goldberg and the girls

by mari


I think this could become a case of “if you build it, they will come”. This video from Goldie Blox is so awesome. Birdie watched it – and I’m not exaggerating – more than 40 times in a row the other day. (note: Goldie Blox and Beastie Boys are now dealing with a lawsuit – apparently instigated by Goldie Blox, see the link in the comments. Come on people, seriously?!)

I love the message, the kids, and the amazing Rube Goldberg-esque machine that makes my brain hurt in the best kind of way. And yes, Birdie is getting a Goldie Blox set for Christmas, I suggest the same for your smarty pants girls too.

{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Rachel November 27, 2013 at 7:09 am

It’s widely known that the beastie boys don’t allow any of their songs to be used in advertising. Goldieblox claim they were contacted by beastie boys lawyers and in response, pre-emptively sued the beastie boys! I love the product and the message of the ad too but how hard is it to ask for permission? I can’t imagine how it must feel to have your song ripped off and then be sued and then be cast as the bad guy for counter suing!

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2 mari November 27, 2013 at 10:11 am

I agree with you on that – I was really surprised to learn they hadn’t checked into permissions before co-opting the song. For such a professional looking PR campaign, you’d think the team they’re working with would have checked that out!

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3 Alicia Peyrano November 27, 2013 at 7:41 am

Yup it’s like Rachel says— Goldieblox is suing the Beastie Boys.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/24/beastie-boys-goldieblox-girls-copyright-infringement-_n_4330583.html

Love Goldieblox and the message, especially the idea of “disrupting the pink aisle” but a huge part of why that ad stands out –aside from the amazing kinetic structure- is because the song taps into a deep rooted nostalgia for our own youth as parents.

I wrote a little about it here:
http://www.littlecitizensboutique.com/blogs/news

Huge credit to the Beastie Boys and for their credo that their music shouldn’t be used to ‘sell’ anything.

Sadly I think Goldieblox’s message is now a bit onscured, they come out looking like a Silicon Valley start-up with a clever legal team. The founder in her hunger to tap into consumer psyche’s avoided doing the right thing and there’s a loss of heart in that.

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4 mari November 27, 2013 at 10:16 am

What a big fat mess. I agree, it’s definitely changed how I view the video – such a great message, but now it’s sullied a bit.

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5 Cynth November 27, 2013 at 8:45 am

Agreed. Great message, but sad that they didn’t ask permission or resolve it outside the courts. Pre-emptively suing is not a “feel-good” move, from what I have read the Beastie Boys are not to blame.

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6 mari November 27, 2013 at 10:11 am

I hear you. I still love the video, but the back-story and the legalese is really disheartening.

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