Chinese Boy Is The New Susan Boyle
Posted By Ben Goulding, 7 April, 2010 | permalink
(Youtube Link)
Here is a young man named Lin Yu Chun, competing on a Chinese reality show called Super Star Avenue, performing a rendition of Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”. Don’t be fooled by appearances, this guy could be the next Susan Boyle.
8 Comments | Posted in: Entertainment
Girl Performs Poker Face On 4 iPhones
Posted By Ben Goulding, 5 April, 2010 | permalink
(Youtube Link)
This girl has got some serious iPhone playing skills. Watch her perform Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’ using various features on the iPhone.
Comments Off | Posted in: Entertainment | Sci/TechBen Folds Is Back With A Final Tribute To Merton
Posted By Ben Goulding, 1 April, 2010 | permalink
(Youtube Link)
Ben Folds is back with a final tribute to Merton. This video was taken from 4 live shows incorporating Mertonian Chatroulette – approximately 12 minutes a night.
Comments Off | Posted in: Entertainment | InternetChatRoulette Piano Guy Merton Returns
Posted By Ben Goulding, 29 March, 2010 | permalink
(Youtube Link)
Merton returns for part two of his Chatroulette piano playing sensation.
Comments Off | Posted in: InternetBen Folds is Chatroulette Piano Player?
Posted By Ben Goulding, 22 March, 2010 | permalink
By now I’m sure you’ve seen “Merton”, the piano playing guy on Chatroulette who has become an internet sensation for his freestyling on the the webcam-chat site.
Well, there has been much speculation that the mystery man might be Ben Folds due to his uncanny facial and voice resemblance. To clear things up, during one of his concerts in Charlotte, North Carolina, the real Ben Folds flipped open a laptop on the piano and started playing on Chatroulette.
(Youtube Link)
So now we know who the hooded piano player is. Actually, we don’t. “Merton” has since said “Not Ben Folds. Seriously. Ben is a much better pianist, and listen to the voice on the “Man in the Dark” part – totally not his voice at all. Besides, wouldn’t Ben cover more of his face to disguise his identity?”.
My brain is frazzled.
Oh, and here’s the original just in case you haven’t seen it yet.
(Youtube Link)
OK Go’s “This Too Shall Pass” Video Is Incredible
Posted By Ben Goulding, 2 March, 2010 | permalink
Ok Go’s new video for the single “This Too Shall Pass”, which was released today on YouTube, is probably the most complicated music video ever created. My explanation couldn’t do it justice, so just feast your eyes on pure genius from the band.
(Youtube Link)
Quick – 10 Billionth iTunes Customer Wins $10,000 Gift Card
Posted By Ben Goulding, 24 February, 2010 | permalink
Since 2003, the iTunes Store has become the biggest legal music retailer in the world, accounting for 70% of worldwide online digital music sales, but now Apple iTunes is about to reach another huge milestone – 10 billion song downloads, and that’s in just seven years!
Details of the most downloaded songs of all time from iTunes are in the link. Oh, and if you happen to be the 10 billionth customer, you’ll win a $10,000 iTunes gift card. You’ve got to be quick though – times running out!
Comments Off | Posted in: Entertainment | InternetCodeOrgan Turns Websites Into Music
Posted By Ben Goulding, 22 February, 2010 | permalink
CodeOrgan is a very clever website that allows you to turn any website into music. You simply type the URL of any site you want and using a very complicated algorithm, CodeOrgan turns it to music. It’s a very cool website, although not totally accurate, as it didn’t play ‘I’m Too Sexy’ when I typed in pigjockey.com. Oh, well.
Anyway, here’s some more details on how it works:
World’s Smallest Playable Harmonica
Posted By Ben Goulding, 17 February, 2010 | permalink
(Youtube Link)
The guys over at Vat19.com make some of the coolest products. One of their latest inventions is the world’s smallest playable harmonica, which is 3.5cm long, called the Little Lady.
In addition to being the world’s smallest playable harmonica, the Little Lady also holds the distinction of being the first musical instrument played in space!
This miniature harmonica is fully playable, featuring a range of one whole octave. Boasting Hohner’s legendary craftsmanship, the Little Lady’s brass reeds and pearwood comb produce a full and lively sound.
1 Comment | Posted in: Entertainment | Sci/Tech‘Hey Jude’ Flow Chart
Posted By Ben Goulding, 2 November, 2009 | permalink
Simplifying ‘Hey Jude’ – one of the most complicated songs out there. It’ll be in your head all day now.
Comments Off | Posted in: EntertainmentA Speaking Piano
Posted By Ben Goulding, 14 October, 2009 | permalink
(Youtube Link)
A “speaking piano” reciting the Proclamation of the European Environmental Criminal Court at World Venice Forum 2009. Unfortunately it’s all in German, but what the piano says is all English, and it’s really neat to watch.
Comments Off | Posted in: EntertainmentThe History of the Chipmunks
Posted By Ben Goulding, 12 October, 2009 | permalink
A history of our favorite, furry, animated friends, Simon, Theodore, and Alvin – the Chipmunks.
Production commenced and in just a few months leading up to Christmas of 1958, the record shot to the top of the charts, becoming one of the best selling singles of all time. Bagdasarian won two Grammy Awards, Liberty Records was saved from bankruptcy, and the Chipmunks became a household name with children all over the world…
Click the link for the full story.
Comments Off | Posted in: Entertainment | TelevisionA Fully Functional LEGO Cello
Posted By Ben Goulding, 22 September, 2009 | permalink
Nathan Sawaya is a genius when is come to LEGO. He’s built everything from bumble-bees and dinosaurs to life-size people and Mount Rushmore replicas. His LEGO building talents really have no end.
In his latest piece, he has designed a fully functional, life-size cello.
Wonder how he did it? Here’s a video of Nathan building the Cello brick by brick. Don’t worry though – it’s sped up for your convenience, and sanity.
(Youtube Link)
Cardboard Cut-Out Animation For Two Weeks, Grizzly Bear
Posted By Ben Goulding, 25 August, 2009 | permalink
Here’s a great cardboard cut-out animated fan video, created by Gabe Askew for the song “Two Weeks” by Grizzly Bear.
3 Comments | Posted in: EntertainmentKid Uses Apple Store As Music Studio
Posted By Ben Goulding, 17 August, 2009 | permalink
Youtube user nicholifavs has charisma, confidence and loves using Apple Store Macs to make and upload videos to his channel. But, that’s what they’re there for, right?
He’s made over 70 videos from Apple Stores and is becoming a rising Youtube star. Fantastic ingenuity. Keep up the great work!
Check out Nicholi lip-syncing to ‘Boom Boom Pow’ by the Black Eyed Peas.
(Youtube Link)
The Pentatonic Scale
Posted By Ben Goulding, 1 August, 2009 | permalink
(Youtube Link)
Bobby McFerrin uses the audience at the 2009 World Science Festival to demonstrate the power of the pentatonic scale. The seminar was called “Notes & Neurons: In Search of the Common Chorus.”
It absolutely fascinating to see how the audience is able to participate in this. What a clever species we are!
Comments Off | Posted in: Sci/TechCould The Pope Be The Christmas Number One?
Posted By Ben Goulding, 31 July, 2009 | permalink
Pope Benedict XVI has a shot at the Christmas number one spot after he signed a record deal to release an album of him singing chants in the Vatican.
It will feature the Pope singing litanies and chants in honour of the Virgin Mary, as well as reciting passages and prayers in Latin, Italian, Portuguese, French and German.
The recordings were made in St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, with the Pope accompanied by The Choir of the Philharmonic Academy of Rome.
The CD will be released on November 30 on Universal’s Geffen label, the same label that released material by Nirvana and Guns N’Roses, however Colin Barlow, the president of the record company is “sceptical” about the Pope’s musical appeal.
“It’s a beautiful a piece of music as the soundtrack to the film The Mission.
“The Pope has got almost a lullaby tone to the way he sings,” he said.
He thought the album would make “a great Christmas present”.
One aspect of the album will be reassuringly traditional – it will not be sold as a digital download.
“I think this is going to be something that you would like to own,” explained Mr Barlow. “To break up a beautiful album digitally would be wrong.”
He hoped it would sell in large numbers globally, noting: “There’s quite a huge Catholic fan base out there.”
A percentage of the profits will go to a charity that provides musical education for poor children around the world and the rest will be split between the Vatican and Universal.
Let’s hope it’s a big success and raises lots of money for the children!
Previously:
Comments Off | Posted in: Entertainment | NewsAmazing Rain Sound By Clapping
Posted By Ben Goulding, 30 July, 2009 | permalink
This group has got their performance down to a tee. They are able to simulate the sound of rain just by clapping their hands. If you close your eyes and just listen to the audio, you’d think it really was rain. Great job guys!
(Youtube Link)
Unreleased Michael Jackson Song
Posted By Ben Goulding, 19 July, 2009 | permalink
Here is a snippet from an unreleased Michael Jackson song, “A Place With No Name.”
You may notice it sounds similar to a song by the “America”, called “A Horse With No Name”, which was released in 1971.
Although there has been no official confirmation from Sony that the recording is actually from Michael Jackson, several years ago America’s manager gave Jackson the permission to use the song. The band were honoured that he chose their song to record.
2 Comments | Posted in: Entertainment | News