P!nk truly is the celebrity champion of underdogs and those who are misunderstood.
In her new video for "Fuckin' Perfect", P!nk chronicles the life of a misguided girl who always seems to be punished for expressing what she believes in. From fighting a boy at school to decided to dress like a punk chick, she can't catch a break. This leads to her being envious and hateful toward the pretty girls in high school, an attempt at shoplifting and, sadly, suicide. It's pretty graphic.
But, there's hope! She finally decides to live life on her terms, becomes a successful artist and finds love.
One can't help but think this story is not unlike P!nk's actual life experience.
On P!nk's blog, she explains the she intended for the video to be shocking, in order to continue to shed light on the problem of alienation and depression:
I support the kids out there that feel so desperate/numb/powerless, that feel unseen and unheard, and can't see another way.. I want them to know I'm aware. I have been there. I see them. Sometimes that's all it takes.
Making this video was a very emotional experience for me, as was writing this song. I have a life inside of me, and I want her or him to know that I will accept him or her with open and loving and welcoming arms. And though I will prepare this little munchkin for a sometimes cruel world, I will also equip this kid to see all the beauty in it as well.
Hear, hear.
It's a powerful song and a moving video. So check it out.
So, when Ricky Martin released his new single, "The Best Thing About Me Is You", I dismissed it as a lame Michael Buble-Jimmy Buffett type of song.
But, with his video, I can't help but feel the warm and fuzzies. He's gotten rid of the Joss Stone collaboration and made the song all about love and equality.
As cheesy as it sounds, it works for me. And it's good to see Ricky looking so happy and at ease with his newfound freedom.
British R&B singer Marsha Ambrosius has released a daring video for her song "Far Away".
In it, Marsha directly deals with the very taboo subject of homosexuality among Black culture, and all the nuances in between, from being on the down-low, to gay bashing, to suicide. Here's an excerpt from the write up from the Associated Press:
In the clip, a man seen with Ambrosius appears to be her boyfriend. They walk in a park, say hello to a group of men and to a woman and her children. Later, the video shows the man kissing another man. When the men return to the same park, now holding hands, the mother pulls her kids away. And when Ambrosius' friend is alone, he's assaulted while the American flag stands tall in the background. The clip concludes with the man lying on his couch; a suicide letter and dozens of pills are visible.
She goes on to say that she had lost a friend to suicide and that this song and video is for those people who feel they don't have a voice.
Wow. Powerful and moving stuff. Kudos to Marsha for taking a big risk for a greater cause.
A little while ago, I was reading an article in Details magazine about the importance of The First Dropper, in relation to social trends. When it comes to trends, like Twitter for example, people fall into 5 categories, which Details broke down and used the following celebrities as examples:
The Early Adopter - the person know knows what's coming before anyone else (Ashton Kutcher)
The Trendsetter - sucker for the buzz (Kanye)
The Late Adopter - Jumps on the bandwagon when the trend has just about run its course (Madonna)
The Re-Adopter - first in line for the comeback (Justin Timberlake)
and The Hater - the person who never puts himself in the game, so never misses out on anything.
That's right, Madonna, who was once the ultimate trendsetter, has now been branded as the Late Adopter. Sigh...
Anyway, my point is, Madonna has proven Details right buy jumping on the anti-bullying bandwagon, just about when it seems everyone else has exhausted the subject. But, I guess I shouldn't complain - it is a big and important topic, so the more awareness raised, the better.
Madonna was on Ellen today to lend her voice to the anti-bullying movement that is the cause du jour.
She looks good - even if there is a case of head lice going around her house. Where exactly are her kids playing??!?!?!
And her message is even better. Here are some highlights:
"Teenagers committing suicide is extremely disturbing but to hear that teenagers are taking their lives because they are being bullied in schools and dormitories, what have you, is kind of unfathomable. I know a number of people have spoken out about it but I feel like I need to say something. The gay community has been incredibly supportive of me. I wouldn't have a career if it weren't for the gay community
I have to say I never felt like I fit in in school. I wasn't a jock. I wasn't an intellectual. There was no group that I felt a part of. I just felt like a weirdo...It wasn't until my ballet teacher who was also gay took me under his wing and introduced me to a community of artists of other unique individuals who told me it was good and okay to be different and brought me to my first gay disco and ironically made me feel I was part of the world and it was okay to be different."
What isn't in the video is her "solution" to the bullying problem. She says:
"I think it would be interesting for everybody to try one simple experiment. If you want to talk about solutions or how can we solve this problem? Try to get through the day each and everyone of us...without gossiping about somebody. Without gossiping about anybody. And not only that. Not even listening to gossip. Walking away from it. Can you imagine what your day would be like? How much more free time you'd have? I also feel like you'd feel about better about yourself..."
It's a thinly veiled Kabbalah exercise, yes, but one I agree with. For the most part, I don't mind Kabbalah because I kind of practice it subconsciously anyway - it already gels with my life philosophies. And while I wouldn't call Madonna's challenge a "solution", it would make a big difference if people just gave up on the gossip and mindless chattering, period.
As for the music, she says she's wrapping up editing her film, W.E., and "as soon as I'm done. I've got to get my butt in the studio and make some more music."
