[YouTubeUlar] <— 479
A long time in the making and a lot of hard work, GeoRiot now has a pretty face to put in front of their affiliate clicks program.
Back in the day when we conceptualized Ski Movie Music and figured out we weren’t getting paid on more than half the affiliate links being clicked, we realized we had a problem. Finally, after writing an entire book on Mastering the iTunes Affiliate Program and actually working for Apple on the subject, Jesse Lakes finally created a solution — GeoRiot.
To all of you, my closest friends and family, I want to say that I love you.
I say this today in particular in memory of my late father who passed 16 years ago today. It has not been easy to be without the incredible man who was my father as I go through life. But I like to think that the final lesson I learned from my father that this is life. Something fleeting and temporary. Each moment can not be reproduced and should be treated as such. This lesson has taught me to appreciate each one of these moments. Furthermore, I have learned that the people that we experience these moments with and who make most of these moments so special are also temporary. Health and life are precious and fragile things. I understand this through and through.
With this final lesson from my father, I try to live each day appreciating every moment, and every experience; acknowledging and understanding how special each one is.
But as a the question goes, if a tree falls in a forest and nobody is there to hear it, is there a sound? Each moment is not nearly as important nor memorable as it is when we can share these moments with the ones we love and care about.
So, on this important day, I’d like to take a moment to tell you all that I love you all. You make my life important and make me happy to live each of these moments that I have the opportunity to live.
I look forward to every moment we spend together, all the experiences we share, and all the great food and music we enjoy with an expression of bassface.
With all my heart and my sincere love,
Alex
Hydle Reply
Alex – thank you for sharing – you are awesome!
Having also recently lost my father I too cherish the moments that we consider the right here and right now. I believe that is something I have always been particularly good at, but when you lose someone or something that is particularly important to you, it is funny how you are somehow re-reminded to cherish the important people and things that are still in your life.
For you to take the time to reflect about your father and then to share it with your friends means a lot to me and I feel privileged to be included. I wish we all did more thinking, reflecting and especially sharing… Just like you have now :)
Donovan Rossi and I picked up a pretty monumental package today in Golden. This little guy is going to change shift our direction toward more awesomeness.
We shot a Harlem Shake at Bent Gate’s Silverton Sick Days this past Wednesday. It’s worth a socially creative review as this could be the fastest growing viral campaign ever.
“The Harlem Shake” Timeline of Events
1981 — The dance was originally coined in 1981 as a drunk dance by a Harlem resident and creator “Al B”
“it’s a drunken shake anyway, it’s an alcoholic shake, but it’s fantastic, everybody appreciates it.”
2013 — On January 23rd, 2013 – 2 weeks after Baaur’s “The Harlem Shake” dropped on iTunes, still unrelated FilthyFrank uploads this “How To Dubstep”video with his character PINK GUY. At this time, his facebook page which claims he “once tripped and had anal sex with himself” has less than 4,500 likes.
On January 30th he uploads his Compilation #6 – Smell My Fingers video with the Harlem Shake short introduction. This video still only has 322,347 views, but his viewers were asking for more shake. So on February 2nd – he gives them the original Harlem Shake which now has over 10,900,000 views.
“yall naughty fellas wanted the full separate version of HARLEM SHAKE SO HERE IT IS.
SHARE IT WITH YO FRANS XOXO
♥”
Over the next 2 days, 257 of Filthy Frank’s fans share the video, 908 like it and 84 people comment on his original post. A Filthy Remix even pops up and somewhere in the mix people start uploading their own versions. A few of the early videos gained even more views than Filthy Frank’s original, so he re-posted the original to his now growing facebook fan-base on February 6th…
“some swagfag guys made a harlem shake video right after ours and it’s obviously copied. and it’s getting crazy views. but we stand strong, because we have the power of each individual filthy character. don’t forget where you came from, and stay filthy.”
This repost gained another 105 shares, 1,239 likes and 116 comments to propel the Harlem Shake to the masses of the interManets. The competition was on and the creatives started uploading. ImAfricanJesus began a playlist of his Harlem Shake consumptions. CollegeHumor was #9 on the list. By February 9th ImAfricanJesus quit adding Harlem Shakes to his consumption playlist stopping at 47 videos.
On February 8th, the new york times posted an article relating winter storm Nemo + the Harlem Shake as a way to pass your time while being stuck indoors. Filthy Frank posts the article and it gains 38 shares, 858 likes and 150 comments from his fan base. The Chive, Break, Buzzfeed, and Maker Studios out of LA created job campaigns out of their versions of the Harlem Shake which proved the shake could definitely be used for marketing traction. Musical talent Matt and Kim even jumped into the mix.
A good friend of mine, Jason McWilliams, preached the Harlem Shake to Copper Mountain Ski Area on Saturday, February 9th. By February 11th, around 12,000 “Harlem Shake” videos had been posted with a collective 44 million views. One of my favorite and most creative versions was posted by the UGA Men’s Swim and Dive team on February 11th.
On February 12th, Copper Mountain dropped their Harlem Shake creation, which is when I first took notice of the completely random sensation. We recorded our random version on February 13th in Silverton, CO and nearly had the mountain convinced to shoot and upload what I still believe would be the most epic Harlem Shake ever. Conceptually you couldn’t beat a helicopter hovering behind a bunch of Bent Gate Silverton Sick Days skiers and riders dancing their asses off by the rental bus at Silverton. I blame myself, and partially Devin Rhinehart for not TSOIGDH’ng and following through with this one.
The Today Show ripped their own version on February 14th, officially killing the interManets viral meme formerly known as the “Harlem Shake”. To put an exclamation point on it, McWilliams walled me this one just to be sure. Filthy Frank now has over 47,000 likes and 125,000 YouTube Subscribers and overall he seems pretty modest about creating the sensation and actually makes fun of his post Harlem Shake audience.
This completes your Hydle write up and review of what catalysts enabled a creative meme to go Viral. I’m actually pretty surprised the Adelia Shake didn’t take off.
Today is October 10th, 2012 which marks the 4 month anniversary of the day we laid my father to rest after being involved in a tragic motorcycle accident while leaving my neighborhood. To summarize the last 4 months, I can only say that time, memories and emotions have basically all blurred into one surreal adventure where it is hard to decipher between what should affect me and what shouldn’t. In addition to my attempts of coming to terms with what happened on June 9th, 2012 – there have been countless other interesting and emotional events that have prevented me from fully dealing with the loss of my father. Colorado nearly burned to death, Aurora was tragically shot up, Dixie took rest, uncle RT (my dads brother) passed exactly a month ago and now I’ve been forced to nearly give up on one of my most meaningful and important relationships. Everything aside – there have been a lot of positives that have also occurred through business ventures, travel, family communication and finding an all to real *real*ness in this world… but it is hard to focus attention on these without fully dealing with this sub-par hand of cards that has been dealt through the summer of 2012.
In two days we will head to court for the criminal case against the 27 year old driver who illegally, and unknowingly pulled directly in front of my father after our heartfelt time we spent together. He has since pleaded guilty to his charges and we only await a sentencing hearing… where we will get a chance to meet the man responsible for this accident. It is hard to say how my family and I will respond to this long awaited meeting, I’m sure there will be some existence of anger and hate, but I personally know that all of the anger is going to have to be overcome to fully heal from this loss.
All I can do is remember the amazing person my father was and how incredible the time was we were literally *just* able to spend together. At my fathers service, I presented the final moments we spent together into a playlist – my father’s final playlist. I will eventually release the video of my speech to everyone, but today I release to you these final moments through memories, movies, songs and writing. Within these final moments I was able to build him a playlist he would be proud of. Everything seemed to happen naturally… and with little effort. If I had known this would have been the final hour I would ever get to spend with my father… I still don’t think I would have changed a thing.
My Father’s Final Playlist
It was a calm and sunny Saturday summer morning when my father pulled up into my driveway on his brand new to him Yamaha Venture. It was a big bike, cherry red and gorgeous… and I could immediately tell from the smile on his face that he was happy. He wanted to show me this bike and I took the time to look at it. We played with gadgets, disc changers and radio stations. I was super surprised that a guy like my dad hadn’t yet taken the time to figure out his own stereo so he could at least listen to music while he cruised. I figured it out for him… taught him… balanced his speakers… and programmed some radio stations. We spent at least 20 minutes in the hot colorado sun mesmerizing over his added extras and light bar additions to the bike. This bike was reflective… my dad was glowing. We eventually rolled inside and as we were looking at a random appliance problems in my kitchen … he simply asked me – “what happened to your microwave?” To which I answered… “oh, you didn’t see that video? – come here”
So I pulled him to my upstairs computer… and I showed him this.
Track 1 – Video – Beer Run
After watching … and laughing at this video peace – I previously had another open video just sitting there on my computer. Also revolving beer.
Track 2 – Video – St. Patty’s Day
My Dad chuckled at the Guinness comments… so staying on the Beer theme I asked him “Dad – did you know that we have our own beer?” And I cued this up.
Track 3 – Video – Hydle Ale Release
Post Hydle Ale video, man he laughed at the Hydle Ale Logo… so I asked him if he saw our KOHL’s rock out video? — which is a beautiful peace with all my nephews and his grandchildren.
Track 4 – Video – KOHL’s Party
Now at this point… I command-tabbed over to final cut where a project I was previously working on was open. It was from the Denver Day of Rock show that took place only two weeks prior and I KNEW my dad would be intrigued. He’d never listened to Amanda Capper – So I let him watch… and listen.
Track 5 – Song + Video – Someone Like You
I knew my dad was in kind of a hurry… he had to go somewhere and a quick call from his girlfriend made me leave the room. I never respected or wanted to show any appreciation for his new relations, which he knew, so even though I know he only talked to her for a couple seconds… I still managed to leave the room and go to the garage. What my Dad didn’t know – is I was setting him up for his final 3 songs in a new listening environment.
I listened to him watch a video… and engage in the music you just listened to. Came back upstairs and asked – “did you like that?” To which the reply was an obvious “yes.” So I led him to the garage and started playing this, which I knew he would love even more.
Track 6 – Song – Baby I’m Amazed
It was fun… shooting the shit with him, as he had no idea what the intro to the song was all about or what song was coming up. But as soon as the keyboardist drops into the beginning riff … he belted out “Paul McCartney – Baby I’m Amazed!” and sat on the couch. I knew he would know exactly what song it was – This was fun. I sat on the couch across from him… It’s orange – we call it Bronco… and we listened to music. Loud music – The way he would make me sit and listen when I was a kid.
We get to the part where Amanda Capper starts singing… he sits up and points to his arm, looks up at me and energizes, “You know those hairs on your arm that stand up?? Those goose bumps? — Yah!!” To which I simply reply … “You just got CAPPER’d” and we sit and listen to the rest of the song.
When Baby I’m Amazed finished – he wanted to know when this show was… and why he missed it. I lightly explained that he missed a lot of things. One of them was an unbelievable experience after hours in a Utah bar. So I played this one…
Track 7 – Song – Drift Away
— Emotional Acoustic Version
— Denver Day of Rock Live Version
As I explain the jam session video we shot in Utah singing drift away to a very special BMX crowd revolving around an injured rider – Stephen Murray… I transitioned into the Craig Hospital video I had just completed. I explained about bringing Amanda Capper into the mix and how we accomplished what we did. I commented aggressively about him having not seen the video… since this was something I hold dear to my heart and means a lot to me. But since he didn’t have time to watch the 9 minute masterpiece … I explained enough to him so he would understand where this next song comes from. It was an Amanda Capper original, her own creation from watching the video I created. She was inspired to write a song about life from the perspective of a little girl … only this girl had a name – Briley Alberi, the daughter of one of the most amazing families I had ever met. The Alberi’s were the subject of a Montana creation for the 2012 push dinner video. I told my dad how I had video of Amanda playing the first idea of this next song sitting upstairs in my living room in early February… and that this was the first time she ever played it live. I told him about how it is the ultimate complement when your work inspires the work of others… and this is where his final song on my dads final playlist came from.
Track 8 – Song – Time To Try
We sat listening on my couches… across from one another. Not a word was said. My father loved music, and he loved the music I was playing for him. I knew this… because I could feel it. In the next couple days I would learn more about my dad and his true musical background than I previously knew about anything thing else about him. He was a known unknown in this world of rock and roll music growing up and he has proof of it. I would meet one of his best buds from his growth years… his real fast and free years of growing up without a care. I would learn that although my dad couldn’t or didn’t play an instrument, he would still instruct others how to play. He could belt out guitar riffs with his voice… he could hit the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, and although he didn’t complete his pursuit of rock-stardom. His friends did.
We stood up… hugged – said our I love yous… walked out to his bike, listened as he revved his engine one last time, down my street and around the corner. I stared him off into the distance… stood barefoot, shirtless on my driveway – had an unnerving feeling, said a mental goodbye, paused. and walked inside. No more than 30 seconds after this moment, my father was tragically involved in a motorcycle accident he would not wake from. A vehicle would carelessly turn left directly in front of him before leaving my neighborhood… and I would never get to share another hug with this man I called dad.
I’m sorry it had to happen this way dad… and I know you are looking down and saying the same. As I expressed to you on our airport run in October, 2010 – “You really fucked things up here, and it will be interesting to see how you react to this situation.” And it was. But this wasn’t expected by anyone. You should never have had to spend the emotional energy on the feelings you were going through – it makes you “check out from real life.” I also told you this, but you didn’t listen and it sucks you had to go through this alone. Yes – I know enough to look into your emotions more… but I also know enough to let it go and move on. You are back where you belong… loved by your true family, who actually care about you.
Now it’s time for the next chapter. My dad’s latest project was reliving his past and rejuvenating elementary school stories back into the skull of one of his best friends growing up – trust me on this one, this is already one hell of a story. People go their own ways in life… some remember things – and some don’t. My dad remembered everything, which is the perfect match for someone who forgot it all. I’m a storyteller, just like you dad … but I possess some talents you didn’t have, and I’ve been inspired. May you and your brother Craig turn some SOIGDH in the heavens. Turn it up loud, so all those old dudes can hear you party. But keep it quiet enough so you can still chime in on what is happening down here. Doc and Capper might have something to say. True story by me, you mother HAWKer!
It has officially been 1 month since we laid my father to rest. A lot of memories and emotions have stirred my family today … both good and bad. To recap the last 30 days as a complete blur wouldn’t be an exaggeration. As life moves forward and the reemergence of my family as one continues to take place – I still cannot thank you all enough for the love and support you have shown us. If you missed the service on June 15th – I will have a post this week that will share with you the final hour I was able to enjoy with my father. His final playlist.
In looking back at my relationship with my father, there are a couple imperative emails that I need to log into the system.
This is a conversation from 2007 where I was intrigued about his relationship with his older brother Craig – who he lost in a motorcycle accident when he was in his early twenties. I never realized how close Craig and my father were, and I was interested in knowing how the loss of his brother changed his relationship with my soon to be future mom, Susan Sanders Hydle.
I remember him coming to my home in Golden and we went to the Bridgewater Grill for dinner on the creek…
On 6/28/07, Greg Hydle wrote:
Hey Dad… thanks for dinner and sharing stories last night. I never realized that Craig was so close to you in age… and how hard that has probably been for you to deal with. I like that bridgewater grill patio… good food!
Greg
On 6/28/07, Les Hydle wrote:
You’re welcome, Greg. I’m glad you asked me to come up. You are good company. I agree with you on the restaurant. It was good, the river nice, but no Barman! Your photos and videos are great, but you know that. Thanks for sharing.
Dad
Without me replying to this email… my father continued,
On Jun 28, 2007, at 11:03 PM, Les Hydle wrote:
Greg,
Regarding Craig, and his death: that one event was probably the most pivotal event in my life. It was the catalyst for change in most of the ways I relate to others, especially family. It taught me that there isn’t always a tomorrow to tell people how you feel about them. I was always close to my mother, but this brought me closer to dad. I became a “touchy-feeley” person. My mom was that way, I guess I learned it from her. With Craig’s death, I gave myself permission to be that way with others. Dad was real “stand-offish” at first, but soon, he reciprocated, then initiated the action. To this day, I never leave RT or my sisters with out telling them I love them. and giving them all hugs.
Back in that time, your mom and I were dating. It was early in our relationship, but we were to the point of sharing our pasts, and family information with each other. When your “pre-mom” asked about my family, most of the information I shared was about Craig. I told her she must meet him, and how much I know she will like him. ( I was so over him stealing my girlfriend, Bonnie). I told her of our lives together, the teenage plans we had to ride motorcycles, and I told her how caring he was. I even told her some bad stuff too. I was excited to someday soon go back to L.A., show her the beach, tour Venice, demonstrate and teach her body surfing, and introduce her to my family, and to Craig. That was on a Friday night.
Saturday morning found me at work at Wheelchairs Inc. That is where I got the call that Craig was in a motorcycle accident, and was taken to UCLA Medical Center. It was about 9:00 am. At 11:00 I got the call that he did not make it. Of course I was devastated. Suser would never get to meet my Brother, but most important, I never told him how I felt and how important he was in my life.
That must never happen again.
So you can understand my hugs to you, your mom, Sheila, Jeremy, and Jessica, and all of my and Suser’s family. My obnoxious, repetitive stories and my feelings shared, perhaps too often. But those stories and feelings, and emotions should not go unsaid.
As a wiser man once said, “Now you know the rest of the story!” Thanks for reading this.
I love you!
Dad
On 6/30/07, Greg Hydle wrote:
Dad,
I honestly never knew that A) you and craig were so close in age and B) that you lost him at a such a pivotal point in your life. I guess I always thought that he was the older untouchable brother to you guys… that he was even older then RT. And when he passed… that you were at such a young age that you didn’t really understand or relate too it that emotionally because you didn’t have that relationship built up. I never knew how close you guys were. It’s like Jer and me now… the relationship is so different then it was growing up. If something had happened to him when I was younger… I wouldn’t have the feelings that I have now. I guess that is the way I always thought it was with your brother… and losing him. How old were you? How did mom react to that happening… did it make you guys closer? In a way, I can see how something like that could advance or make you feel closer to somebody in a rapid sort of way… and maybe that happened with you and mom. I don’t really know. There is so much I don’t really know about you guys…
Thanks for sharing dad! This really might just be the “beginning of the story”.
Greg
On July 2nd, 2007, at 12:29 AM, Les Hydle wrote:
Greg,
Craig and I were close in age, Darwin also. When we played baseball, I was the pitcher, Craig was my catcher. The league we were in, we had the “majors”, and the “minors”, with the majors being the better, older, players. Since he was a year older than me, he could’ve gone to a team in the majors a year before me. Instead, he chose to stay in the minors when I first started playing in this league. He was already on the “Indians” and that is where I joined him. We were a team. We practiced constantly. These practices are where I learned the throw the “junk pitches” our coaches loved (I know you remember the Knuckle ball I showed you). One time I misplaced my cap, and Craig gave me his. I told him no, I will have to just buy my next one. He said he still has his from last year. I told him that one was very dirty, and to keep it. He handed me his cap, one more time, and demanded I take it, as he is a catcher, and no one sees his cap anyway. At that time, I was 9, Craig was 10. I tell you that to illustrate that Craig always would give to others even if he went without. I’m sure this was not the first time his generous nature came out with me, but it is the one I remembered first. (By the way, when Craig was too old to play in our league, I still had a year to play. No one could catch me very well, and I went through 3 different catchers that year.)
Craig and I were close. Somewhere there are photos of us on those teams. I was, what, about 23 or 24 when he died. Sheila was about 4-5, Jeremy, about 1. The call I received that day came from Sheila and Jeremy’s mother.
Suser and I had some good friends who helped me, us, re-enter the normal world. One of these friends, Scott, loaned us his condo in Silverthorn. The thought was to get away a little longer, recover from the funeral, then return to work with a more positive attitude. I think that really helped. By the way, that person was Scott Manley.
I think that time did help our relationship. Oh, Suser and I had alot of problems, and a rocky road to climb, but perhaps Craig’s death, and Suser’s availibility to me to safely share my feelings with, probably helped alot in bringing us closer together.
As a sidelight, I mentioned to you before, that Craig and I talked alot about “Someday, we’re going to have big motorcycles, and tour the country” We talked alot about this, but I could not see how it could be done. I did buy a dirt bike, but Craig now had a big Honda 750, four cylinder road machine! This was the biggest bike Honda had ever built! (I was with him when he he got his first speeding ticket on it!) I could not see how we could continue this dream. After all, he was single, just discharged from the Army, and living at home with mom and dad. I was married, and a new father. Money was tight, but I got a job offer in Colorado, so maybe, some day… You probably know about this, I know I told Sheila. But, next time you come over, look on the Venture. Craig’s Army “dogtags” have been hanging on it since I’ve owned it. The reason? So “we could have big bikes and tour the country.” My father’s tag is there also, but that is another story!
Thanks for your interest, Greg. I have not thought about some of this stuff in some time. I don’t mind you asking though.
