In Jennifer Egan’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 2010 novel A Visit From the Goon Squad, gadget-loving toddlers control the pop charts. In SPIN’s extremely limited case study, Ylvis’ “The Fox” has generated a whole bunch of its Hot 100-climbing YouTube streams thanks to the same diaper-wearing demographic. But guess what: The kids are all right. Though we initially compared “The Fox” to Rebecca Black’s “Friday,” those who analogized it instead to Psy’s “Gangnam Style” were more on target, as the song’s goofy conceit, lofty hooks, and hilariously framed video haven’t been ruined for us yet despite many, many, many listens. Many listens.
Ylvis asked their immortal question — “What does the fox say?” — on an October 9 episode of Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. The performance acted out the choreography, lights, and characters of the ridiculously popular video, including the horse and the old man reading to a small child. It might not have touched on as many important topics as Kanye West’s appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, but actually — wait, no, what the fox says is far more interesting than whether Kim Kardashian should have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Ohio University marching band surely agrees. Dr. Lovefoxxx, or: How we learned to stop worrying and love our futuristic dystopia.
