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Rant ‘N Rave: Spencer Pratt

Irene Ogrodnik — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:40:41 +0000

Spencer Pratt is one of those boys who, even at the age of 25, will always be a boy.

He’s the villain from the fake-reality TV show ‘The Hills.’ And while most people beyond Lauren Conrad cannot stand sitting in the same room as him, he does work hard at being the privileged son of a successful dentist.

Some us know it takes a lot to be obnoxious, spoiled and damn right irritating.

And while I resisted ranting about Spencer for several months now, his most recent “headline” was simply the last straw (number 1 on the list below). In other words, with a move like that, Spencer is begging for some word bashing.

But why do most people really express a deep hatred or dislike toward Spencer? While there are countless of reasons, I struggled to narrow it down.

But here’s five anyway:

5) He’s an idol. To himself:

According to reports, Spencer loves to keep a display of all the magazine covers that he has embraced over the years. Hmm, I never knew there were magazines dedicated to douchebags.

4) He’s married to Heidi Montag. No other woman will need to suffer:

I actually pity Heidi for marrying this man. Not only does he control her, but his bad vibe is really rubbing off on her as well. While this lady may have had a chance at a successful career (most likely as a XXX rated porn star), her future will now likely resemble Britney’s life a couple years ago. You know, the baldhead, the urge to attack cars with an umbrella and, oh yeah, filing for divorce from the man she shouldn’t have married in the first place.

3) He worships the paparazzi more than they adore him:

While most celebrities run away from paparazzi, Spencer practically chases them down. He then proceeds to pose for staged photos with Heidi (*hurl*), as though these two were really in love with one another and not the idea of themselves as a couple. Since these two are such fame-whores, marriage seemed like the next step to staying in the headlines.

Pathetic, I know. Even if it worked.

2) He challenged Ashton Kutcher thinking he would win. No, this is not the joke of the day:

It makes me a tad bit amused to know that Spencer actually thinks he will receive more Twitter followers than Ashton Kutcher. There’s no need to argue why this won’t happen because let’s look at it this way. As of today, Spencer has 252,836 Twitter followers while Ashton has 1,729,039. Ah, you really had something going there Spencer. But what’s next? Challenging Eminem to see if he can sell more records than you?

Good luck buddy.

1) His rap career:

To use the words “career” and “Spencer” in the same sentence is somewhat of an oxymoron. It’s like saying “Amy Winehouse is sober” or “Lindsay Lohan looks healthy.”

See, it just doesn’t make sense. But apparently, it’s possible.

Spencer’s new rap single “I’m a Celebrity” is almost as good as Kevin Federline’s ‘Play With Fire’ album.

I said almost.

With lyrics like “Baby I get paid…I’ve been around the world, but I’m still not finished yet…first Tweet of the day, I put my swag on…I’m in the limelight and I love it like my wife,” I only wonder how long it will be before someone shoots Spencer for offending hip-hop in such a manner.

But if Spencer is worried about album sales, he shouldn’t. We all know Heidi will likely (once again) pull a Britney and buy all the 1,200 copies that Spencer’s album will most likely sell.

Hey, maybe that is real love.

Rant ‘N Rave: James Morrison

Irene Ogrodnik — Sat, 09 May 2009 22:40:48 +0000

I know what you’re thinking.

James Morrison

Since when do I rave more than rant? It appears that my admiration for certain figures in the pop-culture world outweighs my dislike for others. Odd but true. However, I assure you one thing:

It won’t last long.

But the reason for my back-to-back raves is due to one celebrity in particular—singer James Morrison (please note: not to be mistaken with Jim Morrison from ‘The Doors’).

James Morrison, the 24-year-old English singer-songwriter and guitarist, surely knows how to melt my heart. In 2006, his debut single “You Give Me Something” became a hit in Australia, Japan and Europe. His first album “Undiscovered” debuted at the top of the UK Album Chart and made Morrison the best selling male solo artist of 2006 in the UK.
Like most successful international artists, he has a massive fan base overseas.

But while his critically acclaimed single, “Broken Strings,” (featuring Canadian artist Nelly Furtado) plays like a broken record on the radio, James has yet to truly succeed in the North American market. And frankly, I’m baffled as to why.

He’s the perfect mixture of Coldplay’s Chris Martin (I blame his hair) and Bryan Adams (I blame his ability to serenade me in two seconds). His songs are mellow, passionate and raw. His past single “Wonderful World” is easily a favourite track of mine, while his newest single “Please Don’t Stop the Rain” plays on repeat in my head (not like there is much going on in there anyway).

But even though he’s undeniably talented, what makes James so damn special?

It’s simple.

He sings the words that women want to hear their lover say, minus the BS or fluff.

He isn’t afraid to tell you he loves you or, like “Broken Strings” explicitly states, that he no longer does. How many male artists are this genuine without a cocky image surfacing close behind? Enrique Iglesias is most definitely not one of them.

Last week, James performed at The Opera House in Toronto—a show that I was fortunate enough to attend. And, of course, he blew me away. There’s something to be said about an artist who receives piercing cheers and applause from men.
Men who were accompanied by their girlfriends.

See, when a male artist knows how to serenade straight men–you know that’s talent.

Rant ‘N Rave: Male Actors over 40

Irene Ogrodnik — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:33:02 +0000

There’s something about certain male actors over the age of 40 (but have yet to hit the 50 mark) that makes ladies and men of all ages goo-goo-gaa-gaa for them.

You know who these men are. They are the actors that straight men will shamelessly admit that even they would fantasize about these stars.

These men are charming, attractive and, most importantly, talented.

So whether you are fifteen years their junior or ten years their senior, here are five (although there are many more) contemporary actors who still capture our hearts and make us blush like little schoolgirls.

5) Brad Pitt:

As you may know, I am not Pitt’s biggest fan when it comes to his personal life. But I will admire the man for his movies. From his diverse on-screen characters such as the irresistible Tristan in ‘Legends of the Fall’ to the gluttonous Rusty in the Ocean’s movie franchise, Pitt is more than just a pretty face.

But while many consider Pitt as overrated in the looks department, the same cannot be said about his acting chops. As you may have noticed, Pitt is given the same amount of appreciation for his performances in films as negative credit for his part in the entire Aniston-Jolie “feud.”

In other words, in either position, his role is underrated.

4) Patrick Dempsey:

Also known as McDreamy—a name that pretty much summarizes this actor. From his role as Dr. Derek Shepherd on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ to his performance as the sweetheart/good-guy in both ‘Sweet Home Alabama’ and ‘Enchanted,’ this 43-year-old actor appears to resemble his wholesome figure in real life. Even though Dempsey is married (for almost ten years) with three children, he makes single women wish he unattached and married women wish he was their husband.

While it’s likely that Dempsey is not as sweet in real life as he seems on-screen, the fact that the actor was not afraid to reveal his Dyslexia a few years ago makes him more alluring. Or perhaps Dempsey just played smart and knew he would win over more women for his brutal openness.

Heck, either way, I love him more for his honesty.

3) George Clooney:

It would be impossible to write this blog without mentioning Clooney. While his more recent roles are somewhat imitations of one another (quirky, oddball yet charming), he’s still too irresistible to avoid.

When he isn’t nominated or winning an award for movies like ‘Syriana’, ‘Good Night and Good Luck’ and ‘Michael Clayton,’ he’s involved in charity—most notably trying to help the people of Darfur. He’s an artist and a philanthropist.

Just perfect.

2) Johnny Depp:

Known for his choice of roles that border eccentric and downright freaky (Jack Sparrow, Edward Scissorhands and Sweeney Todd), Depp surely knows how to capture movie audiences and critics. Even with poor movie choices like ‘Secret Window,’ Depp still managed to receive praise for his role. He’s captivating and mysterious—the atypical Hollywood actor. It’s easy to admit that, without Depp, the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ movie saga would neither be as successful or as entertaining.

1) Robert Downey Jr.:

After battling a lengthy addiction to drugs, some might say that it’s amazing that Robert Downey Jr. is as successful as he is today.

Even when he was critically acclaimed for his roles in ‘Less Than Zero’ and ‘Chaplin’ (in which he received an Academy Award nom for his performance) Downey Jr. still never starred in any true “Blockbuster hit”—until 2008. Both ‘Iron Man’ and ‘Tropic Thunder’ put Downey Jr. back on the acting radar.

While his peers admire him and critics rave about him, fans adore Downey Jr. for his rawness and vulnerability. Even as a brilliant actor, back in the day, he was damaged due to his drug use (a quality that now somehow makes celebrities even more famous. Kate Moss anyone?).

In the past couple of years, those who refused to hire Downey Jr. due to his troubled past (which included arrests and rehab stints) are now likely kicking themselves where the sun don’t shine.

Kick away my friends.

In his most recent role in the film ‘The Soloist,’ Downey Jr. shows why he’s here to stay. Undoubtedly, Downey Jr. is the movie’s heart and soul—proving that, damaged or not, he still has what it takes to shine.

Rant ‘N Rave: Best/Worst of April

Irene Ogrodnik — Sun, 03 May 2009 22:00:20 +0000

Music artists and movie stars never fail to entertain me (however, I do get easily amused). Whether I laugh with them (or, in most cases, at them) or actually pity their heartaches and failures (which doesn’t happen often)—I always look forward to the next celebrity hook-up/screw-up.

And the month of April did not disappoint. Here are the five best and worst moments in pop culture that made me grateful that such somewhat petty life moments in my life aren’t publicized for the world:

BEST:

5) Pink Reunites with H(e)art:

One can’t help but assume the following:

a) Pink’s estranged husband Carey Hart decided to give his relationship another try after watching the boyfriend/husband torturing, knee-breaking video his wife created for her single ‘Please Don’t Leave Me.’

b) Pink and Carey realized that they are meant to be with one another, at least for another year.

Either way, I’m happy.

4) LC leaves The Hills:

I’ll admit. I really cannot watch an entire episode of this series without feeling like I lost some brain cells. However, Lauren Conrad was the show’s only salvation. She’s the least annoying and somehow the most genuine–which is why she needs to move onto better things. The only real downfall? More airtime for douche Spencer Pratt.

3) Ronson and Lohan Breakup, Again…Again:

I strongly believe that Lindsay Lohan and Samantha Ronson find great amusement in their relationship. From their constant bickering, PDA and breakups, these two don’t know when to stop. Lindsay should consider adding “relationship therapy” along to her list of “Things I Need To Attend Rehab For.”

2) Ooh ooh baby—Wolverine prequel finally hits theatres:

Hugh Jackman, Ryan Reynolds and Taylor Kitsch = Yummy. Need I say more? I think not.

1) Susan Boyle Proves Simon Wrong. Let’s rejoice:

Overnight singing sensation Susan Boyle made us realize that a lack of conventional physical beauty and youth doesn’t always amount to failure. While Simon Cowell saw money signs in his eyes during her performance, the rest of the world was just pleased Boyle didn’t sound like Beyonce’s altered live recording on the ‘Today’ show.

WORST:

5) Mel Gibson’s New Leading Lady Drama:

I can’t quite understand why everyone is making a big deal out of this relationship. If Gibson and his wife were indeed separated for a few years prior to any of them having a relationship with other people, then kudos to Gibson for hooking up.

Besides, I’m sure Oksana (whose name gets butchered by television and radio media) just wants him for his money. Which, unfortunately for her, might not be as much as she thinks after Gibson settles his divorce with his wife Robyn.

4) Britney’s “stay away from me” order:

Dear Ms. Spears is not meant to live a life void of relationship drama. While a judge issued a restraining order against Spears’s former manager, Sam Lutfi, for another three years, I’m positive that it’s not the end for them two. If Britney ever falls back to her old, unstable ways…Lutfi will be the first person she’ll call (along with a hairdresser).

You’ll see.

3) Beyonce’s horrific altered voice recording:

After Howard Stern aired an alleged recording of Beyonce screeching through a rendition of “If I Were a Boy,” many assumed that the Grammy winning star either hid behind pre-recorded tracks or suddenly went tone-deaf.

TMZ, however, came to the rescue by reporting that they spoke to the individual responsible for altering the recording. Phew. For a moment there, I assumed Beyonce was suddenly taking vocal pointers from Britney.

2) Miss California Same-Sex scandal:

By now, we have all heard of the “scandalous” moment involving Miss California and Perez Hilton. While I will refuse to comment on the situation, I do send out my sympathies out to Miss North Carolina. Even though she won the Miss USA crown, she has barely received the same news coverage as her runner-up competitor.

1) Heidi and Spencer get married (officially)…doomed for life:

It’s not hard to see why I think that any girl is too good for Spencer Pratt. Heck, I wouldn’t even wish such a man upon Lohan. This idiot is the epitome of an arrogant jerk bag. I may not be Montag’s biggest fan either, but even I don’t think she should spend the rest of her life with someone like Spencer.

If, by some miracle, Spencer grew up and humbled down, I might just reconsider my awful view of him. As for now, I already pity the children they don’t have.

What were you thinking Heidi?

Rant ‘N Rave: Parents of Celebrities

Irene Ogrodnik — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:52:53 +0000

Granted, parenthood is complex. Children need unconditional love, stability and guidance.

When parents fail to provide any of those needs, you end up with the childhood version of Drew Barrymore.

Based on the number of celebs who have entered rehab in recent years, it’s obvious that more than a handful have some loose screws. While many blame a star’s inability to adjust to a lifestyle of fame and fortune for their problems, perhaps more responsibility should be placed on those who have raised them.

Before you leave me a 500-word thrashing on how I must not understand the difficulties of parenthood, realize that I am not claiming that any parent of a celebrity is a horrible person—just someone in vital need of re-evaluating their very questionable parenting skills.

Without further ado, here are parents of celebrities who, like many of their children, need some mental help:

Dina Lohan:

I never thought I would say these words together in a sentence, but here it goes:

Poor Lindsay Lohan.

Lindsay can somewhat blame her out-of-control behaviour on two people in her life. Her parents. But while Lindsay easily points the finger of blame at her alleged abusive father, there is one guilty party she tends to overlook.

Her mother. Dina fame-whore Lohan.

There’s something to be said about a mother who, without her daughter’s approval, hired ‘Entertainment Tonight’ cameramen to follow her visit to the drug rehabilitation centre where Lindsay was receiving “treatment.” Dina also uses her other daughter, fifteen-year-old Ali, to star on their reality show ‘Living Lohan.’ After watching just a few episodes, it’s clear that Dina uses her daughter’s doomed-to-fail career to progress her own.

But it doesn’t stop there.

When Dina is not capitalizing on either daughter’s fame, reports claim she’s out partying and drinking. I can now see why Dina won the Long Island “Mother of the

Year” award back in 2008. Who else was in the running for the title? Courtney Love? You know, the mother who allegedly shot heroin while pregnant with daughter Francis Bean?

So how does Dina (the woman who takes credit for every (rare) good decision Lindsay makes yet denies involvement in every bad choice) expect her daughter to succeed in rehab treatment she receives when she acts out in the exact same uncontrollable way?

While I refuse to absolve Lindsay of any responsibility for her actions, I feel a slight compassion for her knowing that Dina is acting more like a (crappy) best friend than a mother.

Michael Lohan:

There’s no need to state why Michael Lohan will not be winning a “Father of the Year” award anytime soon. But I’m positive that his suspected domestic abusive past or the fact that he’s been in prison more than once doesn’t make him qualify. Then again, stranger things have happened (refer to “Dina won the Long Island ‘Mother of the Year’ award” comment above for further explanation).

Joe Simpson:

The father of Jessica Simpson and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz surely knows how to creep people out.

From his inappropriate comments about his Jessica’s sexiness and size of breasts (The whole “She’s got double D’s! You can’t cover those suckers up!” 2004 GQ magazine interview quote is permanently and painfully burned into my memory) to his overall control of Jessica’s lifestyle, Joe needs to back down and spend time AWAY from his daughters. Even though she is 28, Joe barely allows Jessica out of his sight. I suddenly have an uncomfortable feeling that Joe must’ve attended Jessica’s wedding night with Nick Lachey—just to make sure that she was okay. How romantic.

Lynne Spears:

While Lynne Spears states that she was not a pushy “stage mom” when it came to her daughter’s career, I have a difficult time buying into her claims. I doubt that any child, regardless of how much they want to achieve fame, crave the daily lifestyle that Britney had to endure at her age in the showbiz.

While Lynne appears to have better intentions for her children than Dina Lohan, it is difficult to truly understand her parenting skills (considering both her children have babies and unpredictable/unstable relationships with men).

Linda Hogan:

I have nothing against women dating younger men. But Linda’s relationship with a 19-year-old boy is not the same. When a parent dates a student from their child’s yearbook class page, red flags need to go up. Then again, the rest of the Hogan family lacks a record of smart life decisions (Hulk Hogan’s comment about “totally” understanding disgraced football player O.J Simpson takes the cake).

Rant ‘N Rave: Ciara

Irene Ogrodnik — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:55:42 +0000

Singer-songwriter, dancer, fashion model, actress Ciara is quite the force to be reckoned with. Even if you tried to, it’s almost impossible to deny her rising influence in the music industry.

After the 23-year-old artist first released her single and album ‘Goodies,’ (which sold over five million records worldwide) in 2004, rumours surrounding Ciara’s sex arose. Some critics assumed that this foolish speculation would result in an early demise for this young singer.

But, in one of those (many) life moments, they were proven wrong.

Two years later, Ciara’s second album ‘Ciara: The Evolution’ went platinum five weeks after its release. Her chart topping singles “Get Up”, “Like a Boy” and “Promise” and her appearance in Missy Elliot’s Grammy award winning video “Lose Control” proved this artist was just starting to make her mark.

Now, Ciara’s upcoming highly anticipated third album “Fantasy Ride” is certain to be her biggest career hit to date. According to reports, the album includes guest appearances by Ludacris, Young Jeezy, Missy Elliot and the now media disgraced Chris Brown.

Both her collaborations with Enrique Iglesias for “Takin’ Back My Love” and Justin Timberlake for “Love Sex Magic” exude an overwhelming mixture of sexiness and classiness. In both videos, even with the presence of good/bad boys Enrique and Justin, Ciara manages to steal the spotlight.

Heck, with a body like that, it’s not hard to see why.

But even with her success, comes criticism.

Ciara’s superhero/alter ego, Super C, is labelled a rip off of Beyoncé Knowles’ Sasha Fierce. Most recently, Ciara’s video for “Love Sex Magic” is deemed a copycat of Beyoncé’s “Diva” music video.

While undeniable similarities do exist between the two, the question is, why does it really matter? How often was Britney Spears slammed for her style and music—which, in many cases, resembled Madonna’s? Suddenly not often enough when compared to the backlash that Ciara is currently receiving.

And if imitation really is the highest form of flattery, Beyoncé fans should feel damn honoured that someone with Ciara’s talent, strength and passion for music is inspired by her work.

Overall, Ciara embodies the best features of some of R&B’s most talented singers. While she lacks a powerful singing voice, with her Beyoncé-like physical assets, Rihanna’s wardrobe style, Janet Jackson’s killer dance moves and Aaliyah’s natural ability to make people fall in love with her work, Ciara is only beginning to find her place and explore her music capabilities.

Rant ‘N Rave: Disney Channel Stars

Irene Ogrodnik — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 01:46:32 +0000

Back in the day, the word “Disney” brought thoughts of fairy godmothers, evil stepsisters and happily ever afters into our minds. The Disney stars that most of us looked up to were Cinderella, Pocahontas and, of course, Mickey Mouse (although now I’m not sure why).

But nowadays, all that has changed. When most children and teenagers hear the word “Disney,” they tend to think of the famous actors whose careers were launched on the television network, the Disney Channel.

Due to shows like ‘Hannah Montana’ or the Disney Channel Original Movie ‘High School Musical,’ it is now virtually impossible to ignore any gossip associated with Disney’s princess Miley Cyrus or Brangelina wannabes Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens.

With plenty of shame, I will admit that even I watch some of these shows on a somewhat regular basis (I fully blame my boyfriend’s younger nieces for my sudden semi-addiction to shows like ‘Wizards of Waverly Place’ and ‘Sonny With a Chance’).

But while some Disney Channel stars have what it takes to establish a lifelong successful career outside of the Disney franchise, others, frankly, do not.

And so, here is a short homage to certain Disney Channel actors who, for some reason or another, will stay here for some years to come:

The “Creepy” Disney Channel Star:

Kevin Jonas: As the eldest brother of the overrated Jonas Brothers music group, Kevin takes the cake for the creepiest member. I’m not quite sure if it’s his awkwardness on the television screen that freaks me out (remember his role in ‘Camp Rock’?) or the fact that he looks like he’s about to turn thirty instead of twenty-two. Either way, this Jonas bro, along with Joe and Nick, needs to stop polluting the music and television biz before I start having Kevin/Bogeyman-like nightmares.

The “Heartthrob” Disney Channel Star:

Zac Efron: When it comes to this ‘High School Musical’ actor, I can see why teenagers and yes, even adults, adore this young man. Sure the earwax situation was a bit…gross but Zac is still cute and charming, even if his ears are filthy. When Q-Tips aren’t thrown in his face, Zac proves he can sing, dance and act in roles like ‘Hairspray,’ and ‘Summerland.’ On top of that, his gorgeous and talented co-star/girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens also proves that this young guy is worth having around.

The “Triple Threat” Disney Channel Star:

Ashley Tisdale: Actress, singer, songwriter Ashley Tisdale demonstrates she has what it takes to make it in the showbiz for years to come. From her role as Maddie on ‘The Suite Life of Zack & Cody’ to her performance as Sharpay in the High School Musical movie franchise, Ashley knows she will always stay in the spotlight. Her passion, personality and dedication to her work will make this star last years longer in Hollywood than most of the other actors on the Disney Channel network.

The “One to Steal the Spotlight” Disney Channel Star:

Brenda Song: If you ever watched an episode of ‘The Suite Life with Zack & Cody’ you should realize that show is watchable because of one character: London Tipton. Brenda plays the ditzy spoiled hotel heiress London (yup, an allusion to Paris Hilton) and, if I could say so myself, she does quite an excellent job doing so. Unfortunately, this 21-year-old has yet to truly make it big in Hollywood. Blame it on the Jonas Brothers.

The “Underrated” Disney Channel Star:

Selena Gomez: From all of the actors who found fame on the Disney Channel, Selena, in my opinion, has the most natural acting ability. When you watch her as Alex Russo on ‘The Wizards of Waverly Place’ it’s hard to believe this young starlet is only sixteen. Currently, Selena is better known for her YouTube videos with best friend/other Disney Channel star Demi Lovato. After the two girls posted a clip back in 2008, Miley Cyrus and her friend Mandy uploaded a parody video of Selena and Demi—fuelling rumours the girls were feuding (however, according to their constant Twitter posts to one another, the girls actually seems like “the best of friends!”).

Either way, Selena has everything that Miley lacks. Maturity, self-control and, oh yeah, a good-girl image.

The “Overrated” Disney Channel Star:

Miley Cyrus: Just like with Kevin Jonas and the creepy thing, Miley Cyrus is her own competitor in this category. Even though I can see the allure in ‘Hannah Montana,’ it does not excuse the fact that Miley is a poor role model. By sixteen, Miley appeared in more provocative poses and eyebrow raising behaviour than plenty of other actors who are in their mid twenties. From a girl who apparently comes from a “wholesome family” she needs a bit more control. Miley is well on the path of becoming the next Britney Spears (the mentally unstable one). Just because Miley brings in the money, she’s still relatively a child and needs to be treated and act like one.

Rant ‘N Rave: Taylor Swift

Irene Ogrodnik — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 16:39:31 +0000

When it comes to artists twenty and under, I tend to, how do I put this, ignore them.

If, on the rare occasion, these stars actually pen the music they sing, I have a difficult time relating to their stories about bubblegum and falling madly in love at the age of twelve.

But, in recent years, the likes of Rihanna, Joss Stone, Adele and, more specifically, Taylor Swift, have proved me (*cringe*) wrong.

And no, I do not consider Miley Cyrus or The Jonas Brothers remotely close in that category.

From all of the young artists who have emerged in the last few years or so, Taylor Swift, without a doubt, is my favourite. Although barely 20, Taylor has cemented her place in the country-pop world.

Here are five reasons why I think Taylor will rock for years to come:

5) She refused to sell out: At fifteen, it’s a bit rare to see young artists stand their ground and not give into the cookie-cutter image that many record labels want them to be. According to other media reports, when RCA Records offered Taylor a development deal, the young artist rejected the offer because the record label would not allow her to write her own music. Taylor would later sign with Big Machine Records. And like they say, the rest is history.

4) Her record sales: When Taylor released her self-titled debut album ‘Taylor Swift’ in 2006 (an album in which she wrote or co-wrote all of the songs), it spent eight consecutive weeks at the top of the Billboard Top Country Albums chart and remained there for 24 weeks—an accomplishment achieved in this decade only by two other country stars, The Dixie Chicks and Carrie Underwood. Her current single ‘Love Story’ became the most paid downloaded country song in history.

Did I mention she’s only 19?

3) She’s Joe-less: Yes, the fact that Taylor is no longer dating Joe Jonas is something to be proud of—even if she was dumped. In ten years, Taylor will still be making chart-topping music while The Jonas Brothers (as a trio) will probably be where their blond and older counterparts, Hanson brothers, are right now musically. Somewhere, *fingers crossed*, where no one has to hear them.

2) She’s actually a good girl: Even though she and Miley Cyrus are good friends, they both appear to be quite the opposite. While Miley’s behaviour is constantly under scrutiny (rightfully so), we never see Taylor in any semi-nude or racist photos. Perhaps Miley should take more than just some song writing cues from her elder friend.

1) Her actual songs/lyrics: The New York Times described Taylor the most accurately when they referred to her as “one of pop’s finest songwriters, country’s foremost pragmatist and more in touch with her inner self than most adults.” Listen to her self-titled album or ‘Fearless’ and you will have a hard time believing Taylor is so young. She’s wise beyond her years. Her songs ‘Should’ve Said No’ or ‘I’d Lie’? Straight to the point yet beautiful.

And, most importantly, Taylor proves that just because you are twenty or younger, it doesn’t mean you have to make whiney-like music just to sell hit records.

Rant ‘N Rave: Nicole Scherzinger

Irene Ogrodnik — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 19:41:46 +0000

When The Pussycat Dolls shot to worldwide fame after they released their dance hit “Don’t Cha,” perhaps above and beyond the other group members, critics and fans adored Queen Doll Nicole Scherzinger.

Now, four years later, it seems that the group’s lead vocalist receives more negative criticism than support. On sites like YouTube and other message board forums, countless of “fans” accuse Nicole of constantly providing lead vocals while other vocally talented members, most notably Melody Thornton, rarely, if ever, sing.

But why does that still surprise people?

When the group originally signed their record deal, Nicole was specifically given the role of lead singer. At no point were Thornton, Jessica Sutta, Ashley Roberts, Kimberly Wyatt or ex-member Carmit Bachar given equal status in the group.

So yes, while the name Nicole and The Pussycat Dolls may be more suitable, I have yet to hear the other Dolls complain that they are just merely background dancers to Nicole.

And let’s face it, neither of the other members have any reason to complain. They knew what their role would be right from the gecko. On numerous occasions and in several interviews, founder Robin Antin emphasized that she wanted The Pussycat Dolls to comprise of a leader singer and backup members.

No shock there whatsoever.

Yet, Nicole continuously gets lashed for fulfilling her role—a job that I do not think the other members could live up to.

Melody has an outstanding voice but it is not as strong or versatile as Nicole’s. Nicole’s vocals are more seductive—a key ingredient that makes the PCD so successful. However, should Nicole ever want to quit the group, Melody is the only other member that has the potential to succeed as the lead vocalist.

When it comes to physical appearance, Jessica, perhaps, is even more naturally beautiful than Nicole. However she is not nearly as secure as her and the natural confidence Nicole exudes cannot be taught.
Ashley and Kimberly are, in my view, the group’s best dancers. But that’s just it. Both ladies are dancers above singers. Thus, they do not have the entire package to bring the same commercial success to the group if either provided the lead vocals.

And while I will admit that the other group members are the reason why The Pussycat Dolls are still loved by fans, Nicole is the reason why the group is still topping music charts. Unlike the other members, Nicole penned some of the group’s best hits.

Without her, the group would have a difficult time surviving.

But I will also admit that even Nicole has her own flaws.

I am still puzzled on how it’s possible for Nicole to butcher and mispronounce the words to “Jai Ho.” When A. R. Rahman correctly sings the words in the remix only to have Nicole belt “Jay Ho” right after, pains me.

Who taught her how to read?

But like I said.

Even Nicole has flaws.

But I still love her.

Rant ‘N Rave: The I Hate My Life Songs

Irene Ogrodnik — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 02:44:50 +0000

From time to time, I’m all down for some self-pity music. Once in awhile, I even like (some) lyrics that belt about broken hearts and broken dreams. But while some find such songs always comforting, others find an overuse extremely annoying.

I, of course, agree with the latter.

Let’s face it. We all have problems. Some of us confide our hatred for life on our Facebook statuses or on Twitter (oh you know who you are).

Others, like myself, prefer to keep our sorrow to ourselves.

The best complainers are artists who whine about the roads they’ve paved. Oh and about the millions of dollars they earned. And about how their ridiculous fame is too much for them to handle, as though they had no choice in the matter.

So, without further ado, here’s to the top five whiniest music singles (although there is many more) written by singers who, for one reason or another, think they have it a lot worse than their fans.

(Warning: Do not be alarmed if Simple Plan takes up most of the five spots).

5) ‘Rumors’ by Lindsay Lohan: We should’ve seen at what was to come when Lindsay released first her single ‘Rumors’ years back. She pleaded with the public to quit following her. To stop, you know, spreading rumours about her. Considering Lindsay only really burst into worldwide fame after the release of ‘Mean Girls’ the year prior, her “I’m tired of rumors starting” to her “I’m sick of being followed” to “I’m tired of people lying, saying what they want about me” lyrics were a bit premature. The funny part? The lyrics to this song are even more ridiculous when we look at Lindsay now. From her constant public fights with her now ex-girlfriend Samantha Ronson, to her just plain ridiculous driving habits, this girl doesn’t need anyone to start rumours to make her look bad. Unsurprisingly, this is the only thing she does very well on her own.

4) Tug of War – Carly Rae Jepsen: When I first heard this single on the radio, I couldn’t believe anyone would air this garbage. If you neglect to listen to the Carly’s other songs, you won’t realize that this girl actually has some music with substance. But, based on the single ‘Tug of War’ alone, it’s hard to imagine that this Canadian artist has any lyrical talent. Ahem, it pains me to re-write the lyrics from the chorus ‘Tug of War’ but here it goes:

“Don’t go out with the boys tonight, I won’t sleep a wink, wondering what you’re doing.

Don’t go out with the girls tonight, I will turn to drink, wondering what you’re proving.”

When I hear this song on the radio, I HOPE that he goes out with the girls tonight to prove whatever this artist doesn’t want him to prove. If Carly actually relates to what she spews out of her mouth, she needs to either a) dump this guy if he cannot be trusted or b) not date at all in order to avoid any behaviour that’s bound to resemble Glenn Close’s character in ‘Fatal Attraction.’

3) Lucky – Britney Spears: Oh Britney. She’s so lucky. She’s a star. But she cry cry cries in her lonely heart thinking if there’s nothing missing in [her] life then why do these tears come at night?

Could Britney’s lyrics get any worse? Yes, If You Seek Amy proves it so. However, I will give Britney kudos for one thing when it comes to her single ‘Lucky’. She admits that nothing is missing in her life (except, a few years later, she might say sanity) but that she still is just lonely. How sad. It still doesn’t forgive the fact that everyone who rises to fame in their life still needs to find a way to complain about their different lifestyle and their success. No one proves this point better than number two and number one on this list.

2) Welcome to My Life – Simple Plan: I know there’s a name for bands like Simple Plan. Punk? No. Emo? Not quite. Crap? Yup, that’s it. This band defines everything that is wrong with the music business. Simple Plan’s songs are talentless and redundant. When they sing such lyrics, I want to, excuse my explicitness, rip my ears off. For example: “No you don’t know what it’s like,? when nothing feels all right,? You don’t know what it’s like, To be like meeeeee”

Regardless of how I may come off in my rants, I love my life. And, the fact that this band complains about godknowswhat somehow gives me the urge to shove them into something. But, then again, perhaps I might think differently if I was making big money off my whining and complaining.

1) God Must Hate Me – Simple Plan: When a band sings the lyrics “God must hate me, he cursed me for eternity,” all I have to say is that yes, He does. He hates you. And your music. Just don’t wonder why because, when you sing this type of music, it must be painstakingly obvious.