Alas, I’m stuck in school. The cage, the prison, the fence, the barrier of my life… Like that Miley Cyrus “Can’t Be Tamed” music video, I’m a skanky exotic bird trapped in a cage and want to escape. Minus the narcissism and barely-there clothing, I’m just like Miley Cyrus.

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“I wanna fly,
I wanna drive,
I wanna go.
I wanna be a part of something I don’t know.
And if you try to hold me back I might explode.”

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Okay, maybe not. But I’ve always been drawn to characters in the media who have a restless leg syndrome for life. The ones who move around with no direction, whose home is themselves, and who aimlessly wander- having lots of adventures and making friends along the way. These gypsies have the life I dream of, and it’s no wonder- I’ve grown up on movies romanticizing the life of a wanderer.

Esmeralda

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I got my first taste of gypsy life as a seven-year-old sipping Pepsi at my small-town movie theatre. The movie was “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” and I was entranced by Esmeralda, the gypsy dancer with bangle bracelets and a tambourine. I wanted to be just like her. I even had a purple shirt with the cartoon character on it, which was cinched at the waist (just like real gypsy clothes!) Esmeralda was the free-spirit that the hunchback fell in love with- isn’t that every little girl’s dream? Maybe I didn’t explain that right…

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Roux

Then, at 13, there was Roux, Vianne Rocher’s lover in “Chocolat.” Roux was kind, romantic and extremely handsome. Who wouldn’t want to join a camp of river gypsies when Johnny Depp was in the pack? Plus, they lived in France! It really couldn’t get any better; Well, the town did hate them, but you can’t have everything…

If Disney Classics can make little girls everywhere-myself included-dream of finding their Prince Charming and being whisked away to a castle, can films not make us want to travel the world? If they can make girls want to be Cinderella, can they not make you want to be Penny Lane (“Almost Famous“)?

I have dreams of Paris and Monaco, L.A. and Vegas, St. John’s and Halifax, Ireland and Wales. I want to see everything. I envision myself globetrotting with a notebook in hand, chronicling my journey below the Eiffel Tower and atop the Empire State Building. I want to return home at Christmas with amazing stories to tell. And, of course, I want to blog about it all.

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Unfortunately, I have one year left in my education. One whole year of studying journalism before I can pack my bags and see the world. I must resist the temptation of SellOffVacations.com and Swap. It doesn’t help that I have Shakira reminding me everyday of who I’m not. Perhaps one day I will live abroad and visit exiting lands, or maybe I’ll just use my two-week vacation to escape, but, for now, I’m in the cage that is school. And, unlike the rare bird that is Miley Cyrus, I can be tamed.

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What is your dream vacation? Have you lived abroad? Drop me a line @LAMcEachran.
New content is on my new website, The Pop Can!

With his tattoos and dreadlocks, California-born Michael Franti picks up his guitar and strums to the tune of social change. He strives for change with messages of peace and love in his lyrics, which results in the oh so sweet music of this talented troubadour.

His music focuses on social justice issues faced by those in developing countries, but the singer has been aware of inequality since birth. Franti was born on April 21, 1966 to an Irish-German-French mother, and a African-American and Amerindian father. Franti’s biological mother gave him up for adoption, fearing that her family would not accept him. He was raised by a Finnish American couple.

Today, Franti voices a message of acceptance, love, peace, compassion and helping others. He puts a modern spin on 1970s music and is a refreshing change from the pop music dominating radio airwaves.

Reminds me of: Bob Marley, Jason Mraz, K’Naan and K-OS.

Heard on the radio: “Say Hey (I Love You)”

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New content is on my new website, The Pop Can!

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Warhol Superstars

Lady Gaga

Why? Like Andy Warhol, Lady Gaga has a passion for art. Gaga uses fashion and music to express herself, which would make Andy proud. Like Nico, Viva, Ultra Violet and other Warhol Superstars, Lady Gaga is known by her nickname and keeps her personal life private.

Would be kicked out of The Factory because: she has a strong work ethic and is very focused on her career. Warhol needed constant attention from his superstars, and Gaga would not give him this attention. Warhol would replace Gaga with an up-and-comer.

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Justin Bieber

Why? There’s nothing Andy Warhol loved more than a pretty young man. Justin Bieber’s young, pretty and has a style all his own. Andy would swoon!

Would be kicked out of The Factory because: Justin would pursue girls, which would break dear Andy’s heart. Also, once Justin becomes an adult, Andy would feel less in control and want to replace the singer for a younger model.

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Agyness Deyn

Why? Andy Warhol loved to surround himself with beautiful people, and no one is more beautiful than a model. Like the lovely Edie Sedgwick, Agyness Deyn is a fashion model with a unique sense of style. Not only that, Agyness also has a great personality that lights up the room- just like Edie.

Would be kicked out of The Factory because: Eventually the beautiful grow old. When Agyness gets old and no longer draws the attention she once did, Andy would lose interest and find a new, pretty, young thing to replace her.

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MGMT

Why? MGMT has a unique style and a unique sound. Andy would surely bow before their talent and happily parade the men around town.

Would be kicked out of The Factory because: MGMT is too opinionated and wouldn’t follow all of Andy’s advise. Andy would get frustrated and get rid of them.

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Who do you think would be a Warhol Superstar today? Tweet me the actors/musicians/models/socialites you think would make it in The Factory!

New content is on my new website, The Pop Can!

I’ve been a fan of Jacob Hoggard since he belted out the hits on Canadian Idol. Donning outrageous costumes, Hoggard graced the stage singing Aerosmith’s “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing,” David Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” and-my favourite Hoggard song choice-Paul Anka’s “Put Your Head on My Shoulder.” Hoggard brought such unique talent to season 2 of the Canadian reality show, and had many speculating that the reason Hoggard came in third place was because he wanted out.

After biding adieu to the singing competition, Hoggard quickly returned to the spotlight with his band Hedley. Their 2005 self-titled album went 2x Platinum, with hits like “321″ and “Gunnin.” Two years later the band followed up with Famous Last Words, which went Platinum as well. Canadians are sure to remember when “Never Too Late” blasted on the radio, or the swooning of teenage girls everywhere when Hoggard sang “For the Nights I Can’t Remember.”

Hedley is an incredible band and Hoggard is a true performer. When the band made a stop in my hometown back in 2008, I was lucky enough to score tickets to see them perform (no easy feat, I assure you.) They were incredible to see live; Hoggard’s enthusiasm for performing is clear, and his stage exuberance matches his fantastic voice perfectly.

As a Hedley fan, I was excited to hear singles from the band’s latest album, The Show Must Go. Judging by the two released singles, it sounds like Hedley has another hit album on their hands. Listen below to “Cha-Ching,” a song that every pop culture enthusiast is sure to love. Below that is “Don’t Talk To Strangers,” a definite playlist piece.

My latest musical find came courtesy of Vogue magazine, and ever since I read their blurb about this British singer, I’ve been listening to him on YouTube non-stop.

Featured on page 182 in the “People Are Talking About” section, Ben Hudson, a.k.a. Mr Hudson, is gearing up to release his second album, Straight No Chaser. In Mark Holgate’s blurb, “The Talented Mr Hudson,” Holgate writes:

The album has all the right musical flourishes-synths, sampling, compressed drum beats-but it’s more than a checklist of cool musical tricks, thanks to Hudson’s distinctive Brit-pop voice and his street poet-lyrics; he wants his songs to tell gritty, urban stories in the vein of Paul Weller and Ray Davies.

Of course, after reading such an intriguing piece, I had to listen to Mr Hudson’s music for myself. From “Time” to “There Will Be Tears,” I loved every song I listened to, including “Forever Young” from Jay-Z’s Blueprint 3.  Mr Hudson is totally unique; with creative lyrics, enticing beats and a fantastic pop voice.

Mr Hudson and his band, The Library, released their first LP in 2007. Titled A Tale of Two Cities, it received great reviews from the press. The band even toured with Kanye West during his European portion of the Glow in the Dark Tour.

Mr Hudson must have made quite an impression on the hip-hop star, as he scored himself a record deal with Kanye’s label, G.O.O.D. Music. Dropping “The Library,” Mr Hudson wrote the songs for his sophomore album in just two months. Titling the soon-to-be-released album “Straight No Chaser,” Mr Hudson’s piece is a fun melody of a miserable break-up.

I cannot wait to get my hands of Mr Hudson’s CD, which was reportedly set to be released in October (although HMV gives no indication of this). Alas, I will have to wait until the store shelves fill with this incredible piece by Mr Hudson, whose voice Rolling Stone describes as “David Bowie-meets-Sting.” But for now, I have YouTube, where I can listen to his own songs, and Jay-Z and Kanye West songs featuring Mr Hudson. My personal fav Mr Hudson song? The hauntingly catchy “White Lies.” Listen below:

From “Love Story” to “You Belong with Me,” 19-year-old singer-songwriter Taylor Swift is a force to be reckoned with. Her 2006 self-titled debut album reached number on the Billboard Top Country Albums and number five on the Billboard 200. Swift’s sophomore album, Fearless, put her in fourth place for highest U.S. sales (behind Lil Wayne, AC/DC and Coldplay, respectively.)

I’ve been a fan of Swift since her February, 2007 release of the single “Teardrops on My Guitar.” But there were more teen angst hits to follow by this curly-haired songstress, like “Fifteen” and “Whitehorse.” And what made Taylor Swift so likeable wasn’t just the relatable lyrics in her country songs, but her refreshingly open attitude with her personal life. Who could forget the infamous breakup between Taylor Swift and Joe Jonas? See her hilarious dig using Joe and Taylor dolls below:

This past weekend, Taylor Swift let her personality shine while hosting Saturday Night Live. She took one more dig at Joe Jonas and addressed those pesky rumours regarding Taylor Lautner in her musical monologue, and, of course, acted in skits. My personal fav Taylor Swift SNL skit was actually the digital short “Firelight,” a spoof of Twilight.

Between TV appearances, hit songs and hosting gigs, Taylor Swift is a force to be reckoned with. Despite her muli-platinum status, her boy drama and small town charm maintain Swift’s girl-next-door image.

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Just like every Canadian gal, I watched Degrassi: the Next Generation and remember the character Jimmy Brooks. Played by Aubrey Graham, Jimmy Brooks is the basketball star, best friend of Spinner, and loyal boyfriend to Ashley. But when Spinner hangs with the wrong crowd, he foolishly jokes to a friend that Jimmy made the plan of spilling feathers on the school nerd. The school nerd seeks revenge and goes on a shooting rampage, gunning down Jimmy and thus forcing the teen to live the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

Throughout the remainder of his high school years, Jimmy had aspirations of a rap career. I must admit, watching Degrassi I thought the Jimmy Brooks/rap star story line was lame. It reminded me of David’s success in the music industry on Beverly Hills, 90210, and anything that reminds a viewer of David’s keyboard performance at the beach club is not a good thing. Not that I remember a Degrassi episode where Jimmy Brooks actually performed his “inspirational” rap songs; I only remember Jimmy sulking about how he’d never make it in music because of his wheelchair and Ashley saying he was talented… or something along those lines.

I was starting to forget about the Jimmy Brooks’ days on Degrassi when, out-of-nowhere, a young Canadian emerged on the rap scene. The rapper, named Drake, had just signed with Lil’ Wayne’s Young Money Entertainment and quickly became the hottest new star. But hey, doesn’t this Drake fella look an awful lot like Aubrey Graham? Drake is Aubrey Graham?!

 
Name change aside, Drake is a proud Canadian. He’s not too big to appear on MTV News, or even give shout outs to his fav Canucks.  I’m so proud to have a Canadian representing a new genre of music, especially one that rolls with the who’s-who of rap. I love his song Forever featuring Kanye West, Lil’ Wayne and Eminem. It’s so catchy just try not saying “If you ain’t been a part of it at least you got to witness, bitches,” after a couple listens.

Another Canadian making waves is Lights. 22-year-old Valerie Poxleitner performs dream pop and her hit, Drive My Soul, has become a radio favourite. She reminds me a little of a softer Gwen Stefani.

The designs for her album look like a graphic novel, and rumour has it a comic book is even in the works for the singer. It’s nice to have a dreamy indie pop singer getting attention in the States next to Drake’s rap; it shows that we are good in more than just one genre of music.

But Drake and Lights are a once-in-a-blue moon rarity. Canadians rarely make it in America. One that should be receiving attention is Joel Plaskett. Plaskett is a little bit folk, a little bit pop/a little bit this, and a little bit that. His quirky charismatic style reminds me a little of Jason Mraz, and he’s got a lot of talent.

This summer, I had the pleasure of seeing Plaskett perform live. He has a great sense of humour, a unique way with music, and is a fantastic performer. The music industry has a lot to offer, with sensations like Madonna to youngin’ Taylor Swift, but the mainstream is missing out on Joel Plaskett.

Every day I turn on the radio and listen to the greatest hits, feeling quite content. Sure I, like everyone else, have listened to Drake and Lights and am proud they are Canadian. But when I listen to an artist that others have not heard, like Joel Plaskett, I wonder how many others I’m missing out on. Surely there are hundreds of Canadian musicians that fly under-the-radar, just waiting for their Lil’ Wayne to snatch them from the bitter cold of Toronto and introduce them to Hollywood’s elite.  And while us Canadians are filled with pride when one of our own makes it in the big leagues, it’d be even sweeter if we supported that talent before their were chillin’ in LA-LA-Land.

Who are your favourite under-the-radar musicians and what country are they from?

Ever since listening to “I Love College” by rapper Asher Roth, I’ve been a fan. He’s funny, entertaining, and best of all, his songs are catchy.

His latest release from his album Asleep in the Bread Aisle, is “She Don’t Want a Man” featuring Keri Hilson. The song is fantastic, I have it stuck in my head! The music video is quite funny and can be viewed on mtv.ca, but if you want to listen to the song, click below:

But incorporating comedy into music is nothing new, it’s been around for decades. Roth also isn’t the only musician out there incorporating comedy into his music. So, in a tribute to comedic musicians, I’ve compiled a list of my favourite funny singer/songwriters:

Leave it to Judd Apatow’s latest protegee to be the funniest comedy musician around. Bo Burnham is a YouTube sensation that’s making his way onto the big screen. With a brief cameo in Funny People (he was on “Yo, Teach”) and a musical in the works, soon enough everyone is going to be saying “it’s Bo, Yo!”or “Bo, Fo’ Sho’” or….okay, you get the idea.

Check out his song “The Perfect Woman” below:

Marshall Mathers III, Eminem, Slim Shady or whatever else you’d like to call him, he is one of the most comedic rappers around. With songs like “Just Lose It,” “The Real Slim Shady,” “We Made You,” “Without Me” among others, Eminem throws celebrities under the bus for some laughs. Click here to watch the rapper’s music videos.

Lily Allen

While this British star’s personal life may overshadow her music, Lily Allen is a force to be reckoned with. Her cheekiness goes nicely with her sweet voice, and don’t let those Alice-in-Wonderland ensembles fool you, Miss. Allen has a fowl-mouth. Check out Lily Allen’s song “Alfie,” about her pot-smoking brother, below:

While we shouldn’t expect Celine Dion to belt out a tune mocking pop culture anytime soon, artists who do incorporate comedy into their songs are quickly gaining recognition in the music industry for their talent. Maybe we don’t need to restrict comedy to half-hour TV sitcoms after all; perhaps Tina Fey will take a cue from Bo Burnham and write some ballads?

I’ve always had a passion for music. I’m not music snob-I don’t have a bunch of CDs by artists no one has ever heard of-but I certainly enjoy listening to different genres. Anything from soulful melodies to heavy rock to  dance pop and even a little bit of country, I really enjoy listening to everything.

But even though I enjoy listening to every type of music-and even lip synching along-I claim no talent of my own. When I was a kid I’d belt-out show tunes from my bedroom, to which my mother said I sing like Ethel Merman. I have never been a good singer-in fact, I’m a down-right terrible singer- but I’ve always been a loud one. When I was eleven I played little Molly in the play Annie and in middle school I was in the choir. But I acquired neither role because of actual talent, I  only got the roles because I was a loud singer. Oh, and I got the role of Molly because I was super short for my age.

Although my singing career was brief, I have been playing the piano for around sixteen years now (wow, time flies!) Growing up I hated practising, so, naturally, my mom would bribe me with candy. Eventually, the instrument grew on me and I began to enjoy learning it. I was never a fan of classical music, nor of tests, so I only have my grade three from the Royal Conservatory of Music, but I enjoy playing music I’ve heard on the radio and in movies. From Walt Disney tunes, James Bond, Beverly Hills Cop, Kelly Clarkson, and every jazz tune, I’ll practise, practise, practise-even with that damned metronome- until it sounds like the real thing. This process takes a long time, basically because I have no natural talent for music.

I do, however, have a huge amount of respect for those who do. And while Alicia Keys, Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey are very recognized in the industry for their incredible talent; there are other major talents who seem to get overlooked because they don’t come in the cookie cutter, squeaky clean image that the aforementioned stars do. Or used to *cough, cough Houston. So here is my tribute to overlooked talents in the music industry today:

TRAVIS BARKER

Band: Currently in Blink- 182, +44, and Expensive Taste

Instrument: Drums, but also plays the piano and guitar

Below is Travis Barker’s solo performing on a floating stage:

EMINEM

Band: Solo, and D12

Instrument: Voice (rap)

Below is Eminem’s music video for Like Toy Soldiers, my favourite song off of his 2004 album, “Encore”:

JACK WHITE

Band: Currently in The White Stripes, The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, and solo performances.

Instrument: Guitar, bass, drums, piano, voice, organ, … White can play basically every instrument.

Below is Jack White’s music video for his duet with Alicia Keys, called Another Way to Die:

MARILYN MANSON

Band: Currently a solo artist

Instrument: Voice, guitar, drums, keyboard, and pan flute

Below is Marilyn Manson’s music video for Personal Jesus: