Nicki, Nicki Manage why?

Nicki, Nicki, Nicki... Why?

The ever so... Interesting... Nicki Manage is at it again after releasing a lyric version of her newest song, "Only". While this is simply a lyric video she released, Manage still managed to get everyone fired up and talking. What is it that got people stirring you're wondering? Well, in the video it depicts a cartoon version of a hip hop, nazi Germany. Yep, good job Nicki, now everyone thinks you hate Jews.
Nicki then fired back saying she is now dating a Jew. I'm sure he loves the endearing term, no name, just that he's Jewish.
So, here we go... What do you think? I'll include a link to the video. Reminder the lyrics are rather explicit, so watch at your own risk. Did the rap diva take it too far this time? Or is it a simple piece of art?
Here's what I think...  Nicki, well she's doing what every artist is trying to do, gain attention and popularity. I'm not saying that I like what she did, but it's her right to showcase her art however she pleases. As I have stated before, even bad publicity is still publicity. It get people talking. It gets your name out there and gets them talking around the water cooler. Like I said, I don't like it, but I don't like her, but she did what she wanted us all to do, and that's talk about her. So, I give ear credit there.
As for bringing the image of Nazi Germany into this, well, I mean it is part of history, but she includes Drake in the video as a priest of some kind and the others, which I don't even remember their names or care to double check, that's how much I care about them... But the others are as what looks to be like higher ranking officers in the Nazi army. Yeah... I'm not even sure what the song has to do with what her cartoon video is. The song is filled with the "F" word and horrible raps.
So, good job Nicki, you got people talking about you! I still think you're an idiot though. And if you're offended by the video, my advice to you is, well, don't watch it. When I am offended by things, I tend to stay away from it, not dwell on it and few the situation fuel.

Anchor Me, The Tenors

So for those of you who have not read my blog let me just let you in on a little secret. I love ballads. Like more then anything in the world. They are sad yet happy and just always make me feel better by the end. They are absolutely perfect. Speaking of perfect ballads let's talk about one of my favorites, Anchor Me by The Tenors. I may be slightly biased since this is my girlfriend and I's song. And it was also the ballad of my show choir last year but who cares? never the less it is a passionate and moving song. It inspired me to let go and truly learn the meaning of leave it all on the stage.


"I have no more strength left
 Can you stand and fight?
 I'm dying in this doubt
 Can you be my faith tonight?"

With lyrics like this I could not help but break down on stage while performing this beautiful song. We performed this song for showchoir when I was going through probably one of the hardest things a teenage can attempt to overcome. I was in the process of coming out not only to my self but to my catholic family. Fun right? No, coming out is never fun. I mean what is fun about standing in front of people you love and telling them that you are different, no one want to be different, at least I don't, I just want to blend in with the crowd. Anyway my point I that this song is very inspirational and it helped me through a very tough time. And I think it could do that for many of you so take a few minutes to listen to it now if you never have ever this elegantly beautiful song. 
Everyone has hardships in life. Everyone has path they are meant to take, lessons they must learn, obstacles to overcome, no person's just like the next. And it's over coming this thing that make us who we are. And one great way of over coming obstacles and coping with the issues at hand is music. It allows you to express yourself in a way like no other. I can tell you for sure that if it weren't for music like Anchor Me I wouldn't be writing this blog right now. So next time you feel like you cant go now turn on some tunes and just relax. who knows maybe Anchor me will pop next on your Pandora.


Word count: 417

Glee is over..... Finally

We all remember the hoopla when the hit TV series GLEE first premiered in 2009. It was like no TV show before it, it followed a couple of high schoolers who were trying to start up their school GLEE club with actually turned into a showchoir. I loved the show when it first started although it was nothing like actually showchoir which I was involved in myself. It had a great story line for first few seasons and of course they did some killer remakes of a few classics that we all know and love. Glee was very inspirational for many kids and teens. I can attest to this myself being a gay teenager in the world today. With confident out and proud characters like Kurt, Blaine, and even the sassy Santana it gave kids the courage to come out in their own school because like Kurt finds out often times the people who make fun of you the most are the ones who are more self conscious then anyone.  Gay struggles are not the only thing that it 6 year old series covered, they also covered divorce issues, remarried of parents, parental deaths, learning acceptance of all, and low self confidence. These are all things that we know kids are forced to deals with in high school and shows and powerful characters like those in GLEE help kids when having to deal with these life issues.

Glee also created a lot of controversy with it on camera make out sessions with young gay couple Kurt and Blaine. While I personally loved their kisses on camera because of its portrayal of love between any age, sex, or creed. I know many however do not feel this way. Many see this as wrong and inappropriate but to be completely frank screw those people because love does come in all shapes and sizes and I know for sure the on camera kisses like that gave nothing but courage to kids who were in the process of coming out or even who just dream of the day that they will have the courage to.

While GLEE was not the best in it last few seasons after the main characters graduated and they tried to introduce new ones it is still a TV show that changed the history of TV shows and is one that I will never forget GLEE changed a lot of peoples lives and will hopefully continue to for many years to come. Long live the GLEEKS.


word count: 416

All of Me, John Legend

       So I know I am a little late with this one. But, come on let's face it, All of Me by John Legend is going to be a classic. It was already the most popular wedding song of 2014 and I'm sure that it is also many couples "first dance". I am sure this song was often on repeat on many girl's iPhones after their terrible break-up with their soul mate. For me this song is special because it is the first song I ever recorded for my girlfriend on her birthday. Either way we all know that whether you like to admit or not you love this song. That's right don't deny it, yeah I'm talking to you guys who hoped this post would be about Buckcherry or some other rock band. Come on you know you love this song. Also if you are looking for a post about some heavier music bands just wait because I always make sure to include those as well. With of course the occasionally post about how much I love Tswift.

       Enough about how much girls and even grown men go crazy over this lovely soon to be classic, let's get down to business here the stuff that really matters, let's talk music. This song instrumentally is beautiful. Words are not even needed to show the emotion John Legend was trying to convoy. His incredible piano playing can say every word he was feeling, even though the notes themselves aren't all that complicated. But, that is also what makes this song beautiful, the simplicity. And the fact that John Legend has the voice of an angel. If you have read my previous posts you know that simplicity is key, I love simply music that can just draw you in and calm you down simply with a smooth rhythm and a sick beat. And if you know me as a person you know that I am a sucker for any kind of ballad. Any kind of good ballad that is, I'm not about those crappy showchoir ballads, I love simply instrumental ballad ballads with tender, soft, and gorgeous singing. Also for my piano players out there, this is a great song to learn whether you are just starting to learn or if you are a master simply trying to impress the ladies ;) Here's the sheet music to it, if you are interested.

      Bottom line, this is an amazing song. It will be played for years as an anthem of love and for some people, it's the first song there will remember dancing to with their spouse and that pretty cool if you ask me. So thanks John Legend for your amazing voice and for this gorgeous song.   



Word Count: 452

Joan Jett and The Blackhearts & Heart

So I am not your average teenage girl. I don't enjoy listening to boy bands or Katy Perry. I don't know Naill Horan's shoe size or who 5 seconds of summer even is. I listen to bands like Styx and Queen. I love 80's hair bands and any kind of classic rock band. Which is why I flipped when I heard that Joan Jett and the Blackhearts AND Heart are coming to play at the US Cellular Center here in Cedar Rapids Iowa!!! I was like UMMM no freaking way. I immediately went on ticketmaster and tried to see much tickets were. $86.93. For $86.93 I could go see Joan Jett and the Blackhearts AND Heart. NO FREAKING WAY!! I have never been to a concert in my life and I have wanted to go so bad!! Plus who wouldn't want to see these two amazing bands play at the US Cellular center. I know I would. And I know any feminist within a 100 mile radius would since Joan Jett herself is one of the biggest feminist in the music industry. And not to mention the QUEEN of rock n' roll.

So let's talk about the music of Joan Jett and The Blackhearts. We all know the big hits like "I love Rock n' Roll" and "I hate myself for Loving you". But there's a deeper meaning to all of her music and I guess that's why I love it. She write all of her own music from her own experiences. She first stated off founding The Runaways with co-musicians Sandy West, Jackie Fox, Lita Ford, and Cherie Currie. After the band broke up Joan Jett tried going solo in England. With little success she later formed The Blackhearts with producer Kenny Laguna's help. The Blackhearts were very successful in their first few years and continue to tour across the country,

So now that you have a little background, tell me how you could turn down going to see Joan Jett and the Blackhearts AND Heart. And for only $86.93!!! That's right you can't! So get in the mood start blaring that Joan Jett cassette you brought at the CD store for $3. And get psyched for one of the best shows you will ever see! I mean I assume, I have never seen their show, but I hear great things! And go by your tickets now before they sell out!!! Go NOW!

Papa Roach....YES

Papa Roach formed in 1993. They struggled for a few years before finally a few year later when heavy metal reached it peak once again. Their first album "Infest" had bunch of real cool songs  like the hit we all know and love;  "Last resort". The band had a sound that not many had heard but was often compared to Korn. Though personally I think Korn is no match for the Almighty Papa Roach.
Papa Roach's new album stick to their trademarks while also trying to feel out the new concepts in heavy metal music nowadays. The interesting thing this time was the fact that the band went into the studio with, according to Jerry Horton "having nothing". It seems That is worked for them since the songs had such a great impact and spoke to their audience. While no album can be as good as the first, the album F.E.A.R dared to change that norm.


The first single release of the F.E.A.R album was called "Broken as me". The mighty riff that begins the song is immediately correlated with Papa Roach's killer riffs that make their songs so catchy and freaking awesome. This can also be said for the way the track is build, it just sounds like a Papa Roach track. Another clear tell is the melodic chorus, it plays as an essential part of the songs, as well as Jacoby Shaddix screams in the bridge, for those of you who aren't into heavy metal who should probably just stop reading now.


Though we didn't think it was possible, Papa Roach find a way to make thing eve more melodic on beats like the catchy  "Love me till it hurts" and "Warriors". My favorite part of this album was the tracks that started with some electronica that comes back throughout the entire song. There is Horton's heavy riffs integrated in the song too which only further its level of awesomeness in my book 


I have to say, the keyboards are definitely making a come back in the more popular songs. The opener "Face everything and rise" is a good example of this. But Papa Roach manages to always keep the song rocking without drifting away into the fields of pop like most bands nowadays. This is one of my favorite album's and it just always lifts me up and gives me the strength to believe in myself and I want it to do the same for you guys. So if you haven't checked out this killer album, go now!

The One. The Only. Alisabeth.

I'm going to go ahead and do a review of my good friend Alisabeth's  new album, My Foolish Heart.
This album was released in August of 2014 and has taken Cedar Rapids by storm. She had a debut concert at Brucemore's Calbert in the Courtyard, which was sold out almost immediately. From there Alisabeth has done a few more performances in Cedar Rapids and has also released two new music videos off of her new album, Sleeze and I'm Just Not. I will provide links now if you're interested in checking them out, which I suggest you do.

Alisabeth takes her unique sound and put her heart and soul into this new album with touching ballads and potential radio hits. Right off the bat your ears are flooded with a pop/punk type sound with Sleeze and Satisfy Me. The two are bound to be radio hits, catchy sound and lyrics pull you in. From there we take on a few ballads which you can tell she has poured her heart and soul into. What's fun if you ever have the opportunity to see Alisabeth live, she tells a story before each one of her songs, and where the ideas came from. Interesting enough a lot of the music was written in her car in various parking lots.

While I love her pop/punk sound, I feel the album strays away from that are really focuses on her ballads. Don't get me wrong, I love them, but I feel she should stick to a more upbeat sounds to keep the crowed dancing through the night. I feel she is sort of stuck on which direction she wants to go, but I know once she chooses what music style she wants to stick with, she's going to own the world.

I don't want to go into too much detail over the album, even though I said I was doing a full length review, because well, I want you to go out and BUY IT! Local artist, support her and her work and check it out on iTunes. It will be worth it, I promise.

Props to you, my friend! Work what you got, Girl!