Devolution of Dance

Judson Laipply is back. Evolution of Dance 2 has over 600,000 views on YouTube. Bloggers are embedding it. It's a hit. Or is it?

It's very difficult to repeat the success of a viral video. The first Evolution of Dance was a huge hit - it was the most viewed clip on YouTube for a long time, until the Avril Brigade took it down. At the moment, EoD has over 109 MILLION views. It's huge.

Naturally, Laipply wants to recreate the success. So, like many before him, he created a sequel to the original hit.

Alas, it's not the same. The new Evolution of Dance feels so fake, made and directed, there isn't an ounce of authenticity in it. Even the laughing crowd sounds like the studio crowd of a sitcom - people who are instructed on how and when to laugh.

Everything in Evolution of Dance 2 feels wrong - it's too clean, the songs aren't right, the energy is gone and the entire experience is plain and simple BORING.

Laipply isn't the only one who tried and failed in recreating the success of his first viral hit. SMP films and Sparta had the same problem. So did Simon and his animated cat.

I'm not saying they shouldn't try - if the internet has given you a chance to become a star, you should do everything you can to keep the buzz about you up and running. The problem is, you can't reproduce brilliance with a script and direction. You can't force the fun on people. Copying every element of the original clip doesn't guarantee its success.

Sure, EoD 2 will have a few million hits, because people want to see the sequel of the original hit, out of curiosity and hope it'll be as good. But Evolution of Dance 2 will never be as big a hit as the first one, and I am guessing there won't be a third clip.

Here they are, one after the other - Evolution of Dance II and its predecessor, Evolution of Dance. You be the judge:

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Pork and Beans: YouTube Stars in One Clip

This official video for "Pork and Beans" from Weezer shows quite a few YouTube stars, that you might recognize if you have been visiting the video site in the last year or so, or if your friends regularly bother you with forwarded e-mails.

I spotted the Dramatic Chipmunk, Chris Crocker, The Chocolate Rain kid, The Diet Coke and Mentos guys, The Evolution of Dance dude (still the most popular video EVER on YouTube), Ms. South Carolina, The Numa Boy and Plenty of lightsabers. I probably missed a few things.

Very cool clip, and right now also very hot on the web. Enjoy!