Internet Fame Is Cruel Mistress for Dancer of the Numa Numa (funny video of kid singing)

NY Times ^ | 2/26/05 | ALAN FEUER and JASON GEORGE

[Cableguy]

There was a time when embarrassing talents were a purely private matter. If you could sing the Star Spangled Banner in the voice of Daffy Duck, no one but your friends and family would ever have to know.

But with the Internet, humiliation - like everything else - has now gone public. Upload a video of yourself playing flute with your nose or dancing in your underwear and people from Toledo to Turkmenistan can watch.

Here, then, is the cautionary tale of Gary Brolsma, 19, amateur videographer and guy from New Jersey, who made the grave mistake of placing on the Internet a brief clip of himself dancing along to a Romanian pop song. Even in the bathroom mirror, Mr. Brolsma's performance could only be described as earnest but painful.

His story suggests that the quaint days when cultural trinkets, like celebrity sex tapes, were passed around like novels in Soviet Russia are over. It says a little something of the lightning speed at which fame is made these days.

To begin at the beginning:

[arasina]

I like it even more now! Miya HEE! Miya HOO! Miya HA HA! (Good thing there's no video camera on MY computer!) LOL

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Agreed.

There's a lot to be said for youthful abandon.

It's a shame there will be so many people ready to laugh at him for "making a spectacle of himself". I think he deserves to be cheered not jeered.

[cyborg]

The New York Slimes crowd believes fun is only for the pretty people.

[laurenmarlowe]

Thanks for the ping Lady Jag! He is so cute! More power to him.

[Soaring Feather]

I love it! Thanks LJ for the ping.

[arasina]

Good thing we're pretty, eh, cyborg? ;o)



We have Good Housekeeping The New York Times Seal of Approval!

[cyborg]

BUMP!

[tang-soo]

Maybe someone could transliterate the song so we could all sing along. And then we could all - oh never mind.

[Lady Jag]

Isn't he wonderful! I'll be practicing the song and doing my own video rendition in his honor. Look for it.

[Lady Jag]

He is so sweet!

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Considering Mr. Feuer and Mr. George are from N.Y. I suspect their idea of fun might includes the southern end of a north bound yankee.

I'd just as soon do without.

[cyborg]

Yes artsy fartsy people annoy me.

[Cloud William]

I'll be practicing the song and doing my own video rendition in his honor. Look for it.

Estimated broadcast date, please? ;-)

[laurenmarlowe]

Can't wait!!

[arasina]

You mean you don't like prissy men who say 'dahling' to one another as they critique the latest crapfad? Who'da thunk it.

[Soaring Feather]

Yupper he is!!

[cyborg]

Yeah *lol*

[1rudeboy]

bttt

[speed_addiction]

Jeez! Whatever the lyrics say, that is a hell of a catchy tune! I am dancing and bouncing around my bedroom in my briefs with a hair brush for a microphone as this plays right now! There is something to be said for letting it all go!

[Dr.Zoidberg]

Be Careful, sometimes letting it ALL go can end up being rather painful!