By Alicia Sparks
Okay, so by now you’ve probably heard “Thrift Shop,” the fifth, final, and arguably most popular hit off rapper Macklemore’s debut album The Heist.
“Thrift Shop” debuted back in October 2012 (on my birthday – what what, what what), peaked at Number 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and — how’s this for impressive — is the second independent song in history to achieve the that spot nearly 20 years after Lisa Loeb’s “Stay (I Missed You)” in 1994.
Now the 29-year-old Seattle native is giving us another kind of hit.
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By Alicia Sparks
Okay, okay, okay, before you flip out on me, I’m not the one calling us all sluts.
Well, no one’s actually calling us sluts out loud, I don’t think, but there have been some mighty interesting articles lately about Taylor Swift and possible gender-based stereotypes in her music.
A few weeks ago, BuzzFeed’s Ryan Broderick published “Does Taylor Swift Hate Women?”, an article that suggests there’s a growing feminine backlash against Taylor Swift and citing several magazine and online community sources that, frankly, confirm there’s at least some backlash.
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By Alicia Sparks
Even if they weren’t in the audience, Green Day fans no doubt remember when frontman Billie Joe Armstrong lost control on stage at the iHeart Radio event in Las Vegas back in September 2012.
(Would a “Wake Me Up When September Ends” pun be too soon? Sorry, sorry. It just pushed it’s way in there.)
Armstrong lashed out, upset that the band only had one minute left and insisting they play some new songs before apparently giving up, destroying his guitar on stage, and storming off.
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By Alicia Sparks
We’ve talked about the stress Karen Gravano endured growing up as the daughter of one of the most notorious mobsters of modern times and Renee Graziano’s battles with addiction, but what’s going on with some of the other ladies of VH1′s hit reality show Mob Wives?
Well, Drita D’Avanzo, one of the original Mob Wives, recently sat down with OK! Magazine to talk about her good and, well, less-than-good experiences since signing on with the show.
‘Mob Wives’ Star Renee Graziano: “I’m Not a Junkie; I’m an Addict”
Drita walks us through sacrificing privacy for the show, monitoring her daughters’ exposure to the episodes (as well as asking her oldest daughter, Aleeya, for permission to film!), and using her celebrity for good.
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By Alicia Sparks
Last week, we talked about explaining the disease of addiction to children and others who might not have much experience with substance abuse or who are of the opinion that addict = junkie = hopeless loser.
This week, I want to share some bipolar disorder resources with you. They’ll help better explain the mental illness, if that’s what you need, but most of these resources are designed to help YOU help OTHERS (such as your family members and friends) who’ve been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
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By Alicia Sparks
Unfortunately, we’re starting the week off with some sad news, folks.
Mindy McCready, the country music singer perhaps most popular for the 90s female empowerment anthem “Guys Do It All The Time,” was found dead yesterday of an apparent suicide.
A statement from the Cleburne County Sheriff’s Office in Arkansas claims the 37-year-old suffered what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
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By Alicia Sparks
UPDATE: 2/25/2013: The Oscars winners are in, and although Silver Linings Playbook didn’t fare as well as some people predicted (Peter Travers not included), the lovely, though not very graceful, Jennifer Lawrence did leave with the Oscar for Best Actress in a Leading Role. Congratulations Jennifer!
UPDATE: 2/24/2013: I finally watched Silver Linings Playbook over the weekend, and I loved it. Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman was spot on when he said the film portrays mental illness in “natural and poignant terms.” Nothing seems forced, cliche, or – above all – stigmatizing. I highly recommend it. Highly.
OSCARS 2013 UPDATE: Peter Travers, movie critic for Rolling Stone, has released his 2013 Oscar predictions in a video, which I won’t suggest you watch because, frankly, it’s exhausting.
So, because I love you more, here’s a run-down:
Travers predicts and/or suggests:
- Daniel Day-Lewis (Lincoln) will beat Bradley Cooper for Best Actor in a Leading Role.
- It’ll be toss up between Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty) and Jennifer Lawrence for Best Actress in a Leading Role, but seems to lean toward Lawrence.
- Robert De Niro was only nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role because “he was good for the first time in 20 years,” and thinks Tommy Lee Jones (Lincoln) will take home the Oscar.
- Anne Hathaway (Les Miserables) will beat Jacki Weaver for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.
- Steven Spielberg will win Best Director by default because the people who should’ve been nominated (namely, Ben Affleck for Argo) weren’t.
- Argo will take home the Oscar for Best Picture.
So, how about you, readers? Have you seen Silver Linings Playbook? Do you think the actors, director, and film itself will receive more love than Travers predicts?
(Read on for the original post.)
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By Alicia Sparks
Happy Tuesday, readers!
What? Tuesday?
That’s right, you officially have about 48 hours until Valentine’s Day.
(Cue dramatic drum roll.)
Now, I know some of you don’t care for Valentine’s Day.
It was created by Hallmark! There’s too much pressure! Why should we spend just one day showing each other how we feel?!
Fine. I agree with all that most of the time, too.
However, for those of you who do celebrate Valentine’s Day, I’d like to veer off the celebrity-inspired road for just a second to tell you about how you can combine Valentine’s Day and mental health this year.
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By Alicia Sparks
Tim McGraw wasn’t the only artist to overcome some personal challenges and release a new album last Tuesday.
Jim James – probably better known to most of you as the founder, lead singer, and primary songwriter for the Louisville, KY-based rock band My Morning Jacket – released his first full-length solo album, too.
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By Alicia Sparks
The Fix, an excellent (in my opinion) website about addiction and recovery that often tackles celebrity substance abuse issues is teaming up with the national nonprofit addiction treatment organization Phoenix House later this afternoon to talk about something that’s been on all our mind’s since Colorado and Washington pretty much told the world, “Yeah, we do what we want” and legalized pot.
Drug policy. Specifically, legalizing drugs.
Not just marijuana, either. The Fix and Phoenix House are set to talk about everything from heroin and cocaine to mass incarceration and mandatory vs. optional addiction treatment.
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Having someone like that in your life is absolutely invaluable!
