Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past week, you’ve probably heard (or at least heard of) “The Fox (What Does The Fox Say)” by Ylvis. The song has recently become extremely popular, and at first listen I had no idea why. But upon further listening, I pinpointed it to one reason: the song, although somewhat stupid, is kind of funny.
Ylvis sings about foxes, as the name would imply, and what sound they actually make. Because let’s face it, we all wanted to know. However, instead of making fox noises, the group “sings” random and indiscernible sounds meant to mock dubstep and electronic music. This is the humorous aspect of the song, as some of the noises they make are just downright hilarious. The vocals are backed by a generic electronic beat, which doesn’t enhance the song but doesn’t impede it either.
The music video also adds to the humor. It begins with a bunch of people in animal costumes, which seems somewhat random. As it progresses, the two members of the group are seen singing in a forest in fox costumes. In the center is a grandfather reading his grandchild a story, which I would only assume is about fox noises. While the video is funny, some parts do get boring after watching a few times.
Though the song is funny at times, it does get repetitive and somewhat dumb after a while. The humor doesn’t appeal to everyone, and some even scoffed at it to begin with. So, like all good things, I would say “The Fox” is good in moderation. Is it the new Gangnam Style or Harlem Shake? I guess only time will tell. And although it isn’t the funniest thing I’ve ever heard, I am glad that Ylvis answered a question we all had – what does the fox say?