5 Hit Songs Written Because The Artist Hated Their Record Label

5) The Ting Tings "That's Not My Name"

WHAT YOU THINK THE SONG IS ABOUT: Guys trying to pick up lead singer Katie White, but they're too drunk to remember what her name is.

WHAT IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT: Soon after signing with Mercury records, the execs who signed the Ting Tings left the label, and the band was ultimately dropped. Out of that frustration of being dropped came this catchy as hell #1 single.

QUOTES: "You feel like your career's over at 22 and you haven't even gotten a record out. It was like, you really are that forgettable unless you put your stamp on something" -Katie White-

"We were really frustrated because we had been in a band before and been dumped by our label. Back at the time, we weren't specifically trying to write a song about anything. We were just trying to have fun with it. But when we look back at the lyrics we realize they're all about frustration. In a way, she's saying she wants to be heard. She wants people to know her name." -Jules De Martino, the second half of the band-

LYRICS:

Four letter word just to get me along / It's a difficulty and I'm biting my tongue and I / I keep stalling, keeping me together / People around gotta find something to say now


4) Eminem "The Way I Am"

WHAT YOU THINK THIS SONG IS ABOUT: Eminem hating the world because they refuse to accept Eminem for the way he is. Plus, this song was released 2000, of course Em is mad at SOMETHING.

WHAT IT'S ACTUALLY ABOUT: The pressure the record label placed on Eminem to create a hit lead single to promote his new album, The Marshall Mathers LP. 

Eminem albums tend to be long with many songs. Especially his first two records. The Marshall Mathers LP (his second record) had 18 tracks on it! Part of the reason it had so many tracks, is that Eminem created an album he was proud of, but his record label said it needed at least more song on it- a song like "My Name Is". It needed a pop friendly song to be the album's first single. Needless to say, Eminem was upset when he heard this. Not only did he think he was done with his album, but he's Eminem. So he went into the studio and recorded a variety of angry tracks- one of which was "The Way I Am." He eventually produced the song his record label was looking for, "The Real Slim Shady", but not after spewing out a few more angry songs first.

LYRICS:

I'm so sick and tired of being admired / That I wish that I would just die or get fired / and dropped from my label / Let's stop with the fables / I'm not gonna be able to top on My Name Is

Toby Gerhart's Fantasy Value For 2014

On March 12, 2014, former Minnesota Vikings running back signed a 3 year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars. As of right now, Maurice Jones-Drew, the Jaguars starting RB for the past few years, is an unrestricted free agent, and has not signed anywhere. It's certainly possible Jones-Drew resigns with Jacksonville, but I think it's pretty unlikely. It's also possible that Jacksonville drafts a running back or signs another RB in free agency, but let's assume that Gerhart ends up being the starting running back for the 2014 Jacksonville Jaguars. How is he likely to fare?

Well, let's first look at Toby Gerhart himself. I think he comes with the pedigree. He's 6 foot, 234 lbs. He was a great running back in Stanford. He ultimately lost the Heisman vote back in 2009 to Alabama's Mark Ingram, even though he led the NCAA that year in rushing yards and rushing TDs. I remember thinking at the time that Gerhart should have won the Heisman, and I personally suspected racial bias against Gerhart (but that's just speculation). He was then drafted in the 2nd round of the 2010 draft to the Minnesota Vikings.

Gerhart spent 4 years as a Minnesota Viking, mostly playing back up to the greatest RB of this generation- Adrian Peterson. In his limited time, Gerhart has a career 4.7 YPC. He also has decent hands catching 77 passes in his career. Gerhart has started 6 games in his career, one in 2010, and 5 in 2011. In the five games Gerhart started in 2011, he got 83 carries for 401 yards. That's good for a 4.831 YPC- basically the same as his career YPC.

I think it's safe to assume that Gerhart is a 4.7 YPC guy.

Leonardo DiCaprio Shows Off His Dance Moves in The Wolf of Wall Street

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The Top 10 Best Animated Movies Currently Streaming on Netflix*

10) Hercules (1997)
Starring: Tate Donovan, Danny DeVito, & James Woods
STARS: 3 out of 4

Brief Description: The first Disney film based off of Greek mythology takes some liberties with story (i.e. Hercules is born to the Gods then given a potion to make him almost mortal. I guess having Zeus rape a woman wasn't appropriate for Disney), but it's a solid Disney flick the whole family can enjoy.

9) Mulan (1998)
Starring: Ming-Na Wen, B.D. Wong, & Eddie Murphy
STARS: 3 out of 4

Brief Description: "I'll Make A Man Out Of You" is one of my all time favorite Disney songs. That's probably because in my Freshman World History class, when my teacher started to discuss Attila The Hun, a good friend of mine burst out into song singing, "Let's get down to business/ To defeat the huns!"

The Top 10 Films of 2013 (Redux)

10) Fruitvale Station
Directed By: Ryan Coogler
Starring: Michael B. Jordan, Melonie Diaz, & Octavia Spencer
STARS: 3 out of 4

Brief Description: This film takes an unflinching look at the last day Oscar Grant (Jordan) lives before his brutal murder on New Year's Eve in 2008. Analogous to Zero Dark Thirty, the third act is spectacular and makes the film.

9) Frozen
Directed By: Chris Buck & Jennifer Lee
Starring: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, & Josh Gad
STARS: 3.5 out of 4

Brief Description: Frozen is Disney's adaptation of The Snow Queen, with some excellent songs. If this film was made in the 90's around the same time as The Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, Frozen would be an instant classic right along with them.

10 "Quick" Reactions to the 2014 Academy Award Winners

1) Gravity was the big winner at last night's Academy Awards. It walked away with the most awards- seven, including: Best Director (Alfonso Cuarson). The vast majority of the Oscars are technical awards; it's why The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and Titanic were able to walk away with a bajillion awards. Therefore, it should be no surprise that the biggest technical achievement of the year took home so many Golden Statutes. As a good friend of mine stated for his Oscar pool, "when it doubt, just pick Gravity" It also won Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Best Sound Mixing, Best Sound Editing, Best Film Editing, and Best Score.

2) 12 Years A Slave won Best Picture (thus giving director Steve McQueen and Brad Pitt Oscar wins). The film won 2 other awards including Best Adapted Screenplay (John Ridley) and Best Supporting Actress (Lupita Nyong'o) I don't have an inherent problem with the latter two, but I strongly disliked the movie 12 Years A Slave as a whole. Just from a film making perspective, it was just "eh". If you didn't fall asleep in the middle of the film and constantly look at your phone, then you're lying. If it was truly between Gravity and 12 Years A Slave, it's Gravity for the win for me.

The Best and Worst of the 2014 Academy Awards

I love the Academy Awards. For any bitching and moaning that I do, I do it because I love this award show so much. The winners of each Oscar category gets their name etched in stone forever, and I just want that etching to be correct. Oh yeah, and the award ceremony itself can be fun as well. Here are my brief thoughts:

WINNER: Gravity

Gravity walked away with 7 total Oscars, the most out of any movie of the night, including Best Picture, Best Visual Effects, and Best Score. Plus, Alfonso Cuaron's acceptance speech was just fabulous, funny, and heartfelt. Oh, and bringing in a bajillion dollars in box office sales doesn't hurt either. 

LOSER: John Travolta

Say it with me Johnny, "Eye-Dee-Na Man-Zell". You had one job! If Jennifer Lawrence could learn to properly pronounce "Chiwetel Ejiofor" along with four other names, then you can learn to pronounce the wonderful singer you're introducing.