My Picks for 2016 - Music!

Okay, so you might look at my top picks and say two things; these are all women, and I already know who they are. Well let me just say I make no apologies for my love of the female vocals and yes, you may know who they are but I am purely basing this on the fact that they haven't yet had chart success in the UK - which is where I currently preside.

Melanie Martinez

She first came to fruition on The Voice in America last year. I did not know this until a minute ago when I started looking into her so I would sound informed for this post. She came sixth - good for her. She was one of my discoveries whilst clicking through YouTube on one of my 'must find new music' tangents. I am really into her cartoon/Japanise Lolita style and her music is very much synth pop meets great song writing. Check out 'Pity Party' - that is my favourite, plus gives me a new birthday anthem. 

Halsey

I am kind of in love with her voice, she sounds a little bit Lorde - which is by no way a bad thing. Her song writing skills are killer, she talks about emotions and social issues with such beauty and wisdom beyond her years. She has made quite a stir in recent months with our American brethren. Now I am waiting for her to explode across the pond on our very shores. Particular favourites include 'Colours' and 'Ghost' - but please watch the video for 'New Americana' - amazing videography, storytelling and cinematography (I can't sell it enough).

CL

She is one forth of the amazing South Korean girl group 2ne1. Check them out. They are insane!! She has kept the same style and sound that made 2ne1 huge and added her own certain spunk to it. Her song 'Hello Bitches' is what Rihanna would have released a few years ago had she been Korean. She perfectly combines synth, hip hop, rap and pop in both Korean and English for this banger. I am obsessed, and the video is nothing short of Korean amazingness that we have come to expect from our Asian cousins. 

Hayley Kiyoko

you may recognise this beaut from the Disney Channel a few years ago. She was in the made for TV movie 'Lemonade Mouth' (it is actually quite great, I recommend it) and also she had guest spots on shows like 'Wizards of Waverly Place'. She appeared as Velma in one of the straight to DVD releases of Scooby Doo - a bit of a sore spot for me as they made Fred have dark hair in the movie - I mean, what the fuck?! Also right now she is staring in 'CSI: Cyber'. She has this sound that I describe as easy listening synth pop. It has the heavy beats but set to a slower speed, allowing the music to take a more dream like state. I personally recommend 'Girls like Girls' and 'Cliffs'. Sit back, smoke something your mother wouldn't approve of and allow yourself to be transported.

Maddie and Tae

I am clutching at very short straws when I say a country act could make it big in the UK, but I have high hopes for these ladies. They blew up on the country scene with a song that was dangerous. The slated country music, in particular the male dominated country chart. Asking simple questions about why girls are portrayed the way they are in videos. Reasonable questions I think. They could have gone down as a novelty one hit wonder, but they capitalised on their instant success and released songs that show their powerful vocals and amazing writing skills. I have high hopes for these ladies because they will resonate with a lot of young-uns here. It is easy listening, deep and inspiring. Come on England lets give country a chance!

Gender: My Opinion

I am going to say it straight out the gate - I don't believe in gender for the most part. I believe gender should only be used to describe physical attributes such as external genitalia, sex chromosomes, gonads, sex hormones, and internal reproductive structures. That's it. The word 'gender' should only be used in medical terms in my opinion, I don't believe people should be (or even can be) described clearly as one or the other. At last count there was roughly 7 billion people on Earth, I don't think we can sit back and put people in a box.

Let me explain myself a bit more clearly. I know that for every species there is a male version and a female version. This is down to what they were born with, mainly reproductive organs. I personally believe that is where it should stop. The characteristics that are expected of each gender is where my problem lies. If I was to describe to you what my interests are, what my beliefs are and what my thoughts are, and you couldn't see me; then I think you would struggle to decide what my gender is.

Different people tick different boxes in this world. Back in the day males were thought to be the bread winners, the hunters and gatherers, whilst the females looked after the next and raised the children. However, in this day and age it is all change. Those standards are old fashioned and for good reason. There is nothing wrong with a male wanting to stay home and raise children, and without a shadow of a doubt females can go out and do whatever a male can do. I just hate having to live up to anyone's expectations. No one should have to live up to anything other than the best they can be. If you constantly strive to be something you are not then you are just setting yourself up to fail. This world is a hard place as it is, don't allow yourself to be put under such pressure to achieve the impossible.

For me, gender is a spectrum. We all fall somewhere along the line of masculinity and femininity. They aren't exclusive to penis owners or vagina owners. We need to stop teaching people that males have to be one way and females have to be another way. I have heard 'Man up' way too many times in my life. What does that even mean?? I am a male by medical standards, I got the junk to show for it. That doesn't mean I can't like things that are described as feminine. From a young age it was told to me that males don't cry, we 'take it like a man' which I gather to mean that we don't show our emotions. I am the biggest cry baby I know. Does this not make me male? Guess what, I am still a male. We were taught that females should stay home and raise babies. America might have a female President next year. Does that mean that Hillary isn't female?

It is damaging to teach people that they have to fit in to a box that they were put into before they even had their first thought. Before they could open their eyes, see the world for what it is and decide for themselves. No one should ever be ashamed of been more one thing than another. If you are a masculine male then good for you, if you are a feminine male then good for you and if you are like me and find yourself stuck in the middle, then good for you as well. We all have to live on this tiny planet so can we just let these stupid stereotypes go? They aren't necessary anymore, the world has opened up to us through technology and science that we only have to turn a computer on to see that there are billions of different people, living their authentic lives - happy in themselves and who they are.

No, I am not going to be the male you ask to go watch sports with and that's ok - you can ask someone else. However, if you want to go and watch a gory horror movie then I am your guy.

My Top 10 Lip Syncs - RuPaul's Drag Race

There is not a fan of this show that doesn't love a good ol' lip sync. It is the highlight of many an episode. Basically, if you have lived under a rock for the last few years, RuPaul's Drag Race is a competition show to find America's next Drag Superstar. Ru will choose the bottom two performers of the week and make them 'lip sync for their lives'. These moments are legendary, there are splits, death drops, spins, wigs going everywhere, costumes been ripped off and word for word perfect syncing. So, as I do I have created the definitive top 10 list of Drag Race lip syncs.

10. Alyssa Edwards Vs. Roxxxy Andrews

She takes her wig off ... to reveal another damn wig!

9. Ginger Minj Vs. Jayden Dior Fierce 

The first live on stage mastectomy in Drag Race history.

8. Josylin Fox Vs. Adore Delano

Love a gospel lip sync. Taken to church officially. 

7. Raven Vs. Nicole Paige Brooks

She dabbed her face with her foam breast. With her foam breast.

6. Trinity K. Bonet Vs. Adore Delano

Two Queens. One great song. Feathers and pleather.

5. Katya Vs. Kennedy Davenport

Katya (My Queen). Those jumping splits give me flexibility goals.

4. Raven Vs. Jujubee

More emotion than an Academy Award speech.

3. Trinity K. Bonet Vs. April Carrion

Yes, these are men. Perfection.

2. Manila Luzon Vs. Delta Work

Not exactly Broadway, but Main Stage perfection.

1. Dida Ritz Vs. The Princess

Dida killed it. I always come back to this video. She is perfection. So simple, yet so complicated. 

The Summer Top 10

Around March and April a dark cloud appears above the TV world - all of our favourite shows come to an end, some until the following Autumn, some are gone forever (still grieving for the City of Pawnee). Summer television is often given the side eye and looked down upon. With no Olivia Pope, Meredith Grey or Leslie Knope it just doesn't seem to compare. It is almost as if TV bosses assume we have all gone outside and turned our TV's off. No Sir, some of us have not! Some of us still need that background noise as we go about our day, some of us still need our daily dose of escapism from normal life. However I have found some gems that have kept me glued to the box this summer, before or after work I have been able to zone out and enjoy some quality entertainment. So as I do I have come up with a little top 10; 10 shows I have been enjoying this past summer and you should of aswell.

10. Masterchef US
I am sorry once again I turn my back on my anglo brothers and sisters. America just do competition so much better, I don't even watch the British version of Masterchef - it is so boring in comparison. On American Masterchef it is exciting, the contestants woop and cheer for everything, the challenges are extreme and they have my culinary God, Gordon Ramsey. The show got even better this year with the edition of a new judge in Christina Tosi (I like her a lot more than Joe Bastianich). So happy for the winner this year, Claudia wasn't my choice going through but she was my choice in the finale, what can I say - I love Mexican food.

9. Candidly Nicole
Yes! Nicole Richie came back for a second season of this part mocumentary, part sitcom. I have been in love with Nicole since the first season of The Simple Life. She is hilarious, we have similar sense of humours and her fashion kills me. This year she is rocking the pink pixie cut and I love it. The episodes are much more extreme this time around - from wanting to leave for Australia to creating an app that tells people things that may be too awkward or uncomfortable to say yourself. I can only hope for more and more episodes because Nicole should always be on TV. If you watch only one clip please watch her performance piece which ends with her smashing a replica of Lionel Richie's clay head from the 'Hello' video, in front of Lionel.

8. Ink Master
I love competition shows and tattoo shows, this show perfectly intertwined them. Each week the tattooists have to perfect a certain aspect of tattooing, if they don't then they are out. Simple as. The one aspect of this show that gets me is how passionate these artists are. They will literally fight the judges if they are pushed enough, never mind each other.  The art work produced is stunning and has definitely inspired me with some future (if I ever get brave enough) tattoo choices.

7. Face Off
As a fan of horror I have always been intrigued by the make-up. Like, how do they make Freddie look that way and what magic is behind the many monsters that have been created to stalk our nightmares. This show answered all my questions, in a competition style to boot. Every week they are giving a brief that is basically left up to interpretation and they create. They have some amazing, beautiful, scary, phenomenal and gory make ups that keep me tuning in every week.

6. Orange is the New Black
You may be shocked that is only at number 6 as it did win the coveted 'Craigy' for best drama of 2015, but the rest of my list is justified believe me. I really enjoyed season 3 of this amazing show for one good reason - Angie Rice, played by Julie Lake. When I think of this season I think of her. Ruby Rose who? Angie brought all the laughs this year plus a couple of heartwarming moments. Whilst the season was mainly concentrated on the more prominent characters, they really gave a spotlight to some of the supporting characters.

5. Big Brother US
I have not been shy in my love for the American version of the worldwide hit reality show. The concept is so so so so so much better than others. This year has been great, so many front runners were out early. The shy, quiet ones have ruled the house this year. Plus how has Vanessa been allowed to get this far? She has by far been the best game player this year and she hasn't exactly hid it well. I hope she wins because lets face it she has put the most work in this summer.

4. Big Brother Canada
Exactly the same concept as the American one, but I warm to these Canadians a lot more than the Americans. Where as America can sometimes look like they cast abs and blondes (a few less these year), the Canadian version really mixes it up (with a few abs thrown in for good measure). I got really attached to Sarah and Brittany, and Sarah won!! The comps were extreme, the back door evictions were great there were lots of surprises along the course of the show.

3. The Real Housewives of New York
Hands down my favourite city from the franchise. Simple premise of following the rich women of certain areas. The cast of New York are the best, no lie. Who ever decided to bring Bethenny back after so long is a freaking genius and hopefully got a huge bonus. I loved all the new friendships that formed this year, especially with Carole and Dorinda. Ramona definitely annoyed me less this year, I wish Kristen got more screen time (especially as she is only one of two actual 'wives' on the show), Heather was her usual take-no-shit self, Sonja is finally getting things together and then theres the Countess - LuAnn .... I have not warmed to this new Lu the way she would probably wants the fans to.

2. Young and Hungry
This show is great,  the simplicity in its comedy style is what makes this show so good. It is obvious humour mixed with warmth and heart. It is 21 minutes of giggles, of course the situations are ridiculous and it can be quite obvious what is about to happen a lot of the time but thats what I like about it. Plus the casting is outstanding. Emily Osment is a comedy queen! Her timing is perfect. Plus she looks like Carrie Underwood's little sister so that's nice. Rex Lee, Aimee Carrero, Kym Whitley and Jonathan Sadowski all round the main characters to perfection.

1. Playing House
I feel like I am about to grow into these women, we speak the same language and basically I am 3 years away from owning my own window box full of succulents. I don't know to express how much this comedy gets me, sometimes it seems like they are speaking their own language but I get it. Their reaction to situations is how I would react, plus they give me immense friendship goals. All I need is one friend's life to fall apart so I can move in and we can live codepentently happily ever after (is it weird to assume that I wouldn't be the friend whose life fell apart? Maybe because you need a life to have one fall apart).

Quitter

Yes, once again I have left a job. If anyone knows me then they are sure to say 'again?'. Yes! Again. I have quite a rap sheet of different jobs in my ten year working career. I have worked in places from anywhere between 7 weeks and 5 years. I have made sandwiches to listening to hear people complain about their phone contracts. I have sold beauty products to handling million pound business accounts. I have had my fair share of jobs, however I have only ever quit a job once without having another job lined up (the job I quit was soul destroying). I have also never been fired.

People make think (and have often commented) I am just a quitter, that I am not loyal and also that they can't believe that I am hireable after having so many jobs. Shut up. I don't see myself as a quitter. No two jobs have ever been the same. You know what I see myself as? A tryer (I am aware this isn't a real word but bear with me). I try different things to see what fits. You don't buy a shirt without trying it on do you? Even if you took it home and it didn't fit, you would take it back. For me that is what a job is like. I try them out, I see what fits me. If it doesn't fit me then I leave. How can I be good for a company if I don't like been there? How can I be good for a company if I am miserable? How can I be good for a company if I am constantly wanting to be somewhere else? A company, I am sure, wants employees who love the job, who thrive in their workplace and are happy. I am wasting their time and resources and my own by taking the place of someone who could benefit the company.

People will take one job and stay there forever. This can be for multiple reasons. Some people are content with having a secure pay cheque coming in every month regardless of what they have do for it. Some people have to stay in a job because they have such responsibilities outside of the workplace that it is the smart thing to do. Some people are lucky that they find their dream job straight out the gate. I am none of these people. I am lucky that I have quite a comfortable home life that if I don't bring home a cheque I will be okay. I will always have a roof over my head, food in the fridge and drinks a plenty - I never take this for granted. I don't have any responsibilities except myself and shared custody of a 15 year old cat. I don't know what my dream is, I never have. I have flitted around different ideas. At 16 we are supposed to start deciding what we want the rest of our life to be, I wasn't fortunate to be one of those that had a plan, and it sucks the big one. I wish I had a plan, or at least an outline of what my future could be. All I know is that  love to write and thats what I want to pursue (not just to learn how to achieve this).

So, to any future employers. Yes I have had multiple jobs over time, there are a lot of negative connotations to this I know; let me tell you the positives. I am applying for your job vacancy because I honestly believe it is something I will enjoy and it is something I can do. I have never left a job to go to something I don't think I will like. I leave with every good intention. I want to find somewhere I am comfortable, with great people and great personal rewards. I am a hard worker, I used to work 7 days a week and never complained about it. Plus, think of my experience - I have done so much, worked in so many different environments.  I have worked days and nights, I have worked national holidays, I have worked away from home.

I must be doing something right, one job took me back 3 times.

I ain't mad at Pretty Little Liars

A few days ago The Pretty Little Liars fandom got all their answers. After 130 episodes, spread over 6 years we finally found out who took the game over from Mona, we found out who had been torturing Aria, Spencer, Hanna, Alison and Emily, and why. 'A' had a face.

That wasn't it though. In a fast paced 42 minutes we found out who killed Toby's mother, who hit Alison in the head with the rock the night she went missing, who Red Coat is, who the Black Widow is and who killed Bethany.

For me personally I was happy with the reveals, I got a lot of frustrated closure. I have seen every single episode as they were released, and some episodes would anger me so much I must have said 'I will never watch this show again' a hundred times. It seemed like we would get answers, but all we got was more questions. In the finale of season 2 it was revealed that Mona was 'A' - just for her to then tell someone else that she did everything that they asked of her - frustrating!!

**SPOILER**

Within minutes of the last episode it was revealed that Cece Drake was behind this whole thing, she stole the game from Mona and made it completely her own. Yes, there are so many plot holes and some of it doesn't make sense - but I don't care. It was wrapped up nicely and it was justified. It made total sense for me, and it wouldn't be Pretty Little Liars if we weren't left with a lot of unanswered questions. At the end of the day it keeps us talking about it, genius move by the creators. They know that we will keep watching to find answers, and they never have to answer us.

Basically if you are wondering - Cece was Charles. Charles is Alison's brother. She was sent to Radley Mental Hospital at a young because she identified as female and her father didn't approve. This lead to Cece been locked away for years - within her time at Radley she was allowed days away to attend college classes, but instead she dedicated her time to be close to her family (even dating her own brother, icky). When Cece was in Radley she befriended a girl called Bethanny. Bethanny was certifiably crazy. This is when it all got fucked up. I have just tried to write down what happened and I had to delete because I was so confused. Basically Cece thought she killed Bethanny outside of her house, turns out she struck Alison instead. She thought she killed Alison by mistake. Alison didn't die. Alison dug herself out of her own grave and ran away. Years have passed, years filled with kidnap, murder, explosions, fires, cars driven into houses and one thing that always stuck with me is when Hanna was made to eat a box of cupcakes with cartoon pig icing in public all at once.

Even though we have been given a lot of information, we haven't nearly got all the answers we need. I honestly believe the writers may have lost their way a little bit, and I don't mean to sound nasty. They had a lot of twists and turns, so many characters coming in and out, so many dead ends. There was even a supernatural element with ghosts and psychics. They snow balled the show so much, trying to keep the main question unanswered for 6 years that they created so many more. Now we have our burning question answered it doesn't make sense to a lot of people.

I really thought this Buzzfeed article was both funny and a perfect example of a PLL fandom in melt down. How could a show have 47 questions that need answers for it to make sense? 47 Questions We Still Have After The “Pretty Little Liars” Summer Of Answers.

After finding out who 'A' was, the other thing that I wanted answered was about Maya. Why Maya? What did she know? Did she even die? On this show, if you don't see a body then don't assume anything.  I would have loved Maya to be Red Coat. Instead the writers did the worst thing they could of - they made Red Coat a character we have only known for 10 episodes!! Sara! Who the fuck is Sara? And why was she not one, but two pivotal characters in the show?

I know one thing that people are struggling with is the fact that Cece is transgender, or at least it seems that way. I am not part of the community so my opinion means squat - but I don't have a problem with it. The big baddie of the show is transgender and I can understand how a lot of people would think that this would cast a bad light on the transgender community. The reason I don't think it does at all is because what it showed deep down was a troubled young woman, a woman abandoned by her family because she wanted to live her honest life. She was put in a mental institute, not dissimilar to a struggle a lot of transgender youth may have faced. However for the pure fact of entertainment Cece, a character on a TV show - not a reflection of transgendered youth, went crazy. It was a choice by the writers to create this back story, but this story was written three years ago and it has been developed. It has been announced Cece will be in the next half of season 6 and I think it will be incredibly smart of the writers to address the transgender storyline with the respect it deserves.

So all in all the last six years have been a rush, we have had drama, tragedy, comedy and romance. And after it all we have our 'A' - Cece Drake. The sneak peak of the five year jump looks insteresting, all the girls are back together after college, Alison is a married teacher with some man after her and Spencer has bangs!

The X Factor Allstars

The 12th season of The X Factor starts on August 29th (also that is my Dad's birthday!). I can't deny - I love The X Factor! I am a fan of both live performances and cringe worthy auditions (plus I also believe Simon and I are to one day destined to be a power couple). This year there are a few changes, it is goodbye to Mel B, Louis Walsh and Dermot O'Leary, and hello to Rita Ora, Nick Grimshaw, Olly Murs and Caroline Flack.

I sometimes don't agree with who should make the live finals, there is always a Gamu or Jade Richards left behind - but more often than not the judges get it right. So as I do I have created a top 10 list of my favourite (and lets face it, everyone's favourite) X Factor contestants.

10. Rebecca Ferguson
Favourite Performance - Make You Feel My Love

9. One Direction

Favourite Performance - Torn

8. Diana Vickers

Favourite Performance - Man In The Mirror

7. Janet Devlin

Favourite Performance - Your Song

6. Ella Henderson

Favourite Performance - Believe

5. James Arthur

Favourite Performance - Make You Feel My Love (w/ Nicole Scherzinger)

4. Cher Lloyd

Favourite Performance - Stay

3. Alexandra Burke

Favourite Performance - Listen (w/ Beyonce)

2. Leona Lewis

Favourite Performance - I Have Nothing

NUMBER ONE

LITTLE MIX

Favourite Performance - Don't Let Go

Of course these four talented Queens are my top pick. Every week they shone, every week they were the highlight and god damn it every week was Little Mix week(except week one, when it was Rythmix week - remember that?). There is a reason why they are the only band to ever win The X Factor! This is something that can't be duplicated, they are pure magic (I know this was a perfect time to say 'Black Magic' but I don't know if that would sound a bit racial). Perrie, Leigh-Anne, Jade and Jesy are my top X Factor picks!