I adore Birdy’s music, her alternate video for her cover of Skinny Love is still too hauntingly beautiful for me to watch too often.
However, she is a sweet and talented 15 year old… I don’t know if I would have sex to her music.
Then again, not everyone has watched her aforementioned Skinny Love video while very stoned and held ‘eye-contact’ with her the whole time… I didn’t do that. I didn’t do it with Gotye in Somebody That I Used To Know either… Or all the others… is that weird? It’s kind of intense.
I got to see Gotye in concert this past Friday (with Kimbra too! she is positively the definition of adorable and talented) which is something I’ve been excited about since I got my tickets back in December. I was a little leery about it being moved to the Tower Theater - the move made sense obviously, those tickets sold like crazy - because I’d been really looking forward to catching him in the TLA.
Nevertheless, I went with a good friend and we got some pretty good seats. This is where this post could easily spiral into a rant about the 1 ⁄ 3 of the crowd that aggravated me so much, but that’s not what this is about. Though I wish, that when Gotye had played this song and suggested it would be a good time to sit in the seats because it’s a quiet song, that people hadn’t taken that as a cue to yell obnoxious things for the sake of their own drunk attention. I felt a bit robbed of the full experience of this live.
However, it is an amazing song that I admittedly never fully appreciated until seeing it live, and for that I am grateful. It’s really peaceful, albeit slightly sad, with a stunning video. I’ve watched it several times since, and now I really want to see it on a large screen with great sound again… maybe just less crowds and Miller Lite this time.
I stumbled across Lights’ Myspace a while back, and immediately caught my ear. She’s got such a beguiling voice, this quirky, perky persona that’s positively charming, and a habit of delivering a sound that grabs me every time.
Now? A heavier set of beats, a bit of hip-hop, and pushing her soaring vocals further? Damn. You win, girl.
I’ve been loving this song, and consequently this band, for a few months now - ever since a local radio station (philly 104.5) became the first in the country to play them - and it constantly pushes its way back to the forefront of my attention. Finally, I relented and decided to make it the next song I posted here.
It was until now, that I went looking for a video, that I found this live version. Now I’m falling for this song all over again. One of my favorite parts of the album version was the ambient noise of a ship - the creaks of ropes and wood in an ever shifting sea - that hung behind the music for almost the whole song. That’s a favorite sound of mine anyway, so already that’s a plus, but additionally it suits the lyrics and mood of the song. I wondered, as I began watching the live version, if the lack of those ambient sound effects would cause me to enjoy the song less. That was the last I thought of it, until I began thinking about what to write because the very nature of the song is delivered so well by these musicians that I think I heard the ship noises anyway.
Watching the faces of the musicians is always interesting to me in videos like this; seeing the glances, little tics from being too aware of the camera and the task at hand, and the little dialogues via facial expressions and eye contact that they share with each other all while simultaneously playing and/or singing their part of the song.
Sigh. Seriously, what’s NOT to love about music and seeing music performed?
Reblogging my own post. Why? Because I just found the newly released music video for this song… and it’s intense as all hell.
On a total whim [isn’t that always how it happens] I watched Copyright Criminals on netflix tonight. Not only is it a sharp and extensive documentary covering a far reaching method of producing music, but it also introduced me to a metric shit-ton of music. Eclectic Method being one of them.
In the documentary, the guys of Eclectic Method talk about how they are the exception in that they’ve never been sued or sent a cease-and-desist letter on account of their sampling style of making music. They attribute this to their style; it is so blatant, and so visibly credited that no one thinks to accuse them of stealing because their clearly just showing a collage of work. Ironically, that is more technically and obviously illegal than all the hip-hop artists and DJs who’ve been sued. It probably helps that Eclectic Method is not on a label, nor do they sell their art in the commercial mainstream. They perform live and display their work instantly to their website… And I am loving the hell out of it.
Watch the documentary (Instant Watch on Netflix!! Just a few clicks away) and check out Eclectic Method!
…On a side note, I love this video because it’s true; the Dark Side is, was, and always shall be the coolest side of the Force. Screw the Rebellion, fuck the Jedis, and the Empire can burn like BOTH their goddamn Death Stars. Sith. Only and always.
Peace is a lie; there is only passion. Through passion, I gain strength. Through strength, I gain power. Through power, I gain victory. Through victory, my chains are broken. The Force shall free me.
Just found out that Kimbra will be joining Gotye at his show in Philadelphia. It’s one of the few dates that she’ll be with him, and I have had tickets for months.
Go 2012.
(seriously though, if I actually get to meet her, I am positive I’ll be wobbly kneed)
Since hearing her in Gotye’s ubiquitous single, I haven’t been able to get enough of her voice. Her music has been described a hundred different ways, under a dozen different genres, but all you really need to know is the following: her voice is powerful and gorgeous, her songwriting is poetic, the music is always the perfect accompaniment, and she is absolutely stunning. Therefore, she is my first Female Vocalist of the Month. That, my friends, is really important. Srsly.
For real though, go read this terrific article, watch all her live videos, watch all her ANY videos, and enjoy.
I’m a huge fan of the show Community, and one of my favorite characters (and creative minds behind the show) is Donald Glover, who plays Troy on the show. I’ve been a big fan, and a poorly researched fan.
A little over a month ago, I discovered a music video by Childish Gambino, a hip-hop artist I’d never heard of, for a song called Freaks & Geeks. When the video starts and he starts rapping, I thought to myself, “Man, that voice sounds familiar.” Then about 35 seconds in as his hood falls, though he is still too far away and too out of focus to be seen clearly, I found myself staring with unplaceable recognition at his movement.
It was around the 50 second mark when it hit me; that is Donald Fucking Glover.
Donald Glover raps.
Donald Glover’s raps are badass.
I’m on board.
Funny thing is, from the reviews and people I’ve talked to, it seems that he is having trouble getting people to take him seriously in hip hop because of his personality, background, and career in comedy.
Personally, I’m having trouble NOT taking him seriously and letting him do comedy now. I just want more of this… (only a little trouble though. After all, Donald Glover is funny as hell.)
Side note: This “remix” [it’s really just a sample of the beat with new lyrics, idk if that qualifies as a remix. does it? i could definitely be mistaken.] is actually pretty sick. I’m going to have to check out more of Shizzy Sixx http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GT-Z4hQecuk
