Screw You, I like Taylor Swift.

I guess I have what some people would call a "Hipster's Taste" for music, I would disagree, but that's not really the discussion. In the last decade or so people have forgotten that pop music can be great, and redeeming; it was also forgotten that you can enjoy pop while still loving your underground hits.

Look back at the 70s, it was more than okay to love The Who as well as lets say, the Sex Pistols. Or even the 80's, it is easy to imagine someone digging the Cars while having a Replacements album waiting to be put on next. The 90's even had this. Tons of people loved Nirvana and Pearl Jam, did that mean they couldn't also be all about Pavement or Archers of Loaf? No, no it didn't.

In the 2000's though, pop started having a stigma. Rejection of the mainstream is a cultural badge of the so-called "Hipster Movement". I realized though, it's time to break the mold. I need to make a confession.

I adore Taylor Swift's music.

At first I wanted to hate it. I heard "Love Story", and I called it "faux-Country" (which it still is…nevertheless…). I talked shit about it ("It's pop with a violin! It's so generic!"). But then the song stayed stuck in my head. I found myself humming the chorus as I walked to class from my apartment. I started searching on Youtube for the video, and I'd keep it on a loop while I was online. I was hooked.

I had Sara pick me up the album from her work, and I just immediately attached to it. Everything a music lover would want is there, it's catchy, is filled with great hooks, and is just pleasant to listen to. Sure, the lyrics can be a touch bubblegum on the topic of love sometimes, but so were all the bands I listened to in High School, as well as current favorites such as Bruce Springsteen.

People slag on Taylor Swift for her singing voice, especially live, well I can count many famous indie rock bands who have bad singers. I still love the bands despite it. How many indie rock fans have given Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips crap because he can't hit all the notes live? The answer? None. None of them. Because that's part of his charm. The dude has a weird voice. But because Ms. Swift is in the pop spotlight, she gets it laid on her at all times.

Lastly, I have to say, she's just a great songwriter. Compare the lyrics to the title track from her newest album "Speak Now" to just about any indie rock love song. I guarantee you it holds up.

Honestly, give pop music another chance. I did, let the hooks get stuck in you. For once give in to the incessant radio play. Who knows, you might find that it'll do you some good.

Canned Broccoli Would Be My Kryptonite

I hate broccoli.  The smell.  The texture.  The taste.  Cooked broccoli, mind you; I’m ok when it’s raw, but the moment it gets near a pot of boiling water, I run for the hills.  It’s one of those things that starts in childhood and you never really get over sitting for hours, forcing cold, disgusting food down your throat because your parents make you.  Because “it’s good for you.”

Now, answer me this, what is “good for you?”  Because if something has unappetizing as broccoli is good for you, I want no part of it.

Whoever decided boiling vegetables would be a good idea should be slapped.  I can’t think of any vegetables that taste good once they’ve been boiled.  Well, maybe corn.  Is corn a vegetable?  Anyway, we tend to boil the taste out of veggies.

The only thing worse than boiling a vegetable is canning it.  In this day and age, there is no point to canning anything (except tuna and corned beef hash).  If something can’t stay fresh, the freeze it.  There’s plenty of refrigeration around.  I mean, come on, take green beans:  a fresh green bean vs. a canned green bean.  There’s no competition to that’s better tasting (and better for you).  And don’t even get me started on canned peas.  Blech.

I did not intend to write about the foods I hate today.  I love food.  I love cooking.  I love going to restaurants.  I love trying new things.  But there are just some things that should not be done.  And canning vegetables is one of them.

The other is serving me broccoli.

Top 5 Tuesday: Best SNL Characters

This one is a little short today, so I’ve added some videos to peak your interest!

#5:  Vinny Vedecci

“Ayyyyyyyy!!!!!”

Maybe it’s the Italian in me, but I absolutely love Vinny Vedecci.  It took me a while to realize that Bill Hader isn’t actually speaking Italian, but the cadence and the attitude is spot on, so it’s easy to not know.

The best part is when Vinny starts yelling at the crew members, who are sitting at a table eating spaghetti, and then get into this big argument.  Lots of “ayyyyyyyy!!!!” being tossed around.

#4:  Opera Man

“Opera Man, Bye-Byeeeeeeeeeee!!!”

This will forever be my favorite Adam Sandler character.  He cracked me up every time; in fact, anytime I would watch SNL, I would hope that Opera Man would come on during Weekend Update.

#3:  Church Lady

“Well, isn’t that special?”

Church Lady has some of the best catchphrases of any character.  I bet everyone who’s watched SNL in the past twenty or so years can name a few of the lines:  “Could it be… SATAN?”

The recent Church Lady skit from when Dana Carvey last hosted was perfection.  The Kardashians, Snookie, Justin Bieber.  Church Lady still gots it.

#2:  Sean Connery

“I’ll take the rapists for $400.”

My number one favorite sketch ever is Celebrity Jeopardy and my number one favorite character from that sketch is Sean Connery.  Darrell Hammond is amazing.  The writers are fantastic.  I mean, come on, isn’t this how you would picture Sean Connery if he were on the real Jeopardy?  Antagonistic.  Hilarious.  Diabolical.

#1:  Stefon

“New York’s hottest club is…”

Bill Hader is on my list twice for one simple reason:  he’s brilliant.  Stefon is amazing.  Bill Hader never, ever finishes a Weekend Update segment as Stefon without breaking.  When someone as talented as Bill Hader breaks, you know it must be funny.

Watch it.  Love it.