Wednesday, December 03, 2008

I like it when people put nice things in my ears

For a variety of different reasons I've found myself 'headphoning-up' (as Yazzle Dazzle and I refer to it) at work a fair amount recently. The Brucie-bonus of this is that a) I get to listen to the George Lamb show on 6Music in the morning without straining to hear over inter-office chit-chat or noisy printers mangling pieces of paper or the occasional hand, and b) I get to listen to whatever the hell I want in the afternoon.

'Whatever the hell I want' generally consists, as you'd expect, of some of my favourite artists - The Walkmen, Patrick Watson, Cold War Kids, The Rolling Stones, and the recently-announced "we're taking a break" hopefully-in-a-Ross-and-Rachel-fashion/splitting-up/on hiatus Phantom Planet (the news of which I greeted by balling my hands into fists, sinking to my knees, and screaming "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" towards the heavens). More than any other, though, I've found myself turning to Sufjan Stevens - there's something about his music that lends itself particularly well to the colder months of the year, I find - and one song in particular.

I found this while pootling around YouTube, and I'm pretty sure I've generated a significant proportion of the 207,122 views it's had at the time of writing.


I know I've babbled on about Sufjan loads in the past, but really, he's an exceptionally talented chap. I'd never heard his speaking voice before watching this video, and to hear him segue from what sounds like a normal, everyday voice into the angelic tones of his singing voice is kind of bizarrely magical and a little bit unearthly. And how the hell does one man generate such an awesomely intricate sound from a banjo!? It makes me want to learn banjo! The worst thing about this clip, though, is that this is a cover version of a song by The Innocence Mission and you can't buy Sufjan's version *anywhere!*

First Phantom Planet breaking up, now not being able to buy an astonishing song for love nor money! ARRRRGH!

*relax*

In a related matter, I had the opportunity to go see him in concert a few years back but I already had tickets to a different gig on the same night. The fact that I can't remember who the other performers were and am still kicking myself over not going kind of suggests that I made the wrong decision. I'm hoping I get the chance to rectify that mistake sometime soon.

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An aside:

Please allow me to introduce another in my occasional series 'famous people who look like something else.'

Number 2: Gail Platt from Coronation Street and a hamster.


Well I'm damned if I can tell which is which.
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I heard the best joke EVAH today. Brace yourselves:

Q: How do you find Will Smith in the snow?
A: Look for the fresh prints!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!! That is *never* going to stop me from creasing up.

13 comments:

missyandchrissy said...

HAHAHA - that joke is the funniest thing we've heard all week!

Tara said...

Haha..I love that Will Smith joke. What I love even more is that if I told my nephews the joke, they wouldn't know what the hell I was talking about. They know Will Smith, but don't know the "fresh prints" punchline.

The Tall Red Head said...

"Chicago" would have to be my favorite song of all time. Great singer.

Anonymous said...

Yeah! That joke rocks!

CyberPete said...

Your Nike character is scaring me.

It's dancing MC Hammer style.

Tim said...

Missy&Chrissy - Good innit?

Tara - I know, it made me feel a little bit old to think that you could tell it to some kids and you'd then have to explain the punchline!

The Tall Red Head - Hello! Oh, it's a gorgeous song, isn't it? I was just listening to the Illinois album today.

Watch*Paint*Dry - And so do you, bee-yatch!

Cyberpete - He's freaking me out a little bit too, bless him.

Anonymous said...

I love it when you talk dirty to me!
You rock more. We all damn well rock. Yeah!
*does weird 'rock' symbol with hands and just feels a bit silly*

Ho hum

CyberPete said...

I can see how he can get a little too annoying.

All those motivating people suck. Like the fitness babes going on and on about "you can do it" and all that.

*shudders*

CyberPete said...

"With running in my corner, I can't lose"

What's that all about?

Inexplicable DeVice said...

Love that joke. Hopefully it's one I'll remember - I never usually remember jokes.

* wonders how much stuff Gail can fit in her cheeks *

Inexplicable DeVice said...

P.S. I liked the piano bit best at the end of that Sufjan clip.

Tim said...

Watch*Paint*Dry - Careful, you'll make me blush!

Cyberpete - I know, and yet I can't bring myself to delete him…

Inexplicable Device - Have you considered tattooing it on your face?

And I'm betting Gail could swallow the ENTIRE WORLD.

Inexplicable Device - Well that's a start. We'll wean you onto some decent music …

CyberPete said...

He does look sweet in a peculiar kind of way.

I'm liking the hair and shades.