All Shook Up

May 7, 2010 10:18 PM

Elvis Aaron's #1 hit single for May 25, 1957. My version clocks in at eight seconds longer than Mr. Presley's, and uses slightly different instrumentation: the marron glacé guitar, the one string double drum, a shekere/maraca and talking drum. And, um, I made a... *ahem* ... video for it, which, if I had an ounce of dignity, I never would've posted to YouTube or Vimeo.

posted by flapjax at midnite (24 comments total) 13 users marked this as a favorite

Now, you do understand that you're completely out of your mind, correct?
posted by askmeaboutLOOM at 11:29 PM on May 7, 2010


Hmm... I always thought it was everybody else. But I'll give your comment some consideration.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 11:35 PM on May 7, 2010


that video just made my day, you goofy bastard.
posted by es_de_bah at 7:19 AM on May 8, 2010


That is fucking awesomely hilarious.
posted by chococat at 7:49 AM on May 8, 2010


The video is hilarious, but the music sounds really, really great.
posted by umbú at 9:11 AM on May 8, 2010


this is great.
posted by peterkins at 9:51 AM on May 8, 2010


It made me smile!
posted by francesca too at 11:59 AM on May 8, 2010


AWESOME! I agree with the above, the vid has me grinning like a fool and the music, your voice are effing incredible. From the deep growl to the high falsetto, man, that's the stuff.
posted by snsranch at 2:18 PM on May 8, 2010


And, um, I made a... *ahem* ... video for it, which, if I had an ounce of dignity, I never would've posted to YouTube or Vimeo.

Nonsense Flapjax - the vid is the absolute business. You know those guys you do jingles for sometimes? You should show them this - they'll have the corporate chequebook out before you can say "Elvis". Great stuff!
posted by MajorDundee at 3:13 PM on May 8, 2010


Who needs dignity when you have charisma? Great stuff.
posted by doubtfulpalace at 3:59 PM on May 8, 2010 [1 favorite]


Thanks for your kind comments, friends!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:04 PM on May 8, 2010


In the interest of thorough documentation of something the likes of which I may never in my life do again, I've taken almost 60 stills from the video and put them in a Flickr set, which can be seen here.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:19 PM on May 8, 2010


I think #27 is my favourite. It's like some crazed fusion of Art Garfunkel and Larry from the 3 Stooges.
Also, my favourite part of the video was waiting for your repeated portrayal of the "uh" beat of "I'm in love...UH...I'm all shook up." It's more of a silent beat but I always hear "uh" in my head. I think you know what I mean.
posted by chococat at 10:59 PM on May 8, 2010


re: the video:

Are you sure you're not secretly Donny Osmond?

I just realized I haven't even mentioned the song yet. I love that your instruments are almost like uber-simplified/stripped-down versions of "normal" rock instruments. You have the guitar, drums, and everything; it's just kind of the organic version.
posted by askmeaboutLOOM at 11:34 PM on May 8, 2010


It's like some crazed fusion of Art Garfunkel and Larry from the 3 Stooges.

Interesting... I don't care for ol' Art too much, but, yeah, the hair, I see it. Now, Larry, on the other hand, I like him a lot. A lot.

It's more of a silent beat but I always hear "uh" in my head. I think you know what I mean.

Absolutely... it gets a move and/or facial expression every time. In fact, that's the hook, right there. The silent "uh".

Are you sure you're not secretly Donny Osmond?

That is undoubtedly the most loathsome and hideous thing anyone has ever said to me. Glad you like the ultra-lo-fi instruments in use!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 12:36 AM on May 9, 2010


One man standing in front of a camera with post-production effects is a recipe for an almost certain disaster. It is very easy (and common, I think) to end up with an embarrassing and kitsch video that makes everyone wonder: "what was he thinking." Not you. That video is actually really cool, funny and never kitsch. I think doubtful palace is right about the charisma. It is necessary to have that to make something like that video work so well.

As for the song, I'll say this to you: I had already discarded the idea of participating in this challenge, but after hearing yours I decided I could give a go that Elvis song that was #1 in my birthday. So there's that. It is, to say the least, very inspiring.
posted by micayetoca at 9:59 AM on May 9, 2010


Thanks so much, mica! Really look forward to hearing what you do!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:11 PM on May 9, 2010


Man, that is manic. Manic and great.
posted by uncleozzy at 4:52 AM on May 10, 2010


I was expecting this to be totally goofy but it's actually totally awesome. LOOM's right about the stripped-down-ness -- any more (or any less, I guess) and it might feel like a parody, but it sounds really right the way it is.
posted by Karlos the Jackal at 2:27 AM on May 11, 2010


So, so awesome. I will now watch the video...
posted by Jofus at 3:38 PM on May 14, 2010


Ha!
posted by cortex at 3:39 PM on May 14, 2010


Sam, I just fell in love with you a wee bit.
posted by Jofus at 3:40 PM on May 14, 2010


I love this.
posted by minifigs at 2:39 PM on May 17, 2010


Video the best treat for my eyeballs in months. OK can GO fuck themselves.
posted by unSane at 9:07 PM on June 29, 2010


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