So You Think You Can Blog?

I know, I know. Its been a long time since I last blogged. A very long time.

I've been caught up with school and work and writing some novels and grieving for one of my cats and welcoming a new kitten into my home. Life has been crazy.

So, what has been going on in the world that I used to at least (semi?) regularly update? Well, David Cook has put out a fantastic album, U2 has released an album and are preparing to launch a huge sold-out tour, Blue October have released a new album, Depeche Mode have released a new album, and I believe Linkin Park is getting ready to release a new album.

It seems Britney Spears has somewhat gotten her life back on track.

JD Fortune is no longer the lead singer of INXS, possibly at least partially due to his own loose lips.

Marty Casey left Lovehammers to front LA Guns, and it seems he is now doing both simultaneously.

Project Runway is no longer part of Bravo, but has moved to Lifetime. And Bravo has replaced it with The Fashion Show. Not nearly as much of a guilty pleasure, I can assure you.

American Idol's 8th season has come and gone...and a lackluster season it was, in my opinion. There was certainly no David Cook or Michael Johns to capture my attention. Congratulations to Kris Allen. I'm just glad that Adam Glambert did not win. He makes my ears bleed.

So now what? What has brought me out of my lengthy blog silence? What could possibly be noteworthy enough to force me to set aside everything else in my life to type away to an unknown audience, regardless of the annoying A key on my keyboard, which my sweet little kitten has so lovingly pulled off so many times it won't go back on?

A new season of my biggest obsession, So You Think You Can Dance, of course!

So, tune in, sit back, and get ready for some amazing, some lackluster, and some insanely bad dancing. I'll be giving my own thoughts and comments, and if I can find videos of the noteworthy auditions and performances, I'll post them here as well.

Justin Furstenfeld's Baby

*waves to lovely readers*

So, I'm not sure how y'all are ending up here at my little ol' blog while searching and trying to find out more about Justin Furstenfeld's baby...but up until now, you've been leaving without learning anything about her. In fact, until so many of you found me while trying to find out about her, I had no clue that he had a baby. So thank you to you all for helping to educate me.

Anyways, I figured that since you are all somehow winding up here and having to go away without learning anything about what you came looking for, I figured I would help you out a little. I asked a few of my friends at RockBandLounge.com who happen to be Blue October fans as well if any of them knew anything. Several offered that they thought he had become a father at some point this year. But the lovely Maritime Gal dug up these links.

This link will take you to a video where Justin discusses taking a few months off earlier this year to be home with his wife when his baby was born. And in this one one, you will find a short video clip where Justin is discussing the joys of fatherhood. *Edited to remove broken second link. Sorry, the article with the video must have been moved by the publisher.*

I hope that this helps all of you out who are looking for information on him and his baby. I do not know exactly when she was born, or what her name is. I don't know anything about a song written about or for this baby, so for those of you who are looking for a baby song, I am sorry. Also, if any of you know any more about this, let me know and I will gladly blog about it so that everyone who is looking can find it.

Pretty Baby on MySpace!

Fort Worth band Pretty Baby, fronted by the incomparable Zayra Alvarez, has set up a MySpace page to let the world know about their music. Check it out at myspace.com/prettybabyrocks. Add them as a friend to stay up to date on what they are doing, and let your friends know about them!

Zayra gained fame as a contestant on the Tommy Lee reality based TV show, Rock Star: Supernova. She has also sung backing vocals on some of Blue October's music.

Their two new original songs, Violent Man and Feel Good can be found here, as well as on their official website, PrettyBabyMusic.com. Check in for more information as it comes!

You May Have Noticed...

...that every day or two, I post a snippet of a song lyric down at the bottom of my main blog page. Why do I do this? I don't know. Because I can! LOL. Or because it is a song that I'm listening to that day, or a lyric that speaks to me based on something in my life, or it is just something that I like. There are countless reasons that I do it.

I have featured lyrics from INXS, U2, Bruce Springsteen, R.E.M., Blue October, Cheap Trick and other bands so far. Who knows what I'll feature next? I certainly don't!

Anyways, if you want to know what I'm listening to, what I'm feeling, or what has struck my fancy, scroll down to the bottom of the page each time you visit and check it out.

Poll #1 Results, Unveiling Poll #2

So, the first poll that I posted for my readers to take part in was rather general...which band's lyrics do you love the most? And seeing as how a large part of my readership are my fellow INXS fans from RockBandLounge.com, it is not too terribly surprising that INXS won! I think it should be noted though, that U2 and Blue October also received votes. Anyways, congratulations to INXS for the win!

My next poll is all about One Hit Wonders. I'm starting with some from the 80's, as several of my personal favorites are from that decade. Vote for your favorite, and leave a comment here to discuss! Are there some you think I should have included but left off? Or maybe let me know why your favorite is your favorite. Enjoy!

You Should Know These Bands!

I am a big music fan. You may have noticed that, based on so many of my blogs being related to music. In recent years, I have *discovered* a number of bands and singers...some of them are nationally/internationally known, others are only locally known, but all of them are bands that I love. This is my way of giving them a little shout out...and encouraging more people to get to know their music!

Storm and the Balls are one of the best out of Portland, Oregon. Storm participated in the series Rock Star: Supernova, and her song "Ladylike" became an overnight sensation. Her Balls are serious rockers, having formerly been in the bands Everclear and Motherload. Their live shows are a mixture of original music and "mash-ups" of who knows what it will be each time. Listen for more here: Storm and the Balls on MySpace

Blue October is a band from Texas that is finally starting to get a little more attention in areas other than Texas. Not your typical rock band (they have a violin in the lineup), their sound is infectious and their lyrics are heartfelt and poignant. Check them out on their MySpace page: Blue October on MySpace.

Lennex is led by bobble-headed front man dirtyPhil Ritchie, also of Rock Star: Supernova fame. Based in Ocean City, Maryland, Lennex are a down and dirty hardworking rock band. And yes, occasionally dirtyPhil will WHIP IT OUT to the delight of fans...the trumpet, of course. He whips the trumpet out. Take a listen! Lennex on MySpace

Flickerstick is DFW area band that got national attention several years ago as the winners of the VH1 show, Bands on the Run. The influences they list range from Pink Floyd to The Flaming Lips to Jagermeister (and yes, they mean what you think they mean). These boys always put on a good show, which is good since they are almost always touring. You can hear more at Flickerstick on MySpace.

Zayra Alvarez came to fame on Rock Star: Supernova as the wacky Latina chica who was sure to put on a show. Her unusual fashion choices somehow seemed to mirror her outlandish ways of performing classic rock songs, but somehow, she made us want to see more. Her original music is hauntingly beautiful and eclectic, and is well worth a listen. Oh yeah, and she is also friends with the Blue October boys and has sung backup on some of their music! More here: Zayra on MySpace.

Calhoun again is a Dallas area band with an unusual indie rock sound. On stage, they tend to take on the mood of the crowd to which they are playing, making each live performance a truly unique experience. Check 'em out! Calhoun on MySpace

Ryan Star is a singer and songwriter who knows how to rock. His music can typically be played all on the piano or the guitar and his lyrics are both touching and thoughtful, even those that are occasionally disturbing. Based out of New York, he gained popularity on Rock Star: Supernova before signing his own record deal. Listen in : Ryan Star on MySpace

Miser is a hard rock band out of Dallas that has begun to gain widespread acclaim due to their phenomenal cover of The Cranberries' "Zombie". Boasting a solid rhythm section and vocals that both bite and take flight, Miser is a band that you can't afford to miss. Go here for more: Miser on MySpace

Magni has proven that Iceland rocks! His performance on Rock Star: Supernova took his fame from being primarily within Iceland to having fans across the world. He can sing anything from a gentle melody to a hard rock/metal anthem, and does it all with a sense of humor. His music is newly available on iTunes, and you can get a preview of it here: Magni on MySpace

Burden Brothers is another Dallas area band, this one formed by former members of Dallas band The Toadies. If you were a fan of the Toadies, you will like Burden Brothers as well! They have a similar feel with an updated sound that really works. Listen in for more: Burden Brothers on MySpace

Juke Kartel are an Aussie band that know how to have a good time! Lead singer Toby Rand gained the band an international fan base after his stint on Rock Star: Supernova, but the boys in Oz were not too disappointed to see him come back to them. They were invited to open for Supernova on tour, and have gone on their own tour in the US as well. The world is eagerly awaiting their new music...but listen to what they've already recorded here: Juke Kartel on MySpace

Mothers Anthem are an Austin-based band with a message. Rock music underscores lyrics designed to inspire and lift the listener up. They may be new to the scene, but they are preparing to take the scene by storm. Listen here for more: Mothers Anthem on MySpace

Suzie McNeil learned on Rock Star: INXS that while she may have been technically the best singer, she was not the best for INXS. However, she has rebounded from that show with a debut album. The Canadian songstress offers catchy tunes backed by a powerful voice. Check her out. Suzie McNeil on MySpace

RadioRadio is an indie band from Tulsa, OK brought to my attention by my friend soonergurl8. They combine rock music and a dance feel for a unique sound all their own, but one you can't forget. Take a listen: RadioRadio on MySpace

Brave Combo is a Denton New-Wave polka band. Yes, New-Wave polka. They've been together for nearly 30 years, and have won multiple Grammy's for their efforts. What exactly, you may ask, IS New-Wave polka? Well, if you want to know, you need to listen. Check them out on MySpace: Brave Combo on MySpace

Holding Mercury is the new band fronted by Chicago's Rock Star: Supernova hopeful, Matt Hoffer. What do they sound like? Well, I don't know that I can put a label on it. I'll just say that I like what I've heard, and I can't wait to hear more. Hopefully they will have an album out soon. Listen in here: Holding Mercury on MySpace

Josh Logan combines rock, soul, and r&b music to achieve his unique sound. Part Stevie Wonder, part Pearl Jam, Josh makes it seem easy to combine so many styles into one. Gaining popularity on Rock Star: Supernova, Josh refused to compromise his own strengths and style, his musical integrity, in order to win. Wanna know more? Click here: Josh Logan on MySpace

Writing Yourself

In Literature, we are strongly discouraged from assuming that the main character or narrator of a piece is the author himself. In fiction, a writer has to create a personality, a persona, which fits the story that they want to tell. Often though, if you look at the life of the author, you will see a number of similarities between the writer and the character. Those similarities certainly don't mean that the character IS the author or vice-versa, but it can often cause me to question where the line is. At what point does the character separate himself from the writer (or is it the writer who separates himself from the character)? I certainly know from my own writing that it would not be as powerful as it is or communicate the message that I am attempting to convey if the characters did not have a little bit of me in them. On the other hand, if the characters were me entirely, my writing would be very boring! I am not all that exciting a person. So how much of a writer is present in their characters, and in their works? This is an idea that intrigues me. When reading Don Juan or another poem by Lord Byron, with a Byronic Hero, is it safe to assume that the Byronic Hero is Byron himself? Not exactly. Though he was described to be "Mad, bad, and dangerous to know," this isn't exactly what a Byronic Hero is. When looking at poetry such as "Daddy" by Sylvia Plath, can we assume that the speaker is Plath herself? Not exactly. While there are certainly a lot of similarities we can draw between Plath and the speaker, they are not expressly one and the same, for certain. In music, the same questions appear. Is the lyricist the one speaking, or is it a persona that they have adopted who is speaking? This, it seems, depends largely on the lyricist.

Former INXS frontman Michael Hutchence was one who liked to write lyrics that could be interpreted in a number of ways, to mean a number of things, depending on who was reading them. They may have started out as a very personal experience or thought, but he worked to turn them into something universal. While he certainly achieved that, how much of himself did he leave in the songs? On the band's album Elegantly Wasted, Andrew Farriss said that Michael was in a very different "head space" than what he typically would be, and his lyrics were far more about what he was dealing with in his personal life than usual. Songs such as "I'm Just a Man" and "Searching" certainly point to this, especially when considered in relation to his life circumstances at the time.

U2's Bono began to adopt a persona through which to sing at some point possibly as early as the 1988 album Rattle and Hum, but certainly by the 1991 album Achtung Baby. The lyrics on that album began to touch too closely to his real life, and he found them too personal to be able to perform them as himself. At that point, he became The Fly for the ZooTV tour, and was able to sing those lyrics as someone other than himself. Each persona he has adopted over the years has shown itself not only in his dress, but also in the voice he uses to sing the lyrics. By being someone other than himself, Bono is able to sing about himself.

Taking a look at a newer band and singer, Justin Furstenfeld of Blue October writes intensely personal lyrics and attempts to take himself back to the moment he wrote them when he performs live. When the band first began to write songs, Justin took his personal journal and diary entries and turned those into songs. His lyrics speak of addictions, mental breakdowns, anger, and so much more.

Even knowing how intensely personal these lyrics are by these singers, can we assume that they are entirely THAT PERSON? I think that it is doing them a disservice to make that assumption, because while they may have come from a very personal place, an intense part of their lives...there is so much more to them. We can't know everything there is to know about Michael Hutchence or Bono or Justin Furstenfeld by listening to their lyrics. We can however relate to the emotions which their lyrics express. Just as in poetry, we can find things within the song which touches us on some level and take from it what we will.