favorite song friday:

I've had this ear worm in my head on and off for a day. I love its laid-back, upbeat vibe. As ear worms go, it's not a bad one to have, or as the song goes, "Not A Bad Thing." In lieu of an in-performance video, a supposed "true story" When Harry Met Sally-like short film has been made to the song, about an unknown young couple whose proposal was seen on a New York City subway train.

favorite song friday: pharrell and girl just want to have fun

Yes, I'm still on a Pharrell Williams kick, and you should be too. I just picked up his new CD, Girl, and am enjoying listening to it on repeat in the car. The über-infectious "Happy" is smack-dab in the middle of things. It is still a stand-out tune, but there are other treasures as well.

Pharrell was all over the charts this past year with collaborations with Daft Punk on "Get Lucky" and Robin Thicke on "Blurred Lines" — both huge hit records. He has proved himself as a performer and producer, working with everyone from Mariah Carey to Britney Spears to Jay Z. Girl has Pharrell playing to his strengths as both a producer and performer. He pulls in some great talent on a number of tracks, but also showcases his smooth falsetto, great phrasing, and love of all musical genres on many of the tracks.

This one goes out to all the lovers
What can we do? We're helpless romantics
We can not help who we're attracted to
So let's all dance, and elevate each other — "Marilyn Monroe"

Girl has a retro-feel, with Pharrell sharing his love of classic Motown, 70s disco, 80's pop, and just about anything and everything that has a great beat. But the record never seems dated or a pastiche. Pharrell loves beats and knows how to use them. Some of the stand-out tracks include:

"Marilyn Monroe," which starts off the album.

"Brand New," with Pharrell and Justin Timberlake evoking Stevie Wonder and The Jackson 5 while they trade verses in this upbeat jam.

Honey, you got me feelin' (brand new)
You got me feelin' (brand new)
Like the tag's still on me
Got the tags still on me
Jumpin' 'round in your bag
Jumpin' 'round in your bag
So good morning, ooh girl
You are the feeling I'm jammin' to (brand new)
You are the feeling I'm jammin' to (brand new)
Like the tag's still on me
Got the tags still on me — "Brand New"

The supremely silly but always fun"Hunter" is definitely a nod towards the '80s as well as an homage to bands like Duran Duran, Blondie, and the B52s. It also comes the closest to evoking last summer's smash, "Blurred Lines."

Miley Cyrus turns up for vocals on a bouncy track called "Come Get It Bae."

And Pharrell apparently can't get enough of Daft Punk (or vice-versa), who join him on the groovy "Gust of Wind".

Other featured artists include Alicia Keys who duets with Pharrell on "I Know Who You Are," Timbaland, and Kelly Osborne.

Although "Happy" is undoubtedly the sunniest song on the record, it is impossible to listen to the rest of Girl and not smile. Celebrating women and music and love, Pharrell and Girl just want to have fun.

favorite song friday: top songs of 2013

I'm paying a lot more attention to pop music these days, primarily because I have a tween daughter who has an obsession with a certain British boy band, which forces me to keep up. But happily the soundtrack of our lives, as I drive about town, is not limited solely to the dulcet tones of the boys of One Direction. Some of my favorite songs of the year were actually in Billboard's list of top-ten singles for 2013.

Here are my top ten faves:

"Home," by Phillip Phillips (13 weeks in top 10, peaked at #6)

"Thrift Shop," by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, featuring Wanz (21 weeks in top 10, peaked at #1)

"Mirrors," by Justin Timberlake (15 weeks in top 10, peaked at #2)

"Get Lucky," by Daft Punk, featuring Pharrell Williams (15 weeks in top 10, peaked at #2)

Wunderkind Lorde had a very good year

"Summertime Sadness (Remix)," by Lana Del Rey, featuring Cedric Gervais (8 weeks in top 10, peaked at #6)

These songs are still currently in the top ten:

"Royals," by Lorde (17 weeks in top 10, peaked at #1)

"Counting Stars," by OneRepublic (9 weeks in top 10, peaked at #3)

Lana Del Rey had a surprise hit

"The Monster," by Eminem featuring Rihanna (8 weeks in top 10, peaked at #1)

"Story of My Life," by One Direction (4 weeks in top 10, peaked at #6)

"Timber," by Pitbull featuring Kesha (6 weeks in top 10, peaked at #2)

favorite song friday: monster

I guess I can hold off having to deal with Christmas music a little longer by featuring this song by Eminem, featuring Rihanna, which deserves all of the airplay it's been getting. These two artists seem a perfect blend, much more so than another song that I like, "Holy Grail," where the melodic (Timberlake) and rap (Jay Z) seemed more disjointed.


Plus, Eminem's self-searching lyrics actually seem to be about something here, as opposed to Jay Z's more typical fame-posturing. Eminem also hasn't released a studio-produced video and the song, which has been out since the end of October, is still #1. What can I say? I like it.

award shows ... a new era

I watched The American Music Awards with the kid last night. It was interesting. This is far from the first awards show she has watched with me, but I have to say, that the culture balance seems to have shifted when I wasn't looking. I seemed to be watching the show with her. Just a subtle difference, yes, but the kid is so savvy about current music she puts her pop culture maven momma to shame.

One Direction: These guys are the a nine year old's dream

Katy Perry: Who thought this was a good idea?

To start, she was excited that the host was Pitbull. And of course thrilled to bits that her fave band One Direction were on hand and performed (and won best Pop/Rock album & Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group). The show cleverly scheduled One Direction's and bubble-gum princess Katy Perry's performances early — maybe then the kids could go to bed? Not in this house. The kid was on hand for Pitbull and Ke$ha performing "Timber" and one of mommy's current faves, Justin Timberlake, performing the bluesy "Drink You Away".

The show had a weird opening number by Katy Perry, dressed up in geisha garb. Sure to be excoriated on the internet tomorrow as yet another inappropriate and thoughtless cultural appropriation, but honestly it was just ... stupid. Should people feel insulted? Is it worth it to give it that much attention? The song, "Unconditionally," is truly unlistenable. I mean, cringe-worthy, whether performed live or on the radio. I continue to be baffled by Perry, her yodeling vocals which pass for singing, but most especially her appeal to my kid's demographic.

So O.K., this is my kid's show, not mine. I surrender. It's now up to me to keep up, I guess. The AMAs are at least not as stodgy as the Grammys. And the kid drifted off somewhere after JLo and before Lady gaga, leaving me to decide if I'd watch the rest, and see if Miley tried to shock/schlock. She performed a pretty straight version of "Cannonball." With a cute giant singing kitty projected behind her. And that's all, folks.

favorite song friday

"Holy Grail," by Jay-Z, featuring Justin Timberlake, is recommended, but also confounds me (and others, apparently).


The chorus sung by Justin Timberlake is really compelling, as a sort of anti-love song. The rap verses by Jay-Z — not so much, especially on multiple listenings of the song.

Interesting note: the video posted above has Jay-Z s and JT's parts in different orders. This version is the one that I hear most often (and really like):


I don't think Jay-Z should completely disappear from the mix (as he does in the version below), but this remix does underline the fact that the rapper can put together a song that contains beautiful imagery and sounds which don't quite coalesce with his bitching about the price of fame. Most of his musings on other celebrities — M.C. Hammer, Mike Tyson, Kurt Cobain, seemed a bit muddled and flat. I guess I can continue to enjoy Timberlake's part  — in any of these versions.

these lines really aren't so blurry ...

Robin Thicke's latest song, "Blurred Lines," a No. 1 hit, has raised some controversy, but is it the song, or the video, or both that offend? Thicke has been compared to Justin Timberlake, but Timberlake's latest singles are much more romantic than the blatant come-hithering of Thicke's song, where he is abetted in his attempted seduction by Pharrell Williams and T.I.

The song is undeniably catchy, a perfect summer radio hit. But when you are stopped in traffic, some of the more questionable lyrics may sneak through the bouncy grooves:

"You the hottest bitch in this place
I feel so lucky
Hey, hey, hey
You wanna hug me
Hey, hey, hey
What rhymes with hug me?
Hey, hey, hey"

and

"... I'll give you something big enough to tear your ass in two ..."

Nothing blurry about those lines, or the blow-up silver letters in the video taped to a wall that proclaim, "Robin Thicke has a big dick." Subtle.


I didn't find the video particularly seductive or shocking, just kinda dumb. It actually works against the song, which is hard not to like. But the three lovely topless ladies featured in the video just seem bored or embarrassed — they keep trying to cover their breasts, with their hands or other incongruous objects. They look more comfortable, even more sexy, in the shots when they are clothed. The three dudes, predictably, look like they are having the time of their lives. Watching three gorgeous, bored, mostly naked models. Rock and roll.

The real question about Blurred Lines is not whether the lyrics or the video is offensive, but if this sort of "romantic" approach really works in the real world. And why did Williams and Thicke feel the need to push the envelope? The song starts out maybe not innocently, but typically enough, with Thicke trying to convince a girl in a club to drop her guy for him:

"OK now he was close, tried to domesticate you
But you're an animal, baby, it's in your nature
Just let me liberate you
Hey, hey, hey
You don't need no papers
Hey, hey, hey
That man is not your maker"

A guy on the make, for sure, but not threatening. Pop music is, frequently, one long seduction or persuasion. Madonna could be just as demanding a potential lover as Thicke & Co.:

Open your heart
I'll make you love me (come on baby)
It's not that hard
If you just turn the key (I'm gonna get to you)

Where feminists start to get uncomfortable with "Blurred Lines" is the "I know you want it," chorus, which directly references rape scenarios — "She was asking for it." Maybe not the artists' intentions, but maybe ... We talk about consensual sex being the ideal situation, but there is always a give-and-take. There are countless (beloved) art and pop culture examples of men trying to "break down" a girl's resistance and give in to his charms.

"And that's why I'm gon' take a good girl
I know you want it
I know you want it
I know you want it
You're a good girl
Can't let it get past me
You're far from plastic
Talk about getting blasted
I hate these blurred lines"

Maybe that is what is most disturbing about "Blurred Lines." The battle of the sexes is frequently a true battle. And for many, sex, even romance, is not complete unless someone gives in and lets the other person be the victor. Not exactly blurred lines, but lines drawn in the sand.