The DeFranco Family "Heartbeat (It's a Love Beat)"

Teen heartthrob Tony DeFranco leads The DeFranco Family in the 1973 hit "Heartbeat (It's a Love Beat)." For those with an inquiring mind, and would like the answer to "Where are they now?" Tony has become a successful real estate agent in California. You can check out his website here.





Thanks to liarsclub75 for the upload to YouTube.

The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia

I spent part of a sleepless night living with a bit of West Virginia hillbilly mythology. The White family knows how to get in some trouble.  "The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia" was is a really outstanding documentary by Julien Nitzberg...great music, a bunch of appearances by Hank III, and a fascinating family who lives in the moment for better or for worse. If you have Netflix streaming I highly recommend you take a trip on over to Boone County and spend some time getting to know these folks, but be sure to leave at closing time.

From New York Magazine:
Shoot-outs, robberies, gas-huffing, drug dealing, pill popping, murders and tap dancing. Nestled deep in the Appalachian Mountains, the White family lives an existence more like something from the Wild West than modern-day suburbified America. The legendary family is as known for their wild, excessive criminal ways as they are for their famous mountain dancing members, including Jesco White, the star of the cult classic documentary Dancing Outlaw. The film follows the Whites over the course of one tumultuous year, as they deal with a stabbing, criminal sentencing, attempted murder, death and birth. Never dull, THE WILD AND WONDERFUL WHITES OF WEST VIRGINIA are 'the Hatfields and McCoys all rolled into one'

Die Antwoord "Evil Boy"

Set phasers to stun!  Die Antwoord prepares to take over the world, and they kick it into gear with this new video for "Evil Boy." I think it's pretty safe to say that this video is NSFW!

Ninja and Yolandi share the stage with fellow South African rapper, Wanga as well as DJ Diplo in the new video. I learned from BongBoing.net (the blog that broke this amazing band) that the song is about Wanga's reluctance to follow his tribe's tradition of receiving a circumcision in his teenage years. In Wanga's world, rejection of the circumcision means being accused of not being a real man, and of being gay. Wanga struggled with this rejection from his community, but in the end came to the conclusion that he would not follow suit with what those around him considered masculinity...in essence, he would be an "evil boy for life."



Get the album...

Kanye West "Runaway"

Wow! Simply wow! Kanye West has really outdone himself. First, he gives away a bunch of songs for free on his website, and then he follows it up with a 34 minute music video. Sure it's self-indulgent and a bit corny, but it also has some fun and beautiful moments as well. I think Luis Bunuel and Carlos Saura would be proud of his vision. Mostly, I thank Kanye for simply thinking out of the box and bringing a lot of unique attention to his music.

You know what I hate most about your world? Anything that is different you try to change. You try to tear it down. You rip the wings off the Phoenix and they turn to stone. And if I don't burn I will turn to stone...if I don't burn I can't go back to my world...I have to burn...



Bonus Video:  Kanye's "Runaway" is certainly a pretty, visually stunning and symbolically laden opus, however, it's no "Can't Tell Me Nothing" starring Zach Galifianakis...


     

Thanks to KanyeWestVevo and djmattwerner for the uploads to YouTube.

GWAR "Let Us Slay"

Happy Halloween from Scumdog Planet...

The Marmalade "Reflections of My Life"

Stepping back to 1969 for a beautiful, but melancholy moment with Scotland's The Marmalade performing "Reflections of my Life.  The tune hit #3 in the UK and just cracked the #10 spot in the US.

The greetings of people
In trouble
Reflections of my life
Oh, how they fill my eyes


Oh my sorrows
Sad tomorrows
Take me back to my home
-William Campbell and Thomas McAleese




















Thanks to SeaOvJapan for the upload to YouTube.

Joel Burns' Message of Hope to Gay Teens

Councilman Joel Burns

If you have not seen this video of Fort Worth, Texas, Councilman Joel Burns sharing his personal story and urging young gay and lesbian teens not to give up hope, and understand that it only gets better, I urge you to do so. One can only hope that his brave and emotional speech reaches far and wide, and is able to cut through the hurt and the pain that people inflict on one another.

My twelve year old daughter attends a private school, a school of privileged children who come from educated families, and yet she has come home several times this year upset by the way her fellow students treat each other. She is hurt when words like "gay" and "retard" are thrown around to insult each other.  She says that the students think it's funny or clever to behave this way. I am often stumped as to how to respond and what to tell her - I don't know what the best ways are to handle this for a twelve year old. I remember going through the same types of situations and feelings at that age, and, of course, these types of troubles do, for the most part, shake themselves out as you get older. That is rarely a comforting response to her.  I think I'll share Joel Burns' speech with her and let her decide if she would like to share it with her classmates.

Bravo and thank you to Councilman Joel Burns for his bravery and commitment to speaking the truth, and for bringing hope to those who need it most.



Also, check out The Trevor Project that Mr. Burns mentions near the end of his speech.

Banksy Bombs The Simpsons

Banksy strikes again and this time it's the opening credits of The Simpsons. Bravo to The Simpsons for recognizing this amazing guerilla artist, and allowing themselves to be the brunt of the joke.  Check out more Banksy at his website or in the movie Exit Through the Gift Shop (Not available just yet in the US).



Thanks to banksyfilm for the upload to YouTube.

Kanye West "Power"

Kanye West has been uploading songs from his forthcoming album up for free every Friday on his website. Let's hope it continues today since I'm still listening to everything he's made public so far.

Bright Eyes "Coyote Song"

Conor Oberst is simply remarkable.  Here he releases a song from a new album called "Sound Strike Songs." Here is some copy from the website (go to the bottom of the website to purchase the song and video):


Artist Boycott of Arizona, Sound Strike announces Sound Strike Songs. This exclusive collection of songs will be for sale at www.thesoundstrike.net with proceeds from sale of Sound Strike Songs and memorabilia going to the Sound Strike Fund. This Fund donates needed resources to families caring for children in Arizona whose parents are detained or have been deported, immigrant rights organizing and legal defense.

Arizona is a place where Maricopa County Sheriffs carry toys to calm the nerves of children whose parents are physically pried away from the arms of their children. Those immigrant parents are detained without bail or access to public defenders. The need for legal defense is great as is the need to provide assistance to the guardians, usually family or neighbor, that take in these emotionally distressed children while their parents are held by the Arizona immigrant hater prison system.

Sound Strike Artists Conor Oberst and his band Bright Eyes will release the first official song online, Coyote Song. The Song to be sold at www.soundstrike.net. The proceeds from the sale for this song online will benefit The Florence Project. The Florence Project is a nonprofit organization that provides free legal help to immigrants caught in the detention and deportation system in Arizona.

In an open letter to Artists Conor Oberst said, “American ideals of democracy and liberty are built on the foundation that all people, regardless of race or country of origin, deserve fair and equal treatment by the government . . . We’ve all seen the power music has to spread messages of solidarity and hope.”