Taylor Swift in London, Justin Bieber's new 'do, Zac Efron's biceps, and more

Another beautiful day out here in Southern California, although I hope to see a few more days of real winter before spring hits.

Here are links for today:

Is Taylor Swift Still Haunted By Jake Gyllenhaal Split?

Justin Bieber Debuts His Elvis Style At NRJ Music Awards In France

Zac Efron Reminds Me Why I Love Him On The Set Of 'The Paperboy'

Jennifer Lopez And Boyfriend Casper Smart Love Miami

Taylor Swift Speaks Now, August 24 At Staples

I remember the first time I heard Taylor Swift. Molly, Jackie, and I were driving to San Diego for Christmas Conference the winter of 2006. I immediately loved the music and the singer and brought it back to Berkeley where Susan and I would listen to it on repeat for the rest of the year. Actually longer. I listened to it on repeat until 2008 when it was replaced by Fearless, which would ultimately be replaced by Speak Now in 2010.

Almost five years later, Susan and I got to see Taylor Swift in concert with like 15,000 other people (including Emma Stone, the Jenners, and Jason Mraz) at the Staples Center on August 24. And like the true champs we are, we rocked the show from the back row

Holla! Although I'd love a front row seat, since I don't have the connections or the money to afford such an amenity, I am happy to accept the seat in the back that cost almost $100 (Thanks, Santa!). It is not the first time, nor will it be the last time I get to party hard in the back row.

Taylor Swift put on quite a spectacle. Acrobats swinging from giant bells, a floating balcony, a gown shaped like a pastry, 9 wardrobe changes, even more instrument changes, and Jason Mraz.

The Jason Mraz moment was probably the highlight of the show for me. I mean, Taylor Swift is wonderful and I fully enjoyed the performance and the elements added to make it intimate for all ticket holders, but Jason Mraz is so dreamy <3

The Tuesday show had Justin Bieber as a surprise guest, and when I heard that I said "Dear God, please let the Wednesday show have a better surprise guest than Justin Bieber." Evidence that God answers prayers, regardless of how ridiculous they might be:

Seriously, if Jason Mraz was not engaged I'd be so all over that. In the meantime, I've switched my attraction to Mr. Josh Groban. Josh has that totally goofy nerd thing going for him. Argh! I can't resist that in a man! Plus he has that beautiful voice...*swoon*

Anyways, to conclude:
Taylor Swift concert = enchanting fairytale
Jason Mraz = attractive (but taken) fella on the guitar
Josh Groban = my future husband

For more pictures...

Taylor Swift August 24, 2011

Exes Joe Jonas And Demi Lovato Make Nice

Sheesh, no one told me it'd been 12 days since I last posted. I promise it is not because I haven't thought about posting. I have thought so many times about posting, and there have been some pretty great things I was gonna post about too. However, words without action are just lazy.

But here is something quick because my computer battery is about to die and I want to post something now before I let another 12 days go by unposted.

Demi Lovato is about to celebrate her 19th birthday, and what a year it has been. From Joe Jonas to a treatment center to a new album, she has kind of had an eventful 18th year. Despite it all, one thing that has always been evident is that she does not want drama (ok, I realize the whole punching her friend in the face was kind of dramatic, but besides that). Demi has tried to keep things simple, unlike some stars, Demi never starts drama regarding exes or friends who have done her wrong. She keeps it civil, and I think that shows she has class.

Recently Demi performed her hit single Skyscraper for the first time at the Do Something Awards, and even took home a couple awards herself. She and ex-Joe Jonas shared the win for "Do Something Song" for their Disney duet, Make A Wave. Keeping it all professional and drama-free, the two shared congratulations last night over Twitter.

Now, I gotta admit I've been a hater of Joe Jonas for at least a year (maybe two). I mean, boy is a playa. When Taylor Swift told us how Joe broke her heart while he was giving his heart to Camilla Belle, and then Joe Jonas broke up with Demi and hooked up with Ashley Greene! Seriously, boy, you have no class.

Well, turns out that this recent exchange of friendly tweets coupled with the fact that Camilla broke Joe's heart and now the playa is no longer living with Ashley Greene, I may be warming up to the idea of him being not a total jerk.

Teen Choice Awards 2011

The west coast feed just concluded, so now its time for some highlights from the TCA...

1) Fergie's look of disgust when hubby, Josh Duhamel, lost to Ashton Kutcher for Choice Movie Actor: Romantic Comedy. I love how the cameras always pan to losers after a winner is announced. You'd think people would be better prepared for that and hold their composure.

2) Ashton Kutcher's adivce to teens during his acceptance speech, "Don't ever charge anything on a credit card if you don't already have the money in the bank to pay for it." Truth. I wish more people had told me that. Also, I think high schools should be required to teach basic home economics to ALL students because I could have used some of that to prepare for the real world. Balancing a check book, using a stove, washing your clothes, etc. I know people that I went to college with who did not have these skills.

3) Seeing Taylor Swift and Ashley Greene seated next to each other during Emma Stone's presentation of Taylor Swift as "Ultimate Choice." And those two were acting like friends, hugging and holding hands. I bet the two and Demi Lovato have an "Exes of Joe Jonas" club; of course, Camilla Belle is probably not invited to that club.

4) Ellen Degeneres winning the award for Choice Comedian. I love that woman, and her wife, they are so funny. I'm declaring them my favorite lesbian couple.

5) Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 taking the award for Choice Movie: Sci-Fi/Fantasy. Take that Twilight: Eclipse, you can't win them all. Here is a freindly picture of Tom Felton and Robert Pattinson at the TCA.

Changing the subject to something I don't understand, let's talk about Justin Bieber. I get that he has some talent and I totally have him on a mix CD in my car stereo (his song is strategically placed right after Selena Gomez's song, Rock God), but I totally don't understand his "white-boy thug" persona going on and his walking like he literally has a stick up his butt. Is that what teen girls are into these days?

Who was our generations Justin Bieber?

Sharing Time

I rarely hear from you two so let's change that. Today I'm instituting a sharing time. I'll share something about me, and you follow up with a comment about you. So, let's begin.

My first ever concert was a free concert at the LA County Fair when I was 10 years old and the performer was Weird Al. I don't know what possessed my mom to take me and my four siblings (aged 4-13) to the show except insane fandom. I dread the thought of taking a single small child to any sort of crazy hectic place like a fair or amusement park, yet my mom took her 5 children to the fair and then, after a long afternoon of doing "fun" kid stuff she braved waiting in line for general admission seating at a fairground concert with her five children arguing and whining at her feet (we were totally annoying children that grew into totally annoying adults). And now, thanks to her, I can say that my first experience into the world of concerts was Weird Al.

In honor of this, here is a new Weird Al song and video...



So, what was your first concert?

Taylor Swift Premieres New 'Mean' Video

Taylor Swift is back in America and gearing up for the sold-out Speak Now US Tour.

You know what that means?

Well, it means a lot of things, but for the purpose of this post it means that she is releasing new singles and premiering new music videos! She shot two videos back in April, and yesterday CMT premiered the first of the two, "Mean."

Mean - Taylor Swift - Taylor Swift Videos

I love so many of the songs off Speak Now because they explore new sounds and genres; it is so nice to have an album of 12-13 songs that don't sound identical. "Mean" features Taylor Swift on banjo, and demonstrates Taylor's (and her bands) ability to tackle bluegrass. Always relevant and relate-able, this new tune, aptly titled, is a song about people who have bullied or mistreated the singer. With the opening line "You, with your words like knives and swords and weapons that you use against me. You, have knocked me off my feet again and got me feeling like a nothing," Taylor goes on to say that regardless of how mean you are to me:

"Someday I'll be living in a big 'ol city and all you're ever gonna be is mean. Someday I'll be big enough so you can't hit me and all you're ever gonna be is mean. Why you gotta be so mean?"

I love it. I sing it aloud in my car to the guys who have burned me and the friends who have abandoned me. It gives me a feeling of sweet satisfaction. Also, it seriously encourages me to do something great so they'll regret ever hurting me.

They'll rue the day!

Taylor Swift Returns From Asia

Taylor Swift recently returned from Asia where she embarked on her world tour. She has yet to comment on Adam Young's Valentine song to Taylor, but in true Taylor Swift fashion, she has put together a vlog of her Asian trip to share with her fans.

Twitter Round Up: Miley Cyrus Parties With Adam Lambert

For the record, Miley Cyrus is my least favorite of the super-3 Disney tweens (I'm totally coining that phrase). However, she is always out and about doing something with someone so I can't help but post her business all up on here.

Here is Miley having fun with Mr. Adam Lambert at some event I know nothing about, but thanks to Twitter we can all pretend like it was some wild Hollywood party and pass the personal photo off as one of our own. "Oh yeah! Adam, Miley and I totally rocked that party, see this photo I took at the party? It's totally legit, we are like BFFs!"

But wait, there is more!!
Lindsay Lohan defends herself once again, John Stamos returns to Glee, Adam Lambert has some fun with Miley Cyrus, and Selena Gomez and Taylor Swift rock Asia.

Click here to see the whole gallery of tweets.

Taylor Swift and Owl City's Adam Enchant Eachother

Taylor Swift no longer names names when it comes to song muses; however, she does leave subtle hints for the guy. It was speculated that Adam Young of Owl City was the subject of the song 'Enchanted' off Taylor Swift's album 'Speak Now' and Adam has just about confirmed those rumors by writing a song to Taylor Swift.

In a blog post on Owl City's website, Adam writes:

"I decided to record something for you -- as sort of a 'reply' to the breathtaking song on your current record. This is what I wanted so badly to tell you in person but could never quite put into words."

Adam goes on to pour out some lovely compliements including: "You're an immensely charming girl with a beautiful heart and more grace and elegance than I know how to describe." And then closes his letter to Taylor by quoting her own song "I was enchanted to meet you too."

The song mimics Taylor's original, but includes some Taylor inspired lyrics like: "You were all of my dreams come true / and I just wish you knew / Taylor I was so in love with you."

Umm...adorable much?! Taylor is currently with her band (pictured above in Tokyo) on her Asain Tour, but I hope we see these two together when she gets back, how cute would that be?

To hear the song and read the full message to Taylor check out the Owl City site, here.
The new Owl City album is scheduled for release May 24, what a great way to celebrate my quarter-century.