Yet in the old days (such as 2007), the middle of July would have been far too early to start thinking about the Oscars. Back then, Hollywood loaded up its prestige fare in the fall so that it would stays fresh in the minds of Academy voters.

Last year, however, that all changed with four of the ten Best Picture nominees – include Hurt Locker – released in mid-summer.

Consequently, TPH decided to take a journey down the good, bad, and downright awful in the first half of 2010.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Leonardo is killing it. First, he did wonders with Shutter Island, another SCORE with Martin Scorsese followed by the recent release of Inception. The trailers may leave you more confused than philosophy from Flavor Flav, but you’ll have to admit that Inception looks incredibly cool. It’s the engaging storyline mixed with the special effects. And of course, it doesn’t hurt that Christopher Nolan is directing this piece either.

Toy Story 3

I’m 23 yet I enjoyed the third version of this fantastic series as much as I enjoyed the original some ten to fifteen years ago. How is it that Pixar can make movies that both kids and adults will enjoy? They did marvels with Toy Story 3 and might be the only studio in Hollywood that routinely produces hits consistently now.

Valentine’s Day

The only love this disaster showcased is the affection you have for deeply regretting you just spent $20 with your date (or your hand in other cases) to attend this dreadful piece of cinema. How can one mess up with a cast that included Julia Roberts, Jamie Foxx, Kathy Bates, Jessica Alba, and Patrick Dempsy? Trust us, it happened.

Sex and the Pity

Could somebody please make it all end? Haven’t we all seen enough of Sarah Jessica Parker. Apparently not. Just ask the thousands who flocked to see the women do Abu Dhabi, as if they haven’t slept with everyone including half of all Hollywood Executives by now. Please stop killing my brain cells! You’re truly worst than video games.

Oh, Jen

Seriously, has Jennifer Aniston been a part of anything worth watching since her role as Rachel in Friends ended in 2004? Jennifer has already provided us with one miserable film in 2010 (The Bounty Hunter) and sadly I don’t think that will be the last of her. Equally bad was fellow Jen Lopez in The Back-Up Plan more adequately titled, “The Absolutely Last Movie You Should Ever See.”

Is it possible…more good than bad for Hollywood in the first half of 2010? As far as the mainstream goes, it certainly appears to be heading in that direction.

Here are 10 songs that are badly misinterpreted by the contemporary world:

Bob Dylan, “Mr. Tambourine Man”

Misconception: It’s about drugs, right?

This perception became popular after the film Dangerous Minds was released as it is widely speculated to be an ode to mind-altering drugs (with Mr. Tambourine Man supposedly representing Dylan’s drug dealer). However, Dylan himself claims to have been introduced to LSD after the song had been written. Dylan insists the song was never about drugs, but rather the search for inspiration. He also claims the title character of Mr. Tambourine Man was actually inspired by musician Bruce Langhorne, who played a large Turkish tambourine during many of Dylan’s previous recording sessions.

Bryan Adams, “Summer of 69″

Misconception: The band’s autobiography

In the summer of 1969, Bryan Adams was 10 years old, or well too young to play guitar, join a world successful band, as well as fall in love. Believe it or not, the upbeat nostalgia of this song wasn’t inspired by an actual year, but rather Mr. Adams’ fondness for a certain sexual position. According to Adams, the lyrics detailing a fondly remembered musical summer were mostly filler, because the song was actually about “making love in the summertime.”

Queen, “Bohemian Rhapsody”

Misconception: Describes Mercury’s struggle with AIDS

Queen’s classic was once rumored to reference Freddie Mercury’s battle with AIDS. The members of Queen have been intentionally vague over the years about the true meaning of the lyrics, however Mercury had been quoted as saying the words were simply “random rhyming nonsense” that were just written to fit the music. Furthermore, the AIDS epidemics of the early 80′s took place years after this song had been completed.

Police, “Every Breath You Take”

Misconception: It’s a love song

Arguably the Police’s most popular song, “Every Breath You Take” has been played during countless weddings and other romantic functions as it’s widely believed to be a gentle love song. Quite the contrary actually. According to Sting, the song is about love but a song that was wrote during the collapse of his marriage, amidst feelings of jealousy and obsession over his lost lover. It’s more stalker than “unconditional lover.”

Dave Matthews Band, “Crash into Me”

Misconception: Sexy love song

Dave Matthews’ soft and sincere delivery must distract some listeners from the creepy lyrics, as this song is not an appropriate love song. Matthews has admitted it is, indeed, a love song, but one that has been written from the perspective of a peeping tom. Matthews has also jokingly stated this song was written as an alternative to getting arrested. Well said.

Eagles, “Hotel California”

Misconception: The song worships the devil

Easily one of the more bizarre declarations, many believe that the ominous and abstract nature of “Hotel California’s” lyrics have led to numerous interpretations including one that asserts the song referred to a hotel purchased by Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan. The spooky imagery in the album cover art along with lyrics like, “they just can’t kill the beast” contributed to this myth. Don Henley and Glenn Frey have stated the song is really metaphorically describing excess in America and the Los Angeles high life that the band experienced.

Bruce Springsteen, “Born in USA”

Misconception: Patriotic song

The anthem for American patriotism is actually extremely critical of the United States. The song was written in response to the negative impact the Vietnam war had on Americans, but the catchy patriotic refrain is apparently a little too catchy to point out the obvious.

Tom Petty, “American Girl”

Misconception: It’s about suicide

Legend has it that Tom Petty wrote this song about a University of Florida student that committed suicide after she jumped off her dorm room balcony. Petty is from Gainesville, where the university is located, and Highway 441 (mentioned in the lyrics) does pass by the school, lending credibility to the story. However, Petty himself has insisted that this story is an urban legend, and the lyrics were actually inspired by the sounds of the freeway near his apartment in Encino, California.

Phil Collins, “In the Air Tonight”

Misconception: Witnessed a preventable death

The dark, accusatory lyrics of this song lent themselves to one of the most well known incorrect meanings. The story says that Phil Collins saw someone drowning once from far away, and that a third person, who was close enough to help, either ignored or refused to help the drowning person.

Appalled by this, Collins penned this tune as an anonymous condemnation of the person’s cowardice and/or apathy. Some versions of the story have Collins finding this person at one of his shows and even singing it directly to them. Of course Collins says that story is incorrect, and the lyrics actually arose from the bitterness and anger he felt while going through his divorce.

James Taylor, “Fire in the Sky”

Misconception: Girlfriend died in plane crash

The sad refrain and apocalyptic lyrics of one of James Taylor’s most famous songs gave rise to a belief that the song dealt with the lost of his girlfriend. The story, however, is fictional and the song was actually written over time, with each of the three verses dealing with a different aspect of his life: from the death of a friend, to his frustration in music, to his brief time spent in an institution.

Beatles, “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds”

Misconception: Another song about LSD

John Lennon claimed this song was inspired by a drawing his son produced and that he had no idea that the first letters of the words “Lucy,” “Sky,” and “Diamonds” were a reference to LSD. The lyrics certainly sound like some sort of drug-induced hallucination, but Lennon insisted that was never his intention.

Thanks to ListVerse

Saying you are a “one hit wonder” in music is like saying “you cannot win the big one” in sports or “oh crap, that movie was as bad as Transformers 2.”

An artist never plans on becoming a “one hit wonder,” but it does happen. And while some may look at a “one hit wonder” as a bad thing, the fact remains that these songs played countless times on the radio and were drilled into our brain at such a fast rate that we could not help but like them.

While some may call this the 1990′s Music Hall of Shame, it damn sure beats the hundreds of thousands of “aspiring” artists who never made it.

Note: Please try to refrain from singing the lyrics to some of these “one hit wonders” out loud; especially if you are at work.

10. “Torn” – Natalie Imbruglia (1998)

Popular after “Torn” sold millions of copies, Imbruglia fame quickly ran out a year later. She released another album to a less than stellar response and raised questions about the industry backing an ex-Australian soap opera star who sang about love.

9. “Cannonball” – The Breeders (1993)

Some may recognize Kim Deal as a member of the now revived Pixies, but a time long ago, Deal was a member of The Breeders and their 1993 hit “Cannonball.” Driven by the heavy bass lines, high voltage guitar riffs, and distorted vocals carried “Cannonball,” but like the album’s title (Last Splash) it was the final release from The Breeders.

8. “No Myth” – Michael Penn (1990)

Michael Penn evolved from a pedigree family. His brother is Academy Award winner Sean Penn and his wife is Academy Award nominee Aimee Mann. Penn contributed his one and only hit with this early-90s infectious pop hit filled with jangling guitars and an infectious chorus that asks the question: “What if I were Romeo in black jeans?” Too bad he couldn’t keep up with the Joneses.

7. “Song 2” – Blur (1997)

“Whoo Who!” Anybody remember that line from this irritating two minute long piece with the same reiterating concept? Besides that lyric, most of the lyrics are basically incomprehensible and open to interpretation. Although Blur had been highly acclaimed and prolific, they had managed to stay under the radar for most of their career—at least in the States. Unfortunately, this song is their most well known.

6. “I Touch Myself” – The Divinyls (1991)

Who would have thought making a song about masturbation would sell so many records? While The Divinyls hit was not the first to bring up the subject (and cash in off of it), the Australian group may be the most blunt about it: “when I think about you I touch myself.” No word yet if anybody jerks off while playing this tune.

5. “Laid” – James (1993)

A guitar is strummed then builds to pounding drums on the lyric: “This bed is on fire with passion and love/the neighbors complain about the noises above/but she only cums when she’s on top.” Talk about something that is more direct than touching yourself while you think of Celebrity Hater. The group didn’t last, but today it’s one of the best songs about obsession—next to “Every Breath You Take.” No word if the song is also about a prostitute.

4. “No Rain” – Blind Melon (1992)

The song follows a child pariah who wants to fit in and finally does in the end with hooks and a bittersweet pop melody that was nothing close to the grunge scene of the day despite lead singer Shannon Hoon’s death to an overdose of cocaine that somehow screams “Kurt Cobain.” Sadly, no one talks about Hoon’s death anymore or the band for that matter.

3. “What’s Up?” – 4 Non Blondes (1993)

When you name your band “4 Non Blondes,” you are basically insinuating that you’re not dumb (and possibly not hot). Unfortunately the band did not live up to the label, releasing a simple jam titled, “What’s Up?” that lasted in my iPod (I mean walkman) for four weeks and then was never played again.

2. “Black Velvet” – Alannah Myles (1990)

Canadian Alannah Myles burst onto the scene in 1989 with her sultry and bluesy song that made men around the world swoon. This song was a number one hit in the States in 1990 and took over the airwaves for months on end before it and her career disappeared faster than a Kayne West apology. Myles is the only artist on the select list to win a Grammy for her one hit wonder, so at least she can always cling to that.

1. “Nothing Compares 2 U” – Sinead O’Connor (1990)

One of the most famous love ballads of all time, this Prince penned song put the hairless Sinead and her political and religious antics on the map. It’s a beautiful and compelling song that echoes with palpable heartbreak and sorrow. Sinead should’ve made peace with the Pope while she still had the chance.

One lucky dude landed actress Essence Atkins, who started her career on “The Cosby Show” and became a member of Match.com in February of 2008.

When it comes to Internet dating, you never know what the other person does for a living. It’s quite common to land a lot of plumbers and store clerks, but a guy named Jaime Mendez found so much more.

Mendez hit the jackpot when he met Atkins online and they immediately hit it off.

Atkins said she liked the website because she didn’t have to post a picture of herself — and ended up sending Jamie a message on Valentine’s Day because they were 97% compatible.

The two were engaged one year later and are set to get hitched on Sept 26.

Wow talk about love at first sight.

So for those of you who enjoy her as much as we do, here’s to wishing her much success in her future endeavors on the big screen.  Personally though, I am still a bit jaded that she hasn’t yet returned my calls or responded to the 45 love letters I sent her last month.  I hate it when they never return the love.

1. You know…..I hate to brag but I invented the wheel.
2. If you rub it fast and hard it will spark you up a fire.
3. Me beat my meat, you want help.
4. I got evicted from my cave for drawing you a love poem on my wall and refusing to wash it off.  That is how deep my love is for you.
5. If you sleep with me I won’t beat you over the head with my club.  If you don’t sleep with me I will beat you over the head with a club and still sleep with you.

Not so smooth back in the day were they?