Michael Bublé – Hollywood – Gluten-Free Cupcake
I have yet to come across a Michael Bublé song that I found inappropriate. Now, this doesn’t mean that he is 100% certified gluten-free, but I would highly recommend him as a family friendly artist.
His song Hollywood is an example of a song that is not only appropriate, but constructive to listen to. That’s right, folks. Five out of five cupcakes. A lovely Gluten-Free Cupcake.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.
Could you be a teenage idol?
Could you be a movie star?
When I turn on my TV
Will you smile and wave at me
Telling Oprah who you are?
The song starts out perfectly innocent, establishing a picture of Hollywood and celebrities that we can all agree with without feeling anything objectionable.
So you want to be a rock star
With blue-eyed bunnies in your bed?
Well remember when you’re rich
That you sold yourself for this
You’ll be famous ‘cuz you’re dead
Suddenly being famous isn’t quite so great anymore! While this first part about promiscuity is often looked at as an upside of being a celebrity, the second part of the verse immediately assures us that this is not the path we should be taking.
So don’t go higher
For desire
Put it in your head
Baby, Hollywood is dead
You can find it in yourself
Truly fantastic. A great stand against the industry, which unfortunately has many a time driven celebrities into trouble. And, of course, we have a final line that applies to the rest of us non-celebrities: look inside yourself for happiness.
Or whatever else this mystical “it” is.
I don’t want to take you dancing
When you’re dancing with the world
You can flash your caviar
And your million dollar car
I don’t need that kind of girl
This is a stellar verse. Not only does this song advocate setting standards for yourself, but also setting standards for the people close to you, especially someone you’re romantically involved with.
But could you be the next sensation?
Oh, will you set the latest style?
You don’t need a catchy song
‘Cause the kids will sing along
When you sell it with a smile
These last three lines comment on a quite interesting and true phenomenon in the music industry: the ability of the public to pick up low quality songs as long as they contain celebrities and/or shock value.
So don’t fly higher
Oh, don’t fly higher
For your fire
Put it in your head
Baby, Hollywood is dead
You can find it in yourself
Keep it in your head
Hollywood is dead
This variation on the chorus is more of the same, with a notable push at the end for the public to remember the deadness that often accompanies fame.
Well, you can do the money tango
You can start your little band
You can swing from vine to vine
While the kiddies wait in line
With the money in their hands
But if you get to California
Save a piece of gold for me
And if it’s the only thing you’ll save
Then I’ll bet you’ll never wave
When I watch you on TV
Now we have a series of comments on the “money tango” of fame. This verse not only criticizes the focus on collecting money from consumers, but it also warns of the damaging effect of wealth on a person’s personality.
Keep on loving what is true
And the world will come to you
You can find it in yourself
Love what is true
And the world will come to you
You can find it in yourself
And thus we conclude with a final call to the audience! Love the true and good things in life! Don’t run after fame! Make your own way in life! Be yourself! Inspiration is flying all over the place.
This song touches on so many important messages. It rejects sex, money, and fame as means of happiness, and instead advocates truth, ethics, and individuality. These themes may seem simple and obvious, but you would never have guessed that by turning on the radio. This Hollywood has lovely lyrics, all sung by a lovely, lovely voice.
Oh.
And the music video is hilarious.
Lady Gaga – Born This Way – Gluten-Free Cupcake
Five out of five cupcakes. Why yes. Lady Gaga’s Born This Way gets a gluten-free cupcake.
Unconventional and Delicious Cupcake
Putting aside Lady Gaga’s hype and unconventionality, this song is way important for our culture today. It’s an all too important reminder that discrimination still exists and it’s up to us to fight it.
There are tons of songs on the radio right now about loving yourself, though, from Katy Perry’s Firework to Bruno Mars’s Just the Way You Are. Why is Born This Way so special as to get a gluten-free cupcake?
Let’s take a closer look at the lyrics.
It doesn’t matter if you love him, or capital H-I-M
Wow. Way to be subtle.
Really, though. It’s WONDERFUL that Lady Gaga is coming right out and saying that religion and sexuality don’t have to conflict. Because, really, they don’t at all, but not many people are aware of that. Kudos to Lady Gaga for pointing this out.
Just put your paws up
‘Cause you were born this way, baby
Okay, I’ll be honest: I’m not totally into this whole “paws” thing. I don’t know what this means. Are we rejecting humanity and all its flaws? Are we returning to our more natural side? Are we flaunting our uniqueness? Not quite clear to me.
My mama told me when I was young
We are all born superstars
She rolled my hair and put my lipstick on
In the glass of her boudoir
I’m not a hundred percent crazy about this, because not everyone, you know, wants to be a superstar. BUT I can see where Lady Gaga is going with this, about accepting yourself and being confident, and that’s a great message.
Also, I’m not convinced that a mom should do her kid’s hair and makeup as a way to make her be confident. The way you dress can be an awesome way of expressing yourself and being confident, but it’s not necessary. Nevertheless.
“There’s nothing wrong with loving who you are”
She said, “Cause He made you perfect, babe”
“YESSSSS” and then “Wait a second…” Because, um, we’re not perfect. Nobody is perfect. We all have our flaws. And, yes, we should love ourselves, but that doesn’t mean we don’t have parts of ourselves that we have to work on.
“So hold your head up, girl, and you’ll go far
Listen to me when I say”
I’m beautiful in my way
‘Cause God makes no mistakes
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
Don’t hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you’re set
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born this way
I very much approve of this part. Amazing. Maybe a tad simplistic (“and you’re set”? Really?) but the overall message is fantastic.
Don’t be a drag – just be a queen
Ahhhh, I don’t totally get this either. Don’t be boring, but rather flamboyant? There seems to be more of a middle ground that Lady Gaga isn’t mentioning.
Give yourself prudence
And love your friends
Subway kid, rejoice your truth
In the religion of the insecure
I must be myself, respect my youth
This second verse is STELLAR. Prudence? Yup. Love your friends? Yup. Don’t listen to people who criticize you for your youth? Yup. GREAT job on this.
A different lover is not a sin
Believe capital H-I-M
Maybe I’m biased because I have some pretty strong opinions on this, but I think this is one of the most important parts of the song for our culture. It’s pretty frustrating to keep hearing the same verses misinterpreted to make discriminations based on sexual orientation. It’s really important for people to stop making the same claims that simply aren’t true. On a non-Christian note, in America, we don’t have one religion, so our leaders in the government cannot use religious justification to make laws. It’s should be as simple as that.
Anyway. Regardless of whether you are religious or not, Lady Gaga is still conveying an incredibly important message.
I love my life; I love this record, and
This is a tad braggy, but it’s good to hear that Lady Gaga is happy with her life, which is somewhat rare among celebrities.
Mi amore vuole fe, yah
I’ve looked up the translation for this, but I still don’t quite understand it in the context of the song. Any ideas?
Don’t be a drag – just be a queen
Whether you’re broke or evergreen
You’re black, white, beige, Chola descent
You’re Lebanese, you’re Orient
There’s been a lot of controversy over the choice of the words “Chola” and “Orient.” I don’t really hear them being used in, you know, real life, so I can’t personally speak to their level of appropriateness in the song. They don’t seem insulting to me, but maybe they would be in some communities.
Whether life’s disabilities
Left you outcast, bullied, or teased
Rejoice and love yourself today
‘Cause baby you were born this way
No matter gay, straight, or bi,
Lesbian, transgendered life
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born to survive
No matter black, white, or beige
Chola or Orient made
I’m on the right track, baby
I was born to be brave
Wonderful. Wonderful wonderful wonderful. A phenomenal close. Addressing so many issues that apply to so many people in trouble right now.
Born This Way is not perfect. But I don’t expect it to be. Little nitpicky things aside (which are more based on my preferences than any strong, overarching beliefs), this song is encouraging and thought-provoking and unafraid to confront social ills, and overall a great addition to our airwaves.
Way to go, Lady Gaga. Congrats on your gluten-free cupcake.
Gluten-Free Cupcakes 