Guilty Pleasures of 2008

Like most people I have a few pop indiscretions. And considering my age and gender it’s probably not surprising to see that most of them are Disney related. I’m pretty much on the older cusp of this whole Disney regeneration with Hannah Montana and High School Musical coming out when I was in my teens, around the same age as whatever characters they had, even if it was aimed at a younger audience. And I know a lot of my friends feel the same way. We know all the songs, all the dances, and we’re not ashamed of it. Because you can’t be cool all the time. There’s also lots of R&B that I’ve been into, mostly because of my brother, and that whole period when I had to borrow his iPod if I wanted any music at all. But because of the big bad record companies, I’m not risking linking songs, in fear of this being taken down, so there’s videos. Enjoy. I won’t tell anyone that you did.Miley Cyrus – See You AgainI admit to having seen almost every episode of Hannah Montana. I just can’t get enough of that. I also concede that the Hannah music is crap. My 5 year old sister likes it, sure. But all that pre-teen inspirational G rated fun is a little… well, it’s a little too Disney, even for me. So I was shocked when I heard See You Again. I liked her first Miley single (as opposed to Hannah singles), Start All Over, but then, I wasn’t crazy about it. See You Again was completely different; it wasn’t bubblegum pop but it was still super catchy. The rest of her debut album may not be as good, but I’ll still listen to it. And despite all the crap that’s said about her in the press, I’ll still love her. She’s just being Miley after all.Jonas Brothers – Love BugOh, I hear your collective groans. I can’t escape my love for them. Even the shiteous Camp Rock doesn’t faze it at all. I’m completely infatuated with their Rolling Stone cover, and as much as I tried to hate their music, I couldn’t. I agree that Nick’s super whiny voice is quite annoying, but somehow it redeems itself. Lovebug, also, is cute. The video as well. I mean, if an indie band sang this song, everyone would be all over it. Kind of a throwback to ballads of older times, simple but pretty, with a more surprising ending. It’s so darn sweet there should be icing sugar sprinkled on top. Maybe even a cherry. Though the JoBros don’t give away their cherries easily, I hear. Hardy har.Taylor Swift – Love StoryI was kind of brought up with country music. My dad loves it, and from listening to his CDs all the time on family holidays (and once even accompanying him to a Gary Allan concert), I’m not as adverse to it as some. Which is why I approached Taylor Swift with an open mind. I was pretty late in hearing her music, the first time I’d even heard of her was when she sung the national anthem at the start of the World Series. And again, I wanted to hate it. So badly. But this song is just pure pop genius. It’s catchy and dreamy and kind of clever for an 18 year old. You can’t help feeling her story as she sings “Romeo save me/they’re trying to tell me how to feel/this love is difficult/but it’s real.” And she doesn’t do it like another pop princess spilling out insincerities; she does it with purpose and real talent.High School Musical 3 – I Want It AllIf I were male, I would be all over Ashley Tisdale like nothing else. She is so super hot. Admittedly not the greatest singer in the world, but I’m willing to overlook that because of her epic hair. It’s also hard to choose the best song from HSM3. In terms of the music it’s leaps and bounds ahead of the first two of the franchise. So, it’s not particularly deep or important. But it’s entertainment. And that’s what I Want It All wraps up in a nice little bundle. Super catchy, great visual effects and choreography, and a well-composed song with the only two characters in Disney history who could possibly pull it off. A Night To Remember is also worth checking out. Especially at around 31-33 seconds. I had to rewind that little bit and just keep watching it. More please, Zac Efron. It’s okay. I think he’s older than me.T.I. – Whatever You LikeMost people don’t get this song. Sure, it’s easy to think it’s all about materialism and epitomises the shallowness of the rap industry. But what you don’t really get on the radio edits or the MTV videos are the crucial first lines; “Hey Jill/You know the old suga daddy /They be trippin’ when they tell they them girls/I said you could have whatever you like.” So it’s the not-so-subtle dig at this whole material items in exchange for love culture that does seem to be surrounding the genre anyway. The video is kind of funny as well. It would be a mistake to pass it off as some new rap phase that people will get over because it isn’t long lasting material, but I think it will resonate in years to come, if only for the whole social commentary aspect – a valid one that’s often hard to find in that genre.Beyonce – Single LadiesIf I Were A Boy wasn't a particularly great opener for Beyonce's new album. Most of us gave it one look over and dismissed it as more crappy Beyonce. Wondering when she would get back to her best. Well, apparently this stupid alter-ego she's dreamt up actually works, because 'Sasha Fierce' has helped her produce one of her best in a long time. Who can't help singing that refrain. Well, maybe those who aren't ladies. But I tell you, when my friends and I bust out our Beyonce moves, we're almost as good as Shane Mercado. That coreography is good, though. I'm not dismissing Beyonce yet. She might still have a few more up her sleeve.Ne-Yo – CloserIt’s easy to make a danceable, upbeat R&B song that’s pure crap. It doesn’t take a genius. But it’s probably harder to make one that’s sincere and still in the vein of ‘The Gentleman’, or whatever that image is that Ne-Yo is so desperate to purvey. Before you toss it to the side with a lot of the hip hop crap that’s out these days, take a listen to Closer. It’s not contested that Ne-Yo is a smart guy. He gets everything he can out of the music industry, writing, recording, performing, not only for himself but for others as well. You’d think after all that experience he’d be able to churn out a killer song. You’d be right.Chris Brown – Kiss KissI don’t even know if Exclusive is from this year or last, probably the latter, but Kiss Kiss has had more of an effect on 2008 for me. This kid can dance, no question about it. And his voice isn’t half bad. Even if his songs are a little generic, they stick in your head for ages, and you can’t help but admire his ability to throw out these songs that hit every corner of the pop/hip hop market. There’s the upbeat rap like Kiss Kiss, the slower R&B ballad of With You or the more dancey Forever. Which is a great song in its own right. Or even the slightly overdone but still great duet with Jordin Sparks (No Air). I think, though, Kiss Kiss is my favourite. The video is a little cheeky, but a little clever. I’d even forgive him for singing about how good he is.