An Other Video Blog
I adore these two women, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, of Decatur, Georgia. They speak more truth in their raw lyrics and honest vocals than many performers. And of all the songs they’ve done in their careers, these two speak loudest to me. Fortunately, these links are coming from the Indigo Girls’ VEVO channel and they shouldn’t go away.
This one first…
And this one (my favorite) second…
1 CommentThis video caught my attention right after I assembled the last Sunday post, but I have been dealing with an extended internet outage – the latest in a series – that took my access down to a roller coaster of ups and downs that finally quit for good on Sunday, and I couldn’t post this entry.
So, these entries are going to be a little more irregular than they have been, at least until my new provider’s install package arrives.
But I digress.
We think of mannequins as body ideals. They are, in someone’s mind, a representation of an ideal that rarely fits with reality, but when bodies change because of muscular issues, accidents or genetics, we tend to think about the people who carry those shapes differently. No two people are identical. Even the identical twins I’ve known still have their own unique personalities, no matter how much they may look alike. Witness the differences even in conjoined twins and you can see what I mean.
Here, through the wonders of reconstruction, five people who don’t share the traits of the ideal can see themselves in a new way, and we can catch a glimpse of the ideal from the other side of the line.
Comments closedThe nature of viral video is such that you never know what’s going to be popular or when it’s going to hit. Some videos make the rounds multiple times, and others skyrocket in a matter of weeks.
The silhouette dance is a highly specialized form of dance, and Attraction is particularly good at it, considering that each of these videos has well over 5 million hits.
If you haven’t seen the first one go round on your feed, be warned – it’s a sentimental tearjerker of the highest order.
First:
and then:
Comments closedWhile I could make today’s post be about Groundhog Day, I did that last year.
No, this year, thanks to the calendar, February 2nd is a different sort of holiday (for some, anyway). It’s Super Bowl Sunday. And in the spirit of the day, I’m presenting several commercials. They might not seem related on first glance, but they are. Here’s why.
The first comes in three parts. Part one is the original commercial, published on YouTube by General Mills on May 28, 2013. It might not seem like a big deal, until you hear that General Mills had to shut down all the comments on its YouTube post because the ad sparked a flood of racist vitriol. You can read all about the controversy by searching on the words Just Checking Ad.
This evening, Cheerios is doing it again, with a follow-up to the first commercial, which General Mills published on YouTube on January 28, 2014.
This is, by all accounts, a normal family, but a lot of people don’t see them that way. “Gracie” is played by six-year-old Grace Colbert. She and her parents have been interviewed on a number of news outlets, and the conversation goes very much the same each time. And yes, considering our president’s heritage, it’s a discussion that has to happen, out in the open, because we assign far, far too much importance to the differences in race in this country. Clearly, we still have a long way to go, recognizing that our differences are nowhere near as important as our similarities.
Well, what does that have to do with the commercial below? It’s not airing during the show because the cost for the slot was prohibitively expensive. But it’s on a subject that is at least as important as the normalization of families from multi-ethnic backgrounds and it is specifically aimed at the National Football League, which should make it a top priority. But since it’s not airing this evening, let me share it with you so you can share it with others.
Our local football team chooses to keep a racial epithet as a name. I say it’s time we retired the word, so that it may join its brother, the N-word, because that is how we show respect for the values and lives of Native Americans. And that’s where these two commercials tie in.
We are all brothers under the skin. Our perceptions, our judgments, are all wrapped up in the exterior package. Wouldn’t it be better to understand and respect each other instead of judging and vilifying what we don’t know or understand?
Comments closedSometimes these things just write themselves. Billy Joel is coming to a Stadium near me this summer and I have a bucket list item to check off. Planning for tickets in the cheap seats. Hoping the fates are kind…
This special Twofer Tuesday includes time travel. Two of my favorite tracks, the first in two time periods.
First:
(with Time Travel edition):
and Second:
Comments closedIf you’re paying attention to the news, you know the northeast is in a cold snap the likes of which we haven’t seen in 20 years. Don’t go all “Global Warming, huh?” on me, because I’ll quote you all sorts of reasons why climate change is real. And that’s not the point of this post.
No, you’re getting Let It Go for Feel Good Friday this week, because it’s stuck firmly in my head, thanks to the supreme talents of Idina Menzel and song writing team Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Tony Award®-winner Robert Lopez.
Seriously. 52 million views since Disney published the clip on December 6, 2013!
But why three? Well, I could have chosen more – folks are posting their own renditions of the song, mash-ups with Wicked (Defying Gravity chief among them), and more. It appears this one struck a chord in ways I haven’t seen since Beauty and the Beast hit the screens in 1991.
So, here’s the original:
And then the same clip, in 25 languages (perfectly timed):
And finally, in the best Disney parody I’ve heard in a while, [NOT safe for work or younger kids but oh, so funny], a tip of the hat to all of us who wish with all our hearts we *could* hit those high notes the way Ms. Menzel does:
Stay warm out there!
1 CommentOkay, so technically this isn’t a Twofer Tuesday in the traditional (?) sense, but it’s my blog and I can do what I want.
Back when Saturday Night Live was a new thing, they featured Kate Bush doing both Wuthering Heights and another song from The Kick Inside. The first version is the one I remember from that introduction to her music. (I have all her albums and I’ve snagged more of her videos for featuring this year.)
So when someone started circulating the parody Noel Fielding did for Comic Relief, I was surprised to discover the second version of the music video was also on YouTube, and darned if he wasn’t dead-on accurate.
Here’s Kate’s version (Number Two):
And here’s Noel’s. I’d put the coffee mug down if I were you:
Comments closedI can’t resist banjo music and this song. This creepy version, (clip from Deliverance) won the 1974 Grammy Award for Best Country Instrumental Performance (according to Wikipedia). The film also received a bunch of Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. Considering this year’s Academy Award nominations hit the street at 8:30am EST today, seems appropriate for Throwback Thursday.
But wait. There’s more. Thanks, Steve Martin! (No, not this one…)
Hey! You know the drill by now. Swallow first.
1 CommentTwo things struck me the first time I watched this video. The first was how expressive this 10-month old’s face is. Then I got to wondering at how intensely she’s concentrating on her mother’s voice and expressions. She is so moved by the song and delivery that she’s crying. I think it’s all about the connections we make with each other.
We don’t give our children nearly enough credit for their connections to us. Spiritual Sunday is about exploring that sense of wonder and humor and the special spark that we carry. With over 29 million hits, I think this baby girl has struck a chord.
But wait! There’s more!
The whole family appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres show shortly after the original video aired. Here’s that link, too!
Comments closedA version of this video is circulating right now on Facebook, but it isn’t the original. This one, with over 2 million hits since it was originally posted last May, is the real deal.
The actual term (Ice Heaves) was reported on several stations near the event. Here’s one of the reports, from KSTP.com: Ice Ashore Damages Homes on Mille Lacs.
How does that work? Like this.
Wow.
Comments closedYeah, it’s Feel Good Friday, but I’m getting serious, considering the weather we just suffered this week. And yes, you should feel good at the end of the video.
I first saw this hit my Facebook feed on my birthday last year, and it hit me hard when I took the time to watch. So let me tell my own story:
Back when I still had a full-time job, one of my tasks was to provide opportunities for the homeless to see a show. One day, I encountered a woman who wanted to see the show but managed to miss it because she didn’t understand the calendar very well. The shelter was located right in the same building where we were temporarily housed, and I was on my way to work on the show.
I brought the woman with me, and comped her in. Sure, she sat with the other folks who paid for their tickets, but we weren’t sold out and I thought the meaning of the show was important enough to share with her, even though she was unable to cover the cost of the ticket. And when the show was over, I took her back to her shelter, so she could be indoors for the night (it being December and all).
It wasn’t much. I couldn’t provide her with a permanent fix for her situation, but it was something.
We have so very many people, poorest of the poor, in this country. Most of us avoid looking at their faces or wondering about their stories. Perhaps if we spent a little more time understanding how they got where they were and a little less judging their choices, we’d be better off as a whole in the US.
I know it seems overwhelming to try and help everyone but there are success stories out there. The expression on Jim’s face when he sees himself in the mirror at the end of the process says so much more than words ever could about where he’s been and what his life could be.
If you can’t convince yourself to hand over a dollar for someone who needs help, look for places like Dégagé Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI, that give back to those who need it most.
Watch the video. There but for the grace of…whatever you look to for support. If you have family, if you have the proper meds, if you’re in a financial position that makes it possible for you to afford to be generous, be thankful. There are a lot of folks who aren’t or can’t. Many of them are too ill to save themselves.
[/soapbox]
Comments closedYes, folks, YouTube can be serious thugs when they want to be.
This is not the original 4 million hit viral video posted by Cory’s family, but then, that’s because we can’t see the original here in the US. So I’m offering this substitute instead. Catch it before YouTube takes it down again.
If this 20-month old can get his grove on, what’s stopping you?
(Oh and? Swallow the drink if you’re one of the five people on my feed who hasn’t seen the video yet. The bouncing is nothing compared to his leg moves. Seriously.)
Next week (maybe) we’ll get into some Baryshnikov moves, but hey! They all have to start somewhere, right?
Comments closedOkay, so here we are, at the end of the first week, with our first Twofer Tuesday. I could choose a lot of music — as you’ll see over the next year, my taste is fairly eclectic — but this seems to be a great starting point, both for Epiphany (yesterday was it), and for my spiritual exploration. These songs were part of the soundtrack of my college years.
From here on out, it’s lather, rinse, repeat until December 31. I make no promises that I won’t repeat something from a previous entry. If I do, you ‘ll know just how much I *really* love it.
First up, Kyrie…
And then, Broken Wings.
Welcome to Science (and Math) Saturday, and Good Mythical Morning, Episode 260.
The best of the wacky in the Internet, summarized. How many of these have you shared on Facebook?
The “interesting” nature of their webisodes aside, Good Mythical Morning has posted nearly 600 videos, and I can’t fault them. I’m just gathering random stuff from all over. They’re sitting in front of a camera and producing their shows. Deserves a highlight, I’m thinking.
For more on optical illusions, go here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Optical_illusion
And for more about Good Mythical Morning? http://rhettandlink.com/blog/good-mythical-morning-is-here
Comments closedIt’s the triumph of Canine over Feline (most of the time). And if you don’t swallow the drink, don’t blame me later. Feel Good Friday starts here.
“Uh oh, uh oh. Fluffy…”
Says it all, really. Seriously. Almost 11 million hits since December 5th (less than a month ago). Yep! Them things is pointy!
Comments closedAnd so the year ends. Seems fitting to finish out 2013 with this bittersweet reminder of the past. It hardly seems possible that Dan Fogelberg has been gone six years, but he has.
And I can’t finish without one last flashmob, particularly fitting considering its setting. Dick Clark’s been gone since 2012, and I don’t watch the ball drop anymore.
2013 was the year I returned to college, the year I lost Marty, Nancy, Craig and more (up to 14 so far this year, of the people I knew). It was the year I moved back into an apartment again, giving up on the American Dream and likely my last chance at home ownership. It was the year I went to the Clearwater Great Hudson River Revival and to Pennsic for the first time.
It was the year I got back to Broadway and saw both Pippin and Lucky Guy. And my college advisor in The Producers (which I hadn’t seen on stage before).
It was the year I proved I could pull a reliable 4.0, and that I could stick to a goal. 367 posts after the start of the year, and plans for another year’s worth of posts, at least.
And it proved to me that I do have a solid grasp on both art and writing. It was the year I finally finished a book, and a short screenplay, and now (soon) a short story.
2014 holds more classes, another possible move, another possible visit to Pennsic (and more photos). It might mean losing more friends to cancer or old age, and it might mean making new friends. Last year, I made whole bunches of connections. Who knows what will come of that.
With friends distributed across three continents and all over North America, from Florida to Alaska, California to Maine, in the United States, Canada and Great Britain, Australia, Germany, Japan and more, it’s been a wild year for everyone I know.
I’m celebrating my 50th New Year’s Eve this year, in a year that just hasn’t felt like a reason to celebrate. Here’s to the end of 2013 and here’s hoping 2014 is a vast improvement.
Happy New Year, one and all! See you on the 1st!
Comments closedWelcome to the 365th post!
Totally NSFW & more than a little bit racist, but still funny! I caught a documentary on Jeff Dunham’s work as a ventriloquist and comedian, and I know exactly what I’m posting here. Hurt myself laughing the first time I watched it.
Language is seriously unsafe for work (and questionable for a Sunday posting), but it’s darn funny.
Three days left to 2013. Far as I’m concerned, the year can’t end fast enough.
Comments closedStill in the countdown to Epiphany, so for a few more days, you’ll have to live with these. Fortunately, December is almost over, which is great because this has been one hell of a year. Not that I think 2014 will be better, because I don’t think comparing one year to another is actually beneficial, but at least it’s a chance at something new and different.
Andy Williams was one of my childhood staples, if you’ve been paying any attention at all to the selections I’ve made over time. So, while we’re still in the season, something optimistic. We lost Andy last year, but this is the 50th anniversary of the song, so it counts as appropriate for that reason alone.
Comments closedI’d do this in real time, except that I have plans for the new year that don’t include overlapping to Epiphany, so here they are, all 12 days in one convenient post!
Merry Christmas to those who celebrate!!!
On the first day of Christmas (A Muppet Family Christmas)…
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On the second day of Christmas (Terry Gilliam’s The Christmas Card)…
On the third day of Christmas (Elvis Presley and Martina McBride’s Blue Christmas)…
On the fourth day of Christmas (John Denver and The Muppets: A Christmas Together)…
On the fifth day of Christmas (The Muppets – Joy to the World)…
On the sixth day of Christmas (Muppet Christmas Carol – Thankful Heart)…
On the seventh day of Christmas (ThePianoGuys – We Three Kings)…
On the eighth day of Christmas (A Charlie Brown Christmas – Christmas Time Is Here)…
On the ninth day of Christmas (Sting – Soul Cake)…
On the tenth day of Christmas (Paul McCartney – Wonderful Christmas Time)…
On the eleventh day of Christmas (Angela Lansbury – We Need A Little Christmas)…
And on the twelfth day of Christmas (Jose Feliciano – Feliz Navidad)…
Comments closedThis classic standard from Nat King Cole leads us into the holiday. No idea why I love it so, but I do. Maybe his mellow voice, maybe the sentiment.
I know it by heart.
Comments closed