Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Special Thanks to Emily for Being Beautiful

It goes without saying that YouTube is a never-ending vortex of entertainment—72 hours of video is uploaded every minute, which is just crazy. So we all spend too much time sorting through media that is mildly entertaining because every so often we discover a hidden gem.

I have a friend at work who is especially talented at digging these gems up and here’s one of his best finds, “Music Video for Emily”:



(Before I mock this twelve ways from Sunday, does anyone else think the kid in the video looks like Sean Astin’s long lost younger brother? I was ready to cast him in Rudy 2.)



I don’t even know where to begin. The half-hearted, prepubescent, “I’m trying to grow chest hair” singing voice. The wooden puppet choreography (right arm, slight gesture; left leg, shift forward). The nervous glances that betray the fact he’s trespassing on private property for the “scenes.” The Tommy Bahama for Juniors shirt. The faux guitar solo that is so, so, SO bad.

But on the other hand, I think I like this kid, and here’s why:

  • He’ll never regret not putting himself out there. He’s about as far out there as you can get.
  • He admits his failings. He says in the video description “I know it sucks, I can’t sing well.” He’s right and yet still he powers through.
  • He obviously put a ton of work into the video. He didn’t just hit record on the iPhone, he booked a camera man, set the scenes, and gave new life to the Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves soundtrack.
  • He gives a spoken disclaimer at the end saying he hopes he doesn’t creep Emily out and really just wants her to know he cares. He does come off as a budding Ted Bundy, using phrases like “how much pain I go through just to come up with ideas” and “making myself feel insane.” But hey, she knows he cares.
  • As for Emily herself (assuming she’s a real person), she knows exactly how he feels. She’ll never show up at her 10-year reunion and be shocked to learn he thought she was beautiful.
Would I want to be Emily? Hell no. Would I ever do something like this? No, I’m much too jaded. But I appreciate that this guy leads with his heart and isn’t scared of making a complete fool of himself in the name of love. I guess it all depends on Emily to see whether this turns into an epic romance or a restraining order.

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