favorite song friday: trouble

"Trouble" is a new song from Iggy Azalea featuring Jennifer Hudson. After hearing it, you might think it should be credited the other way around ...

favorite song friday: boom clap

I'm not a big fan of doctor shows or young-teens-who-are-dying love stories, so I gave the film The Fault in Our Stars a miss. But I have to admit that I really like this song, "Boom Clap," from the movie, by Charli XCX. The title also seems an appropriate choice for today's boom booms and fireworks.

The young Brit, born Charlotte Emma Aitchison, also sings the best part of the Iggy Azalea hit "Fancy," which is played endlessly on the radio these days, as well as writing Icona Pop's hit song "I Love It."

favorite song friday: not that iggy ...

Pop culture likes to seize on something new and then shove it down everyone's throat until they like it. At least that is how it seems sometimes, with this or that hot new actor or actress appearing in seemingly every movie (Jessica Chastain, anyone?) until the collective audience either gobbles them up or spits them back. This week's omnipresent voice in pop music is Iggy Azalea, an Australian rapper/singer whose birth name is Amethyst Amelia Kelly. What, no one thought Amethyst was an interesting enough name?

I have to admit that her current pop hit "Fancy" is extremely catchy. And how could you not like a video that spoofs the classic comedy (and a personal fave) Clueless? I like that she is a female rapper, with just as much attitude as the boys' club. But I also must confess that I'm a bit disappointed that the singing part of the song, the "I'm so fancy" chorus, is not sung by Azalea, but by Charli XCX (who sounds a lot like Gwen Stefani).

Azalea also shows up on another current chart climber, Ariana Grande's debut single, "Problem." That is also an incredibly catchy song, but I find Grande's voice high, monotone, and chalkboard-scratchy. Listen at your own risk.