Thursday, June 16, 2011

I just love this man...

Sammy Davis Jr... what an incredible entertainer this guy was... still is when you look at the number of views on YouTube.

I've got a lot of fond memories of watching the Sammy Davis Jr show on Aus TV when I was young... and he came to Aus quite a few times in the 70s and 80s, and was usually a special guest on one of our TV variety shows.

So why the post? I was feeling just a touch melancholy and when I feel that way, I start thinking in terms of song lyrics. I know, a bit weird, but I tend to hum or sing a song that reflects the particular hue of blue that I'm feeling. (I hasten to add here, especially for your benefit Butch, that I'm not revealing a recent spout of depression or anything... more like a sigh).

Anyway, I was looking through YouTube for a specific song, and once found, I played different artists versions of it. And that's how I came across Mr. Junior.

By the way, when someone calls themself 'Whats-a-name Jr' does that make them Mr Junior, or Mr. Whats-a-name Junior or just Mr. Whats-a-name? I wonder what the actual protocol is. But I'm on a tangent now, so let's get back to the point.

After finding Mr. Junior's version of the song, a whole flood of memories came rushing in... so I went off and spent some time watching this great performer.

Right from the start he seemed to own the stage...





He was not only a terrific singer, but quite the actor, tapper, and comedian too.


Here's an example that I really like...





And some more of his talent...





Something a little different...




There's so many great examples of his well known songs...





I love this one...





Here's one I hadn't seen before...






Anyway, I could go on embedding dozens of videos and barely scratch the surface, so I'll leave it here with the song that started me on this little sojourn...




Cheers.



Monday, June 13, 2011

Easter Island...

Easter Island (Rapa Nui: Rapa Nui, Spanish: Isla de Pascua) is a Polynesian island in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeasternmost point of the Polynesian triangle.

A special territory of Chile that was annexed in 1888, Easter Island is famous for its 887 extant monumental statues, called moai ( /ˈmoʊ.aɪ/), created by the early Rapanui people. It is a World Heritage Site (as determined by UNESCO) with much of the island protected within Rapa Nui National Park. In recent times the island has served as a warning of the cultural and environmental dangers of overexploitation. Ethnographers and archaeologists also blame diseases carried by European colonizers and slave raiding of the 1860s for devastating the local peoples.

Easter Island is claimed to be the most remote inhabited island in the world.

Easter Island







... BUT...
















Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Well alright, if you insist...

Due to the insistent prodding of all the
commenters on the previous post, here's
another little quiz for you.

On which one of the images in the previous
post is there a direct link to the Abbey Road
studios?

And I don't mean the ducks crossing
on the pedestrian crossing (zebra crossing).


Saturday, June 4, 2011

The 'other' Beetles albums...

See if you can guess the names of the
corresponding Beatles albums.

They're not very difficult to guess,
but it was a lot of fun coming up
them.

Oh, and they're in order of release for Aus.



With The Beatles
A Hard Day's Night
Beatles For Sale
Help
Rubber Soul
Revolver
Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Magical Mystery Tour
The White Album
Yellow Submarine
Abbey Road
Let It Be