Yo to the yo! The most wonderful day of the week is upon us once more and I’m here with some music updates and epic chat to make it that much more wonderful.
So. Wow. I’m completely loving Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros’ track “Fire & Water”. (I have an extreme weakness for folksy / country music, of which I place full blame upon my wonderful Papa Joe). The ludicrously large band (10 members – pow.) recently recorded an (awesome) iTunes session; stream the aforementioned track here and head on over here to pick up the rest of the session. Mandy totes digs.
Massive props to the fine folks over at Brain Pickings for finding this: “Historical Milestones As Famous Pop Songs” courtesy of Historyteachers which is “…a ‘History for Music Lovers” project adapting famous historical events and figures to famous songs… (and is) The brainchild of a Hawaiian history teacher duo.” It’s pretty damn inspired; they’ve done everything from The French Revolution (set to Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance”) to William the Conqueror (set to Justin Timberlake’s “Sexy Back” – genius) to Joan of Ark (set to The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army”). Head on over here to check the rest of them out.
Another gem from the lovely Brain Pickings crew is a rock’n’roll map of Manhattan! Apparently they got sick of Frank Sinatra, Jay Z and Alicia Keys being all lovely dovey about NYSheezy and decided to give “an alternative musical history” to this crazy city. Their’s include (along with descriptions as to why) everyone from Suzanne Vega (“Tom’s Diner” – great tune), Rolling Stones (“Shattered” – another gem) to Roxy Music (“Turn You On” – AMAZING). Really want to get a print of this.
Jamie xx is quite the busy little music man: somehow in between touring, recording for The xx and his solo project, he’s found time to remix thirteen songs from Gil Scott Heron’s I’m New Here (entitled We’re New Here). Here’s the video for the first single “NY is Killing Me” directed by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard. It’s not the most exciting video…. and I can’t say it’s the greatest remix I’ve ever heard, but I love every other track Jamie xx has put his magic on, so I’m still pretty keen on giving the rest of the album a listen (out February 21, 2011).
Hypetrak hits it right on the mark – the new Killers track, “Boots”, is very reminiscent of U2 indeed. Which, in my pandabook, is not a bad thing at all. Brandon Flowers has yet to rock sunglasses 24/7 though (which is also most definitely not a bad thing at all).
Must give some love to Cee-Lo Green (I just want to cuddle him!!) – here’s the video for his latest single, “It’s OK”. I don’t know what it is, but his music just makes me want to drop whatever I’m doing a bust a groove – yes, even if I’m out and about walking around. Thankfully I live in New York and said groove busting hardly gets a second glance.
The award for the most ridiculous music news I stumbled upon this week goes to “the king of canine cool” (to quote Mike Love) himself (Snoop Dogg, of course). So Snoop has made a song in honor of Prince William’s bachelor party entitled – get ready for it – “Wet”. (Let’s just take a moment to reflect on that one.) Presumably it’s an attempt to get back in the UK’s good graces? (Due to his multiple arrests in the states, he was refused entry last time he went to England.) Not entirely sure a song called “Wet” is the best way to go (particularly after giving the song a listen)… but hey, worth a shot I reckon? Per Snoop himself: “‘Wet’ is the perfect anthem for Prince William or any playa to get the club smokin’.” Also! There’s a contest one can enter if one so chooses! Send a video of your sexy self (and / or with some other sexy people) dancing to “Wet”, send it to Snoop, he’ll select a winner who will win a trip to the UK! Woo!
Ending out this week with THE GREATEST HAUNKAH SONG EVER. Can’t stop watching this video / singing this song. It’s absolutely genius. Paw five to the awesome Miss Cat who sent this beauty my way this morning. You’re my hero for the day, Cat.
That’s it for this week – hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
Mandy
