it's finally time this happened.

SXSW 2011. Land of dreams and kebabs and happy hours at Taverna and pedi cabs. Home of new musical discoveries and nightmarish hipster visions. Yes, this festival has it all and then some.

This year, SXSW was a total thrill ride for me. Yes, I needed several pep talks in the St. David's parking garage daily to keep going (thanks, Yaelie) but we made it through. We lived like queens through the streets of Austin. Nothing is better than walking into Stubb's without having to wait because YOU HAVE A PLATINUM BADGE (thanks, LP). A month later, I've had time to reflect.

This year, one person dominated my entire experience. No, not Kanye. I didn't even attempt to the get to the power plant. I'm talking about the most amazing performer I've ever seen live.

Charles Bradley.

I am planning on another post later to truly showcase my deep, deep love for this man. But I must share this gem with you first. Y and I dancing, in earnest, to his performance at Cedar Street Courtyard with the Menahan Street Band.

Obvi, we have no idea we are being filmed. This is also apparent because I am clearly dressed like a 4th grade boy ready for recess. Who wears horizontal stripes on camera, America? And Old Navy jeans from 2003 made into jorts?

SOMEONE WHO DOESN'T GIVE A F AND JUST WANTS TO DANCE.



We are FEELING it. It's like a religious experience. The first few seconds are just me with a giant grin, watching Charles and his unbelievable hip work. Are we dead serious with those moves? Also, Y and I synced up. How.

Some things I love:

Y's amazing YELLING during the song.
Y's arm slice.
My inability to do anything but gape at Charles.
My spirit fingers.

Some things I hate:

Clothing choice on my part.
That this is on the web.
That we aren't a meme yet.
What I did in front of the amazing and hard-working musicians of the Menahan Street Band/Daptone Records/Truth and Soul.
That I can't watch this video at work to get my daily fix because YouTube is blocked there.
That Charles isn't performing in my living room right now.

Sorry, I just wrote an entire post about a video that is barely a minute long and is starring me. BUT IT'S MY BLOG.

soothe me, baby

I just got this on 45 on a whim and I can't stop listening.



If this doesn't move you in a lot of different ways, then we can't be friends. Are you kidding me with the intense singing right into the microphone? Luv it.

james brown dancing with daughter gives new meaning to life

Look at this clip of James Brown performing on Soul Train. Then look closer at his dancer - his tiny tot daughter, Deanna. ARE WE DEAD SERIOUS RIGHT NOW?



One of the best YouTube comments was "Honey, we shrunk Lyn Collins" which made me chortle a bit. If your daddy is JB, you're guaranteed to be a good dancer.

Thanks, Carla!

chromeo wants to help you

Did you know there is a serious disease out there that makes you like shit music? Well, Chromeo wants to help. Also, luv the Jonas Brothers poster in the background at the beginning of the vid.

A Classic (NSFW)

ALAN!

So, it's a slow news day. Don't look at me! The bottom line is, I'm back to work and it's sucking my soul already. It's only been one day! And the kids aren't even back yet. LORDY.

But I came home and I found this gem. Something about this video really speaks to me. Is this a prairie dog or a gopher screaming? Someone figure that out for me. That little dude is my favorite.

Apparently this is a preview from some talking animal show on the BBC, which shouldn't shock anyone. They have several other clips here. Some of it brings the stupid, but some of it contains serious cuteness.

rocket man

This has taken me way too long to post. I'm into this for several reasons, one of which does include Bernie Taupin's sunglasses. Who wears shades inside during an awards show? Only tight lyricists.

This is a video of William Shatner's interpretation of "Rocket Man," the classic Elton John song we all know and love. It almost doesn't seem real, because it's honestly too good to be true. I can't handle his cigarette smoking, or the way he says HIGH. Someone turned up the intense meter. Just wait until there are two Shats on the screen. And then three. Breaking news: This was not meant to be watched sober. Enjoy!

Lady In Red is Making Me Want 2 Binge Eat

If you ever want to hypnotize me to become your highly skilled assassin to command at will, just play this video. I can't stop watching it. I've been looking at vintage beauty pageant footage for the past 2 hours and can't get over how goofy they were back then. It was a wonderful time, before fake racks and fake tans.

And let's get real. No man in that video prefers the female gender. Except for maybe this guy:

Worst/Best Song Ever?

Yikes.

My Boo/1997 Just Called

PLAY THIS AT YOUR NEXT PARTY. I promise no one will be disappointed.

This video should be retitled, "Polite Young Black People Having Fun." Seriously, this is the most reserved, white washed video ever. Just a little pizza party and hangin' out by the pool. Just an igloo cooler full of Sunny D, y'all. This was playing on your radio in 1997, sandwhiched between Foolish Games by Jewel and Can't Nobody Hold Me Down by Puff Daddy.

The Pioneer

I think this guy accurately captures the spirit of this blog. He is a pioneer of dance parties and is worthy of praise. There are several YouTube videos documenting dance guy's dedication to spreading joy. And perhaps drug use.

The Sanchez

I wonder what Tony Sanchez is up to these days.

And now that we're on the subject, I hope Raymond Lucky opened up a dance studio, because I want to sign up. I mean seriously, how sleepy/cocky is this guy?

'Busting Makes Me Feel Good

I've decided to write my thesis on this video. Ray Parker Jr.'s song speaks to every level of me as a person. If nothing else, click to the keyboard solo at 2:58. That insane hammering of keys plus the way Ray Parker Jr. gives such a cocky shrug and says, "I ain't 'fraid of no ghosts," is what I want to see the moment before I go to the other side.

The end of the video features some celebrity cameos that make little sense, especially one of Chevy Chase swallowing a lit match and spitting out a cigarette. Someone make that into a gif please.

I've decided that you all should book your tickets to visit me in NYC and I will start a business conducting Ghostbusters tours. This is basically the best idea I've ever had.

Smokin' on the Dro

I posted this a while back [via] Twitter, but it's worth posting on here. This is the best student project ever.

Olive Garden Handsy Time

Olive Garden commercials push me over the edge, but this one really takes the cake. It's supposed to be a sweet little story about a mom and son who go to Olive Garden because dad is working late and can't be home for dinner (aka, dad is probably cheating with another woman who actually cooks real food).

Thing is, this mother and son look way too cozy. I'm pretty sure this delicious meal from the O.G. is just foreplay.

"So uhh, is Donna still in the picture?"



In that last scene in Big when Elizabeth Perkins drops T. Hanks off at his house and he turns back into baby T. Hanks, she knew that there was no Olive Garden in their future. Just let it go, y'all.

This post approved by baby T. Hanks from Big.


Was anyone aware that Penny Marshall directed Big?? I had no clue.

Painting From Brother Joe

Here's an old familiar face. Somebody cast this guy in a Cohen brothers movie, asap.

Highlights include advice on how to hang a picture, and a search for a black marker.

YouTube Song of the Day #1

There are certain songs in this world that fill me with more rage than I know how to handle. One of these songs is most definitely Life Is A Highway. While the Tom Cochrane version is bad enough, the Rascal Flatts one make me want to throw broken bottles at pedestrians.

So after some heavy YouTube research, not only was I shocked to discover the amount of fan videos that use Life As A Highway, I couldn't believe how many seemed to use the song inappropriately. So here's the best of the first 10 pages of YouTube search results. And there were seriously about 50 more pages.





@douchebags who play guitars under the highway:




Video made for elementary school career day. I'm serious:




Perhaps the most inappropriate song + video usage?:


You probably all hate your lives now. If you watched more than 10 seconds of any of those videos, you most likely tore a hole in the space-time continuum. This is all slightly regrettable OKAY BYE BYE.

baby i need your loving: battle royale

THREE SONGS. THREE SOOTHING VOICES. BATTLE ROYALE PART IV.

This is an extra tricky song battle because I have three versions of this song. Also, I am really enjoying calling it a battle because in no way do I expect you to choose a winner/even pretend this is serious. "Baby I Need Your Loving" was a huge Motown hit for The Four Tops in 1964. Hello, it was written by Holland-Dozier-Holland who could write a tight song about me brushing my teeth. It's a classic song with a classic Motown feel. It's such a feel-good song. Who doesn't know all the words? It's one of those songs where I feel like groups of people will start singing it together and then wonder how they know every single lyric. I have included the original Four Tops version, but here are some BATTLERS.

The Four Tops - Baby I Need Your Loving

Man. Love these guys. The Four Tops are, of course, a classic Motown quartet. TRIVIA: Did you know these guys were together for something crazy like forty years without a single line-up change? Seriously. They had a ton of hits that we all know and love in the sixties. I can get down to a Four Tops song anytime, anywhere. If you can't, I feel like you might need to CHECK YOUR PULSE. "Baby I Need Your Loving" really started it all for this group. Check the vid.

Johnny Rivers - Baby I Need Your Lovin'


Johnny Rivers is a huge personal fave. He recorded a cover version in 1967 and titled it "Baby I Need Your Lovin'". He was only released as a single but had success. I mean, how could it not? He also covered "Tracks of My Tears" during this period. Loving the Motown thing from Johnny.

The Supremes - Baby I Need Your Loving

The Supremes got in the mix with their version, recorded in 1966. It appears on their album A' Go-Go, which has a ton of crazy stuff on it. A million covers! Of course, we all know that The Supremes were a Motown girl group and pretty much the biggest ballers of the sixties, except for maybe the Beatles. I'm dead serious. These girls are like the highest selling vocal group EVER. That is ridiculous. This version features the original gals: Diana, Mary, and Florence.



SO, which one do you like the best? Personally, I can't go wrong with the O.G. Four Tops version, but I have to admit it's a nice change of pace to hear the soothing female vocals from Diana. But, I also love Johnny's crooner style. A near impossible choice, but at least nothing will disappoint you. Now, I'm off to a busy day. Sike, the only real thing I have to do today is eat lunch.

Speedy Like Gonzales

It's amazing what you used to be able to accomplish with a unitard and green screen.

How to Fail at YouTube

So I was researching Marky Mark & The Funky Bunch for a new post, when I came across something pretty frustrating. Judging from the title of this video, I was definitely expecting to get my Mark Wahlberg on, but PLOT SPOILER I didn't. The result is kinda tight though.