Gen's Top 5
Eminem – “Not Afraid” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8E8h_Fhb5w
New Eminem song that doesn’t suck…how’s that for progress? This is the best kind of Eminem in my opinion…he isn’t being vulgar (well, for him) or overly silly or melodramatic…just being honest, straight and tight with the rhymes. This song is just him grabbing a mic and letting his talent flow and that is when, IMHO, he’s best. (I especially like that he acknowledges that his last album wasn’t the best.)
When you hear this song, you are struck with the impression that some record producer said, “Let’s write a follow up hit for B.o.B. given his success with ‘Nothing on you’”. And Normally, that would piss me off so I would hate the result. I mean, that’s the process for EVERY Black Eyed Peas song. However, I am a fan of Eminem (see above) and Hayley Williams has always made my pants tight. Add to that the fact that I LOVED ‘Nothing on you’ and I felt I had to give this song a chance. And, of course, It’s awesome. I mean, I really like this song…again, not the tired formula rap that seems to dominate these days and really, quality entertaining. Eminem seems to get a little angry in his verse, and I always like it when he gets a little pissed, be it real or feigned. Truth be told, I can’t get enough of this song, with the catchy hook and the draw-in verses…this could be my anthem for summer.
Lady Gaga – “Alejandro” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAsClx87DaM
Like all Lady Gaga songs, you can’t help but like Alejandro. For one, you are singing along by the third verse. It is just THAT catchy (Ollie Hahn Dro! Ollie Hahn Dro! Ollie ollie hahn dro! Ollie ollie hahn dro!)…For another, the music just carries a…passion…that is hard to describe. To me, I feel like I can feel what Gaga is feeling as she sings the song…like she is conveying that emotion to me through the music. Which ain’t bad for what is, let’s face it, miscellaneous pop sell-out music. I mean, she ain’t BB King or the Red Hot Chili Peppers…she’s Lady Gaga. The true test of a musician, IMHO, is whether or not they would keep making and releasing music if we stopped paying them tomorrow. No one would question this in BB King’s example but, with a pop artist, you always assume they’d be done in a second. But, I really think that Lady Gaga has some integrity and that comes through. I am unquestionably a fan. Sorry, Pete.
Lloyd Banks feat Juelz Santana – “Beamer, Benz or Bentley” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tfs3-sY2OM&feature=related
I have often enjoyed the music of 50-cent and his ‘crew’ G-unit. However, I have found that their best stuff is when they are not being too serious… I mean, 50’s ‘In da club’ is pretty irreverent as is my other favorite of his ‘P-I-M-P’. Lloyd’s solo stuff, in my experience, doesn’t often go this way, so I haven’t been as much of a fan. Even this song struggles to really be whimsical but it gets close enough that I can appreciate it. Add to that, the absolutely INSANE beat and hypnotic electronic melody stolen (in style, at least) from so many other songs and you just can’t help but nod your head and tap your foot. Banks actually is not currently signed to a label, so he did this song without label support as a digital download and radio airplay. The fact that I’ve heard of it, means he had amazing success in that regard…
Taio Cruz feat. Ludacris – “Break your heart” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_SI2EDM6Lo
Let’s see… Dance Beat? Check. Ludacris Part? Check. Ridiculously hot women in the video? Check. If they wanted to make a song for me, that’s a pretty damn good start. This song is just hot enough to pretend that it is not bubblegum pop, so that is what we are gonna do, dammit! Still, it brings a smile to your face and a wiggle to your walk to hear it, and the dance remixes on bpm are ridiculous, so this song makes my top 5.
HONORABLE MENTION
Jay Z & Mr. Hudson – “Young Forever” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1nbvplgElw
How is it that Jay Z when from nothing to everything over the course of his life but still manages to make such amazing music? I guess there is such a thing as an overabundance of talent that can guide an artist into quality, engaging and involving music over and over again. Jay Z is like that. I have no idea where he got the idea or inspiration for such a beautiful song but the haunting quality of Mr. Hudson’s voice, the poetry and imagery of the lyrics and you have a song that, if you really pay attention, will touch you. (Watching the video will triple the effect…) That’s something special…
Usher feat Will.I.Am – “OMG” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RnPB76mjxI
Jesus, Mother Mary & Joseph, my hand itches with the need to smack Usher. Obviously, he is one of the best RnB artists working and he is capable of such AMAZING work. So, why, I ask you, is he feeding us this same ole boring crap that sounds like every other damn boring crap song he’s done. So, that he can use a ‘cool, hip’ acronym and be ‘down’ with the kiddies. Dude, you’re better than this…you’re better than contrived lyrics, you’re better than tired beat and flow and you are sure as hell better than anything involving the master of no-talent, the craptastic Will.I.Am. Usher, I expect better from your next song…get some self-respect dude. Man, I miss ‘Papers…’
Theory of a Deadman – “All or Nothing” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRz8A8PJWXM
Normally, I have nothing against ToaD but this song sounds far far too much like Nickelback. It is the same whiney lead voice, the same tired, dead sounding guitar and the same cookie-cutter rock beat. As far as I am concerned, if you’re going to sound this much like Nickelback, and you don’t have the balls to take yourself out and shoot yourself, at least neglect to inflict this steaming pile of dung on the rest of humanity. This song is shit, shit, shit. Ugh. I’m a little nauseous… SHIT!
Justin Bieber feat Sean Kingston – “Eenie Meenie” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7fOGiOST3EE
GGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tell me you have not had the urge to yell exactly that whenever you are confronted with the blight on the face of humanity that is Justin Bieber. As a policy, I try not to wish that any particular individual would die in a chemical fire but Bieber makes me regret that policy. He’s annoying, Canadian, whiney, Canadian, stupidly coiffed, Canadian and idiotically Canadian. He is one of the best examples why record company executives rank lower than terrorist, pirate, insurance salesman, shoe salesman, Nazi officer AND NBC executive in the hierarchy of evil. There is no talent, no passion, no joy, no heart. Nothing of any value. Just an ‘add water’ formula to make little girls `ginies tingle. Tell me, did you ever foresee a time when you miss the Jonas Brothers? Oh yeah, and in recent American history, the nursery rhyme ‘Eenie Meenie Minie Moe’ has racist connotations. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eeny,_meeny,_miny,_moe) and I don’t mean the ‘good’ kind of racist. L
Ke$ha – “Your love is my drug” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IsRckT21sE&feature=fvst
Y’all know me. You know I love the ridiculously popular. You know that it takes nothing more than a stint at #1 on Billboards Hot 200 to make me love your song. In the 80s, I loved Madonna. In the 90s, I loved N’Sync. In the 00’s, I loved Britney. I am a cheap, popular music whore and proud of it. So, I was all set to *LOVE* ke$ha. And I did. “Tik tok” is the bomb...I have tried brushing with Jack (not so good.) and I check each morning but I don’t wake up feeling like P.Diddy. And the beat from “Blah Blah Blah” makes it a must listen, despite the presence of the hated 3OH!3 (*puke*). I am freely willing to discuss the possibility that, because of this, I actually do physically lack a soul. That said, I can’t take it anymore. This song, is the same damn song as the other songs. It’s cool to have one damn song…if you’re AC/DC…but, ke$ha, I’m going to need more…’Your love is my drug?’ seriously? Reached for comment, Huey Lewis said, ‘How original.’ I’m not asking for much…I mean, I never asked you to have talent (heh.) or even to be good…but there are limits for how much any one individual can sell-out and you are crossing them chicky. I mean it…write a fuckin’ ballad.
The Script – “Breakeven” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yZ1uI5yPbY
This is a song that falls into that same category as the Black Eyed Peas. I don’t detect much feeling in this song, either in the lyrics or the music or the delivery. Indeed, I don’t really find much worthwhile with this endeavor at all. So, why do I fuckin’ LOVE listening to this song? I don’t know…I can’t place it…It could be raw repetition…I mean, listen to pop radio these days and you’ll hear a particular song, like this one, no less than 6 times in a 4 hour period. That’s ridiculous…it can wear a path down your ear canal and into your brain that it permanently resides in…so you come to like it despite yourself…cuz it’s comfortable…like old leather pants you should have put away 40 lbs ago…but I thought I was immune to that shit after all these years…maybe not. I enjoy this song every single time I hear it and that pisses me off, so I hate it. Also, this is one of those songs with inexplicable fuckin sirens in the background…what the hell is THAT about?
DISHONORABLE MENTION
Glee Cast – “Total Eclipse of the Heart” - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yelF5xnXnuQ
Umm…that’s not your fuckin’ song…that’s the Wife’s song…she sings it at karaoke every time we go and you have a lot of fuckin’ nerve commandeering it for your little gay dramedy show. Seriously, where do you get off? You don’t even do as good a job as she does and she’s using Mark the Sharks karaoke equipment. Howz that feel, gleek? (yeah, they seriously call themselves ‘gleeks’) So, seriously, cut that shit out and let people have their karaoke songs and stop putting them in your little high school fantasies? I mean it…Don’t get cocky, a fuckin monkey shitting itself could follow Idol and get your ratings, so don’t be all full of yourself…stealin’ people’s karaoke…that’s bullshit…
