It has been far too long since the western world has found and embraced a music sensation that they barely understand and by which they are mildly terrified. Psy’s “Gangnam Style” had its moment in the sun, and then of course there was the terrifying yet charming “The Fox” by Ylvis. Luckily Chinese pop star Wang Rong Rollin has stepped up to unleash the latest in bizarre music that is catchy, hypnotic, and essentially defies everything people once believed to be true about the world around them. Wang Rong Rollin’s song, “Chick Chick,” is represented by a video that features women in bird suits line dancing, animated chickens in bikinis, Rollin’s dolled up with Lady Gaga-esque hair and sunglasses, and a driving beat that would be impressive on a Dance Dance Revolution machine. Oh, and men in various animal masks clad only in silver shorts, socks, and shoes.
Usually there’s a bunch of backstory or cultural background that places these pieces of WTF-ery into proper context. In this case…the world seems at a loss. Allegedly, most of the lyrics are just Chinese versions of poultry sounds and it’s unclear just what the story is in this video. Is she a fairy princess? And if so, then what does that have to do with the cartoon chicken in a bikini? Is this some sort of weird cultural salvo against Korea’s Psy? And, if so, again, what does that have to do with a cartoon chicken in a bikini?
Like all great performances, this raises far more questions than answers. And like all terrible acid trips, it will linger in peoples’ minds as a waking nightmare of chicken sounds and prancing manimals.