I don't wanna talk down on Sisqo's creativity but I do need to point out that during mid to late 90's it was hip to add violins to hip hop, the song I remember the most is Money Power Respect, but there were many others
I would pay big bucks to hear him do Donny Hathaway covers🔥🔥🔥😍😩He has one of the best voices ever, so underrated, which I think was caused by the Thong Song. It was catchy, but I hated that, that is what he did with his talent. He became a spectacle.
Yes absolutely!! I was a child at the time I first heard this song so I didn’t *fully* understand it (lol) but I was transfixed by his look. I remember thinking he’d fit right in in the futuristic Y2K movies I’d seen at that point.
@@revinot You don't guess. You have to know. You wasn't born yet huh. Thong song came after. Not long after tho. And yes living la vida loca was a big big hit. But NOT at the same time.
The violinist is a fuckin stud! If any of you have kids that play an instrument, don't let them stop! So many kids stop because they think it's uncool when they get older. This guy is amazing.
You gotta admit that Sisqo is a genius. He didnt created the beat nor the violin part, but he knew how to assemble them and the lyrics together, forming it to a masterpiece.
He put them together so well that the people who made the different parts even said things like "it dont even sound like mine anymore" and "no i didnt hear it, but it might be the song i put a violin on". Thats genius
Besides actual instrument talent, arrangement is another talent. Your mind is working on a different level putting together the different sounds of the instruments and harmonies to see through a vision. In Sisqo's case its from a hot date experience to a certified club banger.
I really enjoy these. I even watched the ones for songs I don't like. The stories are great and Vice has really put these together well. Of course Thong Song is a song I like.
Right he's so adorable! I saw him in concert (kind of) lol when he was the opener for Ricky Martin when Ricky Martin was just becoming popular and released Livin La Vida Loca
True! But, I think this story would still stand out! It was forged at the intersection of cultures where one humming out what he envisions and the other putting together his rendition!!! Where one asks what would be the punch line and the others envisions it and yet the other backs it up with a craft ... back and forth ... and then the step change! This interview gave a new light to the song!
Definitely entertaining with just his personality alone. If he did some hosting or comedy bit (commercial work?) I’m sure he’d make an extra dollar or two.
He’s also super talented. It surprised me to learn he not only wrote the lyrics but also re-worked the music, and then also came up with the key change at the end.
@@GarudaMan9 Dru Hill were the shiz back in the 90s I remember them very clearly. Never knew Sisqo was even in the group let alone a writer though until this video. Cray 🤯
People that did not have the luxury of growing up in that era don't realize how undeniably massive The Thong Song was. You couldn't go anywhere without hearing it.
Im 20 and I literally discovered this song two days ago. It was playing at the restaurant and I shazamed it. I was stunned to see +1.7M shazams! You’re right, I couldn’t realize how big the song was- crazy how I did not know its existence!
This is the only CD I had to buy a second copy of cause I burned the first one smooth out playing Thong Song. When it would come on in the club back in 99-00 people would lose their absolute minds. Myself included 😂
What garbage new artists are too serious?? They all sound the same, don't know jack about past music (hence the popularity of Twins the New Trend), and most new artists create mumble music that's autotuned to death: Desiigner, Playboi Carti, Lil Xan, Young Thug, Razjah...I could keep going, but your post makes zero sense. New artists do not care about the art of music only money and immediate fame.
@@CC-si3cr They’re point was that music use to be fun if you compare the 80s-2000s music to the majority of 2010s music you will see a complete shift in artist after the late 2000s Rock, Rap, and even pop became more depressing, serious, and violent they’re not just speaking about the sound but more about the lyrics so in a way they’re right artist of the 2010s are/were way to serious compared to the prior years
The look of utter innocence in his eyes when he says he's never seen a thong before somehow makes it better. And the fact the violinist also married his wife because of a thong... It's just an ode to the thong all around. No but seriously, he comes off so sincere, he had all this style, the sun tattoo on his bellybutton is very beautiful, and then this song, the chorus has some magnetism to it, and I never appreciated just how refined the chords are here, the song actually climaxes on the bridge, it's art. Pure art.
I think he did, at least from all the young people back then. We all saw him as different, even if the media didn’t talk about it. Sisqo could sing, had mad range, and his enthusiastic energy was evident whenever you saw him looking like no one else.
Right, and I'm learning that when we hear bangers that are mass appealing that seem kind of simple (thong, thong, thong ...), they truly are not. LOVE!
I was just thinking he seems awesome. I hated that song. Hated. It. I grew up with “thongs” meaning shoes and it still bothers me when people look at me strange when I say “I need to get new thongs/let me grab my thongs” or something to that affect. First world problem, for sure. 😂 So I never bothered to know much about this guy. But watching this, he seems pretty cool. 😄 I guess I can forgive him for that song. 😉
Check out the documentary "The Wrecking Crew." It's about the most prolific group of LA session musicians ever; you'll be shocked at how many records they're on.
This is a good indication of how much money was involved with singles because if a single sold well, people would buy not only the single album but the full album without hearing a second of the other tracks. Which made artists tons of money in the 90s, 2000s.
@@adamhunt607 yeah i think artists got somewhere around like 5 - 10% of the actual total made which is insane, some artists would even owe the label after huge albums and have to pay with touring and merch lol
Dude almost killed me...I was eating chicken and he said "Jesus walked on water but Sisqo walked on bitches". I damn near choked to death I was dying laughing.🤣
@@PJ-po7fu Thanks! I'm flattered. I'm glad you enjoyed the violin part! You might like this: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-PDK6sPiOKuY.html
It’s such a vague phrase too. I think the problem is he repeats it 2-3 times. But he repeats all the lyrics so it isn’t special, but they can use that as those lyrics were “1/3” of the song or some bs. Good lawyers for Ricky Martin and bs job done by def jam
The reason Bruno Mars cut Trinidad James a check for “don’t believe me just watch” on Uptown Funk was solely for the reason that Thong Song had to pay the writers of Livin la vida loca. A catch phrase is intellectual property. Same reason why anyone who uses a MJ reference of Bad or Smooth Criminal or Billie Jean has to pay. It’s to protect the artist who came up with the idea.
Ummm actually it can. Try seeing me not on weed vs me on weed you would prefer me to always have a bowl packed you would go wild on how angry I can become.
@@KamoheloRamone fr, but at the same time I like how karma works. Tim&Bob got their call from MJ however Ricky Martin and the lawsuit guy, where TF are they now?
"'Do I ever get tired of singing the Thong Song?' And it's like, nah, dude!" That's someone who really cherishes what they went through and where they got, and knows that's the song that made them more relevant than their other songs. I respect that.
That's who these people usually are. They were driven into music as children, and that's why they end up professionals. The people from my youth who became professional musicians and artists had been good at it since they were children.
Saw the thumbnail for this video, was like “NO, you don’t need to watch this video” click on it 5 minutes later , heard that song and I’m HOOKED again. 😂😂😂😂
@@07foxmulder Sisqo still produced the song. Violinist isn’t in the room if he doesn’t have the vision to add the extra parts to complete the song. So yes... a bit of musical genius involved. No ones saying he’s Quincy Jones. Lol
@@Gw19838 I’m not trying to knock the guy but come on lol Adding a violin to a song is now genius? That was done hundreds of times before Thong Song. Sisqo added in some elements, no question, but nothing about his contributions (or this song in general) was original or groundbreaking.
The love I had for Sisqo as a teenager was unhealthy 😅. I made my aunt send me the Unleash the Dragon CD from America to the UK because I could not wait for it to be released here. Good times lol
I was Grade 6 when the Thong Song came out. My classmates were singing and dancing to this track. MTV was the coolest channel back then and everybody's dream job was to be a VJ.
I think it’s amazing how he still loves the song after all these years because there’s some artists who absolutely hate their hit songs, it’s just cool af that he loves it still
It's not so much artists end up hating their hit songs, they become very resentful when everyone at the concerts only want to hear those. Imagine having a career spanning 30 years as a musician with all sorts of music and great stuff to listen to... and the screaming masses only want those few songs from the past. Bothers a LOT of musicians lol.
@@JuriAmari Or they want to avoid sounding like a cover band of themselves - there are some bands who play their hits from the 70s and 80s and they sound like pale imitations. It's so depressing. There's a reason why most band change their sound over time - the members get older lol.
Sisqo also changed my life a bit, I danced to this song in a competition show at a mall and won 3rd place, which was 20 years ago (I was 13 years old back then) 50$ prize which I gave my mom since we didn't have any money. but its not the money, its the inspiration.
I was 10 and i sang that song religiously lmao. My mom got sooo mad when she saw me watching the music video. I loved sisquo so much as a kid 🤣 and i grew up on Dru Hill as well. My childhood was lit growing up in the 90s listening to all genres 😊
“I like thongs. What can I tell you?” -Bruce Dukov I did not expect the story of “Thong Song” to end with a white classical musician verbalizing his appreciation for thongs. 😂
I love that he embraces this song ... so many artists turn their noses up to the songs that became a cultural phenomenon and despise having to play the music that got them fame and fortune.
As someone who experienced this as a young teen and remembers how big this song was, I’m very interested in this story. I remember how big this was at the time and how much I listened to this song on repeat on my Unleash the Dragon CD lol
also in general copyright they would've been pretty close to fine too. You're allowed to use the title of a song, not the lyrics, but the title. They could've tried to go for the lawsuit, but they would've been on shaky ground. They shouldn't have given up that money.
@@RomboutVersluijs my sentiments exactly how in the hell does he get more rights than anyone for one line when the producers made the track sisquo co produced and wrote all the lyrics that was a shady judge for sure
Haha, I love the violinist being so proud of being on the Thong Song. Sometimes classical musicians have a rep of being so uptight, love that he isn't.
Love Sisqo's energy. I remember his hits from the 90s and early 2000s. This dude has so much positivity and it would be cool to sit down and listen to his stories and how he came up.
When I was in Elementary school, a Cellist from the local symphony came to play for a school assembly. At the end of his performance he took questions from the kids and a girl asked "Do you know how to play the Thong Song?" and I will never not think about that moment.
The Thong Song is one of my core memories (even though I was a whole four-year-old in '99 and had no business listening to that song or watching that music video). The violinist is so wholesome and I love that Sisqo is still in good spirits and just as fun and energetic as he was back then! Great episode!
Notice how she did not rep the wearing of thongs. Side note why aren't there flip-flops worn in that video for abouts the fun-ness of bitches at the beaches?
This was my initial thought as well, but then I heard it again and it's not as simple as saying the same words. It's sung with the same note pattern, the same syncopation, everything. It was a direct ripoff. Whether you or I think it's right or wrong, that's how the rules were written.
@@Xii371 It’s nice to hear this from a lady, a lot of pressure growing up being short. And when I say short am speaking being over 5 ft 3 etc. It’s like you can’t win, you can be winning in life, work be fit health wise etc but some women would shun you just based on that.
Damn. Sisqo was a creative genius for this. The writing, the string changes, the video, his singing, his input with the choreo in the video. EVERYTHING was literal magic. I don’t understand how Ricky’s writer is getting paid more than all the guys who actually put their blood, sweat, and tears into the song. Okay, sure he won the lawsuit for an interpolation that lasts 1-2 seconds, but HOW is that worth more than EVERYTHING else?!? I don’t get that. That’s so ducked up
