Metafilter, You Can't Handle Me

June 3, 2007 4:52 PM

Robyn, is bringing sexy back.
posted by vronsky (104 comments total)

Please explain.
posted by grouse at 4:56 PM on June 3, 2007

I like it! (Is this a dig at Justin?)
posted by tantrumthecat at 5:00 PM on June 3, 2007

Bringing sexy back? Back from where?
posted by amyms at 5:01 PM on June 3, 2007

I don't think she's sexy, but I do love the song/video.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 5:02 PM on June 3, 2007

She totally stole my gold necklace look. But it's ok 'cuz I totally stole it from Mr. T.

The copyright at the end says 2005, so she's pre-Justin sexy.
posted by miss lynnster at 5:03 PM on June 3, 2007

I'm confused as to the point of this post. I know we're supposed to avoid editorializing and all, but could we get some context?
posted by jacquilynne at 5:04 PM on June 3, 2007

back where?
posted by jonmc at 5:06 PM on June 3, 2007

Thou shalt not make a one-link YouTube post unless it's really, really good.
posted by fandango_matt at 5:06 PM on June 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

I'm taking notes on how she did her makeup. It'll come in handy for those times I want to look like I'm sixty.

And I agree with jacquilynne. vronsky, you have some splainin' to do!
posted by iconomy at 5:06 PM on June 3, 2007 [5 favorites]

That was probably my favorite album of '05 - Konichiwa Bitches is even better than Handle Me - but this is not what Metafilter is for.
posted by nicwolff at 5:06 PM on June 3, 2007

Robyn is certainly trying to rekindle her career. She was originally a brief success many years ago in the UK and Sweden and is now attempting a come back. Sniff, sniff...
posted by fire&wings at 5:10 PM on June 3, 2007

Heh.. teenagers.
posted by c13 at 5:11 PM on June 3, 2007

What the hell?
posted by puke & cry at 5:12 PM on June 3, 2007

*removes that superfluous comma*
posted by Hildegarde at 5:12 PM on June 3, 2007 [2 favorites]

In my head, I mean. I can't do it in reality.
posted by Hildegarde at 5:13 PM on June 3, 2007

And here I thought you meant Robin Byrd, and probably in this video (very hilariously NSFW)
posted by OrangeDrink at 5:13 PM on June 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

Ye gods, it's like the second coming of Avril Lavigne. Or Lily Allan lite. Or any number of other vacuous teen pop girlies.

And Vronsky, wtf is with that comma? Have I, missed something?
posted by imperium at 5:13 PM on June 3, 2007

Maybe it isn't a comma. Maybe it is an apostrophe that is down, yo.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 5:15 PM on June 3, 2007 [2 favorites]

Er, wrong word order. Very, very NSFW or anywhere else. also hilarious. right.
posted by OrangeDrink at 5:16 PM on June 3, 2007

Wait a sec, this Robyn? I remember her single "Do You Know (What It Takes)" back in 1997.

As for the video: meh.
posted by MissNefertiti at 5:16 PM on June 3, 2007

She's the same chick that sang "Show Me Love". Her new music is much better.
posted by chunking express at 5:18 PM on June 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

I actually heard a rather good mash-up of the Cure and "Konichwa Bitches" ...
posted by WCityMike at 5:20 PM on June 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

During my teen years, I thought Show Me Love and Do You Know (What It Takes) were the cat's pajamas.
posted by Xere at 5:21 PM on June 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

WHAT? This is "show me love" Robyn?

Mind = blown.
posted by Amanda B at 5:25 PM on June 3, 2007

Is she related to Reba McEntire? For some reason her videos make me think of Reba but with an electronic, vaguely hip-hop soundtrack.
posted by oddman at 5:26 PM on June 3, 2007

At the beginning she looks sort of like Sinead Kidman.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 5:28 PM on June 3, 2007 [2 favorites]

Is she related to Reba McEntire?

Or Cyndi Lauper?
posted by washburn at 5:29 PM on June 3, 2007

Her whole comeback is pretty weird. This did come out in 2005, and got a lot of acclaim, etc. (8.2 on Pitchfork, #39 on their best albums of the year). But apparently it was only released in Sweden. It took until April this year before it was released in the UK, and it's not out in the US.

It's a great pop album though. You should track it down however you can get it.
posted by smackfu at 5:31 PM on June 3, 2007

ohhhh… it's a SHE.

Huh.

I still don't get it.
posted by Rawhide at 5:33 PM on June 3, 2007

I'm taking notes on how she did her makeup. It'll come in handy for those times I want to look like I'm sixty.

Yeah, the closeup shots in that video made her look old

Anyway generic hipster hiphop. yawn.
posted by delmoi at 5:34 PM on June 3, 2007

(this video is better, IMO)
posted by delmoi at 5:36 PM on June 3, 2007

FFS GYOFB
posted by thedaniel at 5:36 PM on June 3, 2007

Anyway generic hipster hiphop. yawn.

It's ironic how much of a generic hipster comment this is.
posted by smackfu at 5:37 PM on June 3, 2007

WHAT? This is "show me love" Robyn?

Wow, no kidding? I'm pretty shocked as well.
posted by delmoi at 5:37 PM on June 3, 2007

The bridge in "Konichiwa Bitches" is one of my favorite moments of all music. Excellent post for bringing the video to my attention (in the comments)
posted by neustile at 5:38 PM on June 3, 2007

Aww delmoi... Be Mine?
posted by vronsky at 5:39 PM on June 3, 2007

This is the indie kid "my humps".
posted by phrontist at 5:42 PM on June 3, 2007

She looks really old and strange in this video (and I kinda like this song, in the same sense that I like Kylie Minogue)
posted by delmoi at 5:43 PM on June 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

All respect to the OP, but can we have a worldwite moratorium on using the words "bringing sexy back", in that order? I would be totally grateful. Thanks...
posted by drmarcj at 6:00 PM on June 3, 2007

Her short lived high school band.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 6:01 PM on June 3, 2007 [15 favorites]

How is this BEST OF THE WEB?
How is this BEST OF THE WEB?

Just kidding.
posted by squidfartz at 6:06 PM on June 3, 2007

so what's this woman bringing back, then?
posted by pyramid termite at 6:07 PM on June 3, 2007 [3 favorites]

1) Who is bringing what back from where?
2) Get off my lawn.
posted by DU at 6:13 PM on June 3, 2007 [4 favorites]

YoBananaBoy just saved this post.
posted by basicchannel at 6:16 PM on June 3, 2007

"...can we have a worldwite moratorium on using the words "bringing sexy back", in that order?"

That was definitely a Freudian typo. Cause white people just shouldn't singrap lines like: "I see you're livin' large wichya crib..." and "lemme tell you how it be". I mean, come on.

Your favorite white-girl-soundin'-all-black sucks.

Nothing personal, though, vronsky :-)
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:19 PM on June 3, 2007

Closing the loop on The Wrong Trousers vs. Joanna Newsom.
posted by basicchannel at 6:24 PM on June 3, 2007 [2 favorites]

Wow. Cyndi Lauper hasn't aged a bit!
posted by katillathehun at 6:26 PM on June 3, 2007

Too many comments on this post. Damn, did I have to comment on the surplus of comments?? Yes, I guess I did.
posted by newfers at 6:28 PM on June 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

How is this the BEST OF THE WEB?

not kidding.
posted by longsleeves at 6:32 PM on June 3, 2007

Would it be possible to have all youtube music videos screened prior to posting, and then not posted?
posted by longsleeves at 6:34 PM on June 3, 2007

she's so earnest. But not in a hillarious Speak kind of way.

Oh yeah, and I pity her, etc/
posted by kickback at 6:39 PM on June 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

Who gives a shit.

This is 31 flavours of wack.
posted by Senor Cardgage at 6:50 PM on June 3, 2007

I watched the first thirty seconds. Buncha louts crowding into the frame trying to outpose each other, and some gimlet-eyed girl yammering in front of them. Oh, the soundtrack? I don't know, the headphones are plugged in and they're sitting on the footstool. I could hear enough at that distance to get the idea. The entire genre doesn't rise to the level of meh.
posted by George_Spiggott at 6:51 PM on June 3, 2007 [2 favorites]

Comeback my arse. This woman is 27. Also, this is a great pop song. Too good to actually be pop. I'd also point out that But you’re a selfish narcissistic psycho / Freaking bootlicking Nazi creep and / You can’t handle me counts at least for me in the really totally going for it in the smuggling non-pop lyrics into pop tunes stakes.

Not sure I'll listen to it again any time soon, but still.
posted by motty at 6:54 PM on June 3, 2007

I saw this comment on the Joanna Newsom thread.

People who are afraid to look uncool will say they like her singing. It's that simple. It's the whole "Emperor has no Clothes" thing.

Despite that, I still expected something beautiful to go along with her harpin'.
posted by delmoi at 6:54 PM on June 3, 2007

YoBananaBoy just saved this post.

Seconded.

As for Robyn, just because you can sing (debatable), doesn't mean you can write.
posted by creeptick at 6:59 PM on June 3, 2007

YoBananaBoy's link saves this awful post/thread.

Those high schools kids are great.
posted by glycolized at 7:07 PM on June 3, 2007

i can't make up my mind on whether i like joanna or can't stand her ... she's original, talented and gets on my nerves badly all at the same time
posted by pyramid termite at 7:08 PM on June 3, 2007

YoBananaBoy just saved this post.

Seconded.

Thirded, fourthed and a-fifth-of-Beethovened.

There's no need to further discuss this "Robyn," nonsense. Who the hell are The Wrong Trousers? And how'd they get so right?
posted by gompa at 7:13 PM on June 3, 2007

She reminds me of Jerri Blank, for some reason. Maybe it's the hair in the video?
posted by arianell at 7:21 PM on June 3, 2007

even their myspace doesn't suck.
posted by YoBananaBoy at 7:21 PM on June 3, 2007

It is like they are mathowie, cortex and jessamyn in some parallel universe where they went to high school together and formed a band.

/total derail

posted by YoBananaBoy at 7:27 PM on June 3, 2007

Pitchfork line is to the left, torches to the right.
posted by absalom at 7:32 PM on June 3, 2007

Pitchfork line is to the left, torches to the right.

I have my own but gonna save them for something worth it.
posted by longsleeves at 7:39 PM on June 3, 2007

You better watch out for all those guys in the video. I mean, they'll totally ... you know ... hang out out with you and stuff.
posted by redteam at 7:42 PM on June 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

Robyn's interesting in that her US debut laid the groundwork and was sort of a dry run for the bubble gum that took the world's ears and hearts by storm in the late nineties. Britney Spears and the Backstreet Boys rocketed to stardom using many of Robyn's producers and that bland Euro dance pop sound, while she was quickly written off as a one hit wonder. 10 years (Holyshitwhatthefuck) later, and look where they all are now.

And Joanna Newsom is like an overtuned guitar with a cat stuffed inside it being thrown down a metal staircase.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 7:53 PM on June 3, 2007 [2 favorites]

*jaw drops*

The Wrong Trousers are so cool!
posted by liquorice at 7:56 PM on June 3, 2007

This entire post has been justified by your links, YoBananaBoy. Seriously.

I'm starting a band with timpani, a glockenspiel, and a conducter's baton, and we're going to be called the $2 Tuxes.

And we shall rock.
posted by CitrusFreak12 at 8:10 PM on June 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

Those of you going all gaga over the Wrong Trousers might wanna check the FPP from early last month.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:11 PM on June 3, 2007

>> WHAT? This is "show me love" Robyn? Mind = blown.

This "Show Me Love" Robyn is not this "Show Me Love" Robyn.

By a long shot.

Just for the 12" record, as it were.
posted by objet at 8:22 PM on June 3, 2007

I refuse to click on any link in this thread and get Robynrolled again. I know what you guys are up to, and it's not going to work this time.
posted by churl at 8:38 PM on June 3, 2007

Teddybears
posted by vronsky at 8:39 PM on June 3, 2007

I brought sexy back, as it didn't appear to function as advertised. But I lost the receipt, so now I'm stuck with it. Sheesh.
posted by moonbird at 8:42 PM on June 3, 2007 [2 favorites]

Hi! What is this?
posted by trip and a half at 8:50 PM on June 3, 2007

The Wrong Trousers, are awesome!

(complete with unnecessary comma!)
posted by jefbla at 9:35 PM on June 3, 2007

blonde swedish woman posturing with a bunch of arab/north african guys? i'm sure i ought to be feeling seven kinds of problematic, right now, but i'd never seen this video, and i probably wouldn't have listened to the song tonight were it not for this, so, despite the song itself being nearly two years old now, etc., etc., etc., i'm actually a bit grateful for this post.
posted by wreckingball at 9:41 PM on June 3, 2007

This woman is 27. Also, this is a great pop song. Too good to actually be pop.

She is a symptom of the problem with pop. Living in central Stockholm, I see this girl somewhat often out on the streets (and in Gondolen where she sometimes hangs out). She's nice, down-to-earth, not strikingly good looking (for Stockholm that is). She's everything "hip-hop" is not: your average girl. Not a show-off. Not sexy by any stretch of the imagination. A decent singer. And a super-talented songwriter.

But the industry doesn't want an average-looking, talented songwriter - they want a "hot chick" who will sing the crap they know will sell and who is willing to act and dress like a prostitute.

I sort of feel sorry for her because she's being pressed into a mold that ain't her and ultimately she's going the Britney Spears route.
posted by three blind mice at 9:46 PM on June 3, 2007

Is it just my monitor settings or was the first dude to drop change in YoBananaBoy's "Wrong Trousers" video link sporting a big ol' urine stain?

(thanks for turning me on to these guys, btw)
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 9:47 PM on June 3, 2007

I like it. Konichiwa Bitches is a cool song.
posted by autodidact at 10:36 PM on June 3, 2007

Well I thought the robyn video was well done. Until I saw the Wrong Trousers clip. I know what I'll be humming tomorrow.
oh-OOO-oh! *plucks air harp*
posted by phaedon at 10:37 PM on June 3, 2007

The guy with the urine stain must really like the wrong trousers.
posted by obedo at 10:39 PM on June 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

Wow pyramid termite, that peach, pium, pear clip was just wow. Thanks.
posted by vronsky at 10:39 PM on June 3, 2007

This woman is 27. Also, this is a great pop song. Too good to actually be pop.

The sad thing is that today's society is so youth obsessed that they would overlook her for stuff like The Wrong Trousers, or something like that.
posted by bobo123 at 11:04 PM on June 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

Aw man, it's getting late, let's Send In The Clowns with Van Morrison & Chet Baker.
posted by vronsky at 11:37 PM on June 3, 2007

I wish this thread would've been about the Teddybears 'I'm a punk rocker' video instead. 'Handle me' was my least favorite song on the album, and the video made me like it even less.
posted by mullingitover at 11:53 PM on June 3, 2007

Are there a million alternative covers of video killed the radio star?

Oh, and Robyn is my double-plus unfavorite, but the Wrong Trousers rock.
posted by BrotherCaine at 1:32 AM on June 4, 2007

Her thighs are a bit heavy
posted by A189Nut at 2:03 AM on June 4, 2007

Dorogoy Vronik, now that is the best of the web. Van and Chet. Van singing Send In the Clowns. Chet playing Send In the Clowns. Van and Chet and Send In the Clowns. Good gravy.
posted by eritain at 3:36 AM on June 4, 2007 [1 favorite]

AARGH! My ears and eyes, dear sweet zombie Jesus.

Wrong Trousers though: you're believe decent covers can be performed with an upright bass, ukulele and a harp. Fantastic!
posted by jim.christian at 3:46 AM on June 4, 2007

er, "you'll believe", even...
posted by jim.christian at 3:47 AM on June 4, 2007

you're believe decent covers can be performed with an upright bass, ukulele and a harp.

(dunno about the harp, but Patti Smith's version of Smells Like Teen Spirit, done on ukelele, banjo, upright bass etc just happens to be a million times better than Nirvana's original)
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:00 AM on June 4, 2007

ah!
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:07 AM on June 4, 2007 [1 favorite]

Really? We can just post one-link posts to our favorite banal pop videos? That's cool.

And Reba McEntire, oddman? How could you compare this mediocre, derivative singer to one of the greatest vocal talents in the history of country music? One may not like Reba's material, but she is one of the truly great vocal technicians, in any genre, of the past 30 or so years. This chick can barely sing.

And she ain't that sexy.

Lame. Lame. Lame.
posted by spitbull at 5:22 AM on June 4, 2007

wreckingball: "blonde swedish woman posturing with a bunch of arab/north african guys? i'm sure i ought to be feeling seven kinds of problematic, right now"

Please elaborate.
posted by klue at 5:22 AM on June 4, 2007

STFUtube.
posted by Eideteker at 10:25 AM on June 4, 2007

so what's this woman bringing back, then?

Her supper.
posted by wfc123 at 11:11 AM on June 4, 2007

so what's this woman bringing back, then?

Her supper.

Huh. I thought "elvish", when I saw it...
posted by Ogre Lawless at 1:39 PM on June 4, 2007

(dunno about the harp, but Patti Smith's version of Smells Like Teen Spirit, done on ukelele, banjo, upright bass etc just happens to be a million times better than Nirvana's original)
posted by UbuRoivas at 8:00 AM on June 4 [+]
[!]


I completely disagree with you, but Ms. Smith is a goddess, so I'll let this slide.
posted by Julnyes at 6:34 PM on June 4, 2007

Wise decision. You wouldn't want her to smite you, now...
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:52 PM on June 4, 2007

klue: wreckingball: "blonde swedish woman posturing with a bunch of arab/north african guys? i'm sure i ought to be feeling seven kinds of problematic, right now"

Please elaborate.

A 'white goddess' ruling over a tribe dark-skinned savages was a staple device of pulp fiction and B movies during the the first half of the 20th century. It seems designed to play on both white vanity—pretty blondes would *naturally* be recognized as a superior race, and privileged to rule over darker, lesser peoples—and white fears of miscegenation.
posted by Slithy_Tove at 7:09 PM on June 4, 2007

at least it's not this (Old I know, but that song was terrible, and a better indication of what's been wrong with pop.)
posted by Debaser626 at 12:07 PM on June 5, 2007

at least it's not this (Old I know, but that song was terrible, and a better indication of what's been wrong with pop.)
posted by Debaser626 at 12:07 PM on June 5, 2007

Vronsky: thanks for this. Konichiwa Bitches was a favourite song of the last year. This one passed me by. I watched the yootoob last night a few times, spent the day with the song stuck in my head. Actually genuinely decent pop. Though I wouldn't necessarily want to make the sexy with two backs with her.
posted by hydatius at 1:12 PM on June 5, 2007

I really like your screen name hydatius. Check out Robyn cobrastyle!
posted by vronsky at 8:25 PM on June 9, 2007