Bed Intruder Song
"Bed Intruder Song" is a song by the Gregory Brothers and Antoine Dodson, featuring Kelly Dodson.[1] The song, created for Auto-Tune the News, features processed vocals of a WAFF-48 news interview with Antoine Dodson, who was talking to a reporter about a home invasion and attempted rape of his sister Kelly,[2] mixed with a self-created backing track and, eventually, a video which incorporated clips from the news broadcast. The song peaked at number 89 in the Billboard Hot 100,[3] the only song that week to enter the chart on iTunes downloads only.[4]
The original music video for "Bed Intruder Song"[note 1] went viral,[5] becoming YouTube's most popular video of 2010.[6][7] As of September 10, 2023, it has been viewed over 154 million views and has received 1.2 million likes since it was uploaded on July 30, 2010.[8][9][10] On March 26, 2011, the song won the Comedy Award for Best Viral Original.[11]
Background[edit]
The song is based on a recording from a WAFF-48 news report about an attempted rape in Huntsville, Alabama.[12] A video of the news report was first posted to the WAFF-48 TV station website on July 29, 2010, and then copied and uploaded to YouTube on the same day.[13] Just two days later The Gregory Brothers released an Auto-Tuned song version of the news report. The pitch contour of Antoine Dodson's voice was manipulated to make him appear to sing.
Live performances[edit]
In September 2010, the Gregory Brothers performed a slower rendition of the song live at New York's Bowery Ballroom without Antoine Dodson.[23] In October 2010, Dodson performed "Bed Intruder Song" for the first time with Michael Gregory on keyboards at the 2010 BET Hip Hop Awards.[24] He was joined by the Gregory Brothers again and performed the song on BET's music video countdown show 106 & Park later that month.[25] Dodson and the Gregory Brothers performed the song again for the 15th Annual Webby Awards.[26]
Covers[edit]
According to The Observer, "More than 2,500 videos inspired by the meme had been uploaded by August 14, 2010".[27] Internet trends website, Urlesque, listed the "11 Best Antoine Dodson 'Bed Intruder' Remix Covers".[28] The Annoying Orange also spoofed the song and posted it on YouTube November 23, 2010. A full version was released December 3, 2010.[29]
These included an arrangement by the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Blue and Gold Marching Machine and a version on a shamisen.[10][18][28][30]
Andrew Gregory did a collaboration with fellow YouTuber Hank Green.[31] Evan Gregory's acoustic piano cover was included at the end of the first "Bed Intruder Song" video.[32]
Other cover versions include styles of death metal, a cappella,[33][34] power pop,[34][35] and folk.[34][36] Eric Stanley covered the song on the violin and incorporated hip hop and pop elements.[37] On August 20, 2010, Dane Cook and musician J Chris Newberg incorporated sections of the "Bed Intruder Song" into a cover of "Don't You Want Me" by The Human League.[38][39] On August 25, 2010, a punk version of the song was recorded by Hayley Williams (from Paramore), Jordan Pundik (from New Found Glory), and Ethan Luck (from Relient K) and posted to YouTube.[40][41][42] LIGHTS has sung the song in several live performances.[43] Ska group Suburban Legends regularly perform the song at their live shows, later releasing a studio version on 7" vinyl as part of Asbestos Records' Ska is Dead 7" Club. Los Angeles-based rock band Vayden released a rock remix,[44] and Spanish language versions "Bed Intruder (Discoteca En Español)" and "Bed Intruder (Rock En Español)" under the alias Hide Your Kids in 2011.
On August 1, 2020, the Gregory Brothers uploaded a remaster with improved autotune for the tenth anniversary of the song's creation, with a message from Antoine Dodson encouraging viewers to vote in the election and wear masks to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic.