The best of YouTube: #41

Imogen Heap stars in this week's Best of YouTube
Imogen Heap stars in this week's Best of YouTube

Every Friday, the MusicRadar team submits its own personal favourite music videos and clips on the net.

All clips are now embedded so you can enjoy without having to click elsewhere.

As usual, we've got a diverse selection this week - from Imogen Heap playing a Korg microKontrol to exquisite three-part harmonies from Crosby, Stills & Nash at Woodstock in 1969.

Enjoy this week's clips...


Badfinger - No Matter What - Live

Or half-live during this early '70s TV appearance, as it appears the band are singing live vocals (bassist Tom Evans does a real squeaker harmony towards the end!) and Mike Gibbins is doing more than air drumming. Actually, he's got an interesting left-handed style that's fun to watch. The story of Badfinger, signed to The Beatles' Apple Records, is almost too sad to contemplate, but they put out a handful of pop-rock gems during their all-too-brief run.
Joe Bosso


In the studio with Imogen Heap

Ms Heap's latest video blog sees her explaining why she hasn't finished her much-anticipated new album and dancing around playing a Korg microKontrol in a Keytar-type fashion. More revealingly, she plays several tracks from the upcoming record (bits of them, anyway), and provides a general update on what she's been up to.
Ben Rogerson


Crosby, Stills & Nash live at Woodstock

This week we're going back to 1969 for an astonishing lesson in three-part vocal harmony. Suite: Judy Blue Eyes is the opening track on Crosby, Stills & Nash's eponymous debut album and it famously features an unusual EEEEBE guitar tuning. Taking to the Woodstock stage at approximately 3am, CSN opened their set with this remarkable acoustic version. Not bad considering it was only their second ever live show.
Chris Vinnicombe


Blur's Coffee And TV

So, 'proper' Blur are back then. This has everything good about Graham Coxon and Damon Albarn at their collaborative best.
1. A smart opening lyric ("Do you feel like a chainstore? / Practically floored")
2. A sneaky all-major chord progression of B, A, E, G, F, A# then to C#.
3. A video featuring dancing milk cartons.
4. Wonderfully atonal guitar solos. Good work.
Michael Leonard


Camera-phone close-up of Johnny Marr with Modest Mouse

I've never been to the Melkweg in Amsterdam but it looks like you can get damn close to the stage if you get in early. Watch the ex-Smith go from laid back twanging to all-out shred and back during Tiny Cities Made Of Ashes. Fingers crossed for more of the same with The Cribs - catch them live if you can.
Tom Porter


Channel 101: Yacht Rock

YouTube-meets-the-Gong-Show, Channel 101 features endearingly-amateurish pilot TV shows that survive only as long as they remain popular. One of the classics is the late lamented Yacht Rock, a spoof look back at a smooth Seventies where Loggins and Messina rule, The Eagles beat down on nerdy Steely Dan and life is still very much in the fast lane. The phrase 'yacht rock' has since snowballed into a 'real' music genre (really - just search iTunes) and the show is now long gone but just watch our featured first episode - and then watch the other ten. Go Doobies!
Mike Goldsmith

Still bored? Here's a surely long-overdue Dr Pepper ad starring Axl Rose and Guns N' Roses.

If that's not to your tastes, enjoy an 18-year-old Jon Bon Jovi duetting with Star Wars robot R2-D2 on We Wish You A Merry Christmas.

The MusicRadar team

MusicRadar is the number 1 website for music makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, djs or producers...

  • GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high- quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.
  • TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.
  • STARS: We talk to musicians and stars about their creative processes, and the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the actual craft of music making that no other music website can.