Whip it good
November 18, 2010 8:04 AM   Subscribe

'Neil Young' + The Boss + Willow Smith's "Whip My Hair" = A classic American ballad is born.
posted by Potomac Avenue (45 comments total) 9 users marked this as a favorite
 
I hate Jimmy Fallon, except when he's Neil Young.

I don't know how I feel about having admitted that in a public forum.
posted by supercres at 8:10 AM on November 18, 2010


I also hate Jimmy Fallon, but dang if he doesn't do a brilliant Neil Young.

(What was with all the booing at the end? Are you allowed to boo on late night TV?)
posted by Gator at 8:12 AM on November 18, 2010


Bruuuuuuuce!
posted by Threeway Handshake at 8:13 AM on November 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


Fallon's Neil Young was superlative, but whoever was doing Springsteen fucking nailed it.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:14 AM on November 18, 2010 [7 favorites]


Why does everyone hate Jimmy Fallon?

He makes me laugh.
posted by morganannie at 8:20 AM on November 18, 2010 [2 favorites]


I like Jimmy Fallon but I thought it went on too long..
posted by amethysts at 8:20 AM on November 18, 2010


Gator - they weren't booing. They were BRUUUUUUUUUUUCE-ing.
posted by pdb at 8:23 AM on November 18, 2010


I am ambivalent about Fallon, (and the song is just silly fluff) but that was pretty damn funny and an excellent Young performance.
posted by edgeways at 8:25 AM on November 18, 2010


I should not like that nearly as much as I did.
posted by LMGM at 8:26 AM on November 18, 2010


[Hans Moleman] I was saying Bruce. [/Hans Moleman]
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:27 AM on November 18, 2010 [7 favorites]


Yes, those are impressive imitations of Springsteen and Young. But I followed all the links and am now amazed at how much Willow Smith made herself look like Will Smith. What a talent!
posted by maudlin at 8:31 AM on November 18, 2010


whoever was doing Springsteen fucking nailed it

That was just animatronics.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 8:34 AM on November 18, 2010


amethysts: I like Jimmy Fallon but I thought it went on too long..

"Went on too long" is the SNL way of doing things, so Jimmy is staying true to his roots.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 8:40 AM on November 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


Here's a youtube link since the NBC player completely blows.

Willow's song isn't bad but that "I WHIP MY HAIR BACK AND FORTH" hook is completely grating.
posted by zephyr_words at 8:42 AM on November 18, 2010


I just realized that bruce is dressed up like 1970s bruce with a fake beard. Still lolin' on re-watch #5. What's the opposite of Jumping the Shark? Fallon just did that imo.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 8:45 AM on November 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


Gator - they weren't booing. They were BRUUUUUUUUUUUCE-ing.

I feel silly. The Simpsons already taught me about the stagecraft advantage in having a name that starts with a "B" and has an "oo" sound in the middle. You can always tell yourself they're just cheering you on ("Boo-urns")!
posted by Gator at 8:50 AM on November 18, 2010


I started out not liking Jimmy but he's been winning me over the past few years. Great impression!
posted by parm=serial at 8:53 AM on November 18, 2010


I had never heard of Willow Smith, so thanks for that.

I skipped ahead to see the Bruce impression ... waitaminute.
posted by mrgrimm at 8:59 AM on November 18, 2010


Willow's song isn't bad

It's the epitome of mediocrity.
posted by mrgrimm at 9:03 AM on November 18, 2010


The whole Bruce episode of Late Night on NBC.com.
posted by mrgrimm at 9:10 AM on November 18, 2010


What's the opposite of Jumping the Shark?

Riker's Beard.
posted by grubi at 9:40 AM on November 18, 2010 [18 favorites]


Always nice to see Bruce Springsteen disguised as...Bruce Springsteen?
posted by Mental Wimp at 9:43 AM on November 18, 2010


I had heard quotes of "Whip my hair" but never bothered to source them.

Willow Smith is a real cutie but that song qualifies for the "smallest content ever" award.
posted by MonkeySaltedNuts at 9:49 AM on November 18, 2010


It's always amused me that a lot of the names that get chanted (at least that I've noticed in sports stadiums) tend to sound like "booooo". Bruuuuuuuuuce, Moooooooooose (Johnston, Cowboys fullback of years past), etc. I suppose part of the reason is that a sustained chant like that seems to work best with the "ooo" sound for some reason.
posted by kmz at 9:57 AM on November 18, 2010


many of you may remember a song by cream, the lyrics of which are basically "i'm so glad ' repeated over and over. it's a brilliant song that evokes a warm and fuzzy feeling for the listener. "i whip my hair around" is just fucking stupid. it could just as easily be about shoelaces or the direction used in wiping one's ass.
posted by kitchenrat at 10:27 AM on November 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


many of you may remember a song by cream Skip James, the lyrics of which are basically "i'm so glad" repeated over and over.

Fixed that for you.
posted by letourneau at 10:52 AM on November 18, 2010 [2 favorites]


thank you, letourno, bloody nice of ya
posted by kitchenrat at 10:59 AM on November 18, 2010


many of you may remember a song by cream Skip James Art Sizemore and George A. Little, the lyrics of which are basically "i'm so glad" repeated over and over.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:06 AM on November 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


I'm as willing to rag on Jimmy F as anybody but he seems to get some good musical guests (unlike some other talk show hosts who shall remain nameless). That Underworld spot a few weeks ago was on fire.
posted by blucevalo at 11:16 AM on November 18, 2010


I love that at the end Bruce did the classic pose from the "Born to Run" album cover!
posted by platinum at 12:18 PM on November 18, 2010


Damned if Fallon's impression didn't fool me for a minute. Bruce doing an impression of Bruce is too good. They should take this on the road.
posted by quadog at 12:26 PM on November 18, 2010


Pretty stupid song, but I have to say I found the whipping paint at the walls with one's hair pretty cool.
posted by Rykey at 12:26 PM on November 18, 2010


Man, now I want to pretend to be Neil Young and sing this song.
posted by djduckie at 12:39 PM on November 18, 2010


Going "unplugged" can sometimes reveal a song's core strength hiding underneath all the production. But it can also highlight crappiness. This is a hilarious example of the latter.
posted by tommasz at 1:09 PM on November 18, 2010


omgawesomebruce
posted by New England Cultist at 1:41 PM on November 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


Yes, it's edited, and yes, the youtube user has a vulgar user name, but this cracks me up.
posted by dhens at 2:39 PM on November 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


It's always amused me that a lot of the names that get chanted (at least that I've noticed in sports stadiums) tend to sound like "booooo". Bruuuuuuuuuce, Moooooooooose (Johnston, Cowboys fullback of years past), etc.

During the most recent Winter Olympics, commentators and spectators all over the world were horrified at Canadian hockey fans booing their own goalie, Roberto Luongo. Many NHL hockey fans are still a tad confused.

Although, if Louie doesn't get his form back those luuuuus might really turn to boooos.
posted by keep it under cover at 6:10 PM on November 18, 2010


Willow's song isn't bad

It's the epitome of mediocrity.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:03 PM on November 18 [+] [!]


It's just a song for little kids by a little kid, ya know?
posted by thinkpiece at 6:14 PM on November 18, 2010 [1 favorite]


Along the same vein, Jimmy Fallon and Dave Matthews.

(Dave Matthews doesn't show up until 1:55)
posted by keep it under cover at 6:17 PM on November 18, 2010


.

in memory of good music
posted by Vibrissae at 7:30 PM on November 18, 2010


No need to memorialize. Bruce turned out a killer Because The Night on the very same show. Rock and roll: serial killin' it
posted by wemayfreeze at 12:05 AM on November 19, 2010


It's just a song for little kids by a little kid, ya know?

It's a song written and produced by Ronald "JukeBox" Jackson, and distributed and promoted by Jay-Z's Roc Nation. It sold 137,000 copies in its first week.

I, I get to them
Mmm, yeah, go hard
When they see me pull up
I whip it real hard


It's not really a "song for little kids," and it's hardly "by a little kid."

There's a lot of great music for kids out there. This song just isn't very good. IMO, of course. It's well-produced, but a polished turd is still a turd.
posted by mrgrimm at 11:04 AM on November 19, 2010


No need to memorialize. Bruce turned out a killer Because The Night on the very same show.

Heh. That song was released in 1978. (I do agree there's plenty of great music around right now.)
posted by mrgrimm at 11:06 AM on November 19, 2010


It's the epitome of mediocrity.
posted by mrgrimm


I hear that line in my head in Chuck D's voice for some reason.
posted by COBRA! at 11:18 AM on November 19, 2010 [2 favorites]


Everything sounds better when Chuck D says it.
posted by mrgrimm at 12:43 PM on November 19, 2010


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