What video lives in your head rent-free? This question has been asked a lot on TikTok lately. As a “Zillennial,” someone born in the grey area between Millenial and Gen Z, I have a deep relationship with internet video. I made my first YouTube account in Middle School as the platform was new and gaining traction then. The platform has since found itself a number of content genres that we are all familiar with; the video essay, song covers, vlogs, haul videos, ASMR, etc. I believe, however, the best content, the content that lives rent-free in my head, are the videos that weren’t made for YouTube as they clearly have no audience in mind. Today I just wanted to share some of those gems with you in a collection of short reviews. 

"2:30 am at a 7-11 near Disney World - 1987”

The title of this video says it all. Two guys with a camera decide to film the late-night happenings of a 7-11 near Disney World in 1987 – and it’s eerie. Often when we look at old videos they are centered around important events like TV performances and news stories. What makes this video so eerie is that it mirrors much of the video behavior we see today but in one long clip. With no platforms for the video, the staff is unalarmed about appearing on camera, and the patrons of the convenience store (which by the way looks the same in 1987 as it does now) put on performances as they are enticed by the thought of being on camera. 

Overall 9/10. This is spectacular content, however, the video seems longer than its nine minutes run time so I tend only to return to it every few months. 

Old piano adventure; the saloon sound

This 2010 video is as wholesome as wholesome gets. Pianist and joyful old man, “Rick,” shows us an old piano he picked up as part of a series he is “starting" but never seems to go through with. The magic of this video comes when Rick sits down to play, frankly adequate, Americana. He’s just so happy, it’s hard not to smile. I also find it lovely to see that Rick is still replying to almost every comment nearly 11 years after posting the original video. 

Overall 8/10. The video makes me happy, but he’s playing sounds like what you’d expect from an old dude with the resources to collect pianos. 

Fritz Wetherbee: Harshest New England Winter

As a native New Hampshirite, I am a HUGE fan of Fritz Wetherbee. I was good friends with his brother Carl for many years before his passing. Carl introduced me to Fritz a number of times. The man is a local broadcasting legend all too familiar to any child whose parent turned on the TV for news and left it on, thus leaving us too scared to change the channel on them. The content of the video is great but what is so stellar is Fritz’ very intact northern New England accent. Distinct American dialects are fast fading because society gets progressively more mobilized. Dialects are only really intact when all one hears in their own community. Growing up in Milford, N.H., Fritz has an amazing way of speaking that I can’t stop hearing. 

Overall 7/10. This video might be a little too New Hampshire for most so I regretfully give it a 7/10. 

Alan’s Bad Dream 

I don’t know how many people made it to Jurassic Park 3. Sequels usually ruin our idea of what a third movie would be like. However, this clip from Jurassic Park 3 is one that I could watch on repeat. Alan sits on an airplane, dozing off when from his hypnogogic state a raptor calls his name is the most unthreatening human voice imaginable. This video is a TREASURE of bad cinema moments. 

Overall 9.5/10. I could watch this over and over again, but quoting the video is probably funnier than the scene itself. You should watch that scene from Troll 2 while you’re on “bad movie YouTube.” 

That’s The Sound

13 million views. I have no idea where this video originates. But it is perfect in every way. It is 53 seconds of your life that I demand you spend learning about the ancient craft of woodblocks. 

Overall 10/10. The more I watch this video the better it gets, sometimes it’s funny, sometimes is absolutely profound. 

Enjoy your watching.