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Freddy Raps: The Playlist

From the beginning of 1987 to the end of 1988, at least 12 different Rap songs were created in honor of the Son of 100 Maniacs, such was Freddymania.

Compiled here (unfortunately) are only 11 of those songs. Hopefully the missing track, Triple Scoop and Jam Cutta’s He’s Back, will one day be added to this list. If I ever find a quality enough copy to include, that is.

In addition to the 9 songs featured on Monster Raps Pt. 3, we have included the extended versions of both Are you Ready for Freddy and A Nightmare on My Street. See Freddy’s other playlist if you’d like to hear the single versions.

Now, it’s time to face the music, with Rapmaster Freddy!

PLAYLIST UPDATE! (6.5.21)

Shortly after uploading, some kind soul posted a clean copy of Triple Scoop and Jam Cutta’s He’s Back to YouTube. Unfortunately, the show was without this track, but at least it found it’s true home here on the playlist.

Oh, who are we kidding, it’ll obviously make it onto Monster Raps Pt. 4. C’mon now.

PLAYLIST UPDATE! (1.30.23)

Though purchased some time ago, I managed to score a copy of Bit Bizzare’s Freddie’s Groove. I have updated the playlist to now include the complete version and that missing verse is as good as I’d have hoped. Feels good to finally get the whole track on here. Enjoy! I will upload it to YouTube as well soon.

Additionally, in that time span, I also procured a copy of Stevie B’ s Nightmare on Freddy Krugger Street. I have also update that version from the crummy YouTube rip to a much nicer pull from the original vinyl. The playlist is now complete…

…for now.

Audio

Nightmare on Rhyme Street

TRACK #299

Nightmare on Rhyme Street by Krushin MC’s

Though we uncovered 10 and featured 9 different Freddy related rap songs on Monster Raps Pt. 3, none stood out as much as Krushin MC’s Nightmare on Rhyme Street. As such, it’s getting thrown in the mix ahead of the pack.

But why is it that this song (at least as far as I’m concerned anyway) is so much better than all the rest?

Well, I think it’s 3 fold.

First and foremost, I think it sounds the least 80’s of the group. A strange stance for me to take, I know, but hear me out.

This is a track that feels a bit ahead of its time. The flow has a much smoother and rhythmic cadence than it’s brethren. Additionally, it’s packing a lot of lyrics into a tight bar. At a time when the other Freddy rappers were still drawing out sparse lyrics to match slower beats, the Krushin MC’s effortlessly flow with a tempo that feels more like something from the 90’s, and a good deal less silly.

Second is this beat, which also feels ahead of its time. Without aping the actual theme, it captures the vibe of A Nightmare on Elm Street with a downbeat and downright sinister bass line. While none of these songs are what I’d call dark, this one has the darkest tone of the bunch, which makes it feel less at odds with the subject matter.

Now, there’s something to be said and appreciated with these Freddy Raps in the juxtaposition of an upbeat rap songs about a homicidal and, most likely, pedophilic murderer turned dream demon. Freddy’s actual album, Freddy’s Greatest Hits, being perhaps chief among this strange intersection of digestible pop and disturbing subtext. But there’s also something to be said of treating this material, at least in respect to its sound, as what it is – a horrifying concept.

Now, the Krushin MC’s aren’t going that far with it. I mean this is still a song where a guy battle raps a Freddy wearing a glove with 5 microphones on it, but at least is sounds kinda appropriate.

Which bring me to the 3rd reason this song a is superior Freddy rap – it’s lyrical content.

Krushin MC’s pack a lot more, and a lot better, references to the films than their contemporaries. You got the aforementioned golden mic glove, the muddy steps, the tongue coming out an inanimate object, the girls jumping rope, the peeling of Freddy skin to reveal his brain and even Dream Warriors’ method of Freddy disposal.

Among a crew of dude who reference the same damn line from Freddy’s Revenge, lazily rhyme the numbers of the films, and even have Freddy potentially pulling has ass out at the beach, Krushin MC’s feeling like goddamn Nightmare on Elm Street scholars.

Now, those song’s’ll potentially all wind up here eventually, given enough time, but for my money, only the Krushin MC’s Nightmare on Rhyme Street deserves express service.

 

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Episode 18: Monster Raps Pt. 3: Freddy’s Revenge

Shindig Radio is back and Freddy Krueger’s coming with us, and he’s bringing 9 more Nightmare on Elm Street rap songs with him.

Join MC Radio D, Busy G and Mic-E (and of course Freddy himself) as Shindig Radio takes a nap on Rhyme Street, with a boiler room full of Freddy Raps all* from 1987 – a full year before the hits A Nightmare on My Street and Are You Ready for Freddy.

It’s time to face the music with Rap Master Freddy on Monster Raps Pt. 3: Freddy’s Revenge!

 

And be sure to visit Werner Von Wallenrod’s Humble Little Hip-Hop Blog, without which, this episode would not exist!

And don’t forget to check out that swollen meatball, Matt Mastrella, over at YouTube on The Crypto Hunter!

*ones actually from 1988 but nevermind that

 

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Savage

TRACK #276:

Savage by W.A.S.P.

A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 5 has a pretty notorious soundtrack.

2 Golden Raspberry nominations for Worst Song of the Year, including the recipient of that award, Bruce Dickenson’s unfortunately listless solo version of Bring Your Daughter to the Slaughter. In fairness, that was a song even a fully assembled Iron Maiden couldn’t make much better.

The other nominee, Kool Moe D’s Let’s Go, isn’t such a bad song by itself. In the context of A Nightmare on Elm Street though, it does kinda feel like a lazy attempt to rebottle the lightning of Are You Ready for Freddy without any of the referential charm that made that song so great.

2 unspectacular Freddy tracks, to be sure. You won’t be seeing either turning up on the playlist, I can say that. Worst Songs From a Film: 1989? I dunno about all that.

Incidentally, that Kool Moe D song a diss track aim squarely at L.L. Cool J, as apparently the two had been feuding around that time. Way to go, music supervisors Kevin Benson and Neil Portnow. I’ll bet that isn’t the only ball you guys dropped on this production.

Nope, because buried on this soundtrack, almost so’s you wouldn’t even notice, is this pedal-down metaller from Blackie Lawless and the boys of W.A.S.P.

Savage, a preexisting W.A.S.P. song, is totally wasted in the film, playing only briefly as an ambient background track during a graduation pool party at Springwood High.

It’s even more of a waste knowing the following scene finds Dan being attacked in his truck by Freddy while listening to the radio. What a perfect time to utilize this perfect, 4-on-the-floor rocker that was just playing mere seconds earlier.

It’s even more of an inexplicable waste once you consider that immediately after this, Dan jumps on a Yamaha VMax and it turns into Moto-Freddy at top speed. This song is literally about driving the open road on a motorcycle…like a savage. A fully squandered opportunity.

But, that’s probably a microcosm of The Dream Child as a whole,  which is easily my least favorite numbered installment. A rushed production, edited deaths and multiple script revisions all coming together to form the sort of under-cooked mess that is Freddy’s 5th outing.

Don’t get me wrong, like any Elm Street, it’s got some great moments. It’s got the aforementioned Moto-Freddy scene, a largely likeable cast, Super Freddy and his AH-HA dream sequence. But, attempting to illuminate Freddy’s origin, it’s seemingly desperate inclusion of a pregnancy, it’s nonsensical ending and it’s lack of any real Elm Street kids just make it definitely feel like Freddy in decline.

So, let’s unearth the goodness of W.A.S.P.’s unfortunately buried Savage. Let’s put it on Halloween Shindig’s open road of sprawling, horror-paved blacktop, so it can finally ride free.

Don’t dream and drive!

 

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Freddy’s Greatest Hits (1987)

Back in 1987, I guess someone over at New Line Cinema thought it might be a profitable idea to shove a bunch of session musicians into a studio, have them record a couple weird 80’s covers of a few classic tunes, whip up a few Freddy-specific originals, overdub Robert England cackling, call it Freddy’s Greatest Hits, then sit back and watch the money train pull into the station.

Whether that train ever arrived, I couldn’t well say. That probably depends largely on just how much they dumped into this endeavor in the first place. Not gonna lie, it doesn’t sound like a lot. So who knows, maybe they actually did turn a profit with this thing.

Either way, we won. And we won big time. Mr. Big Time.

If you’ve never heard this album, you’re in for a real treat. If you have, then you’re probably just shaking your head at your screen right now, questioning either my sanity or sincerity. And fair enough. This isn’t double-platinum shit here, I’ll grant you that. But conceptually? It’s as gold as it gets.

Freddy lazily speak-singing Wilson Pickett’s In The Midnight Hour? The frolicking surrealism of a burn-scarred child-killer having his own dance called The Freddy? The strained melodrama of Don’t SleepWolly Bully? C’mon.

How bout just the fact that something this fucking bizarre, this blatantly commercial, this antithetical to its source material was created at all? This kind of thing is everything I want.

As for my sincerity, I’ll just say that maybe I’ve listened to this thing too many times now, and it’s become familiar. Or maybe I just have shitty taste in music. Or maybe I’m just a psychopath. All of these things are a good possibility, but there are songs on this album that I legitimately enjoy, listen to by choice and rock out to. I love Down in the Boiler Room. I love Don’t Sleep. I love Obsession. I love this album; conceptually, musically, wholeheartedly – and I’m glad it exists.

And while this is certainly an album you can hear in many other places, Halloween Shindig is most definitely a place you should be able to hear it.

So now it is. Enjoy.

I’ll be seeing you…

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Freddy’s (Actual) Greatest Hits

Well, what’s good for Jason is good for Freddy. These 2 monsters of 80’s horror go mask in glove, especially around here. So, I can’t give Jay his own private playlist without giving one to Fred too, right?

Well, I’m sure Freddy would conclude as much, anyway.

So presented here is what I think you could accurately call “Freddy’s Greatest Hits,” unlike the very real album Freddy’s Greatest Hits, which is comprised of (at best) the only songs Freddy ever released.

From 213’s original Nightmare to (well, eventually) Iggy Pop’s Why Was I Born, and even a few gems from Mr. Big Time himself, here’s the Shindig’s celebration of Freddy Krueger in song. Enjoy!

Video

A Nightmare On My Street Video!

Only days after talking about how this video had not managed to emerged in 30 years…boom…as if we collectively willed it back into existence. And on Halloween no less!

And it’s the extended version? You gotta be kidding me.

It is a def day.

Well, shit.  I’m not sure when this video go yanked, but due to probably the same copyright infringement that got it pulled 30 years ago, it appears to be no longer available.

But, ya’ll must think I’m silly. This rumored video appears out of thin air after 30 years – after I emphatically petitioned the universe for it to be rediscovered – and you think I’d leave that shit to the whims of the Internet? Dear God no. I downloaded that fucker the first chance I got.

And since I’m not YouTube, and I’m not specifically bound to their regulations, you better believe I’m gonna host this fucker myself. Since no one actually visits this site, I don’t imagine it’ll be discovered quite so fast. I’m sure it will be, one day, and I’ll be forced to pull it down or just shut down myself. But until that day Shindiggers….enjoy!

Audio

Into The Fire

TRACK #207:

Into the Fire by Dokken

Dokken may be best known around these parts for their Elm Street power ballad Dream Warriors, but not only was this “B-Side” cut first, it appears first in Dream Warriors (during the opening credit sequence) and it reached a slot higher on the modern rock charts. That technically makes this their more popular hit. B-Side my ass.

For Freddy nerds however, the plot thickens.

When it came time to release the film on VHS, producer and New Line exec Bob Shaye didn’t really feel like paying royalties on Into the Fire, with which the theatrical prints of the film were screened.

Perhaps being a standing hit unrelated to the film it had a different deal than the Title Track did. Maybe it was just gonna cost too much to keep it in the film. I’m not sure exactly.

What I do know is that Bob had it replaced with an instrumental version of the Joe Lamont (a shindigger himself) track Quiet Cool (a title track even!) from the film Quiet Cool, which New Line also owned. Problem solved, right?

I guess.

That is until Digital Video Discs became a thing and everyone scrambled to re-release everything everyone already owned. When it came time for The Elm Street franchise to get the digital treatment, New Line opted to keep it real and release the theatrical version of the film, Into The Fire and all.

By then however, a generation of Freddy fans, who may not have ever seen the theatrical version (much less remember it) had now grown up watching their worn out VHS copies of Dream Warriors not hearing Into The Fire during the credits at all.

They were a little upset.

A glance through some Elm Street message boards or even YouTube comments will greet you with plenty of fans that actually prefer the Quiet Cool version. Some fans even think they replaced the original song with Into the Fire just for the DVD, not knowing that was the original track. Those fans tend to be even more upset.

That’s what familiarity and nostalgia will get you, because anyone who thinks the Quiet Cool version is superior is outta their mind, you ask me. I can see that making you miss the VHS version, but that’s where I’ll have to draw the line, because Into the Fire rules. Yeah, maybe it’s a little on the intense side for a sequence where Patricia Arquette is just mocking up 1428 Elm in paper mache, but when her mom busts in and tells her she’ll wake up the neighborhood, it seems a bit strange that she’s referring to a mellow instrumental.

Whichever version of Dream Warriors you prefer, there’s no denying that Dokken’s Into the Fire is a certified Shindigger.

So grab a spoonful of Maxwell house instant coffee, chase that shit with a shot of Diet Coke and crank this tune, cause Freddy’s waiting for you on the other side of that pillow, and he’s still pretty pissed about that whole “your parents burnt him alive” thing.

 

Audio

A Nightmare On My Street (Extended Mix)

TRACK #206:

A Nightmare On My Street (Extended Mix) by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince

I think it’s a testament to Freddy’s legacy and iconography that this Monster Rap is more well known than the Referentially Inclusive (and wildly superior) song by The Fat Boys. Seems more people are familiar with Freddy as a pop culture window cling than they are with the films themselves.

That’s not to say I don’t enjoy A Nightmare On My Street. Quite the contrary! I think it’s a great Monster Rap, and all the more so that the song is its own entity outside of the films. But when comparing the 2, I feel it is the clear also-ran, and i wish Are You Ready For Freddy was the more popular cut.

But here we have the DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince detailing an evening in which they take to the cinema with Ready Rock C and some honeys. There, they enjoy a new (and generic) Elm Street film, only to find themselves tormented by Freddy in the real world once the film ends. Shades of New Nightmare, or simply imagery from the original? Only Wes Craven knows for sure.

Though recorded in ’87, this single was released in August of ’88, right when Elm Street 4: The Dream Master was about to hit theaters. And while it’s more probable the the trio was seeing Dream Warriors at that time, the song seems similar in tone and even references Freddy’s Revenge. So who knows which Elm Street they did in fact see that night. Either way, it was def.

Speaking of The Dream Master, the producers actually considered including this song on the soundtrack, but ultimately could not come to an agreement with Misters Jeff & Fresh. New Line decided instead to just sue Jive/RCA  Records for copyright infringement. How’s that for a 180? Apparently there was a music video that was pulled from MTV as a result. Bet that was pretty def too. Unfortunately, that video seems to be lost forever, as it has yet to resurface on the Internet. It’ll be a pretty def day when someone find some forgotten copy and posts it.

Adding more intrigue to the mix, there’s even a handful of different versions of this track. The original LP and cassette version ran over 6 minutes long and contained some different lyrics. Now, a 6 minute rap song about a popular horror icon just won’t do for radio play, and the song was not simply trimmed, but altered somewhat. For reals?

Yep, that version we’ve all been listening to for the last 30 years ain’t the original. But, since the Shindig rolls hard on such matters, it has included the original 6 minute LP version for your enjoyment.

What revelations are to be found in this uncut version? Well for one, The Fresh Prince mentions Nancy, and while that could also refer to Dream Warriors, in context It seems more referential to the original. And while the extended lyric of “something about Elm Street was the movie we saw” is more ambiguous than him stating simply (but also a bit ambiguously) “we saw Elm Street,” I think it suggests they indeed done rushed a screening of Wes Craven’s 1984 classic.

What else is revealed? Welp, perhaps most strangely is that a rather innocuous original line about grabbing something cool to quench his thirst was replaced by a completely unnecessary product drop for Coke.

Now, I’ve read about fans being upset about this, but I’m not convinced its the nefarious product placement it may seem.

I guess if you need to shorten the song, the whole bit about coming downstairs, being alone but seeing the TV on is a little expository, so its a good spot for some revision. Moreover, the replacement of “remote” with “coke” actually alleviates the initial false rhyme with choked. It’s not great, but its an improvement.

Is it the marketing arm of Jive records stepping in and forcing a commercial? Naw, probably not, but I will admit, it is a little suspect. But mostly the omitted lyrics just add a little color, honestly. Just some more depth of descriptions to the events.

Because I couldn’t find one online (read: because no sane person really gives a shit or wastes their time on such nonsense) I’ve composed a comparison of the 2 versions for other dorks to look at and find interesting for a half a second.

  • Lyrics featured in both verisons will be in normal text color.
  • Lyrics specific to the Single version will be in green.
  • Lyrics specific to original Extended Mix will be in orange.

[Fresh Prince:]

Now I have a story that I’d like to tell

About this guy you all know him, he had me scared as hell!

He comes to me at night after I crawl into bed

He’s burnt up like a weenie and his name is Fred!

He wears the same hat and sweater every single day

And even if it’s hot, outside he wears it anyway!

He’s gone when I’m awake but he shows up when I’m asleep

I can’t believe that there’s a nightmare – on my street!

It was a Saturday evening if I remember it right

And we had just gotten back off tour last night

So the gang and I thought that it would be groovy

If we summoned up the posse and done rushed the movies

I got Angie, Jeff got Tina

Ready Rock got some girl I’d never seen in my life

That was all right because the lady was chill

Then we dipped to the theater set to ill
[Fresh Prince single:]

We saw Elm Street

And man, it was def!

Buggin! Cold havin a ball

And somethin bout Elm Street was the movie we saw

The way it started was decent, ya know nothing real fancy

Bout this homeboy named Fred and this girl named Nancy

But word, when it was over, I said, “Yo! That was def!”

And everything seemed all right when we left

But when I got home and laid down to sleep

That began the nightmare, on my street!

It was burnin in my room like an oven

My bed soaked with sweat, and man, I was buggin

I checked the clock and it stopped at 12:30

It had melted it was so darn hot, and I was thirsty

I went downstairs to grab some juice or a coke

Flipped the TV off, and then I almost choked

I wanted something cool, to quench my thirst

I thought to myself, “Yo, this heat is the worst!”

But when I got downstairs, I noticed something was wrong

I was home all alone but the TV was on!

I thought nothin of it as I grabbed the remote

I pushed the power button, and

then I almost choked

When I heard this awful voice comin from behind

It said, “You cut off ‘Heavy Metal’ and now you must die!”

Man, I ain’t even wait to see who it was

Broke outside in my drawers and screamed, “So long, cuz!”

Got halfway up the block I calmed down and stopped screamin

Then thought, “Oh, I get it, I must be dreamin”

I strolled back home with a grin on my grill

I figured since this is a dream I might as well get ill

I walked in the house, the Big Bad Fresh Prince

But Freddy killed all that noise real quick

He grabbed me by my neck and said, “Here’s what we’ll do.

We gotta lotta work here, me and you.

The souls of your friends you and I will claim.

You’ve got the body, and I’ve got the brain.”

I said, “Yo Fred, I think you’ve got me all wrong.

I ain’t partners with nobody with nails that long!

Look, I’ll be honest man, this team won’t work.

The girls won’t be on you, Fred your face is all burnt!”

Fred got mad and his head started steamin

But I thought what the hell, I’m only dreamin

I said, “Please leave Fred, so I can get some sleep;

Or gimme a call, and maybe we’ll hang out next week.”

I patted him on the shoulder said, “Thanks for stopping by.”

Then I opened up the door and said, “Take care guy!”

He got mad, drew back his arm, and slashed my shirt

I laughed at first, then thought, “Hold up, that hurt!”

It wasn’t a dream, man, this guy was for real

I said, “Freddy, uh, pal, there’s been an awful mistake here.”

No further words and then I darted upstairs

Crashed through my door then jumped on my bed

Pulled the covers up over my head

And said, “Oh please do somethin with Fred!”

He jumped on my bed, went through the covers with his claws

Tried to get me, but my alarm went off

And then silence! It was a whole new day

I thought, “Huh, I wasn’t scared of him anyway.”

Until I noticed those rips in my sheets

And that was proof that there had been a nightmare, on my street

Oh man, I gotta call Jeff, I gotta call Jeff

Come on, come on

Come on Jeff, answer

Come on, man

[Jazzy Jeff] Hello?

[Fresh Prince] Jeff, this is Prince, man

Jeff, wake up,

Jeff, wake up

[Jazzy Jeff:] What do you want?

[Fresh Prince:] Jeff, wake up, man, listen to me, Jeff

[Jazzy Jeff:] It’s three o’clock in the mornin, what do you want?

[Fresh Prince:] Jeff, Jeff, would you listen to me?

Listen, whatever you do, don’t fall asleep

[Jazzy Jeff:] Man!

[Fresh Prince:] Jeff, listen to me, don’t go to sleep, Jeff

[JJ:] Look, look, I’ll talk to you tomorrow, I’m going to bed

[Freddy:] RRAHHHH!

[JJ:] Ahhhhhh!

[Fresh Prince:] Jeff! Jeff!

[Freddy:] Ha ha ha ha ha haaaa!

[Jazzy Jeff:] Ahhhhhh!

[Fresh Prince:] Jeff!

[Freddy:] RRAHHHH!

[Fresh Prince:] Jeff! Answer me, Jeff!

[Freddy:] I’m your D.J. now, Princey!

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha haaaaa!

So there you have it. Far too much copy regarding a silly novelty song about Freddy Krueger. But, I’m not sure The Shindig would have it any other way. Enjoy the extended version of A Nightmare On My Street.

And whatever you do,..don’t fall asleep.

 

Audio

Do The Freddy

TRACK #205:

Do the Freddy by The Elm Street Group

Here’s some certified, all-American, 80-proof ridiculous bullshit from the incomprehensibly titled Freddy’s Greatest Hits.

Greatest Hits? Why, that suggests a larger body of work cultivated and condensed into only “the tracks you wanna hear,” no?

First of all, Freddy doesn’t have any other albums. This is it, folks.

Secondly, even if there were several albums, are these the choice cuts? Are these just the “tracks you wanna hear?” Probably not. They’re the tracks I wanna hear, no doubt, but I don’t speak for anyone else, much less everyone else.

Perhaps there were other Freddy songs. Maybe they had 3 albums worth and just decided these were the best, and released it as a Greatest Hits to spare everyone. If that’s the case, then fuck gang, what did those other songs sound like?

These greatest of hits encompass mostly cheese-ball covers of songs that feature the word “Dream” while Freddy cackles randomly around the melody. However, there are a few original cuts, like this number – perhaps the collection’s most unfathomable offering.

The “Do The Freddy” sticker from my toolbox at work. It’s pretty great.

What is this shit? Do the Freddy? He’s got a fucking dance now? Are you kidding me? This shit is out of control.

Nowadays, whenever I hear that people find it impossible to be scared of this character, I completely understand, and it’s because of shit like this.

Once a master of fear in the hearts of children the world over, Freddy is here reduced to a few dance moves. And not even good ones! Behold…

Pick your feet up

swing your arms up too

Move you head both ways

like you see him do

Then jump 3 feet to the swinging beat

Of The Freddy

What? What kind of fucking dance is this? I’m not even sure what I’m supposed to be doing really. And the weirdest part (as you may have thought to yourself) is clearly the “move you head” instruction.

What, exactly, does moving your head both ways actually look like? Is it just shaking your head? Turning and looking in either direction like your crossing a street? It’s too vague.

Moreover, is this Freddy’s signature move? Not “claw at the air” or “scrape your blades on the wall.” Nope, it’s moving your head both ways. Ya know, that thing everyone probably does several times a day. That’s it. That’s Freddy’s big move. You could have written a more appropriate, or hell, even a slightly less vague line with roughly 2 minutes worth of thought.

Also, I think it’s important to note that no one listening to this song has a 3 foot vertical. Fuck, Michael Jordan had a 46 incher, and he’s one of the greatest dunkers of all time.

To put a more comparative and current prospective on it, Russell Westbrook has a 36.5 inch vertical. He can barely complete this dance. And Kevin Durant, at a paltry 33.5″, can’t Do The Freddy at all.

I’d ask “Just who the hell is this for, exactly,” but as you’ll soon hear Mr. Robert England proclaim straight away – “this is for you.”

So, there’s that. Enjoy this song, because it’s for you.