Viral Video Sensation Rebecca Black Charms and Alarms

By: Vanessa Beatriz Soto

You might be asking yourself: "Who is Rebecca Black, and why should I care, anyway?" Well, the short answer is that Rebecca Black is the most recent in a string of teen sensations making a name for themselves on the worldwide web through the magic of videos gone viral.

Ranging from the Asian Backstreet Boys to Justin Bieber, today’s teens the world over have taken their dreams of stardom into their own hands, bringing their performances to the people on video sharing sites like YouTube. So what’s different about Rebecca Black? And what is she doing on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno? Why is Lady Gaga herself calling Black "a genius"? Why is she getting calls from Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest?

Well for one thing, according to an interview with US Magazine, the 13 year old Orange County, California, teenager’s parents have her back.

"My mom is my biggest fan. She is so supportive, and she would always say that everything happens for a good, positive reason. Those people are the people that have no lives sitting on a computer all day thinking about what to say."

"My dad is my bodyguard. He is always so protective, and has always been supportive as well. He's just telling me to do what I love to do. There are going to be haters, but don’t let them bring you down."

They were central to the genesis of Black’s hit single, "Friday," paying the aptly-named Ark Music Factory (click if you dare!) for Rebecca to record the song (she's not the writer) and produce the video, which was then launched on YouTube. Mere days later, Rebecca Black was a star. In fact, posted on February 10 of this year, the song has already garnered more than 47 million views, jumping to #72 on the US charts. (it’s #33 in New Zealand, if you can believe it. I guess Kiwis like the weekend even more than the rest of us…) 

In fact, the video is a shrewdly crafted bit of postmillennial fluff that’s overflowing with the classic tropes of modern pop. It doesn’t spare the auto-tune, nor yet the rap interlude (it’s at 02:30.) It features the kind of special effects often seen on local TV commercials, including poky after-effects graphics and scenes clearly filmed in a car in front of a green screen. It also co-stars some less-than-enthused kids who don’t appear to be completely committed to their characters. Black herself is perhaps not the most musically talented sensation ever to spring from the worldwide web. But maybe it’s the material. With lyrics such as "Tomorrow is Saturday/And Sunday comes afterwards," it’s not be surprising that the video has scored 66,083 'likes' and a whopping 561,747 'dislikes.'

And this was her pick! Black told Jay Leno on the Tonight Show earlier this week that she was previously offered a song on the subject of love, but turned it town because, as she’s fond of saying, "I’m only thirteen. Not appropriate."

"Friday" has also spawned tons of parodies the sure sign of a web sensation. They range from sweet to snarky. "Friday" has even been called out by Comedy Central’s tosh.0 in a piece called "Songwriting isn’t for everyone."

Which brings us back to the original question: should we care? Why is this friendly-looking California girl on one of the most famous variety shows of all time? Well, she’s charming, modest, cute, squeaky-clean, totally accessible, and she appears to have the means to get her face out there. Why not? She charmed the heck out of Jay Leno and fellow Tonight Show guest Bradley Cooper.

And do you know what else? She’s donating the proceeds from her record to the victims of the Japanese Earthquake Disaster!

As for myself, I’m going to reserve judgment. After all, it is Friday.

Nessacrest out.

Tags Rebecca Black, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Viral Videos