The Top 15 Albums That Defined My Childhood

So, when I was a young one (this time I'm widening the scope from the years 1994-2006), I had my head filled with these artist, courtesy of my sister. I realize she had some really girlish tastes, and I absorbed them like a sponge. I was quickly turned off to male artists and embraced the female greats of pop music. And I also indulged in child-ish Disney music from time to time, but I'm confident with myself, so I can share the fifteen albums that were stuck on repeat for the first twelve years of my life:

15. The Veronicas-The Secret Life Of...
14. Ashlee Simpson-I Am Me
13. Madonna-Confessions On a Dance Floor
12. Gwen Stefani-Love Angel Music Baby
11. Lindsay Lohan-Speak
10. Hilary Duff-Metamorphosis
9. Liz Phair-Liz Phair
8. Katy Rose-Because I Can
7. Ashlee Simpson-Autobiography
6. Evanescence-Fallen
5. Skye Sweetnam-Noise from the Basement
4. Avril Lavigne-Under My Skin
3. Kelly Clarkson-Breakaway
2. Christina Aguilera-Stripped
1. Shania Twain-Up!

Kelly Clarkson-"All I Ever Wanted" Review

Upon the first glance at "All I Ever Wanted", you soon realize that its airbrushed and high-gloss cover isn't what Kelly Clarkson wants, it's what the mainstream wants. Unfortunately, the sell-out cover is necessary since her 2007 disaster "My December" was given the cold-shoulder from critics and audiences alike. It may have gone platinum, but it yielded only one top ten hit and it could not live up to the success of her 2004 artistic and commercial breakthrough "Breakaway". So, come 2009, after sorting through all of her emotions, Kelly returns to her pop roots and delivers the atonement for "My December". Granted, it's not a complete departure; the bubblegum punk of "Whyyouwannabringmedown" and the sleek, rock groover "If I Can't Have You" prove that Kelly has still retained the rough edges of "My December". But this time, there's a more delectable center.

Instead of hard rock and steely guitars, "All I Ever Wanted" presents us with synths, sugary drums and bubbling electronics. Mostly present in "My Life Would Suck Without You" and "Ready", this album proves that the spunky singer who delivered "Since U Been Gone" is back. And even though their is a palpable absence of warmth this time around, it's nice to see Kelly finally break from her depression and creating a sunnier record. Even the slow, Ryan Tedder collaborations "Already Gone" and "Save You" sound good, even if they are unoriginal (the latter could have been featured on a OneRepublic album with no audible differences, and the former is a carbon copy of Beyonce's "Halo"). Still, underneath the cold synths and calculations, Kelly manages to maintain her genuine appeal, as she delivers each song with conviction, but also a tad bit of discomfort. You see, A pop star as real as Kelly Clarkson knows that alot of the content on "All I Ever Wanted" doesn't suit her. As compelling as "Save You" and "If I Can't Have You" are, Kelly is at her best when she's belting out huge, multi-purpose hooks that make "My Life" and "I Do Not Hook Up" that are the perfect slices of power pop. And the rest of the album basically structures itself like this: a constant battle between her comfort zone and her experimental material. Most of the time it works, and to be honest, only Kelly Clarkson, a singer with sensational skills and genuineness, could breathe life into those dreary Tedder tunes. Even though "All I Ever Wanted" plays like a project in which Kelly was forced to do, it somehow contains an inexplicable addictive-ness. And given the fact that Kelly's spirit will always shine through anything that her pop produces will make her do, it's an aspect that's easy to appreciate. And with all of its pop-machined calculations, "All I Ever Wanted" is a considerable record that reaffirms Kelly Clarkson's presence as a pop survivor, one that can rise above any challenge (but save "My Life" for the end, it works much better as a triumphant closer).

Recommended Tracks in Bold:

1. My Life Would Suck Without You                     2. I Do Not Hook Up
3. Cry              4. Don’t Let Me Stop You                5. All I Ever Wanted
6. Already Gone        7. If I Can’t Have You          8. Save You
9. Whyyouwannabringmedown          10. Long Shot 11. Impossible
12. Ready                    13. I Want You                       14. If No One Will Listen

The 75 Best Selling Singles of All TIme

So far!! As of writing this, these are the best selling singles of all time, both in digital and physical formats. Number 75 has sold 8 million digital copies worldwide, while number 1 has sold 50 million physical copies worldwide. So without further introduction, let's go:

75. The Black Eyed Peas-My Humps
74. Katy Perry-I Kissed a Girl
73. Beyonce and Jay Z-Crazy in Love
72. Aqua-Barbie Girl
71. Ricky Martin-Livin La Vida Loca
70. Nirvana-Smells like Teen Spirit
69. Modern Talking-You're My Heart, You're My Soul
68. Mary Hopkin-Those Were the Days
67. The Animals-The House of the Rising Sun
66. The Beatles-Hey Jude
65. Mahalia Jackson-Move on up a Little Higher
64. Gene Autry-Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer
63. Katy Perry-Firework
62. Thelma Aoyama-Soba ni lru ne
61. Pitbull, Ne-Yo, Nayer, Afrojack-Give Me Everything
60. Lady Gaga-Born This Way
59. Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull-On the Floor
58. Survivor-Eye of the Tiger
57. Maroon 5 and Christina Aguilera-Moves Like Jagger
56. The Black Eyed Peas-Boom Boom Pow
55. Shakira-Whenever, Wherever
54. Paul Anka-Diana
53. Madonna-Hung Up
52. Lil Wayne and Static Major-Lollipop
51. Lady Gaga-Bad Romance
50. Lady Gaga and Colby O'Donis-Just Dance
49. Shakira and Wyclef Jean-Hips Don't Lie
48. Jason Mraz-I'm Yours
47. Kylie Minogue-Can't Get You out of My Head
46. Britney Spears-Baby One More Time
45. ABBA-Fernando
44. Panjabi MC-Mundian to Bach Ke
43. Bryan Adams-(Everything I Do) I Do it for You
42. The Monkees-I'm a Believer
41. Middle of the Road-Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep
40. Procol Harum-Winter Shade of Pale
39. Van McCoy and The Soul City Symphony-The Hustle
38. Roy Acuff-Wabash Cannonball
37. Elvis Presley-Hound Dog
36. Psy-Gangnam Style
35. Flo Rida and T Pain-Low
34. Eminem and Rihanna-Love the Way You Lie
33. Bruno Mars-Grenade
32. George McRae-Rock Your Body
31. Cher-Believe
30. Roger Whitaker-The Last Farewell
29. Mills Brothers-Paper Doll
28. Carl Douglas-Kung Fu Fighting
27. Los Del Rio-The Macarena
26. Band Aid-Do They Know It's Christmas?
25. Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman-Time to Say Goodbye
24. Mariah Carey-All I Want for Christmas is You
23. The Village People-YMCA
22. The Beatles-I Want to Hold Your Hand
21. Whitney Houston-I Will Always Love You
20. Bruno Mars-Just the Way You Are
19. Lady Gaga-Poker Face
18. Carly Rae Jepsen-Call Me Maybe
17. Gotye and Kimbra-Somebody That I Used to Know
16. Kyu Sakamoto-Sukiyaki
15. Adele-Rolling in the Deep
14. LMFAO-Party Rock Anthem
13. Ke$ha-Tik Tok
12. Scorpions-Wind of Change
11. Gloria Gaynor-I Will Survive
10. The Black Eyed Peas-I Gotta Feeling
9. Celine Dion-My Heart Will Go On
8. Baccara-Yes Sir, I Can Boogie
7. The Ink Spots-If I Didn't Care
6. USA for Africa-We Are the World
5. Elvis Presley-It's Now or Never
4. Bill Haley and His Comets-Rock Around the Clock
3. Bing Crosby-Silent Night
2. Elton John-Candle in the Wind 1997
1. Bing Crosby-White Christmas

The 75 Best Selling Albums of All TIme

Wanna know which albums ruled the world since records began? Of all the classic artists that we've come to love, were their record sales able to match the success of their songs? You'll find out right now, as I reveal the 75 albums that sold the most copies ever throughout the world. Number 75 starts the list with total sales of 20 million copies sold worldwide, and then the best selling album of all time has sold about 60 million copies worldwide. Ok, let's go:

75. Janet Jackson-Janet
74. Usher-Confessions
73. Tina Turner-Private Dancer
72. Supertramp-Breakfast in America
71. Shania Twain-The Woman in Me
70. Prince and The Revolution-Purple Rain
69. Phil Collins-No Jacket Required
68. Michael Jackson-Off the Wall
67. Michael Jackson-HIStory: Past, Present, and Future
66. Meat Loaf-Bat out of Hell II: Back into Hell
65. Lionel Richie-Can't Slow Down
64. Eric Clapton-Unplugged
63. Eminem-The Marshall Mathers LP
62. Def Leppard-Hysteria
61. Britney Spears-Oops! I Did It Again
60. Boston-Boston
59. Blondie-Parallel Lines
58. Barbra Streisand-Guilty
57. Dido-No Angel
56. Madonna-Like a Virgin
55. Bon Jovi-Cross Road
54. Oasis-(What's the Story) Morning Glory?
53. Ace of Base-Happy Nation
52. Linkin Park-Hybrid Theory
51. Kenny Rogers-Greatest Hits
50. Whitney Houston-Whitney
49. Whitney Houston-Whitney Houston
48. U2-The Joshua Tree
47. Simon and Garfunkel-Bridge Over Troubled Water
46. Queen-Greatest Hits
45. Mariah Carey-Daydream
44. Madonna-True Blue
43. Journey-Greatest Hits
42. George Michael-Faith
41. Carole King-Tapestry
40. Bob Marley & The Wailers-Legend: Best of Bob Marley & The Wailers
39. Norah Jones-Come Away With Me
38. Adele-21
37. Grease Soundtrack
36. Spice Girls-Spice
35. Bon Jovi-Slippery When Wet
34. Backstreet Boys-Millennium
33. Backstreet Boys-Backstreet's Back
32. ABBA-Gold: Greatest Hits
31. Santana-Supernatural
30. Pink Floyd-The Wall
29. Nirvana-Nevermind
28. Michael Jackson-Dangerous
27. Metallica-Metallica
26. Madonna-The Immaculate Collection
25. Titanic Soundtrack
24. Iron Butterfly-In A Gadda Da Vida
23. Guns N' Roses-Appetite for Destruction
22. Dire Straits-Brothers in Arms
21. Bruce Springsteen-Born in the USA
20. Britney Spears-Baby One More Time
19. The Beatles-Abbey Road
18. Celine Dion-Let's Talk About Love
17. The Beatles-1
16. Dirty Dancing Soundtrack
15. Mariah Carey-Music Box
14. Celine Dion-Falling into You
13. The Beatles-Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
12. Alanis Morisette-Jagged Little Pill
11. Michael Jackson-Bad
10. Led Zeppelin-Led Zeppelin IV
9. Shania Twain-Come on Over
8. Fleetwood Mac-Rumours
7. Saturday Night Fever Soundtrack
6. Eagles-Their Greatest Hits (1971-1975)
5. Meat Loaf-Bat out of Hell
4. The Bodyguard Soundtrack
3. Pink Floyd-Dark Side of the Moon
2. AC/DC-Back in Black
1. Michael Jackson-Thriller

Super Bowl Music

So, as I'm writing this, I am getting prepared for Sunday, February 3, 2013, when over 110 million viewers watch the super-sized sporting event known as the Super Bowl. Now, anybody that knows me knows that I hate Super-Bowl Sunday, I do not see the point in throwing these gigantic parties for what's really just another football game. The only special thing about this game is that the winning team gets a trophy...wow, such a great thing to work toward. Anyway, the only times I would ever considering watching the Super Bowl is to watch the half time shows. Even then, usually I'm dissapointed because the artists that perform are either obscure, have no talent beyond their auto-tuned albums, or they just march around the stage lip-synching their own songs. I'm not saying that every half-time show has been like this, but more times than one do the half-time shows suck. And then there's the performances of The Star Spangled Banner, which could go from being extremely bad or extremely phenomenal. So first, I would like to re-cap the best and worst music performances of the past Super Bowls:

Worst Star Spangled Banner Perfomances

Aaron Neville, Aretha Franklin, and Dr. John-Super Bowl 2006
(Good idea with the Gospel Choir, but it was much better in theory than in practice)

Christina Aguilera-Super Bowl 2011
(Epic oversinging, and messing up the words? Yeah... F-, Christina)


Best Star Spangled Banner Performances

Marvin Gaye-Super Bowl 1983
(Perfect touch of soul, and simply marvelous)

Whitney Houston-Super Bowl 1991
(No gimmicks, no oversinging, just the National Anthem and a great voice. A++!)


Worst Half-Time Performances

Madonna-Super Bowl 2012
(Half-assing by Nicki Minaj, innapropriate behavior from MIA, and walking around the stage and obvious lip-synching from Madonna? From the queen of pop, this show was a dissappointment...to say the least.)

The Black Eyed Peas-Super Bowl 2011
(2011 was just not a good year for music. First Christina disgraced the National Anthem, and then The Black Eyed Peas delivered one of the poorest live performances in enterainment history. Their hearts clearly weren't in it as the purposely fudged the lines to one of their own songs. They were unable to translate their songs into a live setting, thus highlighting how extremely annoying "Boom Boom Pow" and "OMG" really are. Slash comes out of nowhere and is completely out of place with the rest of the setlist, and the bands costumes are ridiculously made-up to distract from the lame show they've preared. If this isn't a career killing performance, I don't know what is. F--)

Best Half-Time Performances

Prince-Super Bowl 2007
(With a purple guitar in hand, and a setlist of his greatest hits, only Prince would be able to get buff football fans singing falsetto during his show-stopping performance.)

Michael Jackson-Super Bowl 1993
(Blown-out to the fullest extent, Michael Jackson may have been losing his grip on the mainstream, but he was sure well and alive during this clasic half-time show. And ending with a bang, he was able to re-assure his dominance as the king of pop.)


So, now that we've looked back, let's look ahead to tomorrow. Who's performing?
Well, Alicia Keys will sing the National Anthem, but not in the way we're used to. She, like every artist before her, wants to put a new spin on it. This can go either really badly or excellently. Alicia is a very talented singer, but more times than not, singers who do their own version of the National Anthem end up falling flat on their face. And Alicia might oversing as well, we'll see.
Also, the Sandy Hook Elementary choir will perform "America The Beautiful" during Pre-Game as well. Obviously this is to pay tribute to the schoo after their tragedy in December. I think it is a wonderful idea, and a great way to show America's support for them.

And now Beyonce. We've all known since October that she's been chosen to perform at half-time. I know I should be excited about this...but I'm not. You see, ever since she released "Single Ladies", I've lost respect for her as an artist. She's become WAY too pretentious about female empowerment and she sings about it WAY too much now. I know that gender equality is still an issue, but singing stupid songs like "Single Ladies" and "Run The World (Girls)" only set this movement back. Also, if she lip-synched at Obama's inauguration, then I have a bad feeling about the Super Bowl too. But, who knows, maybe Beyonce will actually sing and bring justice back to the half-time show. I mean, after The Black Eyed Peas and Madonna brought the bar WAY down, there's really nowhere else to go but up. This is just my prediction, and as Ellie Goulding would say "Anything Could Happen".
I'll be watching the Super Bowl again, mainly because I'm going to a party with all my friends and there will be free food. Other than that, I'm pretty sure I'll enjoy the commercials...lol.

Best of...The 1990s

Besides the greatest songs of the 90s, there were alot of other great artists and achievements that made the 90s one great decade. From one hit wonders, to powerhouse artists, to promising newcomers, let's review all the best parts of music in the 1990s (in my opinion):

Overall Popularity:

Artist of the Decade-Mariah Carey

Male Artist of the Decade-Boyz II Men

Best Song-"I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston

Best Album-"Jagged Little Pill" by Alanis Morisette


By Genre:

Best Pop Artist-Goo Goo Dolls

Best Pop Song-"Iris" by the Goo Goo Dolls

Best Rock Artist-No Doubt

Best Rock Song-"Don't Speak" by No Doubt

Best Rap Artist-The Notorious B.I.G.

Best Rap Song-"Ice, Ice, Baby" by Vanilla Ice

Best R&B Artist-TLC

Best R&B Song-"Waterfalls" by TLC

Best Dance Artist-Ace of Base

Best Dance/Club Song-"Vogue" by Madonna

Best Country Artist-Shania Twain

Best Country Song-"All I Wanna Do" by Sheryl Crow

Best Indie Artist-Liz Phair

Best Indie/Alternative Song-"Hand in my Pocket" by Alanis Morisette

Best New Age Artist-Enya

Best New Age Song-"Caribbean Blue" by Enya


Miscellaneous:

Best One Hit Wonder-"The Macarena" by Los Del Rio

Best Collaboration-"When You Believe" by Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston

Best Group/Band-TLC

Best New Artists-Sheryl Crow, Ace of Base, Mariah Carey, Shania Twain, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Enrique Iglesias, Alanis Morisette, Green Day, and Jewel

Most Controversial Artist-Madonna

Best Comeback-Cher

Best Wallflower-Donna Lewis

Best Christian Artist-Sixpence None the Richer

Best Break-Up Song-"You Oughta Know" by Alanis Morisette


Honorable Mentions:

Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Green Day, and Goo Goo Dolls-Awesome rock bands

"I Love You Always Forever", "What is Love?", "Baby Got Back", "Torn", "Bittersweet Symphony", "Jump", "Whoomp! There it is", and "I'm Too Sexy"-One hit wonders that are also very awesome!

Celine Dion-Best Canadian artist, and Best Soundtrack song for "My Heart Will Go On"

Faith Hill-Best Country-Pop crossover

Spice Girls-Best artist from across the pond

Whitney Houston and Madonna-Best at keeping their presence known past the 80s

Elton John-Best re-mix of a song for "Candle in the Wind"

LeAnn Rimes-Best young artist (she was 15 when she released "How Do I Live")

The 1990s-The Best Decade for Big Ballads and quality pop music!

MaestroBlog Update

So I should have done this yesterday, but I'll do it today and do this at the end of every month as I had originally planned.

So, as I told you all before, my goal for this year was to have 5000 page views. So far, as of writing this, MaestroBlog has been viewed 1720 times, or 16.82 views per blog entry. So far, the record for most views in one day is 58 views, let's see if I can break it this month!

In January, I was able to touch upon a few things I wanted to start in 2013. I have yet to do a Musical Dissection (but it will be coming soon, don't you worry!), and also, I don't think putting up videos will be an option anymore, since I somehow can't upload the ones I make anywhere. Oh well.

One thing that I know can do are Musical Rants, which is me expressing my opinion on certain artist or fanbase. As you can tell from reading this blog already, I've done quite a few of these, but they are going to be more erratic since they are quite challenging to do.

Lastly, I will remind ya'll that I DO take requests! If there's a song or artist you think needs more attention ot you just want someone besides you to talk about it. And I'm also going to start to do movie reviews as well, and I'll probably convert this into an all around entertainment blog (but music will always be a priority!)

Thanks for sticking with me thus far, and let's have another great month! :)