Earth by Lil Dicky has been trending ever since its release, and one can quite see why. The music video is one of a kind, featuring animated versions of several big shots in the music and film industry. The animators have done such a good job that one might assume the video is part of upcoming Disney film, if shown without context. Here are few of the reasons as to why this star-studded spectacle is the best thing to happen right now.
Celebrities as animals: Justin Bieber voicing a baboon, Miley Cyrus voicing an elephant with “junk in the trunk”, Snoop Dogg voicing personified weed and Kevin Hart voicing Kanye West are just few of the weirdly captivating aspects of the video. It is the right mix of meaningful sensitisation and absolute randomness.
The video is pure creative genius: This is the most efficient way to capture the attention of children, teenagers and young adults and sensitise them to the effects of climate change. This is a modern solution to a modern problem—the task of getting the youth increasingly aware of climate change and thereby shaping the ones who will implement effective policy change in the future.
Brings attention to the danger of not believing in climate change: While the video seems far from political, an animated human worryingly says, “There are so many people over there who think global warming isn’t a real thing” As ridiculous as it sounds, there have been attempts to reduce the very evident issue of climate change into a myth or an aspect of a political ideology. Propagation of such an idea is dangerous as it would slow down the implementation of policies, rules and actions that would help counter global warming.
Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation: The video highlights the efforts of Leonardo DiCaprio towards saving the planet. The foundation works to build climate resiliency, protects wildlife and restore balance to threatened ecosystems and communities. All the proceeds from the song will be used by the foundation to help save the planet.
If you are feeling down, this is the video to watch right now: The happy vibes, the collective feeling of oneness with the world, the reminder that we as humankind are pretty cool (how we build places, made clothes, made the internet) and that there is so much out there to see and explore is greatly motivating.
The music video might as well function as the unofficial anthem for Earth Day for its unique blend of absolutely random metacommentary (from the animated characters), climate change awareness and depiction of the different lands and cultures. Climate change is no more a thing of the future. It has become our present day reality, adversely affecting the lives of all of earth’s inhabitants. It is high time that necessary actions that would aid climate resiliency are initiated.
If we, as humankind, want to have a good time and a long time, we need to help the planet have a good time and a long time as well.