Do You Remember?
September 21, 2020 10:27 AM Subscribe
That’s Today, Fifth Anniversary Edition!
Donate to the September 21st Charity Fundraiser so Demi can keep spreading joy for years to come!
Previously on Demi Adejuyigbe:
Donate to the September 21st Charity Fundraiser so Demi can keep spreading joy for years to come!
Previously on Demi Adejuyigbe:
To be clear, he expects to earn the cost of the rental truck, the airplane carrying the banner, and whatever additional costs he incurred by making this video. Further subsidization seems...
... feh... as happy as this seems, it leaves me begging the questions:
Really, was it a good idea that we ever descended from the trees? Wouldn't we all be much happier picking fleas off each other and eating fruit? Is this the pinnacle of civilization?
posted by Nanukthedog at 11:02 AM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
... feh... as happy as this seems, it leaves me begging the questions:
Really, was it a good idea that we ever descended from the trees? Wouldn't we all be much happier picking fleas off each other and eating fruit? Is this the pinnacle of civilization?
posted by Nanukthedog at 11:02 AM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
Yes.
posted by feckless at 11:03 AM on September 21, 2020 [25 favorites]
posted by feckless at 11:03 AM on September 21, 2020 [25 favorites]
To be clear, feckless was answering all three of the questions you posed, we are a land of contrasts.
(Sept 21 is a far better tradition than the 4th of July or other patriotic dreck, so yay!)
posted by maxwelton at 11:07 AM on September 21, 2020 [9 favorites]
(Sept 21 is a far better tradition than the 4th of July or other patriotic dreck, so yay!)
posted by maxwelton at 11:07 AM on September 21, 2020 [9 favorites]
Really, was it a good idea that we ever descended from the trees? Wouldn't we all be much happier picking fleas off each other and eating fruit? Is this the pinnacle of civilization?
Do you, like, hate fun?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:19 AM on September 21, 2020 [45 favorites]
Do you, like, hate fun?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:19 AM on September 21, 2020 [45 favorites]
To be clear, he expects to earn the cost of the rental truck, the airplane carrying the banner, and whatever additional costs he incurred by making this video. Further subsidization seems...
Can you tell me where you saw that part, please?
posted by kimberussell at 11:24 AM on September 21, 2020 [13 favorites]
Can you tell me where you saw that part, please?
posted by kimberussell at 11:24 AM on September 21, 2020 [13 favorites]
To be clear, he expects to earn the cost of the rental truck, the airplane carrying the banner, and whatever additional costs he incurred by making this video. Further subsidization seems...
Besides the youtube ad I'm not sure what you're talking about? The site linked for the charity donation uses an external service so there's no way for him to take a cut.
posted by simmering octagon at 11:24 AM on September 21, 2020 [9 favorites]
Besides the youtube ad I'm not sure what you're talking about? The site linked for the charity donation uses an external service so there's no way for him to take a cut.
posted by simmering octagon at 11:24 AM on September 21, 2020 [9 favorites]
Is this the pinnacle of civilization?
People being able to use platforms to spread joy, (maybe) earn a living and raise 50K for charities that often go overlooked by the larger meme-loving universe? I mean, it's maybe not the pinnacle but it's a start. I am fine with it. I am sorry you aren't.
posted by jessamyn at 11:25 AM on September 21, 2020 [21 favorites]
People being able to use platforms to spread joy, (maybe) earn a living and raise 50K for charities that often go overlooked by the larger meme-loving universe? I mean, it's maybe not the pinnacle but it's a start. I am fine with it. I am sorry you aren't.
posted by jessamyn at 11:25 AM on September 21, 2020 [21 favorites]
Can we restart this comment section without the sad trombone taking up all of the space? And I mean the comment up above, not the trombone the guy is playing atop the truck.
This was awesome, and I can't stand that song due to the fact that I had to sing it over and over again as part of a cover band. This video brought me joy despite my past September trauma. I might even like the song again. This video is magic.
Also: was that plane really there or inserted via CGI? Wait, you know what, who cares. This video FTW.
posted by grumpybear69 at 11:27 AM on September 21, 2020 [30 favorites]
This was awesome, and I can't stand that song due to the fact that I had to sing it over and over again as part of a cover band. This video brought me joy despite my past September trauma. I might even like the song again. This video is magic.
Also: was that plane really there or inserted via CGI? Wait, you know what, who cares. This video FTW.
posted by grumpybear69 at 11:27 AM on September 21, 2020 [30 favorites]
Let's talk about the happy trombone, which made me laugh out loud! I'd forgotten to remember that it was today, and was delighted -- as I am every year.
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:31 AM on September 21, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:31 AM on September 21, 2020 [7 favorites]
I think we should all chip in so that he can have Leonid & Friends flown out to his neck of the woods for the sixth video.
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 11:32 AM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by AlonzoMosleyFBI at 11:32 AM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
Vulture has a nice wrap-up and interview with Demi Adejuyigbe.
posted by a complicated history at 11:33 AM on September 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by a complicated history at 11:33 AM on September 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
I've been waiting for this all month!! While shopping in Marks and Spencer this morning, I heard the original song and got so excited, I spoke to a stranger in England! ♥♥♥ Donate what you can everyone!
Oh and vote.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 11:35 AM on September 21, 2020 [6 favorites]
Oh and vote.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 11:35 AM on September 21, 2020 [6 favorites]
Donation: done! I remembered!
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:37 AM on September 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by The corpse in the library at 11:37 AM on September 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
Really, was it a good idea that we ever descended from the trees?
Donated $10 and then added an additional $10 just out of spite.
posted by penduluum at 11:49 AM on September 21, 2020 [31 favorites]
Donated $10 and then added an additional $10 just out of spite.
posted by penduluum at 11:49 AM on September 21, 2020 [31 favorites]
I love pretty much all his other stuff.
I checked out his Twitter feed last night, and the pinned tweet there - which is likely not pinned any more - was something from February; a video he did set to the song "Tiny Dancer". He started with a camera pointing at the floor, then panned it up to show his own reflection in a mirror, wearing clothes that were visibly too small for him. He held on that for a couple seconds, then at the relevant part of the chorus, he panned up to show a sign over his head reading: "Homie clothes so tiny - damn, son!"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:50 AM on September 21, 2020 [20 favorites]
I checked out his Twitter feed last night, and the pinned tweet there - which is likely not pinned any more - was something from February; a video he did set to the song "Tiny Dancer". He started with a camera pointing at the floor, then panned it up to show his own reflection in a mirror, wearing clothes that were visibly too small for him. He held on that for a couple seconds, then at the relevant part of the chorus, he panned up to show a sign over his head reading: "Homie clothes so tiny - damn, son!"
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:50 AM on September 21, 2020 [20 favorites]
My cynical kid who almost never shows any emotion is upstairs whistling the damn song so this video is not only joyful, it has breached some sort of joy barrier in my fucking kid. How anyone, especially in this giant pit of despair we've all been living in, could possibly find anything at all negative to say about this, this WONDERFUL thing, is beyond me.
I am also going to add another $10 for spite.
posted by bondcliff at 11:57 AM on September 21, 2020 [23 favorites]
I am also going to add another $10 for spite.
posted by bondcliff at 11:57 AM on September 21, 2020 [23 favorites]
Demi is a treasure and I love that he basically manages to top himself every year with this. Just to remind us that today is, in fact, the 21st of September. (THAT'S TODAY!)
Also I looked so hard for my t-shirt from last year and I cannot find it. But I WILL find it for next year!
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 11:59 AM on September 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
Also I looked so hard for my t-shirt from last year and I cannot find it. But I WILL find it for next year!
posted by fifteen schnitzengruben is my limit at 11:59 AM on September 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
Huh, I never realized that the Sept 21 guy was Demi Adejuyigbe. I mostly know him as a movie reviewer on Letterboxd.
posted by octothorpe at 11:59 AM on September 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 11:59 AM on September 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
Donated $10 and then added an additional $10 just out of spite.
Donated $10 and then added an additional $10 just out of spite, but then added an additional $10 because I hate doing things out of spite.
posted by Strange Interlude at 11:59 AM on September 21, 2020 [8 favorites]
Donated $10 and then added an additional $10 just out of spite, but then added an additional $10 because I hate doing things out of spite.
posted by Strange Interlude at 11:59 AM on September 21, 2020 [8 favorites]
Y'all, let's back off Nanuk - there's probably some other stuff going down.
I actually reached out last night to say that if there were ever a birthday edition of the t-shirts I'd be interested - my niece's birthday is today.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:59 AM on September 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
I actually reached out last night to say that if there were ever a birthday edition of the t-shirts I'd be interested - my niece's birthday is today.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:59 AM on September 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
Funny and Creative. Donated, followed and appreciated.
posted by fluffycreature at 12:01 PM on September 21, 2020
posted by fluffycreature at 12:01 PM on September 21, 2020
I know it's not about the video posted - which is delightful and literally made me lol - but this anecdote about the song's creation has always stuck with me:
Using a chord progression written by Earth, Wind & Fire guitarist Al McKay, vocalist Maurice White and songwriter Allee Willis wrote the song over one month. Willis was initially bothered by the gibberish "ba-dee-ya" lyric White used through the song, and begged him to rewrite it: "I just said, 'What the fuck does 'ba-dee-ya' mean?' And he essentially said, 'Who the fuck cares?' I learned my greatest lesson ever in songwriting from him, which was never let the lyric get in the way of the groove."
posted by thecincinnatikid at 12:13 PM on September 21, 2020 [17 favorites]
Using a chord progression written by Earth, Wind & Fire guitarist Al McKay, vocalist Maurice White and songwriter Allee Willis wrote the song over one month. Willis was initially bothered by the gibberish "ba-dee-ya" lyric White used through the song, and begged him to rewrite it: "I just said, 'What the fuck does 'ba-dee-ya' mean?' And he essentially said, 'Who the fuck cares?' I learned my greatest lesson ever in songwriting from him, which was never let the lyric get in the way of the groove."
posted by thecincinnatikid at 12:13 PM on September 21, 2020 [17 favorites]
I shared this Twitter meme to my partner and they didn't really remember the song so -- AMAZING -- I got to share the full song with them god it's so nice to share something joyful and beautiful with a friend who hasn't yet had the experience. Like the XKCD with the mentos/coke thing, there's no shame in not knowing something, not something to lord over people at all, it's the best feeling to share fun things with friends.
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:21 PM on September 21, 2020 [11 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:21 PM on September 21, 2020 [11 favorites]
I love that it’s so popular that I can’t seem to donate right now.
But I’m writing this comment to publicly commit to donating later today.
posted by politikitty at 12:34 PM on September 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
But I’m writing this comment to publicly commit to donating later today.
posted by politikitty at 12:34 PM on September 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
This video is wonderful and the fundraiser is terrific.
It is however terrible that it is "so popular that I can’t seem to donate". I wonder how many thousands of dollars won't be donated now because Action Network isn't up to the task?
posted by Nelson at 12:37 PM on September 21, 2020
It is however terrible that it is "so popular that I can’t seem to donate". I wonder how many thousands of dollars won't be donated now because Action Network isn't up to the task?
posted by Nelson at 12:37 PM on September 21, 2020
The fundraiser will be at 50K within minutes, it looks like.
posted by maxwelton at 12:38 PM on September 21, 2020
posted by maxwelton at 12:38 PM on September 21, 2020
It's at $50,242ish right now. I think it's great. Hope it hits the $100,000 in a few hours. This is my favorite annual internet event.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 12:45 PM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 12:45 PM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
puppet edition cover: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xycnv87N_BU
posted by wmo at 12:56 PM on September 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by wmo at 12:56 PM on September 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
On the one hand, with work from home nobody can see that I'm wearing my Sept 21 t-shirt, on the other hand they don't let me wear t-shirts to the office anyway.
posted by ckape at 1:01 PM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by ckape at 1:01 PM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
Yeah, only 3/5ths of the transactions hit my card, and I got a 404-ish error when I tried to donate.
I figure I'll donate again later when it's settled down.
posted by Kyol at 1:01 PM on September 21, 2020
I figure I'll donate again later when it's settled down.
posted by Kyol at 1:01 PM on September 21, 2020
I wouldn't have thought that spite would be the most constructive emotion I'd encounter today.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 1:04 PM on September 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 1:04 PM on September 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
vocalist Maurice White and songwriter Allee Willis wrote the song over one month.
Ailee Willis also approves of this
posted by thelonius at 1:07 PM on September 21, 2020
Ailee Willis also approves of this
posted by thelonius at 1:07 PM on September 21, 2020
I ordered a shirt from him like 2 weeks ago, it arrived Saturday. 2 of us had them on our conference call this morning. The shirt profits went to charities too, but he isn't pushing them this year, since people tend to toss them too often to really be 'sustainable'.
Then, I posted this. and donated $100 to his new charities. I will embarrass myself and pay for joy. Now more than ever.
posted by DigDoug at 1:10 PM on September 21, 2020 [11 favorites]
Then, I posted this. and donated $100 to his new charities. I will embarrass myself and pay for joy. Now more than ever.
posted by DigDoug at 1:10 PM on September 21, 2020 [11 favorites]
Empress Calligypos - will this one do? (I'm sporting it today.)
posted by librarianamy at 1:13 PM on September 21, 2020
posted by librarianamy at 1:13 PM on September 21, 2020
As a heads up for folks having difficulty donating, I switched from mobile to my desktop browser, and was able to complete my donation.
posted by politikitty at 1:35 PM on September 21, 2020
posted by politikitty at 1:35 PM on September 21, 2020
From the Vulture interview, Demi's latest video for Open Mike Eagle, co-starring Paul F. Tompkins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAXKmBTXhRc
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 1:39 PM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 1:39 PM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
My pledge got the total to $69,069 – so nice I'll donate twice!
posted by adrianhon at 1:42 PM on September 21, 2020 [6 favorites]
posted by adrianhon at 1:42 PM on September 21, 2020 [6 favorites]
That was delightful. I don't know how I missed all the previouslies - but now I finally have something to look forward to a year from now, so yay for that.
posted by Mchelly at 1:43 PM on September 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Mchelly at 1:43 PM on September 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
The best part is that I've heard that song all my life, AND NEVER KNEW THE LYRICS. Except for the word "September", I never knew, could understand, parse, whatever, and would just hum along. Also, another best part-- I KNEW they were singing "Party on, something September, party on, something something something, cloudy day....." so even better. I was making up lyrics in addition to not hearing them either. I'll donate when I can, and thank everyone who did so already. It's nice to have a little joy today.
posted by winesong at 1:49 PM on September 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by winesong at 1:49 PM on September 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
I've heard that song all my life, AND NEVER KNEW THE LYRICS.
There aren't that many! It's just
Do you remember
The 21st night of September
The 21st night of September
The 21st night of September
September
Ba-de-ya, 21st September
Ba-de-ya, 21st September
Ba-de-ya, 21st September
Ba-de-ya, September the 21st
Or at least that's how I've been singing it at weddings for the last five years!
(I had the horrible thought a few days ago "what if Demi doesn't have the heart this year?? Nobody could blame him but I'd be so sad" and I'm so happy and relieved that he not only pulled it off but outdid himself once again)
posted by babelfish at 1:59 PM on September 21, 2020 [7 favorites]
There aren't that many! It's just
Do you remember
The 21st night of September
The 21st night of September
The 21st night of September
September
Ba-de-ya, 21st September
Ba-de-ya, 21st September
Ba-de-ya, 21st September
Ba-de-ya, September the 21st
Or at least that's how I've been singing it at weddings for the last five years!
(I had the horrible thought a few days ago "what if Demi doesn't have the heart this year?? Nobody could blame him but I'd be so sad" and I'm so happy and relieved that he not only pulled it off but outdid himself once again)
posted by babelfish at 1:59 PM on September 21, 2020 [7 favorites]
Okay, here's the real lyrics to the song.
And - poignant fact: I associate this with Election Night of 2008. I'd gone out to a local bar to watch the coverage, and my entire neighborhood went apeshit when Obama won - like, literal dancing in streets. I went out for a bit of that, and went back into the bar afterward where the bartender had cracked out a turntable and was playing general party music. And this was what played right before I went home. I had a couple of LJ blog posts about that night here, complete with an update of the lyrics to suit that night.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:17 PM on September 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
And - poignant fact: I associate this with Election Night of 2008. I'd gone out to a local bar to watch the coverage, and my entire neighborhood went apeshit when Obama won - like, literal dancing in streets. I went out for a bit of that, and went back into the bar afterward where the bartender had cracked out a turntable and was playing general party music. And this was what played right before I went home. I had a couple of LJ blog posts about that night here, complete with an update of the lyrics to suit that night.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 2:17 PM on September 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
welp, babelfish and EmpressCallipygos, thanks, and I'm still confused. But also, yesssss Empress, election night 2008, for the first time in my life screaming for joy, with a whole lot of other people.
posted by winesong at 2:33 PM on September 21, 2020
posted by winesong at 2:33 PM on September 21, 2020
Disco is just so much fun. It's joyous and unironic. Everyone I knew who hated disco in the early 80s was just such a sad panda so upset that other people could enjoy things that they didn't themselves like. Kind of a selector for decent people: if you can let me like disco, then I can probably tolerate you.
posted by seanmpuckett at 2:57 PM on September 21, 2020 [7 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 2:57 PM on September 21, 2020 [7 favorites]
( there are lots of september mashups out there, including several by the person who did the mgmt one; i posted that one because "kids" also has such a wonderful catchy energy for me)
posted by dismas at 3:02 PM on September 21, 2020
posted by dismas at 3:02 PM on September 21, 2020
$100,000 goal was just met!
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 3:11 PM on September 21, 2020 [5 favorites]
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 3:11 PM on September 21, 2020 [5 favorites]
The summer of my sophomore year of high school, 2004, a group of friends and I won tickets to see Earth Wind and Fire and Chicago at the Verizon Wireless Arena because we were the most dressed-up group at the Relay For Life for one of the laps. We were the youngest group in the audience and they played September! but they also played I Like the Way You Move and the lead singer looked right at us and said "I bet some of you were conceived to this song."
posted by ChuraChura at 3:36 PM on September 21, 2020 [12 favorites]
posted by ChuraChura at 3:36 PM on September 21, 2020 [12 favorites]
Third time trying to donate via the desktop site. This time I got a hell of a partial failure. I tried to donate $100. I'm told "Your contribution was processed successfully and $25.00 was charged to your card." Also that "Your contribution of $25.00 to Trans United Fund failed because your card was declined for this transaction." And that failure message repeated for BlackRoots Alliance and National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum. So.. I guess I only donated partially?
My credit card transaction record shows 3 payments to the first unnamed charity (Street Watch LA) and no other transactions. So maybe the previous failures partially succeeded too? I tried one fourth time just to donate to the other charities and that seems to have worked. Only the only way I know that is I never got any error messages; no acknowledgment of success either. No record of anything in the account Action Network told me to create; accounts seem to be for folks raising funds, not donating funds.
I should be nicer about these wonderful progressive people trying to do good. But when the entire purpose of your company is processing charitable donations and then you can't actually process charitable donations, well, it's not good. This partial failure is a real mess; I guess their backend treats it as four separate transactions, perhaps for tax reasons.
(For a counter example of someone who does this right: ActBlue, which processes political donations for pretty much all Democrats. They have a very slick flow for accepting money. The one time I had a problem their user support was right on top of it, too.)
posted by Nelson at 3:39 PM on September 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
My credit card transaction record shows 3 payments to the first unnamed charity (Street Watch LA) and no other transactions. So maybe the previous failures partially succeeded too? I tried one fourth time just to donate to the other charities and that seems to have worked. Only the only way I know that is I never got any error messages; no acknowledgment of success either. No record of anything in the account Action Network told me to create; accounts seem to be for folks raising funds, not donating funds.
I should be nicer about these wonderful progressive people trying to do good. But when the entire purpose of your company is processing charitable donations and then you can't actually process charitable donations, well, it's not good. This partial failure is a real mess; I guess their backend treats it as four separate transactions, perhaps for tax reasons.
(For a counter example of someone who does this right: ActBlue, which processes political donations for pretty much all Democrats. They have a very slick flow for accepting money. The one time I had a problem their user support was right on top of it, too.)
posted by Nelson at 3:39 PM on September 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
I really want those pants so I can get home from work and yank them right off while dancing. I will donate $10 and another $10 for spite, and another $10 for forgiveness.
posted by waving at 4:53 PM on September 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by waving at 4:53 PM on September 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
Some people had criticisms of The Green Book, but I don't see how anyone can have any doubt about the movie's quality after hearing Morrissey's End Credits Song that Adejuyigbe found for us.
posted by straight at 6:20 PM on September 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by straight at 6:20 PM on September 21, 2020 [1 favorite]
waving, they look like tear away/breakaway/sport snap type track bottoms. Or post-op sweatpants? Whichever side-snap pants would take paint best.
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:36 PM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:36 PM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
I'll be honest with you: I finally got around to watching this after work and was brutally disappointed that there was only a minute of song and there was more hitting up for charity than song. I want to hear the FULL SONG, PLEASE, before you start hitting up for charity, at least.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:25 PM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:25 PM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
I have bad news for you about the song - it's not actually Earth Wind and Fire's September
the lyrics have been subtly* changed to be about the 21st of September
* as crudely as possibly
posted by Merus at 7:42 PM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
the lyrics have been subtly* changed to be about the 21st of September
* as crudely as possibly
posted by Merus at 7:42 PM on September 21, 2020 [2 favorites]
I just realized the best thing about this yearly video project; pretty much none of us actually remember the 21st day of September. Christmas, yawn, we're expecting that. But random joy near the autumn equinox? A delightful surprise.
posted by Nelson at 7:51 PM on September 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
posted by Nelson at 7:51 PM on September 21, 2020 [4 favorites]
Also (don't think it's been mentioned yet), Demi Adejuyigbe is a writer on Amber Ruffin's new show (which starts later this week).
Donated, too. Good on him, for making this joyous thing, and then for leveraging its popularity to help people in need.
posted by LooseFilter at 8:19 PM on September 21, 2020
Donated, too. Good on him, for making this joyous thing, and then for leveraging its popularity to help people in need.
posted by LooseFilter at 8:19 PM on September 21, 2020
Having read the interview with him, I have mixed emotions about how much I love this series. And I'm glad I resisted the urge I felt a few weeks ago to tweet something about "no pressure but".
I still love it and think it's delightful. I also love his other work and hope he feels able to express a wider range of his creativity. I'm here for seeing what cynical, bitter, upset Demi would put out.
posted by Lexica at 8:46 PM on September 21, 2020
I still love it and think it's delightful. I also love his other work and hope he feels able to express a wider range of his creativity. I'm here for seeing what cynical, bitter, upset Demi would put out.
posted by Lexica at 8:46 PM on September 21, 2020
I associate this song with Earth, Wind, and Flour, my favorite pizza place when I was a kid. They played this a lot. It was a delight every time.
posted by Kitchen Witch at 9:22 PM on September 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
posted by Kitchen Witch at 9:22 PM on September 21, 2020 [3 favorites]
Oh noooo it's the 22nd here in Australia already. Sad face.
posted by freethefeet at 11:00 PM on September 21, 2020
posted by freethefeet at 11:00 PM on September 21, 2020
I'll be honest with you: I finally got around to watching this after work and was brutally disappointed that there was only a minute of song and there was more hitting up for charity than song.
The song bit is about as long as his song bits usually are. He's only ever done the first verse and one chorus.
I think that with the amount of attention (read: pestering) he's got from people* he can be allowed the opportunity to make a charity pitch.
* About an hour before the new video dropped, he tweeted out a plea: "Everyone please stop tweeting countdown gifs at me."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:15 AM on September 22, 2020 [8 favorites]
The song bit is about as long as his song bits usually are. He's only ever done the first verse and one chorus.
I think that with the amount of attention (read: pestering) he's got from people* he can be allowed the opportunity to make a charity pitch.
* About an hour before the new video dropped, he tweeted out a plea: "Everyone please stop tweeting countdown gifs at me."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:15 AM on September 22, 2020 [8 favorites]
^ Also, that we (anyone) can be "disappointed" in a free creative work that someone just made and gives away freely, says much about our internalized identities (and thus unconscious emotional expectations) as consumers. This kind of video, in particular, highlights how strange it is that we apply a critical eye to everything.
This is what Demi was talking about in the interview linked earlier, the EXPECTATIONS that people invest in you, simply because you happen to make a thing that they like, are just....it's a lot to put on any person, and really amplifies the emotional challenges of creative work. (And when it's your job, it's easier to say, well, if you don't like it then don't watch or whatever, because you're making a product; but when you make something just because, and simply give it away, and people really love it, many will develop personal expectation and entitlement that's really kind of gross to deal with, and it would actually be a simpler relationship if they had just paid for it.)
(And now that I've typed out that whole last parenthetical, I realize that it could apply to more than art-making.)
posted by LooseFilter at 8:07 AM on September 22, 2020 [11 favorites]
This is what Demi was talking about in the interview linked earlier, the EXPECTATIONS that people invest in you, simply because you happen to make a thing that they like, are just....it's a lot to put on any person, and really amplifies the emotional challenges of creative work. (And when it's your job, it's easier to say, well, if you don't like it then don't watch or whatever, because you're making a product; but when you make something just because, and simply give it away, and people really love it, many will develop personal expectation and entitlement that's really kind of gross to deal with, and it would actually be a simpler relationship if they had just paid for it.)
(And now that I've typed out that whole last parenthetical, I realize that it could apply to more than art-making.)
posted by LooseFilter at 8:07 AM on September 22, 2020 [11 favorites]
the EXPECTATIONS that people invest in you, simply because you happen to make a thing that they like, are just....it's a lot to put on any person,
He's raised over $260,000 now and my first thought was "hey, we bought five years more of videos!" and ...ugh. I suck. Sorry, Demi.
posted by kimberussell at 12:09 PM on September 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
He's raised over $260,000 now and my first thought was "hey, we bought five years more of videos!" and ...ugh. I suck. Sorry, Demi.
posted by kimberussell at 12:09 PM on September 22, 2020 [1 favorite]
He's raised over $260,000 now and my first thought was "hey, we bought five years more of videos!" and ...ugh. I suck.
Fortunately he's been doing this long enough that he had the sense to promise no such thing! From the campaign:
posted by babelfish at 3:34 PM on September 22, 2020 [3 favorites]
Fortunately he's been doing this long enough that he had the sense to promise no such thing! From the campaign:
If we hit $50,000, I'll make another video! If we hit $100,000, uhhh, I'll make another video but also probably freak out because—wow!—that's a lot of money!By my calculation we bought one video and four freakouts, which seems fair all around.
posted by babelfish at 3:34 PM on September 22, 2020 [3 favorites]
Aww, that was cute, but I also want to give a hug to Nanukthedog because I liked your comment too.
posted by daybeforetheday at 4:20 AM on September 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by daybeforetheday at 4:20 AM on September 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
I had to wait till today to donate. Glad he managed to raise some money. These videos are pure joy.
posted by chunking express at 5:59 AM on September 23, 2020
posted by chunking express at 5:59 AM on September 23, 2020
FWIW the donation overcharges I documented above have stuck to my credit card. I ended up being charged 2 times extra for the first charity ("Street Watch LA"). I'm just going to let it go, it's a charity and I don't mind too mu h. But if you tried to donate and it said it failed you may want to check your credit card to see what actually happened.
I'm sure I'm not the only one affected. Disappointed there's been no acknowledgment or proactive response from Action Network.
posted by Nelson at 8:56 AM on September 23, 2020
I'm sure I'm not the only one affected. Disappointed there's been no acknowledgment or proactive response from Action Network.
posted by Nelson at 8:56 AM on September 23, 2020
Over $280K now, for those keeping track.
posted by mightygodking at 10:52 AM on September 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by mightygodking at 10:52 AM on September 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
Yay! I have soft spots for ridiculous, gleeful, and over the top.
posted by Pronoiac at 11:39 AM on September 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by Pronoiac at 11:39 AM on September 23, 2020 [1 favorite]
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posted by Going To Maine at 10:41 AM on September 21, 2020 [3 favorites]