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Written by Andrew Taggart

Produced by Andrew Taggart

Released January 2014 by Dim Mak Records

Pros

• Clever concept that is likely to bring a laugh
• Parody that is on target...and it tells a story
• Strong dance beats

Cons

• There's not a whole lot here after the novely wears off

Over 30 years ago Frank Zappa, one of the most revered avant garde rock musicians of all time, recorded a song called "Valley Girl" with his 14 year old daughter Moon Unit delivering the words in "Valspeak." It was a broad, memorable parody of the Valley Girl lifestyle and became Frank Zappa's only top 40 pop hit.

 If you are old enough to remember the "Valley Girl" landmark, the concept behind "#Selfie" will sound familiar.

Electronic dance music duo The Chainsmokers took verses that parody today's narcissistic selfie taking (pointing your cell phone camera at your own face and sharing the results via social media) culture to their friend Alexis. She recited the words, and, according to the pair, the first take was finished in an hour and "#Selfie" was born.  If at first, you think the chatter is simply random, then listen again.  There is actually a story here, perhaps even the beginning of a love story.  What starts out with, "I kept on seeing him look at me when he was with that other girl," ends with, "Should I go home with him? I guess I took a good selfie."  In between there are clever touches on other aspects of party lifestyle and the social media generation.  

The judgmental skewering of other women in the club and a jab poked at Lana Del Rey's "Summertime Sadness" being overplayed quickly evolves into on the fly sharing of the selfie.

 Obsession with the "right" Instagram photo filters and the ability to "purchase" social media followers all play a part in this club fairy tale.  And some listeners may even learn a new slang term. "That is so ratchet."  In other terms..."She's a ghetto diva."

The story behind the story of "#Selfie" is that the song is also being cleverly marketed spinning out what threatens to be a major viral success.  Social media savvy marketing firm theAudience brought the Chainsmokers and their track together with veteran house music producer Steve Aoki and his label Dim Mak Records.  Now with video "selfies" welded to the song proliferating on YouTube, all involved hope they have another "Harlem Shake" on their hands.

Unlike the case of Baauer's "Harlem Shake," the Chainsmokers are gaining some real traction at mainstream top 40 pop radio with "#Selfie."  As of the writing of this review, MediaBase shows the song sliding into the top 30 nationally.  This just might be a hit song that goes well beyond the YouTube viral meme which could go a long way toward giving The Chainsmokers a bit of staying power in the pop music world.

As for "#Selfie," it is clever, and when you listen it seems like one of those situations where if The Chainsmokers didn't come up with it, sooner or later someone else would.  However, records like this rarely have true long-term classic status.  This is a novelty record with a clever dose of knowing parody.  Enjoy it now while the world is obsessed with selfies.  And if narcissistic social media networking is not your thing, you just might learn a concept or two.