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Can You Beat This?

February 25th, 2008 by Mike Nelson · 73 Comments

Ours is a strange, sprawling culture, so it’s no surprise that it would produce odd moments like this one: (TIP: Fast forward past the 1st solo verse.)

It echoes this:

Which brings me to my point: can you come up with odder pop culture moments? I know I’m missing something major…

Other posts by Mike Nelson

Tags: RiffTrax

73 responses so far ↓

  • 1 Courtney on Feb 25, 2008 at 1:56 pm

    Somewhere in some attic there exists a painting of a really old decrepit Simon LeBon. Dayumn.

    I can’t find the video, but in terms of sheer uncomfortable awkwardness, that RuPaul / Milton Berle co-presentation at the MTV Awards is very strange.

    [Reply to this]

  • 2 Walter on Feb 25, 2008 at 1:59 pm

    What about the brand spanking new “F**ing Ben Affleck” from Jimmy Kimmel? That is the most star studded video I have ever seen.

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  • 3 Beautiful Houndstooth on Feb 25, 2008 at 2:00 pm

    1989 Oscars. Rob Lowe sings with Snow White… Proud Mary parody folks…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrLzdjKL4l4

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    Reply from Jeffrey Thames [King of Grief] on February 25, 2008:

    Thank you. I sought this out on YouTube over a year ago and came up fruitless. Never struck me to search again. Now I’m off to hunt the elusive sole episodes of You’re in the Picture and Turn-On…

    Reply from edgewriter on February 26, 2008:

    Man that sucked the soul right out of me. I feel dead and empty now. Have you ever seen a more embarrassed looking audience.

    Just because Flat White sounds like Snow White doesn’t make her Snow white

  • 4 DL Shakey on Feb 25, 2008 at 2:01 pm

    Mike, I don’t have any strange duets but what about “Soy Bomb”?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YKhNrvUXN4

    Come to think of it how about Jimmy Page and Puff Daddy?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eSZ9M5cHIQ

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    Reply from Mike Nelson on February 25, 2008:

    Good choices. Didn’t know about Mr. Page and Mr. Daddy’s collaboration.

    Reply from Geena on February 28, 2008:

    It was for the masterpiece Godzilla, from 1998.

  • 5 SEISMIC on Feb 25, 2008 at 2:03 pm

    I have the urge to crawl under the bed and cry! Help me folks!!

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  • 6 John H. on Feb 25, 2008 at 2:04 pm

    Mark these words: OPERA WILL BE BACK, IT WILL BE PISSED, AND IT WILL KILL US ALL.

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    Reply from BassBone on February 26, 2008:

    Where did Opera go? I go to the opera at least once a month.

  • 7 Darth Chimay on Feb 25, 2008 at 2:21 pm

    So many unholy unions, so little time. I was going to bring up gems like Frank Sinatra singing with Bono, or the mad partnering of Tango with Cash, but I’m going to have to go with this, one that blew my tiny formative mind so many years ago… the singing of The Rainbow Connection by Kermit the Frog and Deborah Harry.

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    Reply from Mike Nelson on February 25, 2008:

    Ow!

  • 8 SarahCanuck on Feb 25, 2008 at 2:22 pm

    Bing Crosby! Oh Bing, how I have adored you from when I was but a wee child. Oh David Bowie, how dang weird you are.

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    Reply from SEISMIC on February 25, 2008:

    Have you seen the “I’m affraid of Americans” video w/ Bowie and Trent Reznor? wicked stuff!!

  • 9 Beautiful Houndstooth on Feb 25, 2008 at 2:26 pm

    Pat Boone’s 1997 CD “In A Metal Mood” Pat covers heavy metal hits.

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  • 10 Natureboy (Ken) on Feb 25, 2008 at 2:27 pm

    It is a little order, but Pat Boone singing Ozzy Osbourne:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwvqA9aYqxQ

    [Reply to this]

  • 11 Daddy-O on Feb 25, 2008 at 2:32 pm

    Not a duet, but this was pretty odd from 10 years ago or so…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxjoZIm2XGo&feature=related

    I don’t think anything can top Bowie/Crosby for out and out weirdness though.

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    Reply from Mike Nelson on February 25, 2008:

    He looks like Pete Doherty around the eyes.

    Reply from Daddy-O on February 26, 2008:

    Hmmm…wonder if he needs a smoke..?

  • 12 Beautiful Houndstooth on Feb 25, 2008 at 2:37 pm

    When Milli met Vanilli

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSqV3rWM4iQ

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  • 13 Daddy-O on Feb 25, 2008 at 2:37 pm

    Crud, I forgot this good old fashioned nightmare fuel..

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQtyJZhV2lQ

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    Reply from Mike Nelson on February 25, 2008:

    I was tapping my toes…

    … to ward off my growing panic and strong suicidal tendencies.

    Reply from Daddy-O on February 26, 2008:

    Yeah, it’s pretty frightening how catchy it is.

  • 14 Beautiful Houndstooth on Feb 25, 2008 at 2:44 pm

    Liberace and Cassius Clay (Mohmed Ali)
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dpfzdupLHaE

    I gotta stop!

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  • 15 Conor Lastowka on Feb 25, 2008 at 2:56 pm

    This is pretty great. The look the two of them share right before the final notes is priceless. And time has not been kind to Axl’s wardrobe choices.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahn3-0mYBuc

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    Reply from Mike Nelson on February 25, 2008:

    A stadium full of people who know the words to Bohemian Rhapsody by heart? I no longer recognize this country.

    Reply from Neb on February 26, 2008:

    First: thought it was kind of odd how EJ kept switching octaves. I guess I thought he had more range. Hm.

    Second: The Axl Rose guy? I’m not very familiar with him, but he doesn’t seem to be particularly familiar with the actual NOTES of the actual SONG…as written. Wardrobe is also a misfire. Bare midriff top worked for Madonna v.1, but not on the middle-aged rocker who needs a haircut and to pull up his Utilikilt.

    Third: Michael J…. I’m not “in” to pop music, can’t think what band kilt boy is from, and even *I* know the words to that song! Queen rules!

  • 16 Onil on Feb 25, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    There’s Ben Folds’s love affair with William Shatner which resulted in a whole album, “Has Been”. The great captain did songs with Joe Jackson, Aimee Mann and Henry Rollins. A few more I can’t remember.

    And there was that series of priceline commercials before that with Shatner singing Convoy, Bust A Move and Age of Aquarius. His backup band included members of Sleater-Kinney, Veruca Salt, Helium, Fishbone, Ben Folds, and Lisa Loeb.

    Boy, Shatner really ran that gimmick into the ground, didn’t he?

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    Reply from Mike Nelson on February 25, 2008:

    Funny how Shatner performing with anyone comes off as an odd pop culture moment.

    Reply from edgewriter on February 26, 2008:

    Shatner Keeping it Gay

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmTsTeT19Bo&feature=related

  • 17 Michael on Feb 25, 2008 at 3:31 pm

    This can’t be Bowie, there’s no mullet.

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  • 18 Bill Corbett on Feb 25, 2008 at 3:32 pm

    Archie Meets the Punisher:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Punisher_Meets_Archie

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    Reply from Bill Corbett on February 25, 2008:

    On the music front…

    Tom Jones + Natalie Imbruglia sing INXS, along with Emo Phillips.

    (OK, the last ingredient is a lie.)

    Reply from Daddy-O on February 26, 2008:

    I actually had that Punisher meets Archie comic. At the end there was a teaser scene for a Jughead meets Wolverine issue. No lie.

    Reply from Leo on March 2, 2008:

    I don’t know if thisi s As bad as Archie and the punisher, but this one is X-ken and Star Trek TNG…

  • 19 Dave-o on Feb 25, 2008 at 3:32 pm

    cant take credit for this one because i found it while looking at a previous post’s link. but, leonard nimoy with bad brains? you betcha!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqQtoMyi2xQ&feature=related

    CREEPY

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  • 20 Dave-o on Feb 25, 2008 at 3:38 pm

    this one gave me nightmares when i was but a wee lad…warning: the early 90’s had incredibly bright florescent colors. sheild eyes…now
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fon8_0NWd-I&feature=related
    yes the unholy alliance betwixt elton john and minnie mouse

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    Reply from Mike Nelson on February 25, 2008:

    Elton John’s “Newsies”-style suit is officially the Gayest Thing Ever Created.

    Reply from Kleenex on February 25, 2008:

    Whoa, right at the beginning, is Minnie being dropped off by David ‘Blast Chunkhead’ Ryder?

    Reply from Neb on February 26, 2008:

    Kleenex: that was *exactly* my thought…but then ole’ Slab Hardcheese is such a “type”, you know? Not exactly a one-of-a-kind (more’s the pity).

    Mike: waaaay off the Gaydar. Ow.

  • 21 Jeffrey Thames [King of Grief] on Feb 25, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    How about a potassium break? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pR-PtmxOSs

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  • 22 Natureboy (Ken) on Feb 25, 2008 at 4:10 pm

    Oh, horrible duets, eh?

    Try Marilyn Mason and Alice Cooper…..even extreme metal fans have to cringe at this one:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlMfcf76Bqo

    [Reply to this]

  • 23 Lord-z on Feb 25, 2008 at 4:12 pm

    Off the top of my head, Johnny Cash not only singing the Nine Inch Nail song Hurt, but completely owning Trent Reznor and everything he stands for in the process.

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    Reply from Cibernetico 2 on February 26, 2008:

    I don’t understand this post.

    Reply from Leo on March 2, 2008:

    This is what he is talking about

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go

    He’s Covering a Nine Inch Nails song.

    Tho this song is quite Good and Is fits extreamly well and works, so I don’t know how it goes with the rest of this blog post.

    Reply from bob the hog on March 3, 2008:

    …completely owning Trent Reznor and everything he stands for in the process.
    – Lord-z

    Why, because he changed “crown of shit” to “crown of thorns”? Cash destroyed the song with that change. What a shame, because otherwise the cover is better than the original (imo).

  • 24 Dave-o on Feb 25, 2008 at 4:14 pm

    then theres this little ditty* by dame edna and k.d. lang
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzgUgFia9eM
    eminem with elton john @ the grammys was odd:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZY2p7oE7Bpw
    this is on similarto mike’s. its pavarotti w/ james brown:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCIyzNISw1Q

    *: ditty = slice of hell

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  • 25 bob the hog on Feb 25, 2008 at 4:37 pm

    The game show meets the computer game.
    I don’t know, this just cracks me up.

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    Reply from Beautiful Houndstooth on February 25, 2008:

    I SO wanna play that!

  • 26 Onil on Feb 25, 2008 at 4:40 pm

    In David Bowie’s defense…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFoJ0S7W5Hk&feature=related

    The Thin White Duke FTW!!!1!!

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  • 27 bob the hog on Feb 25, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    The ‘64 Beatles covering the 1971 Led Zeppelin classic, Stairway to Heaven.

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  • 28 Katie M. on Feb 25, 2008 at 5:05 pm

    Call me crazy (go ahead, I don’t mnd), I kinda dug that “Ordinary World” clip (though it’s oddly disturbing to hear Pavarotti sing en anglais).

    Then again, I always dug the Bing/Bowie clip too. Strange is beautiful.

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    Reply from Beautiful Houndstooth on February 25, 2008:

    I thought the Ordinary world was awsome!!

  • 29 Jim Dandy on Feb 25, 2008 at 5:09 pm

    How about Donald Trump and Megan Mullally singing “Green Acres”?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCkmOCsI-hc

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  • 30 Kzinistzerg on Feb 25, 2008 at 7:00 pm

    How about Klaus Nomi? Top this!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuSrsGzhD9U&feature=related

    Yes, that is his real voice!

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  • 31 SharonJoy on Feb 25, 2008 at 10:01 pm

    Back up a second, people. Lest ye forget Gwyneth & Huey? Yep, that song that made you barf and scream and curse….you got it: CRUSIN’

    http://youtube.com/watch?v=5D-ZGrYSRBs

    Oh the pain…

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    Reply from bob the hog on February 26, 2008:

    I prefer the Huey Lewis/Christian Bale duet.
    Not Safe for Work.

  • 32 Daddy-O on Feb 26, 2008 at 11:28 am

    I just found this and I can’t stop laughing…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mU2lJKkQ04

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  • 33 G-Force on Feb 26, 2008 at 12:34 pm

    Two words everybody…. Tiny Tim

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skU-jBFzXl0

    Or how about Coal Chmber and Ozzy Osbourne destroying Peter Gabriel’s Shock The Monkey?

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9Wm_3Z9Ryg

    [Reply to this]

  • 34 Matt B on Feb 26, 2008 at 12:38 pm

    So tempted to link to a Rick Astley song….

    Ah, I’ll go with Tori doing Nirvana instead:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcHNZVrxEts

    And of course, Paul Anka covering Survivor:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXPVxchwwQ8

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    Reply from Virginia Corbett on February 26, 2008:

    I just wanna tell you how I’m feeling…
    Gotta make you understand…

  • 35 Mike Nelson on Feb 26, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    So many good match ups. Some reach Swayze/Reeves-ian heights. Well done.

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  • 36 Geena on Feb 28, 2008 at 1:47 pm

    Sorry, y’all. I WIN.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PK5qKhPBnlA

    I saw this on TV (on the excellent David Sanborn’s Nightmusic show) back in 1990, when it first aired. It has always been my benchmark for beautifully surreal pop-culture moments (yes, that IS The Residents).

    BTW, the LeBon/Pavarotti duet was wondrous (but what’s Pavarotti chewing?).

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  • 37 JPB on Feb 28, 2008 at 2:15 pm

    A team up of sorts, a interesting impression from a often forgotten show…

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvmVeYgMpLM

    Just a day in the smooth life of Michael McDonald.

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  • 38 Chris on Mar 1, 2008 at 9:18 am

    There’s of course the hauntingly disturbing duet from the Brady Bunch Variety Hour:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjOYluvmGoo

    I think I win.

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  • 39 Leo on Mar 2, 2008 at 1:50 am

    Actully This one is Quite Wierd. The Hardcore Metal Band Sepultura with the Cookie Monster Singing and all, with the Opera Singing of Luciano Pavarotti! This is one of thoes Japaneses Animation Fan Created Music Videos. But the Song Is Real I assure you! For those of you who don’t care much for Heavy Thrash Metal, Skip to about 1:00 in the video. Also the Funniest Part is at the 3:00 mark.

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  • 40 Leo on Mar 2, 2008 at 1:50 am

    Actully This one is Quite Wierd. The Hardcore Metal Band Sepultura with the Cookie Monster Singing and all, with the Opera Singing of Luciano Pavarotti! This is one of thoes Japaneses Animation Fan Created Music Videos. But the Song Is Real I assure you! For those of you who don’t care much for Heavy Thrash Metal, Skip to about 1:00 in the video. Also the Funniest Part is at the 3:00 mark.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pUktIOQHfEo

    [Reply to this]

  • 41 U.J. Lessing on Mar 2, 2008 at 6:12 am

    I can’t believe that the Spice Girls/ Pavarotti duet got lost in the shuffle.

    Tenor Power!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVT_xbO-eHw

    [Reply to this]

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