Saturday, September 20, 2025
Carly Rae Jepsen - Call Me Maybe
Music Appreciation
When Carly Rae Jepsen released "Call Me Maybe" on September 20, 2011, as the lead single from her EP Curiosity, no one could have guessed it would become one of the catchiest songs of the decade. Co-written with her longtime collaborator Tavish Crowe, the song was originally a folk tune before being reworked into a bright, synth-laced pop track.
The song's message is delightfully simple: the giddy rush of crushing on someone and impulsively giving them your number with a "Hey, I just met you, and this is crazy..." It's flirty, fearless, and just awkward enough to feel relatable.
Composition-wise, “Call Me Maybe” thrives on its string section hook and sugary production, keeping things light and upbeat from start to finish. Its infectious chorus and Jepsen’s charming vocal delivery helped it climb the charts worldwide.
Musically, the track balances a polished pop sensibility with just enough emotional earnestness to feel genuine. It’s the kind of song that worms its way into your head—and then convinces you to hit replay. Over and over and --maybe-- over again.
The music video, written and directed by Ben Knechtel, adds a fun twist to the song's lovestruck vibe. Filmed in British Columbia, it follows Jepsen as she swoons over her handsome neighbor (Holden Nowell) while trying to get his attention.
She daydreams about impressing him with her band skills, car-washing prowess, and just sheer charm. But the punchline? After finally working up the courage to give him her number, he smiles... and hands it to her male bandmate.
Sources:
Wikipedia
https://americansongwriter.com/who-wrote-carly-rae-jepsens-call-me-maybe/
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5ho849
https://storyofsong.com/story/call-me-maybe-2
https://ew.com/article/2012/12/10/carly-rae-jepsen-call-me-maybe-behind-the-scenes
Friday, September 19, 2025
Fashion is DEFINITELY Art: ART HEARTS SWIM WEEK LAS VEGAS, AUG 2025
Art Hearts Fashion’s Swim Week Las Vegas returned for its second annual run at AREA15 from August 15-17, 2025. It transformed the venue into a multi-sensory playground, combining high-glamour runway shows, immersive video mapping, and after-dark festivities that stretched from Fontainebleau and LIV Beach to LIV Nightclub.
The event brought together an international roster of designers—both veterans and rising stars—each showing distinct interpretations of swimwear, resort wear, and evening swim looks. Highlights of the styles on display: sculptural one-pieces, swimlingerie (swimwear that borders on intimate apparel), athletic swimwear with couture details, and artisan knits.
via Swimwear & Underwear
Sources:
https://resident.com/fashion-and-style/2025/08/20/swim-week-las-vegas-powered-by-art-hearts-fashion-returns-with-runway-brilliance-and-vegas-energy
https://creatorsfaire.com/brand-news/swim-week-las-vegas-powered-by-art-hearts-fashion-returns-for-most-iconic-swim-week-yet
https://www.apparelnews.net/news/2025/sep/19/swim-week-las-vegas-dazzles-with-flash-and-makes-history
https://losangelesinquisitor.com/swim-week-las-vegas-powered-by-art-hearts-fashion-returns-for-its-most-iconic-year-yet
https://www.yvonlux.com/the-lux-blog/artheartsfashionarea15
https://area15.com/events/swim-week-las-vegas/
When Steve Harvey Becomes the Emergency Broadcast System
Pardon the Interruption
I first caught wind of the news earlier in the evening but waited until 10:30 to see it for myself. Instead of Jimmy Kimmel Live, I was greeted by Family Feud with Steve Harvey. Why is it always Steve Harvey when something gets canceled? Does ABC/Disney keep Steve in a vault marked In Case of Cancellation, Break Glass? Don’t get me wrong, we love Steve. But the real story is what wasn’t there: Jimmy Kimmel.
Late-night isn’t just filler for many of us—it’s part of the nightly routine. A laugh before bed, a monologue that teases the day’s political circus, followed by an interview, a skit, and some music. It’s a simple formula, but it works. And at the center of it all is the monologue—a space where comedy and free speech meet. That’s why pulling the show feels so unsettling.
According to The New York Times, the decision followed remarks Kimmel made about Charlie Kirk’s death—comments that didn’t sit well with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee tied to Project 2025. Soon after, ABC/Disney pulled the plug. And, of course, President Trump couldn’t resist celebrating on social media, even dragging Fallon and Meyers into the mix, "... That leaves Jimmy [Fallon] and Seth [Meyers], two total losers, on Fake News NBC. Their ratings are also horrible. Do it NBC!!! President DJT."
It’s tempting to laugh at the pettiness—Trump’s odd first-name basis with late-night hosts, the over-reliance on Steve Harvey reruns—but the bigger picture isn’t funny. This brushes right up against the edges of free speech, one of the foundations we hold most dear.
I can always change the channel, boycott a sponsor, or just turn off the TV. What I shouldn’t have to worry about is political pressure silencing voices in comedy, journalism, or anywhere else.
Nine years ago, I wrote about Trump’s threats toward journalists. Last year, I revisited those warnings. Now, here we are, watching the guardrails vanish in real time. The truth is, late night may be designed to make us laugh before bed, but right now it feels more like a wake-up call.
Thursday, September 18, 2025
Anton Mauve
Art Appreciation
Anton Mauve, born on September 18, 1838, in Zaandam, Netherlands, was raised in a deeply religious and modest household. The son of a Mennonite minister, Mauve grew up in a setting that valued introspection and simplicity -- traits that would later shape the tone of his artwork.
He studied under landscape painters Pieter Frederik van Os and Wouter Verschuur, both known for their animal paintings, especially horses. Mauve's early experiences in the Dutch countryside and his apprenticeships instilled in him a strong affinity for rural life, which became a hallmark of his later work.
Throughout his career, Mauve became a leading figure in the Hague School, a movement known for its muted palette and focus on everyday rural scenes. His technique often combined oil and watercolor with a loose, atmospheric brushstroke that gave his works a soft, almost melancholic feel.
Mauve had a significant influence on his younger cousin-in-law, Vincent van Gogh. It was Mauve who introduced van Gogh to oil painting and watercolor, encouraging his artistic development during their brief but formative relationship. However, personal tensions eventually led to their estrangement. Still, van Gogh credited Mauve with helping him understand color and composition in his early works.
Mauve is best known for paintings like Morning Ride on the Beach and Returning Home from the Fields, which exemplify his mastery in capturing serene, pastoral life. Morning Ride, in particular, features riders on horseback along a misty shoreline -- a composition praised for its light and movement.
Sources:
Wikipedia
https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/art-and-stories/artists/anton-mauve
https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/search?p=1&ps=12&involvedMaker=Anton%20Mauve
https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/person/103XSB
https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.2295.html
Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Mini Trees - Cracks In The Pavement
Music Appreciation
I first discovered Mini Trees when Lexi Vega performed at SXSW in Austin in 2022, and I was instantly captivated. Seeing her live felt like stepping into someone’s journal — raw, intimate, and profoundly vulnerable. One song that stood out immediately was "Cracks in the Pavement," a track from her debut studio album, Always in Motion, released on September 17, 2021. The song beautifully explores the tension between desire and doubt, unraveling the emotional intricacies of relationships.
The music video for "Cracks in the Pavement," directed by Erik Shute and photographed by Nina Raj, translates Vega’s introspective lyrics into a stunning visual narrative. Featuring Kati Garceau and Mary Ives, their performances deepen the storytelling, intertwining subtle expressions of human connection with Vega’s themes of self-reflection. Throughout the video, Vega herself appears walking in a darkened room illuminated by a single light source, mirroring the song's exploration of finding clarity amid chaos.
With poignant lyrics like “I count the cracks in the pavement to throw a wrench in it, distracting my brain wave,” Vega conveys the universal yearning to make sense of life’s uncertainties. Shute’s direction amplifies these emotions with a restrained yet powerful visual style, while Raj’s photography bathes each frame in a soft, melancholic glow. The result is a music video that feels as intimate as a handwritten letter and as refined as an art exhibit, cementing Mini Trees as a project of not only sound but deep emotional resonance.
Source:
Wikipedia
https://runforcoverrecords.com/collections/mini-trees