A literal music video is a parody of an official music video clip in which the lyrics have been replaced with lyrics that describe the visuals in the video. The majority of literal video versions are based on music videos from the 1980s and 1990s, particularly videos in which the imagery is random, disconnected with the lyrics, and more concerned with impressive visuals than actual meaning. Literal videos generally have new lyrics dubbed over those of the original video, and often include captions for better clarity. Lyrics range from references to the video editing (such as Anthony Keidis being dubbed as saying “Now superimpose on me/someone’s ugly house” in the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ video for “Under the Bridge”), to questioning the unusual things depicted in the video which are usually, by convention, ignored by the participants (for example the lyrics “What’s happening with that monkey?/What is with this gas mask?/This is a strange library.” from the literal version of “Head Over Heels”).
The first known example of this meme, a redub of A-ha’s “Take on Me”, was posted on YouTube by Dustin McLean in October 2008. McLean, who worked on the animated SuperNews! show on Current TV, stated that the idea for literal videos came about from an inside joke with his fellow workers, and that two of his coworkers along with his wife helped to provide the new vocal lyrics
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