The success of OK Go's homemade videos has shown that music videos featuring weird, amateur dancing have an innate charm. But throw in a dose of Adult Swim-style weirdness and the awesome music of The Bird and the Bee, and you come out with a whole new kind of coolness. In this case, that coolness is the video for "Polite Dance Song," directed by Eric Wareheim of Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!. We hit up The Bird and the Bee's Greg Kurstin to get to the bottom of all this.
Were you guys Tim and Eric fans before the time came to make this video?
I love them. Big fan. I watch every show I possibly can. I think it's hilarious.
What did Eric bring to the table, particularly, as director?
The concept came from Eric. He sent us an email describing it. We loved it. I love how Eric brings out these great but very subtle performances out of the dancers and us. Eric made the video look amazing.
Where did you find the dancers? Does that guy really have only one eye?
I'm not sure exactly where Eric finds the dancers, but I know he auditioned and chose them. I didn't get to take a look under his eye patch but I think he only has one working eye. He looked like the real deal. Pretty smooth dancer.
How much of the dancing was choreographed?
Most of the moves they improvised but Eric gave them a lot of inspiration and direction at critical moments.
Were the shots of you playing done at the same time, and in the same room, as the dancing? If so, how did you manage to keep the deadpan expressions?
We did play while they were dancing, and it was really hard to keep a straight face. I had to think of unpleasant things like going to the dentist, etc.
Are we meant to understand that the last dancer has super powers, what with his ability to shoot triangles out of his hands and bring about disco lighting at will?
My interpretation is he is in touch with some supernatural disco force which he can channel through some sort of triangle hand ritual.
What's your interpretation of the video's meaning?
I think the video's meaning is, you really have to be in touch with what is unique about yourself and let it shine because if you're not paying attention, someone could come along with a supernatural disco force and blow you off the stage.
