Don't Let the Man Get You Down
Encyclopedia
"Don't Let the Man Get You Down" is a song by British big beat
musician Fatboy Slim
. It was released as a single from his album Palookaville. The single peaked at number 153 on the UK Singles Chart
. It samples the opening line of the song "Signs
" by Five Man Electrical Band
.
The song was covered by the French band Justice
. The song was featured in the Spike Jonze
directed skateboarding video Yeah Right!
. Both Jonze and Ty Evans submitted the ending credits montage as a possible music video, but it was declined. It is also featured in SSX 3
.
is in the style of a black and white public service announcement
. It starts off with the title 'A film by Neighborhood Watch (The End is Near)' then it switches to a white man
named Don, and it states that 'Don likes to fish' and 'Don is a racist'. Throughout the video, it shows Don living a day in his life showing hatred, disdain, and distrust of non-whites. A figure in black, thought to be the figure on the 'This is a Neighborhood Watch Community' sign, is seen stalking Don in the background during the scenes in the parking lot, water fountain and Mexican restaurant scenes. After shooing some dark-skinned kids off of his boat, he furiously marches across the street and gets hit by a car, dropping his prized fishing trophy. As an Asian man sees him and calls 911. It can also be argued that the Asian man hangs up when he realizes it is Don, as there is no subtitles of the Asian man talking to the 911 services, white lettering states 'Look both ways before crossing the street', 'And don't be a racist', and 'or else'.
DVD:
Big beat
Big beat is a term employed since the mid-1990s by the British music press to describe much of the music by artists such as The Prodigy, Fatboy Slim, The Chemical Brothers, The Crystal Method, and Propellerheads typically driven by heavy breakbeats and synthesizer-generated loops and patterns in...
musician Fatboy Slim
Fatboy Slim
Norman Quentin Cook better known by his former stage name Fatboy Slim, is a British DJ, electronic dance music musician, and record producer. He is a pioneer of the big beat genre that achieved mainstream popularity in the 1990s...
. It was released as a single from his album Palookaville. The single peaked at number 153 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. It samples the opening line of the song "Signs
Signs (1972 song)
"Signs" is a song by the Canadian rock group Five Man Electrical Band. It was written by Les Emmerson and popularized the somewhat unknown band, who performed it for their second album, Good-byes and Butterflies in 1970. "Signs" was originally released that year as the B-side to the unsuccessful...
" by Five Man Electrical Band
Five Man Electrical Band
The Five Man Electrical Band was a rock group from Canada's capital city of Ottawa, best known for their 1971 hit single "Signs"....
.
The song was covered by the French band Justice
Justice (French band)
Justice is a French electronic music duo consisting of Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay . The duo is one of the most successful groups on Ed Banger Records and is managed by the label's head, Pedro Winter...
. The song was featured in the Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze
Spike Jonze is an American director, producer and actor, whose work includes music videos, commercials, film and television...
directed skateboarding video Yeah Right!
Yeah Right!
Yeah Right! is a skateboarding video by Girl Skateboards , directed by Ty Evans and Spike Jonze. Yeah Right! is notable for its soundtrack, length, and the extensive use of never-before-seen special effects.-Summary:A short prologue pays tribute to skater Keenan Milton, who died in 2001...
. Both Jonze and Ty Evans submitted the ending credits montage as a possible music video, but it was declined. It is also featured in SSX 3
SSX 3
SSX 3 is a snowboarding extreme racing game published by Electronic Arts and developed by EA Sports BIG, which was released in late 2003. It is the third installment in the SSX series, and is THX approved. Like the previous installments, the game was critically acclaimed...
.
Music video
The music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
is in the style of a black and white public service announcement
Public service announcement
A public service announcement or public service ad is a type of advertisement featured on television, radio, print or other media...
. It starts off with the title 'A film by Neighborhood Watch (The End is Near)' then it switches to a white man
White people
White people is a term which usually refers to human beings characterized, at least in part, by the light pigmentation of their skin...
named Don, and it states that 'Don likes to fish' and 'Don is a racist'. Throughout the video, it shows Don living a day in his life showing hatred, disdain, and distrust of non-whites. A figure in black, thought to be the figure on the 'This is a Neighborhood Watch Community' sign, is seen stalking Don in the background during the scenes in the parking lot, water fountain and Mexican restaurant scenes. After shooing some dark-skinned kids off of his boat, he furiously marches across the street and gets hit by a car, dropping his prized fishing trophy. As an Asian man sees him and calls 911. It can also be argued that the Asian man hangs up when he realizes it is Don, as there is no subtitles of the Asian man talking to the 911 services, white lettering states 'Look both ways before crossing the street', 'And don't be a racist', and 'or else'.
Alternate endings
There are five other alternate endings of the music video, which included on The Greatest Hits – Why Make VideosThe Greatest Hits - Why Try Harder
The Greatest Hits – Why Try Harder is a compilation album by English big beat musician Fatboy Slim, released on 19 June 2006. In addition to previously released material, the album includes two new tracks: "Champion Sound" and "That Old Pair of Jeans"...
DVD:
- 'Always wait 30 minutes after you eat before swimming', 'And don't be a racist, or else.' (Don drowns in a pool) This ending featured a cameo from Paris HiltonParis HiltonParis Whitney Hilton is an American businesswoman, heiress, and socialite. She is a great-granddaughter of Conrad Hilton . Hilton is known for her controversial participation in a sex tape in 2003, and appearance on the television series The Simple Life alongside fellow socialite and childhood...
. - 'Don't talk to strangers', 'And don't be a racist, or else.' (Don gets killed by 'Neighbourhood Watch Community' figure in black)
- 'Always pay your debts', 'And don't be a racist, or else.' (Don gets killed by an Asian man)
- 'This is Hollywood, anything is possible', 'And don't be a racist, or else you die by a horse.' (Don gets killed by a knight riding a horse)
- 'Always take small bites', 'And don't be a racist, or else you die.' (Don gets choked while eating)
Charts
| Chart (2005) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
153 |