Youtube's Killer App: Music

Aretha Franklin: Don't Play That Song (You Lied) Outlast the 20 seconds of Officially Wacky Intro and claim your reward: the singer on keyboards; the most acrobatic bass line ever; and (is it?) her sisters singing backup, in a high-water mark of emotional intelligence in song.

Misora Hibari - Omatsuri Mambo Think Japanese Mardi Gras. From the great Japanese singer Misora Hibari's 35th Anniversary concert--the command of technique, presentation, and imagery all equally unrivalled. You don't often find this much visual and vocal power together with this much nuance.

Misora Hibari in Tokyo Kid An early film appearance, 1950. Postwar optimism--what else can you do?--on the same lines as de Sica's 1951 film, Miracle in Milan. And--at age 13, what a voice.

Misora Hibari 美空ひばり - Yawara 柔 In 1965, at age 28. And cross-dressing, no less--check the sideburns with those soul-sister 'lashes.