Hey everyone!

First, I would like to take care of some logistics.  This post is much different than the other two posts.  Music: The Heart and Soul is a blog about music education and about music in general as well.  Starting from now on, this blog will not only post about music education in the country, but also also about music now, then, and in the future.  So just a heads up!  It’s a new direction that I think will be beneficial to the blog.  Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to say, have a wonderful New Year ! 

Lady Gaga is On “The Edge of Glory”

“Well, that’s your opinion, isn’t it? And I’m not about to waste my time trying to change it.”
― Lady Gaga

Whether you think she is talented, insane, ronchy or simply brilliant…that is really for you to decide.

(Video credit  by Youtube)

Lady Gaga Performs for Canal+ on the Croisette – 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival

CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 11:  Singer Lady Gaga Performs for Canal+ on the Croisette during the 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 11, 2011 in Cannes, France.  (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

 Lady Gaga has taken the world by storm.  Whether it’s her vocal performance, energy, or her memorable performances, surely all of us have heard of this celebrity.  But where did all of this fame rise from?  If we turn back the clock 26 years, we can see just how this star was born.  Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta was born in NYC and had a low income family working to make ends meet.  She attended Convent of the Sacred Heart, which was a private all girls institution and then later on was accepted into the high caliber Tisch School of the Arts at NYU.  For awhile, she performed with the SGBand (Stefani Germanotta Band) with some fellow NYU students in local bars.  Later on, SGBand disbanded and Stefani was discovered by Rob Fusari, the famous music producer.  He compared her vocals to Queen’s Freddie Mercury.  After trying to come up with a stage name, Rob thought that “Radio Ga Ga” would be appropriate because it was one of Queen’s songs.  However, Rob texted Stefani ”lady gaga”…the text was a glitch that was supposed to read “radio” instead of “lady” and thus she was coined Lady Gaga.  Yet, this information was proven inaccurate according to The New York Post which claimed that she received her name after a marketing meeting.  She was then signed to Def Jam Recordings in hopes of completing an album in 9 months, but then unfortunately she was dropped just 3 months and so began her rough patch of life that would later be the inspiration of the songwriting of “Marry The Night”.  She experimented with drugs and go-go danced at bars…it was indeed a rough patch.  Then, she met music artist Lady Starlight and the two performed at Lollapalooza in 2007.  Soon after, she was hired from Interscope Records.  She was also hired from Sony/ATV Music Publishing to write songs for artists, like Fergie, the Pussycat Dolls, and even Britney Spears.  The famous artist Akon realized Gaga’s potential and then eventually Gaga was signed with famous music producer and songwriter, RedOne.  In collaboration with RedOne, she made the hot and popular singles of “Just Dance” and “Poker Face”.  From that point on, her 2008 album The Fame and her 2009 The Fame Monster albums received outstanding success with 1 Grammy nomination for “Just Dance”, 2 Grammy nominations for “Poker Face” and one win for Best Dance Recording.  In addition, she has earned many Billboard Hot 100s in the top 10 with “Alejandro”  and many others.  In 2011, Born This Way was an incredible feat with 1.108 million copies of the album sold in the U.S. WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK.  (All info above paraphrase from Wikipedia’s  ”Lady Gaga” article).  From my experience, still even to this day Born This Way songs come up on the radio very frequently. 

In a way, Lady Gaga is standing on the height of her fame, if you will, “the edge of glory”.  The media always is watching her and she gains attention from her provocative and racy dance routines and unique outlandish clothing styles.  In an interview with 60 Minutes Gaga tells CNN’s Anderson Cooper about her outfits, “there is always some sort of a story or concept that I am telling”.  One of the most controversial outfits was her “meat dress” at the 2010 MTV awards…because she was accompanied with several discharged gay service men and it was a commentary on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.  Her ideology behind her clothing is this: “At part of my mastering of the art of fame, part of it is getting people to pay attention to what you want them to pay attention to and not pay attention to things you don’t want them to pay attention to”.  Her clothing gets the public eye to focus on her career instead of her personal life.  Gaga has thousands of acclaimed fans, “Little Monsters” she calls them, that all are in support of her ideas that you should shine just the way you are–don’t let anyone else control what you believe in.  She supports the LGBT community and has contributed to the fight against HIV and AIDS with Cyndi Lauper by endorsing Viva Glam lipstick and raised $1.5 million for the cause.  (All info above paraphrase from 60 Minutes Lady Gaga interview and Wikipedia’s  ”Lady Gaga” article).

So what does this mean?  I believe that Lady Gaga is one of the most influential icons of the music industry in the 21st century…and here is why. 

• She directs their attention on her work, outfits, and character rather than her personal life
• She goes on interviews and seems to never miss a beat (from the 7 interviews that I have seen)
• Gaga only shares and knows what will inspire and help her fan base. 
• Lady Gaga is unique, her voice is so recognizable that it’s almost impossible to mistake her for another artist.

Think about it.  Lady Gaga whether you like her or are in deep disgust with her…she always has the attention of the public eye.  I believe that Gaga plays her cards right with a true poker face.  If the music industry were a game of chess, Lady Gaga would surely be the queen.

Thank you for reading.  Leave comments below and vote in the poll below too!

~*Music: The Heart and Soul*~

That Special Sound of Christmas

“What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more?”

-Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Christmas is that special time of year.  A time of giving.  A time of charity.  The time of the year when the FM radio starts to play Christmas songs, starting the day after Thanksgiving.  But what is it about that sweet sound of “Silent Night” that always seems to make your heart melt?  What is it about “Winter Wonderland” that makes you want to go outside and hope for snow (since only Flagstaff gets most of snow)?

Christmas music, like Christmas, only happens once a year.  We must enjoy it!  I do not understand why some people complain about how ”annoying” Christmas music is.  Well yes, ”The Chipmunk Song” (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” can become a bit over the top, if heard more than a frequent amount.  But, you know what? Christmas music can only be listened to once a year.  Then, in the blink of an eye…it’s GONE!  That’s true for almost anything…it’s there and then it’s gone.  You don’t really realize the impact it had on you until it’s gone. 

So crank out the Christmas tunes!  The second Christmas is over, then radio will go back to the way it was…LMFAO will come out with another single and Justin Bieber will be selling his new non-Christmas album.  Enjoy this time of the year with the special Christmas spirit of joy, giving, and kindness…and Christmas music. 

I leave you on this note: did you know that during Christmas time 56% of American pet owners sing to their pets? (http://www.theholidayspot.com/christmas/facts.htm)  Christmas is a wonderful time and now more than ever music translates to this time of the season. 

Have a safe and wonderful Merry Christmas Tucson.

Thank you!

Sincerely,

~*Music: The Heart and Soul*~
 

Hello!  This is Music: The Heart and Soul, a brand new blog! 

First off, I would like to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving.  And that got me thinking, what are you thankful for?  In this rough economy and through all the job cuts, it gets harder and harder to find the silver lining each day.  But even in the darkest times, these times prove just how much we can rise above it all and find the light.  How are you finding the light?  One thing is for sure, music will always be there.

Music is in each and everyone of us.  Whether it’s just a song on an iPod or a symphony in a concert hall, music all around us.  But it is disappearing in these times, less money is being funded to schools around the nation for the arts programs.  This is wrong.  This is a nightmare.  Imagine, a world without the gift of music!  The arts programs are being destroyed.   Imagine going through elementary, middle and high school without a music class…no band, no choir, and no orchestra.  No theater, no drama clubs, no glee, and forget jazz band.  According to an article “Starving America’s Public Schools” it was stated that

This blog was created to spread the word about the importance of music education/the arts programs, the positive effects of having music in our daily lives, and the sheer stellar brilliance of the creation of music.  No matter how much money is being taken away from the arts, the impact of music that has already affected others will still be there.  Whether it’s a kid in middle school band, a member of  a college marching band, a young adult in drum corps, or a band director…music will live forever.

And so I will close with this final statement, Gene Wilder could not have said it better than in the film Willie Wonka and The Chocolate Factory:

“We are the music makers… and we are the dreamers of dreams” -Willie Wonka 

If we want to fight for the arts, fight for music, and fight for the gifts that music has to offer, we must stand up for it.  This blog is just the start. 

I am thankful for music and all of the opportunities that it has given me…but that’s a post for another day

Thank you!  Have a safe and wonderful Thanksgiving.

~*Music: The Heart and Soul*~