Sunday, November 25, 2012

Down?

If life gets you down, just compare it to something crappier and everything's okay
-Craig Benzine

Monday, November 19, 2012

My Top 15 Favorite YouTube Songs

As a consumer of the internet, I watch a lot of YouTube. Out of all the amazing internet sites out there, why YouTube? Well, lots of reasons. To better see why I like YouTube so much, it would be a good idea to delve into some common reasons that people do not consume YouTube.

1. It's a time waster.
a. This is true, if used irresponsibly.

2. What about all the inappropriate content?
a. Subscription Box! Found something appropriate and awesome? (I have a lot of these, so if you need any suggestions you know who to ask) Subscribe to their channel and you will be notified whenever they post new content. Also, their appropriate content will rise to the top of your YouTube homepage whenever you are logged in.

3. It's just cat videos and people getting hurt.
a. WRONG SIR/MADAM! Those videos may get a lot of views, but much of what I have found on YouTube is...well people. Just people like you and me, filming themselves talking about what they want to talk about. Being themselves in front of a camera. YouTube is also about interesting people creating content without stringent companies breathing down their necks. It’s about watching people be themselves. Being creative, fun, and entertaining for the enjoyment of many. It's about people working on their own time, doing their own thing for a living. It's a fun, laid-back, entertaining experience for both viewer and creator. It's about connecting people all over the world to one another and saying "Hey, I think you're interesting." It’s about those who are willing and able to put themselves out there taking risks, and reaping the rewards. It's about creativity, making songs, videos, contests, playing games, doing make-up, or just about doing whatever makes you, you. It's telling the world "Hey world, this is me. This is what I like to do. This is who I am." And those who are similar to you can connect with you. It's about You(Tube).

Soo..... now that I've accidentally covered what I like about YouTube within the list of reasons not to like YouTube, let's see that list.

15. Vlogbrother Hank Green: "A Song About an Anglerfish"
And we start with a very talented man. The Vlogbrothers, Hank and John Green, got their start on YouTube with a video series of vlogs directly addressed to one another. Even to today they still begin their videos with a good morning to the other brother (making it hard to remember which is which for a new viewer), though their audience has grown. I am sure that Hank Green has the superpower of talking extremely fast, and John has the power of talking for a very long time without breathing. Anyway, the song. It's fast paced (his superpower), and presents a great outlook on life. It repeats that... Well you'll see. But it makes human life seem very easy. So yeah!


14. Julian Smith (Jeffery Dallas): "Stuck Inside Your Head"
Julian Smith will be beginning our official list with his alter-ego's hit, "Stuck Inside Your Head." His videos are always high-quality and really awesome. Jeffery gets kind of off track in the middle though, and has an overall unprofessional demeanor. But you can always count on Jeffery to come up with awesome songs and humor. Enjoy.


13. Julian Smith: "I'm Reading a Book"
Let's keep this list moving right along with more from the hilariously talented Julian Smith. His over the top style only compliments his amazing musical prowess. And don't mess with him ESPECIALLY when he's reading a book.


12. Tobuscus: "Dramatic Song"
Toby Turner is a very straightforward comedian if I've ever heard of one. His comedy style spawns from everyday life, making him a really funny improv artists. And it shows in just about all of his videos. He also makes the best sellout videos, so I don't even mind when he does. This hit, "Dramatic Song," is the only song I've ever heard in a foreign language, in my native language. You'll see why.


11. Rhett and Link: "My Favorite Pillow"
This list is going to contain a lot of Rhett and Link, so I should probably introduce you to them. From Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina, Rhett and Link are two very interesting internetainers. They met in the first grade, for writing bad words on the desks, and have known each other since then. They have had talk shows about a Chia Lincoln, make intentionally bad local commercials for their IFC show (Rhett and Link, Commercial Kings), and call their audience "Mythical Beasts." They have also created a movie about them searching for their first-grade teacher, letting people they have never met lead the way (Looking for Mrs. Locklear). They are also incredibly musically gifted, and I really like the video for this song (Filmed entirely in reverse (Webby Award Winner for Best Editing, 2011!)), called "My Favorite Pillow."


10. Wheezy Waiter: "The Sandwich Song"
OMGOMGOMGOMG ITS WHEEZY WAITER! This man is hilarious. But who is he? I will tell you! Craig Benzine was a waiter from Chicago. In 2007, he began a video blog to describe his life as a waiter to the internet at large. He called this vlog series WheezyWaiter, since he was a waiter and also had (and still has) asthma. He kept at the video business, for a while having to wake up early and make an entire video before he left for work in the morning. But slowly, video blogging became his work, as Craig's audience grew and YouTube partnership became more and more profitable. Craig's videos then evolved from simple table-waiting scenarios to the incredible inside joke-filled monstrosities that they now are, often including songs. In this song, Wheezy Waiter goes through the process of making a sandwich, sacrificing reality for rhyming words. Ladies and Gentlemen, "The Sandwich Song," by Wheezy Waiter. (Skip to 1:35 in the video to listen to just the song. But I don't know why you would want to skip all the amazing Wheezyness)


9. Rhett and Link: "The Perfect Bathroom Trip"
This song, also by Rhett and Link is amazing! Featuring iJustine and Julian Smith, two other awesome YouTubers, "The Perfect Bathroom Trip" is like a tag-team of awesome. The amazing awkwardness makes it really funny, and it’s such a weird topic for a song, but that's why it’s so awesome. And it’s true. Enjoy!


8. Tobuscus: "Tobuscus Theme Song"
What? A theme song on your top 15 YouTube songs? Is this some kind of joke, Grant? No it's not. The reason I've included Toby's theme song is because it’s so amazingly original. The awesome riff, and solo, ending with an implication to BUH DAH DO DO DO DO DO SUBSCRIBEEEE is just so awesome. In these times of public domain music and dubstep, Tobuscus's theme song ousts them all. Here is a rendition of the theme by thesurfingviolinist, as I feel he does an excellent job of capturing its essence. (Also, Toby said a potty word in his version). Deal with it.


7. Julian Smith (Jeffery Dallas): "Jellyfish"
Ahh more sea creatures I see. Jeffery Dallas is back, and this time he attempts to implore you away from the dangers of eating one of his favorite dishes. His signature dish may be called Jellyfish, but it is not exactly as it seems. Also, actual jellyfish have lightning inside.


6. Rhett and Link: "I am a Thoughtful Guy"
Another masterpiece by the North Carolinian Internetainers. I love all of their thoughts, especially the colors one, because I have actually thought about that before. The randomness also adds a lot to the humor and amazingoscity (yes, I just made that word up). Anyway I'll let you at it.


5. Rhett and Link: "My Hair Song"
Wow. These guys are good. My hair song. It really shows how the pair compliments each other. And which style of hair to have if you like to smuggle babies. So yeah. Basically they're awesome, like I've already said, and the song is funny and amazing. Now watch.


4. Wheezy Waiter: "Discontinuity Song"
An episode of WheezyWaiter goes horribly wrong when clothes get mixed up in different angles! So he decides to sing a song! And that song is amazing! And iPhone technology is actually useful! Also, the coffee gets done and Wheezy goes and gets it. So it’s pretty much the greatest thing ever. Wait, did he just sell out? Ahh doesn't matter. We get to watch this amazing stuff. Enjoy.


3. Charlieissocoollike: "Sound Song"
Charlie McDonnell is an ordinary kid from Bath, U.K. As he got older, he began to make videos in his bedroom, often with awkward endings. But that's okay, that's why we love Charlie. In his Fun Science series, Charlie began to dive into the teaching realm, making awesome videos about the moon, light, and even sound! His sound video took the form of an amazing ukulele song that sits at number 3 on my list. Marvel at this song's beauty, and learn something while you're at it.


2. A Very Potter Musical: "Goin' Back to Hogwarts"
Okay. So this song may bring tears to my eyes. But I must hold them back. A Very Potter Musical is one of the greatest things that I have ever laid eyes on. The amazing combination of magic, comedy, American-ized things, music, and more comedy is A Very Potter Musical in a nutshell. Nowhere else would I get to hear the amazing phrase "Harry Potter loves Zac Efron the most." That's basically all you need to know. So please enjoy the show-stopping opening song/scene from A Very Potter Musical, called "Goin' Back to Hogwarts." (Also, do not be afraid to enjoy the rest of the musical, along with the sequel, and any more sequels that may come out in the future).


1. Wheezy Waiter: "Bananas, Bananas" Part 1 and 2
These "Banana Songs" by the amazing Wheezy Waiter take the prize as the best YouTube song in my heart. The random and silly humor of the first is only highlighted by the relative order and equally silly humor of the second. They were also named number one by the Definitive Top-Ten List of Music that is Awesome Right Now in the World.com! You can't argue with that! Sit back, relax, and end your inter-web journey with "Bananas, Bananas" by Wheezy Waiter.




And lastly, a note from your local neighborhood JustGrant.
If you love a particular song so much so much that you want to listen to it over and over and over and over and over again, (or all of them) use Listen on Repeat.com. Just type "repeat" into the url after "youtube" (youtuberepeat.com/allthecrapthatmakesyourvideorun) and it'll pull up the site so you can listen to it over and over while doing homework, reading my blog, making a list of your top 15 YouTube songs, or whatever you do on the internet. 

Peace Out Girl Scout
-Grant