Category: Music

Pharrell Williams’s “Happy” in Sign Language

Students at Camp Mark Seven’s Deaf Film Camp put together their own video of Pharell Williams’s catchy hit song “Happy.” There’s rarely a song that makes people so . . . happy, and this video is further proof. Check it out.

Camp Mark Seven, located in upstate New York, started in 1981. Last year, the camp added film-making training to deaf and hard-of-hearing youths. From the look of their video, they are doing a great job.

Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Willie Nelson Does a Card Trick

    Willie Nelson Bobbie

    We already knew that Willie Nelson is full of magic, but this week he released a video of himself doing a card trick. It is a long trick, but it is fun to see Nelson at work.

    In the video, Willie Nelson, who recently appeared on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, shows his sister Bobbie Nelson his latest trick while telling a story about a porter. Check it out.

    The name of the card trick is “Sam the Bellhop,” although Willie turns it into a story about a porter. Reportedly, the basis for the card trick was created by Rufus Steele, and then around 1994 Bill Malone built on the trick, adding cuts. You may watch Malone do the trick in this video. But if you prefer to see how “Sam the Bellhop” is done, check this video, or you can read about it at ehow.

    Hopefully, you will not need those links explaining “Sam the Bellhop” and, like me, will just go on believing in the magic of Willie Nelson.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Blue Journey Has a “Wonderful Life” on America’s Got Talent

    Blue Journey AGT
    One of the highlights of Season 9 of America’s Got Talent is the dance duo Blue Journey. The two dancers, Nick Mishoe and Rachel Kivlighan incorporate images into their dance that make the routine, choreographed by David Middendorp, tell a mesmerizing story.

    Last week, Mishoe and Kivlighan advanced to the semi-finals on a night where the show had a lot of talent.

    If you are wondering about the song that accompanies their dance, it is the song “Wonderful Life,” which was written by Britsh singer Black (aka Colin Vearncombe) and appeared on his 1987 album, Wonderful Life. The song was quite successful in many countries round the world, although U.S. listeners may not remember it.

    The version that Blue Journey uses, though, is a cover by Smith & Burrows. Below, you may check out Smith & Burrows doing an acoustic version of “Wonderful Life.”

    In the meantime, watch for Blue Journey to return to one of the semi-final episodes of America’s Got Talent.

    September 2, 2014 Update: During the semi-final round, Blue Journey performed to a Radiohead song, “Exit Music (For a Film),” from the band’s 1997 album OK Computer.


    What is your favorite act on “America’s Got Talent” this season? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Album of the Day: Dan Blakeslee “Tatnic Tales”

    Tatnic Tales

    I have been enjoying Dan Blakeslee‘s 2011 album Tatnic Tales. Blakeslee has a folk sound rooted in his upbringing in Maine, and the album includes his band The Calabash Club, a group that started out in a Dover, New Hampshire basement in 2008.  Check out his other music at Blakesee’s website).

    The Calabash Club includes Mike Effenberger (piano), Nick Phaneuf (bass), and Jim Rudolf (drums). As for Blakeslee, he is not only an accomplished musician; he also is an artist who has created a large number of rock posters and designed the albums for artists such as Slaid Cleaves. For a review of Blakeslee’s new album Owed to the Tanglin’ Wind, head over to No Depression.

    What is your favorite Dan Blakeslee song? Leave your two cents in the comments.

    Marty Brown Takes a Ride on the “Love Swing”

    In this video from Marty Brown’s backyard, the country singer is joined by his wife Shellie on another Marty Brown original, “Love Swing.” As Brown explains in the video posted on his Facebook page, the real-life swing where they sit inspired the catchy song, which appears on his independently sold CD, Country Strong.

    Brown also seems to be having a fun time making the video for us fans. Check it out.

    What do you think of “Love Swing”? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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