I love this story. 40,000 people singing a children’s protest song from the sixties. A song about how we should all just get along and be nice to each other.

Thousands in Norway Sing Peace Song Children Of The Rainbow Against Right-Wing Terrorism Edited – YouTube.

Such an awful reason to be singing. So sad watching, you can feel the grief of the crowd.

77 people killed because a guy had very bad ideas in his head.

And it’s interesting listening to the people in the news story speak Norwegian. You have no idea what they’re actually saying, but at the same time, it’s really clear what they would be saying.

Please share your thoughts (0) »

Flap! is beautiful

August 19, 2011

I’ve seen this bunch of diehard jazz freaks play a few times now: at the Village in Edinburgh Gardens, supporting the inimitable Bohjass at the Northcote Social Club.. and now headlining at the East Brunswick. And each time i see them, i love them even more.

Such brilliant musicianship, such joyful playing, such contained energy in the singing. It’s modern Northcote music that draws on the traditional jazz styles of the 30′s and 40′s. Songs of love.. songs about the chicken truck that goes up High Street late at night.

My dad was mad for a bit of trad jazz, and i think he would have approved of this crowd as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Please share your thoughts (0) »

Bicycle joy

September 17, 2010

How about this joyful piece from andrea dorfman in Halifax. The same woman who made that previous one.

Cycling is something i love too.

Thanks Andrea!

Please share your thoughts (0) »

a beautiful film, via Angelina in the North of Italy, where her new yoga practice is making her seek out tranquility. She’s always had an eye for gorgeousness. This piece comes from people in Halifax, Nova Scotia, one of my favourite places. A woman called Tanya Davis is the poet, and Andrea Dorfman the animator.

Here’s another by the same team, Tanya and Andrea. i like it.

(after the break)
Read the rest of this entry »

Please share your thoughts (1) »

Election – the aftermath

August 23, 2010

Following the series of election videos comes this triumph from Taiwan. This is a must-watch video!!
Especially for Julia’s laughter at the crucial moment.
Yes the commentary is in Taiwanese (i think), but you get the picture.

And a very good turn from Paul Keating on Radio national breakfast, before the election (while Rudd was still at the helm).
“Goodness of heart is a requirement for a good country”.

Please share your thoughts (1) »

Classic Carrot Clarinet

March 14, 2010

Zoe comes into work the other day and starts raving about a party in Newport where she saw Lindsay Pollak playing, and his partner leading the whole crowd through a silly bum dance. i’ve never heard of him, so Zoe says, “Look him up”.

Turns out he’s been uploaded all over youtube, and featured on Boing Boing and everything. This is hilarious: watch Lindsay drill some holes in a carrot and then start playing a series of loops.

Maybe i’ll start collecting videos of fruit and vegetable instruments.. are there any more to be found?

Oh yes, there’s a whole vegetable orchestra:

..and a watering can clarinet too:

Lindsay Pollock again with a rubber glove bagpipe:

Links:
Lindsay on carrot clarinet
watering can clarinet on youtube
Rubber glove bagpipe
The vegie orchestra

Please share your thoughts (0) »

Spontaneous Tram Choir !!

October 3, 2009

Ah this could make you smile.. the Spontaneous Tram Choir on the Lygon St Tram.

i hope we’ll see more from this bunch:

from You tube of course.

Ha ha. Thanks Logan for this video.

Please share your thoughts (6) »

SamSejavka of The Ears at the Corner by amd300466 at flickr“Golf Course Do you remember? Of course you do..”

Well i never saw The Ears back when they were one of Melbourne’s shambolic fun-times charismatic underground driving forces..

i did see Sam Sejavka on countdown once when Beargarden caught Molly’s attention, and of course we all went to see Dags in Space over and over again. So for people who witnessed the world of music through the mainstream filter of countdown, when Dogs in Space hit the cinemas we had graduated from suburban living rooms to the wild world of big white volkswagens.

i remember driving around in the back of Meredith’s VW, pretending we were in the movie. Pretending we had some connection with the musical underground, but always knowing that Hutchence wasn’t the real Sejavka.. that this was a mid-eighties commercialised and dressed-up version of the real thing. That we were playing at being in a fictional reality.

So yes i knew the hutchence/ lowenstein versions of the songs..

(For those who don’t know or haven’t worked it out by now, the band of the movie Dogs in Space is loosely based on this Melbourne group from the late 70′s, early 80′s).

Lovely to get to this reunion gig of The Ears and experience a bunch of people re-living the wild exuberance of the original times.

Recognising folk from the “Living on Dog Food” movie.. so i give Sam a big smile as i walk by.. can’t help acknowledging the star of the show, and he asks if i’m Steve. That was funny. No i’m michael… but you look familiar too.

Great show. He’s a fully energetic performer with that lush flamboyance that i adore..

i knew i’d love The Ears’ version of The Ears.

Sean kelly came on and played with them. That was cool. Some of the support acts were fun too – David Bridie has a lyrical voice – and Steve Kilbey was amazing of course.. but i really had to listen to St Kilda get done by Essendon on the radio outside didn’t i. Ouch.. should have stayed in the gig!

Stop press:
huge thanks to Brendan of Brilliant Films for the live footage he’s posted on youtubie. Here is the one and only Dogs in Space by The Ears Live:

Plus: Sagging Insects Live:

..and an original video from way back when: Leap for Lunch:

Loads of links related:

That photo above comes from the flickr set by amd300466. Completely copyright and i really shouldn’t have put it here. Thanks anyway. i’ll see if any of the photos on my phone match up.

Please share your thoughts (1) »

If you love theatrical hoax political campaigns, you will love this. Grab this video and feast in the Yes Men Theatrical Pretense style of protest. They show excerpts from appearances including:

  • the time they appeared on the BBC as Dow, announcing that Union Carbide would be liquidated to compensate the people of Bhopal,
  • the Halliburton “survival ball” for withstanding the extremes of climate change – “demonstrate the turtle positition please”,
  • one time they announced that HUD would re-open all public housing in New Orleans (watch for the local resident who assures the media that she’s happy to be hoaxed.. she’ll invite the guy to her bbq).

CLASSIC !!

What do you mean, video not available?
Try the Pop Talks site. i think this is the direct link to the video m4v file.

Disclaimer: Someone i know very closely was once hoaxed by the Yes Men.
“We need a speaker from the GATT for our conference.”
“Sure, we’ll do it!”
No i won’t say his or her name here on the 5×5.blog, but i will say that this person was mildly embarrassed. But hey it could have happened to anyone. And that the mistake was discovered before the conference. Phew.

Respect to the hoaxee !!

Linkies:

Please share your thoughts (0) »

Funny video about cheese

January 31, 2009

Nathan has been camping out here at the Barkly St .. not only has he been an angel to live with, and inducted me into the world of Nintendo Wii, but also shared crazy stories like the Zombie Street Sign Hacker of Texas .. and this video he made with his hilarious friends.

i recommend you watch it.

Who ate the cheese?

Somewhere, there must be a link to more videos like this .. yes, here: Justin Juswah has a youTube channel.

Please share your thoughts (1) »

music video from UK

February 7, 2008

Here’s a song i think you’ll like.
From the xxteens (via imageyenation), a warning. With a funky beat.
It’s called “How to avoid becoming a terror victim”.

The accompanying video (below) could be hilarious, unless you are Easily Scared, or on the lookout for Seditious Material; in which case it would be Terrifyingly Insulting to your Sensitivities. Beware: attempted humour and satire.

And this is how i felt after watching the video.

I feel a bit nervous
I feel a bit mad
I feel like a good time that’s never been had
I feel a bit fragile
I feel a bit low
Like I learned the right lines
But I’m on the wrong show

(I’m Living in the Sensitivities.)

Best lines in the xxteens lyric?

store a decent amount of cash someplace in case ATM’s malfunction
try to fly on wide-bodied planes, terrorists often avoid hijacking them

But they sound better in the song than they look in text.

Hope your whole week goes really well.
i’m staying indoors.

Next up, we need a song called “How to avoid becoming a terror suspect”. Any ideas?

Please share your thoughts (0) »

jamie lidell is good

July 22, 2007

Hello Paul, this is the Jamie Lidell guy i was talking about .. wild electro soul ..

performing multiply live

Video clip for you got me up

Please share your thoughts (0) »

Backward in High Heels

December 20, 2006

Well i just found out that the astonishingly quirky and brilliant Lynne and Miki have finally put their work on the web. If you missed this show at the Friends of the Earth Ball (2005), or at ACMI Eyes Lies and Illusions, here’s your chance to view c/- google video. Cos everything Fred Astaire did, Ginger Rogers had to do backwards, and in high heels !!

We were lucky, when we went in to ACMI in Fed Square, on the 3rd December. When Tim arrived, Lynne was already over it, and had decided to stop. But he said, “oh go on, do it again,” so fortunately i got there just in time for the very last showing. So much fun. There are rumours of a Country and Western style sequel.

(play the vid:)

Grr, video not working. Oh hang on, maybe fixed now

Please share your thoughts (0) »