Die Antwoord parody proves you can’t beat the original

A teaser for Die Antwoord’s second full-length album Ten$ion — set to drop on 7 February — has been viewed nearly 250 000 times (correct at time of writing) since being uploaded a few days ago.

The widely anticipated album is a follow-up to 2010’s $0$, which featured the hit song Enter the Ninja. The teaser video features singer and rapper Yolandi Visser made up in white body paint and sporting pointed ears and a snow-white wig.

Uploaded at much the same time as the new teaser trailer is a parody of the song that made Die Antwoord famous, entitled “Enter the Ginger”. While it had only been viewed around 12 000 times at the time of writing, it is a fairly interesting take on the original. Trouble is, it may well be too late for the video to capitalise on the popularity of the song it apes, as well as its subject matter. IS making fun of gingers now passe, even if you are a ginger yourself?

Certainly, the parody’s numbers are nothing compared to the wild popularity of the original. In 2010 alone, “Enter the Ninja” elicited some 8.6-million views. The group’s other video “Zef Side”, meanwhile, received 5.2-million views.

Die Antwoord achieved international popularity with their faux-trailer trash image and music which combined hip-hop and dance with Afrikaans, English, and Xhosa lyrics.

Following the release of the video for the song “Evil Boy” in 2010, the band’s site appeared to have been hacked.

In the wake of the apparent hack, there was speculation that Ninja and Yolandi, who form the core of the group, were somehow involved and that it was something of a publicity stunt.

Die Antwoord’s judicious use of social media catapulted them into fame. If the views on the teaser for Ten$ion are anything to go by, it will keep them there.