Teenagers -- My Chemical Romance

• Song: Teenagers
• Artist: My Chemical Romance
• Album: The Black Parade
• Rating: 5 Stars

Everyone knows something of My Chemical Romance, even if all they know of is the band's existence. One of the many masterpieces is the song teenagers, which beautifully describes the angst-ridden mind of the American teenager.

Teenagers talks about the pressure to conform. People are going to try and make you conform to their standards any way that they can. They will watch you to make sure that it happens. They will pervert any method for mental escape that you have, and destroy your dreams, thereby destroying your individuality. Teenagers although craving individuality and freedom, are no different. They are crazy, violent, and will judge you more than other groups will. The song also says not to lose heart, because if you feel oppressed, if you feel hurt, you can make them pay for it later.

Teenagers is an excellently performed song that combines clear and relevant lyrics a classic rock sound. The vocals are performed with the emo genre's hallmark whine while maintaining a hard and edgy feel. Teenagers opens with prominent vocals and an electric guitar, portraying the image and feeling of the vigilante so indicative of the teenage spirit. The song branches into a fuller arrangement for the chorus, returning to the original style only for the pre-choral sections. In 2006, My Chemical Romance created the song Teenagers, and in so doing, the "Smells Like Teen Spirit"* of the decade.
* Smells Like Teen Spirit was a song in the 1990's by the band, Nirvana.  It is often said to have been the teen anthem of the decade.

For more artist information, go to http://www.mychemicalromance.com/

Breakeven -- The Script

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  Song: Breakeven
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  Artist: The Script
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  Album: The Script
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  Rating: 4 Stars

The Script is a musical trio hailing from Dublin, Ireland.  Their most recent single, Breakeven, is yet another example of the sad, and unexplicably inspirational, hit single of today.

Breakeven is a song about a man that has lost the love of his life to another.  In the song, he sings of how he feels as though he is barely alive, and how she was the best part of who he was.  He feels as though he is broken and bleeding because without her he is in pieces.  He prays to a God that he does not believe in because he is so desperate for the love that he has lost.  He believes that when they were together, their hearts were as one, and when she left him, their hearts were unevenly broken.

Breakeven has a very poppy sound, and at the same time manages an appropriately heavy sound for the lyrical content.  The high range used in the song seems to exclimate the pain and depth of feeling present in the song.  Drums are prominently displayed, and each note played by the guitar seems to strike a chord of the heart.  Breakeven is a beautiful song which excellently expresses the emotions of the lonely and brokenhreated soul.

For more artist information, go to www.thescriptmusic.com

Live Like We're Dyin' -- Kris Allen

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  Song: Live Like We're Dyin'
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  Artist: Kris Allen
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  Album: Kris Allen
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  Rating: 4 1/2 Stars

After the American Idol finale, everyone was surprised.  Nobody had expected Kris Allen to win, his style was generic, and vocal ability tenuous when compared to the other contestant, Adam Lambert.  In Allen's first single, Live Like We're Dyin', Kris shows us that there is something to be said for conventionality.

In Live Like We're Dyin', Allen tells us that we do not do the small, but important things until it is too late.  We need to use our time wisely, and that if we do not stop to think about other, someday, when we need help, we will not be able to get it.  Allen also discusses how every day is a new chance, where we can begain again.  We never think about how some things are important until it is too late, and we need to live life while we may still participate.

Kris sings the song beautifully, speeding through parts of the choral arrangement while providing especially compelling vocals at the emotional climacterics of the song.  The music excellently complements the lyrics, and brings a constituent of authenticity to the inspirational, yet unoriginal message.  Live Like We're Dyin' is a motivating, and wonderfully radient song, and while it remains to be seens whether Kris can stay on top, he has surely gained many votes.

For more artist information, go to http://www.krisallenofficial.com/

Tik Tok -- Ke$ha

• Song: Tik Tok
• Artist: Ke$ha
• Album: Animal
• Rating: 3 1/2

Tik Tok is the first single, and superhit from Ke$ha's dubut album, Animal.  While other artists are writing hit songs about depression and struggling through issues, Tik Tok shows us that good times can sell too.
Tik Tok is primarily about partying.  In the song Ke$ha talks about how when she wakes up in the morning she feels fabulous, like Diddy,* She is going to party and have fun, and she is going to do it all night.  Guys are always calling her and her friends, but she has nothing to do with them unless the guys are rich and hot.  She is not going to stop partying until she sees the sun or until the police make her stop, and does not have any problems unless she has "plenty of beer."  She is popular, and confident, because the party is nothing until she arrives.
In Tik Tok, Ke$ha accomplishes a great feat for a pop/dance artist in having just enough in the music without going overboard.  At the beginning of the song, only a synthesizer plays, after which the beat follows continuously.  During the bridge, the music slows, allowing Ke$ha to speak about how the music breaks and builds her.  Afterwards, the synthesizer briefly abandons the beat and vocals, providing an additionally youthful and fun moment.  With music so catchy and lyrics so period relevant, it is easy to see why Tik Tok is such a big hit.
For more artist information, go to www.keshasparty.com

Need You Now -- Lady Antebellum

• Song: Need You Now
• Artist: Lady Antebellum
• Album: Need You Now
• Rating: 4 1/2 Stars

Lady Antebellum is a country music group already boasting of three Country Music Association Awards, one Acadamy of Country Music Award, and one Grammy.  In their most recent single, Need You Now, Lady Antebellum shows us exactly how they plan on adding to their trophy collection.

Need You Now is about a man and a woman that had been in a relationship, but have broken up.  In the first part of the song, the woman, played by Hillary Scott, is singing about how the memories of their relationship are crystal clear like scattered photographs on the floor.  She is alone, and misses him greatly.  She talks about how she thinks of him all of the time, and wonders if he thinks of her as well.  In the Final section of the song, the man, played by Charles Kelley, is singing of how he thinks of her all of the time, and of how he needs her.  He has lost all of his control, and he cannot make it without her.

The music suits the lyrics well, and adds to the emotional element of the song.  Bass, acoustic, and electric guitars consume the instrumental foreground while a staccato-like piano opens the song and provides a transitional constituent between sections.  Need You Now is a well-performed and excellently executed song, and with female vocals reminiscent of Taylor Swift, how can you go wrong.

For more artist information, go to http://www.ladyantebellum.com

Empire State of Mind -- Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys

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  Song: Empire State of Mind
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  Artist: Jay-Z feat. Alicia Keys
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  Album: The Blueprint 3
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  Rating: 4 Stars

Owl City with Seattle, Fall Out Boy with Chicago, and now Jay-Z with New York City.  With the help of Alicia Keys, Jay-Z's recent award-winning song, Empire State of Mind, celebrates the beauty and inspiring light of the city that never sleeps.

In Empire State of Mind, Jay-Z is talking about his history and love for New York City.  He used to be poor, but has made money, and even though he has moved away, he still loves New York.  Every kind and color of person lives in New York, and that is where life-changing events and amazing things have happened.  Jay-Z also talks about how people sometimes change when they come to New York.  He says that you should not lose sight of who you are because the city will change you for the worse if you let it.  In the chorus, Alicia sings about how dreams are made in New York, and that there is nothing you cannot do there.  She sings of how everything about the city is inspiring, even the lights, and that everything, and anything can be better in New York.

Typical of rap, the sound of the song is very simple. Jay-Z and Alicia's vocals, a piano, and a drumbeat.  Towards the end of the song a few stringed instruments make a subtle appearance in support of the piano.  The sound suits the songs well, allowing the lyrics to shine through and make an impact on the listener.  The stark contrast between Jay-Z's rap and Alicia's soaring vocals only intensify this effect.  Empire State of Mind displays both the glamour and the dark sides of New York City in a thought-provoking, and beautiful way.

For more artist information, go to http://www.jay-z.com/

Two Is Better Than One -- Boys Like Girls feat. Talyor Swift

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  Song: Two Is Better Than One
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  Artist: Boys Like Girls feat. Taylor Swift
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  Album: Love Drunk
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  Rating: 3 1/2 Stars

Everyone know boys like girls, but not everyone knows the band.  With the capable help of country-pop singer Taylor Swift, Boys Like Girls proves in Two Is Better Than One that even country and alternative genres mix.

In the song, a young man and woman are singing to each other.  They both remember the first time they met, and tell each other that they love each other, and that they cannot be without each other.  They believe that it is beter to be with someone than to be alone, and that no matter what could ever happen to them, they would still believe.

Two is better than one has a country sound, unusual for the band, but with Swift's involvement is almost expected.  The beginning opens with an acoustic guitar, not frifting drastically from their previous work.  The country sound comes primarily from the chorus, where the untroduction of the other instruments and Swift's vocals bring the song to its full glory.  Two Is Better Than One is a sweet love song that wonderfully displays the talent and versisility of this fantastic alternative music group.

For more artist information, go to http://www.boyslikegirls.com