• 20 Katy Perry -- "Teenage Dream"
• 43 Bruno Mars -- "Just The Way You Are"
• 75 Ne-yo -- "Champagne Life"
• 98 Rick Ross -- "Aston Martin Music Feat Drake & Chrisette Michelle"

It was another kind of mediocre week in the United States. Bruno Mars' new single was about as sappy as a song can possibly be. The hook is well written, and I found the instrumental during the chorus interesting because it's a little bit unconventional, in that it doesn't get that much louder, and the beat becomes more sparse. I hadn't been familiar with Ne-yo, but "Champagne Life" has proven to me that he's a Michael Jackson wannabe. His voice is incredibly similar, yet far less effective. Rick Ross's "Aston Martin Music" was disappointing; it wasn't gangster enough for me.

So, this week's top song was indeed Katy Perry's "Teenage Dream," another one written and produced by -- get this allstar lineup -- Max Martin, Dr. Luke, and Benny Blanco. Listening to pop songs crafted by these producers is what I've been trying to focus on. Indeed, the production of the song is really incredible. The way it perfectly builds without the listener even realizing is what's important to note. The beginning of "Teenage Dream" is soft, with only guitar, kick, and snare. By the chorus, they're placing a kick on every beat. By the end of the song, it's loaded with synths and distorted power chords.

These guys truly know what pop music is all about -- placing everything in just the right place. I have nearly as much respect for them as I do The Beatles, who were also geniuses of this sort. I'd even like to include Radiohead in this rant because they also share the same trait, no matter how avant-garde their music seems in relation to Katy Perry. Hell, just for reference, I picked out a random song, "No Surprises" off OK Computer. Tell me that this song is not perfectly crafted; tell me that the backing vocals around 3:00 are not perfectly placed, or that their inclusion of bells on the song isn't incredibly aware. I'll go even further -- "The National Anthem" off Kid A -- the sound effects are placed perfectly, the drum breaks are placed perfectly, the switch to the ride cymbal is perfect… everything. Even the incredibly "random" horns are placed in just the right spots. Their emphases are located to keep the listeners interest for six minutes.

I don't think this way of looking at pop music (or music in general) is disturbing, nor do I think it's necessarily formulaic. The process for these folks is organic. It's probably not written down; there is just an incredible amount of focus. It definitely takes a fantastic ear to notice what sounds good and what does not, as well as what should go where and what should not. Without this realization or outlook, I think a musician, producer, engineer, whatever, is lacking the most basic musical necessity. However, a good song should always be a good song right from the start. Whenever I hear something, I ask myself, "How would it sound if the artist were playing this song acoustic?" In the case of The Beatles, almost all could be considered "good songs" by me. In the case of "Teenage Dream," it, too would be considered good; the song itself, without any drums or instrumental build-up, is unique, catchy, and well-written. When a good song, good ears, and good production are all combined into one, outstanding music is usually the result; it's a shame most music-folk do not look at music with such a critical eye.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fj2HVYlD_4

• 19 Usher -- "DJ Got Us Falling In Love Feat Pitbull"
• 67 Darius Rucker -- "Come Back Song"
• 77 New Boyz -- "Break My Bank Feat Iyaz"
• 74 Auburn -- "La La La Feat Iyaz"
• 90 Chiddy Bang -- "Opposite Of Adults"
• 91 Hanna Montana -- "Ordinary Girl"
• 94 Monica -- "Love All Over Me"
• 98 Easton Corbin -- "Roll With It"
• 100 Rob Thomas -- "Mockingbird"

If there's anything these proclaimed "hot" songs has gotten me to realize, it's that if you listen to something many times, you like it. The song doesn't even have to be good.

Anyway, I can still pick out plenty of smelly songs this week. I was not impressed with the new Hannah Montana song, and the country songs, again, were mediocre. The new Usher song was decently annoying to me, even though it's deliciously poppy. One of the songs that actually stood out to me was Monica's "Love All Over Me." It's catchy and sexy (I guess… I'm not the expert on things sexy).

But this week, my favorite selection was Chiddy Bang's "Opposite of Adults." They sampled that weird synth from MGMT's "Kids" and put it to good use. It's stupid how you can like hip-hop songs just because of the samples they use. It seems like cheating. Oh well, I guess the rhymes are sort of fresh, nonetheless.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=McRgkE_vgjU

• 92 The Band Perry -- "If I Die Young"
• 94 Fantasia -- "Bittersweet"
• 98 Rick Ross -- "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast) Feat Styles P"
• 99 Dierks Bentley -- "Up On The Ridge"

"If I Die Young" and "Up On the Ridge" are pretty mediocre country songs. I wasn't very impressed, so I'm not even going to talk about them. Fantasia's R&B tune "Bittersweet" was also pretty awful. In this song, there is a sitar played sparsely throughout the verses; this made me laugh a hearty laugh. It's like the producers were thinking, "how can we turn this song into something unlike every other R&B song?!" "Oh! We'll put in a sitar! Yeah?" Finished!

The one song I actually did enjoy was Rick Ross's song "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast) Feat Styles P." I have no idea what he's talking about or who Larry Hoover is, but Rick Ross has a nice, obese voice, and I can really appreciate that. When I listen to the song, I feel like he is sitting on my face and suffocating me. That's a nice feeling.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V6PXkuQndA

Alone in My Room by Byron T

Aside from working on my own stuff, I've been involved in a few other various musical projects. I have been playing a couple shows a month with my cover band, Standard Groove. They are a really nice group of people, and they're seasoned musicians; it's been a huge pleasure playing with them. Plus, cover bands get paid money. Mmm money.

The other project I'm working on is Sunshine Jackson and the Temple of the Righteous Beach Party with Evan Campbell, Mark Haugen, David Maixner, and Sam Dorrance. Right now, we're working on a record and playing some small shows and open mic nights. I think the new album is sounding really good so far. Writing and working on songs with them has definitely been the most pleasurable writing experience I've ever had. They all have an incredible ear for pop music, and the melodies and harmonies are especially fantastic. Plus, they're a fun group of guys to be around.

As far as the rest of my musical life is concerned, I've been listening to a lot of Marvin Gaye lately, particularly the album What's Going On. I think it's safe to say it's my #2 favorite album, after Plastic Ono Band by John Lennon. The basslines are just incredible.

I've also been trying to listen to mainstream pop; in fact, I've started a habit of listening to the Billboard Top 100's new weekly additions. I burn a CD of all these new songs and put it in my car, and it's the only thing I can listen to in my car all week. Some of it is pure shit, but I sure appreciate the craftiness of it. Kanye West's "Power" is the best track this week, hands down, but Lil Jon's "Outta Your Mind" is just too hilarious and catchy to not mention here…

www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXvtFkIS-vc

I think that's a good note for my white, blogwriting ass to end on.

The thought of recording enters my thought process each day, and each day I do nothing, I feel awful about it. Not because my millions of fans are expecting something new to listen to, but because I feel unfulfilled. So really, this slacking will end, and I'm going to knock this bastard out of the ring. Pow! Like that. I'll give it a grade three concussion. Then more songs will enter the arena, and I won't be able to do anything but knock them out, too.

I may start posting more blogs, thoughts, and musical ideas on here as time rolls along. I don't know how many people will pay attention, but at least I'll have the satisfaction of knowing I'm beating both Byron T. Watts and Byron T Bear on Google's pagerankings. So if you're looking for a Byron T page, don't go to the competitors. You have all you need right here. In the meantime, grab a snack or perhaps a beverage and enjoy the rest of your time on the computer.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTvcGlyOxvk

Since this is a web LOG, I thought it would be a cool idea to log the progression of a song on its long, strenuous journey. Like a lot of my songs, this one was conceived whilst messing around on the piano and singing jive. The current key it's being played in is F, but as the strain in my voice shows, it might have to be moved down a half-step or two. Still, I think it sounds neato and delightfully poppy.

Basically, what you're seeing and hearing now is a very rough version of the song. The next post, hopefully to be completed in the next two or three days, will be the final version of the song and will have a sweet freakin' video. This two-video format will be the way most songs will be posted on this site, so pay attention, damn it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=roJBpC2eZ_4