He's about to whip somebody's ass

September 29, 2006 4:29 AM

One man's song for his daughter [m3u] hits the interweb and, in the hands of zefrank's rabid fanbase, is remixed over 100 times in a little over a week. This [mp3] short and sweet techno mix quickly evolved into a 5-minute extended version, [m3u] (allegedly scoring radio play in SC) that's now being used as the basis of a collaborative video for Ray [mov] that ze wants to give as a thank you. But only after a manhunt of metafilter-detective proportions tracks Ray down. (ZePreviously.)
posted by disillusioned (30 comments total)

This made my day. Thanks.
posted by kdar at 4:48 AM on September 29, 2006

Some of those remixes are amazing; I added a couple to my library.
posted by aliasless at 4:59 AM on September 29, 2006

I liked the smooth soulful singing in the original. There should be an extended version in that style.
posted by jb at 5:08 AM on September 29, 2006

The extended mix is better for not covering up his singing too much - at least in the slow part.
posted by jb at 5:11 AM on September 29, 2006

Man, this is the kinda thing that makes for a perfect MeFi start of the day, thx!
posted by micayetoca at 5:39 AM on September 29, 2006

[this is good]
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas at 5:47 AM on September 29, 2006

It should be quickly noted that the Ray [mov] part of the link is one fan's take on the video, and not the group's video, which is being built (in theory) through the Wiki and the uploads.

Glad you guys are digging it as much as I am!
posted by disillusioned at 5:50 AM on September 29, 2006

Oh and details and more details from the creator of the two linked remixes on software and technique.
posted by disillusioned at 5:55 AM on September 29, 2006

And those remixers had it easy, that Ray can sing.

Some of them even killed the song by using wrong chords on the remix, but in my opinion this guy got it right.

I wish someone would do an a capella version, making it sound like of those choirs with several voices.
posted by micayetoca at 6:16 AM on September 29, 2006

People in my office were playing this over and over like a week ago.
posted by thirteenkiller at 6:19 AM on September 29, 2006

Ray can really sing. Best thing I've heard all week.
posted by tantrumthecat at 6:22 AM on September 29, 2006

yeah, that remix I linked to sounds like Gnarls Barkley.
posted by micayetoca at 6:39 AM on September 29, 2006

Technically, that's a 'house' remix, not a techno remix.
posted by empath at 6:54 AM on September 29, 2006

Moby is so pwned!
posted by schoolgirl report at 6:58 AM on September 29, 2006

empath—I knew someone on the blue would call me out on it, because I knew it wasn't techno.

I just didn't have my handy reference sheet available.
posted by disillusioned at 7:04 AM on September 29, 2006 [1 favorite]

MUST SEE: storyboard [swf]
posted by pruner at 7:15 AM on September 29, 2006

my handy reference sheet

Bookmarked! Fantasticus!
posted by CynicalKnight at 7:26 AM on September 29, 2006

It's a shame Wesley Willis isn't still around, because he would have made the perfect version of this song.
posted by greasepig at 7:34 AM on September 29, 2006

Wow. Great stuff!
posted by fourcheesemac at 7:36 AM on September 29, 2006

that handy reference sheet is quite something. What a good thread!
posted by micayetoca at 7:41 AM on September 29, 2006

This has been fun to watch on ze's site. You all should watch him daily.

-A
posted by mogabog at 7:51 AM on September 29, 2006

I just sent the original's link over to a friend of mine who in the past has asked me for a joke when she's having a really aggravating day -- another coping tool, 'tis to be hoped.

I would totally love to hear Aaron Neville do this.
posted by pax digita at 9:17 AM on September 29, 2006

ze is awesome.

that is all.
posted by rsanheim at 10:20 AM on September 29, 2006

I'd just like to add that, were I a professional wrestler*, this would totally be my entrance music.



*or elementary school teacher!
posted by 2or3whiskeysodas at 1:27 PM on September 29, 2006

I found ze a couple of months ago. I can say it is definitely worth going back in the archives and listening to every single show. The brilliance really comes out when seen as a whole.
posted by e40 at 9:15 PM on September 29, 2006

That story board kind of pissed me off. I'm white. I can almost guarantee that Ray's not.

(Us white guys can't sing like that!)

Anyone else have that reaction, or was that just me?
posted by AbnerDoon at 5:53 AM on September 30, 2006

This extended mix thing is fucking awesome. I love this song.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 6:35 AM on September 30, 2006

Abner: I also pictured Ray as a black guy in my head. Though I'm guessing the storyboard creator just used whatever random pics he found on google images. Searching for "black ninja" isn't too helpful, as you get all the false hits regarding their clothes instead of skin color.
posted by rsanheim at 7:00 AM on September 30, 2006

Nice.
posted by Muirwylde at 2:06 PM on September 30, 2006

Agreed. Now that is the best of the web.
posted by 999 at 4:24 PM on September 30, 2006