Weezer - “Pork and Beans”
Weezer have always had a knack for making great videos. Spike Jonze’s early work with the band on the low-key but clever “Undone (The Sweater Song)” and the innovative “Buddy Holly” video that featured the band inserted into Happy Days helped put him on the map. Then there were Marcos Siega’s clips for “Hash Pipe”, with the band in sumo suits, and the excellent “Keep Fishin’”, which had Weezer appearing as guests on The Muppet Show. On Friday, May 23, the band added “Pork and Beans” to their list of video triumphs. Premiering on YouTube, the video is three minutes and 15 seconds of references to internet pop culture, most of which became famous through YouTube in the first place.
The band assembled dozens of these internet celebs and tossed them all into the same video, having most of the lip sync to the lyrics of the songs. The main performance in the video shows Weezer in a field in lab coats, performing amidst an ever-increasing number of Diet Coke-and-Mentos fountains. The sheer amount of references is astonishing, and the video quickly becomes an entertaining checklist as the viewer tries to identify the various bits. I got about 80% of them on the first time through. My favorite moments- drummer Pat Wilson creepily hanging around the Numa Numa headphones guy and Rivers Cuomo awkwardly giving Chris “Leave Britney Alone!!” Crocker a hug.
Sure, Weezer isn’t the first to combine a pile of internet references in one place. South Park did it to hilarious effect a couple of months ago, and that’s just one example. And yes, it will probably seem dated six months from now—it won’t have the staying power of the “Buddy Holly” video, that’s for sure. But since videos are often basically band-approved commercials for the music, staying power isn’t the point. Right now, and for the rest of the summer, Weezer has a surefire YouTube hit on their hands that will go a long way towards keeping their name out there as they promote their new album. It’s both funny and a savvy marketing strategy, so kudos to them.
Comments
Great song, fantastic video. Surely combining so many YouTube references (which suggests they’ve been spending even more time on it than everyone else) makes it at least as great as the sum of its parts?
Comment by Richaod from Melbourne, Australia — May 26, 2008 @ 6:55 am
I admit, it made me laugh, though I’m still just not sold on the song. (I’ll come around) But doesn’t this at least borrow liberally from the South Park episode that does many of the same cameos?
Terry Sawyer
Comment by Terry Sawyer — May 27, 2008 @ 8:59 am
Seriously very good song as well as the video.Hope you will refer to many songs just like this and update it here. Because really i enjoyed watching the video. Good work.
Comment by hinduja — July 12, 2008 @ 7:04 am
Awesome! Fantastic work folks! I had great fun watching this video, All my friends loved it. I hope you do more such beautiful, mind blowing songs. Wonderful, Keep it up.
Comment by best Baked Pork Chop Recipes from London — July 12, 2008 @ 9:05 am
:smirk:
Comment by ram from usa — July 31, 2008 @ 7:45 am