So the question that no one seems to have answer for is 'WHY oh why is Rebecca still getting so many hits on her 'Friday' YouTube music video?'
It's that exact question that keeps this music loving Italian girl up at night.
That little-no-nothing, $2000 budget music video for Rebecca's song has been viewed more than 100 million times on YouTube since it was released on February 10. That's 100 million times. That jaw dropping number, aside from making me slightly nauseous, means that 'Friday' has surpassed the total views for Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" and Justin Bieber's "Pray" videos. Gaga! The Biebs!
Like really? Like really, really?
And then there's the seemingly endless supply of spoofs and parodies of the Friday video...which at the end of the day pushes the views for a video about a day of the week to well over 200 million. I feel faint.
I don't get it either. But I digress.
In the spirit of all things Rebecca Black a brand new video was released on Monday. It was inspired by the aforementioned viral video but with a new twist. This parody speaks to all those who, day in and day out, work for a living and may not necessarily well, you know like it. The routine...the monotony...and how it can all be tedious and mind numbingly boring. Someone grab me a chilled bottle of Baby Duck stat.
And cue the video for Bob White - 'Monday'.
'Monday' is a brilliant parody directed by Jordan Ancel (co-written by Gray Troutman) and stars Matthew Solomon** as Bob White. Bob White does for Monday what Rebecca Black did for Friday - but better...because this one most of us can relate too. And Monday is catching on. The video managed to rack up over 10,000 hits on YouTube in just over one day and is being featured on countless blogs and sites like Digg, and Funny Or Die.
I had a chance to hook up with Jordan Ancel through the magic of email and asked him how the whole idea came about...
1. What was the first that came to mind when you saw the Rebecca Black 'Friday' video?
When Gray Troutman showed 'FRIDAY' to me for the first time just over two weeks ago, I thought, "This is so truly awful. The lyrics are so inane! How is this getting 70 million hits?"
2. Once you and Gray Troutman came up with the concept for the parody how quickly did everything come together?
Gray, who is one of my closest friends, and not in the entertainment industry, came up with the idea that we should do a parody of a middle-aged guy and it should be called Monday.
The next day, he showed me a first draft of the script and lyrics, which we rewrote in less than a day. It really just flowed.
It was important to us that we not make fun of Rebecca Black because she's just a 13 year old girl, and as atrocious as her song is, she didn't write it, and good for her for making a buck and having her 15 minutes. We wanted to do, what we hoped, was an intelligent parody that could stand alone as it's own thing. We really wanted to tell a story with ours, and have it be the complete inverse of Black's video, which had absolutely no story. Also, we really wanted it to be something everyone our age could relate to in some way.
3. Since we are talking days of the week, what's the first thing that comes to mind when you hear...
Monday: F*** It's street cleaning today, I gotta move my car.
Tuesday: I can actually start working on what I put off yesterday.
Wednesday: Idol is on! YAY!
Thursday: Almost Friday.
Friday: I'm so horny!
Saturday: Booty!!
Sunday: Brunch!!
4. And finally any parting words for Rebecca Black?
First, thanks for the inspiration. Second, don't listen to haters. That's just envy and jealousy. Third, good for you for doing this at 13. And lastly, take some singing lessons. It couldn't hurt.
Word has it that Rebecca Black is working on her follow up single/video...reportedly called 'LOL'. Who knows Jordan Ancel might be inspired to do a follow up too...this time call it 'WTF'. Just a suggestion Jordan. Call me, we'll talk over lunch.
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**"Bob White", the middle aged guy in the video is played by the multi-talented Matthew Solomon. Matthew was a Soundgarden member wanna be back in the day who turned actor out in Los Angeles. He's also a member of the totally fab, Bsides approved, kid's grunge band 'Happy Clam'.
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