DJ Earworm mashes up the top 25 Billboard hits of 2009 to create one awesomely danceable song. I've listened to his mashups from 2008 and 2007 and this one is the best in my opinion. I think the music was peppier and just seemed to flow together quite nicely. The Black Eyed Peas must really love it because I Gotta Feeling is the underlying beat for the entire song.
Songs mashed:
The Black Eyed Peas - BOOM BOOM POW
Lady Gaga - POKER FACE
Lady Gaga Featuring Colby O’Donis - JUST DANCE
The Black Eyed Peas - I GOTTA FEELING
Taylor Swift - LOVE STORY
Flo Rida - RIGHT ROUND
Jason Mraz - I’M YOURS
Beyonce - SINGLE LADIES (PUT A RING ON IT)
Kanye West - HEARTLESS
The All-American Rejects - GIVES YOU HELL
Taylor Swift - YOU BELONG WITH ME
T.I. Featuring Justin Timberlake - DEAD AND GONE
The Fray - YOU FOUND ME
Kings Of Leon - USE SOMEBODY
Keri Hilson Featuring Kanye West & Ne-Yo - KNOCK YOU DOWN
Jamie Foxx Featuring T-Pain - BLAME IT
Pitbull - I KNOW YOU WANT ME (CALLE OCHO)
T.I. Featuring Rihanna - LIVE YOUR LIFE
Soulja Boy Tell ‘em Featuring Sammie - KISS ME THRU THE PHONE
Titanic was the very first movie my husband and I saw together when we met. Does that seem hokey? It might but Titanic was a fantastic movie (I don't care what anybody says) and it holds a sentimental place in my heart. Naturally, we went to see Avatar opening weekend. (I know, I'm way behind in posting this review.) You can link to the trailer from my Twitter account.
James Cameron knows what movie making is all about. An experience. He's all about details that create a whole, living world within the movie and giving the audience a catharsis. His newest movie, Avatar is no different.
I'm fortunate enough to live in a city that has an IMAX so we got to see the movie in IMAX 3D. 3D!! It was phenomenal. If you live anywhere in the vicinity of an IMAX theater, go see this movie there.
What did I love about this movie? Just about everything! I love just about anything that has to do with fantasy and/or science fiction and Avatar fits the bill. Sigourney Weaver (always a treat) played one of the lead scientists and Michelle Rodriguez (aka Ana Lucia from Lost) popped up as military support.
I won't give Avatar any props for original plot, as I felt it drew on numerous classic themes (think Romeo and Juliet) and obtained ideas from other movies. There was kind of a watered down version of the Force from Star Wars and a native people who were similar in culture to what you saw in Dances with Wolves. Hey, I'm not dissing because I'm sure I couldn't come up with anything better, I'm just informing.
It was still a good story and the cinematography and graphics were beyond stunning. Cameron's imagination shines and the time and effort of the creators comes through in a vivid spectacle. I loved the rich colors and brilliant landscape of planet Pandora.
Avatar does have a prominent political message. Cameron shows zero love for profiteering corporations and promotes a nature-centric lifestyle. That's fine but maybe he should've issued a viewer warning. Why? Oh, don't you know that people have become depressed after watching this movie? I'm not a lawyer or a gambler but I bet that someone out there is working on a deal to sue Cameron for creating an on-screen utopia. Check out this news video:
Fortunately, I did not suffer from depression after seeing Avatar. I'm one of those rare people able to distinguish between reality and fantasy and realize that life is what you make it. (It's a gift.) I would totally go see it again (IMAX 3D only) because I loved the special effects that much. Also, I love movie popcorn. Go see it if you're into exceptional special effects too! (Movie popcorn is optional.)
Renaldo ("We're Brothers Forever") said it best in Season 7, "Simon, you are heaven's chosen to give chance to any talent for free of charge." I can't speak for heaven but I would think that the successful contestants on American Idol must consider Simon Cowell and the show a God-send for providing a venue for their voices to be heard and and career jump start that many never experience.
Simon has now stated that Season 9 will be his last on American Idol. Which means I'll have to soak up every precious, disdainful, and hilarious comment from Simon this season because I just don't think I can watch AI without him next year. It's bad enough that Paula is gone but this is just too much for me.
I personally don't think American Idol will continue without Simon at the reigns and in the judge's seat. I'm sure Fox will give it a try but I think it will only squeak through with one season before it's yanked. People will most likely tune into Simon's other show The X Factor. Is he gonna get Paula to be a judge with him on that show? And if so, can they just pretend all this never happened and call The X FactorAmerican Idol? I'm just sayin'.
Here's Renaldo with a memorable audition and high praise for Simon.
If you would like to feel old like me this week, please note that Britney Spears' album, Baby One More Time celebrated its 11th anniversary this week. Since this is one of my favorite pop albums of all time, I had to note the occasion.
Just so you know, Baby One More Time:
reached #1 in fifteen countries
was the biggest selling album worldwide by a teenage artist
was the highest selling album by a female pop artist
was the highest selling debut album in the US
sold more than 25 million copies
was available on cassette tape- iTunes didn't exist
I don't care how old this album gets, its got so many good memories for me, I'll be singing it in my car when I'm a grandma. I can hear myself now, "That was real music kids. Ah, the good old 90's!"
My blog post wouldn't be complete without the title track and music video that made Britney a pop icon so here you go. Enjoy!
