Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
No security risk in grooving to Gaga, US Army says
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
No security risk in grooving to Gaga, US Army says
AFP - Friday, May 7
Send
IM Story
Print
US soldiers take position during a patrol in Afghanistan. American soldiers gyrating to Lady Gaga in a video spoof will not face any reprimand for their massive YouTube hit, the US Army said Thursday.
Slideshow: Full Photo Coverage: Internet Portals & Search Engines
WASHINGTON (AFP) - – American soldiers gyrating to Lady Gaga in a video spoof will not face any reprimand for their massive YouTube hit, the US Army said Thursday.
The video by paratroopers in western Afghanistan dancing in a choreographed remake of Lady Gaga's hit "Telephone" has attracted more than 3.5 million views and made a young sergeant an overnight online star.
While the amateur dance number bears no resemblance to the slick promotional videos the military uses for recruitment, army commanders raised no objections to their soldiers shaking their booty, a spokeswoman said.
"The paratroopers involved were not disciplined at all for their actions," Major Michelle Baldanza of the 82nd Airborne Division told AFP.
"They did nothing illegal, immoral or unethical and the video did not violate our operational security at all," she said in an email from Kandahar airfield.
She added that "the brigade command team is happy to see that they (the paratroopers) also still have a good sense of humor and that morale is high."
Sergeant Aaron Melcher, 24, the mastermind behind the video, introduces the clip on YouTube with the words: "Prepare yourself for a fantastical journey."
The video lives up to its billing, transforming seven soldiers into a farcical dance troupe offering a little relief from a grim war.
The stocky Melcher, who looks more suited to American football than mimicking a skinny pop star, steals the show as he grinds with abandon to the beat in a sweat-stained t-shirt and camouflage pants.
He pouts as he plays the role of Lady Gaga, and in another scene goes shirtless under a veiled hat, imitating the pop star's get-up of yellow police tape. He joins six other comrades in various makeshift costumes, featuring black underwear and two big telephone cutouts on the wall.
The backdrop to the fanciful dancing and dressing up is a spare military outpost, with plywood walls, a dart board and a rifle propped up against the wall.
Unlike Lady Gaga's raunchy "Telephone" video with Beyonce, the soldiers' version is more innocent and no one gets poisoned.
Apart from sheer silliness, the video conjures up some of the boredom and isolation felt by the troops on long tours, as well as the camaraderie forged along the way.
Melcher and his dance partners are mechanics who came to Afghanistan in August and are stationed at a remote forward operating base in western Farah province with the 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 82nd Airborne, which is charged with training Afghan security forces.
When they are not making dance videos, the mechanics' "primary job is fixing downed vehicles and keeping them maintained," Baldanza said.
Interviewed on CBS television's morning program, Melcher said his wife was a big fan of Lady Gaga and that during a brief visit back home, he had watched the risque "Telephone" video.
He and a fellow mechanic "happened to be working on an engine in the motor pool, and we were thinking about something we could do to make some people smile back home, and I told them the Lady Gaga video was pretty hot, and we thought we'd remake it. That's what you got."
He said the overwhelming response to the amateur video has taken him and his fellow soldiers by surprise, but his commanding officers were fully behind it.
"Superiors back it up. It's a morale booster over here, sir."
Asked if the flamboyant pop star known for her bizarre costumes had spoken to the soldiers, Melcher said: "No, sir, we have not heard from Miss Lady Gaga yet. We are kind of hoping we would hear in the near future."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
US regulators try new tack in net neutrality quest AFP - 47 minutes ago
US-TECH Summary Reuters - 1 hour 17 minutes ago
BP turns to Twitter, Facebook on spill information Reuters - 1 hour 17 minutes ago
Nokia board backs strategy, shareholders cry foul Reuters - 2 hours 9 minutes ago
Water cooling for supercomputers unveiled in Switzerland AFP - 2 hours 52 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Voters cast ballots in pubs, caravans
Panic-hit Dow crashes down nearly 1,000 points, recovers
European markets sag further, ECB fails to reassure
Herschel telescope shows galactic star formation is slowing
ECB chief rules out Greek default, euro slides
More Top Stories »
Related Full Coverage
Internet Portals & Search EnginesLatest development in the online world
All Full Coverage »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Lack of sleep linked to early death: study
Freddie Mac asks for fresh 10.6 billion dollar bailout
BP 'dome' carries hopes of averting oil catastrophe
Euro falls under $1.29
Greek unions call protests ahead of austerity vote
More Most Viewed »
Aliens may exist but contact would hurt: Hawking
Lack of sleep linked to early death: study
Apple engineer loses iPhone prototype
French driving veil row escalates
Airlines want compensation as Europe's skies reopen
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Friday, 7 May 2010 Herschel telescope shows galactic star formation is slowing
Water cooling for supercomputers unveiled in Switzerland
Plots: West must be alert, not alarmist: experts
|
US regulators try new tack in net neutrality quest
US-TECH Summary
ECB chief rules out Greek default, euro slides
Board backs Nokia management despite market pressure
Suu Kyi party splits, faction to run in Myanmar poll
|
No security risk in grooving to Gaga, US Army says
Iran minister to meet U.N. council in NYC
|
TED Talks take to TV
Nigerian leader's funeral draws large crowds
|
Nokia board backs strategy, shareholders cry foul
U.S. envoy meets Netanyahu ahead of peace talks
|
Breakthrough in Air France crash black box search
|
Russian forces seize oil tanker from Somali pirates
|
Board backs Nokia management despite market pressure
Nokia board backs strategy, shareholders cry foul
BP lowers dome as oil laps Louisiana island
Oil lapping ashore on Louisiana island: official
US-TECH Summary
4 questioned in Pakistan over NY bomb suspect
Aung San Suu Kyi's party to be abolished
US eyes foreign links in New York bomb plot
BP's 'giant dome' arrives at site of US oil spill
N.Korea's Kim says ready to rejoin nuclear talks: report
Pakistan Taliban denies training NY bomb suspect
Health of Briton jailed in Kyrgyzstan worsens
Pakistan Taliban did not train NY bomb suspect
India, China draw in Sultan Azlan Shah Cup prelims
1 Chinese baby born with syphilis every hour
Afghan officials: 16 arrested for plotting attacks
Hopes fade for swift end to Thai protests
Hailstorms and gales kill 39 in China
BP turns to Twitter, Facebook on spill information
|
Yahoo rolls out new phase of $100 million ad campaign
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Taiwan parliament asks govt to raise less debt
Hollywood eyes another $4 billion summer movie season
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
A Minute With: Clint Black, the movie star!
Bret Michaels to make most of 2nd chance at life
Paris 'giant drinks party' has police worried
Einstein's E=mc2 on display at Shanghai Expo
Britain's Philharmonia performs at S.Korean leper colony
In Armenia chess is king and grandmasters are stars
Hollywood eyes another $4 billion summer movie season
A Minute With: Clint Black, the movie star!
|
Bret Michaels to make most of 2nd chance at life
|
Iran invites UN Security Council to dinner, including US
Britain in limbo as hung parliament looms
U.S. joins U.N. council at Iran dinner in New York
UK faces government without single party majority
|
AMD chips to be in many more computers this summer-sources
South Sudan raids kill 24 as secession vote nears
Humans interbred with Neanderthals: genome analysis
Russian president slams 'totalitarian' USSR
Thai protesters refuse to quit, peace plan in limbo
|
Google adds language translation to Android smartphones
Greek parliament backs tough austerity bill
|
BP lowers dome as oil laps Louisiana island
Muslim soldiers' graves desecrated in France
FCC chief promises light broadband touch
"Showgirls" 15th Anniversary Hits DVD, Blu-ray
Voters cast ballots in pubs, caravans
North Korea's Kim reaffirms nuclear disarmament: China
|
Privacy groups take Facebook complaint to US regulators
Panic sends Dow to worst ever drop
BBC America To Debut Reality Show "The Choir" In July
Arabic websites make history with native script addresses
U.S. Markets Finish 3 Percent Lower After Whipsaw Session
US regulators try new tack in net neutrality quest
Probe concludes torpedo sank South Korea ship: report
|
PA Politician Calls for Moratorium on Gas Drilling Permits
DEA Nails NYPD Officer For Armed Robberies Netting $1 Million
BP turns to Twitter, Facebook on spill information
Ash cloud forces Irish airport closures, Dublin clear
|
FCC Proposes Net Neutrality to Broaden Internet Access
Nokia board backs strategy, shareholders cry foul
Dow Jones Plunges Nearly 1K Before Brisk Rebound
U.S. joins U.N. council at Iran dinner in New York
|
Sundance Channel To Premiere Second Season Of "Man Shops Globe"
International Monetary Fund Managing Director To Visit India
FBI Arrests Arizona Deputy For Drug Smuggling
'Big ideas' key to US surge success in Iraq: Petraeus
Torpedo explosives found on sunken S.Korea ship
Obama told Afghan progress 'slow but steady'
Suu Kyi supporters to form new political party
N.Korea's Kim vows to work on nuke talks revival
Kim leaves China after affirming nuke talks
Gunmen attack Pakistan checkpoint, kill police
Indian press hails Mumbai attacker death sentence
FCC chief promises light broadband touch
|
AMD chips to be in many more computers this summer-sources
|
Gunmen kill 4 police at checkpoint in NW Pakistan
Aquino leads survey ahead of Philippine vote
Reliance shares up on news of Indian court ruling
Thai PM battles to keep peace roadmap on track
Contagion fears jolt Asian markets
Seoul shares fall on record foreign selling
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
S.Korea won ends down 1.2 pct on Europe debt woes
Seoul shares fall on record foreign selling
Pakistani c.bank rejects all bids in 7-day repo offer
Nintendo to beef up piracy measures in 3-D machine
China think tank calls for flexible yuan
Bank of Japan adds $21.8 billion to money markets
In Vietnam film, US My Lai killer returns to apologise
PAKISTAN
Rodents pose new health threat in Zimbabwe's towns
"Lost" baddie Kevin Durand books two sci-fi movies
Weinsteins' 1st Asian film gets China release date
R&B star Usher leads singles chart
Networks unlikely to profit from World Cup
Rourke checks out prison for 'Iron Man 2'
Iron Man 2 lacks a big punch for many critics
|
Cannes shaping up a winner for movie industry
Kristen Stewart goes "On the Road"
Networks unlikely to profit from World Cup
|
Chris Brown making progress on probation
|
R&B star Usher leads singles chart
|
Prosecutors oppose release of Polanski transcripts
|
Lost baddie Kevin Durand books two sci-fi movies
|
Kristen Stewart goes On the Road
|
Iran belongs to world's "nuclear club," cleric says
German MPs green-light unpopular Greek aid
Spain scrapes out of recession
West Bank mosque fire 'was most likely arson'
Pakistan mosque accused of strong militant ties
|
Russia 'releases captured Somali pirates'
Global stocks retreat as US probes Wall St plunge
German lawmakers back Greek aid package
|
Heat on euro leaders turns global
Afghans wary as NATO rebrands Kandahar process
|
Jonas Brothers Premiering Newly Named JONAS L.A. In June
Turkish government pushes reforms towards referendum
|
German MPs debate unpopular Greek aid
Rhode Island Town Councilmen Charged In Federal Corruption Probe
Jokes About Miami Airport Worker's Body Scan Lead To Beating, Arrest
Iran belongs to world's nuclear club,: cleric
|
US probes shock share plunge after market panic
Three Massachusetts Boys Consume Dry Ice On A Dare
Chaz Bono Granted Legal Name And Gender Change
Israel won't move on U.N. call for nuclear-free zone
|
FDA Approves Bayer Oral Contraceptive
Death Toll In Southern California Shooting Rises To 3
Colombian candidate Mockus edges over Santos: poll
|
Romaine Lettuce Recalled Because Of E.Coli Concerns
Nigerian leader likely to name deputy by Tuesday: source
|
Cancer Society Claims White House Panel's Report Overemphasizes Pollution
Senate Bows To Obama Statement To Throw Out GOP Amendment
Israel tells US envoy security key in peace efforts
NKorea's Kim reaffirms nuke talks on trip to China
At least 58 killed in southern China storms
2 NATO troops, civilians die in Afghanistan
China opens first office in Taiwan
7 Indonesians die after drinking homemade liquor
Dalai Lama tells AP: Exiles must press China talks
Pakistani stocks, o/n rates end down; rupee weakens
India billionaire Mukesh Ambani wins family feud
Top India court ruling favors Reliance Industries
Pakistan: Times Sq. bomb suspect didn't act alone
China heparin IPO lifts founders to richest couple
Kyrgyzstan demands toppled leader's extradition
Japan's Toshiba sees losses narrow
Nokia broadens legal battle vs Apple, includes iPad
|
China says property market measures are working
Borders takes orders for Kobo eReader due in June
|
Taiwan exports surge amid economic recovery
Panasonic reduces losses on sales recovery
Bank of Japan injects cash, PM vows extra steps
Toshiba books $531 million profit in January-March
Gaza smokers forced to cough up as Hamas seeks cash
Australian jailed for marijuana possession in Bali
Oliver Stone targets banks in Wall Street sequel
|
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights