favorite songs (of the year) friday

I will always be interested in popular culture, but having a ten year-old has also made me more aware and interested in popular music, too. It is fun watching her have favorites and swoon over current pop stars, as well as watch her come to appreciate some of my golden oldies (The Clash's "I Fought the Law" and Bowie's "Fashion" are favorites) when we give the car radio a rest. But for the most part I listen to the radio with her. I have to draw the line somewhere, however. I refuse to have to suffer some of the songs and artists that the music industry is trying to shove down our throats, like the marble-mouthed Ariana Grande. But there were some bright spots this year. Here are my Top Ten favorites of 2014, in no particular order.

The incomparable Pharrell

"Happy" Pharrell Williams — The song still makes me smile, and his 24-hour version of this video is a pretty amazing feat.

"Love Runs Out" OneRepublic — Just fun, fun, fun.

"La, La, La," Naughty Boy [featuring Sam Smith] — The first time I heard Sam Smith : )

"Night Changes" One Direction — The kid's favorite boy band has grown on me, and they have a folky edge that is coming more to the fore with each song they release. And yes, Harry is my favorite ; )

"Secrets" Mary Lambert — Quirky, clever fun.

"Uptown Funk" Mark Ronson and Bruno Mars — Look out, Prince ... this guy is the funk.

“All About That Bass” Meghan Trainor — Girl power music that is full of fun, too.

"Don't" Ed Sheeran — A twisted anti-love song that never seems to get old, even when you already know the story.

"Tennis Court" Lorde — The kid is talented, and this stripped-down song proves it.

"The Heart Wants What It Wants" Selena Gomez — Another artist inherited from the kid, but she sings this track with real emotion. I like it.


Honorable Mention: Awesome Mix Vol. 1, The Guardians of the Galaxy soundtrack

Oh, and by the way, the kid compiled her own Top Ten. By next year I'll probably be guesting on her blog ; )

We did cross over on one song ...

favorite song friday: gust of wind

It's no secret that I love Pharrell. I am a fan of not just his music, but his upbeat and thoughtful approach to art and life. But I was pleasantly surprised yet again by Pharrell when I caught the video for "Gust of Wind," featuring Daft Punk, and directed by Edgar Wright (The World's End, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World).

The song is one of the more engaging tracks on his album Girl. But the style of the video takes in the playfulness and otherworldliness of his collaborators while also transporting the song to something not just groovy but ethereal.

Now that's a party I want to attend.

I just love those Zardoz-y heads, the bright colors, the slow-motion.

still watching the voice ...

... Or, I should say, more accurately, once again tuning in. I got really bored over the past few runs. The Blake/Adam bro-love was piling on bit thick. The only thing that made me want to check it out again was the presence of wunderkind Pharrell, and some curiosity about how Gwen Stefani might stack up as a coach.

It's only a few episodes in, but it is clear that both new coaches are more than just a needed breath of fresh air. Both musician's more down-to-earth attitudes are having an effect on the contestants and the Blake & Adam show. It is fun to see Blake and Adam watch aspiring singer after aspiring singer responding so positively to the newcomers. The good ol' boys are going to have to ramp up their routines, or maybe, get re-invested in the show.

Gwen Stefani and Pharrell Williams

In the meantime, it's just fun to watch the positivity shooting back and forth between former (and current) collaborators Pharrell and Gwen, and their refreshing honesty. Gwen said on camera that if the show had been around when she was starting out she never would have been selected, and Pharrell agreed with her. They both seem to be taking their potential star-making roles very seriously, and are even sharing advice and encouragement with contestants they don't select or who don't choose them. Viewers the season may find themselves as invested in the two coaches as they are all the aspiring hopefuls.

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favorite song friday: the need for speed

Pharrell's latest song, "Come Get it Bae" has joined a long tradition in modern music of making a correlation between sex and cars, or in this case, motorcycles. Good looking and fast-moving vehicles have metaphor-ed their way into some of music's greatest hits.

The Beach Boys wrote lots of songs about cars. And girls. And girls and cars.

"You wanna ride it, my motorcycle
You've got a license, but you got the right to
Gonna pop a wheelie, don't try too high too
Take it easy on the clutch, cause girl I like you"

Marc Bolan of T Rex was pretty forthright with mixing his automobile as pretty girl metaphors in "Bang a Gong" and "Jeepster."

"You're built like a car, you've got a hub cap diamond star halo
You're dirty sweet and you're my girl."

"Just like a car
You're pleasing to behold
I'll call you Jaguar
If I may be so bold ...
Girl I'm just a jeepster
For your love"

Prince took things a step further (as he is wont to do) with "Little Red Corvette."

"Believe it or not, I started to worry
I wondered if I had enough class
But it was Saturday night, I guess that makes it all right
And you say, "Baby, have you got enough gas?", Oh yeah
Little red corvette
Baby, you're much too fast (yes, you are)
Little red corvette
You need to find a love that's gonna last"

Music and sex and cars seem to be a winning combination. These are my favorites, but there are many others:

"Mercedes Benz" - Janis Joplin
"Drive My Car"
"Slow Ride" - Foghat
"Cars" - Gary Numan
"Pink Cadillac" - Bruce Springsteen
"Little Deuce Coupe" - Beach Boys
"Mustang Sally" - Wilson Pickett
“Drive (Who’s Gonna Drive You Home?)" - The Cars
“I Can’t Drive 55" - Sammy Hagar
“I’m In Love With My Car” - Queen
"I Drove All Night" - Roy Orbison

Any great songs I've left out? Let me know.

And to finish things up, this song by Rose Royce seems to say summer to me ...

"Hey, get your car washed today
Be in our band, you don't have to pay
Come on and give us a play"

favorite song friday: who is this ed sheeran guy, anyway?

Ed Sheeran has been all over the charts in recent years, but it's highly possible that he is still an unfamiliar face to many. He has written hit songs for One Direction ("Moments," "Little Things") and dueted with Taylor Swift ("Everything Has Changed") and even seen his own songs do well ("The A Team," "Lego House"). But who is this ginger-haired, somewhat unassuming Brit? Only 23, he has been performing since 2005 (you do the math). His latest song, "Sing," seems at first a bit out of character, as it could easily become a dance club hit, but Sheeran's recent rendition of it with a more acoustic approach on The Voice stayed true to his singer-songwriter roots and proved that under all of the production, it is just a really good song.

The official video is pretty humorous, too, and plays with the idea of his known/unknown status. Plus, the mid-way appearance of Pharrell explains the more groovy aspects:



Here's his more acoustic take on The Voice:

pharrell takes over the world

In case you missed it, Pharrell Williams got something in his eye when he sat down to talk to Oprah the other day. It is pretty amazing how infectious his song "Happy" is. It is definitely striking a chord with people all over the world.

" ... people are putting up their own videos. It was, like, no longer my song."

And if having such a huge smash song wasn't enough, Pharrell is set to join the music competition show The Voice next year as a judge. Sounds like a reason to tune in again. Keep surfing this wave Pharrell, and making folks happy.

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.

oscar congrats all around

Some may have found last night's Oscar telecast a little tame or subdued. Or even boring. But I think it was more a reflection of a desire (and need) for Hollywood to lighten up, and that the nominees were all pretty deserving. Honestly, anyone could have won and it wouldn't have been considered an upset.

Ellen Degeneres was the perfect host  for such a laid-back, upbeat vibe. She only made a few real digs, in her opening monologue, at Jonah Hill and Liza Minnelli, and while those might have been a bit more acidic than her usual shtick, they were also understood to be good-natured ribbing. The rest of the time she tried to get a rise out of the usually stiff celebrities, by corralling A-listers in a goofy record-breaking selfie, and ordering pizza for the first two rows of the tuxedo and bejeweled crowd.

The selfie tweeted 'round the world

Favorite moments:

Pharrell Williams's opening number, "Happy." The multi-talented Pharrell got the audience on their feet in the theater, and (at least here) at home, too. Pharrell also helped showcase another of Meryl Streep's hidden talents (around the one-minute mark of the video below).


There were quite  few more-entertaining-than-usual acceptance speeches, from Best Actress Winner Cate Blanchett, Best Supporting Actor Winner Jared Leto, Best Supporting Actress Winner Lupita N'yongo, and Best Actor Winner Matthew McConnaughey.

There has to be one completely weird and inexplicable moment, and John Travolta obliged, with his strange introduction of "Adele Dazeem" singing "Let It Go" from Frozen. The crowd watched in confusion as Broadway veteran Idina Menzel, who performed the song in the movie as well took the stage. Travolta introduced himself as a big fan of musicals, which made the gaffe even more bizarre. The song was the Oscar winner, too.

Bill Murray's sly, slipped-in tribute to the fabulous Harold Ramis was also a high point. Ellen's celebrity-pack selfie was fun (and it's already generated a web page where one can insert oneslef into the mob), but this image from the red carpet is my favorite of the night.

Cumberbatch photobomb — say that three times quickly

Congratulations to all.

oscar fashion

This cute graphic created by London agency Mediarun Digital of every dress worn by the Best Actress Academy Award winners throughout the years has been all over the internets.

I especially like 1930 (Mary Pickford), 1938 (Luise Rainer),  and 1940 (Vivien Leigh).

As far as tonight's award show goes, I have to admit that I'm a lot less interested in the potential fashions to be worn by this years crop of nominees. What I have been wondering (and I'm sure I'm not alone in this) is what hat will Pharrell Williams wear?

Look out fashion gods, here he comes ...

favorite song friday: this year's oscar-nomnated songs

The obvious frontrunner is "Let It Go," from Frozen, written by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez and recorded by both Idina Menzel and Demi Lovato. Menzel will perform the song at the Oscars.

"The Moon Song," from Her, by Yeah Yeah Yeahs frontwoman Karen O.


"Ordinary Love," from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, by U2 (already won a Golden Globe).


And the song I'll be rooting for, and which I can never get enough of, "Happy," from the Despicable Me 2, by Pharrell Williams.

favorite song friday: pharrell and his giant hat

The Grammys may have been last Sunday, but the only thing people are still talking about is not the music, but Pharrell Williams and his giant hat. Pharrell has wisely decided that he and his hat should not just become a one-time internet meme, and has been spotted around town with his designer chapeau.

Besides having an interest in headwear, Pharrell had a pretty big year musically in 2013, appearing on two of its biggest hit songs, Daft Punk's "Get Lucky" and Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines." His song "Happy," which appeared in the film Despicable Me 2, has also been nominated for an Academy Award.

Pharrell and Daft Punk at the Grammys

The hat he wore to the Grammys was designed by Vivienne Westwood (from her early '80s Buffalo Gals era), but checking out the video to "Happy" proves that Pharrell loves hats and wears them well. He also makes great songs and this is one that I could definitely put on an infinite loop. It just makes me happy. And good luck at the Oscars, Pharrell.

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.