Have a wonderful life

I would never imagine that one of my favorite songs from 1987 "Wonderful Life" by Black (Colin Vearncombe), would ever be in a place where the song's name is no longer recognized as "the song" from the eighties.
As of now, the English group "Hurts" (singer Theo Hutchcraft and synthesist Adam Anderson) is taking over the franchise for the title with their own iteration of "Wonderful Life".  Compare if you dare.

Black - Wonderful Life


Hurts - Wonderful Life

Lorde, Lorde look who's 17 and rocks the YouTube

The 17 year old Ella Maria Lani Yelich-O'Connor (born 7 November 1996) aka Lorde, took over the airwaves and the web with the Royals awesomeness.  Below are the two versions of the song.  What I found interesting is how the US version sells, obviously cute, artist's image where the international version just tells the story.  Just a proof that cuteness sells.

The best cover of the Royals is performed by the Walk off the Earth group.  Very clever video and the presentation is interesting as well.  Doesn't that make you appreciate YouTube even more?  True artists can get out there and show what they can do.

Lorde - Royals (US Version)

Lorde - Royals (International Version)

Royals - Walk off the Earth

Dane Cook dished out a great stand-up in Chicago

If you like stand-up comedy, you already know comedian Dane Cook.  Ever since, I've watched his HBO special, I really wanted to see him performing life.  Guess what?  My wife surprised me with tickets to Chicago Theatre for one, and only Dane Cook show in Chicago, this past Sunday.

Dane Cook delivered!  He's new material called "Under Oath" was witty, funny, with great punch lines, and of course easily applicable in a relationship.  

I won't give up his jokes but one thing is certain,  he'll make a lot of people laugh.

After the show, Dane came out to sign autographs and take pictures.  There was about 100 people waiting for him and everyone got a chance to talk to him and have a great memento.

If you have a chance to see Dane Cook live, go for it, it's worth it.

Dane Cook with his fans

Yoann Lemoine aka Woodkid

Yes, I admit it, I've missed Gotye's hit song "Somebody That I Used To Know" by about a year.  Why?  Don't know. One thing I know is that Yoann Lemoine aka Woodkid won't escape my music taste.  Got hooked on "Run Boy Run". Woodkid is becoming bigger and bigger.  Check out the "Iron" also. Music reminds just rocks!

Speed cams in Chicago will soon grab your wallets?

Chicago Mayor, Rahm Emanuel, is finally getting his wish. Chicago is officially getting closer to installing the initial speed cameras at 50 locations by the end of 2013. According to Chicago Tribune, “state law allows Emanuel to install cameras at up to 300 locations in specially designated school and park zones” around Chicago.

The biggest surprise (not) is a recent test run by two competing vendors, ATS and Xerox State & Local Solutions, concluding the estimated revenue from the speeding tickets would exceed, wait for it, “well into the hundreds of millions of dollars in the program's first year”.

Emanuel's push for this huge revenue stream made everyone in the City Hall curious at first but now, everyone soaked their panties and some more. Reading about this cash grab, I sit there and wonder, why Chicagoans bend over and take it without a peep? Why not install a GPS systems in every car in Chicago and automatically withdraw weekly penalty from your checking accounts? It would be more cost effective.

What is wrong with you people? It's right there: revenue, cash stream, bring in, reap, millions of dollars. Nobody's taking about how many accidents will be avoided, how many kids will be saved, how many lives will be prolonged. Where are the pedestrian vs. car statistics? How will City Hall justify year after year of this new tax?

On the positive note, Emanuel's friends from Redflex Traffic Systems are persona-non-grata due to the bribery scandal with the red light camera program. I wonder who does the Mayor know at the ATS company?

You might call it a drive-through colonoscopy, but once again, Chicagoans got boned. This time with a camera tip light pole. And no, I'm not taking about a huge population of pale Poles in Chicago.

Happy Fassha Day

To all responsible fathers who take care of their families and try hard to raise respectful kids, Happy Fassha Day!

America’s Got Talent show taping in Chicago

Stage and the famous table

Tons of people showed up at the Rosemont Theatre for the taping of America's Got Talent Chicago.  And by tons, I mean thousands.  The tickets were free, yes free, and the crowd was psyched to see Heidi Klum, Scary Spice Girl Mel B., Howie Mandel, and of course, Howard Stern.

They taped two shows for three days.  I went on Thursday and was lucky to get a seat in the first row behind the judges table about twelve feet from Heidi Klum.  Yes, Heidi is a total lady.

The season's premiere is set for June 4th on NBC but we had a chance to see all the great and not so great performances live!

The biggest surprise was a black guy with dreads who was about the sing.  Everyone expected some modern cover song or some rapping but the guy actually performed "Granada" opera song.  And he was fantastic!

Howie Mandel had the best comment, “You have performed like a black Pavarotti, a Blackarotti!” Needless to say, the guy advanced.

The other surprise was a group of dancers who juggled and tossed wooden rifles ten feet into the air.  Perfection and precision was rewarded and they advanced as well.  The dancers wore very tight and revealing black spandex costumes with long capes so it was no surprise that Howie cracked another comment, “The performance had the perfect combination of difficulty, skill, and even a slight touch of camel toe!”  The ladies in the group automatically covered their groin area, it was hilarious.

Then, there was this wedding singer aka standup comedian whose performance sucked proverbial tea bags.  The whole theater booed him ten seconds into his lame routine.  The guy just didn't want to clear the stage.  The audience was just annoyed and even Howie couldn't put down the fire.  The guy was axed but Howard Stern really took his time explaining why the jokes sucked and perhaps sticking to the weddings was the best outlet for the guy.  The lesbian group labia majora aficionado actually kept it professional.  Keep it cool Howard!

Another fail was some Chi-town drag queen with his two minions dressed in black spandex.  Btw, what's up with the black spandex lately?  It's unflattering to the ladies and over bulging for the guys.  The skit totally blew.  What kind of a drag queen are you if you can't dance and sing?  Birdcage anyone?  Rejected.

By then, everyone was ready for some electrifying performance.  The next crew looked awesome: two guys in Halo armor with compressed air rifles, one on stilts, four girls with hard hats, metal chest and groin plates, welding goggles, swinging metal grinders.  What’s not to like?  Wrong.  The idea was great for an industrial rave party but not really worth a million dollars grand prize.  Rejected.

Finally, the act worth watching involved juggling and a Molotov’s cocktail on a balloon.  It was impressive and the juggler advanced.  The table was amazed.

There were some others but you will have to watch the show on TV to find out who passed and who failed.

Overall, America’s Got Talent was a total blast.  Everyone had a great time and we had a chance to see and talk to some interesting celebrities.  If AGT tapes in your city don’t miss it, you will have a great time.  Check out some of the pics from the show.  Comment on your favorite performer.

Heidi from behind

Table getting ready for a break

Howie, Mel B, and Heidi

Some makeup at the table

Mel B with Heidi Klum

Scary Spice – Mel B

People waiting before the show

Rosemont Theatre