Music Minute: BELIEVE

Hey fellow music lovers!  Here's my music minute review of Justin Bieber's new album 'Believe'.
Because we are talking about the Biebs, I believe I need a disclaimer so here it is: I'm not a fan girl, or Believer but I'm not native enough to not realize this kid is majorly talented. So here's my Un-bias is review of his new album. And yes, I realize this is a little late but I like to give the album sometime to grow on me before judging it.

1. All Around the World (feat. Ludacris) Luda + JB= another great pop song. This is one my favorite songs on the album; It's catchy, fun and upbeat.
2. Boyfriend: At first I was disappointed by the first Single of JB's album but this song grew on me and I enjoy it. However it is quickly being over played on the radio....But still a great pop song!
3. As Long As You Love Me (feat. Big Sean): the hype around this song is huge, and it will JB's second single off his CD but for me it just falls flat. I wanted it to grow on me but it never did...I guess ill stick to the Backstreet Boys version of this song (:
4. Catching Feelings: I like the tone of this song...Justin's not talking about falling in love he's more focused on the feelings.
5. Take You: One of my favorite songs off the album, its fun. It does a great job of showing off JB's new vocal ranges.
6. Right Here (feat. Drake):  I'm a sucker for any Drake collaboration, however I feel like this one was a wasted opportunity. It a good song, maybe one of Bieber's strongest...but I can't help feeling like I've heard it before...maybe in 'Right Next to You' with Chris Brown...maybe its just me.
7. Fall:  One of the best songs on the album; it's a typical JB slow pop song and it works.
8. Died in Your Arms:  I love this song. I think this is Justin's biggest jump. The song has a Motown feel to it and you know what it works.
9. Thought of You: A great song, not too serious but fun to listen to regardless. Justin gets to show off his vocal range.
10. Beauty and a Beat (fest Nicki Minaj): YES. Best song on the album; sure its corny but it's loads of fun. I find this one on repeat daily!
11. One Love:  This also goes back to Justin's traditional stuff but it works for him.
12. Be Alright This one grew on me. Its simple and raw but got a great meaning.
13. Believe:  The title track of the album does just what it's called; it makes you 'Believe' not just in Bieber but in his fans. Great song.
14. Out of Town Girl: Not feeling it. AT ALL.
15. She Don't Like the Lights: I'm hit or miss on this one...it's got a great beat but the lyrics are ridiculous.
16. Maria:   Justin channeled his inner Michael Jackson on this one, it has a 'Billy Jean' feel to it. It works but not the strongest.

Overall it's a strong album. You gotta hand it to the kid; he took some chances. Some paid off greatly and others fell flat. I'm sad to say that I'm disappointed...I was hoping he would do more mature stuff and head towards to a Chris Brown/Drake route (i.e., his remixes of 'Ladies Love Me' & 'Trust Issues')...but 'Believe' definite step in the right direction.

The Price of Beauty

Who decides what is beautiful? 

Who gets to decide what beauty is? 

Can beauty be defined by age, gender, color, body shape or size? 

More IMPORTANTLY who gets to decide?

The media tends to play a MASSIVE role in defining what a woman should be like.

The fact is sex sells, especially a sexy woman.  

They take a naturally beautiful girl and photoshop her to be their version of "perfect"

 (see Britney photo)

I mean they erased her cellulite-- gosh forbid a woman with 2 kids would have cellulite! 

This leads young girls into believing that what they see on a magazine is natural, and thats what they need to look like. 

Which puts more pressure on girls. 

Some of which turn to plastic surgery...

"Researchers report that women’s magazines have ten and one-half times more ads and articles promoting weight loss than men’s magazines do, and over three-quarters of the covers of women’s magazines include at least one message about how to change a woman’s bodily appearance—by diet, exercise or cosmetic surgery."

FACT:  It is estimated that the diet industry alone is worth anywhere between 40 to 100 billion

BILLIONS DOLLARS a YEAR is going to tell us we aren't good enough?!!? WOW!

"The average size for a woman in this country is a 12, so technically, "plus-sized" starts at 14. In the modeling industry, however, models larger than a size 4 usually find more work doing plus-sized."  
Larger than a size 4 are you kidding me?! 
And let's discuss this whole "plus-sized" term; Could anything sound MORE degrading?! 
The fact IS you CAN be healthy and beautiful without being a size 4.  
It's ideas like this that causes eating disorders, such as bulimia or anorexia. In fact One out of every 100 adolescent girls has the disorder. Approximately 95% of those affected by anorexia are female, most often teenage girls, but males can develop the disorder as well.
Maybe our country as a WHOLE needs to start thinking this way: "plus-sized" is just average-sized, healthy women. Just like straight size models, who represent average women, are much, much smaller; plus-sized models are not actually plus-sized women, we're just bigger than the average model.

This PLUS SIZE bra AD was banned from TV recently for being "too sexy" 

REALLY?!?!

BUT THIS ISNT "TOO SEXY"....

ridiculous. absolutely ridiculous. 

Listen up girls- you ARE beautiful no matter what size, race, age you are! If your curvy- embrace it! If your skinny- EMBACE IT! Love yourself for WHO YOU ARE. Thats more important. 
XO- D

Sources:
/www.stylelist.com/2009/10/14/naked-plus-size-model-jennie-runk-glamour-photo-shoot
http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/women_beauty.cfm
http://www.cnn.com/2011/LIVING/06/29/global.beauty.culture/index.html?hpt=hp_c2