Carly Rae Jepson, Plagiarism, and Me (Issue #62)
Today’s theme is originality – unique ideas, new creations, and the constant pressure to be one of a kind.
In case you missed it, my bonus P.S. issues are now monthly! This allows me to pack these issues with even more of the recommendations you love. Rather than every Monday, these issues now come out on the first Monday of each month and serve as a retrospective of everything I’ve been doing, reading, watching, and listening to in the last month. As a reminder, P.S. is a bonus issue exclusive to my paid subscribers, and we will continue our weekly Friday issues for all readers! You can read June’s P.S. here, and keep an eye out for July’s round-up at the start of August!
Hi friends!
Music has always been a huge part of my life. In many ways, this really started with my grandpa, whose musical talents landed him in a band that he performed with all over New York City. My mom, raised under his musical guidance, even went to the same performing arts high school as the one in the movie Fame! And so, by the time I started toddling about the world, I was more than ready to start making a musical impression of my own.
A few weeks ago, I shared a little about my adolescent foray into multimedia production, and music often played a central role. In middle school, a friend and I wrote the start of the masterpiece we called “Pants! The Musical.” The musical was short-lived, as we abandoned the project soon after starting it, but not before writing the titular number, which involved singing “Where are my pants? Where are my pants?” over and over again.
But long before “Pants! The Musical” I made my songwriting debut with a lovely track titled “One Day I was Walking Through the Park.” As a 1st grader endlessly proud of what I’d created, I forced everyone in my life to memorize it. And by that, I mean I would literally chase my mom around the house and make her sing my song to me. Once, at summer camp, I taught a girl my song, and she told me she’d heard it before. She claimed I was a liar, that I hadn’t actually written it, but was plagiarizing and trying to claim it as my own!! I couldn’t tolerate the unsubstantiated slander, and to be honest, I was a little bit scared. What if I had heard the song before and had unknowingly reproduced it?? A lot of pressure for a 7-year-old, I know. So I went to the library and frantically searched for evidence of an original that wasn’t mine. Luckily, no such original existed, lmao.
And now, published online for the first time ever, here are the official lyrics:
One day I was walking through the park
when I saw you, baby, talking talk.
And I wanted you to hold my hand.
And I wanted you to understand —
that I loved you at first sight.
And I wanted you at first sight.
How can I say this to you?
I really, really, really want youuuuu.
Now, if you read that last line and it sounds familiar, please remember that I first wrote this song in 2002, 13 years before Carly Rae Jepson’s hit song, “I Really Like You.” Obviously, there couldn’t be any other explanation for this similarity aside from the fact that Ms. Carly Rae stole my song!! The scandal is truly unbelievable. 😱
For today’s issue, join me on a journey through the concept of originality!
A round-up of things to watch, read, and listen to as you head into the weekend.
Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse AND Across the Spider-Verse
I will be the first to say I am not typically a fan of superhero movies, but this animated Spiderman franchise is absolutely the exception!! I saw Into the Spider-Verse back in 2018 when it first came out, and Andrew convinced me to go because the main character, like me, is Afro-Latino. The animation was unlike anything I’ve ever seen, and somehow the sequel was even better! Everything put into this project has so much intention behind it, and it all really pays off in the viewing experience.
MPRNews: Tamar Adler shows you how to make the most of your leftovers in her new cookbook by Wynne Davis
Adler's work is a great start if you're a home cook looking to level up your food knowledge in a practical, hands-on way. I’ve previously recommended Adler's newest cookbook, The Everlasting Meal Cookbook: Leftovers A-Z, and this article was a great way to learn more about the brilliant mind behind the recipes. Adler's approach to food proves that you can make delicious meals without elaborate, high-intensity, generally inaccessible techniques and ingredients. I loved this feature, and can't wait to really dive into her newest book!
Substack: The paradox of originality in
byOriginality is often praised and preferred in creative work – but is it always a good thing? In this article,
challenges the idea that originality is the most important feature in a story, and asks whether striving for this can actually hold creative works back. Here’s a quote from the piece that I especially loved:
“But not only is the concept of originality slippery, it’s not even true that people crave it. We still love romcoms, despite knowing that the two leads will get together at the end. We still love action adventure even though we know that the hero will win through. We know that crime TV shows will end up with the perpetrator getting their comeuppance, one way or another, but we still watch them.
The majority of fiction, particularly mass market fiction in any format, sticks fairly closely to a formula, and a lot of it is extremely obvious as soon as you step back and look at it critically. But that’s not a bad thing.”
Questions for you + your besties <3
Would you rather invent a groundbreaking new technology or create a timeless work of art?
Would you rather be known as the pioneer of a new scientific theory or the creator of a revolutionary new genre of music?
Would you rather discover a new species of animal or unearth a lost civilization from ancient history?
Would you rather invent a new language that becomes widely spoken or create a new sport that gains worldwide popularity?
Things to try + share in the group chat.
I first saw this renter-friendly wall light on Shark Tank, and it’s one of my favorite products from the show. The light doesn't require any special skills to install and attaches to the wall in a really easy and unique way. It’s great if you’re a renter, want to add dimension to a gallery wall, or just want more easy options for cozy lighting.
@makeupbyevelin’s skills are truly mind-blowing! She can transform herself into tons of different celebrities with just makeup, wigs, and a few key costume choices. My favorites were Zac Efron and Taylor Swift, even though they did scare me with just how accurate they were!
I loved this interview! It features Ana, an 8-year-old with a genius IQ, and her mom, who discuss Ana’s interests, favorite fun facts, and experiences as a young girl with autism and arthrogryposis. Ana is so funny and interesting and really comes off as wise beyond her years. I loved this peek into her life!!
Have a great weekend!
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