MaestroBlog Update

Well, as my birthday weekend starts heating up, I thought I'd stop by and tell you how MaestroBlog held up this month!

So 11 posts, that ain't bad. Honestly, I'm surprised the number is as high as it is, the life of a music major only gets more intense as college goes on. Hopefully I will still have time for this come March!

As always, let's dig into the numbers, shall we? So first off, the biggest news: I've officially reached 10,000 views!!! February hauled in 568 views, bringing the total to 10,316. The views-per-post average is 35.9, up 0.5 from last month (which is good!!).

What to expect in March? Well, definitely another Musical Dissection, hopefully I can also start getting song files on here (though the chances are still pretty slim). As I write more songs, I will continue to share them, and always feel free to give feedback, it helps me out as an artist!!

As far as February goes, I'm glad I was able to cover the ground I did. Album reviews, a song of the day, sharing my CJ 202 speech, and giving Selena Gomez some more song cred. Definitely doing what I set out to do, so I'm happy with that.

Looking ahead again, March is usually the month where we start to see a deluge of new music. We'll start with Lea Michele right away, and then Kylie Minogue will come a little bit later, and capping off the month will be Shakira's new album!

Also, as more details emerge, I can release more information about the other start releases coming this year! Miranda Lambert's record is looking to be set for a summer release, and so is Lily Allen's new album (named "Sheezus". I honestly couldn't love this girl any more, even if I tried). Rihanna will certainly release a new album in November 2014, but it will be a concept album that will accompany a cartoon movie. Kelly Clarkson is also looking to release a new album, but instead of the country record that was predicted, she's now going for a more soul-vibe a la Lauryn Hill. We'll see how that goes!

So there you have it. I look forward to some warmer weather (pleeease mother nature!), and hopefully March will be just as exciting as the rest of this young year! Thanks for your continued support :)

Happy Birthday to Me!

Sorry this is so last minute.

February 27 was my 20th birthday!! Can you believe it?? I've survived for two decades on this crazy planet, hard to believe I've made it!

But anyway, in light of this fantastical event, I thought I would put together a mini-playlist of the Birthday songs I've acquired in my iTunes library!

1. Happy Birthday
Hey, gotta start with the classics, right?

2. Katy Perry-"Birthday" from Prism (2013)
In this Madonna-esque track from her most recent album, Katy Perry playfully teases to give you your birthday cake. Yes, please!!

3. Selena Gomez-"Birthday" from Stars Dance (2013)
In a more raunchy innuendo, Selena just wants to party the night away on her birthday. While synthesizing moans and groans during...well, I think you know ;)

4. Rihanna-"Birthday Cake" from Talk That Talk (2011)
In the version without Chris Brown, this track is short and sweet (no pun intended). And it's pretty damn hot, too.

5. Madonna and MIA-"B'Day Song" from MDNA (2012)
This song is pretty bad, but it fits the spirit of this playlist, and Madonna is still asking her lover to lick the icing off her cake...at 54. Umm, ok!

6. 50 Cent-In Da Club from Get Rich or Die Tryin (2003)
It doesn't have birthday in the title, but it repeats the word incessantly, so it more than qualifies to be here!!

Well that's all I have for now. Please, DO tell me of the numerous other songs dedicated to the day we were emancipated from the womb! And I hope 20 will be WAAAY better than 19!! Here's to another great year!

New Song!! "Ocean" by Maestro

After a month or so of focusing on my schoolwork, I decided to get back into the swing of songwriting. I've been working on this one for awhile, and I'm glad I finally got the creative spark I needed to finish it! It's a song about leaving the bad times in your life, and letting the ocean carry you away to a better place. It's a very pastoralic song, in the vein of Owl City (duh), and I can't wait to start writing the music for it! Until then, enjoy!

"Ocean"

Verse 1:
You are alive, in the night
A perfect satellite, floating in the sky
A precious pearl, in the sea
Shining everywhere, between you and me
Don’t look back, just swim away
Through the shifting tides, and tidal waves

Chorus:
Feel the air in the summer breeze
There’s nothing more beautiful than release 
Of your misery that once was crystal clear
But in the ocean, you are free, you are safe here

Verse 2:
The city lights, along the shore
Can’t hold you back, anymore
And when, the waters cool and turn to ice
You will be long gone, the world passing by
Not defined by time, space is never there
Just dive right in, and go anywhere

Repeat Chorus

Instrumental Breakdown

Bridge:
Let the walls cave in
Let the pain subside
Enjoy the pristine view
Enjoy the ride

Repeat Chorus

Watch the waves collide, watch the world ignite
Feel the perfect blue, the ocean beneath you 

Kylie Minogue-"Fever" Review

Perhaps the hardest part of maintaining a successful career as an artist is the quest for the right sound at the right time. This is nowhere more true than with Kylie Minogue, who once ruled the globe outside of the US in the waning days of the 80s teen-pop boom. As it turned out, the 90s weren't nearly as kind to dance-pop, and this hit some sort of culmination in 1997's "Impossible Princess". Many deemed that her dwindling career would finally wither into obscurity, at least, until Kylie released "Light Years" at the turn of the millennium. While it may not have been a fully realized comeback, it put her on the right track, and back on the map. Soon after, there came "Can't Get You Out of My Head", a ridiculously catchy club track with the most indelible "la la la" hook ever recorded. This was the true indicator that Kylie was a superstar again, and its airplay and sales proved it. With a single that big, there really was no need to tie it with an album filled with songs of any more or less production gloss. But Kylie realizes a bigger picture with "Fever", and instead of an album of fluff, she continued to work with Cathy Dennis to create a fleshed-out, 12-song set of fashionable dance tracks. This is stylish, feel-good music, most suited for runways, malls, and glitzy discos. Doubly impressive, is that there's also a pop foundation that prevents this whole confection to be a faceless wash of sound. Unlike Madonna's "Music", Kylie's voice isn't stitched into the electronic tapestry, it stands on its own to make this a progressive retro-disco record, while remaining radio-friendly. Besides "Can't Get You Out of My Head", there's another pop gem that comes right before: "Love at First Sight". It dutifully keeps the balance between strong hooks and style, a feat that is tried and true throughout the rest of the record, but no other song past this really stands out as a unique song. The problem with "Fever", is that it often gets too tied up in fashion, with some of the songs sounding inaccessible or less catchy than they are, all in favor of maintaining the glitzy sheen of the production. This may be daunting upon the first listen, and indeed there are songs that take quite a few spins to start standing out individually. But unlike most fashion, Kylie isn't so much tied up in every single trend of the current year, so she structured "Fever" well enough to withstand more than a few months on the charts. The closing track, "Burning Up", while not a Madonna cover (though Kylie could very well pull it off) is definitely one of the most appealing disco updates in recent memory, and it ends the record on a completely different note than the sultry opener "More More More". This means that this album doesn't work like a 'piece' as "Light Years" did, but that doesn't matter; "Fever" succeeds in being the better comeback record. It's worth a listen, and would be even without Kylie's big single.

Recommended Tracks in Bold:
1. More More More           2. Love at First Sight        3. Can’t Get You Out of My Head

4. Fever                                 5. Give It to Me                     6. Fragile

7. Come into My World        8. In Your Eyes                  9. Dancefloor

10. Love Affair                      11. Your Love                       12. Burning Up

Song of the Day-"Shut Up" by Christina Aguilera

We all think it. At one point or another, when we've done nothing but listening to someone you don't like just talk on and on and on, we all just wanna scream "shut up!!!" at the tippy top of our lungs. Don't deny it, I know it, you know it, it's all a common thing that everybody goes through. So, how do you streamline these thoughts into a 3-minute song? Well, Christina Aguilera found a way in her song "Shut Up", from her 2012 album "Lotus". I mean, we all know X-Tina strives to provide audio comfort food for the beaten, disillusioned, bullied, and tormented, but she's never quite produced a song like this, one that's so bratty and edgy; it's very straightforward lyrically, so there's no denying what exactly Christina wants her antagonist to do. Before I dig in, I will warn you that unlike "Beautiful" or "Fighter", "Shut Up" throws maturity out the window, so don't be surprised if X-Tina asks you to suck a part of her anatomy...

Anyway, here we go! Starting with the music: it's basically a track pulled right from her "Back to Basics" era, only more electronic. It has a very jazzy, neo-Motown vibe to it, which only adds to the light-hearted, frivolous nature of the song. This song only clocks in at 2:53, and the music is very repetitive, so there's no need for further disucssion in this regard. So now, why don't we get to the main attraction, and the reason why "Shut Up" has been brought to you by 'Song of the Day'!

Verse 1:
You've got some nerve, now baby don't you?
I never care bout half the shit that comes out of your mouth, no
I wish that I could put a swift choke-hold on you
This world ain't big enough for you and your ego

So right out the gate, we have the awesome line about not giving a crap about half the stuff that the person annoying you says. And come on, Christina is right in every possible regard here, whoever is talking shit, obviously has a lot of nerve doing so. They think they're on a high horse, and honestly are full of themselves. And to be true, sometimes even I wish I could just stop the words coming out of someone's mouth with my hands too.

Chorus:
So for once
Why don't you just shut up? Just shut the fuck up (repeat 4 times)
Keep running, running, running, and running your mouth
Could you please
Shut up, just shut the fuck up (repeat 2 times)

This chorus gives me so many happy feels, it's astounding. I cannot tell you how many times in my life I wish I had the guts to say this. and to soooooo many people. I really don't care how low this ranks on the maturity scale, sometimes you just gotta tell it like it is and give up the deuces. And really, wouldn't the world be a much better place if some people could learn to stop talking?

Verse 2:
You think you're something special, don't you?
You like the sound of your voice, keep talking while I tune out (oh)
And if you ever really wonder what I think about you
I've got a million ways to show you just where you can go
Kiss my ass (oh)

Hahahaha! That last line is just great. Anyway, the focal point is actually the first line, because let me tell you, I've had quite a few experiences with people that think they're such hot shit, they think they can say or do anything and not get any of it back (trust me kids, karma ALWAYS comes back around). After awhile, it's nice to just not listen to them at all, because they obviously don't have anything of value to say. And yeah, the haters can def. just kiss the bottom end :)

Repeat Chorus

Bridge:
Call me a bitch whenever you wish
Don't give a shit, can you handle it?
Cause I flip the script, don't seal my lips
And if you don't like it 
You can suck my *ahhhh* (repeat 3 times)

Okay, the song has been great so far, but this bridge is fricken priceless. This is exactly how I feel, like, basically every day. At this point, anybody can call me a bitch or any name they want, I'm not gonna let it get me down. Forget about being able to handle the shit-talkers, can they handle YOU? You're not gonna change just for them, you're not gonna stop living your life or become a wall-flower. No, you're gonna face them head on and, in some more subtle words, tell them to suck your...well, you know :)

Repeat Chorus

So that's "Shut Up". But remember, alot of this is private thought, or maybe words to share with your friends. If you want to use these words in a real-life conflict, use them wisely, because not everybody is strong enough to handle this. At the very least, if you're fed up with people and just want a happy, jocular song to jam out to that disses all of the negative nancies in your life, this song'll do it!

My First Speech!

Since I'm a college student, I am required to take an intro to speech class, and guess what? The first speech is due tomorrow! So while I prepare to speak it front my classmates, you too can enjoy the words of my totally fantastical speech!

It goes a little something like this:

"There are many things that I believe in: I believe in my religion, I believe that everyone should be treated equally, I believe that what you have in your head is much more important than any part of your physical appearance. However, above all else, my strongest belief lies within in the opening line of the movie August Rush, which states that “The music is all around you, all you have to do is listen.” Now, I realize that, that line might seem pretty corny, cheesy, maybe it’s even a little idealistic, but there is, without a doubt in my mind, a great amount of truth to this statement. Music is everywhere; it plays a vital role in our lives, a role that often gets taken for granted. When you hear about music programs around the world that are dwindling because of a lack of funds, support, or interest, how much of a concern does this present to you? Unfortunately, this is often the response to that question: “Music is something extra, it’s an elective, it’s not as important as math, science, or any kind of physical activity. Why should we care so much, if at all?”

That last question, ‘why should we care?’ is the million-dollar question, and I can best answer it with my own life experiences. When I was a young lad, I remember being the awkward, shy kid in the back of the class. I was a pretty much your average C student, and I never, ever wanted to draw any attention to myself. And speaking in front of the class? I literally used to make myself sick just thinking about it. Even today, I still get an eye-twitch from the prospect of speaking in front of people, but considering where I started from, I’ve actually improved a lot in this regard. And I owe it all to music.

            Because music is powerful. Just by listening to it, music can make you feel so many emotions. Even more than ‘math and science’, music stimulates your brain. Or it could have the opposite effect, and dissuade your tension or excitement. For me, music was a key factor in helping me conquer my debilitating fear of speaking in front of people. This is mainly because when you’re a musician, you most often have to perform in front of audiences: sometimes small, and other times, much bigger than a classroom full of students. I found that the more I performed, the more confident I became in my ability to stand in front of an audience and not faint from the overwhelming pressures of anxiety. I also found, that it helped increased my brain activity, and the older I got, the more skilled of a musician I became, the higher my grades got, and the better student I became. You strive for perfection when you’re a musician, and you also strive to handle many different tasks at once, which, incidentally, made me a more effective human being in general. But, that’s just me. By now you’re probably wondering: “Well, how does music affect the lives of non-musicians? What does all this have to do with me?”

            Well you see, music is universal. It’s something extraordinary that can unite even the most unlikely of individuals. Take for example, the Blugold Marching Band here at UW-EC: 300 wildly different personalities that all work together to provide solid entertainment, not only at your Blugold Football Games, but also around the world. We all find common ground in a language that everybody can understand. Even if you don’t understand the words to a song in a foreign language: the music makes sense. Maybe it’s not obviously apparent how music truly does impact your life, but I can assure you, it has a greater significance than you may give it credit for.

            For a moment, just think about a world without music. Can you imagine a car without a radio? Living your life without an i-Pod or CD player? What about your favorite musicals? Your favorite artists? Your favorite movies? Think about that for a second: no background accompaniment, no horn rips or cymbal crashes to emphasize a shoot-em-up thriller, or a rom-com without the poignant string arrangements. Just dialogue and white noise; it doesn’t sound that appetizing, does it? Going back to some more relevant topics: how about a football game, or any sporting event, without the national anthem? Do you know that the half-time performances at the Super Bowl, often receive more views than the actual game itself? There’s a lot of emphasis placed on sports and the favorite past-times of American culture, but even then, music prevails in garnering more widespread attention.

            Ultimately though, it all goes back to August Rush; not because you just need to listen to music in abstract places, but because you need to experience the total affect of the art. Your opinion of music may or may not change based on my words alone, so that’s why I encourage you to actively observe the world around you. Go ahead, I can bet all the money in the world, that you won’t go more than an hour without running into music, either listening to it yourself, or seeing someone else do it. Indeed, music is woven to the world around us, but even more than that, it can be your world too. This, I believe. Thank You."

Lana Del Rey-"Paradise" Review

Once a viral phenomenon, Lana Del Rey has now been elevated to genuine stardom, with her debut "Born to Die" already selling 3 million copies around the world. There may have been no need to mess with a winning formula, but once again, LDR confounds expectations by releasing a bonus EP, simply titled "Paradise". Since it was only released a matter of months after her last release, it's no surprise to see that her approach to her music is still the same: a mix of cinematography, pop culture references, subtle trip-hop beats, and string arrangements that provide an appropriate amount of pathos. However, besides these similarities, "Paradise" and "Born to Die" actually don't sound that much alike at all. Where as LDR's debut was a tightly sealed collection of potential crossover-pop hits, like an early Fiona Apple,  "Paradise" is her true artistic statement, never once sounding like she's vying for airplay (though some songs would fit alongside other singles on the radio), while the productions are significantly more lush, more in line with Sia if she ever dabbled in hip-hop. It also helps that LDR's voice has notably improved, expanding lower and higher into her range than she seemingly 'allowed' on her debut. Indeed, "Born to Die" and "Paradise" are distinctly different albums, which adds further proof that LDR may be here awhile. If the ethereal "Ride" or gorgeous "Bel Air" don't convince you, then nothing will.

Recommended Tracks in Bold:
1. Ride                        2. American             3. Cola
4. Body Electric         5. Blue Velvet             6. Gods & Monsters
7. Yayo                         8. Bel Air

Lana Del Rey-"Born to Die" Review

It's like she came out of a Hollywood dream, Lana Del Rey: a fresh-faced, cinematic, vintage starlet with a smoky voice to match her siren appearance. All of these elements built up an immense amount of chatter in the back-half of 2011, as this very image pushed her single "Video Games" into the fringes of pop culture. It's not that hard to tell that this is an ambitious, highly important artist, looking to haul the days of the peace movement into the present. "Video Games" pretty much achieved this, so the sheer amount of expectation put on Del Rey's debut was quite astounding. But if you take this pressure, compound it with an SNL performance that invited all sorts of criticism towards her vocal ability, then you have yourself what could possibly end her career before it really begins. Thankfully, "Born to Die" isn't anywhere close to that. This is a fully realized record, complete with strong hooks through the verses and choruses and sympathetic productions to give LDR the retro-sultry-hippie mood she was aiming for. She delivers every song with an impeccable amount of elegance, even if her lyrics might not follow suit (nowhere more apparent than in "Diet Mountain Dew", where she stumbles in her homage to New York City with some clumsy references to 7/11 and Pontiacs). Every song is augmented with lovely string arrangements, and while there are pop culture references a plenty, most often LDR's vacant reading of the songs can mold everything together into cohesion. Then there's her knack for modern sensibility, placing some squealing synths in the marvelous title track and most often infusing her songs with diluted hip-hop beats. Indeed, "Born to Die" isn't necessarily pop in form, but it certainly feels like radio-friendly fare. And that's just fine, since an entire album of the same vocal delivery and marginally similar productions can start to fall in sameness half-way through. Make no mistake, this is a hooky, stylish, and accomplished debut from a smart and detailed woman. Even if this record doesn't quite follow-through in turning LDR into a full-fledged superstar, it definitely proposes that she very well could be the next album out.

Recommended Tracks in Bold:
1. Born to Die          2. Off to the Races           3. Blue Jeans
4. Video Games      5. Diet Mountain Dew         6. National Anthem
7. Dark Paradise        8. Radio                                  9. Carmen
10. Million Dollar Man                                               11. Summertime Sadness
12. This is What Makes Us Girls

Why I Like Lady Gaga

Ever since she debuted in 2008, my world has not been the same. Through those crazy costumes, weird lyrics, confusing music videos, and many contributions to the LGBT community, I've fallen head over heels for Lady Gaga. I'm so intrigued by her, and I really appreciate her stance on spreading love, and not hating everything to death. I mean, that's pretty much it: I like Lady Gaga, I think she's dope, fly, funky, fresh, and she lives life on the edge. But with her enormous fame has come a harsh backlash from millions, and I'm not gonna lie, it's hard to stand my ground sometimes when so many people make it a positive point to hate her to the ends of the Earth. I don't know if I've ever seen such a potent hatred towards a female artist in a very long time, and I've heard people call her some pretty inappropriate things. But anyway, that's the hate. I'm here to explain why I've taken such a liking to her. For the record, I am doing this now because tonight one of my friends popped the million dollar question, which was (obviously): "Nick, why do you like Lady Gaga so much?"

Well...that's actually a pretty hard question. Why do I like Lady Gaga to the extraordinary extent that I do? I mean, according to social norms, since I'm a music major and one of the biggest lovers of music on the face of the planet, I should hate someone like Lady Gaga, a pop artist who places equal emphasis on music and her wacky image. Well, here's a revelation for you: when she first debuted, I actually did hate her music. "Just Dance" was OK, but "Poker Face" revolted me upon the first listen, I just didn't 'get it', as most people don't. And those outfits: a bubble dress, a disco stick, barely there glitter suits...what is this girl doing? Indeed, Lady Gaga was definitely an acquired taste for me, because the more I played her songs, the more I liked them. Then came "LoveGame" and "Paparazzi", and those times I loved them right away. She had such a knack for big pop hooks, and her songs were oh-so-danceable, it was easy to just enjoy singing along. And that's the first reason why I like Lady Gaga, simply because of the fact that I think her music sounds good. I mean, is there any shame in that? I was truly hooked, though, when "Bad Romance", came out. Seriously, one of the best songs I've ever heard, and on my "Greatest Songs of All Time" list (in my head, don't know if I'll ever post it here), "Bad Romance" would definitely rank within the top 5. From then on, every single Gaga released I thought was absolutely great, not one bad apple in the bunch. But there's also something that's been on my mind that I feel the need to point out, and it's that Lady Gaga's music, most often, is NOT autobiographical, it's satirical. She's not singing about rough sex like she's the one experiencing it, or about our obsession with fame and money like she's one of us. She is describing the world we live in, how fame, drugs, sex and money effect our daily lives. I'll admit, Gaga wallows in the culture she's satirizing, but that's also the point, because we ALL do it. We all hate on celebrities, but we talk about them constantly to the point where we're just giving them more attention. Gaga's first album "The Fame" perfectly explains how we are all interconnected through media and pop culture, because no one is innocent, we all take part in it. "The Fame Monster" does this as well, but it focuses on the darker subjects like lust and desire. And Gaga's voice is incredible, this girl can wail, yet hold back when she needs to, she can hold a pitch even when she's doing strenuous physical activity. 

So that's one point, the second reason why I like Lady Gaga is because of her strength. She's proud to be weird, to be herself, to keep on doing what she loves no matter what anyone says. She preaches about loving those around you, to love yourself despite all your flaws, and to find joy in life. I'm sorry, but I cannot hate somebody like this. It also helps that she appeared in a time where I was being relentlessly bullied, when I thought no one understood me and no one else on the planet was as weird as I was. Well obviously now that's not true, because she's done things soooo much weirder than I've ever done, and her overwhelming support of the LGBTQA community warms my heart; there's no way somebody who cares this much about equality and acceptance for all is going on my shit list. She once even talked to Obama about possibly finding a way to stop bullying altogether, and I support her 10000%. And of course Gaga took the time to reflect upon this in her music: her second album "Born This Way", which features numerous songs about standing up to the 'cool' kids, loving yourself, having a good time no matter what anyone thinks of you, and ultimately just worrying about loving yourself and making yourself the best person you can be. Gaga is unapologetic about it too, maybe it comes off a bit too strong sometimes, but her intentions are good. And once again, the songs about sex, religion, and politics on the album are satirical, they're not meant to be little stories about her life (I'm going to keep repeating this until it sinks in). Another point I need to make about this is, yes: I know Gaga wasn't bullied to the extent I was when she was younger, and she was born an average girl. However, that is no damn excuse to dismiss her wanting to help those in need. You don't need to be a chef to know if a meal tastes bad, you don't need to be a musicologist to know if a song is bad, and you don't need to be a victim of bullying to want to help those who are being bullied.

Thirdly, I love the fact that Lady Gaga is one of the hardest working musicians in the world of music today. Yeah she makes pop music, but she doesn't just copy and paste a few lines and call it good, oh hell no, she builds all of her songs from the ground up. Sure, her repetitive songs like "Applause" and "Poker Face" don't need this special treatment, but Gaga sings all of her songs through and through, even doing multiple takes and she demands control of her music, both in the studio and in her music videos. And come on, she toured for "The Fame" and "The Fame Monster" for TWO YEARS, what other normal pop artists do that? She fractured her hip on her "Born This Way Ball" tour because she was working so hard, and I appreciate the fact that she goes to such great lengths to make sure her fans know how much she adores them. 

I could ramble on about this forever, but I think you get the point. To me, Lady Gaga isn't just an average pop star. Let's look at her competition: she beats Katy Perry clear out of the water, she outshines Ke$ha in almost every regard, she's more original than PitBull or One Direction, she sings about topics people actually care about, unlike Justin Bieber, and even though Miley Cyrus would just love to hog the spotlight with her garishness, Lady Gaga trumps her there too. She definitely ranks among the better stars in pop, like Beyonce, P!nk, Kelly Clarkson, and yes, Madonna. Not just because she sings with a cause, but because she takes risks in her music. And if you don't agree, well you obviously haven't listened to all of the songs she's ever made. "ARTPOP" features some her most daring material date, such as the middle-eastern EDM track "Aura", or the trap-pop of "Jewels 'N' Drugs", and even "The Fame" was able to sneak underground club trends into the mainstream. Lady Gaga honestly did change the game, because she made everybody else work harder to stay atop her awe-inspiring performances and outlandish videos. 

So to wrap things up: No, I do not think Lady Gaga is just a carbon copy of Madonna, I do not think she's too offensive with her sexuality or costumes (she doesn't even come close to the blasphemy of Kanye West or the wildly controversial sexual tirades of Madonna), I do not think her videos are completely pointless, and I do not think she's a bad musician, singer, or person. And for the love of Jesus Christ in heaven above, SHE IS NOT A MAN! I DO think she's a wonderful human being, an awesome singer, a great pop artist and someone that I think will go on to do even greater things than she is now. And that is that, I will always love Lady Gaga (unless she like, murders someone), no matter how many people think she's the most disgusting person to walk the planet, she always has a little monster in me. PAWS UP.

Good Selena Gomez Songs

She's mostly known for her roles as McKayala on "Hannah Montana" and Alex Russo on "Wizards of Waverly Place", so it's not surprising that most people don't take Selena Gomez seriously as a musician. True, there's the fact of her thin voice, blatant use of auto-tune and vocal processing, her over-reliance on her production team, and who could forget that awful SNL performance in 2009? It's easy to understand the disdain for Gomez foraying into singing, but all that chatter turns away from the fact that she actually has built up some impressive songs in her catalogue. Today, I'll pick ten songs from her four albums. These songs were not released as singles, and they go to show how having the right people in your corner can mask the flaws in your voice while providing an intoxicating sense of sheer joy.

1. "I Won't Apoligize" from Kiss & Tell (2009)
Why it's good: This is a mid-tempo rocker that's probably the response to Selena's relationship with Nick Jonas. It's a frothy mix of teen-pop and some new-wave, that insistently states that she's sorry that she had to grow up and start evolving into a young-woman, but she won't apologize for just being who she was. I mean, I like a kiss-off, especially when it's directed to a Jonas brother.

2. "I Don't Miss You At All" from Kiss & Tell (2009)
Why it's good: This is a very synth-driven rocker, fast-tempo and sassy performance from Selena. Once again, this could just be Selena telling Nick Jonas that she doesn't miss him or their relationship anymore, or she could just be playing a character (she is an actress, you know). Either way, it's fun to theorize about who she's telling off here.
3. "Stop & Erase" from Kiss & Tell (2009)
Why it's good: Any song that attempts to take down the bullies is a song of mine, and that's exactly what this song is. Selena finally universalizes a subject here, and creates a teen-emo-pop rocker that for a minute makes you believe Selena could be a great singer. She's not, but it's sure nice to hear her sing to the bleachers in a power stance like this one.

4. "Off the Chain" from A Year Without Rain (2010)
Why it's good: This song is a dramatic departure from Selena's pop-rock beginnings, and instead she takes to synth-pop. The beginning of this song is great and ethereal, and that mood pretty much stays there as she sings of church bells and angels. The phrase 'your love is off the chain' is pretty awesome, too.

5. "Summer's Not Hot" from A Year Without Rain (2010)
Why it's good: An EDM song produced by the very competend RedOne, this is a very simple tale of how even though it's 99 degrees outside, if Selena isn't with the one she loves, then it's still a cold, barron winter. This song will definitely ignite the dancefloor.

6. "Live Like There's No Tomorrow" from A Year Without Rain (2010)
Why it's good: Selena is obviously at her best when she sings about universal subjects, and even though this song is very cliched in its message to live and love like you won't be alive tomorrow, Selena pulls it off with her best vocal delivery. And come on, it's hard to not like a song like this, because it actually doesn't play as cheesy as it reads.

7. "My Dilemma" from When the Sun Goes Down (2011)
Why it's good: In her weakest album to date, you can't help but look for bright spots. This song is definitely one, with its return to pop-rock and it is the only song on the entire record to instantly set its roots in your ear and stay there.

8. "Like a Champion" from Stars Dance (2013)
Why it's good: This is a EDM/Dancehall song, very much like Rihanna's work, but Selena does manage to make it her own with a more girlish delivery and sincere sensuality. Obviously, this was meant to be a party song, but it could go in the way of building your self-esteem with lines like 'walk like a champion, talk like a champion'.

9. "Forget Forever" from Stars Dance (2013)
Why it's good: Right away, the production of this song is flawless: the synths and drum machines elevate Selena's powerful vocals to the stratosphere, and it can't help but affect you in some way. It's a giddy dance jam about breaking up (in this case, from Justin Bieber), and it's easily one of the best songs ever recorded by Selena.

10. "Save the Day" from Stars Dance (2013)
Why it's good: If 'Like a Champion' was Selena's bid to be Rihanna, then this song is her attempt to be JLo. Featuring some latin guitars and a "Love?"-inspired dance beat, Selena once again powers her way through another banger that exploits her strengths to a hilt. And that low-synth rhythm...oohhhh yes.

Were there any songs that you think I missed? Shoot me a response! And hopefully, the public will gain more exposure to songs like these, so the shit-talk can maybe subside...somewhat.

Sia-"Some People Have Real Problems" Review

The complication that comes with a sudden success isn't the newly acquired large-scale audience, it's dealing with the fact that with a larger audience, you now have to accommodate a wider range of personalities, and no one was faced with such a difficulty quite like Sia in 2008. After "Breathe Me" was used to soundtrack the final episode of "Six Feet Under", she couldn't quite keep her career afloat with the same acid jazz and cold electronics that made her a mild household name. Not that it was a bad fit, not by a long shot, but now a few more eyes are on this Australian singer-songwriter, so expectations for her album in the wake of her surprise success were raised considerably. Of course, Sia had already been making records for an upwards of ten years, so she more than willingly accepts the challenge. Also given: she pulls it all off masterfully. She makes no change to her lyrical subjects of love and self-worth, but she now places her unique diction in a mellow mix of soul and acoustic-pop. If that reminds you of Corinne Bailey Rae or Ingrid Michaelson, you're not too far off the track, since "Some People Have Real Problems" definitely glides upon its warm atmosphere, and best of all, it's familiar enough to be memorable right upon the first listen. Sure, there might be talk of drugs in "The Girl You Lost to Cocaine", but ultimately, this is domestic, feel-good music, perfect for a drive in the countryside, or chilling out on the patio on a bright summer's day. Included in the mix is a cover of "I Go to Sleep", sounding almost better than the original, while she livens it up with "Academia", an old-fashioned ode to brains over beauty in a relationship. Top it off with a bonus track, titled "Buttons", and you have a coherently entertaining set of songs that wind up being Sia's most effective work. If it drags around the oddly dull "Death by Chocolate", don't worry, the record replenishes its momentum with the gorgeous "Beautiful Calm Driving", which retains her jazz roots while expanding her indie cred. Definitely check this one out.

Recommended Tracks in Bold:

1. Little Black Sandals      2. Lentil                                              3. Day Too Soon

4. You Have Been Loved      5. The Girl You Lost to Cocaine 6. Academia

7. I Go to Sleep                      8. Playground                         9. Death by Chocolate

10. Soon We’ll Be Found       11. Electric Bird                      12. Beautiful Calm Driving

13. Lullaby                              14. Buttons

Sia-"We Are Born" Review

Many fans of the electronica chanteuse were shocked when Sia shifted into indie-pop with "Some People Have Real Problems", her fabulous 2008 album that introduced her to a mainstream audience. It not only changed her game, but it also provided a much needed taste of subtlety in the land of Lil Wayne and Flo Rida. But the shock value that came with that album isn't nearly enough for the dramatic change Sia took for her fourth album, "We Are Born". It's still within the indie realm, and it brings her back to her electronic roots, but now she's turned her earliest work inside out and has created a hearty dance album. It's quite clear from the lead-off track "The Fight", when it rushes in with drum machines and hyper piano, that she's placed all her chips into this crossover move. Needless to say, she pulls it all off. Her songwriting is still as sharp as ever, while main producer Greg Kurstin helps ease the transition from coffee-shop soul singer to indie-dance club diva. Also thrown into the mix is some lite-funk ("The Fight", neo-disco ("You've Changed"), alt-rock ("I'm In Here"), new-wave pop ("Never Gonna Leave Me"), and even some R&B reminiscent of Sia's last record ("Be Good to Me"). It seems that Sia can finally do it all --not like there was ever any doubt, however-- and by the last track, a stripped down version of "I'm in Here", her raw craftsmanship is exposed to the hilt, only adding to the overall effect of "We Are Born" as a whole. It's a strongly impressive testament to Sia's skills as both a singer and songwriter, one that's not as consistently gripping as "Some People Have Real Problems", but is still as enjoyable. It reaches for every possible demographic, and pleases every need from fans in each genre. Truly a remarkable feat from an artist that's at once attracted to the masses, yet hasn't mustered the courage to make mass music until now. Hopefully it won't take another thirteen years to follow this record up.

Recommended Tracks in Bold:

1. The Fight              2. Clap Your Hands           3. Stop Trying

4. You’ve Changed 5. Be Good to Me                    6. Bring Night

7. Hurting Me Now    8. Never Gonna Leave Me9. Cloud

10. I’m In Here          11. The Co-Dependent          12. Big Girl Little Girl

13. Oh Father             14. I’m In Here (Piano Version)