Viral Video Smile: 9-Year-Old’s Hilariously Awesome ‘Vogue’ Dance Video From 1991

by Jon Bershad | 11:27 am, June 10th, 2011

» 26 comments

We see a lot of Internet videos in the day. Sue us. After watching cable news for four hours straight, sometimes we just want to watch a cat ride a skate board. Anyway, most of those videos we keep to ourselves as they don’t really fall into the purview of what the site is. Other times, however, it’s Friday. And, really, what’s Friday if not for enjoying a 20 year old video of a nine-year-old’s fully choreographed, epic ode to Madonna’s “Vogue?”

The video comes from Robert Jeffrey, a (now 29-year-old) screenwriter who posted it on Vimeo with this description:

“I performed to MADONNA’s ‘VOGUE’ in the Summer of 1991 when my parents took me to Hampton Beach Casino in Hampton Beach, New Hampshire. A business in the casino at the time gave tourists the chance to lip-synch to their favorite pop songs in front of a blue screen background, and I was lucky enough to partake that summer.

In honor of the twentieth anniversary of MADONNA’s “TRUTH OR DARE” and in celebration of MADONNA’s upcoming ‘W.E.’, here is my nine year old self paying tribute to the woman who changed my life and continues to inspire me just as much today as twenty years ago.”

Now, some commenters on the blogs that have posted this are already going the political route, using it to combat the surprising recent rash of public figure “Choicers,” people who believe homosexuality is a sin. The argument being, “Look, do you really think this kid was walking up to that casino going, ‘God, I can’t decide if I want to spend my day playing football or fully choreographing a dance set to Madonna? What a tough choice!’?” However, like I said, today’s a Friday, so we can put politics aside briefly and just enjoy this for what it is, purely delightful nostalgia.

If only we could all get away from our busy, angry, adult lives and vogue sometimes.

ME AT NINE, PERFORMING TO MADONNA IN SUMMER ’91! from Robert Jeffrey on Vimeo.

(h/t BuzzFeed)

Madonna, This Exists, Viral Video

Ramrants

This guy would be 29 now, right? Is he gay? Might bring the whole nature v nurture argument to rest. He hadn’t gone through puberty yet…sooo….?
Alex Alvarez

Instantly reminded me of The Apple Store Kid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JqcUEx91sM
http://www.facebook.com/people/Bruce-Kennedy/1439463341 Bruce Kennedy

Dude! Destroy the tapes.
Nature Freak

Ramrants said:
This guy would be 29 now, right? Is he gay? Might bring the whole nature v nurture argument to rest. He hadn’t gone through puberty yet…sooo….?

it looks like the boy was having fun.
Alex, did you know that there are heterosexuals that like to dance and express themselves?
Why does this video make this 9 year look gay to you? I suspect the reactions to this video are sort of a Rorschach test.
Alex Alvarez

Nature Freak said:
it looks like the boy was having fun.
Alex, did you know that there are heterosexuals that like to dance and express themselves?
Why does this video make this 9 year look gay to you? I suspect the reactions to this video are sort of a Rorschach test.

Pardon? When did I say this child was gay?
LOGICandREASON

Robert Jeffrey said: “here is my nine year old self paying tribute to the woman who changed my life and continues to inspire me just as much today as twenty years ago.”

When Madonna changed someone’s live and continues to inspire him, one can only imagine the kind of life he lives. Goodluck to him and his Madonna inspirations.

You can enjoy listening to her music, but I cannot think of anything that is so inspiring to someone’s life about any of them.
Nature Freak

Alex Alvarez said:
Pardon? When did I say this child was gay?

I apologize if that is how its sounded. I just know there will be people thinking this 9 year old was acting gay or will end up being gay.
I realize now my point came across as confrontational. I did not mean it to, I was thinking of the world at large.
Alex Alvarez

Nature Freak said:
I apologize if that is how its sounded. I just know there will be people thinking this 9 year old was acting gay or will end up being gay.
I realize now my point came across as confrontational. I did not mean it to, I was thinking of the world at large.

Haha, ok. I was totally wondering why you included my name in your post as my only reaction to this was “hey, here’s another dancing kid.”
Nature Freak

Nature Freak said:
I apologize if that is how its sounded. I just know there will be people thinking this 9 year old was acting gay or will end up being gay.
I realize now my point came across as confrontational. I did not mean it to, I was thinking of the world at large.

I am a straight guy that loves to dance on occasion and I sometimes get grief over it (Americans sometimes have weird attitudes towards men and dance, especially outside major cites), so I find this whole story interesting.
Alex Alvarez

Nature Freak said:
I am a straight guy that loves to dance on occasion and I sometimes get grief over it (Americans sometimes have weird attitudes towards men and dance, especially outside major cites), so I find this whole story interesting.

We can dance if we want to, Nature Freak. We can leave your friends behind.
Nature Freak

Alex Alvarez said:
Ramrants

I was addressing Ramrants and accidentally put your name down. I still came across as a little prickly.
Nature Freak

Alex Alvarez said:
We can dance if we want to, Nature Freak. We can leave your friends behind.

And if your friends don’t dance and if they don’t dance they’re no friends of mine.

What happened to them? Must have been a true one hit wonder.
Black and Gold Brad

Nature Freak said:
What happened to them? Must have been a true one hit wonder.

Great song. Even greater video (back when MTV actually showed videos, and when videos actually mattered.)
newsjunkie

So Mediaite was short on material today, right? Two minutes of my life wasted that I can’t get back. Didn’t make it through to the end.

Can we get back to covering the media now?
BarneyFranken

This kid is blatantly ripping off Lady Gaga. What a hack.
Ramrants

Alex Alvarez said:
Pardon? When did I say this child was gay?

You implied it with your “choicer” comment…which I think we all know that was your intention.
Alex Alvarez

Ramrants said:
You implied it with your “choicer” comment…which I think we all know that was your intention.

Ah, yes, my “choicer” comments. The ones I make in between that stand-up routine I do about my hypothetical gay son.
JJ Vachon

I must say, I enjoyed this. But I do see what he ewaited until he was 20 before releasing it. Had he released it while in school he would have been mercilessly abused by his peers and probably would have had to change schools!
Noe Schitt

Lady Gaga – “The early years”

BarneyFranken said:
This kid is blatantly ripping off Lady Gaga. What a hack.
Noe Schitt

Black and Gold Brad said:
Great song. Even greater video (back when MTV actually showed videos, and when videos actually mattered.)

Agreed but MTV, (Money Television) was only good the first few years it was on air. It was the steady influx of cookie-cutter bands and no-talent hacks that ruined MTV. in my opinion.They’re all about the money. Quality took a back seat over quantity many moons ago.
Sanders Youth

This is so great!
Sanders Youth

newsjunkie said:
So Mediaite was short on material today, right? Two minutes of my life wasted that I can’t get back. Didn’t make it through to the end.

Can we get back to covering the media now?

I guess you want to see more Weiner pics? I am sure Mediaite wont disappoint.
rubberneck

Gay.
LoyalOpposition

Dude Barney Frank was so skinny back then.
LoyalOpposition

He’s DEFINITELY GAY if you take a look at his page here.

Also, judging by his comments, he’s a pretty nasty one, that doesn’t hold those different from him in high regard.

A commenter says:

“Mike Barry 1 day ago
I demand that every wing-nut, bible-thumping, fundamentalist, evangelical kook that has ever caused a child internal turmoil, pain, anxiety, depression, sadness or spewed hateful words that caused bodily harm, watch this video. It is my hope that their heads explode from the trauma. You work it boy! GOOD FOR YOU!”

He responds:

“HERE HERE MIKE!!!!!! Could NOT have said it better and thank you for your words–they make me happy and I know how happy they’ll make my Mom & Dad when I share them! ;) Have a great weekend!!!!! :)”

I thought the gay community was all about acceptance, no matter who or what you are.
Ava

Men without Hats just finished a tour with Devo. They are still alive and kicking!