All 5 Of The Brian Williams Rap Mash-Ups Including The Epic Rapper's Delight.

I posted this on Faceboook a few minutes after it aired Wednesday night because I was so impressed with it. Apparently, I'm not alone -  it was the number one trending item on Facebook all day Thursday. So, for those of you who have not been watching Jimmy Fallon's first week as host of The Tonight show, I will share it with you.

You may not know that this was not the first mash-up with NBC Nightly News managing editor and anchor Brian Williams edited to appear as though he were rapping. Although the previous versions were not as seamlessly done nor were they nearly as funny. The Brian Williams Gangster Rapper feature became somewhat of a running gag on Jimmy's Late Show with versions to Warrne G, Marky Mark and The Funky Bunch, N.W.A. and Snoop Dogg.

Aired feb 14, 2013
NBC Nightly News managing editor and anchor Brian Williams raps The Sugar Hill Gang's classic "Rapper's Delight" -- and, yes, he brought two friends along:


Prior to this epic one, there were these four - albeit not quite as well done.

The first one aired on June 5th, 2013:
Brian Williams Rapping Snoop Dogg's verse from the classic Dr. Dre song "Nuthin' but a 'G' Thang.":


Followed by this one on June 6th, 3013:
Brian Williams Raps Warren G's "Regulate"


The third one aired on June 7th, 2013:
Brian Williams Raps N.W.A's "Straight Outta Compton":


and then on Jul 29, 2013 was this one:
Brian Williams Raps Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch's hit "Good Vibrations.":



Perhaps now that Jimmy Fallon is hosting The Tonight Show, more eyeballs are seeing them. But he has many more tricks up sleeve and I'm looking forward to them.

Jeffrey Darling's Ad Campaign For South Australian Tourism. (All 3 Spots)

The third but no means final installment of the ads by KWP! for South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) launched earlier this month. Following on from the highly successful Kangaroo Island, Let Yourself Go and Barossa, Be Consumed (both shown in this post) campaigns comes Adelaide, Breathe.

All three have been the result of a partnership between the South Australian Tourism Commission, KWP! Advertising and Moth Projects. In particular director Jeffrey Darling and KWP! creative director James Rickard.

The most recent, Adelaide. Breathe is 1:46 seconds of stunning imagery with a fabulous cover version of INXS "Never Tear Us Apart" sung by Australian singer /songwriter Emma Louise.

Adelaide Breathe:


When embarking on the third ad in the series, the group were very conscious of the fact other advertisers, particularly but not exclusively in the tourism category were not only taking note, but also beginning to emulate what they had done. It became imperative to step things up again and the team has done so with Adelaide, Breathe.

"What I was interested in is how we could create a new language and a new ground swell instead of resting on our laurels. This is where the success of the previous pieces has come from: to dictate the game, not be a follower - even if it is the swell we created." says Darling. "Above all I wanted the piece to be entertaining. An appreciation of entertainment and art seems to sit at the very core of Adelaide's soul."

Barossa. Be Consumed (Music: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Red Right Hand):


Adds Rickard: "Like many cities, Adelaide is a multilayered proposition, but what sets it apart from others is its creativity, youthful entrepreneurialism and freedom that are attributes of its DNA as a freely settled colony. It is the combination of space and pace that enhances that sense of liberty."

The spot, featuring singer Emma Louise and her astronaut alter ego discovering and exploring the city and its close regions, is set to her cover version of the INXS classic, Never Tear Us Apart. The track was produced by record producer, composer and engineer Nick Launay and Midnight Oil's Jim Moginie.

Kangaroo Island, Let Yourself Go (2012):


To date the campaigns have achieved record results, along with a number of awards including the Grand Prix at Cannes Corporate Television & Media Awards, and for Cinematography at LIA Awards.

Credits for Adeliade, Breathe:
Agency: KWP! Advertising
Creative Director/Writer: James Rickard
Art Director: Michael Gagliardi
Agency Producer: Di Willson
Account Manager: Tristan Glover
Production Company: Moth Projects
Director: Jeffrey Darling
Executive Producer: Sarah Blair
Producer: Kate Sawyer
Editor: Adam Wills
Post Production: Kojo
Compositing & Colour Grading: Marty Pepper
Music: Never Tear Us Apart, INXS
Performer: Emma Louise
Producer: Nick Launay

information courtesy of campaignbrief

Lady Gaga Morphs Into Classic Paintings Via Video - A Comparative Look.

A video installation by artist Robert Wilson inserts Pop music phenom Lady Gaga into such classic pieces of art as Andrew Solari’s The Head of John the Baptist on a Charger (1507), Jacques-Louis David’s The Death of Marat (1793) and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres' famous portrait of Mademoiselle Caroline Rivière (1793-1807).


above: a view of the installation at Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac

Mademoiselle Caroline Rivière
Lady Gaga as the Portrait of Mademoiselle Caroline Rivière by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1793-1807):

The original painting:

Side by side:


The Death of Marat
Lady Gaga as the murdered Marat in Jacques-Louis David’s The Death of Marat (1793):

The original painting:

A still of the video:

Side by side:


The Head of John the Baptist
Lady Gaga as Andrew Solari’s The Head of John the Baptist on a Charger (1507):

Video stills showing the morphing of Gaga into the original painting:


The original painting:

Side by side:


The artist at work on the video portraits of Lady Gaga:


The video portraits are one part of a two part exhibit from artist Robert Wilson presently showing at The Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac. In the second part, he and Lady Gaga are seen in action during the shooting of the video "Flying" (a sort of "making of") , in which the musician can be seen hanging upside down naked while a rope cuts into her skin, bending her left leg, pinning her arms behind her back and deforming her breasts.

Flying:



The artist and Lady Gaga on the set of Flying:


The press release:
The Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac is pleased to present an exhibition of video portraits that Robert Wilson made in London in November 2013: Video Portraits of Lady Gaga.

American artist and stage director Wilson has based this series of slowly shifting video portraits on old masters like Ingres and Solario. Lady Gaga's face and body metamorphose into the features of Mademoiselle Rivière, for example, in a video inspired by the famous portrait of Mademoiselle Caroline Rivière by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres (1793-1807). Wilson also gives us a variation in eleven steps based on Andrea Solario's Head of John the Baptist on a charger (1507) in which the 16th century model and the transformed face of the pop star merge in and out of each other.

The second room is devoted to the making-of of the two artists' joint production. Robert Wilson and Lady Gaga are seen in action during the shooting of the video Flying. Robert Wilson dictates every movement, every item of scenery and every shade of lighting. His artistry as a stage director finds its highest fulfilment in Lady Gaga’s sheer power and determination. "She is capable of changing character at an alarming speed", says Wilson.

Video Portraits of Lady Gaga is Robert Wilson's fourth exhibition at the Galerie Thaddaeus Ropac. In 1993 the gallery presented drawings from his adaptation of Mozart's Magic Flute at the Opéra Bastille, and in 1996 the designs for the opera Erwartung at the Théâtre du Châtelet. In 2006 there was an exhibition at the gallery of his series of portraits, Faces of Mozart, in graphite, coloured inks and watercolour.

Check out Wallpaper Magazine's article on the exhibit here

About the artist:
Robert Wilson was born in Waco, Texas. He studied at the University of Texas and at the Pratt Institute, New York City. In the 1960s he was recognized as one of the leading lights of avant-garde theatre in Manhattan. With the performance company, the Byrd Hoffman School of Byrds, he created Deafman Glance (1970) and in 1976 his opera Einstein on the Beach with music by Philip Glass brought him worldwide renown and changed conventional perceptions of opera.

Since then, Robert Wilson has staged both original works and works from the traditional repertoire, notably: The CIVIL warS (1983-1985), Salome at la Scala, Milan (1987), Black Rider at the Théâtre du Châtelet (1990), Orlando with Isabelle Huppert at the Théâtre de l’Odéon (1993), Wagner's Ring at the Zurich Opera (2002), Lulu by Frank Wedekind with music by Lou Reed at the Théâtre de la Ville (2011), The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic in Manchester (2011) and at the Teatro Real, Madrid (2012). In November 2013, he presented The Old Woman by Daniils Kharms, with Willem Dafoe and Mikhaïl Barynchnikov at the Théâtre de la Ville and in December, at the same venue, Peter Pan with the Berliner Ensemble and music by CocoRosie. He will be staging another production of Einstein on the Beach in January 2014 at the Théâtre du Châtelet. Robert Wilson is currently featured in the Festival d’Automne à Paris, 2013 and he is guest artist at the Louvre.

images courtesy of the artist and the gallery -  their official sites, facebook pages and twitter feeds

Owen Wilson in The Killers' Christmas In LA , a 5 Minute Melancholy Mixed Media Music Video.

The Killers have shared their latest charity Christmas single, Christmas In L.A., whose proceeds will benefit the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. This is the eighth year that the Killers have partnered with (RED), the AIDS awareness organization founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver, to produce a Christmas single.



Directed by Kelly Loosli (who is the program director of BYU's animation program) , the mixed media five minute and 12 second music video casts Owen Wilson as a melancholy out of work actor who is dreading December 25th in Los Angeles. I'm not sure if this is odd or perfect casting given Wilson's suicide attempt in 2007 , which everyone seems to have forgotten. The lonesome video also features actor Harry Dean Stanton (below with Wilson) and animation by Loosli's students at Brigham Young University.




Watch the video below, and head over to iTunes to purchase "Christmas in L.A.," which features supporting vocals from Dawes.



The Killers

All The Channels On That Cool Interactive Bob Dylan Like A Rolling Stone Video (and How It Was Done)

If you follow tech, music and media news, you've probably already heard about, if not seen, the engaging interactive music video for Bob Dylan's classic "Like A Rolling Stone."



Created by Interlude (along with Sony Legacy/Columbia who produced the Bob Dylan: The Complete Album Collection V.1), the music video for Bob Dylan's classic "Like A Rolling Stone" consists of various tv shows on multiple channels in which the hosts, stars or participants are mouthing the lyrics.


above: the brand new Complete Album Collection of Bob Dylan was released on Nov. 4, 2013

So what, you say? Lip-syncing is nothing new. But in this case, YOU control the channels. And there seem to be so many! So how did they get all the folks on those tv channels, in game shows, sports and movies to simulate singing the song?

Actual shows in the video:


There are seven 'real' shows: The Price Is Right, History Channel's Pawn Stars, HGTV's Property Brothers, podcast Maron (WTF), MTV's Girl Code, YouTube channel Look TV and sports channel ESPN. For these, especially filmed clips in which the actual hosts participated were executed.

The rest are fake (although many contain cameos by real entertainment personalities) and were created to simulate popular shows and channels on national and cable stations.

Some of the faux shows in the video:


All The Available Channels in the Interactive Bob Dylan Video:

• Music 1 Classics (a spoof on VH-1)
• Music 1 BASS (a faux music show featuring real rapper Danny Brown)
• Shop TV (a spoof on HSN, the Home Shopping Network)
• History Network (a parody of The History Channel)
• Love Is Love (a made up Rom-Com)
• Bachelor's Rose (a spoof on ABC's The Bachelor)
• MTC- Financial News (a fake financial show)
• Cooking Show/ Cuisine (a faux cooking show)
• Pawn Stars (a real show on the History Channel)
• Look TV (a real youtube channel)
• Girl Code (a real show on MTV)
• The Price Is Right (a real game show, duh)
• Maron (WTF) (a real podcast with Marc Maron)
• Tennis Match (a simulated tennis match)
• Property Brothers (a real show on HGTV)
• Zoey and Socks (a phony animated children's show)
• BCC News (a spoof on CNN News)
• ESPN (the real sports show with Steve Levy)

The video itself was created with Interlude's own self-service HTML5 web app, Treehouse:


You can sign up and get started with Treehouse to create your own interactive videos here.

A lot of people put time and effort into this very cool production and below are ALL the credits for each channel and cameo appearance.

FULL CREDITS
Written & Composed by Bob Dylan (C) 1965 Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
Created By Vania Heymann
Director & Additional Editing, VFX and Cinematography: Vania Heymann
Writer/Producer: Natan Schottenfels
Executive Producers: Lihu Roter, Tamara Harel-Cohen
Produced by Pulse Films and Walter Pictures
Producers: Lia Mayer-Sommer, Stacy Vaughan

Interlude
Executive Producers: Yoni Bloch, Alon Benari
WPP Strategy Director & CEO: Mark Read
Design: Tal Baltuch, Alizarin Zroob
Programmers: Eric Baukhages, Patrick Griffith
Creative Technologist: Austin Beer
Interactive Supervising: Hilah Almog, Therese Moriarty
Interactive Director: Tal Zubalsky
Interactive Engineer: Tomer Lahav
Creative: Daniel Barak
DP: Michael Blecher
Additional Editing: Roy Kafri
Concept Advisory: Gon Ben Ari
Production Manager: Elise Majorossy
Producers In Israel: Shir Zehavi, Amir Tal
Production Designer: Nicholas Tong
First Assistant Director: Marc Kelly
Costume Designer: Melissa Vargas
Art Director: Brian Rzepka
Hair: Ami
Make Up: Hiro Yonemoto
Gaffer: Aaron Smith
First Assistant Camera: Dave Brickley
Second Assistant Camera: Mike Ashley
Best Boy Electric: Justin Deary
Grip: Joachim Glaser, Charlie Pearson
Art Assistant: Thiago Martins
Wardrobe Assistant: Melissa Infante
Production Assistants: Charles Carter, Darryl Akins, Brandon Polanco, David Bain, Sabrina Sahraie, Adam Chitayat
Drivers: Eric Bellomo, Kyle Clark, Matt Iafe
Post Production Services: The Artery VFX
VFX Executive Producer: Yfat Neev
VFX Supervisor: Vico Sharabani
Post Producer: Lynzi Grant
VFX Artist: Jake Nelson
Graphic Design: Carlos Soler
Animating & Compositing: Adam Deutsch
Editors: Danielle Katvan

Channel Credits

Music 1 Classics
Filmed by D.A. Pennebaker, Edited by David Tedeschi
Re-Edited: Vania Heymann

Music 1 BASS
Starring Danny Brown
Animation: Dima Tretyakov, Nadav Embon
Composting: Chem Weinberger
VFX: Vania Heymann

Shop TV
Female Host: Darly Wayne
Male: Steve Garfanti
Editor: Bill Stepanoski

History Network
Prof. Martin Child: Martin Pfefferkorn
Prof. Sarah MatterHorn: Victoria Nahorn
Dr. Michael Ryder: Joseph Cornacchia
1930's Don Juan: Roy Kafri

Love Is Love
Male Lead: Ben Kahre
Female Lead: Kat Seelos
Waitress: Susan Feiman

Bachelor's Rose
Contestants: Perla Murray, Anastasia Vazhava, Ty Hayes, Chi Chi Obi, Nadine Van Ashbeck
The Bachelor: Soren Du Hoffman
Editor: Tamar Glezerman

MTC- Financial News
Anchor: Paul McGuire
Field Reporter: Marisa Bramwell
Producer: Kerry Vaughan

Cooking Show
Host: Adeena Sussman

Pawn Stars
Hosts: Rick Harrison, Austin “Chumlee” Russell
Seller: Derek Stonebarger
Editor: Tamar Glezerman
Executive Producers: Brent Montgomery, David George, Matthew J. Braley, Joel Patterson, Rick Harrison
Supervising Producer: Peter Van Pelt
Director: Jairus Cobb
Director of Photography: Joe Murgia
Producer: Shannon Biggs
Field Associate Producer: Nawara Blue
Audio: Ben Sortino
Production Assistants: Jill Delaney, David Gardner, Chase Johnson, Sam Zapiain

Look TV
Host: Victoria Floethe

Girl Code (on MTV)
Hosts: Carly Aquilino, Nessa, Nicole Byer, Jessimae Peluso, Tanisha Long, Shalyah Evans
Executive Producers: Paul Ricci, Darin Byrne, Ryan Ling
Talent Manger & Casting: Lauren Zins
Production Manager: Katie Schwartz, Dan Kuvalakis

The Price Is Right
Starring: Drew Carey, Rachel Reynolds, George Gray
Contestants: Ty Fanning, Theresa Robinson, Jason Sarayba
Editor: Will Reyes
Production Supervisor: Raphael Laski
Production Coordinator: Ruth Du
Associate Director: Rich Preuss
Stage Manager: Jonathan Marks
Technical Director: Glenn Koch
Video Operator: Rick Labgold
Camera Operators: Wayne Getchell, Ed Nelson, Quinn de Varona, Brent Roberts
Jib Operator: Bob Smith
Recordist: Glen Penland
Post Associate Producer: Jazmine Eckenberg
Hair & Make Up: Carol Wood, Annet Ackerman

Maron (WTF)
Marc Maron & Ryan Singer
Cinematography & Production: Raphael Laski
Camera Operator: Daniel Batteles
Assistant to Marc Maron: Samantha Varela
Editor: Bill Stepanoski

Tennis Match
Anchor: Steve Levy
Diovesky: Shahar Rot
Plotnivich: Doron Amit
Bench: Niv Majar, Nimrod Rothem
Production Team: Eyal Goldman, Tamuz Roberman, Dana Standel,
Achiya Schatz
Casting: Sharon Angelhart
Wardrobe:Anat Svirsky

Property Brothers
Drew Scott, Jonathan Silver Scott
Boyfriend: Michael Davies
Girlfriend: Jennifer McKune
Sub Contractor: David Banks

Zoey and Socks – JUST FOR KIDS
Animation: Leigh Lahav
Editing: Or Paz

BCC News
Anchor: Danny Kushmaro
Weather: Gemma Harvey
Producer: Amir Tal
Director: Natalie Ezra
Executive Producer: Anaelle Heymann
Camera Operator IL: Camel Ibrahim
Camera Operator US: Austin Beer
Media: Yoav L. Wazana, Ziv Ben Gal
Sound: Nir Saado

ESPN
Producer: Tim McHugh

Special thanks go to:
The BBYO Beyond Group, The Israel Tennis Center-Ramat HaSharon, Eyal Taoz, Israeli Television - Channel 2 News

Buy the Bob Dylan: The Complete Album Collection V.1

A Look Inside The Apple Apartments That Turned Beatles History Into Luxury Living.

Earlier this year, 94 Baker Street launched The Apple Apartments. A boutique, luxury development of 5 apartments within a building that formally housed the Beatles' Apple Records and Apple Boutique.


above: 94 Baker Street in 1967 housed the Beatles' Apple Records and Apple Boutique

The apartments (which are now available to rent) launched in July 2013 with much fanfare, including a 1960's inspired psychedelic light projection on the building's exterior - as a nod to the original mural commissioned by George Harrison and painted over the Georgian building by art students in the 60s.



above: Psychedelic light projection on 94 Baker Street as part of the Apple Apartments launch in 2013

First, a little history:



As well as the base for The Beatles record empire in the late 1960s, the Apple Boutique was opened at street level and sold clothes and accessories.



above: the exterior and interior of the Apple Boutique at 94 Baker Street

The aim of the shop was, according to Paul McCartney, to create “a beautiful place where beautiful people can buy beautiful things" (this quote was projected onto the building during the launch). The launch party for the Apple Boutique in December 1967 was attended by John Lennon, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, Cilla Black and Kenneth Tynan.



above: original images from the launch party of the Apple boutique in 1967

The Apple Boutique was an early venture of The Beatles’ Apple Corps company. It was only open from December 1967 until July 1968.


above: the Apple Boutique closed less than a year after opening.

During the heyday of The Beatles tenure, a psychedelic-style mural was commissioned by George Harrison and painted over the Georgian building by art students but planning permission had not been sought and the artwork was ordered to be covered in white paint to satisfy Westminster Council and the landlord, the Portman Estate.


above: The 94 Baker Street exterior mural being painted by art students

The New Apple Apartments
Now, restored by the Malins Group the design theme for the luxury apartments  amalgamated the influences of the eternally stylish monochrome look on the runway for Spring Summer 2013; the 60's images from the Beatles days in occupation; and John Lennons 'Imagine' music video.


above: The 94 Baker Street exterior as it appears today

A Blue Plaque was erected on the 17th March 2013 to commemorate John Lennon and George Harrison.

above: The plaque replaced one that initially only honored John Lennon. The new plaque’s inscription reads: ‘John Lennon M.B.E. 1940-1980 George Harrison M.B.E. 1943-2001 worked here.’ M.B.E. stands for Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, an honor that Queen Elizabeth II bestowed on all of the Beatles back in 1965.

There are four two bedroom and a one bedroom apartment all benefiting from surround sound, comfort cooling/heating system, Sky TV and direct lift access to each flat.

Highlights of the exclusive apartments include: Diffused fresh air, heating and comfort cooling to all principle rooms, Multi Room Audio Visual System, Black solid wenge floors, Full height black wenge and white ice etched glass doors, with satin inlay, White ice etched glass pocket doors, Italian high gloss concealed kitchens with shark nose worktops, V&A designer sanitary ware, Marble slabs to bathrooms, Bespoke wardrobes with grey oak cabinetry, Velvet carpets and Designer feature wallcoverings.

The photos below depict the show flat which is available on a furnished basis. Other apartments can be rented as furnished or unfurnished, depending upon negotation.

The Lobby:



The Living Room:





Bedroom and en suite bath:




Artist Scott Eaton who created the Venus iPad Docking Station and the Hercules XIII Tablet Stand was commissioned to create the unsual lamps seen in the master bedroom:



The apartments were sold to Middle eastern investors just four weeks after the launch for £10.2 million and are being rented for between £750 and £1,150 a week.

"The investors have bought all five apartments, four two-bedroom, which were priced from £1.625,000 and £1.750,000 and a one-bedroom at £1.250,000, and the retail space at ground level. The apartments will be available to rent at the end of the year, for between £750 and £1,150 a week" according to agents Kay & Co, who secured the deal.

Lauren Atkins, MD of The Malins Group, whose development portfolio includes residential developments in Belgravia, Chelsea, Knightsbridge, Mayfair and Westminster, said: “The Apple Apartments have a unique place in the history of The Beatles and the purchasers have bought the ultimate slice of memorabilia. We incorporated exceptional design and specification, with the very best materials and finishes. This has been a very special project and we are really excited that they have sold within a month of the launch. It is a great endorsement for the standards and quality of the work by the Malins Group.”

Available from November 2013. Photos shown in this post depict the show flat which is available on a furnished basis. Rent excludes administration fees of £300 inc. VAT plus £50 per person inc. VAT for referencing which is payable upon creation of a legally binding tenancy agreement.



Interested in renting or scheduling a viewing? Go here.