Giddy. Up.

My sister just told me it's not in my nature to be giddy.

She's exactly right.

Still there's a couple things that lift the spirits. In this case it's randomness. Stumbling across some clips online like

Lauryn Hill's "Killing Me Softly" rendition off Block Party.

OR...

Kanye's West "Jesus Walks" rendition with the backing of the Central State University marching band. and John Legend on vocals.

OR...

And I don't even hesitate to tell you how janked up this made me to FINALLY find it online. After searching every P2P music-sharing program, scouring the internet, trying to find this song ANYWHERE and — even with a pretty good knowledge of how to find obscure things online — striking out with great frustration, I found it.

Cody Chesnutt's very brief appearance in the final scene from Block Party. His performance of "Parting Ways," the song I've never been able to find, plays solely for just a moment. I even blogged about all of this here.

It is one of my favourite 30 seconds of music ever, even though it's not the whole thing. But you take what you can get.

So, it's not giddy, but it's close.

Take what you can get.

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You know what, while we're at it: Step shows are pretty cool, too.

For those unitiated to step shows, or 'steppin,' the practice is common and popular in historically black colleges and universities. They are highly-detailed dance routines that incorporate the likes of cheerleading, military, and drill-team moves, as well as the call-and-response element of those forms. Large competitions are held all over the continent and they're likely to populate any number of school homecoming weekends. They are highly intricate and definite crowd engagers. Step shows are rooted in the black colleges and universities — specifically fraternities and sororities — because the history they draw from is a hybrid of African culture and African-American music and culture.

Have a look here and, if so compelled, watch Part 2 here..