Brittani’s Video Party: Robyn’s 2-Year-Old Cures Resting Bitch Face
Greetings. This is Brittani’s Video Party, where I bring some of the “best” videos from all over my internet together so we can clap, cry or deconstruct. Have you ever gotten to a video and it already has 33 million views and you wonder where the heck have you been? Well I’m here to help you so that you see it when it only has 32 million views. Aim low, world. Aim low.
Header by Rory Midhani
Matthew Clark had the brilliant idea of sharing conversation with his 2-year-old daughter to the world. Then he had an even better idea of having another full-grown man play the part of his daughter. The resulting webseries is hilarious.
Resting Bitch Face (RBF) is apparently a thing that people are okay saying about themselves now and lucky for them, there’s a cure partially in thanks to Shamikah from Candy Slice Comedy. I’m not really into the idea of RBF because I think it’s just the patriarchy trying to tell women what to do with their faces. If the patriarchy didn’t exist, there probs wouldn’t be such a thing as RBF but WE’LL NEVER KNOW. So for now, stop telling us to smile, ya piece of shit.
Robyn has a new video for an old song. She conceptualized the video for “U Should Know Better” with Maria “Decida” Wahlberg who is also a huge weirdo it seems. The video features younger, gender-swapped version of Robyn and Snoop Dogg. Decida was also the choreographer for “Call Your Girlfriend” which ruins the mystique because I preferred to think that the dance routine was just Robyn catching the Holy Spirit.
If you have a video you think everyone should see, tweet it to @bishilarious for consideration. And of course feel free to post your favorite videos from the week below.
Team Pick: Enough Punk To Last You At Least 3 Days
(feature image: Poly Styrene & X Ray Spex, via Collapse Board)
You know those things you could do any time of the day or night? Like how there’s no bad time to call your best friend, or how you could always eat mac’n’cheese, even if you’re not hungry? I’m almost always in the mood to watch women change the world by jumping around onstage and playing fast-paced guitar-based music. So stumbling upon this Women in Punk video collection from Network Awesome felt like winning a lifetime’s supply of endorphins.
JOAN JETT & CHERIE CURRIE, OF THE RUNAWAYS AND ALSO ALL MY WILDEST DREAMS
There are 30 shows in here, made up of over 400 video clips, divided into five sets because this was released over the course of a week. Each of the “days” starts with a compilation of live performances by pillars, from The Runaways playing “Cherry Bomb” on Japanese TV in 1977 to Yeah Yeah Yeahs ripping through “Date With The Night” three decades later. Watch them all in a row and it’s like a multisensory time-lapse of a movement taking shape. The sunshiney three-chord pop-punk of The B Girls (1977-81) moves down the alphabet and morphs into the minor key squalls of the Vivian Girls (2008-now), who kept the harmonies but ditched the matching sweaters. Carrie Brownstein probably had posters of Poison Ivy from The Cramps on her bedroom wall growing up.
SHONEN KNIFE {VIA GIANT ROBOT}
As if that weren’t enough, there are real documentaries, fake documentaries, interviews, professional wrestling matches, fashion advice from Vivienne Westwood, and seventy-seven full minutes of Kate Bush. By the time I got to The Siouxie and the Banshees Story I had contracted a rebellion infection and almost didn’t write this article. But then I saw a Poly Styrene interview and remembered the community aspect of punk, and I was like “fine.”
PEACHES {VIA LA WEEKLY}
Network Awesome is an online TV repository, sourced from Youtube and curated by people who have cool ideas and know where to look to flesh them out. New shows go up every day, and they’re often accompanied by original magazine articles that offer context or criticism to help wash down what you just watched (a few days ago they had this sweet double-order of riot grrrl). No decade is too remote, no subject too arcane, no footage too fuzzy. It’s like a great mixtape from someone you just met, only with more explosions and weird infomercials.
KAREN O {VIA FANPOP}
Another great thing about Network Awesome — you can’t go three clicks without bumping into something Relevant To Our Interests. If your head needs a break from ‘banging, but your eyes aren’t tired, you may want to go back in time to yesterday, which brought us Sandra Bernhard, a lingerie show, and a replacement late-night dance troupe called Legs & Co. Then there’s a collagelike Diane Arbus documentary and an extensive audiovisual Tribute to Cats. Have at it.
Six for Spring: Record Releases To Ring In The New Season
Spring has now officially sprung, at least in the music world. Farewell long winter of re-issues and special editions for the festive market, hello barrage of awesome new release to look forward to! We’ve already had one of the biggest releases of the year in form of Tegan & Sara‘s Hearthrob, but rest assured there is PLENTY more to look forward to and we’ve selected some of the key releases to look out for over the next three months. From industrial dance to glamorous indie rock n’ roll, with a dash of country n’ western and a dollop of hip-hop, we’ve got it covered. Oh, and of course there’s the small matter of the return of a certain Mr. Bowie! So without further ado, here’s our ‘Six for Spring’ album preview…
Broke With Expensive Taste
Azealia Banks
Who?
The woman responsible for THE party song of the past 15 months, New York native singer and rapper Azealia Banks is on the brink of releasing one of the most anticipated debut albums in recent memory.
In a nutshell:
Straddling the year end of 2011/2012, the release of “212” catapulted Azealia Banks to instantaneous stardom, revered by critics as exemplified by her widespread presence on a myriad of ‘Best Of…’ lists for both years. She certainly created an initial buzz, but capitalise on it, she did not. Snapped up by Interscope, through which she released the somewhat underwhelming 1991 EP, the starlet-in-the-making that everyone wanted to see kept ‘em waiting with a bizarre mass-cancellation of tour dates to facilitate the fast-track recording of her debut album. Yep, the same debut album that we’re STILL waiting for. The release date has frustratingly changed several times, but we’ll forgive her. Why? Because “Atlantis” has us intrigued for the new. Because of how kick-ass awesome “212” remains. And because I refuse to believe that Azealia Banks is just another one-hit-wonder.
Release date: February 12. Or April. Or maybe October. We just don’t know anymore.
Untitled
Kool Thing
Who?
Kool Thing are a part-Irish, part-Australian Berlin-based band consisting of core members Jon Dark and Julie Chance. You may remember them from such Autostraddle Artist Spotlight posts as THIS one.
In a nutshell:
If melancholy-tinged pulsing electronic rock is your thing, then Kool Thing may just be the band for you. Counting Austra and MEN amongst their fans, the duo’s debut album is set for release this spring and it’s one which I am VERY much looking forward to getting stuck into. If the album’s preceding singles “The Sign”, “Light Games” and the brilliant “PLAN.LIFE.GO” are anything to go by, it’s going to be an absolute cracker which has the potential to elevate Kool Thing from buzz-band-of-the-moment to force-to-be-reckoned-with, not just in the realm of Irish music, but far beyond.
Release date: March 4
The Next Day
David Bowie
Who?
LIVING LEGEND.
In a nutshell:
On January 8, the world awoke to the very pleasant surprise of a new single from David Bowie. Breaking his decade-long musical silence, the fabulous “Where Are We Now?” was unleashed with zero warning in celebration of Bowie’s 66th birthday. More importantly, though, to herald the news of a new album in the works – his 30th studio offering, The Next Day. Far from a mere heritage act, Bowie remains a musical force to be reckoned with and there’s proof, if needed, in the fact that the album topped charts based on pre-orders alone. Who says nobody buys music anymore?! Bowie is said to have zero interest in taking his new material on tour – or even giving an interview, for that matter – but the fact that all of the rumours, speculation and wishful thinking have actually amounted to a new release is good enough for us.
Release date: March 11
The Stand In
Caitlin Rose
Who?
Caitlin Rose is a 25-year-old country singer hailing from Nashville, Tennessee.
In a nutshell:
Formerly the lead singer of Nashville indie rockers Save Macaulay, Caitlin Rose flew solo and landed herself a record deal, resulting in the release of her debut album, Own Side Now back in the summer of 2010. Rose has a strong musical heritage behind her – Papa makes a living through marketing country music and Mama shares a Grammy Award with Taylor Swift for their collaborative efforts – but her voice sings for itself. It possesses an engaging charm that, when teamed with her confessional approach to songwriting, is nothing short of powerful. Having portrayed such maturity with her debut, it’s exciting to think what the follow-up may have in store. Sample the rockabilly refrains of the album’s lead single “No One To Call” below.
Release date: March 5
Shaking the Habitual
The Knife
Who?
The Knife are a Swedish electronic music duo from Stockholm, formed in 1999 and consisting of siblings Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olof Dreijer. You may remember them from such ‘Best Song of All Time’ contenders as “Heartbeats“. Karin also flew solo for a while under the moniker of Fever Ray.
In a nutshell:
Following up their 2001 self-titled debut, 2003’s Deep Cuts and 2006’s Silent Shout is no easy task, but being one of the most enigmatic acts in the music industry is not without its advantages. The less they crave the more they get, and the sense of anticipation for what The Knife have in store for album #4 is palpable. Their disdain for the mainstream has always been evident, but attention is currently being lavished upon The Knife, and for good reason: lead single “Full Of Fire” sent the interwebz into a tizzy when it dropped earlier this week, a near 10 minute banger with a short film-esque music video to match. The Swedish siblings’ trademark stylings are still very much present, but it sounds like they’ve got plenty of new tricks up their sleeves, too.
Release date: April 8
Mosquito
Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Who?
Yeah Yeah Yeahs are an indie-rock trio hailing from NYC comprised of Nick Zinner, Brian Chase, and some chick called Karen O. You may have heard of her?
In a nutshell:
It had been a week of big comeback announcements, from the unexpected (David Bowie) to the extremely underwhelming (Destiny’s Child and Justin Timberlake) but New York’s finest blew ‘em all away when on January 14th they officially announced via their official Facebook page that the follow-up to 2010′s It’s Blitz! – dubbed Mosquito – will be with us mid-April. We knew it was coming, but the fact that they’ve made it official makes it all the more exciting – even if the album artwork they revealed is the stuff of nightmares. As if the return of Yeah Yeah Yeahs wasn’t enough to be giddy about, a look through Mosquito’s finer details reveals that James Murphy’s name is amongst the album’s production credits. Yes, LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy. I think I need to lie down…
Release date: April 16
What new albums are you looking forward to in Spring, and beyond?
Here’s To You: A Graduation Playlist In Two Parts
I picked up my cap and gown on Friday, went home, and watched two Wes Anderson films back-to-back: The Darjeeling Limited and The Life Aquatic. I listened to “So Far Gone” and gave my dog a bath. My mother got to my apartment as I was tying my honor cord around my doorknob and putting the processional schedule on the fridge.
I’m graduating from college today.
Graduation is a mixture of a few things: a dash of the future and what’s yet to come, a heaping spoonful of good memories, five unsolicited calls from relatives in varying amounts, and a large serving of Parental Overkill. I couldn’t bottle graduation up into one playlist. It is composed itself of two parts: the part where you sit back, pop bottles, and drink like an undergraduate for the last time with your iPod in the surround sound and the part where you go to your apartment, pack up the past, and put on the record player. Both parts are happening because graduation is this big, impending thing where you could lose everything you’ve held onto so tightly in an instant, and you have no control, and suddenly you also have to be in pictures and with family and at the end, you have to be alone. Graduating is bewildering, terrifying, wonderful, honorable, overwhelming, scary, and necessary. How could I possible attempt to capture it all in one piece?
To my fellow graduates: may this guide you well through your final house parties and UPS boxes, and let me know what I forgot. May you go places far and wide, and none like you imagined. May you end up somewhere you’re happy, or at least, may you be happier than you ever expected. May you never lose touch, and may you never forget what it was like to be 18, 19, 20, 21, and drunk. And may you never, ever have to wear an oversized gown in public ever again.
Here’s to you, graduate.
Here’s To You: A Graduation Playlist In Two Parts
I: Have A Party (with Friends)*
2012 – Jay Sean
Good Morning – Kanye West
Young Forever – Jay-Z
The Show Goes On – Lupe Fiasco
Make Me Proud – Drake
Mo’ Money Mo’ Problems – Notorious B.I.G. (duh)
We R Who We R – Ke$ha
Champion – Nicki Minaj
Celebration – Kanye West
Beautiful, Dirty, Rich – Lady Gaga
Up Up & Away – Kid Cudi
Run The World (Girls) – Beyoncé
Hate It Or Love It – 50 Cent
I Love College – Asher Roth
Lift Off – Jay-Z & Kanye West ft. Beyonce
Live Your Life – T.I.
Pretty Girl Rock – Keri Hilson (Kanye West Remix)
II: Have Emotions (with Yourself)
Take Care – Beach House
First Day of My Life – Bright Eyes
Home – Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Closing Time – Semisonic
Expo ’86 – Death Cab for Cutie
Strangers – The Kinks
Someday – Tegan & Sara
All The Wine – The National
With Arms Outstretched – Rilo Kiley
Front Row – Metric
Cheated Hearts – The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Everybody’s Changing – Lily Allen
*Kanye West is the most proud of his accomplishments out of everyone in life.
Sorry he’s on here about a zillion times.
Want to suggest a playlist theme? Hit Crystal up on Formspring and someone on the team will make it for you. And obvs be on the lookout for future camp announcements!
Playlist: We’re Finally Dating, Everything is Wonderful
I moved into a big wooden house with my friends in August of 2010 and months, weeks, day, hours later it was finally April of 2011. And this really incredible thing was happening: I was crazy about someone. I made an iTunes playlist called “this is how i feel.” It was a love story in 12 tracks. I listened to it every day on repeat.
I started picking dandelions every day, because she liked dandelions and I could pick them on my way to school, or work, or home. I picked them and left them in a cup in my room. I picked them smoking cigarettes on the side of the road. I picked them all by myself, just me and a love story in 12 tracks. The perfect soundtrack. The perfect weather. The perfect feeling.
It was a really beautiful time to be alive. You know what I mean. Like this:
And I needed 12 tracks to talk about it for me because I was kind of at a loss for words. I was busy picking dandelions.
I want to share this playlist with you because I heard this is how your girlfriend makes you feel, too. Welcome to a beautiful time to be alive. Cherish each second. (I know you already are.)
40 Day Dream – Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros
Debate Exposes Doubt – Death Cab for Cutie
Maps – The Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Bloodbuzz Ohio – The National
Toothpaste Kisses – The Maccabees
Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You – Lauryn Hill
Knock You Down – Keri Hilson ft. Kanye West and Ne-Yo
Love is Here – Sophie Ellis-Bextor
Please Stay – Summer Heart
Do You Realize? – The Flaming Lips
Five Years Time – Noah & The Whale
At Last – Etta James
Add your favourite love-crazy tracks in the comments below!
Want to suggest a playlist theme? Hit Crystal up on Formspring and someone of the team will make it for you.
Playlist: Someone Call A Doctor, These Beats Are Sick!
Here’s a chill electro and indie dubstep playlist that’s jam packed with stellar remixes that even dubstep novices will find irresistible. The unifying theme is: sick beats, wobbly and/or fuzzy bass, and glitchy-ness. There’s some older stuff, some newer stuff, and lots of phenomenal bass drops that are guaranteed to make your head explode with happiness.
Someone Call a Doctor, These Beats Are Sick!
Into (Minnesota Remix) – The XX / Sander Van Doorn
Tenderoni – Kele
Motivation (Diplo Remix feat. Lil’ Wayne) – Kelly Rowland
Sweet Talk – Kito & Reija Lee
Ce Jeu (The Twelves Remix) – Yelle
Remedy (Rusko Big Trainers Remix) – Little Boots
Contender – Fenech-Soler
Rich Doors – NewVillager
Your Body Is A Machine (Baby Monster Remix) – The Good Natured
Revolving (Warrior One Remix) – Spark
Rearrange (Skream Remix) – Miles Kane
In For The Kill (The Glitch Mob Remix) – La Roux
Dancing With The Devil (The Shoes Remix feat. Cocknbullkid & Mz Bratt) – Wolf Gang
Drop The Other – Emika
Blacks – Dawn Golden & Rosy Cross
With You – Crystal Fighters
Get Some (Beck Remix) – Lykke Li
Hands (Passion Pitt Remix) – The Ting Tings
Cheap & Cheerful (SebastiAn Remix) – The Kills
Bored (2011 version) – The Shoes
Iron (Remix By Mystery Jets) – Woodkid
Seven Nation Army (The Glitch Mob Remix) – The White Stripes
Days – CREEP feat. Romy Madley Croft
Paris Is Burning (HavocNdeeD Remix) – Ladyhawke
We Don’t Eat (Adventure Club Remix) – James Vincent McMorrow
Add your favorite electro and dubstep tracks in the comments below.
Want to suggest a playlist theme? Hit up Crystal on Formspring and someone on the team will make it for you.