OK Go's New Video is Mesmerizing!

I really love all the umbrellas and choreography in the new OK Go video, for their song, "I Won't Let You Down." I won't say any more, so as not to spoil it, but please enjoy:



Pretty insane, right!? I feel like I've just been hypnotized.

Early Jim Henson Animated Short!

Check out this super cool early Jim Henson short. It's an animated paper-cut piece, called Drum West set to a piece of jazz music by Chico Hamilton.

Here's a description from the Jim Henson Company:

“Drums West” cut-paper animation from Jim Henson. This newly rediscovered short was created in Jim’s home studio in Bethesda, MD around 1961. It is one of several experimental shorts inspired by the music of jazz great Chico Hamilton. At the end, in footage probably shot by Jerry Juhl, Jim demonstrates his working method.

It reminds me a lot of Disney's Fantasia's elements that visualize the music combined with a pre-Sesame Street homegrown animation feeling. And I love the adorable shot of Henson (pre-beard, notes my husband) at the end.

This also feels very appropriate right now because it's raining outside and the music reminds me of rain on a tin roof. Staccato, like fireworks, yet somehow soothing.

[via /Film]

Jenny Lewis. "Just One of the Guys"

I haven't been super into music videos since the late '90s, excepting each new OK Go mind-meld, so I was not expecting much when the internet exploded over how fun the new video for Jenny Lewis "Just One of the Guys" was, especially when it seemed all the hype was over gaping at actresses Anne Hathaway, Kristen Stewart, and Brie Larson in drag. I should not have doubted the internet hype.



It really is good, isn't it? Strangely mesmerizing, and by far the best performance I've ever seen Kristen Stewart give. The guy can smile! Clearly, Kristen just need to forever perform as a guy and everyone will love her.

[via HuffPo]

Solid "Game of Thrones" Mix set to Lorde

Oh man, this is super good.



I was actually just listening to Lorde's rendition of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" from the (I'm not ashamed to admit) Hunger Games: Catching Fire soundtrack (which is a really good soundtrack), and it fits SO well here. The cutting is interesting - Uproxx calls it a recap, but it's more a thematic montage or exploration, pairing certain moments together that make you wonder what the overall game is (get it!? Game?!). I am entertained.

[via Uproxx]

Delightful Disney D-Medley

The a cappella group Voices put out this lovely Disney medley, combining three songs about the joy of flight:



Sometimes it's nice hearing a group that performs old-timey songs - really reminds of how that kind of music sounded, since they did so often use choruses in Disney's early musicals. Oddly enough, it makes me want to go watch Lady & The Tramp.

[via HuffPo]

Hear "The Rains of Castamere" Performed by Sigur Ros

I know we're all hoping that tomorrow's episode of Game of Thrones helps us get over last week's episode. To ease the transition, here's Sigur Ros' rendition of "The Rains of Castamere" as performed in the end credits/a bit at the Purple Wedding.



Ah, happier times (?).

[via HuffPo]

43 Cartoon Songs in Under 5 Minutes!

In this delightful music mash-up, Carnegie Hall Ensemble ACJW tosses in melodic snippets from 43 cartoons! Plus, they've animated the piece with silly, playful clues as to which song they're performing at that time. It's a really fun video - highly recommend!



You can view the full list in the About section on their YouTube page.

[via HuffPo]

Let's Party Like It's 1999!

HuffPo has a list of the greatest hits of 1999 and they are pretty darn epic. Really makes me want to give into my millenial nostalgia... but then again most of my memories of these songs (which came out when I was 11-12) are either from camp (amazing) or while I was getting passed over for slow dances at mixers (less amazing) or alone in my room dreaming of a possible future or moping in my loveless present (nerd alert). So... maybe instead I'll just appreciate how far I've come?

Anna Kendrick, "It's Not Where You Start, It's Where You Finish"

Anna Kendrick hits it out of the park with, "It's Not Where You Start , It's Where You Finish" for Shirley MacLaine at the Kennedy Center Honors 2013.



Ms. MacLaine seemed moved while watching it, mouthing the words along with Anna. Pitch Perfect really hit off her singing career!

Merry Christmas from two of the ladies from 'Orange is the New Black'

Love this holiday medley from Danielle Brooks and Uzo Aduba of Orange is the New Black supporting the charity, Artists Striving to End Poverty:



Really puts me in the holiday spirit!

United States of Pop 2013: Living the Fantasy!

Speaking of end-of-the-year mash-ups, here's DJ Earworm's mix of the big pop songs from this year:



That's some good jams. Although, it also reminds me how much all pop songs sound the same, even really awesome ones like Lorde's "Royals."

[via The Hairpin]

Frozen's "Let It Go"

This might be my favorite sequence from the new Disney movie Frozen:



While I agree with the critiques that this movie's musical numbers are a little too pop-anthem-focused at times (someone said they felt pre-packaged to be covered by your Carrie Underwoods and such), I absolutely love this sequence.

Her whole life, Elsa's been told her conceal her talent, and finally she gets a chance to explore and revel in her powers. The animation is spectacular, and it feels revolutionary to have a Disney Queen (not a princess) both have powers and not be evil for having them (even if others make her feel guilty and evil for them). It reminds me how much this film critiques previous Disney classics' ideas of romantic love (at first sight!) and women in power (jealously trying to destroy the younger, more beautiful/innocent girl). It's basically the Disney-fied version of "Defying Gravity" complete with booming, Broadway powerhouse Idina Menzel vocals. And she brings it in a big way.

1998's Greatest One-Hit Wonders

As part of its series about 1998, Vulture posted a list revisiting that year's one-hit wonders, and they are a DELIGHT. In addition to to-this-day classics like "Bittersweet Symphony" and "Closing Time" there are gems like "Too Close" (which, unbeknownst to my 11-year-old self at the time, is about a gentleman dancing too close to a lady and getting a boner - yes!) and "Flagpole Sitta" (which I somehow knew all the lyrics to but never the name of the actual song) as well as songs I completely forgot about but loved like, "You Get What You Give" and "Crush." Check it out! Just don't think about the fact that 15-year-olds likely only heard these songs in utero.

'Catching Fire' and 'Frozen' Kick Box Office Ass + Thoughts on 'Frozen'

'Hunger Games: Catching Fire' and Disney's new 'Frozen' have proven (for the billionth time) that having well-rounded female protagonists in big studio movies pays off. Both are on track to break all kinds of records - Catching Fire is the third movie ever to break $250 million on or under eight days (the other two: The Dark Knight Rises and The Avengers - so basically, Katniss is equal to the entire Avengers team) and Frozen may pull in $100 million in its first five days, shattering Thanksgiving weekend records.

What makes me even more happy about this is that both films are really good! I've already commented on Catching Fire (though I could go into further detail: I haven't even mentioned Jena Malone's perfect depiction of Johanna!). I just saw Frozen this afternoon, and I really loved the strong story of sisterhood, the delightful takedown of traditional Disney princess romances, and the way the hero, Anna, completely leads the film. She is not a passive protagonist: She constantly makes bold choices and gets herself into and out of trouble. Without spoiling anything, the ending proves this point to the nth degree. An extra perk? The movie passes the Bechdel Test within the first five minutes.

Bonus! Jennifer Lee, the screenwriter/animator behind Wreck-It Ralph wrote and co-directed Frozen. She's the first female director of a Disney animated movie, and I think the influence is both clear and welcome. I say this not to take away from Ms. Lee's individuality as a writer/director (I'm sure Kathryn Bigelow would HATE it if someone said that her directing clearly had a "female influence"), but simply as a woman who has experienced a lot of the same emotions, relationships, and thought-processes that I saw onscreen today that have not been present in any previous Disney features, which makes me think (logically) that Ms. Lee may have had something to do with that.

Sidenote to anyone else who saw Frozen: how much did you love the "You fell in love in one day!?" takedown (yes, I realize Anna and Kristoff kiss at the end of the film, but they have a very different "one day" than Anna and Hans, plus they only kiss and aren't getting married or anything rash like that)? And Anna telling Kristoff, most assuredly, that the way to end the eternal winter was simply to talk to her sister (and work things out like two normal human beings, instead of blowing the whole thing out of proportion like they'd do in another movie)? Loved it.

Oh! And I'm SO HAPPY that Kristen Bell is finally in a good movie. That lady deserves it!! Way to go, Woman Formerly Known as V-Mars!

OK Go! Just Crowdsourced their new music video, and it's actually really good!

The band OK Go! had a competition to see who could make the best music video for their new song, "I'm Not Through" and here is the winner:



It's really fun and right on beat. I can dig it. Sounds like this promising young director is going to have some pretty high expectations to fulfill now! Sorry, buddy.

[via HuffPo]

Pogo Sesame Street Mash-Up

Pogo's musical mash-ups are often weird and simultaneously weirdly soothing. His recent Sesame Street one is no different.



I don't know what it is about only hearing part of a word that someone's saying that feels so off to me, but at the same time it's always nice hearing any part of Sesame Street, especially when it's so well-edited.

[via HuffPo]

Let Grover and Dave Matthews Feel Their Feelings!

Grover and Dave Matthews have a lot of complex emotions running through their heads. I can definitely relate to both of them.Who doesn't want to fly a rocket to the moon and also be a superhero? Or, I guess more realistically, feel upset and angry when our dreams don't come true, or jealous but also proud when someone else achieves something we can't?



You cut me to the core, Sesame Street.

[via HuffPo]

Grantland's Battle for the Best Song of the Millennium

I don't totally understand their process or at all how voting works, but Grantland's Battle for the Best Song of the Millennium is really fun to look over as an excuses to listen to a bunch of fun song from the past thirteen years. Enjoy!

Your Cover's Blown - Belle & Sebastian Video

I'm really digging this new Belle & Sebastian video for "Your Cover's Blown" - not only does it star Game of Thrones' Gilly (Hannah Murray), but it addresses the en-cute-and-old-timey-ification of women right now in a weird, playful way.



[via Stereogum]

The 90s Button is so hot right now

The 90's Button basically like a Pandora '90s station, but it is a lot of fun if you're working and don't feel like turning on Spotify and really want to hear a bunch of songs that will make you say, "Oh! I know that one!" or "Wow, it's been a long time since I heard that one... a long, long time... there was hope then... so much potential... and now, now there's just-- Oh, I know this one, too!!!"