By Helen A.S. Popkin
Marketers. Media. We need to talk. We’re like - what? Ten years into Web 2.0 and y’all still haven’t figured out that: 1. CGI-manipulated babies performing unnatural skill sets are creepy and B. Calling a commercially produced video “viral” doesn’t make it so.
Just so we’re clear, a pack of freaky tots roller boogying to Sugar Hill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” is an Evian bottled water marketing campaign – a successful one that premiered on the video sharing site YouTube, but a commercial all the same. Unlike advertisements, viral videos destined for YouTube perpetuity don’t exist to sell something or avoid insulting an audience. Their only mission is to be awesome. Questionable parenting behavior, chronic diseases and even satirizing a genocidal madman are all fair game for infinite remixes and mashups.
Many examples of mashup memes are so complex, you might feel inspired to declare, “Dang, somebody has a lot of time on their hands.” But while you’re watching “Dancing with the Stars,” these video collagists are creating work that’ll make you blow milk out your nose. So put down the glass and click on the \"Next\" button above to check out six memes in YouTube’s unofficial viral mashup hall of fame. ";
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Tech_YouTubeMemes[i-1].body = "
Millions were amused in March by the high-as-a-kite ramblings of 8-year-old David DeVore , strapped in a car seat following oral surgery.
“Is this real life?” and “Is this going to be forever?” and “AAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!” are just a few of the quotes destined for infinite dubs and remixes, including a scratch take and an “eclectic method remix.”
Even YouTube star Chad Vader posted a line-for-line remake. (Talk about getting your money’s worth out of a Darth Vader costume!) Dad, who told the hand-wringing media he brought the camera to help calm the kid’s nerves pre and post operation, continues his peace mission by selling “David After Dentist” T-shirts on the Internet. ";
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Tech_YouTubeMemes[i-1].body = "
Though many abound, the Rap Chop (Auto-tune) Remix by pro DJ Steve Porter is hands down the best infomercial remix in the “Sham Wow Guy,” milieu, and perhaps the finest mashup in all YouTube history.
Effortlessly bending pitchman Vince Shlomi’s unblinking double entendres via auto tuner, Porter includes some well-timed clips from the 1984 street dancing debacle, “Breakin.”
As it happens, the emergence of mocking mixes worked out pretty well for the shifty shammy salesman. “We’re going to make America skinny again, one slap at a time” and other memorable quotes ceased to amuse following Shlomi’s February arrest for felony battery on a prostitute. He emerged infinitely more palatable when chopped up on YouTube via video editing tools.";
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Tech_YouTubeMemes[i-1].body = "
Many attempt but few achieve a final product as bizarre and random as the “This is Sparta!” techno remix by Internet mash master Keaton.
Every random pop culture reference that fits seems to be Keaton’s theme as he riffs on the uber-butch declaration delivered by Gerard Butler in the 2007 battle fetish flick \"300.\"
Butler’s angry, bearded head is placed atop a dude break dancing in a bear suit, Saturday Night Live’s “Night at the Roxy” jerks, and “Scarface,” machine-gunning the fat kid from the “Goonies,” as he repeatedly shouts, “This is Sparta!” to a seizure-inducing techno beat.
It’s an inspiration to many as well as a delightful display of disrespect unbefitting the proud (and completely humorless) Sparta King Leonidas.";
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Tech_YouTubeMemes[i-1].body = "
Got a contentious issue? Why not make Hitler mad about it? Der Furher’s bunker meltdown from the 2004 German film “Der Untergang” (“The Downfall”) is the canvas upon which creative types express social satire via English subtitles that pervert original scenes' context, thus hilariously emasculating one of history’s worst demons. Or whatever.
In a recent effort, Hitler is seriously cheesed over Sarah Palin leaving the gubernatorial office prematurely. In another, Hitler plans to attend “Burning Man,” infuriated to learn only five of the regular crew want to go too. In possibly the best entry, the leader of the Third Reich is positively apoplectic upon learning the release of “Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince” is postponed. When his military leaders attempt to comfort him with the news that “Twilight” is in theaters soon, Hitler is so incensed to be considered a fan of the girly vampire series, he screams “Twilight?!? Do I look like a Twihard to you?!?” ";
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Tech_YouTubeMemes[i-1].body = "
Look. We could stand here and argue all day about the insensitivity of putting words in Hitler’s mouth or for that matter, remixing Wilford Brimley’s commercials for Liberty Medical, a medical company which provides supplies for diabetes.
But the facts are these: That’s not actually Hitler in “The Downfall,” its actor Bruno Ganz. And well, Brimley’s repeated old timey pronunciation of the word “diabetes” combined with his perpetual cranky-but-lovable grandpa-ness is found by many to be - um - hilarious.
Especially when you can dance to it! The video playlist includes “Wilford Brimley's Diabetes Dance Mix,” “Rock me Diabeetus,” and “Wilford Brimley Diabeetus: The Insane Edition.” ";
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Tech_YouTubeMemes[i-1].body = "
Hey look! It’s Keyboard Cat! That musical feline in the blue onesie who makes everyone smile, softening every blow and putting an entertaining twist on all the world’s FAIL moments.
While the majority of YouTube virals are destined for cult-status obscurity, this nationally-recognized mashable “get off the stage” meme made the ultimate crossover. Keyboard Cat was referenced by both Bill O’Reilly and Stephen Colbert, on whose show Green Day performed a cover. Keyboard Cat even made an appearance at the “MTV Movie Awards” as a warning to winners whose acceptance speeches went on too long.
The original YouTube posting of orange tabby, Fatso (now deceased) by performance artist Charlie Schmidt in 2007 was later borrowed by mash master Brad O’Farrell to punctuate a video of his own humiliation in “Play him off, Keyboard Cat.” Soon all the kids were adding Keyboard Cat as a punch line to their FAIL mashup videos. The kitty video also went on to collaborate with other popular YouTube entities, including Chad Vader and Hitler. Triple Meme Score!
All the kids are doin’ it: Follow Helen A.S. Popkin on Twitter or just friend her on Facebook.";
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