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May 15, 2007

Video Hangover: Crash Test Dummies - "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm"

Every week, we dig in the archives for videos that we find noteworthy, memorable, or just unbelievably stupid. And then, we break 'em down for you. Why Video Hangover? Because when you watch as many videos as we do, you're going to feel it afterwards.

"Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm"
Crash Test Dummies, 1993

Allmusic called them the "perfect rock band for affluent '90s college students and yuppies." Sounds about right to us.

Rolling Stone still gave it 3 ½ stars
The moral here seems to be: it sucks to get in a car accident, and it sucks even worse to have birthmarks all over your body, but all of that is okay if you have somebody else to laugh at, such as a kid who has strict, religious and/or epileptic parents. Not exactly Hamlet, is it? Then again, Brad Roberts was not exactly Shakespeare. Shakespeare's Sister, maybe, but definitely not Shakespeare.

Crash Test Dummies: The missing link between Bob Dylan and Sigur Ros
Where does "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" rank on the list of all-time nonsense choruses? It's not as catchy as "De Do Do Do," or as hilariously Teutonic as "Da Da Da," but it's easier to sing along to than Gibby Hayes, and much less stupid than our old friend "Chacarron."

Unless she was really laughing at Brad's black vest
Two sets of parents, two different reactions to the play-within-a-play. The religious fanatics, upon seeing their church lampooned by an elementary-school theater troupe, look on with blank disapproval. Makes sense. But what's up with the Mom who, after watching a re-enactment of the car accident that was awful enough to turn her son's hair white, starts laughing her ass off? The same kind of mother who lets her 8-year-old drive, probably.

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12 Comments

wow. that shins video totally ripped this off.

Posted by: nick at 05/15/07 3:38 PM | Reply
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What the fuck is a "change room"? Dick.

Posted by: queefersutherland at 05/15/07 4:19 PM | Reply
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You know, I was but a freshman in high school when this album came out, so you really have to forgive me, but as much as I never really liked this song, I did like the album. Afternoons and Coffeespoons - based on the T.S. Eliot poem - is one of many good songs on it that got lust in the MMMM MMM MMM MMM shuffle, as it were.

*Braces for flames, but what the hell*

Posted by: Matt at 05/15/07 5:22 PM | Reply
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You know, I was only a freshman in high school when this album came out, so you really have to forgive me, but as much as I never really liked this song, I did like the album. Afternoons and Coffeespoons - based on the T.S. Eliot poem - is one of many good songs on it that got lost in the MMMM MMM MMM MMM shuffle, as it were.

*Braces for flames, but what the hell*

Posted by: Matt at 05/15/07 5:23 PM | Reply
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HAHAHAHA! Much More Music!

Posted by: Andrew at 05/15/07 5:27 PM | Reply
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Please never mention this abhorrence again. Now I have it stuck in my head. Mmmm mmmm mmmm mmmm STOP!

(Once. There was this kid whose...)

Posted by: heather at 05/15/07 5:44 PM | Reply
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Gibby Haynes, forgot the n, dudes. Butthole Surfers forever! I hear King Coffey does graphic D for rappers now.

Posted by: Matt Jones at 05/15/07 6:58 PM | Reply
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i've loved that song ever since i was a kid, got the album a few years ago and actually quite like it too. one of my favourite songs of the 90s.

odd looking band though.

Posted by: Stephen at 05/15/07 7:56 PM | Reply
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Yeeaah, they were surprisingly popular in Canada, Peter Pumpkinhead was a good tune, sung by the female band member.

I just love that Weird Al got all topical (Tonya/Nancy, the Bobbitts, etc.) with his parody of Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm.

Posted by: Blu at 05/15/07 8:23 PM | Reply
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Except, and correct me if I'm wrong (I'm sure you will), it was much better when performed by XTC. Who, y'know, wrote it

Posted by: ivotedforkodos at 05/16/07 3:35 AM | Reply
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anyone heard "superman song" by CTD? Man, that takes me back...

Posted by: jdubs at 05/17/07 3:25 PM | Reply
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