As this article from the NYTimes points out, many of those supposed random acts of Thriller that have made their way across the video sites were in fact not copycats of the Filipino prison breakdance, but were an organized viral campaign timed to the release of the 25th anniversary version of the iconic 1982 album by the gloved one. Now I don't Wanna Be Startin' Somethin', but I do not see this as some underground dupe by corporate America to deceive the public and brainwash them into buying yet a new release from an artist with questionable future relevance. But I believe they are playing by Human Nature and following the current rules of the social media game. Granted, staging events for people to, as Billie Jean would say dance on the floor in the round and film it, all while seemingly have them be random experiences is not the most upfront of policies. Yet, the nature of the social nets these days seems to reward found media experiences. The story works better if you happened to see this performance on the tube or outside the Sydney Opera House. Now most times, a few zombies won't pull the numbers of the usual P.Y.T.s of youtube, but when you bring in the 25 year old classic and put the odd context of zombie performance in the middle of a normal everyday setting, people pay attention. In addition, who really is going to buy the new release after seeing one of these performances. Yes, it brings a song back into the cultural mainstream, but this is a song that is still played on radio thousands of times per year, that most people will never forget (whether 10 or 70) and still generates talk (the artist being who he is does not hurt on talk value either) so why not have a little fun with it. I see it as harmless and smart, but wonder in the end if it really affects album sales at all.
Now do a public dance to Lady In My Life, and we may move the needle.
