PANDORA

Has anyone heard of Pandora? It is, by far, one of the best things to hit the internet, in my opinion. It is a website, where you just make a super simple account with your basic information, and it is like online radio stations that you make yourself.

You just type in an artist or song, and then the website will play that artist you typed in, along with other artists that have a similar sound or style. It's fun because you don't know what is going to come on next, much like the radio in your car, and a lot of the time it's a pleasant surprise. A lot of older songs that I forget about but love so much get played. I think I have about 15 stations set up on my account right now. Some of them include: Ray J, Lady GaGa, New Boyz, Kaskade, etc.

So if I feel like listening to house music, I know to go to my Kaskade station, if I feel like R&B go to Ray J, and pop, go to Lady GaGa. It lets you skip songs only so many times in an hour on one station, but I hardly do that anyways. I like it better than iTunes because there are NEW songs that I don't have downloaded, and can then download them like "Oh yaaaa I LOVE this song!"

So check it out. It's cool to listen to some music while doing a paper (or a blog) haha :)

XOOX
Lauren

Back to Square One

I got in my sister's car the other day and she was listening to what I thought was Sublime, some new stuff I had never heard before, but that didn't make sense in my head.

But it was this new demo CD she was listening to from a band called "Back to Square One." Seriously, when I first hear a new band I've never heard before and fall in love with them right away, I know they are amazing. ONe thing I really appreciate about music is how pure someone's voice can sound. Like you hear it, and it's just like "Damn...they have SUCH an awesome voice." Like it is almost effortless for them to sing how they do.

That's how this band sounds. They have a sound kind of like Sublime mixed with the Long Beach Dub All-Stars. Sort of reggae, slightly punk, beachy but hard sounds. It was hot. And I think that is the word that describes them the best. Plus, one of the guys was super hot in the picture :)

But anyways, thought maybe you guys would want to go check them out. I took the CD from my sis and have been listening to it ever since. www.myspace.com/backtosquareonetheband.

XOXO
Lauren

Adam @ the AMA's

OK...so I didn't actually watch the show, but I caught all the aftermath of it.

Adam Lambert who was on American Idol did a performance at the AMA's a couple nights ago, that apparently got people talking. He is an openly gay male, OK, and he is not one to shy away from expressing who he is.

There were moments in his performance where some would say he took it a little too far, there was him grinding a guy's head in his crotch, simulated sex acts between himself and female dancers, and then I also heard that he actually made out with another guy on stage.

Here's the thing, he's an ARTIST. I think people should get over it, because Britney, Madonna and Christina did the EXACT same thing a couple years back on MTV.

I don't really listen to Adam's music, but I see him plastered all over the TV and magazines, and I think it is awesome for him to embrace himself and his sexuality, and not give a shit if the world does or not. He still has people loving him, still has his fans, despite whatever controversy he may start.

XOXO
Lauren

1 Year Anniversary

Although this may have nothing to do with music, I wanted to take the opportunity of having this blog to notice the one year anniversary of a friend's death.

Frances Chang was someone I had known for as long as I can remember. We went to all the same schools from elementary to high school. Although we were never that close, we often played on the same soccer teams and had mutual friends.

Last year, Frances committed suicide while she was away at school in San Luis Obispo. She left behind a younger sister and her parents.

R.I.P. Frances.

XOXO

Lauren

Rihanna Speaks Her Piece

So Rihanna has recently graced the cover of "GLAMOUR" Magazine and finally opens up about the domestic violence recently put on blast in her relationship with ex-boyfriend, Chris Brown.

I just thinks it is very admirable that although she didn't come out right away talking about the fight between her and her ex that was all over the entertainment news and magazines, but that she opened up about it and was able to move on. Being a young woman, she has a lot of young girls looking up to her, and I think this is one of those times where a celebrity can use their fame and position in the world to do something good.

Getting a message out about domestic violence and that yes, even pop stars aren't immune to such events, was needed. Being young, and coming out with what happened not even a year afterward, is courageous. You usually hear and read about stories from celebrities about their childhood abuse or whatnot YEARS YEARS YEARS later, maybe decades. The fact is this can happen to anyone, guys and girls, any age, etc. It was just a matter of Rihanna becoming a stronger woman and being able to leave this in the past and move on.

XOXO

Lauren

"One Time"

Have any of you heard this song playing on the radio? It's called "One Time" by Justin Bieber.

K, I first heard this song on MTV in between shows when they play a little snipit of a new and upcoming artist or song usually. I was embarrassed for MYSELF for the 30 seconds I had to sit and watch this video every time it came on. It's that bad.

First, he looks like a little girl. Second, he is singing about love and he is like, 13. Sooo...if that doesn't say enough right there, then I don't know what else to say.

He sort of reminds me when Aaron Carter first came out when he was like 12 or 13 and had all those ridiculous songs and videos of his house parties and they were all jumping and bobbing around. Except Justin seems to be a little more R&B than Aaron's cheesy pop music.

Ultimately though, I would put money down that he is a one-hit wonder, and if by some way of grace by the musical audience he gets more air time with more singles, I believe he will have a hard time growing out of this image he has now created for himself. So sad.

XOXO

Lauren

Better Late Than Never

I don't know what I was thinking, but I obviously wasn't because I never blogged about the death of Michael Jackson. His death honestly upset me. It was crazy. I grew up on MJ's music, much like the majority of our generation. And hearing his "Thriller" this weekend sparked something in me.

I remember watching his music videos when I was young and being fascinated with his dancing. He was a PERFORMER. And the best. He could keep you on the edge of your seat and was always outdoing himself. I remember watching him and Britney Spears do a duet at an award show. I remember watching the "Thriller" video for my first time with my dad at my cousin's house and being really scared. I remember the video with all the heads forming into each other (haha).

Without his influence, where do you think the music industry would be nowadays? I think it wouldn't be half of what it is and half of the artists wouldn't have the creativity or influence they do. Just thought I would share a little, even if it a little old news.

XOXO

Lauren