Tim Sings a Song

And it's really not terrible. At all. Without further ado, here is Mr. Rice-Oxley singing Jackson Browne's "These Days" in a hotel room in Rio. Terribly depressing song.

On a Day Like Today

So some time ago, I found this absolutely magical performance of Keane's "On a Day Like Today", live in Amsterdam. It was released only on the UK version of Hopes and Fears, and when I found it on iTunes, I originally rather disliked it. But after seeing this live performance, and hearing Tom's earnest (and f-bomb-containing) explanation, I fell in love with the song.

And then YouTube informed me that the user had removed the video.

But not to fear! I found it again. So, from good ole 2005, "On a Day Like Today". It's not immediately the most interesting song, and Tom starts out a touch shaky, but it's an absolutely hypnotic, gut-wrenching, hopeless song. So the usual cheerful stuff. Oh, and for some reason, there are bubbles around 3:50. Seriously:

Why We Need Strangers

These videos are short, blurry, and difficult to understand. Nevertheless, they absolutely prove why we need to own the documentary 'Strangers', pronto.

This is Tim's voice the whole way through. I did a Google Search and apparently this is somehow related to a Martin Short sketch/song. Notice Tom mouthing the words in the mirror in a disinterested manner:

EDIT: Apparently Ba-Ba-Ba-Broadway! is the title of a musical comedy Martin Short released 2 years after this documentary was made. So...maybe unrelated.



And you're sooooo smart, too. Definitely 11/10:



Just wow. In case you, er, can't tell, this is "Everybody's Changing":

Welcome Back. With A High Note.

I've said in the past...or at least, I've thought- that the world of classical music may have lost a possible star when Tom Chaplin decided to do that Keane rubbish. But watch this video. At the end, he sings the largest and most beautiful sundae...er...high note I have ever heard. HA! That phrase actually fits for once. Anyway, here's Keane recording 'Perfect Symmetry' (or rather, Symmotry) in Berlin last year:

Most Awkward Duet ever.

Tom Chaplin and Pete Doherty are kind of like a before/after picture. Every time the camera pans on Doherty here, I thank Neil Patrick Harris- because you KNOW this is somehow his doing- that Tom's over all his problems, because GOOD GOD he could be like this now. Case in point:

Poor Tom looks frightened and uncomfortable, as he well should; it can't be fun to stand a few feet away from a living reminder of a time Tom's referred to as "hell", "brainwashing", and a "cult"- namely, rehab.

Minidoc Part 4

And finally, the conclusion of Tom's profound, disturbing, and silly L.A. documentaries, all from last December.

LA minidoc part 3

The third part of Tom's L.A. minidocs, made way back in December. I always think he sounds eerily McCartney-esque on some songs, so it's actually quite unnerving how similar he can sound on purpose:

Some Funny Keane Pics

By the way, none of these are photo-shopped.

Alright. I've grown to appreciate Jesse Quin, the unofficial 4th member, ever since that dying-cow noise he made in Tom's documentary. But you HAVE to admit there's something a little strange going on here.


I mean, I don't want to say he feels about Tom the way Tom feels about Bono, but...

Tim replies with a Dick Solomon face.


And I don't mean to be silly or anything, but...AHAHAHAHAHAHA LOOK AT TOM'S FACE!!!!! AHAHAHAHAHA.
He looks like he just watched Michael's elimination from Idol. Yeah, I went there.

I don't know what I love more about that picture: the crazy facial expression OR the fact that the web address contained the word "FLAB". I'm not kidding. I think somebody should be offended, but I'm not quite sure who.

A Progression

Sorry, for those who don't appreciate Keane...wait. No. I'm NOT sorry. Anyway, here's a little progression I put together. I just think it's fascinating how they, particularly Tom, have gone from this in 2003, (shy, awkward, round-faced, floppy-haired, and rather off-key):



to full-fledged rock stars covering a Queen/Bowie song in 2007. Yes, they actually messed up a couple of times here, but it's a near-impossible song from every aspect, and Tom had real stage presence here, goddammit.



And, just because, a very sweet acoustic performance of 'Try Again' from 2007, complete with string quartet:

Union Chapel

Sorry, this is probably more interesting for the greater Keane aficionados amongst my readers.
I recommend watching in HQ, full-screen- very good quality. Just a few observations:
1) Tom HAS gained some of that weight back, hasn't he? Hm.
2) This is Union Chapel. Yep.
3) Tim's backing vocals have improved so much over the past few years, it's unbelievable.
4) They're singing Perfect Symmetry in a church. PERFECT SYMMETRY. The spineless dreamers hide in churches, and there is no heaven waiting for you song. In a CHURCH. Epic:

Some random bits and bobs

Just a few random tidbits- first of all, so Dunduk doesn't feel all alone in his non-understanding of NPH's epic NPH-ness, THE ORIGINAL PSYCHIC SPOONBENDER:



And another lovely little Keane song (with a moronic video. Sorry. The only other video I could find made some rather disturbing claims about Tom/Tim's relationship. PEOPLE. Jeez.) which I think ALL READERS of this blog will enjoy. This is another early, unreleased ditty entitled "He Used to Be a Lovely Boy", released as a B-side to "Is It Any Wonder" during their dark, uncommunicative, drug-fueled Under the Iron Sea period. It's quite obviously another Tim-to-Tom song, similar to "Hamburg Song", with lyrics like "no one here will miss you now":

Tom's Doc Part 2

Epic goofiness. EPIC.

Unreleased song!

Ha! I found a very old, unreleased Keane song. I mean, this is ANCIENT. But still quite sweet and very, very Beatles-y:

DAMN.

Well, I couldn't find the super-exciting thing I was looking for, but I found two less interesting videos to make up for it. Grrr.

Well, first we have Keane playing a tribute to Genesis at a VH1 concert. The low notes at the beginning were shaky and the song stinks, but it's...interesting. I got a very McCartney-ish vibe from Tom during the "nananana"s at the end. This was at the beginning of 2008, right when Keane had their quasi-reinvention...I think it was the debut of The Haircut and The Leather Jackets.

Also, I can't quite place that guy doing the introduction...hm. Seems a touch familiar, though.



And just for giggles: THIS is how I'm planning to make my performance at Sunday's recital stand out. Really, really stand out. BANG ON, MAN.

Funny Pictures

Just a few funny pictures today. Remember this epic Bono photo?
Well, THEY'RE EVERYWHERE!




My god. Terrifying. And this picture just made me laugh for a really, really long time...the dude's face...

Bedshaped Music Video

Unfortunately Universal has disabled embedding for their videos, but ohmygoodnessgracious this is a fantastic music video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZFzC2lX7lw&feature=channel
Great song, too, from way back when (Hopes and Fears).

Early Winter; or, Gwen Stefani not-complete-FAIL

My god. Is it possible? Is it an actually...DECENT...Gwen Stefani song?

Well, of course, it's not a Gwen Stefani song. It's a Tim Rice-Oxley song, which means that all of the non-FAIL elements of this can probably be attributed to him alone. But still!



Of course, there's always room for improvement. Like, say, removing Gwen Stefani from the equation. (click here and watch in HQ- really worth it)



Ah, much better.

Fascinating Engrish

I have discovered my own inexhaustable source of engrish: the comments on the KeaneMusic blog.

For example, on a post about how some fan made these little wooden block-shaped models of Tim and Tom:

Greattttttttttttttt cute cute and where's Rich lol lol lol lol yeah !! maybe if hteses models make em dance lol lol lol lol Rich I love your arts LoVE ya my beloved band kisses fro Brazil we ara waiting for you in March :))))))))))))))))))))) ps: oh!!! thanks for the lovely video at UMusic me and all the fans here love when Tom said Belo Horizonteee lol lol lol lol

Where do you find this kind of amazing stuff ?... It's too funny because this looks like totemic artworks or to the trinket as we find in the "kings cake"... KEANE, too cute as small broad beans !!!

Hi ! Can anybody tell me if these headsquares of Tom and Tim mean they are stubborns? Answering km.com question.........Richard`s one , is on ebay and its price will make the drummer`s ego grow as the bear froth... (smirk). Great pictures, very funny. Cheers.

This sort of stuff makes my life very happy.

Thank You To Pseudo-Baldrick

This is just for giggles...

So, today I was reading Richard Hughes' (a.k.a. Keane's drummer, a.k.a Baldrick-in-disguise) photoblog and I spotted a photo that, for obvious reasons, reminded me of this video (rewatch from 3:40). The facial expression, the camera angle, the oblivious bloke in the foreground- perfect.



Just switch Tom with Dick and you get...

Even More Keane Goodies

Nothing earth-shattering, but quite pleasant. Also, EYEBROWS. Heeeeeeee.

First, I thought the title of this was right...but then I started to doubt myself...wouldn't the 3rd person plural of 'aller' be 'vont'? Or no? I'm not sure 'allant' is even a word...god, I am going to FAIL my French final.

EDIT: I was RIGHT! HA! There is no such word as 'allant' in the entire French language. BURN.

Er. Anyway:



And my personal favorite:

New favorite quote (read: you're going to hear a lot of this in the coming days):
"Nope...no magic emanating from over there..."
"Hey!"