Wanted: Old Brittney Spears
I recently viewed the top songs on the BigChampagne.com – an online media measurement. Not to my surprise, the #5 songs is Brittney Spear’s “Piece of Me.” Why do I care? Well, I do. But not like our crazy obsessed society does. So I grew up in the Brittney Spears era. So what. Hit me, baby – if you will. But anyway, why “not
to my surprise?” Well, for the most part, I like to follow record sales. It’s interesting to me that records just don’t sell anymore. What? Big Music didn’t see P2P, the CD burner, and the iPOD coming? -Not to mention the formulation of “niche” nations? C’mon, we’re a progressive and evolving society, these things were bound to happen AND conflict with traditional society at some intersections! Maybe Big Music execs just missed the e-vites to the technology expos . Back to Brittney.
“Piece of Me” is a cool sounding song. It has complexity. Vocally? No. Technologically? Yes. I give Brittney props because she probably had nothing to do with the song, but because she’s Brittney, she was selected to record the vocals for a really cool sounding song. I’ve heard reviews for the song calling it “techno” but I digress. “Techno” is so 5 minutes ago – the song is “digital” – and catchy as hell. It’s one of those songs where you sing to yourself in the mirror only to ask yourself “do you wanna piece of me?” Then you break out into the robot. Pause. And slap yourself for being so engrossed. The song was worthy of my facebook slideshow for my birthday celebration. And Brittney is right. Everyone wants a piece of her. And its a shame. Some of us just want that Super Bowl halftime “Walk This Way” Brittney. Or that VMA “Slave for You” Brittney…sigh…And the reviews for her album? Well, no one’s complaining, because it sounds pretty damn good and its been doing just as well. Please, help save Brittney!
BigChampagne doesn’t lie. At least I hope it doesn’t. At least I hope its not owned by Clear Channel in some way that its metrics are convoluted. You know the deal. Brittney obviously has a musical fan base- this is evident because her songs can top the charts, even though she’s incapacitated at certain levels. The musical demand for Brittney is still there. I mean, a paparazzi demand is there as well- but a musical demand exists nonetheless- I hope. Well, maybe. I think. Crap! I’m not sure. If “we are a gregarious species, highly influenced by what others do” then maybe I am just a bit influenced by the fact that even grew up in Era Brittney. Brainwashed in era Brittney. Perhaps, I have the bubble gum pop chip stuck to side of my brain, because at the end of day I still consider myself to be Generation Hip Hop. If I revert to Brittney, well, she’s the epitome of commercial pop culture. <— Insert Here Before the Music Dies movie
Grandma Tales: Superbowl is Rigged.
My mother had me crackin’ up the other night talking about things my late grandmother told her when she was younger. My mom said that when they would watch the Superbowl my grandmother would say “Yall believe that? Then yall believe anything you see.” My grandmother was referring to her thoughts about how the she believed that Superbowl and championship games as such was rigged. Now as a student of philosophy, I think that anything is possible. I pondered, “Could it be so?” I mean, its that feeling you get when the “good” American Idols get kicked off the show. You comment to the obsessed Idol fans around you “Man, the kick the good ones off for the ratings.” And for the moment, you believe it.
The Super Bowl game was just too good on Sunday. Ya feel me? Too good. I was obsessed. I was obsessed with possibility of anything because on championship day, your season record goes out the door. It’s just you and the enemy. Ready. <—Insert “I know the feeling all too well” here. While my mom was recounting my grandmother’s words I thought about possibility of puppeteers all too reminiscent of Jim Carey’s Truman Show - a must see by the way. What if the Super Bowl was a real game. A game between the owners and coaches. Hey? What does an NFL owner do? Let’s Google (or Blackle) the job description and check it for accuracy on Wikipedia. Because that’s what I want to be! And the headphones on the field? Wouldn’t it be funny if Belichick was really telling Tom Brady how to lose the game correctly. Just a thought. I think I’ll step back into the Matrix, now. I don’t feel comfortable in these potato sacks. Go Giants! Maybe next year Patriots..
Hillary’s Brownie Points on Steve Harvey Radio Show
Not too long ago, Hillary Clinton famously declared “I found my voice.” But, I really wasn’t feeling her when she said that. I’ve always liked and admired her. But the sincerity just didn’t cut it for me. I don’t know what I want from Hillary. Well, maybe that’s not entirely true.
Everyone raves about Obama’s ability to be “down-to-earth,” “personable,” “normal,” “human.” Hmm…I don’t know how I feel about people calling him “human.” I mean, its quite obvious he’s a homo sapien. What else? Am I missing something like –> insert joke here? Given my heritage, maybe that just doesn’t sit too well with me. Sure, Obama is chill and personable. I didn’t expect less from a brutha.’ But that’s just my take on it.
Back to Hillary. I mean I didn’t expect her act like like she was “chillin wit tha’ homies” during this campaign because she is politician and there is certain territory and language that comes with that. But really though, she has been sounding too scripted. Her introductory comments at the debates this past week sounded plain scripted and just too commercial. I was like “What is she selling us again? Healthcare, war, poverty, achievement gap? And look mom, they come in assortments and flavors!” But, I will give Hillary her props, today. Her comments on the Steve Harvey radio show this morning almost made me want to change my vote. She mentioned how “painful” it must be for some voters to decide whether to elect (the potential) first female president or first black president- inevitably that is the bottom line. The “painful” part resonated well with the women in studio and prompted “uh huhs” and “yes yeses.” It was one of those “I FEEL you girl” moments. I don’t expect everyone to empathize.
