nothing is new under the sun?

I Need Nothing - a nearly useless odyssey from Cãoceito on Vimeo.

I came across this music video through the blog Yes and Yes the other day. Visually, the video is stunning and I especially loved the thought that went behind in producing the mock record albums. As the video played its course, however, I had a nagging feeling that I had seen something like this before. After going to the Vimeo page of Cãoceito + Burdman, I could see clearer the idea behind their project:


      " Repositories of stories and its enriching emotions, the covers, that accomodate the existing panoply of musical genres, are the motto for this exibition. The focus is made on album covers that often conquer our memory even when music slightly reached our ears." 


I think that Cãoceito + Burdman presented their idea beautifully but the execution, again, was eerily similar to... Bob Dylan's* video of Subterranean Homesick Blues! See here:

Of course, perhaps the similiarity was on purpose - that images (whether still on a record cover or moving in a music video) stick with us, even when it becomes difficult to place them. And also, of course, this doesn't mean that these guys (Cãoceito + Burdman) are copycats, because in fact their idea is still authentic! This connection I made pleased me because it almost proves a theory by Jim Jarmusch that "Nothing is original... Authenticity is invaluable; originality is non-existent." He, of course, within his quote steals a line from Jean-Luc Godard, "It's not where you take things from - it's where you take them to." Frankly, that's what my blog is about. I am merely a vehicle of expressing things I see, hear, and read around me and sharing them on my blog. 

*Also - when watching Cãoceito + Burdman's "I Need Nothing Video," Dylan is there. The mock album says the lyrics "I'm Not" and is a re-imagining of the poster for the biographical film based on Bob Dylan's life, "I'm Not There." Clever, clever.

bookmarked: have a great weekend

• In awe of these Street Art masterpieces (like the one above).
• These reimagined modern fairy tale posters are pretty incredible, too.
• This Craigslist ad is from August and it's hysterical. Who wouldn't want to live with this guy?
• A thought provoking list: 34 Regrets I Have About the Past 34 Years 
• I'm loving Kate Miss's Wordless posts: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5
• A well-written article on "The Haves and Have-nots"
• and lastly, three minutes of pure 90s nostalgia.

fake english

Have you ever said a word so many times that you become disconnected to it? Try it. Just a repeat a word, for example, "Toast," and repeat it as many times as possible until it's empty of its meaning. toast.toast.toast.toast.toast.toast. Eventually you start to hear just the sounds... just a combination of noises your voice makes. Language is funny that way. The actual concept of language as merely a series of repeated noises is only noticeable, really, when listening to an unfamiliar language. It's difficult, however, to see this about one's own native-language. This video, shared by Cup of Jo, is a hilarious illustration of what English (my first language) probably sounds like to non-native English speakers. 

yes

Ira Glass, again

The other day, I posted this quote from Ira Glass on the topic of creative work. I really value what he's saying here and though it is mostly along the lines of 'if at first you don't succeed...' it still rings true and honest. I'm trying to be okay with the gap I'm currently in, and though I'm not a writer, a painter, a photographer, etc, I still consider myself a 'creative' person. I'm in this place in my life trying to bridge the divide of what I'm inspired by and enjoy doing (which spans a lot of niches) to focusing my interests on a clearer direction. So though this quote from Glass isn't directly related to my current situation, I like what he's saying. And, in thinking about it, I also came across this video:

Ira Glass on Storytelling from David Shiyang Liu on Vimeo.

music for your ears: monday mix

I went through my iTunes library the other day and browsed the songs that are written around the topic of love, just because. It's not really surprising that in my very quick five minute search I accumulated fifty songs (and I know there's more there) - some pro-love, some not-so-much. And, when making this mix, I kinda-sorta created this compilation to resemble the course of some (but, not all) love affairs. Yep, I got that crazy with it. Enjoy.

1. Too Afraid to Love You - The Black Keys
2. Heart Skipped a Beat - The XX
3. Abducted - Cults
4. Heart to Tell - The Love Language
5. Beat of My Heart - Noisettes
6. How Deep Is Your Love? - The Rapture
7. Give Me Love - Lucky Soul
8. Say No to Love - The Pains of Being Pure At Heart
9. Your Easy Lovin' Ain't Pleasin' Nothin' - Mayer Hawthorne
10. Fools In Love - Inara George
11. It Ain't Me, Babe - Bob Dylan
12. Love and Leave - Scattered Trees

you can download the mix here: something like fluttering

Please: If you enjoy the music, seek and out and support the artist (ie: buy music).

photo source

something to think about

THIS & THIS

Influencers (a short documentary)

INFLUENCERS FULL VERSION from R+I creative on Vimeo.

nobody tells this to beginners

source

bookmarked

• If only I was a better skilled artist, I would take to my walls a sharpie and forget about hanging stuff like this guy did. (photo credit)
• I loved this collection of musings shared by a teacher of her students. Children are way more insightful then most give them credit for.
• I will never forget being in Paris and a young Frenchman came up to me and touched my tree of life tattoo on my back and shouted excitedly, "Speederman! Speederman!" (Spiderman). I was more amused than bothered, but having other tattoo-touching scenarios less pleasant, I can agree with this Thought Catalog piece on Why We Don't Touch Tattoos.
• Appreciated this article on needing a Plan C. (I have plans a - z)
• Admittedly, I rarely need an excuse to waste time... but this list is pretty rad if you do need one.
• Just love the stuff that yum&yuk shares on her blog, including this poem.

music for your ears: monday mix

This week's playlist is a selection of my favorite songs from a very mellow, relaxed mix I've had on repeat all week. All of the tracks are sweet and slow and the perfect background music as I absorb myself in studying and paper-writing. They're also great tunes when listened to while cooking - trust me, I just made a lasgna and the overall experience was very cathartic. Enjoy.


1. Don't Think Twice It's Alright - Bob Dylan
2. Atlas Hands - Benjamin Francis Leftwich
3. Between The Bars - Elliot Smith
4. Blood Bank - Bon Iver
5. Mr. Tambourine Man - Bob Dylan
6. Thinking About You - Big Scary
7. The Sound of Silence - Simon & Garfunkel
8. Fair - Remy Zero
9. Crosses - Jose Gonzalez
10. Skinny Love - Bon Iver


you can download the mix here: sound of silence
Please: If you enjoy the music, seek and out and support the artist (ie: buy music).


photo credit: me

oxford comma humor

Helpful grammar lesson.

original source unknown

(saw this on a friend's Facebook status)

music for your ears: links

The Avett Brothers

I've had no time to come up with a mix this week, wompwomp. On the other hand, the bookmarks tab on my computer is overwhelmed with music related links. So waste some time and lose yourself in some randoms I thought to be interesting...


On another note: I did see the Avett Brothers this past Friday at the Aragon Ballroom here in Chicago and it was really outstanding. They played a great set and combined with the beauty of The Aragon Ballroom itself (built in 1926, the interior looks like a little Spanish village) made for an incredibly fun night. I suppose the beers helped, too. On to the links:

• Music For Kids Who Can't Read Good's best albums of 2011 (so far) list complete with sample downloads.
• 10 specialist blogs for music nerds provided by Flavorpill
• I found this particularly useful in my life: songs to soundtrack your quarterlife crisis
• songs inspired by poets
• an amazing a cappella cover of Wicked Game 
• another extensive list by MFKWCRG (see first bullet point): 50 songs of the decade
• 15 Years of of Pitchfork Interviews has some really great excepts: 

                         "You know, the Scarecrow needed a brain, the Tin Man needed a heart, and the other dude needed courage. I need love, you feel me?" - Ghostface Killah, 2009

couldn't find a source for the photo
if anyone knows, please contact me so I can give credit where credit's due.