Dan Fogelburg: Same Auld Lang Syne

      I figured since it is the last week of school-classes literally ended today- then I would dedicate a post to my favorite Christmas song...ever.  Every year, 105.1 seems to play this song to the point where I almost get sick of it. (Notice how I said ALMOST).  This year is a bit different.  The radio stations have been playing music for weeks now.  I know for a fact that 93.3 started playing the Christmas tunes ever since the day after Halloween.  How can I remember this?  Because I was disgusted.  That is seriously way too early to be playing Christmas music.  I mean helloooooo?  We all still need to enjoy Thanksgiving!  Ok, I ranted way too much...

      Anyways,  I am a bit bummed because I have only heard my favorite Christmas song, Dan Fogelburg's Same Auld Lang Syne only two times.  TWO!  Thats it.  If any 105.1 DJ's are reading this, please oh please play this song more.  Last year,  I heard it all the time and this year seems to be a bit different.  Why is that?  It is the most beautiful Christmas song I have ever heard.  You see, my mom is a huge  Dan Fogelburg buff and needless to say, she was very upset the day of his death which was December 17th, 2007. She introduced me to this song, and even at the young age of oh...10 years old, I loved this song. 

Dan Fogelburg Same Auld Lang Syne


    Isn't it beautiful?  Its a song not only about Christmas time, but it is a song about change.  The last few seconds of the song end with the classic New Years Day tune Auld Lang Syne.  This represents the change that these new lovers have to face for the new year as well as their new lives without each other.  It is a song that illustrates an appreciation for an old love and the experience that is had with that person.  Don't we all wish we could run into our ex in this romantic way? *Sigh* 
    Anyways, POINT IS- It's so romantic and this song NEEDS to be played more.  It just needs to.  I am so sick of hearing Santa Baby and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Clause.  Frankly, those Christmas songs just disturb me.


"We drank our toast to innocence...
                   We drank our toast to now."

Hairbands...

    Can I just start this post by writing...I LOVE HAIRBANDS! They are my guilty pleasure and weakness. Seriously, don't laugh-you know you love them too.  Whitesnake? Eddie Money (he may not count as a hairband but he rocks) Def Leppard, you name it.  They rock.  I mean anything that has a synthesizer in it seriously makes me want to drop everything and just rock out.  I have this dance that I so when I hear a great hairband song.  I obviously will not share with you, but it basically consists of a dance that looks much like a dance that Saved by the Bell's Kelly Kapowski would do at a Bayside dance.   Lots of stomps, hair swaying and snaps. (picture it.) Got it?  Okay, now lets look at some great songs by the artists I previously named in this post...

Def Leppard: Photograph

  Ok so great synth right?  You might think its cheesy at first listen, but listen to those awesome electric guitars that are played during the chorus!  Yeah, I lied before- there is more guitar on this song than synth and its great.   And how about the end of the song when lead singer Joe Elliot  hits that killer note.  The whole song just builds to one huge climax and thats the type of song that drives me wild. Take a moment and listen to the actual instruments mixed with passionate vocals and you may change your mind on this "cheesy" song.  Stop lying to yourself.  This song rocks and you know it.

Eddie Money: Walk on Water

    I said it before, Eddie Money doesn't necessarily count as a hairband I know, but they make me feel the same emotion that I feel when I listen to any hairband and that is...SEXY.  Too much? Maybe, but seriously that is what all of these songs make a girl feel.   I think its the lyrics.  Every girls wants to hear a guy say these things to them because it makes them feel sexy!  The guys in these hairbands sure know how to make a woman feel worshipped and desired.  Guys, take notes.  Even if you don't really mean the words-just say it....it may drive your lady insane. (in a good way of course)

Whitesnake: Now You're Gone

Ok, this is a song that my older sister makes fun of me for LOVING. This is the song where I break out the "Kelly Kapowski Dance".  Its amazing.  I do the dance and my sister just stares, rolls her eyes and laughs. Sad right?  Its so wrong that its right.  Again, plain and to the point lyrics that may seem predictable, but it is exactly what a girl wants to hear.  To relate this back to the first song by Def Leppard, it is a song that builds until the very end.  Listen to the electric guitar bridge and you will see what I mean.   Then it gets quiet and you get a simple vocal by lead singer David Coverdale and a synth.  Thats it.  That simplicity makes the "come back" as I call it, all the more exciting.  Ah words can not describe my love for this song.

So there you have it.  I have a weakness for hairbands and I am not ashamed to admit it.  Deep down, I believe that every woman does.  How can they not?!  And again boys...take notes!  This is how you woo a lady.

Lindsey Buckingham Solo Album

Now I know I have written a lot about my man Bruce Springsteen, but there is also another man in my life and his name is Lindsey Buckingham.  Lindsey Buckingham.  We all know, or we all should know, that Lindsey Buckingham is the lead guitarist for the classic rock band Fleetwood Mac.  But did we know that he too embarks on solo tours?  Thats right.  Buckingham must have felt a little jealous when his ex girlfriend and band mate Stevie Nicks went off and became a success not only in Fleetwood Mac but in her solo career as well.  He wanted the same success as a solo artists.

  Unfortunately, his success didn't come as easy as Nicks'.  The problem with Buckingham's solo work seems to be that he overdubbed much of his work which made it sounds really phony and fake.  Some of his work doesn't sound the way he does live which I have to say is very unfortunate.  I have had the pleasure to see him on his two most recent solo tours, Under the Skin as well as Gift of Screws, and both of his CD's do not do him justice as to the great musician that he is.  Although both CD's are great,seeing him live is simply out of this world.

I have never seen such great finger picking guitar from one man.  He doesn't even use a pick!  That must hurt a lot to say the least...
Anyways, his homepage declares that he will be releasing a solo album early next year!  If any of you readers have not had a chance to hear this musician play live, I recommend you buy tickets to his next show.  I can't predict how much tickets will cost (they always seem to cost a fortune!) but I can guarantee you that you money will go towards a good cause.  Lindsey Buckingham is a true musician.  Lindsey Buckingham and Bruce Springsteen are tied for creative ability....and that means a lot coming from an avid Springsteen fan!

Again, like I mentioned before, Lindsey Buckingham is much better live than his actual released CD's.  I get so frustrated with him because his CD's don't do him justice as a musician!  My advice?  I think it would be best for Buckingham to release a CD of his liver performances.  I think if he did so, then he would sell much more. 

Compare the CD version to the live version...

Trouble-Law and Order Album from 1981

Trouble-live in 2006

Get tickets and see him live next year! The actual date of the release of his new CD has not yet been announced, but If I know how Buckingham works....it will be release, then tour and I can't wait to see him.

Bruce Springsteen on Jimmy Fallon...this morning.

  Can I just start off by saying that I am greatly dissapointed in myself.  I knew that Bruce was going to be on Jimmy Fallon as far back as a week ago.  I said that I was "attending the event" on facebook, and I, Jillian Dennis-Skillings, your very own JDSkills.....forgot.

  I woke up early this morning at 3:00 AM and I couldn't get back to sleep.  I was thinking about a lot of things and then out of the blue I say out loud "I missed Bruce on Jimmy Fallon!! No!"  But then I soon realized that like any other thing that I may forget to watch on television, it would soon be streaming on Youtube. Thank you Youtube for saving a Bruce fan from breing greatly depressed for a day.  Here is the clips that I found on Youtube.  Jimmy Fallon dedicated the whole one hour segement to The Boss himself.  If any of you haven't heard, Bruce Springsteen just realeased a box set entitled The Promise: The Darkness on the Edge of Town Story.  This box set includes 3 CDs and 3 DVDs.    During the making of Darkness on the Edge of Town, Springsteen recorded a total of over 60 songs.  Those songs comprise the three CDs.  The three DVD's are unrelased footage of concerts that have never seen the light of day...until now.

Here are the three clips I could find on Youtube.com...

Funny Intro Jimmy Fallon as Niel Young and Bruce as well....Bruce.  They are doing their own version of Willow's Whip My Hair. haha


Interview Part 1


Interview Part 2


Because the Night (written by Bruce Springsteen and Patti Smith)  Radio version that you ussually hear is recorded by Patti Smith

Kings of Leon on Tour

    It seems that I have been listening to this band more and more each and every day.  I can remember driving in the car and listening to 92.9 WBOS (because its more music less blah blah blah...) and hearing KOL (Kings of Leon abbrev) hit song "Use Somebody" for the first time. Might I add that I love listening to 92.9 WBOS because it seems like they play the hits before they actually become hits-if that makes any sense.  "Use Somebody" seemed to be playing on  there for months before the song actually became a hit and was played on popular radio stations such as 92.3 (92 pro FM Providence) etc.
Anyways...
There is something very haunting in this song that I can't seem to put my finger on  It seems so primal and desperate in a sense.  I think it is not only the guitar work, but that wailing sound that comes from drummer Nathan Followill.  The song just builds and builds and reaches a huge anticipated climax at the end of the song.  Its everything that a listener would want in a song and more.  I love how the song starts with a bang and then the "Oh waho Oh waho wahoooo!" ( good impression right?) then it suddenly gets quiet and then Anthony Followill sings the opening versus.  Suddenly, Cameron Followill comes in with the guitar along with the fast pace drums once again.  Words can't even describe this song.  Although it is going on a over a year old, it still sends shivers up my spine.  Grab a sweater and take a look at this video.


  You may be wondering.."Why is she writing to me of a song that has been on the radio for a year?"  Well, I am for two reasons, 1.) It's just that good...still.  and 2.)  Kings of Leon has released a new album and is currently on tour.  The brother band is coming to the Boston TD Banknorth on Sunday, November 14th 2010.  The new album is entitled "Come Around Sundown" and their single is on the radio today.  That song is called "Radioactive" and its awesome.  Again, harmonies are right on along with great instrumental use and range.  I wish I could see them live in Boston!  I heard they put on an amazing show, so please if you can, try and see them this coming weekend.  I wish I could!

Taylor Swift's release of her new album "Speak Now"

  I have to admit, I was a bit harsh on T-Swiz a few posts back.  I never meant to speak badly of her, its just when you put her next to the enchanting Stevie Nicks it is like comparing apples to oranges.  They are both fruit, but one is clearly better than the other...obviously the apple (aka Stevie Nicks).  This is just my opinion...(mind you, this opinion comes from the mind of a Fleetwood Mac fanatic. Seriously, follow me on my other blog- "The Fleetwood Mac Fill.")
  Swifts most recent record entitled "Speak Now" was released last week on October 24th.  This week she has been busy making appearances on shows such as the "Today Show" and "Regis and Kelly".  I was curious, and logged into my Itunes account to check out the "hit CD".  I took a listen and let me tell you, I eat my words.  This record is light years better than her last.  Finally, I can see somewhat of a similarity between her and Nicks in the fact that she is a songwriter.  Swift stated in an interview that she wrote every single one of her songs.  She was harder on herself on this album, for she knew each song was her responsibility.  She didn't have anyone else to rely on other than herself, and that is the way it should be.   It is so refreshing to hear a song from a girl who actually writes her own songs.  It gives her credibility and makes us listeners feel more connected to her not only as a songwriter but as a person. 
  Her last album entitled "Fearless" was a very successful album with a happy and upbeat feel to it.  She has grown up in the past year, and her new songs prove it.  She is finally writing on a more personal level and even admits that each song is about every one of her ex boyfriends.  Some guys have more than one song about them! It is sad that we live in a world today where it is surprising that songwriters are actually writing their own songs.  I'm not talking about writing their own songs with assistance from an assistant, but truly taking the time to sit down and write as if they are ripping out a page from their diary.  It is a risk to put your personal life out there, but in order to be a successful songwriter, that is the risk that one sometimes may need to take.  I feel as though the great artists are the ones who sacrifice their sanity for the success of their career.  I mean take a look back in music history.  I feel as though every person who had a success in the music business had to sacrifice their sanity in some way. I guess it is just part of being a true tortured artist.
  So back to Swifts new release.  I haven't had a chance to listen to every song completely, but I have listened to about eight out of the fourteen and they really do touch me on a personal level.  Every song is about a romantic relationship, whether it be the sugar-sweet stage of a budding romance, or the uncontrollable unraveling of the end of a relationship.  For example, "Sparks Fly" is a song that seem to perfectly describe the excitement and allure of a new relationship.  The first kiss, the first touch, everything is pure magic and that feeling is perfectly described within this song.  "Haunted" is literally just that.  It is literally a haunting song from the string work to the ever so truthful lyrics.  It is a song that perfectly describes the feeling of a unraveling of a relationship.  All of a sudden, the rug is slipped out from you, and you no longer feel secure.  You know that the relationship is ending and are doing everything in your power to make it feel as  good as it felt when you were in the "sugar" stage of the relationship.  Again, the instrumental use perfectly illustrates the frustration and vulnerability of a girl losing her love as well as her security.  "Last Kiss" and "Enchanted to Meet You" seem as though they are much like sweet goodbyes to a relationship that has ended.  They address the fact that not relationships need to end badly.  Last Kiss is a song that addresses a breakup and it is very touching (and sad I must admit).  "Enchanted to Meet You" is a thank you to the special person.  Sometimes, when a relationship ends, it doesn't have to be bad.  It gives that person a chance to look back on what they had and be thankful for that experience that they had with that person. Enchanted to Meet You describes the mindset of a girl who met a man who captivated her.  She may never see him again, but she wanted to let him know that he was special to her.  Who knows, maybe she will see him again-you cant plan life.  Things all happen for a reason.  She will probably never meet someone quite like him again, but she is thankful that she had the chance to be with him.  She was enchanted to meet him.  Sometimes, things end in order for new beginning to start.  In my eyes, Swifts career as a true songwriter has begun with this great new album.

Below is  one of my favorites from the album .  Here is "Last Kiss"  Ahh I'll admit it...the song makes my eyes water! :)  Such a beautiful and real song of the bittersweet moments of a relationship.


Might as well give you "Enchanted to Meet You"

    Tonight I am not going to write of music in the media, but I will write of music that we discussed in my writing class.  We watched a film on "Zines" which can have multiple definitions, but if I had to choose one, I would say that it would be defined as " a self-published magazine regarding a fanatical interest."  We watched the film and it stirred up different emotions within me.  Part of me understood where these "fanatics" were coming from , for we all some type of obsession in some way shape or form.  But another part of me was upset at the way these people seemed seemed to look down upon those who were successful in their own right.  I understand their point of  view in a sense. They feel as though once you become recognized from a successful corporation (lets say a successful magazine) then you lose who you are as an artist.  In class we discussed the fact that the good thing about Zines is the fact that the audience and the artist themselves seem to have more open communication with each other.  There is not that wall of corporation that is blocking you from the artist which can make some artists feel that they have a better connection with their audience.
  The argument that these "zinesters" make is regarding let say music is "How can you have a connection with an artist when you are one of thousands jam packed in a huge stadium?"  I can understand this point of view, but at the same time I also know that it is possible to have a connection with an artists even if you are one in a million.  The connection is made if you are a good artist.  If you have that "it" factor, then you can make that connection.  I have been to many different concerts of all different genres and I feel as though a person can decipher if an artist is truly a good artist based on the connection that they feel with them at a live concert.  For example, I went to a Fray concert last Fall shortly after (well maybe not shortly but months after) a Bruce Springsteen concert.  The difference was that of night and day for I couldn't make any connection at The Fray concert.  Although the music sounded great, I felt as thought they were just there to play and that was it.  The only thing that I could honestly focus on was the huge array of cell phone "lights" and bad singing by the audience.  I know I use Springsteen as an example quite often, but it is all in good reason.  I have attended his concerts and the experience is nothing short of a music revival.  He has the audience in the palm of his hand and we are  willing to be there.

Springsteen and the E-Street Band were always fully involved in the way that they were going to sound to their audience.  Here they are working in the studio.

  Springsteen is a perfect example of a successful artist that is still able to make a connection with his audience.  Do we physically always have to make a connection with the artist?  I mean, sure I would love a handwritten letter from Bruce Springsteen mailed to my door, but in all actuality that won't happen and I am perfectly fine with that.  I feel as though I already have that personal connection with the artist by listening to their songs and relating them to my own life.  The fact of the matter is that it is quite easy for an artist to lose their identity when being under the name a successful record label.  However, I believe that the artist has to create a certain balance between themselves and the record label.  Springsteen was an artist who could have lost his identity through the record label. After the successful "Born to Run" album, he had  a desire to want to take his music into his own hands.  Following many lawsuits, he finally regained his voice and was able to produce his next album. The artist first needs to gain and appreciate the help that they are getting from the record label, and then they can have the luxury to make changes later on.  Without that initial signing with a successful record label, there would not be albums. If I were a musician, I would thank my lucky stars that I was signed by a huge record company.  When push comes to shove, all humans want to be heard.  Every artist wants to get their message out to someone who can relate to their music.  Once you become successful, then you can have the luxury to make decisions for the way in which you want to portray yourself to your audience.  I believe that a lot of artists in my present generation simply get swallowed by a record label and do not create that balance of remaining true to themselves while also listening to the direction of the label.  I feel as though they get lazy and are too wrapped up in the glamour of the music industry and forget about who they are as artists.  In all actuality, the music industry shouldn't be glamours, or at least it wasn't thirty years ago.  Musicians struggled for their recognition and now it seems as though only the pretty faces can get a record label. 
   I want to wrap this up by just stating that there is no reason for  a person to blame another for being successful. You can express yourself through a successful magazine just like you would through a zine, but the zinesters in the film seemed to stubborn to negotiate with corporations.  Life is all one big compromise for goodness sake!  I mean,  a lot of their writing is great and unique and it probably should be read by many different people, but it will never get the chance for these writers are too stubborn to compromise with a successful corporation.  They need to grow up, and negotiate in order to get their voices heard.  Just because you are writing for a successful magazine, doesn't by any way mean that you are losing who you are as a person.  If these writers are so good then they should take on that challenge and see if they can write for a successful company without losing thier own identity.  That's the challenge that every writer has to deal with and it is only normal.  I felt such a sense of immaturity coming from these writers.  I felt as though they were complaining and felt a sense of sadness from each person in the film. If they know who they are as a writer and as a person, then they should find no struggle with losing their identity in their writing. 

Bruce Springsteen HBO Special "The Promise: The Making of Darkness on the Edge of Town"

It has been two days since "The Promise: The Making of the Darkness on the Edge of Town", I still can not seem to get over it.  I have always been a big Bruce fan.  After watching this powerful and informative documentary, I am that much more in love with this musician.  In 1975, Bruce Springsteen was a household name in music.  He had huge success with his 1975 album "Born to Run" and when that tour was finished, he left fans wondering what his next album would be like.  Would it be as successful?  Would he have the same sound? When will it be out?
   The three  years between "Born to Run" and "The Darkness on the Edge of Town" were not easy. Lawsuits involving Springsteen and his then manager Mike Appel were in the works.  He was under Appel's management for the Born to Run album, and although he was successful with Appel, he wanted to be able to produce is own album.  Until the lawsuit was settled, Springsteen was not able to enter the studio without Appel, or a producer that was approved by Mike Appel.  This whole process took about a year, and it left the fans wondering "Where is this guy Bruce Springsteen?"  The future of Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band was looking cloudy.  Clouds of doubt hovered over their heads.  They didn't want to be one of those bands who were successful one day and then gone the next.
 Finally, Springsteen gained control and  the band was able to get in the studio and start recording their next album.  Springsteen didn't want to have that same "wall of sound" (big sound) that he had in his 1975 "Born to Run" album.  Although it was successful, he didn't want to have two albums that sounded the same.   The 1975 album also deserved that big sound, for it was an album that illustrated living life without abandon.  When listening to the album, you do not only hear songs, but you hear stories.  When asked about the album, Springsteen describes that "It can all be taken place in the course of one evening in all these different locations.  All these different stories on one long summer night." Springsteen describes the theme of the album perfectly in this HBO documentary named "Wings for Wheels:  The Making of Born to Run".  Check out the whole clip to step into this wonderful album...


  Like stated before, the years in between Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town were dreary, dark and confusing.  This feeling is reflected in the album.  The wild abandon of Born to Run, was halted with unavoidable consequences of becoming a famous rock star.  Springsteen became was now a well-known name and had to become his own Boss (maybe thats how he got the name?) in order to be successful in his next record.  The theme of this album differs greatly from "Born to Run" in the sense that it is the illustration of  a man coming to terms with adulthood.  There is a compromise that must be made between logic and abandon.  Watch this clip from "The Promise:The Making of the Darkness on the Edge of Town" and you will get a sense of the difference of the two albums.








Springsteen 2008 Magic Tour:  Thats me with my fist straight in air!



    So after watching this amazing documentary, I'm left wondering if we have any true singer/songwriters anymore.  I think of the music and bands of my generation such as Kings of Leon, Maroon Five, the Fray;and even though they are all great bands, there is just something missing.  I honestly don't think that these bands would be in the studio recording day after day, month after month trying to perfect the sound of their album.  I don't feel as they have the patience.  Or maybe they would have their assistants run around for them to make their job easier?  They have gotten their success too soon.  They haven't paid their dues.  It has been far to easy for them.  If you were to go back in time, these bands simply wouldn't last.  I have seen all of these bands live and  I have seen Bruce Springsteen live.  The difference is like night and day.  I don't feel a true connection with any of the bands of my generation and that is sad. Springsteen concerts are like a music revival.  Its an experience that I can not put into words.  After over twenty five years, this man is still alive and able to bring a crowd to their feet.  He is able to relate to both young and old.  His music sends a universal message of desire, hunger and need.  When I listen to the music on the radio today...all I can hear...are little boys whining.  I won't want to hear that in twenty five years...

Goo Goo Dolls Live at the Ryan Center: Review

Hey all! 
  Its just about one month in the Fall semester and if you are a college student, you can agree with me when I say it has been one long week.  Its that time where professors start giving projects and tests and it seems to be flying at us all at once.  Luckily, midweek of this past week (Wednesday September 29th) I was able to take a break and watch 90's rock band The Goo Goo Dolls perform at the Ryan Center.  They performed new songs from their upcoming album "Something for the Rest of Us" as well as old classic songs that we all grew up on in the 90's.
  I wanted to get tickets for ground level standing-aka the best spot to be for a rock concert-but I settled for some pretty good seats.  My friends and I got there about fifteen minutes before the show was to start at 8:00.  I called ahead of time and found out that there was going to be an opening band for the Goo Goo Dolls.  I asked if they knew who it was and they didn't.  I didn't expect anything special from the opening band so I figured I wasn't missing much.



"The Time Blane Band"  Lead singer Tim Blane his in the middle with the whit shirt

    We got to our seats, talked, took pictures and were just antsy for the show to begin.  All of a sudden we hear a saxophone being played on the stage.  First thing that come to our minds "Are there any songs by the Goo Goo Dolls that start with a saxophone?"  We thought for a moment and then a four other members emerge from the darkness. They introduce themselves as the Tim Blane Band from Boston Massachusetts., and let me tell you-they were an awesome opener.  Their sound was a mix of soft rock ( Think The Fray or John Mayer) and Louisiana Stomp.  They seemed to get everyones attention with their catchy songs and smooth voices.  I know that they got my attention! As soon as I got home I checked out their site, and you should too!  My favorite song by them is called "Fan of Your Eyes".  It is a ,sweet song with great vocals that remind me a lot of John Mayer.  I hope more recognition is brought to this band, for I see a lot of potential in their songs.  We left the show a few minutes early before everyone else and were able to meet The Tim Blane Band and not only were they great musicians, but they were cool nice guys as well. I wish them the best of luck!

The Goo Goo Dolls

  Phew! My hands hurt from typing...and that was just the opening band!  So the Tim Blane Band left the stage about half past eight and then the lights dim to a dark shade of red.  This was it!  The Goo Goo Dolls hit the stage with a new song off their new album-I forget the name I'm sorry :(.  I'm sure it was a great song, but it was tough opening with a new song, for most of the audience didn't know the words.  I thought it would have been smarter to open with an upbeat well known song such as "Broadway" or "Slide" but its okay!  Everyone still yelled and jumped to their feet simply because we were so excited to see them right in front of us!  Again, they performed their new songs but they also performed a great deal of their old songs.   It was my first time seeing the Goo Goo Dolls and to my surprise, they sounded just as good live as the do on the radio.  Usually when seeing a band live, you expect them to have a rougher, "less clean" sound, but this was not the case with the Goo Goo Dolls.  The fact that they sound so great live shows the quality of this band.  They thanks us for being fans and supporting them for fifteen years.  After seeing them live, I can tell you that I will continue supporting them.  They were great.  The Goo Goo Dolls were simply Goo Goo Gooooood!

-JDSkills

Announcement: The New Judges of American Idol...



L-R: Randy Jackson, Jennifer Lopez,Steven Tyler and Ryan Seacrest

   So its official guys, Jennifer Lopez is going to be one of the new judges on American Idol.  Is anyone else out there extremely disappointed?  I mean seriously, the last time I listened to Jennifer Lopez was when she was banging out the beat in 2002 with her hit "Jenny from the Block".  And to say that song was a hit...is me just being nice.
     I might sound harsh but come on.  The only thing that J-Lo left in the entertainment industry was her cool abbreviated named from Jennifer Lopez to J-Lo and poor acting in a sprinkling of movies.  I  mean, aren't judges supposed to be qualified in some way shape or form? I understand that Simon Cowell left the show because he wanted to branch out and do different things as well as Kara Dioguardi. Ellen DeGeneres too left the panel after only one season.  People were originally shocked with DeGeneres joining the panel in the first place, but at least she had humor.  She was in a way, "the eye of the public".  The only person who is left to judge is Randy Jackson.  Jackson has qualifications for he has experience with the music industry.  He played with anthem rock band "Journey" on their 1986 "Raised on the Radio" album.  So why Lopez?  I just don't understand it...

  However, the other new judge I am very impressed with.  Rehab or not, Aerosmith's very own Steven Tyler will be the other new face on the judging panel.  Tyler is an incredible musician who holds a tremendous amount of credibility.  I hope he will take the place of Cowell and give the contestants honest and valuable opinions.
 To compare Tyler and Lopez is like comparing night and day.  The brilliance with choosing Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler, is the fact that he not only reaches out to the older generation, but he reaches out to the younger generation.  I am a twenty-one year old girl and have plenty of friends who I know would KILL to go see Aerosmith on tour. There are so many awesome Aerosmith songs that it is too hard to count. 


Doesn't this song just seem to send you to another planet?  Its just that good...  And that song is simply scratching the surface of amazing Aerosmith songs.  After over twenty-five years, Tyler is still rocking and going strong.  Sure he has been in and out of rehab...but what real rock star hasn't? -not many.  He is a true musician and as a contestant, I would be honored as well as humbled to know that one of rock musics greatest singers is critiquing my performance. I mean hell, if I were a contestant I would hope that he would end my critique with his sexy infamous rock star scream!  Too far?  Can't help it.  I'm too excited about this new judge!  J-Lo however is another story.  I'm not too thrilled with Idol's choice on this one.  I  simply do not find her credible and I believe that American Idol may possibly suffer the consequences. 



Steven Tyler



  I am aware that previous judge Simon Cowell was painted to be the "bad guy" out of the four judges, but in all actuality he was the voice of truth.  He was the only judge who seemed to know what he was talking about.  Yes, the audience always seemed to boo his negative remarks, but he was always saying what we were actually thinking.  Kara Dioguardi always seemed to be analyzed by viewers.  People (from my experience) seemed to never understand why Dioguardi was a credible judge.  I bet those same people are in favor of the idiotic choice of having Lopez become the new judge.  Dioguardi was credible for the fact that she was not only a singer/songwriter herself, but she also took part in the discovery of present day singer Jason Derulo.  She helped him become the success that he is today.  Both judges had credibility and I feel as though the only new judge that can fill their shoes is Steven Tyler.  We will have to see what the future holds with J-Lo as one of the new judges. As of right now...hopes aren't too high.

MTV Video Music Awards: Might as well call it the Oscars.

 As I write this to you, the VMA's are flashing across the television screen.  If you're confused and thinking "Jillian, What are you talking about?  I thought the VMA's were on this past Sunday?"  then you are correct.  MTV has been airing repeats of this award show for the past week.  This brings me to my exact point of this post.  The media sure is important in our lives and especially in the entertainment industry, but when do we say "enough is enough."?  Its as though we are smothered with media and publicity within the music industry.  By doing this, the mystery and authenticity of the music itself is altered.  I mean I knew that there was going to be something with Kanye and Taylor simply because it was expected. 
    We all know what happened at last years VMA's with Taylor Swift and Kanye West.  If you are part of the rare five people who didn't catch what happened then here ya go.  So yeah we know that Taylor was dissed by Kanye and that was the talk of the town for months.  Then Twitter gets involved and we hear that Kanye is apologizing to Taylor and all the problems he caused. But seriously, the fact that this incident was ALL the media could talk about is nothing short of predictable in the music industry these days.  We didn't hear anything about any good music did we?  From what I can remember we sure didn't.  Let's face it, this years VMAs weren't much different.  All I could hear about was Lady's Gaga's meat outfit and then Justin Biebers cute dance moves.  I get it, when something big happends on television, then of course the media is going to grab it and let us hear about it day after day-but did you ever really think what that tells us about the actual MUSIC in our day?  Not much...

    So this past Sunday we had the VMA's and of course there was all that hype on the Taylor Swift and Kanye contreversy.  There were rumours floating around that Swift and Kayne were to perform a song together, but the two decided to sing thier own songs which shadowed the incident that occurred a year earlier.  Swift did a song called "Innocent" and the performance started with a shot of a television showing the dreaded interuption incident that happened a year ago.  Then we see Swift apparently watching that same televison with an expression of sadness.  Ok,  Taylor I get it-you were hurt by Kanye's outburst but you are recognizing what went down and forgive him and his child-like faults. But come on Taylor, wouldn't it be better if you just got up on that stage and put Kanye in his place by a great performance?  If anything, this performance highlighted the fact that her live vocals aren't very strong.  It is one thing to have a unique voice, but in this performance she sounded weak and lacked stage presense to say the least.

  Then Kanye sang a song that gave a "toast to the douchebags and a**holes"-classy.  Does this make him look strong?  Mmmm, not so much.  Lets take a listen to the way he is actually "singing" the song.  Its shaky and it sounds like a little boy trying to sing in his third grade talent show for god's sake!  Both Swift and West simply look like victims in the situation rather than classic artists.  They are simply actors pretending to be singers. If they were true artists, then they would learn from true artists of the past generation.  Swift is a wonderful girl who writes her own songs, but she could take a lesson from the singer/songwriter Stevie Nicks.  Nicks is and was known for her unique voice.  There were plenty people who had negetive opinions on her voice but it was undeniable that she had an amazing stage presence.  Check out this clip of Nicks' 1976 performance of "Rhiannon" with Fleetwood Mac (check it out especially at mark 4:15 onward).  It leaves me speechless everytime.  Swift has been compared to Stevie Nicks for her songwriting abilities. -(afterall, it is a shock that musicians write thier own songs these days.)  As far as live stage performance, there is no comparison between Nicks and Swift. Take notes Swift....

    All I can say is that technology, whether it be tv, text, twitter, facebook etc is slowly destroying our music industry.  Sure Kayne West is outspoken and rude, but so was the great Warren Zevon. Now the late Zevon  was known for being outspoken, and he didn't give a care whether he offended anyone or not.  You wouldn't catch him apologizing to the little old lady who got killed by that werewolf would you?  Sure Zevon didn't have access to Twitter, but you wouldn't see him trying to apologize for his previous actions if he had the chance.

  Good and classic rock music is supposed to be unrehearsed, natural and unpredictable.  If anything, the VMA's of this year were predictable.  It shows that these entertainers are just that...entertainers.  They love the attention and they love the media.  I mean sure we should have felt bad for Taylor Swift when Kanye West interuppted her acceptence speech at the 2009 VMAs.  It was a sad scene yes, but lets get real.  If anything, Kanye did Swift a favor by his outburst, for it gave Swift even more spotlight than she had before.  So I'll leave you with this final question.  What is it that we love about the music industry?  Do we love the good music or do we love the act?  You decide...