Achtung Bubba
Refugee
As you all must know by now, I am a fount overflowing with wisdom. At least, I have a strong, well-formed opinion on just about everything I experience -- and I am often compelled to express that opinion.
Hence, this article. I hope it is the first of many articles that will give me a chance to voice my opinions on a wide variety of topics and will give you, the reader, a chance to respond.
This series of articles will not appear on a regular basis -- like a U2 fan magazine that I could mention. Rather, new issues will be published only when I have something interesting to say.
And these articles will each contain one rant and one rave -- one criticism and one praise -- in an effort to achieve some sort of balance.
Now, with no further ado...
BUBBA'S RANTS AND RAVES #1 - BRITNEY AND JEWEL
Britney Spears: first against the wall when the revolution comes.
I can't quite remember from what obscure bit of pop culture I picked up the phrase "first against the wall when the revolution comes", but I've since had quite an affinity for it. And recently, so many "artists" from that abominable genre of "teen pop" have done their best to claim this infamous distinction.
From Jessica Simpson sampling "Jack and Diane" to N*Stink's putrid song "Pop", it has been clear that these girls and boy "bands" have been engaged in an arms race of offensiveness, a game of one-upmanship where the prize is being the poster child of all that is wretched in the current music scene.
This week, Britney Spears has unleashed her latest abomination. And while I dare not suggest that things can get no worse, I do know it will take a special brand of evil genius to outdo this manure.
In short, "I'm a Slave 4 U" is perhaps the worst piece of shit I've heard in a long, long time.
The complaints? In no particular order...
* The title would be inane even without the "4" and "U".
* The song is supposed to be Britney's song about moving into womanhood, a subject already addressed in "Oops! I Did It Again" and a song to be addressed in the forthcoming "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman". She's being a bit repetitive, not to mention that most true adults do not incessantly assert their adulthood. Beyond that, she is ignoring the responsibilities of adulthood by ignoring the effects of her overtly sexual songs and videos on her pre-teen audience.
* Musically, the song is simply awful. If you can withstand the aural assault, listen to the song, and compare it to Mandy Moore's "Crush" -- a song that's innocent, straightforward, and genuinely pretty -- or even N*Stink's "Pop". The song has no rhythm or melody to speak of, and it doesn't seem to be in any particular key.
My only hopes are that this horrible song drives the genre of teen pop closer to its inevitable collapse, and that Britney Spears will truly be first against the wall when the revolution comes.
During this same week, while Britney released her poison, Jewel released the antidote.
The lovely Jewel released to radio "Standing Still". It's the first single from her new album, This Way, due November 13th stateside and in Australia. The video will debut on MTV this Monday, and after that, hopefully the rest of the world will have plenty of opportunity to hear this gem from Jewel.
The song actually reminds me of "Beautiful Day", in a way. It's not an exhilirating rush that "Beautiful Day" has been, but still... it's sounds like Jewel, but it's not a retread of past songs. There are enough sonic layers to be interesting, rhythms and effects that -- if they were more prominent -- would fit nicely on a David Gray or even a Depeche Mode song. And there's a confidence that should rightly come with a third album.
There is, in a word, growth. In their own ways, "Beautiful Day" and "Standing Still" demonstrate that the artist can retain his or her character -- the soul of the music -- and still mature.
The only complaint is that, while Jewel is scheduled for a lot of promotional appearances on TV and radio, this song is so far almost impossible to find online. It's neither obviously located on her website or her label's website.
Fortunatel, I have found a link to a decent streaming Real Audio version of the song here:
http://jeweljk.tzo.com/Jewel/Music/song_of_the_week.shtml
Like the latest works of U2 and R.E.M., and the breakthrough albums of David Gray, Coldplay, and Dido, Jewel's "Standing Still" shows that modern music isn't wholly devoid of substance and beauty. Here's hoping the rest of the album is just as good -- and that the world gives it a chance.
Achtung Bubba
Hence, this article. I hope it is the first of many articles that will give me a chance to voice my opinions on a wide variety of topics and will give you, the reader, a chance to respond.
This series of articles will not appear on a regular basis -- like a U2 fan magazine that I could mention. Rather, new issues will be published only when I have something interesting to say.
And these articles will each contain one rant and one rave -- one criticism and one praise -- in an effort to achieve some sort of balance.
Now, with no further ado...
BUBBA'S RANTS AND RAVES #1 - BRITNEY AND JEWEL
Britney Spears: first against the wall when the revolution comes.
I can't quite remember from what obscure bit of pop culture I picked up the phrase "first against the wall when the revolution comes", but I've since had quite an affinity for it. And recently, so many "artists" from that abominable genre of "teen pop" have done their best to claim this infamous distinction.
From Jessica Simpson sampling "Jack and Diane" to N*Stink's putrid song "Pop", it has been clear that these girls and boy "bands" have been engaged in an arms race of offensiveness, a game of one-upmanship where the prize is being the poster child of all that is wretched in the current music scene.
This week, Britney Spears has unleashed her latest abomination. And while I dare not suggest that things can get no worse, I do know it will take a special brand of evil genius to outdo this manure.
In short, "I'm a Slave 4 U" is perhaps the worst piece of shit I've heard in a long, long time.
The complaints? In no particular order...
* The title would be inane even without the "4" and "U".
* The song is supposed to be Britney's song about moving into womanhood, a subject already addressed in "Oops! I Did It Again" and a song to be addressed in the forthcoming "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman". She's being a bit repetitive, not to mention that most true adults do not incessantly assert their adulthood. Beyond that, she is ignoring the responsibilities of adulthood by ignoring the effects of her overtly sexual songs and videos on her pre-teen audience.
* Musically, the song is simply awful. If you can withstand the aural assault, listen to the song, and compare it to Mandy Moore's "Crush" -- a song that's innocent, straightforward, and genuinely pretty -- or even N*Stink's "Pop". The song has no rhythm or melody to speak of, and it doesn't seem to be in any particular key.
My only hopes are that this horrible song drives the genre of teen pop closer to its inevitable collapse, and that Britney Spears will truly be first against the wall when the revolution comes.
During this same week, while Britney released her poison, Jewel released the antidote.
The lovely Jewel released to radio "Standing Still". It's the first single from her new album, This Way, due November 13th stateside and in Australia. The video will debut on MTV this Monday, and after that, hopefully the rest of the world will have plenty of opportunity to hear this gem from Jewel.
The song actually reminds me of "Beautiful Day", in a way. It's not an exhilirating rush that "Beautiful Day" has been, but still... it's sounds like Jewel, but it's not a retread of past songs. There are enough sonic layers to be interesting, rhythms and effects that -- if they were more prominent -- would fit nicely on a David Gray or even a Depeche Mode song. And there's a confidence that should rightly come with a third album.
There is, in a word, growth. In their own ways, "Beautiful Day" and "Standing Still" demonstrate that the artist can retain his or her character -- the soul of the music -- and still mature.
The only complaint is that, while Jewel is scheduled for a lot of promotional appearances on TV and radio, this song is so far almost impossible to find online. It's neither obviously located on her website or her label's website.
Fortunatel, I have found a link to a decent streaming Real Audio version of the song here:
http://jeweljk.tzo.com/Jewel/Music/song_of_the_week.shtml
Like the latest works of U2 and R.E.M., and the breakthrough albums of David Gray, Coldplay, and Dido, Jewel's "Standing Still" shows that modern music isn't wholly devoid of substance and beauty. Here's hoping the rest of the album is just as good -- and that the world gives it a chance.
Achtung Bubba
