OK, let me start this off by saying that Weezer is one of my favorite bands and that I haven't stopped listening to their new self-titled "red album" since it came out on Tuesday. It's their best stuff in a long time. So what I'm about to say is more of an observation than an accusation.
Alright, so am I nuts, or is there a striking resemblance (or at least some obvious similarities) between the video for Weezer's new single "Pork and Beans" and the South Park episode "Canada on Strike?"
The "Pork and Beans" video is awesome, destined to be a classic right up there with the video they did for "Keep Fishin'" You know, the one where they were the musical guest on The Muppet Show? The new video features an all-star line up of "Internet stars." Tay Zonday, Chris Crocker, Afro Ninja, the Numa Numa kid, dramatic look gopher... and more.
However, so did that South Park episode. It's not that they're "the same," but the rather just the same idea. Just seems a bit odd to me, especially since this interview with the video's director doesn't even mention the South Park ep as having any influence. Call me crazy, but I find that a little hard to believe. It aired two months ago, well within the time frame that the video would have been shot and I'm sure someone saw it. I've posted them both. What does everyone else think? Blatant rip-off or uncredited homage?
Andy Richter: The TV Squad Interview
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-06-2008 @ 2:26PM
Jake said...
I don't know if you can actually rip off something that is public domain, i.e. youtube "sensations." Weezer took one step further and put them in the actual video. And I was impressed.
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6-06-2008 @ 2:24PM
Patrick R said...
I think it's possible they may have just had the same idea. After all, the "stars of youtube" aren't really a secret. Anyone who's been paying attention the last 5 years could have probably rattled off a similar list.
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6-06-2008 @ 2:37PM
Jack said...
See Internet People! - The Meth Minute 39
It from September 05, 2007:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pPCkhYMQgY
Popular internet/youtube videos combined in a video set to music.
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6-06-2008 @ 3:20PM
Aaron said...
They have a history of this actually. They had the video of them with Muppets just a few months after Saves the Day's "Freakish" video which was basically the exact same thing.
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6-06-2008 @ 3:20PM
keithnl said...
The whole album might be one big joke, read the onion av club review
http://www.avclub.com/content/music/weezer
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6-06-2008 @ 4:31PM
RC said...
I don't think it is a ripoff, the Weezer video was a collaborative effort with all the internet "stars" whereas South Park was just making fun of them. The Weezer video is lighthearted and fun and about just being yourself where South Park was more mean-spirited and had them fight to the death.
http://bitsmack.com
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6-06-2008 @ 4:31PM
Katie said...
Yeh, this is really more of a coincidence then a ripoff of some sort. Weezer is just catching the last few minutes of the YouTube stars' (these ones, at least) 15 minutes of fame
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6-06-2008 @ 4:34PM
Colin said...
Wouldn't surprise me at all. Listen to "Table Top Show" by The Living End and see if you notice any similarities to bass line in "Hash Pipe." http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=152980&id=152986&s=143441 ... starts about halfway through the clip in iTunes.
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6-06-2008 @ 4:52PM
ProgGrrl said...
I think it's a coincidence...and anyway, both are great. So the more the merrier.
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6-09-2008 @ 10:04AM
MrWeen said...
Weren't The Barenaked Ladies first to come up with this concept? Here is the link to the video that came out over a year ago.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=FoFMRXlNJ6Y
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6-09-2008 @ 10:04AM
Bash said...
Congrats Jonathan. You generated clicks.
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6-09-2008 @ 10:06AM
judi said...
sheesh for a silly little music video, so much controversy! and bah to the trite south park connection, as it seems people are more pissed about the fact that the greatly talently BNL...cough, cough...did it first.
i guess anything to distract from the election.
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