YouTube Music

Is it annoying switching apps all the time when you want to listen to music on YouTube and music you already have on your device?

BEGONE ANNOYANCE! Because…

They’ve finally released a YouTube Music app for Android and iPhone specifically for when you’re using the site to listen to music. It can also load up the music you have downloaded onto your phone as well!

They make it super easy to switch between the YouTube Music library and your own predownloaded music with a simple tap of your finger.

Just tap on “Home” for YouTube content, and “Library” for your own personal content! It’s that easy!

My favorite part of the app is that you can go for “audio only” when listening to a video so it will save you a heckin’ amount of data! It’s mostly what I use YouTube for these days, so it’s super convenient!

The only downside I’ve encountered so far when listening to your downloaded files is there is no “shuffle all” button. You can shuffle individual artists or albums, but not all songs in your entire library. Google Music lets you do that, so maybe they’ll eventually add that feature? I hope so!

Despite its downsides, it’s still a pretty neat app so give it a try today! (If you haven’t already!)

If You Play Music with Your Feet, Do You Have to Dance on Your Hands?

How do you get from this

to this?

Honestly, I don’t know!

But, I challenge you to figure it out!

On, Wednesday, April 4, from 4–5 p.m., I will have everything you and your friends need to make (and play) a floor piano! Chopsticks, anyone?

Register NOW!

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Tara

Favorite Musician: Miyavi

Out of all the artists I listen to, I love Miyavi the best!

He’s a Japanese rock musician and I’ve been listening to him for nearly a decade now. Some of you, if you’ve seen the movie, Unbroken, may already recognize him. He played the part of Watanabe.

I’ve been able to see him in concert once at the House of Blues in Chicago and it was a night I’ll never forget. It was the most hysterical concert I’ve ever been to. In between songs he entertained us with jokes and told us stories of his journey across the U.S.

He was also amazingly sweet. When someone fell, he stopped playing and made people move back and asked if the person was okay before he continued playing!

I can’t wait until he comes back to see him again!

When he was younger, I adored his androgynous looks but, once he became a father (he has two precious daughters), he’s toned down his fashion style but his music is still as amazing as ever. He even has an album in English – his latest album, Firebird.

Though I will forever mourn his rainbow hair.

Below are some of my favorite songs by him. (They are a lot of his older songs, but amazing nonetheless):

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Ashe

Fandoms, Fandoms, and More Fandoms

This month’s book displays here in the Vortex have inspired me!  

Our large display features books about music and musicians – both fictional and real.  Our smaller display, though, is all about the fans – those hordes of ridiculous, screaming, out-of-control lunatics that keep the musicians, actors, writers, performers, and other artists in business.  

Whether you consider yourself a Fan, Geek, Potterhead, Otaku, Trekkie, Whovian, Scooby, Browncoat, Twihard, Brony, Furry, Jedi, Sherlockian, Throner, Gamer, Sports Fan, or just a person who likes a thing, we all have that thing we obsess over that makes our life just a little bit shinier.

I confess: I too am a fan.  Here is a short list of the People and Things Who Make Me Squee.

Jim Henson and anything he created –

From the floppy-mouthed proto-Kermit of his early coffee commercials to his amazing avant garde graphic novel, Tale of Sand, from The Muppet Show to The Dark Crystal, Jim Henson’s art has always had the ability to grab my imagination and my heart and not let go.

Neil Gaiman –

Coraline.  The Graveyard Book.  American Gods.  Stardust.  Anansi Boys.  Sandman.  Good Omens.  Dr. Who episodes….  Squee, Squee, SQUEE!  Neil Gaiman is a hilarious, well-spoken, intelligent bloke with an amazing talent for the macabre and bizarre!

Amanda Palmer –

Amanda Palmer is a musician, performance artist, and author.  She is amazeballs.  Her heart-wrenching lyrics and the gut-wrenching emotion she displays while pounding away on a piano or shredding a ukelele remind me that there is still something real and pure and beautiful in the world.  (Fun Fact: Amanda Palmer and Neil Gaiman were married in 2011

Ursula Vernon – 

I don’t even know how to describe Ursula Vernon.  She’s an artist and author and the characters she creates are both cute and cuddly and strong and powerful.  Actually, that’s a pretty good way to describe Ursula herself.  I have had the honor of meeting her several times and even going out to dinner with her and her husband.  She’s brilliant.  Seriously, go read her stuff.

Star Trek: The Next Generation –

ST:TNG was my gateway fandom.  I started watching it in middle school and it took me from being a quiet, bookish kid to being a full-on Fan.  It was my entryway to other science-fiction like Star Wars, Dr. Who, Ray Bradbury, Babylon 5, Isaac Asimov, Firefly, and so many phenomenally geeky fandoms!  Despite its flaws, I will always have a special place in my heart for the crew of the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701 D).

Steven Universe –

“Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl… AND STEVEN!”  Steven Universe is kinda wacky, kinda random, kinda bizarre, and 100 % fabulous!  I love the music, the joy, the epic battles, the pink lion, the crazy creatures,  and especially the characters!  (Tara +Amethyst=BFF!!  <3)  I even did my very first cosplay as Steven!

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If you like these fandoms, AWESOME!  Come talk to me in the Vortex and we can swap stories!  If you like other fandoms, that’s great too!  Come talk to me in the Vortex and we can still swap stories!

____

Tara

 

 

Teen Open Mic Night

Calling all Poets, Musicians, Actors, Dancers, Essayists, Vocalists, Jugglers, and Other Performers!

Come show off your talents at the library’s Teen Open Mic Night on December 12, 2016!  Whatever your art or your skill level, we’d love to hear and see you shine!  

You can perform a piece that you’ve written or created yourself or it can be a favorite from a published artist.

Bring your friends, bring your families!  We have plenty of room in the audience!  This program starts at 6:30 p.m. and goes until 7:30 p.m.  It will be held in Meeting Room A next to the cafe.  

We’ll supply a microphone and a podium.  Performers must furnish all other equipment they wish to use.  Light refreshments will be available for the performers.  

 

 Register NOW!

 

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Tara

Lip Sync Battle!!

Hey, you! Come strut your stuff at the Vortex Lip Sync Battle on Friday, September 25, 2015 from 3:30 to 4:30 P.M.

I mean, seriously, when your jam comes up on your playlist, what do you do? Come on, don’t lie to me. I know what you do. You turn up the volume as high as you can and sing your heart out into a hairbrush or game controller or whatever you can find that even vaguely resembles a microphone.

I know because I do it too.

There are some songs that you just make you want to sing along or lip sync. My favorite is an old one you’ve probably never heard: “Stray Cat Strut” by the Stray Cats. I cannot hear that song without lip syncing and dancing. Cannot. Can. Not.

What are your “gotta lip sync” songs? I know you have at least one! Leave your favorite in the comments below. And stop by the Vortex today to pick up a sign-up slip and choose your song!

Also, here’s a fabulous example of the hilarity that is a lip sync battle: