Gawker: Viral Videos

What Killed The Viral Video?

Richard — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:35:00 EDT

Recently Videogum did a little deep dive into the world of viral videos, and came back with some interesting findings. It seems that 2006 was the peak year for dumb mashups, terrible singers, heartwarming lion hugs, and all manner of other popular YouTube crap (basically all those people that got killed on that one episode of South Park). So what's happened since then? Where have all the virals gone? Well, we think they're kinda dead, and after the jump we'll tell you why.

That Was Funny The First 100 Times
What was the turnaround time between everyone marveling at newfangled email technologies and then complaining about the whole thing? Not very long, I don't think. And the same definitely applies to viral videos. At first YouTube was this great, vast landscape of 3-minute-long time wasters that were good for a chuckle and a "look what I found!" self-satisfied email to friends. Now? The minute you hear that term, "viral video," it makes you think of something grainy and shaky-camera'd, made by some festering nerd who would probably harrass you endlessly if you double-crossed him. People are too savvy with the internet at this point to still be enchanted by its simple, chintzy magicks. YouTube is used more practically now, it's more functional—and those dancing, lightsaber-waving fat kids have been reduced to mostly-forgotten Coney Island freakshow diversions.

Let's Get Cynical, Cynical
As is the case with most phenomena, corporate interests were pretty quick to pick up the scent and glom on to viralness for their own nefarious gains. The idea of a viral ad campaign must have seemed pretty hip and edgy when the first smartass marketing kid pitched it at some meeting, but it quickly became irksome and frustrating and just too damn much. That Russian guy trashing his office? Fake. The cellphone popcorn thing? Fake. Heck, even "Will It Blend" is, actually, advertising a blender. It's gotten to the point that people don't trust videos to be anything but viral marketing for something, to paraphrase our cynical initial reaction to the Montauk Monster photo. The marketing companies overplayed their hands on this one, taking what could have been occasionally fun extra components to more mainstream ad campaigns and just overdoing it to death. Like so much else in this developing world. (Remember when people actually opened spam mail? OK, maybe that never actually happened).

Turn On the TV, I Mean the Computer
People watch a lot of TV on the computer. I mean, not a ton. Not enough to ruin broadcast television (yet). But, like, people watch Hulu and things on iTunes and various networks' websites, and that stuff is much better produced than, like, that YouTube video where that one dude falls down. Virals were a distraction from other stuff on the computer, and now virals have just become that stuff on the computer. So what distracts us from that? Television! On, um, the computer. This may be more crackpot theory than tested technoanthropology, but it stands to reason that the slicker (and freer) real filmed internet content gets, the less relevance and urgency the amateur stuff will have.

This is not to say that people aren't watching viral videos. I mean, YouTube is totally super popular and there are still funny WTF videos on the onlines. But lately I've noticed that it's like bizarro foreign commercials and things of that ilk. The garage-made YouTube sensation may be a thing of the distant, two-year-old past.

Can't say I'm sad to see it go.

Christian Ska Band Was Totally Real, Ye Doubters

Hamilton Nolan — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:26:50 EDT

The internet is great for turning random people into momentary stars, then allowing them to fade out into nothingness. But don't you wonder what ever became of all those strange characters you see in funny YouTube clips? Sure you do! Usually you're only left with your own conspiracy theories. But one person at MetaFilter came up with a crazy idea: call somebody! That's how he helped solve the mystery of Sonseed, the totally captivating Christian ska band whose Christ-tastic "Jesus Is My Friend" recently became a viral YouTube hit, only to be accused of being a fraud. Oh, they're only too real:

MetaFilter user nickskye actually looked up the lead singer of Sonseed, Sal Polichetti, and called him up. They are no hoax, says Sal (who also sent Idolator a kind of nasty letter saying the same thing earlier this month):

The band got together around 1979/1980, kind of an accident through a friend, Joseph, connected with Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, they all met, played for Pentecost Sunday. They kept in touch, met, prayed for an hour, all Catholic. It was quite innovative at that time, no Catholic rock music then. How he wrote the songs, the band members took hymnals, added guitar solos and drum solos, ended up doing local concerts at churches and schools, never took a dime. 18 to 20 rotating performers at one time.

This is a heartening story of a viral hit that turns out to be not viral, but real. And about Jesus! Watch it in wonderment once again:

[Metafilter]

Putting Stuff In Blender: Cool, But May Not Accomplish Business Objectives

Hamilton Nolan — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 11:44:24 EDT

Have you seen any of those dozens of YouTube videos where a dude in a lab coat puts random things in a blender and proves that, yes, they will blend? It's a successful viral advertising project! So successful that the company claims that "sales have risen 600% since the videos started." The Times points out that most of the company's customer base is commercial, so it's highly unlikely the videos themselves are the reason for the increase. Still, this god damn blender company, of all things, is savvy enough to team up with AT&T to blend an iPhone, and to get itself into the top search results for "Chuck Norris" by blending an action figure, so you have to give them some props, ridiculous though their strategy is. After the jump, watch pop culture things blend for murky reasons:

This May Be My Favorite 'Viral Video' Ever

Richard — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 16:53:00 EDT

This is The Simpsons opening sequence done with real live European people! I know this has been seen by millions of people already, but I still really like it. Gives a nice polish to the crap-tainted name of Internet Video. Any that you like? (Or, you know, I don't know how to do this 'One More Thing'... uh... thing, so just change the topic if you want.) Thanks for not murdering me today! Have fun with Hamilton tomorrow and then, yes dearies, Ian will be back next week. Now Ima go get crunk(er). Ciao!

Greenpeace Turns Trees To Common Whores

Hamilton Nolan — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 16:35:16 EDT

God, the internet has really proven to be detrimental to our collective national psyche. It's gotten to the point that we won't even consider thinking about any organization that hasn't produced some god damn "viral video." And some porn! Must we impose these outlandish standards even on the gentle nature-lovers at Greenpeace? Yes, we demand they cater to our short attention spans and stunted penchant for sex jokes. So they have obliged with this "tree porn" video clip. Sexy stumps! Sultry openings in bark! And some guy standing just off camera moving leaves up and down over a forked branch like a giggling 12-year-old! Ha, "wood." Watch it below in order to save the earth or something!

[via Trendhunter]

Cellphone Popcorn Videos Were Viral Ads For Bluetooth Headset

Nick Douglas — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 11:21:42 EDT

The videos of cell phones popping popcorn, obviously fake (because Science!), were viral ads by the makers of a Bluetooth headset. Pretty evil, since they preyed on unfounded fears of technology instead of, say, the California law that went into action today banning cell use while driving.

A Children's Treasury Of Terrible Videos About Barack And Hil

Pareene — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:03:43 EST

Earlier today we showed you Barack O'Bollywood and invited you to send in your favorite distracting and discomfiting viral videos about the Democratic candidates. Some of you did! We've embedded some of these videos after the jump. They make for disturbing viewing, you have been warned. There is musical theater and porn and ABBA.

First up is BARACKULA! It's a completely unforgivable musical short film about Barack Obama as a vampire and that is really about all there is to say about it. Someone noticed that "Barack" almost sounds like the beginning of "Dracula" and also there was that movie "Blackula" and why not make it a musical? Thanks, internet!

"Barack Obama cancelled My So-Called Life."

This nutty clip combines clips from camp classic Mommy Dearest with ABBA's "Mamma Mia." This is somehow a Clinton attack.

And finally, BANNED BY YOUTUBE for reasons that will become immediately apparent, "A 2008 Voting Guide From Your Friends... In the Porn Industry." NSFW, obv.

Barack O'Bollywood, and Other Amazing Internet Attack Ads

Pareene — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:50:59 EST

Remember when we said this was the best amateur Obama YouTube music video ever? We were wrong. We apologize. This is the best one ever. It is insane. It was on boingboing, but don't hold that against it. It is awesome. Ron Paul may be the President of the Internet, but Barack Obama is a living meme.

The clip comes from someone named CamPain2008 and he is some sort of genius. Here's another classic:

We're soliciting ideas for our very own exclusive internet attack ad, and we welcome your suggestions, in the comments or the inbox. Remember: his middle name is Hussein, he's a secret turban-wearing Muslim, and he loves blow. Just like all of you!