Category Archives: Entertainment

ESPN & Discovery to broadcast first 3D programming

News, Technology, Television, , , , , , , , , ,

In addition to the 3D programming DirecTV promises to bring this year, ESPN and Discovery have stepped up to the plate with plans to share 3D broadcasts of their own content.

On June 11 ESPN will launch a brand new channel appropriately called “ESPN 3D” and will air their first 3D broadcast with a World Cup soccer match.  According to USA Today: “ESPN 3D expects to showcase at least 85 live sporting events during the first year. There’ll be no reruns initially, so the network will be dark when there’s no 3D event. Among other events planned for 3D broadcast: the Summer X Games (extreme sports), NBA games, college basketball and college football.”

Discovery, Sony, and IMAX have joined forces to broadcast the world’s first 24/7 dedicated 3D TV network.  Discovery was the first to bring a 24/7 basic cable HD channel in 2002, so this all makes sense, right?  The trifecta plans to switch on such a channel sometime in 2011.  Bummer, I know.  At least we’ll have ESPN 3D to whet our appetite before we immerse ourselves into wild documentaries.

And remember kids–in order to watch HD 3D programming you are required to go out and purchase a compatible TV set along with those pesky glasses.  Expect the first wave of 3D-enabled TV sets to hit stores this spring.

[Via USA Today; Engadget, here & here]

“Badder Romance” shot-by-shot re-creation impresses Gaga

Music, Video, , , , , , ,

Rabbid Lady Gaga fans and YouTubers  BINKproductionz created this shot-by-shot re-creation of Lady Gaga’s hit “Bad Romance.”  The parody is so true to the actual music video that Lady Gaga watched it and was so impressed by it that she shared it with all her fans via her Twitter page.  Her response?  “Holy s—.”

Warning: Many explicitives are used at the end of this video.

[Via EW-MusicMix]

Kid Cudi updates the name of his next album

Music, News, , , ,

At his latest show in Milaukee rapper Kid Cudi announced the “official” name of his sophomore collaborative album: Cudder and The Revolution of the Evolution.  I say “official” because Cudi is known for announcing an album title and changing it around a couple times before it releases.  His first album was originally called “Man on the Moon: The Guardians” and was changed to Man on the Moon: The End of Day.  We’ve know for quite some time that his next album was going to be titled “Cudder,” but now he has gone head and added “The Revolution of the Evolution” to it.  I can see this latest iteration potentially finalizing into “Cudder: The Revolution of Evolution” but we shall wait and see.  Looking forward to it.

[Via DatNewCudi]

Kanye West’s VH1 Storytellers album out now

Music, News, , , ,

Sure, the world doesn’t really like Kanye West right now.  No matter what you may think about him he is still a very talented musician and deserves a listen.  A while back West performed on VH1 a bunch of his latest songs from 808s & Heartbreak as well as some of his classics.  It really was a great show.  If you’re a fan of West and his music or if you happend to miss the performance you can now purchase Storytellers on DVD.  The package includes over 70 minutes of performance footage, with three songs that were not televised (“Street Lights,” “Paranoid,” and “Homecoming”), and a Q&A session with West.  It also comes with an audio CD that includes all nine live tracks.

[Via KanyeBlog]

My favorite music video of the year

DIY, Download link, Music, Video, , , ,

This rendition of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” is one of my favorite music videos of all time.  It comes from the award-winning documentary “Playing For Change: Peace Through Music.”  What’s so great about it is that it splices together all different kinds of people from around the world singing the song with their own voices and instruments.

Playing for Change is a multimedia movement created to inspire, connect, and bring peace to the world through music. The idea for this project arose from a common belief that music has the power to break down boundaries and overcome distances between people. No matter whether people come from different geographic, political, economic, spiritual or ideological backgrounds, music has the universal power to transcend and unite us as one human race. And with this truth firmly fixed in our minds, we set out to share it with the world.

It’s just so cool how it all fits together; it sounds like all the musicians sat down in a recording studio together!  There is this sensation of peace and unity that overcomes you when you listen to the music and watch the videos.  And there’s more where this came from.  Playing Through Change the album is available on iTunes; the deluxe version includes videos for “Don’t Worry,” “One Love,” “War/No More Trouble” and others.  I urge you to download a copy of this album, listen to the music, and watch the videos.  This international collaboration showcases the transformative power of music in a way you have likely never seen before.

Note: I am aware this video was published in 2008.  In fact the project itself began in 2004.  However, the album was released this year and that is when I (and I’m sure many others) discovered it.

[Via PlayingForChange]

DJ Earworm is back with the ultimate 2009 mashup

Download link, Music, Video, , , , ,

From the Black Eyed Peas to Lady Gaga to Kings of Leon, 2009 proved to be a big year for music.  DJ Earworm is back with what he does best–mashing together the top 25 Billboard hits of the past year.  Watch “The United State of Pop 2009 (Blame It On the Pop)” above and download it for free here.  Oh, and look after the break for the full listing of songs used in it.  It’s been one wild year for music, indeed!

[Via EW-MusicMix]

Continue reading DJ Earworm is back with the ultimate 2009 mashup →

Remembering MJ

Music, Video, , ,

Watch this posthumous music video for Michael Jackson’s “This Is It.”  It’s a Spike Lee joint, so don’t miss out.  It highlights MJ’s journey from childhood to worldwide fame.  Instead of mourning the loss celebrate the inspiration that MJ brought to us all.  Director Spike Lee did not have any footage of MJ singing this song for the video, and he did a great job of putting together a thoughtful and touching remembrance piece.  Enjoy.

[Via EW-MusicMix]

Complex.com names Man on the Moon: TEOD ‘Best Album of 2009’

Music, News, , , , , ,

Aw yeah.  Complex.com has placed Kid Cudi’s debut album Man on the Moon: The End of Day at the #1 spot on their top 25 best album of ’09 list.

Hip-hop’s lonely stoner threw the “debut rap album” blueprint out the window with his bold opening statement, a somber trip into the mind of Scott Mescudi. With producers Emile, Plain Pat, and Ratatat driving most of the music, Man On The Moon shows a remarkably fully-formed sound—dark, melodic, spacious—a feat that most unfocused artists strive for their entire career. Mixing the easy thump of hip-hop with the relentlessly introspective sensibility of indie rock, Cudi pushed the boundaries of both worlds, perfectly capturing 2009’s unapologetically creative spirit.

I wholeheartedly agree.  MOTM: TEOD was most definitely the best album of the year.  Congrats, Cudder.  Looking forward to what you have in store for 2010.

[Via DatNewCudi]