What Happened to Pop Music?

Photoshopped by yours truly.

Pop music isn’t for the faint of heart. Known as a genre that takes leaps and bounds into debauchery, fun, exploration and an excitement-driven lifestyle, the tunes of balladeers and discotheque-enthusiasts have meshed to create this music for the masses. It used to be distinctive. It used to be original. And it dared to invent. (JT, anyone?)

Now, each artist at the forefront of the pop genre seem to be riding on each others’ coat tails, only to realize that eventually, someone will have fall off the end, making way for a necessary replacement—most of the time drawing similarities to their predecessor. Leading the pack is, undoubtedly, the illustrious Stephanie Germanotta (am I allowed to call her that?). Needless to say, you all know her “real” name. Her voice may be uniquely akin to influences like David Bowie—who I could make serious money off of if I got a dollar each time she mentioned him—but her overall sound is nothing “new.” After countless listens I find myself craving something different.

Another prime example. Rihanna started off as a voice for Caribbean influence in pop. Her beats were simple and infectious and we all wanted to have a DJ as nice as the one in her debut music video. Two years later, she was a “Good Girl Gone Bad” which was, in essence, a mirror reflection of her drastic shift in style. Good…to, well, you get the idea. I could go on about so many artists known as today’s frontrunners of pop—don’t even get me started on Shakira and Beyoncé—but that would take a while. These artists all had something unique about them. And in a small twinkling of any eye, they changed into a regurgitation of each other, with mainly their physical, commercial image left to set them aside for mass production among different races and backgrounds.

It’s time for pop music to reinvent itself and find a new place on the music spectrum. Get the commercialism out and make commerical investors, talent scouts and big-wigs in the music industry beg to be a part of it.

Don’t let them rule it.

Kanye + Vogue: A Match Made in Fashion Heaven?

The Louis Vitton Don is back on the media radar after lying low post-Taylor Swift fiasco. He’s been spending his time cruising through Paris Fashion Week this week along with his girlfriend, Amber Rose, and got to meet some renowned designers while at it. PETA isn’t a happy camper, though, as West and Rose have both been called out for their fur-centric outfits.

West also got to rub elbows with Anna Wintour, the editor-in-chief of Vogue magazine (and the main subject of the recent film, “The September Issue”—which I loved). I wonder if Anna made any remarks about West and Rose’s recent fashion choices? Or…if she made any remarks to Kanye at all? Then again, she is wearing fur in this photo, so maybe they had something to relate to.

Kanye had some choice words for the bloggers who bashed him and his boo, though. And, of course, it WAS ALL IN CAPS…

Oh, Elaine Stritch.

When I first heard about Elaine Stritch, I was terrified. I was terrified and slightly confused. I was terrified, slightly confused and, all the while, enamored. Here was a woman who for all it was worth, spent the majority of her life struggling with alcoholism, but became a matriarch, if you will, of the Broadway stage. Commanding the scores of Stephen Sondheim with a vehement delicacy, Stritch became one of my favorite veteran actresses once I was introduced to Sondheim’s 1970 musical “Company,” a loose collection of vignettes centered on 35-year old Bobby, a bachelor looking for a reason to love and marry.

In “Company,” Stritch originated the role of the classy, brassy Joanne, a wine glass-wielding 50-something who is basically my personal hero. And after sporadic returns to the stage, she is yet again back to performing in New York City.

Not on Broadway this time, though.

Her one-woman biographical show “Elaine at Liberty” was a huge success in the early 2000s, incorporating Sondheim’s music into her personal story of struggle and success. Her newest endeavor puts her back in the realm of Sondheim as she is performing some of his most beloved numbers at the Café Carlyle on the Upper East Side through next week.

Oh, and lest we forget her stints on “30 Rock” as mommy dearest to Jack (Alec Baldwin). These scenes are like heaven to me. The magic begins at 1:38.

CoCo’s Last Stand

NBC talk show host Conan O’Brien gave his final monologue and last show last night at 10:00pm 12:50am (whenever) and closed his epic run as one of the funniest men on late-night television just the way I would expect: with no hurt feelings and dashingly good hair. With a settlement as hefty as his and a legacy even more impressive, I won’t be surprised if we see Conan back on the air with some other network (ahem, Fox) in the future.

Reports show, however, that even though the last show was hyped up and anticipated/dreaded by many O’Brien fans, it didn’t top Jay Leno’s “last show” when he was the host of Late Night. I feel like I may have contributed as well because, like most hypocritical Conan fans, I didn’t even tune in.

So what’s in the future for King CoCo? Well, O’Brien is pretty sure it involves nudity. Here’s his final opening monologue.

Idina…Is Coming!

Lea Michele’s tweet says it all. It’s official! “Wicked” star Idina Menzel is currently filming and will be on an episode of the hit Fox series, “Glee.”

I’m still trying to wrap my head around what she could possibly play on the show. Biological mother to Rachel? Rival Glee Club coach? Herself? ELPHABA? Maybe she’ll give Kurt some lessons on how to really hit that high note at the end of “Defying Gravity.” Even though, technically, he blew the note purposefully. Regardless, the possibilities are endless and nobody…in all of Oz…no wizard—wait. Sorry. That went in the wrong direction.

January 22, 2010 | UPDATE: Idina is playing the head coach of the rival Glee Club “Vocal Adrenaline” and is signed off for most of the episodes in the second season.

Wyclef Jean’s ‘Mistakes’

“Have I made mistakes? Yes. Did I use Yéle money for personal gains? Absolutely not. The books are open. We have a clean bill of health from an auditor.”

Haitian-born multi-platinum singer Wyclef Jean faced accusations last weekend that part of the money received from his now-famous “YELE” texting Haiti relief fund went to the singer himself. His response and audit investigation cleared his name and the star continues to push for evacuation and rescue in his native land. His intentions seem pure, his actions just and Jean’s attitude toward his efforts in the country strike with a fervor that is hard to come by nowadays. However, the accusations, nonetheless, make the charitable, NOW-generation-friendly program seem  a bit sketchy.

Though I normally see relief efforts as disorganized, non-stop clap-fests from the big wigs above, sitting comfortably in their plush velvet seats while they applaud announcement after announcement that “100% of funds of … will go to xyz,” it’s hard to not notice the particular dissidence in celebrities taking their own stands aside from national organizations, giving donors and supporters a more “at ease” feeling when they click through on their Web sites to send much-needed aid…but who’s to say which is more “reputable?” The American Red Cross or a George Clooney Telethon?

With estimates of rebuilding taking 10 years in Haiti, prospects just remind me and my peers that we need to give something to help…Lest we forget we have citizens on our own shores STILL begging for help.

Golden Globe Mania

So, the Globes are tomorrow and what better way to prepare than to make some partially uninformed predictions? I can honestly say that no matter what, the Golden Globes may not even matter this year—as far as future predictions go. They’re normally a pretty good gauge at who/what will be nominated at the Oscars, but with room for 10 nominations in each of the Oscar categories, who really cares at this point? You know they’ll all get nominated and that didn’t stop us from seeing them. Anywho, here we go:

*predication for winner
actual winner in italics

Best Motion Picture, Drama
*Avatar
 Inglourious Basterds
The Hurt Locker
Precious
Up in the Air

Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
(500) Days of Summer
*The Hangover
 It’s Complicated
Julie & Julia
Nine

Best Actor, Motion Picture, Drama
*Jeff Bridges, “Crazy Heart”
 George Clooney, “Up in the Air”
Colin Firth, “A Single Man”
Morgan Freeman, “Invictus”
Tobey Maguire, “Brothers”

Best Actor, Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
*Matt Damon, “The Informant!”
Daniel Day-Lewis, “Nine”
Robert Downey Jr., “Sherlock Holmes”
 Joseph Gordon-Levitt, “(500) Days of Summer”
Michael Stuhlbarg, “A Serious Man”

Best Actress, Motion Picture, Drama
Emily Blunt, “The Young Victoria”
*Sandra Bullock, “The Blind Side”
 Helen Mirren, “The Last Station”
Carey Mulligan, “An Education”
Gabourey Sidibe, “Precious”

Best Actress, Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Sandra Bullock, “The Proposal”
Marion Cotillard, “Nine”
Julia Roberts, “Duplicity”
Meryl Streep, “It’s Complicated”
*Meryl Streep, “Julie & Julia”

Best Drama Series
Big Love
Dexter
House
*Mad Men
 True Blood

Best Comedy Series
*30 Rock
Entourage
Glee
Modern Family
The Office

Best Actor, TV Drama Series
Simon Baker, “The Mentalist”
Michael C. Hall, “Dexter”
 *Jon Hamm, “Mad Men”
Hugh Laurie, “House”
Bill Paxton, “Big Love”

Best Actress, TV Drama Series
Glenn Close, “Damages”
January Jones, “Mad Men”
Julianna Margulies, “The Good Wife”
 Anna Paquin, “True Blood”
*Kyra Sedgwick, “The Closer”

‘Conan’ Drama: Not the Talk Show Host This Time

A “Conan the Barbarian” remake is in the works and guess who’s one of the top contenders to star as the leading destroyer himself?

“Twilight” star Kellan Lutz is apparently up for the task of taking on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s brutish legacy and he’s been auditioning for producers lately, in talks to headline in this “younger” version of the story. Jason Momoa is up for the part as well and it’s still up in the air as to whether Lutz’s “Twilight” schedule will interfere with his chances.

Lutz didn’t get much screen time in either “Twilight” flicks and I haven’t seen him in anything else, so it’s hard to say if acting-wise this guy has the tough-as-nails attitude down (he grimaces a lot in “Twilight,” but him and his male vamp pals also wear hints of manliner and makeup). Even his bod isn’t as gloriously muscled as Arnold’s. Then again, we’ve already seen what a few months and some rigorous gym trainers can do for stars of the “Twilight” saga.

Jan. 22, 2010 | UPDATE: Looks like potential is not enough to land you a role in a muscle-necessary film. Jason Momoa has been cast as Conan the Barbarian, but I’m sure Lutz isn’t too shaken. He’s still got 2 (or 3) more movies on his plate in the Twilight Saga. Enough to pay the rent, for sure.

‘Dexter’ Star Caught His Cancer Early

Michael C. Hall announced today he’d been diagnosed with cancer (Hodgkin’s lymphoma to be exact), but due to early detection and treatment, he’s already on his way to being well—the cancer is in remission. Well wishes, Michael. The fifth season of “Dexter” is set to premiere in September.

Instant Film Cameras: They’re Not Just For Hipsters.

Gaga poses in a Twitpic with her new business card. Great job attempting to cover up the office info, Stefani.

Lady Gaga practically feeds off vintage.

Studio 54, David Bowie and Andy Warhol always top her list when reporters ask her where she finds her mojo for pop music creativity (that and “Fame Monster, Sex Monster and Myself Monster“).

After no doubt noticing her affinity for making the old look fresh and exciting, Polaroid has signed on Gaga as a Creative Director. Urban Outfitters enthusiasts, rejoice! This partnership should be great business for her Heartbeats headphones (seen in her Bad Romance video) and other Gaga merchandise, so don’t be surprised if Polaroid starts releasing instant film cameras with THE FAME plastered all over them. Now, fans can recreate artsy shots of “Just Dance” at their very own debaucherous house parties.

“We won’t be selling cameras with my face on them,” she said. “I’m working on bringing the instant film camera back as part of the future. I’m interested in bringing it back…and combining it with the digital era and making something new.”

Next Page →