Is Rebecca Black's "Friday" for Real?

[Teh One Who Knocks]

by Joal Ryan - E! Onlinf





When a song is too good bad to be true, then we start to wonder: Well, is it?

Is Rebecca Black's YouTube and iTunes hit, "Friday," an honest attempt at a pop anthem—or is it a Funny or Die-esque joke on us all?

"I guarantee Ark Music Factory doesn't exist as some well-planned experiment in schadenfreude."

That's Gabe Meline, a music journalist and editor for Bohemian.com who put together the most complete report out there on the teen-recruiting record label behind the song that has listeners debating its qualifications as a "musical abomination."

"They're actually serious about it," Meline told us.

Likewise, Monica Herrera, news editor at Billboard.com, says the song, which reminds that Sunday comes after Saturday, is legit—as in real, not real good. "I'm sort of inclined to believe there's something genuine about it," she tells us.

The curious thing is that as "Friday" has blown up—it's even found its way to the playlists of Glee's powers-that-be—the people behind it have been (mostly) silent.

Our emails to Ark have not been returned, and, as best we can tell, company execs haven't granted any interviews, although Meline said he did have email contact with Clarence Jey, who has been credited with cowriting the "fun, fun, fun, fun" chant.

At least an unverified Twitter account in Jey's name has offered up a reaction to the song's surprising success: "Fritunes top 100.... Pariah Pop just found a home......lol," went a tweet on Wednesday.

As for Black, ID'd on Ark's Website as a 13-year-old "female" from the "United States," about the only thing we've heard from her is this faux "interview" on YouTube. (For what it's worth, there's also an unverified Twitter account in Black's name."What originally was just a fun little project turned into so much more," one tweet reported.)

Why all the mystery? Herrera thinks Ark is trying to keep things interesting; Meline thinks the company is enjoying "five more minutes in [its] allotted 15 [before becoming] a total joke."

One thing's for sure. "Friday" is not Will Ferrell's idea of a funny.

As a rep for the comic's satiric Website told us, "Funny or Die had nothing to do with it."

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Rebecca Black Defends "Friday" Lameness, Drags Justin Bieber Into It
by Gina Serpe - E! Online


Talk about synergy.

It's Friday, and you know what that means: we gotta get down we so excited Rebecca Black has chosen the perfect day to defend her talent and fight back against the torrent of Internet hatred that has descended on the teen for her mind-melting musical equivalent of a paint-by-numbers kit.

So what does she have to say about the tune that the masses have dubbed (on a good day) a pop factory experiment gone horribly awry and (on a bad day) the worst song in the history of the world? And, almost as importantly, what does Justin Bieber have to do with all this?

"I can't tell if I'm awake or not, it's crazy," Black told Good Morning America this morning, admitting that the whole experience was a dream.

Though, she might've meant nightmare.

Sure, while Rebecca is now famous, it's for all the wrong reasons, and infamous might be a better descriptor for the young girl with pop star dreams. That is, at least judging by the onslaught of criticism and personal attacks—the worst, she said, were people who told her to "get an eating disorder" and "cut yourself and die"—that came after releasing "Friday."

"When I first saw all these nasty comments, I did cry," she explained. "I felt like this was my fault and I shouldn't have done this, and this was all because of me."

However, Rebecca bounced back and is now defending the song's stick-in-your-head beat and inane lyrics (neither of which, it's worth pointing out again, is her fault…the blame for both belongs to L.A.'s Ark Music Factory).

"That's the point of it, it's a catchy song," she said.

As for whether she has talent to carry her through after the backlash subsides—which it doesn't appear to be doing anytime soon—Rebecca said she still thinks she has a shot at her original dream.

"I think I have talent on some level, I don't think I'm the worst singer, but I don't think I'm the best singer," she admitted.

And to prove it, she even belted out a few auto tune-free lines from the national anthem to prove that she is indeed perfectly capable, though not exceptional, at carrying a note. But hey, at least she got all the words right, so she's at least got one up on Christina Aguilera.

As for her musical future, Rebecca proved she isn't above a little begging (she might be cut off for the biz after all) and when asked who her dream collaborator would be, didn't hesitate to overflow with the following:

"I have Bieber fever, I am in love with Justin Bieber," she swooned. "That would just be…oh my gosh, just thinking of it gives me butterflies.

"Justin, if you're watching this right now, would you do a duet with me? That would be unreal, that would just make my life."

It'd definitely be a good career move for her. Him, we're not so sure. Although if anyone knows about YouTube sensations looking for their big break at the hands of an established pop star, it's him. Just ask Usher.

[Teh One Who Knocks]

Please tell me this is a joke

[Pony]

I have no clue what this is about.

[samarchepas]

Please tell me this is a joke

sadly no it's not

[Teh One Who Knocks]

I have no clue what this is about.

Did you watch that horrible video?

sadly no it's not

[Foxdana]

Anyone else get a "Robin Sparkles" vibe from this?

[Noilly Pratt]

When they jumped in the car, I was thinking "this has to be a joke"...I noticed no one had a seat belt, so I thought they'd put a twist on it and actually give a message where they crash or something, like those old cheezy 50's songs. But no...

And the obligatory, out-of-nowhere cut in of a black rapper - Yo, look she'z got cred!

Even the target market doesn't like it...I had my daughter and her friend watch it (2 girls both 8 and a 13 year old) and they all said "Ew...fake!"

It is the era of fakeness...where everything is polished until it Sheens!!!!

[Hugh_Janus]

I have no clue what this is about.

its about friday

[Teh One Who Knocks]

its about friday

Are you sure?

[Pony]

its about friday

Ahh! Now I get it. Thanks for clearing that up for me!

[samarchepas]

[beowulf]

[beowulf]

[Hugh_Janus]

Are you sure?

not too sure anymore.... it could bbe about fun