music

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The Late Movies: Musical Seniors

We all know that musicians like Mick Jagger and Keith Richards are over-the-hill, but we usually don't hear about too many people rocking away into the golden years. Some senior citizens, though, are showing that you don't have to be young to be a rock star (or party like one). The Zimmers The Zimmers rocketed to fame with their cover of The Who's "My Generation" (above). The roughly 50-member band, formed for a BBC documentary, is touted as "the oldest band in the world" with a cumulative age of... READ ON

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What a Glorious Space to Dwell

Here's a catchy, simple song to brighten your Tuesday morning. Songwriter Jonathan Mann has ben doing a song-a-day project called Songatron for quite a while now; song #659 is called "What A Glorious Space To Dwell (Fun Facts Song)." He explains it like so: I stumbled on to a really wonderful thread on Reddit.com about the most mind blowing facts people could think of. I collected a bunch of them and made this song! Here's a sample of the song's lyrics: "Hydrogen is a light, odorless gas,... READ ON

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RIP, Sony Walkman

Last Friday, Sony announced the end of the Walkman Era -- a period that lasted more than three decades, defining the personal music listening experience for pretty much everyone in my generation (I was born a year before the Walkman was). Sony will no longer produce the portable cassette-based Walkman, though they are still selling the CD-based Discman and MiniDisc Walkman. The Walkman was first introduced on July 1, 1979. Every five years (until 1999), Sony introduced an "anniversary model" Walkman.... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Feist's "The Reminder"

Musician Leslie Feist released the album The Reminder in 2007. I was recently reminded that it's still awesome, so tonight, here are live versions of all its songs, in album order. Enjoy! 1. So Sorry Live in Quebec City. Some French banter and audience participation starts it off. 2. I Feel It All With a backing band of five very quiet gentlemen. If you watch one video from this set, let it be this... READ ON

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Amenities Available at the Original "Big Rock Candy Mountain"

The song "Big Rock Candy Mountain" describes a hobo's paradise, featuring all the things a good hobo needs -- from lakes of whiskey to cigarette trees and lax law enforcement. I have compiled a list of the amenities available at the original Big Rock Candy Mountain below. Please contact our booking department for details regarding lodging; bindles are optional but strongly encouraged. Featuring: 1. Crystal fountain 2. Land suitable for agriculture or recreation 3. Currency grows from bushes... READ ON

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"Hallelujah" 10 Ways

"Hallelujah" is a song written by Leonard Cohen in 1984, and never officially released as a single. It has become famous mainly through cover versions, and has been recorded by hundreds of artists. In 2008, American Idol contestent Jason Castro sang a version that caused Jeff Buckley's famous cover to rocket to the top of the Billboard Hot Digital Songs chart (you know, the kids these days with their iTunes and what-not). Buckley's rendition became a Platinum single on April 22, 2008, eleven years after... READ ON

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Jimmy Fallon and JT Drop Some Hip-Hop

Last week, Justin Timberlake appeared on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon to promote his new movie role. After the interview, the pair launched into a fully choreographed hip-hop medley that has come to be known as "The History of Rap" (although it focuses heavily on late 80's, 90's, and 2000's songs -- this is by no means a full history). Fallon and Timberlake trade off the MC role, as The Roots (Fallon's house band) provide backup. It's fun, it's impressive (who knew Fallon was a song-and-dance man??),... READ ON

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Ben Folds + Nick Hornby + Pomplamoose = Adorable

Musician Ben Folds and novelist Nick Hornby (High Fidelity, About a Boy, lots more) have just released a new album called Lonely Avenue. To build a little buzz, Folds and Hornsby collaborated with internet phenoms Pomplamoose as their backing band, creating a "Video Song." The result has Hornby doing some spoken word (though the album involves more straightforward songs with just Folds singing). The Video Song is a charming little ditty called "Things You Think," and I think it's just adorable:... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Leslie Hall, Rap Queen of Iowa

Leslie Hall is what Wikipedia describes as "an American satirical rap artist and front-woman for the band Leslie and the Ly's and the operator of what is best described as a 'gem sweater museum.'" I asked around and was told by THREE friends, "Oh yeah, Leslie's kind of famous." She's been on Yo Gabba Gabba!! Looking at her videos, I'm stunned that we haven't given her the Late Movies treatment yet. So strap yourselves in, stuff's about to get awesome. "Tight Pants / Body Rolls" This video is... READ ON

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A Comprehensive Rap-Graphic

Fans of rap (or hugely engrossing graphics) will delight in this chart which categorizes the names of nearly every known rapper - showing where two or more categories intersect. You may lose hours tracing how the different categories come into play. For instance: "Big" + "Daddies" = Big Daddy Kane "Big" + "Three Letters" = Notorious B.I.G. "Three Letters" + "Cool" = LL Cool... READ ON