On May 27, The ninth season of American Idol crowned their champion.   Lee DeWyze, a paint store employee from Mount Prospect, Illinois used his sultry voice and knowledge of the classics to beat the odds and earned the title of America’s Ninth Idol.  And nobody really cared. Read the rest of this entry »

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As with every year, the first moments are spent looking back at the success, defeats, and…er…peculiar moments of the past year. One this same note, I will use this time to look on a particular moment in 2009 that, for me was its highlight. Read the rest of this entry »

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As many know, the MTV show Total Request Live, known by its nickname TRL, ended its ten-year run on November 16. Many fans and musicians, who made their big breaks appearing on the show, attended the “Total Finale Live” special. I’m guessing millions more saw it on television. It was a poignant ending without the fact that it was the end of a series. Deeper thinking, though, reveals something more painful. It is the official end of an era that has been struggling to stay alive for years, its absence seen but never spoken of despite being so obvious…the end of “M” in MTV. Read the rest of this entry »

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First off, I apologize for the recent unprofessionally long absences. I have been shirking my duties, but it will cease and desist, I promise. Read the rest of this entry »

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Hello, everyone! Today, for your reading pleasure, I will give an account of my brief encounter with pop culture. That is, pop culture that is actually still popular at the time of the encounter: participation in the Rock Band video game.

Okay, there’s something I must admit: the reason I don’t usually deal with popular entertainment is because I have seen it get very addicting, especially in technology. First it’s this gidget, then it’s that gadget. As soon as you get your iPod, you have to ditch it to get an iPhone, which you must immediately use to locate the nearest store selling iPhone 3G’s. At least the Harry Potter books always operated properly and never crashed! True, there are some of you out there who have been able to restrain, but unfortunately, I have never met you. Regardless, I’m not hear to scold those with the love of expensive, hi-tech toys. I am hear to tell a tale!!

As, I was saying, my story begins innocently. A friend I hadn’t seen in a while called and asked if we could meet at my house. After a few rounds of pool, she asks, “Melissa, have you ever played Rock Band?”

“No,” I said. “But I’ve heard of it. Why?”

“Oh, because the girl up the street just got it and we need a guitarist. I was wondering, since you play guitar, if you would be interested.” I said I was interested. We then went to the girl’s house and thus began my adventure with relevant culture.

Most wouldn’t argue when I said walking into that basement is like walking into a Best-Buy. Shelves of DVDs and video games sit next to a huge flat-screen television, there is one computer for every family member, and there is not one, not two, but FIVE  guitar-shaped controller-thingies, six counting the one for Guitar Hero for Wii.

I must now admit something else…putting the strap of one of those controllers over my head and getting ready to play was one of the more frightening experiences I have had in my short life. I guess it scared because had never even touched a game controller. What if I stunk at this game? What if they found my inexperience uncool? (Please do not ask me why I sweat silly stuff like whether or not I’m “cool”!( It turned out be in vain, anyway. On the first try, I got an 84% accuracy grade and the title of “Energy Grabber”.

Anyone whose played the game has said the controller and actual guitars are very different, and I see what they mean. The controller’s method of using buttons for notes instead of frets and strings makes it definitely easier to play, but the difficulty is not lower by much at all. It was a pleasant surprise to note that a certain amount of familiarity with rhythm was needed, particularly on tracks like Red Hot Chili Peppers’ ”Dani California”. I did very well for a first time, but was only was able to stay on medium level for a small bit of time. Apparently, adding an extra button can throw you off more than I thought.

All in all, it was an interesting glimpse at the world of relevant culture. I enjoyed it very much. However, I do not want to hear “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” ever again!

See Ya!

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Now comes the hour of departing, glad were I be were it not true: Fondest regards I’ll be imparting, one final fervent fond adieu….

No, I’m not quitting the blog crew. I am, however, mourning the end of the WCYOW’s 2008 season.”Pandora’s Box” had a very good run, and I hope a lot of you got to see us. Of course, the fun wasn’t secluded to the stage, especially on closing night.

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Busy, Busy, Dreadfully Busy! That kind of describes opera rehearsals as of now. Read the rest of this entry »

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Sorry for the delay. I haven’t been near a computer for a bit. Regardless, I carry on. Anyone who has any experience in musical performance knows that it’s not a simple task. There is lots of preparation to do and many hours are spent rehearsing, making sets, and choreographing dances. However, it doesn’t seem as meticulous as I am describing. In this entry, I would like to describe a typical rehearsal at the Westminster Youth Opera Workshop. Read the rest of this entry »

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In my last post, which I am assured was not my best, I said that not much was happening musically in my world. However, over the week I just remembered that it’s not necessarily true. I would like to maybe take some time these upcoming weeks to chronicle the production of a musical event that I am participating in at Westminster Choir College. The Westminster Conservatory Youth Opera Workshop is currently getting ready to perform it’s latest production, “Pandora’s Box”. Read the rest of this entry »

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Not too much happened in my little world, so I decided to make a post about Graduation. The time where we celebrate milestones in ours and others lives. Many people think that certain songs can be used for certain times, a belief that shows through during Graduation. Below is a collection of my favorite graduation songs(because “Pomp and Circumstance” isn’t too fun anymore). The list would be longer, but I go to that many graduations. Read the rest of this entry »

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Yesterday, I was in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, as part of a volunteer program that does work to preserve the battlefield. As part of our reward for painting barns, building fences and other things in 95 degree-weather, we were treated to a concert by Rick Garland and his lovely musical presentation O Be Joyfull. In a nutshell, O Be Joyfull is a sampler of Civil War music as well as stories behind several of the songs. But I am not here to give you a nutshell, am I? Read the rest of this entry »

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Emos. Goths. A cult. An army. Weird.

Whatever you call them, there is one thing certain of the fans of My Chemical Romance. They are not joiners, but faithful listeners who stick through thick and thin. And looking at recent times, the group is going to need it. Read the rest of this entry »

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Let’s face it. Music isn’t what it used to be. Every generation has said this statement, but it’s most true in recent days. To quote Leela James,”Where’d the music go/ It’s all just for the dough”. Modern musicians ares becoming less like musicians and more like ridiculous images who only entertain for money and don’t put much, if any thought into their songs. Anyone who is any good or actually cares about their music is long gone, barely remembered or still undiscovered, spending their nights promoting their music and their days working at a pizza joint. Read the rest of this entry »

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