Via Andrew Sullivan (and Hit and Run) this fine, fine video. You have to watch the whole thing, because it really grows on you. I agree with scruffy hipster Julian Sanchez: “Anyone who can watch this and complain about the pernicious effects of cultural globalization has no soul.” Finally, a Numa Numa dance video for the generation that grew up 30 seconds ago.
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Uncle Kvetch 10.25.05 at 9:19 am
The video’s an absolute hoot, I agree. But whether this is best described as “cultural globalization” or, um, some other, less value-neutral term, is debatable.
Unless, that is, there’s a new craze that nobody’s told me about, whereby American frat boys are lip-synching to Chinese opera in their rooms.
Belle Waring 10.25.05 at 10:00 am
OK, how about “triumph of cheesy American capitalism”? But…don’t you see a lot of dry sarcasm there? I think we must consider seriously the role of the apparent LAN gaming roommate, and his caustic gaze.
Chris Clarke 10.25.05 at 10:26 am
LAN gaming roommate was the high point of the video for me.
saurabh 10.25.05 at 10:29 am
What sort of dry sarcasm is it? Do you think they’re wryly pointing out to us how ridiculous our pop-idols are by reflecting them back to us? I think it’s far more likely that they’re just playing it straight.
Uncle Kvetch 10.25.05 at 10:51 am
OK, how about “triumph of cheesy American capitalism�
Much better. 8^)
The last thing I wanted to do was be a wet blanket here–like I said, it’s a hoot. And you’re right,
Belle, that there’s a least a scintilla of piss-taking here, which the presence of the roommate in the background does nothing to dispel.
abb1 10.25.05 at 11:27 am
Thanks, I can now fully appreciate Turkmen President Mr. Saparmurat Niyazov’s ban on lip-singing (to protect “true culture, including the musical and singing traditions of the Turkmen people”). Heck, I may move there.
Mill 10.25.05 at 12:00 pm
Look at the expressions on their faces. They’re not playing it straight.
Iron Lungfish 10.25.05 at 12:10 pm
These guys are wonderful; they’re already my heroes for the day. And the guy in the back trying to ignore the whole thing is the cherry on the sundae.
saurabh 10.25.05 at 12:31 pm
mill, you’ve clearly never seen a backstreet boys video. Maybe they’re not playing it straight either? Check it out: http://www.mtv.com/bands/az/backstreet_boys/audvid.jhtml
almostinfamous 10.25.05 at 1:17 pm
if you think that’s hilarious, check out this adaptation of that annoying Gwen Stefani song. you know the one i’m talking about.
(click on the banner to launch the low-bandwidth video)
almostinfamous 10.25.05 at 1:23 pm
here’s the direct link. warning: needs IE and flash…
saurabh 10.25.05 at 2:01 pm
Holy cow! I was just watching that video… it’s funny cuz it’s true. (Works for me in Firefox, btw)
Richard Bellamy 10.25.05 at 2:04 pm
Unless, that is, there’s a new craze that nobody’s told me about, whereby American frat boys are lip-synching to Chinese opera in their rooms.
Unless kids from New Jersey lip-synching Moldovan songs are outside of this category, I would assume that you don’t know what a “Numa Numa” is.
Uncle Kvetch 10.25.05 at 2:07 pm
I would assume that you don’t know what a “Numa Numa†is.
I did, at one point…and forgot. I was figuring “Numa Numa” was just something similar that I hadn’t heard of, but now that you mention it, I have seen the one you’re talking about.
Laura 10.25.05 at 2:19 pm
Thanks, Belle. Loved it and the LAN playing roomie.
Jackmormon 10.25.05 at 2:33 pm
The link in 11 worked fine in Firefox with Java, and thanks–it was wonderful.
almostinfamous 10.25.05 at 6:26 pm
glad you all liked it. :)
MQ 10.25.05 at 6:34 pm
Gotta love the matching Yao Ming jerseys. He should easily dwarf all previous NBA jersey sales records — a billion person market!
Seth Edenbaum 10.25.05 at 9:18 pm
Julian Sanchez is an idiot.
It’s both ‘a hoot’ and not. So Nike won the Vietnam war and these kids like the rest of us, are the the children of ‘Marx and Coca Cola.’
And of course they are both playing it straight and not.
It’s not- IT”S ALMOST NEVER!- a question of either/or.
Globalization is homogenization… and yet.
The song sucks… and yet.
Seth Edenbaum 10.25.05 at 9:20 pm
The reference is to Godard, who of course hates Anerican pop culture… and yet.
Jeremy Osner 10.25.05 at 9:48 pm
Loved the BIODATA video though I am not pop-song literate enough to know, upon what it was a spoof. Dug the “I want it that way” lip-sync video though it did not occur to me once to think, that they might have been playing it straight.
Seth Edenbaum 10.25.05 at 9:57 pm
Oy Vey… They’re laughing at themselves as much as the song.
but they’re laughing at their own kitsch romance, so they’re playing it strai…
Oh, never mind
Jeremy Osner 10.25.05 at 10:47 pm
Here’s the truly wonderful thing about that “I want it that way” video: In the future, when I am in some public space and that song comes on the PA, rather than feeling sick and irritated I can break down in helpless mirth thinking about the guy on the left putting his hands up and calling out the lyrics.
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