Can I have a re-do? Please?

Three weeks ago I wrote my first blog post. I don't mean for this class, although that could apply also. No, what I mean is three weeks ago was the first time I had ever written a blog. Why am I telling you this? Because I would like to try my first post again, and you know what is awesome about having a blog now? I don't really have to ask permission, I can just write one. So here goes Take 2 of my introduction...Hi my name is Lauren Patton, I am from Bethesda, MD, which is a small town about 5 min outside Washington, DC. I am a Theatre/Mass communications freshmen at Loyola University New Orleans. This is my blog, specifically it is my blog for my freshmen seminar class Protest and Pop Music. Here's the thing, I have been in this class for three weeks and I think it is great. However, unlike my classmates, I am not in a band, I can't write music, I don't go to cop raided concerts, and I don't think I could name more than one or two bands NOT on American Top40, but you know what that is OK. I am so stoked that I can take a class where I know enough of what we are talking about to attempt to contribute, but I am still able to learn not just from my professor but also from my peers. This is take 2 of my introduction blog, which may seem kind of strange, but I think it is necessary, and it is MY blog, so suck it haha. Here's a few more quasi-interesting facts about me...if you were to look at my iTunes library you would find that over 50% of it is soundtracks, not just any soundtracks BROADWAY soundtracks. My most listened to song is Notice Me, Horton from Seussical the Musical. I have heard of Arcade Fire, but couldn't name a single song by them without Googling it. I listened to country music, ALL the time, until 7th grade when my friends introduced me to Top40 radio. Before my senior year in high school, I had only ever been to concerts with my mom and step-dad. You may be wondering to yourself, why any of this information is relevant? I want you all to know me. I want you guys to now why I may have a strange blank look on my face when someone mentions a band, and I think if I expect you to listen to my opinions on music and such you should at least know a little bit about me. So here, I love ACDC, the Rolling Stones, Journey, the Eagles, and the Who, because most of my life until I left for college was spent hanging out with my parents (mom and step-dad). Who I still talk to ALL the time. (but that you probably didn't need to know) What else can I tell you? Well since this is a class about music, I can tell you a little bit more about me and music. I am a musical theatre kid, I LOVE Cd's solely because they come with that little book thing with pictures and lyrics, but I much prefer records (vinyls) they just sound better, I own way to many Brittney Spears CD's, Glee is my favorite show right now, and I am pretty sure I am still 5 years old on the inside. With all this in mind, I want everyone to know that while I may never have seen a real rock concert, Jonas Brothers absolutely does NOT count, and I may not have as many bands from the 80s on my iPod, I am open to learning from you guys and hope you will be open to listening to me, even if many of my post relate to Top40 and Perez Hilton. Oh, and if y'all wanna post music I should know in the comments box I would be stoked to see what you've got. Well, I think that's it, I am fairly certain you know enough about me, for now. :D Buh-Byes


<3 Lauren

Bieber-fever? Really?!

How old is this kid really? How much could he know about love or relationships, and yet girls FREAK out over this pint-sized pop star. The little teeney bopper arrived on the scene in 2008, he was just 14 years old. His first single One Time, is what you would expect from a pop song: fluffy and lacking any real substance. For God's sake one of his first singles was Eenie Meenie, the way you would pick who would be it in tag as a child, or who was your best friend in kindergarten. Am I the only one mildly confused by this? As we discussed last week in class, one of the reasons there aren't many protest songs around is because they just don't really exist. Most music now is about love, and what people do for love. Justin Bieber, perfect example, what would you ever have to protest? That you went through puberty and your voice changed, or that people suddenly realized your hair cut was stupid? Maybe, you would protest the fact that people woke up one day and realized you sing about NOTHING. I am just saying, who are you and what is your point?

California Girls

Ok folks, here's a little word association game for you. When I say California Girls, you say? Katy Perry was probably your first thought, and who can blame you, that song was all over the place this past year. It was played constantly on the radio, on TV, in clubs and bars, literally EVERYWHERE! Now I have a question...how many of you knew that a country singer named Gretchen Wilson came out with a song also entitled California Girls back in 2005? I will venture to guess it was a significantly smaller margin. Whats my point? Katy Perry's pop song, is very much the stereotype of California. However as many "California Girls" will attest they do NOT all run around in a bikini top and daisy dukes. Is it a catchy song? Yes. Does it reinforce many of the media's negative stereotypes of how women should act and dress? Yes. While the Gretchen Wilson video, does not exactly squash the bikini and short-shorts stereotype, her lyrics confront the "California Girls" stereotype. She is clear that not all women in California are "California Girls". To bring it back to my original point, the media has been instilling in us the ideas of what women should look like and act like for some time now. So is it any coincidence that Katy Perry's pop song about skinny bitches in bikinis is the California Girls most teens and young adults know? Absolutely not.

hey HEY hey!!

HELLO!

ok so this is supposed to be an introductory post, so here it goes...my name is Lauren, I am a freshman at Loyola University NOLA! Theatre/Mass Communication hybrid major (I am environmentally friendly). I am supposed to write a blog this semester for my freshmen seminar Protest and Pop Music. So this is my attempt. Blah! I guess that's it...