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:

Busking

Tom really likes this busking thing, doesn't he? This time, it's in Buenos Aires. I love the confused people in the square.

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:

A teaser...

Soon I'm gonna post Demetri Martin's 6-part "If I" performance, which was inspiring and funny to say the least- it certainly made me feel less, er, special. Special in the weird way. Anyway, here's a little preview- it's Demetri's 224-word palindrome, entitled "Dammit I'm Mad". If you don't know what palindrome is, think perfect symmetry, in a non-Tom-Tim-Rich way. Or try to spot it:

Dammit I'm mad.
Evil is a deed as I live.
God, am I reviled? I rise, my bed on a sun, I melt.
To be not one man emanating is sad. I piss.
Alas, it is so late. Who stops to help?
Man, it is hot. I'm in it. I tell.
I am not a devil. I level "Mad Dog".
Ah, say burning is, as a deified gulp,
In my halo of a mired rum tin.
I erase many men. Oh, to be man, a sin.
Is evil in a clam? In a trap?
No. It is open. On it I was stuck.
Rats peed on hope. Elsewhere dips a web.
Be still if I fill its ebb.
Ew, a spider… eh?
We sleep. Oh no!
Deep, stark cuts saw it in one position.
Part animal, can I live? Sin is a name.
Both, one… my names are in it.
Murder? I'm a fool.
A hymn I plug, deified as a sign in ruby ash,
A Goddam level I lived at.
On mail let it in. I'm it.
Oh, sit in ample hot spots. Oh wet!
A loss it is alas (sip). I'd assign it a name.
Name not one bottle minus an ode by me:
"Sir, I deliver. I'm a dog"
Evil is a deed as I live.
Dammit I'm mad.


The best part, in my opinion, is something I'm very proud of myself for figuring out. You know what the point of symmetry is, the exact center of the palindrome? "I".

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.

Tom's L.A. Mini Doc, Part 1

Aha! Finally, an embeddable version has cropped up on Youtube. Yep, I get a little bit funneh when I'm jet-lagged too, but now I can take comfort in the fact that I don't imagine my blood disappearing down shower drains.

And the Irish/Scottish manager dude at the end is very, very bald- which is why Tom cuts in with the "Can I have some hair?" comment. Heee...

Coming soon: his What Do You Think Of? with Nicole Scherzinger of the Pussycat Dolls. You know, her. Hilariously, she's about as intellectual as she appears- yep- but Tom manages to be funny while completely respectful. And speaking in German. You'll see. Once I find it on Youtube, anyway.

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.

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.

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!"

What Do You Think Of?

Last summer, Tom Chaplin- the singer from Keane- decided to conduct 'interviews' of his bandmates, and here they are:

First, Richard Hughes, the drummer, shares his thoughts on war, Christmas, and Gordon Ramsay. I kept wondering exactly WHO he reminded me of...and then it hit me: BALDRICK. Just the way he talks and his intonations...you'll see.


Then, Tim Rice-Oxley, the keyboardist/mastermind, shared this thoughts on cows, religion, and hoodies. I'm still upset that he didn't answer the Hugh Laurie question. Oh well.

More Keane!

More goodiness, this time from a live gig in L.A. a couple of weeks ago. GUYS! WE HAVE LOUNGES HERE IN CHICAGO, TOO! REALLY! WE DO! PLEEEEEASE!

Anyway, Tim's playing a celeste. I suddenly feel verified:


You Don't See Me: Live at Largo LA from keaneofficial on Vimeo.

By the way, the dude from the 'Snowed Under' performance wasn't Argentinian. My bad. I mixed him up with another interviewer.