‘Since U Been Gone’ YouTube Awards

It’s time for the second edition of the “Since U Been Gone” YouTube Awards, where we celebrate the best of people lip synching and dancing to “Since U Been Gone” on YouTube! (I meant to do this last Friday but I, uhm, forgot.)

I got your emails afterthe inaugural edition on June 23. Most of them said either, “Slow news day?” or, more likely, “Oh I hate you so much. I spent the whole day watching stupid people dance around to ‘Since U Been Gone’ and now I have to catch up on all this work!” And I figured, hey, if I can’t piss of my readers, then, really, who can?

I’ve also discovered that, as usual, my idea isn’t all that original. The blog Riff Market listed the five best “Hot in Herre” videos on YouTube. (Holy shit! This is also the blog of ex-Village Voice and — more importantly — St. Joe’s Prep grad Nick Sylvester! Hey, this blog’s actually quite good, and, really, I can’t even remember why he got axed from the Voice anyway. Huzzah!)

Anyway, this will be the last post of the day! Huzzah. May your July 4th be filled with fireworks, hot dogs, beer and independence. If you go see Lionel Richie and Fantasia from American Idol, Season 3, on the Parkway, I’ll be there; come find me and say hello. I’ll be wearing a t-shirt. After the jump, the second edition of the “Since U Been Gone” YouTube Awards.

BEST HOMOEROTIC VERSION (NOT THAT THERE’S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT): “Since U Been Gone”

This turns the “girl-singing-about-guy” theme on its head. (Duh, that’s why it’s a homoerotic version.) This was someone’s editing final, and we can only pray that the creators of this video got an A.

BEST COVER FROM JESSICA AND JORDAN: “Jessica and Jordan singing Kelly Clarkson Since U Been Gone”

This is too fuckin’ cute.

BEST VIDEO GAME INTERPRETATION: “Since U been gone sim”

This is the only repeat category in the second edition of the “Since U Been Gone” Awards. Frankly, it says something about the human race that there are tons — tons! — of music videos with visuals from video games on YouTube. Specifically, it says we’re doomed.

BEST COVER ON AN ‘AMERICAN IDOL’-STYLE SHOW: “Emily Williams - “Since U Been Gone” - Australian Idol”

Yeah, I know the original was Pop Idol in the UK. Still, it’s kind of amusing that the Idol series has gotten so big that a contestant on Australian Idol can cover a song originally done by an American Idol winner. If you don’t see the unintentional comedy in that, well, then you’re not as easily amused as I am.

BEST VIDEO FEATURING THE GREATEST MOMENT IN MUSIC VIDEO HISTORY: “Kidz Bop’s ‘Since U Been Gone’”

If you’re not familiar with Kidz Bop, it’s kind of like NOW That’s What I Call Music! for little kids and morons. The CD series (there are currently 10 of them) features popular songs covered by a younger singer with a screaming kid chorus. I guarantee that if Saddam Hussein had these CDs piped into his cell, he’d plead guilty to everything just to stop the pain.

Anyway, as Stereogum has noted, the Kidz Bop cover of “Since U Been Gone” features the greatest moment in music video history at the 2:37 mark.