Pennies From Peter Vol. 4: Peter Breeze Reviews Alejandro

So I watched the 'Alejandro' video.

It was weird because I actually got up a lot earlier than I normally do... It must have been my pop-culture-spidey senses tingling. I made my tea and remembered that it was Gaga’s release date for yet another mini movie for us all to drool over.

So I watched it, and I totally dig it. It’s like the dark version of “Telephone”. The imagery alone was a lot more inviting and the symbolic images and situations seemed more relevant than the ones of her making a fucking sandwich with her creepy crooked smile and lazy eye. I really liked her red nun outfit thing... Actually, the religious references in general were really well done. I thought the scenes of her in gay sex positions with her dancers were very clever. It's one thing to be a gay icon, but to write a song and film a video with a rumored “falling in love with your gay friends/fans” theme… She’s making it personal.

So after I swallowed Gaga’s huge load I couldn’t help but wish it was a simple facial instead because you know once you swallow that shit it's in your tummy and until you shit it out, her army of peroxide covered swimmers are going to be dominating whatever you ate for breakfast.

Then I leave my house and on my way to starbucks I see this big mechanical something covered in yellow caution tape (a la telephone video)…that’s when I lost it. Gaga has not only dominated the pop charts she has shimmied and step-snapped her way into everyday life.

Here’s the thing: if you were to just listen to her music on your iPod and never got the chance to see her or hear her talk then I don’t think she would be such a global super power. Her music is simple pop music. Its good, don’t get me wrong but its built like any other tune on the radio. Verse, chorus, verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, chorus, chorus, chorus until the song has burrowed itself in your brain. Gaga just has this way of taking her pop music and enhancing it with images, videos, performances and explanations that take it to a whole new level.

Ok I just watched Alejandro again.

Sometimes I watch her and I find her creativity paralyzing. As extravagant as she is Gaga is probably the most raw and genuine artist who is relevant in mainstream media. She is taking music that would otherwise be considered cheesy pop music and making it relevant. She stands for something. Can you imagine what it would be like for the other pop girls out there? Can you imagine waking up and watching Alejandro and then trying to think of a concept for your next single? Can you imagine knowing that no matter how hard you try you will never be able to puncture the giant bubble that Gaga has placed over the planet?

Poor Xtina.

 

Gaga’s presence in pop culture is essential. She is like a bulldozer that’s taking out all the other bulldozers that are cutting down our trees. She is replenishing our resources. She is not something to aspire to or compete with, she is something to be admired and celebrated! But one day Gaga is going to need someone to make out with at the opening of the MTV Awards and you KNOW I’ll be wearing my finest fur and my best lipstick.

Until then…
Don’t call my name, don’t call my name...

Your friendly neighborhood superstar,
pb


Lady Gaga - Alejandro

Ace of Base - Don't Turn Around

Madonna - La Isla Bonita

Ace of Base - All That She Wants


Editor's Note: We all take inspiration from something, how we choose to represent and mold our inspiration into something new is what makes it our own.

Pennies From Peter Vol. 3: Fake It Til You Make It

I’ve decided to blog about the most fascinating and delicate creatures on the planet: Socialites and Reality stars. Not just about them, but when they bless us with perhaps their most sacred gift of all... Music.

The first one that pops into my head is of course the shameless leader of socialites: Paris Hilton. When she started popping up on blogs and trash mags after the debut of the Simple Life I have to admit I was addicted. I’ve always been a sucker for the mega famous, but she was a new breed. At least she was to me and my generation. I found it fascinating how muttering “That’s hot!” and courting paparazzi made her literally one of, if not the biggest star on the planet. Love her or hate her she knew what she was doing and single handedly made fame whoring without any real talent, other than posing and showing up, a new art and an aspiration for millions.

Defending Paris Hilton is actually one of my favorite topics. I see an art in what she did. Fame can be conducted just like an orchestra and she was pretty much the Beethoven of Hollywood. Status, Gossip, Reputation and Fame is a new medium in performance art and I can appreciate that, hell…I even do it myself. There are incredibly talented Actors and Singers that would never be able to pull off the kind of media circus and social frenzy that Paris did. She was shameless and she was specific and she fed on our insatiable need to live a more glamorous life…then she started making music.

This is where I think she went wrong. “Stars Are Blind” was mediocre and if it didn’t have Paris’s name attached to it would have never seen the light of day. Paris represented the high life. She was a poster child for the rich and the famous and instead of making a track designed to make people feel like they were “hot” like her she released some reggae sprinkled love song with a cheesy beach video. Her first single should have been called “That’s Hot” and followed the same ruthless self promotion the rest of her career did. I swear to god, if she would have done that she could have at least done a club tour. I did listen to her full album and there were some very good “Paris” tracks that should have been released first. That’s the thing…don’t try to convince your audience who you are, give them what they want and feed the illusions they have of you...

New From Miz Aguilera - GLAM!

So I got my hands on a leaked copy of Christina's new album and while it's no Stripped, there are some gems. Overally I find the album to be good. The few misses are an unfortunate consequence when you don't have enough amazing material to fill up an album and you just throw in some of your leftovers.

Having said that, one of my favorite songs is Glam which is reminiscent of Madonna's Vogue and ONJ's Physical only with a futuristic, darker feel and Aguilera's signature over-singing, which does take a bit away from an otherwise catchy and enjoyable song. Does this mean I think this song is as good as those iconic songs? No. But it pulls inspiration from them and turns it into a fun and enjoyable song.

While it may seem like I'm hating on her just a bit, in all honestly... she can do no wrong in my eyes and will be a guilty pleasure of mine for years to come.

Check out Glam below... the rest of the album is available for download on the interwebs... just be sure to buy it when it come's out June 8th. I know I will.





Christina Aguilera - Glam



Christina Aguilera - You Lost Me

Katy Perry, I'm Starting To Love You

So Katy Perry's new album is about to drop and already i've heard not one but two AMAZEBALLS songs from it. The first, California Gurls, was leaked onto youtube a while ago and immediately caught my attention. Katy's answer to Empire State of Mind is a summer anthem for the west coast, or anyone who loves to rock their daisy dukes. I'm lookin' at you Peter!

The second track to leak was sent to me by a friend. It's called E.T. as in extraterrestrial. This song has an amazing bass line and very ethereal vocals from Katy which did shock me. The song takes on an edgier, darker feel than previous songs of hers which is refreshing. I love the lyrics, the beat, the message. The whole song is so well produced and thought out, it's pure pop.

I can't wait to see what the rest of the album holds in store as I was never a big fan of Katy's



Katy Perry ft. Snoop Dogg - California Gurls

Katy Perry - E.T.