Jennifer Lawrence and Michael Moore are Right: Now's the Time to Work

For many people, right now is mourning time in America, because Donald Trump is set to become President come January next year, and nothing can change this.

But for some smarter heads, now's the time to get to work. Several celebrities, including most prominently Jennifer Lawrence and Michael Moore, have effectively said that now's the time to stand up for your values and make them work. And I couldn't agree more.

You know, as great a President Obama has been, relying on the government to stand against racism, bigotry and homophobia is not the way to go. It is neither a responsible or reliable way to improve society. A silver lining of Trump's election may just be that people will take responsibility for the world around them. People will have no choice but to stand up for their own values and be their champion. People will have no choice but to get politically involved, to campaign against unwanted policies.

And for that, America (and indeed the rest of the world) may emerge a better place in four years' time.

Will Lena Dunham, Barbara Streisand and Miley Cyrus Move to Canada? Hopefully Not.

Donald Trump has won the US Presidential election, regretfully for many people.

Earlier this year, Lena Dunham said she would move to Canada if Trump became president. Several other celebrities, including Miley Cyrus and Barbara Streisand, also signalled their intention to leave the US.

Of course now, the question is will these celebrities flee from the US, as they said they would. It appears that Lena Dunham will not, at least.

I actually hope that nobody leaves the US because of Donald Trump. There are a few reasons why. Firstly, this would be surrender. It would also be what Trump supporters want to see. Secondly, there would be fewer pro-liberty and pro-equality people in the US fighting against the Trump agenda. Finally, there would be fewer votes to count on in 2020, when Trump can actually be defeated.

Moreover, leaving doesn't change the fact that your family and friends will still be living under Trump. You won't be able to escape this fact, even if you move halfway across the world.

So Americans, please, please stay and stand up for your values in these difficult times. Even as an individual you have a lot to contribute.

I Endorse Hillary Clinton for US President

Firstly, I must say that I'm not American. So feel free to ignore what I say.

But for next week's presidential elections, I am endorsing Hillary Clinton.

I'm not saying that she is the perfect choice, but for me she was the best among all the candidates, even at the beginning of the year, before the field was narrowed down to two. This is because, among all the candidates running for the two main parties, Hillary seems to be the only person who has any respect for the idea of liberty. She's not religious right, isolationist, ultra nationalist, or anti economic freedom. And that makes her the most qualified candidate, in my opinion.

Of course, this is just my view. You are welcome to disagree, respectfully.

Congrats on 10 Years, Taylor Swift

This month marks 10 years since the 2006 release of Taylor Swift's first album.

So congratulations, you've really come a long way.

By the way, any new music soon?

Tom Hiddleston on the False Stories Out There

When Tom Hiddleston was recently asked what he had learned about the culture of celebrity in recent weeks, he gave quite an interesting response. One thing he said was that there are lots of false stories out there, and the important thing was to not let those false stories affect one's life.

Fans of both Tom and Taylor Swift (and unfortunately Taylor haters too) immediately jumped to analyse those comments.

While I don't think there's anything in there regarding their relationship, what he said is quite true. And while the culture of celebrity, with all the media attention, allows quicker spread of false rumours, this problem is not limited to celebrities, especially in the age of social media.

It's something we should all take time to think about, really.


Download the full song here.

At Least Taylor Swift Helps Out

One reason, we suspect, that some people dislike Taylor Swift is because she is rich, and she was always rich too. She is, perhaps, the ultimate reminder that life is not fair, at least to some people.

But hey, let's not hate her for that. Because, at least, she uses her money to help out. Just this year, she's helped a cancer patient with their treatment, she's helped Kesha in her legal battles, and now she's helping the Louisiana flood victims, donating a million dollars their way.

I mean, wealth inequality is a fact in our society, unfortunately. But if some people must be rich, at least let them be those who will use it well.

When Ivanka Trump can't just Enjoy Her Jewellery, we've collectively Sunk to a New Low

Ivanka Trump recently ordered some Jewellery online, and she received something she didn't expect: a handwritten note notifying her that the proceeds from her purchase have been donated to, amongst other organisations, the Hillary Clinton campaign.

I get the people behind this really hate Donald Trump.

But this is still uncalled for. A real Princess would never do this. It is, in my opinion, trashy behaviour.

Sure, they are welcome to donate to Hillary's campaign. But this, in my opinion, has been deliberately done out of contempt for the Trumps. After all, nobody else ordering the jewellery has received something like this. And while it is okay to have a strong opinion about Donald Trump's politics, it's not okay to bully his family to make your point. Indeed, if this kind of behaviour ever becomes acceptable and normal in society, we will have become less civilised for it.

Sometimes, everyone should just remember, our political opponents are people too.

Wholesome Music of the Month: LeAnn Rimes - The Story

I know 'wholesome' and 'LeAnn Rimes' appearing in the same sentence is controversial. But this is about the music, not the person.

LeAnn Rimes has been unpopular with quite some people ever since her affair several years ago, but I think it's time we move on from that and just give her music another chance. I'm not excusing her behaviour there, but sometimes we just need to forgive what happened in the past. After all, her music is better than most of the stuff out there. And at least she doesn't SING about having affairs, like some other 'artists' regrettably do. And the song is indeed a 'meaningful' love song.

Anyway, here's her latest, a cover of The Story. Check it out:

Cara Delevingne wouldn't use the 'gay' label, but doesn't mind it either

Cara Delevingne recently said that she was very happy in her relationship with her girlfriend. However, she wouldn't put a label on it, and wouldn't call herself 'gay'. On the other hand, she wouldn't mind other people calling her that, either. What do we think?

Tara: Well, straight people don't go around calling themselves straight, so if there's to be equality, we shouldn't expect people in same-sex relationships to need to have a label if they don't want to.

Katie: I agree. She should just do what she wants to, and people have to accept that.

Jess: I don't see what difference it makes. People are calling her gay anyway, and she doesn't mind anyway.

Tara: It does make a difference. People may call you straight or heterosexual, and you likely don't mind, but what nobody expects you to do is to go around saying that you are 'proudly straight' or something like that. So Cara's attitude is another step towards equality.

Jess: OK, I see it now.


Download the full song here.

We're sick of Kim Kardashian and her corsets over loose clothing

I have lost count of the number of times Kim Kardashian has appeared in public dressed in some combination of loose-fitting clothes and a corset. Some are even speculating that she may be attempting at starting a trend, a trend that does not appear to be happening at all.

And why is it not happening? Maybe because it just doesn't look good. It's time that Kim K realised that people won't just copy what she does because she's doing it. Corsets over loose clothing just doesn't look good.

Of course, Kim K is free to not take our advice. It's not likely that she will, either. In that case, it would be her choice to look ugly then.

Hailee Steinfeld revealed she does not spend that much time with Taylor Swift. Another authenticity problem for Taylor?

Hailee Steinfeld's recent revelation (in a magazine interview) that she doesn't actually spend that much time together with Taylor Swift has apparently given the anti-Swifties another piece of 'evidence' about Taylor being 'fake'.

But let's look at this closer. People do have lives to live and things to do, and you wouldn't expect someone as busy as Taylor Swift to be able to spend time with her friends every day, right?

Perhaps the expectation that Taylor and her team have to see each other almost every week or so comes from a very teenage-centered perspective. You know, in high school people meet every day, and hang out with their friends every day. But real life isn't school, and when there's work to do, people often only see their friends once every several months, if they are even lucky enough for this. It's one of the main reasons some extraverted people start to feel 'lonely' in their mid to late twenties, and a major factor for the start of a quarter life crisis. (In fact, 'unpopular kids' in school should be happy knowing the fact that by 25 almost everyone ends up with only a few 'real' friends who they don't see very often).

So people have been making something out of nothing again. But that isn't surprising, right?

Selena Gomez - Same Old Love (cover/parody)

Justin Bieber appears to have mocked Taylor Swift on Instagram. Bad career move for the Biebs?

Justin Bieber has inserted himself into the Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian and Kanye West feud (otherwise known as the Taylor vs Kimye saga). All it took was an instagram post. So, bad career move?

Tara: I think so. Getting involved in others' business is not a good look. Justin's sort of recovering from a poor image, and this shatters any illusion of a 'changed man', so to say. He'll probably lose wavering fans who recently gave him a 'second chance' over this.

Jess: I think he's just doing it for the attention, and he's got it. So it may not be a bad career move.

Tara: This may be true from the 'any publicity is good publicity' school of thought. But in the real world, that's not really the case.

Jess: So the Biebs is a bad boy. I don't think people necessarily dislike that.

Tara: Some probably do. When Justin was in trouble about two years ago, his popularity certainly wasn't where it was back in around 2010, when he was a 'good boy'. Recently there appears to have been some recovery in his reputation. People have been giving him a second chance, because he's staying out of trouble. Until now.

Katie: As I've said all along, that boy really needs some tough love. I say people should boycott his music until he learns his lesson.

Tara: You see, Jess? For everyone that doesn't mind bad behaviour, there's someone else who does. And if you want to be Mr Popular, you don't go around pissing people off. I wouldn't advocate a boycott, but I hope Justin grows up. It's clear he still has a lot to learn, and if he doesn't learn it quickly, his career may be all over very soon.

How Adele may have Started a Revolution at her recent Seattle Concert

Adele isn't known for starting revolutions. But then, she might have just done so, in a recent concert in Seattle.

During the concert, Adele spotted a drag impersonator of herself in the crowd, and invited her on stage. It turns out that it was a dream come true for Kristie Champaigne, who has been regularly impersonating the singer twice a week.

Drag queens impersonating famous and glamours women are nothing new. But they generally get no attention or acknowledgement from their idols. I'm sure many such impersonators have attended the concerts and other events of their idols. It just hasn't been 'the norm' for stars to acknowledge their impersonators. It's just the way things have always been. But like everything, maybe it's time for a change. After all, these people have put in so much effort to look like you. If I were lucky enough to have a drag impersonator (not that it's likely at all), I would definitely make the effort to acknowledge them.

We hope this trend catches on. I'm sure that Beyonce, Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift have plenty of drag impersonators too, after all.

Related: Adele's Hello: The Other Side of the Story?

Idina Menzel covering Wind Beneath My Wings by Bette Midler? It looks likely in 2017!

Here at the TaraElla show, we all love Let It Go, especially the Idina Menzel version. You see, I even made a cover of it, with slightly altered lyrics:


Let It Go effectively introduced the great voice of Idina Menzel to the world (the part of the world that doesn't watch Glee or go to Broadway shows, anyway). And even without the extensive commercial promotion that top 40 charting usually requires, it peaked at #5 on the Billboard top 100 in 2014. I was wishing and waiting for it to grab that top spot, but sadly, it didn't happen.

But now, there may finally be a chance for Idina to get that number one. She has signed on for a remake of the 1988 classic movie Beaches, which features the Bette Midler classic Wind Beneath My Wings. The movie premiers on Lifetime in 2017. The question is: will she get to sing Wind Beneath My Wings? I think it's likely.

Will they release it for downloads? I hope so. It might just give her that chart topper.

Chloe Grace Moretz is Proud to Share her Voting Intentions, also Encourages You To Vote

Chloe Grace Moretz has told the world she is proud to be voting for Hillary Clinton as a first time voter.

So why is that significant? Because it adds another voice in the conversation that is politics. A conversation that is important to have for the sake of a healthy democracy, but a conversation many people won't have because they think it's boring. Therefore, who better than a young and popular actress to help kickstart the conversation?

Chloe also highlighted the fact that the vast majority of young adults did not vote in the 2014 mid-term elections, that they could have made a difference but that they did not. This is something I have felt passionately about for a long time. If young people don't enrol or don't vote, we don't get to have a say on the future, as a demographic. This would be ironic, since we are most affected by the future. It is why young people care the most about issues like climate change.

So thank you Chloe. And for the fencesitters, yes, you should go out and enrol to vote, and turn up on polling day. Your future, our future, will depend on it.

Hello by Adele for 2016 MTV VMAs! (And please don't let it be Famous by Kanye)

The nomination for this year's MTV Video Music Awards are in, and they are...

Hello by Adele
Formation by Beyonce
Hotline Bling by Drake
Sorry by Justin Bieber
Famous by Kanye West

You know, I love Hello. Here it is:


And I even made a cover (or parody) about the supposed 'other side of the story':



So Hello is definitely my choice.

I wouldn't be disappointed if Beyonce, Justin Bieber or Drake win though. On the other hand, I believe we should all protest loudly if that misogynist piece of crap called Famous wins. I believe, at least, all the Swifties out there would agree with me. It would be, among other things, the ultimate put down of Taylor Swift.

Ruby Rose, Cara Delevingne and More: can we say that Taylor Swift's Friendship Circle is Queer-Inclusive?

TaraElla: Maybe Taylor Swift does stand for something important, after all. The other day I read this article which pointed out that her friendship circle is in fact very queer inclusive. There was even this photo of Taylor and about a dozen of her friends. In there was Ruby Rose and her girlfriend, and Cara Delevingne and her girlfriend. That's about 25% queer, about 12 times the population average. I don't think this inclusiveness is deliberate, but it's good that she's doing this.

Jess: I rather think she decided there should be an LGBT quota because it would look good.

Katie: I'm with Jess here. It looks calculated, just like many of Taylor Swift's other activities.

TaraElla: If it were calculated, shouldn't the quota be more like 2%, in line with the population average?

Jess: I just think she has set the quota super high to make her look super-inclusive. But anyway, it would still send a good message to young people out there.

TaraElla: I still disagree that somehow this isn't genuine, but I think we can agree that by being so inclusive she's doing something great, setting an example for girls out there.

Katie: But seriously, who cares what Taylor Swift does? I don't, and I never will.

TaraElla: You may not care, but quite a few people out there do, and she has set a great example for them. So at least, she has done her bit to change the world.

Did she just get slammed as part of the Taylor Swift vs Kimye Feud, or does Selena Gomez really not Speak Up Enough?

During the recent twitter wars that was part of the Taylor vs Kimye feud, Selena Gomez tweeted that there were more important things to talk about, in response to Taylor haters getting all excited about her supposed 'downfall'. Trouble was that, she was soon criticised for not talking about the 'more important things', like the recent issues of gun violence and police brutality. And then some Latinos even suggested that, as a Latina, she didn't talk about Latino issues enough.

TaraElla: I think Selena should just be herself, and if it means what she is right now, then there's nothing wrong with that. There are plenty of other people to support those causes.

Jess: I really think it's just part of the feud. I think they were just out to get Selena. She should just ignore them.

Katie: But it's true that Selena appears to almost stand for nothing. It's sad when you could have helped changed the world, but don't.

TaraElla: But the important point is that, if she doesn't want to support a cause or take a political stand, that should be fine. There should be no pressure for people to say or do certain things, if they are not comfortable doing so. The fact that she is a Latina also doesn't mean she needs to be a champion for her race. My point is, nobody should ever be pressured into roles they aren't comfortable with.

Jess: The other thing is, the world isn't just all about social justice warriors, after all. Some people just want to be entertainers, and that's fine.

Selena Gomez - Same Old Love (cover/parody)




Download the full song here.

The Donald Trump Campaign Continues to Use Queen Song, Despite Being Told Not To

The Donald Trump campaign has used the Queen song We Are The Champions again, despite already being told by the band to stop doing so, that they disappove of the use.

I think this is very disrespectful. The Trump campaign may think they can legally use the music as long as it's licenced, but I still think it's very disrespectful, especially coming from someone who is running for President.

If I were his advisor I would advise that this should stop. (But then again, does he even listen to advice, I wonder?)

Adele - Hello (cover/parody)

Download the full song here.

Whether #KimExposedTaylorParty is Real or Not, Taylor Swift Needs to Improve her Image

Let me start by saying this. I still stand with Taylor in her current feud with Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. I remain a Taylor supporter, and I write this like every other piece of advice I give, just to try to help.

But after my conversation with Katie and Jess, I suddenly realised this. Many people out there have always doubted Taylor's authenticity, and that's what makes her vulnerable to accusations like these. For quite a few people out there, they have always been picturing in their minds that Taylor was a fake, cooking up drama for publicity all the time, and this is their 'proof'. The many 'personalities' Taylor has displayed over the years have meant that people think they don't know what she stands for, that she may have been faking it all along.

Which brings me back to 2009, why I began to like Taylor, and why I so strongly argued that she deserved those awards back then, more so than her competition (Beyonce and Lady Gaga being the main ones back then). I liked that Taylor had values, and really stood for something. Sure, Lady Gaga was known to be gay friendly. But that had become almost a generic stance everyone took, even back then. On the other hand, Taylor Swift stood for things people may not necessarily like, that were not what mainstream celebrities were likely to talk about. I don't know if you still remember it, but she received a lot of hate for her You Belong With Me video for its supposed 'slut shaming' imagery and also for her song Fifteen (which was actually one of my favourite Taylor songs). Of course that criticism was almost ridiculous, but the hate was real, and I believe it was because she stood for something. I still remember reading one commentator being impressed by the fact that Taylor took the effort to express appreciation for her mom, something that could potentially make her look uncool in the entertainment world, but she did it anyway. Let's hope this Taylor comes back. Agree with her or not, you have a good idea of what Taylor Swift was all about.

Fast forward to today. Taylor Swift may not be 'fake' as her haters say, but she doesn't appear to stand for any particular values solidly either. She has become a 'generic popstar', if you like. She may still have many haters, but they hate her for being 'fake', not for her values. If she stood her ground like she did back then, nobody could say that she's fake. I guess that's what she should do again.

Taylor Swift vs Kanye West and Kim Kardashian: Is it Really #TaylorSwiftOverParty or Not?

Ever since Kim Kardashian's release of those SnapChat coversations between Taylor Swift and Kanye West, there has been polarised discussion, not only regarding whether the Kimye version was a true reflection of events, but also regarding whether Taylor Swift is 'fake and calculating', as some commentators have put it. Some anti-Taylor commentators have even (perhaps prematurely) said that Taylor's image is coming apart, that fans will now desert her.

TaraElla: So like all stories, there are now two version of events. And I am inclined to back Taylor's, on the overall evidence. It was stupid for Kanye to come up with his idea anyway, of revisiting those events in 2009. Taylor has been the victim of bullying in this event, and in anything relating to this event, I believe Taylor deserves to be believed more than Kanye. (A potential 'conflict of interest' declaration here: I was a major supporter of Taylor Swift's claim to those awards back in 2009, as readers of my blog and column may remember.)

Katie: But doesn't this all go back to the long-standing accusation that Taylor Swift has been fake all along? I mean, would the real Taylor Swift please stand up? It's almost like in the You Belong With Me music video, except that there has been more than two of her. For example, there's country princess Taylor, there's the Taylor from the Begin Again video, there's the Taylor we see now, and I think there have been more Taylors in between. All these seem like different people to me. In the beginning, when I only saw one single Taylor Swift, I quite liked her. But now? I really don't know if I like her, because, I don't really like ALL the Taylors I have seen. If she doesn't address this problem soon enough, it will eventually be #TaylorSwiftOverParty whether involving Kimye or not.

Jess: I'm with Katie here. If so many people think that Taylor is fake, and she cannot prove otherwise, then her authenticity deserves to be doubted. This is not to say Kim and Kanye are to be trusted either. I don't think Taylor's career is over or anything like that however. People like her, and don't care whether she's fake or not. I even read an article somewhere saying that Taylor Swift is a brilliant popstar because she is fake.

TaraElla: I guess people can change over time. That doesn't necessarily prove that they are fake. I've heard it all before, but I've yet to see evidence that Taylor Swift is indeed fake in any way.

Katie: But take, for example, her attitude on feminism. It was not long ago that she said it was not about 'boys vs girls'. Now she's soooooo feminist. It doesn't look believable to me.

Jess: Maybe she's just been 'educated'? I don't know, I'm just saying it's possible. Some people may do this. Still, with Taylor Swift, I don't have the confidence that she is acting real.

TaraElla: I guess you two may have a point about Taylor, at least that she may have 'confused' many people with her rapid personality changes. Maybe she should address this. Still, I tend to see this as an extension of 2009, Kanye as the bully and Taylor as the victim. You have to remember that it was a Kanye song that started it all, too.

Lady Gaga finally gets Driver's Licence at 30. (There should be no shame in that!)

Lady Gaga recently shared that she finally received her driver's licence, at age 30. She revealed that she only had a learner's permit all this time, even as she was a major global superstar.

And I think it was terrific that she shared this with us. There's a major cultural expectation that people should get the licences when they are teenagers. But the truth is, people 'develop' at different speeds in different aspects, and this expectation is very unhealthy.

The culture needs to change, and Lady Gaga has at least started a conversation. Good on you!

Download the full song here.

Mila Kunis on Photoshop is Spot On. I Hope the Industry Listens

In a recent magazine interview, Mila Kunis shared her views on photoshopping. She put it this way: it's like if somebody wanted her name, but they didn't want what she really looked like.

I think this is the best argument against photoshopping I've heard so far (not that there aren't many other good arguments).

I hope the industry listens. But if they don't (as likely), I suggest that celebrities start insisting that their names should not be used on photos that have been edited to not look like them, because that would be false advertising. Why would they want to do that, you may ask. Well, I believe the first few celebrities to start insisting on this would gain loads of public respect, and the rest would just have to follow, thereby ending this unhealthy culture of photoshopping.

Download the full song here.

Kim Kardashian's Waist is Scary, Photoshop, Corset or Not.

Kim Kardashian has been causing controversy in her appearance on Fergie's latest music video. Specifically, it has to do with her ultra-slim waist, which many accused her of photoshopping. She later hit back, denying any photoshopping, suggesting instead the use of a corset.

But let's take a look at this again. Who would want such a waist? The proportions are not natural at all, and it frankly looks scary. And scary ain't beautiful.

Maybe someone should take the Fergie video and indeed Photoshop Kim to look more normal by increasing her waist size. Ironically, that would make her look much better.

Mila Kunis apologized to Mom for being a Difficult Teenager. More of us should do that, I think.

In a recent magazine interview, Mila Kunis admitted to being a difficult teenager in the past, and she even apologised to her mom when she was 21.

Let's face it. Most of us were difficult in some way as teenagers (or even when a bit older), and we probably do owe our parents an apology.

I think we should make this a popular thing to do. Take your mom (or dad) out to dinner, and make the apology sincere. And tell them how much you actually appreciate them, now that you are older.

Daniel Radcliff Leaves Door Open on Returning as Harry Potter

J.K. Rowling is releasing a new Harry Potter book soon, and fans have been getting their hopes up that Daniel Radcliffe returns to the role in a future movie. Daniel himself has said that it's not the right time yet, but he doesn't rule it out eventually, pointing to what has happened with Star Wars.

So can we take that as a 'yes, maybe'? I think so.

As an author myself I can see the appeal of the Harry Potter books, and why fans want more and more of it. But I actually think that many of the actors would want to move on by now. I would, if it were me. You know, they have a life too, they are not wizards and witches in real life.

Idina Menzel - Let It Go (cover/parody)

Latest Taylor Swift Rumour: Hiddleswift just an extended Music Video? I hope not.

Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston's new romance is the talk of the town, and they continued to capture everyone's attention when they recently arrived in Australia.

However, there has recently been a popular conspiracy theory, claiming that the pair are only together as part of an extended promotion for one of Taylor's upcoming music videos.

I surely hope it's not true. The entertainment industry already has a reputation of not taking commitment and relationships seriously, such as 48-hour and 72-day 'mini marriages' (not naming names here), but if this were true it would be a new low. And since Taylor Swift has long been a beacon of decency in the industry (not withstanding her multiple romances), I would be particularly disappointed.

Let's hope that Taylor is better than this.

Justin Bieber's Parole Ends, but Will He Behave Himself Now?

It has been reported that Justin Bieber's parole has officially ended, and that he is a free man again. The question on everyone's lips is, of course, will he behave himself this time?

I would surely avoid trouble again if I were him. But I have also got this advice for him: everyone needs some goals in their life. I think that when people lose direction in their life they are more likely to end up doing stupid things. But when people have dreams they really believe in and plans to achieve those dreams, they will be on their best behaviour easily. (It applies to everyone in life, really.)


Download the full song here.

Sydney Lights Up in the Princess's Spirit Colours

Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston: Another Name for Another Blank Space?

Much has been said about the new romance between Taylor Swift and Tom Hiddleston. Having only broken up with Calvin Harris very recently, Taylor has moved onto yet another relationship. This has, predictably, generated a lot of 'new' interest in Taylor Swift's Blank Space, originally released in 2014. In fact, almost everyone I know have been listening to that song again lately.

So Calvin Harris is just now another name on Taylor's list of ex's, and, well, most of my friends expect Tom Hiddleston to be 'written in the next blank space'. But then there are recently news reports that Taylor is truly happy now. I say, if that's the case, good for her. I mean, people should stop being so judgemental of Taylor Swift and her 'long list of boyfriends'. After all, she hadn't even been engaged to anyone of them, there's no commitment there. I'm sure that when she's married one day, this list of ex's will finally come to an end. Maybe Tom can even be 'the one' for her. Who knows?

Does Taylor Swift really have Racist Fans? (If so, she should put an end to it.)

It has been recently reported in some media outlets that Taylor Swift now has a white supremacist fanbase, who believe she may be a secret supporter of their cause.

I'm sure that is rubbish. Imagining Taylor Swift as a white supremacist is as ridiculous as imagining Barack Obama as a homophobe. The picture simply doesn't fit.

Nevertheless, if I were Taylor, ridiculous as it is, I wouldn't let this 'speculation' float around. I would come straight out and extinguish any misconceptions racists may have regarding my 'agenda'. It would put an end to any sick fantasies those racist types may have. In public life, actions like these are necessary and responsible, I believe.

Calvin Harris Doesn't Want to Date Celebrities Anymore

It has been reported in TMZ that Calvin Harris doesn't want to date celebrities anymore, as he now thinks they are narcissistic.

I think he may have a point there. Most people think that celebrities are narcissistic because they are rich and 'famous', but I don't think that's the reason. I think that celebrities are trained to be narcissistic as part of their job. When your 'public image' is your everything, the very thing that determines if you have a career or not, and you also have to protect it from attacks from all directions, it's hard not to become somewhat narcissistic.

If celebrities are narcissistic, it's not their fault. It's the system's fault.

Download the full song here.

Charlie Puth - One Call Away (cover/parody)

Chloe Moretz Wanted Plastic Surgery at 16

Chloe Moretz recently opened up about having wanted to have plastic surgery in the past, when she was 16. Whilst most of us agree that there has never been anything wrong with her, she said she wanted to have multiple procedures done.

The culture of unhealthy and stupid 'beauty standards' really does affect everyone. And it's still being upheld everywhere, despite some people paying lip service to changing things (heard it all before, even ten years ago).

Sadly, big media is never likely to change much in this respect, I've seen enough to know not to expect more of them. However, we can help change things, if only a bit, and if only bit by bit. It is up to independent writers, journalists and advocates like us to challenge these unhealthy ideas, and it's the only hope we have.


Download the full song here.

Wholesome Music of the Month: Lauren Alaina - Like My Mother Does

Whatever else you may like, we all need a dose of wholesome music in our lives, just like how we all need wholesome healthy food. It's good for your life, I promise.

It's not new, but it's still great, as always.

Check it out:

Adele - Hello (cover/parody)

Meghan Trainor - No (cover/parody)

Why I DON'T Want to be Meghan Trainor, thank you

So Meghan Trainor's new song is all about telling us that we would want to be her, (instead of being ourselves).



What a rubbish idea! It's important that we all be true to ourselves, and never copy anyone else or wish we were anyone else.

Frankly, I'm disappointed, Meghan. You have always been about empowerment of people, and acceptance of who they are. And now you want people to envy you, be like you? I hope you're not turning into another celebrity with a big ego.

Selena Gomez - Same Old Love (cover/parody)

Making this was really fun!

Lessons for Social Justice: Political Correctness and the Rise of Donald Trump

Donald Trump may just be the most divisive presidential candidate in our times. Countless number of celebrities have spoken about him recently, some very strongly (Jennifer Lawrence comes to mind here). Whilst he would not have my vote if I could vote in the US, and many of my friends outrightly hate him (I would not go that far), I am indeed interested in his growing appeal to so many people out there.

And so I did my research. What I found was that a substantial portion of his supporters support him mainly because he is anti political correctness. Whilst I would think that's an inadequate reason to support someone to be the president, I understand their frustrations. I have personally had my fair share of frustrations with the increasing political correctness in our culture, for example as a staunch supporter of marriage equality who really couldn't agree with some of the ways fellow equality supporters have automatically labelled as homophobic those who don't agree with us (I believe they have an equal right of conscience), or as a dedicated feminist who nevertheless couldn't bring herself to agree with affirmative action. And it's not just conservatives who are concerned about political correctness anymore. Even Barack Obama, the most progressive US President in history, has spoken out against political correctness. The fact is that political correctness operates to deny people of their freedom of speech and conscience, and this is simply illiberal and unacceptable.

Real social justice is also harmed by political correctness. It means that we don't have the opportunity to discuss issues important to each of us. Free speech has always been the friend of the oppressed in history, from women denied even the right to vote, to LGBT people whose stories were shut out by the mainstream, to scientists whose new discoveries challenged the establishment at the time. History has shown clearly that we cannot give up, or compromise even a tiny bit, on the sanctity of free speech. So whether we like or hate Donald Trump, whether we are progressive, liberal, moderate or conservative, I believe we should all unite to defeat political correctness, once and for all.

Why We Should Not Give Up on Feeling Special

Many people of our generation have been brought up by adults who tell us that we are special, and many of us have therefore felt that way throughout our earlier years. In fact, more people than ever before have grown up believing that they are destined to do something special in this world.

But living in this world is challenging. Coupled with a not-very-good economy and an epidemic of quarter life crises hitting our generation, there has recently been a backlash against this idea. Perhaps we should just aim to be 'average', like all those who came before us.

But that would be tragic, I believe. Everyone has something special to contribute, and it may not be apparent yet (especially for people in their teens, twenties and thirties), but one day you will see it, as long as you keep the faith. Even if all life has given you is lemons thus far, you have the responsibility to make your own unique lemonade from it. One day, it may be a best selling lemonade, after all.

When The World Doesn't Know You're Special

Download the full song here.

We think Demi Lovato is Right to take a stand re North Carolina's Bathroom Laws

Demi Lovato has been a prominent voice indeed in the fight against North Carolina's stupid 'bathroom laws', which are currently opposed by the Obama administration. Not only has she cancelled her recent concerts in the state (i.e. putting her beliefs ahead of financial gain), she is also selling a new shirt supporting 'bathroom equality', one which she has worn recently in her shows. Some have questioned why she is taking such dramatic action.

(A bit of background here: North Carolina has proposed new laws rigidly stating that one cannot legally enter a bathroom for the opposite sex, which is clearly aimed at the transgender population. There is clearly no need for this type of laws, apart from making life hard for some people.)

We think it's important for us to stand up against the bullying of minorities, and it's even more important for people who have a large audience reach to do so. Nothing will change, if we all just stay silent or half-heartedly voice our opinions and do nothing else. Thanks to people like Demi, more people have learnt about this issue, and are pressuring states like NC not to proceed with such stupid actions. So good on you, Demi!

So Taylor Swift's Presentation is considered Conservative? It shouldn't be just relative, you know.

Recently, I've overheard some people question why Taylor Swift's presentation has remained quite 'conservative', compared with others in the music industry. There was even a suggestion that she may be 'dog whistling' to more conservative elements of society.

Excuse me, Taylor Swift's presentation as conservative? It's like saying that the Westboro Baptist Church has remained quite mild in their homophobia, compared with homophobes in Africa. Relative comparisons like that are meaningless, and are eroding the meaning of our words and our language.

In my modest opinion, whilst not meaning to be judgemental, I actually prefer Taylor Swift's presentation style prior to 2014, when she was, in fact, more modest. Whilst I fully respect those who don't see it the same way as myself, there is always a moral virtue in presenting modestly, I believe. It's not for 'dog whistling' to conservatives.

Listening to Hailee Steinfeld: Is Life all a matter of Perspective?

I've been listening to Hailee Steinfeld's new single Rock Bottom a lot these few weeks, and I've been having trouble picturing what she means by the 'right side of rock bottom' and how one can 'keep falling' from there. I've asked a few of my friends, and they don't seem to know either.

One friend, who just came out of a life crisis and a bad relationship, did remark to me that she may be at 'the right side of rock bottom', having just come out of rock bottom itself. She certainly didn't want to 'keep falling' though.

Does anyone want to 'keep falling' in life or in relationships though? Initially I thought no, but then, Hailee did say she 'hope that we keep falling', right? Given that some people like to ride roller-coasters (not me), the idea that there's an appeal in 'falling' sure makes some sense.

Why's there a song celebrating the idea of 'rock bottom' anyway? Wouldn't one hate to be there?

Life's confusing. But maybe it's all a matter of perspective.

Anyway, have a listen and tell me what you think.

Meghan Trainor's No - Feminist or Not?

Ever since Meghan Trainor's No came out a few weeks ago, my friends have been arguing over whether it should be classed as a feminist anthem or not. On one side is the argument that it should be, because it encourages and empowers women to reject unwelcome advances from men. On the other side is the argument that a song like that actually achieves nothing much, and nothing will change just because of it.

Both arguments look valid. However, let me offer this thought:

Cultural change is a gradual process, made up by many small events and actions. There's no one big act that will change the world, rather, every little bit will help.

So there it is. I believe Meghan Trainor's No is indeed a feminist anthem. Case closed.

The rise of Donald Trump, Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn - Does it really mean people are dissatisfied?

The recent rise of 'outsider' politicians with radically different agendas to what we're used to has raised discussions in many quarters as to whether people have become very dissatisfied with the world we are living in.

I think the answer is 'yes'. People feel like their politicians are not reflecting their beliefs, that their democracy is 'broken', and that they don't have the true freedom to be who they want to be in life. They feel like the ability to get ahead in life is no longer there. People everywhere are feeling this, from twenty-somethings in quarter life crises to older adults who have been made redundant and yet cannot afford retirement. They also feel like the decisions about our future is not being made by them, that they are not being listened to by the political class. In other words, representative democracy has become unrepresentative.

Whilst I can understand why people are looking to the likes of Trump, Sanders and Corbyn, I also believe that they are not the answer. Not that any politician is, anyway.

I believe we need to fix our system, badly. For example, there should be more emphasis on liberty, and politicians on all sides should be focussing on the concept of liberty and 'living together' in a liberal society. Representative democracy should also be supplemented by an increased use of direct democracy in the form of regular plebiscites or referrenda, in my opinion. A decisive victory for climate action at the ballot box will stop any further protesting from corporate interests, for example.

Furthermore, it's dangerous to look to our politicians to solve everything. We need to remember that not everything needs to be done by the government, and that non-governmental solutions are often better. Inspiring people, lifting people up from a feeling of helplessness, is a collective responsibility, for example. Governments cannot do that. Speaking up against those forces which are making people feel oppressed, which is clearly not limited to our governments, is also a collective responsibility. Only broad-based discussion and consensus in society will push those forces back. Finally, changing the culture so that 'outsiders' are not excluded anymore, including but not limited to combating racism, sexism, homophobia and disability discrimination, is something we all need to do, together.

Wholesome Music of the Month: Kelsea Ballerini - Peter Pan

Whatever else you may like, we all need a dose of wholesome music in our lives, just like how we all need wholesome healthy food. It's good for your life, I promise.

Kelsea Ballerini is the most promising young country star since Taylor Swift, in my opinion. Peter Pan is the latest (I think third?) single from her current album, and I think it's one of her best.

Check it out:

The Hunger Games, Divergent, and... Do we need more future dystopias? (Part 1)

Many futuristic dystopias have landed with great impact on the book and movie worlds in recent years, with The Hunger Games series and the Divergent series probably being the most popular. The appeal of this genre is undeniable.

Why do people love future dystopias? I think the answer can be found in the fact that these stories revolve around strong characters, who survive and don't bend their principles in the face of the adverse circumstances surrounding them. It's not that people enjoy the brutal dystopias, but rather the strength of those who survive and find a way to thrive in them.

But do we need the context of unrealistic made-up future dystopias to show us this 'strength'? After all, this strength, the spirit of survival, bravery and optimism, can be found everywhere in real life. And I believe, as both a reader and an author, when it's based in a context similar to real life is when it really shines. It's why I've chosen to base my Princess's Spirit Trilogy in our recent history (well, a semi-fictionalised version of it, but it's still in the context of our world in the early 21st century).

Bravery, optimism and defying the odds, are all things we love to celebrate. It's not just to be found in future dystopias. It's everywhere around us.

Taylor Swift, Meghan Trainor and TaraElla: We all like a bit of Reinvention

The TaraElla Show is back, a month earlier than expected! (And yes, I did complete that novel early. Go to the Books page to download your own copy, if you're interested in checking it out.)

I would like to re-open with an idea: reinvention. It's what you do when you want to keep things fresh and sustainable for the long run. It's what you should do when life feels stale.

Taylor Swift is arguably the queen of pop today. Yet I think she is also the queen of reinvention. I mean, if you've still got that Taylor album from 2009 (the name's Fearless, I think), take it out for a listen. You'll find that she sounds completely different nowadays. She also looks different too, by the way. And she's way more popular nowadays too. A reinvention success story.

Rising star Meghan Trainor appears to have had some reinvention in 2016 too. She looks nothing like she did in All About That Base nowadays, in my opinion. No, she is definitely much cooler nowadays.

You see, reinvention makes people cool and fresh. If you haven't reinvented yourself in some time, now's probably the time to consider it. Try on a new look, adopt a new attitude, and see where you can go from there! Life doesn't need to be stale, remember.

p.s. The TaraElla Show blog has also undergone some reinvention whilst we were away. You will see how things have changed in the coming weeks. I hope you'll enjoy the new format just as much.


Download the full song here.

Two Month Hiatus

I am taking a break for two months, while I attempt to write more of my upcoming novel, and prepare several new publications.

See you again in June. I will be back, I promise.

What the Problem with Girls is - and why Mistress America was much better

The HBO series Girls surely has many fans. Mostly young women in their 20s and 30s, many of whom are searching for their dreams and not quite getting there a lot of the time, the theme of the show and the lives of the four young women featured surely strikes a chord with them.

As for yours truly, I have to be honest: I just cannot see the appeal, personally. A few years ago when I first learnt about the show, I thought it was something that I would like, but after watching a season, I just quit. The reason: it was boring (sorry Lena). I concluded that it was a great idea, but not that great in practice.

Fast forward to October 2015, when the movie Mistress America came out. It was set in New York City, and was about the lives of young women trying to find their way in life. Like Girls. Except it wasn't entirely like Girls - I liked it much more. There were a lot of great quotes and observations about life, stuff that was missing from that first season of Girls I watched. Mistress America inspired thought in a way that Girls simply failed to. It now appeared that Girls had a great idea, but just did not have great execution (sorry again Lena).

To be fair, all my observations of Girls was based on Season 1, as I hadn't bothered to watch any more of it - unlike Mistress America, of which I am looking forward to watch on DVD when I have the time to. But in this world of information excess, where Season 1 was a disappointment, there's no reason to watch Season 2, right? (Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong).

From Hunger Games to Star Wars, and Beyond: The Rise of the Heroine

When the first Hunger Games movie was released in 2012, it was one of a kind: not many movies had a strong heroine type lead back then. The popularity of the Hunger Games series appears to have changed that forever. In the past few months, many big movies have been released featuring strong heroine type leads, including the latest Star Wars movie (a first for that previously male-dominated franchise, so congrats), The Fifth Wave, Joy, Sufferagate, not to mention the whole Divergent series.

Whilst this may be dismissed by some as just Hollywood's latest fashion, I beg to differ. I have always believed that cultural change is the path to real gender equality, and like it or not, Hollywood driven popular culture affects our wider cultural conversation to a great degree. Whilst some feminists have focused on political initiatives like affirmative action, I have always believed that they are not the way to go, that changing the culture is the only way to go. For 'cultural' feminists like myself, any signs of cultural change is an important victory, and wholesale cultural change driven by Hollywood is a big game changer indeed.

What do you think?

Marriage Equality: Where to in 2016?

2015 was a big year for marriage equality in the Western world. Ireland and the US were the latest countries to join the marriage equality countries list, with discussion starting and continuing in even more countries. With the vast majority of countries still not on board, the fight for marriage equality remains a long one, but 2015 has shown us we can win countries over, one by one, if we play the game right.

And the most important part of playing the game right is simply to keep the issue in the cultural conversation, globally, until it's all done, all around the world. In 2016, as always, talk about this important issue with your family and friends, and other potentially interested people, whenever you can. Future generations will thank you. After all, previous generations worked hard to get us the rights and freedoms we all take for granted, so we need to pay it forward.

We also need to know how the battleground looks, in every round of the game, in order to play it right. As English speaking people, the greatest cultural impact we can have are with English speaking countries, so I believe it's there we should focus our collective efforts, at least in the first instance. The battleground landscape here has changed considerably in 2015, so that now the only remaining English speaking Western countries without marriage equality are Australia and Northern Ireland. Our marriage equality conversation in 2016 should therefore be focussed on these places. (Forget about US Republicans rolling back equality there - it's not happening)

This year, Australia looks particularly promising, with the Prime Minister and Opposition leader there already supporting marriage equality, and action likely to be seen late this year or early next year, after the federal election due around September. In these circumstances, keeping the discussion up leading up to the election is very important. And I believe the whole English speaking world can help. We should do our best to keep marriage equality trending in Twitter, keep news of marriage equality on people's Facebook feeds, and keep the topic very much alive over the course of 2016.

Marriage equality is a global effort, it's not done until it's standard worldwide. Even if you already live in a country with marriage equality, you need to keep fighting. After all, a US or UK same-sex marriage clearly remains 'not equal' if it's not recognised when the couple is on holiday in Australia (something many US and UK couples do every year, without affecting their marital status, may I add), right?

TaraElla's Song of the Year 2015

After much deliberation, I have decided that the greatest hit to come out of 2015, is...

LEA MICHELE - THIS TIME



Other honorable mentions:

HAILEE STEINFIELD / JESSIE J - FLASHLIGHT



MEGHAN TRAINOR - DEAR FUTURE HUSBAND

Is This Adele's Greatest Hit Ever?

In recent months there has been a lot of buzz surrounding Adele's late 2015 hit Hello. As of this week, it has spent ten weeks on top the Billboard charts. Whilst I think it's a good song, I really don't see this level of spectacularity in it, to be honest.

Adele's next offering appears to be much better, however. It's too early to say how When We Were Young will do, but I am already liking it better than anything else she has done in the past few years. Check it out.