Comments on: Astaire/Jacko mashup video: Smooth Criminal http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 18:12:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: AngelaB http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-402944 AngelaB Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-402944 Re: umgrego2 The 'Smooth Criminal' track is far from a pop tune. Jackson has covered R&B, Soul, Funk (his roots) Rock...all across the genres. Fred Astaire had a lot of swagger didn't he? No wonder MJ looks up to him. And Astaire commented that MJ is the best dancer of the century. http://floacist.wordpress.com/2007/10/11/quotes-on-michael-jackson/ Re: umgrego2
The ‘Smooth Criminal’ track is far from a pop tune. Jackson has covered R&B, Soul, Funk (his roots) Rock…all across the genres.

Fred Astaire had a lot of swagger didn’t he? No wonder MJ looks up to him. And Astaire commented that MJ is the best dancer of the century.

http://floacist.wordpress.com/2007/10/11/quotes-on-michael-jackson/

]]> By: RJ http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-197136 RJ Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-197136 That was pretty good. Similarly to what was said above, it underscores just how stupid our modern culture really is, by comparison. That was pretty good. Similarly to what was said above, it underscores just how stupid our modern culture really is, by comparison.

]]> By: Agent 86 http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-200722 Agent 86 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-200722 heh, in a hundred years they'll think I created that little phrase. [hopefully] heh, in a hundred years they’ll think I created that little phrase. [hopefully]

]]> By: philipsullivan http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-197401 philipsullivan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-197401 Anyone notice "Catwoman" Julie Newmar/Newmeyer? She was one of the girls who flashes Astaire a "look" when he walks in. Anyone notice “Catwoman” Julie Newmar/Newmeyer? She was one of the girls who flashes Astaire a “look” when he walks in.

]]> By: buddy66 http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-196914 buddy66 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-196914 A drunk walks into a Texas oil patch bar during the boom days. There's a bunch of 'roughnecks' at the other end, drinking and laughing it up". "What's goin' on? "he asks the bartender." "It's Red Adair," the bartender says,"the great oil field fire fighter—the boys are asking him questions" "Is that right? Well I gotta question." "Go ahead," says the bartender, "he's in a good mood." "Hey, Red, Red Adair!" the drunk yells. "Yes?" says the big man. "Were you fucking Ginger Rogers?" A drunk walks into a Texas oil patch bar during the boom days. There’s a bunch of ‘roughnecks’ at the other end, drinking and laughing it up”. “What’s goin’ on? “he asks the bartender.”
“It’s Red Adair,” the bartender says,”the great oil field fire fighter—the boys are asking him questions”
“Is that right? Well I gotta question.”
“Go ahead,” says the bartender, “he’s in a good mood.”
“Hey, Red, Red Adair!” the drunk yells.
“Yes?” says the big man.
“Were you fucking Ginger Rogers?”

]]> By: Lewis Haidt http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-196940 Lewis Haidt Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-196940 So can an Astaire/Charisse fan confirm, is the dance w/ the red dress sequence from THE BAND WAGON? That is amazing!!! It shows how impoverished our culture is...why can't fashion grow up a little...anway, I'm going to rent whatever film has that sequence. thanks So can an Astaire/Charisse fan confirm, is the dance w/ the red dress sequence from THE BAND WAGON?

That is amazing!!!

It shows how impoverished our culture is…why can’t fashion grow up a little…anway, I’m going to rent whatever film has that sequence.

thanks

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-198220 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-198220 Agent 86, your comment is now part of an entry in the doubletongued dictionary. http://www.doubletongued.org/index.php/citations/win_1/ Agent 86, your comment is now part of an entry in the doubletongued dictionary.

http://www.doubletongued.org/index.php/citations/win_1/

]]> By: umgrego2 http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-197454 umgrego2 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-197454 @#14 Already done: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6liW00fC6c Although I agree that MJ was brilliant, I would need convincing that he was the force behind the homage to earlier great dancers. I would guess that it was the director and/or producer that would be responsible for these kinds of ideas. @#14 Already done: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i6liW00fC6c

Although I agree that MJ was brilliant, I would need convincing that he was the force behind the homage to earlier great dancers. I would guess that it was the director and/or producer that would be responsible for these kinds of ideas.

]]> By: Clumpy http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-196944 Clumpy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-196944 There's something refreshing about seeing flippant cigarette smoking in a family flick. This coming from a guy who hates tobacco as much as anybody else. There’s something refreshing about seeing flippant cigarette smoking in a family flick. This coming from a guy who hates tobacco as much as anybody else.

]]> By: Lea Hernandez http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-196955 Lea Hernandez Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-196955 I loved that. Thanks for posting it! I loved that. Thanks for posting it!

]]> By: Agent 86 http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-196963 Agent 86 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-196963 Wow, I never knew the Smooth Criminal video was a tribute to Astaire! This is great, full of win. Wow, I never knew the Smooth Criminal video was a tribute to Astaire! This is great, full of win.

]]> By: Xenu http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-196964 Xenu Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-196964 Now somebody needs to do this for Beat It and West Side Story. Now somebody needs to do this for Beat It and West Side Story.

]]> By: the boy http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-197482 the boy Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-197482 No need to be using this to bash modern culture, but it was an absolutely remarkable video No need to be using this to bash modern culture, but it was an absolutely remarkable video

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-197769 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-197769 Absolutely fantastic... loved the synchronization of Astaire's moves to the Jackson beat. God, those old classic movies look so good! Also, Cyd Charisse is gorgeous. What grace! Absolutely fantastic… loved the synchronization of Astaire’s moves to the Jackson beat. God, those old classic movies look so good!

Also, Cyd Charisse is gorgeous. What grace!

]]> By: mark zero http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-196764 mark zero Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-196764 Don't forget that MJ's signature "moonwalk" is something performers like Sammy Davis, Jr. did for decades before, too. MJ was one of the first to successfully incorporate choreography into his music videos. Unfortunately, as time goes on, music has become almost incidental to these lavish productions, which explains why videos downloads are more popular than music downloads for some titles, and why they started selling music videos in the first place, instead of continuing to release them for free. Don’t forget that MJ’s signature “moonwalk” is something performers like Sammy Davis, Jr. did for decades before, too.

MJ was one of the first to successfully incorporate choreography into his music videos. Unfortunately, as time goes on, music has become almost incidental to these lavish productions, which explains why videos downloads are more popular than music downloads for some titles, and why they started selling music videos in the first place, instead of continuing to release them for free.

]]> By: technogeek http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-196781 technogeek Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-196781 Nice illustration of where the inspiration for that video came from, and nice illustration of the fact that storytelling in dance is older than music videos. Reminds me how much I liked Astare's work. Also, indirectly, reminds me of how good Jackson used to be, before star syndrome burned him out. He hit it big VERY young, hit the top still young, was instrumental in creating an entire new medium... and I get the distinct impression that he lost himself along the way. I pity him, in a poor-little-rich-kid kind of way... Nice illustration of where the inspiration for that video came from, and nice illustration of the fact that storytelling in dance is older than music videos.

Reminds me how much I liked Astare’s work.

Also, indirectly, reminds me of how good Jackson used to be, before star syndrome burned him out. He hit it big VERY young, hit the top still young, was instrumental in creating an entire new medium… and I get the distinct impression that he lost himself along the way. I pity him, in a poor-little-rich-kid kind of way…

]]> By: Trip http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-196790 Trip Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-196790 That was astounding. Yes. YES! Fred Astaire is Cool! Grandma, You were right! And I find now that the youtubes are full of Astaire! That was astounding.
Yes. YES!
Fred Astaire is Cool!
Grandma, You were right!
And I find now that the youtubes are full of Astaire!

]]> By: ployntabs http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-197046 ployntabs Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-197046 I dunno, Michael Jackson was never that good. Seems like a crime to install his pop crap over a classic movie. Whatever floats your DAW. I dunno, Michael Jackson was never that good. Seems like a crime to install his pop crap over a classic movie.
Whatever floats your DAW.

]]> By: Damien DeBarra http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-197071 Damien DeBarra Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-197071 That is sublimely brilliant. That is sublimely brilliant.

]]> By: JDspeeder1 http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-196833 JDspeeder1 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-196833 I'm surprised there wasn't an example of Fred Astaire's signature chair-flip-thing. Still, great stuff. I’m surprised there wasn’t an example of Fred Astaire’s signature chair-flip-thing. Still, great stuff.

]]> By: Torley http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-196834 Torley Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-196834 Sweet vid! This is an amazingly catchy song and I like how a lot of the visuals worked in sync. Great editing — I wonder, was any time compression or expansion used? Sweet vid! This is an amazingly catchy song and I like how a lot of the visuals worked in sync. Great editing — I wonder, was any time compression or expansion used?

]]> By: brooklyntwang http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-196840 brooklyntwang Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-196840 Okay, bring Astaire to the youth, but you might reach more youth if you used a video that was made AFTER the youth were born. For anyone young today, Smooth Criminal is equivalently ancient to any Fred Astaire movie. If you were born when Smooth Criminal came out (1987), you are already graduating from college. Okay, bring Astaire to the youth, but you might reach more youth if you used a video that was made AFTER the youth were born. For anyone young today, Smooth Criminal is equivalently ancient to any Fred Astaire movie.

If you were born when Smooth Criminal came out (1987), you are already graduating from college.

]]> By: Antinous http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-196851 Antinous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-196851 The Astaire estate is one of the most vicious copyright monsters in entertainment. They rather notoriously refuse to allow documentarians to use Astaire footage, although they didn't have much problem selling Fred into a vacuum cleaner commercial. The Astaire estate is one of the most vicious copyright monsters in entertainment. They rather notoriously refuse to allow documentarians to use Astaire footage, although they didn’t have much problem selling Fred into a vacuum cleaner commercial.

]]> By: Rich Gibson http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-196852 Rich Gibson Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-196852 Brooklyntwang is probably right - it sort of scares me the number of things which still seem new to me which are painfully old, but aside from that: the video was awesome. Thank you Cory for posting it. Brooklyntwang is probably right – it sort of scares me the number of things which still seem new to me which are painfully old, but aside from that: the video was awesome. Thank you Cory for posting it.

]]> By: Halloween Jack http://boingboing.net/2008/05/27/astairejacko-mashup.html#comment-197114 Halloween Jack Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-197114 Q: What's wrinkled and smells like ginger? A: Fred Astaire's face. Q: What’s wrinkled and smells like ginger?

A: Fred Astaire’s face.

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