Flagpole sitta comes alive
April 27, 2007 9:57 AM   Subscribe

This lip sych of Flagpole Sitta is all kinds of awesome. An old favorite made new again by the office staff of Collegehumor et al in one take. It's a little slow to start, but it hits pure joy by the end.
posted by mathowie (102 comments total) 22 users marked this as a favorite
 
Very funny.
posted by blaneyphoto at 10:04 AM on April 27, 2007


This video is what pushed me to sign up for Vimeo. It sets a great tone for the website.
posted by splatta at 10:05 AM on April 27, 2007


Ha! I love the look of faux derision on Ricky's face before he bursts into song.
posted by Aloysius Bear at 10:05 AM on April 27, 2007


It should be noted that Harvey Danger's latest album, Little By Little, is both awesome and available for free download on their website.
posted by The White Hat at 10:07 AM on April 27, 2007 [2 favorites]


Holy hell, that brought me back.
posted by piratebowling at 10:08 AM on April 27, 2007


Young people having fun. Grrrr.
posted by humblepigeon at 10:12 AM on April 27, 2007


Yeah, I'm watching it and it's fun and all but I thought "These people are like 20, and they're making approximately five trillion more than I make, and they're goofing off at work" and I got sad.
posted by the dief at 10:15 AM on April 27, 2007 [7 favorites]


Was that done recently? If it is, I find it hilarious that "new media" company employees look EXACTLY the same as they did 10 years ago. Same haircuts, same eyeglass frames, same overally bearing. Maybe it's a look that just never goes out of is in style.
posted by psmealey at 10:15 AM on April 27, 2007 [1 favorite]


Yeah. It was fun, but...

"This is a job?"
posted by ODiV at 10:17 AM on April 27, 2007


I really want that SILF shirt.
posted by n9 at 10:19 AM on April 27, 2007


I had that same reaction, dief.
posted by bstreep at 10:21 AM on April 27, 2007


What the dief said, but compounded because I went to college with some of the company founders.
posted by quite unimportant at 10:23 AM on April 27, 2007


That's about as clever as a Kevin Smith musical interlude.
posted by rhizome23 at 10:23 AM on April 27, 2007


That was awesome!
posted by frecklefaerie at 10:26 AM on April 27, 2007


This is interesting.
posted by lemonfridge at 10:28 AM on April 27, 2007


I am so old.
posted by unknowncommand at 10:29 AM on April 27, 2007


Shouldn't these kids be in class?

Also: SILF!
posted by ColdChef at 10:31 AM on April 27, 2007


I know what I want to be when I grow up.
posted by phrontist at 10:32 AM on April 27, 2007


Yeah, I'm sending this 'round to all the people I worked with 10 years ago for the nostalgia factor. I TOTALLY want that SILF shirt.
posted by WolfDaddy at 10:33 AM on April 27, 2007


That was cool. (and i hate that fucking song!)
posted by eyeballkid at 10:34 AM on April 27, 2007 [1 favorite]


I'm glad I'm too old to be a hipster.
posted by Keith Talent at 10:36 AM on April 27, 2007


I actually like the song, but the spelling "sitta" always kind of annoyed me (given that they were from Seattle and not some place where people drop their r's). I suspected that I was not getting something about it.
posted by psmealey at 10:37 AM on April 27, 2007


Silf Shirt
posted by doctor_negative at 10:37 AM on April 27, 2007


What Quite Unimportant said, except I went to high school with some of them.
posted by OldReliable at 10:38 AM on April 27, 2007


I love that SILF t-shirt. That t-shirt is a TILF.
posted by intermod at 10:39 AM on April 27, 2007 [3 favorites]


Enjoyed that, fun, nicely done. Cool song and nice synching. One of the singers in the beginning reminds me of you Matt. Lyrics.
posted by nickyskye at 10:41 AM on April 27, 2007


Man, I'm glad I wasn't alone in feeling all crotechty fuddy-duddy cane-waving at the young punks having fun. Thanks you guys. Let's all go buy some Geritol together.
posted by the dief at 10:41 AM on April 27, 2007


Gah, posted before seeing the SILF pile-on. Now I definitely do not want to F that SILF. It's totally over now.
posted by intermod at 10:42 AM on April 27, 2007


Vimeo workers doing a video on Vimeo...
- 1000 points

SILF
TOTAL WIN!
posted by djrock3k at 10:43 AM on April 27, 2007


I too felt a long-lasting burst of jealousy and confusion after watching this. How come this workplace is so fun? How come all the people here are so young and trendy? How come everybody knows the words to this song? Why is it called a "lipdub" when what they mean is "music video"? Why is everybody so well-composed and hip-looking? How come their office is so nice? Why are the owners of this well-known network of websites so young? How come the design studio I work for is still operating out of a basement and looking nowhere near this awesome? Why are those people drinking beer at work? Is this actually a work day, or just a party? Where is the music actually coming from in the office? Which ones are the nerdy programmers? What did they do with the accounting department? Who is in charge here?
posted by Milkman Dan at 10:45 AM on April 27, 2007 [8 favorites]


*snerk*

Man I wish my office had that view.
posted by Skorgu at 10:46 AM on April 27, 2007


At first I thought , 'oh boy this is gonna . . . wait a minute!' That was F-ing cool.
posted by nola at 10:47 AM on April 27, 2007


It's called "branding", Milkman Dan. Perhaps building "Vimeo" awareness. Everyone sign up! I'd rail about this...but I have to go tinker with my TiVo....
posted by rhizome23 at 10:50 AM on April 27, 2007


It was OK, but they're no HoiTahPoiSha
posted by PeterMcDermott at 10:58 AM on April 27, 2007


Needed more of the background people to be inconspicuously doing the "ba da da daaa" bits. Oh, and +1 for the t-shirt and +1 for the jealousy.
posted by Rock Steady at 10:59 AM on April 27, 2007


Before I clicked the link, I thought the S in SILF was going to stand for Self. I was a little disappointed in the shirt.
posted by peep at 10:59 AM on April 27, 2007


Oh, man. I found these hip young people with wit and enthusiasm that nostalgically remind me of myself when I too still had some sort of spontaneity to speak of. That doesn't mean it wasn't stupid as shit. I hear Spiderman 3 opens this weekend. I'm going to watch Donnie Darko in the meantime and pretend that I identify. I can't remember but I'm sure I did...at the time.
posted by rhizome23 at 11:08 AM on April 27, 2007


That was funny. Even more so as I hate that insipid song.
posted by tkchrist at 11:10 AM on April 27, 2007


The girl at the start was K-Yoot!!! I'd watch it again and again just for that purdy face.
posted by brautigan at 11:12 AM on April 27, 2007


Oh...And god bless you young people! Keep doing that kind of thing as long as you can. Even up until the point your own kids roll their eyes at at you.

The secret of happiness? KNOW NO SHAME!
posted by tkchrist at 11:27 AM on April 27, 2007 [3 favorites]


It's not about the founder. Enjoy your yucks. More to come.
posted by rhizome23 at 11:38 AM on April 27, 2007


they lip-synched this song on october road last night.
posted by timory at 11:44 AM on April 27, 2007


This is nothing compared to the sorts of wacky hijinks that ensue in political science departments. No endless series of assessment meetings and telling students that, yes, they're failing, and, yes, they're losing their student visa because of it, nosiree... just joy after joy, a neverending orgy of fun and excitement. Every meal a banquet, every paycheck a fortune, every formation a parade. I *LOVE!!!* political science.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:46 AM on April 27, 2007


They were havin' some good fun.
posted by MarshallPoe at 11:50 AM on April 27, 2007


God...we're all so precious and original.


Especially when we lip sync.
posted by rhizome23 at 12:07 PM on April 27, 2007


and oh yeah..that first girl was so kwoot...i'd watch again and again.
posted by rhizome23 at 12:08 PM on April 27, 2007


None of these people are fat. I think that's important.
posted by hoverboards don't work on water at 12:10 PM on April 27, 2007


It said that they made it AFTER WORK ONE DAY.
posted by chuckdarwin at 12:22 PM on April 27, 2007


Good times.
posted by Divine_Wino at 12:28 PM on April 27, 2007


These youngsters can all go to hell! Assuming hell exists as anything more than a metaphor. If not, they can go to Secaucus!
posted by Mister_A at 12:37 PM on April 27, 2007


Love that they picked the most fresh-faced kid to sing "they cut off my legs now I'm an amputee god damn you."
posted by kirkaracha at 12:41 PM on April 27, 2007


maybe what people are trying to say isn't so much pass the geritol but rather ironic t-shirts sales paying for free video download sites and offices looking like they cost millions just in upfit for twenty somethings cannot possibly be completely unrelated to having a frat boy for a president.

can it?

i mean, i've seen more of this kind of stuff in europe and japan. and lately even in south america.

i'm confused. maybe i should buy a t-shirt which expresses my vague feelings of absurdity.
posted by 3.2.3 at 12:43 PM on April 27, 2007


None of these people are fat. I think that's important.

none of them are black, either. even more importantly.
posted by 3.2.3 at 12:44 PM on April 27, 2007 [1 favorite]


maybe what people are trying to say isn't so much pass the geritol but rather ironic t-shirts sales paying for free video download sites and offices looking like they cost millions just in upfit for twenty somethings cannot possibly be completely unrelated to having a frat boy for a president.

Quick, nobody have any fun or he'll get a third term.
posted by Divine_Wino at 12:54 PM on April 27, 2007 [1 favorite]


So, would I get in trouble for wearing a "DILF" T-Shirt? Hm.
posted by maxwelton at 12:59 PM on April 27, 2007


bittersweet even
posted by rhizome23 at 1:06 PM on April 27, 2007


At least Lynne and Tessa have the decency to be ironic about banality.
posted by rhizome23 at 1:12 PM on April 27, 2007


Final argument vs. original post.

There's originality....and then there's marketing.
Even if it's hard to tell them apart.
posted by rhizome23 at 1:31 PM on April 27, 2007


I love this. I think I've watched it a dozen times already.


None of these people are fat. I think that's important.

none of them are black, either. even more importantly.


So?
posted by pieoverdone at 1:33 PM on April 27, 2007


I thought it was cool and then I started to wonder, "why is this dorm at the top of a sky scraper? Wouldn't tuition be off the chart?"

This place is a place where people work? Fuck that shit, man! Where I work, we have a refrigerator. The refrigerator is full of beer. There is another refrigerator up front and sometimes it has ice cream. Sometimes it has a plastic rat sitting on the ice cream.

Unfortunately, there is only one woman there who is hot/cute.

We never, ever, lip sync to awful music. There is only heavy metal, punk, funk, and one track by Thao Nguyen.
posted by Mister Cheese at 1:34 PM on April 27, 2007


Oddly I feel no jealousy.

*glances out his office door at the ping pong table and fridges full of beer*
posted by eyeballkid at 1:35 PM on April 27, 2007 [1 favorite]


eyeballkid, we all hate you.
posted by Atom Eyes at 1:37 PM on April 27, 2007 [1 favorite]


Knife, meet bitterbutter. Cut it.
posted by WolfDaddy at 1:38 PM on April 27, 2007 [2 favorites]


I think that this video exposes two kinds of people: people who see funny harmless things and like to go "Neato" or "That was cool" or even "lol" and people who look for any excuse to get pissed off about something and bitch about it. For all those in the second group, it isn't anything out in the world that is making you react that way. It is your messed up little grump brain that is doing it. It isn't the people out there. It is the bad wiring in here. *points to head* And the hole in here. *points to heart* But you can put that way of life behind you if you want. You just have to get over all the imagined offenses that the world has committed or is committing against you and just say to yourself "It isn't anyone elses fault. It is just me being stupid." If you can admit that it is your fault that these people (or their office, or their ping pong table, or their website) make you mad, then you can put your empty pathetic shell of an existence behind you and join us happy people on the lollercopter. Its all your fault. *holds out arms* Its all your fault. *waits* Its all your fault. *waits* Its all your fault. *Mefi crankypants patrol collapses in his arms crying* Thats right. Let it all out.
posted by ND¢ at 1:54 PM on April 27, 2007 [13 favorites]


i know someone in that video. alls i can say is... what passes for urban outfitters-styled 'cleverness' sure makes me feel old.
posted by tremspeed at 1:58 PM on April 27, 2007


If I could piss on you via the Intertubes, preferably in your mouth, right now, ND¢, I would. Allow me to clarify that. I mean that solely on the basis of the first sentence of your profile.
posted by rhizome23 at 2:04 PM on April 27, 2007 [3 favorites]


I think every single thread on Metafilter exposes those two kinds of people. And after enough of them you realize they are different people each time. And then you start developing this whole Jungian theory about internet forum psychology and that is where you get to the point I am today: housebound and messy, with panic attacks that never stop.
posted by furiousthought at 2:06 PM on April 27, 2007 [3 favorites]


Uncalled for. I am out of order.
posted by rhizome23 at 2:08 PM on April 27, 2007


You should MeTa yourself. It is the only way.

furiousthought: I think that it maybe just exposes who has had lunch that day and who is cranky because they are hungry.
posted by ND¢ at 2:09 PM on April 27, 2007


Apologies, ND¢ . I'm a dick...at this point.
posted by rhizome23 at 2:10 PM on April 27, 2007


Its cool. I have heard worse.
posted by ND¢ at 2:10 PM on April 27, 2007


furiousthought eponysterically just wrote exactly what I was thinking.
posted by psmealey at 2:11 PM on April 27, 2007


Thanks.
posted by rhizome23 at 2:13 PM on April 27, 2007


If I could piss on you via the Intertubes, preferably in your mouth, right now, ND¢, I would.

Fuckin' A, I knew we were gonna get this party started.
posted by Divine_Wino at 2:21 PM on April 27, 2007


I bet the parties are the only time people actually come to the office. Home office for life.

(I got to work today, and I was the only person here in my whole hallway, which is 20 offices. Crazy.)
posted by smackfu at 2:31 PM on April 27, 2007


Metafilter: happy people on the lollercopter
posted by 3.2.3 at 2:50 PM on April 27, 2007 [1 favorite]


*lipsyncs rhizome23 comments*

1. not surrounded by kwooties
2. not topless
posted by YoBananaBoy at 2:53 PM on April 27, 2007


I really want that SILF shirt.

what passes for urban outfitters-styled 'cleverness' sure makes me feel old

It's actually a tshirt from their own company Busted Tees.
posted by the jam at 3:03 PM on April 27, 2007


This made me happy, if only for a moment.

Throw me in with whatever camp you deem appropriate.
posted by Alex404 at 3:28 PM on April 27, 2007


I actually like the song, but the spelling "sitta" always kind of annoyed me (given that they were from Seattle and not some place where people drop their r's). I suspected that I was not getting something about it.

Flagpole sitting was a stupid, pointless trend that got popular for no good reason. The whole song was a joke about trendy rebellion. I saw them play at the hfstival in DC and it made me sad that all the drunk frat boys and trendy posers in the crowd Did Not Get It.

The band is laughing at you, jack asses.

Not that I was any better, but I at least got the joke.
posted by empath at 3:28 PM on April 27, 2007


No, I got the joke, empath. Just didn't get the spelling.
posted by psmealey at 3:31 PM on April 27, 2007


For all those in the second group, it isn't anything out in the world that is making you react that way. It is your messed up little grump brain that is doing it.

Actually, it's just that we haven't impregnated enough married women. The knowledge that our genes sit sequestered in our loins instead of walking around with someone else's surname weighs heavy upon us and warps our minds.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 3:49 PM on April 27, 2007 [2 favorites]


Well then, at least you know what you need to do.

Also, why is it that a stranger telling me he wants to urinate in my mouth didn't bother me too much, but the fact that two people have favorited the comment wherein he tells me that kind of does?
posted by ND¢ at 4:14 PM on April 27, 2007


The cynical side of me says the whole thing is just a commercial for that SILF shirt. As my cynical side is mostly an unfortunate side-effect of my years in advertising and marketing, I can't help but approve. Good job, young thin white people, well played.

The nostalgic side of me remembers my days as a young playful dot-com employee, and does a little math. The average age of the young thin white people in the video appears to be about 23 or 24. Which would make the song they're lipdubbing(?) to a fondly remembered catchy pop song from their Junior High school days. Someone puts on the song, and all the other early 20-somethings perk up..."I totally remember riding to soccer practice, and Flagpole Sitta would come on and we'd all jump around in the back of the minivan!"

That makes this the equivalent of 10-years-ago-me havin a little fun on beer friday, whipping out the handycam with the coworkers and doing a well choreographed routine to "Centerfold" by the J. Geils Band, or maybe "Walk like an Egyptian"

Never woulda happened.

You young thin white kids get offa my lawn!
posted by billyfleetwood at 4:26 PM on April 27, 2007


What a bunch of fucking dorks!
posted by phaedon at 4:51 PM on April 27, 2007


Now everybody fall!

gets up, walks away, takes sip of beer, checks blackberry
posted by phaedon at 4:53 PM on April 27, 2007


Well then, at least you know what you need to do.

Yup. Slaughter your progeny and replace them, cuckoo-style, with my own. The various married women will just wonder why their children suddenly kick so much ass, while I'll feast upon your ex-children for weeks. Win-win all the way.

why is it that a stranger telling me he wants to urinate in my mouth didn't bother me too much, but the fact that two people have favorited the comment wherein he tells me that kind of does?

Tumor in the Favoritus of Whizzoral.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 6:13 PM on April 27, 2007


billyfleetwood has a good point. Let's see...I was 24 in, er, 1991, and 10 years before that...so, we'd all be lip-syncing to "Lady" by Kenny Rogers? "I Love a Rainy Night" by Eddie Rabbit? "9 to 5" by Dolly Parton? "Queen of Hearts" by Juice Newton? "Rapture" by Blondie? "Jessie's Girl" by Rick Springfield? Something by Air Supply or Neil Diamond?

I think it much more likely that we would have been furiously trying to come up with a service like youtube and a way to automatically post our group suicide video there rather than lip-synch to one of those.

All that said, it was a fun video and the cute girl at the front had me dangerously thinking about why middle aged men like me have mid-life crises.

"Smoky Mountain Rain" was a top hit of 1981? I swear I heard it no later than 1978. Hm.
posted by maxwelton at 7:37 PM on April 27, 2007


'the jam' - obviously the ultra-stealthy PR nature of this utter bullshit was not lost on you. thanks for the tip, tho.
posted by tremspeed at 9:51 PM on April 27, 2007


First take? Hard to believe.

Aside from that, I dunno for sure why it exists but I like it.
posted by dreamsign at 1:45 AM on April 28, 2007


Wow.
posted by meh at 7:17 AM on April 28, 2007


I think that this video exposes two kinds of people: people who see funny harmless things and like to go "Neato" or "That was cool" or even "lol" and people who look for any excuse to get pissed off about something and bitch about it.

Or a mix of the two: At first I thought, "hey, cute girl" then I though, "hey, good lip-syncing", then I thought, "Wow, that's a shitload of people working there." then, "damn, that's a nice office, I wonder what they do to have such young personnel and nice office and actually stay in business."

And after reading the comments, thought, "yeah, that probably would be a good advertisement for their own products."

So, cynical, sure. But also, that girl was cute. So it's a wash.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 9:50 AM on April 28, 2007


Advertising filter.
posted by flotson at 12:49 PM on April 28, 2007


Yeah, that girl was cute. I had the video on pause with the open mouth shot there for...some time.

Also, I'd rather have a SILF than have the shirt.
posted by Smedleyman at 1:26 PM on April 28, 2007 [1 favorite]


At first I thought, "hey, cute girl", then after a bit more time passed, "so typical they started with the girl when the workforce is 90% men".
posted by smackfu at 1:59 PM on April 28, 2007


I work in the same field as these guys, and I am using it as evidence I have become the PC guy from the commercials - I use spreadsheets like they are going out of style.

I need help, send money.
posted by Deep Dish at 2:21 PM on April 28, 2007


I think that this video exposes two kinds of people: people who see funny harmless things and like to go "Neato" or "That was cool" or even "lol" and people who look for any excuse to get pissed off about something and bitch about it.

It's not because we're looking for any excuse to get pissed off. It's because our lives are going like shit right now, and as a result we're off-the-charts jealous of anyone with success, creativity or skill.
posted by chrismear at 12:55 AM on April 29, 2007


and as a result we're off-the-charts jealous of anyone with success, creativity or skill.

Yeah, but what does that have to do with the reactions to this post?
posted by psmealey at 6:10 AM on April 29, 2007


I find it hilarious that "new media" company employees look EXACTLY the same as they did 10 years ago.

The office, too. Right down to the desks.

The office I was in back then had a pool table and a Dreamcast rather than a ping-pong table and an Xbox 360, and a fantastic view of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and at one point a space shuttle rather than a fantastic view of whatever their office looks out on, but it was still the exact same place.
posted by dansdata at 7:26 AM on April 29, 2007


we're off-the-charts jealous of anyone with success, creativity or skill.

er, success. . . check. skill. . . maybe. creativity?--

collegehumor.com

the big shocker
posted by flotson at 11:38 AM on April 29, 2007


Er, them links is broken.
posted by flotson at 11:39 AM on April 29, 2007


I'm totally fascinated by this video -- mostly because while I don't think they intended it to be recruitment marketing, it totally is. Granted, the jaded mefites who lived through the first boom/bust won't get starry eyed, but look at the comments on vimeo:

“I'd like to apply for a job....?”
“absolutely AMAZING! i wanna work there”
“Hire me!”


If you're fresh out of college and looking for work, you want to work with these SILF-shirt wearing hipsters.
posted by arielmeadow at 1:24 PM on May 2, 2007


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