It’s time once again to celebrate the New Year’s holiday by sitting on your ass reliving the past. Here they are, the always dubious “best video” selections.

 

Don Ness Gregnam Style: Yes, it’s silly. Yes, it’s a parody of something that everyone got so sick of that it thankfully disappeared to Forgottensville. Still, this Rubber Chicken Theater video featuring Duluth’s affable mayor accumulated over 23,000 views in its first year on YouTube, so clearly the spoof was appreciated. Originally posted Jan. 7, 2013.

 

UMD Harlem Shake: Continuing with cheesy trends, we present once again UMD’s version of the formerly ubiquitous Harlem Shake. And now we can be done with that forever. Originally posted Feb. 13, 2013.

 

Duluth, My Home Town: Dave and Jean Kirwan created this animated video set to Claire Stewart’s 1961 jingle about Duluth. It took first place in the 2013 Playground Short Shorts Film Festival. Originally posted Feb. 18, 2013.

 

Lake Superior ice sheets breaking at Brighton Beach : There were several sexy ice sheet videos in early 2013, but this one by Tony Rogers was the loudest and shortest. Originally posted March 19, 2013.

 

Marc Gartman’s Fever Dream – “I’m Real”: The winner for biggest sea change among local musicians goes to Marc Gartman. The first Fever Dream video changed the world as we know it. Four more Fever Dream videos were released in this one’s wake, and they are every bit as awesome, but this is the groundbreaker. Originally posted March 28, 2013.

 

Smashing Ice at the Duluth Curling Club: The title pretty much prepares you for what you are about to see, yet somehow it’s so much more awesome that you would predict. Turn up the volume for the best experience. Originally posted April 16, 2013.

 

Cabin Doors: Brian Dehler shot this video in Ely, capturing the magical sounds of summer at the cabin. Originally posted April 16, 2013.

 

The Keep Aways – “Over Your Shoulder”: Brian Barber animates the hotrodding as the Keep Aways provide the rawk in this piece from the Homegrown Music Video Festival. Originally posted April 30, 2013.

 

Lark of Duluth at Sky Harbor: Jamie Merideth shot and edited this video about the replica of the Lark of Duluth as it was built at Sky Harbor for the Lark o’ the Lake Festival. Originally posted May 3, 2013.

 

Trampled by Turtles – “Midnight on the Interstate”: Duluth band Trampled by Turtles turned to students at the Bethany Lutheran College Media Arts Dept. in Mankato for this video to a song from the Stars and Satellites album. Originally posted May 15, 2013.

 

Low – “Plastic Cup”: Ryley Fogg directed this video for Duluth band Low, featuring a song from the album The Invisible Way. Originally posted June 13, 2013.

 

Jack Campbell – “Absentee”: A darn catchy song by a talented kid, and great production by Lakefront Films. Originally posted July 18, 2013.

 

John Mark Nelson “The Moon and the Stars”: Columbia Heights native John Mark Nelson’s video, “The Moon and Stars,” was shot in Duluth aboard the William A. Irvin. Originally posted Sept. 12, 2013.

 

Lake Superior Aquaman Highlight Reel : Jim Richardson, the Lake Superior Aquaman, deserves special mention here, if only for how prolific he was in showing off the unseen wonders of Lake Superior and his other above-water adventures. It’s hard to choose which of his videos is the best, we were drawn in by the drama and suspense of Walking Down a Steep Hill in Slippery Boots, and treated to a behind-the-scenes look in Self Portraits while Checking Camera Settings, Summer 2013. But alas, there’s no need to pick a favorite because the man himself produced a highlight reel. Originally posted Sept. 28, 2013.

 

Red Mountain – “Put Me Through”: Duluth band Red Mountain released the album Scowl Lightly, at the end of 2013 with this video produced by Lakefront Films. The dancers are Erin Tope, Maeggie Licht and Grace Holden. Originally posted Sept. 28, 2013.

 
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