A decade on, the Coen brothers' woefully underrated O Brother, Where Art Thou? [alt] is remembered for a lot of things: its sun-drenched, sepia-rich cinematography (a pioneer of digital color grading), its whimsical humor, fluid vernacular, and many subtle references to Homer's Odyssey. But one part of its legacy truly stands out: the music. Assembled by T-Bone Burnett, the soundtrack is a cornucopia of American folk music, exhibiting everything from cheery ballads and angelic hymns to wistful blues and chain-gang anthems. Woven into the plot of the film through radio and live performances, the songs lent the story a heartfelt, homespun feel that echoed its cultural heritage, a paean and uchronia of the Old South. Though the multiplatinum album was recently reissued, the movie's medley is best heard via famed documentarian D. A. Pennebaker's Down from the Mountain, an extraordinary yet intimate concert film focused on a night of live music by the soundtrack's stars (among them Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, Chris Thomas King, bluegrass legend Dr. Ralph Stanley) and wryly hosted by John Hartford, an accomplished fiddler, riverboat captain, and raconteur whose struggle with terminal cancer made this his last major performance. The film is free in its entirety on Hulu and YouTube -- click inside for individual clips, song links, and breakdowns of the set list's fascinating history. [more inside]
posted by Rhaomi on Dec 22, 2011 - 107 comments

The Breaking Winds Bassoon Quartet perform hits by Cee Lo Green, Lady Gaga, Owl City, and even (wotta concept!) manage to sneak in some classical music. (MLYT)
posted by The Ardship of Cambry on Sep 10, 2011 - 20 comments

Two and a half years ago, we explored the early history of Cartoon Network... but it wasn't the only player in the youth television game. As a matter of fact, Fred Seibert -- the man responsible for the most inventive projects discussed in that post -- first stretched his creative legs at the network's truly venerable forerunner: Nickelodeon. Founded as Pinwheel, a six-hour block on Warner Cable's innovative QUBE system, this humble channel struggled for years before Seibert's innovative branding work transformed it into a national icon and capstone of a media empire. Much has changed since then, from the mascots and game shows to the versatile orange "splat." But starting tonight in response to popular demand, the network is looking back with a summer programming block dedicated to the greatest hits of the 1990s, including Hey Arnold!, Rocko's Modern Life, The Adventures of Pete & Pete, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Double Dare, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Legends of the Hidden Temple, and All That. To celebrate, look inside for the complete story of the early days of the network that incensed the religious right, brought doo-wop to television, and slimed a million fans -- the golden age of Nickelodeon. (warning: monster post inside) [more inside]
posted by Rhaomi on Jul 25, 2011 - 116 comments

After Kad & Olivier sign off and the Satisfaction production logo fades, viewing audiences are oftentimes treated to a cold open of an empty talk show set... one that quickly becomes the impromptu dance floor for a shameless Frenchman making an absolute giddy fool of himself while lip-syncing pop songs alongside a menagerie of... wait, *what*?! That's right. The Late Late Show's Craig Ferguson appears to have a not-so-secret French admirer -- one who's not above ripping off both his opening titles and his signature dance sequences (including the iconic animal puppets): "ABC" by The Jackson 5, "Flashdance" by Irene Cara, "On the Floor" by Jennifer Lopez and Pitbull, "Waka Waka" by Shakira, "Men in Black" by Will Smith, "Let's All Chant" by the Michael Zager Band, "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham!, "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls, and "Vive Le Vent (Jingle Bells)" by Tino Rossi. Luckily, Ferguson's sense of showmanship is more prodigious than litigious -- he responded to Arthur's "homáge" by booking a pair of translatlantic crossover shows, with Arthur visiting LA that week and Ferguson flying out to Paris just last month. Video of both shows (plus lots more) inside! [more inside]
posted by Rhaomi on Jul 11, 2011 - 12 comments

what your favorite '80s band says about you
posted by flex on Jul 5, 2011 - 356 comments

Sports announcer quotes Notorious B.I.G. lyrics during a game. (SLYT)
posted by reenum on Jun 26, 2011 - 39 comments

Yes I like playing Dungeons and Dragons with you... "This Fantasy World" by the Doubleclicks, with animation by Brad Jonas. [SLYT]
posted by Gator on Mar 11, 2011 - 49 comments

During the show's history Mystery Science Theater did many musical bits. Topless Robot recently linked to the "13 best" Mystery Science Theater 3000 songs. It's not a bad list, although there are some notable exclusions. About those, click through.... [more inside]
posted by JHarris on Dec 6, 2010 - 62 comments

The Imperial Stars promote their new single "Traffic Jam 101" with a traffic jam on 101.
posted by Chinese Jet Pilot on Oct 12, 2010 - 40 comments

Thunder Busters! [slyt]
posted by cthuljew on Oct 3, 2010 - 9 comments

Jenny Hagel has a three part YouTube series about "a dumpy women's studies professor [who] transforms herself into a ghetto fabulous rap star to convince people to care about feminism. When she's finished rapping...they still don't care." Parts 1, 2 and 3.
posted by Kattullus on Sep 29, 2010 - 33 comments

"All the greatest hits from the past 40 years use the same four chords." From Australian comedy group Axis Of Awesome. [more inside]
posted by Rory Marinich on Apr 19, 2010 - 91 comments

"That Would Be Awesome" is a song written by Bigfoot, the lyrics to which were published in the illustrated Bigfoot memoir Me Write Book: It Bigfoot Memoir. It has been arranged for ukelele and harmonica and posted to YouTube. It is awesome. [more inside]
posted by gompa on Jan 15, 2010 - 21 comments

If you were a child of the '90's, then Regulate by Warren G and Nate Dogg was probably your jam. Here is a critical analysis of the song by comedian Sean Keane. If only all gangsta rap had such deep meaning.
posted by reenum on Jul 30, 2009 - 63 comments

Oregon! Oregon! A Centennial Fable in Three Acts is a musical comedy by famed radio comedian and Looney Tunes voice actor Stan Freberg that was commissioned in 1959 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Oregon statehood. This year, on the 150th anniversary, Stan Freberg and Pink Martini will revive the musical with a new 4th act written by Freberg (check out the complete Pink Martini concert on the page). For more Freberg goodness check out these 15 episodes of his radio show and this 1999 interview which includes some of his classic sketches (sketches in RealAudio format).
posted by Kattullus on Mar 26, 2009 - 40 comments

The Society for the Advancement of Despair. [Via]
posted by homunculus on Feb 14, 2009 - 18 comments

"I am Russian so, obviously, I like this film. It has typical Russian humor, it is a farce, so do not look for higher meanings in the jokes, it makes fun of the social standards of the Soviet regime as well as the people who served it so well. It features some of the best Russian actors that we love seeing and acting; they sing in the movie and it is lovely as well. If you are a tough judge of movies, then please make sure you know Soviet history a bit and understand that the humor differs from what you see in American movies before you call it crap." [more inside]
posted by filthy light thief on Feb 1, 2009 - 18 comments

The first episode of the new season of Flight of the Conchords is available to watch free online (US only, sorry). "Formerly New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo acapella-rap-funk-comedy folk duo," their first season was chock full of hilarious moments and musical interludes, including some drawn from their live performances. Previously on Metafilter.
posted by explosion on Dec 17, 2008 - 73 comments

Yes, 'tis the season once again, and back in the day that meant the reappearance of the beloved Christmas carol in the comic pages, more specifically in the late, lamented Pogo. [more inside]
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit on Dec 11, 2008 - 24 comments

And now, a singing crocodile dressed as a cowboy teaches you to meditate. [SLYT, via]
posted by homunculus on Dec 8, 2008 - 39 comments

How to Look Twee. And maybe become a Manic Pixie Dream Girl!
posted by mattholomew on Aug 6, 2008 - 84 comments

In the increasingly surreal battle between the RIAA and music listeners, reality and satire can be hard to discern.
posted by Chinese Jet Pilot on Dec 20, 2007 - 50 comments

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Fish-Men. Brought to you by the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society
posted by JHarris on Dec 17, 2007 - 13 comments

The Onion AV Club publishes their annual Worst Band Names List. Is your band on there? [more inside]
posted by Afroblanco on Dec 14, 2007 - 142 comments

Straight No Chaser (Indiana University men's acapella group) performs this hilarious rendition of "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Want to perform it with your own acapella chorus? You're in luck. The sheet music is available as an inexpensive digital download.
posted by CrunchyFrog on Dec 12, 2007 - 38 comments

The Chicago Women's Liberation (embedded video) Rock Band [more inside]
posted by sleepy pete on Nov 14, 2007 - 17 comments

Rachmaninoff had big hands. (More from Igudesman and Joo (flash), former students of Yehudi Menuhin). [more inside]
posted by imposster on Oct 9, 2007 - 18 comments

When Pigs Fly: Jackie Chan and Ani DiFranco? The Fixx covering Nancy Sinatra? Devo sings "Ohio"? You won't believe your ears. The "back" button is directly below the album cover.
posted by St Urbain's Horseman on Sep 28, 2007 - 26 comments

It's BACK! Otis F. Odder (of The Bran Flakes and Comfort Stand Recordings is reviving his 365 Days project on the WFMU Beware Of The Blog! Hot damn! He opens it with the complete recordings of the Michael Mills Satanic Messages Radio Show and the complete Beatles Forever recordings (previously excerpted in the first incarnation). (Previously on MeFi)
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me on Jan 1, 2007 - 14 comments

Goldsmith sings Wittgenstein. Part two. (mp3) Kenneth Goldsmith (previously), the "most boring writer that has ever lived," has become a sort of rockstar in conceptual art circles. When he's not singing linguistic theory, you can find him transcribing his own speech, spinning records, and reading the other Kenny G's fanmail. More theory set to music.
posted by roll truck roll on Dec 27, 2006 - 23 comments

Lessons from British folk songs
posted by kenko on Sep 7, 2005 - 19 comments

That damn Paul Simon sold us short! Here are the other 45 ways to leave your lover.
posted by danb on Jul 1, 2005 - 29 comments

Forty years ago this week the public was introduced to the works of P.D.Q. Bach at a concert in New York's Town Hall. It's as good a time as any to look at the one-of-a-kind output of Peter Schickele. (A lot more inside)
posted by soyjoy on Apr 27, 2005 - 25 comments

iTunes Music Store users can listen to the Hitch-Hiker's Guide to, Blogging, Deadlines, How to be cool, and Technology. And various other cash-in tracks.
posted by Mwongozi on Apr 24, 2005 - 16 comments

April is Rap Month on Michaelpella. Watch and listen [avi files] as some internet guy (and an occasional friend) butcher some rap classics by the likes of Ice Cube and Public Enemy. I don't know much about rap, so I enjoy perusing the 50+ song archive chock full of chestnuts like "Runaway," "Rawhide," and "Love Shack." Send in your requests now.
posted by marxchivist on Apr 15, 2005 - 7 comments

Watch this unique DJ show us what he's made of. (Flash)
posted by thebabelfish on Feb 27, 2005 - 11 comments

Fake Jim Steinman song titles.
posted by kenko on Feb 20, 2005 - 17 comments

Octoroon Jihad the greatest band you never heard greatest band you will never hear. This web site has interviews, a discography, a tour schedule and of course the band's manifesto and bios. If there were some music files on this site, I'd almost believe it.
posted by marxchivist on Nov 29, 2004 - 7 comments

Enough Is Enough: It's time to stop dancing to "Hey Ya!" "As of today, November 10, 2004, it is one year since 'Hey Ya!' was released in the UK. So all you Beyonces, and Lucy Lius, and babydolls, GET OFF THE FLOOR." Further proof that Popjustice is the world's greatest pop magazine, if their review of Girls Aloud's What Will The Neighbours Say? with Neighbours-cast-members-out-of-ten ratings scale didn't already convince you. Oh, and "note to DJs: This is not an excuse to start playing 'Crazy In Love' again."
posted by logovisual on Nov 10, 2004 - 10 comments

Mandonna: The All-Male Tribute to the Material Girl . (Warning: sound on every page)
It's exactly what you think it is. Go straight to the videos for capital F-U-N !!
...via go BLORT yourself.
posted by planetkyoto on Aug 31, 2004 - 19 comments

mp3's from a band you've never heard of
When technology and beer meet. Juvenile jam band antics. I recommend Big Red Nipples.
Not for all. But for some, delightful.
posted by Jeremy on Aug 12, 2004 - 2 comments

Wing sings the songs you love, in a way that will make you hate them. Listen to excerpts here. Music to suffer by, in the grand tradition of Leona Anderson. (via Primal Purge)
posted by PinkStainlessTail on Apr 9, 2004 - 10 comments

Pancake Mountain presents Ian MacKaye performing "Vowel Movement" for the kiddies. As a friend said, this site has "pancakes and indie rock and bob mould as a corporate goon all in one package." [via sullivan]
posted by ifjuly on Apr 8, 2004 - 14 comments

A prankster turns himself into the RIAA:
JH: Hello. I just downloaded some illegal MP3s and my friend told me that the RAII is going to sue everyone who downloads music. What should I do?
RIAA: Hold on just a sec.
posted by Inkslinger on Sep 15, 2003 - 25 comments

The Lords of the Rhymes are at it again, providing more hip-hop satisfaction with their latest song Nine Fingered Frodo (and the Ring of Doom) (MP3). They've also remixed (MP3), with much success, their original, self-titled hit. Still don't have enough of them? Then check out the videos from their live show in NYC. There ain’t no party like a hobbit party, cause a hobbit party don’t stop!
posted by thebabelfish on Jul 9, 2003 - 3 comments

Parodeities' Greatest Hits Don't miss: Adam Was Made From Dust, Welcomed by the Devil, Takin' Care Of Jesus, and, of course, God's Filled Ya [mp3 links all].
posted by Shadowkeeper on Apr 15, 2003 - 5 comments

Music Industry releases new piracy-proof format! But not to worry there is already a crack out for the format.
posted by Dr_Octavius on Sep 9, 2002 - 25 comments

kittens plus funky latino mix - just leave the music running, im off for a coconut with a straw and an umbrella in it. Love fridays! via haddock.org
posted by monkeyJuice on May 10, 2002 - 10 comments

Mean-spirited flash rock mockumentaries: Behind The Music That Sucks
posted by signal on Jan 30, 2002 - 8 comments

Alt.Xmas.Music.Lyrics. I've never been accused in the past of only posting serious news item type links - so just to prove that i'm no stick-in-the-mud here is a fun link. It apparently requires no shockwave plugins..... ladies and gentlemen--and especially you cosmopolite European members--I give you, after a wee scroll down and download.... Walking Round In Women's Underwear!! please enjoy this during work hours.
posted by y2karl on Dec 19, 2001 - 8 comments