Venus vs Mars-The 20/20 Experience

 

                          

 

Justin Timberlake is back with his new cd The 20/20 Experience!! Venus and Mars did a bicoastal listening party and below are our thoughts and first impressions in real time as we listen to each track for the first time. We hope you enjoy!!

Pusher Love Girl

Venus: I like it so far it's old school

Mars:  Nice Strings but the track is 8 mins

Venus:  I know right??

Mars: I like this one

Venus:  I do like this one, too - I think he sang this at the Grammy's.  I really really liked it.  He kind of sounds like Prince...reminds me of Prince's old music.

Mars:  I won’t comment on that LOL

Venus:  hahahah!  Can't compare the two

Mars:  But yes it does have a Prince vibe to it. I like the chorus and his falsetto is on point

Venus:  This reminds me of a song that I would have playing in the background while sitting on the couch, drinking wine w/Charles. I like the chorus the best.

Mars:  Sounds like we are in agreement on this one. No complaints here but it still has 5mins left to go.

Venus:  Yeah - long song for sure, so good thing it's pretty good.

Mars:  NOOOOOO

Venus:  You don't like that part do you? LOL

Mars:  How did u guess?

Venus:  Because it's like Jay Z rapping on Suit and Tie during the middle.  I don't like it either.  He shoulda left this part out.

Mars:  I may make my own edit of this track and remove this section.

Venus:  This part messed the song up - it'd be good w/o it.  Yeah - it'd sound better w/it removed.

 

Suit and Tie

Mars:  Well I still hate this intro and it does not flow from the previous track.

Venus:  You know I absolutely love this song - my favorite right now. I don't like the beginning, but I love when it starts w/the beat.  It reminds me of going out, getting ready for that ball I went to -- very romantic because women could picture a man singing this to his woman.

Mars:  Typically the first single is supposed to be the strongest. I hope there are better songs on here than this. I don’t have a lot to say on this one.

Venus:  Here's the part you hate. What I like about it is it's talking about getting dressed up and going out -- what all women want.

Mars:  Unnecessary rap. Does NOTHING for the song.

Venus:  Yeah - it could go w/o it.

Mars:  and I just noticed the N word in the song...inappropriate.

Venus: What?? I didn't notice that.

Mars:  U have been listening to the radio version so it’s not in there.

Venus:  But I didn't notice on his video?  Wonder if it's not on there?

Mars:  It wouldn’t be in the video either

 

Don’t Hold the Wall

Venus:  Not sure I like the beginning. Don’t like the jungle sound.

Mars:  This one is 7mins ugggggg.

Venus:  I feel like I’m at that restaurant, Rainforest Café, yeah - I don't like this one at all.

Mars:  I was thinking the same thing!!!! There is nothing going on in this song.

Venus:  Ughhh -- This one is painful.

Mars:  This one is not even going on the iPod!! Sometime Timberland is on point with his beats but not this time. This is boring.

Venus:  Yeah - this one is really boring.

Mars:  This one is garbage. I HOPE this is the worst song on here.

Venus:  It got better right now with the different beat and got rid of the cricket sound.

Mars:  It honestly sounds like a leftover from FutureSex/Love Sounds.

Venus:  It woulda been better with this beat all along.

Mars:  This part it ok but I will NEVER listen to this song again. This is probably the worst song of his solo career. No I take that back. That title belongs to Chop Me Up. This part sounds like a different song

Venus:  The middle/end was better, but it’s still an awful song.

 

Strawberry Bubblegum

Venus:  Has the flair of the old singer. Can’t think of his name.

Mars:  Barry White.

Venus:  Is that him mixed in?  Or someone like him? This one isn't too bad. I don't see them playing this on the radio, though, but it's not bad.

Mars:  It's probably Timberland with his voice altered.

Venus:  I don't see myself listening to this one over and over.

Mars:  The “Barry White” is annoying. There is nothing to this one either. The best thing is the title.

Venus:  I like this ending part sound. Sounds like the show Taxi.

Mars:  This one is 8mins as well. Cue the bassa nova!!

Venus: This part isn't too bad - It's better than the beginning!

Mars:  It's better than he beginning but I'm not gonna make it there again.

Venus:  Out of a 10, I would give it a 4.5.

Mars:  3 out of 10 so far. The best song has been the first.

Venus:  My fav is Suit and Tie then the 1st song.

 

Tunnel Vision

Mars:  Yuck

Venus:  Yeah agreed

Mars:  This is Timberland at his WORST.

Venus:  Sounds too juvenile for this album. Nothing really goes w/Suit and Tie doesn't sound like a grown-up song and too immature for where he should be now in his career.

Mars:  The other Justin should be doing this.

Venus:  yeah it does have a Bieber flair! This one is worse than the strawberry one to me.

Mars:  I agree but still not as bad as the rainforest song.

 

Spaceship Coupe

Mars: Slow jam time! Finally something I like.

Venus:  "Play me a slow jam"...You like it?

Mars:  Yeah but is 7mins.

Venus:  I'm not crazy about it but it's not as bad as rainforest or the one right before this.

Mars:  This is "classic" R&B slow jam material.

Venus:  Yeah it is.

Mars: Wait did hear him just drop the f bomb!

Venus:  I didn't hear that!  I must have protected ears still not my favorite. I don't like the farting noise in the background.

Mars:  That’s a bass keyboard!! LMAO.

Venus: Sounds like pure flatulence and why would he tell a woman she's from outer space?

Mars:  Because she's out of this world!!

Venus:  “You're from outer space". I would think he was saying I was crazy

Mars:  Very nice guitar work here.

Venus:  Yeah - guitar is good.

Mars:  Sounds like something a little purple man would do.

Venus:  Yeah it does -- This album does have Prince flair

Mars:  Not the bad songs though!!! I think the "whipping" maybe a little much!

Venus:  Yeah - that's kinda freaky but then again, she's out of this world.

Mars:  This part is laughable just messes up the vibe!!

Venus:  This part sound sounds like "You Make Me Feel Brand New" That old song. Can’t remember who sings it. Some guys might like the whipping. I'm not into that.

Mars:  I’m gonna leave that one alone!!

Venus:  HAHAHA

Mars:  This is one of the stronger tracks.

 

That Girl

Mars:  Lounge act!

Venus:  Lounge is right. But I do like this one so far I like the trumpets.

Mars:  I don’t think they are real trumpets.

Venus:  His "fake trumpets" sound better than the whipping.

Mars:  LOL

Venus:  I like this one.

Mars:  I would like it better if it had real horns.

Venus:  May have gone up to #2. Yeah - real horns would sound really good. I'd listen to it again.

Mars:  And its 4 mins! Thank you JT. His vocals are really good on this one and he was obviously going for the live sound why not just do it. But I bet this will kill live.

Venus:  Probably so - he did really good on the Grammys live.

 

Let the Groove In

Venus:  7 minutes. I don't like it so far.

Mars:  Me neither.

Venus:  It's nothing you can dance to and it's "let the groove in"

Mars:  Maybe the groove is coming.

Venus:  This is more like a 80s cardio a lot of lead up for grooving. This song sucks.

Mars:  Can we skip this one!?

Venus:  Fine- you sound like a woman hahahah!!

 

Mirrors

Venus:  I think they are playing this on the radio right now? 

Mars:  I wouldn’t know I don’t listen to the radio but this sounds like a single. This one is also 8mins.

Venus: You don't listen to the radio - what kind of man are you????

Mars:  I have 19000 songs on my iPod. No need LOL

Venus: This one is good. It's more relatable than farting sounds and the rain forest. This more so flows with suit and tie - I don’t' think the others do.

Mars:  This sounds like What Goes Around Comes Around.

Venus:  Yeah it does that's probably why I like it.

Mars:  This is another "live" song. This is a sing along song.

Venus:  Yeah I can see that.

 

Mars:  Here comes the breakdown. Could do without the chanting.

 

Blue Ocean Floor

Mars:  Another 8min track

Venus:  Starting slow

 

Mars:  This is for the ladies

Venus:  Yeah - this is for the ladies but it's soooo slow. I hate this song.

Mars:  I like the minimalist approach after some of the production.

Venus: I agree with that.

Mars:  I’m adding this to my slow jam playlist. This is a GREAT track.

 

Final Thoughts

Venus: I’m extremely disappointed.  I'm really sad. I was hoping for more romantic flair that Buble, Connick Jr. and Robin Thicke give.  This is a BIG let down. I’m really really really disappointed in this album. I thought that it was going to be more like Suit and Tie I was so looking forward to it being released... and it's not what I expected.  I feel like I wasted 10 bucks.

Mars: I am disappointed in the CD as well. There really isn’t any musical growth from the last cd. Most of these tracks sound like there are leftovers from the FutureSex/LoveSounds sessions. The songs are just ok and not great and 8 of the 10 songs (the Target version have 2 extra songs which we did not review) run 6 plus mins. That’s too long for a pop songs. Out of the 10 tracks I liked Pusher Love Girl, Spaceship Coupe, That Girl, Mirrors and Blue Ocean Floor. Should you buy it? That’s clearly a personal preference but I guarantee that you will not find this material as compelling and fresh as his previous cd. According to Timberlake the “second half of material" will be released in November. Let’s hope that one is better.

 

 

I have a shrunken shirt and I'm not afraid to wear it

I can't believe I put my favorite shirt into the dryer last night... not by mistake, but by free will!! Now, keep in mind that my 2 daughters would rather me have given it to Goodwill or some other charity because I'm often criticized for wearing this shirt too much.... but you can't beat a good shirt!!  So, bringing it back to why I put it in the dryer... it has become too large for me to wear because I've actually been working out for 2.5 months now!  Is this a huge step for me?  YES!

I never thought I'd be one to be on a "health kick", but I'm there and it really does feel great!  Eating has never been much of a problem for me -- I'd rather eat salty foods than sweets (although salt can be just as bad), I'm not much of a "flavor enhancer" (using salt, dressings, or dips on food), and I generally love vegetables (I could probably become a vegetarian if I wouldn't get killed by my other household members)... but in December (before the New Year's resolutions) I decided that I was sick of feeling horrible about myself. 

The feeling of horrible - yes, I was there for several years not wanting to go out (although I did), feeling uncomfortable when I was out, not wanting to go shopping for new clothes (which was probably good!), feeling self-conscious, and wishing I was 20 pounds lighter.  Not a good feeling at all.  So, I finally came to the resolution that the weight was not going to drop off of me.. and realized that the only person who could make the change about how I felt about myself was me. 

I purchased some workout gear over last Summer and never used it because I sprained my ankle on that same work trip in which I had bought the gear.. that was my excuse for a long time - the ankle... well, you can only milk that for so long and by December 2012 I decided to start running .. like Forrest Gump.  Only, not the distance he did and I have more updated shoes.  I started running with Charles (thank God he is such a great supporter) and ran a little over 2 miles around the outskirts of our neighborhood, every other day.  I started feeling comfortable with running (I used to not want to run for fear of how I looked when running), and began venturing on my own even when Charles wasn't available to run with me.  I got so comfortable, I would run in front of the long car line at my daughter's school, not even thinking twice about it. 

Running led to me being comfortable at a gym, so I began going to one and running on the treadmill (I found that my shins didn't hurt as bad) and I could actually run for 30 mins. straight at a speed of 4.5 without stopping!  That was a huge accomplishment for me.  During my build up of running, I began watching the new season of Biggest Loser (it's a family event every Monday night), and learning tricks and workout moves from there - I got even more comfortable.  I purchased a Jillian Michaels buns and thighs workout DVD and began doing that workout for 30 mins. on the days I didn't go to the gym (and on some days when I couldn't get to the gym). 

I've had bad days of feeling like "Why am I doing this, the 20 pounds isn't shedding quickly!!".. but I've had a lot of encouragement to keep me pushing through - and finally 10 pounds is gone.. I'm halfway there -- and I got to finally dry my shirt!!

I tell you this because if you are contemplating working out and are unsure of how to go about it.. just do it!!  Really, that's all it takes.  Your confidence will come - if it's you don't have the right outfit, pick up some yoga pants at Target (they make you feel skinny and they hide all the flaws) and get moving -- you can buy cuter outfits when you feel more comfortable.  I was always shy of how to use the machines at the gym or learning how to do a new exercise.. not anymore.  It took some time, but I'm there... still have a ways to go, but working out is now in my routine and it feels great! 

Lastly, it's not about how you look - but ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL... and today marked a day of me knowing I feel healthier as I was running Tayte's Science Fair Project into her school in the cold, rainy, 38 degree weather -- as I ran outside back to my car, I thought, "Wow!  I don't even feel winded!"... and that's when I realized these 2.5 months have finally paid off!!

Now, to go try on the shirt :).

Friendship

Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness.
Euripides 

Today, I sat quietly in a chapel listening to a man pay his last respects to his best friend. I sat unusually still.  This gentlemen had me captivated from the moment he took to the podium.  The man shared stories, jokes, quips, and quotes of his beloved friend.  He was spoke on behalf of his best friend's family. He spoke from his heart. He made me laugh. He made everyone laugh when all they wanted to do was cry. As I sat there listening, I asked myself if I would ever have the strength to do the same for my best friends.  I cried just at the thought. 

I truly believe that we never truly know how strong we are until we are faced with doing something we thought we never could. Even the gentleman speaking didn't know if he would be able to get through his testament. As he continued, I kept asking myself if I could ever be as stoic as this man before me.  My question goes unanswered.  I'm not going to lie. I would like to think that I could do it.  I would like to think that I'm just that strong.  But I'll never really know until the time comes, will I?

Finally, I look over to my best friend of 30 years and asked her if she thought we would ever be able to do that for each other. Her response? "Well, you won't have to because you're going to die before me." HAAAAAAAAA! I fell out of my seat laughing.  Hence, this wonderful thing Sandy and I share that we call friendship. 

Making Time

You ever have one of those days when you need more hours in the day just to get everything in? Generally, that's everyday for me.

 Today, I'm running all over town (trying to squeeze 28 hours into 24) when I receive a call.  It's urgent. Her voice concerning. She needs to talk. She needs me!  Though I'm en route to a very important appointment, I pull my car over to see what is troubling my dear friend.  Nothing is more important than being there for a friend, right?  Forget filing taxes, it can wait. For get handling your personal affairs, someone important needs you!  Gas the car? What the hell for?! Dinner? NO, it can WAIT! Two minutes into the conversation I realize the huge dilemma is whether or not to host a slumber this weekend. Seriously? Wait, could you repeat that? Late for my appointments, late for dinner, needing to find a gas station, no time to shop but I was there for a friend in need. Someone owes me twenty minutes of my life back.

Oh, and I'm gonna sock Sandy in the nose when I see her. 

Venus vs. Mars ... Water for Elephants

 

********This is the first installment of the Venus vs. Mars series!! My good friend Sean Hill of http://hillstreetviewz.blogspot fame will be providing the “Mars” point of view of this film. Let the games begin!!**********

 

Venus Says:

 

The way I came about watching this movie was by chance... I don’t remember seeing the trailers for it which is strange because I’m such a huge movie buff.  My daughter and her friend happened to rent it one night because they said it was the only movie that appeared worth watching. Within the first 5 mins of the movie I was hooked….  I didn’t realize this movie had such a romantic flair, and Reese Witherspoon plays an awesome role of being the Ring Master’s wife who falls for the man who trains the elephants.  It’s not a movie about adultery, but rather a story about two people who fall in love that cannot be together.  The storyline is not just about romance and falling in love, but it’s also about being a family and relying upon one another when that is all you have.  If you haven’t seen it, you need to – it’s a sweet surprise of a movie that will make you want to watch it time and time again.  It’s become one of my all-time favorites – even to the point of me giving it to my Charles for our one year anniversary, writing on the back of the case, “This was a nice surprise for us – we fell in love with it together”…. proving also that men will enjoy this movie just as much :) Venus gives 4 stars!!

Mars Says:

 

It’s Valentines season and love is in the air. Stores are stocked with every kind of Valentines Day cards, florists have more stock than they know what to do with, and fancy restaurants are booked solid for the day. This is also the time some men will try to placate their significant others by sitting down and watching a romantic movie with their wives. If the wrong movie is selected it can be a grueling experience.

 

            Water for Elephants is a TERRIBLE title for a romantic film. It in no way screams romance but I know not to judge a book by its cover but that title would not make me want to pick up the book. The film starts out with one of my most hated plot devices which is the “let me tell you the story of my life and thereby I will eliminate all dramatic tension as to whether I will live or die because I am here telling the story so of course I live”. We then flashback to the past and meet the younger version of the story teller, in this instance it’s non other than Twilight’s Robert Pattinson, playing a young veterinarian student named Jacob (insert your own Twilight joke here). Jacob’s rich, well his parents are at least, until they are killed in auto accident and he finds out that his parents had blew their wealth on his tuition. So what’s a young homeless person to do? He decides to leave town with a few possessions and the clothes on his back. He decides to hop aboard a passing train and the train just HAPPENS to be a train for a traveling circus!! Now that is luck!

 

            He meets the star of the show, Marlena (Resse Witherspoon) and her husband August (Django Unchained’s Christoph Waltz) who is circus owner and head animal trainer. Of course Jacob is immediately smitten by her at first sight although it is unclear if the feeling is mutual. Well it just so happens that August is in need of vet and Jacob is hired. Later in the film August purchases an elephant (the elephant of the title I assume but there is only one elephant in the film so shouldn’t the title be Water for an Elephant?) August is having issues training the elephant until Jacob discovers that the elephant only responds to Polish which HE just so happens to speak!!! Somewhere during this time Jacob and Marlena fall in love. August finds out, complications arise, things happen, we go back to present day and find out what happens to Marlena and Jacob.

 

            This isn’t a very good film and it is not very focused. The movie seems more concerned with Jacobs’s relationship to the elephant than Marlena. The characters really have no chemistry and August is such an awful person that of course Marlena would be attracted to Jacob. However we don’t care about their coupling because we don’t get to know Marlena all that well.

 

So Mars says that guys will be incredibly bored by this film and I would hope that women would be bored as well. I didn’t find this movie to be very romantic at all. In fact I thought the elephant had more charm than Reese Witherspoon. The film is only worth seeing to partake in yet another suburb performance by Christoph Waltz. This guy is an incredible talent and gives this film more weight than it deserves. Bottom line on this one fellas, if your significant other suggest you snuggle up and watch this film I would suggest faking some sort of illness(it is flu season right now hint hint) and go to separate room and watch a Scorsese film. Sorry Venus, this one stinks!!! Mars gives it 2 stars!!

 

 

Hallmark Holiday

Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do... but how much love we put in that action. 
Mother Teresa 


Ahhhhhhhhh, the stress of being a man is upon us. How do I impress her? Do you send flowers? Do you buy jewelry? Maybe a fancy restaurant. Oh wait, let's send candy, that'll make her happy. Another Hallmark holiday is around the bend, are you ready?

 Ladies, it's just another day. You shouldn't put too much emphasis on your better half impressing those around you just on this one day. He should be impressing YOU each and every day; and you should be doing the same. I'm not saying send flowers 365 days a year, I'm saying it's the little things that matter.  The kiss on the forehead, the cup of coffee/breakfast brought to you in bed, the random phone call saying he misses you...oh and that one text saying, "I love you, gorgeous..."  How these things will give you butterflies...and no one can buy you internal butterflies.

So, don't be upset if the flowers in the next cubicle are prettier than yours. Don't be jealous over that diamond bracelet your friend received. Material things are easy. It's the thoughtfulness behind a sincere action that is hard to come by. All the money in the world won't get you that.

Having said that, please, send all chocolates my way. Happy Valentine's Day!

Ahhhh... suit and tie

I'm a romantic at heart... and this new song does it for me :).  It's Justin Timberlake's latest song, "Suit and Tie".  Maybe it's because I like gowns and gloves, tuxedos and bow ties, or glitz and glamour... Or maybe it's because I'm actually attending my first "ball" in a little over a week and this song came out at the perfect time :).  I'm a Michael Buble, Harry Connick, Jr., Robin Thicke, and Frank Sinatra fan so I can see why this new song caught my attention --- and I'm sure it will for the majority of you women (not to mention that Timberlake doesn't look half bad :)).. but, enjoy!  And it's always important to feel like a princess :). 

It's funny -- my dear friend, "HillStreetViewz" (http://hillstreetviewz.blogspot.com/), and I were discussing this song the other day and he has a "different take" on it than I do..  although our opinions are different, I still love him anyway :).  Who knows.. maybe he is smarter than me when it comes to critiquing.. or maybe it's because he's not as much into being a princess ....... :)