Well if you haven't heard the Internet Smash Hit of the Millennium, Rebecca Black's "Friday" then I'm jealous of you... Or you're a Dirty Liar. Critically panned and generally hated the World over this song has amassed a reputation so Legendary that Rebecca Black's name will live on forever. It was just one of those songs that people showed others because of how offensively bad it was.
The Auto-Tune, the Lyrics, the... Everything. Then the parodies came in, and they rolled in and at one point there was more parodies being made then there were actual original music being made. Here is just a sample of the parodies that over-flooded the internet. All thanks to Rebecca Black, if anything I just hate her more because of the Parodies.
Hatsune Miku Website: HERE Promotional Event: HERE YouTube Channel: HERE
Well if it wasn't painfully obvious before, Japan is at least a good 20 years ahead of everyone in the field of Technology. This is even more obviously now that they've created a completely artificial Popstar in Hatsume Miku.
Hatsune Miku (初音ミク?) is a singing synthesizer application and its female character, developed by Crypton Future Media. It uses Yamaha Corporation's Vocaloid 2 synthesizing technology.
- Wikipedia
So what if she's a Computer program you say. Well besides the fact that the Hatsume Miku Vocaloid software is available worldwide many of the music generated is created from Fans and have even charted in the Japan Billboard charts. Also that they're able to host concerts of Hatsume Miku. How? WITH HOLOGRAMS!?!
I honestly have no words to describe this absurdness, It's just one of those things you see on the Internet and just have to say... What the Fuck. I'm all for people that like to get their freak on, but when it's there online for everyone to see...
Well that's just exhibitionism.
Seriously I'm done with this Entry, just watch this Madness
The internet is full of a lot of under appreciated and talented people, people that just make internet videos for fun and don't really go out of their way to find internet fame and notoriety. Kartiv2 is one of those special people, she makes cute little music videos and they're so cute and charming its hard not to like her. Plus she's very cute... Which I guess helps.
Well maybe she is trying to make a name for herself (That was very presumptuious of me to say in the first place), it's hard to tell what the internet culture is like over in Israel but its starting to change the way I think about Israeli people in general, I guess thanks to the Internet to you can learn so much about how people of the World aren't so different and that internet culture and music transcends all language and cultural barriers.
That was the Video "Machine Civilisation" Genki Sudo / WORLD ORDER made a week after the Tsunami ravaged Japan to show the Strength of Human Race and remind us that we are stronger as a unit. "We are One"
Genki Sudo made a name for himself as a fearsome and highly unorthodox fighter on the MMA circuit and in the UFC octagon but a quiet retirement was probably the last thing on his mind after the hung up his boots.
Then again this man retired at 28 and probably still has a lot of fight left in him. This guy was a bit of a clown when he fought, danced, used ridiculous stances and moves all in the middle of fights, the man was an entertainer, not to mention his overly elaborate entrances.
This has to be the most random entry yet, little is known about the original poster of this content other than they are both a fantastic piano player and a giant star wars nerd / fan. Vader plays for you is a simple idea, dress up as The Dark Sith Lord Vader and play upbeat music on the piano.
It's so crazy the videos have already been passed around the net in short time they've been loaded and has amassed a quarter of a million views. Which is a lot considering its just a guy dressed in a Vader costume playing piano tunes, but you gotta love the little touches here and there. The way songs will flow in and out of familiar Star Wars tunes and of course the lovely picture of Princess Lela on the piano.
Ugh, I've honestly been dreading this, I'm supposed to stay impartial to all entries but I'm starting to run dry on content and I'd rather get this out of the way first before I start completely panicking and reposting old entries.
Meekakitty aka Star Trek is a popular ex-model turned professional vlogger on YouTube, her energetic and chaotic videos have amassed her a large following online as she vlogs about her interesting life. Originally her vlogs consisted about her talking about her modelling career but now she creates comedic sketches and vlogs.
When you';re an emerging musician and actor on YouTube its hard to live in the shadow of a famous YouTube special effects magician like Freddie Wong but Jimmy seems to be doing fine on his own. Although you wonder how one family can be so talented in a strange field like internet entertainment. Recently finding a much larger audience due to his fantastic musical response to that UCLA Alexandra Wallace - Asians in the Library Rant.
His response song hit all the right chords (Yeah I said it) and sky rocketed his stock as he was featured prominently on the YouTube Homepage and various places around the net for his catchy song. You'd have to be a souless monster not to find this tune infectiously catchy.
Childish Gambino - Donald Glover Actor, Writer, Comedian and Rapper Website: HERE Comedy Central Profile: HERE Childish Gambino Blog: HERE MySpace Music Profile: HERE
You might remember Donald Glover from his internet sketch group Derrick Comedy (Previous Entry HERE) or from the NBC comedy Community where he plays Troy Barnes. However Donald is an exceptionally talented man as he is a Acotr, Writer, Stand-up Comedian and a Rapper, it's almost unfair how talented this one man is.
The Needle Drop Website: HERE YouTube Channel: HERE
The Needle Drop is a daily vlog that reviews a multitude of music from various styles and genres of music. From Rock, Pop, Electronic, Experimental and of course Indie music alike the videos just keep coming. The Needle Drop has been running since late 2007 and have been singing the praises of many artists and musicians since.
Anthony Fantano is the brains behind the operation and of course the Host of the Needle Drop. He constantly updates the Needle Drop with a rigorous update schedule and holds claim to the title of "Internet's Busiest Music Nerd". It's easy to see why as he releases on average 4 to 5 videos a week on his YouTube Channel, this kind of devotion to his cause is admirable.
The Greasy Moose Website: HERE NewGrounds Profile: HERE YouTube Channel: HERE MySpace Music Profile: HERE
Greasy Moose is a emerging flash team from Australia, making wacky and surreal flash movies filled with a variety of strange and unusual characters. Greasy Moose started out as a Web-comic by the creative founder Chris Voigt but due to the short attention span of most of the browsing internet audience against pictures that don't move he pursued a different path down the road to animation.
In 2005 he registered the Greasy moose name and website and also formed a band with his friend Liam Cass, also aptly called Greasy Moose. Now the entire project of Music and Flash animation is a combined collaboration. It seems Greasy moose is a hobby of both men as they pump out content just for their fans and for themselves, It's endearing and quite refreshing to see no big cash grab or shameless pandering to get a bigger audience.
Rhett & Link Website: HERE YouTube Channel: HERE 2nd YouTube Channel (Vlog): HERE
Meet Rhett and Link, they're a comedy duo that specialises in what they call Intertainment. You can guess what two words they combined to get that. Rhett and link make comedy sketches and fun music clips on their YouTube account, they['re fortunate enough to also be YouTube partners where they often collaborate with other prominent YouTube partners like Julian Smith, iJustine and Mystery Guitar Man.
In fact their video T-Shirt Wars got them signed to do a commercial for McDoanlds last year with Mystery Guitar Man 'Joe Penna'.
Anamanaguchi Website: HERE MySpace Music: HERE 8 Bit Peoples Profile: HERE
Anamanaguchi is my favourite internet band in the sense that their music would appeal only to the video gaming community that love classic video game music. You wouldn't hear their unique style of Digital Electric Rock on the radio or any real mainstream source of music mainly due to the unorthodox way they make their music.
Anamanaguchi are chiptune artists which means they create music using chip tune samples from video game and computer consoles from the 1980s. Simple game sounds from that era blended with more traditional sounds and instruments creates this high energy fast paced punk music. Getting the samples from a Hacked NES system and Gameboy they then combine the composed chiptracks from the consoles with A Guitar, Bass and Drums to create digital masterpieces like their popular track "Airbrushed" which featured on the Rock Band Game.
Freddie25 - Fredrik Larsson Website: HERE YouTube Channel: HERE
I'm sure a lot of you out there watched a load of Cartoons growing up and Freddie's epic Cartoon Medley was sure to bring back a lot of fond memories, I know it did for me.
Fredrik Larsson is an exceptional musician from Sweden who is also quite versed in various instruments like the Piano, Flute and Harmoanica but seems to specialise in Guitar, and he's also not a half bad singer. Fredrik occasionally releases a video on YouTube that seem to go viral quite quickly. His Cartoon Medley being one of the most popular and impressive uploads in recent history showcases what kind of audience he caters to... The Nostalgic.
There really isn't all the much to share, he's just a guy that likes to make multi-layers videos for the clever music covers and medley's he composes. Currently he is studying full-time and working on a Album of his own original music but be sure to have a listen through his other videos, A man this talented deserves to be heard.
Julian Smith Website: HERE YouTube Channel: HERE YouTube Vlog Channel: HERE
There isn't much to say about Julian Smith, he's an exceptionally talented young man that makes creative and funny videos on YouTube. Whether they be skits about Hot Kool Aid or a song about Racist Coffee, Julian Smith doesn't really follow a routine of video making. There is a lot to like about Julian's casual approach to film making, here are some of his more popular sketches.
The Gregory Brothers Website: HERE YouTube Channel: HERE
This famous 4 piece comprised of Evan, Michael, Andrew and Sarah Gregory are probably the most famous YouTube musicians in existence.
If you haven't heard of the Gregory Brothers or haven't seen one of their videos then you clearly don't know anything about the internet at all. Their videos are some of the most watched and lucrative on the net. Their Auto-Tune the News series was the launching pad to internet stardom where they would jazz up the News broadcasts by Auto-Tuning the media presenters and sing-a-long with them.
A pretty random thing to Auto Tune but Auto Tuning random clips is now a staple of the internet. If there is a famous viral video online chances are days later a Auto-Tune remix will spring up.
Jon Lajoie - Comedian, Musician, Actor Website: HERE YouTube Channel; HERE
Quick, name your favourite Canadian Rapper.
Honestly I know only one and that was that guy that called himself Snow that sang "Informer", That's your homework. Look up Informer by Snow... If you watched MTV in the 90s back when they actually played Music Videos then chances are you probably had this catchy tune stuck in your head at some stage. (Don't deny it, it was a catchy song)
Alright I'll do it for you:
Now Jon Lajoie isn't just a rapper, he honestly deserves the title of musician. He has made his living from the songs he releases on YouTube, his most popular releases are just his rap songs. But it's just the normal rap you'd be use to in the Music Industry that tells tale of wayward youth and their "struggle". Jon specialises in a kind of loser middle class white awkward nerd style of music with a strange misogynist twist of satire.
I think Jon realises the internet is a place full of idiots and know-it-alls where the line between genius and moronic can be blurry at times. His music is so awkwardly offensive and ridiculous that it's delivered in such a way that the irony and satire isn't lost. Due to the fact that a he is dressed in Jean shorts, a Hawaiian shirt and 5 dollar sunglasses and gloats about his sexual prowess and gangsterly defiance of laws.
Jon doesn't just make offensively awkward rap songs though, His other songs showcase his song writing talents and outspoken passion about music as he criticises the state of Popular Mainstream music ironically in "Pop Song" and "Radio Friendly Song"
His 2 albums are available for purchase at iTunes HERE,
Whilst being a internet celebrity, rapper, singer and comedian he branched out to television and has a regular role in FX's show "The League" where he plays Taco McArthur who is Unemployed Stoner Musician.
Jon is a talented man and his career is still rising, even though he has millions of followers online and many new fans thanks to the League his career can only go on to bigger and better things.
La Blogotheque Take Away Shows Website: HERE YouTube channel: HERE
You see some real good buskers in the street every now and again. People with exceptional talent without record deals trying to make it in the World as they try to traverse the wasteland of despair and deception that is the Modern Music Industry. (Okay that' a bit melodramatic but it damn hard to break into the music industry).
Then there is the notion of the Take Away Show which operates from the 'La Blogotheque' website. A French Music Blog group that organises Street Performances around France and the sometimes around the World with Professional Musicians.
There is something magical about watching famous Musicians playing stripped down versions of their big hits in the streets of Paris, something out of a fairytale book. It would be dream like if you were wondering the back streets of Paris to find your favourite band just sitting in the park playing your favourite song.
Then again of course most of the featured artists are indie music stars and most passer-bys might not even know that they have professional musicians performing for them.
OK Go Official Website: HERE YouTube Channel: HERE
Millions the world over have seen this Grammy nominated band preform various musical hits in over elaborate and brilliantly choreographed music video clips. Whether it be preforming a dance routine in their backyard, on treadmills or in the middle of a Rube Goldberg machine OK Go never cease to amaze people the world over with their creatively and sheer brilliance.
It can almost be a safe bet that any new music clip released by them will be a viral internet smash hit and OK Go are basically the Coolest and most Popular Nerdy Mainstream Musicians in the World today.
It all exploded after this song...
OK Go - Here it goes again
Then came subsequent Hits in:
Do What you Want
Invincible
End Love
White knuckles
But the most impressive of all these has to be the Rube Goldberg Machine video clip of "This too shall pass", The Huffington Post even submitted it with 9 other YouTube videos to the Guggenheim Museum citing the entire Clip is a Work of Art...
