The Elements by Tom Lehrer

There are several excellent versions of this song on YouTube, but the reason I like this one is that the elements pop-up and get placed in the periodic table, as well the "unknown elements" at the end. There is even a list of the elements which are missing from the song. It's a great day when you can be entertained and learn something at the same time!!



Here's another version -- there's no list at the end, but a clever placement of the unknown elements with the tag at the end of the song -- vote for which one you like best!!



I'm not sure why I like the somgs of Tom Lehrer so much; it may be the humor, but I think it's because he is so clever. Check out the irreverent "Vatican Rag", the disturbing "Masochism Tango", the intriguing "I Got It From Agnes", and enjoy the end of the world by nuclear annihilation in "We'll All Go Together When We Go."

Here's the link to find these:

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_type=&search_query=tom+lehrer&aq=f

Enjoy!!

Posted By: gdanea - Sun Jun 14, 2009 - Comments (1)
Category: Music

LazyTown

This song appears to derive from the the Icelandic kids show LAZYTOWN. Man, those are some creepy characters.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Jun 14, 2009 - Comments (5)
Category: Music, Television, Children, Europe

Voodoo in Benin

Nearly twenty-five years ago, I wrote a novel titled CIPHERS, which featured scenes of voodoo in Benin. Long before YouTube was even a concept, I had to do all my research in books. I would have killed to see this video.

Posted By: Paul - Mon Jun 08, 2009 - Comments (0)
Category: Music, Religion, Books, Dance, Africa

When Politicians Sing

Tom Suozzi, singing machine from Long Island Business News on Vimeo.

Posted By: Paul - Fri Jun 05, 2009 - Comments (0)
Category: Government, Officials, Music

Ethel Smith at the Organ

Elton John, Billy Joel and Ben Folds--eat your hearts out!

If you wish to see a much crisper version of this clip that forbids embedding, please go here.

Posted By: Paul - Thu Jun 04, 2009 - Comments (2)
Category: Movies, Music, 1940s

Bathing Beauty

Please enjoy this over-the-top water ballet from the Esther Williams film BATHING BEAUTY.

For a non-embeddable version of much higher clarity, please go here.

Posted By: Paul - Thu Jun 04, 2009 - Comments (0)
Category: Movies, Music, 1940s, Dance

Wouldn’t That Be A Great Band Name?

I know you've had this thought at least once... you and your friends are sitting around, drinking a few brewskis (or shooters or whatever it is you drink). One of your friends says something completely off the wall and you think, "that'd be a great band name." Oddly enough, that is how some of the best known bands get their names. Other bands have their names chosen for them by record producers or managers (how boring). In the end, how a band gets its name seems to be as different from one band to the next as their various playing styles. Here is a comprehensive list, in alphabetical order, of some of the most popular bands in recent history and where their names come from. I admit that the list itself is not particularly weird, but the way some of the bands ended up with their current names definitely is.

Posted By: Nethie - Wed Jun 03, 2009 - Comments (3)
Category: Art, Entertainment, Music, Odd Names

Kate Smith

Sure, Susan Boyle's great, even if she did finish second. But what exactly was so surprising about a fat, homely gal with a great set of pipes? Has everyone forgotten Kate Smith so soon?

Posted By: Paul - Sun May 31, 2009 - Comments (1)
Category: Music, 1970s

Cocktails and Records

As WU readers might have guessed, I love strange music. That's why I was thrilled to discover the blog called COCKTAILS AND RECORDS.

Here's a groovy sample: THE BEATNIK'S WISH.

Enjoy.

Posted By: Paul - Sat May 30, 2009 - Comments (2)
Category: Music

Super Clarinet

A reader named Luke--thanks, Luke!--points us toward this triple-sized musical instrument. It reminds me of something Dr. Seuss would've drawn.

Posted By: Paul - Fri May 29, 2009 - Comments (2)
Category: Inventions, Music, Technology, Reader Recommendation