Vanessa Explains It All

Britney vs Britney

(sorry, this is a Charlie Foxtrot of a post)

There is no way I am the first to make the comparison I am about to make*. Yet, since I haven't heard the same from anyone else, I'm claming this as an original idea...

I'm currently obsessed with Britney Spears' "Til the World Ends." I havent even gotten to the rest of the album cos I love this song so much. Sirius Hits 1 doesn't play it nearly enough. I love that this song is "interactive" if you will. I feel like Britney is right next to me in my car wooah ooohhhing at me. And clapping, oh the clapping! I LOVE clapping in songs. I also like that so many songs are instructing or stating to "get on the floor," I will never protest that. And she seems really sweet and happy in this video. LOVING her finger gloves. (That red outfit is weird, that's my only bug)

Watch it: 

 

"Slave 4 U" circa 2001. The high school girl in me still gets excited over this song/album. Though, I will say, I love "Til the World Ends" way more! Come on, Slave 4 U? How badly did you want to wear your pink panties (re: thong) on the outside of your jeans a la Quail-Man?!

And didn't MTV do a Making of the Video for this song? Golly that show was so fufilling. I always looked forward to new episodes (especially when it was N*SYNC)! I studied up on those making of the video dance moves.

Watch

 

So my comparison? These videos are the damn same. Plus or minus face licking. Do you agree? Whatever, I still love her. Both videos are in some sort of futuristic warehouse, as if that's a thing. I think warehouses will forever look the same. Both videos have thrusting sweaty people, there was probably some sort of baby oil camera trick involved in that. She especially loves to have these sweaty thrusties hoarded around her. Britney is wearing something weird and grungy, yet totally sexy, in both videos. And both have her as the front peak in a dance triangle (well most of her videos have that). Both have dancing in front of a wall of lights...I need to get one of those. Hair flipping, lots of hair flipping. That will never get old. I am sure I am missing a ton but you get the idea and are probably over this already.

Fast forward 10 years from "Slave" and you have "Til the World Ends." I must say, after 2 kids, that weird head shaving bit, a divorce or two, and general celebrity life...Britney looks pretty good.

I did read an interview where Britney said "World Ends" was one of her favorite videos to shoot cos she liked the choreography. Clearly she forgot about "Slave" cos that choreography is better and more hard hitting/bad ass, and also...they are the same video other than the song and the dancing (minor details).

*I am absolutely not the first to compare these two. I did some research.

Now the real question..."Babyyyy... don't you wanna... dance up on me?" Dont answer that. I don't want to know.

This Post Has a Bad Word

Got your attention? Who here loves typography?! Well I do that's for sure. It is very important to me, even though I can't do diddly in the graphic design or even photoshop department. So I have two typographical (is that a word? or is that about maps?) treats for you.

First?

(source)

Isn't this incredible!? Girlfriend made this using lyrics from 10 of her favorite Daft Punk songs. It took her over 100 hours. Now I love the Daft but she takes the cake! (hopefully not the cake I made last night, cos that's delicious!)

And the second? This is where the bad word comes in. This is NOT the clean version of the song and thusly NSFW.

(I've tried everything and I can't get the videos to come up. Typepad tried to make it simple to do but now it's just impossible. This is a problem. Maybe it's cos I have a Mac? Do they work for you? Please follow the links if the videos aren't up, even though I know that's a pain)

Cee Lo Green - "F**k You" 

This song is fantastic. This song makes it okay that the lawyer that lives/works below me slams his doors late at night cos I have probably been playing this too loud to hear him anyway. It's a shame "California Girls" ever existed cos this should have been the song of the summer. Good work Cee Lo, you got kinda totally annoying with Gnarles Barkley but this is my jam. I see a musical redemption. ALSO, the point to this post, how about that type work and the colors!? Awesome.

And a surprise third bit-o-fun...Let's round it out with this great song by an awesome band with an incredible record.

 

 

The Morning Benders - "All Day Day Light"

Can you tell I just love videos where the words pop up all fun and sans serif!? Also, their current album, Big Echo, is one of the best so far of 2010. So there ya have it.

What type/font related things are geeking you out right now?

"From There to Here"

I know you all have been waiting with baited breath (what's that saying?!) for my next mix. I try to make a new one every season. Little did I know, people actually like them and request them! It takes me weeks and many drafts to make a mix. It has to be perfect, flow well, and not have any songs that I skip. I also like to maximize the space on a disc so I try to add as many songs as I can.

This mix is a good driving or dance party mix. Or perhaps while cleaning, or boozing. Or cleaning AND boozing. There are also a few songs that I think would be lovely to make-out to...but what do I know? So take a listen to "From Here to There, Summer 2010" and PLEASE let me know what you think. Don't lie! Like that time I made stuffed peppers last weekend and everyone liked them. LIARS!! They were edible but totally tasteless. Also, if you like one song don't be afraid to check the band out or say "Hey Vanessa, I'm picking up what you're putting down."

Ya dig? Enjoy!!!

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

I added this mix to the side bar ------> You can still catch my spring mix (unlike the salad) on my Facebook page.

Jammin?

Tonights Inspiration

via www.sharesomecandy.com

Tonight I shall create using this as inspiration whilst listening to this:

The Mama Papa by Plants and Animals from Secret City Records on Vimeo.

I am also putting my hair in the hands of fate. And fate is a drugstore purchased hair dye, "Real Red." 100% chance when I am done I will think it is either too red or too dark.

What are you up to tonight?

So...

Well it has been almost a year since I commentated on a Beyonce video. This next one has my mind exploding. 

Let me preface this by saying I think Beyonce is incredibly gorgeous. Though I haven't bought one of her albums since my community college days I think she is a very talented, worthy celebrity. I also love Lady Gaga. She plays to my guilty pleasure, weird artist side. She never fails to awe and inspire me and I am secretly hoping tickets to her show just fall in my lap. (I KNEW I should have seen her last winter when she did a small club tour (9.30 Club but no one would go with me, I should have gone alone)

So now they both are releasing songs featuring each other. I just watched the video for Beyonce's "Video Phone feat. Lady Gaga" and I have a few things to say about it. Lady Gaga's song feat. Beyonce is called "Telephone." How are both songs about phones and neither of them are sponsored by a phone carrie?! This has me walking on eggshells every time I even look at my phone for fear of this weird combination doing something drastic to all of our phones.

Anyway here is the article that led me to watch Beyonce's latest video. I will leave my commentary after the link so you can decide if you agree with me on things or not.

"Video Phone"

• what the hell is a video phone? (let's be realistic...I swear in real life)
• 5:02 mins long?! are you kidding me??
• still sporting that no-pants look I see
• at least Beyonce has men behind her this time instead of her ever popular 2 female backup dancers
• not a fan of several of the hairdos
• she looks amazing in this outer space outfit
• • especially her legs, boobs, and abs. So most all of her
  • •  I say this and think "my Dad and Aunt read this blog, I wonder what they think when they read that last statement" 
• I love that Beyonce says "swagger/swagga" in lots of her songs
• She definitely lost a few lbs 
• Again and even more so with the no pants! Am I missing out?!
• A nude bra thing?! I don't know what to say other than you have my attention and I am still watching halfway through to see what Lady Gaga has to bring to the table if Beyonce has nude bras
• And then all the sudden the video turns 80's pop looking
• Here's Lady Gaga totally normal pop star looking and not distracting me with something weird in any way
• Was Gaga's part originally for Britney Spears? I feel that would be more fitting.
• I appreciate Gaga's huge eyes and though I am not a fan of tattoos, I like hers
• And then all the sudden with Beyonce again looking like a 50's pinup girl. Wowza! 
• Gaga looks SO TINY next to Beyonce and I think B is a delightful, perfect size. Makes me wonder how small Gaga really is. Damn cameras and hair and make-up
• Gaga's heels are about an inch higher which means she gets smaller! (I paused the video to check)
• Gaga can't pull off Beyonce's moves the same
• And then all the sudden Beyonce looks like M.I.A.
• • 
     
• The nude bra has advanced to a gold bra
• Is this over yet?
• THE END

Who read that?! Don't worry, If Gaga makes a video for her "Telephone" song I will be commentating that too. And don't get me wrong, again, I love Beyonce and Lady Gaga. Pop Culture is just totally fascinating to me, especially here.

Do you see how I am confused!?
 

Music Monday 11.2.09

Wow I haven't done a music monday in over a month! I usually tweet about music as soon as I find it or like something, so if you like my music mondays you would like my music tweets (if you aren't following me already @VanessaMeryl). I also post songs of the day, not every day but enough to keep you amused!

So anyway I tweeted about this but I will go in to more depth about this band Yeasayer, 

About 2 years ago they had this song out, 2080, and I didn't like it at first but the more I heard it the more I loved it. This is a fan created video, I mainly posted it so you can listen to the song:

Here is a live version of the song. I think it is interesting to see how a band changes a song for TV. Like making it shorter, cutting out parts, using different instruments or more digital elements. Plus I love live music and watching the way someone performs is always fun and interesting. Spazzy lead singers are always a bonus.

They currently have a new single out, Ambling Alp, which you can download for free here. It's no 2080 but I like it. Here's the song (no video yet)

What do you think?

Music Monday 9.28.09

One of my favorite songs of the summer was "My Girls" by Animal Collective.  I know I have raved about them before, you can read that post here

Here is a video for the song:

The song is kinda long but a great workout or driving song for sure.

So today I stumbled across an inevitable cover of the song changing 'girls' to 'boys' and I actually quite like it. It is done by a band called Taken By Trees.  

Here is the video and an article and here is just a fan made video with the song:

I went on to listen to more of her stuff and I really like it! She has a voice similar to the lead singer of Camera Obscura, a recent favorite of mine who you should also check out.

What do you think?

Music Monday 9.21.09

I'm sure I have posted about St. Vincent before but I had to share this video that was released today.  She is so gorgeous and I love this song.  If I haven't gotten you to listen to her yet this might convince you.

Watch here

She is currently on tour with Andrew Bird and I am seriously kicking myself for not having tickets. 

I haven't been around for a while.  What are you listening to right now?

Music Monday 9.6.09

Paste Magazine is one of my favorite magazines and it's all about music! They always have really great lists and this one is phenomenal!  I love every song on it and haven't stopped listening to it all week

Fifteen Favorite Animal Songs by Animal Bands

Speaking of animals.  I really love this whole album by Animal Collective.  AND they are from Baltimore!

Merriweather Post Pavillion

And a picture of the band:

Cute right!? I wish they were my friends.

And I leave you with this...could not be more true:

Any "animal songs" you really like?

Music Monday 8.31.09

So right now I am feeling Fol Chen.  I have no clue where I found them but you can download some remixes of their songs for free here  (on the left click Fol Chen: The Longer U Wait) and that is awesome!

I really love this song and video:

BUT WAIT!!!!  It's a tie cos I also love this video...and it includes dancing ladies.  And you know how much I love dancing ladies and cable TV, and stop motion videography: 

Also if you search them this picture comes up a lot and it's just awesome who doesn't love a good silhouette?!:

So it's up to you to decide which song/video you like better.  I know which one I would choose over the other to put on a mix CD...but I'm not telling.

Dig it?