Explaining the Video: Travie McCoy “Billionaire”
In the video for his first release from his first solo album, Travie McCoy pays it forward and wears a terrible hat at the beach.
But first thing’s first: Bruno Mars, who sings the song’s hook, is hanging out at a lifeguard station and playing accoustic guitar. It’s very City of Angels and everything’s cool.
And then we get to Travie’s hat.
Okay, you can’t witness it in it’s full “glory” here, but trust me. I will be talking a lot about this fucking hat.
Okay, so, while Travie wears a bad hat and watches people skateboard, a kid is trying to get support with a sign that reads “HONK IF YOU LOVE BOOBIES!”
Sadly, people in SUVs do not like boobies, or at least will not honk for them.
Elsewhere, an artist is trying to sell his CD’s, but with no luck.
And now, Travie and Bruno are in a car. And you can see THE HAT:
POM POM. POM POM HAT AT THE BEACH. AND THE SUSPENDERS. TRAVIE MCCOY, WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH YOU?
YOU’RE SINGING ABOUT BEING A BILLIONAIRE. DO YOU THINK A BILLIONAIRE WOULD WEAR A AT THAT BAD?
*sigh*
Anyway, yeah, the song itself is about what Travie would do if he were a billionaire. And the video shows some of that. First of all, he sees a guy who’s having issues with his skateboard.
So Travie buys him a brand new one, and we get to see how bad his hat looks in silhouette. SCORE.
And then there’s this.
Okay, so Travie’s included lines in songs before about Hunter S. Thompson (check out his rap on the remix of Fall Out Boy’s “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s an Arms Race.”). And even though I’m sure this wasn’t supposed to be a Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas reference, I’m going to pretend it was. Because I can. Trust me.
Anyway, Travie, still wearing that terrible hat, runs into our friend who couldn’t sell a CD and listens to his stuff.
And really likes it.
SCORE!
Now, back to the car.
Now that I’ve got the whole Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas thing in my head, I’m thinking things like “WE CAN’T STOP HERE, THIS IS BARTSKULL COUNTRY!”
You think I’m kidding?
HI PETE WENTZ! HI!
Yes, Travie, Bruno and Pete Wentz are riding Vespas. Like billionaires do, I suppose. Hey, if being a billionaire means I get to ride Vespas with these guys? My work ethic just shot through the roof, yo. LOOK OUT, YUPPIE GREED, HERE I COME!
Oh, and remember “HONK IF YOU LOVE BOOBIES” guy? Travie runs into him.
And gives him his car.
Why? Well, Travie, show them how you feel about boobies:
You heard it here, folks. Travie McCoy FUCKING LOVES BOOBIES.
So, after a long day of good deeds, Travie and Bruno throw a party. What are they celebrating?
TRAVIE TOOK OFF THAT STUPID ASS HAT.
But wait, back to earlier in the day. The hat is back, but Travie has found a street artist who is out of spray paint.
“Hey, dude, this isn’t the Elliot Smith Memorial, right?”
“Um, no. No, it’s not.”
“THEN PARTY ON, DUDE!”
Okay, Travie, you’ve done another good deed. Now, um, take off that hat again?
Thank you.
Okay, okay, maybe I’m being a little harsh on your headwear, Travie. I’m sorry. We cool?
Yeah, we cool.
