Today’s Must-Watch Video: Bo Burnham’s “Art Is Dead”

Bo Burnham is a young, musical comic, who gained fame on YouTube, where his videos have been seen millions of times.

His latest Comedy Central special, “Words Words Words,” premiered last night. It included one song that was more honest than funny, a brilliant self-critical look at celebrity culture, “Art Is Dead.”

Before the song, Burnham said, “This song isn’t funny at all, but it helps me sleep at night.” Sitting down at the piano, he deadpanned, “Art is dead, art is dead.”

The rest of the song attempted to explain why actors and comics are basically attention-starved children.

All of this money, you worked really hard for.
I slept in late while you worked at the drug store.
My drug’s attention, I am an addict.
But I get paid to indulge in my habit.
It’s all an illusion, I’m wearing make-up, I’m wearing make-up.

As clever as these lines are, Burnham gets serious as he sings, “We’re rolling in dough while Carlin rolls in his grave.”

In a world where Snooki and The Situation make seven figures a year, this 20-year-old’s look at “art” is refreshing and powerful. Check it out, from Comedy Central:

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