Cartoon Network isn't the Same

Cartoons make up a warm part in our childhood. It fills us with imagination, makes us laugh, makes us gasp, and usually ends with a satisfied ending. For decades, cartoons have been the primary source to bringing family together and making adults who are children at heart. With cartoons funny antics, it's easy for kids to get out a laugh. But now cartoons are one of the main things parents try to keep their kids away from. And I don't blame them.

The main TV network kids use to watch cartoons is Cartoon Network. It's been up and running for over 20 years and has been the highlight of my childhood. I grew up watching old shows like Johnny Bravo, Powerpuff Girls, Dexter's Laboratory, and Ed, Edd, and Eddy (all from the 90's). They all talked about something appropriate and funny, whether it'd be Johnny Bravo--a very arrogant Elvis impersonator, or the Powerpuff Girls-- a show that highlights girl power and being a hero. I looked up to these shows, relying that it'll be funny and something I could watch all day.

Now, there are new shows like Mad and Adventure Time that are shows full of satire, sarcasm, and inappropriate words. It's PG, which shouldn't be a problem because it warns parents of the content provided. The problem is that they are the most watched in Cartoon Network and is highly advertised because so many kids like the shows. I have to admit, some episodes are pretty funny and I guess that's what drags the kids attention. But nonetheless it's odd, weird, poorly drawn out, and doesn't have a specific message to tell. What's happening in the show is a collision of random happenings mixed with rainbows, and talking unicorns going out with a talk dog named Jake who likes to say the word crap all the time. And then the boy/dough character who goes on the many adventures in an odd faraway land you'd probably see in a family board game.

Now, I must admit, there are cartoons decades ago that proved inappropriate to kids like the classic Tom & Jerry and Looney Tunes. Looney Tunes was a show that had talking animals constantly conniving humans in cunning antics, and Tom & Jerry, a show about a cat spending every episode chasing a mouse and getting fatally hurt along the way. The mouse always wins. In Looney Tunes, Elmer Fudd has a gun, aiming to "catch that wabbit" but never does. In Tom & Jerry, heavy objects falls from the sky, and the list is endless: piano's, weights, bowling balls, iron etc...

In reality, I suppose cartoons have always been of bad influence to kids. And it's not all of them, just the small amount listed. But I kind of miss it when there were those cartoons that actually had a decent meaning. When people of all ages could laugh about it and have a good time watching it. I kind of miss when adults didn't worry about what they're kids were watching all the time and what they take from it. So can't there be an animated show out there with some positive benefits in Cartoon Network?

For more info, click here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/07/arts/I-cartoon-network-not-for-kids-094340.html
http://www.saywhatonline.org/2011/08/03/no-laughs-for-adventure-time/

The Foreign Exchange: Authenticity Review

The Foreign Exchange, a duo created by rapper Phonte Coleman and Dutch producer Nicolay has become a well known urban artist's, making R&B albums together since the early 2000's. Their collision started when rapper Phonte heard a few beats from Nicolay on an online website and asked if he could put some vocals over it. Since then, the two has been working together, making one song after another without either one talking on the phone or meeting in person. Solely sending songs and vocals through email and making albums over it truly highlights the benefits of the Internet--emphasizing the name "Foreign Exchange". And since the release of their first album Connected in 2004, the duo have become recognized by being nominated a Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the lead single Daykeeper in 2008.

Just a couple years after, Authenticity released in the fall of 2010. The songs in the album are soulful, smooth pacing, and has a slight electronic tune playing as a background. All of which was sung and rapped by lead singer Phonte, while the rhythm and beats were conducted by Nicolay. The song "The last fall" starts slow paced with soft drum beats as Phonte's voice comes up as the lead. A collision of drums begins in the middle with several electronic piano notes accompanied with a chorus of male voices. The song plays a theme of a bad break up that leaves the singer saying it's "The last time that I will ever fall in love again". He explains how there was no real love in his ex's relationship. He keeps telling himself that he'll never love again when there was no love in the first place. "And I feel like a fool for missing something that was never there." Ultimately, the song was very soulful, raw, but the beat in collision with the voices made the singers lyrics/message somewhat unclear.

However the song "Maybe she'll dream of me" made a new turn in the ordinary R&B form Foreign Exchange always did. It starts with a smooth pacing boom bap and clap as Phonte enters into the song. Phonte talks about a girl he's dreaming over, one who may be out of his league but he can't help fantasizing her. The girl he loves has a bad past with former loves in her life and she's not entirely open for another relationship, but Phonte encourages her that he's not those other guys. "But you can try and tell yourself it's all a game, I know you been only wishing for a love that goes the distance." The song holds a male acapella in the background with a rap verse in the end. This song seems to be the best from the other tracks in the album, making you want to sway side to side and sing with him.

Overall, the album is impressive, but a little slow in pace and lacks in actually dragging the listener into the song. It's hard to exactly interpret what the singer is saying. They have plenty of good beats, just not good as a duo. This would be rated a 3.

If you want more info, click here: 

http://www.last.fm/music/The+Foreign+Exchange

http://www.theforeignexchangemusic.com/