Have you ever noticed that the Final Jeopardy! song ends just like I’m a Little Teapot?
“…Tip me over and pour me out.”
Who Shook it Better? October 26, 2015
From the list of all-time most-viewed YouTube videos, Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” comes in at #6 with more than a billion views. (In other words, it has been watched for 8,272 man-years teenage-girl-years.)
But The Key of Awesome’s version is nipping at Taylor’s heals with 16.5 million views. [Language warning.] “Scoffers gotta scoff, scoff-scoff-scoff-scoff.”
“Downtown” October 16, 2015
Based on how obsessively I’ve been listening to this, this is apparently my new favorite song.
I highly recommend this video, “Downtown,” (with a language warning.)
Quite the spectacle, huh? The dancing and over-the-top sung bridge are my favorites.
I did not know that this singer was white, which makes him twice the ironic rapper.
If you enjoyed that, behold their VMA performance. Once again… “WOW!”
My Pandora Recommendations September 21, 2015
Pandora is a free music service I have written about before. You begin by choosing “stations” and then thumb-up or thumb-down what you hear. There are occasional commercials, but it’s guilt-free music tailored to your tastes. Below are my favorite Pandora stations and featured tracks:
- Andy Grammar Radio, “Forever“
- Vanessa Williams Radio, “Save the Best for Last“
- Jackson 5 Radio, “ABC“
- Colbie Caillat Radio, “Bubbly“
- John Meyer Radio, “Dreaming with a Broken Heart“
- Rob Thomas Radio, “Her Diamonds“
- Electric Light Orchestra, “Mr. Blue Sky“
- Regina Spector Radio, “Fidelity“
- Michael Bublé Radio, “Everything“
- OK Go Radio, “This Too Shall Pass“
“The Unexamined Song is not Worth Singing” September 12, 2015
Taylor Swift recently sat down for a dialogue with Socrates. Below, I offer you a soundtrack to accompany your reading.
“Waters of March” August 31, 2015
My favorite Portuguese song (and the only one I know.)
Update: My friend Stephanie brings up this Portuguese classic. Upon hearing it, I said, “Ahhhhh…”
“King Tut” August 16, 2015
“I’d like to talk seriously just for a moment. One of the great art exhibitions ever to tour the United States is the Treasures of Tutankhamen – or King Tut. But I think it’s a national disgrace the way we have commercialized it with trinkets and toys, T-shirts and posters. And three months ago I was up in the woods, and I wrote a song. I tried to use the ancient modalities and melodies. I’d like to do it for you right now. Maybe we can all learn something from this.”
I turns out Dr. Steve Martin (in Humane Letters) was incorrect in some of the historical details, but he set the record straight here.
The Andalusian Cadence July 19, 2015
What do the songs “Hit the Road Jack”, “(So) Happy Together”, and “Smooth Criminal” all have in common? The note progression A, G, F, E — reportedly the world’s most used musical sequence. As you might guess, there are many examples.
Country Poetry November 19, 2014
Country music is not my favorite genre, but I find that it’s the most fertile field for well-written lyrics. Today I heard a fine example in Travis Tritt’s 1996 song, “Where the Corn Don’t Grow“:
Context Clues September 17, 2014
I didn’t know what “Context Clues” were, but this helped me to figure it out. Word.
It’s the Same Old Tune August 27, 2014
You already knew that Vanilla Ice’s Ice Ice Baby ripped-off Under Pressure by Queen.
But have you ever heard these musical theft victims before?
See if you can I.D. who stole from them. (Answers below.)
1. “Islands in the Stream” by Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton (Skip to 1:00 mark)
2. “Forget Me Nots” by Patrice Rushen
3. “Pastime Paradise” by Stevie Wonder
4. I Wish – Stevie Wonder
5. “Are You My Woman” by the Chi-Lites
Answers (Highlight to Reveal):
1. “Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are)” by Ol’ Dirty Bastard & Mýa
2. “Men in Black” by Will Smith
3. “Gangster’s Paradise” by Coolio
4. “Wild, Wild West” by Will Smith
5. “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce
“Happy” August 12, 2014
I could watch this all day. (Well, not literally, but I theoretically could.)
Meet My Friend, Christopher ‘Tiffani’ Hilton May 24, 2014
What song would you like to share?
‘Imagine‘ by John Lennon. Is that a cliche answer? Maybe.
Chris at work (presumably cooking)
What is your line of work?
Sous Chef at Western Technical College
What is a secret about your occupation that would surprise people?
We know how many calories your eating. It’s a lot more than you think. (a lot more)
What question are you tired of being asked?
“How is it?” (Asked by others referring to food that they cooked. My impulse is to start thinking about ‘what would make this better’, even if it’s pretty good already.)
What question would you like to be asked?
“What are your favorite board games?” Settlers of Catan, Carcassone, Nothing Personal, Dominion, The Resistance
What is some good advice that has impacted your life?
DFTBA (Don’t forget to be awesome) is a sort of omnipresent thought in the back of my head at all times
What are your favorite websites?
What If: XKCD Because I like impossible scenario physics
I have a lot of YouTube channels that I subscribe to. I highly recommend: Numberphile, CGP Grey, VlogBrothers, Veritasium, ViHart, Crash Course, Zogg From Betelgeuse
What is something neat you came across recently on the internet?
Anchor’s Delight February 24, 2014
With heavy editing, Brian Williams can be as cool as Bret Baier.
Plus: Bret Baier’s pants and who he would like to interview most.
“Off the Hookah!” January 31, 2014
Making music with a good voice and an app. From the comments: “His name is Douglas Bako; the song is called ‘Wayfaring Stranger‘ by Ed Sheeran; the app is called ‘Voice Jam‘”
“Good King Wenceslaus” on the Feast of Stephen December 26, 2013
Written by John Mason Neale in 1853
Good King Wenceslaus looked out
on the Feast of Stephen(1)
When the snow lay round about,
deep and crisp and even.
Brightly shone the moon that night,
though the frost was cruel,
When a poor man came in sight,
gath’ring winter fuel.(2)
“Royals” Acapella December 22, 2013
Florida State University’s AcaBelles powerfully covering Lorde’s Royals.
Have you seen Pitch Perfect? Dad observed that it has the same plot as Monster’s University.
Her Diamonds by Rob Thomas November 24, 2013
So there I was, obsessively working Pandora, trying to hear my most-recent favorite song, when it occurred to me that I could listen to it on YouTube anytime, as many times I wanted, and share it with you as well.
It’s a song about a man wanting to be a support for his beloved as she goes through a hard, dark, emotional night. Listen to the lyrical version first to let the story’s scene be painted in your mind. Then, watch the official music video for an interesting stylistic take. The moving music video, starring Alicia Silverstone, reminded me in several ways of Katie Stelter’s excellent docudrama, Metamorphosis.
The 30-Point Buck November 23, 2013
“He was so rutaful, so beautiful.
Strutted right out of my dreams,
he was created by God,
just for outdoor magazines.”
“Tonight You Belong To Me” September 29, 2013
Various artist have made “Tonight You Belong to Me” their own:
The Oldest
The Jerkiest
The Cutest
The Hipserest
The Prettiest
Which is your favorite version?
Pondering the Great Questions September 16, 2013
The music of Ylvin, the Norwegian comedy talk show duo, has recently gone viral.
What’s the Meaning of Stonehenge?
What Does the Fox Say?
Who is Jan Egeland?
(Mild content warning)
A Disputation Sung by St. Thomas Aquinas September 15, 2013
On the Question of Whether Theology Is Worth Your Interest?
Objection One: It isn’t fun.
Objection Two: It isn’t true.
Objection Three: It’s not for me.
Objection Four: It’s such a bore.
But On The Contrary, Scripture said eventually you’ll turn up dead, and when you do you’ll want to know exactly which way you should go.
I Answer That, Theology, theology, it isn’t just tautology; it edifies your being like a spiritual technology. You deride it, you critique it, but you secretly still seek it; God and goodness are the ends to which your very nature tends.
I Reply Objection One: Theology is plenty fun.
And I Reply Objection Two: God’s highest in the genus “True”
And I Reply Objection Three: That Jesus died for you and me.
And I Reply Objection Four: That with these teachings you can soar–beyond just words and theory into the high Empyrean. All these concepts, once you’ve known them, lead you to the summum bonum.
(See St. Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologica)
My Top Five Favorite Motor Vehicle Fatality Songs September 4, 2013
Most of these are what Dad calls “teenage death songs.” Despite their grim subject matter, they each have a sweetness about them.
5. Dead Man’s Curve by Jan & Dean (1963)
4. Teen Angel by Mark Dinning (1960)
3. Last Kiss (Oh Where, Oh Where Can My Baby Be) by J .Frank Wilson & The Cavaliers (1964) & Pearl Jam (1999)
2. Leader of the Pack by The Shangri-Las (1964)
1. Tonight Is The Night I Fell Asleep At The Wheel by The Barenaked Ladies (2000)
Drive safely.
Micro Mario & Macro Melody August 15, 2013
This micro machine anticipated, if not inspired, this macro-piece by OK Go.
Stuff My Sisters Will Like 