Unusual personal post: I’m going to my first marching band rehearsal next Monday night, and I’ll be playing the big bass drum!
That will seriously tick the box on one of my lifelong ambitions.
Up next: pulling the big lever on The Joker’s Wild!
There’s actually a Tom Lehrer Channel on YouTube. I love me some Intertubes!
Okay, this did make me sad right now (for personal reasons) but it is really beautiful. Lovely song as well.
If you haven’t seen RuPaul’s film Starrbooty, you are truly missing one of the most hilariously gross films of the decade. Starrbooty makes Pink Flamingos look like Mary Poppins!
Caution: DO NOT DRINK MILK WHILE WATCHING THIS VIDEO. You have been warned!
Kenyan afropop for Obama by Orchesta Virunga!
Obama Ubarikiwe (vocal remix) – Orchestra Virunga
Samba Mapangala, East Africa’s most beloved singer, recognizing how much Africans love Barack Obama and how proud Kenyans are of Obama’s Presidential candidacy, has released a song in his honor: “Obama Ubarikiwe.”
The title translates as “Obama Be Blessed.” The new Swahili lyrics say: “There’s a new leader in America. Let’s applaud him. We wish you long life. Do a good job for us. Viva Obama!” The song continues: “Obama, leadership is a gift from God, and you have it. Please help to bring peace, change and hope to all Americans and all the world. We love you!”
Info, video, downloads here.
Those durn whales keep gettin’ in the way of our ships! Fortunately, african drummers are here to help.
In attempting to unravel the chaotic rhythms of the sperm whale clicks, he was struck by the similarity between his underwater recordings and African tribal music. A Senegalese griot (drummer) confirmed the likeness and — amazingly — was able to pick individual whales … through their distinctive rhythmic structures.
From Clive Thomson’s Collision Detection blog, which also has lots of other interesting tidbits, like “Young people who use landlines are more conservative than those who use mobile phones”
An oldie but goodie — and possibly the best beat boxing I’ve ever seen. Hilarious!
Chris Randall scores an old industrial video from the Prelinger Archives: