Nine years ago, I posted a couple of cool videos from the band, OK GO. At the time, I did not realize how big they would get ... not just for their music, but mostly for their hugely creative videos. I thought I would post some of my favorites here (in chronological order).
This Too Shall Pass - 2010
I Won't Let You Down - 2014
Upside Down & Inside Out - 2016
It's been a crazy last few weeks, so I'm behind on my posts. More important, it seems like lately several folks have forwarded me some incredibly cool/funny/entertaining videos. Here are a couple of my favorites:
And one incredible photo:
Here's another example of creative genius looking at life (and musical instruments) just a little bit differently than the rest of us:
I've always been fascinated by a capella music, especially modern versions where vocalists make such incredible sounds using only their voices. Most recently, I've been especially blown away by a young LA-based quintet called Pentatonix. This video is by far their most amazing (and popular) work so far:
Many of my friends and colleagues in the space industry have complained that since the heyday of Apollo NASA has suffered from twin ailments: (1) lack of vision and leadership; and (2) lack of connection with the public.
Well, last week the outgoing Canadian commander of the International Space Station, Chris Hadfield, released a video that in 5 minutes created more public support for human space exploration than decades of effort by NASA's PR machine. This was the first music video shot in space. With over 13M views on YouTube, here is his rendition of David Bowie's Space Oddity:
The other day I came home to find my 13-year-old daughter sitting on the floor drumming out a tune using a cup. Yes, a cup. She was practicing hard at getting the hang of a pretty cool rhythm, and a few hours into it she started weaving in the vocals. It sounded really good, and just today she finally shared with me the YouTube video she was trying to emulate. The first one is the original, and the second one is the best of the many viral covers. The third is Anna Kendrick's appearance on David Letterman, where she reprises her own cover from Pitch Perfect. These girls are pretty talented, so ... enjoy!
I've played guitar since I was 13 years old, but since I'm not that good I'm always amazed by truly talented musicians. Last week I started learning a little more about a guitar style called "percussive guitar", where the guitarist uses the strings for melodies and the body of the instrument for rhythm. One of the originators of this unique style was a guy named Preston Reed. The first video below is him playing a show last year, and the second is a TED performance earlier this year with a 21-year-old prodigy he inspired. Very cool stuff!
My daughter recently got me hooked on this catchy tune, which I did not realize came out a few years ago (I'm a little slow on the pop scene!). And ... no, I don't know how to do the dance ... yet.
From the movie:
Learn the dance:
On February 11, 2012, Whitney Houston died. That was less than a week ago, and I'm still thinking about it. Why? I'm not sure. Celebrity deaths rarely affect me, but for some reason this one did.
Perhaps it was because she was such a icon during the 1980's, my formative teen-age years? Perhaps it was because I never got tired of being blown away by her voice? So much range, power, control, and beauty. She had a "big voice" years before anyone even thought a voice could get that big. Absolutely amazing.
Or perhaps her death hit me so hard because of her acting debut in the 1992 film, The Bodyguard, with Kevin Costner? The movie was OK, her acting was really good, and her singing was expectedly stellar. However, what hit home with me was Costner's character, Frank Farmer. I wanted to be Frank. I wanted to be a Protector. Something about that profession called to my base instinct to protect others.
A couple of years prior, I had read a book called The Fifth Profession by David Morrell. The main characters were also professional protectors, and I was hooked then. I wanted to be a Protector. Years later I joined the U.S. Marine Corps to protect our country. Now I would give anything to protect my family. That base instinct is still there. But Whitney is not. At least I will always have Rachel Marin. And Frank Farmer.
Here is Kevin Costner's wonderful eulogy at her funeral:
As I do during the last week of every December, I recently conducted a personal self-analysis, reviewed the prior year, and set goals for the next. This year in particular has been especially significant because we are in the process of relocating our business--and therefore my family--from Seattle to South Florida. This helps mark a much deeper personal transition from one phase of life to another, so I have been unusually introspective.
To help my efforts, I have been spending a lot of time with one of my favorite songs of all time, River of Dreams by Billy Joel. Like many others who have listened to this song, I find the lyrics to be extremely powerful and inspirational:
In the middle of the night
I go walking in my sleep
From the mountains of faith
To the river so deep
I must be lookin' for something
Something sacred I lost
But the river is wide
And it's too hard to cross
Even though I know the river is wide
I walk down every evening and stand on the shore
I try to cross to the opposite side
So I can finally find what I've been looking for
In the middle of the night
I go walking in my sleep
Through the valley of fear
To a river so deep
I've been searching for something
Taken out of my soul
Something I'd never lose
Something somebody stole
I don't know why I go walking at night
But now I'm tired and I don't want to walk anymore
I hope it doesn't take the rest of my life
Until I find what it is I've been looking for
In the middle of the night
I go walking in my sleep
Through the jungle of doubt
To the river so deep
I know I'm searching for something
Something so undefined
That it can only be seen
By the eyes of the blind
In the middle of the night
I’m not sure about a life after this
God knows I've never been a spiritual man
Baptized by the fire, I wade into the river
That is runnin' through the promised land
In the middle of the night
I go walking in my sleep
Through the desert of truth
To the river so deep
We all end in the ocean
We all start in the streams
We're all carried along
By the river of dreams
In the middle of the night
It seems like I'm kicking off the new year with a focus on music, so ... here is one of my favorite "unplugged" tunes: Brian Johnson, Angus Young, and Malcom Young of AC-DC playing You Shook Me All Night Long on an episode of Howard Stern:
Last summer I was trying to explain to my kids the idea of a music mashup. They (and I) ended up loving Kid Rock's All Summer Long, which combined Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon and Sweet Home, Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd into a unique third song that is vintage Kid Rock.
Over four years ago, I wrote about fellow Bullrunner Kristine Elezaj. Since then, her career has really taken off. Here is one of her latest videos:
I have to end 2011 with a posting I've been meaning to write all year: one of my favorite new musicians in a long time is Aussie guitarist Orianthi Panagaris. Listening to her play reminds me of the first time I ever heard Eddie Van Halen on Eruption. Or some of her idols and mentors, such as Joe Satriani, Carlos Santana, and the man who discovered her at the age of 15, Steve Vai. Here she is playing an instrumental duet with Vai. Enjoy!
This was one of my favorite videos from last year, since I was also able to use it to entertain/teach my kids about particle physics (ha!):
For rock fans, it doesn't get too much better than this: Mark Knopler, Eric Clapton, Sting, and Phil Collins ... all on one stage playing Dire Straits' Money for Nothing. Sweet!
Speaking of cool people we met during Bullrun 2007 ... check out Kristine Elezaj's music on her MySpace page. She was one of the drivers in the rally, and we had a launch party for her new EP in Key West. Since I got back home, her three songs have been constantly blasting on my computer, in my car, and even in the home sound system (my kids love it!).
So ... when can we expect the videos, live tour, and more music?!
