By Rachel Drobner ’12, Staff Writer

Do you know what day it is today? Rebecca Black can tell you that it’s Friday, and that “we so excited!”  And just in case you happened to forget the rest of the days of the week, she can also tell you that “yesterday was Thursday, tomorrow is Saturday and Sunday comes afterwards.”

Rebecca Black has become an Internet superstar– her music video has racked up an incredible 129 million YouTube views, a number that increases each day by the thousands.  Somehow, her terribly auto-tuned voice and grammatically incorrect lyrics have brought her both fame and wealth.  The question is– where did she come from?  Rebecca Black has no history in the music business, and her lack of talent and experience has left many puzzled about her sudden popularity.

It all started when Black’s mother paid “Ark Music Factory” several thousand dollars to produce a song and music video for her aspiring pop-star kid. Surprisingly, this cheaply produced song allowed Black to become an overnight sensation.  What seems interesting, however, is that people do not listen to Friday despite its flaws, they listen to it because of its flaws.  Complete with awkward lyrics, a misplaced rapper, and abominable auto-tuning, it is certainly a painful experience for your ears.  Black has profited enormously from the attention, but her self-esteem has definitely been at risk.

Many critics and celebrities have bashed the song with negative reviews calling it  “the worst song recorded in history.” Hundreds of parodies of the catchy tune have swarmed the Internet, including a hilarious Newark Academy rendition made by Alix Mann and other members of the senior class. Alix pokes fun at the stereotypical NA student and some of the school’s drawbacks.

On the other hand, there are several supporters of Black, such as Chris Brown and Simon Cowell.  Lady Gaga described the pop sensation as a “genius, ” and supports her in the face of tremendously negative YouTube comments, which she believes to be a form of cyber-bullying.

Although Rebecca Black is somewhat of an embarrassment to American pop music and the idea of the overnight sensation, her behavior in light of the criticism has been poised and commendable.  She has certainly made a name for herself in the media, and won’t be forgotten for a long time (or at least until someone can manage to write a song that is even worse).

Watch NA’s own Rebecca Black parody courtesy of Alix Mann ’11 below:

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