The best of YouTube: #29
Watch the magnificent fiddle-gurdy in action...
Every Friday, the MusicRadar team submits its own personal favourite music videos and clips on the net.
Some clips we really like, others are simply comedy classics or oddly intriguing. But all are worth watching. This selection has everything from Rick Wright to Black Ice.
Chris Wickett's choices
Beardsong / Ode To Beard by Sophie Madeleine and Hannah Rei
I'm not normally one for novelty songs, but that's because 'novelty' is usually better-read as 'badly-written'. The uke-toting Sophie Madeleine, however, is an exception to the rule. "There are beards that reach down to your toes / And beards that grow right up your nose / They're quite impressive I suppose / But I think I love your beard the most..." CW
13-year-old play Super Mario Bros theme on a ukulele
More uke. So far we've featured pretty much every version of the Mario theme on our weekly best of, but until now, the ukulele has been sadly overlooked. Here's a version of the famous theme played by 13-year-old Ryan Imamura. CW
Ben Rogerson's choices
Remembering Norman Whitfield
I was sad to learn of the death of Norman Whitfield this week. He'll be best remembered for his classic Motown work, but here's a clip of Rose Royce performing another Whitfield production, Love Don't Live Here Anymore, in 1978. What a shame Jimmy Nail couldn't keep his hands off it. BR
Who can resist The Temptations?
Let's get the taste of Jimmy out of our mouths by checking out another stone-cold Whitfield classic: The Temptations' Ball Of Confusion (That's What The World Is Today). Just imagine what this sounded like back in 1970. BR
Chris Vinnicombe's choices
Metallica play Blackened live in 1989
It's fair to say that Metallica have been in the news quite a bit of late. Although much-maligned for a thin mix with virtually no bass, the majestically bleak …And Justice For All is my favourite Metallica LP, and the first album I ever owned on vinyl as a nine-year-old metal fan. Here's the mighty title track. And here's Lars Ulrich on Who Wants To Be A Millionaire. Really. CV
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Dennis Halvena plays homemade folk instruments
Ever heard a tin whistle made from a shower curtain pole? Or a three-string cookie tin banjo? Or how about a fiddle-gurdy? Check out the video to see how surprisingly good these instruments sound, then check out Dennis's website if you fancy having a go at building your own set of bagpipes from PVC plumbing pipe and upholstery vinyl. CV
Joe Bosso's choices
The Australian Pink Floyd Show - Comfortably Numb
It's a ridiculous name, of course, but this South Australian outfit pulls out all the stops and pretty much out-tributes most tribute bands. From guitar rigs to theatrics, they've studied their Floyd and re-created the experience so well that both Roger Waters and David Gilmour have gone to see them. The band even played at Gilmour's 50th birthday party, so he must have approved. JB
Hell's Belles - Back In Black
Five girls from Seattle who prove that you don't actually have to have balls to play Big Balls. Lead singer Jamie Nova may not nail every screeching note - blame the lack of an Adam's apple, I suppose - but she performs the dual roles of Bon Scott and Brian Johnson with gusto. However, lead guitarist Adrian Conner, donning a schoolgirl's outfit, has Angus Young down cold - even his solos. Angus himself has endorsed the Belles. High praise, indeed. JB
Megan Schaffer's choices
Stonehenge by Spinal Tap
Mock rockumentary, documentary, comedy - whatever genre Christopher Guest's This Is Spinal Tap falls into, it remains one of the funniest, irreverent and entertaining satires on the pretensions and foibles of hard-rock bands I have ever seen. In short, it's awesome. Here is a clip where the 'band' take us to Stonehenge - where the dew drops cry and the cats meow - and into their bizarre but brilliant world. Watch the clip, then watch the movie. You won't be disappointed. MS
PC vs Mac
We revealed today the news of certain discrepancies in the new Microsoft ad. So, with that in mind, I found a video lampooning the battle between the two computer giants articulated through none other than - what else could it be - but South Park characters. MS
Michael Leonard's choices
AC/DC rock harder than you ever will
All talk right now is about AC/DC's new Black Ice album. But can it ever top this? Not for me. I give you Riff Raff from 1978, with the late Bon Scott on vocals. Angus Young - only 23, back then - is incredible here. 100% ROCK. ML
'Le Pink Floyd'?
Farewell, Pink Floyd keyboard player Richard Wright. Here's early footage of the Floyd, shortly after David Gilmour replaced Syd Barrett on guitar and vocals. Let There Be More Light is from a late '60s TV appearance in France and sounds rather unhinged. Drugs may have been ingested. ML
Tom Porter's choices
Buskers play (Get Off Your) High Horse Lady better than Oasis ever could
"Oasis got NYC buskers to debut brand new songs from Dig Out Your Soul. This version, played by Next Tribe, features a sitar. Noel Gallagher liked it so much, he wanted to re-record his own version. He may or may not have been joking…" TP
Brian Eno tinkling the ivories for U2's new album
"U2 have already posted a video of drummer Larry Mullen Jnr working on the drum parts for upcoming single Sexy Boots. This video, shows Brian Eno tapping a keyboard. For what? We don't know, but it's got something to do with the new album and you need to watch it." TP
Mike Goldsmith's choices
My Bloody Valentine: You Made Me Realise
This weekend sees reformed noise-titans My Bloody Valentine make their first US appearance for 16 years and curate the New York leg of All Tomorrow's Parties. As a quick click here will reveal, the line-up is bloody astonishing whether you're into metal, indie, rap or you just ignore the bands and try and fleece Steve Albini at the card table (really). However we'll celebrate MBV today and their finest moment. As a man who saw them play this baby live on the Rollercoaster Tour back in 1991, three words of advice. Take spare pants.
Sleeparchive: Live @ BLOC Weekend 2008
Enough guitars. A few treats from the clever bods at BlocTV - the AV crew born out of the brains behind the BLOC Festival. Their website has many a treat, from Womad footage to music videos to footage from The Big Chill but we'll concentrate on last March's festival and show this clip taken from the BlocTV Channel. I adore Sleeparchive - proper bleepy minimal techno as only a man from Berlin called Stephan Metzger can make. Genius.
Still bored?
Watch British acting elder statesman Sir Ben Kingsley pretending to be Ian MacKaye from hardcore legends Minor Threat. We've honestly no idea why this happened.
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