Comments on: M. Mattius Kaufman recreates classic album cover poses. How many can you identify?

M. Mattius Kaufman recreates classic album cover poses. How many can you identify?

Senor Cardgage — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:13:55 -0800

Can You Identify Famous Album Covers Based Only on a Mime in A Leotard?

A man, a black leotard, and an famous pose. The rest is up to you. See how many of the album cover poses you can identify. The positions span several decades of indelible pop music iconography. But be fast, as you are being timed and this is much harder than you think. Take too long and the mimes just get bored and kinda stare at you, having dropped their poses.

By: cheaily

cheaily — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:24:45 -0800

And the answers?

By: mrnutty

mrnutty — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:27:39 -0800

I got bored after only 3, but that might be because I thought you wrote "a mime and a leopard"

By: painquale

painquale — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:34:59 -0800

This reminds me of Trip Payne's Subservient Chicken Loves the '80s puzzle from the MIT Puzzle Hunt. (Full puzzle here, videos here.) You need to come up with '80s music stars, see if the chicken recognizes them, then identify the song he dances to.

By: self

self — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:36:19 -0800

There is nothing worse than hipster mimes! except a hipster mime crotch shot, of-which-there-were-plenty Anyone have a melon baller?

By: spacely_sprocket

spacely_sprocket — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 23:45:17 -0800

I got one out of the first 14, but couldn't take it any more.

By: librarylis

librarylis — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:19:32 -0800

The irony of 'Quietus' offering a loud and 80s video gam-y noise upon arrival at the site...

By: suckerpunch

suckerpunch — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:21:33 -0800

1 : David Bowie, "Heroes" 3 : Dizzee Rascal, Boy In Da Corner 7 : Elvis Costello, This Year's Model 12 : Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here 19 : Pantera, Vulgar Display of Power 20 : Nirvana, Nevermind 28 : Moby, Play (I am particularly ashamed to know this one)

By: suckerpunch

suckerpunch — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:25:12 -0800

4 : Sonic Youth, Goo

By: zsazsa

zsazsa — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:29:54 -0800

5. Roxy Music - Country Life 21. Prince - Purple Rain 23. The Strokes - Is This It 26. The Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever 29. Michael Jackson - Thriller

By: 5_13_23_42_69_666

5_13_23_42_69_666 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:36:34 -0800

this has done nothing to assuage my hatred of mimes

By: suckerpunch

suckerpunch — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:40:25 -0800

2 : The Doors, The Best of the Doors 14 : Eurythmics, Touch COME ON, METAFILTER, WE CAN TOTALLY DO THIS

By: grounded

grounded — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:59:15 -0800

No. And don't ask me ever again.

By: twoleftfeet

twoleftfeet — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:22:08 -0800

I didn't enjoy this as much as I enjoyed "Can You Identify Infectious Diseases Based Only on a Mime in A Leotard". I thought that the mime really nailed Tuberculosis, artfully portrayed Hepatitis B through his clever body movements, and had me in stitches when he did Syphilis. But I love mime.

By: pracowity

pracowity — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:41:50 -0800

8. Sesame Street - Born to Add

By: Meatbomb

Meatbomb — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:50:14 -0800

I am speed walking across the Rynek in Krakow to get the last bus to Myslenice. There is a mime / performance artist there, mimicing and cavorting, and when he notices me he makes a brisk sprint to catch up and fall in behind, aping my hurried exaggerated gate. I stop and turn, and so does he. "If you don't fuck off right now I will attack you." He who turns and runs away will live to mime another day. This was not the piece of performance art to take a courageous stand on, and he knew it. I made my bus.

By: rokusan

rokusan — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 01:59:15 -0800

I'll just assume pracowity has children. ;)

By: book

book — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 02:26:45 -0800

6: Iggy Pop, The Idiot 27: Crimson King, In The Court Of The Crimson King Hehe.

By: louche mustachio

louche mustachio — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:20:51 -0800

I KNOW! Marcel Marceau's Greatest Hits! (Sounds a lot like John Cage to me...)

By: louche mustachio

louche mustachio — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:21:41 -0800

Mimes of the Prairie

By: mmoncur

mmoncur — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:36:00 -0800

I'm really glad Andy Dick can still get work, but I do wish he'd keep his leotard on.

By: Esoquo

Esoquo — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:50:23 -0800

This did nothing to sausage my hatred of mimes.

By: twoleftfeet

twoleftfeet — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:53:06 -0800

All of this is bringing up horrible memories of my childhood. Mommy was a lip reader and Daddy was a ventriloquist. Uncle Pete read braille in the original Latin. Cousin Ernie proposed to his wife using semaphore flags and she accepted in Morse code. Uncle Pete's job involved close captioning silent films. The twins spoke sign language after the lights were turned off, keeping us all awake. Grandpa was an expert in body language, but only for the bodies of statues. Grandma read a lot into the wink of an eye (but only her own eye, bless her soul.) Goddamn mimes! I hate people who can speak but choose not to. Stop calling me, mimes! (Somehow I got on a list for the International Organization of Mimes. They keep phoning me at all hours to ask for money... 30 seconds of silence.) Thank God I turned out normal. When I want to communicate I just type into one of these text boxes.

By: googly

googly — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:09:33 -0800

8. Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run 12. Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here 27. King Crimson, In The Court Of The Crimson King

By: googly

googly — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:12:42 -0800

Oops. All of my contributions previously found. Disregard.

By: Sweetie Darling

Sweetie Darling — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 04:51:21 -0800

Turns out men in leotards kind of creep me out, so I didn't get past #3. But really, all I can think about now is one of my favorite National Lampoon cartoons from the early '80s, Mime for the Blind - a guy yelling "I'm pulling an invisible rope!" Poor taste, hee.

By: spartacusroosevelt

spartacusroosevelt — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:22:16 -0800

I know I saw Patti Smith's Horses in there

By: Casuistry

Casuistry — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:42:52 -0800

One of the few I got was Patti Smith's Easter.

By: xorry

xorry — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 05:53:12 -0800

'Fucking mimes!' I scream Pinned in a corner, shaking. Pray for a swift death.

By: Sys Rq

Sys Rq — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 06:14:22 -0800

While I do share a hatred of mimes, I must admit I liked this. It's not about how great mimes are. I don't believe these guys are really even mimes; if they are, they're not very good. It seems to me they're rather successfully using the silly and pretentious art of le mîme to highlight oft-overlooked silliness and pretentiousness inherent in the art of le poseur d'album-cover.

By: donovan

donovan — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 06:59:04 -0800

I thought this might provide me with an opportunity to reconsider my dislike of mimes, but I was incorrect.

By: ManInSuit

ManInSuit — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:39:32 -0800

17: George Michael, Faith 18: Hole, Life Through This

By: piratebowling

piratebowling — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:40:23 -0800

This did nothing to sausage my hatred of mimes. I now want a shirt that says I [picture of bacon] mimes.

By: aaronetc

aaronetc — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 07:59:58 -0800

I had Born to Add on 8-track way back when and it was the greatest thing ever.

By: Khalad

Khalad — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:19:33 -0800

No, I cannot.

By: flatluigi

flatluigi — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:20:54 -0800

I got absolutely none of them.

By: squalor

squalor — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:46:45 -0800

I immediately got Powerage! (Listened to a lot of AC/DC back in the Bon era)

By: ciderwoman

ciderwoman — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:48:43 -0800

9 - the libertines by the libertines 15 - Boy by U2

By: tommasz

tommasz — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:50:11 -0800

My fear of mimes prevents me from clicking on the link, so no.

By: Asbestos McPinto

Asbestos McPinto — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:50:53 -0800

I thought the beer can one was The Scorpions - Animal Magnetism but who knows.

By: An Infinity Of Monkeys

An Infinity Of Monkeys — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:08:55 -0800

"Come on, don't talk back, mime is money, come on, move it."

By: lostburner

lostburner — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:17:15 -0800

Can You Identify Famous Album Covers Based Only on a Mime in A Leotard? Apparently not.

By: heyho

heyho — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:46:41 -0800

I got one... but it was wrong.

By: crawling101

crawling101 — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:53:56 -0800

20 : Nirvana, Nevermind

By: sararah

sararah — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:12:30 -0800

Yanno, I totally nailed that hue test, but this is friggin' hard. See also.

By: Hal Mumkin

Hal Mumkin — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:41:09 -0800

Hm... Using his body and a black leotard alone, our mime expert... I spotted: 1. a necklace 2. sunglasses 3. a cigarette 4. a second mime 5. a leather jacket 6. a potted plant 7. a bill on a string on a stick 8. a beer can (I am forgiving the spectacles because the mime might require them to see, even though he doesn't wear them in all the clips.) Liars.

By: jfrancis

jfrancis — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 10:52:15 -0800

So, sorted from your answers so far - 1 : David Bowie, "Heroes" 2 : The Doors, The Best of the Doors 3 : Dizzee Rascal, Boy In Da Corner 4 : Sonic Youth, Goo 5. Roxy Music - Country Life 6: Iggy Pop, The Idiot 7 : Elvis Costello, This Year's Model 8 : Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run 9 : the libertines by the libertines 10: 11: 12: Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here 14: Eurythmics, Touch 15: Boy by U2 16: 17: George Michael, Faith 18: Hole, Life Through This 19: Pantera, Vulgar Display of Power 20: Nirvana, Nevermind 21: Prince - Purple Rain 22: 23: The Strokes - Is This It 24: 25: 26: The Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever 27: King Crimson, In The Court Of The Crimson King 28: 29: Michael Jackson - Thriller

By: ciderwoman

ciderwoman — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:09:53 -0800

10 - powerage by ACDC 13 - lexicon of love by ABC 22 - animal magnetism by the Scorpions 28 - play by Moby Missing - 11, 24 and 25

By: Pronoiac

Pronoiac — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:13:56 -0800

28 is... in preview, never mind. 25 looks like the Jamiroquai logo from Travelling Without Moving, but it's not a match.

By: Pronoiac

Pronoiac — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:18:42 -0800

Checking the previous albums: 25's Jamiroquai - Emergency on Planet Earth. Missing - 11 & 24.

By: pracowity

pracowity — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:27:32 -0800

I'll just assume pracowity has children. I am children.

By: ciderwoman

ciderwoman — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:40:55 -0800

11 - prince charming by Adam and the Ants

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:41:57 -0800

Those guys aren't such good mimes.

By: Meatbomb

Meatbomb — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:47:08 -0800

No such thing as a good mime.

By: Sys Rq

Sys Rq — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:57:11 -0800

It's Live Through This. With a v.

By: Pronoiac

Pronoiac — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 11:58:29 -0800

No such thing as a good mime. How about a dead mime?

By: Sys Rq

Sys Rq — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:02:26 -0800

Also: 16?

By: CitizenD

CitizenD — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:05:25 -0800

it's not miming if you use props.

By: Pronoiac

Pronoiac — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:14:46 -0800

Still missing: 16 & 24.

By: meech

meech — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:16:19 -0800

1 : David Bowie, "Heroes" 2 : The Doors, The Best of the Doors 3 : Dizzee Rascal, Boy In Da Corner 4 : Sonic Youth, Goo 5. Roxy Music - Country Life 6: Iggy Pop, The Idiot 7 : Elvis Costello, This Year's Model 8 : Bruce Springsteen, Born to Run 9 : the libertines by the libertines 10: Powearge by ACDC 11: Prince Charming by Adam and the Ants 12: Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here 13: Lexicon of Love by ABC 14: Eurythmics, Touch 15: Boy by U2 16: Easter by Patti Smith 17: George Michael, Faith 18: Hole, Life Through This 19: Pantera, Vulgar Display of Power 20: Nirvana, Nevermind 21: Prince - Purple Rain 22: Animal Magnetism by The Scorpions 23: The Strokes - Is This It 24: 25: Emergency on Planet Earth by Jamiroquai. 26: The Bee Gees - Saturday Night Fever 27: King Crimson, In The Court Of The Crimson King 28: play by Moby 29: Michael Jackson - Thriller

By: goodnewsfortheinsane

goodnewsfortheinsane — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:11:58 -0800

24 is "Definitely Maybe" by Oasis.

By: zsazsa

zsazsa — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:21:20 -0800

We have a winner!

By: klangklangston

klangklangston — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:07:09 -0800

Ah, perhaps the problem is that I only own ten of those albums, and don't consider most of them any sort of icon to be remembered.

By: Brak

Brak — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 16:51:31 -0800

I came here immediately after finding that #1 was not Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. I'm not sure what that says about me. The Pink Floyd part, that is; coming here immediately after missing the first question says that I friggin' hate mimes.

By: MiltonRandKalman

MiltonRandKalman — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 20:43:31 -0800

if it helps, here are some mimes getting there ass handed to them by some clowns.

By: grubi

grubi — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 06:59:59 -0800

All this does is serve to remind me some great photography can make an album cover iconic. I got a warm feeling in my heart when they did Born to Run.

By: John Shaft

John Shaft — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 13:50:30 -0800

Why do they all look like Smiths albums? Even the ones I actually know look like them. Fucking Smiths.