So there’s this video going around that has captured China’s attention.
Because I can’t figure out how to embed it in WordPress, before we go any further, I need you to click here.
Mad eh?
Actually that’s a bit of an understatement isn’t it.
Apart from the “lyrics” being both mental and yet relatively simple to understand [the song title translates literally to ‘Perturbed’] … the fact the singer performs like an exaggerated Freddie Mercury adds to the weirdness of the whole thing.
Anyway, since it came out, Chinese websites have been literally filled with countless brilliant spoof versions but given the cultures obsession with never wanting to publically look foolish to the wider society, I wonder if it’s adoption has been influenced by the fact the original piece being so fucked up, that regardless how extreme someone tries to be with their alternative, they can never look as mad as the original.
To be honest, I have no idea – and I certainly don’t want to give the impression Chinese people don’t have a sense of humour, because they do and it’s a brilliant one – but I do find it fascinating that the clips that seemingly get spoofed the most in China, tend to be the ones where regardless what someone does, it is almost impossible to out–weird the original.
Even if there’s a modicum of truth to that, the implications for Chinese adland are very interesting because so much of the ad humour is based on lowest-common-denominator slapstick and what this would mean you could really start pushing some boundaries, which would be good for the audience, and certainly the industry.
Would be very happy to hear people’s comments, even the ones whose closest dalliance with China is a sweet & sour pork on a Friday night.