Give a bit of mmm to me. Hoo ha. Hoo hah!
August 16, 2007 8:25 AM Subscribe
Move over Village People. Introducing Bearforce1 from Holland... the first gay bear man group. They are clearly having fun.
Is this like Fox Force 5?
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 8:36 AM on August 16, 2007
posted by TheOnlyCoolTim at 8:36 AM on August 16, 2007
What makes a man a bear, exactly? I thought you had to be burly and hairy, and by that definition only one of those guys is beary.
posted by creasy boy at 8:43 AM on August 16, 2007
posted by creasy boy at 8:43 AM on August 16, 2007
Awesome. I love that they're wearing pastel polo shirts.
Mind you, I notice that they've opted for the more palatable interpretation of "bear." That is, hairy chests but no hairy backs, only one of them has a belly on him, and that one isn't even particularly chubby. But a huge gorilla-shaped guy on there with matching fur and...well...nevermind. Maybe this is fine.
posted by LMGM at 8:44 AM on August 16, 2007
Mind you, I notice that they've opted for the more palatable interpretation of "bear." That is, hairy chests but no hairy backs, only one of them has a belly on him, and that one isn't even particularly chubby. But a huge gorilla-shaped guy on there with matching fur and...well...nevermind. Maybe this is fine.
posted by LMGM at 8:44 AM on August 16, 2007
Yes creasy boy, bear-dom can be a grey area, and there's similar sorts of I'm-more-bear-than-you politics as what go on in leather communities. Check out Bear411 (NSFW!!) or similar bear-oriented sites for many, many examples of what is considered a bear.
posted by LMGM at 8:48 AM on August 16, 2007
posted by LMGM at 8:48 AM on August 16, 2007
I thought you had to be burly and hairy, and by that definition only one of those guys is beary.
By that definition Holland unfortunately produces very few bears.
posted by fugitivefromchaingang at 9:24 AM on August 16, 2007
By that definition Holland unfortunately produces very few bears.
posted by fugitivefromchaingang at 9:24 AM on August 16, 2007
now i've got "boys boys boys" in my head..thankyouverymuch :)
Adding Bear Crusader to that list...They do a lot of covers it seems. Not as energetic as Bearforce1. Maybe we'll see Bearforce1 added to the Bearapalooza performers list. (not that i'll be attending..)
posted by smart_ask at 9:40 AM on August 16, 2007
Adding Bear Crusader to that list...They do a lot of covers it seems. Not as energetic as Bearforce1. Maybe we'll see Bearforce1 added to the Bearapalooza performers list. (not that i'll be attending..)
posted by smart_ask at 9:40 AM on August 16, 2007
I don't know whether to laugh or....
But I preferred them in the 1960s, when they wore chiffon and had big beehive 'dos.
posted by paddbear at 9:41 AM on August 16, 2007
But I preferred them in the 1960s, when they wore chiffon and had big beehive 'dos.
posted by paddbear at 9:41 AM on August 16, 2007
When I saw those pastel polos I just figured that they were a bunch of overgrown frat boys who decided to have a house band.
posted by catseatcheese at 9:47 AM on August 16, 2007
posted by catseatcheese at 9:47 AM on August 16, 2007
And fortunately, we ladies still have Sweden's Günther. Ding ding dong! [If you are at work & are unfamiliar with his oeuvre, Gunther videos generally feature bare Günther butt & many girls displaying their tra la las.]
posted by miss lynnster at 10:02 AM on August 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
posted by miss lynnster at 10:02 AM on August 16, 2007 [1 favorite]
When I clicked on the link to their site, I was inexplicably reminded of this. (probably NSFW)
posted by Verdandi at 10:10 AM on August 16, 2007
posted by Verdandi at 10:10 AM on August 16, 2007
By that definition Holland unfortunately produces very few bears.
Well, the Dutch can get fat, can't they? I ask because I actually had a couple of bears in my apartment for a few days recently and they seemed to have a very strict interpretation. Basically, like bears in real life, for them you have to be tall, heavy and hairy, which is within the realm of possibility for Europeans.
posted by creasy boy at 10:23 AM on August 16, 2007
Well, the Dutch can get fat, can't they? I ask because I actually had a couple of bears in my apartment for a few days recently and they seemed to have a very strict interpretation. Basically, like bears in real life, for them you have to be tall, heavy and hairy, which is within the realm of possibility for Europeans.
posted by creasy boy at 10:23 AM on August 16, 2007
After reminding myself of Günther... I really do wonder how that guy can keep a straight face. He kills me! And apparently he's on tour and will be in SF in September! I must go...
posted by miss lynnster at 10:24 AM on August 16, 2007
posted by miss lynnster at 10:24 AM on August 16, 2007
It is so damned fantastic to see self-id'ed "bears" who are not wearing leather, not wearing daisy dukes with blundstones and those horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible, horrible flannel shirts with the sleeves cut off, not being both overweight (which is fine, for me) and completely out of shape, muscle-tone-less slack piles (which is not fine, for me), and generally being hotter than FUCK.
I've been sort of bear-identified (just because that's my physical type and the one I'm attracted to, too) since around 1988, but I've never once been to a "bear gathering," despise leather, have no interest in tats or piercings, hate the idea of dressing up like a biker or cop or whatever gay male equivalent to a woman wearing stilettos and garters is that's supposed to make me look "sexy," and am generally sick of the whole scene. But I like these guys, minus the music of course.
I could rant about this forever.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 10:27 AM on August 16, 2007
I've been sort of bear-identified (just because that's my physical type and the one I'm attracted to, too) since around 1988, but I've never once been to a "bear gathering," despise leather, have no interest in tats or piercings, hate the idea of dressing up like a biker or cop or whatever gay male equivalent to a woman wearing stilettos and garters is that's supposed to make me look "sexy," and am generally sick of the whole scene. But I like these guys, minus the music of course.
I could rant about this forever.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 10:27 AM on August 16, 2007
Miss Lynnster: And apparently [Gunther's] on tour and will be in SF in September!
DETAILS PLZ.
posted by Pronoiac at 11:10 AM on August 16, 2007
DETAILS PLZ.
posted by Pronoiac at 11:10 AM on August 16, 2007
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Dutch people are so weird (...although it appears one is Irish). But what an awesome medley. And Günther: ah, one of my favorite discoveries this year.
When I saw those pastel polos I just figured that they were a bunch of overgrown frat boys who decided to have a house band.
When I saw those pastel polos, I figured it was a misguided tribute to the Ninja Turtles' color scheme.
posted by kittyprecious at 11:35 AM on August 16, 2007
When I saw those pastel polos I just figured that they were a bunch of overgrown frat boys who decided to have a house band.
When I saw those pastel polos, I figured it was a misguided tribute to the Ninja Turtles' color scheme.
posted by kittyprecious at 11:35 AM on August 16, 2007
Finally, a boy band I could join!
Wait, do you have to be gay too? That's what kept me out of N'Sync.
(Fun stuff).
posted by klangklangston at 11:39 AM on August 16, 2007
Wait, do you have to be gay too? That's what kept me out of N'Sync.
(Fun stuff).
posted by klangklangston at 11:39 AM on August 16, 2007
Well, you'll have to go to his website which is the first link on the comment I made. Skip the intro and you'll see a banner for it on the left side. I'd provide a link, however I'm at a client's right now and I think they might just realize I wasn't working if the Ding Ding Dong song suddenly started emanating from the computer I'm sitting at...
posted by miss lynnster at 12:01 PM on August 16, 2007
posted by miss lynnster at 12:01 PM on August 16, 2007
Also, the consequences of going around the workplace quietly singing "touch my tra-la-la mmmmm my ding-ding-dong" do not bear thinking about. Unless, of course, it's a big musical singalong. But maybe that's what workplace filters are for?
Looking around a bit: He has tour info, & (probably accidental leak) he'll be signing at Virgin.
This might approach fatal levels of irony.
posted by Pronoiac at 12:24 PM on August 16, 2007
Looking around a bit: He has tour info, & (probably accidental leak) he'll be signing at Virgin.
This might approach fatal levels of irony.
posted by Pronoiac at 12:24 PM on August 16, 2007
the consequences of going around the workplace quietly singing "touch my tra-la-la mmmmm my ding-ding-dong" do not bear thinking about
pun intended?
please pay no attention to "Günther". I mean it, please. pretty please with sugar on top.
posted by mr.marx at 1:35 PM on August 16, 2007
pun intended?
please pay no attention to "Günther". I mean it, please. pretty please with sugar on top.
posted by mr.marx at 1:35 PM on August 16, 2007
Cheers, ethnomethodologist. I could've written that comment. I guess I'm a bear (in the sense that I'm a husky, hairy guy who likes other husky hairy guys) but many of the generally-accepted conventions within beardom just don't interest me that much. In general, this makes me hesitant to self-identify as such.
Of course, the other "bears" I've met haven't taken the thing too seriously either, though I've never been to a gathering either, so I don't know if that's the norm.
posted by kryptondog at 2:58 PM on August 16, 2007
Of course, the other "bears" I've met haven't taken the thing too seriously either, though I've never been to a gathering either, so I don't know if that's the norm.
posted by kryptondog at 2:58 PM on August 16, 2007
you have to be tall, heavy and hairy, which is within the realm of possibility for Europeans.
Within the realm of possibility, but less likely in Holland than, say, the USA. Another reason I'm proud to be American. (That's not sarcasm... bears are hot.)
posted by fugitivefromchaingang at 4:16 PM on August 16, 2007
Within the realm of possibility, but less likely in Holland than, say, the USA. Another reason I'm proud to be American. (That's not sarcasm... bears are hot.)
posted by fugitivefromchaingang at 4:16 PM on August 16, 2007
Bearforce? I once saw a punk band called US Hair Force in a storage locker in Port Chester (it was the 90's, things were weirder then). Those polo shirts make these guys look more like ex-jock accountants than any of the bears I've seen around the city.
posted by jonmc at 5:13 PM on August 16, 2007
posted by jonmc at 5:13 PM on August 16, 2007
I like to think that they got their name from a throw away joke by, fittingly, Zach Galifianakis on the Comedians of Comedy DVD.
But it's a lie. It's a damn dirty lie of a dream.
posted by OrangeDrink at 6:29 PM on August 16, 2007
But it's a lie. It's a damn dirty lie of a dream.
posted by OrangeDrink at 6:29 PM on August 16, 2007
These guys aren't bears! The essence of beardom is not just hairiness, it's looking like a real person and not plastic. Bears don't use 'product'! These look like A&F guys with beards grafted on.
posted by troybob at 10:04 PM on August 16, 2007
posted by troybob at 10:04 PM on August 16, 2007
Really, it's like Britney Spears doing a Bruce Springsteen cover and calling herself an indy rocker.
posted by troybob at 10:22 PM on August 16, 2007
posted by troybob at 10:22 PM on August 16, 2007
...or a John Waters movie being made into a Travolta musical.
posted by troybob at 10:23 PM on August 16, 2007
posted by troybob at 10:23 PM on August 16, 2007
You guys, along with Perez Hilton where this apparently originates, made the the dutch news.
For those differently inclined here's the orginal italo disco by Sabrina with the boobs that are falling out of her bikini.
posted by jouke at 12:05 AM on August 17, 2007
For those differently inclined here's the orginal italo disco by Sabrina with the boobs that are falling out of her bikini.
posted by jouke at 12:05 AM on August 17, 2007
I agree with troybob, these guys are Teh Gay Stereotype with Beards.
posted by Poagao at 2:27 AM on August 17, 2007
posted by Poagao at 2:27 AM on August 17, 2007
I don't read Dutch so how were we in the article?
And honestly, Perez Hilton doesn't truly "originate" anything by himself (other than the working of my nerves), so I'm not sure how he gets so much credit. I have a friend overseas who forwarded the video to me.
Not to derail my own post, but Perez reminds me SO much of the Hollywood Kids. They had the same exact attitude, except they were a little more humble & a lot less spazzy than he is. And they didn't make nasty comments about children, they never stooped that low. All I will say is that John & Lance's "celebrity" as gossip reporters didn't last, and they both met very tragic ends from what I read at the time. I hope Perez is smarter, but so far I don't see it. I always see him as a guy who was overweight & hated in high school and feels this is his vengeance.
/derail
posted by miss lynnster at 7:31 AM on August 17, 2007
And honestly, Perez Hilton doesn't truly "originate" anything by himself (other than the working of my nerves), so I'm not sure how he gets so much credit. I have a friend overseas who forwarded the video to me.
Not to derail my own post, but Perez reminds me SO much of the Hollywood Kids. They had the same exact attitude, except they were a little more humble & a lot less spazzy than he is. And they didn't make nasty comments about children, they never stooped that low. All I will say is that John & Lance's "celebrity" as gossip reporters didn't last, and they both met very tragic ends from what I read at the time. I hope Perez is smarter, but so far I don't see it. I always see him as a guy who was overweight & hated in high school and feels this is his vengeance.
/derail
posted by miss lynnster at 7:31 AM on August 17, 2007
I think he meant "your guys." There's no Mefi link in that article.
They've gotten coverage on Buzzfeed.
posted by Pronoiac at 9:11 AM on August 17, 2007
They've gotten coverage on Buzzfeed.
posted by Pronoiac at 9:11 AM on August 17, 2007
(I meant our watching of the youtube clip contributed to the huge number of views. Metafilter is not being named. I did not mean to mislead you.)
posted by jouke at 10:42 AM on August 17, 2007
posted by jouke at 10:42 AM on August 17, 2007
Btw this sunday you have a chance to witness them first hand.
If you happen to be near the Zeedijk in Amsterdam.
posted by jouke at 10:51 AM on August 17, 2007
If you happen to be near the Zeedijk in Amsterdam.
posted by jouke at 10:51 AM on August 17, 2007
Oh, sorry I misunderstood. I still think Perez is a tool, tho. Thanks for humoring me as I got that off of my chest. :)
posted by miss lynnster at 2:20 PM on August 17, 2007
posted by miss lynnster at 2:20 PM on August 17, 2007
« Older Friday flush fan | We're Not Gonna Take It Anymore! Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by miss lynnster at 8:26 AM on August 16, 2007