We can play the radio in our classroom, and a couple of weeks ago two songs came on in succession that are big viral hits from last year. The first was Ylvis's The Fox:
It's interesting that in Scandinavian countries such as Norway, where Ylvis come from, people can and do choose to make content in English with the full knowledge that people from all walks of life will easily be able to understand and consider it perfectly acceptable. In contrast, the vast majority of even intelligent, well-educated people in Spain watch dubbed versions of films and television programmes.
Here are teens and 'elders' responding to the video as part of the Fine Brothers' excellent React series, in which they compare it to Gangnam Style and the Lonely Island:
The second song was Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines, which the teens have also reacted to:
There are (at least) two potentially objectionable aspects to this song. The first is the objectification of women in the video (and especially in the 18-rated version). However, I think that is the less serious of the two, because the models involved have made a relatively informed choice and their presence and behaviour suggest nothing illegal. The more significant issue is the implication of the title and the lyrics.
The videos have in common a widespread ambiguity of our times, and especially of YouTube videos, over whether they are satirical parodies or serious, as exemplified by many of the reacters' comments. In The Fox, this is simply to intrigue the viewer and is thus a good marketing ploy to promote a chat show. In Blurred Lines it is rather darker, since viewers are much more likely to buy into the literal message even if Thicke doesn't mean them to, and foxes' self-esteem cannot be hurt by what they say being misrepresented.
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ReplyDeleteIon, saying 'hello' twice does not really count as a comment! However, I'm glad that you have tested how to do it, and now you can make a real comment.
ReplyDeleteI think that the two videos were made to have fun, but there is a difference. In the fox, the stuff they have used is irrelevant, no body cares about what does the fox say. But in Blurred lines, the stuff is not so irrelevant, and that is why has so many critics.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the video of the fox than the other, it's more funny and the song is better too.
ReplyDeleteI love the video so much. <3
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the song of what does the fox says is better than Blurred lines because it's funnier and It has became more popular.
ReplyDeleteI think both are to make fun of some facts of the real life but probably the song of thicke is not the best way to do it
ReplyDeleteTo my mind both video were to make people have fun, and they have gratelly done it. But if you ask me, the fox video is better done than the other one.
ReplyDeleteIn my opininon "What does the fox say" is a song which I think no one except the author could think about it. "Blurred lines" isn´t and apropiated song and the idea that it shows isn´t correct
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your comments: there are some good ones there. Always try to expand by giving reasons. Please could you also edit your profile so that at least your first name is clear?
ReplyDeletein my mind, both of them are really enjoyable songs. however, the fox song it seems to me that is better. i prefer it.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion Blurred lines video isn't a way to express equality between women and men. It just says that women are always behind men and therefore they can control them. I think that Robin should take care about what he expresses in his videos and what he wants to express.
ReplyDeleteIn my mind this video of the fox is absolutely hilarious and it has became really popular. However, the video of Roben Thicke is not apropiated because shows chauvinism
ReplyDeleteI think that all the songs are great but the video of blurred lines its so dissapointing for the girls
ReplyDeletein my opinion what does the fox say video is the best, I really love it because is so funny
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