Y’all may remember that a piece back I was complaining about some really Evil web advertising by the ringtone company Jamster, which has been under investigation for its marketing practices.
The advertising featured what I described at the time as "a repulsive and depraved looking photo-art fishman (with a figleaf over
his genitals and a pair of aviators’ goggles) who zoomed jerkily and
frenetically back and forth across the ad space in a nauseating fashion."
I never visited Jamster’s page–even to complain–but I recently turned up information on what the evil fish character is all about. It turns out that the character was not created by Jamster but buy some Swedish guy, and it (the character, not the guy so far as I know) is named "The Annoying Thing." (Big surprise.)
It was inspired by a popular sound on the Internet by another Swede imitating the noise made by a particular kind of moped engine.
The evil Jamster then licensed The Annoying Thing as an advertising mascot and used the sound as the basis for a ringtone.
The ringtone is called Crazy Frog (warning: some crude content), and it has been extensively marketed in the UK, causing folks there excruciating anguish.
People are acting all surprised about this–"How could a ringtone get to the top of the charts?" they are wondering–but it’s not much of a mystery when one listens to the thing and realizes that despite the presence of a sputtering Swede in it, "Crazy Frog Axel F" is really just a remix of "Axel F," the smash-hit themesong to the 1984 movie Beverly Hills Cop (about a guy named Axel Foley, you may recall).
LISTEN HERE IF YOU NEED A REFRESHER ON WHAT AXEL F SOUNDS LIKE: WMP | REAL
Since virtually none of the young people driving the British music charts today were alive in 1984 (and even fewer capable of remembering Beverly Hills Cop), it is hardly surprising that one of the biggest songs of the day could be brought back, introduced to the new audience, and do well on the radio.
What we really have here is the Crazy Frog sound hijacking an existing popular song. If you just played the engine-sputtering Swede on the radio, it wouldn’t do nearly as well. It’s because a well-written song has been infested with the Crazy Frog sound that it’s able to get that far.
And of course that’s even assuming the British charts are honest and the whole thing isn’t just a publicity stunt cooked up by evil executives at Jamster in league with evil chart cookers and the Easter Bunny (and the Annoying Thing).
I hate hate hate hate hate hate hate the crazy frog jingle. It’s driving me nut’s. It’s on every commercial break on Central, Channel 4 and FIVE…I hear it on other peoples mobile phones as a downloaded ringtone..and even my children annoy purposely annoy me with their own (better and funnier) rendition…and NOW it’s penetrated the Charts! There was a time (long, long ago)when I was rest assured that I could listen to the Top 40 with anticipation and genuine enjoyment…now I loathe it. Month after month it’s either cruddy acne-strewn pretty boy bands or inane repetitive jazzed up 80’s hit’s.
Shoot the frog.
And now we have the little green dragon, not as catchy, but equally annoying
shoot the green dragon too.
…and the fluffy yellow chick…
shoot the chick.
I yearn for the likes of Cream,Rainbow,Deep Purple, Pink Floyd and Rush (and oh so many more old faves)to enter the charts and whip ’em up goodstyle!
Man, am I giving my age away or what!
God Bless.
I don’t know about giving away anybody’s age, but it’s great to see someone from England standing up for the right to bear arms. ;-D
Jimmy, I was a staunch member of CND in my teen’s, and though I would advocate the murder of annoying animated characters, I don’t feel the same way about living, breathing humans and animals 🙂
I have interacted with a fair amount of Americans online over the past couple of years (on other forums) and I am aware that the majority of those that I have engaged with in cyber conversation, are Pro-the-right-to-bear-arms…but…I’ve never understood killing for fun (sport or other) and for that matter, I don’t much like the idea of killing in any instance other than for the defence of oneself, ones loved ones or one’s country.(people, not land)
Don’t mean to sound snooty about it, I’m much friendlier in real time than I come across as being, online!
Just why ‘do’ people display their ‘kill’ on the walls of their home? Just watching Bambi has me in tears…and don’t get me started on “Born Free”!!!
God Bless.
Well, coming from a home of hunters though I myself do not hunt, there are many reasons for hunting for sport.
a) Someone needs to kill the animals. If we do not they will overbreed and starve to death dying a violent painful suffering death.
b) There are people willing to pay to kill animals.
c) States can make money by issuing licenses to kill animals, limiting the number of licenses issued to appropriately limit the population.
d) Nothing tastes as good as deer.
e) ‘Nuff said.
ok.
Well, I believe that you feel that you have justified the killing of animals, I disagree…but that’s ok 🙂
God Bless!