Earlier this week, the GoldieBlox toy company went crazy viral with a parody of the Beastie Boys' "Girls," which transformed the song's original lyrics into a pro-girl anthem about encouraging young ladies to dream big without limiting them to pink teapots and dolls.
The video, which also incorporates a damn impressive Rube Goldberg machine, has amassed 7.5 million views since it was posted on November 17. Now, however, the Beastie Boys have threatened the company with legal action.
Here's a statement from GoldieBlox in a lawsuit the company filed Thursday (November 21) in U.S. federal court, via the Hollywood Reporter:
In the lyrics of the Beastie Boys' song entitled "Girls," girls are limited (at best) to household chores, and are presented as useful only to the extent they fulfill the wishes of the male subjects. The GoldieBlox Girls Parody Video takes direct aim at the song both visually and with a revised set of lyrics celebrating the many capabilities of girls. Set to the tune of Girls but with a new recording of the music and new lyrics, girls are heard singing an anthem celebrating their broad set of capabilities — exactly the opposite of the message of the original. They are also shown engaging in activities far beyond what the Beastie Boys song would permit. GoldieBlox created its parody video specifically to comment on the Beastie Boys song, and to further the company's goal to break down gender stereotypes and to encourage young girls to engage in activities that challenge their intellect, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
It's unlikely that the Beastie Boys are upset about the lyrical content of the song, as they've been vocal about their regrets over the original "Girls" lyrics in the past.
It's more reasonable to assume that the Beastie Boys' lawyers have threatened legal action because their song has been used in a viral video that's being used as advertising. Following the tragic passing of member Adam Yauch, it was revealed that his will prohibited the use of Beastie Boys songs in advertisements. The band quickly filed a lawsuit against againt Monster Energy Drink soon after.
Regardless, check out the admittedly great "Girls" parody below.
The video, which also incorporates a damn impressive Rube Goldberg machine, has amassed 7.5 million views since it was posted on November 17. Now, however, the Beastie Boys have threatened the company with legal action.
Here's a statement from GoldieBlox in a lawsuit the company filed Thursday (November 21) in U.S. federal court, via the Hollywood Reporter:
In the lyrics of the Beastie Boys' song entitled "Girls," girls are limited (at best) to household chores, and are presented as useful only to the extent they fulfill the wishes of the male subjects. The GoldieBlox Girls Parody Video takes direct aim at the song both visually and with a revised set of lyrics celebrating the many capabilities of girls. Set to the tune of Girls but with a new recording of the music and new lyrics, girls are heard singing an anthem celebrating their broad set of capabilities — exactly the opposite of the message of the original. They are also shown engaging in activities far beyond what the Beastie Boys song would permit. GoldieBlox created its parody video specifically to comment on the Beastie Boys song, and to further the company's goal to break down gender stereotypes and to encourage young girls to engage in activities that challenge their intellect, particularly in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.
It's unlikely that the Beastie Boys are upset about the lyrical content of the song, as they've been vocal about their regrets over the original "Girls" lyrics in the past.
It's more reasonable to assume that the Beastie Boys' lawyers have threatened legal action because their song has been used in a viral video that's being used as advertising. Following the tragic passing of member Adam Yauch, it was revealed that his will prohibited the use of Beastie Boys songs in advertisements. The band quickly filed a lawsuit against againt Monster Energy Drink soon after.
Regardless, check out the admittedly great "Girls" parody below.
