Spotted online yesterday. It made me laugh.
We mentioned the AI vs Creative Industry problem earlier in the week, and obviously, it goes for music as well. Thankfully, I’ve not heard much AI-generated stuff (yet), and if it’s anything like the images and the videos, then I’m really not sure I want to.
As for Thom’s more recent stuff – hey – I like to be challenged occasionally, but actually, it’s really not that bad.
This is so good. SOOOOO good.
Step forward “Actor and Writer” James McNicholas – jmcnik on the IG – who reminds us that songs are merely words set to music. He’s done a few of these deconstructed songs as “dramatic” monologues, and they are good. But this one is the best.
You might recognise the original as being Crazy by Gnarls Barkley. A worldwide hit in 2006.
Allow me to jog your memory.
But lob on some fake sideburns and a Victorian shirt and waistcoat, be the weird scientist (who experimented upon himself?), and add some pauses and some incredible eye contact, and you have something moving, compelling, intriguing and almost spellbinding.
There’s Jekyll and Hyde, there’s Jules Verne, there’s H.G. Wells and more in there.
As a monologue and a performance, it couldn’t be further from the original, but it still stands.
Amazing stuff.
Also check out his MmmBop, which is actually (lyrically) a damn fine song.
When I heard this song on 6 Music, it did get me wondering if all of the other potential options had been considered, and if there might actually be a better, more efficient solution to this rather common problem.
As I say, I have no huge expertise in this particular field, although we did recently do A LOT of research on one potential alternative to Indo’s very specific need.
I have to be honest, men get a bad rap a lot of the time, but while it is at least occasionally deserved, there are lot of good points to men which are often overlooked. However, I really don’t think that anyone needs to put up with the difficult, high maintenance aspects of having a man, simply for a requirement as straightforward as this.
Surely a hot water bottle or one of those beanbag things you put in the microwave would be a better idea? More economical, no potential emotional attachment, plus the ability to stick it down by your feet without any danger of suffocation should you need hotter toes. Sure, it won’t be able to assist with other helpful stuff like unscrewing the top from the pickle jar or clearing the snow off the driveway, but these are very much occasional needs when compared to the requirement of keeping you warm at night, which could be a daily requirement for maybe 6 months or more.
This time last year, I was have been hesitant to recommend an electric blanket, given the issues we had with loadshedding. And this year, despite loadshedding having disappeared, I’m still hesitant to recommend an electric blanket given the price of electricity now that we’ve actually got some.
My fok, Marilize.
It does seem that there’s actually no simple answer to this (the electricity price or the keeping warm at night thing). But may I respectfully suggest some extra clothing: PJs and socks, and maybe an extra blanket from Mr Price as being the best place to start, rather than this sudden, seemingly irrational desire for a bloke?
Note: I ran the concept of this post past a reader before I wrote it, and I got the impression that I maybe needed to find a different angle. This can like to be that angle.
Now. On with the post.
That was my cry when I started getting adverts and flyers for this concert all over my socials and emails:
For those who aren’t aware, I have been plagued by Afrikaans singing sensation Bok van Blerk for many years now. Much like Herpes, your presence on his mailing lists is something that you simply can’t get rid of, no matter how many drugs you take or how desperately you try.
But could Lighthouse – that’s these guys:
We are Lighthouse, a family band that loves making music for Jesus, our Lord, and Savior!
actually be worse than Bok?
Yes. Yes, I rather think that they could.
They’ve been aggressively marketing their upcoming Praise and Worship Aand (evening) in Struisbaai this weekend all over my internet. They might even have taken it further: I haven’t looked at the front of my house, but it wouldn’t surprise me if their ubiquitous message had been daubed all over there as well.
They’ve also been punting their BIG SONG: Fear Of The Lord (negative reinforcement is rarely a successful means of control, and this title doesn’t seem to suggest a good way to run any sort of organisation to me) in partnership with the popular series “The Chosen”, on Youtube (76 subscribers).
They tell us:
Go stream it free on The Chosen App. It’s a must-watch!
Hmm. Citation required.
At this point, I usually say something along the lines of:
I did this, so you don’t have to.
But in this case: no chance. You’re on your own.
I did watch the music video though:
Part smiley Jesus (especially when he realises that he’s turned the water into wine, lol), part Afrikaans singing family in their local school hall.
But wait. There’s more!
Binge Jesus for Free on thechosen[dot]tv/app
How exactly do you “Binge Jesus”? What does that process involve?
Yes, in the video, it does seem like he’s a nice bloke.
Yes, in the video, she does seem to have a pretty good voice.
But that doesn’t mean that you have to get tangled up with what almost exactly half of Americans think saved Donald Trump from that bullet in Pennsylvania.
Let’s cut to the chase: I won’t be down in Struisbaai this weekend, and so I won’t be seeing Lighthouse in concert at the Suiderlig Dienssentrum. I will miss Pastor Walters Joubert from Bredasdorp.
Their appeal to:
Kom geniet die Aand saam met ons!
has fallen upon stony ground.
They should at least understand that metaphorical reference.
Meanwhile, in a cruel twist of fate, look who has pulled into my inbox again this afternoon:
This time, he’s singing about the threat that the Afrikaans people and language are [allegedly] facing, and trying to inspire (and here I quote):
…a new generation of Afrikaners who would like to remember the past, preserve it and build on what was good.
Ah yes. The good old days in South Africa.
Bit awkward. Especially since the title of the song is in Dutch (although there is a lengthy backstory, which I read, so you don’t have to) (see? I am a nice guy, really).
Oh man. Nationalist politics or Organised religion?
My two most very favourite things which are doing so much the make the world a better place right now.
Shall we just not?
Was that ok? Do you think?
I understand that the posts I do about music don’t often hit everyone’s spot.
That’s ok. I get it.
But this one might be different if you’re willing to do a bit of looking through this Youtube or Spotify catalogue.
I spotted this on Instagram, of all places. And the caption was:
I listened to this, and so now you have to.
And I get that different people have different opinions on things (see above), and that’s (mostly) ok, but wow.
For me, this is really, really beautiful.
The ending. Goosebumps.
I thought that I’d shared something from PMJ on here before, but if I did, I can’t find it.
Maybe I thought I should, and then something important happened.
Sorry.
Postmodern Jukebox, also known as Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, is a rotating musical collective founded by New York based pianist Scott Bradlee in 2011. Postmodern Jukebox is known for reworking popular modern music into different vintage genres, especially early 20th century forms such as swing and jazz.
It’s important to understand that not everything makes sense when converted to 20’s and 30’s jazz. But when it does… it really does. Habits works. Black Hole Sun works. The Smiths in country style – amazingly – works. Creep is – of course – hypnotisingly beautiful.
The huge range of artists they cover, the varying sets and costumes, the occasional monochrome, the special guest artists on each track, the different genres employed. It all adds to a pretty cool listening and viewing experience.
There’s even one for the TA (if he’s got this far!)*.
Give it a go.
* Let me know, hey? 😉