I’d been hearing this song on the radio every now and then while driving and found it really catchy. Trouble is, except for the title and a random word every now and then, I’ve had no idea what LeAnn is singing. I even heard one of the radio DJs say the same thing, so I know it wasn’t just me. So I finally got annoyed enough to look up the lyrics. Now I can understand (most of) it… and I like it even more! Give it a listen. It’s actually a little easier to understand in this live performance on David Letterman’s show…

I should probably mention that the race car driving in Las Vegas a few weeks ago was Sisko’s birthday gift from Michael last year. This year, on the heals of the dinner celebration at Marrakesh, he procured a limousine and whisked us all — he and Sisko, friends Larry and Pat, and Dawn and me — off to Arco Arena to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra. To make the evening even more special, we had the use of a suite, and Dawn and I provided food and wine services. So we nibbled, sipped wine and enjoyed the performance in grand style and supreme comfort!

Of course, we enjoyed champagne in the limo to and from the stadium, even snapped photos of one another (ours didn’t come out too well) during the drive. This is definitely the way to go to a concert! Our driver dropped us at the door and returned after the concert to pick us up. Doesn’t get any more convenient than that.

If you’re not familiar with Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO), it was formed in 1996 by composers Paul O’Neill and Robert Kinkel, and Savatage lead singer Jon Oliva, not as another progressive metal band but more as a rock opera orchestra. It transcends the term “concert” by combining great musicians and writers into a seasonal musical journey. It tells a story and keeps the audience mesmerized and amazed as it builds to its dramatic conclusion. A laser show, smoke and pyrotechnics serve to emphasize parts of the story rather than simply provide visual and sound effects. It’s a highly orchestrated and coordinated movement that can only be described as an amazing experience. And perhaps that’s what separates TSO from traditional rock and metal bands. You don’t go to a TSO concert; you experience TSO!

The production company was very specific about cameras. They’re not allowed, and they check before allowing you entry so we left ours in the limo. It’s not surprising; they don’t want you using images of their performances for commercial purposes and this is the only way to assure that control. They do allow cell phones, though. I guess they recognize that little 2-megapixel cell phone cameras won’t produce commercial quality images. So I grabbed this one with Dawn’s iPhone. It’s not great, of course, but tit gives you an idea of the scale and spectacle of the performance.

This is our second concert - Michael and Sisko go every year - and we hope to make it an annual outing as well. It’s a one night annual gig in Sacramento and sort of kicks off the holiday season for us. Catch it next year if you get the chance!

Good friends and good times. It’s a good life!

This chalk drawing video is actually an advertisement by Sony BMG (Canada) for Alicia Keys’ latest CD album. Drawn by Victor Fraser in the heart of Downtown Toronto, it took about six hours to complete.

It’s Friday and I feel the need…the need to boogie!!!

This session was filmed live at Storyville Hall in New Orleans, June 5, 1986, and features Ray Charles, Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis. That’s Late Night’s musical director, Paul Shaffer (with hair!) running things and Ron Wood on guitar. And if you look closely, I think you’ll spot Carl Perkins on guitar, drummer Steve Jordan and Buck Dunn on bass. If this doesn’t get your feet tapping, there’s just no hope for you! Sit back, turn up your speakers and enjoy a jam session with some legendary performers.

Remember the Free Hugs Campaign? I posted an article about it on the AFP website last year when this video, viewed more than 19 million times, first hit YouTube. Since then, Juan Mann (not his real name) and his campaign to bring hugs to everyone has spread around the globe, with “hug” videos from several other countries now on YouTube.

So I thought it would be fun, a year later, to revisit the video that helped kick-start the movement. Give it a watch. It’s entertaining and, in a strange way, inspiring. I suspect John Lennon fans, especially, will enjoy it. The music is by Sick Puppies.

I guess it proves what just “Juan Mann” can accomplish if he markets his message effectively.

I’ve been remiss in following up on the Cadbury Gorilla story that’s been one of the most popular posts on this site in some time. The ad was viewed almost 500,000 times on YouTube during the first week of its release! Everyone’s enjoyed it, but the burning question has been, “Who’s the guy in the gorilla suit?”

While many speculated it was Phil Collins himself, it apparently was Garon Michael, a relatively little-known actor who seems to specialize in playing primates, having appeared in Congo, Instinct, and the remake of Planet of the Apes. No stranger to film, he’s appeared with such heavyweights as Anthony Hopkins, Donald Sutherland and Mark Wahlberg.

Says Cadbury spokesman Tony Bilsborough, “We have been amazed by the way the advert has captured the public’s imagination.”

And so it has. It’ll be a tough act to follow!

In celebration of its 40th anniversary, the American Film Institute revised its lists of the 100 greatest American films and 100 greatest movie songs of all time (Registration required to download.) In the venerated #1 song spot was Judy Garland’s soulful and iconic rendition of Over the Rainbow from the beloved family classic, The Wizard of Oz, and it would be hard to argue with their selection.

A close second, though, and one of my all time favorites, was As Time Goes By from the movie Casablanca. Surprisingly, it wasn’t written for the film and the movie version was never released as a single. Still, it’s hard not to associate the song with “Rick’s Café Américain. “  For me , it will always belong to Bogie and Bergman.

I’m sure most of you know at least some of the lyrics and will appreciate this video clip edited from the movie and featuring As Time Goes By. It brought back fond memories for me. You too?

I’m always fascinated with technology. In this video, a hip-hop DJ/beatmaker uses an AKAI MPD24 and FL Studio 7 to digitally create and mix this tune. No real instruments were harmed (or used) in making this video.

And yes, that’s how he spells it.

This is just what we need in our building. After all, elevator music increases productivity 30 percent. The song is “remix to a remix” from Ronald Jenke’s just-released CD.

Ron has made a series of “elevator” videos. I’ll check them out and maybe post a few in the weeks to come.

Music fans across the pond have known about Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall since last year when her album Eye to the Telescope raked in critical praise and she was nominated for Britain’s new-music honor, the Mercury Prize. Tunstall’s album got a Stateside release in February and she toured the U.S. through March.

Part of what draws attention to her is her live performances - She’s a one-woman band, literally. Using a looping machine operated by pedal, Tunstall records and plays back harmonies, guitar and percussion, all in real time.

Enjoy the video… She’s definately an entertainer!

Jerry sent this video clip which I’m dedicating to my oldest son, Steve, who turned 44 yesterday. See how much fun you have to look forward to?

Joining the growing family of iTunes plug-ins, The Filter is a free program that works like your own personal DJ by automatically creating playlists from your library and syncing them to your iPod. Selecting just a few songs directs the program to analyze your picks, scan your library and generate a mood-matching mix. The time-saver will even compile data on your musical tastes to recommend new music it thinks you might like.

Available for Mac, Windows and select Nokia mp3-enabled phones as a free download.

Via Cool Hunting