I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell

After starting it about 3 months before finishing it, I finally did finish it this book during the summer. I will admit, it was vulgar and some parts were a little unnecessary but through it all, it was a really good book. I recommend this book to everyone. And I will probably regret saying this later on in life but… I do wish more people were like him.

I am not talking about what he does in the book; I am talking about who he is as a person. Yes, he is a scumbag but he is an honest scumbag. He tells it like it is. He admits to being an asshole. He admits he is an asshole. He admits he is mean, vulgar, and disgusting. That is the kind of people I am talking about. Honest, blunt individuals. I am (most of the time) an honest being. There are sometimes when I will hold off the truth, mainly because it isn’t my truth to tell. I will tell you what is on my mind, I will tell you how I feel. I feel like honesty is the biggest thing missing in society. People would rather tell a lie just to get out of something then tell the truth. Yeah, maybe the truth will hurt, maybe it will ruin a relationship or a friendship, but it needs to be heard. There are some people who can’t handle truths being told. To those people, I give them a heads up in life. Not everything is sugar coated, not everything is happy-go-lucky. There are hardships, there are broken hearts. If you did something, own up to it. If someone asks you a question and wants a truthful answer, tell them the truth.

I was watching Fox News a couple of weeks ago and there was a segment on telling the truth. The reporter made an excellent remark: “some people just ask because they are fishing for compliments; like the question ’does this make me look fat?’” In no way can someone answer this because the answer is a known fact — no. I mean, this is my opinion. I am confident in my life. I believe in myself. I believe in telling the truth. Not once have I ever asked someone if something made me look fat. I will admit though that I have asked for opinions on outfits, like if my shirt and sweater matched or if my shoes looked good with a certain outfit. I have never/will never ask another if something makes me look fat.

Even if telling the truth is the hardest thing a person can do, do it. Honesty is the number one thing needed in a relationship, whether it is with the person you are dating or your best friend. You need to be real with them. So do it. Just be honest, please.

Music is what you hear and not what you see.

You go to Target for something in particular. When you pass by the electronic section, you notice a band you like put out a new CD. "I'll just download it later, no point in wasting my money on a CD." Do you understand that just by making that claim, that you will download it later (meaning for free), that you are potentionally hurting a band's career? Probably didn't look that far into it, did you?

Most people download illegally. I mean, why wouldn't you? Free verus paying for something, especially since iTunes raised their prices, and are apparently thinking about raising them again (or so I've heard), it sounds like a better deal. Like my friend says "if it's free, it's for me!" $1.29 for a track? It seems outrageous to the consumer, but what about the band that is selling that track. Granted, most $1.29 tracks are big named bands from big named labels. Most little named bands from little named labels are selling their for $0.99. Even still, some people think a dollar per track is outrageous. But again, what about the band who is selling that track? Did you ever think about what happens with them when you steal music from them? Probably not.

Oh, so what? That band doesn't get that $0.63 from me for buying their album. Who cares? You should care. In one of my classes, earlier this semester, we discussed this. Some kid spoke up, saying that bands normally don't make much from album sales and more from ticket sales and merchandise sales. Which is true, very true actually. Most musicians make between $0.25 and $2.50 (but some can earn more or earn less, depending on their contract) from each album they sell, which when added up, clearly isn't that much. So you buy a $20 ticket to a sold out show, and while you are there, you buy a t-shirt and a poster (do bands sell posters anymore?). It should equal out right? Sadly, it doesn't.

Let's say you didn't buy that CD, neither did your five friends who liked that band, or any of their friends who liked that band. You all illegally downloaded it. Where does that leave the band? Sitting at home, waiting to find out if they can ever tour again! Album sales determine tours. If a band doesn't sell albums, then they don't tour. That's why a lot of American bands don't really get to go over seas, or bands from other countries come here. They don't have good enough numbers for album sales to be able to know if they would sell enough tickets, or ever better-- sell out a tour. Also, something that some people don't know-- money from the album sales goes into touring. Touring cost money, so unless they are the richest people and can pay for everything out of pocket, if they aren't making money, they aren't touring.

Oh, whatever. I'll buy their next album then. That's a good way to think about, if ya'know, it was certain they were making another album. If the album sales were horrible for the first album, the label will probably put the next album on the back burner and wait until this album does good. Musicians would love to just keep putting out new music after new music, but of course, it doesn't work that way. The label isn't going to pay for them to go into the studio, unless they know whatever project the band is working on is going to pay off in the end.

The fans aren't the first ones to be affected by this, the people behind the scenes on tour are. I have had some luck in being able to work for a band to do merchandise at a couple of shows. I got to see what these people behind the scenes do, and let me to tell you, it is very important. The first people to go would be the lighting or the FOH/monitor engineers. Hundreds of people's jobs get put on the line because of this.

Stealing is much more than just downloading illegally; it consists of file-sharing and burning CD's for friends also.

It's hard to think that not spending that $10 on that CD you earlier passed by could create such a ripple effect, but it does. I understand that not everyone has enough money to buy all the CD's from their favorites, but that's where MySpace, and other music websites come in. Yeah, I know, you can't put it on your iPod. You can survive without that album, or song on you iPod, trust me.

But then again, I own an iPod that I don't ever use (and holds 500 songs). Unfortunately, I cannot live without concerts, so for me and people like me -- you'll be helping us get our concert fix. So think before you download! You'll be helping to save a job and you're showing the promoters and booking people that you want that band to come to your city.

Buying music = more concerts and more music to listen too (after you buy it, of course)!

"We're drunk, but we're happy drunks!"

That comment was made by Caleb Followill of Kings of Leon while accepting an award at the 52nd Grammy Awards.

Sunday came and went, and just like any other Grammy Award show, there were some favorites and some disappointments. Something that has come up a lot, not only in the media but also in some classes of mine, is the Michael Jackson tribute. Now don't get me wrong, I love Michael Jackson. I have some MJ records (not CDs folks, vinyls). I grew up listening to MJ. Everything about him fascinated me. I cried the day he died (well, not really... I sat dumbfounded at my TV, but I did cry while watching his funeral). He was an inspiration to many. I love his music and forever will love his music. But that tribute?! I am sorry. Carrie Underwood, Usher, Smokey Robinson, Celine Dion and Jennifer Hudson: they are all fantastic musicians. They all talented, but they shouldn't have been the ones to sing that song.

The back story to picking them was to show how Michael Jackson has not only inspired Pop music, but how he also inspired those of different genres. But Carrie Underwood? A country singer? How the hell does Carrie Underwood get thrown into the mix. Before you get the wrong idea, I like Ms. Underwood. I have all three albums, and have seen her in concert. But never in my life would I have put her up on that stage. Where was the rest of the Jackson 5? Or his band from This Is It? I do believe they did a good job. I think it was moving, emotional and very, very powerful. But I think the Grammys left out a huge thing in that performance -- they left out what Michael would have wanted. Would he have wanted a Country singer? Would he have wanted a Dreamgirl? Would he have wanted a guy who dubbed himself the "King of R&B" back when? Is that what he would have wanted to show off himself, his talent, his voice? I believe they could have done a much better job with this tribute than they did.

I was going to talk about his kids accepting for him, but I decided to leave his kids out of my discussion.

My favorite of the night was definitely Lady GaGa and Elton John. Two amazing performers, two amazing talents together on one stage. When Elton came out on piano with GaGa, wearing indentical glasses, singing GaGa's Speechless and Elton's song Your Song, I died. Lady GaGa has had an amazing year. She is talented. She is fresh. More importantly, she is unique. It is no wonder why when asked, Elton said that he loved her, personally and musically. She is a true musician and I hope to see her many years down the road winning Grammys.

Now on to something that I will need help to understand: Taylor Swift's performance. She started by singing a song that has a lyric that goes "I wore a dress, you were a dark grey T-shirt. Today was a fairytale." Then Stevie Nicks came out to sing Rihannon with her. The performance was slacking and so out of tune. Not to mention, it was just an awkward pair up. If anyone knows anything about Stevie Nicks, then you'd know that the singer of Fleetwood Mac was not so innocent. If anyone knows anything about Taylor Swift, you'd know she prides herself on being innocent. To make the match-up even more awkward, Taylor admitted that Stevie Nicks is one of her idols and she admires her. So a girl who has admitted to wearing a purity ring, who has said she never had a sip of alcohol in her lifetime, and has the whole 'girl next door' attitude looks up to someone who has slept with way too many guys to count. That sounds so right, but then again, girls who are like 7 and 8 admire Miley Cyrus.

By the way, Jamie Fox: Lip syncing on the Grammys, that is a big no-no!

Drake, Eminem, Lil' Wayne: amazing. Now I am not a big rap fan, but these three together can create something amazing. "Forever" is a hit and the fact that Drake's album hasn't even dropped yet (and won't be a while), yet he was asked to perform on the Grammys, that is talent folks.

Now to Dave Matthews. I will admit it: I have a crush on him. It is no surprise, especially when he tries to dance like he did Sunday night. This man, this musician, he is a wonder. If you have never seen DMB in concert, I suggest doing it before you die. DMB is immensely talented. They deserved the nomination. Hell, they deserved the award... but someone else had to win... yeah, so. DMB did fantastic. I will honestly say that this is the only performance of the night that made it seem like the music was more important than who was singing it. They always put on a fabulous performance. (I might just be bias here, because DMB is one of my favorite bands, but it is okay.)

As much as I disagree with many of the winners, I congratulate them. However, the Grammys were just another disappointing award show.