The Crazy Continues...

 Yes, I am going to blog about Lady Gaga. And no, I will not be talking about her awkward sometimes refreshing wardrobe choices.

1.  Lady Gaga’s real name is Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta. She was born in New York City, New York.
2.  Lady Gaga’s inspirations as a singer include Madonna, Michael Jackson, the Queen and David Bowie.
3.  This controversial and intriguing pop star is “left-handed”.
4.  She is unique especially when it comes to fashion where she stated fashion as a source of inspiration for her songwriting and performances.
5.  Lady Gaga was ranked the 73rd Artist of the 2000–2010 decade by Billboard.
6. For the record, as of August 2010, Gaga has sold more than 15 million albums and 51 million singles worldwide.
7.  Time magazine included Lady Gaga in its annual Time 100 list of the most influential people and in the 100 Most Powerful and Influential celebrities in the world.
8. Forbes placed Lady Gaga at number seven on their annual list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women.
9.  She is of Italian-American descent and the eldest child of Joseph Germanotta, internet entrepreneur, and Cynthia (née Bisset).
10.  At a very tender age of 4, she already knew how to play the piano 
12. When she was 14, she began performing at open mic nights.
13.  Lady gaga is an avid thespian in high school musicals and portrayed lead roles as Philia in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and Adelaide in “Guys and Dolls”.
14.  During her academic life in high school she was "very dedicated, very studious, and much disciplined" and admitted to be "a bit insecure".
15.  This American pop singer was born March 28, 1986 and started performing in the rock music scene of Lower East Side in New York City.
16.  At 17, she enrolled at Tisch School of the Arts New York University and later signed with Streamline Records.
17.  A songwriter herself, her exceptional talent was noticed by another song-writer Akon who recognized her vocal abilities and signed her to his own label, Kon Live Distribution.
18.  Lady Gaga’s debut album is “The Fame”. It was released on August 19, 2008 and reached number one in the UK, Canada, Austria, Germany and Ireland.
19.  The Fame’s first two singles, “Poker Face” and “Just Dance” became international number-one hits, topping the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States as well as the charts of other countries.
20. “The Fame” earned 6 Grammy Award nominations and won the awards for Best Dance Recording and Best Electronic Dance Album for "Poker Face".

'Yonce

 Yo, it's Queen Bey time. Married to Jay-Z with an adorable baby girl, Blue Ivy; this woman is paving ways for strong women everywhere.

1. Her full name is Beyoncé Giselle Carter-Knowles
2. Beyoncé was born in Houston, Texas
3. Her mother Tina is Louisiana Creole, meaning her heritage is French, Irish, African and Native American, she is the direct descendant of Acadian leader Joseph Broussard
4. Beyoncé was named after he mother's maiden name
5. At 8 she also met her future Destiny's child band mates Kelly Rowland and LaTavia Robertson in an audition, they were placed with three other girls as part of the all-girl group Girl's Tyme
6. She was an ambassador for World Humanitarian Day in 2012
7. She starred in MTV's Carmen: A Hip Hopera - based on the French opera Carmen
8. She played Foxxy Cleopatra, a 70s bombshell, in Austin Powers in Goldmember
9. On April 4th, 2008 she married her rapper/record producer boyfriend Jay-Z
10. Her first solo album was Dangerously in Love
11. Beyoncé's pregnancy announcement earned the Guinness World Book of Records title for most tweets per second
12. Her daughter Blue Ivy Carter was born January 7th 2012
13.  Beyoncé and Jay-Z are friends with President Barack Obama
14. In September 2010 she was named The World's Most Beautiful Woman by People magazine
15. As a solo artist she has sold over 13 million albums in the US
16. Beyoncé is the face of H&M for summer 2013
17. She plays the voice of Queen Tara in the new animated film Epic. 

Started from the Bottom Now We're Here

 You guessed it correctly. The next post is about Drake, or as I like to call him the man who won't hit Rhianna.

1. Drake is just his stage name, his full name is Aubrey Drake Graham.
2. Born October 24, 1986.
3. Drake’s dad is an African American from Memphis, Tennessee while his mom is a Jewish Canadian.
4. He was born and raised in Toronto, Canada.
5. In 2001 Drake began his acting career playing the wheelchair-bound former basketball star Jimmy Brooks on Degrassi: The Next Generation, a Canadian TV show about students at a high school.
6. He released his first mixtape Room for Improvement in 2006.
7. In 2007 Drake was the first unsigned Canadian rapper to have a music video featured as BET’s “Joint of the Day” with his first single “Replacement Girl” featuring his friend R&B crooner Trey Songz!
8. When Lil Wayne heard a mixtape of Drake’s he immediately flew him out to Houston to go on tour with the Young Money Crew, but didn’t sign him right away
9. According to the Billboard charts in 2010 Drake sold the most records for any hip hop artist in one week.
10. His First EP So Far Gone peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Chart
11. He’s featured in fellow Canadian hip hop artist K’naan’s “Waving Flag” as part of Young Artists for Haiti.
12. Drake’s latest song Take Care features British musician and DJ Jamie XX from The XX and American beat poet Gil Scott-Heron.
13. There are recent rumors that he’s been spotted out and about romancing former supermodel Tyra Banks. The two were seen spending the day together at an amusement park in California.

  So I'll leave you to decide whether or not to check out the rapper's latest hits. For now, Asian Out!!!

It's Iggy Iz....

 This woman is taking the world by storm. Hailing from Austrailia, the world's best new female rapper, Iggy Azalea.

1. Birth Name: Amethyst Amelia Kelly
2. Date Of Birth: 7 June 1990
3. Nationality: Australian
4. Born: Sydney
5. Raised: Mullumbimby, New South Wales
6. Height: 5′ 10″
7. Occupation: Rapper, songwriter, artist, model
8. Labels: Island Def Jam (US), Virgin EMI (UK), Universal Music Group
9. Agencies: Wilhelmina Models (modeling), Turn First Artists (management), Purple (PR)
10. Siblings: sister Emerald and brother Mathias
11. Favourite Color: Purple
12. Favourite Artists: Tupac, Missy Elliott, Method Man, Busta Rhymes, Redman, Andre 3000, David Bowie, Pink Floyd
13. Fashion Icons: Grace Kelly, Gwen Stefani, Spice Girls, Fran Drescher
14. Claim To Fame: Iggy first gained recognition after the respective music videos for her promotional songs “Pu$$y” and “My World” went viral on YouTube in late 2011.

    This is another added artist to my "Ones to Watch" list. This Austrailia born girl is making waves and taking names. For now, Asian Out!!

Ariana Grande

  This is the newest pop princess to take the scene. She is known for her roles on the Nickeloadean show, Victorious, and Sam and Cat. Here go with another page of facts about the newest teenage craze.

1.  Her name was inspired by Princess Oriana from Felix the Cat.
2. She has a big brother named Frankie James Grande. He is also a performer and producer and went on tour with her as one of her dancers.
3. Her fashion icons are Marylin Monroe and Audrey Hepburn.
4. Her favorite cereal is Cocoa Puffs.
5. She’s allergic to cats (ironically, her character on Victorious loves them and is called Cat). She is also allergic to bananas.
6. She joined Youtube on 1/21/07
7. Her most watched Youtube video is her cover of Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” with over 28,000,000 (28 million) views.
8. She loves Celine Dion and Imogen Heap.
9. She’s a huge techno-junkie and uses Garage Band to create remixes of her favorite songs using an Apple computer, a LOOP keyboard, and a home studio, seen on this video.
10. She’s a fan of the Harry Potter series. Coincidentally, there’s a character named Ariana (Ariana Dumbledore) in the books.
11. Her favorite character in Harry Potter is Luna Lovegood and Draco Malfoy.
12. She loves swimming.
13. She used to collect stuffed animals, hockey pucks, and Halloween masks.
14. Her favorite colors are periwinkle blue, marshmallow white, sea foam green, and coral/pale pink.
15. She is studying Spanish.
16. She is quite famous for her secret talent of impersonations.
17. She currently lives in L.A. 
18. Ariana enjoys watching the hit TV show Gossip Girl.
19. Her first crush was Justin Timberlake (she was three).
20. She has a dog named Coco.
21. She went to her first concert, a Katy Perry concert, in the summer of 2011.
22. She is hypoglycemic (her blood sugar gets low).
23. Ariana put her hands in cement at Planet Hollywood, New York, on December 22th, 2011.
24. Ariana wrote a news article about bullying.
25. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate.
26. Her favourite topping is rainbow sprinkles.
27. She thinks penguins are cute.
28. Her favourite subject is science.
29. Her favourite candies are Smarties and Razzles.
30. Her favourite fruit is strawberry.
31. Her favourite types of movies are romance and comedy.

Justin's Gal Pal: Selena Gomez

   The newest rumor about Selena is that she is pregnant. Let's hope the rumors aren't true, but first let's learn a little about Justin's favorite girl.

1. Birth name: Selena Marie Gomez
2. Birthday: July 22nd, 1992(almost 22)
3. Parents: Mandy Teefy (mother) & Brian Teefy (step-father)
4. Nicknames: Sel, Selly
5. Quoted: “Be yourself always, there’s no one better!”
6. Selena’s favourite colour is green.
7. Debuted in Barney & Friends at age 7.
8. Discovered by Disney in a nationwide talent search when she was 10.
9. Appeared in an episode of The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and in two episodes of Hannah Montana before landing her own show, The Wizards of Waverly Place.
10. Sings the theme song for The Wizards of Waverly Place, “Everything Is Not What It Seems” & the theme song for Disney’s “Shake It Up!”
11. She has 4 dogs
12. Her favorite candies are Snickers and Good n’ Plenty but she also luvs chocolate.
13. Selena likes hip-hop and punk music.
14. Remains close to her childhood friend and fellow Disney star – Demi Lovato.
15. Selena is of Mexican and Italian decent.
16. She Rescued Her Dog Named Chip From An Animal Shelter.
17. She Enjoys Cheerleading, Surfing And Skateboarding.
18.  Her Favorite Subject Is Science.
19. Her Favorite Sport Is Basketball.
20. Her Role Model And Favorite Actress is Rachel McAdams.
21. While Filming The Animated Movie ‘Horton Hears A Who!’ (2008), She Played Steve Carrell’s Daughter But She Never Got To Meet Him.
22. Before Landing The Role Of Alex Russo in “Wizards Of Waverly Place” (2007), Selena wasn’t a Fan Of Neither Magic Or The Harry Potter Franchise.
23. In The Movie ‘Horton Hears A Who!’ (2008) Selena Played All 90 Of The Mayor’s Daughters.
24. Her Favorite Band Is Paramore.

The Billboard Music Awards

        The BBMAs were on last night and I just wanted to write about some facts about the artist that were featured there so here we go. Starting at first is the teen favorite, Justin Bieber. 

1. Justin Bieber full name is Justin Drew Bieber
2. He was born March 1st, 1994 (17 years old).
3. His nicknames: J-Beebs, Justin, JB, Biebs, Bieber, Beebs
4. His mother name is Pattie Mallette
5. His father name is Jeremy Bieber
6. His dad plays guitar, and his mom sings.
7. He wanted to buy a house for his mom when he first earned $1,000,000.
8. His favorite TV show is smallville..
9. His favorite colors are blue and purple
10. His favorite food is spaghetti
11. He speaks fluent French
12. He is claustrophobic – fear of being in narrow or enclosed spaces, eg: closet, elevators ;)
13. He prefers Macs over PCs
14. His favorite music is R&B and Pop
15. His favorite artists; Usher, Michael Jackson, BoysIImen, Stevie Wonder.
16. His celebrity crush is Beyonce.
17. His favorite drink is orange juice
18. He has a half sister named Jazmine/jazzy & brother names jaxon
19. He is a lefty
20. He likes captain crunch (with berries)
21. He can count to ten in German
22. His shoe size is 7 and a half
23. He likes sporty, active, nice, down to earth girls.
24. He likes sour patch kids
25. He grew up in Canada (Stratford Ontario)
26. He is signed by Usher. Justin Timberlake was reportedly in the running to sign Bieber.
27. His label is Island def jam.
28. He likes playing soccer.
29. He likes to skateboard
30. His first CD came out in Novemeber 17th 2009
31. He would date anyone he falls in love with.
32. He plays four instruments; guitar, piano, drums and trumpet
33. He raised 150,000 lbs of food for food Bank, with the help of his fans.

Foster the People

        Supermodel is the name of the game and Foster the People play this game well. Coming off of their debut very well. Their first album titled, Torches, had hits such as Pumped Up Kicks and Don't Stop, was a success in its own. Recently hitting Platinum on the music charts, the group had to find a strong way to follow up their first success. After Pumped Up Kicks, the band became famous very quickly and found themselves needing a manager and a label.
        Mark Foster, the front man for the group, decided to manage the band's affairs in North America but signed a record deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing for affairs outside of North America. Their new managers at Sony wanted to push for a tour to get the group exposed and out in the open. Little did they know it would be a struggle because the band had little to non with their experience in performing in a tour setting. This brings us to the point, what type of music are they?
        Foster the People are classified as Rock/Alternative known as Alt/Rock. They have been nominated for several awards and have even won a few. Their biggest award was at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards where they won Top Rock Song with Pumped Up Kicks.
        This group is dynamic so I suggest you keep your eyes on them. I recommend that you take notice because soon this group will be taking over. For now, Asian out!!!

Theme Songs.

         Okay so my favorite thing that helps me remember a show is its theme song. Somethimes they are jsut instrumental and sometimes they are actual songs that become very popular. There are even shows that don't even use theme songs, such as Grey's Anatomy. Whether you recognize shows by their songs or not, theme songs are very important in discussing the show as an whole. For now, Asian Out!!

Luke Hemmings and Ashton Irwin

•                Luke Robert Hemmings or as I like to call him, the best band member ever. As you can tell he is my favorite. 
• He was born on July 16, 1996. 
• He has two brothers Ben and Jack. 
• He enjoys rugby and his favorite show is How I Met Your Mother, which sadly ended earlier this year. 
• Luke has a dog named Molly.
•                 Luke’s first youtube video was uploaded on February 3rd, 2011.
• Luke says he is the most responsble out of the band, and always takes things more seriously.
• Luke has never seen the Titanic.
• Luke and Calum both have matching singlets and they “accidentally” both wore them to band practice one day.
•  Luke is pure Australian.Luke’s mom is a math teacher.
• Luke is in extension maths and he “dominates” science according to Michael.
• Luke said in a Ustream, a while ago, that he wanted to get a piercing on his eyebrow.Ashton says Luke gives the best hugs in the band. Luke likes to have “intimate sessions with Luke Hemmings” on twit cams.
• Luke says chocolates from fans taste better than stuff he buys himself.
• Luke and Calum go to the gym. The first time Luke has been over seas is when the boys went to London.
• Luke’s favorite singer is Josh Ramsay.
• Luke’s and Calum’s favourite movie is Anchor Man.
• Luke said him and Calum would probably die first if zombies came because Michael is the ultimate gamer and would know what to do.
• Luke’s favourite icecream flavor is cookies and cream.
• Luke eats the most in the band, and he says he’s always hungry.
• His favorite color is blue.
• Luke said he wants to book out a whole Nando’s and have dinner there with the boys and all of the 5SOS family.
• Luke’s favourite animal is a penguin.
• He likes ham & cheese.
• Luke’s mom says that he is the master of losing things.
•  He lost his iPhone in Melbourne after the tour, and all of the boys were teasing him about his old Nokia.
• Luke follows the Sydney Swans in AFL.
• Luke is amazing at snow boarding.
• He plays soccer.
• Luke enjoys the movie 17 Again & Monsters Inc.
• "I’m gonna be honest but I actually look like a boss as batman, even though I probably am batman."
• Ashton said Luke would die first in a zombie apocalypse for sure. 
• Luke said he loves hot chips.
• Luke’s favorite number is 7.
• Luke said he would date a fan about 2 years younger than he is.
• Luke’s former girlfriend was named Aleisha McDonald.
• Luke’s relationship with Aleisha lasted for about a year.
• Pepperoni is Luke’s favorite pizza topping.
• Luke gets the most nervous before a show.
• He chooses pizza over donuts.
• Luke would rather a baby elephant over a baby Kangaroo.
• Luke farts the most.
• His favorite Sleeping with Sirens song is ‘Let’s Cheer to This’
• Luke’s favorite songs from All Time Low’s ‘Don’t Panic’ album are Somewhere in Neverland, Outlines and To Live and Let Go.
• Luke and Calum both love the movie Anchor Man.
• Luke is the tallest member in 5SOS.
• Luke once said that “a boy will tell someone they love them, a man will show it
• He likes neck tickles.
• Luke use to be able to ride a skateboard.

           Ashton Fletcher Irwin:

• His favorite movie is Pursuit of Happiness.
• A few weeks before 5SOS recorded their EP, Ashton always thought EP meant Episode.
• He is Aussie and American.
• Ashton’s favorite TV show is Family Guy.
• Ashton likes to play on Ikea furniture.
• He says he’s 6ft tall, and all the boys are pretty much the exact same height.
• Ashton’s favorite childhood memory was the first time he played the drums in front of an audience.
• He would date a fan.
• His favorite singer is James Morrison.
• He loves the subject visual arts.
• Ashton says he is good at ice- skating.
• He joined 5SOS in December 2011.
• Ashton says he listens to heavy music.
• Ashton likes banana milkshakes.
• The boys say that Ashton is the best listener. 
• Ashton said he forgets his keys and has to climb through the toilet window all the time..
• Ashton said he couldn’t live without Luke, Calum and Michael. 
• Ashton didn’t do Mathematics in year 12.
• Ashton said he loves both summer and winter.
• His biggest fears are needles and having his wrist broken.
• Ashton’s favorite album right now is Trey Songz Chapter 5.
• Ashton says he really likes some of The Wanted’s songs.
• His lucky number is 18.
• He wants to have a huge concert and donate all the money to charity.
• Ashton said he tried out on X-factor in November 2010.
• He used to be a state level swimmer.
• He didn’t have his first kiss until he was 16.
• Ashton has lost his license before.
• He likes chicken noodles better than beef.
• Ashton’s favorite brand of shoes is Vans.
• Ashton’s favorite Lipton ice tea flavor is peach.
• He is scared of the dark.
• Ashton does not like olives.
• Ashton’s favorite food is spaghetti.
• His dragon name is Balthasaur.
• Ashton loves Coldplay.
• He has broken his arm and his wrist before.
• Ashton loves blonde jokes.
• His favorite color is red.
• Ashton likes Justin Bieber.
• Ashton is a big Christian.
• He is the most sensitive one in the band.
• Ashton got his first drum set when he was 8 years old.
• If Ashton could collaborate with one of his favourite male and female singers he said it would be Alex Gaskarth & Rita Ora.
• Ash says he is the most embarrassing member of 5sos.
• Ashton’s favourite song to play live is “Year 3000”.
• Ashton’s says his favorite Disney movie is Hercules.
• Ashton wants a band turtle.
• Ashton’s favorite All Time Low song is “Lost in Stereo”.
• Ashton’s favorite song right now is “Singing with the King” by Go Radio.
• Ashton’s favorite Justin Bieber song is “Right Here”
• Ashton wears glasses.
• If Ash wasn’t doing music, he said he would be a music teacher.
• Ash said he would take Calum if he was stranded on a deserted island.
• Other than the drums, Ash can play the saxophone, piano, and guitar.
• Ashton’s parents are separated, and his dad is not around.
• Ashton’s favorite flavor of ice cream is chocolate chip.
• One time, Ashton was trying to use a movie theater ticket dispenser as an ATM.
• Ash use to work at KFC.
• Ashton has a one direction poster in his room.
• Ashton’s dog’s name is Indie.
• About two years ago Ashton said he wanted the Nike tick as a tattoo on his foot.
• Ashton likes his tea/coffee filled with sugar and milk.
• He hates ducks.
• Ashton’s favorite food is pineapple.
• Ashton said his celeb crush was John Mayer and we would turn gay for him.

Calum Hood and Michael Clifford

       Like I said before, not a whole ton of information is given out on the boys, which I respect. The first boy I am going to talk about is the bass player, Calum Hood. Calum's full name is Calum Thomas Hood and he was born on January 25, 1996. He first joined the band back in 2011 and has been moving full steam ahead ever since.

        Calum met Luke and Michael, who I'll write about later at Norwest Christian College. This college is in Sydney, Australia where they started the band that would later add Ashton to the mix. He is 18 now and has a younger sister named Mali. He is just as crazy as the other band members and  would date Michael if he was gay.
         His favorite food is pizza which if you ask me, pizza is a good way to go. He is not my favorite member of the band but I'm sure many other girls would think I'm crazy. He enjoys pandas which is my favorite animal so maybe we're long lost siblings or something like that.
         Calum's style is that of a normal teen mixed with a little bit of a grunge look. He has two tattoos that he shows off but most people seem to think he's got more. His closest buddy in the group is Michael Clifford.
         Michael Gordon Clifford was born on November 20, 1995. He is 18 like Calum  and plays guitar for 5SOS. He LOVES cheeseburgers and the movie Persuit of Happiness. He often fights with Ashton but fans just think it is because they are the closest and not he and Calum. Calum says Michael is the sassiest and is scared of Slender. He also says that he would run and leave the other boys behind if there were zombies invovled.
         I am sorry if you wanted more on each boy but it is hard to trust all websites to whether they are truthful or not. I hope you look forward to meeting the other two boys in my next blog post. For now, Asian Out!!

5 Seconds of Summer

          Whether you are into punk rock or not, the newest band on the scene is 5 Seconds of Summer. 5SOS is a band that originated in Australia and consider themselves to be punk rock. They were YouTube famous before they became American famous by the help of One Direction.
            This band was discovered by One Direction's Louis Tomlinson. Even though most call 5SOS a boy band, Louis liked them because they were more rock'n'roll-esque and had a harder edge about them. They traveled the world with One Direction and became an instant success. When I first heard them I did not even know they would be famous because I found them through a playlist on 8tracks. I soon fell in love and then heard that they were on tour with One Direction and knew they were going to be a hit.
              I was right and much like the teenage craze that still follow the boys of One Direction, girls are literally tearing at the seams to know more about this band. I find this cool because they have a certain mysterious factor about them because they are famous but not overly out there like some celebrities. They haven't been taken in by Hollywood yet and been degraded. This band has an another cool factor; they record in their own recording studio. These boys aren't just some other Hollywood owned band, they actually care that the right music is being made for their audiences. They want to make the best music that they can not auto-tune crap that Taylor Swift is now putting out there.
              In the next few blogs I will be introducing the members of 5SOS to you. Hopefully you aren't creeped out by my stalkerish tendencies when it comes to them but I like to know where my music is coming from. For now, Asian Out!!

The Influence of Music on Viewpoints

      During the Vietnam War, many artists used music to show their support or hatred toward the war. This was a very influential tool during the war because people were intrigued by the songs.

       This year in show choir we sang The United States of Eurasia by Muse. This was all about how world domination would be detrimental to the world as we know it. It talks about how if we let someone take over our world and rule everyone that we will all fall and be under one person which is not ideal. This is influencing us to be proactive in our society because we hope that this will never happen to us. Often times we think that it won't happen to us, but often times we are quite wrong. This song serves as a warning to us to what could happen in the future if we are not careful.
        Another influential song is I Kissed a Girl by Katy Perry. Although you may not think that this song deserves to be mentioned in the category as influential, I beg to differ. This song is influential because it took a topic such as gay rights and made it into a pop song that seemed harmless. When, you really think about it, people didn't care that she was talking about lesbians she was just making a song. This song had a point though. It didn't cause people to be outraged, well most of them weren't, it caused a new found love for Katy Perry and opened up the door to being gay as an okay thing. Whether she intended to change peoples' minds on the LGBT issue she did and all because she wrote a song to a pop tune about kissing a girl.
         The last influential song I will talk about is We Are the World. This song, originally sung by Michael Jackson, was used in the effort to eliminate hunger throughout the world was re-done so as to help Haiti after the earthquake. This song provoked people to give money and time to invest in Haiti after the hurricane hit. We Are the World showed people how alike even the most different people to be.
          These songs, along with many others, are not influential because people decided them to be. They are influential because they have lyrics that touch people. They are about issues that can be seen as big problems today. The influence, whether intended or not, is not consciously known. We are influenced because it is like subliminal messaging. These songs are influential because they not only change the way we think they change the way we are. For now, Asian out!!

Chooosing Appropriate Songs for Your Wedding

        Dear people of earth, hardcore rap is not appropriate for your wedding no matter how influential it has been to you and your new husband's lives, rap is not a suitable choice for wedding music. 

         I think looking back people could regret having their daddy daughter dance to Lil Wayne. I'm not hear to rant just warn. So please keep in mind that not all peop share the same music taste. They shouldn't have to endure a long painful night when they just want to congratulate you on your happy marriage. I'm not suggesting that rap is a bad genre of music but there are more appropriate choices.

          Most people for their weddings choose songs that reflect their love or they choose songs that are chosen by their parents. This means that they are probably classics that many people use at weddings. Even though people may think this is too cliche or boring this is what is appropriate if you want people to think that you are throwing a classy wedding.

             Whether you follow the norm or not is up to you. I was merely suggesting the way to have a classical wedding that people wouldn't talk about in a negative way. For now, Asian out!!!

Movie Soundtracks.....

        Most people watch movies for pure enjoyment of the characters. However some watch strictly because their favorite composer. My brother for one, is a music teacher. Sure he loves the creative talents of the actors or animators but what really pulls him in is the music.
         The music of movies is often overlooked because people don't realize that their emotions are intensified because of the way music swells. *spoiler alert* In Frozen when the parents die, the music is quiet then gets really big and brassy but still moves like the waves their parents were taken down in. You don't want to feel sad but the music evokes the emotion inside of you. That's what the film makers want from you. It is a part of why we feel so attached to the movies.
           Being attached to a movie isn't necessarily a bad thing. Your attachment to a movie means that even for a person who may not know anything about music, the attachment you feel means you enjoyed every aspect of the movie. What I find amazing is even if you are listening to the dialogue of the movie, you are subconsciously listening to the music as well and processing the rise and swell of the music.
           Often times people don't really realize how connected they are to music. Just because they don't sing doesn't mean they can't appreciate when music is happening. Too many people are focused on the things they can do with music that they will be appreciated for, but in reality music can be appreciated for what it's not. Movies just have that unspoken appreciation for music even though the main focus is the plot. They are a way to ease people into music appreciation. For now, Asian Out!!

Show Choir Sass

             H-A-PP-I-N-E-SS!! Every year show choirs from around the nation gather together to compete in Nashville, TN. Here like any other competition they compete to see who's the best of the best in the nation. On the Grand Ole Opry stage, where many country stars have sang, you perform and try to get to the finals on Saturday. This, to the show choir nerds of America, is huge.
             For those of you who do not know what show choir is; show choir is just organized singing and dancing to songs of possible this day and age. Sometimes people have themes to their show such as war, forbidden love, or robots and bible stories. My favorite choir right now is Burbank In Sync. They are just so energetic and lively. 

             Show choir takes a lot of hard work and dedication. Many people spend lots of money to just participate in their show choir, not to mention all of the extra hours they spend on busses and at the actual event. Some people would consider it a sport but sometimes it's hard to tell.

              Too many people do not realize that the kids in these choirs put just as much time and effort in their show just to try and win big at their competitions. When you have a show like Burbank it is really a workout each time you step up to the stage to perform. Fighting tooth and nail to often times fall short of what you really want. 

               I don't want you to get he wrong impression, but show choir is nothing like what you see on the TV show Glee. Although kids are very different we are all basically he same in that we all come for one thing, to sing and dance with our friends. Which is what show choir is really about. So whether you want to believe we are all snot- nosed, jerk-faced kids,  we actually genuinely care about you and each other. 

               Show choir is the one thing where people can come and be themselves while they perform. So whether you are a fan or not I'll leave a link the Burbank's show from 2012 and I'll let you decide whether to enjoy the newest teenage craze or let this one pass... For now, Asian out!!! 

http://youtu.be/SD68CQdPMzY- Prodigal: Burbank In Sync 2012

Pandora, the Best Thing Ever Made...Period

          Pandora, the internet radio station that has swept the world by storm has captured the hearts of everyone who has ever taken the time to download the app. Personally, in my totally non-biased opinion, I will use Pandora forever. Whether you like Rock, Pop, Country, or Classical, Pandora has it all.
          The stations on my Pandora radio range from Classical to Broadway and from Punk Rock to the hits of today. Really my music taste is anything. I always choose stations by what I like to listen to the most in hopes that other songs similar will happen upon my new station. A station that has become my new favorite is Classical for Studying. This station has become a favorite because of the versitility it shows from all different types of music.
           This station has songs that are pop based or rock based and turns them into beautiful, relaxing piano ballads. I literally fall in love with every song I hear on this station. Right now, My Heart Will Go On by Celine Dion is on and my heart seriously melted. Not only is it a beautiful compostition but it is known for the iconic part in Titanic that it had. I really just hope you can love Pandora as much as I do.
            Pandora is so great because you can really express your individuality with your music. It also introduces you to music similar to what you like. Music has a way of influencing me to do the good in life so in turn Pandora is the way for me to get a great radio station with my favorites to jam out to if I'm feeling down or to just get me up and awake in the morning. I hope you will seriously consider becoming part of the Pandora team so you can have a fantastic experience with your favorite music too. For now, Asian Out!!!

Rapunzel...Take Two

       Tangled, one of Disney's newer attempts to spin a classic tale. Like many Disney movies before the characters in this movie sing too. Now I know what you are thinking, how is this different from any other musical out there? Let me tell you, this one is great.

       This girl is not one plagued by hair that is too long she can't hold head up. She is one of adventure and excitement. Much to everyone's enjoyment, she only wants one thing for her birthday; to see the lights that float from far away. She doesn't realize the true meaning behind the floating orbs of light. Her "mother" is one of deception and lies.

        Rapunzel's " mother" claims she locks her in the tower for good reasons. She claims there are beasts in the wild that would tear her to pieces. Of course our young heroine stays in doors because she believes her "mother" is telling the truth. On the contrary through, her mother actually just wants her to stay so she can be young. Plot twist!!

         Rapunzel's hair is magical. That's right magical. When her "mother" sings a special song, her hair starts to glow and in turn the " mother" is turned into a young woman again. Now I know what you are thinking, how the heck is this possible but let me tell you, IT'S DISNEY. They call it magic for a reason. Rapunzel of course has no idea she is being taken advantage of. This is however where Rapunzel finally breaks free for herself.
          Deciding she wants to be free from her captivity, Rapunzel decides to leave the tower to seek out the lights. Being that it is her 18th birthday, she really doesn't look 18, she wants to be on her own and to not be tied down by her "mother." She escapes with the help of Flynn Rider, the notorious bad boy of the criminal world. He says he will lead her to the lights. Flynn knows a secret about Rapunzel though, she is really the long lost daughter of the king and queen. She doesn't know this but for Flynn he figures he can take her back and get the huge reward for returning the princess.
           Along the way, Flynn starts to actually care for Rapunzel because he sees that she is such a positive influence on many people she meets. She is kind and considerate, the exact opposite of what Flynn appears to be. He realizes that he wants to actually be with her, kinda strange for a dude who just met a random 18 year old girl. Sketchy. In the end though they are actually in love. I am pretty sure they got married. Kind of strang but it is Disney so anything can happen.Which brings me back to the "mother" who actually isn't a mother at all.
              This crazy old lady who stole Rapunzel has resurfaced, much to everyone's dismay. She is chasing down Rapunzel before she discovers the truth about who she really is. She tries really hard to get to Rapunzel but is too late and tries to steal her magic away. I'll leave you to ponder what has really happened to Rapunzel, Flynn, and Mother Gothel. Just go watch the movie. For now, Asian Out!!!
          

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?? Pt 2

   I want to take the time to do a music of Frozen appreciation post. I spent a lot of time in the last lost describing the characters of Frozen, but the music these people were able to create a gorgeous storyline with beautiful music. 

   Anna and Elsa are voiced by Kristen Bell and Idena Menzel. I knew Idena could sing from seeing her on Broadway in Wicked, but I never new Kirsten could sing. Although Idena has a fantastic voice, I would have never seen Kristen as having a voice.

     Kristoff is voiced by Jonathon Groff another guy who lives on making beautiful music on Broadway. He has also been on Glee with Lea Michele. He as Kristoff works so well because you can see him within Kristoff's physique.

       The written music itself is so beautiful because of the way the melodies intertwine within the underlying songs. Let it Go for me was such a great song because Idena is a very good emotional singer. You can tell how much she really enjoyed getting into the character for Elsa at this point. Also this is Elsa's turning point. This is when Elsa stops fearing herself. She becomes a more carefree person which in turn helps her later on in the movie.

      Olaf's song about summer is funny because it's ironic. During the whole song he is literally singing about doing fun things in the summer. He has no idea that snow melts in the summer which just makes it more funny. The voice is Josh Gad who I thought had a gorgeous voice for someone who I've never heard of.  He just does Olaf so well that I can't help but love him.

        Hans also has a gorgeous voice. Basically the whole casts has gorgeous voices so I give up on trying to find anything wrong with them. If you're looking for a reason to not go to Frozen then you're are reading the wrong blog post. I feel as though I could listen to this music over and over and not get annoyed with it. The cast is so invested in making it a great musical that they really worked to create the best musical they could.

          All in all I'm not going to waste more of your time trying to convince you to go see this movie. I'm just gonna say if you don't go you will be missing so much from your life. For now, Asian out!!!

Do You Wanna Build a Snowman??? Pt 1

   Of course I wanna build a snowman. So Frozen by Disney is my new favorite movie of all time. I love love love these character sooo much. I want to live in a world like they do.

    Elsa the "villan" of the whole movie is not actually a villan at all but instead a misunderstood girl with seemingly no one on her side. She tries so hard to be the good natured person she really is but struggles with an underlying issue that she had no control of. Some would say her life is cursed because of the curse she has to endure. Curse what curse? You'll seriously need to watch this movie now because I'm not giving it up.

      Her sister, Anna, is troubled in herself in that she doesn't know why her sister is so closed off from her. She wants to be close to her sister so badly after losing their parents when they were very young. She sees the pure heart in Elsa when Elsa doesn't see it herself.

       Olaf, the greatest snowman ever built is hands down my favorite character. Not only is he really cute, but he can talk. Also this snowman is really cool because he is part of Anna and Elsa's childhood, a period when they suffered excruciating losses. He seemed to be very optimistic but it is laughable because he wants to experience summer and as a snowman he doesn't understand that he will melt.

        Kristoff and his trusty sidekick Sven, are the character who you would never expect to join this very regal and royal cast. That is what makes them so great. Kristoff and Sven have such a great human to animal bond that you would think that they are brothers. Essentially they are. Kristoff surprised me in many ways because instead of being a closed hearted outsider he is very open hearted to the royals. He and Anna are true loves despite the underlying "love" between her and the Prince Hans.

          Hans is the seemingly right match for Anna when we first meet him. They seem to get each other perfectly. Anna trusts him enough that she leaves the country in his hands while she tries to find Elsa. Hans seems kind of crazy for being royalty but who wouldn't be when you have 12 older brothers.

        These characters are so influential because they have a way of becoming a part of you. You want them to be your best friends and be a part of your life. These characters make you feel so  much happiness that you want to gather them all up in a big hug. This is why I love Frozen so much and I hope you oh see this movie. For now...Asian out!!!

Rap up

    So I really do not like this topic, but I'm going to give my best towards an uninteresting topic in my opinion. Rap music can be very influential in good and bad ways. There are the old school hip hoppers to new age influentials and even Christian rap.

    Old school however you describe it, is the start of a revolution. I don't fully have reason to say old school rap is the reason for my disliking of rap because I really don't listen to it. My problem is today's rap.

     Today's rap is nothing like old school. Rap today is all about women, booze, money and drugs. Too be honest, it's annoying. I feel that the only artist that I can be happy with is Macklemore and Ryan Lewis. 

      This great duo raps about controversial topics such as same-sex marriage. They also can be completely goofy and rap about thrift shopping. This is why I love them. They are also self made artist. This means they can produce music by themselves. They really just rap meaningful lyrics.

       Now a days the cool thing to do is start rapping. Miley Cyrus does it, Justin Bieber does it's, heck Taylor Swift even raps. Rap isn't controversial because of the topics it takes over but because do how it effects people. We as people are vey influential. It is hard to listen to rap and not think about how one lyric could make a teenager think they are unstoppable. We must caution ourselves from going too deep into rap culture but yet still enjoy it. For now, Asian out!!!!

Popping My Imaginary Bubble

      Topic of the day: pop music. Pop music today is very influential in our lives. This music gets us through our issues with our family or our love life. People find the music of today refreshing or at sometimes scary. Artists evolve and shift the way they make their music and we as the listeners are left in the wake to pick up the pieces and hop on the train or run the heck away.

         The idea of pop music is simple, by popular demand. Popular demand in the music world just means how much people want to be entertained by you. Artists like Justin Bieber or One Direction are popular and very much in demand by 99% of the female teenage population. These artist are rolling in the bank whether by sold out tours or record breaking record sales. These are the artists most seen on the pop music scene.

           The idea of pop music is essentially what makes us, the consumers interested in the artists. Often times songs become overplayed and people get tired of them and want something new. People have favorite artists that are always their go to artists and these artists have much stress put onto them. For example, Miley Cyrus. This pop star started off on Disney and grew into this new edgier sensation that is taking the world by storm. Her new music is very much a grown up version of her old self. We ask why would she make such a dramatic change from her old music. Easy, she wants to keep people talking about her. There is a science to pop music marketing and the stars are the ones who have figured it out for themselves. 

             Pop music has become a shell that we live in. Surrounded by all of these changing and emerging artists, we as consumers are left to deal with the aftermath. But this is what we live for. To see our favorite artists rise and fall. Pop music is a mirror image of ourselves. We create what we want to see for people and in tire the artists are brought to the conclusion, we as humans are pop music because popular music is us..for now Asian out!!!!

           

Indie-Rock, the way to achieve hipster levels

         You may be confused as to why anyone would wanna blog about this. Well let me tell you, Indie is one of the quickest way to become a hipster. You may be confused as to what a hipster is but if you're patient I can describe exactly what a hipster is.

          A hipster is someone who is aware of the coolest styles and in a way sets the tone for others. Not only on fashion though hipsters can be anyone who sets the style for anything. Music such as indie is the newest way for someone to be considered a hipster.

           Indie Rock is a way to categorize all of the alt rock groups that haven't been discovered together.  Groups like Arcade Fire, Teagan and Sarah, and The White Stripes have been defining music in a whole different way. 

           The songs that Indie Rock creates are rock beats with intricate bass lines and a chill vibe. They can also have a little electronic influence with some pop beats too. In reality Indie is just a blend of  many different styles of music. Indie combines our favorite parts of all types of music. In actuallity we are all a little hipster in that our taste in music influences on of the most growing groups of music today. 

 Included are some links to Indie-Rockers home pages to look at some of their works. Asian out!!!!

 

http://www.teganandsara.com/

http://www.theblackkeys.com/?forceDesktop=true

When I Grow Up I Want to Be a...Human

    Ok so I know that the title may seem confusing, but trust me, it's what Ariel wanted. You may think I'm crazy but trust me, the idea of a mermaid is.. actually not that crazy of an idea nowadays. 

     Mermaids and talking sea creatures seems like something that would horrify children right? Wrong, dead wrong. Ariel captured many hearts of young folk singing and dreaming of being human..well more human than she is at her original state. She just wants the handsome prince she sees on land and by golly she's gonna get him.

      Prince Eric is no ordinary prince. He craves to be different than his father. All he wants is to be free while ruling. He doesn't want to marry so spoiled brat who happens to charm herself into the family. No, he wants love. He wants a girl who isn't just a stuffy manners and too dainty to get her feet wet. Eric is an adventurer. He wants to see the world and that's how it's easy for Ariel to connect with him.

       The underlying reason Ariel wants to be more human is because she wants to be free. She's tired of being stuck under water never exploring the possibilities in front of her. She wants to see the world on land not in the ocean terrified of what would happen if someone spotted her. She craves what any teenage girl craves, a life away for the all seeing eyes of her parents.

        Parents aren't all bad, they just want the best for us. This is where the push to become something we never thought of comes from. We try so hard to be what they don't want to be that we end up working so hard that we end up a part of what we are meant to be. Ariel's tale isn't one of hatred and disgust but of maturity and finding that balance of what you want and what your parents want for you.

          She like the other princesses teach to follow your dreams but also how to respect your parents for wanting to make sure you're safe and well taken care of. Ariel really shows the parental side of maturing and how they are scared just like you. So next time you think they are too overprotective just remember they're on this journey with you. They're along for this wild ride. As always believe that you're a mermaid, oh wait no, believe and you can achieve. For now, Asian Out!!!

Other Asians

        Let's get down to business to talk about...Mulan. One of my favorite princesses, and not just because she's Asian. Mulan is a very strong, very underestimated girl. She lives in China with her family when her dad is informed that he is needed to assist the emperor  in protecting China. Her dad, who is now injured faces death if he does not fight in the army. Mulan goes in her father's place and fights in the army. Her journey is tough but she makes it through. Along the way she falls in love with the General.
         General Shang is tough and well-disciplined. Our young heroine has a hard time resisting the stand-offish, hot-headed general. Of course the road to love is never easy and Mulan is found out. She is given a dismissal but later returns for the greater good of China. Much to the General's dismay he ends up falling for Mulan. What started as a mutual hatred turns out to be a great love story.
          Throughout the whole movie people are singing like crazy. Kind of weird for having a movie talking about war against the Huns. My favorite songs is Let's Get Down to Business, a song all about training people for war. I was way to amazed as a kid and am still enamored with it today. Mulan is such a great character because  she is a strong person.

             Mulan being the strong person she is teaches us two things; the first,to be a great person to others and second, a strong person in your family. She is a genuine person on the inside as well as how she conducts herself on the outside. Her tale of success happens because she makes it happen. This is what we should really take away from this movie, not if you join the army then you'll marry a general. Be a strong person and you will shine above the others. Signing off, Asian Out!!!!