It doesn't matter who's wrong or right. Just beat it.

September 1, 2009 9:23 PM

Beatin' it in Seattle
posted by Blazecock Pileon (37 comments total)

Will the curvy red-headed goddess who comes into the left side of the frame at 0:48 call me? Honest, I'm not nearly as unpleasant as my MeFi comment history implies!
posted by hincandenza at 9:41 PM on September 1

Statistically speaking, there had to be at least one or two people in that video who weren't part of the flashmob, who were just wandering buy, sw the "Beat It" dance break out, and joined in seamlessly because they knew all the moves by heart. And that is actually a pretty cool thought.
posted by hincandenza at 9:45 PM on September 1 [7 favorites]

I've been to Seattle, but never beat it there.
posted by pmbuko at 9:45 PM on September 1

posted by hincandenza there had to be at least one or two people in that video who weren't part of the flashmob, who were just wandering by, saw the "Beat It" dance break out, and joined in seamlessly because they knew all the moves by heart.

I would, too. You have to show them that you're really not scared. You're playin' with your life, this ain't no truth or dare.
posted by mattdidthat at 9:50 PM on September 1 [6 favorites]

Just like high school theater choreographers have done since time immemorial, they stuck the ones who don't really know the moves or can't be counted on to keep the beat in the back.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:51 PM on September 1

Normally in Pioneer Square you just get guys doing the bit where the zombies turn up in Thriller.

Kerry Park is where Fraisers appartment would be if the view out of his window wasn't basically a helicopter shot, and if the show wasn't basically set in some weird quasi-New York non-Seattle.
posted by Artw at 9:59 PM on September 1 [4 favorites]

I have been shown how funky strong is their fight!

Something about those long-distance shots of all the hands going up at Pike Place makes me happy.

YAY COLLECTIVE JOY!
posted by EatTheWeak at 10:01 PM on September 1 [3 favorites]

Yeah, once I heard Pioneer Square I was really hoping for more shots of crackheads coming up from back alley blowjobs with a big "wtf?!?!?" look on their faces.
posted by lattiboy at 10:17 PM on September 1

I guess they escaped that by not really using Pioneer Square proper, and instead using that little pedestrian side street leading off of it. I think that's where they are, anyhow.
posted by Artw at 10:25 PM on September 1

Occidental Park (the city apparently calls it Occidental Square)? I think that's where they were, that brick plaza where Occidental Ave would be for one block.
posted by hattifattener at 10:42 PM on September 1

I think Razorfish used to have an office there before Microsoft bought them.

Grr Razorfish.
posted by Artw at 10:47 PM on September 1

Razorfish are no longer Microsoft property.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 10:49 PM on September 1

I guess they got spat out around the time Franchise Gator got spat out

Grr anyway.

/shakes fist

/keeps fires of pre-merger Saltmine grudges burning
posted by Artw at 11:04 PM on September 1

/vaguely hopes that one day the excting true tales. Of dev shop rivalry in the early days of the web will be retold in the style of the Beat It video, or possibly West Side Story.
posted by Artw at 11:27 PM on September 1 [2 favorites]

enjoyable. i really like it when it goes from one dancer, to like two or three, then six, etc. very gradually increasing in size...this one went from one guy to like 60 in a split second. still, enjoyable.
posted by billybobtoo at 4:28 AM on September 2

Plus the little blonde girl in the second one is awesome. This just made me really happy. (And yes, hincandenza, back in the day we ALL knew the moves. I'm just surprised there weren't more fortysomethings in there.)
posted by nax at 4:58 AM on September 2

Screw unparalleled military might. America's true greatness lies in the legions of ordinary people willing to spend hours and hours on elaborate, 100% useless explosions of awesomeness.
posted by stuck on an island at 5:28 AM on September 2

*grumble grumble* nothing cool like that ever happens here *kicks at the dirt, scowling*
posted by misha at 5:31 AM on September 2 [2 favorites]

BEHIND MISHA A CHORUS LINE KICKS AT THE DIRT AND SCOWLS, HANDS IN POCKETS, READY TO SPIN AROUND AS SHE TURNS
posted by GeckoDundee at 5:59 AM on September 2 [3 favorites]

Beatin' it in Seattle

Really? On Metafilter I-*click* Oh.


Well, okay I guess this is cool too.
posted by The Whelk at 6:16 AM on September 2

Oh, stuck on an island, such awesomeness isn't the exclusive property of America.
posted by MrMoonPie at 6:47 AM on September 2

I'm curious about the logistics of these flashmob happenings -- specifically, have the participants been meeting and practicing for some time?
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 7:17 AM on September 2

I still think the Thriller dance by the wedding party beats all comers, flash mob or not.

Incidentally I plan to refer all potential dates to my MeFi comment history in future. So confident am I of its chances of success.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 7:43 AM on September 2 [1 favorite]

Wanted to slap that red-headed Zelig with the constant smug look on his face.
posted by You Should See the Other Guy at 8:25 AM on September 2

I just love dancing flash mobs. Here's BouncE Flash Mob @ Gröna Lund, Beat It in Stockholm, Thriller on the Tube with very confused passengers, and of course Dancing Inmate's Thriller. And as long as we're being silly; Darth Thriller, drunk bridesmaids in strapless dresses Thriller and of the Original...the King of Pop: Thriller and Beat It
posted by dejah420 at 8:59 AM on September 2 [1 favorite]

Can I just say, young people you ROCK I LOVE you!
posted by nax at 9:32 AM on September 2

I couldn't find this posted here. But for all y'all entertainment here's the montreal flash mob of same track from a month or so ago. More kids, more cops, more canada.
posted by Smegoid at 9:51 AM on September 2 [2 favorites]

It's hard not to like this. I tried, but in the end I smiled :)
posted by Mister_A at 9:54 AM on September 2

Smegoid: here's the montreal flash mob of same track from a month or so ago. More kids, more cops, more canada.

Ooooh! How adorable were those kids! And the cops dancing around...I love Canada. I wish I lived there.
posted by dejah420 at 10:15 AM on September 2

*grumble grumble* nothing cool like that ever happens here *kicks at the dirt, scowling*

Once upon a time, I said these exact words to my friends, who likewise felt the same way.

There was dejected pause as we all reflected on how horribly true it was.

Then I said "I guess... the only way we'll ever get something like that to happen around here is... if we organize it ourselves"

And that is how the awesome started.
posted by -harlequin- at 11:21 AM on September 2 [1 favorite]

I love it, love it, love it BUT....

I keep seeing all the flash mobs dancing to MJ. Is it wrong to ask for something new? Give me a flash mob all doing, say, the scene from Big Lebowski (Jesus dancing to Gypsy King's Hotel California) or Stuck in the Middle with You (Steeler's Wheel, Reservoir Dogs) or something else? Surely there are other famous dance scenes from films that can be co-opted for flashy-mob purposes?

Must I do everything myself?

*starts dancing*
posted by Bageena at 11:46 AM on September 2

Wanted to slap that red-headed Zelig with the constant smug look on his face.

Guy in the front row? How does he get so much camera action? I couldn't help but wonder if he hadn't organized this whole business to have a memorable show reel to tout around to potential agents.

It was as though everyone else was just an extra in his personal extravaganza.

Oh, stuck on an island, such awesomeness isn't the exclusive property of America .

Not quite as awesome as it seems.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 11:58 AM on September 2

I'm curious about the logistics of these flashmob happenings -- specifically, have the participants been meeting and practicing for some time?

For this one people just met at 10 that morning and spent a couple of hours learning the choreography. I was going to do it but 10 on a Saturday is way too early.

Wanted to slap that red-headed Zelig with the constant smug look on his face.

That's a friend of mine named Bobby, who's actually a really good guy. Needless to say, however, copious humility is not one of the qualities needed to be the lead dancer in an event like this :-) Increasing the six-degrees-of-MeFi-separation, my girlfriend shot a lot of the footage in the youtube clip.
posted by JasonSch at 12:08 PM on September 2 [2 favorites]

I like Bobby much better in the blue dress and sunglasses!
posted by HappyHippo at 2:43 PM on September 2

I couldn't help but wonder if he hadn't organized this whole business to have a memorable show reel to tout around to potential agents.

On Bobby's website:

Michael Jackson Beat It Flash Mob
Michael Jackson Lead,
Choreographer and Organizer
August 29 2009

So, yeah, kinda.

But still, a fun event!
posted by darkstar at 9:56 PM on September 2

Though, it also says that Egan Orion came up with the idea and asked Bobby to organize it and play the lead, so that's something, too.
posted by darkstar at 9:57 PM on September 2

That Egan Orion shud get a Nebula award!
posted by Twang at 4:29 PM on September 3