The Pop Culture Blog: Fun Facts for Cocktail Conversation
You’re at a party. A rather auto-tuned, teeny-bopper, repetitive song comes on, and people start singing along. Before you get worried that you’ve completely missed the newest hit song, know two things: 1. This is a very new phenomenon, so you’re not behind the curve, and 2. This song is a viral joke, so don’t start squealing about how much you love this song unless you actually do. It is pretty catchy…
If you still don’t know what I’m talking about, this song is “Friday,” by unintentional YouTube sensation Rebecca Black. In some ways a victim, Black solicited help from Ark Music Factory, a Los Angeles vanity record label that offers real-world experience for aspiring stars. In response to Black’s great audition (Black can, in fact, sing), Ark Music Factory offered Rebecca a choice between two songs the company had written, one of which was “Friday.”
For $2,000 Black got the song, an accompanying video, and – to her dismay – a lot of unfavorable attention. The good news? She’s profiting off iTunes sales, which she and her mother plan to donate to charities, and she’s received enough publicity that people might pay attention when she launches the acoustic version of “Friday,” displaying her actual voice.
If you’re the type who likes to know every party song, you should definitely check out “Friday” (and Ark Music Factory’s other productions). Having hit the iTunes Top 100 Songs, “Friday” will most likely be coming to a party near you (I’ve already heard it at least once.). And with the way we so enthusiastically embrace joke music, it’s possible you’ll hear some of the other songs too.
1. Alana Lee – “Butterflies”
2. Abby Victor – “Crush on You”
And my personal favorite…
3. Britt Rutter – “Without Your Love”