Song of the CENTURY

Over the past weekend, Dodo made me watch this music video:



At the time, I just stared at the screen--wide-eyed--not really sure what to make of it. Once Monday rolled around, I decided I needed to watch it again. After watching it a second time, I felt it necessary to do some research, to understand what was going on. Let me tell you that this music video has snowballed into an obsession. I've watched it at least a dozen times. I can't stop laughing when I watch it and every time I do, I catch something new and more ridiculous about it.

So, please allow me to deconstruct this masterpiece.

Let's start with the basics.
Who: The video stars a young blogger/ model from Harajuku named Kyary Pamyu Pamyu (apparently also known as Carrie).
What: This is Kyary's first single called PONPONPON from her debut album entitled "Moshi Moshi Harajuku." This is produced by Time Warner Music Japan by some hot shot Japanese music artist. And if you want the lyrics, which are hysterical, you can find them at the bottom of this page.
Where: Harajuku. Which, for those who don't know, is a very fashionably transgressive part of Japan. It's a city where fashions get started and many designers look to the area for inspiration, as youths come out with different, albeit wacky, ideas for fashion and dress accordingly. Kyary was one of these youths and (from what I can tell) was a fashionista blogger.
When: This video came out about 2 weeks ago... so despite the seemingly weak graphics, THIS IS BRAND SPANKIN' NEW.
How: I'm not totally sure, but what I can tell you, is that this video is really not at all over-the-top for Harajuku. This is just how art is done, it's all pretty much fashion-based. Just cray cray for us.   
Why: Because the world was down on its knees, begging for it.

Now, let's get down to business.* In a probably vain attempt to make sense of this video, I will point some things out with visual aids.

We have two girls in the video. One dancing with pigtails (shall now be simply known as Pigtails), one with a pink face (Pink). My first theory is that Pink is somehow controlling what's going on with Pigtails... perhaps Pink is her brain causing these hallucinations? Or is just a manifestation of a child's mind (and by child, I mean, person tripping ballz)?

Evidence:

Birds: Flyin' out her mouf.

BAM: Birds comin' through the window.

Eyeballs: Rollin' out her mouf.

BOOM: She's hanging out with eyeballs!

Next theory: Pigtails represents the erratic and often changeable moods of children. Sometimes she's having a grand ole' time--making faces and dancing--other times she's taking herself a little too seriously with weird hand gestures (teenager perhaps?).

Evidence:

All surrious.

Wacky faces. What a crazy kid!

Oh shit. Time for serious bidness. You can tell by the hand--it looks serious.

Farting Art, happier times.

Here's an interesting combo: serious hand gesture, yet she's slyly picking her nose--what a jokester!

Srsly guyz. SRSLY.

Final Theory: Clearly inspired by the 90s... childhood of the generation now entering adulthood? People making this video grew up in the 90s? Childhood, adulthood, manifestation, monomania, discombobulation, and other academically-weighty words?

Evidence:

Mac and Cheese reigned supreme in the 90s. And you see that little box of Golden Grahams? WHO EATS THAT ANYMORE? (Answer: Nobody).

That skull is totally reminiscent of the designs on the coolest Pogs.

Holy shit! LISA FRANK.

Last, but not least, I need to list off what Pink is wearing on her head.

Nurse Barbie, Plastic Bird, Grapes, Strawberry, Banana

Bone, Bird Wing, Butterfly, as well as the above.

Plastic Panther, Giant Flower, along with above.

The one part of the video that I sincerely cannot even imagine what it "symbolizes" is this:

Clap for bread.

Other interpretations are more than welcome (as mine were utter and complete bullshit). LET'S DECONSTRUCT THIS TOGETHER. But, I think the best theory is that people are just batshit cray cray and like to experiment with psychedelic drugs and then make videos of what they see to share with humanity.

Regardless of what it all means, this song has made it onto my youtube work playlist.
Basically, I listen to it.
Daily.

*Note: Only cool people, after reading that sentence, would start singing the song from Mulan in their heads.