July 30, 2009
Top 10 favorite moments in the JK wedding entrance dance
Yes I am compulsively watching and rewatching the pure boogie-ing joy of Jill and Kevin's wedding dance on YouTube. (And I am not alone, my sister confesses to having downloaded it to her iPod for happiness interlude purposes.)Here are my Top 10 favorite moments:
10. "Kevin's Mock Escape"
He appears to pretend to be trying to running from the altar but the bridal party is marching very determiningly, blocking the aisle.
9. "Cool Guy Does Royal Wave"
If you can't dance, do the Queen of England's little wave. You're still supporting the concept.
8. "The Underrated Dancer"
This guy is visually blocked much of the time by the chubby bald-headed guy who kind of does the Funky Chicken, but he acquits himself well when not blocked in the frame.
7. "Handstand Guy"
One of three or four moments where the crowd ROARS its approval!
6. "Twirl of Support"
When the party reaches the altar, they slowly mime nearly falling as the lyrics chant "I won't you fall, let you fall, let you fall," and the final three bridesmaids in the frame (are they professional dancers) twirl beautifully. Here we see the barely scripted genius of this entire dance, the song and the moment, as somehow an apparently amateur videographer catches so many lovely ephemera. And as with "Kevin's Mock Escape," the friends are supporting the couple and suggesting that a marriage is sanctioned and held up by the larger community.
5a. "Chubby Red-Tie Guy"
He'll never be a professional dancer but he moves with assurance and aplomb and even a certain style behind the lead dancer ("Pogo Guy" ... see Fave Moment No. 2) with the wildly swinging knees and jumps and you gotta love him anyway as a supportive friend. (Looks like I've actually got 11 favorite moments so there will be two No. 5s).
5. "Somersault and Necktie Straightening"
Kevin does a surprise somersault (whoo!) and then STRAIGHTENS HIS NECKTIE! We are in the presence of greatness ... the whole group is having too much fun to be nervous and inspiration certainly graced the groom for this little gesture.
4. "Girls Vogue"
How fabulous is this!! Are these professional dancers? The most happening part of the video for me and the crowd knows they are in for a difference. Every woman who loves to dance would love to have this moment in the limelight. I can totally see my high school buds Deborah and Patti in this role.
3. "Couple Strolls Together to Altar"
2. "Initial Moment of Shock"
The first notes of Chris Brown's "Forever" squeak out, no one is sure what is going down, and then Pogo Guy stars boogieing ... What ?!
1. "The Bride's Appearance"
You can see why Kevin is marrying Jill in these expressions! Boogie on forever.
There are other great moments that didn't make the top 10, including when the swing dancing couple flashes by the camera with broad smiles on their faces ...
and when the young-looking version of John Goodman-looking guy waves his arms as part of the group dance toward the altar ....
And the woman in the audience whose face reflects delight in each and every segment of the dance (as well as the audible laughter of the guy nearest the camera):
When I first saw this video Saturday, there were 4 million page views. Now there are 12 million. (Many of them by me, obviously!). (Make that 15 million as of Aug. 3.)
Some favorite comments:
Lamont: "If only there were a brass pole at the altar." (It took me two days to get this.)
My sister Sharon: "So glad to hear that I am not the who is repeatedly watching this video. My favorite parts list is essentially the same as yours! There's one more moment I just love: the groom taking the bride by the arm, then strolling together in step. Oh, oh and that the guys are in the absolutely blandish tan-brown suits ever. How extremely dweeby is that? It is perfection. ... Try listening to it with headphones - you can really hear the
laughter of the guests."
My reply to Sharon: "The dweeb suits COMBINED with the fact that somebody's non-Hollywood camera manages to miraculously catch a lot of the fleeting expressions and quick dance moves make this sublime."
Sharon's husband Rob: "How'd they leave the church?"
My friend Deborah: "i can't stop crying with sheer joy -- I LOVE IT! it is sooo perfect -- soo happy and frolicking and fun. damn, now i'll have to get married again to do something like that. thank you for sharing it. were groomsmen and bridesmaids chosen for their dancing ability?"
My friend Patti: "I watched these crying and amazed at the joy, liberation, freedom and escape music and dancing bring us. Loved these! Thanks for sharing ..and thanks, ladies, for being there for 37+ years!"
Adelicia Villagaray, Baltiimore's and maybe the world's finest zumba teacher: "Oh my goodness that was great! I just watched it from your link and i was crying and laughing at the same time how sweet and fun.... i gotta show this to my boyfriend."
Comment on Youtube.com: "I'M GONNA GET A D I V O R C E so I can do it again THAT way. I thought I was a rebel in the 60's because I wouldn't say ...... and OBEY.... HA - love love love this..... Wish I were at the reception. "
Read more at the Washington Post: Going to the Chapel & We're Gonna Get Jiggy.
Watch more at NBC Today Show: Interview with the couple and dance recreation on live TV.
Update: Jill and Kevin are hoping to "direct this positivity to a good cause. Due to the circumstances surrounding the song in our wedding video, we have chosen the Sheila Wellstone Institute," they note on a new website seeking to help victims of domestic violence, appropriate given the background of singer Chris Brown.
- posted by jbelliveau at 9:32 AM in Love, Sex, Romance and Travel
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