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November 30, 2006

Stephen Colbert Vs. The Decemberists

Last night, The Colbert Report introduced a new segment, Who’s Riding My Coattails Now? This week's culptrits?

"Indie rock outfit The Decemberists, who have shot a performance against a green screen and asked their fans to finish the video. Green screen? Hmmmmm ... where have I heard that before? Does THIS look familiar to anyone in the indie rock scene? Nation, we cannot take this lying down. So tonight, I'm announcing Stephen Colbert's Second Green Screen Challenge: to edit me into The Decemberists' Green Screen Challenge! Yeah, it's go time. You can find their footage at mtvu.com/reanimatethedecemberists and my clip, the original green screen footage, at colbertnation.com. Let's see how well they perform their trademark brand of hyper-literate prog rock when I'm slicing off their legs at the knee. [Pulls out light saber.] Oh yes. They will feel the pain."
And oh yes, we transcribed that for you. When our favorite hyperliterate prog rock band meets our second favorite late-night political comedy show, there is no waiting for YouTube!

Mr. Meloy, you're on notice.

UPDATE: Here's the clip...

Posted at 10:09 AM in ,
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30 Comments

steven's is my first favorite late-night political comedy show, not second.

Posted by: dannygutters at 11/30/06 10:44 AM | Reply
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Is it possible for anyone who writes about The Decemberists to NOT use the adjective "hyper-literate" to describe the band? That is SO not punk rock.

Well it could be worse, at least they're not that illiterate slut Lindsay Lohan.

Posted by: Mando at 11/30/06 10:49 AM | Reply
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i almost died when i saw this last night. i'm going to see colbert on dec. 13th!!! maybe he'll have some submissions by then to show off!

Posted by: jinners at 11/30/06 10:59 AM | Reply
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i prefer thesaurus-rock, personally.
thanks for notifying us of this, stereogum!
i will be looking for the rerun today at lunch.

Posted by: steve perry at 11/30/06 11:00 AM | Reply
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i almost died when i saw this last night. i love that colbert is talking about some indie rock, following suit with jon stewart's indie rock show at irving plaza with superchunk. i'm going to see colbert report on dec. 13th so maybe he'll have some submissions to show us by then!

Posted by: jinners at 11/30/06 11:00 AM | Reply
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I'm with dannygutters-- Stephen is consistently more funny and seems to enjoy his job much more than Jon Stewart.

Posted by: matt at 11/30/06 11:10 AM | Reply
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i prefer thesaurus-rock, personally.
thanks for notifying us of this, stereogum!
i will be looking for the rerun today at lunch.

Posted by: steve perry at 11/30/06 11:13 AM | Reply
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When are you guys going to realize The Decemberists are just an okay band and nothing worth your time?

Posted by: me at 11/30/06 11:25 AM | Reply
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I agree TDS has been losing its edge over the past few months, with the change-up in correspondents. But I still rank it above the spin-off.

Posted by: scott at 11/30/06 11:37 AM | Reply
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I dunno "me", perhaps about the same time you yank your head out of your ass? I probably don't like your favorite band either. So be it.

Saw this last night too. Can't wait to see the submissions. Enjoyed the Colbert County nonsense too.

Posted by: Rich at 11/30/06 11:42 AM | Reply
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obviously colbert ftw.

and come on dude, nobody seriously likes this band, right? i thought people just pretended to like it on some of that ironic-hipster-'i like shitty music cause its so shitty its good' nonsense.

Posted by: jl3969 at 11/30/06 12:47 PM | Reply
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totally dude, nobody, cuz like its so shitty, and shit

Posted by: jl3970 at 11/30/06 1:01 PM | Reply
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The Decemberists were better when they were called Neutral Milk Hotel.

Posted by: Josh at 11/30/06 2:12 PM | Reply
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The Decemberists have got a problem. Colbert has already destroyed the wiki on Elephants, almost had a bridge named after him (had they not changed the rules), and a few other major internet mobilizations... I have a feeling the Decemberists will be inundated with colbert-related submissions- some of which will be so good, I hope they use it.

Posted by: marc at 11/30/06 2:52 PM | Reply
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Josh Josh Josh,
If I was Neutral Milk Hotel I'd hunt you down and neck-punch you for that.

Posted by: Jeff at 11/30/06 3:50 PM | Reply
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"Why couldn't they be like every other indie band and just copy the Pixies?"

haha

Posted by: AC at 11/30/06 5:20 PM | Reply
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AC singled out the funniest line of the nite. Kudos.

Posted by: El Payo at 11/30/06 5:59 PM | Reply
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This is insanely hilarious. I can't wait to see these clips. I'll definitely be keeping up with this "story" at Mirr World (http://mirrworld.blogspot.com).

Someone should edit Colbert throwing a bottle at Colin Meloy ala Panic! at the Disco.

Posted by: bluesphee at 11/30/06 8:38 PM | Reply
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Wow, so Stephen is taking a laugh at the Decemberists? Who are his next victims?

Posted by: Julie at 12/01/06 12:10 AM | Reply
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stephens lightsaber dance seem very familiar...star wars kid familiar!

Posted by: pat at 12/01/06 5:13 AM | Reply
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the DECEMBERISSTS IS GOOD BAND, THEY HAVE GOOD INSTRUMENTATION AND CATCHY UNIQUE LYRICS,

GO LISTEN TO BLOC PARTY AND JERK OFF

Posted by: Stack aTTACK at 12/05/06 2:09 AM | Reply
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Hi, is this php? I want to do it too on my site...

Posted by: how does this work at 12/05/06 6:32 AM | Reply
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Yes, the record company executive is right.
Except for the catchy unique lyrics part.
Oh wait, that makes his statement completely wrong.
Never Mind!

They do rip off the wrong people when it comes to promotional ideas.

Posted by: Colbert Nation Flunky at 12/07/06 11:07 PM | Reply
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Who cares! This is free publicity for The Decemberists! I don't know but this seems like a marketing strategy if I've every seen one. I say good for them on getting their name out into the mainstream. Good publicity or bad publicity; it's still publicity.

And I happen to LOVE The Decemberists!

Posted by: cris at 12/09/06 5:05 PM | Reply
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Who cares! This is free publicity for The Decemberists! I don't know but this seems like a marketing strategy if I've every seen one. I say good for them on getting their name out into the mainstream. Good publicity or bad publicity; it's still publicity.

And I happen to LOVE The Decemberists!

Posted by: cris at 12/09/06 5:09 PM | Reply
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I completely agree with cris, it is getting them free publicity, and I too, happen to absolutely be in LOVE with The Decemberists. It's hard to find bands like them out there, but Stephen Colbert is also pretty amazing, so this will be a good show down! Good Luck Demcemberists!

Posted by: Rachel at 12/09/06 9:27 PM | Reply
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I completely agree with cris, it is getting them free publicity, and I too, happen to absolutely be in LOVE with The Decemberists. It's hard to find bands like them out there, but Stephen Colbert is also pretty amazing, so this will be a good show down! Good Luck Demcemberists!

Posted by: Rachel at 12/09/06 9:29 PM | Reply
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I completely agree with cris, it is getting them free publicity, and I too, happen to absolutely be in LOVE with The Decemberists. It's hard to find bands like them out there, but Stephen Colbert is also pretty amazing, so this will be a good show down! Good Luck Demcemberists!

Posted by: Rachel at 12/09/06 9:31 PM | Reply
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The Decemberists are a truly great band and I am a HUGE Stephen Colbert fan so I am thrilled to see what they come up with. Really really looking forward to the Dec. 20 show.

Posted by: iHuman at 12/13/06 1:15 AM | Reply
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The Decemberists are alright.
I don't love them and I don't hate them.
I've been to a concert and I must admit, they play pretty well live.

What I don't understand is this; why do you have to hate something (be it a band or an entire genre) and want it dead if you don't particularly like it?

Seems like a complete waste of effort to me.

Posted by: Samuel L. Jackson at 12/13/06 1:36 AM | Reply
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