Where the Heck is Matt? 2016
November 2, 2016 5:59 PM Subscribe
Where the Heck is Matt? After a successful Kickstarter, Matt dances his way around the world again.
Previously
Previously
Previously
Previously
Previously
Previously
I don't think I can see a good reason for this guy collecting 150 thousand dollars to travel around the world to do the same thing a fifth time, especially after he's had corporate sponsorship from the likes of Stride Gum and Visa.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 6:13 PM on November 2, 2016 [7 favorites]
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 6:13 PM on November 2, 2016 [7 favorites]
Good thing you didn't contribute to the Kickstarter, then.
posted by maryr at 6:19 PM on November 2, 2016 [18 favorites]
posted by maryr at 6:19 PM on November 2, 2016 [18 favorites]
Some serious voguing going on in Kazakhstan.
posted by Pfardentrott at 7:07 PM on November 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Pfardentrott at 7:07 PM on November 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
I feel like he shouldn't get credit for both Dublin and Columbus, OH.
posted by ChuraChura at 7:09 PM on November 2, 2016 [4 favorites]
posted by ChuraChura at 7:09 PM on November 2, 2016 [4 favorites]
He prances like a little pony.
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:20 PM on November 2, 2016
posted by Joe in Australia at 7:20 PM on November 2, 2016
2008 continues to be the best one, when all the people rush in.
However, I still buy Stride Gum because they sponsored his videos. So that worked, I guess.
I'm a little sad this video had so many duplicate locations. But, good for him for making a career out of it.
posted by anastasiav at 7:21 PM on November 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
However, I still buy Stride Gum because they sponsored his videos. So that worked, I guess.
I'm a little sad this video had so many duplicate locations. But, good for him for making a career out of it.
posted by anastasiav at 7:21 PM on November 2, 2016 [2 favorites]
I always enjoyed his videos so much. This one was super USA-heavy, but what the heck? I hope he had a blast. Travel is so great.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 7:35 PM on November 2, 2016
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 7:35 PM on November 2, 2016
Matt can't dance.
posted by dydecker at 7:46 PM on November 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by dydecker at 7:46 PM on November 2, 2016 [1 favorite]
Matt can't dance.
He does that same move everywhere with no change.
Also, who is that unfortunate baby in his backpack in Vancover, Canada?
posted by bendy at 8:03 PM on November 2, 2016
He does that same move everywhere with no change.
Also, who is that unfortunate baby in his backpack in Vancover, Canada?
posted by bendy at 8:03 PM on November 2, 2016
It was a little USA-heavy because he promised to dance in the ten cities that yielded the most Kickstarter funding.
One of which was New York City. I actually contributed, and was all gung-ho to join in but DAMMIT he picked a day on a weekend that I'd already planned to go on a camping trip.
Oh well. At least my name is mentioned on this list.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:09 PM on November 2, 2016 [5 favorites]
One of which was New York City. I actually contributed, and was all gung-ho to join in but DAMMIT he picked a day on a weekend that I'd already planned to go on a camping trip.
Oh well. At least my name is mentioned on this list.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:09 PM on November 2, 2016 [5 favorites]
Aw. I don't think I've thought about this dude once since 2008, but it makes me happy to know he's still doing this.
posted by sunset in snow country at 9:25 PM on November 2, 2016 [5 favorites]
posted by sunset in snow country at 9:25 PM on November 2, 2016 [5 favorites]
A+ for the headbanger in London.
posted by mykescipark at 9:47 PM on November 2, 2016
posted by mykescipark at 9:47 PM on November 2, 2016
Perhaps he should ask future backers to suggest places NOT in the USA...
posted by dowcrag at 2:09 AM on November 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by dowcrag at 2:09 AM on November 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
Woah, how is that still a thing?
What a surreal experience to watch that now in 2016. Its like a time-machine back to when internet memes still had a certain naivety and charm that seems so lost now. It seems so weirdly oblivious to still be travelling around the world doing the same dance 8 years later. With Brexit, Trump, Refugees, constant war, its so weird to just carry on with that year after year after year.
posted by mary8nne at 2:53 AM on November 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
What a surreal experience to watch that now in 2016. Its like a time-machine back to when internet memes still had a certain naivety and charm that seems so lost now. It seems so weirdly oblivious to still be travelling around the world doing the same dance 8 years later. With Brexit, Trump, Refugees, constant war, its so weird to just carry on with that year after year after year.
posted by mary8nne at 2:53 AM on November 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
But, good for him for making a career out of it.
Really? A career out of travelling around the world on other peoples money doing the same dance. I really just can't understand why people fund this sort of thing on kickstarter.
Although it does illustrate why charity marketing endeavours, like pink ribbons, cancer bike rides, the ALS waterbucket thing, etc. are simultaneously massively successful, yet totally ethically bankrupt and absurd.
posted by mary8nne at 2:57 AM on November 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Really? A career out of travelling around the world on other peoples money doing the same dance. I really just can't understand why people fund this sort of thing on kickstarter.
Although it does illustrate why charity marketing endeavours, like pink ribbons, cancer bike rides, the ALS waterbucket thing, etc. are simultaneously massively successful, yet totally ethically bankrupt and absurd.
posted by mary8nne at 2:57 AM on November 3, 2016 [5 favorites]
Really? A career out of travelling around the world on other peoples money doing the same dance. I really just can't understand why people fund this sort of thing on kickstarter.
It was a choice between backing a travelling arms trafficking warlord or this dancing guy. Some people went with dancing guy.
posted by romanb at 4:30 AM on November 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
It was a choice between backing a travelling arms trafficking warlord or this dancing guy. Some people went with dancing guy.
posted by romanb at 4:30 AM on November 3, 2016 [8 favorites]
I really just can't understand why people fund this sort of thing on kickstarter.
I'll tell you why I did.
Matt's whole thing started while he was on a backpacking trip around the world. He only did that little dance and made a video for his family and friends, as a way to sort of connect with them and show them "Hey look at the cool place I am". The global attention gave him a way to continue to do that - be a guy going to cool places and letting people marvel over "hey look at these cool places out there in the world".
And then he added other people to shift the message to "hey look at all these cool people in all of those places out there in the world". And then it became "hey look at how all these cool people out there in the world can all dance and have joy together".
He's got a goofy way of delivering his message, but his message is "the world is actually more welcoming than you think. we are all humans and have more in common than we have differences, and we shouldn't be afraid of going to explore that world because the people out there are friendly and welcoming, and this is a good world rather than something we should be afraid of."
And at a time when two of the world's major powers are talking in exclusionary terms and shutting people out, I think anything that can shift the message towards inclusion and common brotherhood of man is a good thing. If the means of shifting that message turns out to be a goofy dancing guy, then that's also good because that can also get some people chuckling as well.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:49 AM on November 3, 2016 [38 favorites]
I'll tell you why I did.
Matt's whole thing started while he was on a backpacking trip around the world. He only did that little dance and made a video for his family and friends, as a way to sort of connect with them and show them "Hey look at the cool place I am". The global attention gave him a way to continue to do that - be a guy going to cool places and letting people marvel over "hey look at these cool places out there in the world".
And then he added other people to shift the message to "hey look at all these cool people in all of those places out there in the world". And then it became "hey look at how all these cool people out there in the world can all dance and have joy together".
He's got a goofy way of delivering his message, but his message is "the world is actually more welcoming than you think. we are all humans and have more in common than we have differences, and we shouldn't be afraid of going to explore that world because the people out there are friendly and welcoming, and this is a good world rather than something we should be afraid of."
And at a time when two of the world's major powers are talking in exclusionary terms and shutting people out, I think anything that can shift the message towards inclusion and common brotherhood of man is a good thing. If the means of shifting that message turns out to be a goofy dancing guy, then that's also good because that can also get some people chuckling as well.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:49 AM on November 3, 2016 [38 favorites]
Plus I also wanted the chance to dance in one of the videos but that didn't happen, but the reason it didn't happen was because I was travelling myself which is sort of poetically appropriate so hey.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:50 AM on November 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:50 AM on November 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
When my kids were very little, I used to show them his videos and read the names of each country/city to them. They loved it. I've shown them the videos every few months for years, when they asked.
As they got older, they began to read the names themselves, and were completely thrilled each time they found a place they knew. "Scotland, Daddy! That's where Merida's from!" (From Brave). Or "Dallas! Grandma and Zaide live there!"
And as they have grown, the videos have prompted deeper conversations. "Why can't we see the faces of the women he's dancing with?" They looked for each location on their globe, or map. Etc.
One of the lessons we as parents have tried very hard to impart to our children is that people are all the same, throughout the world, despite superficial differences. We're all human. These videos are fantastic teaching tools for young children. What unites everyone they see?
So glad he's made another video. There's too much anger and sadness in the world. More harmless joy is never a bad thing.
Thanks very, very much for posting this, zabuni.
posted by zarq at 5:28 AM on November 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
As they got older, they began to read the names themselves, and were completely thrilled each time they found a place they knew. "Scotland, Daddy! That's where Merida's from!" (From Brave). Or "Dallas! Grandma and Zaide live there!"
And as they have grown, the videos have prompted deeper conversations. "Why can't we see the faces of the women he's dancing with?" They looked for each location on their globe, or map. Etc.
One of the lessons we as parents have tried very hard to impart to our children is that people are all the same, throughout the world, despite superficial differences. We're all human. These videos are fantastic teaching tools for young children. What unites everyone they see?
So glad he's made another video. There's too much anger and sadness in the world. More harmless joy is never a bad thing.
Thanks very, very much for posting this, zabuni.
posted by zarq at 5:28 AM on November 3, 2016 [13 favorites]
He's got a goofy way of delivering his message, but his message is "the world is actually more welcoming than you think. we are all humans and have more in common than we have differences, and we shouldn't be afraid of going to explore that world because the people out there are friendly and welcoming, and this is a good world rather than something we should be afraid of."
This. So much this. I can't favorite EmpressCallipygos hard enough or often enough with this.
There's too much anger and sadness in the world. More harmless joy is never a bad thing.
And this too. SO MUCH THIS.
His first videos, where he was by himself, I mostly liked in a "wow, that's cool, wish I was that guy" kind of way. And "isn't it cool the internet lets us share stuff like this." Then I remember when the 2008 one came out, when all the people run in to join him I was blown away. That changed everything so much, turned into a project about sharing and spreading joy. And it made me so happy. Except for the clip in Chicago, because "DAMMIT! I DIDN'T KNOW! I WOULDA BEEN THERE!!" And then I remember the 2012 one, sitting down to watch and thinking "what's he got this time?" and then it slowly dawns on you... he took dancing lessons! And the whole thing just seems even bigger and more awesome.
I keep his videos around like an emergency kit. "In case of despair, watch this." Not even kidding. There have been many times over the last few years when I was down enough, and things looked pretty dark, and I've gone and watched Matt's videos again to hell pull me back out. Because I needed to see that joy is still real.
So yeah, when I heard about the Kickstarter for another one, I rushed in heartily. And I fanboy-ed SO HARD when Matt came to Chicago and I met him, and OMG I'm IN this one! Right there! HA! Truly, a bucket list item checked off. It means that much to me.
posted by dnash at 5:35 AM on November 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
This. So much this. I can't favorite EmpressCallipygos hard enough or often enough with this.
There's too much anger and sadness in the world. More harmless joy is never a bad thing.
And this too. SO MUCH THIS.
His first videos, where he was by himself, I mostly liked in a "wow, that's cool, wish I was that guy" kind of way. And "isn't it cool the internet lets us share stuff like this." Then I remember when the 2008 one came out, when all the people run in to join him I was blown away. That changed everything so much, turned into a project about sharing and spreading joy. And it made me so happy. Except for the clip in Chicago, because "DAMMIT! I DIDN'T KNOW! I WOULDA BEEN THERE!!" And then I remember the 2012 one, sitting down to watch and thinking "what's he got this time?" and then it slowly dawns on you... he took dancing lessons! And the whole thing just seems even bigger and more awesome.
I keep his videos around like an emergency kit. "In case of despair, watch this." Not even kidding. There have been many times over the last few years when I was down enough, and things looked pretty dark, and I've gone and watched Matt's videos again to hell pull me back out. Because I needed to see that joy is still real.
So yeah, when I heard about the Kickstarter for another one, I rushed in heartily. And I fanboy-ed SO HARD when Matt came to Chicago and I met him, and OMG I'm IN this one! Right there! HA! Truly, a bucket list item checked off. It means that much to me.
posted by dnash at 5:35 AM on November 3, 2016 [10 favorites]
Oh, and the "baby in a backpack" is likely his. The last couple of videos have ended with him dancing with his family.
posted by zarq at 5:36 AM on November 3, 2016
posted by zarq at 5:36 AM on November 3, 2016
Echoing some of what's already been said... I went back and watched the 2008 video again for the umpteenth time. I haven't ever figured it out, but I get this feeling when the music swells and all the people start to come in from off-camera. Somehow it just seems to say "all over the place, in all the fuckedupness of this world, there's still something simple that makes it all worthwhile."
There's too much anger and sadness in the world. More harmless joy is never a bad thing.
That probably says it the best.
Thanks, zabuni, for sharing this today.
posted by ElDiabloConQueso at 5:51 AM on November 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
There's too much anger and sadness in the world. More harmless joy is never a bad thing.
That probably says it the best.
Thanks, zabuni, for sharing this today.
posted by ElDiabloConQueso at 5:51 AM on November 3, 2016 [11 favorites]
I would happily give him $10 if he visited everywhere in Johnny Cash's 'I've been everywhere' in order.
posted by Damienmce at 7:34 AM on November 3, 2016
posted by Damienmce at 7:34 AM on November 3, 2016
I went back and watched the 2008 video again for the umpteenth time. I haven't ever figured it out, but I get this feeling when the music swells and all the people start to come in from off-camera. Somehow it just seems to say "all over the place, in all the fuckedupness of this world, there's still something simple that makes it all worthwhile."
The 2012 one is the one that gets me every time. With each group of people he dances with, the dancing seems so specific to that group. You can imagine them standing around, working out the moves together, and just having a blast.
posted by roll truck roll at 7:41 AM on November 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
The 2012 one is the one that gets me every time. With each group of people he dances with, the dancing seems so specific to that group. You can imagine them standing around, working out the moves together, and just having a blast.
posted by roll truck roll at 7:41 AM on November 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Dudes in Bangladesh ain't having it.
I still enjoy this video, but it does seem like a step down from 2012 in terms of global participation, cool places, editing, and new ideas. 2008 had all the people joining in, 2012 had him learning dance steps with people, 2016...has a cool drone shot at the end?
It put a huge grin on my face, but I had tears in my eyes watching the previous two.
posted by straight at 8:22 AM on November 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I still enjoy this video, but it does seem like a step down from 2012 in terms of global participation, cool places, editing, and new ideas. 2008 had all the people joining in, 2012 had him learning dance steps with people, 2016...has a cool drone shot at the end?
It put a huge grin on my face, but I had tears in my eyes watching the previous two.
posted by straight at 8:22 AM on November 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
There's a NYT series/column called the Frugal Traveler or something. It's ostensibly "Traveling and the Kindness of Others", but that's just a hip way of saying "Freeloading".
posted by humboldt32 at 8:25 AM on November 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by humboldt32 at 8:25 AM on November 3, 2016 [1 favorite]
I can't believe that this guy is still doing this. Good for him!
posted by Kwine at 8:33 AM on November 3, 2016
posted by Kwine at 8:33 AM on November 3, 2016
2016...has a cool drone shot at the end?
Oh, that's how he accomplished that. That makes much more sense than my budget-breaking helicopter hypothesis.
posted by Shmuel510 at 8:34 AM on November 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
Oh, that's how he accomplished that. That makes much more sense than my budget-breaking helicopter hypothesis.
posted by Shmuel510 at 8:34 AM on November 3, 2016 [3 favorites]
I still enjoy this video, but it does seem like a step down from 2012 in terms of global participation, cool places, editing, and new ideas.
So, from things he said and wrote about this one when he started it, it sounded like he wasn't at all trying to be "bigger" or "newer" or "different" than the previous ones. He talked about how he didn't want to "choreograph" this one much at all, and just basically have shots of happy people. I think his ambition for this was less grand in scale, maybe, but that's OK. Even if it's smaller, it's a great little jolt of happy, I think. Like, "hey, remember this? It's still a thing!"
posted by dnash at 8:38 AM on November 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
So, from things he said and wrote about this one when he started it, it sounded like he wasn't at all trying to be "bigger" or "newer" or "different" than the previous ones. He talked about how he didn't want to "choreograph" this one much at all, and just basically have shots of happy people. I think his ambition for this was less grand in scale, maybe, but that's OK. Even if it's smaller, it's a great little jolt of happy, I think. Like, "hey, remember this? It's still a thing!"
posted by dnash at 8:38 AM on November 3, 2016 [4 favorites]
One of the lessons we as parents have tried very hard to impart to our children is that people are all the same, throughout the world, despite superficial differences. We're all human. These videos are fantastic teaching tools for young children. What unites everyone they see?
So, last night, my son came into the room (in his PJs, up after he'd been tucked in) just as I was about to start this year's video, so we watched it together. After it was over, I put on the 2008 one and we watched that too.
When they got to the shot of him dancing with the little kids in Yemen, I had the sudden thought - I hope all those kids are still alive. The I broke down, crying real tears as silently as possible into the top of my son's very privileged, tousled head.
posted by anastasiav at 8:58 AM on November 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
So, last night, my son came into the room (in his PJs, up after he'd been tucked in) just as I was about to start this year's video, so we watched it together. After it was over, I put on the 2008 one and we watched that too.
When they got to the shot of him dancing with the little kids in Yemen, I had the sudden thought - I hope all those kids are still alive. The I broke down, crying real tears as silently as possible into the top of my son's very privileged, tousled head.
posted by anastasiav at 8:58 AM on November 3, 2016 [12 favorites]
Nothing will ever top the 2008 version for me. That song is just stunning. Not so enamored with his musical choices in the other videos.
posted by monospace at 11:06 AM on November 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by monospace at 11:06 AM on November 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I think his ambition for this was less grand in scale, maybe, but that's OK. Even if it's smaller, it's a great little jolt of happy, I think. Like, "hey, remember this? It's still a thing!"
I agree, that's a perfectly fine goal, and I'm sorry I was so negative about it. It's still a wonderful project that clearly adds quite a bit of joy to the world.
posted by straight at 12:48 PM on November 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
I agree, that's a perfectly fine goal, and I'm sorry I was so negative about it. It's still a wonderful project that clearly adds quite a bit of joy to the world.
posted by straight at 12:48 PM on November 3, 2016 [2 favorites]
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And yet, without fail, I always was so busy that I missed the notice until a week or two later...
posted by mystyk at 6:12 PM on November 2, 2016