iTunes: Tuesday Freebies
It's Tuesday and it's time for another installment of the iTunes Tuesday Freebies. Every week I scour the iTunes stores, looking for the best free offerings around the world. Here are the freebies I found for you this week.
US Music
US: Silent Night by Sarah McLachlan
Now we generally try to turn the spotlight over to new artists for our Single of the Week, but we're feeling the spirit of the season this month. Check back here each week to get a free holiday track from an established artist. Here, Sarah McLachlan turns "Silent Night" into the warm, ethereal majestic snapshot of devotion that we've always known this song to be.
US: Christmas Reindeer by the Knife
If you tend to tire of the traditional holiday music fare, then the Knife have the cure to all of your Nat King Cole and Johnny Mathis-related ills. The Swedish electro-art-pop duo deliver us "Christmas Reindeer" - a pulsating clang of a tune dedicated to Santa's most trusted animals. Enjoy!
US: Anacona by La Sista
This reggaetonera steps up to the microphone in a big way on "Anacaona," a remake of a song originally recorded by Cheo Feliciano. La Sista's own roots (she's of African and Puerto Rican descent) come through on this blazing tune, which booms with a heavy, buzzing bass line and Sista's own bold, dancehall-tinged rhymes.
US Video
Nothing new today in the US Video that hasn't been covered before, but unlike free music, new videos often show up later in the week. Here you'll find a good collection of video freepeats.
US: mun2 News Special - For My Country? Young Latinos In the Military
Keeping with its commitment to creating programming with a Latino sensibility, these quarterly news specials will focus on important issues affecting Latino youth. From the national headlines to community life, mun2 presents important issues as they relate to Latino youth and their families.
US: Scrubs "Guy Love" Music Video
A winner of both the prestigious Humanitas Prize and an Emmy award, Scrubs is back for another unpredictable season.
US: Nemesis Rising, The Music of Jacob & Joshua episode
Jacob & Joshua: Nemesis Rising follows identical twins who couldn't be more different. Joshua is a free spirit, a party boy, and exceedingly single while Jacob is focused, driven, and involved in a long-term relationship. As singers the duo harmonize perfectly, with Jacob leaning more toward pop and Joshua a little more toward rock 'n' roll. After uprooting themselves from their country home in Montana to Los Angeles, the twins find themselves at a critical crossroads professionally and personally. They need a hit record or they face being dropped from their label. Breaking new ground in the pop music world, the twins will be marketed as openly gay artists necessitating their "coming out" to their family, friends, and fans.
US: NBC News Specials
Crisis In Darfur With Ann Curry.
US: Twentyfourseven, Season 1, Episode 1
An entrepreneur, a rock star, an actor, a director, a record producer, a player, and . . . a Buddhist? Living the life 24/7
US: Frisky Dingo/Meet Killface Episode
Killface, the most evil villain of all time ever, is halfway bent on destroying the Earth. Meanwhile his nemesis, Awesome-X, is ambivalent about stopping him, as it might just crush toy sales.
US: Real World Casting Special, Season 18
We're heading to the Mile High City where our 7 strangers will not only discover a Rocky Mountain high in the trendy nightlife scene, but will work as Outward Bound counselors for kids who were affected by Hurricane Katrina. Get ready for a season packed full of adventure as The Real World reaches new heights, literally, as the roommates scale mountains and learn how to live in the wilderness.
US: 2006 PGA Grand Slam of Golf: Episode 1, Golf Strategies, Tough Shots and Around the Green
The PGA and iTunes have paired up to bring you exclusive access to professional golf's hardest tournament to qualify for: The 2006 PGA Grand Slam of Golf. This season-ending showcase of major champions features 4 of golf's elite as they vie for a $1.25 million purse and recognition as the "best of the best." Competing will be the reigning British Open and PGA champion Tiger Woods, 2006 U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy, Major Champions Points List leader and winner of the 2003 U.S. Open and 2003 PGA Grand Slam of Golf Jim Furyk, and Canadian Mike Weir, who finished third in the Major Champions Points List and won his first major championship when he captured the 2003 Masters.
US: One Punk Under God, Episode 1
An original six-part documentary series on Jay Bakker, the only son of TV evangelists, Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Messner. The series takes a behind-the-scenes look at the life of Bakker as he faces the professional, emotional, and financial struggles of running his Revolution church in Atlanta, Georgia. The tattooed and pierced preacher is not necessarily the image of an American evangelist with his resolutely maverick stance and open tolerance for alternative lifestyle choices. But by fusing together punk and Christian values to create a non-denominational and inclusive parish, he is working to show the world just how hip and welcoming today's churches can be.
US Audio Book Special Deals
Neither of these audio books is free, but their price is greatly reduced because of their cross-promotional value.
US: Charlotte's Web (Unabridged, $4.95, 3 hours, 34 minutes)
Since its publication in 1952, Charlotte's Web has become one of America's best-loved children's books. For fifty years, this timeless story of the pig named Wilbur and the wise spider named Charlotte who saved him has continued to warm the hearts of readers everywhere. Now this class, a 1953 Newbery Honor Book, comes to life in a delightful unabridged recording, read lovingly by the author himself.
US: A Brief History of Alagaesia ($0.95, 26 minutes)
Christopher Paolini, author of Eragon and Eldest, narrates a quick history of his imaginary realm.
US Movie Shorts
US: Dreamgirls Exclusive Clip
Set in the turbulent early 1960s to mid-70s, Dreamgirls follows the rise of a trio of women - Effie, Deena and Lorrell - who have formed a promising girl group called The Dreamettes. At a talent competition, they are discovered by an ambitious manager named Curtis Taylor, Jr., who offers them the opportunity of a lifetime.
US: Glamour Reel Moments: Dealbreaker
Dealbreaker, was written and directed by Gwyneth Paltrow and Mary Wigmore and produced by Moxie Pictures for Glamour's Reel Moments series. The film was also accepted to the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. The films in the series are based on readers' real life stories and brought to the screen by Hollywood's leading talent. The making of these films - by women and for women - provided direct benefit to FilmAid International.This short film, Dealbreaker, was written and directed by Gwyneth Paltrow and Mary Wigmore and produced by Moxie Pictures for Glamour's Reel Moments series. The film was also accepted to the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. The films in the series are based on readers' real life stories and brought to the screen by Hollywood's leading talent. The making of these films - by women and for women - provided direct benefit to FilmAid International.
US: Glamour Reel Moments: Gnome
A festival favorite at the Berlin Film Festival, GNOME was written and directed by Jenny Bicks and stars Lauren Graham as part of the 2005 Glamour Reel Moments Short Film series. The films in the series are based on readers' real life stories and brought to the screen by some of Hollywood's most talented women. The making of these films - by women and for women - provided direct benefit to FilmAid International.A festival favorite at the Berlin Film Festival, GNOME was written and directed by Jenny Bicks and stars Lauren Graham as part of the 2005 Glamour Reel Moments Short Film series. The films in the series are based on readers' real life stories and brought to the screen by some of Hollywood's most talented women. The making of these films - by women and for women - provided direct benefit to FilmAid International.
International
The big news today is that New Zealand gets its first iTunes free Single of the Week ever. Woo!
Australia: Pick Up the Pieces by Paul McLaney
This week, we're trying out something a little different and downtempo - let's give rock a rest! From the opening refrain and the languid notes to the gentle plucking and wistful vocals, "Pick Up the Pieces" is a charmingly delicate entreat to love. The track is lifted from Paul McLaney's new solo album, Edin, which is a beautiful soliloquy to love.
New Zealand: Pick Up the Pieces by Paul McLaney
This week, we're trying out something a little different and downtempo - let's give rock a rest! From the opening refrain and the languid notes to the gentle plucking and wistful vocals, "Pick Up the Pieces" is a charmingly delicate entreat to love. The track is lifted from Paul McLaney's new solo album, Edin, which is a beautiful soliloquy to love.
Canada: Silent Night by Sarah McLachlan
Now we generally try to turn the spotlight over to new artists for our Single of the Week, but we're feeling the spirit of the season this month. Check back here each week to get a free holiday track from an established artist. Here, Sarah McLachlan turns "Silent Light" into the warm, ethereal majestic snapshot of devotion that we've always known this song to be.
France: I Say You Can't Stop (Bonus Track)by Nelson
Ce petit bijou post-punk est de Nelson, un groupe originaire de Paris, qui semble à la fois mélancolique et plein d'énergie sur « I Say You Can't Stop ». Ce morceau frénétique vous offre une ligne de basse disco et une percussion à la Joy Division. Les parties vocales sont douces puis excitées, un peu comme une tribu de jeunes partis faire la fête dans le désert. C'est notre Single de la semaine sur iTunes.
UK: See You In the Light by Michael Franti & Spearhead
"See You in the Light" is taken from from the newest album from Michael Franti and Spearhead. The song is less of a groove-based tune from Franti, instead finding that he is equally adept at constructing midtempo U2-esque soft-rocking epics.
