Never Gonna Give You Up
April 7, 2010 9:18 AM Subscribe
A little pitchy.
posted by swift at 9:24 AM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by swift at 9:24 AM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
They ended the video right before the part where they all get the bloody hell beaten out of them.
posted by jbickers at 9:25 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by jbickers at 9:25 AM on April 7, 2010
The train is still taking them where they expected to be going.
posted by Obscure Reference at 9:25 AM on April 7, 2010 [15 favorites]
posted by Obscure Reference at 9:25 AM on April 7, 2010 [15 favorites]
Thanks for visiting our city and singing your funny joke song from 2007 on our subways! To return the favor, next time I'm in Oregon, I'll eat some Ipecac and throw up into any parked car that has its window rolled down.
posted by Damn That Television at 9:26 AM on April 7, 2010 [29 favorites]
posted by Damn That Television at 9:26 AM on April 7, 2010 [29 favorites]
The best part is the well-deserved chilly reception.
posted by DU at 9:27 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by DU at 9:27 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Wow, no one looks happy on that train.
posted by Think_Long at 9:27 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by Think_Long at 9:27 AM on April 7, 2010
thomasimon Damn great! People who this stuff should get a Nobelprice!
One hour ago
posted by Damn That Television at 9:27 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
One hour ago
posted by Damn That Television at 9:27 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
The train is still taking them where they expected to be going.
With an unexpected detour through the Shut the Fuck Up District.
posted by uncleozzy at 9:28 AM on April 7, 2010 [12 favorites]
With an unexpected detour through the Shut the Fuck Up District.
posted by uncleozzy at 9:28 AM on April 7, 2010 [12 favorites]
At this point, I feel like A Capella groups have to go really far out of their way to prove that they're cool and worth listening to; sadly, this event did not work.
posted by Think_Long at 9:28 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by Think_Long at 9:28 AM on April 7, 2010
Yeah, the whole reason this was funny to me was the people just looking at them blank-faced and annoyed. I'd like to imagine what's going through their heads - "oh Jesus, what the... yeah, that song was kind of funny for a few weeks like 3 years ago... when are they going to SHUT UP?"
posted by DecemberBoy at 9:29 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by DecemberBoy at 9:29 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
That's when I turn my iPhone to extra loud.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:29 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 9:29 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Oh those choir scamps! Have you heard their randy interpretation of All Your Base?
posted by basicchannel at 9:29 AM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by basicchannel at 9:29 AM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCK! Subway full of utter contempt LEVEL 40!
posted by starman at 9:29 AM on April 7, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by starman at 9:29 AM on April 7, 2010 [5 favorites]
Also, the video ends at the wrong time. It cuts off just before the long, awkward ride AFTER the song.
posted by basicchannel at 9:30 AM on April 7, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by basicchannel at 9:30 AM on April 7, 2010 [4 favorites]
Pitchy, and surprisingly anemic Astley impression by the lead singer.
Also, Amtrak has designated "quiet cars" on their commuter routes now...any way to get something similar to avoid being taken hostage by this kind of crap?
posted by availablelight at 9:34 AM on April 7, 2010
Also, Amtrak has designated "quiet cars" on their commuter routes now...any way to get something similar to avoid being taken hostage by this kind of crap?
posted by availablelight at 9:34 AM on April 7, 2010
What is it about New York that all these wankers think they need to SPREAD THE HAPPY to everybody?
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 9:34 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 9:34 AM on April 7, 2010
Also, this stopped being edgy the minute Astley himself Rickrolled the FREAKING MACY'S THANKSGIVING PARADE and network anchors explained the phenomenon to your mom.
posted by availablelight at 9:37 AM on April 7, 2010 [17 favorites]
posted by availablelight at 9:37 AM on April 7, 2010 [17 favorites]
God how I despise fucking tourists.
posted by saladin at 9:37 AM on April 7, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by saladin at 9:37 AM on April 7, 2010 [4 favorites]
March 2014 -- University of Oregon's all male acappella group On The Rocks shows the A Train their Poker Face. Their, po-po-poker face.
posted by birdherder at 9:38 AM on April 7, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by birdherder at 9:38 AM on April 7, 2010 [5 favorites]
These guys are occupying valuable space that could be used by guys selling batteries or shouting about Jesus.
posted by brain_drain at 9:38 AM on April 7, 2010 [9 favorites]
posted by brain_drain at 9:38 AM on April 7, 2010 [9 favorites]
What is it about New York that all these wankers think they need to SPREAD THE HAPPY to everybody?
They're a university acapella group from Oregon., so I imagine everyone there is already sick of them and they have to move from place to place like off-key locus.
posted by The Whelk at 9:41 AM on April 7, 2010 [2 favorites]
YT: "txtarheeldad So glad the headline was "NYC Subway gets Rick Roll'd" versus "6 Univ of Oregon students shot on subway for singing"."
posted by cavalier at 9:44 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by cavalier at 9:44 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Nothing like an out of date badly executed impromptu meme to set me up for the day when I am losing the will to live on public transport.
Seriously, give me the guy playing Camptown Races on the tuba right in my ear any day of the week. I may permanently damage my hearing but at least there isn't a hint of Threadless T-shirt clad smug self-satisfaction.
posted by fire&wings at 9:44 AM on April 7, 2010 [5 favorites]
Seriously, give me the guy playing Camptown Races on the tuba right in my ear any day of the week. I may permanently damage my hearing but at least there isn't a hint of Threadless T-shirt clad smug self-satisfaction.
posted by fire&wings at 9:44 AM on April 7, 2010 [5 favorites]
Back in 1990 some friends and I rehearsed Steeleye Span's 'All Around My Hat' so we could go and sing it at the meat counter in Tesco for no good reason. And it didn't seem like a groundbreakingly novel idea even twenty years ago. I can understand why people are bored of this stuff.
Random subway lion taming - that's the future.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 9:50 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Random subway lion taming - that's the future.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 9:50 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
God how I despise fucking tourists.
It's not so bad, at least you know you they'll have to go home eventually.
Sorry.
Really, though, I never wanted to be one of those people who hate tourists because it makes me happy when people want to broaden their horizons and see new places or whatever and I respect that this means that they somewhere unfamiliar and aren't always sure what the proper procedure is. I don't mind people who visit and I'm happy to give directions (really I'm happy to TRY to give directions; I don't know that I've ever done it successfully). What I can't stand, though, is that a surprising number of tourists are just so entitled. Sometimes I want to scream at them "The bus is not your fucking cab! It DOES NOT STOP THERE. It stops at the SIGNS that say 'Bus Stop' and the fact that you believe that because you are visiting this city it means that you do not have to wait at the same corner as everyone fucking else just pisses me off. THERE ARE DESIGNATED STOPS. If you want a fucking cab, take a fucking cab, but don't think that because you stand there waving your arms it's the bus driver's responsibility to stop for you".
And then I feel kind of badly because I think "Well, it's not their fault they don't know their way around" and then I think "Yes it is" and I feel better about myself.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 9:51 AM on April 7, 2010 [7 favorites]
It's not so bad, at least you know you they'll have to go home eventually.
Sorry.
Really, though, I never wanted to be one of those people who hate tourists because it makes me happy when people want to broaden their horizons and see new places or whatever and I respect that this means that they somewhere unfamiliar and aren't always sure what the proper procedure is. I don't mind people who visit and I'm happy to give directions (really I'm happy to TRY to give directions; I don't know that I've ever done it successfully). What I can't stand, though, is that a surprising number of tourists are just so entitled. Sometimes I want to scream at them "The bus is not your fucking cab! It DOES NOT STOP THERE. It stops at the SIGNS that say 'Bus Stop' and the fact that you believe that because you are visiting this city it means that you do not have to wait at the same corner as everyone fucking else just pisses me off. THERE ARE DESIGNATED STOPS. If you want a fucking cab, take a fucking cab, but don't think that because you stand there waving your arms it's the bus driver's responsibility to stop for you".
And then I feel kind of badly because I think "Well, it's not their fault they don't know their way around" and then I think "Yes it is" and I feel better about myself.
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl at 9:51 AM on April 7, 2010 [7 favorites]
What is it about those choir types? In my senior year of high school I went on a two-week trip to France. Half of the school chorus group was on the trip too, and you can be sure that not a bus ride was allowed to occur on which we weren't forced to listen to repeated performances of 'Joy to the World' (no the carol, the 'Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog' one), 'Brown Eyed Girl,' et cetera. Because nothing says 'enjoying a nice ride through the French countryside' like having stale a capella hits from the 60s and 70s crammed into your ears.
Nothing against people who love to sing... but turning a subway car or bus into a captive audience is a dick move.
posted by usonian at 9:52 AM on April 7, 2010 [4 favorites]
Nothing against people who love to sing... but turning a subway car or bus into a captive audience is a dick move.
posted by usonian at 9:52 AM on April 7, 2010 [4 favorites]
my husband has the brontosaurus/giraffe shirt at 1:50, this was all worth it for that
posted by changeling at 9:53 AM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by changeling at 9:53 AM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
They're a university acapella group from Oregon., so I imagine everyone there is already sick of them and they have to move from place to place like off-key locus.
Yeah. I sort of got that. From the part with the words that I read.
Regardless of where they're from, why does everyone flock to New York to cheer people up with these hokey OH I KNOW I'LL RELEASE BALLOONS AND CHEER EVERYONE UP kind of shenanigans. I lived there once and people were pretty happy, relatively.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 10:00 AM on April 7, 2010 [2 favorites]
Yeah. I sort of got that. From the part with the words that I read.
Regardless of where they're from, why does everyone flock to New York to cheer people up with these hokey OH I KNOW I'LL RELEASE BALLOONS AND CHEER EVERYONE UP kind of shenanigans. I lived there once and people were pretty happy, relatively.
posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 10:00 AM on April 7, 2010 [2 favorites]
I don't live in New York, so maybe I don't understand why New York? Don't stunts like this generally fly better in places like Orlando? Or that giant mall in North Georgia? Or my hometown, where tourists are seemingly awestruck by people that spray paint themselves gold and stand shirtless on a pedestal for a few hours? The wacky, just-tryin-put-a-smile on these folks' face seems better suited to a suburban food court with a higher concentration of people that were glued to the "Great American Sing Off." It just doesn't make sense to me. Whenever I'm in New York and see shit like this--the South Country Lane Musical Theater Club doing number from "Rent," or some dance troupe trying to perform the dance scene from "Fame," or a couple of guys from Charlotte playing Jeff Buckley covers--the only people that seem to give a shit are other tourists. So wouldn't it make more sense just to save the plane fare and stay home, where you have slightly better than a icicle's chance in hell of actually impressing someone?
posted by thivaia at 10:01 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by thivaia at 10:01 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
No no no no no. You're supposed to sing "This Little Light of Mine" while walking through the car, smiling at people, and jingling a wrinkled fast food bag full of change. Please try again.
posted by turaho at 10:01 AM on April 7, 2010 [9 favorites]
posted by turaho at 10:01 AM on April 7, 2010 [9 favorites]
Like the man said. This is not a rickroll. It's worse.
posted by flippant at 10:06 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by flippant at 10:06 AM on April 7, 2010
Way back in the day, when I was at university a group of us used to occasionally do California Dreaming in the pub when we got really drunk. To this day I can / will only ever sing along to the women's part.
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 10:06 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 10:06 AM on April 7, 2010
Isn't the point supposed to be a funny deception? There was a severe lack of OMG LOLz on that train, leading me to the conclusion that there was: Rick, but no Roll.
posted by tybeet at 10:07 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by tybeet at 10:07 AM on April 7, 2010
My thought process: "Who are all the people singing? Hmm, lets see a bunch of blonde white guys with threadless t-shirts. They're not from New York are they?"
I like it when the internet confirms all my stereotypes of people. Including how not a single person from NY looked at them or cracked a grin.
posted by fontophilic at 10:08 AM on April 7, 2010
I like it when the internet confirms all my stereotypes of people. Including how not a single person from NY looked at them or cracked a grin.
posted by fontophilic at 10:08 AM on April 7, 2010
Wow, no one looks happy on that train.
Imagine you're one of these guys, and you're one minute into Operation: On The Rocksroll there and you see nothing but the chilly faces of these commuters, and the shared quiet panic in the eyes of your fellow acafellas. Clearly the imagined reaction of mixed dizzied recognition and laughing-out-loud joy is not manifesting; clearly this has been a miscalculation. Clearly you are bombing, on the subway in an unfamiliar city, in song.
Do you stop singing, and wonder if you can somehow thus evade your share of culpability for this failed venture? Do you wonder if your choice to drop out will be, even, the heroic first step your compatriots are waiting for, wanting as you do to abort but lacking the courage to make the first move, aching for a leader to tell them that, yes, it's okay to stop?
These things, going through your head, but you won't, can't, don't heed that instinct, instead soldiering on. You defend your inaction, consider in your lungful momentum the value of doing a hard thing, of carrying a mistake through to its completion. You tell yourself that bombing is the bravest thing a performer can do. You embrace the solidarity of your collective unwelcome tunesmithing. It will bring you all closer together, to have this story of The Time You Annoyed The A Train. You can laugh at yourselves later, together, and that will be worth any temporary embarrassment in front of unsmiling strangers.
And then it's over, and you're both relieved to be done with it and newly troubled because you no longer have the performance to keep you busy. And so you stand and look at your cohort and smile whatever kind of smile you can, and you flush inwardly, and you try to parse what scattered applause does come. And eventually the train stops, and the doors open.
posted by cortex at 10:11 AM on April 7, 2010 [38 favorites]
Imagine you're one of these guys, and you're one minute into Operation: On The Rocksroll there and you see nothing but the chilly faces of these commuters, and the shared quiet panic in the eyes of your fellow acafellas. Clearly the imagined reaction of mixed dizzied recognition and laughing-out-loud joy is not manifesting; clearly this has been a miscalculation. Clearly you are bombing, on the subway in an unfamiliar city, in song.
Do you stop singing, and wonder if you can somehow thus evade your share of culpability for this failed venture? Do you wonder if your choice to drop out will be, even, the heroic first step your compatriots are waiting for, wanting as you do to abort but lacking the courage to make the first move, aching for a leader to tell them that, yes, it's okay to stop?
These things, going through your head, but you won't, can't, don't heed that instinct, instead soldiering on. You defend your inaction, consider in your lungful momentum the value of doing a hard thing, of carrying a mistake through to its completion. You tell yourself that bombing is the bravest thing a performer can do. You embrace the solidarity of your collective unwelcome tunesmithing. It will bring you all closer together, to have this story of The Time You Annoyed The A Train. You can laugh at yourselves later, together, and that will be worth any temporary embarrassment in front of unsmiling strangers.
And then it's over, and you're both relieved to be done with it and newly troubled because you no longer have the performance to keep you busy. And so you stand and look at your cohort and smile whatever kind of smile you can, and you flush inwardly, and you try to parse what scattered applause does come. And eventually the train stops, and the doors open.
posted by cortex at 10:11 AM on April 7, 2010 [38 favorites]
Also, what's with the plague of anti-Threadless snobbery?
posted by tybeet at 10:12 AM on April 7, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by tybeet at 10:12 AM on April 7, 2010 [4 favorites]
and the shared quiet panic in the eyes of your fellow acafellas
"Acafella" is an awesome word, though it does suggest to me the verb form acafellate.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:14 AM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
"Acafella" is an awesome word, though it does suggest to me the verb form acafellate.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:14 AM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
Or my hometown, where tourists are seemingly awestruck by people that spray paint themselves gold and stand shirtless on a pedestal for a few hours?
Thank you for mentioning this idiocy. I live in a nice urban neighbourhood of a government/tourist town, about one block from the tourist area.
The tourists have arrived again, and it's depressing and infuriating to see how the tourist industry here has decided to portray itself: a "royal" museum that hasn't updated its collections in years; horse-drawn wagons that smell of piss and manure; 20 identical t-shirt shops lining the most prime retail real estate in town; buskers, clowns and jugglers; and, of course, the people posing as glitter-covered statues.
The lack of imagination is just dreadful.
An a capella group specializing in Internet memes would actually be an improvement.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:17 AM on April 7, 2010
Thank you for mentioning this idiocy. I live in a nice urban neighbourhood of a government/tourist town, about one block from the tourist area.
The tourists have arrived again, and it's depressing and infuriating to see how the tourist industry here has decided to portray itself: a "royal" museum that hasn't updated its collections in years; horse-drawn wagons that smell of piss and manure; 20 identical t-shirt shops lining the most prime retail real estate in town; buskers, clowns and jugglers; and, of course, the people posing as glitter-covered statues.
The lack of imagination is just dreadful.
An a capella group specializing in Internet memes would actually be an improvement.
posted by KokuRyu at 10:17 AM on April 7, 2010
Pffft. Amateurs.
There's a one-man Mariachi band (Alert: blatant self-link) that rides the 2 or 3 train some nights, usually during the later hours of rush hour. He takes requests.
posted by zarq at 10:20 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
There's a one-man Mariachi band (Alert: blatant self-link) that rides the 2 or 3 train some nights, usually during the later hours of rush hour. He takes requests.
posted by zarq at 10:20 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Hmm, lets see a bunch of blonde white guys with threadless t-shirts. They're not from New York are they
This is weird. New Yorkers don't wear threadless t-shirts?
posted by naju at 10:22 AM on April 7, 2010
This is weird. New Yorkers don't wear threadless t-shirts?
posted by naju at 10:22 AM on April 7, 2010
Or my hometown, where tourists are seemingly awestruck by people that spray paint themselves gold and stand shirtless on a pedestal for a few hours?
- Thanks, Joyce.
Now.
I am sure that all of you will have noticed the return of a blight to our streets.
It's made all the more disturbing as the Village of the Year contest looms.
I refer, of course, to the extremely irritating Living Statue.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:30 AM on April 7, 2010 [7 favorites]
- Thanks, Joyce.
Now.
I am sure that all of you will have noticed the return of a blight to our streets.
It's made all the more disturbing as the Village of the Year contest looms.
I refer, of course, to the extremely irritating Living Statue.
posted by Durn Bronzefist at 10:30 AM on April 7, 2010 [7 favorites]
This is weird. New Yorkers don't wear threadless t-shirts?
I don't even know what a threadless t-shirt is . . . but I'm not a New Yorker
posted by Think_Long at 10:37 AM on April 7, 2010
I don't even know what a threadless t-shirt is . . . but I'm not a New Yorker
posted by Think_Long at 10:37 AM on April 7, 2010
CRUSTY JUGGLERS
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 10:39 AM on April 7, 2010 [8 favorites]
posted by The Winsome Parker Lewis at 10:39 AM on April 7, 2010 [8 favorites]
And then it's over, and you're both relieved to be done with it and newly troubled because you no longer have the performance to keep you busy. And so you stand and look at your cohort and smile whatever kind of smile you can, and you flush inwardly, and you try to parse what scattered applause does come. And eventually the train stops, and the doors open.
Yeah, but then you go through the effort to put the fucking disaster on YouTube and shame yourself in front of a global audience. What childhood trauma motivates this?
posted by xmutex at 10:43 AM on April 7, 2010
Yeah, but then you go through the effort to put the fucking disaster on YouTube and shame yourself in front of a global audience. What childhood trauma motivates this?
posted by xmutex at 10:43 AM on April 7, 2010
This presentation has all the weird, misplaced, near-alien zeal of Mormon missionaries.
posted by xmutex at 10:47 AM on April 7, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by xmutex at 10:47 AM on April 7, 2010 [4 favorites]
Thanks for visiting our city and singing your funny joke song from 2007 on our subways! To return the favor, next time I'm in Oregon, I'll eat some Ipecac and throw up into any parked car that has its window rolled down.
2001 green Saturn wagon. Thanks for the warning. I'll be ready.
posted by Danf at 10:54 AM on April 7, 2010
2001 green Saturn wagon. Thanks for the warning. I'll be ready.
posted by Danf at 10:54 AM on April 7, 2010
I don't know what's worse, the annoying stunt or the snobbery on this thread from those who get their boners from dividing the world into a privileged, sophisticated, urban "us" and a retarded, provincial "them".
posted by dontjumplarry at 11:03 AM on April 7, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by dontjumplarry at 11:03 AM on April 7, 2010 [2 favorites]
Very fresh and timely, but I'm holding out for a theater group that does a live re-enactment of a "Where's the Beef?" ad.
posted by drjimmy11 at 11:03 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by drjimmy11 at 11:03 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
I submit those involved in this cringe-inducing display are still of the belief that it was an awesome & hilarious prank; that nothing short of a literal beat-down by an angry mob of NYC subway riders could have convinced them otherwise.
posted by the bricabrac man at 11:04 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by the bricabrac man at 11:04 AM on April 7, 2010
....that nothing short of a literal beat-down by an angry mob of NYC subway riders could have convinced them otherwise.
See, now that video would have been more entertaining than this one.
posted by zarq at 11:07 AM on April 7, 2010
See, now that video would have been more entertaining than this one.
posted by zarq at 11:07 AM on April 7, 2010
Not that I am touting to be the Ur of fashion or trend or anything, but Threadless(.com) had an excellent, indie-grassroots start, then shot up to household name (if your house has people aged 16-25) and has crested at mass saturation and is currently descending from it's apex of cool. What started as a way for an artist to get their work on a shirt and a few hundred bucks, has become a way for an artist to get massively ripped off by a giant company making thousands and thousands off their art.
Because of the voting style competition of threadless, and the community aspects of it, art produced for it tends to look similar. Also, as the popularity of Threadless grew, shirts were designed in the style of Threadless shirts, thus we have the "Threadless-Style" shirts. Like anything you binge drank a few years ago, they make you a bit nauseous. Mostly thinking threadless shirts are super awesome and new and mark the ripples of trend that filter their way out of places like New York, and find their way to Oregon, even though the stone that made that wave is no where to be seen in NY anymore.
I still have a couple of threadless shirts! They've got cute skull monster thingies and bright colors and that fresh "I made it in Illustrator" vectory feel. I can also barely dress myself and live in Texas, so take that as you would.
posted by fontophilic at 11:12 AM on April 7, 2010 [2 favorites]
Because of the voting style competition of threadless, and the community aspects of it, art produced for it tends to look similar. Also, as the popularity of Threadless grew, shirts were designed in the style of Threadless shirts, thus we have the "Threadless-Style" shirts. Like anything you binge drank a few years ago, they make you a bit nauseous. Mostly thinking threadless shirts are super awesome and new and mark the ripples of trend that filter their way out of places like New York, and find their way to Oregon, even though the stone that made that wave is no where to be seen in NY anymore.
I still have a couple of threadless shirts! They've got cute skull monster thingies and bright colors and that fresh "I made it in Illustrator" vectory feel. I can also barely dress myself and live in Texas, so take that as you would.
posted by fontophilic at 11:12 AM on April 7, 2010 [2 favorites]
I hate you for making me look that up.
posted by cortex at 11:21 AM on April 7, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by cortex at 11:21 AM on April 7, 2010 [4 favorites]
Gross, I totally got some of your spittle on my face just then.
posted by thejoshu at 11:28 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by thejoshu at 11:28 AM on April 7, 2010
I don't doubt that Threadless has passed its height of cool, but is everyone in New York fashion-conscious enough to be aware of that? I was under the impression that it wouldn't be horrendously out of place to see one on the subway, but I could be wrong. I don't live there.
posted by naju at 11:30 AM on April 7, 2010
posted by naju at 11:30 AM on April 7, 2010
Also, Amtrak has designated "quiet cars" on their commuter routes now...any way to get something similar to avoid being taken hostage by this kind of crap?
I take the train a lot, but rarely sit in the quiet car. But about three years ago, I took an Amtrak train from New York to Baltimore with my wife, and we decided to try it out.
I was just nodding off about 30 minutes into our ride, when one of the conductors started yelling at the bathroom door: "SIR? SIR! I CAN HEAR YOU ON YOUR PHONE IN THERE. DON'T MAKE ME EMBARRASS YOU BY HAVING YOU REMOVED! THIS IS THE QUIET CAR! THERE ARE NO CELL PHONES ALLOWED IN HERE!" *BAMBAMBAMBAM* (She began banging on the bathroom door.) "SIR! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME! I MUST ASK YOU TO GET OFF THE PHONE RIGHT NOW AND LEAVE THE BATHROOM, SIR!"
He exited, then left.
Good concept. Enforcement could use some work. ;)
posted by zarq at 11:35 AM on April 7, 2010 [5 favorites]
I take the train a lot, but rarely sit in the quiet car. But about three years ago, I took an Amtrak train from New York to Baltimore with my wife, and we decided to try it out.
I was just nodding off about 30 minutes into our ride, when one of the conductors started yelling at the bathroom door: "SIR? SIR! I CAN HEAR YOU ON YOUR PHONE IN THERE. DON'T MAKE ME EMBARRASS YOU BY HAVING YOU REMOVED! THIS IS THE QUIET CAR! THERE ARE NO CELL PHONES ALLOWED IN HERE!" *BAMBAMBAMBAM* (She began banging on the bathroom door.) "SIR! I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME! I MUST ASK YOU TO GET OFF THE PHONE RIGHT NOW AND LEAVE THE BATHROOM, SIR!"
He exited, then left.
Good concept. Enforcement could use some work. ;)
posted by zarq at 11:35 AM on April 7, 2010 [5 favorites]
Oh wow, that was painful to watch. I can feel the annoyance of the passengers, and I've never been on a subway. I'm just a backwoods gal from Kansas who thought the video was going to take place in a sandwich restaurant.
posted by amyms at 11:40 AM on April 7, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by amyms at 11:40 AM on April 7, 2010 [2 favorites]
I'd like to see them try this in Boston.
Advanced Mode: On a crowded D train.
Hard Mode: After a Red Sox home game.
Nightmare Mode: Where the Sox were completely trounced.
Insane Mode: By the Yankees.
posted by Spatch at 11:52 AM on April 7, 2010 [10 favorites]
Advanced Mode: On a crowded D train.
Hard Mode: After a Red Sox home game.
Nightmare Mode: Where the Sox were completely trounced.
Insane Mode: By the Yankees.
posted by Spatch at 11:52 AM on April 7, 2010 [10 favorites]
Maybe they started doing this in Oregon in 2007 or whenever it was current and have been working their way across the country one subway system at a time.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:55 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by kirkaracha at 11:55 AM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Insane Mode: By the Yankees.
Death Wish Mode: Switch Rick Astley for the "I ♥ NY" theme. :D
posted by zarq at 11:56 AM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
Death Wish Mode: Switch Rick Astley for the "I ♥ NY" theme. :D
posted by zarq at 11:56 AM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
the ripples of trend that filter their way out of places like New York, and find their way to Oregon, even though the stone that made that wave is no where to be seen in NY anymore
Or, you know, Chicago, where Threadless is actually located.
posted by adamdschneider at 11:58 AM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
Or, you know, Chicago, where Threadless is actually located.
posted by adamdschneider at 11:58 AM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
'Naturally 7' these Oregon boys are not! At least some of the Parisians warmed up for them.
posted by ericb at 12:10 PM on April 7, 2010
posted by ericb at 12:10 PM on April 7, 2010
only the beat boxer was in tune
posted by Juicy Avenger at 12:24 PM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Juicy Avenger at 12:24 PM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
New Yorkers performing a public service are once again misinterpreted as joyless haters. They're just heeding the old wisdom: as with all blights on the human soul, acappella ought to disappear when ignored.
posted by invitapriore at 12:28 PM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by invitapriore at 12:28 PM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
I was only in NYC 2 nights so my Baltimorean friend and I made haste to see what few sights I had on my list. Waiting in line for security to get to the top of the Empire State Building was.. a pain, but totally worth it when upon exiting the second elevator on the top floor, some stumbling tourist puked a few feet away; stricken by vertigo or seasickness, who knows.
The next day whilst getting on the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, in the middle of the security line some dude is busking, singing about being happy he looks me in the eye, nods, and says "This guy knows what I'm talkin' 'bout". Just because I smiled at him. Made my day.
Relevant? I dunno.
posted by pyrex at 12:36 PM on April 7, 2010
The next day whilst getting on the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, in the middle of the security line some dude is busking, singing about being happy he looks me in the eye, nods, and says "This guy knows what I'm talkin' 'bout". Just because I smiled at him. Made my day.
Relevant? I dunno.
posted by pyrex at 12:36 PM on April 7, 2010
Well, in a sense they did actually accomplish a rickroll by causing mass dismay and annoyance. As noticed previously the stone cold reaction of the people on the subway is classic.
"Oh, crap. This is going on the internet, isn't it? Is this supposed to be freaky or unusual? That's really sweet. Listen sugar, just yesterday there was a troop of b-boys from Queens up in this train popping and locking on the ceiling smoking blunts in day-glo graffiti-ed foam rubber godzilla costumes with frickin' lasers shooting out all over the place. Go on, ask me about the time I met a dude from another planet in Central Park. He had two heads. Speaking of which, if you stick around you might see the guy with two dongs who likes to wear tights to show it off. He usually gets on at the next stop. No idea where he gets off. HA!"
posted by loquacious at 12:46 PM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
"Oh, crap. This is going on the internet, isn't it? Is this supposed to be freaky or unusual? That's really sweet. Listen sugar, just yesterday there was a troop of b-boys from Queens up in this train popping and locking on the ceiling smoking blunts in day-glo graffiti-ed foam rubber godzilla costumes with frickin' lasers shooting out all over the place. Go on, ask me about the time I met a dude from another planet in Central Park. He had two heads. Speaking of which, if you stick around you might see the guy with two dongs who likes to wear tights to show it off. He usually gets on at the next stop. No idea where he gets off. HA!"
posted by loquacious at 12:46 PM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
The next day whilst getting on the ferry to see the Statue of Liberty, in the middle of the security line some dude is busking, singing about being happy he looks me in the eye, nods, and says "This guy knows what I'm talkin' 'bout". Just because I smiled at him. Made my day.
This guy definitely knows what I'm talkin' about!
posted by ludwig_van at 12:59 PM on April 7, 2010
This guy definitely knows what I'm talkin' about!
posted by ludwig_van at 12:59 PM on April 7, 2010
They're just heeding the old wisdom: as with all blights on the human soul, acappella ought to disappear when ignored.
And, don't foget the mimes.
posted by ericb at 1:00 PM on April 7, 2010
And, don't foget the mimes.
posted by ericb at 1:00 PM on April 7, 2010
Wow that was painful. Not even the singing. No, I shut that down three seconds in. It was seeing their eager little faces before they started singing that actually caused me physical pain. It felt a little migraine was developing in my temples as they stared all wide-eyed at each other with joyful and terrified expectation. Agh, it's painful to even think about.
posted by otolith at 1:21 PM on April 7, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by otolith at 1:21 PM on April 7, 2010 [2 favorites]
This was a great reminder of why I don't live there anymore.
posted by tommasz at 1:29 PM on April 7, 2010
posted by tommasz at 1:29 PM on April 7, 2010
There is no Rick. Therefore, there is no roll, other than what you would otherwise expect on a subway.
posted by markkraft at 4:13 PM on April 7, 2010
posted by markkraft at 4:13 PM on April 7, 2010
And, if you ARE going to ruin my commute, at least fucking sing in tune.
Yah, which is the real issue. Dudes, the homeless are better singers then you, let alone the actual musicians who busk. You are just sad and annoying everyone and you're not even IN KEY and then you UPLOAD this to the internet so we can all see how bad of an acapella group you are. If you're going to FORCE YOURSELF on people by being in the subway CAR (like I don't mind the sax guy who is always always always out of tune and terrible at 14th, cause he's on the platform and I can MOVE AWAY) then you have to be GOOD. I've had guys whip out flute solos in subway cars and while annoying, it was at least musically adept and well done. You guys aren't.
posted by The Whelk at 4:57 PM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
Yah, which is the real issue. Dudes, the homeless are better singers then you, let alone the actual musicians who busk. You are just sad and annoying everyone and you're not even IN KEY and then you UPLOAD this to the internet so we can all see how bad of an acapella group you are. If you're going to FORCE YOURSELF on people by being in the subway CAR (like I don't mind the sax guy who is always always always out of tune and terrible at 14th, cause he's on the platform and I can MOVE AWAY) then you have to be GOOD. I've had guys whip out flute solos in subway cars and while annoying, it was at least musically adept and well done. You guys aren't.
posted by The Whelk at 4:57 PM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
I didn't particularly enjoy this performance or choiceand thought it sounded like they picked the worst singer for the lead.
But, a glance at the YouTube comments—God love me—showed tons of people delighted with this little stunt. These are probably not overthinkers who have arguments over whether Threadless is still really indie.
All in all though, this snark reminds me most of an Arcade Fire gig I saw in London. It was a tiny venue; a beautiful church usually home to Classical gigs. An exception had been made for the band, and it was to be the European debut of their second album, weeks before the release. As I was queueing to get in, I was blown away by just how goddamn cool everyone was; in stark contrast to me, a nerdy Irish boy with incredibly bad shoes.
So for all these reasons I was super excited about the gig. But when the band emerged? The stalest atmosphere ever. People looked bored. The band even had to beckon people forward out of their seats? ("Where are we, Japan?") It felt embarassing to sing along or cheer under this vast apathetic gaze. Still, it was a good gig and eventually some sort of an atmosphere developed.
A few months later and I see the same band with a crowd of mainly fellow uncool people in Dublin. The atmosphere was instantly electric, euphoric, raw. It was a connecting experience; there was a sense of a truly special shared moment among the crowd. I had bruises all over me from (good natured) dancing and jostling. I arrived home hoarse and changed.
In short, obedience to trend, cool, and the judgement of others are shackles to art and meaningful experience.
posted by stepheno at 5:53 PM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
But, a glance at the YouTube comments—God love me—showed tons of people delighted with this little stunt. These are probably not overthinkers who have arguments over whether Threadless is still really indie.
All in all though, this snark reminds me most of an Arcade Fire gig I saw in London. It was a tiny venue; a beautiful church usually home to Classical gigs. An exception had been made for the band, and it was to be the European debut of their second album, weeks before the release. As I was queueing to get in, I was blown away by just how goddamn cool everyone was; in stark contrast to me, a nerdy Irish boy with incredibly bad shoes.
So for all these reasons I was super excited about the gig. But when the band emerged? The stalest atmosphere ever. People looked bored. The band even had to beckon people forward out of their seats? ("Where are we, Japan?") It felt embarassing to sing along or cheer under this vast apathetic gaze. Still, it was a good gig and eventually some sort of an atmosphere developed.
A few months later and I see the same band with a crowd of mainly fellow uncool people in Dublin. The atmosphere was instantly electric, euphoric, raw. It was a connecting experience; there was a sense of a truly special shared moment among the crowd. I had bruises all over me from (good natured) dancing and jostling. I arrived home hoarse and changed.
In short, obedience to trend, cool, and the judgement of others are shackles to art and meaningful experience.
posted by stepheno at 5:53 PM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]
If you're going to sing on the subway, try it like Gold Chains (lyrics NSFW).
posted by bwg at 6:22 PM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by bwg at 6:22 PM on April 7, 2010 [1 favorite]
I'm a Cubs fan and my wife is an Orioles fan. A few years ago, the O's came to Wrigley and we went to one of the games, which the Cubs lost. On the train, I told her she should sing the "Go, Cubs, Go" song but replace "Cubs" with "O's" and she declined, but in my head, the song sounds pretty good that way. It has a lot of O's in it. Of course some of them are in "Chicago" but whatever.
posted by Stylus Happenstance at 6:31 PM on April 7, 2010
posted by Stylus Happenstance at 6:31 PM on April 7, 2010
where was bernie goetz that day?
posted by TrialByMedia at 6:52 PM on April 7, 2010
posted by TrialByMedia at 6:52 PM on April 7, 2010
Or, you know, Chicago, where Threadless is actually located.
Bucktown hipsters are just as annoying as Williamsburg hipsters.
posted by Evilspork at 5:34 AM on April 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
Bucktown hipsters are just as annoying as Williamsburg hipsters.
posted by Evilspork at 5:34 AM on April 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
My brother sings in a barbershop quartet. They're pretty good, actually, but I honestly hope he doesn't see this video. It'll only give him ideas, and bad ideas at that.
posted by spoobnooble at 5:46 AM on April 8, 2010
posted by spoobnooble at 5:46 AM on April 8, 2010
Best youtube comment?: "The black guy was probably texting "Dear FML,....."
posted by applemeat at 6:20 AM on April 8, 2010
posted by applemeat at 6:20 AM on April 8, 2010
Bucktown hipsters are just as annoying as Williamsburg hipsters.
Nice try, but I'm not in Bucktown, although it looks like they did open up a retail store over that way.
posted by adamdschneider at 7:20 AM on April 8, 2010
Nice try, but I'm not in Bucktown, although it looks like they did open up a retail store over that way.
posted by adamdschneider at 7:20 AM on April 8, 2010
I don't know what's worse, the annoying stunt or the snobbery on this thread from those who get their boners from dividing the world into a privileged, sophisticated, urban "us" and a retarded, provincial "them".
Retarded provincial "them" here, Larry. The annoying stunt is worse by a long shot. Even us retarded provincials make it to NYC or Chicago or Toronto occasionally, and we are not nearly as tolerant as the post-Rudy G. New Yorkers. We'd've pantsed these precious fools.
Somebody tries this on my bus route? Damn, I bet the driver is packing.
posted by beelzbubba at 6:22 AM on April 9, 2010
Retarded provincial "them" here, Larry. The annoying stunt is worse by a long shot. Even us retarded provincials make it to NYC or Chicago or Toronto occasionally, and we are not nearly as tolerant as the post-Rudy G. New Yorkers. We'd've pantsed these precious fools.
Somebody tries this on my bus route? Damn, I bet the driver is packing.
posted by beelzbubba at 6:22 AM on April 9, 2010
This was a great reminder of why I don't live there anymore.
Yeah, I'd move out of Eugene, too, if this is what you call entertainment.
posted by beelzbubba at 6:28 AM on April 9, 2010
Yeah, I'd move out of Eugene, too, if this is what you call entertainment.
posted by beelzbubba at 6:28 AM on April 9, 2010
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posted by The Whelk at 9:21 AM on April 7, 2010 [3 favorites]