Critical Approaches to Gender and 21st Century Pop Music

Here is a column by a famous youtube guy named Tyler Oakley. In this article, he discusses his initial reactions to Miley's new CD, along with some stuff about One Direction and Katy Perry. Enjoy. :)

The Gorillaz have a new song called "Whirlwind."  It's pretty interesting. Albarn collaborated with the Syrian National Orchestra.

Recently Miley Cyrus had a documentary put together. I just saw it last night and debated with one of my friends about it. I wasn't angered by it, but my friend was down right furious about Miley's new attitude. One part I found interesting was her father wasn't in the documentary at all. He was talked about, but no appearance was made. While her mother is there with her the whole time (Her mom is her manager). The documentary is split up into 7 videos. Enjoy!

In an interview this month with HungerTV, Cyrus stressed that she's in control of her image and the choices behind her music videos. She made an important point that she's probably more aware of what youth cultures want than corporate leaders are. But in order to make this point, she had to draw on stereotypes of a Jewish-controlled media, perhaps revealing anti-Semitism: "With magazines, with movies, it's always weird when things are targeted for young people yet they're driven by people that are like 40 years too old. It can't be like this 70 year old Jewish man that doesn't leave his desk all day, telling me what the clubs want to hear."

These vine type videos love to poke fun at what Miley Cyrus used to say, and then cropping in another clip that contradicts that. It plays on Miley Cyrus' authenticity and the question of who she really is.

I found this article interesting because Miley finally speaks out about her engagement with Ellen DeGeneres and how happy she is now without Liam. This article also shows small clips from the show.

I found this short article about the authenticity of Gorillaz and I found it particularly interesting that the lead guitarist is female. Also, the article discusses more virtual bands in the United States as well as Japan's new phenomenon of "vocaloids."

Hello friends, I had a flashback of this gem of a music video the other day and thought I would share it with you all. I am aware it falls outside the pop music genre, but it is quite interesting and well produced all the same. I'm curious to hear your reactions to it.

As we watched in class, i thought i'd re-post it so everyone can enjoy the brilliance that are Bratz! They are real people too!

Here is a music video from Lindsay's short time career as a singer

a song written from her to her father

This review of A Day To Remember's new album raises interesting issues of authenticity, with the review arguing that the album is much better and more authentic because of the struggle the band had with the record label and a court case over it's release and contractual requirements, suggesting they are more sympathetic and ergo more authentic because of this. 

This is a BBC article about Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines' being featured in the Beats Pill Speakers advert and how it has been ruled as "too sexual".

Interesting article on Lana Del Ray and her music which stirred up quite a few tensions between/among feminist.

It's interesting that so many people in the industry supports Miley Cyrus. This version is actually quite enjoyable. Check it out!

This article lists examples of how Cosmo magazine is becoming more feminist in its content and whether or not this is intentional or "accidental".

Since we touched up on it a little in class, I wanted to share with you all this article about the Bratz dolls and how some parents think they're too sexy for their children. There is an argument from the company saying that it's only the adults that see "sex" but the children do not, what do you guys think?

I used to have loads of Bratz dolls when I was younger and I loved playing with them and dressing them up. I totally aggree with the statement in the article that 'Adults see sex in everything, but kids don't' as someone who had these dolls as a child it never crossed my mind these were oversexulaized, I wouldn't have even known what that meant!. I would make the comparisson to Barbies and comment that the parents who critize these dolls may have had Barbies when they were children.

An interesting video where, as the video says, old people react to Justin Bieber. Towards the end, they discuss not only Bieber, but the path that other young stars take.

And the follow up episode: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyYGAqmzi4E

I bookmarked this video as a comparison to Miley Cyrus's 'Wrecking Ball'.  In both, the lead singer sings to the camera and it is slowly revealed that they are completely nude.  Yet, there seems to be very little controversy over the Panic! At the Disco video whereas the media is still talking about Cyrus.

One look at the chosen paths of young artists, and why we shouldn't harp on them.