The Saturday Post: Grandma-roots-for-Adele edition

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The Grammy Awards are tomorrow. Though I don't typically watch them, I just might this time. Because of Adele. I want to see her first major performance since having surgery on her vocal chords in November, and I want to see her win. The breathtakingly talented and beautiful 23-year-old (23!) is nominated for six Grammys.

Adele garnered three nominations—Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Short Form Music Video—for this song and video:

And she's nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance for this song:

Rounding out the six are Adele's nominations for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album for 21.

I hope she makes a sweep of it, walking away with the Grammy in every category she's been nominated.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'll be watching—and definitely rooting for awesome Adele.

Today's question:

Who and what are some of your current favorite artists and songs?

The Saturday Post: Movie mash-up double feature edition

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I love a good movie-clip mash up, and this week I was treated to two of the best I've seen in quite some time.

The first came to me by way of VSL and is movie clips made into song—a song we all know and (maybe) love...and will be humming the rest of the day.

(Hello from ant1mat3rie on Vimeo.)

The second was sent to me by my friend Kate, who kindly posted it on my Facebook wall. It's a scary one and, as noted with her original post, should be watched with the lights ON. (If you don't like scary movies, scroll back up and watch "Hello" again instead. Seriously.)

Both very well done indeed!

Enjoy your Saturday...and your "Hello" earworm!

Friday (the 13th!) feel-good: Soulful inspiration

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Some of you may already know all about her, but I only recently learned of Mavis Staples, an amazing singer and civil rights activist who has been singing, inspiring, and making a difference far longer than I've been alive. And she's still going at it. Strong.

As her recent collaborator Jeff Tweedy of Wilco is quoted as saying, "Mavis is the walking embodiment of undaunted spirit and courage. She’s an ever-forward looking, positive example for all human beings."

You can quote me as saying Mavis seems far more energetic than the Energizer Bunny, and her positive energy level along with her soulful sounds make her a true inspiration. I can only hope and strive to be even half as positive and vibrant as she is when I reach her age. Heck, I want to be as positive and vibrant as her at my current age!

The following video of Staples and Tweedy covering a Creedence Clearwater Revival song—which also is on her latest album—is one of my favorites from the 72-year-old powerhouse. Love, love, love this woman! (And Tweedy's pretty darn cool himself, too, I must say.)

 

You can see, hear, and learn more about Mavis Staples on her website or on Wikipedia.

Today's question:

Who inspires you?

The Saturday Post: Cracked-up-carols edition

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Enjoy these mashups of a different sort in which musica intima vocal chamber ensemble combines religious Christmas songs with secular ones.

Better yet, I dare you to try and sing along.

Today's question:

Of all holiday tunes, which one do you most enjoy singing (not listening to)?

The Saturday Post: If-I-had-an-iPhone 4 edition

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I don't have an iPhone 4—mine is a 3GS. But if I did have an iPhone 4, wherein the camera faces front, I'd put it in Jim's guitar and have him strum away just to see if I could capture something as cool as this:

Pretty nifty, don't ya think?

Happy Saturday!