I'll be frank. I'm not a big fan of Selena Gomez's newest songs, released to promote her newest album, When The Sun Goes Down, due to be released June 28, 2011. Who Says, for me, has really been the only great, typical Selena-style girl-power ballad so far. Bang Bang Bang is a little too Miley Cyrus-esque for me; trying too hard to grow up before her time. Far be it for me to turn into a critic; everyone tries to grow up dramatically at some point in their lives, and being in the spotlight 24/7 certainly doesn't excuse a person from naturally being and behaving like a teenager. I'm just critiquing the song for sounding autotuned to death, repetitive, and just something without any real substance. Miley Cyrus' songs don't have substance, but Selena Gomez's songs, even the songs that are meant to be fun, have always had substance, and that's why this song kind of disappoints; it has no substance, and in that is more Miley-esque than typical Selena. And I think autotune is the biggest crime in the music industry anyway. Autotune is meant to be used sparingly, not liberally, as more and more artists are using it. At least Lady Gaga uses autotune to give her songs cool, interesting twists and effects. I feel like Sel is actually trying to grow up too fast, instead of letting it happen naturally, with class. I doubt she'll go the Miley route, since she's still classier than that, but I feel like she's heading there slowly, with the trashy songs and increasingly trashier outfits... I understand she's 18, and can dress however she wants, but she should probably save that "I'll dress however I want" for behind closed doors and private outings instead of album covers and public appearances (2011 MMVAs, anyone? Seriously, did NOT need to see that much back at a red carpet affair. 9 year old kids who idolize her were watching that....)
Which brings me to my second point. I'm DEFINITELY not a fan of Bang Bang Bang, or of Love You Like A Love Song, but the album cover of When The Sun Goes Down is actually really, really pretty. The single release cover of Bang Bang Bang is super classy, too, whereas I don't think the single release covers of Love You Like A Love Song and Dices (the Spanish version of Who Says) are quite so cute. MMVA fashions will be discussed separately at a later date. See for yourself and sound off in the comments if you feel like.... I really think that Selena Gomez's class has taken a major hit lately, what with PDA-ing all over Hawaii with her not-yet-legal boyfriend, and the less-than-classy album covers, and the autotuned, substance-lacking mildly catchy but more annoying "music" she's producing. The PDA itself... I'm not against showing some love, but it was way too much for public, and lets all remember that Justin Bieber's only 16.... am I the only one who thinks that's a little weird? I wouldn't care if it was behind closed doors, and I know they didn't ask to be role models, but there IS something known as class, whether you're sixteen, eighteen, or forty. Age has nothing to do with how trashy or appropriate overdone public PDA is... seriously; that much PDA would be gross from anyone, and being as-yet illegal doesn't help matters. Sel should have known better; she's older and has been in the limelight longer. Seems like eighteen might not be Selena's year.
Left: I super love the Cleopatra-esque look going on in this proposed album art for Selena's upcoming album, When The Sun Goes Down. It's super classy, and has a bit of an old-school Hollywood vibe to it, with all the feathers and the green plush, and the rich, soft colors; off-white, sweet pink and rich, lush green. The font is really different and cool too and it all adds to the class of the album art and of Selena's upcoming project in general. It's definitely a very visually striking piece of art.
Left: The heels especially are gorgeous in this black-and-white single cover of Bang Bang Bang. The block-heel style is a refreshing departure from the typical pencil-thin stilettos often seen gracing, record album and magazine covers. The black-and-white effect, as I've often mentioned before, also adds a touch of old-school class and beauty to the photo. I think Old Hollywood was definitely the most glamorous, classiest definition of beauty, because it was a genuine beauty, contrived solely for the pleasure of the self. Modern beauty is aimed and created more to sell rather than pleasing the self. "There is nothing more beautiful than art created for the sake of itself, and for the artist." (c/o Hellcats' captain Vanessa Lodge) Classic beauty was unassuming and didn't know it was beautiful; it just was. There was a certain innocence and simplicity associated with old-school beauty, Hollywood or not. Modern beauty is too contrived, and too self-aware, aiming to be beautiful, instead of just being. Tangent aside, I really love this cover art! I admit, the song's catchy, but seriously lacks substance, and any sort of epic punch, considering Sel has a four-piece band backing her (critics say the same... the song's fairly lackluster with a monotone singing voice compared to Sel's other songs). But I guess it wins points for being catchy; it'll probably make it onto iTunes top something just because it's somewhat catchy and because it was churned out by Selena Gomez. Clearly, death threats from Bieber-lovers haven't impacted Selena Marie Gomez's popularity too significantly, considering the song has mixed reviews and considering that the girl got to co-host one of the world's most prestigious award shows in Toronto, CA just the other night. (I want tickets next year! Someone hook me up? I'd be eternally grateful!) More on the MMVAs later, of course.
Right: I think that's a really pretty shade of pink lipstick that Sel's wearing, and I love the art of the single cover itself (black and pink is a yes for sure, especially for Selena's girly-bubbly-yet-empowered personality... I think I like hyphens (-) way too much) but I didn't THAT much cleavage was necessary on a single cover. In public. Which little girls are looking at on their iTunes, and wondering where their covered up idol went. Yes, I know, it's not like celebrities ASK to be put on pedestals, but Selena knew what she signed up for, and she should wear that kind of stuff in her private circle to mark her growing up; she shouldn't necessarily be parading it in the public eye. There's nothing wrong with wearing risque outfits when out with friends or whatever, but when you're so famous, the key is to wear it and not parade it. The thing is, I guess I'm not really qualified to be commenting, and in truth, I'm not Selena-bashing at all. She's still probably the most grounded of all the Disney starlets (bar maybe Demi Lovato... it DOES take an insane amount of courage to actually get help and leave a TV show because it became an unhealthy amount of pressure... at least she didn't go off the rails completely and is now on track to getting better). But yeah. No Selena-bashing. Just opinion-stating.... and criticizing of outfits that are a little too revealing. I know it's a promotional stunt, and not her daily outfit, but given what she wore to the MMVA awards as co-host, it looks like the risque in her outfits is becoming a trend, not a promotional stunt. Again, the song, Love You Like A Love Song, obviously talking about Bieber, because apparently, at this point in life Selena "wants wholeheartedly to be in love", is catchy, but lacks any real substance, and is repetitive and gets boring. Mostly it sounds like it's a throwback Season 2 Hannah Montana manufactured hit for 11 year olds, not even older tweens, which is supposedly Selena's target demographic. I think she's missing the mark with this album; she's barely even begun to experience love; I don't think she's qualified to sing or write about it yet. Hence why this album tanks before it's even lifted off the ground. I mean, I've experienced love, but it's so confusing that I'm certainly not qualified to write or blog about it; why should a celebrity my age be any different? I think Selena should just go back to singing more general, dance-friendly and people-friendly songs; her "personal, I'm-so-in-love" songs just come off as bland and boring and factory-manufactured pop songs that, while being a hit for now, will fizzle out very soon. No one's going to remember this song over, for instance, A Year Without Rain, or even Who Says. Not that either of those songs are iconic either, but they're better than this one. In fact, pain is always raw and genuine. Happy feelings of love are harder to capture in lyrics, so while Love You Like A Love Song comes off as typical and "been there done that", as Selena herself acknowledges, A Year Without Rain was much more personal and genuine, and therefore more successful.
Ironically, a still from the videoshoot for Love You Like A Love Song is actually super high fashion. The close up of cleavage just isn't as pretty, and seems more '70's hooker than anything else to me, what with all the bright pink, sequins and makeup. But this, this is high fashion:
Right: The short black tulle skirt with the top and boots is actually '80's glam pinup and cute. It's girly, flirty, fun, with the rosy cheeks and coquettish pose, and it's bright and childish but grown up at the same time -very Alice In Wonderland. That charm makes this photo high fashion and sweet, but bright and popping at the same time. It feels like a garden faerie might pop out of nowhere or something, in the bright light hitting the tall grass. It kind of does feel like Wonderland, and the merry band of musicians, actually. Speaking of, Selena might be playing the role of Snow White in a remake of the classic tale. Maybe the bright cheeks and pose are prep
aring her for the part?Left: More cleavage? I personally think I've seen all I care too. I admit I like the champagne-on-black and the texture of her corset-like top, and to be fair, Selena did say she was trying to experiment with a more Gaga and Katy Perry style tour for this album, and I guess that explains the electropop dance beats and the more risque outfits (nothing on Gaga or Perry, but the Alice-in-Wonderland above shot is slightly reminiscent of some of Katy Perry's music videos), but... again, children see it. Gaga and Perry aren't as popular with 9 year olds, and nobody really wants to look like Gaga in a meat dress, at the end of the day, no matter how cool she looks. And 11-year-old girls, in my opinion, don't need to be wanting boobs just yet, to be like idol Selena. It's not Selena's responsibility to control what her audience looks like or takes to heart, but being in the limelight so much so young, she does have a responsibility to be careful about what's publicized and what stays private (or at least tries to stay private - off tour). On a tangent, maybe this is why kiddie plastic-surgery and breast implant procedures especially, are on the rise? At least Heidi Montag can claim no one under the age of 15, arguably 14, maybe 13 (interesting movie, Thirteen...) keeps up with her trashy tabloid lifestyle. Additionally, I don't like Selena's nude lip. I think she needs some color; peach, pale pink, light pink, bright pink, coral, whatever. Even bright reds or deeps work, but Selena can't pull off a nude lip... I feel like it washes out her cheeks and upper lip and her complexion in general and makes her look less fresh-faced. I think she's wearing too much makeup in general in this photo. Not my favorite, by far.
Annnnnyway. I think I'm done with criticizing young popstars for today. I mean, terrible singers and moral compasses though some of them might be, they're still making millions more than I am... If anything, however, I do like and truly appreciate/admire Selena's ability to take risks and branch out and do her own thing, no matter what critique she receives for it. Selena's always willing to go the distance and take a chance on herself just to see whether she can accomplish what she sets her mind to; Selena's been taking risks in the fashion world by experimenting with collections of late, she's been taking risks in huge leaps and bounds on her new album and with the fashion for that album, as seen above, she's been taking chances and moving in new (not necessarily positive, but...) directions with her sound on the new album, and she took a chance on Justin Bieber, and that seems to have worked out well. I really love her can-do-anything personality, and her vibrancy and joy and passion for everything that she does. I guess, despite her faults and despite however we may, as voyeurs, critique her, there's something positive in everything, and Selena's willingness to take a risk shines through all of her decisions, even if the end result of her risks don't always pay off and earn some critique. It's a good thing, though, to continually challenge oneself, no matter what critique you feel you might receive. That's why I applaud Selena, for being brave enough to take chances no matter the risk of failing, and no matter what the outcome might be.... so despite her recent failures, her outlook on life is still a positive one, and one we should all embrace, even if we fail just as badly/publicly. Critique her decisions, but applaud her bravery in being gutsy enough to make those decisions in the first place. Being brave enough to risk everything to gain something is so amazing, and so much better than continuing to be diplomatic, which often amounts to only half-living.
Speaking of, I'm about ten days away from a new laptop, so I'm super excited. I'm probably just going to have it shipped...though I'll have to explain what it's for. Truth or lie? Hmm. Can't decide. I'm not a big fan of lies, but I'm feeling too lazy to come out with the truth... time to concoct a crazy story I guess!
One more thing... guys are officially ridiculous to figure out. Things are insane between me and my friend. Haven't talked to him in a while. Guess that goes to show; don't ever let feelings interfere in a friendship that means more to you than a relationship would.
xo
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