Bo Burnham, pictured here at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, wrote, directed and performed the entirety of his new Netflix special, Inside, by himself. Im talking to you. While talking to the audience during the opening section, Burnham takes a sip out of a water bottle. The song made such a splash in its insight that it earned its own episode in Shannon Struccis seminal Fake Friends documentary series, which broke down what parasocial relationships are and how they work. Burnham was just 16 years old when he wrote a parody song ("My Whole Family") and filmed himself performing it in his bedroom. But then, just as Burnham is vowing to always stay inside, and lamenting that he'll be "fully irrelevant and totally broken" in the future, the spotlight turns on him and he's completely naked. Its called INSIDE, and it will undoubtedly strike your hearts forevermore. / Are you having fun? The crowd directions are no longer stock pop song lyrics; now, the audience understands them as direct orders to them from Burnham. Please check your email to find a confirmation email, and follow the steps to confirm your humanity. It's prison. Not only has his musical range expanded his pastiche of styles includes bebop, synth-pop and peppy show tunes Burnham, who once published a book of poems, has also become as meticulous and creative with his visual vocabulary as his language. Not only is this whiteboard a play on the classic comedy rule that "tragedy plus time equals comedy," but it's a callback to Burnham's older work. "Inside" feels like the creative culmination of Bo Burnham's career over the last 15 years, starting with his first viral YouTube video in 2006. But I described it to a couple of people as, you know, this looks like what the inside of my head felt like because of his sort of restlessness, his desire to create, create, create. On the simplest level, Inside is the story of a comic struggling to make a funny show during quarantine and gradually losing his mind. "Robert's been a little depressed," he sings (referring to himself by his birthname). And you know what? But usually there is one particular voice that acts as a disembodied narrator character, some omniscient force that needles Burnham in the middle of his stand up (like the voice in "Make Happy" that interrupts Burnham's set to call him the f-slur). And I think the pandemic was a time when a lot of people were in this do I laugh or cry space in their own minds. He tries to talk into the microphone, giving his audience a one-year update. If the answer is yes, then it's not funny. The tension between creator and audience is a prominent theme in Burnhams work, likely because he got his start on YouTube. But by using this meta-narrative throughout the whole special, Burnham messes with our ability to know when we're seeing a genuine struggle with artistic expression versus a meticulously staged fictional breakdown. Burnham reacts to his reaction to his reaction to his reaction, focusing so intently on his body and image that he panics, stops the videoand then smiles at his audience, thanking them for watching. HOLMES: Thank you. WebA biotech genius tries to bounce back from the depths of grief with help from his son, who works to escape his dads shadow and save the family business. He's freely admitting that self-awareness isn't enough while also clearly unable to move away from that self-aware comedic space he so brilliantly holds. "That's a good start. It has extended versions of songs, cut songs, and alternate versions of songs that were eventually deleted; but is mainly comprised of outtakes. All rights reserved. The song brings with it an existential dread, but Burnham's depression-voice tells us not to worry and sink into nihilism. A college student navigates life and school while dealing with a unique predicament he's living with a beautiful former K-pop sensation. This special spoke to me closer and clearer than Ive ever felt with another person. When that future-Burnham appears, it's almost like a precursor to what he'll have shown us by the end of the special: That both he, and his audience, could never have known just how brutal the next year was about to be. At first hearing, this is a simple set of lyrics about the way kids deal with struggles throughout adolescence, particularly things like anxiety and depression. "Part of me needs you, part of me fears you. WebA Girl and an Astronaut. The video is an hour-long edit of footage that was deleted from the making of Inside. Burnham is also the main character in the game, a character who is seen moving mechanically around a room. Inside (2021) opens with Bo Burnham sitting alone in a room singing what will be the first of many musical comedy numbers, Content. In the song, Burnham expresses, Roberts been a little depressed ii. He, for example, it starts off with him rhyming carpool karaoke, which is a segment on James Corden's show, with Steve Aoki, who's a DJ. The battery is full, but no numbers are moving. Tell us a little bit more about that. "Got it? And now depression has its grips in him. Burnham may also be trying to parody the hollow, PR-scripted apologies that celebrities will trot out before they've possibly had the time to self-reflect and really understand what people are trying to hold them accountable for. But now Burnham is showing us the clutter of the room where "Inside" was filmed. Feelings of depersonalization and derealization can be very disturbing and may feel like you're living in a dream.". His hair and beard were shorter, and he was full of inspired energy. Still terrified of that spotlight? Yes, Bo Burnham posted a trailer via Twitter on April 28, 2021. I actually felt true mutual empathy with someone for the first time, and with someone Ive never even met, its kinda funny.. WebBo Burnham has been critical of his past self for the edgy, offensive comedy he used to make. This is when the musical numbers (and in-between skits) become much more grim. I like this song, Burnham says, before pointing out the the lack of modern songs about labor exploitation. How how successful do you think is "Inside" at addressing, describing kind of confronting the experience that a lot of people have had over the past year? And I think that, 'Oh if I'm self-aware about being a douchebag it'll somehow make me less of a douchebag.' Bo Burnhams Inside: A Comedy Special and an Inspired Experiment, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/01/arts/television/bo-burnham-inside-comedy.html. Tapping on a synthesizer, he sings about the challenges of isolation as he sits on a cluttered floor, two striking squares of sunlight streaming in through the windows of a dark room. Its a lyrically dense song with camerawork that speeds up with its rhythm. Even when confronted with works that criticize parasocial attachment, its difficult for fans not to feel emotionally connected to performers they admire. The question is now, Will you support Wheat Thins in the fight against Lyme disease?). Inside, a new Netflix special written, performed, directed, shot, and edited by comedian Bo Burnham, invokes and plays with many forms. An astronaut's return after a 30-year disappearance rekindles a lost love and sparks interest from a corporation determined to learn why he hasn't aged. ", The Mayo Clinic defines depersonalization-derealization disorder as occurring "when you persistently or repeatedly have the feeling that you're observing yourself from outside your body or you have a sense that things around you aren't real, or both. And you can roughly think about this, I think, as a series of short videos that are mostly of him singing songs and that are sewn together with a little bit of other material, whether it's shots of him lying in bed or setting up the cameras. and concludes that if it's mean, it's not funny. But he's largely been given a pass by his fans, who praise his self-awareness and new approach. It also seems noteworthy that this is one of the only sketches in "Inside" that fades to black. See our analysis of the end of the special, and why Burnham's analogy for depression works so well. While he's laying in bed, eyes about the close, the screen shows a flash of an open door. The structured movements of the last hour and half fall away as Burnham snaps at the audience: "Get up. Long before the phrase parasocial relationship had entered the mainstream zeitgeist, Burnhams work discussed the phenomenon. In White Womans Instagram, the comedian assumes the role of a white woman and sings a list of common white lady Instagram posts (Latte foam art / Tiny pumpkins / Fuzzy, comfy socks) while acting out even more cliched photos in the video with wild accuracy. I got so much better, in fact, that in January of 2020, I thought 'you know what I should start performing again. BO BURNHAM: (Singing) If you'd have told me a year ago that I'd be locked inside of my home, I would have told you a year ago, interesting, now leave me alone. The song, written in 2006, is about how his whole family thinks he's gay, and the various conversations they're having trying to figure it out. "All Eyes On Me" starts right after Burnham's outburst of anger and sadness. The label of parasocial relationship is meant to be neutral, being as natural and normal and, frankly, inescapable as familial or platonic relationships. Burnham says he had quit live comedy several years ago because of panic attacks and returned in January 2020 before, as he puts it in typical perverse irony, the funniest thing happened. Bo Burnham: INSIDE | Trailer - YouTube 0:00 / 2:09 The following content may contain suicide or self-harm topics. "And I spent that time trying to improve myself mentally. See our analysis of the end of the special, and why Burnham's analogy for depression works so well. But during the bridge of the song, he imagines a post from a woman dedicated to her dead mother, and the aspect ratio on the video widens. I cant say how Burnham thinks or feels with any authority, but as text and form-driven comedy, Inside urges the audience to reflect on how they interact with creators. Might not help but still it couldn't hurt. "Problematic" is a roller coaster of self-awareness, masochism, and parody. The first half is dominated by sharp, silly satires of the moment, like a visually precise and hilarious song about social media vanity, White Womans Instagram, and a commercial for a woke brand consultant. Likewise. A part of me loves you, part of me hates you / Part of me needs you, part of me fears you / [. of the internet, welcoming everyone with a decadent menu of options while disco lights twirl. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. The flow chat for "Is it funny?" Burnham starts spiraling in a mental health crisis, mentioning suicidal ideation after lamenting his advance into his 30s. The arrogance is taught or it was cultivated. "The world needs direction from a white guy like [you] who is healing the world with comedy. HOLMES: So before he was this celebrated filmmaker, Bo Burnham was himself a YouTube star. Its folly to duplicate the feel of a live set, so why not fully adjust to the screen and try to make something as visually ambitious as a feature? Burnham makes it textual, too. "Inside" kicks off with Burnham reentering the same small studio space he used for the end of "Make Happy," when the 2016 Netflix special transitioned from the live stage to Burnham suddenly sitting down at his piano by himself to sing one final song for the at-home audience. Research and analysis of parasocial relationships usually revolves around genres of performers instead of individuals. It's as if Burnham is showing how wholesale judgments about the way people choose to use social media can gloss over earnest, genuine expressions of love and grief being shared online. He was only 16. Under the movies section, there's a bubble that says "sequel to classic comedy that everyone watches and then pretends never happened" and "Thor's comebacks.". HOLMES: Yeah. At the start of the special, Burnham sings "Content," setting the stage for his musical-comedy. I've been hiding from the world and I need to reenter.' When we saw that projection the first time, Burnham's room was clean and orderly. BURNHAM: (Singing) The live-action "Lion King," the Pepsi halftime show, 20,000 years of this, seven more to go. Bo Burnham: Inside, was written, edited, and directed by the talent himself and the entire show is shot in one room. Then he moves into a new layer of reaction, where he responds to that previous comment. Went out to look for a reason to hide again. And then the funniest thing happened.". Only he knows. It chronicles Burnhams life during the pandemic and his journey creating the special. Disclosure: Mathias Dpfner, CEO of Business Insider's parent company, Axel Springer, is a Netflix board member. ", When asked about the inspiration for the song, like if people he knew thought he was gay, Burnham said, "A lot of my close friends were gay, and, you know, I wasn't certain I wasn't at that point.". The aesthetic telegraphs authenticity and vulnerability, but the specials stunning final shots reveal the misdirection at work, encouraging skepticism of the performativity of such realism. NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. From the very beginning of "Inside," Burnham makes it clear that the narrative arc of the special will be self-referential. How does one know if the joke punches down? He doesn't really bother with any kind of transitions. A distorted voice is back again, mocking Burnham as he sits exposed on his fake stage: "Well, well, look who's inside again. ", From then on, the narrative of "Inside" follows Burnham returning to his standard comedic style and singing various parody songs like "FaceTime with My Mom" and "White Woman's Instagram.". I mean, honestly, he's saying a lot right there. He was alone. But he knows how to do this. And it has a real feel of restlessness to it, almost like stream of consciousness. Anyone can read what you share. Thought modern humans have been around for much longer than 20,000 years, that's around how long ago people first migrated to North America. Burnhams 2013 special, what., culminates in Burnham, the performer, reacting to pre-recorded versions of himself playing people from his life reacting to his work and fame, trying to capitalize on their tenuous relationship with him. One of those is the internet itself. Bo Burnham's new Netflix comedy special "Inside" is jam-packed with references to his previous work. But on the other hand, it is lyrically so playful. Not a comedy per se, but a masterpiece nonetheless. Web9/10. That's a really clever, fun little rhyme in this, you know, kind of heavy song. WebBo's transcripts on Scraps From The Loft. Using cinematic tools other comics overlook, the star (who is also the director, editor and cameraman) trains a glaring spotlight on internet life mid-pandemic. Burnham's growth is admirable, but also revealing of how little we expect from men in the industry. WebBo Burnham's new Netflix comedy special "Inside" is jam-packed with references to his previous work. They Cloned Tyrone. The whole video is filmed like one big thirst trap as he sweats and works out. Simply smiling at the irony of watching his own movie come to life while he's still inside? Its a visual that signifies a man exposing himself, until you realize hes in a spotlight. He decided to stop doing live performances, and instead set out to write and direct his first feature film, the critically-acclaimed 2018 movie "Eighth Grade." Its a stupid song, and, uh, it doesnt really mean anything. The video continues. I feel very close and intimate with him in this version. Released on May 30, 2021, Bo Burnham wrote, recorded, directed, and produced Inside while in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. Parasocial relationships can be positive too, as outlined in culture critic Stitchs essay On Parasocial Relationships and the Boundaries of Celebrity for Teen Vogue. MARTIN: So as you can hear in that bit, he sounds something like other comedic songwriters who do these kind of parody or comedy songs, whether it's Tom Lehrer, Weird Al or whoever. Theres always been a tension in his comedy between an ironic, smarty-pants cleverness and an often melodramatic point of view. The piece also highlights Bos anxieties with becoming older and his legacy as a comedian. Don't overthink this, look in my eye don't be scared, don't be shy, come on in the water's fine."). that shows this exact meta style. 1 on Billboards comedy albums chart and eventually climbed to No. The song's melody is oddly soothing, and the lyrics are a sly manifestation of the way depression convinces you to stay in its abyss ("It's almost over, it's just begun. Get the fuck up! Burnham walks towards the camera and grabs it like hes grabbing the viewer by the throat. The song's melody is oddly soothing, and the lyrics are a sly manifestation of the way depression convinces you to stay in its abyss ("It's almost over, it's just begun. The global pandemic and subsequent lockdown orders of March 2020 put a stop to these plans. "I'm criticizing my initial reaction for being pretentious, which is honestly a defense mechanism," he says. When Burnham's character decides he doesn't want to actually hear criticism from Socko, he threatens to remove him, prompting Socko's subservience once again, because "that's how the world works.". Daddy made you your favorite. The first comes when Burnham looks directly into the camera as he addresses the audience, singing, Are you feeling nervous? At the forefront of this shift has been Bo Burnham, one of YouTubes earliest stars, who went on to make his own innovative specials with satirical songs backed by theatrical lighting and disembodied voices. Self-awareness does not absolve anyone of anything, he says. "They say it's like the 'me' generation. And I'm just wondering, like, how would you describe that? The song is like having a religious experience with your own mental disorder. After more sung repetitions of get your fuckin hands up, Burnham says, Get up. Bo Burnham; former YouTuber, iconic Viner, and acclaimed stand-up comedian has recently released a new Netflix special. Like he's parodying white people who think that by crucifying themselves first they're somehow freed from the consequences of their actions. The second emotional jump scare comes when Burnham monologues about how he stopped performing live because he started having panic attacks on stage, which is not a great place to have them. The monologue increases that sense of intimacy; Burnham is letting the audience in on the state of his mental health even before the global pandemic. He puts himself on a cross using his projector, and the whole video is him exercising, like he's training for when he's inevitably "canceled.". Similarly, Burnham often speaks to the audience by filming himself speaking to himself in a mirror. But we weren't. But when reading songs like Dont Wanna Know and All Eyes On Me between the lines, Inside can help audiences better identify that funny feeling when they start feeling like a creator is their friend. Remember how Burnham's older, more-bearded self popped up at the beginning of "Inside" when we were watching footage of him setting up the cameras and lighting? The final shot is of him looking positively orgasmic, eyes closed, on the cross. Then, the video keeps going past the runtime of the song and into that reaction itself. The comedians lifetime online explains the heart of most of his new songs, I made you some content, comedian Bo Burnham sings in the opening moments of his new Netflix special, Inside. In his new Netflix special, Inside, Bo Burnham sings about trying to be funny while stuck in a room. He's also giving us a visual representation of the way social media feeds can jarringly swing between shallow photos and emotional posts about trauma and loss. I think you're getting from him, you know, the entertainment element. Its an instinct I have for all my work to have some deeper meaning or something. Good. True, but it can deepen and clarify art. Burnham is an extraordinary actor, and "Inside" often feels like we're watching the intimate, real interior life of an artist. The penultimate song "All Eyes on Me" makes for a particularly powerful moment. @TheWoodMother made a video about how Burnham's "Inside" is its own poioumenon, which led to his first viral video on YouTube, written in 2006, is about how his whole family thinks he's gay, defines depersonalization-derealization disorder, "critical window for action to prevent the effects of global warming from becoming irreversible.". MARTIN: And it's deep, too. He uploaded it to YouTube, a then barely-known website that offered an easy way for people to share videos, so he could send it to his brother. There's also another little joke baked into this bit, because the game is made by a company called SSRI interactive the most common form of antidepressant drugs are called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, aka SSRIs. Now we've come full circle from the start of the special, when Burnham sang about how he's been depressed and decided to try just getting up, sitting down, and going back to work. The album peaked at #7 on the Billboard 200 chart, #1 on the Comedy Albums chart, and #18 on the Independent Albums chart. .] Transcript Comedian and filmmaker Bo Burnham used his time alone during the pandemic to create a one-man show. In this case, it's likely some combination of depression/anxiety/any other mental disorder. WebBo Burnham: Inside is a 2021 special written, directed, filmed, edited, and performed by American comedian Bo Burnham. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. He also revealed an official poster, a single frame from the special, and the cover art prior to its release. But in both of those cases, similarity and connection would come from the way the art itself connects people, not any actual tie between Burnham and myself, Burnham and the commenter. When the song starts, the camera sitting in front of Burnham's mirror starts slowing zooming in, making the screen darker and darker until you (the audience member at home) are sitting in front of the black mirror of your screen. Self-awareness does not absolve anybody of anything.". "I'm so worried that criticism will be levied against me that I levy it against myself before anyone else can. Burnham's earlier Netflix specials and comedy albums. On the Netflix special, however, Josh Senior is credited as a producer, Cooper Wehde is an assistant producer, and a number of people are credited for post-production, editing, and logistical coordinating. With menacing horror movie sound effects and hectic, dreamy camerawork, what becomes clear is Burnhams title has a double meaning: referring to being inside not just a room, but also his head. The clearest inspiration is Merle Traviss 16 Tons, a song about the unethical working conditions of coal miners also used in weird Tom Hanks film Joe vs. WebBo Burnham's "Inside" special on Netflix is an incredibly detailed musical-comedy artwork. He says his goal had been to complete filming before his 30th birthday. So for our own little slice of the world, Burnham's two time spans seem to be referencing the start and end of an era in our civilization. Now get inside.". Instead of a live performance, he's recorded himself in isolation over the course of a year. Next in his special, Burnham performs a sketch song about being an unpaid intern, and then says he's going to do a "reaction" video to the song in classic YouTube format. Mirroring the earlier scene where Burnham went to sleep, now Burnham is shown "waking up.". It's self-conscious. Released on May 30, 2021, Bo Burnham wrote, recorded, directed, and produced Inside while in lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. Poioumenon (from the Greek word for "product") is a term created by author Alastair Fowler and usually used to refer to a kind of metafiction. Some of the things he mentions that give him "that funny feeling" include discount Etsy agitprop (aka communist-themed merchandise) and the Pepsi halftime show. And maybe the rest of us are ready, too. . In this time-jumping dramedy, a workaholic who's always in a rush now wants life to slow down when he finds himself leaping ahead a year every few hours. He is now back to where he was, making jokes alone in his room, an effort to escape his reality. But unlike many of us, Burnham was also hard at work on a one-man show directed, written and performed all by himself. Burnham's hair is shorter in those initial behind-the-scenes moments, but his future-self has a longer, unkempt beard and messy hair. HOLMES: Yeah. Burnham spoofs a PewDiePie-like figure a YouTuber who narrates his playing of a video game with a dead-eyed smugness, as shown in an image at the bottom-right corner of the screen. ", He then pulls the same joke again, letting the song play after the audience's applause so it seems like a mistake. The special is available exclusively on Netflix, while the album can be found on most streaming platforms. That's when the younger Burnham, the one from the beginning of his special-filming days, appears. Then, of course, the aspect ratio shrinks again as the white woman goes back to posting typical content. The song untangles the way we view peoples social media output as the complete vision of who they are, when really, we cannot know the full extent of someones inner world, especially not just through social media. When we see it again towards the end of the special, it's from a new camera angle. The penultimate song, "All Eyes On Me," is the best in the whole special, in this writer's opinion. And many of them discuss their personal connection to the show and their analysis of how Burnham must have been thinking and feeling when he made it. A weekly roundup of the best things from Polygon, By submitting your email, you agree to our, Bo Burnhams Inside begs for our parasocial awareness, Sign up for the ", And last but not least, for social media he put "sexually pranking unsuspecting women at public beaches" and "psychologically abusive parents making rube goldberg machines" alongside "white people using GIFs of Black people widening their eyes.". Most of the comments talk about how visceral it is to hear Burnhams real voice singing the upsetting lyrics. 20. Bo Burnhams latest Netflix special, Inside, is a solo venture about the comedian and filmmakers difficult experience in quarantine thats earned enthusiastic critical acclaim. But then the video keeps playing, and so he winds up reacting to his own reaction, and then reacting yet again to that reaction. His 2014 song Repeat Stuff and its music video parodies how boy bands and other corporately-owned pop stars prey on young fans desire to feel loved by writing songs with lyrics vague enough anyone can feel like it was written specifically about them. Netflix did, however, post Facetime with My Mom (Tonight) on YouTube. In the same way that earlier vocal distortion represented God, the effect on his voice in "All Eyes on Me" seems to signal some omniscient force outside of Burnham. Under stand up, Burnham wrote "Middle-aged men protecting free speech by humping stools and telling stories about edibles" and "podcasts. Down to the second, the clock changes to midnight exactly halfway through the runtime of "Inside.". We see Burnham moving around in the daylight, a welcome contrast to the dark setting of "All Eyes on Me." It moves kind of all over the place. Not putting a name on parasocial relationships makes the theme less didactic, more blurred while still being astutesuch sharp focus on the eyes, you dont notice the rest of the face fades into shades of blue. You know, as silly as that one is, some of the other ones are more sedate. The result, a special titled "Inside," shows all of Burnham's brilliant instincts of parody and meta-commentary on the role of white, male entertainers in the world and of poisons found in internet culture that digital space that gave him a career and fostered a damaging anxiety disorder that led him to quit performing live comedy after 2015. Years later, the comedian told NPR's Terry Gross that performing the special was so tough that he was having panic attacks on stage. So when you get to the end of a song, it often just kind of cuts to something else. Well, well, buddy you found it, now come out with your hands up we've got you surrounded.".
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