Music Matters: Summertime (Auto) Tunes, 2009

My 2009 summer mix is dedicated to the art of auto-tune. Now, I realize that I am a bit late to this discovery. Lil' Wayne and Kayne West both released critically acclaimed auto-tune infused albums in 2008 but what struck me about the auto-tune gems of 2009 is their cross genre insurgence. The greatly known secret to auto-tune success is artist and performer T-Pain. His auto-tune styling has greatly enhanced the once niche appeal of comedy and country to produce highly accessible bubblegum pop from both. He also stays close to his his hip-hop roots to help out burgeoning artist Maino and Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx heat up the charts.

Aside from T-Pain's know brilliance, there have been several auto-tune gifts from the Gregory Brothers who have done their best to make the news a little bit more interesting by adding this nibble technology to the likes of Katie Couric and Martin Luther King, Jr.

Here's a run down of my auto-tuned favorites of 2009.

The Lonely Island, whose most famous member is SNL's Adam Sandburg, dropped "I'm on a Boat" and it was a game changer. After this dropped we knew that T-Pain wasn't too proud to expose how ridiculous hip-hop culture can be.

T-Pain went a step further when he teamed up with Taylor Swift (yeah, that Taylor Swift) to record the "Thug Story" video at the CMA's. If this is ever released on iTunes I will be extremely happy.

Jamie Foxx, because he has an Oscar, got Hype Williams to direct and then got Ron Howard, Forrest Whitakre, Quincy Jones, Samuel L. Jackson and Jake Gyllenhaal to appear in a silly hip-hop video. I love it.

(Check out the Alphacat, Barack Obama spoof of this for another huge laugh)

Maino and T-Pain teamed up for the best auto-tuned jam of the summer, "All the Above." The classic troupe of gangster degenerate turned gangster rapper is played out to perfection. John Mallory, Scott Call and I figured out the auto-tuned harmony of this song and sang it for a cabby on our way to Adams Morgan. Amazing song.

Scott Call's other connection to auto-tune is his friend from high school, Michael Gregory, of the Gregory Brothers, who produce the "Auto-Tune the News" YouTube series. Number 2 is still the best, but check out number 3, number 4, number 5, number 6 when you get a chance. Number 1 is no good.

The most poignant auto-tune moment of the year has to be the Gregory Brother's auto-tune remix of Martin Luther King, Jr. "I Have a Dream" speech. It makes the ever inspiring words of King's speech echo in your head for days as they always should.

Am I missing any other auto-tune hits?

YouTube Matters: Best Wedding Entrance Ever

This video almost has me sold on getting married. Ladies, what is the likelihood that I can find a bride who would be willing to do this for me?

Books Matter: The National Book Award Winners Blog

I have been riveted to the National Book Award Ficton Winners blog for the last few days. Each day the blog chronologically highlights fiction winners starting from 1950. The blog is written by members of the literary fiction world who share their experiences with these books. Each entry also notes historical tidbits about the author, the surrounding literary sense, and other historical factoids. It also lists where you can purchase the book and of course a place for comments.

It's fascinating to think about the historical context that surrounds these books and to think about why some of them are classics and some of them are out of print.

Movie Matters: Office 2010: The Movie

I don't know if I'm sad or proud that I get every single "joke" in this "trailer." I will admit that I almost smiled when the voice over said, "Copy and paste. You have three seconds." At least the marketing team at Microsoft is trying but let's face it, they still haven't topped the marketing genius of the team at Apple.

What's your favorite Office product? Mine has to be Visio. Diagram the world.

YouTube Matters: Child as art

At 1:37 this transcended cute and funny and became art.

Movie Matters: I like James Franco

James Franco's Rejected UCLA Commencement Speech from James Franco

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that James Franco has the best perspective of his profession. He's a phenomenal actor with an incredible range who is not afraid to make fun of himself and his industry.

Enjoy his latest Funny or Die contribution and think about how you can take yourself a little less seriously.

YouTube Matters: Sarah Palin Vlog #843

After an eight month drought our parched lips are sprinkled with a brand new Palin Vlog. In this installment we see a sad a broken woman struggling to find comfort in her time of trouble and where else does she run except to the arms of friend and fellow governor, Mark Sanford?

Enjoy!