Double Rainbow (viral video)
Encyclopedia
Double Rainbow refers to a viral video
posted by Paul "Bear" Vasquez. The clip, filmed in his front yard just outside Yosemite National Park
, in the U.S. state of California
, chronicles his sighting of and Stendhal syndrome
-like reaction to a double rainbow
. As of October 28, 2011, the video has more than 31,000,000 views on YouTube.
himself (as user Hungrybear9562) on January 8, 2010. On July 3, comedian and late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel
linked to the video in a post on Twitter
, saying that he and a friend had declared it the "funniest video in the world." The video quickly gained over one million views.
A July 16th feature on the video by CNN
.com stated that the video had gained 4.8 million views.
As of September 2011, the video has over 30 million views on YouTube.
.
On July 5, 2010, the Gregory Brothers
auto-tune
d the video under the name "Double Rainbow Song". Their video has since gotten over 25 million views and has become a viral video in itself, almost surpassing the original in number of views. The song has been covered by the likes of Amanda Palmer
, Jimmy Fallon
(as Neil Young
) and also the Axis of Awesome during a live recording of a charity show in the UK.
On July 26, 2010, Cartoon Network in the United States
broadcast a 30-second clip that parodies the video itself, placing two Rainicorns (the fictional rainbow-unicorn
hybrid in the series) instead of real rainbows while Jake (voiced by John DiMaggio
) is making comment, during the end credits of Adventure Time
. Bill Amend's comic strip FoxTrot also features a parody of the original video.
On November 29th 2010, virtual pet site Neopets
released an event in their "Game Master Challenge" series, titled "More Amazing Than a Double Rainbow Across the Sky!". Users who completed this specific challenge (available for one day only), were rewarded with an item entitled, "Double Rainbow Background", with an item description of "But what does it mean?". Issue 472 (published December 2010) of the Neopian Times included a question in their editorial section relating to the meme-based item.
At the 2010 Teen Choice Awards, Zachary Levi, winner of Actor Action, referenced the double rainbow, when he joked "Thank you very much, it's like a double rainbow of epicness".
The website CollegeHumor
made a spoof of the video, showing Double Rainbow Guy in everyday life marveling at things such as a double-parked car, a double cheeseburger
, and double dipping chips.
Viral video
A viral video is one that becomes popular through the process of Internet sharing, typically through video sharing websites, social media and email...
posted by Paul "Bear" Vasquez. The clip, filmed in his front yard just outside Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is a United States National Park spanning eastern portions of Tuolumne, Mariposa and Madera counties in east central California, United States. The park covers an area of and reaches across the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountain chain...
, in the U.S. state of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, chronicles his sighting of and Stendhal syndrome
Stendhal syndrome
Stendhal syndrome, Stendhal's syndrome, hyperkulturemia, or Florence syndrome is a psychosomatic illness that causes rapid heartbeat, dizziness, fainting, confusion and even hallucinations when an individual is exposed to art, usually when the art is particularly beautiful or a large amount of art...
-like reaction to a double rainbow
Double Rainbow
A double rainbow is a phenomenon in which two rainbows appear. Double Rainbow may also refer to:* Double Rainbow , an album by Aya Matsuura* Double Rainbow: The Music of Antonio Carlos Jobim, an album by Joe Henderson...
. As of October 28, 2011, the video has more than 31,000,000 views on YouTube.
History
Paul Vasquez posted the video to YouTubeYouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
himself (as user Hungrybear9562) on January 8, 2010. On July 3, comedian and late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel
James Christian "Jimmy" Kimmel is an American television host and comedian. He is the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late-night talk show that airs on ABC. Prior to that, Kimmel was best known as the co-host of Comedy Central's The Man Show and Win Ben Stein's Money...
linked to the video in a post on Twitter
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
, saying that he and a friend had declared it the "funniest video in the world." The video quickly gained over one million views.
A July 16th feature on the video by CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
.com stated that the video had gained 4.8 million views.
As of September 2011, the video has over 30 million views on YouTube.
In popular culture
YouTube users created fan videos using clips of Vasquez's voice from the Double Rainbow video, making it an internet memeInternet meme
The term Internet meme is used to describe a concept that spreads via the Internet. The term is a reference to the concept of memes, although the latter concept refers to a much broader category of cultural information.-Description:...
.
On July 5, 2010, the Gregory Brothers
The Gregory Brothers
The Gregory Brothers are an American musical group who characterize their music as "Country & Soul, Folk & Roll". Members include Michael Gregory on drums and vocals, Andrew Rose Gregory on guitar and vocals, Evan Gregory on keys and vocals, and Sarah Fullen Gregory on bass and vocals...
auto-tune
Auto-Tune
Auto-Tune is a proprietary audio processor created by Antares Audio Technologies. Auto-Tune uses a phase vocoder to correct pitch in vocal and instrumental performances. It is used to disguise off-key inaccuracies and mistakes, and has allowed singers to perform apparently perfectly tuned vocal...
d the video under the name "Double Rainbow Song". Their video has since gotten over 25 million views and has become a viral video in itself, almost surpassing the original in number of views. The song has been covered by the likes of Amanda Palmer
Amanda Palmer
Amanda MacKinnon Gaiman Palmer , sometimes known as Amanda Fucking Palmer, is an American performer who first rose to prominence as the lead singer, pianist, and lyricist/composer of the duo The Dresden Dolls...
, Jimmy Fallon
Jimmy Fallon
James Thomas "Jimmy" Fallon, Jr. is an American actor, comedian, singer, musician and television host. He currently hosts Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a late-night talk show that airs Monday through Friday on NBC...
(as Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
) and also the Axis of Awesome during a live recording of a charity show in the UK.
On July 26, 2010, Cartoon Network in the United States
Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network is a name of television channels worldwide created by Turner Broadcasting which used to primarily show animated programming. The channel began broadcasting on October 1, 1992 in the United States....
broadcast a 30-second clip that parodies the video itself, placing two Rainicorns (the fictional rainbow-unicorn
Unicorn
The unicorn is a legendary animal from European folklore that resembles a white horse with a large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead, and sometimes a goat's beard...
hybrid in the series) instead of real rainbows while Jake (voiced by John DiMaggio
John DiMaggio
John William DiMaggio is an American voice actor. A native of North Plainfield, New Jersey, he is known for his gruff, deep voice and New Jersey accent, which he uses to voice mainly villains and anti-heroes.-Filmography:...
) is making comment, during the end credits of Adventure Time
Adventure Time
Adventure Time was a local children's television show on WTAE-TV 4 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1959 to 1975. It was hosted by the late Paul Shannon, with guitarist Joe Negri and puppeteer Jim Martin...
. Bill Amend's comic strip FoxTrot also features a parody of the original video.
On November 29th 2010, virtual pet site Neopets
Neopets
Neopets is a virtual pet website that was launched by Adam Powell and Donna Williams on November 15, 1999. Two years after the web site was launched, Adam Powell and Donna Williams sold a majority share to a consortium of investors led by Doug Dohring. On June 20, 2005, Viacom bought Neopets, Inc...
released an event in their "Game Master Challenge" series, titled "More Amazing Than a Double Rainbow Across the Sky!". Users who completed this specific challenge (available for one day only), were rewarded with an item entitled, "Double Rainbow Background", with an item description of "But what does it mean?". Issue 472 (published December 2010) of the Neopian Times included a question in their editorial section relating to the meme-based item.
At the 2010 Teen Choice Awards, Zachary Levi, winner of Actor Action, referenced the double rainbow, when he joked "Thank you very much, it's like a double rainbow of epicness".
The website CollegeHumor
CollegeHumor
CollegeHumor is a comedy website owned by InterActiveCorp and based in New York City. The site features daily original comedy videos and articles created by its in-house writing and production team, in addition to user-submitted videos, pictures, articles and links. In early 2009, CollegeHumor's...
made a spoof of the video, showing Double Rainbow Guy in everyday life marveling at things such as a double-parked car, a double cheeseburger
Cheeseburger
A cheeseburger is a hamburger with cheese that has been added to it. Traditionally, the cheese is placed on top of the patty, but the burger can include many variations in structure, ingredients, and composition...
, and double dipping chips.