The perpetuation of “shreds” videos is one of my favorite ongoing Internet memes.  The basic idea goes like this : take a music video by a well-known band and overdub it with something hilariously awful (typically accounting for lip sync, but not necessarily).

As far as I know, the phenomenon started with a handful of videos by a YouTube user known as StSanders [his account is suspended due to copyright claims] – the oldest video I’ve been able to track down is his Santana Shreds video :

Santana Shreds

Even in its early stages, the hallmarks that have come to define these kinds of videos are there : the horrible guitar playing, the faint crowd clapping (always politely clapping, for some reason), intentionally ridiculous sample use (check out the timbale solo at :34), and the idea that the only person being heard should be the one on camera.  When you see the drummer, you only hear drums.  I love it.  Here are a few more, chronologically sorted and ending with the most recent.  You’ll get the idea.

On the heels of StSanders is thisnextsongiscalled. Here’s his take on Slipknot.

Slipknot Shreds

Up next, a classical crossover.

Yo-Yo Ma Shreds : Obama Inauguration

Rounding out the selection is Creed, already honored by two previous Shreds videos created by spiritswitchboard.  His most recent masterpiece is a candidate for funniest-yet Shreds video.  Careful, foul language ahead.

Creed Shreds

Nine Inch Nails Shreds [link below]

For some reason, thisnextsongiscalled decided to disable embedding for my absolute favorite Shreds video : a dead-on parody of NIN’s “March of the Pigs.” The skill and detail of that particular video is tremendous : from the drum sound to the room tone to all of the little nuanced background noises that really push it over the top. Just fucking awesome.

Next time : The G.I. Joe overdubs. Out.