Unless you're planning on being on the next space shuttle launch or in the middle of a massive migration of whales, you will not see anything cooler this week than the video below. I know that Antonio Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" has basically become aural wallpaper at this point, used for ads, film soundtracks, and snowy afternoons in front of the fire, but this rendition of "Summer" from Aleksandr Hrustevich makes you listen again with new ears. If you look away, you might not believe that all these sounds are coming from just one accordionist. It's a long way from "Mary Had a Little Lamb", that's for sure. (Hat tip: Alex Ross)
Aleksandr Hrustevich - "Summer," from Vivaldi's "Four Seasons" [YouTube]
Video: "Mama Loves You" - Earthworm Ensemble
The quality of this video from LA's Earthworm Ensemble, the I'm From Barcelona of kids music groups (seriously, tons of folks in the band, including members of I See Hawks in LA and lots more) is pretty low, but I'm a sucker for a gentle melody. And pictures of meerkats. This has got both of 'em.
"Mama Loves You" is from their self-titled debut album, which won't get an official release for another month or two, but is available now if you're interested...
Earthworm Ensemble - "Mama Loves You" [YouTube]
Video: "New Shoes" - Recess Monkey
One of these days, Recess Monkey will make a video I don't feel like posting here.
This is not one of those days.
I can only imagine what the folks swarming around Powell's Books in Portland (swoon!) must have been thinking as they watched the trio film shoes with chalk lines around them.
Recess Monkey - "New Shoes" [YouTube]
Video: "(I'm Gonna Eat) On Thanksgiving Day" - Laurie Berkner
You can see a Laurie Berkner-approved video for "(I'm Gonna Eat) On Thanksgiving Day" right here (it's set to a class field trip). Or perhaps you'd like to see a bunch of kindergartners offer their rendition of Berkner's simple but elegant (if that term can be applied to a song about overeating) melody. Kids dressed as reindeer = winner.
I like this fan video, however, which only captures about 30 seconds of the song. Which, when you think about it, is probably the approach you should take tomorrow -- leave the table just a little bit hungry. (You can buy a song download here.)
I hope that all of you enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday -- probably my favorite of all the holidays -- and that you have many things to be thankful for.
Laurie Berkner - "(I'm Gonna Eat) On Thanksgiving Day" [YouTube]
Video: "Robot Monkey Head" - John Hadfield
The only serious problem with this video, for John Hadfield's goofy, made-for-Dr.-Demento classic "Robot Monkey Head," is that it's about a month too late. Seriously, totally Halloween appropriate.
Oh, and if you're a 7-year-old boy, you'll go nuts for this video, a relatively literal translation of this song, natch.
John Hadfield - "Robot Monkey Head" [YouTube]
Video: "Centipede Pirate" - Recess Monkey
I suppose if Drew Holloway hadn't been filmed wearing a brown paper bag and black tights through Washington, DC, Jack Forman's trip through Jack Meyer with a centipede pirate face mask would be more impressive. (The Onion "Area Man" t-shirt dims the effective, no?) I love the posters, though, and the gratuitous recycling plug (I'm guessing there's a theme there for an episode on the new, upcoming Recess Monkey DVD.)
Recess Monkey - "Centipede Pirate" [YouTube]
