With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today during our fall member drive.
A parody of '90s European dance music is getting a lot of attention
Listen
• 2:03
LEILA FADEL, HOST:
A viral video of this song...
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "PLANET OF THE BASS")
MS BILJANA ELECTRONICA: (Singing) Danger and dance...
Support for LAist comes from
DJ CRAZY TIMES: C'mon, c'mon.
FADEL: ...Is making it a contender for song of the summer.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "PLANET OF THE BASS")
MS BILJANA ELECTRONICA: (Singing) ...When we out in the space on the planet of the...
DJ CRAZY TIMES: Bass.
FADEL: I guess that depends on who you ask. But anyway, the song is "Planet Of The Bass" by DJ Crazy Times and Ms. Biljana Electronica. It's a parody of '90s European dance music. DJ Crazy Times is a character created by New York comedian Kyle Gordon.
STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
Support for LAist comes from
To understand why this song is resonating, we spoke with Michael McWhertor, who's a writer at Polygon.
MICHAEL MCWHERTOR: This hit as everyone kind of had "Barbie Girl" on the brain. And Aqua's "Barbie Girl" is a very seminal Euro dance song.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "BARBIE GIRL")
AQUA: (Singing) Come on, Barbie. Let's go party. Ah, ah, ah, yeah.
MCWHERTOR: It kind of has that Euro dance formula, an attractive singer doing the melody and then the hype man in the background grunting and rapping and dropping, bass really loudly.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "PLANET OF THE BASS")
DJ CRAZY TIMES: (Rapping) Life - it never die. Women are my favorite guy. Sex - I'm wanting more. Tell the world, stop the war.
Support for LAist comes from
(LAUGHTER)
FADEL: McWhertor says "Planet Of The Bass" captures not only the Euro dance sound but the look, as well. There are multiple music videos for the song shot in different locations around New York City.
MCWHERTOR: It's kind of just got that low-budget vibe of performing a song out in public. And I think they really nailed it.
INSKEEP: I could do that - performing a song. Low budget - I could do the low budget anyway.
FADEL: Yeah. I mean, yeah, me too.
INSKEEP: McWhertor adds this parody is a gateway - like a gateway drug - for those who want to delve into the world of Euro dance music.
MCWHERTOR: As corny as it is, it's, I think, forever catchy.
Support for LAist comes from
FADEL: Corny is catchy, so don't think too hard about the lyrics. Get on the dance floor and surrender to the bass.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "PLANET OF THE BASS")
DJ CRAZY TIMES: Hello. Are you at phone?
MS BILJANA ELECTRONICA: Yes, it's true. Yes, it's true.
DJ CRAZY TIMES: Are you the girl of the love?
MS BILJANA ELECTRONICA: Yes, I am a girl. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Restaurants share resources in the food hall in West Adams as Los Angeles reckons with increasing restaurant closures. -
It will be the second national day of protest against President Donald Trump. -
The university says the compact, as the Trump administration called it, could undermine free inquiry and academic excellence. -
This is the one time you can do this legally! -
Metro officials said it will be able to announce an opening date “soon.” -
While working for the county, the DA’s office alleges that 13 employees fraudulently filed for unemployment, claiming to earn less than $600 a week.
Best of LAist