“simply awesome. a dumb song made into art.”

Holy shit. Madonna just released the actual video for “Girl Gone Wild” (as opposed to the spoof posted prior); she has pulled herself into a time warp and put out a *gasp* decent video. Pretty amazing visuals, and she actually looks good! A big part of that is because she finally gave up on the leotard bottom that she’d been rocking for far, far too long and actually *gasp* put on some clothes. We like it when Madge reinvents herself. Even if it’s into an accumulation of her past.

It’s also quite possibly the gayest video she’s ever done. She one-up’s Gaga and shows bare male ass…even if she is using men dancing in heels after Gaga has. They should just kiss and make-up.

The above quote was one comment to the posting of this video on Towleroad, and I completely agree. I don’t care for this song at all, but the video actually makes it quite palatable…if you just don’t pay any mind to her usual juvenile lyrics, of course. Still the material girl at 53, bitches.

“I believe this video sums up what the internet is about.”

The comment thread for this YouTube video had me literally crying with laughter; it’s where the quote above comes from. As commenter scizoskotty21 also notes there, “they’re poking fun at the Madonna ‘‘lazy” videos she normally shits out with the third or fourth singles from her album.” If that’s the case, it’s brilliant.

How surreal is it…

…that the latest 4AD release has motorcross racing in its accompanying video?

I do like the track. Fun throwback.

where did it all begin

I’m a fan of Damon Albarn’s career choices in general, from his pop band days in Blur to his, well, pop band days in Gorillaz, to his oddball turns like the Mali Music lp…and now to his brilliant decision to co-produce an entire album for Bobby Womack, who guested on the last Gorillaz album.

Bobby will forever be a legend in my mind for “Across 110th Street” thanks to Jackie Brown alone, but I was enchanted with his work on Plastic Beach. When I just learned about it I ended up listening to it four times in a row….not necessarily intentionally, I was just that transfixed. I’m just so in love with the combination of sparce electronics with Womack’s expressively pained vocals. The backing is never competing for attention; it’s just enough to add color. As Pitchfork said in their review, it sounds “like futuristic r&b”. I can’t wait to hear the rest of the album now, and hope they press it on vinyl…

Oh, and it’s worth watching this all the way to the end, beyond hearing the song that is.

A Take on Take On…Me

Life in reverse (with lots of water and balls)

Such a simple concept, but this is undeniably fun. I rewound this many times to see parts more than once (or twice….or three times….) and while there are too many fun moments to single out, I will give a special shout-out to the “viking”. You made me laugh out loud. Cheers.

And kudos for using “Brazil”. I’ll always love any version of that song thanks to the film of the same name.

Found on Towleroad.com.

somebody that I used to know

Musically I’m fairly stuck in the past. My favorite activity remains placing an old piece of vinyl on the turntable, whether it be familiar or unknown, and most usually from the 70s, which remain my favorite decade for music. I do pick up current releases on vinyl as well, but I tend not to listen to those as frequently. I have a small dj record case (bright yellow, no less) that I intend to to get into a habit of usually containing a mix of new releases, current obsessions (new & old) and unknown recent acquisitions.

I’ve been enjoying a slate of more recent musical discoveries online at the moment, including the one below. I was really taken with both the music and creativity of the accompanying visuals. I’ve also been breaking my habit of not really paying attention to lyrics, so something as raw as the content here really hits home much harder than it would have before. I suddenly felt as emotionally naked as the people in the clip.

This Dad is Cooler Than I Am

Ready or Not

Well, today is my 40th birthday — and what a better way to celebrate than having Jungalero and Funkschnecke make an appearance at my home for the weekend!

As I’m now “middle-aged”, it’s important for me to keep in shape. Gone are the days of my 20′s physique – and to motivate me towards my fabulous 40′s, what a better find for the three of us this weekend than Alan Thicke’s tremendous ode to mid-life fitness during the Crystal Light National Aerobic Championship!

Hot.

This is amazing.

I’m so glad people still take extra time to create something as purely joyful as this. And then share it with the world.

Spotted here:

http://www.towleroad.com/2012/01/books-come-to-life-after-dark-video.html

Also spotted there is another great time lapse video documenting last year’s Coachella festival. I love that type of photography that makes everyone look like a miniature.