newmusicarianagrande1-blog

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New Music - Jennifer Lopez - First Love

Max has done it again. Yes, this update is about Jennifer Lopez. But the real genius here is massive hitmaker Mr. Martin. The list of people who can effortlessly make a pop hit whenever asked isn't long, but Max stands out on even that short list. The rhythm and beats of the song are as infectious as his other productions, but it's clearly a Jennifer Lopez song. Max doesn't get enough credit for not only producing hit singles, but for seamlessly incorporating them into the artist's sound. He's done this for Kelly Clarkson, P!nk, Britney, and now for La Lopez. The songs don't sound at all like a desperate attempt for a hit. They sound like the artists already existing musicality. Just perfected. J.Lo's last single, the difficult yet oh so fun to pronounce I Luh Ya Papi was a fun summer jam, but didn't take off (which honestly surprised me). So this time around, J.Lo and the label are putting all the cards on the table. First Love is on the same level as her past summer anthems, with sweet lyrics and breathy vocals. It's a surefire knock out of the park...and without even relying on Pitbull! Check out my new favorite J.Lo song below and head on over to http://wesleyryansmusichub.com for more new music!

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New Music - Michael Jackson - Love Never Felt So Good

There's new music from Michael Jackson! ...and by new, I mean it's over 30 years old. It's new to us, however, but posthumous releases inevitably bring mixed feelings. If the artist didn't want the song out while they were alive, I suspect they had their reasons, and might even be horrified that it's being heard now. But since there clearly won't be any actual new music from MJ, it's a way to reminisce and support his estate (or more specifically, his children, which makes me feel better about the scavenging of his work). But conflicted feelings aside, it's the quality of the song that should matter. According to CNN, Epic Records picked a classic MJ song and then "contemporized" it via today's best producers. In reality, that statement is only half accurate. The song is clearly early 80s MJ but it doesn't sound the tiniest bit modern. Do I like listening to early 80s music sometimes to reminisce? Yes. But it never gets me excited enough to put it on my "hits of the moment" playlist. And unfortunately, Love Never Felt So Good falls into the same category. It's extremely hard these days for a slowed down old school R & B song to connect. Just look at how long (and how much promotion) it took for John Legend's amazing All of Me to catch on. As much love as I (and most of the world) have for MJ, this song isn't anywhere near as good as All of Me, and certainly not as good as most of Jackson's released work. I can't help thinking there are some unreleased gems from the 90s that should be explored, where Michael's music was still at his peak, and the sole reason it didn't succeed was his negative reputation at the time. Now that his death and retrospective love for him has overridden the negativity, that would be the music I would think it would be time to revisit. Check out Love Never Felt So Good below and head on over to http://wesleyryansmusichub.com for more new releases!

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Breaking News - Mariah Carey's New Album Title & Tracklist Revealed!

Me. I am Wesley Ryan.....The Pithy Entrepreneur. What a ridiculous way to start a blog you say? What an even more ridiculous name for an album. But such is Mariah. I don't know why I expect anything from her that even threatens to smell of normalcy at this point. But for your amazement and intrigue, I present her new album title below... Me. I Am Mariah...The Elusive Chanteuse. Me. I have so much to say. First off, this is very different, and different can be creative. Fiona Apple names her albums after poems, short stories, and essay style ramblings she probably submitted for Highlights contests. But they're meaningful. And they have something to say about the world. And I'm positive she spent many a night writhing around in her bed coming up with them. Mariah's album title likely came from her sitting in front of a mirror and thinking about herself. Which is likely less of an artistic rarity and more like an hourly ritual. And the album cover is serving her typical in-a-swimsuit-and-photoshopped-within-an-inch-of-her-life-to-look-like-the-skinny-branch-trees-from-the-Wizard-of-Oz realness. Seriously. If you hung an apple from the arm of that fictitious person on the cover, she'd crack in half. The track-listing is equally ridiculous, complete with one word Mariah gems of choice (Meteorite, Camouflage) and songs where the parenthetical descriptions are tragically long and indulgent. A song title shouldn't be one word, with 17 additional words in parentheses (I'm not exaggerating. I'm really not. Not exaggerating at all. There are that many words in parentheses. That serve no point. All those extra words. Just like these. Ridiculous). So why so much hate for the legendary diva? Because she is immensely talented and deserving of our love. She defined my teenage years with her mind-blowing voice, perfect pop songs, and entirely sane business decisions. Maybe I want to relive my childhood a little and that's why I'm so abhorred by how far this glittery train has sailed off the tracks and into some unknown universe. I dunno. I'll probably still buy it, though any shred of return-to-form hope I had vanished about 7 months after #Beautiful. Hopefully, I'm wrong, and the music will overshadow the 18 layer cake of wacky it's buried beneath. I'll happily eat my words if that's the case. And if not, I may need to eat an actual 18 layer cake to soothe my devastated emotions. Check out the teaser video that explains all this in a more optimistic way and head on over to http://wesleyryansmusichub.com for more breaking news!

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New Music - Blake Lewis - Portrait of a Chameleon

I've been eagerly awaiting the 3rd album from this artist for years. And yes, Blake Lewis is an artist folks. If you just want to enjoy the tracks from Portrait of a Chameleon as fun and incredibly entertaining pop music, that's fine. You won't be disappointed. But if you look more deeply into everything from the name of the album to the meaning of every sonic choice, you'll see someone with a clear vision. And the musical genius to give it life. Coming out of American Idol, Blake was a label's dream. Here's a guy who could potentially excel in multiple genres. After all, that's why he got so far on Idol. But how do you market such diversity into a very clear-cut and label-y industry?  Other artists like Blake may indeed be chameleons, dipping into pop, EDM, R&B, soul, and whatever label they choose. Blake doesn't mimic any of things. He is all of those things. And this album is finally his chance to prove it. He does so right out of the gate with mid-tempo tone setters Start Again and Back to Life. The former literally describes the fresh start you're in for, and the latter tells you how it's brought him back to life. The autobiographical undertones continue throughout the album, highlighting depth that Blake should get massive credit for. Not Today is a song about addiction that takes a different perspective than most. It gets into the head of someone dealing with it and paints a complex picture of what it's really like. Something else Blake should receive praise for are his musical choices. The lyrics and music in Silence aren't anything out of the ordinary, but the long moments of literal silence he includes convey all of the emotions the lyrics do in a very palpable way. Blake also uses musical interludes more effectively than anyone since early 90s Janet Jackson. They're meaningful and lead effortlessly into the following songs. And after being mostly absent from Heartbreak on Vinyl, Blake's beatboxing is back, albeit in a different and creative way. He actually used it as the basis for the song beats. You may not even notice it, but when you do, the talent becomes ever more apparent. Heartbreak on Vinyl was a pop masterpiece because of its innovative sounds and epic dance songs. You'll find more of these here in tracks like Disco in Space and incredibly fun 80s tribute Retro Romance (which features the best Breakfast Club pun I've ever heard). But Heartbreak on Vinyl was also a success because of the passion that oozed from every song. That's true of the standouts on Portrait of a Chameleon as well. Runaway sounds like it should've been a single from Madonna's Ray of Light (which is probably the highest compliment I can bestow on a song). The music is almost Broadway-esque in how it slowly builds and builds until your emotions are completely frayed, in the best possible way. And my favorite track, I Want You, achieves the same emotional heights, this time with amazing sensuality and romance. And by now, Blake has proven he is the king in the department. If this multi-paragraph gush isn't enough to convince you to check out the album, you should head on over to PledgeMusic , which is the sole place you can purchase the album until its full release next month. Blake made Portrait of a Chameleon a true community project, interacting with his biggest supporters and allowing them to be part of a journey. Turns out that the chameleon is actually a better metaphor for music fans like myself. Beautiful music allows us to change our colors and expressions to fit our moods and lives. But Blake Lewis isn't a chameleon folks. He's the canvas we all want to stand in front of, so we can become a part of its beautiful artistry. Head on over to http://wesleyryansmusichub.com for more musical masterpieces and don't forget to support Blake Lewis at PledgeMusic.

[newmusicarianagrande1-blog]

Playlist - April's Best Music

April showered us with some fantastic new talent and a few familiar faces as well. Check out the month's 5 biggest music moments below...

5) Rixton made a huge splash on the scene with their first big single. Check out ME AND MY BROKEN HEART!

4) Always known for their creative choices, the Dixie Chicks perfectly popped back into pop culture awareness with a phenomenal cover. Check out their version of WRECKING BALL! 

3) Just when I thought my hype for very soon to open Amazing Spiderman 2 couldn't get any bigger, the early release from the soundcheck got me all Electro-fied. Check out THE NEIGHBOURHOOD'S HONEST!

2) My favorite new artist in a very long time slayed me (and you apparently) with his ridiculously sexy R&B sound. MEET FRESH NEW ARTIST SOMO!

1) And for the biggest moment of the month (and for at least 2 people, their entire lives), check out THE MUSICAL DEDICATION FROM MY BEST FRIENDS' BIG GAY PROPOSAL!

Thanks to everybody showin' love to Wesley Ryan's Music Hub and check for new updates every day for what is sure to be a musictastical May!

[newmusicarianagrande1-blog]

New Music - Ariana Grande ft. Iggy Azalea - Problem

Okay, gurl. Now you've come to play. I was digging Ariana Grande from the start. Well, the start of her music career anyway. I was completely unfamiliar with her Nickelodeon acting career and it took me several days to realize she wasn't the latest drink size from Starbucks (sometimes I still order an Ariana Grande when I go there. It's clearly not as hilarious to anyone else as it is to me and I've probably ingested a large amount of employee spit as a result). But when I heard her first single, The Way, I was immediately blown a-way. The then 19 year-old had pipes well beyond her years, and I got goosebumps (or goosies, hi JLo!) the same way I did when I first heard Mariah Carey. That ended up being a problem, however, as the Mariah comparisons became endless and led to unattainable expectations in the digital age. It also led to snark from Mariah, but honestly what doesn't. Ariana's subsequent singles failed to connect and I was afraid she had vanished from our musical horizons. Until this morning, when I heard her new single, Problem. This is exactly what Ariana needed. An upbeat song with a fresh sound that makes any comparisons stretchy at best. She also sounds much more mature on this track, and not just in her voice and lyrics. The addition of Iggy Azalea's very mature rapping makes this feel more at home on BET than on Nickelodeon.

And that's the direction we need to keep going girl. The single is already at number 1 on iTunes and I'm predicting it to be a huge summer hit. Hopefully it also cements Ariana's status as a big deal (or a grande deal, cuz...yeah, you get it).  Check out the super spunky single below and head on over to http://wesleyryansmusichub.com for more solutions to your musical problems!

[newmusicarianagrande1-blog]

Breaking News - Mariah Carey's Upcoming Album

Oh, Mariah. You never fail to entertain. And confuse. To kick off my new Breaking News feature at Wesley Ryan's Music Hub, I start with one of my most listened to and followed artists of all time. The one and only Mariah Carey. And yet ironically, my first nugget of breaking news is as frustrating and contradictory as the diva herself. Prior to today, Mariah's alleged upcoming album was entitled The Art of Letting Go and it had already scheduled (and missed) approximately 38 release dates. So imagine my surprise when the internet is abuzz with news that she's going to pull what is now known as a Beyoncé and just drop the album ASAP as a surprise. Someone should tell Mariah that a) it's not a surprise if you tell people and b) the last 4 singles you dropped as a surprise didn't really do all that well. And by the way, I'm officially eliminating the word "surprise" from my vocabulary. "Hey Cameron, let's throw Miguel a Beyoncé party, clearly indicating that no one should know about it until it happens". This will insert new excitement until lots of lexicon, from "what a pleasant Beyoncé" to "she had a Beyoncé pregnancy". Where was I? Oh yes. Pointing out that the last thing Mariah needs to do at this point is to purposely do something that compares her to someone vastly more successful at the moment. But whatevs. At least I'll get that damn album I've been waiting almost 2 years for, right? Wrong. Before I could even finalize the thought process for my Breaking News post, Billboard responds with a message from Mariah's label. I'll sum it up for you. "Mariah just lied to you again about the release of the damn album. It'll probably come out in May. Or December. Or 2037. One of those three dates for sure. Probably." At this point, we're reaching No Doubt levels of album stall. And we all know how that turned out. (Quick! Name any song from the long awaited reunion album that you've already forgotten happened!....and you can't.) But I will keep posting updates about Mariah, that likely have surprise changes before I even get them typed. Whoops. I mean Beyoncé changes.

[newmusicarianagrande1-blog]

New Music - Pumpin Blood - NoNoNo

There's a brand new song I'm in love with! Okay, that's not necessarily breaking news. And it's also not entirely true. See, Pumpin Blood came out a little over a year ago. It's a fantastically catchy pop song complete with infectious melody and impossible-to-not-replicate whistles. And yet you probably never heard it until this week. At least I didn't hear it until this week, as it played against the lovely backdrop of a Garnier Fructise commercial. Now I watch a lot of TV these days, so I feel like I should've heard it a lot sooner. But then, I only really noticed it when it came out of Lea Michele's mouth on this week's Glee. And a quick YouTube search comment reading tells me I'm not alone. Whatever your criticism of Glee over the years (whether it's justified or snark), one thing hasn't changed. Glee is still a launching pad for several amazing indie pop songs. Lest we forget where Somebody I Used To Know, It's Time, and a slew of other huge hits got their big pushes. Maybe I shouldn't have told you I got the song from Glee. And maybe I shouldn't have told it's a year old. But then, I'm a simple honest fella with a simple honest heart. That loves a good blood pumping. Give your heart a kickstart (not a break, sorry Demi) and watch the video from NoNoNo below. And roll on over to http://wesleyryansmusichub.com for more heart palpitations.

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New Music - Rita Ora - I Will Never Let You Down

I don't know what it is about Rita Ora. A dancehall diva with attitude and a pension for poppin' beats? You'd think I'd be in heaven. But I've never really connected with her. I've never actively disliked her music, and I always give her singles a fair shout. But I never listen to them more than once. And I certainly don't buy them. Maybe Mariah Carey cast a spell on me preventing me from noticing her talent. She's clearly talented. (And yes, I'm going to troll Mariah until she releases that 2 year old damn album which she'll probably eventually rename Here You Go Wes, Now Leave Me Alone). And my friends enjoy her, so you think I would too. After all, they've gotten me into Teen Wolf, RuPaul's Drag Race, Miley Cyrus, and a slew of guilty pleasures I never thought I'd embrace. I may never know the reason, though, because the curse has been listened. One listen to I Will Never Let You Down turned into two. That turned into three. That turned into a purchase. Now, I'm still not listening to this single as much as I am Lea Michele's superfabulous cover of The Cardigans' Lovefool from this week's Glee, but it's a solid effort from Ms. Ora that could potentially lead to me being a bigger fan. Until then, I'm happy to bob my head along to the upbeat promise of commitment in a fun pop song. Do the same and watch the video below, and to ensure you don't ever let me down, roll on over to http://wesleyryansmusichub.com for more new music!

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New Music - Katy Perry - Birthday

While some folks struggled to make one decent video this week (ahem, Avril) Katy Perry was practically making five. Her video for new single Birthday is incredibly ambitious as she dons five separate personas to celebrate birthdays all over the place. And I'm not just talking five personalities ala Britney's Toxic and Womanizer. I'm talking five separate characters in full professional makeup and wardrobe. I would never have guessed any of them were Katy, and I'm equally intrigued by all of them. But it's not just the makeover that gives the characters life. It's Katy's acting. Yes, acting. She sells every one of these over the top personas so well that I want a separate reality show starring each of them immediately. Had this been a highlight reel from the fall television season pilot episodes, I would be hooked by every one of them. Princess Mandee (complete with hilarious twitter name) is obnoxious in a very adorable way. That's not easy to do. But I need her to play Frozen with me and be the Anna to my Elsa like now. And if Goldie the elderly dancer popped out of a cake anywhere near me, I would need the same reviving the nursing home staff successfully give her.  Let's not forget Ace the Animal Trainer, who would've been entertaining even without the color splashes all over him. And that accent Katy pulls off is as impressive as any whipped cream bikini she's ever worn. And it's not just Katy that's must-see here. The pranked folks steal the show several times. The poor kids who think she's eating live rats are probably traumatized for life, but dear lord their reaction is comedy gold. And I love how no one at the clown party cares enough to stop any of the boozing or self-injurious behavior. If I wasn't afraid of clowns before, I certainly am now. There are so many fun moments that I could literally watch this video dozens of times and still discover new ones. Which is exactly how to play this game 6 months after an album release. In a time where it's getting incredibly difficult to have a 3rd single from an album do well, Katy is proving to be the master of this era. For her last single Dark Horse, she let the song blow up on radio before she finally dropped the video, ensuring its success. For Birthday, she switches it up and goes the opposite route, releasing the video very quickly. I can almost guarantee you the buzz around this video will send the song up the charts. After all, I just bought it. I'm convinced that Katy released this today in honor of Kelly Clarkson's 32nd birthday today (cool beans!). So join me in celebrating the special event by watching the funfest below and heading over to http://wesleyryansmusichub.com for even more fun videos and tunes!

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New Music - Avril Lavigne - Hello Kitty

Me-ow. With emphasis on the ow.

I have a love/hate relationship with Avril Lavigne (I love it when she shows her talent/I hate it when she doesn't). And her latest single is totes a case of the latter.

Now you may be thinking "Wesley...totes is so 8 years ago". But so is everything about Hello Kitty. I'll be the first to admit that I'm rarely a fan of Avril's attempts at incredibly simple punk pop ear candy, but this is the my least favorite in recent memory. I can't really tell you much about most of the songs she's released in the last few years, but I can tell you I usually only hear them in the mall, typically in American Eagle or Aeropostale, and they all almost sound the same. This one, however, I can only picture coming out of Hot Topic. And begrudgingly so.

I'll give Avril some credit that Hello Kitty is more than the usual "na-na-na-na" vibe we've come to expect. It at least has some extra doo-dads randomly thrown in, but most of them don't work. The EDM inclusion is a good step, but the lyrics and melody kill any shot this song has of me listening to it in a club. But even if they didn't, I think I would need a time machine to find a club where this would work. The video is very Ashlee Simpson circa 2005. The japanese affectation is very Gwen Stefani circa 2005. And Wesley Ryan in 2014 is not very circa 2005 (except for my use of the word "totes", ob-v.....also my use of the word "ob-v").

Ahem, much my like use of the tween language, this just feels weird in so many ways. It's so bright and colorful but seems convinced to shove tween angst in your face amongst the jelly belly color scheme. Avril's schtick has been "I'm 13 and pretty but my life is so hard and I hate it and I hate you and I have to yap at the world like a yorkie" for over a decade now. That's literally all I can hear whenever I hear the vast majority of these songs.

"But Wesley, didn't you just give Avril a good review just a few months ago?" Yes. Yes, I did. For a beautiful ballad. Which Avril is really good at. Just look at Keep Holding On or any of the other hidden gems where Avril focuses on her voice, pretty melodies, and connecting on an emotional level. Now, those songs haven't typically done well for her, but I think it's music like Hello Kitty that makes it really hard for listeners to connect with her. It's like Avril has a dual musical personality. I like one of the personalities, but the other one is so off-putting that I'd rather not risk a listen.

Check out the video for Hello Kitty below to see if I'm being too harsh. It's possible. I guess.

[newmusicarianagrande1-blog]

New Music - Tyler Ward & Peter Hollens - Fields of Gold

I love it when different arts of the same caliber come together to create something spectacular. Sting is an incredible songwriter. Tyler Ward puts so much emotion in his singing. A capella harmonies move me on a primal level. And beautiful choreography is the most inspiring language. Soooo let's combine all of those into this stellar musical experience. To be honest, I wasn't originally a fan of Fields of Gold. I was realllly young when it came out, and its beauty completely went over my head. But when Eva Cassidy's cover served as the backdrop for a heartbreaking routine from River North Dance Chicago, I finally understand the emotion of the song. And Eva Cassidy's version is stunning, if not incredibly sad. Tyler Ward also puts a beautiful spin on any song he sings, but his vocals always give the lyrics an uplifting spirit. Covering this song with Peter Hollens and Lindsey Stirling against a simple harmonic and beautiful string arrangement has culminated in 3 minutes of musical bliss. You desperately need to listen to it below and roll on over to iTunes to buy it. And remember to bookmark http://wesleyryansmusichub.com for more new music, fresh artists, and exclusive interviews!

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New Music - Prince - The Breakdown

Prince done got all quirky on us again! Fresh off his kiss n make up with Warner Music, he's dropped a brand new single. My full review involves me screaming at Mariah Carey, Kelly Clarkson screaming at me, and Prince screaming at everyone. To hear the song in full and get the deets on the screamsfest, head on over to my article for SnapCacklePop!

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Fresh New Artist - John & Jacob

John & Jacob are having a really great year, and deservedly so. Fresh off of co-writing the #1 hit Done for The Band Perry, these guys are getting some major attention on their own. You may have heard them on ABC's Nashville, CMT, or a slew of radio highlight features. John Davidson and Jacob Bryant are the next big thing in country music. I'm saying it now. You know how I know? I found them on Facebook. Now, often record labels know they have some talent on their hands, and they'll put out that masterful country music marketing that has you hearing them all over the place. Which is happening for John & Jacob as well. The Facebook people don't just latch onto acts like this easily, though. If people are talking about you there, it's because you matter. And while I check out a lot of music that I find via Facebook, but the vast majority of it gets one listen. I heard John & Jacob just yesterday, and I've already purchased their EP and memorized the lyrics. The songs are that good. Do they sound country? I'm honestly not sure how to answer that. They're undeniably country, but their music has a timelessness that recalls Fleetwood Mac and the Mamas and the Papas as much as it does anything contemporary country. There's a California vibe in their guitars that broadens the appeal, and the vocal harmonies and passion are unlike anything I've heard since Toad the Wet Sprocket. There's some deep music here, and thoughtfulness in every lyric and vocal choice. In an EP where every track is worth the download, I'd Go Back is probably my favorite. The words pull out memories of lost love and wondering exactly where the moment was it all started going wrong. That sounds depressing as hell, and while it's definitely sad, the instrumentation here is too powerful to get bogged down in sadness. That same carefree vibe is on the rest of the EP as well, when the lyrics match the sentiment on The Road and Be My Girl, and when they get a little more somber on Think About You.

Check out John & Jacob over at iTunes and watch the vid for standout track I'd Go Back below. And then you should totally go back to http://wesleyryansmusichub.com for more great music!

[newmusicarianagrande1-blog]

Playlist - The Best of Debbie Gibson

Debbie Gibson is a strong mother lover. If you haven't followed her post teen pop career (I'll fight the urge to shame you), you might not be aware of just how badass she is. First of all, let's start with how she looks. Girl puts pop stars 20 years her junior to shame. She's absolutely gorgeous. She also kicked major booty on Broadway and Celebrity Apprentice. Her latest show of strength, however, is opening up about her personal battle with Lyme Disease. I'm not at all surprised that she's coming out on top there too. That's just what she does. And it all started with her musical talent (yes, talent). Unlike most contemporary teen pop acts, Debbie wrote almost all of her own material from the beginning. So take a journey back through the best of Debbie below! 5) Electric Youth - The video might often get panned, but I dare anyone to present all photos of themselves from high school and not display at least one questionable fashion choice. I loved this song. So much so that I even bought my sister the Electric Youth perfume for Christmas. I don't even know if she wore it, but good god the box was shiny and pretty! 4) Shake Your Love - Debbie wrote some really complicated lyrics throughout her career, but sometimes it's the simple ones that hook us the most. This is simply one of the catchiest songs ever, despite only having a few words in the chorus. And when I watched Debbie perform this at Gay Pride a few years ago, girl shook her love all over the place! 3) Lost In Your Eyes - Who hasn't gotten lost in the eyes of someone they love? Those two little white circles can tell you a lot about a person, and yourself. When you literally can't look away from someone, you got it bad (back off, Usher. You'll get your own playlist one day). Debs was able to put all the passion of an intimate stare into a super sweet song. 2) Only In My Dreams - It's really a bummer when you wake up from an amazing dream where you were with someone incredible, only to find out it's just your pillow you've been drooling on for the last hour. But somehow Debbie puts an upbeat tempo and a great pop mentality to the despair, and you'll shed your grief while sashaying all over your kitchen in your underwear. Or however you choose to deal... 1) Foolish Beat - I typically don't like songs where the title is only said once or not at all. Mostly because it makes it harder to remember the name when my old brain forgets it. But this song is filled with so much longing and passion. It's hard to believe it came out of the typically light-hearted late 80s/early 90s era, as the lyrics will punch you right in the gut. A truly heartbreaking and phenomenal song.

For even more truly phenomenal songs, head on over to http://wesleyryansmusichub.com ! 

[newmusicarianagrande1-blog]

Review - One Direction - You & I

Oh god. At the risk of being cyber-murdered by every girl under the age of 15, I just need to be honest. There's a new One Direction video. And it's god awful. Now look, I was an irrational 1D hater for a while, until I listened to their music. At which point I realized how talented they were and became a big fan. Midnight Memories was one of the best pop albums of 2013, and You & I is one of my favorite songs from it. But this is just...creepy. Look, I get it. I know syncing their faces (and inexplicably present colored balls) required a great deal of technological howdy-do. I'm sure you had to be really smart to do it. But I don't watch music videos for technological howdy-do. It doesn't matter how creative and skilled it is if it's not pleasing to look at. And PS., Michael Jackson did this over twenty years ago. That's like saying you found this neato new technology called the Compact Disc. I have a crush on at least half of One Direction (.5D?), but I don't want to see their heads shape shift on the same body. I also need more than 4 minutes of them walking on a pier. And I need a video that has something, anything, to do with the damn song. That's what I feel is holding 1D back from being taken seriously as the talented band they are. Of the 4 videos released from Midnight Memories, zero, I repeat zero of them, have had anything to do with the lyrics. They've all just relied on some type of video stunt or gimmick. Maybe whoever is making these decisions is willing to just ride the tween wave as long as possible before they try to market their music to a more mature audience. But You & I is a gorgeous and comparatively deep love song. It deserved better than this.

Check out the awkwardness below, and head on over to http://wesleyryansmusichub.com for more of the latest releases!

[newmusicarianagrande1-blog]

Countdown - The Best of Prince

In celebration of the end of Prince's very long and contentious drama fest with Warner Bros, I happily present to you my top 5 Prince songs of all time.

5) Black Sweat - The newest (and most unknown) on this list, Black Sweat was Prince's best attempt at a contemporary straight up pop success. It didn't burn up the charts all that much, but it made this little white boy wanna work up a black sweat real bad. 4) When Doves Cry - This one's deep, infinitely catchy, and thanks to a very commonly referred to bird, often the tune I'm humming in my head. Seriously. Every time I see a dove. Or a sea gull for that matter. In fact, this masterful musical metaphor would probably chart higher if it didn't nest in my brain without my permission. 3) Let's Go Crazy - As a wee young laddie, this song provided an outlet for my enormous amounts of energy. I was quite the hyperactive child at times, likely fueled by the fact that the only beverage I consumed was Coke, and this song always made me burst into frantic, epilepticky dancing. Still does. 2) Diamonds & Pearls - At the height of his fame as an unpronounceable symbol (anybody know what font I can use to replicate it?), Prince went straight up soft and balladeer on us. Particularly after following the not at all romantic and rather naughty singles Get Off & Cream, this was a pleasant surprise (and a major hit). 1) 7 - I am probably the sole person on the planet who would choose this as Prince's best. But I'm okay with that. I don't even know what it's about. My best guess would be Armageddon, which you wouldn't think would be that fun to sing about.  Maybe it's because I was a mathlete, or because Monica Gellar taught me that 7 was her favorite erogenous zone on a very special episode of Friends. Whatever the reason, 7 is my number 1. Head over to http://wesleyryansmusichub.com for more countdowns and new music!