It’s kinda hard to fathom just how popular Michael Jackson was – and is – around the world, but the website Eternal Moonwalk gives you a smidgen of an idea.
Fans the world over submitted short video clips of themselves, their babies, friends, family and even their pets doing Jackson’s signature move.
The videos play in a neverending stream over the first few measures of “Billie Jean”, with MJ starting off the moonwalk wave as fan after fan moonwalks into the screen.
If you’ve had enough tears or almost-teary moments from MJ’s memorial, the site shows just how many lives the late performer touched by celebrating his legacy in a fun way.
But the site isn’t without its sad moments. In one video, a guy does the moonwalk on the Hollywood Walk of Fame right across MJ’s star. Tear.
It was hard to stop watching. Here’s the site if you want to check it out for yourself!
It’s been a sad week for the music world.
By now, all of you have heard of Michael Jackson’s passing. And by now, you’ve heard the media weigh in on his impact on the world of music and his status as an icon, for which he’s been grouped with the likes of Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley.
He broke the color barrier on MTV. He reinvigorated the ailing music business of the ’80s. He fused motown grooves with popular music.
And who can forget that moonwalk? In the words of MJ himself: Ow! (*grabs crotch suggestively*)
Rather than dwell on what was lost, I’ve really appreciated the music critics and music stations that celebrate what was gained during Jackson’s career that spanned most of his half century here on this earth.
In fact, Jackson has been so influential, that many of his songs have found their way onto the show choir stage, which the Blawgirl performed on once upon a time. Here are a couple of her favorites that she’s found on the Interwebz:
Earth Song
It’s Got to Be Me/Scream
Renegade/ Smooth Criminal/Bad
ABC
I’ll Be There
Photo: vpasson / Flickr
Since it was released in 1981, Journey’s power ballad “Don’t Stop Believing” hasn’t stopped making its way into the hearts and minds of believers the world around, karaoke bars and pop culture.
The song, with its opening piano riff that’s sure to draw gasps of recognition whenever its played (“Hey, that’s Journey!” see Family Guy video below), has appeared on shows like The Sopranos and in movies like The Wedding Singer.
The most recent television incarnation is in the new Fox show Glee, a show about a ragtag group of high schoolers in show choir. (Deep dark secret No. 2: The Blawgirl did show choir all four years of high school.)
After watching the pilot for the show and reminiscing about my own high school show choir in all its sequined glory, I decided to compile a list of my favorite videos that feature the memorable song.
Four chords, millions of songs!
If you learn the chord progression for “Don’t Stop Believing” you too can be a songwriter and make a bajillion songwriter dollars. Just kidding. It takes a lot more than four chords to write an enduring song. Or does it?
Because I’m Asian …
I had to include a karaoke version. So, here ya go.
Don’t stop your screaming
A parody from the College Humor.
Family Guy does Journey
Sing it Cleveland! Giggity!
PS22 Chorus living just to find emotion
I just love how these kids sing with such feeling.
Obama voters believe!
This is a video taken from the streets after Pres. Obama’s election in November. The optimism and the joy in this vid makes me smile.
Rock of Ages rocks the Tonys
The cast of the musical Rock of Ages performs during the 2009 Tony Awards.
Sing it with glee!
And here’s the scene from Glee that gave me gooselumps and had me missing sequins, pancake makeup, hairspray and painful character shoes.
Photo: photographer10 / Flickr
You’ve heard that music has the ability to tame even the wildest beast. But can it have the opposite effect? If the music in question is death metal, then, yupperooni.
It can turn the sweetest cockatoo into a headbanging mofo, and a cute little doggie into a vicious, i’ll-eat-your-face hell hound.
Check out the videos! Embedding has been disabled in the second video, so the link takes you to YouTube. (via BoingBoing)
Deep Dark Secret: In which the Blawgirl reveals sordid details about her life and innermost thoughts.
If you’ve read this blawg in the past, you’ll know that the Blawgirl, besides referring to herself in the third person on occasion, loves her some cute. Which is why I was thrilled, to say the least, when the White House finally announced that Pres. Barack Obama had made good on his promise to his daughters and had adopted Bo, hereafter referred to as the First Dog of the United States of America, or FDOTUS.
I was equally thrilled when I discovered that, besides posting candid shots of the president at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., the White House’s Flickr photostream also showed photos of the FDOTUS intereacting with Mr. Obama and White House staffers. Here are the Blawgirl’s favorite photos of Bo so far!
Bo being friendly with a staffer:
Bo checking out his new office:
And here’s one that, according to Fox News, shows the president bowing to the FDOTUS. The Blawgirl thinks he’s just stooping over to give him a bellyrub:
Sometimes all it takes to stay close to your desk and in front of your computer to get your work done is the promise of future academic success. Other times – like when MerDer are getting ready to walk down the aisle – you wish that someone would physically chain you down to one spot just so you can hammer out that last bit of work.
Wish no more! With the Study Ball, you don’t need another party to subject you to the torture of forced labor because you can do it yourself for the low, low price of $115!
The 21-lb. Study Ball is basically a “prison-style” ball, chain and manacle made of steel that is rigged to a timer, according to Curiosite.com. The timer unlocks the device after the specified amount of time, which is indicated on a digital display. For safety, a tiny safety key is included so that the manacle can be unlocked at any time.
According to the site, which sells “unusual gifts for unusual people”, the product is:
“especially recommended for desperate parents whose children won’t study, people preparing for civil service exams who have trouble concentrating, and for all sorts of students in general. It’s also recommended for freelance workers: web designers, computer programmers, bloggers, architects, translators, and anyone else who spends long hours sitting in front of the computer.”
The amusing gadget is the product of Spanish designer Emilio Alarcon, who thought up the idea after speaking with a friend. “The project was born of a conversation I had with a friend who was studying for a civil service exam … He said: I haven’t left the house in a week, this is like being in jail,” said Alarcon.
Sounds like The Boyfriend’s description of studying for law school.
(Gizmodo via Curiosite via FayerWayer via Newlaunches)
Several weeks ago, before this blawg was born, I sent in a vocal recording to the Sending a Wave podcast, a program for fans of the Firefly television series by Buffy creator and geek god Joss Whedon. The podcast had teamed up with Browncoats: Redemption, a fan film for charity, to host a contest to find the voice of Redemption, the ship in the movie.
I didn’t really expect too much; I just thought that it would be fun to send in an audition and it would give me an excuse to play around with GarageBand on my MacBook. But yesterday I discovered that I was one of five finalists! Confetti!
In retrospect, and after listening to the clip I sent in, I think I might have taken the prompt to sound matter of fact “while still sounding cute” a little too seriously, as my voice sounds more anime and all-too-American than austere and all-knowing. These are the times that I wish I were a Brit … or French. *Le-Sigh*
You can listen to the other awesome contestants here, and vote for your favorite in the poll in the sidebar.
Photo: Dunechaser / Flickr
The Blawgirl crawls the Interwebz to find steals and deals for the frugal law student and the competitive bargain shopper. Find a new Frugal Finds 11:30 (ish) p.m. PST every Monday through Saturday! Also, each post is updated as I come across items. You’re welcome.
Gadgets and Gear:
- $450 notebook. Lenovo has the Lenovo ThinkPad SL400 Intel Core 2 Duo 2GHz 14.1″ Widescreen Notebook for $449.65 via the directions at DealNews with free shipping.
- $550 notebook. Newegg.com has the Lenovo G530 Intel Core 2 Duo 2GHz 15.4″ Widescreen Notebook for $549.99 (Orig. price: $649.99) with free shipping. (via DealNews)
- $580 notebook. Dell Small Business has the Dell Vostro 1310 Intel Core 2 Duo 2.1GHz 13.3″ Widescreen Notebook for $579 with free shipping via the directions at DealNews.
- $50 all-in-one printer. Newegg.com has the Canon PIXMA MX300 All-in-One Photo Inkjet Printer, which also scans, copies, and faxes, for $49.99, and coupon code “PRINT54FS” gets you free shipping. (via DealNews)
Entertainment:
- Discounted download. Today only, the Amazon MP3 Store offers downloads of Slightly Stoopid’s Everything You Need for $1.99. (via DealNews)
Odds and Ends:
- Say ‘no’ to drugs, say ‘yes’ to tacos. At Del Taco restaurants, buy one Crispy Fish Taco and get a second for free with this printable coupon. Deal ends June 9. (via DealNews) On a side note, there are some awesome taco songs on YouTube besides South Park’s “Taco-flavored Kisses”. Check it.
Backstreet Taco
Techno Taco
Folksy Taco
Cute Taco
Anime Taco
Country Taco
Taco Pachel-Bell
Culturally-insensitive, yet still LOL-worthy Taco
Photo: Yo Mostro / Flickr
Ever wonder what you’d look like as a Star Trek character? Wonder no more. Cheez-It has partnered with the movie franchise, whose latest installment opens Friday, to allow fans to Trek-ify themselves.
With Trek Yourself, you can make yourself look like Capt. Kirk, Mr. Spock, a Romulan, or an officer. The only female choice is the officer so, natch, that’s what I picked. I mean, you can technically put your face on any of the other characters, but for me it just looked creepy. The Capt. Kirk and Mr. Spock avatars made me look like Bobby Lee playing dorktastic, dress-up, and the Romulan just made me look like a creepy, bridge troll. The officer fit just right.
Once you’re done picking your character, you can also pick from a handful of backgrounds, and have your character speak some pre-recorded lines or type in your own!
Susan Boyle of Britain’s Got Talent did. The 47-year-old singer, who says she’s never been kissed, impressed the three judges of the talent competition – including the ever-cynical Simon Cowell – after waddling onto the stage in an ivory granny dress and opaque grey tights and gyrating her hips just moments before her stunning performance.
Maybe it was Ms. Boyle’s song selection of “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Miserables and the honesty of her performance, or maybe it was just my hope of seeing the underdog prove the cynics wrong, but the YouTube video had me cheering in front of my computer, and, yes, wiping away a tear or two.
I didn’t think I could be as surprised as I was when I first saw Paul Potts sing Nessun Dorma on the same show a couple years back, but Ms. Boyle, thanks for putting a smile on my face.
I hope your dreams come true!
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