BEDA #26: Creative Content

(Image by Clark Little.)

Today's post is brought to you by all of the things that make me go, "I wish I could do that!"

- It's no secret that cute girls playing ukuleles are a MAJOR vice of mine.

- Music videos with awesome concepts and excellent direction captivate me.

- I can't help but look at weird voyeuristic content. (This doesn't apply to the "I wish I could do this!", but it interests me more than it perhaps should.)

- Someday I hope to run a blog that's as interesting, thought-provoking, and fun to read as John Green's.

- If only we could all think of 1000 Awesome Things and fuel the awesome with such stupendous commentary.

- How could I (almost) forget Paul Rudd as Planet Earth?!

- & finally, no-one I know can paint a scene quite like this girl.

What online content makes you green with envy and squeal with delight?

Until tomorrow!
Nicola x

A wee something.

It's been a busy yet not-so-busy time. There is no way to describe it without sounding incredibly boring, and so I shall leave you with this, my TV production project. Enjoy!

YouTube Videos of the Week

It's been a good few weeks for YouTubing! As most of the things that have been tickling me have much to do with the US Presidential Election, I'll spare you. Well, except for one...

Obama Llama Song! : If you're unfamiliar with the vlogbrothers... what are you doing here?! Get on it already! They are by far and away my favourite people to watch on YouTube, and this is just another example of (little brother) Hank's brilliance. If you've never seen the Llama Song, I suggest you watch it first. For an explanation, you can watch Hank's original video featuring the Obama Llama Song.

I accept no responsibility for the harm and/or irritation it may cause yourself and others.


Rejected: Go on, you can say it.
Nicola, where the eff have you been?!
I know, I know. This may be old news but for some reason I only just discovered the wonder that is Rejected. Don Hertzfeldt is pretty fantastic (find me someone who has attended UCSB and isn't!) It must be several years since I was first acquainted with his earlier Ahh, L'Amour, and in fact had been trying to hunt it down for quite some time. Rejected is random humour at its finest and appeals most to the bizzarest of senses of humour. It may look simple from the outset, but keep it running!


Take On Me: Literal Video Version: Have you ever wished that a music video was in some way narratologically aligned with the song it accompanies? All your dreams have come true! This had me buckling. Extra points if you love A-Ha and/or the song in question! Don't you miss the 80s?

A brief interlude...

YouTube videos of the week on its way. This one just couldn't wait!

Sunday YouTube Videos of the Week

Summer is coming to an end, and that can mean, well, any number of things. For me, however, it marks that grey area sandwiched between the end of the music festivals and... Okay, I concede. One will go to great lengths in continuing one's denial that the university season is right around the corner! This is my way of dealing with it.

In celebration of everything YouTube in this final holiday week, I bring you the following:

Julia Nunes - That Green Gentleman: This bright young thing is my absolute favourite YouTube musician. This is her latest video. To quote the girl herself, "Panic at the Disco... can you believe it?". What's more, it features melodica. I just can't get enough. Also check out Julia's YouTube Channel, and MySpace. Click the links to buy her album!

Lauren O'Connell - Okkervil River: LaurenOC12, as she is known on YouTube, has appeared in one or two of Julia Nunes' videos, and is an excellent musician herself. This cover of Okkervil River by Westfall is a dramatic escape from the self-written acoustic numbers recorded in her basement. The style complements her unique, haunting voice fantastically.

Gina Rae - I Thought They Were Your Legs: A new favourite YouTube musician of mine. What can I say? I'm hooked! I found this lovely girl through my subscription to Seeso's favourites. Think Regina Spektor meets, well, Gina Rae! She's posted a few more videos since, and there is nothing else to say but this: she is wonderful. Actually, I lied, there's one other thing. Watch her!

12 Astrology Songs: I found this through Gala Darling's Twitter feed a few days ago, and it's absolutely hilarious. It depicts myself and my fellow Piesceans as whimsical, wishful, mood-swinging, insecure, indecisive, daydreamers, gentle, & kind. Well I guess that about sums it up!

Sarah Silverman - Jews and Blacks: Sarah Silverman on The Tonight Show, discussing with Jay Leno the similarities she's found between old Jewish people and young black people. It's not music, but it's worth a watch.

Enjoy!

Sunday YouTube Videos of the Week

I Can't Stand The Rain - Scottish Falsetto Socks in Edinburgh: Reminiscent of the Chewin' The Fat teuchter sock puppets, this tickled me. We've been suffering a ridiculous amount of rain for August, and this perfectly encapsulates the feeling for us Scots. (Although I must note, it is sunny today, but it's not going to last!)
ETA: Not 2 minutes after submitting this post, it started to rain again. Fandabbydosy!

Paladins and Kalgan, Wrath of the Lich King: You're probably thinking, "Wait, what?", but allow me to explain. The title of the video refers to the subtitles, which are based on World of Warcraft in-jokes. If you're not a fan of WoW, however, worry not, I implore you still watch, as you should still find it hilarious.

Seeso - The Song We Never Wrote: Narcisco Lobo, also known as his YouTube alias, Seeso, is one of my favourite YouTube musicians. This is by far his most sweet and enthralling original song. I, for one, can't get enough of it.

Randy Pausch: The Last Lecture: If you don't have a spare hour to watch this... make one! Randy Pausch was an academic at Carnegie Mellon and The University of Virginia, and it the absolutely exceptional story from an absolutely exceptional man. Pausch died aged 47, on July 25th, after battling with pancreatic cancer for almost a year. The lecture was recorded on September 18th 2007, at which point doctors had given him 2-5 months of good health left. "Inspirational" doesn't even begin to cover it.


Until next time... Enjoy!

Sunday YouTube Videos of the Week

I love Things I Love Thursdays, and Link Fridays and Flickr Favourite days, but am yet to see YouTube favourites listed weekly on a blog. If you, like myself, are a self-professed YouTube addict, I urge you to read on...

Where The Hell Is Matt? recently returned with his third video. For those unfamiliar, Matt Harding was a computer games designer; until he took a break to travel and became an internet sensation. His first Where The Hell Is Matt? video has in excess of 1 million views on YouTube and features him dancing in front of a number of world landmarks. This is his third adventure in which he dances accompanied by anyone who dared join him. Check it out, and catch up with his previous videos and outtakes on his YT profile or his website.

Questions, Questions: a song by Thomas Wilson, stand-up comic and the man who played Biff. A must-watch for all die-hard Back To The Future fans.

Try Not Giving a F#?k! by Jon la Joie, a hilarious French Canadian who is quickly becoming one of my favourite YouTube sketch comedians. While you're there, check out his rap classic, Everyday Normal Guy. [Please be aware: explicit language features heavily in both.]

Favourite Channel Mention:
PESfilm: I only discovered this guy yesterday, and am already in love. His latest animation, Western Spaghetti was recently featured on the global front page. Not only are his animations astounding, he also directed Human Skateboarding, a hilarious stop-motion advertisement. Amazing!

What are your favourite YouTube videos this week?