Obamanation

Last night I had quite the eclectic experience watching the Obama inauguration. To start, I watched it on the BBC - our country declared independence from the British 233 years ago and here I am watching the largest inauguration in history on their network. My Irish housemate Priscilla was pumping out Björk on her computer speakers, and I was relaxing in my apartment in Cebu, Philippines. I earlier went for a walk, and ended up playing volleyball (I declined the more widely played basketball) with my Filipino neighbors. Afterward I broke bread with my friend Taiwo, and among many things we discussed our roles in the world and social responsibility to our home communities (in Texas and Nigeria, respectively) just after I sent off a résumé to a Hong Kong publishing group. Back home, I happened to play a track I ripped from a compact disc I checked out the the Lawrence, Kansas public library - Joan Baez singing "A Mi Manera" - which is the same tune made famous by Frank Sinatra: "I had it my way." Most surprising of the night: Joan Baez has excellent Spanish pronunciation and BBC correspondents can't hide their feelings against George Walker Bush. Also, surprising is that I never hear Obama's middle name "Hussein" on American Television but it's spoken in its entirety on BBC. I just imagine a child being named Walker Hussein...it's almost as bad as being a kid named "Sue." Priscilla caught the last half of the inauguration speech but missed out on Aretha Franklin's heartfelt version of "My country, 'tis of thee" - a tune that was jacked from the Brits in the first place.
Today I began the new era of responsibility by waking up early and watching Ali G's "Bling bling." I have been globalized, or is it globalised?

*Above video was the Spanish election anthem. Enjoy Obama en Reggaeton!

Voice

A number of A cappella groups and collaborations capture me each time I listen. The reason is this: new musical styles and instruments are constantly created, but the human voice can always keep up with all of those sounds. Some of my favorite music is a particular brand of vocalization - not employing a singer or singers, but vocalists. That means people that use their boca; their mouth.
In the music world, between singers and musicians there is a constant search instrumentalists do to sound like a human voice, and singers to sound more like instruments. Some of my favorites are:
Rahzel, the Slammin' All Body Band, Bobby Mcferrin & Voicestra, Gary Eckert, and Björk's Medúlla album. One good instrumental equivalent of these guys are the Hornheads.

Visual Feast

Ten sites that will tickle the oculars:

The Year In Pictures
Art Partner
Zena Holloway
Yanko Design
Laurence Winram
Rebekka Guðleifsdóttir
Chase Jarvis
Björk
Strange Fruits
Strobist

Plus a very well-shot video to add to the fun.
(Warning: explicit lyrics)



Happy surfing!