On a Completely Unexpected Note

From reading this blog or just knowing me as a person, it's quite apparent that I'm pretty pretentious when it comes to music (and movies, and TV, and most things, sadly). When people talk about some song by Rihanna that I've never heard, for instance, I'll proudly yelp, "Oh! I have never heard that song, for I do not listen to the radio, NPR and other stations my father puts on in the car aside notwithstanding! My grandest apologies!"

However, despite my lack of radio-listening and "indie" predilections, I'm not completely immune to the power of just plain good pop music and its catchiness. I mean, I pretty much spend all day watching TV, kids. I'm bound to hear "Eenie Meenie" sometime. How do you think I know about Justin Bieber, anyway? How do you think we became such swell chums?

Youtube is so helpful in this regard, in my journey to act my age and stay in touch with the mainstream. Here are some popular songs I like that you actually have heard of, both new AND "old!":

Kelly Clarkson - "Since U Been Gone"

I don't go to parties often, but if you ever have had the luck (BAHAHA) to be at a party with me, then you know that I actually LOOOOVE Kelly Clarkson. Especially this song! I can be found singing it at the most random of times in the most angelic of singing voices. Just ask any of my friends! All 3 of them! (Just kidding, hee hee. Hello, friends who have probably been forced to read this!) This song is actually amazingly good. The title may be grammatically incorrect but if that's the only negative this pessimist has, then you're doing something right, Kell! Other Kelly Clarkson sing-along favorites include: "Breakaway", "Walk Away", "Behind These Hazel Eyes", "My Life Would Suck Without You"

B.o.B. - "Nothin' On You"

I actually stealth-linked to this video before, but I don't care. I'm posting it AGAIN. Because it's AWESOME. Most people I know are like, "Eww, rap is gross, I'm gonna go listen to my [insert serious crud here] instead!" But rap isn't all bad. Obviously! Bruno Mars has such a niiice voice. Soooo niiiice. Plus, any song that has an N64 reference in it is cool in my very large and VERY COOL book. And this video seriously is really cool. Other B.o.B. songs I can be seen chair-dancing to: "Airplanes", "The Kids", "Magic"

Lady Gaga - "Paparazzi"

I actually despise this music video, save for the scene towards the end where she's decked out in that seriously weird Minnie Mouse getup. The song, though. OH, THE SONG. This song was made for me to rock out to with my truly inspiring vocals! And I do, very often in fact. My personal stance on Miz Gaga is that she wouldn't be at all interesting if it wasn't for her outfits, and I think that still stands; this song isn't particularly interesting or novel, and a lot of people cite its music video as a positive for it when they really should just focus on the song itself. Lucky for Gawgs, this song is so stinking catchy I wish I didn't start watching the video now because it's going to be stuck in my head AGAIN, and last time it was stuck in my head I swear it didn't leave until I cleansed myself with some Justin Bieber (I think "Eenie Meenie" in particular, which is actually quite bad). Other Lady Gaga Jamz: "Just Dance" (DO DAW DO)

Colby O'Donis - "What You Got"

Okay, I'm not sure how popular this song was, but if it wasn't that popular, then, well, IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN. Seriously, I dig this song something awful (that sounds horrendous). Colby, you may be of ambiguous ethnicity, but my feelings for your song are quite obvious - LOVE IT. Especially that chorus; I mean, COME ON GENTLELADIES AND MEN. It's so simple and perfect and smooth like the ice cream I really want to eat right now but don't have. Ice cream! ICE CREAM! Sadly, there are no other Colby songs I even know so I can't recommend them, but see the aforementioned "Just Dance," since he features in that.

Jason Derulo - "In My Head"

Dang, this song is catchy. It just gets catchier and catchier as it goes along. The vid's a bit annoying, the silhouettes aside, but that chorus is too good. I don't know how much Jason (Jason or Jay-shawn?) Derulo really brings to the table, especially lyrically, considering most of the song consists of "yeah-ah," "ehh," and "what's goin' down," but if this was his one hit, I could live with that. And I hope that everyone else would be able to, as well! (Although apparently his first song was a hit, too. But DO I CARE?) Derulo reminds me of someone else who I'm about to get to, albeit a less cool and original iteration...

Ne-Yo - "Closer"

CRUD. Try to point out a flaw in this video. Just. Try. It. "Um, well--" SHUSH. SILENCE. We'll be having none of that. Not that your point would have been valid, anyway. Ne-Yo's got the moves, man, and the style! This video is way too cool for someone like me who's been wearing the same smelly pajama pants and Oprah-related t-shirt for the last two days. I'm not worthy! I'm not worthy! But I'll watch from afar regardless because Ne-Yo, you're the man. Although I find it weird that two of your songs share their names with Kelly Clarkson ones ("Because of You" and "Miss Independent") but we'll let that slide because your dancing is so choice. (Speaking of dancers, Chris Brown is truly amazing. Wife beating aside, of course. I never get tired of this performance.  I couldn't care less about his music, though.) Something similar: Justin Timberlake! I love Justin Timberlake. I really do. I'd recommend "Rock Your Body," "Cry Me a River," "Senorita," "My Love"

Vanessa Carlton - "A Thousand Miles"

I think everyone is tired of this song by now; it's been played to death, I'm sure. But it's probably one of my favorite songs ever. I definitely loved it when I was a young'un, and honestly, I still do now. And PROUDLY. Her piano-playing is killer, man. I remember seeing her do this song on U-Pick Live back in 2002 or 2003. Or maybe it was one of her other songs... Either way, it made my day. I think. Geez, that was so long ago. I wish that Vanessa C. had been more popular, or at least sustained her popularity, but it's kind of faded out. I'd prefer to see more people like her than more people like the next artist on my list... Other Vanessa faves: "Ordinary Day," "White Houses" (seriously, I don't know anyone who doesn't LOVE that song especially. And her outfit in the video is awesome, although the rest of the video is lame)

Miley Cyrus - "Start All Over"

Okay, so this is the only song on this list that I'm pretty embarrassed to admit that I enjoy. I mean, I don't have it on my iPod or anything; what do you think I am, some kind of animal, like a 12-year-old girl? But this song is just SO CATCHY. The catchiness totally overpowers how bad Miley Cyrus' voice is. And that part when you just see the guitarist strumming the obviously-not-functional guitar while walking down the street? I LOVE IT. The dancing is fun to watch, too. It's my guy Marc Webb directing, so that helps. The video also seems like it was done all in one take, for the most part, and that's way cool. Miley actually seems like someone who could -- should, even -- be really famous and successful in this video. I mean, she is, obviously, but this video works kind of as a testament to that for me. Stuff Miley Cyrus sings that I'm similarly embarrassed to enjoy: "See You Again," "East Northumberland High" (Betcha you don't know THAT one!). Something similar: Aly and AJ's "Potential Breakup Song." It's actually really stinking hilarious, and it has Rivers Cuomo's vote of confidence!

There are other bands and songs that I like that are insanely popular; I just didn't list them because they're pretty much crossover hits (Gorillaz, the Killers, Jimmy Eat World, OK Go, Coldplay, La Roux, etc.). Just so you know.

Anyway, yeah. Enjoy these videos while I enjoy the Toy Story 3 Food Network Challenge and continue to not write my college essay and do my Chem homework! :D