The Hello Experiment
July 22, 2007 11:50 AM   Subscribe

 
Awesome find lemonfridge!
posted by The Deej at 11:58 AM on July 22, 2007


Wonderful.

For those who need an introduction to the bizarre 80's stalker-creepiness of the original video, it's here.
posted by ikkyu2 at 11:58 AM on July 22, 2007


Very funny. The worst part is having to listen to that song again. Someone get me some insulin, stat!
posted by conifer at 12:01 PM on July 22, 2007


You had me at 'hello!'
posted by ericb at 12:05 PM on July 22, 2007


I don't know that I could do that well even with my eyes open.
posted by Steven C. Den Beste at 12:11 PM on July 22, 2007


I know I could NEVER do that well with my eyes, open.
posted by The Deej at 12:13 PM on July 22, 2007


Perfect!
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:13 PM on July 22, 2007


The point at which he starts hanging up on her in the original video is a historic comedy moment.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:14 PM on July 22, 2007


Uhhhh... everyone? There's no easy way to say this. So I'll just come right out. *ahem*

I really like that song.
posted by The Deej at 12:34 PM on July 22, 2007


Oh, and Pop-Up Videos said that Lionel Richie and the director were not happy with the finished sculpture (duh!) but they had no time to make another.

Favorite line of dialog: "There's something going on in the sculpture room!"

And I love the ending:
"I've wanted you to see this for a long time. This is how I see you..."

"HOLY SHIT, that's like, twice the size of my real head and looks like a mask from Planet of the Apes! What the fuck is wrong with you, are you blind or something?!"
posted by The Deej at 12:44 PM on July 22, 2007 [1 favorite]


double you tee eff
posted by mrnutty at 12:58 PM on July 22, 2007


Excellent. I laughed and laughed. I forgot how funny the original was.

"It's what I know. This and the can." Huh?

Three false starts and a reprise. This was a video that took itself too seriously.

I suppose from the stalker POV her being blind just makes her easy prey.

And of course, the big continuity question: How did she make that unless she had already spent considerable time feeling up his face?
posted by sourwookie at 1:00 PM on July 22, 2007


Ah, yes. You have to be familiar with the original video, I guess.
posted by mrnutty at 1:04 PM on July 22, 2007


That's very cool! My, I'd totally forgotten how creepy the original video was.
posted by gemmy at 1:15 PM on July 22, 2007


Unexpectedly fun! Thanks. Had no idea without ikkyu2's link to the original Hello video that the blind girl made a clay sculpture of Lionel's head. So that must have been the inspiration for the blindered sculptors. ah ha. Loved the creations and was impressed how artistically interesting each one was. Hard to get the Jheri Curl thing in clay.

Funny, that Lionel Ritchie. His All Night Long holds a special place in my heart, or something. It was the Olympics' Grand Finale song, the summer of 1984, Orwell's nightmare come true with Reagan in power, the Olympics in full magenta, teal, blue and salmon swing in Los Angeles. I had a job in New Delhi, working in the fashion biz and used to go to the US Embassy compound to watch the Olympics on TV in the ACSA (American Community Support Association) lounge there, plate glass windows overlooking its classic pool, alien smells of tuna fish sandwiches, Arrid Extra Dry, alien sounds from Pac Man games and the mini bowling alley, with the CIA and embassy staff, quietly discussing the war and burgeoning heroin biz to undermine the Russian army in Afghanistan. What a weird circus. It was the only TV I watched in a decade. So Lionel Ritchie is forever melded in my brain with the CIA, heroin, Afghanistan and Olympics fireworks.
posted by nickyskye at 1:16 PM on July 22, 2007 [2 favorites]


And then there's the gay version.

I apologize in advance.
posted by The Deej at 1:22 PM on July 22, 2007


For those who need an introduction to the bizarre 80's stalker-creepiness of the original video, it's here.

Gah! I did not remember the video this way.

But I am totally impressed by the blindfolded sculptors. Can't wait to show this to my better half, who is out welding a sculpture as I type.

Great post!
posted by kamikazegopher at 1:24 PM on July 22, 2007


The Deej, it is ok. I love that song as well.
Although, in looking at the original video now, I am really surprised that he was a high school teacher. I had imagined that he was a community college teacher way back when. Extra skeeve, there.
posted by oflinkey at 1:39 PM on July 22, 2007


But... but... why does she have the light on in her bedroom?
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:01 PM on July 22, 2007


But... but... why does she have the light on in her bedroom?

She doesn't know it's on!
posted by The Deej at 2:02 PM on July 22, 2007


Great post. Now excuse me while I reminisce about how MeFi used to be exactly about links like this.
posted by dobbs at 2:03 PM on July 22, 2007


I really don't want to see the original video. All the intervening years were not enough to obliterate the impression it left on me.

Funny idea. Good execution.
posted by jouke at 2:40 PM on July 22, 2007


And you know what, ALL of the finished works look EXACTLY like Lionel Richie.
posted by filmgeek at 4:30 PM on July 22, 2007 [1 favorite]


Here's Lionel Ritchie singing "Hello" on helium for German tv. You're welcome.

BTW, that's always been one of my favorite creepy 80s videos. I've had nightmares about creepy Professor Ritchie's clay head with its ginormous jaw. But that said, wouldn't it make just the best Chia Pet ever?

Hey Deej sweetie, do you realize you've made MORE than 25% of comments in this creepy Lionel Ritchie sculpted head thread? Maybe it's time to step away from the computer... ;)
posted by miss lynnster at 5:38 PM on July 22, 2007 [2 favorites]


Hey Deej sweetie, do you realize you've made MORE than 25% of comments in this creepy Lionel Ritchie sculpted head thread? Maybe it's time to step away from the computer... ;)
posted by miss lynnster


Can't.... resist... "Hello." Am... powerless....

(Hey, clean out your mailbox again, why dontcha. I was checking on your trip and I got bounced.)
posted by The Deej at 5:49 PM on July 22, 2007


OK, lynnster, put me down for 26%, that helium link is hysterical!
posted by The Deej at 5:52 PM on July 22, 2007


Lionel Ritchie is forever melded in my brain with the CIA, heroin, Afghanistan and Olympics fireworks.
Thanks nickyskye, that's a very funny memorytingle.
posted by peacay at 6:07 PM on July 22, 2007


I like to think that Lionel kept that head after the video shoot, and now keeps it displayed on his mantle, or perhaps on the dash of his car, forever looking back at him.
posted by sourwookie at 6:15 PM on July 22, 2007


Fantastic.
posted by Kwine at 9:26 PM on July 22, 2007


The pop culture reference here is entirely lost on me, so instead I link to a video by the same people: 2054, which features themselves 50 years in the future. It's a really lovely way of establishing one's direction and what one is hoping to acheive. "Remember Flash, eh?"
posted by so_necessary at 11:14 PM on July 22, 2007


Firefox can't find the server at www.leanmeanfightingmachine.co.uk.
posted by kisch mokusch at 2:17 AM on July 23, 2007


Firefox can't find the server...

youtube of same video.
posted by pracowity at 2:41 AM on July 23, 2007


Wonderful find!
posted by joannemerriam at 3:14 PM on July 23, 2007


YouTube commenter:

Based on a true story. Lionel Richie was imprisoned for 20 years and is the reason for the "Lionel Law," prohibiting the stalking of blind girls by anyone who once wrote song comparing a woman to a brick house.
posted by potsmokinghippieoverlord at 6:11 PM on July 23, 2007


The hello experiment done with starburst. Mmm, delicious!
posted by larva at 8:52 PM on July 23, 2007 [1 favorite]


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