Stardust's Youtube Favourites: Cyndi Lauper's 'True Colours'

I love the song 'True Colours'.  It's written by Billy Steinburg who is famous for so many 1980's hits like the Bangles' 'Eternal Flame' and Madonna's 'Like a Virgin'.  According to his website, he originally intended the song to be about his mother, but worked with his lyricist to make the song much more ambiguous, so that it could be applied to any relationship between two people.

I actually do not remember Cyndi Lauper's original 1986 release - I think I am more familiar with Phil Collin's version - but I heard her on the radio last weekend and I was really blown away.  I think that she is really brave to pick this particular song, because this song brings out her rhostacistic speech impediment but you hardly notice it because of the beauty of the lyrics.

The music video itself is a little bit bizarre but Stardust loves the song.  He especially likes the line 'I see your true colours and that's why I love you' and sings it louder than the rest of the chorus.

Stardust's Youtube Favourites: Owl City 'Fireflies'

Now, I know that I already posted a video of Captain Valor performing this particular song, but the original Owl City music video is just so lovely and whimsical that I had to share it.

Stardust is fascinated by all the mechanical vintage toys, especially the robots and the giant silver airship (he gets very excited about it and will exclaim "Fish coming out of the cupboard!!" whenever we hear the song on the radio).

Stardust's Youtube Favourites: Musical Geek War

This week, Stardust's latest pre-bed routine includes a quick runthrough of what MDH and I like to call the 'Musical Geek War'. 
Two Yale undergraduates are currently involved in a battle to determine who can play a recognisable song using the most unlikely of instruments. 

It starts off with a Kurt and a simple recorder- the bane of most childhood school music programmes.

'Tother student responds by covering a Lady Gaga tune on the glockenspiel as seen below:


Kurt retaliates with his CROCenspiel:


And the battle winds up with Michael Jackson on the Gameboy.

Good clean fun, eh?

Stardust's Youtube Favourites: Captain Valor

I have always thought that sign language is like a form of dance - the movement of the hands is greatly enhanced by the expression of the body and face.  Whenever I have had the priviledge of observing the conversation of the deaf, I am always intrigued by how animated their faces become as emotion and imitation are so much a part of communication.

So, I've discovered a new set of very entertaining music videos by Captain Valor (aka Stephen Torrence), a college student from Texas Tech University who, in his spare time, translates popular music into American Sign Language.  

Stardust particularly likes this cover of 'Fireflies'. 
Stardust also likes this cover of 'Blue Sunny Day' by Jonathan Coulter as well as this Miley Cyrus tune.
 
You'd think that after watching these videos several times every evening, I'd be thoroughly sick of them.  Surprisingly, they seem fresh to me every time.

Of course, the fact that Captain Valor bears a passing resemblence to Peter Petrelli does help matters.  Yes, I'd say that it helps matters quite a bit.

Stardust's Youtube Favourites - Day 7

Stardust loves this clip.  He points at it and says 'Pika! Pika!' and laughs hysterically. 

Who could resist these funny little rodents?  Even Sir David has an idiotic grin on his face when he watches it from behind a rock.

Stardust's Youtube Favourites - Day 6

I'm not sure why Stardust enjoys this video.  I think it is solely because of the llamas.  And the fact that they are wearing hats.  That totally cracks him up.  As to the nature of the dialogue, all I can say is...there is no cussing.

Stardust's Youtube Favourites - Day 5

As you can probably tell by now, Stardust's favourite videos tend to be music related.  This particular video elicited a very emotional response from him and he even shush-ed me with a wave of his tiny hand when I started talking to him halfway through the video.

The Aged P's purchased a copy of her debut album, but he doesn't appear to enjoy listening to it.  I think that this is because the interpretation of the song is quite different from this video.

Stardust's Youtube Favourites - Day 4

Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole does a lovely interpretation of this classic song and I'm in awe of his breezy and effortless vocals, especially when I consider that he probably has breathing difficulties (watch the video and you'll see why).  I'm sure you've heard this piece before, seeing that his recording has been used in several movies. 

Stardust instantly relaxes when he listens to hawaiian music - there's something about the tuning of the ukulele which gives it such a sweet, uncluttered sound that he really responds to.  We keep a copy of 'Facing Future' in the car for long journeys because when Stardust is really cranky and overtired, we play the album and he normally is able to relax and even fall asleep after a few songs.

This particular music video shows footage of Kamakaiwo'ole's funeral - he died from weight-related respiratory problems at the young age of 38.

Stardust's Youtube Favourites - Day 3

I have always felt that Ernie from Sesame Street had all the best songs.  He got to sing 'Rubber Duckie' and 'Imagine That' and 'One Fine Face'.  This song about visiting exotic places is particularly beautiful and makes for a great lullaby as well.  Stardust could listen to this song forever and ever.  It is one of my 'go-to' songs if Stardust is particularly fretful.

Stardust's Youtube Favourites - Day 2

Stardust calls this the 'World Video'.

Sometimes, in order to unwind in the evenings, we'll often sit together and watch one of our DVD programmes.  At the moment, we are ploughing our way through the BBC Planet Earth series (which, I understand, has also been shown on the Discovery Channel).  I like the fact that Stardust enjoys watching nature programmes, and the fact that the three of us will have a nice snuggle on the sofa at the same time. 

Have a great weekend!

Have a look at Stardust's other Youtube favourites here: Part 1