Fancams aren’t just made by K-pop stans anymore. And the fancam format and the motivations behind making them have evolved to the point that some of them look like hot messes or dadaist art on the internet. Still, I’m a fan. They add flavor to a timeline and right now they’re taking me to simpler times, back when we could still catch a live onstage performance.
Fancams essentially started as uploads from folks who go to live shows to take videos. If you’ve ever felt attacked when an artist requests the audience to put down their phones, congratulations. You are a fancam owner. But if a fancam is recorded but never uploaded, is it really a fancam? Well, okay, depending on the philosophical answers to that question, you’re a possible owner of one.
To get an idea of what was strictly considered as fancam, the legendary fancam of K-pop girl group EXID’s Hani performing “Up & Down” taken by pharkil is a great example. It got so much traction back in 2014 that it became somewhat like a promotional strategy. Before the filtered fan edits, fancams were vertical videos that focused on a group’s member to highlight their raw power. After watching this, I, too, wanted Hani to step on me.
Fancams have changed over time. But for the most part, they’re still tokens of adoration. Here are some of the more bizarre videos that caught our attention. You’ve got to see them to believe that they exist.
Ryujin dildo on a conveyer belt fancam
For K-pop girl group ITZY’s comeback this year, they released the dance track “Wannabe.” Yes, it’s the one with the funky shoulder wiggle move. Twitter user @lzzlix edited Ryujin performing “Wannabe” on top of that viral video of a lone dildo on an airport conveyor belt. Talk about eye-catching, right?
Miley Cyrus throwing down to BTS’ “Filter”
Although I was never a bona fide Hannah Montana fan, I admit that even I tried memorizing the steps to “Hoedown Thowdown” from “Hannah Montana: The Movie.” Miley is teaching us how to zigzag across the floor to the tune of BTS’ Filter in a fancam by @wigglygoo. If only K-pop choreographies were this easy to follow.
If Bibble was a rich girl
Remember Bibble from the “Barbie: Fairytopia” movie series? Well, let this fancam of the little furry sidekick refresh your mind. Bibble was a comic relief character and @kissychalamets made good use of his goofy appeal in a fancam. Watch him smugly floating around with “Rich Girl” by Gwen Stefani in the background
Hot dads of “Twilight” fancam
With “Midnight Sun” getting the green light, that means we’ll get to revisit a fictionalized Forks with hot vampires and werewolves roaming around. While some people are hoping to get a movie adaptation so they could rehash the Team Edward v.s. Team Jacob discourse, others are looking to get a dose of hot dads Charlie Swan and Dr. Carlisle Cullen. Personally, I’m hoping for more Alice content but I’m not one to judge. Accompanied by Todrick’s “Nails, Hair, Hips, Heels,” @cullenswh*re proves that they’re kinda cute.
Peppa Pig green-screened over a dancing girl
Last year, people were streaming “Bing Bong Zoo” from Peppa Pig’s “My First Album” on Spotify. It started as an inside joke but it became a thing that put artists like Kim Petras and Rina Sawayama on her list of related artists. Since Peppa never actually released a choreo for her bop, Twitter users like @peppablink had to get creative. For this fancam, Peppa was green-screened over a girl doing a dance cover. The song really does go hard after all.
Reese Witherspoon (arrest) fancam
Who doesn’t love “Legally Blonde” legend Reese Witherspoon? In a fancam by @selsroberts, we get to see a plethora of some of the actress’ best red carpet looks, clips from her movies and…videos of her arguing with paparazzi and the police? It’s a product of dark humor with the Britney track “Piece of Me” aptly playing in the background. (BTW, Witherspoon opened up about that leaked DUI arrest video on Jameela Jamil’s podcast. We’re glad she’s in a better place.)
Normani as the avatar
If there’s anyone who can master the four elements, it would definitely be Normani. The powerhouse performer has the voice, the moves and the looks of pop royalty. She has the potential of being an icon on par with Beyonce. In this fancam by @bumdoll, we catch a couple of the artist’s iconic moments with Katara’s monologue on the opening for “Avatar: The Last Airbender” plays in the background. Blink and you might miss that Fifth Harmony clip. Anyway, we too believe that Normani can save the world.
There are tons of hilarious fancams and it seems that the number of people interested in making them are growing by the day. Some people still dislike the fact but perhaps they’re one their way to realizing that if you can’t beat them, you might as well join them.
Art by Tricia Guevara
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