Feels so good to be back!

Yes, I am quoting the newest outing from Gucci Mane featuring Usher. I don't care what anyone says, this track is hot! Courtesy of Polow da Don.

Anywho -

Pop music has been crazy since my last post. The Postal Service will never have the success Owl City has had using their sound. As of now, Owl City's runaway hit "Fireflies" has hit #1. The first time I heard this song I must admit I did not see that happening. I also recently to my delight discovered "Hide and Seek" a most genius sample by hit song "Whatcha Say" by Jason Derulo. Listening to that song makes me think he'll have a pretty good future. Jay Sean however...I see him as a one hit wonder in the US. He has already had a fairly good career over in the UK. So don't shed any tears for him.

Ok, enough of the A.D.D. part...

I wish there were more pop rock bands around. The late 90's to early 2000's were a great time for bands such as Lifehouse, Third Eye Blind, Matchbox20 and Three Doors Down. Not much going on for these bands anymore. Lifehouse and Three Doors Downs are doing alright. Matchbox 20 produced what would be a very successful solo artist in Rob Thomas - who was once dubbed as the most boring front man in rock. I listen to the radio nowadays and I hear a ton of dance pop and hip hop. Very rarely will I hear something with solid songwriting that can transcend its genre-or even live instruments. And don't get me wrong, one of my favorite singles form the last few years was the pop gem "Just Dance" - a truly great moment in 2008 pop music. But every now and then I yearn for more 'The Climb" by Miley Cyrus and less "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus. Ya dig? I guess you could say this goes way deeper than lack of pop rock bands really. It goes to the core of pop music songwriting. There are songs from the 90's that I would refer to as proving song in a conversation I had with a friend of mine. Songs like "I will always love you" as performed by Whitney Houston, "Hero" by Mariah Carey, or even "My heart will go on" by Celine Dion. It took me maturing to really realize that Celine Dion is truly a great singer. Phenomenal even. No artists dare to really try songs like this anymore. These songs are proving songs because they are singers songs. They require range, tone, control and over all skill. The only songs I can think of that have been released recently are "The Climb", "Bleeding Love"...."Won't let you fall" - which was not even really released but was on the Poseidon soundtrack. Oh yea, each of the American Idol winning singles were pretty good "proving" songs as well. Miley tried valiantly on "The Climb" but she came out sounding like a Billy Gilman ripoff.
And I think that's about all I have to say on that topic..
Fav vocalist and my song(s) of choice (To make this even more interesting, we'll go by genre)

Rock
Scott Weiland "Plush"
Maynard James-Keenan "Judith", "The Pot"
Rob Thomas "Bright lights"
Eddie Vedder "Even Flow"
Brett Scallions "Bittersweet"
Chris Cornell "Fell on Black days"

R&B/Soul
Musiq "Love"
Bryan McKnight "Anytime"
Stokley Williams"Send me swinging"
Marc Broussard "Rock Steady"
Usher "Caught up"
David Ryan Harris "For you"

Pop
JC Chasez "She Got me"
Leona Lewis "Bleeding love"
Mandy Moore "Pocket Philosopher"
Lady Gaga "Just dance"

Country
Brad Paisley "Mud on the tires"
Billy Currington "That changes everything"
Martina McBride "Whatever you say"

I'm sure there are more....