The Songs Of 2008

This blog is out of date cos I'm into writing in my own language. But I'll post this list cos I want the ho to read it.

The Bubbling-Under:

20. "Like You'll Never See Me Again" by Alicia Keys/"Lamento" by Céu
Although the former sounds like a song played in any Felicity episode, it swayed my best and lonely soap-opera-ish moments. The later was one of my faves at the psycodelic moments and sunsets during the year.

19. "Wikked Lil' Grrrls" by Esthero
Esthero was one of the most scrumptious discovers of the year. This song, that blends Hip Hop and Jazz, had the charming Canadienne singing in so many different voices that she sounded like a whole girl band, but better harmonized.

18. "Nanny Nanny Boo Boo" by Le Tigre
I've had an Electroklash momentum and Le Tigre is the best band for me. This song is deliciously poser joke about the cult of fame.

17. "Let Me Know" by Róisín Murphy
The most sensual woman from the [Dance] Electronica scene. LMK is one of the most romantic and sexy Pop songs and has one of the coolest videos I'd seen this year.

16. "Warwick Avenue" by Duffy
Yes, I prefer Duffy than Winehouse and this song comes on the peak of my drama-queenism.

15. "Rapture" by Blondie
Including one of the coolest raps from Pop Music history, "Rapture" is the opening song of my imaginary band.

14. "Let's Reggae All Night" by CSS
For months my moto was "if you want, my friend, we can drink in the afternoon". Result: after several alcoholic months, one day I ate a light sandwich and spent the night puking. Conclusion: keep junkie. Viva CSS!!

13. "Boyz" by M.I.A.
May it be "missing in action" or "missing in Acton", these two terms aren't enough to summarize who owns this alias: Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam. "Boyz", from her second album Kala, is the aesthetic ideal blend of Dance, World Music [although this is a poor category to box M.I.A. in] and political lyrics.

12. "Like A Drug" by Kylie Minogue
Minogue is part of a group of artists that never lets me down. This sexy and suggestive track, from X, was the one that mostly reverberated this year.

11. "Modern Love [Mark Moore & Kinky Roland Vox 12" Mix]" by Kish Mauve
Mima makes me think of artsy divas like Edie Sedgewick or Twiggy. She has the cold sexiness and beauty that Ladyhawke forgot in New Zealand.

Top 10:

10. "Migrate" by Mariah Carey
Factum #1: I don't like Mariah Carey.

Factum #2: I'm never that rough when what she does at least amused me.

This year Carey released the sequel from her ultra-hype 2005 album, The Emancipation Of Mimi, the E=MC². It got mixed reviews and didn't please the fans so much; as for me, luved it!, perhaps cos in her attempt to show that she has the brains in her head and not in the boobs, playing with Einstein's mass–energy equivalence, Mariah doesn't seem much like the annoying and boring Mariah we know.

"Migrate" has one of the nicest openings of 2008 Pop; besides it has Carey doing what she does best: self-celebratory lyrics that are actually fun.

09. "Black And Gold" by Sam Sparro
My favorite male discovery: Sparro is talented, hot, Aussie and gay! lol Not that the latter is a premise for me liking an artist, but it's way more real to fancy sexy with him than with Julian Casablancas, for instance. "Black And Gold", best track from his debut album, has ultra-romantic lyrics that always kills me and it was one of the best ElectroPop singles of the year; it also swayed my trip to Rome.

08. "American Boy" by Estelle
Spoken as 2008's Hip Hop revelation, Estelle was the first artist of the genre that i actually became fan. After her I opened myself to the wonderful land of Hip Hop.

Featuring Kanye West [gênio!], "American Boy" is one of those radio songs you're not afraid to admit you love, cos it's actually pretty good!

There I was at the backseat of my cousin's ex-husband's backseat, on my last night in Italy, beside my [cute] cousin's son listening to a "mix-tape" he made and I couldn't help feeling fuzzy inside when we sang it from top to bottom.

07. "Je Veux Te Voir" by Yelle
Finding Yelle was one of the most fun things of the year. Like every French girl, she's chic and glamourous, but it was her deprived and blasé features that got me hooked. Pure IndiePop fashion and naughty songstress, Yelle's music are exciting for its explicit lyrics, but above all, for the wonderful production worthy of any dancefloor.

06. "Electric Feel" by MGMT
Indiest moment of the year, MGMT was recived by me with some resistence. The hype around them irritated me at first because the psychodelic album Oracular Espectacular sounded like nothing more than a faux-modernization from 1970's Prog Rock. The way indie world copies the past and unashamedly call it retro always pissed me off, but in the end I lost cos the duo's music is actually pretty.

"Electric Feel" is about the shocks we feel when we see the creature we have a crush on... and Lord knows how much I'm addicted to them.

05. "Paparazzi" by Lady GaGa
This year's most recent addition is Lady GaGa, my current Pop adoration object. "Paparazzi", according with Germanotta, is indeed a stalker song, but much more about our daily obsession with the celebrity life, perpetuated by the loved/hated paparazzi. For me it's romantic, dramatic and lovely to sing-along, like every Pop song should be.

04. "That's Not My Name" by The Ting Tings
Jules De Martino and Katie White, The Ting Tings, are the current personification of cool. Best ElectroPop release of the year they are posers, but talented - that's why I talked a lot about them during the year.

"That's Not My Name" is a genius Electro song that always puts everyone rocking, plus it has fun lyrics about the contempt the industry has on artists that don't follow their patterns. The lyrics also synthesizes the duo bio, they were discarded by labels until they reached Britains pop-charts with this track.

03. "Womanizer" by Britney Spears
Yes, she's been one of the most trashed human beings of the past year, but in 2008 Britney Spears REALLY returned!!! Although she's not as complete as I wished, I can't deny how much she's evolved as an artist. Circus IS one of the best albums of the year and is the proof Spears are capable to do real good stuff. I had noticed with 2007's Blackout, but only when I wrote Circus's review that I could express arguments about Spears's evolution: it's like she's finally lived and now has tales to tell.

Although nowadays Womanizer isn't my favorite track from "Circus", it was important as the mark of Britney's return to mainstream.

Britney's top 5:
a. Womanizer
b. Kill The Lights
c. If U Seek Amy
d. Phonography
e. Shattered Glass

02. "My Love Is Better" by Annie
I spent most of the year following Annie. When I read she was producing her sophomore album and that it'd be released this year, I revesited her discography, searched her references and craved for every track tht leaked. 2008 was the year that being an Annie fan became important for me, because I realized the underestimated maturity she has as an asrtist. Unfortunately Don't Stop [although being fully leaked on the web] will not be released this year and risks not seeing the daylight: Island Records did to Annie what Mercury Records did to White and De Martino. And now, labeless, she keeps writing and producing songs for her new album, that I really hope is released.

"My Love Is Better" [produced by Xenomania] is an essentially Pop track, with catchy chorus, LSD-ish synths and Diva pose.

Annie's top 5:
a. My Love Is Better
b. I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me
c. I Can't Let Go
d. What Do You Want [Breakfast Song]
e. Marie Cherie

01. "Heartbeat" by Madonna
I was one of the people that trashed Hard Candy at first. Last week I read an article from the Washington Post that explained this weird relationship Madonna's fans X Madonna's new work: when Madonna releases a new album [and consequently a whole new artistic and imagetic proposal] most of the fans spend hours explaining why they hate the new album, to then have a change of heart and buzz at friends' ears saying why they now love it.

With me and "Hard Candy" was the very same thing. I coudln't understand how there could be a Madonna album in which she wasn't the one and only star. By working with mega-hyped producers and not with the Industry's underworld beings, she got out of her comfort zone and shared the spotlight. What mostly comforts me as a critical human being is that not only the fans but also the media didn't get that like many other, this was totally predicted move in her career.

In 2008 Madonna turned 50 and once again the world demanded a certain behaviour from her, and once again she refused to accept it. Months after the album's release, she started touring with her Sticky & Sweet Tour. It was when I heard the repertoire's musical reinventions and read about the show's concept that I finally understood that Madonna wasn't the same, thank G-d!

The concert was conceived as a musical patchwork quilt, like a Hip Hop album/show, using samples and various visual references. The self-celebration was more than comprehensible, after all, like a friend says "Madonna is a person that immortalize images"; and she is now in a moment of life [third age] in which not only a woman's image but everything about her is rejected by society. Still Madonna not only proved she has a lot to say and do, that she is stil able to drag our attention with exactly what is said to be disposable on a woman of 50: the image.

"Heartbeat" is for me the best track from HC. Pharrell showed it ready for Madonna, containing the vocals of one of the Pussycat Dolls's strippers ; Madonna loved, but she reworked on the lyrics that was like every other Pop/R&B song about love and sex, turning it into an ode to dance and music. In the beginning, Madonna wanted to be a dancer and with this track she explains why. "Heartbeat" is the best description of how music and dancing are capable of turning any mortal into gods, like Madonna herself.

I like to think this as a sequel to Michael Jackson's song Off The Wall, that has the same premise. What makes Heartbeat a better sequel is that it is simple and straightforward; somehow, this serves as a hymn to the nightlife and dancefloor lovers.


Madonna's top 5:
This year I also fulfilled my dream of seeing Madonna live. She finished S&S with five shows in Brasil; I was in both of her Rio de Janeiro dates. They were the most incredible experiences I had in life till now; much more important than getting into college or having sex. That because I saw in front of me and felt with all my body the reason I have Madonna as a main reference in life. Therefore, all of the Sticky & Sweet's setlist could easily be on the list.



Honorable Mentions:

- "Echo" by Cyndi Lauper: it's my week's addiction and the song with potention of turning me into a Lauper admirer.

- "Off The Wall" by Michael Jackson: this year I became a Jacko's music lover. I always accepted him as King of Pop, comprehending his phenomena and acknowledging his importance to Pop Culture. But this year I stopped, sat my ass down, listend to his music and got up to dance. "Off The Wall", the album, is my favorite of his as a solo artist - I even think it's better than his greatest trademark, Thriller; the song remits me to a déjà vu that I love having when I hear a song: the one you simply feel and the more you try you can't find where it came from.

- "Déjà Vu" by Beyoncé: DI-VA!! Beyoncé is the true 21'st century Diva; a person that is born to a fan embedded to her hair couldn't be anything less! "Déjà Vu" Bey's song I mostly like to play - it's shrill, paranoid and terribly romantic. However what mostly attracts me to Beyoncé is her appeal: no matter how wrong her artistic choices seem, you can't help find yourself loving it; and it's not only on the superficial, her works' references and aesthetic quality have become each time more intereting. May come Sasha Fierce!!

NoobTimes: Stalker Song - Conquista Rock Festival Day 2

Yesterday we played rock; not because we felt retracted by the bad response from the Metal people, but simply because we were in the mood of rocks. That is why we opened our DJing with Caetano Veloso's Rocks*. Once again we were implicitly doing an unspoken protest against the scene's strictness; Caetano was disdained by the closed-minded rockers when he released he's Indie Rock album two years ago - however the critics praised and the real lovers of good music saw the beauty of it.

So there we were, playing by their numbers, but with our own abacus. However the audience was different; the Metal people were in short number and who were there seemed open to new stuff. Purki heard from an acquaintance [who happens to be a long-time rocker] that he loved when we played Yelle's Je Veux Te Voir*, an aunt sent him her album and he was loving it; some girls begged us to play Ecos Falsos* again, a Brazilian indie band that made quite a rush on our DJing the day before; and a woman told us she was pissed when they cut us out at the moment we were playing The Smiths's How Soon Is Now.

Somehow, all the darkness that surrounded the end of Saturday's night seemed to dissipate and we were having way more fun than were worried in pleasing.

*On the BitchyList

Chills

She looks like a goblin with those shoes but this song and video gave me chills that I haven't felt with a song in a considerable time.
My eyes started welling as she finally admits she's hurt and starts moving forward. I didn't expect so much of this track, I'm glad I was surprised.

The Crazy Band!

Hot Lovefoxx in her best Björk style in the new video Rat Is Dead (Rage) leaves me mouthwatered craving to see her and her crew live!
Beijosmiliga CSS!!

[Late] NoobTimes: Stalker Song - Religion

[This post was supposed to be up on the 24th of June.]

I'm agnostic. My relationship with g-d is very particular and isn't attached to any religion or cult; I study Jewish Kabbalah, but I'm not a Jew; I believe in Jesus Christ as an example, but not as a deity. Therefore I feel free, without any dogmatic string.

I usually joke that if I had a religion it'd be polytheistic and its deities besides being anthropornomorphized, they'd be very human characters - like in Greek mythology. My Olympus woud be pop culture, inhabited by its iconic and almost "devilish" artists [according to the Christian belief].

Who'd be Zeus? Only one name has the weight and strength worthy of being the mount's boss: Madonna. During my wild weekend it was her who maddenned the senses with her [old] music videos, times lysergicora times imsply beautiful.

Below five tracks that silenced the folks and put them in an uncontrollable trance, in order to catch each of their nuances.

6. Fever

Call it campy, kitsch or what-fucking-ever, this 90's rarity has the incredible power to play with you senses in a way you don't expect. With [very] strong colours and beats that contrast with the diva's almost-sweet vocals, it's practically impossible not to feel the fever the track incites.

5. Frozen

In spite of the name, Frozen doesn't freeze you at all. Madonna, queen of metamorphosis, shows up as never seen before: pale and dark, like a deity disfavored with the blonde sympathy, but no less hypnotic, as she throws a turning-table message.
Filled with symbology and references, this magnanimous track's video, already classic in pop culture, leaves you dumbstrucked with its effects more psychological than the usual.

4. Human Nature

After society trying to shut her up during her most seuxal/romantic era [Erotica], Madonna spit this somewhat bitter reply. The video probably has the most wonderful choreography and synchronicity registered in pop music.

3. Ray Of Light

I always knew this song's effusive skills, but the song/video combo is AWESOME! Its very hard not to franticaly shake with the paraphernalia of sounds and images from this masterpiece.

2. Bedtime Story

After this 1995 video Madonna didn't have to do anything else; and still she did. But this work of art, directed by Mark Romanek, is an example of an excelent edition allied to inventive and profound minds. Treating unconsciousness as something more active than what we suspect, Madonna gifts us with a sequel of oh-so psychedelic and lysergic images that reinvent the very meaning of the word "dream".

1. Nothing Really Matters

I think that me and my friends repeated this video 5 times at least, to see if we could capture all the frames, references and expression this woman did in this video. Try to catch every face she does and you'll see she's not a bad actress when properly provoked and inspired.

NoobTimes: Stalker Song - Status Quo

Corao corao¹ we're late, so much I don't even remember stalking last week. I just know that I'd be writing about The Ting Tings here. Marce told me to download them and, as always, it took me a while to listen to them. However when I did I was instantly dominated by all the enthusiasm and glamour of Katie White and Jules De Martino.

Hot as hell, both have the classic pose of most of the indie bands that go through electro-pop woods. With style and New Rave sense of fashion, but the attitude of whom's not giving much of a damn to all the fuss, De Martino sexy slams those drums, while White rebels, ferocious and beautiful, on the vocals; and the guitar and the bass drum... they have this manufactured pop quality [?] overcome by the wonderful poser strength of the "fuckyou attitude."

The album We Started Nothing already brings in its title that you will find no reinvention of the same - the Tings started nothing and wish they didn't. This is my favorite thing with the Tings: the great problem of the whole Indie scene of today is that the majority of them is nothing more than imitators [and some suck at it - hi Hadouken!] - but they get all the hype because they're indie. Projects like, for instance MGMT and Hadouken!, put up their presumptuous Indie armor ["hi we're not mainstream, we make the difference"], but in spite of the the good quality [in the case of the first], they're just repeaters of a style/time/whatever that has long gone and adds little to our everyday life, except for the nostalgic desire infused in us.

Already in the begining The Tings strip themselves from this demagogue speech of the "everyday indie" and wear the FUCKIT costume. But only seeing and listening that you can fully comprehend how good it is to kick the bass drum and shout SHUT UP AND LET ME GO!

Current essencial songs: Great DJ, That's Not My Name and Shut Up And Let Me Go, on the BitchyList - in the "Stalker" folder.

To see The Ting Tings clickhere!

¹Corao corao = run run [slang in bad Portuguese].

So You Think You Can Play...

I haven't mentioned before, but me and a couple of friends formed a musical-trio. We're the Egocentric-Hard-Porno and we are basically DJ wannabes. We already have a gig booked at a gay party promoted by some friends of ours.

Today we had our first DJing class and though the thing isn't as easy as we expected, for the style of performance we're going to do it is not so hard. Tired of the same electronica scene of the town we're to play some good and old pop music. With mindsets and tastes similar but very different in essence our setlist is to be very eclectic - so the usual 4/8 beat pattern from electronic music won't work with us. I ask how to mix Feist's Sea Lion Woman into Róisín Murphy's Let Me Know? So the result will sound more like radio setlist than a rave setlist [for example].

That sounds lame... and it is! But we'll be trusting in our good taste for music to make people shake down on the dancefloor... by simply playing the songs we would like to dance to!

[Song: That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings]

NoobTimes: Stalker Song - Stalking Abroad

Sorry I'm late: Saturday was hype-wild and Sunday was low-wide - couldn't write anything. [Sometimes I have fun writing as if I'm read].
I came to know Estelle by a friend that noticing my new enthusiasm with Black Music, showed me this jewel from the Queen's crown. With her delicious velvet voice and a style that sounds like Alicia Keys, but undeniably better because Estelle sounds totaly forceless in everything she does, both in the vocalizing without the genre's exaggeration [SHOUTS!] and in the raps. Not that Keys has completely fallen from my concept - but while I can do anything listening to Estelle, you can't calculate The Ting Tings's CD price + the shipping tax + plus the credit cards importation tax + how long everything will take to get here with ONE NO ONE NO ONEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE buzzing in your ears... you know what I mean. u.u

And since looking for Italian Boys to increase my Italian network is my newest stalker activity - Estelle's best song to define the action is American Boy. Like every song from her marvelous sophomore album Shine, American Boy has this retro Soul feeling, but it's ultra modern! Especially when Kanye West kicks in with his lovely rap, which makes me have a bigger sympathy for him, who always sounded annoying.



Check this video out mapeoples!!! Cinematography is beautiful, her outfits are marvelous and the American Boys are OHHLALA!! But her blasé expression is hilarious and the way she dances like a clumsy child is AWEEEEEEEEESOME!!! I thought it fun - noob like me! Lolz


The second song of my stalking week was Nelly Furtado's Do It. The song itself is a cute example of the psychotic genre, talking about a person who had a thing with another in the past and now can't forget.
It's interesting how these genuinely obsessive songs work so naturally into our minds. Of course that has everything to do with the fact that [like Caetano used to say] from a close range no one's normal, so our little sick heads match perfectly with things produced by other sick cabezitas.

Note: every song featured on the SS has now exclusive folders on the white box on the blog's top. The folder's obviously called "Stalker" and each post has its own.
Begosmiliga!

Top 5 : Electro-Indienization

Indie Yes! Boring Jamais!

After all the Indie Rock thing with me I just felt I missed a good-old dancefloor; so following the tracks of Saint Etienne who rocked my world with their marvelous House beats, I came to naturally find more names of the Indie Dance scene. Here and bellow 5 acts that are rocking my world and body.

Honorable Mentions:

- Give It 2 Me [by Madonna]. There's nothing of Indie in it and at face value it's R&B, but pay attention to its wild variations and you notice such an exciting Dance act like Madonna hasn't done in a loooooong long time.

- Like A Drug [by Kylie Minogue]. It's no surprise that my favorite Dance divas would be here. At the moment they're the only non-Indie stuff I can't stop playing, and "Like A Drug" with it's empowered intro and massively involving synths "got me hooked, getting me on the floor."

Top 5:

[5] Helpless Fool For Love [by Annie]. Miss Annie is a forever favorite thing. I've talked some about her here, and she has featured a lot of post songs - and now, as I [re]connect with the new rave scene I start to recollect and re-listen to her simple but gorgeous album debut - Anniemal. "Helpless Fool" is an exciting mid-tempo thing that has a great hook directly synchronized with the obsessive lyrics. But warning: if you don't trully love the Electro-Dance thing, don't even try Annie.

[4] Je Veux Te Voi [by Yelle]. There's this Brazilian band, called Bonde do Rolê, that is bombing the world with their [even more] irreverent approach of the Favela Funk. Yelle is the gringo thing nearest to what the Funk Carioca is. She however has more elaborated/electrified beats and production, plus the lyrics and singing-style is even closer to Hip-Hop than to the Proibidão. "Je Veux Te Voi" can sound annoying to non-likers of the style, but for those who love a good sluttish and exciting song this is a treat.

[3] A Cause Des Garçons (TEPR Remix) [by Yelle]. I have this new dancefloor dream [lol] that is to dance to this song like these guys. Tecktonik is the new deal. Hey, don't be surprised if Madonna shove it into her Sticky & Sweet tour [it would perfectly match with "Give It 2 Me"]!

[2] Cry Baby [by Róisín Murphy]. A couple of friends told me to download her, I downloaded but it took me ages to finally give her a try. Stupid stupid Lucas!! Always delaying the good things for himself! I'm still addicted to every single song of her two solo albums, so much I dunno which I should choose, but Cry Baby [that has an incredible beat that reminds a bit of Donna Summer's long-time imitated classic, I Feel Love, but even more up-tempo and an atmosfera capable of kicking you out dancing all over the place] was the one playing as I started writing this position, so there it goes.

[1] Sing It Back [by Moloko]. When I told a friend I was in love with Murphy but I didn't know anything from Moloko he felt a bit offended. So he sent me a couple of videos and I understood why. THEY'RE PURE PERFECTION!! With a more organic approach of Electro-Dance music, their songs had more live instrumentals than most of the scene - something like what Saint Etienne does. This performance bellow was the one who rocked my socks; Róisín's personna, presence and beauty is breathtaking!!! Every vocalist wannabe should dream to be as exciting and chic.

Catfight!!

"ui madonne vose ta acabade! relasha vamos migrate" "uhg... fuck off mocreiah! you don't have my name!"

Funny but this feud as old as fuck. At the same time of Confessions On A Dance Floor's release Mariah released the album that brought her back to the critics and general public's arms [the fans don't count], The Emancipation Of Mimi. In 2008 Mariah tries to maintain her position as America's queen with E=MC², while Madge [aparently] tries with Hard Candy what Mimi did for Mariah 3 years ago. Before the launch of both albums the media was already declaring the war; even if none of them officially endorses it [surely the two of them feel they're too old and settled for such crap].
On a usual past I'd simply say "fuck it... of course Madonna's the best," but today things are different, considering that my fanaticism for Mrs. Ciccone-Ritchie and dislike for Carey shrinked. Days before of finally listening to HC I was already addicted to the nonsense formula of Mariah; and though I don't give much damn to these media stupidities about these two, I myself had already installed an inner quarrel about who would do the best Urban-driven album of the season.

Why Mocreiah*?
Mariah Carey's greatest achievement this year was breaking the ice I put between me and her. Obviously I condemned Touch My Body without even trying; but then I simply fell in love with the camp that Mariah perfectly brings. The best thing is that she acts as if it's not! But this lack of self-consciousness is one of the strongest and tastiest American Black Music's features. Are there tackier things than bling-blings, hockey clothes with sideways caps and slutty pants with stilletoes? But, dude, it's they're way! and the fact that they cheerfully embrace it is a lot laudable.
Mariah Carey is one of the personifications of all of this. Rolling Stone says that she embraces her extremes like no other: "She's either grinding out R&B-hop or singing syrupy ballads, talking dirty or cuddling with a Hello Kitty. Her tenth studio album is no different: It starts in a club and ends in a church."
Deeply I admire people like this. Who cares if she's as deep as a bowl? The cool thing is that she's fun.

Why Mandonna*?
Simply because even when I decide to hate her I don't succeed. Hard Candy is the best example that first impressions are not always the best. Any Madge-maniac with [pseudo] intelligence and critic sense quickly opens the mouth to yell that this album is a lot inferior to any of her others'. But it takes attentive hearings to not only the lyrics, but especially the arrangements to realize that the prepotency is more yours than Madonna's.
What I mean is: Hard Candy's lyrics are great! They're all introspective and mostly very well crafted, but above all things they're unpretentious. Reading other reviews I noticed that the only politicized lyrics are 4 Minutes's, and still in a subtle way. The fact Madonna is not trying to save people's souls from hell with her music is actually good. We fans surely love when she tells us to fuck off and then say "put away your past/love will never last/if you're holding on to a dream that's gone"; but not everybody, actually most of people, give a shit about that.
In Candy it's like she presented herself to please; but Madonna style. She knows we'll suck everything she stuff into our mouths anyway - not for ignorance, but because her sugar is always sweet! So, I take back what I wrote on my initial review, that Hard Candy's biggest flaw is to have less Madonna than usual. Probably that's the album's best quality, because like all the Yoga crap she usually does on her dance routines, she shows how flexible she is. Although Timbol, Justin and Pharrell's ghosts are very strong in Hard Candy, they're all there because and for Madonna.


Candy X Physics
Which would you choose? I know which I'd choose without blinking. However in this candy and this Physics class' cases, choosing isn't so easy.
E=MC² is a typical specimen of its genre, while Hard Candy is more like a fusion of the Urban Pop's beats and the Dance Music's wackoness. Try to thoroughly listen to the Material Girl's new album and you'll notice a million details almost psychedelic. That's why I pick the obvious option: Candy. Like she said, it is a hard candy but one day you'll end up swallowing and adoring it.

Conclusion
In the end, both albums are accurate proofs that without prejudice you can go far. Mariah's has the quality of opening doors to the R&B, for the unpretension before its importance or lack of it. Nor the Emancipation or this Einstein parody will be remembered for more than its commercial status due to their wisdom of giving what is wanted [Mariah has been way better in it than Madonna lately, fact!], but is there quality behind Billboard? Hell yeh! And Mariah is there.
As for Madonna, maybe the best of Hard Candy is that it's not a bombastic reinvention. "Confessions" had world-wide spreading of the Euro-pop, but by choosing to share her spotlight with many others, maybe that's the greatest [self] reinvention, after all, sharing her momentum with strangers isn't what Madonna often does. She does that in Candy, so fairly that at day's end it's HER you can't stop thinking about.

*Mocreiah, Mandonna: those are puns with Mariah's and Madge's names in Portuguese. Mocréia [Mocreiah] means "a really fugly woman" and mandona [Mandonna] means "a really bossy lady." Yes, Portuguese is very fun sometimes.

Finally!! Finally!! Finally!!

And rocking the electro-pop airwaves and all the fashion runways from Norhtern Summer and Southern Winter: Annie!
I fell in love with her a couple years ago, when I realized her album was a piece of pure and sheer delight, ignoring the haters who think that to sing you need a voice [and you know what I mean!]. And as I started to miss her more badly I find out she's coming back!
I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me is lovely pop song that should be ignored if sung by [let's say] Britney Spears, Gwen Stefani or even Shakira. They'd probably give a slutty quality to the thing, and it's Annie's barely there personna that makes her music so appealing. It's like you know that it could be performed by anyone else, but as you think of annieone whom could do it, annieone but Annie runs your mind.
And to top it all, what the heck is that video?!?! An Umbrellas Of Cherbourg redux? I mean, those set/costumes mix is simply genius! When the yellow thing came along I fell off my chair and wanted to cry with such perfection!
It's a pity she's not majorly known, but alto it's not! A Celeb status would probably make her less rare and precious.
[Song: Me Plus One - Annie]

Casual Candy

Still on the flow of her previous album, I'll spill some confessions about Madonna's new album. Confession #1: I was prone to hate Hard Candy since the start. Yes, that's awful – but as Hip Hop isn't my cup of tea, I decided in advance that bitch it was my job. Confession #2: but in the end, I didn't see why.

I'm a Madge fan for some years now, but I'm not fated to love everything she does. Hard Candy, for instance, has a flaw that should never be on a Madonna work: the lack of Madonna. The Pop Music G-d has always worked with underground producers; obviously she never [re]invented wheels with each project, but the fact that she was releasing that producer would unconciously give a Madonna soul to the whole thing.

For “Candy” she chose The Neptunes, Timbaland and colaborations by Justin Timberlake and Kanye West. All these guys are ultra-mega hyped and have egos as big as hers. So, when you listen to “Candy” you see more Timbal and Pharrell working, than Madonna. Sometimes, it sounds like she's throwing the Rihanna/Beyoncé/Fergie, when SHE is the inventor of those Pop-whores.

However, when you stop to think about these pseudo-intelecutal stuffs, the album is filled with "masterpieces of the beats". “Candy Shop” is a delicious opening, with a Missy Elliott-worthy sass. And while some songs like Give It 2 Me and Dance 2night are those which will boil the dancefloors around the world, there are pearls like Heartbeat and Miles Away, that are sung with a verve that wasn't expected from the almost-50 lady in such a "colde" moment of her career.

My favorite aspect of the songs are the twists. On most of them are moments that everything changes, and you have a new song into the same track. The best one in that matter is, deffinitely, Incredible. The song sheds opinions, but it's the one which best defines the album. Just like "Incredible", Hard Candy has breathtaking moments - like a wild sex night (“sex with you is incredible!”), but with someone that after the orgasm gets up and leaves... not with someone you longtime know. But, as she says on the best track of the album, Beat Goes On: “I'm not telling you something new/There ain't no time to lose/It's time for you to celebrate."

[Song: Incredible - Madonna]

I'll always love the unusual and unexpected indie versions of dirty pop music! Even if this sounds a million light years better than the original version, it makes me want to pole dance with Britney instead.
Thanks to Glenn for alerting the world to this gem.

The Expected

Well, Madonna and Justin's 4 Minutes started to grow in me.

My previous opinions about its quality remain: it's a down-there mediocre track compared to massive and marvelous beats like Hung Up's or let's say it American Life's! However the effing song, like previously leaked The Beat Goes On, has the utmost Madonna quality of being catchy; sum up to that the fact I'm now craving to hit a dancefloor!!

All the indie pop/rock stuff I've been into lately like Radiohead or Arcade Fire, are damn cool and genius, they could make good on the dancefloor if I lived in a place where people were more ecletic and not so closeminded into the electronica scene. Raves are okay but only them... boring. So, while I move myself towards the "if the DJ doesn't play your music, go 'head and be one" axiom, I crave for more dancefloor and shake-ass oriented tracks - and 4 Minutes provide that.

I'm starting to let go of the critical point of view and just going with the beats - after all, Promiscuous was damn awesome song!

[Song: 4 Minutes - Madonna]

Song Addiction Of The Day

The only good things of not knowing exactly what to do are the surprises.
Today I woke up not wanting to listen to my usual current music [Radiohead or Céu or Marisa Monte] so I just hit play to the first thing that appeared to me on WMP: Bent's Intercept!. And as I prepared breakfast and danced to it a previously ignored song broke my line of concentration and made me wake up [for real] and dance with coffee and bread: Waiting For You.
One of the things that attract me in Bent are the fierce lyrics that cut through the layers of beats and call your attention, making you pause the dancing for hearing it. Waiting For You's with its exciting verses that grow along the electro-beats and synths are about seeing the reality behind all the layers of illusion; or would it be find the lyrics behind all the beats?
Regardless of which were the Brit duo's intentions, the song is a massive dancefloor candy with a The White Stripe's Seven Nation Army similarity that sweep off your feet an move up your hips and head whether you want it or not, because it's there waiting for you.

To listen to this marvel just look for it on the BitchyList above, or simply click here.
[Song: Waiting For You - Bent]

"4 Minutes" by Madonna

Oh boy!

Okay... it's a maaaaaaaaaassive hit!! I can already see Conquista's pretty girls without style and substance loving it all over the floors and becoming Madonna fans. I can already see myself dancing and singing along to it. But boy, that it's a mediocre track it is!!! The beats are absolutely stolen from Nelly Furtado's Promiscuous, making me start to doubt Timbaland's versatility.

Even the lame The Beat Goes On's demo is better than this; and as I heard this 4 Minutes one, I hoped that they didn't change it as much as they're claiming.

[Song: How To Be Invisible - Kate Bush]

Feelin' Crazy 'Bout My Body

"What's Your Perversion?" Personal Ads:

Kylie "G-d" Minogue

The word is: WOW! Once you have a taste such as this delicate and fine lady's, you will feel as if you never had any ride in your life. Before her every experience was just rehearsal. You come alive as she says you're making her feel crazy about her own body. Your two heartbeats will be rocking while in her arms, because there's no subterfuge: she's the one.
You'll feel like making real every desire from your blown mind, through cosmic trips and shimmering starlight right before your eyes: like a drug.
Every tease will be pleased and soon you will be dancing, getting physical on the floor.
Preferences: pheromones.
Do not: dare to be tired.

[Song: Like A Drug - Kylie Minogue]

The Joy Of Dancing

We've been worried about our Indie-nization of the past months, but why worry about it when we have a woman that can bring joy even to the depressing moments. After this I'll never walk a treadmill normally again!

Hedonism

"Modern day hedonists strive firstly, as their predecessors, for pleasure. But also, hedonists feel that people should be equal, and that the way to achieve that is through allowing much more personal freedom. Hedonists, in the words of an organization known as Hedonist International, 'want joyful togetherness, anarchy, epicurean ideas, multifaceted joy, sensuality, diversion, friendship, justice, tolerance, freedom, sexual freedom, sustainability, peace, free access to information, the arts, a cosmopolitan existence, and a world without borders or discrimination, and everything else that is wonderful but not a reality today.' (Hedonist Manifesto)" [Wikipedia]
In such a fucked up world as this it's taken as cheap selfishness to think of sheer delight. I, however, ignore such as cheap judgements; as the the modern Hedonist manifesto says it's entitled to anyone to have pleasure come in any form.
That Kylie Minogue's X album is a celebration of sorts is already known by fans and great pop music lovers; but that this woman should materialize each of the 13 desires in such colourful and tasteful artistic approaches feels like too much to ask for. But that's what she's been doing so far. 2 Hearts' video is simple and hot, but compared to its follow-ups it feels dark and shy. That's how I saw that when I was least expecting, there's another guilty pleasure by the new queen of Hedonism. The video for Wow.
There she goes again with colored neon walls and poles, impeccable make-up and cinematography and inimitable dance moves that still take your breath away. Minogue with these New Rave-ish new works of art show that there's absolutely no problem in being outrageously... hedonist.

"I'm Listening..."

Pop culture is something so broad that anything could be part of it. What is basically known is that any movement that finds comfort in the arms of the public can be considered culture, even if we don't like it, even if it's not exactly decent quality.

In recent Pop culture Kylie Minogue [alongside the other main diva you know whom] feels like the Tarantino of Pop music: she mixes and deconstructs genres as if she's simply changing clothes. Her new video, In My Arms, is a great example of it. With colors that make it feel like a staging of famous Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe's portrait, Kylie mixed her 1990's persona [check out the hair from the Confide In Me vide] to a transitory look. With hyperbolic costumes and breathtakingly aesthetic scenarios she released a simple but deeply artistic video.

You might say that it lacks a plot, but who needs a plot with that party of references, that go from the mentioned Warhol to Madonna? In addition, in this current work Minogue homages the 80's - when the music videos lacked plots and feasted on aesthetics.