I absolutely love YouTube, a priceless resource of material of every description. I often go there looking for something specific and then spend inordinate amounts of time following links around and discovering stuff I never imagined existed. Maybe you’ll click one of these links and do the same!
This section is currently under construction. Please bear with me whilst I organise my favourite video clip links for publication.
Opera
“Va Pensiero sull’Ali Dorate” – The Slaves’ Chorus from “Il Nabucco” (Verdi) – some pieces of music just send a shiver up my spine.
“Caro nome” – Gilda’s aria from “Rigoletto” (Verdi) – my favourite version of this aria by the marvellous Andrea Rost.
“Queen of the Night” – aria from “The Magic Flute” (Mozart) – impressive performance from a fifteen-year old.
“Queen of the Night” – Anna Maria Alberghetti makes this tricky piece seem easy!
“Largo al Factotum” – Figaro’s aria from “The Barber of Seville” (Rossini) – Hermann Prey giving a definitive performance of the best-known aria from this opera.
“Lego al Factotum” – Figaro’s aria – the same piece performed entirely by Lego figures!
Dance
Tap – Fred Astaire & Rita Hayworth – Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers – Joan Crawford – the Nicholas Brothers – and the Nicholas Brothers – and the Nicholas Brothers with Dorothy Dandridge.
Hellzapoppin’ – the Lindy Hop – frenetic dance sequence from the 1941 film (see Wikipedia article and IMDB entry for more info).
WIlson, Keppel & Betty – Sand dance (1933) – classic music-hall.
Humour
Tim Conway’s “Elephant Story” – Tim Conway goes off-script with an increasingly bizarre story in order to to sabotage a sketch. Originally aired in November 1977.
Pop
Madonna – Don’t Tell Me – I’m not a big fan of Madonna but I really do like this video.
Abba – The Day Before You Came (Official Video) – I’m not a big fan of Abba either, but the last song they recorded was marvellous. Read the full story behind it here.
Not Pop
Two performances by Grace Slick from Woodstock, 1969: Somebody to Love and White Rabbit. There’s a recording of the White Rabbit vocals with no instrumentation here and the story behind the song here.
Talking Heads – Psycho Killer (CBGB’s, New York, 1975) – an early acoustic version.
Talking Heads – Psycho Killer (Dortmund, 20/12/1980) – another excuse to look at Tina Weymouth.
More Talking Heads – Born Under Punches (Rome, 1980) and Once in a Lifetime (Los Angeles, 1983).
A couple of tracks by the Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain – Psycho Killer and Teenage Dirtbag. ‘Must watch’, even if you don’t particularly like ukuleles.
The Goops – CBGB’s, New York City (31/05/1995) – Eleanor Whitledge in great form.
The Goops – Upstairs At Nick’s, Philadelphia (Aug 1995) – more Eleanor.
Wendy ‘O’ Williams – Live at Camden Palace (1985)
NOFX – CBGB’s, New York City (20/11/1994)
Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines ft. T.I., Pharrell – I do like this song… okay the dancers are cute but the track is very good. This is a link to the ‘official’ video on YouTube. There’s also an unrated version on MTV – warning: mild nudity). Read about the subsequent controversy here.
Instrumental
Celtica – live at Montelago (2017) – heavy metal with a Celtic twist (official Web site and YouTube channel).
Shipping Up To Boston/Enter Sandman – bagipipe music from Archy Jay (The Snake Charmer), Jane Espie (The Phantom Piper) and Chelsea Joy (The Dame of Drones).
Folk
Arlo Guthrie – Alice’s Restaurant Massacree – from the Album “Alice’s Restaurant” (1967). Complete version with subtitles so you can sing along. I’ve sung this so many times I don’t need them!
Joan Baez – Forever Young – definitely on the playlist for my funeral.
C’e La Luna Mezzo Mare
One of my favourite Italian folk songs.
Giorgio Ventura – not the best version ever but has subtitles for non-Italian speakers.
Unknown singer – sung by a woman, as it should be.
Louis Prima & Keely Smith – Prima doing what Prima does best whilst Keely Smith just stands around looking gorgeous.
Louis Prima & Keely Smith
Don’t Worry ’bout Me / I’m in the Mood for Love
Just a Gigolo – it’s a pity some idiot cut the sax & trombone solos!
When You’re Smiling / C’e La Luna Mezzo Mare / Oh Marie
All Night Long – Louis takes back stage for a change!
The Catholic Mass
Kyrie Eleison – Gloria – Credo
If you discover any broken links anywhere in this section, please fill out this contact form or email me and I’ll fix them as quickly as I can.