Why You Be HATIN??????

I feel like there's been a lot of hate going around lately.

Entertainment hate. 

And it makes me sad.



If you watch something big in entertainment on TV (such as award shows) and you follow Facebook and Twitter feeds . . . I feel as though all I see is:

"That was horrible."

"Her dress is ugly."

"They gave the award to THAT person?"

"Award shows have gone downhill."

"I hate that singer/dancer/actress/movie/TV show/album."

"They are just copying what other artists have done before."

Or even if you read people's comments on almost any "normal" day you'll probably see a statement similar to these at least once. And I can't help but think "Really? Why so much hate?"

What is up with people and society in needing to criticize every little thing? It's as though if we have something negative to say about someone or something we feel as though it makes us superior, more intelligent, or more culturally savvy than everyone else. We somehow channel the spirit of Simon Cowell and feel as though that now he isn't on American Idol we need to make up for all of the put downs he gave to wanna be singers in the USA.

Really?

Because unless you ARE Simon Cowell, it doesn't really make you look cool.

Sometimes.... you just seem mean.

Now, I'm not saying we can't critique music, movies, and TV shows. That's OK. If a person genuinely is not talented then fine, you don't have to listen to it. But can we stop the hate?

Like music for example.  I LOVE listening to genuinely talented people. Lately I've really been digging Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin on my Pandora radio. But at the same time, can't we listen to music simply because it's FUN?

I've been noticing lately that I've been choosing my music simply for that fact. It's fun. When I have a long day at work all I want to do is crank up the volume on the stereo in my PT Cruiser and jam out to Adam Lambert, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, or even Ke$ha. Heck, there are times I'll sing along and put my hands up with Miley Cyrus 'cause they're "playin' my song."

Does this mean I'm off to a club to party like Ke$ha?

No. But I sure do love jamming out to some "Tick Tock" when I'm stressed or just want to enjoy life.

Am I going to run away and have a "Bad Romance" with "Alejandro" while wearing a dress made of meat?

No. But I will say that I wish I had some of Lady Gaga's creativity and bravery to push limits. I mean.... would you be able to think of half of the stuff she does?

Then Glee - I know so many people who hate on Glee. It breaks my little musical theatre heart. Yes, I know their covers are usually not as good as the original. Covers never are. Yes, I know that they do crazy stuff in the studio to make their voices sound a certain way.

But if YOU were to audition for Glee, do YOU think YOU would make it and do what they do everyday?

Yeah, me either.

And guess what?

GLEE IS FUN!

Does this mean that you have to like every single pop song out there? Of course not. Listen to whatever music you want. Watch whatever TV show you want. Does this mean I promote the behavior or lyrics of some of these artists? No. But guess what?

Celebrities who have lived "questionable lifestyles" and have written lyrics that push the edge is nothing new.

Have you listened to some swing music like "Fever", "Sway", or "Moondance?" I feel as though the girls they are singing about in those songs aren't going to be wearing white to their weddings. Heck, I bet your GRANDMOTHER listens to those songs. Come on, Frank Sinatra has more divorces than I can count.

The Beatles were high most of the time . . . but does that stop you from loving classics like "All You Need is Love", "Hey Jude", or "Here Comes the Sun?"

Or old time actors and actresses and old movies - when you really watch those movies and do your research on those performers and you know that it's not as "clean" as we would like to pretend it is. Even Audry Hepburn had skeletons in her closet. Yet, Breakfast at Tiffany's isn't going away anytime soon.

So here is my request:

Listen to whatever you want.

Watch whatever you want.

But that doesn't mean you have to hate on something if it's simply fun.

(Hey, what 90's kid didn't jam out to "Tubthumping" by Chumbawumba. Do you really think THAT was a classic and genius piece of music?)

What are your guilty pleasures? What music do you crank up the volume to when you've had a long day? Do you ever watch, listen, or do anything simply for the fact that it's fun?