M.I.A. featuring Blaqstarr – “S.U.S. (Save UR Soul)”
First up, via Boing Boing comes this homemade clip produced and directed by the apparently-now-big-as-a-house M.I.A., made to accompany her and Blaqstarr’s cover of Tom Waits’ “Way Down In the Hole,” the theme song to HBO’s The Wire. Even though it uses the simplest of plug-and-play B-more beats and a single, ominous chord repeated over and over, it’s got that old M.I.A. magic.
R.E.M. – “I Believe” (Live in Santiago)
If you couldn’t be at the election night celebration in Grant Park, perhaps the second most fun place to be would have been an R.E.M. concert in Santiago, and Stereogum’s got the video. The band’s manager came out on stage with his laptop displaying the Huffington Post and announced the big news, and then Stipe and crew launched into “I Believe.” Pretty cool.
Coldcut vs. TV Sheriff – “Revolution ’08”
Via Pitchfork comes this clip from the stalwart remixers/culture jammers Coldcut. The Fork rightfully calls this nearly 6-minute media mashup a bit “unfocused,” but it’s as entertaining a way as any to relive the campaign.
Daniel Owino Misiani & Shirati Jazz Band – “Safari Ya Musoma”
With the ascendancy of Vampire Weekend to the top of the hipster charts (or is that now over?) and our president-elect’s Kenyan heritage, chiming Afropop could be exposed to more American ears than ever. Idolator takes the opportunity to point out some of their favorite Benga tunes from the late Daniel Owino Misiani, and “Musoma” soars up from its simple beat into complex vocal lines, each time brought back down to earth by the melodic guitar work.
