How many of you had a wonderful Valentine's Day with a special love? Aw, good for you. While you're still hooked on the feeling and high on believing, revisit our celebration of love songs and have a nice weekend.

Now, how many of you got dumped yesterday, right on the buttocks? If so, you have plenty of company. According to canada.com, six million people break up on Valentine's Day. And even more break up in the two weeks leading up to February 14.

OK, I know that doesn't help much. But the fact is that most, if not all, of us have had a bad breakup that devastated us or royally pissed us off — or both. And that's the beauty of breakup songs. They're written by people who have been stepped on, lied to, cheated on and treated like dirt. So no matter how alone you feel, you always have musical company. In fact, let's help out Alice with the track scribe suggested for the breakup scene with Tasha. (For you young'uns, this is The 5th Dimension.)

My favorite breakup songs tend to be of the angry variety. I confess, every Valentine's Day I commemorate a Very Special Breakup by singing "I'm the Only One" along with Melissa, at the top of my lungs.

Ah, the sweet pill of bitterness. You never forget your first cheater.

Another good top-of-your-lungs number is an oldie, but goodie, from Nancy Sinatra. Are ya ready, boots? Start walkin'. … continue reading

I have a new music obsession. Colbie Caillat (rhymes with ballet) draws me in with every word that escapes her lips.

I first heard her blend of soul and folk in a random commercial, and once I was finally able to put a name and face to the voice, I was hooked. Apparently I'm not the only one drawn in by her sound. For over four months, Caillat was the No. 1 unsigned artist on MySpace, and she eventually gained the attention of record executives. She signed with Universal Republic, and her debut album, Coco, has been a clear success. The first single, “Bubbly,” reached its peak on the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 5 and has spent 26 weeks on the chart. That song has also garnered over 630,000 plays on her MySpace page. Here's the video for “Bubbly." … continue reading

Last month, Blender published 100 Days That Changed Music, or, in their own humble words, a list of "the most earth–shakingly important days in music, ever."

Assuming they really mean "in Western pop music" (since there is no mention of Mozart or Miriam Makeba), some of the choices are obvious — the Beatles on Ed Sullivan (#1); some are insightful — the birth of free–form FM radio on San Francisco's KMPX (#39); and some are amusing — Prince poses in black undies (#14). Most of them are markedly lacking in any awareness of or respect for the contributions of women. Instead, we get Janet Jackson's "Nipplegate" (#94), Tiffany at the mall (#57), and Madonna on a wedding cake (#19).

In other words, the "era of decency," mall marketing, and a garter belt. Britney is the only other solo female artist to get a nod, but the #13 entry is about her break-up with JT and consists of a litany of his subsequent successes and her subsequent failures and embarrassments, primarily personal rather than musical.

A few bands with women make the list (Starship, ABBA), but the Velvet Underground nod fails to mention that December 11, 1965 wasn't their first show, but their first with drummer Maureen Tucker, and the Ronettes entry is actually about Phil Spector rather than the original girl group or Ronnie Spector's fantastic voice.

Basically, Blender's got respect for Muzak, Jägermeister and Kiss's makeup, but not for Billie, Bonnie or even Beyonce. I'm no music historian, but there have got to be some key moments missing. Here are a few that I would consider for inclusion, in chronological order: … continue reading

Oh. Oh, dear. Oh, dear God. This. This is wrong. This is so terribly wrong. This is, I am very sad to report, the misclownification of Lauryn Hill.

Yes, that Lauryn Hill. The neo-soul goddess. The Fugees refugee. The eight-time Grammy winner. The blazing talent that came like a comet into our atmosphere with a flash, blending a reverential respect from the past with something altogether new, fresh and exciting, only to leave us alone again in the darkness as her orbit took her elsewhere. … continue reading