Literal Music Videos: Total Eclipse of the Heart

I'm late blogging these, I know everyone else discovered "literal music videos" a month ago. A quick YT search for "literal" turns up nearly 10,000 results, Rocketboom has already done a "Know Your Meme" on 'em, and here's a dedicated blog. But I'm fairly certain this is one of the more awesome specimens: TOTAL ECLIPSE SPOOF.

Because I love Radiohead, I love this one, too. Please post links to your favorites in the comments. (via Danny Sullivan and Laughing Squid)

[#1 posted by gandalf23, June 8, 2009 2:30 PM]

A-Ha's Take On Me is pretty funny. "That guy is gonna get an ass fulla pipe-wrench!"

Journey's Seperate Ways is pretty good, too.

[#2 posted by Anonymous, June 8, 2009 2:34 PM]

That was great! Try this one for size... Spoon: Don't make me a target: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBtXw6CPwg4

[#3 posted by Anonymous, June 8, 2009 2:38 PM]

Hmmm... think the white wedding one is still my favorite. Aha next to that.

[#4 posted by Gillagriene, June 8, 2009 2:52 PM]

I'm pretty fond of this Meatloaf one. He just wants his damn necklace back!

[#5 posted by Antinous / Moderator, June 8, 2009 3:06 PM]

I'm sticking with Under the Bridge.

[#6 posted by The Life Of Bryan, June 8, 2009 3:10 PM]

I regret not videotaping the reactions of some friends I showed the Bonnie Tyler video to.

[#7 posted by empirechick, June 8, 2009 3:45 PM]

This is, indeed, a wonderful thing!!

I never heard of them either, and I think they are so funny to me because aside from Thriller, I have seen very few videos. we didn't have cable, so no MTV.

I had no idea they were so completely cheesy to begin with.

[#8 posted by Anonymous, June 8, 2009 4:01 PM]

Props to Total eclipse, for sure the best

Monkee's Daydream Believer and Beatles Penny Lane gave me the laughs though.

Thanks for the post Xeni!

[#9 posted by Anonymous, June 8, 2009 4:05 PM]

well, i have always thought of them in two categories, "white wedding" and the other ones that aren't so funny. but the "total eclipse" is pretty funny!

[#10 posted by General Specific, June 8, 2009 5:48 PM]

I love this one.

"What the effing crap?"

[#11 posted by Anonymous, June 8, 2009 6:00 PM]

Apropos of nothing, I have always wanted to open a hair salon called Totally Clips of the Hair.

[#12 posted by bibulb, June 8, 2009 7:24 PM]

So, any chance of synching this one up with the Hurra Torpedo cover of the song?

(Or, for that matter, someone doing the Literal Subtitle version of one of their videos?)

[#13 posted by Ratdog, June 8, 2009 7:59 PM]

White Wedding, Under the Bridge, and Take on Me are I think the best.

"Pipe Wrench Fight!".

[#14 posted by jfrancis, June 8, 2009 8:04 PM]

1) Take on Me

2) other ones by that guy

532) everyone else's

[#15 posted by Architexas, June 8, 2009 9:34 PM]

Penny Lane FTW... Horse Montage!

[#16 posted by JimEJim, June 8, 2009 9:54 PM]

The guy who did some of the early ones, DustyMcNeato, still has most of the best ones. This one is pretty good though.

He's the one that did White Wedding, Take on Me, Under the Bridge, and Head Over Heels.

http://www.dustfilms.com/literalvideos

The biggest problem with most of the other ones is that people can't sing that well, so they're hard to listen too even if the writing is funny.

[#17 posted by hokano, June 8, 2009 9:54 PM]

This could just be the booze talking, but I found that surprisingly hilarious.

[#18 posted by gwynsen, June 8, 2009 11:13 PM]

The Monkeys with Daydream Believer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nViC0K-zifk is a great example.

[#19 posted by Jason Rizos, June 8, 2009 11:47 PM]

I've seen a few of these and this one is really well actualized, and not all that much contrived, really.

[#20 posted by jackie31337, June 9, 2009 12:51 AM]

I think this is the funniest one of these I've seen since the Take on Me one.

On a related note, if anybody needs female vocals for this sort of thing, let me know. I'm reasonably good at doing sound-alikes.

[#21 posted by Anonymous, June 9, 2009 4:18 AM]

The best cover of Eclipse of the Heart is of course by Hurra Torpedo. Freezer and Power Beard...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysUjYAi0WcQ

[#22 posted by Anonymous, June 9, 2009 5:55 AM]

Loved the new lyrics but I longed for better vocals.

[#23 posted by fitzroy_doll, June 9, 2009 7:06 AM]

@JimEJim: yes, you are correct. Funny lyrics don't make up for awful singing.

[#24 posted by The Unusual Suspect, June 9, 2009 10:45 AM]

Who remembered that Total Eclipse of the Heart had ninjas in it?

Ninjas make every music video better.

[#25 posted by kokog, June 12, 2009 10:46 AM]

This eclipse is a new classic! Most of this guy's work is ingenious. Unfortunately there is a growing army of wannabees out there that have a long way to go.
I did, however, find the Boys of Summer one worth a looksee...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev7Z2mF1UO4

[#26 posted by gregger, June 12, 2009 1:11 PM]

This one's pretty good too... Arms Wide Open:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMlA8nQ0bXc

[#27 posted by Anonymous, June 25, 2009 12:45 PM]

My favourite one James Blont You're beautiful Literal Version

This made me watch every literal version music video

[#28 posted by wooda, July 5, 2009 1:07 PM]

This is more like jon lajoie featuring literal version video. Funny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPAuBiwAHXM

[#29 posted by Anonymous, August 25, 2009 1:47 PM]

Thank YOU!!! They took this off youtube!....Thank you for having it! I'm diverting all my friends to this link!!