'Bed Intruder Song': From YouTube to the Mainstream

By Steven Avalos Posted Sep 7th 2010 02:00PM

By now, you're probably familiar with the little news report that could -- an intruder broke into a Huntsville, Alabama, home, climbed into bed with a resident and tried to assault her before making a swift, if clumsy, getaway. A local news station interviewed the victim and her brother, Antoine Dodson, who gave a now classic warning to the intruder and advised locals to "Hide your kids, hide your wife and hide your husband, too."

The clip found its way to YouTube, where it took off at viral speed, catching the attention of New York-based musicians The Gregory Brothers, who saw potential in Dodson's words and soon applied their catchy, auto-tuned vision to the rant. Already a name in the YouTube world with their popular web-series Auto-tune the News, the Gregory Brothers' 'Bed Intruder Song' is now a hit on iTunes and has charted on Billboard.

The song has garnered over 16 million views on YouTube and sold more than 91,000 downloads on iTunes, where it's reached No. 3 on the R&B chart, leading it to the 89th slot on the Billboard Hot 100. And its not just The Gregory Brothers who are enjoying the song's overnight success, the band is sharing all profits from the song with Dodson, who hopes his new-found celebrity status could be his family's ticket out of the projects.

So, who exactly are The Gregory Brothers? The band is made up of Michael, Andrew and Evan Gregory and Evan's wife, Sarah, who all moved to New York from Virginia to pursue careers in music. The Gregory Brothers have tapped into a YouTube niche by auto-tuning news broadcasts and, most infamously, the presidential debates in 2008.

"We built credibility by turning it into a series," Evan Gregory tells the New York Times. "We got really addicted to the challenge of making speakers sing," Sarah adds. And the music industry is taking note, with offers out for publishing deals, songwriting opportunities and integrating established artists into their ideas.

So, what's next for the quartet? A television deal with Comedy Central is reportedly in the works, but until then, they'll likely still keep churning out videos online. If another 'Bed Intruder'-like clip comes around the viral web, they're sure to be at the forefront with a remix that's likely to get stuck in your head.

Tags: antoine dodson, auto-tune the news, Bed Intruder Song, gregory brothers

Comments

(13)

Wednesday 08 September

By Neworleanspink

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I guess I must the last person on earth to actually hear this song. I love it!!! I hope the family gets paid for it as well and not just the artist. I cracked up at the end of the song, too funny. I love the way he talks, I'm from New Orleans so people tend to talk about our accent, but his is absolutely priceless. On a serious note, I hope your sister is doing okay. Peace and Blessings,

Friday 10 September

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Tuesday 07 September

By Apostate

Gotta hand it to this quartet for tapping into the asinine AutoTune zietgeist in this manner.

By Ray

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This went viral? You've got to be kidding me. This sounds like typical garbage that you can find at Target or Best Buy - or iTunes. I turned it off after about 30 seconds.

By lipanconjuring

Sadly, this is the kind of garbage most kids listen to these days.

By Evil-Llama

This is a waste of time-Damn maybe i should make some stupid music video sayin the city is rippin me of. I bet he appears on the Grammys now or something

By Mark Harris

i hate myself for loving this.

By BayouWoman

I wish I had the time to explain it to y'all, but even then, I'm not sure you'd get it. In relation to the song only, here's a hint: entertainment in the broadest sense...with some cultural humor attached.

By MY QUEEN

This is actually the short version. I love what they did with the interview; it's very creative and catchy. I agree with Mark Harris who loves this. I love it too. The long version. They should have posted the long one.

By Tracey

It is so good to see a news story where the good guys are winning and you have a chance to help make it happen. Buy the song on I-Tunes, buy a T-Shirt - support the family and lets all help get this piece of garbage off the streets!

Saturday 22 January

By Lisa

This not music at all. I hope this gay guy goes away.

Sunday 27 March

By Reg

You people don't realize that this isn't a real music video? Somebody put it together from an interview? You people are idiots!!!!

Wednesday 30 March

By celyon

It doesn't matter what it was for. It still is/was bad.

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