The State of Popular Music

It doesn't just suck here. It sucks in the UK, too.

While reading yet another surfed-upon blog by a total stranger, I learned that a cover of Barry Manilow's 70's hit Mandy has been chosen as the UK's Song of the Year by a local radio station in Kent. (For you Ohioans, that's Kent in the UK, not Kent as in Kent State. Just making sure.) Just out of sheer perversity, I fired up WinMX and downloaded the tune, by a band called Westlife... and OMFG, it sounds like some random pop singer(s) doing karaoke to Manilow. I posted to the blog where I found the linkage, and informed her that popular music in the UK must be as bad as here in the States, if a cover of Barry Manilow can make Song of the Year.

In other news, I've been feeling like a neglectful Secret Santa these past couple of weeks. All I got my person was the big gift she's getting on Wednesday, which cost nearly the full alloted $15 limit: a mixer. She probably thinks I've forgotten her, especially since I've gotten gifts from my Secret Santa every day since the thing's been going on. So... I went to Ben Franklin and spent some more on my person — another twenty bucks more, actually. I got her a bunch of piddly crap, and the pixie/fairy doll I bought her was the most expensive for $9.99. I also got her butterfly stickers, a butterfly suncatcher, a Slinky with butterflies printed on it (she likes butterflies... could you tell?), and some candy canes. She also collects fairies and dolphins, but I couldn't locate any good dolphins. Anyway, I bought a nice fuzzy stocking to stuff it all in, and I'm going to give it to her tomorrow.

As soon as I find out where her desk is...