Are you confused by that smattering of Swedish verbiage? I had to do a little research myself in order to get the full breadth of what was going on in the below footage. Let's dive in!
Dansbandskampen is an entertainment program in Sweden, much like our very own American Idol. The contest aims to bring dance band culture into the mainstream media light of the Scandinavian public. Acts are voted for and are booted off or continue on in the competition thanks to the popular vote.
On a recent episode, one of the faring participants, Titanix, took the insanely catchy Mando Diao track, Dance With Somebody, and "disco-ed" it up. Watch them cover it live now.
What'd you think? Are they worthy of the phone-in vote? I think it's quite catchy!
Mando Diao are on tour in Europe through December 12. Dates here.
Back in March of this year, I got swept off my feet by The-Dream produced girl quarter of Electrik Red. Having heard singles Drink in My Cup and W.F.Y. prior, a new song was shaping up to secure my solid backing of their efforts. Result? Mission accomplished!
With the release of Friend Lover as the next single, and subsequent video, it was inevitable that the girls would be repetitiously loved and listened to here in Beastonia. With a producer like Dream backing them, it's hard to discount their efforts. Truth be told? Their album, How To Be a Lady: Volume 1, might even end up on some "year end best of" lists 'round here. Just sayin'...
Watch the video, grab the track, and reminisce/love it with me!
I love everything about this song. The jiggity hits, the beat, the harmonies. At the 1:45 mark when they start counting/singing the "rules" of being a friend lover, I lose my ish. Each and every time.
We fall hard for all things Zambri, that, my friends, is a given fact. The local troupe is one that I can't quit on, no matter how much you might say, "Hey, turn something else on!" No, I simply won't. Viva Zambri.
Zambri recently won Deli Magazine's Artist Of The Month and were also featured as the The Guardian's Band Of The Day. Further proof that we're not the only ones hot on the followings of this talented act.
In betwixt working on their debut album and playing a handful of fall/winter tour dates, they've also released their Bang For Changes EP, which is digitally available for you to own and love.
One more goodie for ya...the video for Easier, which we're ashamed to admit we never got around to posting when it first came out a few months back. Below the vid, free songs, cause you know, they're cool like that.
This might be one of the first indirectly non-music related post titles here, but never fear, cause we can tie it in a la "six degrees of Kevin Bacon" style. Actually, it only takes ONE degree. Tim Burton directed the music video for The Killers' 2006 song, Bones. Ta-dah!
Ever since we caught wind that visionary cinematographer, director, and all around mad genius, Tim Burton, would be exhibiting at MoMA, we've searched high and low for sneak peeks at what could only be considered a walk through the wild side.
Check out the Burton-esque trailer for the Burton curated and created exhibit below.
Accompanied by the film exhibitions Tim Burton and Tim Burton and the Lurid Beauty of Monsters, the exhibit will run from November 22, 2009 through April 26, 2010.
For what was a much hullabalooed 2009 MTV Video Music Awards, including the Michael Jackson tribute, rumors of who would or would not perform, an appearance by Madonna and countless WTF moments, the sole highlight of the evening lasted all of :31 seconds and belonged to Janet Jackson.
Opting to go for a ferociously massive number rather than a quiet and peaceful song, Jackson performed a tribute to her brother, Michael, by recreating the legendary dance scene from their 1995 smash, Scream. With the help of some techy radness, Janet appeared "alongside" Michael and rocked out the moves I used to, and still, emulate as soon as this song hits.
Watch the performance below.
Later on in the evening, a new song from Janet Jackson was posted at the singer’s official web site. Fans were notified through her twitter account.
"Thank u for ur endless love n support!"
"I hope u guys enjoyed us tonight. It was very special for me n I have a very special gift for all of u."
The song, Make Me, is streaming on her site. It's an upbeat jam that shows promise of what is rumored as an "early 2010 new album". Bodacious!
Burnett's astonishing discography includes landmark albums from Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Elvis Costello, John Mellencamp, Gillian Welch, Roy Orbison, Counting Crows and the Wallflowers.
Potter says of Burnett: "T Bone’s a legend but also a genuinely effervescent personality, which is what I look for in anybody, especially a producer..."
Grace Potter and The Nocturnals' album is tentatively slated for a fall 2009 release. In the meantime, you can catch GPN on tour all summer long as below.
May 16 Dana Point, CA Doheny Blues Fest (headline Renaissance stage) May 28 Baltimore, MD 8 X 10 May 29 Millvale, PA Mr. Small’s May 30 Lexington, KY The Dame June 4 Enterprise, AL BamaJam June 5 Live Oaks, FL Wannee Festival June 6 Savannah, GA Livewire Music Hall June 8 Isle of Palms, SC The Windjammer June 11 Knoxville, TN Sundown in the City June 12 Manchester, TN Bonnarroo Music Festival June 20 Millville, NJ Southern Shore Music Festival June 21 Croton on Hudson, NY Great Hudson River Festival June 25 Albany, NY Alive At Five June 27 Fort Smith, AK Riverfront Park June 28 Fort Smith, AK Neumeier’s Rib Room July 3 Telluride, CO Red, White & Blues July 5 Rothbury, MI Rothbury July 12 Burlington, VT Quadricentennial Festival July 17 Alta, Wyoming Grand Targhee Americanan Festival July 18 Park City, UT Mountain Town Stages July 24 Floyd, VA Floyd Festival July 26 Bridgeport, CT Gathering of the Vibes Aug 7 Brooklyn, NY Celebrate Brooklyn Festival Sept 5 New Orleans, LA Project 30-90
Here's one reason to love GPN and below the video is a tasty treat in the form of a passionate and energetic cover of a timeless tune.
The Interiors, of Chicago, released their debut LP this summer, garnering rave reviews from the Washington Post to the Chicago Tribune. In a nutshell, they are self-described as having an avant pop (Pixies, REM, Sonic Youth, etc) base but owing just as much to the tradition of R+B interpreters in the lineage of Presley, Stones, Talking Heads, etc. I'd call 'em straight up solid.
We've had a listen to the self-titled debut and are pleased to report that our ears didn't stop smiling throughout. Under the Radar called the track Power Lines"one of the best songs I've heard this year." We're in agreeance. (Agreeance? Sure we'll make up words. Whatever, it means we also share the same opinion.)
You can check out videos of a Rolling Stone event they played in August here. And then you can snag the track we (and you, in turn will) love.
* Another reader submission! Y'all already know I started the waterworks when I listened to Sia this morning. This time, David befells the [Sheena] Beast[on].
The Only Song to Make Me Cry Nicest Thing by Kate Nash (post written by David K)
When I first downloaded Made of Bricks, Miss Nash's debut album, in January, I avoided this song because I suspected it to be a clone of Littlest Things, by Lily Allen, an artist who's vocals and music stylings strongly resemble Nash. One day, though, I was distracted while I had my iTunes on shuffle. A few seconds later, I heard a slow beat and sad strings and not long later, Kate started to sing. All of her other songs were so brash and loud, and to hear her slowly asking, almost begging her crush to love her was something shocking to my ear. This song rang particularly true for me, because there's someone who'll never know that I like them. Kate's compilation of "I Wishes" hit home to me. It struck a nerve like music had never done before. Many a day went by when I was asking those same things, but hadn't the courage to say it aloud.
This line blew me away:
"I wish you could remember the look on my face when we first met".
The song gets darker by the end, with Miss Nash wishing the object of her affection couldn't live without her. And haven't we all felt that at one time. It's such an emotional song for me. Especially when I'm sitting in class and I look at the object of my affection asking these same things Kate is asking of her potential beau, and finishing with something simple:
"Look, all I know is that you're the nicest thing I've ever seen, and I wish we could be something"
The theme overall bears a resemblance to We Get On, an earlier track in the album, but this song is so raw, so sensitive. It just pulled at my heartstrings, and by the second or third listen, I was blubbering like a baby. I truly felt like Kate had written the song for me. The call is so simple and plaintive, but it speaks volumes. I heartily recommend the song to anyone who needs a good cry for one, but mostly for those who feel like there's that one guy or girl who you'd want to be with more than anything, but silently resigned that it'll probably never happen. But nevertheless, you won't stop hoping.
Who doesn't love NickyDigital? Exactly. Everyone loves him.
So you should go check out a new feature on his site called PLAYback, in which the first episode is graced with none other than Andy Butler, the brains behind Hercules & Love Affair.
Click the above image for the video. Click here for it. Any way you can, just click it and peep it.
Um, except, it was about a year ago. But this is the first I've seen of it.
See, tonight, I was really jonesing for for some Shiny Toy Guns in my ears. And knowing that their upcoming album, Season of Poison, doesn't come out until October of this year, I started digging around the matrices of the web to satisfy my hunger.
And this is what I came up with. Shiny Toy Guns perform on Yo Gabba Gabba's House of Spooks as The Shiny's. How cute!
And as a bonus, a Boys Noize remix and a Depeche Mode cover. Neither are new tracks, but it's what you get to hold you over until new material is released. I'm in the same boat with you, so let's float on with these until some leaks spring. Get it?*
I was also prone to creating video treatments with the camera feature on it. How you ask? The camera shot video in 15 second intervals. So, loaded with a slew of ideas and my trusty V phone, I came up with the end result as posted below.
And yes, in case you were wondering, it was edited with Windows Movie Maker. We run a high-tech operation here people...don't get too excited. There are other videos floating around, but you won't find them online. I'm a humble braggart.
(The song is called Breake. It's an original by my sister's fiance.)
Because we have a love for her that just won't seem to quit, here's a video of Lady GaGa performing Just Dance during the swimsuit competition of the Miss Universe pageant last night.
Twigs in bikinis trying to dance is hilarious!
One constructive piece of criticism: why do artists insist on singing with the vocal track? Its what leads to pitch problems and just sounds too fuzzy. Other than that, I dig the shoulder pads.
(And did you see? This year's Miss USA fell on her ass, much like last year's did. What's up with that!)
VH1Soul has started playing the brand new video for Little Jackie's The World Should Revolve Around Me.
If you recall, this was the video I took part in. I'll let you see if you can "Where's Waldo" me.
You can watch the video in the player below. (this will also be posted in my sidebar for quite some time.
Hitting some coding problems with the player. I'm working on getting this remedied right quick, but in the meantime, head over to Little Jackie's myspace and check it out for yourself.
Swedish superstar September has finally broken into mainstream U.S. media. Is she selling out? No.
There's really no other way for the minions to learn about this talented young phenom other than to blast her hit (which is now going on 3 years of age) on stations such as KTU and Z100. I dig it though. Get the word out there.
Neither the below video or song are new, but I do what I want.
Looking back, one of my very first posts was dedicated to her. A mix between Robyn and Sophie Ellis-Bextor, September has a HUGE underground hit with Cry For You. (and the Ministry of Sound remix is just that much better too.)
One of my personal favorites off her U.S. debut, Dancing Shoes, Until I Die, has one of my favorite videos of 2008 so far. Give me "big bell striking" and we're good.
After a long, LONG day of being on set at the music video shoot yesterday, I return, victoriously unscathed, exhausted, tan to the high heavens and with a pep in my stride.
It was one of the best experiences, and even though having done various other musical/dance projects, it was extremely refreshing to work with talent, cast and crew that were all genuinely a pleasure to work with and be around.
As soon as I have any more details on clips, release, etc...you'll be the first to know.
In the meantime, have a new track from Immuzikation. I can't dedicate the strength or energy to do a full post on this yet, so I'll weigh back in on it later. It's ace though!
I do, because I like to play it as often as possible.
If you don't recall, those lyrics come from Imani Coppola's 1997 hit, Legend of a Cowgirl. But what relevance does it have in today's posting?
One of the up and coming acts I've written about here, Little Jackie, is shooting a music video today for their single, The World Should Revolve Around Me. Little Jackie singer is none other than, you guessed it, Imani herself.
I mentioned yesterday about a music video I've been cast in. Well this is the one!
The single will also appear as the theme song for the 3rd season of I Love NY on VH1.
In case any of you were wondering who in the ever loving existence Lady Gaga is, you can take a looksy here or here.
Or, if you so happen to live in the NYC area, you can get up close and personal with her on any one of her sequential club dates beginning next week. I know I will and I will freak the shit out of Just Dance. Each and every time.
Club dates are below the video for Just Dance, which I already posted ABOUT, but hence, had forgotten to actually POST the video. So you can quit yelling now. And just start breaking ankles on the dance floor.
