Bad, The Slutty, and Miley Cyrus

            Twerking, nude photos, and beyond racy costumes define Miley Cyrus.
Yes!  I said,  Miley Cyrus. The girl whom most people knew for her innocent nature and sweet heart appeal appears  now as a  Lindsay Lohan and Lady Gaga rolled up into one horrifying and sad  person. Miley Cyrus recently released her fifth studio album entitled Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz. The first single released, “Dooo It!”, summarized what Cyrus finds pleasure in: Marijuana and peace. This is the person that many teen girls look up to as a role model.  Following her years as Hannah Montana, Miley Cyrus has taken a decided turn for the worst and I don’t understand why parents and the media ignore it. How can a mother even think about allowing her daughter to listen to anything even remotely like “Bangerz”?

Despite what you might believe Miley Cyrus did not start out as this spokesperson for smokeing dope. Once upon a time Miley was Destiny Hope Cyrus, a little girl who just wanted to act. Cyrus began her career at age eleven as the lovable and clever, Miley Stewart in the hit TV show Hannah Montana. Later Cyrus was signed onto Morey Management Group to help her in pursuing a music career. At the age of thirteen, Miley Cyrus released her first single “The Best of Both Worlds” in 2006. This also acted as the theme song to Hannah Montana. The song and the show hit home and Miley was on her way to stardom. However, her good-girl image was doomed to end too soon.  Less than two years after her breakthrough into show business Cyrus posed for a racy photo. Although the photograph did not show her in the nude, Cyrus’ only cover was a sheet. She was only fifteen years old. Parents everywhere were appalled, and although Cyrus apologized for the photo and admitted to her embarrassment, her career became a down hill slide toward worst things.
Two years after her first non-Hannah Montana related album, Breakout, was released Cyrus released another album entitled Can’t Be Tamed and from there everything continued to go South. Her costumes, music videos, lyrics, and image became racier than it ever had.

In came 2013 and in came a “Wrecking Ball” no one saw coming. Cyrus released her album Bangerz. The lyrics included words that no one used to be allowed to say in public let alone on the radio. Then came another photo. On the cover of Rolling Stones Magazine was Miley Cyrus .  . . again nude. This time there were no apologies.

I believe it becomes fairly apparent that Miley Cyrus is no role model for young girls. However, although Cyrus seems to have lost it I cannot help but feel sorry for her. The girl had everything. She achieved stardom at a young age, she is beautiful, she sings like an angel (when she is not cursing). Why would she throw that all away for a racy, pornographic image? Why abandon what could have been a good life? I honestly do not know the answer, but I sincerely hope that she finds a way back to the light and comes out of this darkness that she is lost in.

-“Music is life”,

Rachel

David Bowie. Good, bad, profane, and sweet. He is gone and his talent will be missed

David Bowie

On January 10, 2016, David Bowie passed away and left behind him probably one of the most memorable legacies an artist could ask for. Despite not being a runaway hit from the beginning Bowie managed to attract people with his bizarre flare and had a career that lasted sixty years.

January 8, 1947 marked the day that the world met David Robert Jones or more commonly known as David Bowie. From the very beginning Bowie displayed a rare talent for performance. Wikipedia states that at nine years old, David Bowie displayed “strikingly imaginative” dance moves. Wikipedia continues to say that his interest in music became sparked when his father, Haywood Stenton “John” Jones, came home with American 45s albums.  He listened to artists such as The Platters, Little Richard , and the King himself, Elvis Presley. At age thirteen Bowie discovered jazz and decided to master the saxophone as his bio says on his website (Davidbowie.com). As Bowie reached young adulthood his interest in music grew until finally he began work as a commercial artist.

Biography.com tells about the origin of Bowie’s eventual image. The artist changed his last name to Bowie because he wished to distinguish himself from another Jones: Davy Jones of the Monkees. Bowie however only found disappointment and failure. As a result he retired from the music world temporarily. By 1969 however Bowie returned to the music scene with his single “Space Oddity.” Here is where things got weird.

Bowie’s craving for the spotlight and the scream of fans gave birth to what became his bizarre style and to top off his wacky image the superstar christened himself Ziggy Stardust. He claimed himself to be a homosexual and donned outlandish outfits. It is plain for anyone to see the kind of person Bowie was.

Ziggy Stardust, Bowie’s flamboyant alterego, lasted but a short time. The death of Ziggy however did not prevent the now popular singer from going to extremes to keep himself in the spotlight. His music videos remained insane and his whole image also.
Despite the fact that Bowie was bizarre and did not practice the most moral ideas I will admit that he left a lasting impression on the world, which is something that not many people may claim. However, I cannot condone all the nonsense that he performed. Nor can I agree with his ideas that Adolf Hitler “. . . was one of the first rock stars” even if he did take back this statement which he claimed he made while he was on drugs.

I am sorry to say that in summary Bowie’s life was one long string of profanities. I do not understand the things that he did nor can I support them. However, I believe that a part of Bowie was lost because he did believe in a God. He admitted this when he said he possessed an “undying” belief in the existence of God. I truly hope that Bowie did believe in God and somehow found a way to make amends with Him before he (Bowie) died.