Dance Machines: The Wave of the Future

August 2, 2006 12:18 PM

YouTubular: Dance Machines (via) [more inside]
posted by c:\awesome (33 comments total)

Before you start a MeTa about the need for a YouTube filter, or say this isn't the best of the web, just sit back and let this mini-masterpiece play through. Witness the artistry, the innovation of dance. For instance:

• 0:02 - 0:07 - Yellow Shirt (YS) pulls off the classic double bow, followed by the famous "pull my pants up" move.
• 0:14 - 0:21 - Hat Man (HM) cools down with a drunken hesitation, only to jump straight into the long-stride running man.
• 0:33 - 0:40 - YS clears the way for a triple "pull my pants up" move, followed by a mighty twirl.
• 0:41 - 0:44 - Not to be outdone, HM follows suit with a superior twirl, arms extended.
• 0:55 - 0:58 - HM is moved by the spirit.
• 1:01 - 1:09 - In what could easily by called the most technically involved combination, HM begins with a flawless "weak legs," transitions into the "scarecrow walk," and then, when you think he's done, falls right back into another variation of the "weak legs" move. Simply amazing.
• 1:15 - 1:22 - Realizing he's been bested by HM, YS reaches deep into his bag of tricks and pulls out the "excited scientist" with an end flourish that closely resembles the fabled "posterior wipe."

From this point the titans of dance move into a period of sporatic free-form and innovative improvisation, including "jumping jack flash," "the butter churner," "the help me Jesus!," and my favorite, "I won at Scrabble."

ENJOY!
posted by c:\awesome at 12:18 PM on August 2, 2006 [1 favorite]

That's some dope crip walking.
posted by PenDevil at 12:22 PM on August 2, 2006

I think this was already on the Metafilter. I recall making a particularly trenchant and witty remark to the effect that this is actually another Spike Jonze video for Weezer.
44 users marked this barb as a favourite.
posted by Flashman at 12:28 PM on August 2, 2006

Yes Flashman, you remarked that on my original AskMeFi when I was searching for this little beauty. It's hidden under the (via), which seems to indicate that the green is borked.
posted by c:\awesome at 12:31 PM on August 2, 2006

oh...fuck man, sorry. There I was trying to be all clever.
You might also notice that I've since learned the 'correct' spelling of 'Jonze'.
It is a cool video and worthy of a wider audience.
posted by Flashman at 12:36 PM on August 2, 2006

(These guys would definitely rate a 'Do' from Vice magazine)
posted by Flashman at 12:37 PM on August 2, 2006

Yellow shirt is the motion capture model for WoW Male Elf /dance, I'm thinkin'. Maybe not....
posted by humboldt32 at 1:03 PM on August 2, 2006

I hope I have as much self confidence when I am as old (and drunk) as hat man.

The second by second commentary made me almost wet myself.
posted by necessitas at 1:13 PM on August 2, 2006

WOW
posted by Outlawyr at 1:44 PM on August 2, 2006

I'm never ever dancing in public again. I know I look this bad, and I don't want anyone else on the intarweb to know it.
posted by Deathalicious at 1:45 PM on August 2, 2006

This is not the next "Star Wars Kid" -- so you can stop pushing it.
posted by neek at 1:51 PM on August 2, 2006

so what the hell happened to Weezer, anyway?
they totally lacked the energy I would expect in a live show.

is this dancing manchild emulating antics from a music video?
posted by Busithoth at 1:55 PM on August 2, 2006

Commentary considerably funnier than video.
posted by jack_mo at 2:15 PM on August 2, 2006

Oh my God, yellow shirt guy has been at every wedding I've ever attended.
posted by suki at 2:20 PM on August 2, 2006

so what the hell happened to Weezer, anyway?
they totally lacked the energy I would expect in a live show

Wait- that was weezer?!?! I just thought it was your typical generic outdoor entertainment gazebo band.
posted by necessitas at 2:24 PM on August 2, 2006

It was not Weezer according to the YouTube synopsis. I thought he was better than 99% of the white, over 25 male population.
posted by geoff. at 2:42 PM on August 2, 2006

Different day, same gazebo, same two guys dancing!
posted by wsg at 2:46 PM on August 2, 2006

And just like that, the Dance Machine omnibus has doubled! And added a new character... kick woman.
posted by c:\awesome at 2:50 PM on August 2, 2006

DEAR GOD THEY ARE WARPING THAT POOR CHILD'S RHYTHM!
posted by NinjaTadpole at 3:20 PM on August 2, 2006

yeah , i really like kick woman.
posted by nola at 3:42 PM on August 2, 2006

I think hat man's got decent moves. I live in Berkeley, so I'm used to people of all ages getting up and dancing in public when they like a song. Finding this display of physicality extraordinary behavior seems pretty uptight.
posted by squirrel at 3:49 PM on August 2, 2006 [1 favorite]

I'm so uptight that my pants don't need a belt.
posted by TwelveTwo at 3:53 PM on August 2, 2006

I don't think it is the same two guys. But it is the same gazebo.

I think that is just the place for the groveless to get their grove on.
posted by necessitas at 4:30 PM on August 2, 2006

Actually, I definitely think Yellow Shirt is the main guy from video #2... the "bow" move gives him away. I don't, however, think the gentleman in the background is Hat Man. Either way, I'm glad to have seen it... long live Kick Woman!
posted by c:\awesome at 5:19 PM on August 2, 2006

dance like no-one is watching indeed.
posted by weezy at 6:58 PM on August 2, 2006

Metafilter: Different day, same gazebo
posted by CynicalKnight at 7:07 PM on August 2, 2006

Okay, I spent the first third of this video looking for the machines that were making these people dance. Warning: no actual dance machines are involved in this video!
posted by Hildegarde at 7:51 PM on August 2, 2006

Kick Woman is watching you masturbate.
posted by CynicalKnight at 8:01 PM on August 2, 2006

I just thought it was your typical generic outdoor entertainment gazebo band.

Its a Weezer cover band doing Beverly Hills. We have a special place in hell set aside for Rivers Cuomo after this new album. Satan says expect the overdose in 2009.
posted by the ghost of Ken Lay at 8:53 PM on August 2, 2006

There really is no substitute for youth.

Except perhaps alcohol.
posted by Ynoxas at 9:47 PM on August 2, 2006

I think the Internet has spoiled me. I waiting for something to happen. Maybe someone would drop in a 2 liter bottle of soda filled with Mentos, or the gazebo would fall over and crush somebody.
posted by eperker at 12:24 AM on August 3, 2006

DEAR GOD THEY ARE WARPING THAT POOR CHILD'S RHYTHM!
posted by NinjaTadpole at 3:20 PM PST on August 2 [+] [!]

In the end this is why I found the whole affair to be tragic.
posted by sic at 10:46 AM on August 3, 2006

I love this video...I really hope it's real because I don't think there is anything better than seeing someone say, "To hell with everyone else, I'm dancing". No shame...just give'r!
posted by Shfishp at 12:06 PM on August 3, 2006