Stefani’s music and style has brought her a lot of success. But also, it has brought some speculation as well. At the time of her first solo album she had brought attention to her and her new entourage. Her new entourage (after the No Doubt thing) consisted of four Japanese women who consider them selves, The Harajuku Girls. The name Harajuku came from a culture that has been established in Japan. http://www.japaneselifestyle.com.au/tokyo/harajuku.htm
It consists of many types of Harajuku such as Goth and even male Harajuku. Harajuku is a life style for many people in Japan but according to Margret Cho (American-Asian Comedian) Asian’s are not represented in the media very often. In her opinion, she would do anything just to be recognized as an Asian in the media.
http://japundit.com/archives/2005/11/10/1482/ “I mean, racial stereotypes are really cute sometimes, and I don’t want to bum everyone out by pointing out the minstrel show. I think it is totally acceptable to enjoy the Harajuku girls, because there are not that many other Asian people out there in the media really, so we have to take whatever we can get. Amos ‘n Andy had lots of fans, didn’t they? At least it is a measure of visibility, which is much better than invisibility. I am so sick of not existing, that I would settle for following any white person around with an umbrella just so I could say I was there.”
But as we can see, there is a certain extent to where a person is adapting culture. It is shown that Gwen Stefani has surpassed adapting culture and uses LAMB [Love, Angle, Music, Baby (The Harajuku Girls)] as her own accessory. Instead of adapting culture, she’s exploiting the culture for her own commercial success. I agree with Harp and Brittany when they say “She is treating them as if they are animals although there are no physical leashes.” http://media-patriot.blogspot.com/2007/10/exploitation-or-adaptation-harajuku.html.
In 2004, an interview was established for Gwen and LAMB at Much Music. During the interview, the host asked one of the LAMB members a question. Gwen was quick to react and told the host “You can’t talk to them. They don’t talk. There apart of my imagination.” After reviewing that over, it is clear to me that this is plain out wrong! It’s not even a question of, “Is she exploiting or adapting”? Everyone should start telling her that it’s a crime of humanity to do such a thing. You have the right to free speech and no one can take that away from you.
But on the other hand, we should as LAMB them selves if they want this or not. Shortly after, an interview was constructed for the member and it brought up different questions. They were happy to be apart of Gwen’s crew. Gwen is a multi-platinum recording artist. With the records, comes a lot of cash money. If you do the math, LAMB shut there mouth for a reason (hint: $$$$$$). An additional point, none of the members have grown up on the Harajuku culture. One of the members “Angel” Jennifer Kita was born in America. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harajuku_Girls
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Seannn!!
As you have may heard, the story of Sean Bell was tragic and had no justice in the end. In a nut shell, here is how it goes:
Sean Bell was a young twenty-three year old African-American man. He grew up in Queens, New York. On the night of November 25, 2006 Sean was hosting a bachelor party. The bachelor party was located at Club Kalua in Jamaica district of Queens. It was also known that several undercover NYPD officers were at the party. They were there to keep an eye out because there was speculation that the club owners were operating prostitutes there. A fight had broken out, out side the club. One of Bell’s friends had got in an altercation with a woman and threatened her by saying “Yo, get my gun”. The cops had stopped Bell and his friends but allegedly, Sean was no co-operating. Fifty bullets were total after the incident took place. But some say the cops never identified them self’s as NYPD officers. Sean was pronounced dead. It was shown as a racially-targeted attack by the NYPD. The officers who were responsible for Sean’s death were on trail. On April 25, 2008 the officers were found not-guilty off all charges.
Predominantly, the black communities in the United States have supported the justice for Sean Bell’s family. Even celebrities have stepped up like The Game in this song 911 is a Joke (Cop Killa) off his new album LAX (2008). So, how come this was not on the cover of time magazine saying “An American Tragity”?
Click HERE for a youtube clip
Sean Bell was a young twenty-three year old African-American man. He grew up in Queens, New York. On the night of November 25, 2006 Sean was hosting a bachelor party. The bachelor party was located at Club Kalua in Jamaica district of Queens. It was also known that several undercover NYPD officers were at the party. They were there to keep an eye out because there was speculation that the club owners were operating prostitutes there. A fight had broken out, out side the club. One of Bell’s friends had got in an altercation with a woman and threatened her by saying “Yo, get my gun”. The cops had stopped Bell and his friends but allegedly, Sean was no co-operating. Fifty bullets were total after the incident took place. But some say the cops never identified them self’s as NYPD officers. Sean was pronounced dead. It was shown as a racially-targeted attack by the NYPD. The officers who were responsible for Sean’s death were on trail. On April 25, 2008 the officers were found not-guilty off all charges.
Predominantly, the black communities in the United States have supported the justice for Sean Bell’s family. Even celebrities have stepped up like The Game in this song 911 is a Joke (Cop Killa) off his new album LAX (2008). So, how come this was not on the cover of time magazine saying “An American Tragity”?
Click HERE for a youtube clip
Dixie Chicks vs. America?
Politics in the United States is taken very seriously. The President of the United States is the head of the state and government. So if you were to go against the head of the state and government, there’s going to be major issues. In the down south region of the US, you can see it’s very patriotic. But not all American’s love there own leader.
Country music is extremely well-liked down south as well. An all girls group by the name of “The Dixie Chick” is a popular country band. They have sold over thirty-six million copies (most albums sold by an all female band). They are from Texas, country singers and very popular. You might be asking, what does the Dixie Chicks and politics have in common?
Well, in 2003 President George W. Bush went to war in Iraq. The reason for the war was because the United States government had suspicion that Iraq had “weapons of mass destruction”. American’s across the country supported the invasion. The war was heavily supported in the down south region of the United States. It was heavily supported but, not all supported the war that was from the down south region. Natalie Maines who is one third of the Dixie Chicks had made a controversial comment during on of there concerts. “Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.”
This sparked a feud amongst the Dixie Chicks and most of the United States.
Not knowing the consequences of speaking out, Maines’ comments quickly made headlines everywhere. Her comments where first published in the Guardian, a London news paper. American’s where boycotting Dixie Chicks songs. "If you guys play another Dixie Chicks song, we'll never listen to you again," one country music fan told KBEQ. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/entertainment/2040104/detail.html Although Maines’ comments against President Bush were offensive, she did say that she supported the troupes one hundred percent. http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/07.10.03/dixie-0328.html Even if the Dixie Chicks said some comments about the president, don’t they have there own opinion and right to free speech? Some did not agree on what the Dixie chicks believed. Therefore, people stopped buying there records. But as time went by, people started to relies that the war was not productive at all. Bush’s supporters where turning on him as they did to the Dixie Chicks. A well known hip-hop artist by the name of Kanye West had spoken out against the lack of relief efforts due to Hurricane Katrina. Many artists have spoken out against George Bush after the Dixie Chicks. They had their beliefs and stood by them.
Country music is extremely well-liked down south as well. An all girls group by the name of “The Dixie Chick” is a popular country band. They have sold over thirty-six million copies (most albums sold by an all female band). They are from Texas, country singers and very popular. You might be asking, what does the Dixie Chicks and politics have in common?
Well, in 2003 President George W. Bush went to war in Iraq. The reason for the war was because the United States government had suspicion that Iraq had “weapons of mass destruction”. American’s across the country supported the invasion. The war was heavily supported in the down south region of the United States. It was heavily supported but, not all supported the war that was from the down south region. Natalie Maines who is one third of the Dixie Chicks had made a controversial comment during on of there concerts. “Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.”
This sparked a feud amongst the Dixie Chicks and most of the United States.
Not knowing the consequences of speaking out, Maines’ comments quickly made headlines everywhere. Her comments where first published in the Guardian, a London news paper. American’s where boycotting Dixie Chicks songs. "If you guys play another Dixie Chicks song, we'll never listen to you again," one country music fan told KBEQ. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/entertainment/2040104/detail.html Although Maines’ comments against President Bush were offensive, she did say that she supported the troupes one hundred percent. http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/07.10.03/dixie-0328.html Even if the Dixie Chicks said some comments about the president, don’t they have there own opinion and right to free speech? Some did not agree on what the Dixie chicks believed. Therefore, people stopped buying there records. But as time went by, people started to relies that the war was not productive at all. Bush’s supporters where turning on him as they did to the Dixie Chicks. A well known hip-hop artist by the name of Kanye West had spoken out against the lack of relief efforts due to Hurricane Katrina. Many artists have spoken out against George Bush after the Dixie Chicks. They had their beliefs and stood by them.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Media Inventory
List the names of your family members, and indicate which their favorite media tool is:
Mom- Telephone
Brother- Computer
Me- Cell phone
Dad-TV
Which is the least favorite? Why?
Mom-Computer because she doesn’t know how to use it
Me-Telephone because I use my cell phone always
Brother- Telephone because he uses his cell phone always
Dad- Computer because he doesn’t know how to use it
Do children of different ages or sexes prefer different items? Why?
Children of different ages or sexes prefer different items because little kids are usually do not carry around cell phones. They play with toys. Teenagers prefer cell phones. In this day and age, its rare to see a teenager without a cell phone.
Which item is used the most? Why?
The TV is the item that is used the most because everyone in my family knows how to work the TV. Also, everyone in my family likes to watch TV.
Which item is used the least? Why?
The telephone is the item used the least because everyone in my family has there own cell phone, except my mom. Therefore, only my mom uses the telephone.
Mom- Telephone
Brother- Computer
Me- Cell phone
Dad-TV
Which is the least favorite? Why?
Mom-Computer because she doesn’t know how to use it
Me-Telephone because I use my cell phone always
Brother- Telephone because he uses his cell phone always
Dad- Computer because he doesn’t know how to use it
Do children of different ages or sexes prefer different items? Why?
Children of different ages or sexes prefer different items because little kids are usually do not carry around cell phones. They play with toys. Teenagers prefer cell phones. In this day and age, its rare to see a teenager without a cell phone.
Which item is used the most? Why?
The TV is the item that is used the most because everyone in my family knows how to work the TV. Also, everyone in my family likes to watch TV.
Which item is used the least? Why?
The telephone is the item used the least because everyone in my family has there own cell phone, except my mom. Therefore, only my mom uses the telephone.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Does Hip Hop Music Celebrate and Promote Violence?
From Run D-M-C to 50 cent, Hip-Hop has evolved through time. I personally think hip-hop creates violence, but what do you think? Does music really create violence? There are more love songs then bad So why doesn't all those mushy love songs create too much love in the world? Why isn't there more love in the world with all those love songs? Too many people, hip-hop relates to what they have done Every rapper has their own swag, and rap different. When someone says the words "hip-hop", guns, girls, money pop up into my mind, why not flowers, or angels. It has been said Hip- Hop creates violence and it has been argued by many people.
One might say that not all rappers rap about the same 'guns, violence, money, girls, & drugs'. Rappers like Lupe Fiasco talk about their life in a way which doesn't require swearing (you can click HERE to see a list of all Lupe Fiascos songs and lyrics) Take an example from 50 Cent, one of the most popular gangster rappers out today. His debut album, “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” was the No. 1 album of the year for 2003. One of his first singles from this album, titled “In Da Club,” was a huge hit. You couldn’t turn on the radio without hearing this track’s harsh beat and 50 Cent’s stern voice rapping over the microphone. But what was he saying? The chorus goes like this:
You can find me in the club, bottle full of bub / Look mami I got the X if you into taking drugs / I'm into having sex, I ain't into making love / So come give me a hug if you into getting rubbed.
The music industry needs to stop glamorizing gangster rap and using it as their own personal marketing ploy before Hip-hop loses all credibility as an art and culture – a trend that is becoming more and more of a reality.
The music industry needs to stop glamorizing gangster rap and using it as their own personal marketing ploy before Hip-hop loses all credibility as an art and culture – a trend that is becoming more and more of a reality.
Gangster rap influences not just music preferences for today’s generation, but it also influences fashion, attitudes, and perceptions. Everywhere you look you see or hear the influence of Hip-hop on our generation. Just today I was watching television and I saw two Old Navy commercials that made references to Hip-hop. The first one featured Fran Drescher playing the role of a telephone operator. Towards the end of the commercial she says, “My shizzle’s gone fazizzle!” This is a spin off of rapper Snoop Dogg’s lingo. The second Old Navy commercial had cast rapper Lil’ Kim. She rapped about Old Navy, and at the end she says, “Now you’re in da hood.”
Not only is Hip-hop used in advertisements to sell clothes, but Hip-hop artists and Hip-hop record labels also market dangerous products to youth. For example, Roc-a-Fella Records has experienced great success with their Roc-a-Wear clothing line, and just recently the label has purchased Armadale, a “premium” vodka brand from Scotland. As reported by Fox News in “Hip-Hop Label’s Foray Into Vodka Business Stirs Controversy,” CEO of Roc-a-Fella, Damon Dash, tells the Wall Street Journal that Roc-a-Fella artists are not required to plug the liquor, but they will be “encouraged” to do so. Dash is aware, but unconcerned of the power Roc-a-Fella artists have over their audience in selling products through their music; in fact, he states that he was “inspired to make the deal after he noticed the buzz created by Jay-Z’s mention of Belvedere vodka in one of his songs” (Lehner). It’s one thing to market fashion through Hip-hop, but it’s another thing to promote negative lifestyles and bad choices to a segment of the population that is primarily underage.
When did music stop being an art and become a business? Hip-hop used to be about keeping kids off the streets, used to channel their energy into positive pastimes to keep them from becoming involved with gangs. It promoted positive and peaceful messages through intelligently written rhymes. It used to be cool to use a dictionary to write rhymes and rap about science and political issues. But now that gangster rap has become mainstream, kids don’t want to hear anything that doesn’t mention pimpin’, hoein’, drinkin’ forties, or smokin’ blunts. The media has fused Hip-hop and gangster rap, but what many people are unaware of is that there is another side to Hip-hop – typically called underground Hip-hop. The underground is where Hip-hop thrives, but it can be very secretive. Hip-hop is compiled of four elements: Break dancing, DJing, Aerosol Art aka Graffiti, and MCing. Gangster rap is a form of MCing, which is only one-fourth of Hip-hop - definitely not enough to define what Hip-hop is. Still, the corporate media glamorizes gangster rap and uses it as a marketing tool to sell products, then labels them “Hip-hop.” In today’s society, Hip-hop has become extremely marketable and is used to sell everything from sneakers to liquor to dolls. I’m waiting for the day that a song written about Bacardi liquor – paid for by Bacardi – makes it on Billboard’s Top 10 list. It may not be long. The music industry glamorizes gangster rap while exploiting Hip-hop to make a profit, and change needs to happen fast.
In contrast, the rate of gang activity and violence has risen over the last few years. According to recent youth violence statistics done by the Josphson Institute:
· Large cities claim that 72% of their school violence is attributable to gang activity.
· Between 1986 and 1992, the total number of children killed by firearms rose by 144 percent.
· From 1985 to 1993, murders committed by people over age 25 dropped 20 percent; but they increased 65 percent among 18- to 24-year-olds and increased 165 percent among 14- to 17-year-olds.
· Large cities claim that 72% of their school violence is attributable to gang activity.
· Between 1986 and 1992, the total number of children killed by firearms rose by 144 percent.
· From 1985 to 1993, murders committed by people over age 25 dropped 20 percent; but they increased 65 percent among 18- to 24-year-olds and increased 165 percent among 14- to 17-year-olds.
A study by Henry Adaso, About.com Guide to Rap/hip hop, posted a poll and got these results from people around Canada:
What are your thoughts on the oft-talked about relationship between hip-hop and violence? Is hip-hop responsible for violence? No, hip-hop is not responsible for violence ----- 1079 people / 48%
Hip-hop contributes to violence a bit----- 559 people / 24%
Hip-hop and violence go hand in hand-----316 people / 14%
Parents are responsible for hip-hop related violence-----75 people / 3%
Hip-hop is just another word for violence-----172people / 7%
I don't know-----42 people / 1%
What are your thoughts on the oft-talked about relationship between hip-hop and violence? Is hip-hop responsible for violence? No, hip-hop is not responsible for violence ----- 1079 people / 48%
Hip-hop contributes to violence a bit----- 559 people / 24%
Hip-hop and violence go hand in hand-----316 people / 14%
Parents are responsible for hip-hop related violence-----75 people / 3%
Hip-hop is just another word for violence-----172people / 7%
I don't know-----42 people / 1%
If you would like to see other people's opinion about my blog topic, click HERE
Last thought: Children are among the most highly victimized segments of the population with about 1 in 3 youth reporting being victimized through either direct or indirect exposure to violence or neglect. Youth usually experience violence within the home, school or neighborhood and it is often influenced by friends or family members. So does this prove that hip-hop/rap videos are creating violence for youths?
(i will post my References tonight)
Monday, March 17, 2008
Hey Hey You You…Stole my song!!!
In recent weeks there has been speculation that the Princes of Rock (In Canada) makes a living off of other peoples work. Avril Lavigne’s hit single “Girlfriend” was recently rumoured to be stolen from a band in the 70’s. Avril’s nightmare came true. The Roobinoos was a band on the late 70’s with a hit called, “I wanna be your Boyfriend”. (Yeah, you can see the resemblance already). It was reported that the one of the band members of The Roobinoos filed a copyright-infringement lawsuit on Avril. They should also realise, its not all Avrils fault. The Roobinoos song came out in 1979 when Avril wasn’t even alive! But still, she could have heard it when she was in her teens when the girl version of the song came out. In the early 90’s, another artist by the name of lush came out with the song, “I wanna be your Girlfriend”. So you’re asking, why isn’t she being sued as well? Well, there is a major difference! Lush actually gave credit to The Roobinoos and Avril did not.Avril gave credit to herself and her co-writer. Thus, leaving no choice for The Roobinoos to get royalty from her. The main reason why Avril’s song is a great success is because she basically copied the catchy lines from The Roobinoos. Avrils lyrics, (“Hey! Hey! You! You! I don’t like your girlfriend! No way! No way! I think you need a new one Hey! Hey! You! You! I could be your girlfriend”). The Roobinoos lyrics, (“Hey, You, I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend Trying to say I wanna be your number one Hey, You, I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend Gonna make you love me before I'm done”).
Final Question:
Is Avril really guilty of plagiarizing the song from the Roobinoos? If so what is she guilty of plagiarizing?
Work Cited:
http://www.lyricstime.com/the-rubinoos-i-wanna-be-your-boyfriend-lyrics.html
http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2007/07/06/i-wanna-be-your-boyfriend-v-girlfriend/
http://backtorockville.typepad.com/back_to_rockville/2007/07/avril-lavigne-v.html
http://www.a-lyric.com/archives/the-rubinoos-vs-avril-lavigne-ouch/
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