ENG 247: Blog Post #3

Mac Miller

Mac Miller, have you heard of him?  If not, you will, his hip-hop music is climbing its way up the Billboard’s charts.  The nineteen year-old Mac Miller from Pittsburgh, PA is expected “to be the new face of music in 2011 and beyond”  (Rostrumrecords, 2011).

A few of Mac Miller’s more popular songs are “Donald Trump”, “Smile Back”, “Party on 5th Ave”, “The Spins”, “Outside”, “Live Free” and “I’ll be There”.  “Smile Back” and “Party on 5^th Ave” are both off his latest album “Blue Slide Park”.  Mac Miller has produced five albums total.

Mac Miller is fairly new to the music industry.  His first album “K.I.D.S.” was released in July 2010.  He started recording individual songs in 2007; however, he was never signed with a production company until 2010.

 Mac does not have any particular style that stands out as unique.  He is known for wearing baseball style hats and sunglasses on a regular basis.  He does however sell what is referred to as “Mac Merch”.  Mac Merch contains items such as beaded bracelets, hats and t-shirts.  Some of the items sold do contain a thumbs-up logo which is unique to Mac.

The lyrics of Mac Miller’s songs can be considered offensive by some, depending on your taste, or style of music.  However, they are catchy, they relate to real life, and they are accompanied by good music.  Some of the songs contain more offensive language than others, but that is also what sells to the younger generations.  The song “I’ll be There” is one in which is less offensive. 

See I was 6 years old with a dream, when my mums told me I can do anything
Said she'd be there forever, no matter what's the weather
She'd always have my back even when we weren't together
And I took her for granted, thought I had a plan
This a different generation, I don't think you'd understand
In the quest to be a man, you start to learn you need your family
It wasn't for them, I'd be way closer to insanity
It ain't about the vanity, think bout what's important
The reason I was 6 years old rocking some Jordans
The reason I had food, my own damn room
A TV and a living room to watch my cartoons
I just hope she know I love her, the World's best mother
Yeah ain't fair, so I'm a take care of her and her gray hair
When I get rich, I'll have her living how she should be
No stress, no worries, you can call me cause it's...

Sunshine or rain, I'll be there
For the good times or bad, I'll be there
Sunshine or rain, I'll be there
For the good times or bad, I'll be there

(AZLyrics, 2000-2012)

 However, on the other hand, the song “Donald Trump” contains more

offensive lyrics. 

We gonna take over the World while these haters gettin' mad
That's why all my bitches bad, they see this crazy life I have and they in awe
We gon' win, you can take the lose or draw
What I'm in, got these hoes that used to play me in their bras
We gonna take over the World while these haters gettin' mad
Take over the World, watch these haters get mad
That's why all my bitches bad, they see this crazy life I have
Hop into the car then we take 'em to the pad
It's a wrap

(AZLyrics, 2000-2012) 

            The video for “Party on 5^th Ave” is very entertaining.  This video begins with Mac and his band dressed as older gentlemen riding scooters down 5^th Ave.  They proceed down the road while singing, dancing, vandalizing a vehicle, and having fun.  They end up at a party with various age groups dancing and partying.  When the party ends, Mac is shown walking down the street once again, this time he falls down as if he has suffered a heart-attack.  The song in itself is catchy, however, after seeing the video you will like the song even more.  It gives you the feeling of wanting to get up and dance and have a good time.

            I would want nothing more than for Mac Miller to continue his career and become as successful as he possibly could. I enjoy his music, and can relate to some of the things he sings about.  While I do not necessarily agree with all of the lyrics, I am still a fan and supporter.  His music is not obnoxious and it is clear what he says while singing.  I do not like to listen to music if I can’t understand a word they are saying, or singing.

Works Cited

AZLyrics. (2000-2012). AZLyrics-Mac Miller. Retrieved February 15, 2012, from AZLyrics: http://search.azlyrics.com/search.php?q=mac+miller

  

Rostrumrecords. (2011). Mac Miller Bio. Retrieved February 14, 2012, from Mac Miller Official Website: http://www.macmillerofficial.com/bio/

ENG 247: Blog Post #2

Pretty Little Liars

Pretty Little Liars airs on Monday nights at 8:00 p.m. on the ABC family channel.  This show is a teen drama based on the books written by Sara Shepard.  The show however is created by Marlene King. 

Pretty Little Liars takes place in a fictitious town called Rosewood, PA. The show follows four girls, Spencer Hastings, Hanna Marin, Aria Montgomery, and Emily Fields.  These four girls’ lives begin to fall apart when the “leader” of their group, Alison DiLaurentis disappears.  The girls receive text messages regarding things they do, and secrets they keep.  They thought it was Alison, since the messages are signed “A”.  However, Alison’s was found dead.  As the seasons progress the girls continue to receive these messages and begin to discover clues to help them find out who killed Allison, and who “A” really is. 

The girls in Pretty Little Liars all have their own typical teen issues on top of this one major one involving the death of Allison and a mysterious follower by the name of “A”.  Spencer Hastings, played by Troian Bellisario is the preppy, smart one.  Spencer is a perfectionist and appears to be the “good girl”.  However, she has a habit of stealing her sister’s boyfriends.  Hanna Marin, played by Ashley Benson quickly becomes the most popular girl in school following the disappearance of Allison.  Before becoming popular, Hanna replaced her father being a part of her life through eating and shoplifting.  Aria Montgomery, played by Lucy Hale, has a very dysfunctional family.  Her father had an affair, her brother found himself in series of incidents involving the police, and she has a relationship with a former teacher.  Emily Fields, played by Shay Mitchell, plays a lesbian.  Emily finally decided to let her parents know she was gay and they did not accept it at first.  Emily was a star swimmer for the school until various other life issues took over, and she was no longer a part of the team. 

I feel that overall, things have gone well.  I enjoy watching this show and each episode keeps me on edge and waiting for the next one.  The day to day issues the girls deal with are realistic and I feel they are easily related to.  However, the fact that they have not been able to expose anyone is dragging out to the point of some unrealistic events.  As far as portraying the girls’ lives, the show touches on most issues teenage girls face in today’s world.  It covers sexuality (age and gender based), theft, weight, popularity, lies, friends, enemies, family, and school, just to name a few. 

This show has won awards in teen categories, which is very appropriate.  Pretty Little Liars is most definitely a teen based show, however the mystery/thriller part of it lures in an older crowd.  The producers have done well in attracting viewers through a combination of tactics.  These tactics include murder, sex, drama, love, and suspense.  All of the girls are attractive, wear nice clothes, and live in nice homes.  This part pulls in the younger audience as they either relate or fantasize.   

If you have not watched Pretty Little Liars, I invite you to…just be prepared to become “hooked”.