Two Weeks

It's been two weeks since anyone has posted anything. So, this:

Kid Cudi has pleasantly surprised me

A while back I posted a video for the song "Make Her Say" by Kid Cudi. I was very adamant in believing, though this song was great, the artist probably sucks. New Flash (that's not a typo): He actually doesn't suck. I listened to part of his album today on Lala and was pleased with what I heard. He didn't sound like the next hip-hop prodigy, but he was better than Wale, who is pretty good. I then listened to "Make Her Say" again. I really like this song. And rarely do I like popular songs, especially popular hip-hop songs. I thought it was so strange that I liked this song so much. But it is a very good satire of current popular music sampling Lady Gaga and using lyrics from Jamie Foxx and other songs that really aren't very good. I'm telling you now, this song is a top contender for best popular song in the Extra Va Ganza (last year the award was called "best questionable song").

Here's the video again, because that's really good too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKadumQvnWk

or at least a link to the video. Apparently I can't embed this video. sorry.

The White Stripes are creeping

I've always had a problem with ranking The White Stripes in my top 10 favorite bands. (To be completely honest I freak out over ranking them after the top 3) I for some reason feel like they haven't done enough as musicians. Six albums seems like a lot for only 12 years (Radiohead only has 7 albums and they've been around since 1985), but I still, for some reason, feel like they're a band who is just bursting onto the scene with only a couple albums under their red, white and black belt. I love everything they do. I find Jack and Meg White to be two of the most interesting people ever who also happen to make fantastic music, but for some reason I can't place I don't feel comfortable ranking them where they deserve to be. It's probably because I think of them as a band within a story, rather than a story within a band. And much respect is deserved for creating that persona. The White Stripes really should be one of my top 5 favorite artists, but unfortunately aren't.

This video is one of the best videos ever. LOVE IT!

I know "Get Behind Me Satan" isn't a favorite among hardcore White Stripe fans but I love it. I'm a sucker for piano (Are you taking notes, ladies?) I have a girlfriend now. (Are you taking notes, ladies?)

P.S. This was originally going to be a post highlighting those two videos. I got really into it though.

John Hughes died.

We may have posted this video before, but I think it's fitting.

You shall be pleasantly surprised.

I'm not one for popular music because I'm self righteous elitist hipster douchebag. or because most popular music sucks. But this is really kind-of cool. All three rappers recite basically the same lines (which are from other popular rap songs, I think) Kid Cudi (the first one) is kind of annoying, but once Kanye West starts the songs starts getting really good and Common finishes it, and who doesn't like Common? He was in Terminator Salvation.

I don't dislike Eminem.

Eminem recently released his latest video for his song "Beautiful." The video is set in Detroit and is incredibly depressing. He is set in front of the demolition of Tigers Stadium (R.I.P.) for part of the video. The song is really good in comparison to "We Made You." That's kind of how Eminem is though. His songs are either god-awful or really emotional and good. I'm not a huge fan of rap, but I recognize Eminem as an above average rapper when he does songs like "Beautiful" and "Lose Yourself." He's had an absolutely terrible life and when he uses that as inspiration he makes good songs, but he also has become incredibly famous and makes cliche rap songs. Part of me feels like I am required to like Eminem because he is from Michigan, but Kid Rock is also from Michigan and I don't like him. Even if he had made good music, none of it would have mattered because of this line: "And we were trying different things, we were smoking funny things" He rhymes ''things'' with "things!" That's inexcusable! Also, a lot of musicians are from Michigan. Insane Clown Posse is from Michigan, so the "That's where I'm from!'' excuse doesn't really work. The difference between Eminem and other musicians is the fact that his life in Michigan greatly influences his music. I'm also a strong believer in the fact that every genre has good music and Eminem is a good rapper. Even if you don't like rap, you should realize Eminem is a good rapper.

Here's the video for Beautiful:

The song isn't great. There are some elements that are really bad, like the weird singing at the beginning. I'm also not a fan of when he repeats "I'll be one tough act to follow." But there are some parts that remind me a lot of the masterpiece that is "Lose Yourself" That's right, I said it, it's a good song.

Now, Eminem also makes crap like this (sorry, I'm unable to embed):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIUQ70NRZpE

What I don't get is why he parodies Rain Man in the music video. He mocks basically everything in current pop culture, and rain man. I get that it's a good movie, but it doesn't make sense in this video. That movie came out 21 years ago!