We’ve got something special for Weezer fans and anybody who feels the need for some sunny alt-rock tunes to lift their spirits as the nights draw in: Weezer’s latest video “(If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To” is previewing right here, from today – yes, it’s another global exclusive for Babelgum web and mobile.
Ok, so the title doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue but the song’s catchiness more than makes up for it and the video features a “beautiful stranger” who shows up in Weezerville and rocks the band’s world…
The single is taken from the Grammy winners’ eclectic seventh album “Raditude”, out early November, which “sounds like a roomful of people having a great time”, according to lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Rivers Cuomo.
We also have behind the scenes footage including the making of the video (see below) and interviews with the band, cast and director Marc Webb. Also, stay tuned for our Weezer video-mashup competition, launching next week (prizes include Weezer Snuggies, LPs and the chance to work with the band themselves).
For all this and more go to our very own Weezer channel, updated daily here
The Making Of (If You’re Wondering If I Want You To) I Want You To
The application not only features Strawberry Swing, a Coldplay newsfeed and videos from Coldplay’s back catalogue, there’s also a multi-level game in which you get to help superhero Chris battle a giant squirrel and sea monsters in order to save a princess in a world drawn in chalk (yes, the game is as surreal as the video itself!)
He’s the UK’s best-loved “indie laureate”, a charismatic, enigmatic singer songwriter with a unique poetic voice: Peter Doherty recently released his solo album Grace/Wastelands, to widespread critical acclaim.
Broken Love Song is the second single from the album, and Peter chose to première it exclusively here on Babelgum. To accompany it, we also have a never before seen interview with the man himself, two live acoustic performances of Arcady and Lady Don’t Fall Backwards, and some highlights from Peter’s career to date.
Click hereto view the selection of videos and find out more.
Who’d have thought that firestarting big beat legends The Prodigy like to go fabric shopping in between gigs? Well, that’s just one of the odd titbits revealed in the exclusive documentary and live footage showing now on Babelgum Web and Mobile.
Shot on the road by Dugdale during the band’s explosive “Invaders Must Die” tour earlier this year, the footage delves into the adrenaline pumping world of Liam, Keith, Maxim and the crew as they tour the UK, with a documentary (Part 1 and Part 2). It also includes backstage interviews with the band, camping tips from Keith Flint, wardrobe crises, alsations on the loose and some thumping performances filmed live at Wembley, with tracks such as Invaders Must Die and Run With The Wolves.
Old Wives’ Tale are the indie electro-rock band who won the Performance Award in the Babelgum Music Video Awards with their video for catchy single [15]Amphetamine.
And now the time has come for them to “play out” their prize – a gig at the Camden Barfly in London, on Saturday, June 13th. The Miami-based trio (Jaime Valencia – Vox/Guitars/Programming, Juan Felipe Valencia – Vox/Bass/Programming and Pablo Toro on Drums) will be performing alongside three other bands, all from the UK.
The guys are taking the opportunity to hop over to Spain too, to promote their new EP “Younger Limbs” with some gigs over there. Check their website or MySpace for details of the tour and to hear tracks from Younger Limbs – and if you’re in London, maybe we’ll see you at the Barfly this Saturday.
The online première ofCeri Levy’s documentary Bananaz, which goes behind the scenes of the hugely successful virtual band Gorillaz, is live at last on Babelgum web and mobile as of today, April 20th.
You can now watch the 90 min-long doc in all its glory, and go theBananaz pageto find out more about the production, get exclusive downloads, games, pre-order the DVD and take part in the Bananaz competition.
Calling all Gorillaz fans: Bananaz, the behind-the-scenes doc about the band, will be screening on Babelgum from April 20th as the first ever global, online film première prior to its theatrical a release worldwide.
Cartoon band Gorillaz was created by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett. They released their self-titled debut album in 2001 and went on to take the world by storm. For six years director Ceri Levy filmed the Gorillaz animators, musicians and singers as they worked, and the result is this free-wheeling, honest and sometimes hilarious account of the creative process behind the world’s most successful virtual band.
The film has already gained cult status following screenings at film festivals around the world from Berlin to Edinburgh to SXSW. Babelgum viewers will be able to watch it full-length from April 20th, but a large chunk of the film will be visible in the run-up to the première, through a selection of clips on Babelgum web and mobile (5 clips are available now and will be refreshed with a new selection from time to time).
To launch the project, we organized a special screening at the Apple Store in SoHo, NYC on March 20th. Thanks to all the fans that showed up and made the event a success! Another screening will take place at the Apple Store in London next week on April 2nd at 6.30pm.
We can now announce the Grand Prize Winner of the 1st Babelgum Music Video Awards, chosen by our industry experts Michel Gondry and David Ford from the 10 finalists voted for by you, the Babelgum audience.
So here’s the name we’ve all been waiting for. The winner is Quio with So Dazed, directed by Christine Lang.
Quio is a female MC and experimental singer/rapper living and working in Berlin. See Quio’s website and MySpace to find out more about her quirky musical style.
Quio wins a record development deal with Universal Music UK, offering her a great head start in the competitive music business and space and support for creative development.
We’d like to congratulate Quio on this great achievement, and thank our audience and our industry jury for helping to make this first edition of the awards such a success!
Here’s what Michel Gondry had to say about the winning video, So Dazed:
“I liked the originality of the piece, which came from its composition, on multiple levels. It has some great colours and in-camera effects that really spoke to certain things that I like. Some of it was funny, some sad, and it was all executed very well – a nice balance of emotionalism and energy”.
The runners up are:
2-[15]Amphetamine by Old Wives’ Tale, winner of the Performance Award
3- I Have a Dream by Alex Giordani
Round 3 of the Babelgum Music Video Awards has now finished, and Round 4 started today. These are the 10 winning entries which will go into the Semi-Finals phase (starting January 7th):
