MTV to Actually Play MUSIC?

MTV stands for “Music Television,” in case anyone has forgotten.  It’s been years since MTV actually played the music videos which first made them famous.  Over the past 10 years or so, as reality TV has grown in popularity, MTV has created a lineup of shows that catered to a young reality hungry audience.  They did create the first reality show (“Real World”) after all.  And from there it went on to include things like “Road Rules,” “The Hills,” and reality dating shows such as “Next.”

We all might agree that MTV’s reality shows are much less realistic than any other.  The way people live on “Survivor” probably comes closer to real life than “The Hills.”  Unless you are a multi-millionaire 20 year old with 5 boyfriends and a job where you gossip to co-workers all day about how difficult your life of clubbing and beach parties can be.

So what happened to the music on Music Television?  Apparently it’s going to get another chance.  On MTV’s new segment, “AMTV,” they will once again start playing music videos…for 6 hours a day!  Of course, it will be between 3am-9am, but at least it’s a start.  They are calling it a test-run to see if viewers really are interested in seeing more videos, as so many people have been asking what happened to the music part of MTV.  With the recent cancelation of “TRL,” the only music show they had left, it seemed as though MTV was completely done with music.  It’s great to see it gets one more chance, even if all the viewers will be sleeping through it.

Lady Gaga: Queen of Pop

“Some artists want your money so they can buy Range Rovers and diamond bracelets, but I don’t care about that kind of stuff.  I want your soul.” -Lady Gaga

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“If You Seek Amy” Music Video

The video for Britney Spears’ newest single “If You Seek Amy” released today.  It looks like someone shot it with a home video camera while Britney made up the choreography with her friends 10 minutes before shooting it.  I seriously made up better dances than this when I was 5.  I guess the basic storyline is that on the surface she’s a sweet girl with a happy family baking pies, but then at night she turns into an orgy loving dancer?  That’s what I got from it anyway.  Sorry Britney, this one’s a miss.

The one thing I do like is that she uses the controversy surrounding the song (If You Seek Amy = F. U. C. K.  Me) to her advantage by putting in pieces of the news reports at the beginning and end of the song.  Britney has always been good at involving the media in her songs, such as “Piece of Me,” which was directed at the paparrazzi.  Even if she’s bashing them, it gets her more attention.  She’s also showing that the controversy doesn’t bother her, and instead gets more attention by using it in the video.

Straight Line Designs’ Fun Furniture

Straight Line Designs makes the furniture “from your dreams.”  They custom design furniture – anything that you can dream up – and also come up with a few projects of their own.  The picture above is one of my favorite items, called “Bad Table.”  Although their furniture might not always be the most functional, they sure manage to keep it interesting.  Some pieces are more practical than others; the “Mermaid Bed” and “Train Bed” from their site would definitely be popular items for a lucky child’s room (check them out in the “furniture” section of the site).

Straight Line Designs has also designed entire areas for airports, shopping malls, hospitals, and universities.  They pride themselves on working very closely with their clients and making sure that every piece is “whimsical and unusual.”  Enjoy some of their other creations by clicking Read More below, and check out their site for some more: Straight Line Designs
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Spree Wilson

As an 8 year old, Spree Wilson had his first taste of performing – he wrote a song called “Pray” and performed it at church.  His preacher shunned him, saying that even though the song was about prayer, it was hip-hop, which made it evil.  But Wilson didn’t give up, and eventually was able to enroll in an art school at age 12 to encourage his musical creativity.  He continued writing songs and learning to play the guitar, and has never stopped loving music.  “I want my name to be mentioned with the idols I adored when I was a child,” Wilson says. “Who knows? Maybe in ten years we’ll be talking about how ‘Wilson Mania’ swept the world, and touched the heart of everyone.”

Spree Wilson’s music stands out with an electro feel, rap beats, and playful lyrics.  “Word” is reminiscent of Andre 3000 and Outkast, while “Dreamworld” has a touch of Jamiroquai’s sound.  Keep an eye out for Wilson, because he’s quickly heading to the top of the music scene.  See the video for “I Am”  and listen to “Dreamworld” by clicking Read More below, then go to Wilson’s MySpace page to hear more: Spree Wilson
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India.Arie Takes #1 Billboard Spot

India Arie’s new album Testimony: Vol. 2, Love & Politics was released last Tuesday and jumped instantly to #1 on the Billboard Top R&B Chart and to the #3 spot on the Billboard Top 200 Chart.  Testimony: Vol 2 is a follow-up to her 2006 Grammy Nominated album, Testimony: Vol. 1, Life & Relationships.  India.Arie is an artist I have always respected.  She has stories to tell and writes them out in her songs, letting us into her thoughts and feelings.

Yesterday she appeared on “Good Morning America” to perform “Therapy,” her #1 downloaded song from Testimony: Vol 2 (and my favorite from the album).  Check out the performance by clicking Read More:
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“My Life Would Suck Without You”

Kelly Clarkson’s new single “My Life Would Suck Without You” (watch video by clicking HERE) jumped to the top of the charts quickly after its release on January 16th, already selling almost 500,000 digital copies.  It jumped from #100 to #1 on the charts within days, breaking the record for the largest leap to the position in chart history, an honor which belonged to Britney Spears for Womanizer.  It is the first song released from her album All I Ever Wanted, which will be released on March 10th. The video is also quickly gaining popularity.

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Love Letter to Japan

I have been a fan of The Bird and the Bee since I heard the song “Again & Again” from their first album.  I’ve been hooked ever since.  This new single, “Love Letter to Japan” from their latest album Ray Guns are not Just the Future, is innovative and catchy.  It combines the classic indie style The Bird and the Bee are known for with Inara George’s sweet vocals, all while bringing in the sounds of Japanese culture.

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Marina and the Diamonds

Marina and the Diamonds is a new solo artist from Wales.  (Even though the band name implies plural, it’s just one girl – she has said that the “diamonds” refers to her fans.)  She is releasing this first single, “Obsessions,” on February 16th, along with her other single “Mowgli’s Road.”  I fell in love with “Obsessions” on my first listen.  It’s catchy and cute right away, and it has lasting power because of the lyrics and her vocal quality.  She reminds me a bit of Regina Spektor, but a little less disorganized in this song.  However, in “Mowgli’s Road,” she shows off a little more of the disorganized madness that Regina is famous for.  Listen to that one by clicking on the Read More link below!

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