Who Knew Elephants Could Paint??? (by Savage Sam Jackson)

Whaaaaattt!!! AINT CHU SEEN MA MOVIEEES...JUICED!! DEEP BLUE SEA!!! A SHARK ATE ME!! A FU&^$%##% SHARK ATTEE MEEE!!! Thats right, Savage Sam Jackson here, and I just checked out this crazy arse video,  ITS A FU^%&*@g ELEPHANT PAINTING!!! AGGGHHHHHH!!

#97: of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown!

Welcome back to VJ Samsonite's top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown! Today we are presenting #97 of the top 100 countdown! And the song is....Smalltown Boy by British synth-pop trio Bronski Beat. And now we are starting to really get into it folks, you just don't know how hard it is to order them, so don't pay too much attention to the order of songs til I get down to about the top 25 or so. This band was no doubt a 2 hit wonder with this song, which was released in 1984 (off their Age of Consent Album) and reached #3 on the UK, #1 on the US Dance Hits Chart (and #48 on the US pop chart) and registered on the charts of multiple other countries that same year; as well as the song Why which comes off the same album. Smalltown Boy and Why have both been remixed and re-sampled by various DJ's in recent years, including the DJ duo Supermode, and their hit Tell Me Why dance/house remix of both of these songs in 2006. I highly recommend checking out the Supermode remix, Boom!

VJ Samsonite's "Hot New Music" song of the day is....

....Jimmy Recard, by Aussie hip-hop artist Drapht. Yet again, this is not a new song in Australia, in fact it was released back in May of 2008 on the Brothers Grimm album. Why am I posting oldish stuff? Well, because I can, and because its my blog, so there. Moving on...Jimmy Recard is a great song that reminds me of the show Entourage for some reason. Whilst I never really liked Entourage that much I always thought that this Aussie hip-hop song sort of summed up the theme of the show well; that being about  a group of friends trying to make the big-time in Hollywood, some of them achieving success and others not. At least that is what I summed up out of the one or two episodes I've seen, so maybe I am totally off, but the point is I don't give a flying-shart anyways. But seriously someone should make a fan-vid of Entourage using Jimmy Recard, because I probably won't do it ;-( ...Oh yes, getting back to Drapht, he hails at us out of Perth, Australia (a west-coast'a), and he has released three studio albums, so be sure to check them out if you like his work. What it is!

A Brief Review of Shutter Island (by The Scag Baron)

ARRAAGGHH...uh um... excuse me...uhh umm! Scag Baron here! Today, I am talking briefly about the recent Scorsese psychological thriller Shutter Island. The movie stars Leonardo DiCaprio who plays U.S. Marshall Teddy Daniels in search for a missing prisoner/patient of a remote island mental hospital, and actor Ben Kingsley who plays the suspicious head Psychiatrist of the island asylum. I would definitely recommend this movie to those who are into thrillers, suspense, and psychological dramas. Scorsese does an excellent job of taking you into the minds of the sufferers of mental illness, their delusions (in graphic detail), and exposes the justifications the subconscious mind makes in regards to defending mental egoic-positions at all costs lest the possessing entity (or self) be annihilated, which ultimately always means being exposed to the sobering truth of reality. I also recently saw two older Val Lewton movies, whom Scorsese has previously mentioned in this interview, which were considered in setting the tone and mood for the production of Shutter Island. If you go out and watch Shutter Island, I would highly recommend looking up these classic Val Lewton titles (he's the producer of these old films all of which star the legendary Boris Karloff), Isle of the Dead (1945), Bedlam (1946), I Walked With a Zombie (1943), and The Bodysnatcher (1945).

All of these films lend closely to the mood of the classic psychological thriller genre, and speaks to how easily the mind can be tricked into believing falsehood and fear. The intro music is reminiscent of Hitchcock and Polanski, and even Kubrick.  The acting prowess of DiCaprio and Kingsley make this film what it is and are certainly the elements that make this film so mesmerizing. In fact I can't help but mention at how impressed I am at how much DiCaprio's presence has grown as a truly impressive actor on-screen, and Kingsley of course is a legend in his own right. This film is a psychological thriller, not one that will cause the viewer to feel uplifted or happy-go-lucky post-viewing, but maybe the feeling is best described as "soberly transformed," as if awakened from some harsh drug-induced-dream. If you liked other similar thrillers, such as The Shining (1980), or Rosemary's Baby (1968), then you will no doubt enjoy Scorsese's  Shutter Island (2010). AAHHAGGLLH!

VJ Samsonite's "Hot New Music" song of the day is....

...Walking on a Dream, by Aussie-electronica group Empire of the Sun. Now all of you Aussies are going to tell me this song isn't new, and I admit that to you it is not new at all, but in fact even a bit old-hat already (ie 2 years old). But, to you Yanks, and Canuks it is most likely a new song, as this group gets no radio play and everyone I have played them for has never heard of them, so there! This song is however, an amazing song and deserves this post regardless of how shiny-new it is or not. Walking on a Dream comes off of the same-titled album and was released in October of 2008,  which incidentally also won a platinum award in Oz. Their other big single of this album called We are the People is also a recommendation of mine and may be posted on this vlog at a later date. Empire of the Sun does remind me a bit of MGMT, and would definitely fall into the same genre, but they do put their own unique touch into their songs which makes them stand definitively apart. They are a collaborative project between Pnau Nick Littlemore and Luke Steele from The Sleepy Jackson. Eat some Ham Tina!

Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream - Watch the best video clips her

VJ Samsonite's "Hot New Music" song of the day is....

...Hurt Me, by Aussie-Indie group The Jezabels. The Jezabels are a four-piece group, and they formed after meeting at the University of Sydney (that's my old Uni!, woot woot!). They are fairly new group and have thus far only released two EPs, the first titled The Man is Dead (released in February 2009), and the second titled She's So Hard (released in November of 2009). Hurt Me is the first single coming off of She's So Hard, and features some keyboard/piano parts along with ambient guitar bits by Samuel Lockwood, and with seductive vocals by Hayley Mary. Do enjoy this one, its a little dark, but it is one of those songs that will grow on you. Check it!

Halcyon by a band called Delphic

I stumbled across this new song called Halcyon by a band called Delphic, and figured that since this vlog is the Halcyon vlog/blog that this could be a good dedication to it. They are termed an "alternative dance band" by wikipedia, and come out of the Marple Bridge, Greater Manchester in the U.K. There is indeed some cool cinematography in this and some cool dancing, kind of reminds me of Lord of the Rings or something....Oh and I really just wanted an excuse to use the Oompa Loompa. So doompa dee doo to you too.

#98: of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown!

Welcome back to VJ Samsonite's top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown! Today we are presenting #98 of the top 100 countdown! And the song is....Bad Medicine, by the Big-80's-Big-Hair U.S. Rock Band Bon Jovi! I must say that this song is probably my favourite one by Bon Jovi, but you never know, more Bon Jovi songs may or may not appear again on this Countdown, you'll just have to wait and see. There is no doubt that Bon Jovi had many great rock anthems, this much is for sure. Bon Jovi formed in 1983 in Sayreville, New Jersey, and of course the lead singer, song-writer, and actor is John Bon Jovi. Like #99, John Bon Jovi earned a few awards, including and Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his work. As for the rest of the band, there is guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, and bassist Hugh Mcdonald. This particular song comes off of their New Jersey album (released originally in September of 1988), which produced 5 Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles, which is the most top tens for a rock album to date (according to Wikipedia). What else to say???  Not much, but do be sure to check out Wikipedia or All Music for all your trivia needs on Bon Jovi, after all you might just win some beer or something at your local pub. Thus without further ado, here is the song!

VJ Samsonite's "Hot New Music" song of the day is....

...Chase That Feeling, by Aussie Hip-Hop group the Hilltop Hoods. The Hilltop Hoods hail at us out of Adelaide, Australia. They are ARIA Award winners, and have been on top of the Aussie Hip-Hop scene since the early 1990's. Now I really like this groups style and sound, they have a unique hip-hop style that adds a bit of "flava" to their music, along with the foreign accent makes it flow. Chase that Feeling comes off of their State of the Art album (released in June 2009). For those who have never heard of them definitely check out their other stuff, they have released 5 studio albums so they have been a prolific group. I personally would also like to recommend their past album which made them big in Oz  titled The Calling (released in 2003), which features their two past hit singles The Nosebleed Section, and Dumb Enough. Check it!

VJ Samsonite's "Hot New Music" song of the day is....

...Anxiety, by Aussie rock band Eddy Current Suppression Ring. Now if that name isn't a mouthful, I don't know what is. Eddy Current Suppression Ring hails at us out of Melbourne, Australia, that's right folks, another great new rock band coming from Melbourne. I am telling you, check out the Melbourne music scene (and the Sydney one too), and you might be surprised at all the great new music you find. This song comes off of their Rush to Relax album (released in February 2010), and thus is pretty much brand-spanking new! The video I found on youtube below was the only one of the song, so I assume there is no official music video yet. Trivia question for you: what is an eddy current suppression ring anyways?? (massive hint: its a copper ring around a transformer that subdues Foucault currents). Check it!

#99: of VJ Samsonite's Top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown!

Welcome to VJ Samsonite's top 100 80's Dance Hits Countdown! Today we are presenting #99 of the top 100 countdown! And the song is....Dancing in the Dark, by the all-American rock-singer-songwriter Bruce (The Boss) Springsteen! Dancing in the Dark came to be Springstein's biggest hit of his career and was the first single to be released from his Born in the U.S.A. album (in 1984), which logically also became the best-selling album of his career. This song brings back lots of memories for me, and I imagine for anyone who lived through the turbulent and eclectic 80's. As stated on his wikipedia page:

"Springsteen is widely known for his brand of heartland rock infused with pop hooks, poetic lyrics,and Americana sentiments centered on his native New Jersey. Springsteen's recordings have tended to alternate between commercially accessible rock albums and somber folk-oriented works. Much of his status stems from the concerts and marathon shows in which he and the E Street Band perform intense ballads, rousing anthems, and party rock and roll songs, amongst which he intersperses whimsical or deeply emotional stories. His most successful studio albums, Born to Run and Born in the U.S.A., epitomize his penchant for finding grandeur in the struggles of daily life in America, and the latter album made him one of the most recognized artists of the 1980s within the United States."


You may or may not also know that Springsteen has earned twenty Grammy awards, two Golden Globes, and an Academy Award for his work as a true American legend and musician in his own right. "The Boss" still records and tours with the E Street Band to this day. Check out further stuff about this legend on wikipedia. And for those of you wondering.. Yes this is the music video that made Courtney Cox famous, I believe she went on to star in "Masters of the Universe" (the one starring Dolph Lundgren) not long after this video was made. Hats off to The Boss!

APRIL 2010: Steve Judd's Global Forecast!

Greetings Earth Denizens, Beartron here, coming at your from the scroldar galaxy (just south-south-east of Uranus). April (yet another month) and its ever so cunning companion spring have both sprung on the Northern Hemisphere of your planet (Earth that is), and thus it is time to hit you with another Steve Judd Global Forecast...that's astrology for all you of you April fools out there. If you wish to read further and see what the forecast for your particular Sun-Sign is, then go Here!

VJ Samsonite's "Hot New Music" song of the day is....

...Bonkers (with Armand Van Helden), by London, U.K. rapper Dizzee Rascal. Dizzee has partnered up with the legendary American DJ/producer Armand Van Helden on this track (which incidentally reached #1 on the U.K. singles chart in 2009).  I have posted a song by "the Diz" a few weeks back, but as I said then there will be more posted by him as he is an excellent new electro-rap artist. This song is one of the three #1 hits that comes off of his Tongue N' Cheek album (released in September of 2009), along with my earlier post of the song Dance Wiv Me. The 3rd hit will be posted here at a later date, so stay tuned or just go check out the album yourself!