2013 Stars!

     The end is near!  My last post (*tear).  I truly enjoyed this class and will definitely miss it.  I thought everyone's blog posts were interesting and enjoyable to read.  I hope to see you guys next semester, assuming you're still attending KCC.  If not, good luck on you're future endeavors!  I rarely forget a name or face, so don't be afraid to say hi if you spot me.  Since the year is almost over, I thought I'd end my final post with a few upcoming and coming artists.  Ending on a high note...

1. YouTube Cover Singer Elyar Fox
     You might recognize this face from my last post.  He's a 18 year old from London and is set to release his debut single there in the spring.  With the whole British invasion going on, I have little doubt that he won't be able to make it here in the states, especially since all of his covers have received millions of views.  Don't underestimate the power of teenage girls and women!  Look at One Direction!

2. 5th Place "X Factor" Finalist Cece Frey
     Okay, she wasn't the most loved on "X Factor" (that award goes to either Tate Stevens or Carly Rose Sonenclar), but I liked Cece.  She reminds me of an American version of Cher Lloyd.  Her voice is very reminiscent of Christina Aguilera, and she definitely has the look.  While some girls might hate her because of her looks, I highly doubt the guys will complain.  I know I'm a fan!

3. L.A. Rapper Becky G
     When Simon Cowell calls you a future superstar, you know success is in your future.  16 year old Becky G is already garnering attention from some high profile music producers - including Simon, Dr. Luke, and Kanye West.  She reminds me of a young Nicki Minaj (before all the hit-or-miss pop songs).  Great flow and great songwriting.  She even wrote Cher Lloyd's newest single "Oath," which she's featured in!

4. "X Factor" Semifinalist Fifth Harmony
     They barely made it to the top 4, and it looks like this week Fifth Harmony, as well as Simon's other group - the generic, lack-luster, but teenage girl loving - Emblem3 are going to go at it for a place in the finale.  I personally think Fifth Harmony is leaps and bounds ahead of Emblem3, talent-wise.  They definitely deserve a place in the final, but we'll have to wait and see.  Regardless, with a great platform like "X Factor," I see a great future ahead for the Top 4  - which unfortunately includes Emblem3.  Anyone sensing the bias here?  Anyways, I would expect to see these 5 females (like the other 3 on this list) debut sometime next year!

Keep your eyes or in this case ears open!  And below, my new favorite song atm (at the moment, for those who don't know), The A Team by Ed Sheeran.

Diamonds!

NO, not the stone or the over-played Rihanna song.  This week I'm talking about albums!  Okay, I will admit I'm scrapping the bottom of the barrel here.  I can't think of anything this week.  With finals coming up and my math grade in danger, I haven't given this week's post much thought...(until now)

Anyways, what is a diamond album?  Basically, an album that sells over 10 million copies here in the states.  It's tracked by Nielsen SoundScan, which started this diamond certification back in 1991.  This week a new album was added to that elusive list, Adele's 21.  Ironically, Adele's album 21 is the 21st album to reach diamond certification.  That's a lot of "Rolling in the Deep" if you ask me!  Sweetening the cake even more, 21 is the eighth album to reach that impressive feat in under two years (92 weeks to be exact).  The British Powerhouse (unsurprising really) received well remarks for the album when it was first released early last year.  The other seven albums to reach diamond in under two years: 'N Sync's No Strings Attached, Backstreet Boys' Millennium, Santana's Supernatural, Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill, Creed's Human Clay, Shania Twain's Come on Over and The Bodyguard soundtrack.  Two other albums reached that all-star level this year as well, but took a much longer time to get there: Usher's Confessions (2004) and Linkin Park's Hybrid Theory (2000).  This lead me to wonder who will make that list next?  Most likely Pearl Jam's Ten from 1991, which sold 9.98 million so far.  Leaving you with a bit of Adele today, now if you excuse me, I have to work on my math take-home exam (sequences and series, fun...).

And a cover of the song by another British citizen:

Christmas Music!

Okay, I must confess this year, for the first time ever, I decided to go Black Friday shopping.  There wasn't anything I was really looking for, rather I went with some family members to experience it.  It's a little scary.  Late last night (on Thanksgiving) I went to Ala Moana and Walmart, luckily I arrived early enough to beat any long lines, but as soon as the sales started people went crazy.  Unfortunately, being so caught up and surrounded by people, I couldn't capture any photos.  While waiting for the sales to start, I found a great station on iHeartRadio: 93.9 Lite (it's a Chicago radio station).  The whole time, including today, all they played was Christmas music.  So anyone looking for a music fix should definitely check this station out.  Below, I listed some of my favorite Christmas tunes (some I really like, while others are listed mainly because it's stuck in my head).

1. Happy Christmas (War is Over) by: John Lennon & Yoko Ono
I remember this song from when I was a little kid.  Who doesn't like John Lennon?  It's a really great song and a very moving message.

2. Last Christmas by Wham! (Cover by the cast of Glee)
Another song that gave me a bit of nostalgia.  The original song is very catchy and fun.  I particularly love the Glee cast version.  It stays true to the original, but gives it a slightly more modern sound.  I especially love the male-female duet dynamic.  The hit TV show took an old hit and made it even better.

3. River by Joni Mitchell (Cover by Lea Michelle [Glee star])
And....the show does it again!  Truly a classic.  Clearly, I'm a fan of Michelle's vocal abilities.  The song was already quite good, but I feel that her voice makes it better.  I guess it's personal preference...

4. All I Want For Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
Besides having the longest title on the list, Mariah's Christmas tune definitely gives me a flashback.  I remember my mom listening to this when I was really little.  Catchy, Christmas-y, and Carey.  What more do I need to say?

5. Mistletoe by Justin Bieber
Before you start, listen to the song.  I know it's Justin Bieber, but I like the whole reggae/pop vibe with the song.  I'm no JB fan, but this one song (as well as a few from his new album) are decent.  There are some decent covers of this song on YouTube, but in this case, the original is best!  I heard this song quite a bit in the past 24 hours, in case you were wondering.  [Un]fortunately it's stuck in my head.

About to Pop - Albums

With the holidays right around the corner, it's quite obvious as to why many popular artists are releasing their newest albums this month.  In this addition of "About to Pop," I'll be looking at a few new albums and giving a brief  summary/review of it.  Let's get into it!

Country: Taylor Swift's Red.

A very popular country artist, Taylor Swift is known as America's "Sweetheart."  In her latest album, Swift switches things up a bit, delving into pop music as well, which is evident in her track We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together.  The catchy tune talks about her former flame (which pretty much all of her songs talk about).  In the track above, Swift stays true to her country roots, but adds in some pop/rock for good measure.  Besides her current radio hit, I found State of Grace to be a fun, "poptry" (Pop + Country) tune.  As a side note, many analysts believe this will be the best selling album of 2012, usurping British sensation One Direction.

Hip-Hop/Rap: Nicki Minaj's Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded - The Re-Up

Besides having one of the longest album titles this year, Nicki's newest album is really a deluxe version of her sophomore album, Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.  The album includes five seven new tracks in addition to all of the tracks from Roman Reloaded (A total of 26).  While I thought Nicki's second album was rather lackluster with some decent rap songs and some decent pop songs (I like about 8 out of 19), the seven new tracks return Nicki to her grimy roots.  Her current "flow" on the song above is very reminiscent of her earlier feature on Kanye West's Monster - a video I shared a few weeks ago.  While Nicki was being criticized for adhering to the pop/commercial norm, with the track above, I can confidently say the queen is back!

Rock (More like Pop): One Direction's Take Me Home

A year after there record-breaking album Up All Night was first released in the U.K. (March in the U.S.), Simon's X Factor U.K. proteges are back, exhibiting a little more mature tone/vibe.  While their first single Live While We're Young is very similar to their very first single What Makes You Beautiful (what's up with these long song titles 1D & TSwizzle?!), I feel like the song above shows a different side of the bubblegum pop boy band.  Written by U.K. sensation Ed Sheeran (the genius behind Lego House), it's a no-brainer that Little Things is a smash.  While I will admit that I DO NOT any One Direction album, I do find a few of their songs really catchy (like the one above ;D)

As a bonus, enjoy listening to Ed Sheeran's Lego House...

X Factor!

     Being completely honest, I don't watch too much television, particularly the singing/dancing reality shows like American Idol, SYTYCD, Dancing W/ The Stars, The Voice, etc.  However, I will admit that I am an X Factor fan.  I feel like the show is something different, and the dynamic of it all is incredible.  I think the whole mentoring format is great, and the contestants this season are amazing.
     As of this writing, out of the thousands of people who auditioned, only 12 remain!  Of the 12, I have my favorite contestant, or seven.  There's the rihanna lookalike Paige Thomas, who is actually a really great performer.  The "Overs" category has Tate Stevens - the man with an amazing country singing voice - and Vino Alan - the soulful rocker.  Simon Cowell's three groups are all amazing.  Mostly likely to become the next 1D, Emblem3 is an entertaining group.  I find Lyric145 to be inventive and interesting - putting hip-hop into Mary Poppins' "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" was very creative, then there's Fifth Harmony.  Auditioning as soloist, these five girls were put together on the show, but you wouldn't be able to tell from their performances.  Finally, there's Carly Rose Sonenclar - the 13 year old with a big voice.  Will.I.Am and Britney Spears think she might be possessed?!  Her voice is incredible.  I know the real competition just started, but I think we have a winner here.  This week she smashed Bruno Mars' "It Will Rain," but I still think her original audition was the best.  Tell me, which performance do you like better?

About to POP!

Okay, I'll admit I'm absolutely stealing this idea from an article I read on Flipboard.  I guess with the whole Tsunami scare on Monday, Halloween on Wednesday, and the arrival of my new iPad later today (Hurry UPS!), I currently have a dearth of blog ideas.  The whole "About to POP" thing basically looks at a few recently released songs/artists and leaves it up to the public to vote on which one will become the next #1 hit.  But forget the voting, I'd rather everyone vote on the 6th! - I'm not going to say who, just vote.  It's your choice!  Anyways, today I'm sharing a few songs - suggested by friends - that I find to be interesting.  While some may not be everyone's cup of tea, I tried to throw a bit of everything in (Pop, Hip-hop, alternative/rock).

1. Two Hearts by Paper Route
Admittedly I'm not much of an alternative fan, but I found this song to edgy and likable (if you're in to this sort of thing.)

2. Can Anybody Hear Me by Nicki Minaj
Okay, so it's a little old.  But this particular song - off of Nicki's earlier mixtapes - really shows the rap queen's prowess, with its slick lyrics and hip beat.

3. Oath by Cher Lloyd Featuring Becky G.

When someone from my math class played this song for me, I immediately thought it was a little annoying and a bit girly for my tastes.  But her constant playback caused this addictive bubblegum hit to be stuck in my head for the past few hours.  At least it's relatable!  Everyone has a best friend...

4. Live While We're Young by One Direction

Apparently these guys are some huge international pop group from the U.K.  Cher Lloyd's fellow constants on the X Factor U.K., it's a no-brainer that these boys are able to churn out some pop hits too!  With their second album dropping soon,  I thought their debut single from the album was catchy and fun.  I have to give credit to Simon Cowell, the guy knows pop perfection.

The Illustrious Fruit

It's safe to say we've all seen those ubiquitous white earbuds practically everywhere we go.  Either that or someone is rocking some fruit labeled "i" device.  If you guessed Apple Inc. great! If not...uh...

Anyways, because today (technically according to PST, I'm typing this at 9 P.M. HAST) is October 26, I thought it'd be a good idea to talk Apple.  A truly great American company - that changed the way we (or, at least, for me) listen to music.  What day is it today you ask?  The official pre-order day for Apple's holiday line-up! New iMacs, iPads, and even a miniature iPad!

The iPad Mini is the company's first "new" device to be released under the helm of Apple CEO, Tim Cook.  Steve Jobs - an inspiring individual - has invented many great things - pretty much everything Apple up until late last year.  I think it's interesting to see the direction that Apple is going in without out their leader/co-founder (Steve Wozniak is the other founder).  While the iPad Mini may get criticized for its less-than retina display and "slower" processor," I wouldn't be surprised if that 11/2 ship date slips to a few weeks.  Apple isn't a spec company.  When it comes to Apple's iOS devices, you probably won't get the fastest quad-core cpu, largest HD display, or expandable memory slot.  What you do get, however, is Apple's brilliant, well-crafted, engineering-marvels.  While I will admit that I'm no longer an iPhone user, I still use my iPad quite frequently at home.  Compared to my Motorola Xoom, an android tablet, the difference is night and day.  Sure the Xoom is more customizable, but nothing can beat Apple's design language and incredible app ecosystem.

Getting back on track (I'm a bit of a tech-geek, I know), how does Apple relate to music?  Simple, iTunes, iPods, iPhones, & iPads have changed many aspects of listening to music.  iPhones & iPods are ubiquitous!  Everyone has/had one at point or another.  Then there's the iPad, who doesn't know what that is.  While some may argue its a niche market, I think, in time, tablet PCs (iPad, Android, Windows 8) are going to change the way we use computers.  Need proof?  Look at Microsoft's big redesign in Windows 8, everything is designed to be touch optimized.  Finally, iTunes.  I've been using iTunes for about 7 years.  (While I had to begrudgingly had to switch to a PC for software reasons) iTunes is always one of the first things I install.  It really is a great, simple media player.  Don't forget Apple's massive catalog of content either.  Really, the music industry would be a different, Zune (anyone remember these?) infested place.  As for me, I'll keep my Android smartphone but use iOS as my tablet platform.  I've even grown to love PCs and Windows as much as Mac and OSX - crazy talk right?

Now bask in the wisdom of the Great One:

"Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn't really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while."
-- Steve Jobs