FILM SET INSPIRES NEW MUSIC

Dean Reorda works in film. He loves his job. They feed him all day long. Dean is an electric and a musician. Beautiful Handbasket is one of his latest songs inspired by working on set.

GORILLAZ GOES LIVE AGAIN

Gorillaz worked their magic again and performed live with Madonna at the 2006 Grammy Awards. The performance was a mash-up of the songs Feel Good Inc. and Hung Up. They performed as the same holograms used at the 2005 MTV Europe Awards, only slightly altered. Midway through, Madonna gracefully appeared on stage and did a remix of Hung Up and Feel Good Inc. amazing the live audience as she walked among the animated projections as if they were actually real. She the moved to an adjoining stage and continued performing her song.

Gorillaz have also made plans for a huge world tour in 2007 - 2008 which would also use the Pepper's Ghost technology - a digital animation projected on special transparent foil in a way that appears holographic. These shows are going to be pre-recorded and Damon Albarn (founding flesh and bones member of Gorillaz) has stated that he will not even be there when the performance will happen.

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

Would Julie Andrews be upset? I doubt it. Listen to this unique Venezuelan version of "These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things.

GORILLAZ PERFORMS LIVE

Gorillaz, the world's most successful virtual band recently won Best Group at the MTV Europe Music Awards in Lisbon - November 3rd, 2005. Then they took the stage and performed "Feel Good Inc." in a ground breaking live performance. It's hard to imagine a 2 dimensional, animated band performing live, but the result is what appears to be a 3 dimensional, almost holographic representation of the band.

Cara Speller, producer of the Gorillaz live extravaganza at the London animation house Passion Pictures, said: "It's quite old technology. It's essentially Pepper's Ghost, which was a Victorian invention of reflection and projection on to mirrors." Of course, there is a little more to it. Ms Speller added: "Our Gorillaz aren't holograms because holographic technology isn't quite up to what we need. It is digital animation projected on special transparent foil in a way that appears holographic." Read more here.

Some other Gorillaz music videos are:

Feel Good Inc. - Live MTV Performance
Feel Good Inc. - Normal Music Video
Dirty Harry
Clint Eastwood
Dare
BBC Radio 1 interview with Gorillaz narrated by Patrick Stewart

WHILE MY UKULELE GENTLY WEEPS

At first this seems to be just a guy playing the George Harrison song, While my Guitar Gently Weeps, but give it a few minutes and you will be in awe of the raw talent he posesses. Jake Shimabukuro is not just some guy in the park. He has mastered the ukulele and his rendition of the George Harrison song, aptly renamed, While My Ukulele Gently Weeps is more than impressive.




It's hard to imagine that for such a small instrument, the ukulele can be so powerful. Imagine it in the hands of a 700 pound Hawaiian man. It may be hard to believe, but the result is one of the most moving renditions of Somewhere Over The Rainbow you have ever heard. The late Israel Kamakawiwo'ole was truly a talented man.