Fortunately, I found some really great videos help me remember childhood memories or create fantasy ones, understand the difference between good and bad and to start considering what I want to be for Halloween, birthdays and other random things!

So let’s go!

Lemonade - Lifted
A band out of Brooklyn that captured a couple things in this video, cute kids exploring, feeling free and curious and… I just want to go there. The song is rad too and… it makes me happy.

Jonsi - Go Do
Ok, so this is the first video from Sigur Ros’ lead singer solo record titled “Go” that’ll be released this month! This video is beautiful. He looks beautiful. He is a fictional dreamy character. He is love and singing in english! He also looks like a bird and is hanging out with a lot of them.

Bowerbirds - In Our Talons
You can’t ask for anything more than a dancing crab, a dancing crow and fighting grasshoppers! Well…I’m sure you can, but I’d like to provide a beautiful stop animation music video instead.

Miles Kurosky - Dog In The Burning Building
This is the lead singer of the former band Beluah. I watched this video over and over… I still don’t know what happened. Anyway, it’s a euphoric rush and everyone likes those!

The Phenomenal Handclap Band - Baby
This song is rad. This video makes me think of a massacre. I’m not sure how “rad” and “massacre” relate, except for this video.

Ravenna Woods - Into The World
I think I fantasized this video as a birthday dream. A band I like and Fire Dancers!

Makeout Videotape - Heatwave
Boys are cute. Girls are cute.

Vampire Weekend - Giving Up The Gun
Oh Vampire Weekend. Why, do you please me? Yep, its another video full of cameos… but I’m pleased and you might be too ;)

Sunset Rubdown - Dragon’s Lair
Oh Canada, I’m glad you won the Olympic Hockey game. I’m also really glad that you have a band called Sunset Rubdown who understands that this is what we needed to see for this song. This is everything… everything… all 10min.

Honorable Mention:

Maroon 5 - If I Never See Your Face Again
I realize that you may have never heard a Maroon 5 song on KEXP, but this video is directed by Eric Wareheim of “Tim and Eric’s Awesome Show Great Job”. He’s also directed videos for Major Lazer, Depeche Mode, Flying Lotus, MGMT and more. I recommend exploring him further. I recommend watching them all. He is an epic journey of Music Videos. He is god. I love him.

Dan Deacon - Woof Woof
This one is weird, but its also pretty funny. Let me know if you want to make a bet after you watch it.

Islands - No You Don’t
no, you don’t… and you shouldn’t! …but you kinda want to anyway. Features Michael Cera!

These New Puritans - We Want War
Beautifully epic made video for an epic song. These New Puritans record is due out on Domino in March and I can’t wait. So I watch this video a lot.

The Very Best - Warm Heart of Africa
I love Ezra’s smooth dance walk, the boombox and the dancing ladies! I dedicate this video to Cheryl Waters whom I’d like to reenact this whole video with.

Rainbow Bridge - Big Wave Rider
The images fit to the lyrics of the song perfectly. So much fun and memorable to watch. Hurry up Summer!

The Drums - I Felt Stupid
Do boys still show off for girls? Well if they don’t, they should… and then dance later!

Boat - 100 Calorie Man
Stop animation or kitties? I’ll take both please! Oh, I love Boat.

Hey Marseilles - From A Terrace
I’ve been asking my friends if they want to see something perfect. So, do you want to see something perfect? Watch this lovely video :)

Dark Time Sunshine - Doom/Go Team/The Wrong Kids
Great, GREAT video for 3 combined awesome songs and with tons of local luv. The shots in this video are fantastic and I also love the lyrics.

Beach House - Silver Soul
This song is sexy enough, but while I was watching the video, I actually felt like I was in SEX education… Silver Experience!

The Sea and Cake - Sound and Vision
This is how my head works sometimes.

Honorable Mention of the Month

Mum - Sing Along
#1 - Mum written in fire is hot.
#2 - Playing with a dead deer that you found floating from the sky… and he sings… that’s hot too.
#3 - Dying from accidentally hammering your thumb, not hot
#4 - Burning the already dead dear, pretty hot… in temperature of course!

Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of one of time’s greatest revolutionaries, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Songs like Odetta’s “Glory Halleluja” and Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin” remind us to honor those who fought for their freedom and equality as human beings during the Civil Rights Movement. Michael Franti’s “Hey World (Don’t Give Up)” and Pharoahe Monch’s “Push” prompt us to reflect on how far we as a people still need to go to live out King’s vision. And, Bob Marley’s “Get Up, Stand Up” encourage us to get up, take action and never give up. As King once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.”

Full version of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech at the Lincoln Memorial August 28, 1963:

Common - “A Dream”

Odetta - “Glory Halleluja”

Ben Harper - “Like A Dream”

Daddy (Tommy Womack & Will Kimbrough) - “The Ballad Of Martin Luther King”

Bob Marley - “Get Up, Stand Up”

Public Enemy - “By The Time I Get To Arizona”

Rage Against the Machine - “Wake Up”

Queen - “One Vision”

Michael Franti - “Hey World (Don’t Give Up)”

Patty Griffin - “Up To The Mountain (MLK Tribute)”

UB40 - “Free”

OMD - “Southern”

Pharoahe Monch - “Push”

The Beatles - “Revolution”

Bob Dylan - “The Time They Are A-Changin’”

Mahalia Jackson - “Precious Lord, Take My Hand”

In no particular order, here are my favorite videos of 2009:

…and this wouldn’t be a top 10 list without honorable mentions!

Jonathon D. Colman

Happy 4th of July, everybody! Here’s a quick roundup of Independence Day related songs (and some not so much) to watch before you fire up the BBQ, head out to view the fireworks, or whatever else you may be doing on this day (just please don’t lose a finger!):

Jimi Hendrix playing the National Anthem:

Elliott Smith performing “Independence Day” live at the 2000 Fuji Rock Festival:

Galaxie 500’s official video for “Fourth of July”:

Animal Collective’s official video for “Fireworks”:

Siouxsie & The Banshees “Fireworks” from “Twice Upon a Time”:

David Bowie playing “Young Americans” on the Dick Cavett Show in 1974:

Wilco performing “Ashes of American Flags” on Austin City Limits:

Aimee Mann sings “4th of July” on Jools Holland:

John Doe and His Rockin’ Band play “Fourth of July” at Dante’s in Portland, OR, in 2007:

Shooter Jennings’ official video for “4th Of July”:

Elvis Costello & Lucinda Williams play “Indoor Fireworks” for CMT Crossroads:

The Muppets salute America with “Stars & Stripes Forever”:

You couldn’t have gone to bed last night or woken up this morning without hearing the news of Michael Jackson’s surprising death yesterday. Jackson passed away from a heart attack at age 50. Stories flooded the internet and news channels of speculation of his death, its cause, its effects. If you haven’t read much about it yet, you might check out People magazine’s story of the mystery of Jackson’s death, Michael remembered by friends, a bio by E! Online on the King of Pop, and the original story posted by TMZ, who broke the news.

Although he hadn’t recorded an album since 2001’s Invincible, Jackson announced recently that he was considering making a return to new music, and he had already scheduled 50 sold-out concerts at London’s O2 arena, which would have seen over one million people over the next eight months — proof that despite the innumerable tabloid headlines over the last two decades, The King of Pop has earned his title by becoming and remaining one of the world’s most beloved singers and that his musical legacy will go on.

Further proof is here, in this short roundup of just some of the many videos and performances Michael Jackson has made during his long life of music:

• In 1966, at age eight, Michael Jackson joined The Jackson 5, formed with his brothers. This is their first appearance on The Sullivan Show in 1969:

• Here he is a bit older, age 13, singing “Ben” on The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour:

• In fact, at age 13, Jackson released his first solo album, Got to Be There, which rose to number 14 on the U.S. pop charts. Here he performs “I Wanna Be Where You Are” from the album on American Bandstand:

• At the precipitous rise of his career, here’s Michael’s performance of “Billie Jean” at the 25th anniversary of Motown Records:

• After collaborating with Paul McCartney on Thriller, Jackson dueted with Paul on this 80’s classic, “Say Say Say”:

• Michael’s halftime performance at the Super Bowl XXVII in 1993 forever changed the spectacle that those shows have become, yet it’s hard to think of anyone who’s outdone him since:

• People sometimes forget that Jackson could be politically reactive to what was going on in the world. This video and song for “They Don’t Care About Us” stirred up a bit of controversy but also showed a different, angry and aware, side to the King of Pop:

• Of course, he was always happy to perform with other celebrities, as here with Brittney Spears singing “The Way You Make Me Feel” at the 2001 Michael Jackson 30th Anniversary Celebration:

• There are so many reasons to remember Michael Jackson. Hopefully what people will remember most was that Michael could thrill audiences like no other:

Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart Again

Peter Gabriel - In Your Eyes



Rufus Wainwright - Chelsea Hotel (Leonard Cohen)

Serge Gainsbourg - Je T’aime

On the steps of the Lincoln Memorial last night, performers including Bruce Springsteen, U2, Bettye LaVette, Beyonce, and many others, joyously celebrated the impending Inauguration of Barack Obama with songs like “America the Beautiful,” “This Land Is Your Land,” and “One Love (Let’s Get Together).” With the “hope” so palpably in the air, even the more the poignant songs like Sam Cooke’s “A Change Is Gonna Come” seemed to imply that the change was already here. Certainly, such hope can make us think so, but today, on the commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy, it is important that we remember not just how far we’ve come but also how far we still need to go:

Odetta - Glory Halleluja (live at Garrison Institute)

Ben Stanfield

Here are a few selections from the Inaugural kickoff concert, “We Are One,” last night on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC, where artists like U2, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springsteen, Shakira, Pete Seeger, Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp, Usher, Beyonce, and Bettye LaVette performed for hundreds of thousands of supporters and onlookers.

Stevie Wonder with Usher and Shakira - Higher Ground

Valerie Hinojosa

Dan Muller

Wishing you a great holiday week and hoping that you’re not buried under too much snow. If you happen to be buried under more work than snow today, the Harvey Danger song is just for you:

Happy Holidays from Datarock

The Decemberists - Please Daddy (Don’t Get Drunk This Christmas) (stream)

Frightened Rabbit - It’s Christmas So We’ll Stop (live at Liquid Room)

Glasvegas - Please Come Back Home

Harvey Danger - Sometimes You Have to Work On Christmas

The Hives & Cyndi Lauper In A Christmas Duel

Joan Jett & the Blackhearts & guests - Silent Night (MP3)

Julian Koster - Jingle Bells (MP3)

Lex Land - River (Joni Mitchell cover) (MP3)

Le Loup - Shanandoah (MP3)

Low - Santa’s Coming Over

Aimee Mann - A Christmas Carol (view more)

Mogwai - Christmas Steps (live)

The Raveonettes - Come On Santa (MP3)

Slow Club - Christmas TV (MP3)

Jill Sobule - Jesus was a Dreidel Spinner (MP3)

Rosie Thomas - Why Can’t It Be Christmastime All Year

U2 - I Believe In Father Christmas

The Wedding Present (featuring Simone White) - Holly Jolly Hollywood

The Wedding Present & Klee - Holly Jolly Hollywood (MP3)

Wooden Shjips - Auld Lang Syne (MP3)

The Wombats - Is This Christmas?

Yeah Yeah Yeahs - All I Want for Christmas (stream)

Stephen Colbert & Elvis Costello (from A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!)

Coldplay Christmas ditty recorded at the London 0₂ with Simon Pegg

Election Day is here! As expected, the increase in voter turnout this year is causing lines to snake around buildings and even city blocks. A bit of a wait, though, should be no reason to neglect your civic duty. We’re here to help with this selection of election-related videos that will motivate you to get out there and, if you have a suitable portable device, provide you with plenty of entertainment while you wait. Oh yeah, and do yourself a favor: bring snacks and don’t forget to hydrate!

Leonard Cohen - Democracy

Bob Dylan - The Times They Are A-Changin’




Springsteen - How Can a Poor Man Stand Such Times and Live

Bob Marley - Get Up, Stand Up