The Ting Tings - 'Be The One'
Pop stars, you know you've really arrived in popular culture when mainstream comedians start spoofing your videos and re-writing your song with comical lyrics. We've all seen it, they attempt to mock your public image by baldly stating what it is, who you are, and why you aren't as cool as you think you are. The joke (such as it is) can only work if everyone watching has some idea of what the original song is, how it goes, and who sings it. Therefore, no matter how cruel the final skit may be, and how bad, it's always a massive compliment to even be considered.
The Ting Tings were recently awarded this honour, when Katy Brand did a skit on 'That's Not My Name' called 'We're All The Same'.
I'd put the video up here so you can have a look, but I'm not sure of the copyright situation, bearing in mind it's on a rival network. Although, it's kind of ironic to worry about the copyright on a parody of a song, seeing as it's based on someone else's creative endeavour in the first place. So maybe it's OK.
Tell you what, go and watch it, then come back.
Now, there are lots of things to say about the hilarious claims made in the lyrics to this song (Goldfrapp and the White Stripes are "just the same", are they? Are you sure, Katy?), but critiquing a parody of a pop song is a snake-eating-its-own-tail media nightmare of epic proportions.
That said, Katy does make the claim that all indie girls rip off Blondie (don't start...just let it wash over you, you'll be a better person for it). And this is the Ting Tings song which actually does, a bit, seeing as the melody and nagging keyboard refrain owe a debt to 'Union City Blue'.
Which just goes to prove that even a blunderbuss can score a direct hit, as long as the target is big enough and, y'know, really wants to be shot.
Download: Out now
CD Released: October 13th
(Fraser McAlpine)
Comment number 1.
At 9th Oct 2008, hackerjack wrote:Not sure that Katy Brand has ever seen or heard any of those she has mentioned.
The Ting Tings girl is closest to Bondie in looks but nowhere near in style. White Stripes and Goldfrapp are completely different ends of the spectrum.
Its like saying that Oasis, U2, Coldplay and Pantera are all like the beatles because they are multiple piece male only guitar bands.
Not to mention the cliche of a comedian taking a pop song and rewriting the lyrics, I mean who does she think she is? Al Yankovic? Cledus Judd? Carla Ulbrich? Chris Moyles? Jasper Carrot? Aren't they all just redoing the same joke? Aren't they all the same?
Is she aware of these delicious irony I wonder?
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Comment number 2.
At 9th Oct 2008, Fraser McAlpine - wrote:You can't say "Katy Brand" and "delicious" in the same sentence!
That's just asking for some pretty inappropriate jokes to be made at her expense, and frankly, we're all better than that, aren't we?
Mm?
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