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Mugged (Flight of the Conchords)
Encyclopedia
"Mugged" is the third episode of the HBO comedy series Flight of the Conchords
. It first aired in the United States
on Sunday, July 1, 2007.
song. It parodies various rap clichés such as references to "bitches" and "hoes", though in a deliberately tame manner ("there ain't no party like my nana
's tea party"). The video is filmed using common hip hop music
video techniques such as low camera angles and rapid movement of the performers towards and away from the camera.
This song was #67 in the 2008 Triple J Hottest 100
.
, and sweatshop
labor.
In an interview on the National Public Radio program Fresh Air
on 14 June 2007, the band stated that in this song they were trying to combine the styles of both Marvin Gaye
and The Black Eyed Peas
song "Where Is the Love?
".
.
When describing his friend, one of the muggers says the line: "... he's a psycho killer. Qu'est-ce que c'est?" This is a reference to the 1977 Talking Heads
song "Psycho Killer
" in which the lines "Psycho killer/Qu'est-ce que c'est?" are featured prominently in the chorus.
When the guys are getting mugged and Mickey pulls out a knife, Jemaine says "that's not a knife". Bret replies "yeah, that's, that's a knife". "Oh, it is a knife", says Jemaine, then they both run away. This is a reference to the famous scene in the 1986 Australian film, Crocodile Dundee
, in which Mick Dundee is accosted by a mugger on his first visit to New York. The would-be mugger threatens him with a switch blade. Dundee says "that's not a knife", then pulls out his own knife, a large Bowie
, and says "that's a knife", causing the mugger to flee.
The safety belt that Bret wears during his mugging is also a reference to the Beastie Boy's 'Intergalactic' promo clip; the group are dressed up in white outfits complete with safety belts as they perform in a Tokyo subway.
Flight of the Conchords (TV series)
Flight of the Conchords is an American television comedy series that debuted on HBO on June 17, 2007. The show follows the adventures of Flight of the Conchords, a two-man band from New Zealand, as its members seek fame and success in New York City. The show stars the real-life duo, Jemaine Clement...
. It first aired in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on Sunday, July 1, 2007.
Plot synopsis
Bret and Jemaine are mugged and chased by two thugs. During the pursuit, Jemaine's clothes get caught on a fence. Rather than helping Jemaine, Bret leaves him to fend for himself. Consequently, Jemaine injures his arm and spends two days in jail with John, one of the muggers. While in jail, Jemaine bonds with John, who is also dealing with the pain of having been abandoned, as his partner in crime ran from the scene when the authorities arrived. In his efforts to reconcile with an angry Jemaine, Bret decides to get Jemaine's camera-phone (which is a phone glued to a camera, rather than a mobile phone with camera abilities) back from the muggers."Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros"
"Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros" takes place during the mugging. Jemaine and Bret attempt to fend off the muggers with bluster then launch into a gangsta rapGangsta rap
Gangsta Rap is a subgenre of hip hop music that evolved from hardcore hip hop and purports to reflect urban crime and the violent lifestyles of inner-city youths. Lyrics in gangsta rap have varied from accurate reflections to fictionalized accounts. Gangsta is a non-rhotic pronunciation of the word...
song. It parodies various rap clichés such as references to "bitches" and "hoes", though in a deliberately tame manner ("there ain't no party like my nana
Grandparent
Grandparents are the parents of a person's own parent, whether that be a father or a mother. Every sexually-reproducing creature who is not a genetic chimera has a maximum of four genetic grandparents, eight genetic great-grandparents, sixteen genetic great-great-grandparents, etc...
's tea party"). The video is filmed using common hip hop music
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
video techniques such as low camera angles and rapid movement of the performers towards and away from the camera.
This song was #67 in the 2008 Triple J Hottest 100
Triple J Hottest 100, 2008
The 2008 Triple J Hottest 100 was announced on Australia Day, 26 January 2009. It was the sixteenth countdown of the most popular songs of the year, as chosen by the listeners of Australian radio station, Triple J....
.
"Think About It"
"Think About It" begins as Bret leaves to track down Mickey the mugger in an attempt to get Jemaine's camera phone back. The song exhorts people to think about society's ills, including comedic references to violence, AIDSAIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
, and sweatshop
Sweatshop
Sweatshop is a negatively connoted term for any working environment considered to be unacceptably difficult or dangerous. Sweatshop workers often work long hours for very low pay, regardless of laws mandating overtime pay or a minimum wage. Child labour laws may be violated. Sweatshops may have...
labor.
In an interview on the National Public Radio program Fresh Air
Fresh Air
Fresh Air is an American radio talk show broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States. The show is produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its longtime host is Terry Gross. , the show was syndicated to 450 stations and claimed 4.5 million listeners. The show...
on 14 June 2007, the band stated that in this song they were trying to combine the styles of both Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....
and The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas
The Black Eyed Peas are an American pop group , formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1995. The group includes rappers will.i.am, apl.de.ap, and Taboo, and singer Fergie. Since the release of their third album Elephunk in 2003, the group has sold an estimated 56 million records worldwide...
song "Where Is the Love?
Where Is the Love?
"Where Is the Love?" is a song recorded by the American hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas for their third album, Elephunk. It is the band's first record to feature Fergie. The song features vocals from Justin Timberlake, although he is not officially credited on the single release.The single was...
".
Cultural references
During a band meeting, Murray says to say "hey, I'm walking here", claiming it's "what New Yorkers say". The line is from the film Midnight CowboyMidnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy is a 1969 American drama film based on the 1965 novel of the same name by James Leo Herlihy. It was written by Waldo Salt, directed by John Schlesinger, and stars Dustin Hoffman and newcomer Jon Voight in the title role. Notable smaller roles are filled by Sylvia Miles, John...
.
When describing his friend, one of the muggers says the line: "... he's a psycho killer. Qu'est-ce que c'est?" This is a reference to the 1977 Talking Heads
Talking Heads
Talking Heads were an American New Wave and avant-garde band formed in 1975 in New York City and active until 1991. The band comprised David Byrne, Chris Frantz, Tina Weymouth and Jerry Harrison...
song "Psycho Killer
Psycho Killer
"Psycho Killer" is a song by American New Wave band Talking Heads from their 1977 album Talking Heads: 77, written by David Byrne, Chris Frantz and Tina Weymouth. The band's "signature debut hit" features lyrics which seem to represent the thoughts of a serial killer. Allmusic calls it a...
" in which the lines "Psycho killer/Qu'est-ce que c'est?" are featured prominently in the chorus.
When the guys are getting mugged and Mickey pulls out a knife, Jemaine says "that's not a knife". Bret replies "yeah, that's, that's a knife". "Oh, it is a knife", says Jemaine, then they both run away. This is a reference to the famous scene in the 1986 Australian film, Crocodile Dundee
Crocodile Dundee
"Crocodile" Dundee is a 1986 Australian comedy film set in the Australian Outback and in New York City. It stars Paul Hogan as the weathered Mick Dundee and Linda Kozlowski as Sue Charlton....
, in which Mick Dundee is accosted by a mugger on his first visit to New York. The would-be mugger threatens him with a switch blade. Dundee says "that's not a knife", then pulls out his own knife, a large Bowie
Bowie knife
A Bowie knife is a pattern of fixed-blade fighting knife first popularized by Colonel James "Jim" Bowie in the early 19th Century. Since the first incarnation was created by James Black, the Bowie knife has come to incorporate several recognizable and characteristic design features, although its...
, and says "that's a knife", causing the mugger to flee.
The safety belt that Bret wears during his mugging is also a reference to the Beastie Boy's 'Intergalactic' promo clip; the group are dressed up in white outfits complete with safety belts as they perform in a Tokyo subway.