Evelyn Evelyn

Today, I discovered Evelyn Evelyn due to the awesome music video posted below. I think that oftentimes, we don't realize that people who might have a deformity or mutation might also be very talented. I'm happy that this duo can make us celebrate differences, even though their connection is completely fictional. Besides, I'm a happy mutant. I was born with extra fingers on both hands. Makes me different, but also interesting, in my honest opinion. You guys have any physical uniqueness happening?

Makes you want to save Hyrule

Woodkid - Iron

Woodkid - Iron from WOODKID on Vimeo.

(via NewWork)

Experiments with HTML5

With the recent dismissal of Flash, all eyes have been moving to HTML5. Because some people are not sure how it can be used, it is great that there are people experimenting with the code. One of these HTML5 "scientists" is Hakim El Hattab and his experiments might just have you wasting time. You can also play around with the code and learn a thing or two yourself. 


The Killers even released an HTML5 site recently. Check out their site to be surprised.

I'll whip my hair back and forth

You know, I recall my mother avidly hating the music that my sisters and I listened to when we were children. In many ways, it is almost like a tradition—parents will dislike your music and you will in turn dislike the music your children enjoy. However, as I grew older, I understood the reasons why my mother did not like the music that I sang and memorized from the radio. The true meanings behind the lyrics weren't appropriate for someone of my age and it was a big change from the music that she liked.

However, while I can appreciate the oldies that my mother likes, I can still like the music I listened to when I grew up. Yet the music of this generation is not really that appealing to me. There are artists that come out with fairly good music, but I feel that the story is now something that I don't relate to any longer. While kids devour these manufactured songs that have little to no purpose, I explore songs that have been out for years and rediscover old favorites—or keep to the artists that aren't as mainstream.

So, when Willow Smith's song came out, it was something that actually made me laugh. She's a nine-year old with a definite style of her own creation. Her confidence in her choice of dress and hair-do—though unusual—should be inspiring. Not many have the bravery to do something that the world might not like or that will cause others to stare. People become slaves of conformity. While I received stares and giggles for wearing harem pants to the grocery store one day, it was my own thing and my own style (they were the rage in Paris, but it hasn't caught on in the US). 

Even though Willow Smith is taking a Lady Gaga route in some people's opinions, I must applaud her. She is not doing anything too grown in her video and her lyrics are playful and amusing. If anything, she makes a great role model for the kids of today. She shows that she can be something great at nine years old, even if the adults of today don't like it. With that in mind, check out her music video, it might just make you whip your hair back and forth.

I don't want my MTV

You know how when you were younger, you'd always say to yourself, "I'll never be like my parents" or something along those lines? Well, even if you haven't, I usually thought that when I was in trouble or I wanted to do something and was told no. However, one thing I never agreed with my mother on was music.

When you are young, you fall in love with certain bands and it seems that your parents are bound to hate them due to some genetic trait that causes them to dislike everything you find interesting. My mom would always say that what we listened to wasn't music. She would go on an on about "real music" which was just oldies to me at the time. Now, I have an appreciation for the oldies and my childhood favorites after watching the VMAs on MTV.

First of all, as you all know, MTV is no longer "music television." It's just MTV. It has become a haven for reality television and digitally remastered musicians. There are still good artists out there, but they aren't that mainstream. While I switched between the VMAs and the football game last night, all I heard from the stage performances was noise. There wasn't much else. So when did I become my mother? Why did I start disliking this music? Three reasons:

Music isn't about lyrics anymore—Have you listened to some of the things these artists talk about? I hate listening to the radio because the songs are so pointless. That is if I can even make out what they are saying.

Music isn't about music anymore—The digital beats are sometimes catchy and creative, but more often than not, they are sampled parts of other artist's songs. Talk about being unoriginal. Even worse is that people don't have to be good singers anymore because they digitally enhance their voices.

Music isn't about anything anymore—Music used to mean something to artists. They were expressing ideas or supporting causes. Nowadays, they are just talking about any old thing. The meaning has changed and I don't like the direction it's gone in.

I wont judge you if you like today's music. I just don't feel like I hear much that is worth listening to. What are your thoughts?

Image via Multnomah County Library

Caravan Palace

I stumbled upon this and I thought it would be nice to share this with you. Caravan Palace (according to Wikipedia) "is a French electro-swing band based in Paris. The current band line-up consists of Sonia Fernandez Velasco (vocals and clarinet), Arnaud de Bausredon (guitar), Hugues Payen (violin), Camille Chapelière (clarinet), Charles Delaporte (double bass) and Antoine Toustou (electronics and trombone)." The music is really fun and exciting though. Check out the video below for more.

We gotta gorilla for sale

Remember Magilla Gorilla? He was 100 times cooler than Grape Ape and annoyed Mr. Peebles like there was no tomorrow. Well, there is this video that comes on Boomerang that I'd like to share with you (now that I can). It's a pretty catchy little song called "Gorilla 4 Sale" by Michael Unger. Check out the video below.

The candyman can knock you out

Whenever I have a song in my head, I have to listen to it so I can get it out. Are there others out there like this? Well, I had "The Candyman Can" from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory in my head and I was looking at the related videos on YouTube. Imagine my surprise when I ran across this video. Ouch.

Cellular symphony

I stumbled across this video today. Using 1000 cell phones, Vodafone created a symphony by playing text message jingles. Hats off to Vodafone New Zealand.


Music: Tchaikovsky's Overture 1812

Nudge webtoy

Nothing is quite as fun as a webtoy to give you a distraction. This particular webtoy, Nudge, allows you to create a musical masterpiece by adjusting individual instruments. It's a lot of fun. For more about Nudge, visit JayIsGames.com.

Yo!

I am really feeling the Taiko drum. If I could play it, I would definitely be in good shape—it looks like it takes a lot out of the body. Anyways, here is a video for you to see a really good medley by Auckland's Haere Mai Taiko.


Here's another one by Kyodo Taiko. They performed in UCLA.

Where the stars are...

You know a niche that most people don't realize celebrities are all over? Kid's shows! For example, I was watching The Backyardigans this morning—don't ask—and Alicia Keys was the voice of the martian. While I haven't found a good video of the whole thing, I have found good audio which is below.