Summer Music Predictions

Summer is almost here, well we still have about two months until the official June 21st date, but I thought I would make a prediction for what, I hope, will be this summer's hottest songs


"Summer Love" Justin Timberlake- When I heard this song last fall,I knew it would be a single. "Summer Love" hit radio about two weeks ago and I predict by mid-summer we will have a love/hate relationship with this song. But,it is so hot,it will defiantly be a club favorite.

"Umbrella" Rhianna- Watch out Miss B, Rhianna is slowly gaining a rather large fan base, I think she is after your crown and maybe man, too. No, seriously Rhianna had three top ten hits from her "Girl Like Me" album, I predict the new one will be just as hot. "Umbrella" is the first single and it is sure to be one of this summer's hits. It is a mid tempo song, but it has a great hook, I believe the repetition of "ay, ay, ay, ay" will ring in our ears for months, trust, summer hit.


"Makes Me Wonder" Maroon 5- With the release of their much anticipated sophomore album, lead single "Makes Me Wonder" is a sure fire hit. The song has catchy beat and the arrangement is stellar. The song will make any 80s music buff nostalgic for the sound, again. Why will it be a huge summer hit? It is a nice summer jam, one you listen to with the top down, or on the beach, or just sitting at home relaxing. It is a fun-feel good song, perfect for the summer.

Well, summer is almost here, so I guess we'll shall soon see.

Sanjaya, Gone, but not Forgotten

Well it finally happened, the day we all knew would come, Sanjaya has been eliminated from American Idol. I will have to admit, Sanjaya was not may favorite contestant, but out of the six seasons that I've watched AI; he was not the worst either. That boyish smile, those cutesy looks at the camera, and his at times outrageous hairstyles; he really gave us all something to talk about-hence this blog post. Nonetheless I don't think we have seen the last of Mr. Malakar. Although he doesn't have the greatest voice, he won't need it to be a pop star, note Britney Spears and the flood of teenyboppers that followed in her footsteps. No, what Sanjaya needs are great producers that will mold him into a perfect cookie cutter pop heartthrob. Five year old girls everywhere will rush out to buy his music, and rejoice over the boy who gave AI season six some much needed PIZAZZ.

Virginia Tech Shooting

It's unfortunate in this country that it takes random acts of violence to really make us all take a step back from our self-absorbed lives to realize what's important. Okay, well maybe we are not all so self-absorbed and narcissistic, but my point here is that when tragedy strikes our nation, our level of shock and dissolution seems heightened. Americans begin to wonder; how could this happen; why would someone do such a terrible thing? Honestly, we may never know with any certainty the answer to those questions. What I do believe is that we need to take this opportunity and discuss what, and how, as a nation, are we going to proceed? Is this a gun control issue; does this fall back on family and creating a sense of community within our nation? Is this event one of the downfalls of living in a free society? What are your thoughts?

Politically Correct? Hmmm.....

When is too much, too much?


Should Don Imus be fired? This is the question floating around many Internet blogs. Don Imus captured the news media’s attention ever since he uttered the phrase “nappy-headed Hoes,” but I wonder how much, is too much?

From Janet Jackson’s infamous nipplegate Super Bowl incident, to Ann Coulter’s reckless comments about Senator Edwards, to Isaiah Washington’s homophobic statements, and now we have Mr. Imus’ s derogatory remarks about African-American female basketball players, has the impetus to police our language gone to far?

In the United States we have rights, (don’t worry I am not giving a history lesson) and as it is outlined in the Bill of rights, our first right is freedom of speech. Now, I most certainly do not agree with anything Ann Coulter has ever said; nor do I support anyone who eagerly spouts homophobic epithets. But, I will defend people’s right to express their opinions and artistic expressions in a public forum, even when those expression are hurtful and oftentimes hateful. Freedom of speech is a double-edged sword. You have to take the good with the bad.

Fortunately, the upside is that as we progress and become a more linguistically responsible and/ or tolerant nation; we will not need to resort to personal attacks or name calling to make a point. However, when people use derogatory language or “school yard taunts” as Ann Coulter might say, then I think it reveals a sincere lack of character within those individuals. Let’s not forget derogatory language is used to rile people’s emotions and it often works. Using hateful or derogatory language in a public setting has consequences and that is the upside. If we, as a public, don’t like what a public figure says, then we don’t have to buy, listen, or support anything he or she does.

I guess then the question is how far, and to what extent, should they be publically reprimanded? And that is where I will leave the discussion, where, and should we draw the line on acceptable and unacceptable speech or expression?

A new Day, but Not quite the B-Day, I expected

A letter to Beyonce Knowles

Dear Beyonce,

Let me start out with the obvious, you are hot; you are really smoking hot. You are talented; singing, acting, modeling; you should be on top of the world. I am a real fan. I have watched you go from Destiny's Child, to solo artist, to actress. But, "B" I have a serious question; do you really care about your fans; or have you become so caught up in your own press, the "Hollywood" you sing about; that you think you can just throw us your scraps?
Here's my problem "B," I will admit. I did rush out and buy the deluxe edition of B-day, after I swore I did not like the first issue of B-day. But, a lot of the tracks have grown on me, especially some of the new ones you included. Yet, honestly, why do we need six new videos all released at once, and why are you singing in Spanish? Have you heard the term SATURATION; Beyonce you are reaching maximum absorption.
Beyonce if you created videos that were cutting edge, new, innovative, hell, I would even settle for creative, then maybe I would not have a gripe with you. But, the videos attached to this deluxe edition, are quite frankly, crap. There was not any attention to detail or originality. It was like you said, "let me go in my closet and see how many outfits I can put on and make new videos." Now that I actually like the songs, the videos you delivered suck, and they are way too ego-driven.

Also, I am sure you have a devoted Spanish speaking audience. However, I seriously doubt whether or not you are actually a fluent Spanish speaker. I'm thinking you just sang the words as they were translated. I believe your Hispanic fans probably buy your mainstream CDs regardless if there is a Spanish version. Jennifer Lopez and Christina Aguilera both have Hispanic roots; do you?

Your decisions lately all seem very commercial. Do you care about your fans; or is it all about Beyonce; a piece of advice, take a break. Relax; go away for a few years. Make the public miss you; and they will get hungry for you. Why do you think Madonna has had such a long and successful career? She remained dominant in the pop scene without saturating herself in the public eye. And, most importantly, she evolved. Her style and image constantly changed. Beyonce you are becoming very one-dimensional, very quickly.