music Archives - So About What I Said

Thursday, February 6, 2020

In Which I Become Obsessed With the Dolly Parton Challenge

Very important question on this Thursday afternoon, friends: Did you do the Dolly Parton Challenge?? I’m pretty sure you did, considering everyone from your neighbor to celebrities were glued to their phones selecting just the right photos of themselves…

I’m totally guilty of being utterly obsessed with this fun internet sensation!! You all already know that I do tend to become obsessed with things pretty easily — lip balm, dinosaurs, Matthew Gray Gubler. You get the idea! So when I heard about this new-fangled challenge all the cool kids online were doing, well, I just couldn’t resist joining in all the merriment and fun and shenanigans. Of course, leave it to the Lady of Cool herself, Ms. Dolly Parton, to be the one to start the trend. Last month, she posted the memorable meme, which contained four “versions” of Dolly — LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Tinder — complete with the caption “Get you a woman who can do it all.”

It was such a clever nod to the different versions of ourselves that we present to the world. We humans are a complex creature and there are so many sides to our personality, you know? All it takes is a few swipes through your camera roll to see just how versatile and unique you really are — there’s your professional side, your family side, your fun side. All those sides add up to make you, well, YOU. I love that we have places online where we’re able to show off those many sides and be who we are.

It took me awhile to decide on the right photo for each “version” of myself, but I’m pretty in love with how mine turned out. What can I say?? I’m a very versatile lady!!! Which version of me do you like best?? Keep in mind that I’m drinking Mountain Dew in the Tinder photo, so you know I’m WILD.

Plus, here’s something extra to make you smile: I did the Dolly Parton Challenge for my mom!! Personally, her carefree Instagram look is my favorite!! And, yes, as you can see, I’m having way too much fun with these!!! Somebody stop me!!

Your turn: Did you do the Dolly Parton Challenge? What is your favorite aspect of your personality? Are you more Instagram? More Tinder? Or somewhere in the middle?? I’d love to see your photos, so drop them in the comments! xoxo

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Super Bowl Halftime Show: Can We Please Stop With The Super Double Standard?

We need to have a serious talk! And by serious, I mean super serious! Maybe I was naive to think that my blog post last year would be enough, but apparently, it’s not. Not nearly enough. How do I know this, you ask?? Well, it’s pretty obvious: We’re still applying such blatant double standards when it comes to the Super Bowl Halftime Show!!

The social media vitriol started shortly after Jennifer Lopez and Shakira took the stage at halftime for a rousing performance full of power and purpose. They commanded and owned that stadium — two strong women who were confident, electric and fierce. That’s exactly what their performance was, but judging from so many of the comments, not everyone saw it that way. I saw so many people complaining about how the Super Bowl Halftime Show was “not appropriate” and “needed more clothes.” Maybe there’s a rampant case of amnesia going around? Because people seemed fine with Adam Levine strutting on that stage with his shirt off last year. I mean, y’all were practically salivating at his toned abs! Y’all couldn’t get enough! I see you, soccer mom Karen from Nebraska — not a real person, though I’m sure there are plenty of Karens from Nebraska!

But I digress. I suppose my point is this: Why are we still having this conversation in 2020…? Why do we think we have any kind of say over women, their bodies and how they choose to live (and dance! and sing! and be all-around fabulous!) in those bodies? There was SO much pearl clutching and the hypocrisy was off the charts! Did y’all get carpal tunnel from all that pearl clutching? Here’s what you missed while you were too busy clutching those pearls and being uncomfortable — things like a beautiful statement about inclusion, complete with the Puerto Rico’s flag, and a not-so-subtle message about the border crisis, which, Karen from Nebraska, I bet you don’t even give much thought to, do you??

This is what the performance was actually about. It wasn’t about trying to be as overtly sexual as possible. It wasn’t about the shock value. Y’all made it about those things with your internalized misogyny. In fact, J.Lo herself shared these words about the show…

All I want my girls, the little girls on stage with me and all over the world to know is how to use their voices and be proud of everything they are. We are proud to recognize that all of us together are what makes this beautiful country truly great.

That’s why I was really disappointed to see so many women saying this after the Halftime Show yesterday. Why do women continue to be so unnecessarily cruel to each other? And why do we keep sending them these disgusting mixed messages?

We want women to love their bodies…just as long as they’re covered.

We want women to be anything they want to be…just as long as it’s acceptable.

We want women to be powerful and fierce…just as long as it doesn’t make us uncomfortable.

In another Instagram post, J.Lo gave this shout-out to Shakira: “Let’s show the world what two little Latin girls can do.”

J.Lo and Shakira brought the 2020 energy. THAT is what two little Latin girls did and I’m here for it. You should be too!

Did you watch the Super Bowl Halftime Show this year, friends?? What were your thoughts?? xoxo

Monday, January 27, 2020

Yes! Lizzo Is Making Us All Feel “Good As Hell”

Apparently, not everyone thinks Lizzo should feel good as hell — hi, Twitter trolls…we see you! It doesn’t matter, though, because she’s too busy feeling good as hell on the cover of Rolling Stone to even notice!

Oooooh, and don’t forget about those shiny Grammy trophies she won last night!

Following the singer tweeting that she was leaving the social media platform for awhile because of trolls, she isn’t holding anything back in her interview with the venerable music magazine. I’ve been thinking about the powerful meaning behind that Rolling Stone cover. It’s sending a message and one that the world needs to hear.

The message? That she’s #sorrynotsorry. That she’s going to exist and thrive whether you (read: trolls) like it or not. It’s as if she’s telling off the entire world and I’m here for all of it.

We live in a world that loves to comment on people’s weight, especially when it comes to women’s bodies. And not just comment — judge, criticize, rip apart, dissect, shame and insult. And yet, we don’t criticize men’s bodies in the same way — or even at all. In fact, we openly praise the Dad Bod trend. We love Dad Bods — we’ve even said how “hot” they are on celebrities.

The double standards and hypocrisy is never-ending, it seems. I’ve been called all the names, so I feel for Lizzo. The world isn’t kind to people who live outside the lines, who don’t fit society’s definition of pretty and who dare to be unapologetically themselves. And when those people are women? Society is extra vicious, especially online.

The body-shaming that women experience just for existing is harmful and doesn’t belong in 2020. Can this please be the year that we stop with the fatphobia? Better yet, let’s stop commenting on women’s bodies altogether. Let’s stop policing their very existence.

Because here’s the thing: People like Lizzo and myself…we don’t need your approval to feel good as hell about ourselves. We didn’t ask for your approval and we don’t want it. We love our bodies and we’re proud of our bodies. And we’re going to keep loving them whether you like it or not.

Women have the right to feel good as hell about themselves. Women have the right to celebrate their bodies. And women have the right to love themselves — just as they are. Lizzo is telling us that on the cover of Rolling Stone. Are we finally going to listen? Living well really is the best revenge and I’m here for all of Lizzo’s revenge!!!

Monday, January 13, 2020

Ms. Bear’s Birthday Reflections: What? I’m 64…?!?

When I was just 11, the Beatles iconic song “When I’m Sixty-Four” came out. I remember the peppy beat and fun lyrics, all about old people, or so I thought! Sixty-four seemed ancient to me and I could never imagine being that age myself. Fast forward to yesterday, January 12, 2020. And….here I am, 64 years old! Wow! Here are some birthday reflections…

Now, of course, 64 seems young to me — not old at all. The real surprising thing is that Paul McCartney was only 16 when he wrote this song. He had pretty good insight about aging at such a tender age. There’s some good news and some bad news in this song for me.

For the good news, I can really relate to the first two lines of this song…

When I get older losing my hair

Many years from now

I still have all my hair! I don’t think I’ve lost nary a hair off my head. In fact, when I get my hair cut, the beautician always tells me that even though I have thin hair, I do have a lot of it.

Another positive is that as I have gotten older, I have a new appreciation for the little things, just like this verse…

Doing the garden, digging the weeds

Who could ask for more?

Of course, I’m not a gardener by any means, but I sure can relate to appreciating the little things in life. Everyone should focus on that as they go about their day. The little things can add up to the best memories. I may not grow a bumper crop of cherry tomatoes every summer, but the feeling I have when I pick them and eat them when they are warm from the sun is one of the highlights of summertime.

If I’d been out till quarter to three

Would you lock the door?

One more piece of good news…I NEVER stay out until a quarter to 3, so nothing to worry about there! And, I know if I did come home then that I am lucky I have my girls who would let me in, but not without a bit of a lecture…I can’t go out anywhere without them telling me not to drink when I am driving (which I wouldn’t do anyway! LOL).

But, there are parts of this song that make me wistful, things that I never imagined would apply to me. No one gets married and thinks they will lose their partner when they are in their 40s. I had two young girls depending on me, and I was terrified of how we would go on.

And there’s this part…

You’ll be older too

And if you say the word

I could stay with you

This part gets me every time because Brian did not stay with us. I know he would have if he could have. We always talked about growing old together. But, I also know that he knew that I could handle this, and I did!

And, this part brought a little tear to my eye…

Every summer we can rent a cottage

In the Isle of Wight, if it’s not too dear

We shall scrimp and save

You see, we had planned on retiring to Gulf Shores, Alabama, where Brian would run a little fix-it shop and I would spend all my retirement on the beach and doing his paperwork for him.

Anyway, this song really resonated with me this year, being 64 and all. It’s been running through my head all day. It also made me happy in viewing my life now and I’m proud of myself, because, who will still need me, who will still feed me, when I’m 64? My girls, my family, my friends and my cats will all need me and I will still feed myself, at 64 and beyond!

Thanks so much for these birthday reflections, Ms. Bear!!!

Wednesday, December 18, 2019

Forget Those “Best of 2019” Lists: Why 1999 Was Really the Best Year In Pop Culture

I can still remember the first time I heard the unmistakably, now-iconic opening hook of Christina Aguilera’s Genie In A Bottle: It was a hot summer day in 1999 and I was swimming lazily at the local pool. I heard the song blasting from the radio next to the lifeguard chair and, honestly, the song was like nothing I’d ever heard before — the double punch of sass and confidence practically broke through those radio speakers and found its way right to my heart. Maybe I’d just swallowed too much chlorine, but it was all intoxicating.

It was right then and there, friends, that I knew I’d never be the same again.

Prince once sang about partying like it was 1999. Even way back in the ‘80s, he was onto something. And around this time every year, as all those “Best of…” lists start making the rounds, I’m reminded once again of one true fact…

1999 was truly the best year in pop culture!

Yes, it’s time to put away those lists that extol the best memes of 2019 and the best YouTube video of 2019 and the best binge-worthy TV show of 2019. Yeah, this year did have its moments, like those sultry and steamy duets from the likes of Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper AND Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello, but quite honestly? The last 20 years have mostly fell flat on the Wow-O-Meter. I mean, when you’re up against the dawning of a new Millennium, it’s really not a competition!

As a self-described Older Millennial, I know exactly what I’m talking about!! I was born in 1981, so my coming-of-age coincided with the ‘90s coming to a close. Spaghetti straps and body glitter were all the rage and everyone worried about a little thing known as Y2K, but there was a certain energy to 1999 — and that was even before people became obsessed with healing crystals and Mercury Retrograde!!

And perhaps nowhere is that exuberance and energy more apparent than in the pop culture from that year — everything from music to movies to our favorite TV shows!

Britney! *Nsync! The Backstreet Boys! Dawson’s Creek! Buffy! The Matrix (the original)!

Yes, 1999 had it all.

Remember the days of racing home to watch TRL and see if your favorite video nabbed the #1 spot? How about those nights of watching The Real World when the show was actually groundbreaking and really delved into the issues of the day? Or what about holing up in your room with the newest issue of YM magazine, making sure to take every last quiz even if the topic didn’t apply to you?

Yeah, I know. Because I did all those things too (hi, “Which Dress Should I Wear to Prom?” quiz!) and looking back now, I don’t think I realized just how much those times would mean to me in, say, 20 years. Sure, life seemed so simple and (sometimes!) boring back then, but 1999 was such a trendsetting and revolutionary year, especially when it came to young women like Britney and Christina! They were powerhouses and I love how they both spoke out when people tried to pit them against each other. It was the epitome of Girl Power; I was there for it then and I’m still here for it now!

Of course, there’s no denying the effects nostalgia plays in all of this, you know? We all tend to look back on our childhood with this sense of wistfulness — don’t we all yearn and long for a return to a simpler time and place? I know I do. But still, I’m all for romanticizing the past in this case because, like I said, 1999 was downright epic!! It was full of awesome and no one will EVER be able to convince me otherwise!

What do you think? Do you have fond memories of 1999? What’s your all-time favorite year? As we say goodbye to this year, let’s reminisce about years of yore, shall we…?? xoxo