"El Factor X"

El Factor X: 27 años de edad, profesor Danyl tiene una pasión por el canto y se roba el escenario por completo en una increible primera audicion!

The X Factor: 27-year-old teacher Danyl has a passion for singing and manages to completely own the stage in an incredible first audition!

Connie Talbot singing Ben and winning her Britains Got Talent semi final

Andrew Johnston

The X Factor: It’s difficult to surprise Simon Cowell, but Stacey Soloman manages to do just that… Does she have The X Factor?

Jamie Archer AKA Jamie Afro has never had his chance to break into music, despite it being a lifelong dream. Will he get that chance today?

Joseph McElderry The X Factor: Joe from South Shields immediately got a yes from Cheryl before he started singing! But will he be able to perform well enough to impress the other judges?

Susan Boyle – Memory from Cats – Made Amanda Cry – Piers said brilliant!

You voted him, out of thousands of entrants, your X Factor winner 2007! Watch Leon Jackson perform his brand new single When You Believe!

Lucie Jones,The X Factor 2009: Nervous Lucie takes to the stage, but her choice of song is questioned by Simon. Has she got The X Factor?

The X Factor: 24-year-old Duane returns to The X Factor after failure at last year’s Boot Camp. Has he got what it takes for this year’s competition?

Shaheen Jafargholi Britains Got Talent Wins Semi Final,UNBELIEVABLE 12 YEAR OLD BOY SINGS!!!

Nicky Evans, who recently lost her father, tries her luck at the auditions – and manages to amaze even Simon!

Where is Harry Connick Jr when you need him? I posted this clip a long time ago but I thought it was time to have another little airing.

No, sorry gang – it’s The Old Silly, but I promise all you Adam Atom fans he’ll be back in his regular Monday spot next week. Today I’m asking y’all to cut me some bloggy slack, I’m busy all day preparing for a week of holiday travel. Gonna be heading out to The Big Apple to visit my son, drive him back here to Michigan for a good ol’ Wilson family reunion on Thanksgiving, and then … catching my breath and catching up on regular blogcasting. I do have posts scheduled to go up all week, so fear not … you will not be deprived of your daily dose of Free Spirit!

Today I thought I’d put up a special rendition of one of my all time favorite songs, performed by Lous Armstrong. Many of you, I’m sure, are familiar with it, but this clip is special in its visual accompaniment to the lyrics and tones. So, in the spirit of gearing up for this Thanksgiving, I would ask you to relax for the next two minutes, breathe deep, and meditate on all the beauty around us in this miraculous, marvelous creation.

Does our world have its faults? Are there problems, challenges facing us as a race of people and our environment as we move forward? Yes, and of course there are. But remember, we receive more of what we focus on and sincerely desire. Join me now in focusing on “What a Wonderful World” we have.

Blog dismissed, my friends. Oh – if you are a blogger that the Old Silly visits regularly, please understand over the next few days I am largely without internet access, travelling and all, but I will do my best to visit y’all as much as possible. Wifi cafe breaks, that sort of thing. And even if I don’t get a comment in every day, I am always with you in spirit. And again, there will be daily posts up here all week.

Have a great holiday week, see you here, there, and everywhere, and remember what a wonderful world we can continue to enjoy and make together with our thoughts and actions of love for each other.

Click on Tweety Bird and tweet this post if you liked it!

Yes, covers. everbody has that cover of a song they consider blaspemous, and yet others will say are brilliant. But, do they have a point?

Cover songs are (in my opinion) essential to music. If you want to get into a band, and you have no idea where to start; find some covers they have done. They allow you to get a good grasp of what the band sound like.

sursa imagini : gigigi

… Deocamdata …

I checked out some other versions of this song, but as in most cases the original is hard to surpass.

Although it is wonderful to see people from across time and culture appreciate.  And do their part to share this song.

This song gives me comfort.  Thats why I wanted to share it.

It also, by the way, confirms what I have felt for two years now.  Babies now, are going to be smarter than I ever was.  I may be paraphrasing what Mr. Armstrong said, but it is close enough.

I hope if you’re having a bad day, struggling with anything, you can find a piece of music to listen to.  It helps.  If you’re having a great day I hope there’s music in your heart  with it.  If you’re having a mediocre day, be glad it’s not a bad day, play some tunes and match your heart beat to the rythem of the song.

I couldn’t help it.  One more.

November 20, 2009 marks the day when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child (1959) and the Convention of the Rights of the Child (1989) to celebrate children.  Our classroom will be celebrating this special day throughout the week with music, art, books, activities and presentations.  Parents are invited to participate.

The grade 3 social studies prescribed learning outcomes we are currently covering are:

• C1 describe how an understanding of personal roles, rights, and responsibilities can affect the well-being of the school and community
• C2 summarize the roles and responsibilities of local governments

Article 29 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states the purpose of education is the “preparation of the child for responsible life in a free society, in the spirit of understanding, peace, tolerance, equality of sexes and friendship among all peoples, ethnic, national and religious groups and persons of indigenous origin.”

Shirley Hughes and Ken Wilson-Max are among eight renowned artists who illustrate children’s rights in a simplified version of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.  IIlustrations are included from the publication For Every Child, as well as photographs showing the lives of children around the world:

http://www.unicef.org.uk/tz/resources/assets/pdf/every_child_colour_leaflet.pdf

A list of our class theme songs: (** Please note: Parental guidance/supervision is required when viewing YouTube videos)

• We Are The World-by Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie, Cindy Lauper, Stevie Wonder, Bruce Springstein…
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzw6GiqZyD0&feature=related
• What a wonderful World-by Louis Armstrong
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5IIXeR5OUI&feature=fvw
• Wavin’ Flag-K’naan
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC8V8S_REhk
• Heal the World-by Michael Jackson
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beFTORlM6TU
• That’s what friends are for-from the Disney Classic movie, “The Fox and the Hound.”
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTcHT4zpAGs&feature=fvw
• Imagine-John Lennon
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okd3hLlvvLw

A list of books to read with your child at home:

• Shel Silverstein, The Giving Tree. 1964. New York: Harper and Row Publishers.
• Jane Cowen-Fletcher, It Takes A Village. 1994. New York: Scholastic Inc.
• Lois Ehlert, Planting a Rainbow. 1988. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers
• Nancy Carlson, I Like Me. 1990. New York: Penguin books, Inc
• Tony Johnston, & Tomie dePaola, The Quilt Story. 1985. New York: Scholastic Inc
• All the colors We Are. 1994. St. Paul, Minnesota: Redleaf Press.
• Cheltenham Elementary School Kindergartners, We are Alike, We Are Different. 1991. New York: Scholastic.
• Nina Pelleginin, Families Are Different. 1991. New York: Holiday House.
• Ellen Levine, I Hate English. 1989. New York: Scholastic, Inc
• Arthur Dorros, This is my House. 1992. New York: Scholastic Inc.
• Mary Ann Hoberman, A House is a House For Me. 1978. New York: Scholastic, Inc
• Marc Brown, Arthur’s Eyes. 1979. Boston: Little, Brown, and Company
• Robert McClosky, Make Way For Ducklings. 1969. New York: Penguin Books
• Aliki, Feelings. 1984. New York: Scholastic, Inc.
• Barbara Josse, Momma Do You Love Me? 1991. New York: Scholastic, Inc.
• Eric Carle, My Apron.

Link for United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child:
http://www.hrea.org/erc/Library/hrdocs/un/child/declaration-en.html

Am stat la un hotel mic si cochet in Montparnasse , foarte aproape de gara cu acelasi nume … La cativa pasi de gara se afla Cimitirul Montparnasse , celebru pentru multitudinea de personalitati care odihnesc aici … Am ajuns acolo oarecum intamplator, nefiind pe lista noastra de prioritati … Insa a trebuit sa asteptam cam doua ore pana am fost cazati asa ca am aruncat un ochi pe lista cu nume … Si am dat de Brancusi … Mai erau din ce imi amintesc Ionesco , parca si Cioran, Tzara , dar ne-a fost imposibil sa dam de mormintele lor … Si pe Brancusi era sa il pierdem dar l-am cautat cu incapatanare … Oricum, mormantul sau nu este deloc impresionant in comparatie cu ce se poate vedea acolo …

In acelasi loc odihnesc si Alexandre Istrati , un pictor, si Natalia Dumitresco, o pictorita cunoscuta pentru operele sale abstracte …

In drum spre hotel , foarte aproape de Place de la Catalogne am dat de o piateta cocheta al carei nume mi-ar fi scapat daca nu m-as fi zgait permanent la indicatoarele cu numele strazilor pentru a sti unde ma aflu … Astfel …

… Piata Constantin Brancusi … Cateva banute, o cafenea tipica si magazine jur imprejur, plus o strada cu sens unic … Un colt clasic al Parisului … Ceva ce iti spune ca francezii pot aprecia Romania, dar sunt alte elemente care incearca din rasputeri sa strice asta … Dar despre acest subiect, voi vorbi in alt post …

I celebrate Flemming Thorbye again for sharing this clip from Danish television (October 2008).  In it, Joe Muranyi talks about Louis Armstrong and plays YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE, warming up with the Scandinavian Rhythm Boys.  Joe’s candid recollections of Louis and WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD are priceless, as is the music.  If American television was like this, I would still have my set.

Guy Fawkes Night 是為了慶祝 1605 年天主教極端分子的火藥陰謀失敗。每年的這天，英國四周都會綻放煙花，而每年我也是跟朋友到來欣賞。大概是自己最後一年以學生身份在英國，所以即使之前下著傍佗大雨，也不願錯過。今年很有氣氛，當中一幕就播著我很喜歡，Louis Armstrong 的《What a wonderful world》。

四年的大學生活，不敢說是稱兄道弟，但我實在很珍惜這段友情，很享受這段光陰。美中不足，就是沒有妳在我的身邊，很想牽著妳手，好好欣賞今晚的煙花，規模雖然遠比不上香港，但也有另一番感覺。將來，一定會跟妳再來到這國度，感受這份英倫氣氛。

Haha, guess what WAWW stands for..

It’s what really was going to sprout from my mouth when I experienced the airplane tilt, you know, when the plane departs and leaves the ground, it’s the few minutes when it tries to strike stablity, as it swerves a deep U-shaped curve?

And everything under you (when you’re sitting by the window) seemed so serene, not fake like the aerial view which you would get in a few minutes later, but the 45-degrees slanted type of perspective that makes everything seem really within your range, within your hold, within your view. 

When all you could see are miniscules of houses, hills, cars, trees and best, you can’t even really spot the humans. That’s when I really want to thank Mother Nature for all she has nurtured and yet cynical thoughts still flourished within me as I’m trapped in a cabin with hundreds of humans.

But yes, WAWW is what Louis Armstrong crooned,

What a Wonderful World.  (haha, to think that I only have such thoughts when I take a plane, what an expensive thought eh!)

Lols, I’m back in Budapest btw, after the crazy time of roaming Prague, London, Edinburgh and then London again, I find myself so so so so relieved to be back here, even though Budapest is in lack of many things, amenities etc, but it has managed to let me acknowledge it as home. Home away from home, with lovely flatmates to talk openly to, food in fridge to help myself to (though it’s depleted lah, cos almost everyone went somewhere this autumn break, Noemie is still in France!)..

But I’ve seen more than I would ever had if I’m stuck in NTU and I’m so thankful for the opportunities, the travelling mates and the people of these cities. Thanks but I heart my Budapest deep deep<3!

You know the name Satchmo then you know Louis Armstrong. So no introduction is needed, or is there?

I remember seeing Robin Williams’ movie ‘Good Morning, Vietnam’ and hearing at the end an enchanting song.

Of course it was ‘What A Wonderful World’.

Louis Armstrong’s page at wikipedia.org.

I fall in love with this song since i had heard “What a wonderful world by louis Armstrong for along time ago. Music and lyric are easy to understand for me. I always thought. Louis was a fat gay. this is very funny.

Actually, I heard this new version of song by Stacey Solomon from X Factor 2009. She made a incredible version on her style,and recognized this music again. when I saw her walked in the front of host. I thought. She could sing a good song,but I didn’t think . she made a impact on this show

I love this version more, because Louis put a expression into. I don’t know why I need login youtube or imeem over and over for listen “what a wonderful world”.

So this week I went to the library to check out some new (new to me, that is) music from jazzy-pop artists. I always like doing that, to hear how the greats did the songs that I do in my act. I often look for CDs where I recognize song titles, and this week I borrowed from the library the 2002 CD “What A Wonderful World” by Tony Bennett, who’ll I’ll call Grandpa for the purpose of this article, since he looks and reminds me so much of my own grandpa, and k.d. lang, whom I’ll call The Jazzy Lesbian. The CD was produced by T. Bone Burnett, giving it added hipster cred.

Now you would think that I, being a singer of the Great American Songbook, would be a huge fan of Grandpa. But, I am not. I don’t do his music in my act. No “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” for me. I just don’t like the guy’s tone and delivery. Is he a cool guy? You bet! As a person, how can you not like Grandpa– I remember when he was on MTV in the 1990s with the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and thought, “Wow, Grandpa’s not dead. If anything, now his career is officially revived.” And since then, Grandpa has been on TV loads of times and recording up a storm. When he got with Canadian female crooner k.d. lang, whom many of you know for her early 1990s adult contemporary radio, the gorgeous “Constant Craving,” there was, as they say, “something special there.” So the two have collaborated, and on this “What A Wonderful World” CD, though I am not a huge fan of Grandpa’s voice, The Jazzy Lesbian’s voice is right “on point” for me. I am so glad The Jazzy Lesbian didn’t stick to just “alt-country” music, where she first made her mark in the 1990s. Her voice is so well-suited to singing classic jazzy-pop that I would say I’d be honored to duet with her someday.

“What A Wonderful World” has 12 songs on it; of the 12, most of which feature piano, warm strings, and smooth bass, a few made my “download-worthy” cut: “La Vie En Rose,” “A Kiss To Build A Dream On,” “Dream A Little Dream Of Me,” “I Wonder” (this song’s brand new to me), “That Lucky Old Sun,” and the title track.

A new little project for me, perhaps just as a therapeutic measure for my own sanity, or perhaps  to bring a small measure of “happy” to someone else… this post, and the next one, and then next after that… they’re going to be about happy things. I’m going to find something that brings a smile to my face, because I need that, and then share it through this blog.

So be prepared to smile, if only for a minute. It won’t hurt… I promise!

Today… a priceless Youtube video about a fawn and a cat, to Louis Armstrong’s ‘What a Wonderful World’ . I dare you to watch this and not smile!

A smile a day keeps the doctor away, right?

A poignant collection of intersecting vignettes depicting twenty-something angst, WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD! explores the various ways that modern life can be at once ridiculous and sublime, terrible and precious, wasted and celebrated. In Volume 1, what begins with a college dropout bored of her mediocre routine soon becomes a fantastic series of stories about the unexpected ways that different lives intersect. Filled with magical realism in the face of the cold reality of daily modern life, at their core these stories are about young people discovering something precious amidst the chaos of existence. Volume 2 explores similar themes including the cruelty of childhood, the delusion of adulthood, the permanence of death, and how people find a way to remain resolute and laugh in the face of reality.

“Inio Asano masterfully captures the essence of youth, and WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD! depicts both the exhilaration and frustration felt by a diverse group of twenty-somethings trying to find their place amidst the impersonal urban sprawl of Tokyo,” says Candice Uyloan, Director, Brand Management for VIZ Media. “Fans of everything from Catcher in the Rye to Reality Bites will find this series an impressive and heartfelt read. Asano’s realistic story is ultimately a commentary on how modern life and the choices one makes impact the struggle to grow up and fit in and we look forward to readers discovering this thought-provoking new title.”

Creator Inio Asano drew initial attention for his short story HELLO FROM OUTER SPACE, which won the 1st Sunday GX rookie prize in 2001. WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD also appeared in the pages of Sunday GX. Asano’s other works include CITY OF LIGHT, OYASUMI PUN PUN and the acclaimed SOLANIN (which is published in North America by VIZ Media and was nominated for a Will Eisner Comic Industry Award).

Inio Asano – Vz – 2009 – 2 volumes

Wow.  I like this.  I like it a lot.  It’s just… it’s overwhelmingly positive.  Even when it has no right to be.  It’s got drama, and sadness, but in the end, the characters always find something to be happy about, which is just about the best message a story could possibly have.  I know I like to read soapy dramas, but I love seeing that kind of thing balanced out here.

In the end, I think I did like these stories better than Solanin.  Solanin was somewhat positive (though very, very sad) and had character development, but I can’t help but love the number of ways these stories illustrating… well, the characters just coming to terms with their lives and being happy, even if it doesn’t seem like they should be.  Guy who just lost his part-time job and fell down the stairs?  Well, he’s still alive, and so is that stray dog he saved the other day.  Guy who died unsatisfied because he only went from job to job looking for something more to his life, rather than just enjoying it?  He comes back to life satisfied, because… well, he’s alive again, and his girlfriend forgives his fickleness concerning work, and that’s enough.  Boy whose girlfriend succombed to a disease which makes a person like a vegetable for the rest of their lives?  He still has her, and she still appreciates the cherry blossoms, and hey, he just got a new part-time job.

As one of the characters put it, the characters in the stories aren’t heroes, just background characters.  And they’re all ultimately satisfied with that.  I thought the last chapters were especially appropriate ways to end the book.  The character who experienced his own death, then was given another chance by the shinigami, the little black dog that appears in almost all the stories in this volume that seems to mourn the death of the homeless man, and the last story, with the girl who “caught a disease” and no longer responded to events in the world… that story in particular was quite touching since her boyfriend simply takes it in stride, and cares for her and does what he can anyway.  We never seem him despair or complain.  He just does what he can to make her happy, including trips out to see the cherry blossoms and dinner conversation she is completely unaware of.

There’s not much else I can say in praise of these stories.  The simple pleasure I got from always reaching the end and seeing the bright side of the situation is one that I probably can’t adequately express, but just know it was fantastic.  I am forever Inio Asano’s fan now, and will be keeping an eye out for any future work.

This was a review copy provided by Viz.

Inio Asano – Viz – 2009 – 2 volumes

This series consists of a pair of volumes full of short one-shot stories about the lives of average 20-somethings.  Even more than josei, this genre of stories about young people not doing anything in particular is one that is infinitely fascinating to me, and I am desperate to see more work just like this.

The first story in this volume is about an office worker who decides to quit his office job when he sees a group of his friends has (sorta) made it big in the indie music scene.  This sounds like it’s going somewhere, and I was suspicious at first, but it ends with the man deciding to go back to work when he realizes that the dream that his friends finally captured turned into reality as soon as they got it.  It’s an interesting lesson, and it was very understated in the story itself.

The fact that the story built up a music career that never actually happened made me think immediately of Solanin, a large one-volume work that shares the theme of 20-somethings not doing anything in particular.  I was very suspicious of the similarity, because they were exactly alike.  Then I realized the same artist drew them both, and felt really silly.

Between Solanin and this volume of short stories, I preferred Solanin, one of my favorites of last year.  I enjoy the themes immensely in both, but Solanin came out on top because the story had time to develop and ride through things like hope, stagnation, love, loss, and career ups and downs with the same set of characters, which made the themes that much more effective.  All of those themes are on display here, but they happen to characters I’m not as attached to, so their impact is lessened.  They are all still quite good, though.

I struggled through the entire volume to come up with connections between the stories.  They may not actually be there, but it sure felt like they either led from one to the other, or characters from one occasionally made a cameo in another.  The connections between them aren’t important at all, but the brain enjoys finding patterns, so there is another maddening layer of enjoyment to be had, should you so desire.

The stories themselves… hm.  Most are about the characters reflecting on their unremarkable lives.  Some find it lacking, but most find it lacking and then realize that it is exactly what they want, and they are very happy.  This is precisely why I love these stories, and Solanin as well.  There is no goal.  There is nothing remarkable about these people.  They are not passing their entrance exams, they are not climbing the corporate ladder, they are not conquering goals or chasing after a lost love.  They are just living their lives.  They have the same problems I do, and possess the same aspirations, which is precisely nothing.  And they came to the same conclusions I have: that it’s damn easy to appreciate what you have in life, even if it doesn’t seem like it at first.

Several of the characters seem to be conptemplating suicide, but nobody actually goes through it.  Some stories play out among high school students, some are entrance exam ronin for two or three years running, some are people holding down jobs or trying to hold down jobs.  They run the gamut of themes, but they all share… well, some of the stuff I’ve already discussed.  The best thing about all of these is that they don’t rub the themes and morals in your face.  The characters quietly come to their own conclusions, most of which are not shared with the reader, but are easily interpreted.  I loved this about the stories, too.

There are some strong symbols in some of the stories, too.  In one of the first ones, a girl trying to decide if she wants to get back together with her friends/former bandmates goes home after meeting one to find that her apartment building has burned down.  She then lapses into a fantasy about her poor pet turtle stripping out of its shell and running from the building, because that’s what it had to do in the end.  The image of the fleeing turtle is kind of a powerful one, even if it doesn’t really have any strong… associations in the story itself.  The one after this is about a bullied girl who is followed around by a talking shinigami crow that insists that she wants to kill herself.  The crow only goes away when she stands up to her classmates by pulling off a dangerous and stupid stunt.  Not a traditional method of confrontation, and I’m not even sure the results are what the character wanted, but she is happy in the end.

My favorite story was the last one in the volume, called “Syrup.”  It was about three boys who had not passed college entrance exams for two or three years in a row.  After awhile, one admits that he’s giving up on his dreams of being a professional skater and is taking over his family business.  The other gets angry, and the two fight when the first insists that the second’s dreams of being a photographer are just pipe dreams.  The next day, the third boy, named Syrup (after his habit of consuming cough syrup), speaks to the photographer, telling him that it doesn’t really matter what comes of dreams, what matters is the present, and it makes no difference in the present whether or not your dreams are actually attainable as long as they’re there to aspire to.  It’s one of the healthiest views of “dreams” I’ve ever seen in a manga.  Syrup’s ultimate fate after this is deeply disturbing, however.

In short, Inio Asano comes through again with realistic portrayals of young people living life in an unremarkable way.  There is nothing heroic, adventurous, or romantic about these stories.  They just are.  It makes me want to talk at length about the escapist nature of manga, and of the entertainment value of these non-escapist stories, but I will refrain.  Just know that everything Inio Asano writes is about as close as I’ve ever seen manga get to reality, and there’s something pretty incredible about that.

This was a review copy provided by Viz.

sursa : Photo Journal (Jim Cole/Associated Press)