Billboard Hot 100 Summer Update: The Why Bother Edition

Billbored Cold 100 Update

It's been a few months since the last time I checked up on the pop music scene and the billboard charts... Usually I wait this long so that there's enough time for it to change and I won't have to talk about the same songs over and over again. Not surprisingly, the charts haven't moved much (at least not the top 10 anyway) since my last encounter with the pop musiczzz. There was something pretty big that happened a few weeks ago though, and it has something to do with Spanish music. Turns out the biggest song of the summer is a song from the fictional island of Puerto Rico (I think it's said to be located inside the Bermuda Triangle somewhere, but it's not proven) which is a pretty big deal in the music world. Why is it a big deal? Well because the last Spanish song to do this was the famous Macarena back in '93 (sounded more like gibberish to me, but it turns out it actually was Spanish). Not sure why out of all the Spanish music that has come out in the last 24 years this one was the only one to make it, but... well it's pretty crazy. The craziest part to me was when I saw the name Daddy Yankee attached, now there's a name I haven't heard in a long time. I always knew Daddy Yankee as the guy who made the same song over and over and over again and somehow still held his popularity fairly well, but I guess that was because the music scene in Puerto Rico was and probably still is much different than over here. Reggaeton was always a big deal over there as long as I can remember and it always seemed to be around whenever I got the chance to go over there. I myself never got the appeal of it... I think it was the whole concept of the rhythm always being the same in almost every song, along with a cut and paste beat that seemed to be never ending in the music. Honestly though, I think the charts really needed something like this right now, while for me it might be something I've heard many many times growing up, it's really nice to see it in the mainstream USA charts at the number one spot. When I first saw this had made it to the top 10 I was pretty shocked that a song like this could have enough popularity here to do that. I think people were just desperate for something different, with a little more danceable music versus all the sad songs and electronic drop choruses we've been getting over and over again in the pop charts. It's summer! It's a perfect song to play in the hot sun with friends, at a party and have a little dance (as long as it's not the Justin Bieber version, because just no.)

The rest of the Top 10 is a mix of songs that have been there for months and I'm tired of hearing by now (except Bruno Mars, still enjoying that song every now and then) or new music that sounds like very generic same ol' same ol' laziness. In other news, Katy Perry dropped her new album, and it seems like no one cared at all. None of the songs from her new album even hit the top 100, except the two that were already there (Chained to the Rhythm and Bon Appetit) which are on the lower side of the charts. None of her songs are in the Spotify top 50, her album is already 17th in the iTunes charts and only a few songs on the iTunes top charts, but they are all low. I guess it's just nice that people aren't buying into something just because it has a famous name behind it, which is something I've really been wanting to see more of. Katy Perry has all the resources to make a great album, with great music and memorable lyrics. Instead she makes another "meh" album with two or three good songs and 12 forgettable songs. Thankfully just a week later we got the return of another big star in Lorde with "Melodrama", which was a surprisingly good.

And that's my update on the pop music world that you didn't ask for. What a time to be alive. Spanish music is hitting the charts, Katy Perry is forgotten, Justin Bieber in a song makes it an instant hit, Post Malone is a thing, Childish Gambino might make it to the top 10, and Daddy Yankee IS still alive. Go figure.

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Wonder Woman

Wonder Woman

The 4th movie in the DC:EU released just this weekend and it was huge. DC has been struggling to release a movie that is loved by general audiences, DC fans and critics and Wonder Woman really seemed like it was going to be the one to do that. I myself haven't loved any of the DC:EU films up to this point, Suicide Squad being one of my least favorite movies of last year (with the worst Joker ever). Not to say I don't want to see DC succeed, because I actually do want them to. I have more of a connection with the DC characters as I spent more time with them in my life from the comics, animated shows, live action movies and shows and video games. I had high hopes for Wonder Woman going in and I really wanted to start to get excited for DC's movies again. So did the film deliver?

This film far exceeded expectation, and I think it probably helped that I went in it knowing that it was possible that it could be another flop for DC. That didn't take away anything from the movie though, because it really had everything that all those other DC movies were missing. This film had great humor, characters, story, chemistry, acting, design and it had heart. It didn't feel like a soul-less and dark movie like a lot of the DC movies did, but it had great energy and emotion. Gal Gadot plays Wonder Woman way better than anyone would have ever though when she was first cast as the part. She does a great job at making you believe she is Wonder Woman with the strength, heart, kindness, innocence and purpose. Chris Pine is also great in the movie as Steve Trevor, a WWI Officer who happens to crash land in the home island of Wonder Woman, he and Gal Gadot have good chemistry and work really well together in the film. Lots of great humor and heartfelt moments come from the two main characters, they are really great to watch. 

The movie is basically the origins of Wonder Woman (or her real name Diana) and how she found herself leaving her home Themyscira (an island that is hidden away from the rest of the world where the Amazons live). The story follows her and Steve as they go back to the heart of WWI to take out a German General and a crazy doctor before they make a deadly chemical weapon that can wipe out entire cities. Along the way Diana discovers her true purpose becoming the Wonder Woman we know from the Batman V Superman film (not really a spoiler I guess?). 

One of the best parts about the movie is that it's not connected to any of the DC:EU films for the most part. It just focuses on Diana and it doesn't try to set up upcoming movies or characters. The only connection is a photograph from the Batman V Superman film that connects to the story of this WWI movie. It's nice to see another comic book movie that isn't just made to set up another movie or filled with cameos. 

In the end, Wonder Woman is a very good comic book movie that really does justice (no pun) to the character. It does a great job at getting you to like Diana and to learn more about who she is and why she does what she does. I really hope this isn't just a "fluke" and that the momentum from this great movie continues into the next DC movie. With Justice League around the corner, maybe it's finally time to get the DC we've been wanting to see. 

Overall Grade: A-

A really enjoyable film with not too many dull moments. The beginning of the movie started off pretty slow, but most of it made sense to the movie and it never felt like time was being wasted. The action was good and high energy, but the special effects and CG were kinda distracting at times. Also used that overused action cliche where scene goes into slow motion for a few seconds and goes back into an action, it's getting old. BUT besides that... Wonder Woman has set the new standard for the DC:EU and now it's up to the studio to keep it up. 

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Favorite Songs Part I: The Slow Edition

Favorite Songs Part I: The Slow Edition

Music is known as something that can help us express emotions and help us sometimes even understand our own emotions better. It's something that can bring you up and fill you with energy and also bring you down and help you relax or even feel sad. Everyone probably has a few special songs that they use to help them connect to a specific emotion. Certain songs that you go back to when you want to feel sad, want to express your excitement or maybe help calm you down. I though I would talk about some songs that do that for me. Songs that every listen I can get something out of it, even if it's the 100th or 1000th time. This time it will be slower, "sadder" songs because I always love a good slow song. In a lot of ways I really prefer slower songs to faster songs, mostly because I feel it's harder to find a great slow song that can be listened to multiple times and get more out of. For me it's easier to love a faster song and it takes a something special to get the same from a slower song. (playlist at the bottom of the page)

Copeland - Good Morning Fire Eater

Right away from the first note played in this song I'm always drawn in. "Gets me every time." It's a very simple intro to a song, but I think that's what I love most about it. That same line continues through the song as more instruments come in and the song builds. The drums really stand out in this song as well, lots of energy in the last part of the song sounds really great. There aren't many lyrics, but the few there are work well to get the point. I feel this song is just about not focusing on the painful part of life and all the things that hurt you or bother you, but to understand that it's part of life and to move past it. It's something everyone will be able to relate to and it's done well here.

Bloc Party - Like Eating Glass

Another great intro, one of my favorites in any song. The fading guitar, the fast picking on the bass note, then the drums with the beat that gets stuck in my head so fast. All the instruments stand out in the song so well, all doing very unique things and it still comes together so amazingly. I wasn't sure if this is really a "slower" song, since it's so full of energy BUT it for sure is a sadder song. This song might be interpreted in many ways, but I think it's about living in a broken home. The feeling of pain and loneliness that comes with living in a broken home, depression, recently becoming a single parent maybe, finding it hard to be home afterwards. It's a pretty tough subject, but it's done well musically and lyrically and make for a very memorable song that I've been listening to for over 10 years and still love more with each listen.

Paper Route - Sugar

I think the running theme here is great intros, because here is another song with an intro that gets me every time. There's just something about the piano along with the opening lines of the song that work so well, I don't even know how to describe it. The build up in the bridge is also great, where the song pretty much explodes into an intense declaration. The lyrics are very poetic and beautiful, with some great metaphors. I would say this is the kind of love song I can get behind, it's actually one of my Top 3 songs at the very least of all time. The best lyric here is "If I'm the great sea, you're what I'm reflecting. Blue in the evening."

Young the Giant - Firelight

This is a very special kind of slow song. It's incredibly soothing and has a very unique atmosphere to it. It's so easy to get lost in this song and the beautiful instrumentation and lyrics. The previous songs had more relatable messages about pain, love and loneliness, but this song is more about the experience you feel when listening to it I think. It's a very unique song that I think everyone should give a listen to at least once. Feels. I still don't really know what the song is actually about to be honest. For now I think it's about death possibly, or that's the way I interpret the lyrics myself. Either way, it's quite the experience. The guitars in the chorus are so captivating it's hard to imagine how they came up with something so amazing. My favorite line has to be "Is this the end of the sea, staring at me?"...really makes me think.

John Mayer -  Stop This Train

This song is probably about one of John Mayer's many ex girlfriends. No but really, I do love this song a lot and it has a lot to do with Mayer great guitar work on it. The main focus of the song is the guitar and he does a great job as always to make it stand out. What I love the most though is the lyrics, since it's yet another song that anyone can relate to. A song about the fear of time passing, growing old, finding a way to be happy or make the most of the place you're in and living life to the fullest. It all sounds kinda cliche when I write it out loud, but it feels like the most real John Mayer can get in a song. I love the line "So scared of getting older, I'm only good at being young." it perfectly sums up the fear of getting older. It's a great song to listen to when you just want to reminisce about the past or want to have a thoughtful moment.

Civilian - New Love

This is a newer song, but it quickly grew to be one of my favorites. It does a really great job at describing the feeling of "new love", with really great lyrics and of course great music. Love the lead guitar in this song, lots of little touches add so much to the feeling that the song is trying to get across. The line "I'm fairly certain, this only happens once in a lifetime. To take it or leave it is simple." is my favorite in the song. It just does a great job at not only giving the feeling of "new love" but also a great job at describing it from first person. 

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