The Joys of Youtube

Let's be clear, by and large Youtube is a gigantic waste of time. Up until very recently I could count on one hand the number of things I witnessed on Youtube that I considered worthwhile. Why, oh why, am I writing about it then?

I came across two parodies today that I feel are too good to keep to myself. I find these parodies so wonderful because they are both making the same, wonderful point. The lyrics of hip-hop are stupid. That's it, I wrote it.

I generally don't like hip-hop for a variety of reasons, the largest one being that I didn't really grow up with it and every time I try and listen to any it feels forced, fake and disconnected from my life. I feel like anyone can listen to Frank Sinatra and connect to the things he is singing about, even if you feel that the way he is singing is very alien to you. I don't have any kind of connection generally to the message being put forth in most hip-hop.

What I enjoy about both of these parodies is that they deliberately focus on the lyrics of these two popular songs and how inane they are. Each video approaches this in it's own way and I felt that including both of them would benefit everyone.

I'll get off my soapbox now but I'd like to make one more point first. Most hip-hop artists do not play instruments and, I believe most are not even responsible for the creation of their new (or reworked) beats. So what, then, are they responsible for? They lyrics and the manner they are delivered in. One aspect of the song is what they are truly responsible for and what gems come of this?