KANYE WEST APOLOGY TO TAYLOR SWIFT ON TWITTER

Kanye West apologizes on Twitter

Let me first start off by saying this. I don't find Kanye West particularly gifted as a Musician. His acclaim and commercial success are in my opinion, over-rated. I'm by no means a Hip-Hop Connaisseur, but even I recognize that much of his success has been built off sampling others' music and somehow gaining more recognition for it than the original artists.

As a retrospective, here are his biggest hits and in brackets are the names of the original artists and songs:

• Stronger (Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger by Daft Punk)
• Through the Wire (Through the Fire by Chaka Khan)
• All Falls Down (Mystery of Iniquity by Lauryn Hill)
• Jesus Walks (If There's a Hell Below, We're All Going to Go by Curtis Mayfield)

Can anybody explain then how it is possible that he felt warranted in humiliatingly criticizing another artist's (Taylor Swift) merit, especially when that artist actually writes a majority of her own music?

AN OPEN LETTER TO RIHANNA: PART DEUX

Dear Rihanna,

It's been four months since your Rated R album was released.  And to be honest, I still haven't touched it once since then.  I was however, thrilled to read that you are already at work on your next album and that it is actually a "feel good album".  

As per your co-producer Sean Garrett in a Rap-Up Magazine interview recently, "whenever I think of Rihanna, it makes me happy. To be honest, I wasn’t really that excited about hearing her in a dark zone. I love Rihanna for being that girl".  My sentiments exactly.  Garrett goes on to reveal that this record is "about getting past any drama and just being happy to be alive. It’s an encouraging record. It feels great and it’s got great tempo". This is the record you should've waited to release.  Once you find a winning formula, stick to it.  Don't replicate it, always refine it.

That being said, I cannot wait to hear your next album.  Thank you for listening.  We're okay again.

xW

AN OPEN LETTER TO LINDSAY LOHAN (RE: PURPLE MAGAZINE)

 

MR.WILL-W.: POP MAVEN launched in September 2009 and going through some of my archives, I'm surprised that I have yet to devote any attention to Lindsay Lohan.  Perhaps this is a pat-on-the-back in that I try my best to steer focus away from gossip on this blog, which seems to be all Lohan is known for of late.  We are all aware of her partying, relationship drama, rehab stints and trouble with the law even if we choose not to know.

Lohan can be seen currently gracing Issue #13 of French fashion/art magazine Purple.  To be honest, prior to hearing about her being on it, I've never heard of the publication.  So after skimming through some of the fruits of her shoot with photographer Terry Richardson, I must say that the haute couture styling meets raw/edgy photography is fantastic.  The model, not so much.  

The cover, which is meant to push some buttons with its Crucifixion theme has been done many a time before.  I'm not shocked.  Bored?  Maybe.  And Lohan gets drowned completely underneath all the Gucci, Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood like a lost child at Walmart.  

AN OPEN LETTER TO RIHANNA

Dear Rihanna,

Huge fan of your Good Girl, Gone Bad album here. I realize you are still going through a really difficult time in your life. I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to go through what you have this past year and to have done it so publicly. I applaud that you are moving on with your life and handling yourself in a dignified manner. You are a positive example not just for young women, but for anyone really.

Let’s be honest though for a second. The three songs that have leaked off your new album Rated R, are a letdown. The sound that you adopted with your last album fit you like a glove and this brought you so much success and so many new fans. It baffles me why you would make such a drastic transition with the sound of this new album. It’s way too dark and although I hate to say it, you are isolating those new fans you worked so hard to gain.

A true “comeback” is about rising above something adverse and moving forward. I’m not quite convinced people really want to see you dwell on the pain, but that is the type of energy your songs are giving off. True - artistic expression is about taking real experiences and making metaphors for life, but your fans want to see you do well. Perhaps if you aren’t ready for this, then this new album could’ve waited a bit longer. I’m honestly not expecting much of Rated R. It’s out in two weeks and I don’t really care.

You do look amazing though, as seen in this new cover for your second single HARD.

xW

http://mrwillw.blogspot.com

AN OPEN LETTER TO LADY GAGA

Above are the just-leaked covers for Lady Gaga's November 24, 2009 album re-release. The Fame Monster covers are one part homage to The Munsters and one part Man Ray's portraits of Russian ballerina La Nijinska. Look below:

Can you handle the truth though? Because if I were to write Lady Gaga a personal e-mail, it would look something like this....


October 11, 2009


Re: Best Career Advice


Dear Lady Gaga,

Please stop trying so hard. It's way too much and none of us want to see you reach the point of over-saturation this early in your career. So pull back a little. Please.

The blood on the face at your MTV VMAs performance. The outfit made of decapitated Kermit The Frogs. The black mask you wore while doing an interview on German television. The metallic orbit contraption which kept getting in your way while playing the piano on Saturday Night Live. Your hair wrapped like a bow tie on your head. Your improvised non-melodies when performing your greatest song, Paparazzi live. I'm all for art, but all of this just comes off contrived. "Look at me, I'm different!".

You are so talented and you don't need the gimmicks and adage. Less can be more. Try it - just once. You'll like it. Honest.

Thanks.


xW
http://mrwillw.com

p.s. A true friend would tell you the same.