WFMU's Beware of the Blog

Vitas: A Minnie Riperton for The Aughts (video)

To that rarefied group of vocalists (think Mariah Carey, Minnie Ripperton, Klaus Nomi) who can send their pipes up into "whistle range," please welcome the Latvian-born Russian singer, Vitas. A congressional page who I am on extremely cordial terms with introduced me to his work. The best introduction to Vitas' oeuvre would be his breakout song from 2000, Opera 2: download mpeg video (6 megs), or youtube it here. This is a live version of Opera 2, complete with a string section decked out in burkas, and a chorus of women whose only official role seems to be to writhe and sweat whenever Vitas hits that high F note. A Russian MTV video of this same song (youtube link) is nowhere near as entertaining, but it does include thrilling special effects of Vitas using his awesome talents to break glass and generally wreak havoc.

Vitas' own website reveals his divine providence:

Oh, my God!!! Bless this lovely boy! Give him Patience, Gladness, hearty Light, Inspiration and Love... Each his work like a new pearl appears in our hearts with tears of gladness as heaven-sent!!!!! You want to hear him again and again,... infinitely! I breathe this voice, plunging into thin ethereal world, but I cannot get to know this sweet secret of life... As a crystal starts to play with different colors of a rainbow, when the beam of the sun falls to it, as unsurpassed pure voice of Vitas plays and sparkles with all shades in a beam of divine light. This voice both flows with tenderness from the depth of the soul,and shrilly fills with itself all space...

Not all of Vitas' videos are as exciting as Opera 2, but one recent song, Smile, does include more requisite reaching for the heavens while trilling all the way into non-castrated falsetto ecstasy: youtube link.

But don't think you can pigeonhole Vitas! He's not always clenching the heavens as he reaches for the high notes - far from it. In this live performance of his song Blessed Guru, he works out on his low register, while playing the role of an android from the future who visits the Neanderthals, on a stage set highly reminiscent of Spinal Tap's Stone Henge: download mpeg video (20 megs), or youtube it.

Norwegian Country (MP3s)

Norway is very much like Texas. Different languages, but plenty of oil. Texas, the lone star, and Norway - not a member of European Union. One thing that stands out, is the love of Country and Western, and at one of the numerous festivals, you bet it's going to be Helt Texas (totally Texas = crazy).

Country music in Norway goes way back, and Scandinavians in general are not giving up their traditions easily, listen to the; Gamalost-song (lyrics) (mp3). Despite being subject to ridicule from the intellectual left wing, American culture flourishes (YouTube) in Norway, to the extent of being even more pronounced than in the US of A itself... 

I will try to shed some light on Norwegian Americana with some soundbits, but first some - Norwegian rappers: Tommy Tee - Paperboys - Karpe Diem (YouTube) - and some wannabees - 50 öre (YouTube). Just as Norwegian as corn on the cob.

C&W examples: Bjøro Håland's song I Love Norwegian Country (mp3) (lyrics) is an "over there" story about a trip to Nashville. As with the rap-videos above, I always get a kick out of native babbeling intercepted by foreign phrasing. Hasta La Vista Elvis Presley (mp3) by Arnie Norse is a glimpse into C&W-outsider music.
Going to Nashville is imperative! If you can't go, then dream of it; En Drøm om Nashville (mp3) by Heidi Hauge. A couple of covers by grand old lady Lillian Askeland, Tennessee Waltz (mp3) Billy Boy (mp3).

Teddy Nelson (born Terje Nilsen) was awarded "International Star of the Year" in both '81 and '82 by the Grand Ole Opry in - yes - Nashville. His Diggy Liggy (mp3) - a typical joie-de vivre song was a massive hit! Before his death in '92, he cut a record with Skeeter Davies...

I love Norwegian country (the rap-version) (YouTube)

Atari Mania continues...plus more Eurovision

Just a couple of quickie updates on previous posts.

Atari
First of all, thanks for all the comments on the Atari Music post. I was hoping it would get some more video game minded folks to post their favorites, which it did. But best of all, it inspired blog reader Gavin Richmond to make his own video for Little Brother's Atari 2600 song, using vintage Atari commercials. Download Quicktime (15.5mb) or GoogleVideo. Check out Gavin's blog for more fun videos, a future one of which will feature people doing the robot for a late 80s electronic dance band that are somehow still around.

Oh, and that photo to the left? Total BS. But it amused the heck out of me none-the-less, which is exactly what the comedy of the Van Gogh Gogh's is supposed to do. You can read the whole story of Atari 8 tracks and other fake 2600 products here.

Eurovision
Back in May, Lukas posted about the glorious history of the Eurovision song contest, and the insanely catchy 1975 winners, Teach-In. Well, browsing around today I discovered this crazed Eurovision fan from Tel Aviv who has posted some 400 videos on YouTube of contestants from the 1950s through today.

Got a few hours to kill? There are so many gems in there, especially during the 70s and 80s, that I can't even begin to watch them all. But here are links to just a few of my international favorites (read the comments, etc, on the YouTube pages for more details):

Denmark 1983     Israel 1985     Norway 1983     Greece 1977     Netherlands 1966     United Kingdom 1981    Belgium 1967     Finland 1966     Iceland 2000
Cyprus 1987 - the song is a dud, but those dancers are HOT
Sweden 1977 - An astoundingly lame Beatles tribute song. Check the comments section below for more on this one!

And you just can't go wrong with virtually all of the 1976 edition:
Austria     Finland     Switzerland      France     Israel
And the United Kingdom.
They swept the award in 1976 with one of the biggest hits in Eurovision history, earning an 80% vote. The song is "Save Your Kisses For Me" (mp3) by Brotherhood of Man. It is indeed insanely catchy, and the dancing has certainly won my vote! And these guys were in for the long-haul, not only scoring several chart topping hits, but staying together and performing to this day. You can even book them for your next event!

If you find any other favorites, post them in the comments. My eyes are not yet fully glossed over with Eurovision cheese.

Swedish Metal Aid (mp3)

Wouldn't you like to have long soft curly blond hair, scented with musk - dangling over firm shoulders - a loose silk shirt with the top open, revealing a hairy chest and a gold chain - singing your heart out to save people about to die of hunger in Ethiopia? If you could you would, and the Swedes did do it in '85. Joey Tempest (Wikipedia) from "Europe" wrote the song "Give a Helpin' Hand" (mp3) which sold 50.000 copies. See the 120 Swedish hard rockers here (Youtube) and dream about swimming in fluffy blond hair.

Solid Gold Dancers vs Hot Gossip

Those of us of a certain age (okay, in our 30s) remember spending our formative years fantasizing about what was lurking beneath the spandex of those incredibly sexy Solid Gold Dancers. As the most exciting part of Solid Gold, they commanded the airwaves with their weekly pop music countdown from 1979-1988 (though the dancing heyday ended in 1986, when most of the dancers quit the show).

But wait, you say you grew up across yon ocean in England-land? Well, then in that case you probably had the same exciting thoughts about Hot Gossip, the dance troupe that scandalized the average televison viewer and launched the career of Sarah Brightman.

Thanks to the seemingly omnipresent YouTube, you can now relive those Solid Gold and Hot Gossip moments, which have previously been locked tightly in the vaults of your memory.

The Frog

I revere Crazy Frog. I am not alone. To Live and Shave In LA's Tom Smith has decided his advent to culture will among other things simply mean that the Noise genre is finished: "Crazy Frog makes rickety teak wind chimes of the entire Whitehouse ouevre." Do not fear Avian Flu being swept westward across the Atlantic. There is something in Europe as we speak even more destructive to mankind that will move from Ringtones to turning Kelly Clarkson not to mention Wolf Eyes and company into the meaningless dust they are. And then, it will not stop there. See it, be it. Crazy Frog Video 1 (1.78MB mpeg) 2 (7.9MB mpeg) 3 (7.8MB mpeg) 4 (1018k mpeg). Here is an MP3 of some collaged bits including a news report overview on the Crazy One. Hail the Frog.

Eurovision and Philosophy (mp3, video)

The biggest news this weekend is of course the triumph of Finnish monster Lordi at the Eurovision song contest in Athens, Greece. As always, WFMU's Beware of the Blog was on the ball very early and predicted the outcome. Since Mr. Lordi expressed his love for Greek history and Greek food in this interview, it seems appropriate to remind everyone that Eurovision has brought more to the world than the tasteful costumes of Lordi and Dschingis Khan.

I will only highlight two of dozens of deeply philosophical songs from the rich and colorful Eurovision history. In 1979, Elpida from Greece entered the contest with a song about Socrates (MP3), finishing 8th. But the epitome of European high-brow songwriting, and the answer to all of Socrates' questions was 1975's winning entry from the Netherlands, Ding-A-Dong (MP3) by Teach-In. It isn't quite complete without the visuals, but you can see them perform it live on the legendary German TV show Disco in this clip on YouTube.

And if you haven't had enough yet, check out lots of great pictures from past Eurovision song contests here.

Cheesy Euro Disco To Spin Your Plates To (video)

Admittedly there's no topping Armi and Danny, and Enrique and Ana are a little too geared to the pre-pubescent market to be true disco. But Spain is in Europe, they do chant Disco! Disco! Disco! with impunity, and those spinning plates and the odd Chipmunk chorus are pretty damn cheesy, so it makes the cut: [download video, 4 megs, mpeg format] More Cheesy Euro-Disco links here. via earnest little cartoon guy

Cleaning Out My Inbox

It's been a long time. The old inbox is bursting at the seams.

Best homoerotic fight scene ever: [download video, 24 megs, mpeg format] via Fulminatia, RIP

A few people pointed out that the dancing fedora man in this Howlin Wolf video was Son House. Here's Son House playing, not dancing: [download video, 38 megs, mpeg format] via dailymotion

When it wasn't trying to overthrow Central American countries, The United Fruit Company (Chiquita Banana) was rewriting its jingles to combat world hunger, by urging people to eat more Chiquita Bananas! [download MP3] thanks, Stark Effect!

The artwork on this page is by Boris Artzybasheff, an incredible Russian illustrator whose work has just been collected posthumously into a new volume called As I See. via Irwin.

Anime-based annoyance that never ends (shockwave page), via Listener John in Oslo.

Being Helpful as an act of subversion. Thanks Kenzo!

20 Sounds That Must Die.

Various rapper-based chip products, via Listener Nell.

The complete Internal Revenue Code Podcast Project, via listener Tom. (Nobody tell Kenny G!)

How to turn your telephone into a transmitter.

Stanley Kubrick's pre-film work as a photographer.

Virtual Miss Germany, Ich Liebe Dich.

Early Wright Brothers photographs, via tollfreedom

This qualifies as cheesy euro-disco, I guess. It's got a mirrored ball, after all: Petey and Jaydee's Na Na Na: streaming video link, shades of the hamsterdance.

In case you missed it, we're up to 64 Stairways to Heaven, roughly twice as many as we started with. And don't miss the incredible backwards Stairway video, from Listener Neil's blog.

Cheesy Euro-Skydiving Video

Aficionados of the genre understand that when it comes to Cheesy Euro-Disco, it's all about location, location, location. And props. Props and location, in the opposite order. Dancing cossacks are also helpful, but not absolutely necessary. A succesful Cheesy Euro-Disco video needs to be set in outer space, a bucolic meadow, or involve power tools, football-helmet-sporting bikini babes. Or involve dancing cossacks.

This video [download it as a 9 meg wmv file or as a 22 meg mpg file here] may not fulfill the cossack policy, but it does include accordian-playing skydivers wearing Russian military uniforms. The skydivers include Alexander Beloglazoff, world-record holder for longest freefall involving an augmented seventh chord. The music is In-Grid's song Tu Es Foutu, as though you didn't already know that, you Cheesy Euro-Disco slut, you. via del.icio.us/tag/video

UPDATE: I uploaded a 22 meg mpg version of the video, then changed the original "avi" version to a wmv file, which is the actual format..

The "I'm Too Sexy" Fan Video Phenomenon

Sometime when I wasn't looking, the infectiously ridiculous song I'm Too Sexy assumed new power and meaning in the world.  Maybe not for you. Maybe not for anyone you know. But for Japanese people by the truckload. For Anime and gaming fans. For karaoke singers. For anyone with a new camcorder for Christmas and the simple, honest desire to be incredibly buff and sexy, all at the same time.

And the magic of sites like YouTube is in revealing such odd obsessions.

The other night, while scouring YouTube for anything resembling Cheesy Euro-Disco, I stumbled onto versions of the 1992 dance/pop hit, I'm Too Sexy, by the Brit-Pop trio Right Said Fred. (YouTube does have videos of Baccara's Yes Sir, I Can Boogie and Sorry I'm a Lady, but they're horribly disappointing.)

But Fan Videos of I'm Too Sexy -- that's another story, Search for I'm Too Sexy and up come dozens and dozens of homemade fan videos and karaoke sessions based on the song, from all over the world. Anime and Gaming freaks. Giggly teenagers. Your drunk Uncle.

Why a Beatles fan would take footage of The Fab Four and set it to the tune of Right Fucking Said Fred is beyond me, but, here it is: (download video, 15 meg Windows Media file). And here are I'm Too Sexy Fan Videos dedicated to the imaginary catwalk stylings of Japanese bands like Miyavi and Gackt and Dir En Grey (streaming videos from YouTube).

If you don't know the song I'm Too Sexy, here's a great mashup of it, combined with Kraftwerk's The Model, by Frenchbloke and Son (download MP3 Sexy Model).

The I'm Too Sexy fan video phenomenon first surfaced a few months ago when this video remix of the song made the rounds, as sung by My Little Pony (download video, 10 meg Windows Media file). Cute enough, I thought at the time - in fact, too cute. Little did I know that this was merely the tip of the iceberg. The song's been remixed by World of Warcraft fans (download video, 7meg Windows Media file), Final Fantasy gamers, Simpsons / Family Guy fans, combination Chipmunks/CSI obsessives, Mortal Kombat freaks,  Kids In The Hall DVD owners and one anime version after another after another....(all streaming videos from YouTube)

Boney M. (video, mp3, midi)

(UPDATE: Contains 1 MIDI, 1 MPEG video, 1 MP3 2 MP3s)

We all know that WFMU is poised to become the authoritative on-line resource for Cheesy Euro-Disco. However, for inexplicable reasons one of the most important and educational bands in this genre, Boney M., has not been featured on this blog yet. It is time for this to change.

It all started in 1975 when German producer Frank Farian scored a hit under the pseudonym Boney M. with "Baby Do You Wanna Bump?". He decided that he needed some good-looking dancers and singers to present to the public, and so the band Boney M. came into being, with official members Marcia Barrett, Liz Mitchell, Bobby Farrell, and Maizie Williams. Of those four, Bobby Farrell and Maizie Williams were only lip-syncing and dancing, all the male vocals were contributed by Farian himself. Later on Farian would perfect this technique by creating the lip-sync duo Milli Vanilli.

Sitting On A Bullet Thinking Of Power

Where have you gone, 1991?  Here's a short piece of video that triggered my - get this - nostalgia!  Well, as Caetano Veloso said in 1972, "that's what rock n'roll is all about", so let's rock.

Here we have the fabulously sleazy-chic Udo Kier as the desperately horny Hans in Gus Van Sant's "My Own Private Idaho".  Udo sprinkles a little Sprockets on Dean Stockwell's Ben in Blue Velvet, and voila - a bit of lampshade cabaret performance for the benefit of River Phoenix and Keanu Reeves that strangely prefigures The Electric 6's "Danger High Voltage" video, which is not very nostalgic at all.

Udo Kier sings about Berlin! New York! Moscow! Tokyo! (wmv download, 10 Megs)

Worst. Choreography. Ever. (video)

The first Cheesy Euro-Disco find of 2006 makes up in choreography for what it lacks musically. If you like dreadful choreography, that is. It's the video for Finnish duo Armi & Danny's I Wanna Love You Tender: [download video, 38 mb mpeg file]. Armi & Danny's choreographer for this peppy little number was none other than former Serbian president Slobodon Milosevic. After watching this, it's not hard to understand why he ditched the show business job for a career as a genocidal maniac.

Actually, it's hard to decide which is worse - the dancing, or the sweaters. But after such a long drought at Beware of the Blog's Cheesy Euro-Disco bureau, it's heartwarming that we even have such questions to ponder. via del.icio.us/tag/video. More Cheesy Euro-Disco links here.

They Called Her Mrs. Bowie

Don't worry, fabulous space-kittens, this isn't an R.I.P. post. Angie Bowie is alive and well, hanging out with pals like Xaviera Hollander and Mick Karn, and writing pocket books about bisexuality.

In fact, here's a cool interview with the lady with some great pictures. Better yet, you MUST see Angie in a leotard thong, with giant press-on nails and a *ahem* handsome escort in these incredible videos!

10, officer.

"We all love music, and we all love to watch hand skills. So watch Greg Irwin and his incredible finger dexterity as he bust out moves to the beat of De'vo's music."

(The other Devo.)

Videos: Soulwax, Sun Ra, Pink Floyd, Joy Division and a Cheesy Euro Disco Instructor

Here's a batch of videos, and not a single one has anything to do with Katrina!  All these videos must be downloaded before viewing. (For Katrina videos, go here.)

First off, the most recent video, NY Excuse by Soulwax, aka 2 Many DJs, celebrating trash and culture, not necessarily in that order. Or is it a culture of trash? The archival footage is nicely done, as is the Barbara Kruger-esque agit-prop. Download video (Windows Media file)

Here is a video mashup of Pink Elephants On Parade, with music by Sun Ra and the visuals from the movie Dumbo. The Sun ra tune originally appeared on Hal Wilner's Disney tribute LP. I saw the Arkestra perform this at The Bottom Line shortly before Sun Ra dies, and they played it as they paraded around the club. Download video (Quicktime video)

For many Cheesy Euro-Disco aficionados, merely watching the sensual gyrations of Dschingis Khan or Tommy Seeland does not suffice. Action is needed, but can the Cheesy Euro Disco moves actually be learned, or are these abilities genetically inbred? Unfortunately, the moved can be learned, and here is a video to prove it. Download video (mpeg file) More Cheesy Euro Disco links here. And yes, "Cheesy Euro Disco" is now one of the most popular search strings bringing people to this blog.

Here is a video of Syd Barrett and Pink Floyd performing Jugband Blues, sort of his farewell song from their album Saucerful of Secrets. Not sure where this came from, but it's clearly been transferred from film. The sounds is good, but why does that sousaphone sound like a kazoo? Actually, the horn moments appear to be spliced in, and the rest of the film seems to include an actual performance. Download video (mpeg file)

Before your mental image of Ian Curtis is forever destroyed by Jude Law's portrayal of him in the forthcoming Joy Division movie, have a look at the real item performing She's Lost Control. Download video (realvideo file). And before your mental image of Iggy is sullied by Elijah Wood's portryal of him, have a look back at the young Iggy performing and rubbing peanut butter all over himself in Cincinatti, ca. 1970.
 

 

Cleaning Out My Inbox

The world's ugliest dog has been located. Styggeste hund, indeed. (via b3ta)

Dschinghis Khan and Cheesy Eurodisco completionists might want another video of the band in action, this time doing their society thing with an orchestra and everything. (Realvideo clip for download, via Listener Ed)

"Put the camera down and worry about your friend." (streaming quicktime video, via fazed)

And you thought it was wet in Glastonbury? (Doh! This is Glastonbury)

Expansive art/photography site with many well known photographers and works. (via peremeny.ru)

Great page of Brazilian Bossa Nova and Samba MP3s, via Listener Zach.

How do you get extra credit from Professor Fuck? (via b3ta)

Nice street art / graffiti sketchblog.

Live in a giant coconut or create your own flying carpet. (via gizmag)

Go get lost in superbad.

Where sheep are nervous.

The Rocking Son of Dschinghis Khan

Just when you thought that the Cheesy Euro-Disco drought would never end, listener Ed comes to the rescue with this newly found video of Dschinghis Khan, taking a stab at Der Rock und Roll, with The Rocking Son of Dschinghis Khan (right-click to download 21mb windows media video). Dschinghis Khan pulls out all the stops - gold lame pants, smoke machines, Cossack costumes and dancing, weird utterances like "Look at me, Daddy," Abba-esque background vocals and of course, that crazy Rasputin looking guy who comes out at the end for a quick round of berserko dancing which manages to get the attentive Euro-Disco audience to actually clap their hands. Thanks Ed!

More Cheesy Euro-Disco MP3s and videos here.

Cheesy Puppet Disco Loop

Life is a Cheesy Puppet Disco. And it never ends. Video Loop. Thanks PLU!