Popologist Panel: Adam Lambert, Azealia Banks, Ke$ha
I was recently asked to take part in a monthly panel reviewing some of the latest releases and leaks from a variety of popular and up-and-coming artists on Vertigo Shtick. Check out the first installment of the Popologist Panel, where we discuss the latest releases from: Adam Lambert, Queen of Hearts, Azealia Banks, Florrie, Cher Lloyd, Luciana, Kylie Minogue, Cheryl Cole and a demo/leak from Ke$ha!
Stans of the World (and other interested parties),
We gather here today and everyday to rejoice in the word of the Church of Pop. It is my honor to have been chosen by The Pop Gods to spread the righteous word and while much of my experience has been positive since I began preaching the Pop Gospel last November, I have to say that the amount of bullshit (for lack of a better term) that is thrown between fanbases is completely ridiculous and quite frankly off-putting. For branding purposes and as an excuse to spend countless hours making some digital art, I will call this phenomenon:
You may have noticed that many of your favorite websites/blogs are “blacked out” today in protest of SOPA, but have you taken a moment to read about what this protest is about? Censorship threatens to control the Internet we all know and enjoy and if you’re from Canada (like me) or another country outside of the U.S. you might think this is an American issue and it doesn’t affect us but you’re wrong!!
To show my support and do my own part to create awareness, I’ve posted links to some literature and put up a “Stop Censorship” banner on PopMessiah.com until 1/24/2012! If you want to add your name to the petition, please click the banner in the top-right and you will be taken to americancensorship.org!
SOPA Blackout Aims To Block Internet Censorship Bill
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/18/sopa-blackout-internet-censorship_n_1211905.html?ref=sopa&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000008
Black Wednesday: In Protest of SOPA, Darken the Web
http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/michael-geist/sopa-protest_b_1210467.html?ref=canada
WTF is SOPA ? aka The American Government trying to ruin the internet
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhwuXNv8fJM%5D
Thanks for reading!
Ladies & Gentlemen,
We are gathered here today in celebration of popular culture. I, being of reasonably sound mind and somewhat curvy body have decided to finally answer one of my many callings: to realize my dream of becoming Canada’s first celebrity blogger.
Ok, so maybe I’m not Canada’s answer to Perez Hilton, but frankly who wants to be? Blogs that post snark and gossip are a dime a dozen and I want to do something different.
Last year, at a New Years Eve shindig a friend was throwing, I was slightly intoxicated, nibbling on a variety of hors d’oeuvres and engaging in conversation about a countdown show of the “Top 100 Music Videos of All Time” when a complete stranger who was in attendance asked me if I was a professional critic. In the moment, I wasn’t sure if this inquiry was representative of a positive or a negative perception of my personality, but she added: “It just seems like you have very well-thought out opinions and you come across as a writer or a critic.”
A little seed was planted that night. I’ve been mulling it over in my head and over time I found myself inspired by a number of people I follow on Twitter. Being someone who always likes to give credit where it is due, I’m happy to give them a shoutout and honor their contributions.
The adorable and uber-talented: Simon Curtis. Photo by Tyler Shields
One day I was rifling through my mp3′s when I came across a song called “Pop Messiah” by Simon Curtis. (Check out Simon on Twitter!)
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Mr. Curtis, he is an independent pop singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles who used social media to garner an impressive online following. His 2010 album “8 Bit Heart”, hyped up using Twitter and offered from his website to fans for free, was downloaded more than 80 thousand times in it’s first week of release and the follow up: 2011′s “R∆” made the top 200 album charts on iTunes in 12 Countries with no label backing or promotion. The song’s title and popstar referrential lyrics brought to mind cover stories and headlines dubbing some hot new commodity as “The Pop Messiah.”
The Holy Spearit
I’d also noticed a trend where many of my favorite bloggers (i.e. Bradley Stern & Sam Lansky of MuuMuse) as well as many artist superfans were creating nicknames for their favorite pop artists that were based in Religion. Artists like Britney Spears earned names like “Godney” and “The Holy Spearit”. Similarly, Beyonce Knowles became “Beysus”
While I’ve always been a believer in objective, critical-when-deserved fandom, this idea of almost religious reverance of pop culture personalities is fascinating from a sociological standpoint but also it’s just plain fun and very inspiring from a visual approach. I began to contemplate how I too have several artists, musicians and filmmakers that I “Stan” for. Artists that I deeply respect and admire who in many ways, can do no wrong in my eyes. From these sources of inspiration spawned the idea to create and design this blog.
Some of you may ask if I worried that the title/theme may be offensive to some. It certainly was on my radar, but “messiah” can mean : a professed or accepted leader of some hope or cause. So, while I hope that you, the people, accept me – I will profess my passion and adoration for popular culture and do my very best to bring you some top notch music and movie reviews, artist profiles, interviews and anything else my twisted little mind can think up. I look forward to enlightening you in any way I can.
In the name of Madonna, (Clark)Son & The Holy Spearit. A-dele. Now go forth and praise Beysus!
Note: If you are the artist responsible for any of the images above, please let me know.
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