The Toronto Maple Leafs’ Joffrey Lupul became the sixth member of Walk Off the Earth after he and the Toronto band teamed up for LGBT organization, You Can Play. Gathered on a sofa, the band uses a guitar, xylophone, two over-sized Maple Leaf beer bottles while Lupul uses a mini goalie stick to create the catchy tune.
You Can Play mission is to bring equality and respect towards LGBT athletes playing any sport.
Unfortunately, there is still quite a bit of tension when it comes to LGBTQ athletes playing on the professional level but it is improving. The NFL agreed on Tuesday to create a “culture of inclusion” for gay players, recruits and potential players and hang posters in locker rooms that stress the league’s anti-discrimination policies.
Hopefully, the NFL and You Can Play will help foster healthy and more inclusive environments for LGBTQ athletes.
WATCH ANDPOP’S SIMON MOHOS PLAY PING PONG WITH BEARD GUY A.K.A. MIKE TAYLOR HERE.
Walk Off The Earth first garnered attention on the internet with their creative and unique take on Gotye’s “Somebody I Used to Know” where all five members played the song on one guitar. Since then, they’ve been putting their own spin on popular songs as well as penning their own original material.
You can listen to Walk Off the Earth’s full album R.E.V.O. (Realize Every Victory Outright) right now before the album drops later this month!
“BBD” – Azealia Banks
Azealia Banks kicks off the new year with “BBD,” impeccably produced by Sup Doodle and Apple Juice Kid. Banks’ new single is reminiscent of “212,” the first track that landed the sassy rapper on the charts’ radar. “BBD” has the cross-genre elements that Banks is known for, with futuristic instrumentation, and a hyper speed beat that will have you exhausted by the end of the track. Banks’ debut album Broke with Expensive Taste drops this year.
“Lost in my Bedroom” – Sky Ferreira
Any music video that starts off with a warning for those sensitive to flashing strobe lights is bound to be a gooder. Sky Ferreira’s latest single “Lost in my Bedroom” is a creepy masterpiece. Filmed like a home video, we see Ferreira filming her own dance party in her room. Ferreira has the “pretty/ugly” look down pat with her messy blonde hair and makeup, still managing to make me jealous that I’m not her. This is definitely one party I would love to attend.
Canadian band Walk Off The Earth struck YouTube gold with their second viral hit “I Knew You Were Trouble,” featuring beatboxer KRNFX. The band rejigged Taylor Swift’s dubstep pop song sans instruments.
Walk Off The Earth exploded last year when they released their cover of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” featuring five musicians playing one guitar. It received over 143 million hits but was beat out by Psy’s “Gangnam Style” as the most popular video on YouTube.
In their new a capella tune, it’s hard to believe they’re not using any electronic instruments to create the dubstep bass.They also play off a snippet of Solomon Linda’s song “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.”
The band said on Twitter: “Hey y’all. Please tweet at @taylorswift13 with our new video to see if she’s feelin’ it.” No word from her yet! What do you think of the cover?
Watch it here
Want to see Walk Off The Earth perform in Toronto on Sept. 20?ANDPOPis teaming up with Sony Music Canada to give one lucky winner and a guest tickets to see the group at the Danforth Music Hall.
Here’s what you have to do:
Fill out the form below! It’s that simple. The contest is open to anyone in Canada (excluding Quebec) and will run from today (Sept. 7) until Tuesday, Sept. 18.
Make sure to like our Facebook page (it’s required) and remember, only ONE ENTRY per person.
Good luck!
These kids are double threats because they’re super adorable — like I want to pinch their cheeks adorable — and they’re talented. Stars Academy’s Myles and Kolton covered Jason Mraz’ “I Won’t Give Up” with nothing but a guitar, ukelele and their voices.
Myles recently starred as as Billy in Billy Elliot The Musical on Broadway and has appeared in videos with Walk Off The Earth — band members include his step-dad Ryan Marshall and his uncle Gianna. Kolton also puts everybody’s lacklustre childhood’s to shame as he recently starred as Simba in Lion King The Musical and will be appearing in a TIFF film.
These guys are adorable but we can tell they’re going to be charmers when they grow up too. Stick around until the end to see them goofing around and having fun.
Watch it here:
Here at ANDPOP, we love hearing how different artists interpret one song. By changing the tempo and instrumentation, artists can alter the vibe of a track entirely. Suddenly, you might start digging a song you hated in the first place. Our minds were blown when we heard some amazing covers of Skrillex and One Direction. This week, we heard ten covers of Fun’s “Some Nights” that we can’t stop replaying.
Country Twang: 2 Carats Band (Shayna Rose and Elizabeth Shea)
Seasoned Pros: Walk Off The Earth (DUH) and Julia Nunes
“OMFG she’s so Rachel Berry” Version: TheLizLoughrey
No Instruments: Peter Hollens Read more…
You may recognize these five people above from their most popular viral video cover of Gotye & Kimbra’s “Somebody That I Used to Know,” where they all played together on one guitar. The video now has close to 130 million views on their YouTube and since then continued to woo the world with their extreme imagination and talent.
Walk Off the Earth took a new popular radio hit into their hands with Maroon 5 and Wiz Khalifa’s “Payphone,” including a wide range of instruments and vocals, showing their audience everything they know about hitting all the right notes and melodies. The camera pans from member to member demonstrating their skills including a rap solo from Sarah Blackwood, “Listen boy, I ain’t gunna answer the phone / so you can leave a message after the tone…beeeep,” while throwing up the finger.
What song would you like to see them cover next?
Watch here:
Ever since Walk off the Earth did their five-person-on-one-guitar version of Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” there’s been a rise in artists sharing instruments. I’m going to call it recession-proof music. Here’s Patrick Goble and Donovan Kirkpatrick, who demonstrate the four-handed bluesgrass version of Katy Perry’s “Firework.”
Though the duo really just wanted to get some ribs and beans they took some time out of their day, sped up the song and went for a higher pitch. Goble (left) is a 27-year-old instructor and composer from Kentucky.
What do you think of it?
Every so often when you’re watching a completely normal video on YouTube, you scroll down and read a light-over-your-head EPIPHANY-worthy comment that changes everything about your whole perception of the clip.
After reading these particular comments, I’m never going to think of these celebrities in the same way again. Drake is a rake. Katy Perry is a beloved crackhead (who we love). And a member of Walk off the Earth is a sea captain (see it?). Mind blown. [Source]
Check them out here:
Katy Perry and Rihanna are crackheads
Walk off the Earth is a sea captain Read more…
We’re so over Gotye covers because the more we hear, the more we’re tired of the song. But we’ll take this mashup of people doing some pretty impressive stunts to Walk Off The Earth’s “Somebody That I Used To Know” (which, BTW, is an impressive cover itself).
The talents were filmed all around the world and include people doing everything from snowboarding to breakdancing to diving. It was filmed for MeTheOne, a global talent discovering project based in Spain.
If you’re having a depressing day, this video just might restore your faith in humanity. Just a little. And if you go to their official YouTube page, you can get a list of the people in the video.
Watch it here:
Sure, Gotye and Kimbra’s single “Somebody That I Used To Know” was always certified gold but everyone knows you really don’t make it until someone produces a cover in Hebrew while five people play the bouzouki.
The Israeli group Roi Lavi and the Good Guy did their own interpretation of Gotye’s song. Of course, they play off Walk Off The Earth but we’ll still take it. Also, they mixed it up a little by adding Bruno Mars’ doppelgänger, who wears a fedora and sunglasses and plays the piano. He’s pretty chill and provides some comic relief near the end.
Watch them here:
