Viral videos have snuck in the cracks of my life for years. I find myself clicking “stumble” almost compulsively between trying to do more “legitimate” work. As a schmaltzy printellectual, I find myself trying to break down what makes a video go and stay viral on the web. And I really don’t believe it’s the same thing that makes a video succeed on TV.

Last year, I did a 65 percent serious lecture on Lolcats, trying to pinpoint the juice. (I’ll up my powerpoint later). For now, let’s consider the number two stumble as of 5/13 on YouTube.

What we’ve got here is a well done if not slightly cheesy medley of Zelda music, always a favorite on the internet. Dude is good looking, even looks a bit like Link himself. He’s got nice threads, and knows his way around Final Cut or iMovie. The music is well produced (unplugged but with plenty of compression and reverb), and is under three minutes long total.

To me this video is a good example of the central cognitive dissonance that makes so many YouTube videos popular. Maybe we should call it the hi-tech/lo-tech paradox. This guy (I purposely refuse to find his real name) has created a video using technology without the apparent use of electricity. His smarts and musical skills take a few electronic and non-electronic phenomena — music videos, Zelda video games, and homemade instruments — and pit them against eachother.

Is this the formula for success? Well, it’s at least one of them. I still have trouble putting my finger on why this video could really only do so well on YouTube. Maybe it’s just that sparkling Christmas hat.

Crib Sweetner

• Look ahead at all costs. Interior breaks that knock huge arms off are way more important than the little clusters on the side.
• The first bubble is always green. If you can’t knock off something with it, hit reset.
• Aim carefully with your mouse. Don’t take shots you might miss.
• To rack up some points in later rounds when you’re near the end, deliberately miss the pack. Wait until more are added, get rid of those, and then keep going. When you’re getting 4 or 5x, this can add up.
• If you haven’t started playing, don’t.

Anyone else got tips?

-Ben

Manhattan Captain

Blush wine to go with it.