Boys on Wheels
Funny or not so much?
Direct YouTube link here.
The lead singer of Boys on Wheels is Jesper Odelberg and he is a guy with cerebral palsy, as well as part of a Norwegian comedy show. The four-minute video linked above is a montage of rock songs with lyrics slightly altered. For example, the first song is in Norwegian, the second is a spoof on the '80s hit by Norwegian band A-Ha: "Take On Me," instead called "I'm Not Gay." Bryan Adams' '80s power ballad "Heaven" has been altered so the lyrics begin: Baby, you're all that I want, but you're living on the fifth floor.
Bon Jovi's "Living On A Prayer" is spoofed as "Living In A Wheelchair." The lyrics are provided in subtitles within the video.
I'm finding it hard to get there, in my wheelchair.
Also at YouTube, Boys on Wheels singing "My Balls are OK" and "Making Love in a Handicap Toilet"
13 comments:
I vote painful. There are funny moments, but it's not really my sense of humor.
I might feel differently if I were Norwegian and had cerebral palsy.
Maybe not, though. Again, it boils down to what do you think is funny, in general? In general I take a dim view of humor that denigrates gay people. However, "At least I'm not gay" can be taken two ways, like, "It could be worse; I could have to live in a largely homophobic society as a gay person on top of all the rest of this" -or- "Ew, gay." Not knowing what is intended makes me see it simply as puerile.
I might feel differently if I were Norwegian, had cerebral palsy, and were gay.
Painful would be my vote too. There are a couple moments that crack me up, and without the play on homophobia it would be far less painful, perhaps. I wish I knew a gay Norwegian with cerebral palsy to see if they thought differently.
Apparently, Odelberg is a regular feature on a Norwegian show (comedy show?). There's quite a few YouTube videos with him in them, not singing. I like that he's a regular presence on some show, as a disabled guy, but context matters. And I don't know Norwegian. . . .
There's an interview with Odelberg on this month's Ouch podcast. I appreciated the videos a little more after that and hearing a little more about his being a comedian. I'm not so happy about the "I'm Not Gay" bit, since, well, I'm rather gay, myself. Unforunately, if the Ouch people asked him about it, it was edited out for the final podcast. Oh well, can't win them all, I guess.
Ooh, excellent. I love the podcast but am behind in listening. Thanks for the heads up.
I think it's great that these boys on wheels are able to make jokes about their disabilities. This way they make people laugh, but also make them realize and open their eyes. People with disabilities are part of everyday life. We need to take them seriously.
Uh I think it was sorta painful at times, but then again Europeans are a bit wacky. Personally I think the I'm not gay song was one of the funny (and better sung) songs that they did, but I'm not gay so I don't know if that could be seen as offensive. Overall I liked it though.
loved it!!! love shock value....it had it....after a few moments I got used to it and didnt feel like I was going to burn in hell.....loved it so much I had to google to see if they sold dvd's....this would be a perfect gift for a friend of mine......Im glad they are using their talents to express themselves and by doing that they are making it ok to be in wheelchair, the average person doesnt come into alot of contact with the disabled but awsome job of putting in peoples faces and letting them know that you have a sense of humor about your situation. rock on guys!!! you have a huge new fan in the U.S.
Just got to point out that Jesper Odelberg is Swedish. He's a stand-up comedian from our second largest city, Gothenburg.
/The Swedish relative ;)
Restless: ;)
So much for my mad Google skillz. Is it true he's on a Norwegian TV show? And, I suppose the songs not in English are actually in Swedish, then right?
He's on a Norwegian TV show and every now and then he's on Swedish TV as well.
Yep, the non-english song is in Swedish although subtitled in norwegian.
It's about a night out where he cruises from bar to bar in his golden chair, drinking tequilas and having a great time.
At first I felt like it was slightly offensive... but if he is comfortable saying those things as a form of humor then who are we to try and pretend its not funny??
I love it!
i have no clue how we can be offended by a portrayal of the handicapped on a blog site called the gimp parade =/
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