One of the most oft-used clichés associated with Madonna’s prodigious musical output has been the declaration that she is a ‘cultural chameleon’ who is capable of morphing her own sound to mimic and match the popular trends emerging around her. This is the same sort of misguided label that was originally directed at David Bowie, a man whose desire to explore new genres and push the boundaries that had been imposed on him by critics, fans and the expectations of the industry frequently caused him to move in seemingly unpredictable directions.
I have never bought into the idea that Madonna’s ability to remain relevant through several of the seismic shifts in musical taste that occurred during her reign as a pop icon was anything other than her continued growth as an artist. However, I do believe that as she entered the new millennium she became increasingly concerned about connecting with the youth market that she was no longer a part of chronologically. This desire was reflected in her work from the year 2000 on, resulting in a definite alteration of her image as an artist and arguably a similar change in the quality of her music – a change that began with the album Music.
Read the full story »
The automotive media had a field day this week with an internal memo that had been sent to Chevrolet employees in Detroit. The contents of the message stressed that the word ‘Chevy’ was no longer to be used in any official communications regarding the brand, as it was causing too much confusion and diluting the Chevrolet image.
It was the year 2000 – Halloween, to be precise – and the world of hip hop was at a turning point.
I recently came across an article published on the USA Today website reporting that motorists in the United States might soon see far stricter enforcement of speed limits than they have been used to in the past.
Musings, tips and stories from years spent crawling through the electronic music jungle.
There are so many different seals of approval, safety awards and marks of industry excellence floating around the automotive world that it can be difficult for the average driver to sort through the accolades and determine which ones are the most meaningful to them.
Spring is supposed to be a happy time. Not only does the snow melt – at least in my part of the world – but the warm temperatures and clear roads mean that enthusiasts start to bring their cars out of hibernation. One week ago I made a special trip to the top secret location where my Mazda Miata rode out the snowy months in blissful slumber, intent on breaking it out from under its car cover.
I have never been a huge Mac fan, but I have always been fond of fish and older computer hardware. As a result, ever since I was a teenager scouring the early days of the World Wide Web I have wanted to build my own Macquarium. What is a Macquarium, you ask? Simply put, it is a Mac which has been converted into a fish tank.
Something somewhat frightening recently happened in my life: I completed my first novel. In addition to the very satisfying freelance writing career that I have built for myself, I also enjoy creating fiction.
