Some videos that got my attention somewhat recently

I’ve been doing my best to check out a few things when I have some downtime especially after multiple long days at work. I have to stay sane even with the state of the world and the negative news or opinions pop up.

Benjamin Clementine’s music:

If you follow my Iridium Eye blog, you might recognize this name from my last Top 7. He’s a recent musical discovery who just astounded me with his talent, musicality, and has a very unique voice. I know I’m a sucker for experimental music and avant-garde stuff, so Benjamin Clementine’s music really moved me. Here’s the video for his song “London”.

Social Isolation Match Pt. II: Chuck Mambo Vs. Eddie Dennis

I’m liking how this is becoming a thing with the guys in Escaping the Midcard. Some of you may have seen the first video with Chuck Mambo and TK Cooper, but this one involves the former taking on Welsh wrestler Eddie Dennis in this hilarious match. This stuff is hilarious and they take it over the top with guitars, cats, and weed whackers. The editing was superb and they looked like they had so much fun having a “wrestling match” despite being in their homes in England and Wales.

“Roses are Red” by The Mac Band ft. The McCampbell Brothers

While I would be too young to know about this song, I admit to being a sucker for new jack swing R&B. Hey, I’m from the 90s, so I definitely remember hearing some of that stuff when I was little. Yes, I do admit that the chorus is based on one of the cheesiest rhymes, but dang it, these guys just sell that emotion. It feels romantic and not sleazy like a ton of modern music. I was even pleasantly surprised to see some class with how everyone was dressed in the video despite the dated videography and awkward dancing at points. I’m not sure if this song is still a guilty pleasure or bordering on me liking this unironically. Oh, wait. Things have been contradictory so far by putting an avant-garde singer and a social distancing wrestling match in the same article. Who am I to judge?

Stevie Wonder Isolated Vocals

I know this song and I’m sure most of you have heard “Sir Duke” at some point in your lives. One day, my mom of all people messaged me this video. Hearing the isolated vocals just blew my mind. This was done in one take which I didn’t realize. I’m starting to appreciate older music more often. Remember when singers actually recorded their vocals without the “safety net” of Auto-Tune? Pepperidge Farm remembers! Am I part of the last generation of people who actually remembers popular music being made without that technology? Wow, I must be getting old…

The Lion King Lie:

Special thanks to Scott from Mechanical Anime Reviews for showing me this video. I don’t want to repeat myself given my tendency to bash this Disney movie for ripping off that 60s anime or the problematic cultural appropriation and bigoted crap associated with Mickey Mouse’s “creation” (I used that term loosely), but there were things I didn’t even know about or realize like some of the quotes from Disney’s side of things which only fuels my anger towards them. Also, I feel stupid for not realizing the similarities between Gargoyle G. Warthog’s “ashamed” dialogue and part of Pumbaa’s lyrics to “Hakuna Matata”. Definitely interesting even though there is some Disney bias there. However, I was pleasantly surprised that even Lion King fans in a bunch of the comments are FINALLY admitting that this movie literally wouldn’t exist without Kimba. That would’ve never happened years ago.

Hope you’re doing alright.

Mystery Blogger Award! Oooooohhh!

Guess what? I got nominated for the Mystery Blogger Award! I was nominated by Lynn Sheridan. Thank you so much, Lynn! This has been great being nominated with two of my blogs quite recently. Without further ado, here are the rules.

1. Put the award logo/image on your blog

2. List the rules

3. Thank whoever nominated you and provide a link to their blog

4. Mention Okoto Enigma, the creator of the award and provide a link as well

5. Tell your readers 3 things about yourself

6. You have to nominate 10 – 20 people

7. Notify your nominees by commenting on their blog

8. Ask your nominees any 5 questions of your choice; with one weird or funny question (specify)

9. Share a link to your best post(s)

Now to answer the questions from Lynn…

1. What weird thing do you have nostalgia for?

Maybe new jack swing music since I’ve been listening to a bunch of it lately. Okay, I was very little when that was a thing, but I do remember that sound. Besides that, I’ve been nostalgic for a certain anime/manga series that I’ve been secretive about because of a goal I’m trying to accomplish.

2. How good are you at drawing? (An example would be amazing.)

I am absolutely TERRIBAD at drawing. Sorry.

3. What recent trend are you totally on board with?

Weird, since I’m not into trends. Maybe inventing new awards/tags or to much lesser extent (whether this is a trend is yet to be seen) AEW? I guess after that Everything Patterned post I did a while ago, I can’t hide that recent interest anymore, right?

4. What are you hilariously bad at?

See question number 2.

5. If you were so wealthy you didn’t need to work, what would you do with your time?

Travel to multiple countries all over the world, write all the books I want at my own pace, record tons of Ospreyshire albums (and maybe side projects as well), and to volunteer my time to different legitimate charities or to help out others.

Facts about me:

1. Outside of the Midwest, I’ve lived in Maryland when I was a baby.

2. I wrote my first book back in 2014, but I never released it until 2018. That book is Revezia: Terminal Rescue, by the way.

3. When I was in choir, I sang 1st tenor, 2nd tenor, and baritone when I was in college. It was fun using some of my vocal skills in some of my songs especially “The Uncrowned King of Johannesburg”.

Here are my favorite posts:

Representation Matters: I think this was a great series that I did. The first post is certainly a great intro and I then go into fiction, anime, and even the aforementioned Everything Patterned post. Definitely check those posts out.

Ospreyshire Origins Art Theft: Here’s a post involving multiple songs from my recent album.

Defensive For What: This was a very powerful and personal poem I wrote.

Do You (Or Should You) Separate the Artist From the Art?: I was so thankful with everyone who commented regardless if I agreed with them or not.

How I Learned to Utterly Despise that Expensive Ripoff, Overrated, and Bigoted Movie Called The Lion King (And the Existence of Kimba the White Lion Isn’t the Only Reason): Be prepared because I’m going to ruin The Lion King for you!

I hereby nominate:

Red Metal
H. M. Gautsch
Never Argue with a Fish
Ashley Capes
Traditional Catholic Weeb
Bill Ziegler
Three Worlds One Vision
The Great Kahn
AniB Productions
The Old Testament Made New

My questions for you!

1. Where would you like to visit that you’ve never been to before?

2. What is one movie, TV show, and/or book that you can’t stand, but everyone else likes?

3. If you could invent a language, what would you call it and how would you teach it to the world?

4. What is one interest or hobby that you never thought you would get into?

5. How do you want to improve as a person?