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Top 12 Global Events
From financial instability in Europe to a Nipponese disaster of an almost unprecedented magnitude, the global scene was nothing short of chaotic in the year. Top that off with a few sudden deaths; that of three much-loathed dictators, a revolutionary technological pioneer, a Hollywood legend and a recently initiated member of the Dead-at-27 club, and you have a world unceremoniously shocked and inexorably confused. Every cloud, as that ol' chestnut of a cliche goes, has its silver lining; this year's came in the form of a highly publicized royal matrimonial ceremony that is bound to define the fairy-tale wedding for our generation.
2011 was already bound to be a year of turmoil toward the end of December 2010, when Mohamed Bouazizi, a young, educated but jobless Tunisian fruit seller, set himself on fire in protest of the harsh regime, economic despair and rampant corruption in his nation. What he simultaneously ignited at that moment was a nationalistic spirit that rapidly spread throughout the Middle East, as citizens who found themselves similarly oppressed united to revolt against their authoritarian autocracies. The domino effect, intensified and accelerated by social media tools ("We use Facebook to schedule the protests, Twitter to coordinate, and YouTube to tell the world," as an Egyptian protester tweeted), saw both immediate success and lukewarm reception. While most dictatorial regimes that once seemed immune to resistance had been toppled -- Hosni Mubarak's in Egypt, Muammar Gaddafi's in Libya and Ali Abdullah Saleh's in Yemen; others, such as Syria and Bahrain still seem unstable and relatively unaffected despite their loathsome government-sanctioned crimes capturing global attention.
2. Tohoku earthquake (March 11)
The fact that the little archipelago nation was caught off-guard and vulnerable by the earthquake, despite possessing sophisticated seismological technology and extensive emergency contingency plans, made it all the more devastating. The 9.0-magnitude earthquake that struck the Tohoku region on March 11 was the most powerful earthquake that ever shook the shores of Japan, its magnitude surpassing that of the previous record-holders Hanshin and Kanto. The tremor shifted the planet on its axis and triggered tidal waves which came sweeping 6 miles inland with a staggering height of 30 feet at times. Both the earthquake and the tsunami caused extensive damage, tearing down towns and collapsing railways. Following the tsunami was a nuclear disaster, which had the world terrified and fretting over the damaged Fukushima 1 Nuclear Power Plant. However, as people Googled the various threatening effects of radiation and how it might potentially affect food supply (even sparking a fear-induced salt panic in mainland China), they lauded the noble sacrifice of the engineers who risked their lives for the sole purpose of forestalling disaster, and admired the typical Japanese politesse of the survivors. The death toll came to about 15,703 people, the highest Japan has seen since Hiroshima.
3. Death of Elizabeth Taylor (March 23)
What exactly made Elizabeth Taylor a legend? Such propose that it might be the many roles she played throughout her life on the silver screen, from her meteoric rise to fame as a child star and her seamless transition into a bone fide Hollywood grande dame. Some others, however, opine that she might have relied more on her looks for her success; those to-die-for violet eyes and double lashes surely made her a sultry, rapturous beauty. Similarly controversial about the movie goddess were her many marriages -- 8, to be precise, to seven husbands; and whilst all of them were short-lived to say the very least, Liz Taylor justified it with this gem of a quote, "I was taught by my parents that if you fall in love, if you want to have a love affair, you get married. I guess I'm very old-fashioned." But what the Oscar-winning actress would forever be remembered about, as most of us would agree, was her humanitarian efforts that truly defined and consolidated her unmovable status as an iconic legend. She had dedicated an inestimable portion of her life to charity and humanitarianism, particularly in the fight against HIV and AIDS in an age when no one wanted to touch the subject, even founding and fronting two AIDS charities until her untimely demise. Upon her death, news reports indicate that Liz Taylor has made all the arrangements to have most of her estate donated to charity, including her famous diamond collection (with a piece ultimately ending up with Kim Kardashian). Liz Taylor was truly one of Hollywood's last girls, and she lived every bit of it.
4. Royal wedding (April 29)
A Cinderella story come true, Prince William of England finally tied the knot with Catherine Middleton, a commoner, after ten years of courtship. The guests invited? The whole world. An international audience of millions tuned in to the highly publicized wedding, held in Westminster Abbey, London, that was of a magnitude only surpassed by Lady Diana's marriage with Prince Charles. Romantics worldwide hailed the couple, now the heir to the British throne, for marrying for love. Fashion critics feverishly speculated about what Kate would eventually turn up in, though none of them managed to get it right -- the secret was revealed when the bride walked down the aisle in a Sarah Burton-designed white gown that stunned guests and critics alike. Londoners and non-Londoners alike momentarily forgot Britain's socioeconomic problems just for the wedding. With 1,900 in attendance, the glittering guest list consisted of celebrities (David and Victoria Beckham) and royalty (the Queen herself) to family and friends (notably Pippa Middleton, who evoked a social media sensation herself). It ought to be noted that with so much chaos going on in the world, the wedding served as a heartwarming, Chicken Soup-esque reminder that fairy tales do come true. Sometimes. They found love in a hopeless place, I guess.
5. Death of bin Laden (May 1)
"Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda and a terrorist who's responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children." It only took twenty seconds for President Obama to drop a bombshell of an announcement as he greeted the world from a live press conference in the White House. The timing was, as pointed out by many news sources and online journalists, especially curious -- unbelievably coincidental, even; not only because it came at a time when the nation was preoccupied with a molehill-built-mountain of an issue -- the citizenship of President Barack Obama (who subsequently released his long-form birth certificate whilst delivering some frivolous jabs at Donald Trump), but also because it was just four months shy of the 10th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Of course, this piece of news didn't come without its fair share of conspiracy theories; as usual, conspiracy theorists jumped at the opportunity to demand photographic proof (to which Washington D.C. rejected on the premise of the gruesome nature of the photos, and the fear of jihadist backlash). Nonetheless, that moment of announcement was met with immense joy as the States erupted with jubilation, celebrating outside the White House, on Ground Zero and in Times Square. Americans had viewed the death of bin Laden as the fulfillment of a promise, and four months later, they could finally mourn the dead without the spectre of America's boogeyman.
6. European debt crisis
The world economy went on one helluva roller coaster ride in 2011, thanks to Europe. The burgeoning government debts, which started showing its cracks in 2010, almost threatened to tear the European financial system apart, while financial markets and global economies were increasingly apprehensive of the risk of default. The financial crisis exposed the clumsiness and irresponsibility of the political and financial leaders of a number of Eurozone nations, especially Greece, which has been shown to be unable to cope with the rising levels of debt. A joint proposal by IMF and EU which mandated severe cuts in its budget deficit and other austerity policies was not at all received well, with some even deeming it as "barbaric" and "anti-popular, as a series of public protests and wildcat strikes broke out in Athens. Other nations fared no better; Portugal may request a second bailout like Greece; the threat of fiscal contagion in forced the resignation of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi; Spain, under domestic and international pressure, implemented deep cuts (which ignited another series of demonstrations by the indignados, or the outraged); while Ireland, despite showing vast progress in dealing with the financial crisis, still struggles to stand on its feet. Having undermined the bonds of the E.U., and threatening to dissolute the common euro currency, the financial crisis still shows no signs of stopping, and as the year comes to a close, banks and investors are keeping all eyes on Angela Merkel, a woman who could either save the euro or seal its demise.
7. Death of Amy Winehouse (July 23)
The brokenhearted reaction to her sudden demise from accidental alcohol poisoning wasn't merely a bandwagon effect, it was a testament to her unpretentious musical talent. Winehouse was able to expertly channel and convey her deepest, and darkest, emotions artistically and soulfully, through her raw, exquisite sound that mesmerized thousands. Alas, since her indefinite hiatus from the industry in mid-2008, her career has gone nothing but downhill; within two short years, Winehouse was already infamous for her tabloid marriage (and subsequent tabloid divorce), drug arrests, court appearances, public misbehavior and failed comeback attempts. The words "troubled" and "tormented" were repeatedly used to describe this once-iconic rebel diva. She finally, as her own family had feared, joined the "Dead-at-27 Club", much to the sorrow to music fans and her contemporaries alike. Artists and celebrities, ranging from Tony Bennett to Adele, gave poignant eulogies and posthumous tributes. Her demise renewed public interest and appreciation for her music, though admittedly no one would ever listen to her songs the same way again, without a tinge of guilt. Winehouse's legacy will, as is the case with other late music legends, live on.
8. Occupy (September)
The contagion of protest in the Middle East eventually spread to the States as well, where activists in New York launched the Occupy movement that challenged corporate culture, the foundations of the global economy and the inequitable division of wealth. Striving to defend the rights of the "99%" (that is to say a privileged 1% owns 40% of global wealth, a striking imbalance when you take into account the remaining 99%), protesters sprang to action almost immediately after the event became publicized. Part of it was due to inspiration from the Arab Spring success stories; another due to effective social media campaigns (ie the now legendary poster of a ballerina dancing atop the Wall Street bull, and attention-grabbing slogans like "We Are The 99%"). When the viral movement finally gained mainstream media coverage, a digital generation, with a sizable handful of Gen X-ers and Baby Boomers mixed in, are ready to make a change. Occupying both physical space (in a literal sense) and the digital sphere, these disenfranchised citizens spread their messages via self-captured videos and photos. The movement soon garnered the involvement of celebrities, moms, college students and even the Muppets, its diversity making the entire movement hard to pigeonhole. One may debate its extent of success, but nonetheless, the Occupy movement has proved that in this time and age, the power of social networking and alternate media is not to be doubted.
9. Death of Steve Jobs (October 5)
To say that Apple completely changed our worldview on technological gadgets wouldn't be too far off from the truth. While one might debate that he did not actually invent the smartphone or tablet computers for that matter, what Jobs did was to push the boundaries and to create simplified means for users to communicate and interact. It is no surprise, then, that Jobs (or rather, the Apple products) had a very dedicated following, with Apple fans even willing to camp out overnight just to be the first to get their hands on Apple's latest products. Underlying every Apple product was a combination of Job's unrelenting attention to detail, his avant garde modernist aesthetic sense, and a flaming impetus to enhance and amend. It was his charisma, however, that made Jobs culturally resonating. Communicating with his consumers personally and understanding what they truly wanted and needed was only one of the many characteristics that defined Steve Jobs; he shattered the longstanding stereotype of the socially awkward technology geek by enthralling thousands with his mere presence. Upon his death, Apple stores worldwide became memorials while tribute videos and tweets flooded sites online. Nothing captures the legacy of Jobs better than his final words: "Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow." Thank you, Steve Jobs, for inspiring us to stay hungry and stay foolish.
10. Death of Muammar Gaddafi (October 20)
Unlike Tunisia and Egypt, in which the long-oppressed citizens managed to turn the tables almost immediately once the Arab spring broke out, the revolution in Libya took a different turn; a civil war ensued, as Muammar Gaddafi wasn't really to give up just yet. While his Egyptian and Tunisian counterparts Hosni Mubarak and Zine El Abidine Ben Ali were toppled over swiftly, the brutally militaristic de facto leader of Libya chose to cling on to his position. Which is no surprise, actually, considering the fact that the Colonel was famed for his brutality and involvement in terrorist acts; in fact, Libyans had endured food stampedes, witnessed public hangings and prison massacres, and been through various torturous experiences all within the infamous 40-year rule of Gaddafi since he rose to power in a military coup. By the holy month of Ramadan in August, the Libyans had suffered from widespread famine and deaths after half a year of civil war. It was only on October 20 did the madness finally came to an end. The rebels, having captured Tripoli, tracked Gaddafi down and killed the 69-year-old. His cadaver was publicly displayed for all Libyans to see, and gruesome videos of his death circulated online. What awaits Libya now for the foreseeable future is a daunting task of rebuilding the nation.
11. 7 billion of us! (October 31)
The world's population reached its 7 billion milestone on October 31, 2011. Well, symbolically, at least, according to the United Nations whom considers its calculations to be the "gold standard" of population estimates with an error margin of a mere 1%. The estimated figures were based on in-depth analyses of recent censuses, surveys, statistics and population reports from every country and territory in the world -- 229 of them, if you count disputed territories (speaking of which, the world welcomed its newest country, South Sudan, in 2011 as well). Another source, the U.S. Census Bureau, disputes that claim, proposing that the milestone won't be achieved until March 12, 2012. The discrepancy notwithstanding, since neither claims to be the exact date, let's take it that we've officially reached that milestone. And no, there isn't good reason to worry about overpopulation, as The Economist would tell you, that, "If you look at the overall size of the world's population, then, the picture is one of falling fertility, decelerating growth and a gradual return to the flat population level of the 18th century."
12. Death of Kim Jong-il (December 17)
Completing the year's triumvirate of dead dictators is North Korea's "Dear Leader", an egotistical, enigmatic despot who is allegedly of demigod bloodline and capable of controlling the weather. His sudden demise at 69 put an end to his reign of madness, cruelty and profligacy, but not without spawning a handful of memes that went viral. Born in the early 1940s in Soviet Siberia, Kim was seemingly unsatisfied with the normalcy of his birth story, as he (or rather, the DPRK propaganda machine) weaved another tale that seemed, to sane and rational-minded people at least, illogical and unbelievable: that he was born on the sacred Mount Paektu with double rainbows appearing in the sky at the moment of birth. The colorful history surrounding the mercurial, inscrutable madman didn't just stop there; North Koreans are also taught to believe that their "Dear Leader" invented the hamburger, shot 5 holes in one, is an international fashion trendsetter and, above all, "dedicated his life to the people", seemingly oblivious to the many reports of both his lavish, hedonistic ways and recounts from defectors of a gulag system. The state media reports that Kim died from a heart attack, a report which brought the isolated, poverty-stricken communist nation to tears as the world now monitors the hermit kingdom's next step closely.
12 Songs of 2011
Beyoncé sums it all up perfectly in her lead single from 4, "Who run the world? Girls!" It's no secret that the ladies dominated the world of music in 2011, both slaying the charts and impressing the critics no less. Adele sold the most, Gaga sold the fastest, and Beyoncé had what was arguably the most underrated album of her career. Not to say that the guys were completely obsolete; Jay and Ye put out an album about, well, how rich they were, and it went down quite well in a time of austerity. LMFAO, the wacky electro duo, dominated the charts for quite sometime,
#1. Someone Like You (Adele; 21)
It takes someone of Adele’s caliber (no less, mind you) to make such a heart-wrenching, woeful opus to a former lover an actual piece – a masterpiece – of beauty. Adele’s heartfelt layered vocals effectively portrays the conflicting mélange of emotions underlying every single word she reads – sorrow, melancholy, depression – that so the song unquestionably proves to be her finest vocal showcase to date. In all factuality, the track could've worked out just as well a capella; Adele’s soulful vocals were utterly magical, yet not without a tinge of vulnerability to them, particularly when she wails the line, “I begged”. However, the simplicity of the piano melody complemented the song perfectly, making the track all the more enchanting and achingly beautiful. This elegant track stood out amidst all the other glitzy contesters, emerging to be a refreshing breath of fresh air. Adele has indisputably proved to the world that sometimes, it only takes a simple vocal-and-piano arrangement to make a hauntingly stunning ballad. People, really, this is how you do a ballad.
#2. The Edge of Glory (Lady Gaga; Born This Way)
Easily the best track off Born This Way, there's nothing not to love about it. Gaga's outstanding vocals (her best to date). The late Clarence Clemons' glorious saxophone solo (the last one, too). The peaking emotional scale that will have your speakers gasping for water. The flawless chorus which sounded so slick, yet emotion-stirring. The lyrics that tugs at your heartstrings. The seamless mélange of messages; the self-pride of Born This Way, the nostalgia in Marry The Night, the expressiveness of You & I. The explosive chord progression which showcased Clemons' sax solo just at the right time. Those stirring violin fanfares featured alongside the sax solo. That terrific outro stanza which concluded the track with a blaze of pop glory. Where do we even start? For whatever it's worth, The Edge of Glory isn't merely a jewel in Gaga's crown; it's the most exquisite, resplendent, and priceless of them all. Words can't possibly do this track justice. Gaga, in all her triumph, has truly reached her precipice in this song. Such acoustic flawlessness, it's the best conclusion we could ever ask for Mother Monster's best effort to date.Arguably the most experimental song that Beyoncé has ever sung, this track is a virtuoso piece with a giddying excitement that progresses as the song goes on. A harmony (or rather, cacophony) of feverishly frenetic tempo shifts, Countdown spins out almost every musical idea out there – blaring concert band trumpets, twinkling Afro steel drums, a jazz-inspired Boyz II Men breakdown, minimalistic reggae-inspired synth riffs, and our personal favourite, the louder-than-words, in-your-face orchestral percussion crescendo. That’s not a bad thing actually, since it depicts the complications of Beyoncé's relationship perfectly. The highlight of the track, however, is Beyoncé’s breathless run at all of her vocal chords, from the breathy, church choir-esque ululating in the hook to her fierce, fast-and-furious Texan swagger. Whilst 4 seemed to have a little bit of an identity crisis between the syrupy, sweeping ballads and the Amazonian feminist anthem Run The World, Countdown offers a fresh new middle ground that, while remaining at core a love ballad, demands a female-first romance. And somehow, it manages to be both emotionally affecting, and overwhelmingly infectious.
All hail sleeper hits! Pumped Up Kicks, in the strictest sense, should be considered a record from 2010, but we decided to include it here because it truly gained the recognition it deserved and became inescapably popular in 2011. This somewhat disturbing account of a teenager's homicidal thoughts of launching an all-out killing spree may not really make much sense, but thankfully the upbeat musical composition perfectly juxtaposes the twisted lyrical content, making the final product what it is – an indie pop masterpiece. It finds its musical roots in a feel-good beat that, as the song gradually progresses, is complemented with eerily astral vocal harmonies. Mark Foster's somewhat detached vocals gave the song a wispy vibe, yet not slipping into the dangerous slope to Autotune hell. Throw in everything but the kitchen sink – a drum intro, a slippery bass line, the vague guitar riffs, the shuffling rhythm segment, the whistling that wraps the song up, the somewhat annoying yet catchy honking sounds – and there you have Pumped Up Kicks, which successfully amalgamates pop catchiness and funky grooves with a liberal sprinkling of jazz, rock and indie. If this is what true indie pop is like, count me a hipster.
First things first; the lyrical content (or rather, lack thereof), i.e. seemingly random lines about yellow diamonds and the ad infinitum repetition of, "We found love in a hopeless place", has left most of us bewildered and confused. That minor issue aside, We Found Love is actually a dance floor oriented club banger with a catchy hook, yet not to the extent that it becomes a mindless, regurgitated Dr. Luke track. Rihanna's falsetto, smoothed out in the song, sounds relaxed and dreamy, which marks quite a fresh departure from her previous attempts of oscillating between dark and edgy (Russian Roulette) or provocatively ear-banging (S&M, Rude Boy). It, however, still comes second to Calvin Harris' electronic crescendos, which absolutely infused life into the song. Had it not been for his surging synth-based blare throughout the track, We Found Love would've been insipid and mediocre at best. It was Harris working his magic – incorporating bleeps and bloops and whooshes and THAT SYNTH RIFF – that gave the track its much-needed injection of endorphin rushes. He may not be a legendary songwriter, but having single-handedly producing the track, it’s quite safe to say that Harris is a damn good producer, and that he outshines Rihanna in every possible way on this track.
While Every Teardrop Is a Waterfall certainly is no Viva la Vida, and is still unlikely to be hailed as a match to their best works, it is still immensely pleasing as a song. The uplifting, crowd-rousing song lined with the band's signature rock 'n' roll edge marks a new milestone for Coldplay as they start threading into unknown ground, incorporating novel elements and previewing new influences, it still has its core fully intact, that so it still comes across as a bona fide Coldplay hit. Beginning with an angelic synth riff, the song spins out of control into a wild electric piano solo as Chris Martin’s voice croons the first verse in a battle-hymn manner over a giant percussion background. Once his repetitive vocals fade out halfway through, the track starts to grow in momentum and towering higher until it ends on a unadulterated percussive note. Whilst the lyrics are far from profound or meaningful (they could be quite amateurish at times, to be frank, with all the clichés and disjointed phrases), they seem insularly personal yet universally relatable at the same time. Every Teardrop Is s Waterfall is ultimately a triumph, from start to end, for what is arguably the world’s biggest rock band, and whilst it's not even the highlight of their career, it's still pretty damn good.
Remember a pre-Super Bass Nicki Minaj? Me neither. Goodness knows what her record label was even thinking when they placed the track only on the deluxe edition of Pink Friday; it would certainly be a waste if this effervescent, bubbly song wasn’t released as a single. Thankfully, it was, and slewed it did. The “boom badoom boom” hook is nothing short of infectious, instantly growing on you and urging you to bounce along. And whilst Minaj’s vocals were sugary sweet yet slightly assertive, showing a lighter side to Minaj, her spit-fire rapped verses were a perfect juxtaposition. The mood, the phrasing and the texture were all carefully manipulated, down to the teeniest nuances in emphasis and intonation. While Minaj may be the one female in a male-dominated genre, this flirtatious track is a testament to her skills, her attitude and her charisma, all of which may have the potential to overshadow those of her male counterparts someday.
Shake It Out is a hard 'un – it simply defies all the genres and conventions we use to pigeonhole songs and stands out as a cross-genre mishmash of indie rock, soul and baroque pop. That is, by no means, to say that it is unworthy of its spot here; au contraire, actually, as the song is a transcendent, bombastic anthem that will, if anything else, leave you agape, unable to compute the sheer magnificence of the song. Beginning with a haunting church organ solo, the song gradually picks up bits and pieces of tambourines and bells here and there, until it gets completely swept over by Florence's bombshell voice, which then evolves into dozens of overlapping tracks of Florence's adrenaline-fuelled voice. After navigating through labyrinths of clichés and gothic iciness, it eventually culminates in a jubilant chorus with lyrics about devils and damnation. Immensely beautiful and instantly gratifying, this massive track once again proves that The Machine is capable of churning out another more cinematic, up-tempo, yet emotional and relatable Dog Days Are Over that will get you baptized – or exorcised – in its sheer acoustic gorgeousness.
Britney, oh Britney darling, you really didn't have to get Ke$ha and Nicki Minaj for the remixed version, because the sans-Lil Kim, sans-drunken slur version by you, and you alone, was already "sicker than the remix". A gargantuan club jam on itself, Till The World Ends starts off with huge throbbing synths, building to a huger, euphoric hands-in-the-air wordless chorus and slithering down into a thumping electro breakdown, before wrapping it up with another gratifying release of the pounding chorus. While the dance-till-you-drop theme has been incessantly echoed in 2010 in numerous top ten hits, Britney brings it to a whole new level by commanding her dance troupe of (very possibly, judging from the “woah-oh-oh” choir chants) rainbow pride activists to "keep on dancing till the world ends"; hardly original nor innovative, I know, but at least it seems fitting considering that the apocalypse would hardly budge anyone off the dance floor when this exuberant club jam is on.
Prior to 2011, the goofy Afro-wielding duo LMFAO remained
mostly in obscurity with underground electro tunes void of general public
interest. Then came Party Rock Anthem. And the rest, as they say, is history. Meticulously engineered to be the one of
the biggest pop hits the world will ever come to know, the song exploded on the
charts and, as predicted by the video, has got the world shufflin' since. With
insanely senseless lyrics such as a vague throwback to Led Zeppelin, a no-hate
shout out and an ode to dominos, the song may seem inane and somewhat
ridiculous while the lyrical content is certain no intellectual material (then
again, a literate coherent opus about philosophical complications is certainly
not going to get the club dancing); however, odd as it may seem, LMFAO’s
uncontrollable baboonish vigor actually managed to propel the song higher and
higher until it implodes in all its party rock glory. We still can’t decide
which is better: the syncopated hook, the banshee-esque breakdown or the
nonsensical-yet-fun chorus. It’s quite a pity, however, to say that Lauren
Bennett and GoonRock unfortunately did not contribute much to the song. We
don’t mind, though, and we’re sure the world doesn't, as evident by Party Rock
Anthem’s five week streak at Number 1.
I guess that pretty much sums up what 2011 was all about. It was a year of turbulence, of crisis and of change; yet, considering that there were indeed events worthy of celebration and jubilation, I'd say that we didn't fare too bad, after all. What was your most memorable moment from 2011?
May 2012 be a better year, and happy new year to y'all!
#11. Niggas In Paris (Jay-Z and Kanye West; Watch The Throne)
Probably the most defining piece of work put out by the duo on Watch The Throne, Niggas In Paris is nothing short of self-indulgent, cockily in-your-face and hedonistically lavish. Neither Jay-Z nor Kanye West outshone the other; both shared the limelight equally and they threw line after line of unexpectedly memorable but nonetheless nonsensical lyrics. A sample? This piece of dialogue, borrowed from the comedy Blades of Glory, sums up the song title and most of the song itself perfectly – “No one knows what it means, but it's provocative, Gets the people going!” Jay-Z reminisces about the past, and what could have been, with some melancholic undertones, while Kanye, being Kanye, was unrepentantly arrogant and provided some comic relief as the duo exchanged verses. Particularly percolating are the slow, intimidating beat and the disdainful synth notes, both evoking a sense of fear and terror, until they give way to an overwhelming bass that emanates a sense of pomposity and haughtiness as it paves the way for the lingering chorus, all while you gape in awe and (perhaps) terror at this rap opus.
Oh, how Taylor Swift has grown and matured over the years. While
the song isn’t notably different from her songs about reflective puppy loves
and happily-ever-afters in her previous albums, Sparks Fly truly denotes her tremendous
improvement as a vocalist and acts as a jarring middle finger to all the
critics skeptical of her vocal abilities, even better so than the hardly subtle
Mean. Written by a 16-year-old Swift, but ultimately edited in terms on
instrumentation and lyrics, Sparks Fly is a songwriting triumph as Swift
meticulously balances her reflection of a teenage puppy love with a more
thoughtful, grown-up mentality to it. Every note of hers, while earnest and emphatic,
has certain undertones of frazzle and doubt, capturing and conveying every
single emotion of hers perfectly and turning the song into 4 minutes of pure,
unadulterated acoustic bliss. As Swift oh-so-carefully tiptoes along the
boundaries of pop and country once again, Sparks Fly remains undoubtedly her most
genuine effort to date.
It’s futile to resist Friday. Dubbed as the "the worst
song ever”, and holding the record for being the most disliked video on
Youtube, you may criticize Friday all you want; it’s a hilariously dreadful
song with idiotic lyrics about the days of the week and the choice of seat;
it’s Autotuned beyond recognition that even Ke$ha would hang her head in shame,
which is saying a lot; it features an atrocious rap by a “creepy” black rapper
which, in line with the song itself, doesn’t make much sense at all; and above
all, it just sucks. However, you just simply cannot deny the immense influence
and domination Friday has had on popular culture in 2011. Chances are that, you
watched/sang along to/discussed about/expressed mild amusement over/fell down
in hysterics over Friday this year. For a song that just seemed so wrong, it
actually managed to get a lot of things about current pop cultural trends right
– let’s take a moment here to mourn the sad state of affairs pop is in – and generate
this big of a controversy. There’s something peculiarly catchy about the tune
that whenever it starts, you’d immediately recognize it. Even the most seasoned
of critics are unable to properly evaluate it, but it sure cannot be doubted
that 2011 (and Fridays) would not have been the same without this song by an
innocuous 13-year-old pop star-wannabe. Friday is truly a once-in-a-lifetime
pop cultural phenomenon; and yes, let’s cut Black some slack since Autotune
aside, she’s actually a pretty decent vocalist with an optimistic outlook on
life.
I guess that pretty much sums up what 2011 was all about. It was a year of turbulence, of crisis and of change; yet, considering that there were indeed events worthy of celebration and jubilation, I'd say that we didn't fare too bad, after all. What was your most memorable moment from 2011?
May 2012 be a better year, and happy new year to y'all!
Nice to meet you,
Kelvin Kazuhiko & Barbarella Rebecca Black
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