Miley Cyrus: Queen of Controversy

Love her or hate her, Miley Cyrus has a strange tendency to attract controversy wherever she goes. The latest in the strange story of Miley Cyrus is her role in Brett Michael’s latest song, nothing left to lose. The controversy is that the song features suggestive lyrics. While Miley doesn’t sing any suggestive lyrics, the fact that she is in this song is creating quite a buzz.

Here’s my problem: The controversy is completely media driven. Most of the issue that people have with the song is over the fact that Miley’s pre-teen fans will listen to a song that is not appropriate for them. Here’s my question: If the media didn’t hype up this controversy would anyone know about it? Seriously, no one is really promoting the song. The song does have the customary “feat. Miley Cyrus” attached to it but you’d only know if you bought the song. How many Miley fans are buying Brett Michael CDs? If they are then they’re listening to the music anyway right?  If it wasn’t for the fact that the media promoted this song as a controversy, who would know about it and what controversy would there be?

Sometimes I have to wonder whether the media does more harm then good. I’m not saying that they need to be restricted, just wondering whether they realize that they’re causing more problems than they solve.

Desperate Times call for Random News

Yes, it’s been that kind of month. Despite the Olympics and the Super Bowl, there’s not been that much to talk about. What little there is gets over covered by the media, so it’s no good here. But fear not! Here’s some more of those random pieces of news that make life so much more interesting:

• Lets face it, obesity is a huge problem in America. (And no, I’m not trying to be punny) Nutritionists have long warned of the perils of hot dogs: fat, sodium and preservatives to name a few. Now Pediatricians are going to do something about it. The American Academy of Pediatrics wants foods like hot dogs to come with a warning label, not because of their nutritional risks but because they pose a choking hazard to babies and children. Not only that, they’re hoping that someone can redesign the hot dog so that it’s no longer a choking hazard. Meanwhile parents have a different solution: cut up the hot dog into little pieces and serve it to your toddlers till they can handle having a whole hot dog.
• The general manager of the Chilean National Mint, Gregorio Iniguez, has been fired recently. His crime? On the 50 peso coins (worth about 10 cents) that were issued in 2008, the name of the country is misspelled. Instead of C-H-I-L-E, the coins declare Republica de Chiie.
• Administrators at Pacific Hills High School in California have a solution for students whose dancing is deemed too suggestive: if a student is discovered dancing suggestively, the DJ immediately brings up the lights and begins playing Burt Bacharach music. I’d never heard of him before, but you got to feel bad for a guy whose music is a punishment.
• South Korea and other Pacific Rim countries are often used as an indication of how popular new technology will be. So officials immediately noticed when sales of snack sausages began to rise. Koreans have discovered that in cold weather, sausages can be used as a substitute finger. This way, iPhones and other touch screen devices can be used without the user having to remove his or her gloves. Three cheers for Progress!

The World according to Pop songs.

Basically every pop song can be summarized in one of these ways: 1. We love each other, 2. I love you and you don’t know it, 3. I love you, you love someone else, 4. I love parties, cars, and other stuff that give me a high 5. I used to love you and now I don’t. 6. Do I love you or not? 7. I really don’t care whether I love you or not, I’m just looking for a good time.(Yeah this list went longer than I intended)

It got me thinking though: Is that really all there is in this world of the pop song? Parties, love, and the pursuit of the opposite gender? Have we really become this shallow in our entertainment? I mean there has to be more to life than chasing every pleasure till you die, right? So why don’t people write about that? Why aren’t there any inspiring pop songs? Where are the songs about helping our fellow man? Where are the songs about making other people happy? (Besides for the ones about making that special someone happy, that’s not what I had in mind) I think it’s about time someone decided to buck this annoying theme and write about something else for a change.