Breaking Meme: Auto Tuning
June 2, 2009
You can probably thank T-Pain Andy Samberg for this one, but the latest meme to hit the internets is auto-tuning for comedic effect.
In fact, here’s a video of Andy Samberg and T-Pain auto-tuning their way into our collective heart. (Okay, technically only T-Pain is auto-tuned.)
But sure, auto-tuning a parody song on SNL isn’t really that much of a stretch, is it? Well, leave it to the internet to take things…let’s be honest, probably one step too far.
The Background
Well, we can thank Cher for introducing the world to the auto-tune effect way back in 1998 with her single Life After Love. More recently it’s been revitalized by rappers T-Pain and Kanye West, because let’s be honest, everything sounds better auto-tuuuuned.
Additional Info
Vince Shlomi (aka Vince Offer), the man shilling Slap Chop and best known for his ShamWow! commercials, was arrested earlier this year for battering a prostitute after she bit his tongue and, allegedly, wouldn’t let go.
Related memes: Chocolate Rain
Current Obsession: Keyboard Cat
June 1, 2009
By now you may have heard of Keyboard Cat, after all he’s been featured on CNN, The Daily Show, The MTV Movie Awards, and new videos are popping up every day. The premise is deceptively simple, really. Keyboard Cat sits at the sidelines, keyboard at the ready, and watches as someone unwittingly sets themself up for pain, failure, and general embarrassment, at which point he happily plays his ditty, effectively ushering them off the stage. Nothing left to see here, folks. Move it along.
It’s absurd, it’s stupefying, it’s downright life-affirming.
The Background:
So, I hate to break it to you, but Keyboard Cat is actually dead. The original video was filmed twenty years ago by Charlie Schmidt, a performance artist, and featured his cat Fatso playing two songs. (Actually, I’m kind of surprised that the second song hasn’t caught on. I think )
Charlie Schmidt uploaded the video of Fatso to YouTube in 2007, but Keyboard Cat first hit the masses on February 2nd, 2009 when Brad O’Farrel posted the first Keyboard Cat video, as we know it.
What You Need to Know:
Is it appropriate to send to coworkers?
For the most part, depending on how brutal the fail preceding keyboard cat is.
Will your mom like it?
She may not get it, but if she’s anything like my mom she’ll probably start to nod her head along to the music and the idea of a cute cat playing a keyboard will fill her with joy.
Why is it popular?
The Keyboard Cat meme panders to the internet’s love of both fail and funny cats. Basically, it’s the modern equivalent of America’s Funniest Home Videos minus the terribly scripted jokes.
Anything else?
If you’re feeling creative you can contribute to the keyboard cat compendium with Auto Keyboard Cat. But you may want to act quickly, it’s only a matter of time before Keyboard Cat will be all played out.
Related memes: Lolcats
