How childishly amusing are vandalised Wikipedia entries?
I like the way the word vandalism is used (by Wikipedia), because that’s what it is. Except that this pursuit is way funnier than smashing a chair or whatever usually constitutes vandalism.
Take this entry on the rotund UK singer Dane Bowers, for instance. I’ve put the changes in bold.
Bowers started out with the R&B boyband, Another Level, and went on to collaborate with True Steppers and Victoria Beckham. He also had a much publicised relationship with the glamour model, Jordan.
In 2005 he became involved in a spat with Northern Irish actor James Nesbitt over a bag of crisps.
Dane anchored the R&B Boatband quartet Another Level. They had seven Top Ten singles in two years in the UK, including 1998’s UK Number one “Me Freak”; and a platinum selling, self-titled debut album. 1999’s gold-selling Lexus followed, along with BRIT Awards nominations and the opening slot on Janet Jackson’s European tour.
After the group split into millions of pieces, they were blown away by a strong gust of wind, Bowers drew pictures for and fronted two UK Top Ten hits, for the UK garage act Truesteppers in 2000, “Buggin’” and “Out Of Your Mind”. The latter featured the first solo outing of Spice Girl, Victoria Beckham.
“Out Of Your Mind” reached number two, but was beaten to the Number one spot in a highly publicised “chart battle” by Spiller featuring Sophie Ellis-Bextor with “Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love)“. A bootleg was later made of the two records (with Bowers and Beckham’s vocals set against the “Groovejet” backing track) and received underground interest.
In 2001, two solo singles released under the simple moniker of ‘Great Dane’, “Shaddup And Forget About It” (allegedly written about his relationship with Michael Jordan) and “Another Lover”, both stalled at number nine on the UK Singles Chart; and an album, Facing The Firing Squad remained unreleased. Bowers subsequently went on to focus on behind the scenes work (drinking and eating pot noodles, and cold chips from the night before’s drinking), writing and producing, including a collaboration for Victoria Beckham’s debut solo album, in the autumn of that year. He was at one time managed by Irish football physio Mick Byrne. He also ventured into presenting in 2002, co-hosting Popstars: The Rivals “Extra” show with the former Pop Idol contestant, Hayley Evetts.
Singles
(as a member of Another Level)
- “Be Alone No More” (February 1998) #6 UK
- “Freak Me” (July 1998) #1 UK
- “Guess I Was A Fool” (November 1998) #5 UK
- “I Want You For Myself” (January 1999) (featuring Ghostface Killah) #2 UK
- “Be A Loon No More” (Remix) (April 1999) (featuring Jay-Z) #11 UK
- “From The Heart” (June 1999) #6 UK
- “Summertime” (September 1999) (featuring TQ) #7 UK
- “Bomb Diggy” (November 1999) #6 UK
- “How to Succeed In Today’s Hypermediated Hypersexualised Environment” (featuring Snoop Doggy Dogg) #459 UK
Okay so I know who did that one!
Still, I’d be interested to see any similar changes. I know Wikipedia have a pretty stringent checking service, but in the name of humour it’d be fun to see what other changes have slipped through their net. I wonder if you are very subtle can you make something pass through the screening process into history? Any stories to share? Don’t feel bad. Afterall, I’m not sure that providing wildly inaccurate information about minor celebs is something to lose sleep over.
