that is so four years ago

alright, something in popular culture today has made me both very happy and a little frustrated.

now before i go on a rant about this, i have a challenge for you people who read this: you may have noticed that there are two copies of the song "i'm yours" by jason mraz. listen to both.

which is better?

the first one? is this because it is the one that you hear on the radio every thirty minutes and still love even though this is the 17th time you've hear it today?

**WRONG ANSWER**

the second one is better. no opinion. fact. there is nothing better than an original. (i will already contradict this myself, some covers are better than originals, but those are exceptions, not rules) even though it is the same artist, it's a re-do. i fell in love with this song my junior year of high school. i made my friends listen to it. none of them appreciated it (except nori, my only ally). now, four years later, everyone knows and loves it.

hence my angst for popular culture. singles. those are the songs that are remembered and appreciated.

you may be thinking, "wistie, there is barely any difference between the two tracks."

*listen, if you are of this opinion, don't * talk to me about things anymore. they are completely different songs. i appreciate both, however, they are completely different.

the first one is producerized and technically tweeked. there are obviously people sitting and making this song with jason, it's not a one-on-one experience with him (there are * back-up singers, for crying out loud**), like the song is implying. the song still makes me happy, though. and there is a line that i absolutely love in it that is not available in the other song: "scooch on over closer, dear, and i will nibble your ear." good stuff, however...

the second is natural.

i can actually mentally place myself on a beach with a barely-functioning radio next to me crackling this tune into my ears, spreading chills over my ocean and sun-soaked body, and sliding my toes into the moistened sand.

or, i can just as easily imagine jason walking on said beach, at sunset of course, singing to me as i just recover from the ocean, and sit on the dividing line of the coming-and-going waves in the sand.

or, i can imagine this being the background song to a lovely scene between me and a significant someone making a connection as the sun shines and descends upon us.

the point is the second one is better. it inspires the message better. it's better performed, it's just... better.

so ask yourself this question: why do i like this song?

(the asterisks are for natascha)