Funny or Die

Funny or Die came to liFe in 2006, birth of a partnership between Will Ferrel and Adam McKay!

It's a comedy website made out of inumerous sketch's that are subject to the viewers reaction and sense of humour.

They have two options: "Funny" or "Die", as the website's name suggests!

If they like, obviously they go for "Funny"... therefore maintaining the sketch online among the top voted...

If they don't like... well... you don't need me to explain that!
But what I can tell you is that as a consequence of having a great deal amount of "Dies", the videos are thrown away into the "crypt" of the site!

Since its launch Funny or Die has gathered a lot of attention from people all over the world. Some of the videos actually went viral...

Hopefully most of you might know the Landlord sketch in which you see Will Ferrel shout at a child...

Others might know Between Two Ferns, a satirical talk-show presented by Zach Galifianakis...

The thing is... Funny or Die not only is a great concept, but it's also very, very funny! You get to see some amazing stars come up and have a blast! Ether is making fun of others or themselves, it is bound to make you laugh! 

Today I will leave three videos, but throughout this week I will give you a little taste of Between Two Ferns and other top comic debochory!

Hope you guys enjoy...

Rachel Bilson's Deleted Sex Scene from Rachel Bilson

When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren from Billy Crystal

This last one is a fictional trailer introducing Between Two Ferns. It will definitely make more sense and appeal more to you once you get to know the "show"!

"The Social Network" Trailer - watch more funny videos

On The Sly

by: Metric

Art of Noise - Moments of Love (memories of my childhood)

This one goes out to some of my friends back in Portugal...

Do you remember during late 80 or early 90's this music being soundtrack for a alcoholic drink? I think it was whiskey, but I'm not sure... anyway... it's with great sense of nostalgia that I listen to this track, especially because I was looking for it many years, but was never able to find it! I even came across it in a movie when I was a kid, but at the time it wasn't so easy to look for stuff on the internet. 

I don't think this is the right version, but I'm almost certain the original one isn't the one I'm looking for.

Be it as it may, here it is:

How To Love

by: Nick Hagelin

(original by Lil' Wayne)

Curiously enough, I got to know the original song after hearing this acoustic cover...

Although enjoying Lil' Wayne as a Hip-Hop performer, it's hard for me to like him singing How To Love, being so pop and definitely not suited for his main qualities! That is my humble opinion.

On the other hand, the lyrics that he provided opened a lot of doors for "wannabe" pop sensations to rise through YouTube.

Never heard about this Nick Hagelin, but hands down to his approach on the track... making it pleasant to hear it, plus easily commercial.

Special Act by: Michel & Sven - Der Tischdeckentrick

Please watch all four clips in this order...

It will make your while!

Nike - Back FOR The Future

Remember these shoes?

Now check out THESE shoes!

Well... turns out Nike decided to go Old School on their newest model by applying the core of their Back To The Future shoes into a new set with Kevin Durand's name on it!

In fact, this new ad by Nike goes so far as evoquing BTTF's plot and carachters... All for a good cause!

This shoe will be actioned to gather money for Michael J. Fox Foundation...

Here's the description of the video and it's main goal:

It was an ordinary evening at Lone Pine Mall. All Kevin Durant wanted was a new pair of shoes. Then the space-time continuum showed up.

Bill Hader, Christopher Lloyd, Tinker Hatfield, Donald Fullilove and KD star in a film about the most famous shoes never made, in an effort to support the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's research.

To learn more, go to www.back4thefuture.com. To bid on the 2011 Nike MAG shoes, go to www.nikemag.ebay.com.

Together, we can help make Parkinson's disease a thing from the past.

You Can't Get it Back

by: Gentleman Reg

Charlie Simpson - Young Pilgrim (2011)

I saw so many billboards of this guy around London that I had to find out who he was and what sort of music did he sang/played!

Turns out Charlie Simpson used to be a pop sensation in the UK, being the youngest member of a boys band by the name of Busted! They went so far to win many BRIT Awards and obviously achieved a big level of popularity. But Simpson wanted more than that... Well, maybe not thinking of the sucess but more of doing what he loved! So he left the group in order to create his own rock band!

Flightstar came to life, with C.S becoming their lead singer, guitar player and co-lyricist and the thing hitted off! They made three studio albuns and a few tours, until in 2010 they reached an end, with Simpson deciding to launch a solo career.

And so we come to this... Young Pilgrim (2011), his début solo album!

It delivers tracks close to his heart with what it seems to have influences of Bon Iver (like you can see on the track Hold On, I Need a Friend Tonight or Sundown), The National (Parachutes) or sometimes a bit of Coldplay (If I Lose It). Although easily sell-able, his music is all done with very good taste, without ever being cheesy and maintaining itself between the borders of alternative music and pop.

I quite enjoy this album and even more his story of having a boys band background and being able to transcend and detach himself from pop into becoming a rock artist. But that's the thing with talented people... Combining skills with dedication, luck and having a good sense of timing, things eventually work out your way!

Let me just emphasis how good of a ballad is Hold On (the last track in this post). Great song!

Parachutes

Sundown



I Need a Friend Tonight

Hold On

Toddlers & Tiaras with Tom Hanks

Gotta love this guy!

Sex, Drugs, Rock&Roll and a daughter!

Starring:

Abigal Breslin, Alessandro Nivola, Elisabeth Shue and Peter Stormare

Got to say, although the subject really got me interest, Im looking forward to see Nivola on screen!
Always liked him!

By the way, nothing to do with the actual singer Janie Jones...

When it's said to be based on true events, it has to do with the director David M. Rosenthal!

The Wanting Comes in Waves

Tracks 8 and 16 respectively from The Decemberists album Hazards of Love

Gotta say, really love The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise) version!

The growing intensity of the track allied with the children's chorus is just insane!



(This is the one that I mentioned earlier)

and here come the waves!

And the wanting comes in waves...

And the wanting comes in waves...

And the wanting comes in waveeeeeeesssss.....

And I want this night...

Don Cheadle is CAPTAIN PLANET!

I was always a big fan of Captain Planet while growing up and maybe even more so since I started working for a company owned by Ted Turner, the creator of the Eco-friendly superhero!

From time to time I talk and reminisce about it and even go so far as tuning up the intro video on YouTube, but watching a full episode or anything more than one minute related to the cartoon... not at all!

So, it's safe to say that this clip (found on this website) that I'm about to show you, made my day! And it makes perfect sense to come at such time, because there are talks in progress about making a live-action movie about Captain Planet and The Planeteers.

If you are not aware of it, I would advice you to make some research! 

If you are a fan... well just laugh away with the Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle portraying one of our 90's heroes!

Don Cheadle is Captain Planet from Don Cheadle

New Zeland All Blacks x Tonga Haka - Entrance CLASH

I follow my share of sports with entusiasm...

But it just so happens, Rugby isn't one of these sports!

However...

After watching this video I felt the need to tune in to every single game of the Rugby World Cup!

I would almost say that no other sport can beat the intensity during a team entrance...

I mean...
It is just UNBELIEVABLE! No way in hell you can't feel the intensity!

Not even by watching it from your laptop at home!

The hate, the determination in every single move, the atmosphere... Just baffles me!

It's absolutely mental how each team gives an astonishing performance...
... While trying to intimidate their opponent!

It sure intimidates me...

Cedar Rapids (2011)

Cedar Rapids (2011) it's a great flick! Great cast and script... A delightful quartet with Ed Helms, John C. Reilly (5 star performance like always), Anne Heche and Isiah Whitlock Jr., plus a wonderful supporting cast... Kurtwood Smith (actor that I quite enjoyed watching as the father figure in That 70's Show), Sigourney Weaver and Rob Corddry.

A very smart, innocent, sweet and insightful buddy movie that will go down in history as a cult classic!

Yes! It is a bold statement, but mark my words! Apart from the recognition this film will obtain in these early years upon it's release, it will even gather more appreciation in the long term.

I sort it compare Cedar Rapids to Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987)... Not so much in terms of content, but in terms of significance.

It's one of those things that only time will tell...

Radar Love

by: Golden Earring

ROCK FORTE 2011

 

Meus amigos, venho por este meio apresentar-vos ao Festival ROCK FORTE  2011! 

Este festival aparece numa altura, diria eu, bastante apropriada visto que estamos a atingir o final do Verão e nada melhor do que festa, animação e RockNRoll ao melhor estilo Português para uma despedida em grande!

A ser realizado dia 10 de Setembro, no Auditório F. Lopes Graça, no Parque de Palmela (Cascais), este projecto é levado a cabo pelo grupo Gambozinos em parceria com a Câmara Municipal de Cascais, com o intuito de angariar dinheiro para os vários projectos dos Gambozinos.

Por uns meros 15 euros (normal) ou 10 euros (estudantes) - já à venda na bilheteira online, Fnac e CTT - podem ter uma noite fantástica de música portuguesa e outras actividades ao mesmo tempo que contribuem para uma óptima causa!

Caso queiram mais informação sobre o evento em si ou os seus organizadores por favor visitem o website dos Gambozinos ou passem na página Facebook do evento!

Deixo-vos alguns temas que são capazes de ouvir pela noite fora (muitas das quais já coloquei aqui no meu blog em tempos)...

Façam o favor de aproveitar uma noite que promete ser inacreditável!

127 Hours (2010)

After the huge success that Slumdog Millionaire (2008) made a few years ago, Danny Boyle returns yet again with another critically acclaimed movie!

127 Hours (2010) stars James Franco in what you can call a solo effort, one that has certainly added more star power into his already strong reputation. It is in fact a tour de force as Franco delivers a powerful performance through almost one hour and half, assisted by an excellent style of directing from Boyle's part. 

I have to say... after one or two editing sequences that (in my humble opinion) weren't very appealing (to say the least, but this is me being extremely rigid) I was worried with Boyle's performance...

Nonsense! Never doubt the capabilities of a genius like this Englishman! Great montages aliened and perfectly synced with A. R. Rahman soundtrack, giving the script and acting all it needed to go all the way.

Based on the amazing true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston, 127 Hours is very entertainment in spite of it's premise which has a man trapped between the moutains.

Inspiring in so many ways, it's also a reminder of how we need to cherish certain people or moments in life because we never know how things might go down...

Zara and Miguel

Once upon a time there was a Portuguese boy named Miguel Simões...

He dreamed of becoming a musician and experience all the great things that come with it... 

Eager to learn more, Miguel decided to come to London seeking ways for him to master the guitar...

Throught those initial weeks, while practising on his instrument and looking for something else to keep him occupied, Miguel had the idea of posting an ad requesting for a, let's say... "musical soul mate"!

And so, after a few replays and a casting session, Mike meet an English girl by the name of Zara (Yes! Like the Spanish brand!)!

Right away by the sound of her voice and the chemistry he felt he knew right away that she was "the one", requesting her to immediately join him so they could begin their rehearsals together!

As time went by, from jam sessions to ordinary conversations and planning, from cover to cover until they started unleashing their own originals, Zara and Miguel began to bond! And with their bonding, came future projects... ones that would be faced as challenges with their new start as a musical duo.

And so we arrive to this point of the story in which the main characters are looking to set their careers with an auspicious beginning, enlisting themselves into a competition promoted by the Pizza Express franchise in association with Jamie Cullum (who actually rose to stardom by singing at that specific restaurant)!

I invite all of you to follow my lead and take part in this story by listening their track Moments on YouTube and placing your like on the website, plus spreading this link (blog or video, really doesn't matter) to family and friends!

Don't forget! Like Like Like! It will be placed as a vote!

Also, go to the website to have a sense of the competition and read the request from Zara and Miguel themselves:

Zara & Miguel's original song 'Moments' - our entry to 'The Big Audition with Jamie Cullum' competition. 

The judges will be reviewing all the entries in the next few days...there are two things you can do to help our entry stand out:  - open the youtube link and press like (this is if you have an account on youtube and if you do like it!) - share the video and copy this text!

THANK YOU!!!

Happy Birthday Freddie!

Today marks the 65 anniversary day of Freddie Mercury, the iconic front man of Rock&Roll legends and one of my favourite groups: Queen!

As most of you know, Mercury died of AIDS-related causes in 1991 leaving the world in total shock...

Yes, there was still a lot of prejudice towards people infected with AIDS, a disease that left people wondering about people's personal life. But, I think that shock wasn't much of a reaction related to his illness, but more to the fact that they lost at a relatively young age, one of the biggest musical geniuses to ever walk this planet!

Gifted with a tremendous voice and a personality to match, Farrokh Bulsara later known as Freddie Mercury became a symbol! Not only of the 70's and 80's where Queen rose to prominence, but to every music lover!

His music is universal and eternal. His contribution is without a shadow of a doubt one of the biggest legacies to be left in the world and that is just one of the reasons why he  is still highly remembered!

The tributes to mark this occasion are a simple proof of that...

From musicians in the likes of Billy Corgan, Taylor Hawkins, to fictitious characters like Miss Piggy and even Google... Everyone leaves their mark as a sign of respect and admiration!

This is my tribute!

Happy Birthday Freddie!

(video tribute from Google)

(compilation made by Queen)

Phoenix and Lil Wayne (2011)

Came accross this right about the time I first moved into London, but only know I'm sharing it!

It's a great mashup album, one that crosses the worlds of indie rock-pop with Hip-Hop!

That's right! Featuring Phoenix and Lil Wayne, the little album contains 5 tracks that will certainly delight both genre fans! All without exceptions are awesome tracks, to which is hard for me to point out one... so I will not only leave all of them in this post, but also highlight a link in which you can download this EP!

Bridge Burning (Live on Letterman)

by: Foo Fighters

track taken from their latest album Wasting Light

Gotta love Taylor Hawkins on drums!

Already placed my order!

A message from Joseph Gordon-Levitt

(actor and head of HitRECord)

The Drums - Portamento (2011)

I've listen back and forward Portamento (2011) from the American indie band The Drums and I guarantee you it's amazing!

After a terrific début - which a wrote about many times in this blog [1] [2] but at the time, in Portuguese - they were expected to raise their game. 

And so they did...

I think it's fair to say that after recently coming in to the music scene, with just a few years as a group they've established themselves as a big reference! At least according to my book... 

You see... even though at the time with just one album, it was crystal clear they would go a long away, if nothing major happened to them (like having a feud). 

Especially in a time and age where New Wave is becoming increasingly popular with a sort of vintage revival (like many other things that are coming up from the 70's and 80's), The Drums are a safe bet in a terms of musical choice. This second project of theirs just comes to show that with danceable tunes and summer beats... with catchy choruses and the use (and abuse - like we say in Portugal) of bass lines and synthesizers.

And yes, you can sense influences of groups in the like of Joy Division or The Smiths (Money has Morrisey's band written all over it), but at the same time you can't deny they acquired a identity of their own! It's not something that common' for a band only on their second album.

I took the liberty of uploading some of their tracks into YouTube just so I could share it with you guys, but I advise you to get your hands on Portamento so you can be ready to their live gigs! 

They are going to be awesome!!

The Drums - Book of Revelation by fromgotowhoa.com

The drums - What You Were by Zombielazer

The Drums – How It Ended by gavrila

Music / Fashion / East London

100 YEARS / STYLE / EAST LONDON 


And this video comes with a special meaning...
East London = Home

Wise Words...

... from Justin Vernon...

(front man for Bon Iver)

Here!