This past weekend a video became viral. It is often hard to explain why a video becomes viral. In this case it used a well known song by The Beatles “Let It Be” [iTunes Link] and a bunch of over the hill celebrities to create a music video.
According to The Hollywood Reporter (THR), these stars who appeared in the video may have participated under false pretenses. THR interviewed a participant, “Married With Children” star David Faustino, regarding the video and Faustino said:
“It was just one of those things that happened on the red carpet at some event, where a camera crew nabbed random, extremely gullible celebrities — apparently like myself — and asked them for an interview,” he tells THR. Faustino adds that the singing portion was presented at the end. “They were, like, ‘We’re putting this video together and it’s for charity,’ ” he says. “At least I remember I THOUGHT I was doing something good for somebody.”
Faustino admits it was his own singing voice used in the video, which, according to TV2’s website, took nearly three months to edit. As for whether his participation was obtained under false pretenses? Says Faustino: “Oh well. Live and learn. Fuck it. Let it Be.”
Besides Faustino this video also had the following celebrities appearing in it: Roger Moore, Huey Lewis, Jason Alexander (Seinfeld), Ricki Lake, Josie Bissett (Melrose Place), Alberto Tomba (alpinist), John Nettles, Corbin Bernsen, George Wendt (Cheers), Paul McKenna (hypnotist), Philip Michael Thomas (Miami Vice), Steve Guttenberg (Police Academy), Katarina Witt (figure skater), Tonya Harding (figure skater), Glenn Close, David Faustino (Married With Children), Gorden Kaye (‘Allo ‘Allo!), Alfonso Ribeiero (Fresh Price of Bel-Air), Sheryl Lee (Twin Peaks), Jamie Walter (Beverly Hills 90210), Larry Drake (LA Law), Dolph Lundgren (Rocky IV), Malcolm Jamal Warner (The Cosby Show), Judd Nelson (Breakfast Club), Ana Alicia (Falcon Crest), Kelly McGillis (Top Gun), Sherilyn Fenn (Twin Peaks), Rick Schroder (Silver Spoons), Bud Spencer, Robert Englund (A Nightmare on Elm Street), Roy Marsden, Boyzone, Dan Jansen, Kathleen Turner (War of The Roses), Maggie Reilly (Everytime We Touch), Maria McKee (Show Me Heaven), Meja (All About The Money), Fab Morvan (Milli Vanilli), Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Right Said Fred, Daryl Hannah (Roxanne), Rednex, Michael Conner Humphreys (Forrest Gump), Michael Learns To Rock, Ten Sharp, Lou Ferrigno (Hulk), Berlin and Style.
This video was produced by Norway’s largest TV network, TV2, to promote their talk show Gylne Tider (Golden Times) for its fourth season premiered October 31, 2010. One possible reason why TV2 chose these particular celebrities is because this season Gylne Tider will focus on guests from 80’s and early 90’s TV shows. It also airs re-runs of shows like: Seinfeld, Melrose Place, Columbo and Cheers.
Apparently Sony/ATV Music Publishing Scandinavia did not have the same views as Faustino, their built-in copyright scan on YouTube caused the video to be removed from YouTube. Fortunately it can still be viewed on several other sources.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uYRO8dznbs
This is not the first time Gylne Tider used celebrities in a parody music video to promote its show. Back in 2008 they did a remake of the “We Are the World” video with celebrities lip synching to the song.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpgGIWZjlTg