Entries For: July 2007
07/26/2007
Kanye West - Can't Tell Me Nothin' (Zach Galifianakis version)
There’s a little bar in LA called Largo that I’m willing to bet is directly responsible for the existence of this video. What’s my evidence, you ask? Try to keep up:
Let’s start with the fact that Jon Brion produced Fiona Apple’s 1999 album that begins with “When the Pawn.” The two became friends, so she was a sometime guest performer at Brion’s legendary Friday night shows at Largo. Okay, fast forward to 2005: Kanye West, in search of some new sounds for his follow-up to “College Dropout,” happened upon Apple’s album and decided he wanted to bring Brion in to expand his palette for what became “Late Registration.” As a result, Kanye has also been an occasional guest at Largo. Still with me? Good.
Zach Galifianakis, the bearded gentleman in this video, is a comedian who’s done a whole bunch of random stuff so it’s hard to say what he’s best known for. I do know, though, when he comes through LA, he plays at Largo, because I saw him there. I’m willing to bet that this is why he got in with the whole Apple-Brion crowd, because last year he appeared in Apple’s music video for “Not About Love,” doing a version of what he’s doing here.
Sooo, I bet Kanye saw that video, decided it was hilarious, called up his old friends Apple and Brion, and said, “I need this guy to do this for one of my songs!” And here you have it.
Elementary, my dear Watson.
Beyonce Falls Down, Goes Boom
By now, most people (or most who'd care, anyway) have heard about the tumble down the stairs Beyonce took at her concert in Orlando on Tuesday. And judging by the number of views on the many videos of the incident -- presumably all posted by the "fans" Beyonce specifically asked not to post the thing -- pretty much everyone who cares has seen it as well.
Seriously. More than a million people have let their fingers do the clicking to watch Beyonce fall down. (I have, too, but that's my job.) If there's one thing that netizens like, it's watching people fall down. That little bit of social observation aside, allow me to say ...
This fall is spectacular.
Beyonce actually manages to fall on her ass, bounce off, and rebound onto her face. Then she gets up and jumps right back into the number. Officially, I'm appalled and concerned, but since her reps have put out the word that she's fine, I can also be impressed as hell. Damn.
07/25/2007
Crank dat Soulja Boy with Barney
Some time when I wasn't paying attention, "Crank dat Soulja Boy" seized the imaginations of... well, everyone but me, apparently. Now the Webiverse is crawling with dance tutorials, karaoke editions, and many, many homages.
You got your Soulja Spongebob, your Soulja Naruto... even Winnie the Pooh's kickin it Soulja-style. But for flawless editing, unbridled whimsy, and sheer joyous surreality, you simply can't beat the Barney edition.
Sure, the hours the creator must have spent voluntarily watching Barney might make you worry a bit. And every once in a while you may get distracted wondering what the hell those Barney kids were originally supposed to be doing. (There's one move I've dubbed the Hitlercize.) But the fact is, this is just a beautifully put-together video.
Simply put, this shit is tight, yo.
07/20/2007
White Stripes Are One-Note?
Normally, we'd never accuse The White Stripes of being stale -- but if one note is the only note they're gonna play, then the label might stick. As part of their Canadian tour to promote "Icky Thump," Jack and Meg White are holding to a promise to play in every Canadian province and territory -- mostly through secret "One Note" shows, advertised mere hours ahead of time via their website.
Here, a crowd of excited Newfoundland fans witness Jack and Meg keep their word. No telling how long they had to wait for this one beat of music -- but given that the applause lasts longer than the performance, it seems that the crowd thinks it was worth it.