Dear Mr. Beagle,

Over the years I’ve enjoyed your observations in the weekly rabbit hole.

It is out of respect for you and the rabbit hole that I’d like your insight as to the recent success of Swedish based Ylvis’s Song, in which they most eloquently ask, “What does a Fox Say?” (see bottom of page)

Forgive my presumption, but foxes hunt rabbits, and as such, might they not be cousins to the beagle? The video was released on September 3rd. In the last 18 days it has achieved more than 44 million views.

I have three questions burrowing into my head that I need your help answering:

1) Why is this song, whose lyrics are simple as a child’s See and Say toy, so successful?

Mike, this song is an example rapid distraction. It employs reality hooks, dimensional shifting, frame shifting, and includes a third gravitating body. These are four of the things The Wizard and Jeff Sexton will be teaching in the January 7 class at Wizard Academy. I think Wizzo may also be using that song as an example in his upcoming monthly webcast.

2) Does the success of this song pose any potential problems to rabbits around the world, or to their holes? 

No Michael, quite the opposite. It deepens the holes of rabbits significantly.

3) Towards the end of a song, an anatomically female fox appears and makes nonverbalized “jazz” style noise in a deep voice. Is this reflective of most female foxes, and if so, how deep of a sound do male foxes make?

The fox has long been a trickster icon.
“In mythology, and in the study of folklore and religion, a trickster is a god, goddess, spirit, man, woman, or anthropomorphic animal who plays tricks or otherwise disobeys normal rules and conventional behavior. It is suggested by Hansen (2001) that the term ‘Trickster’ was probably first used in this context by Daniel G. Brinton in 1885.” … WIKIPEDIA goes on to say, “Frequently the Trickster figure exhibits gender and form variability, changing gender roles and even occasionally engaging in same-sex practices. Such figures appear in Native American mythologies, where they are said to have a two-spirit nature. Loki, the Norse trickster, also exhibits gender variability, in one case even becoming pregnant. He shares the ability to change genders with Odin, the chief Norse deity who also possesses many characteristics of the Trickster.” Click Reynard the Fox to read more about this on WIKIPEDIA. (That image of the trickster, Reynard the Fox, is from an 1869 children’s book by Michel Rodange.)

Finally, the song leaves me confused, I’m certain you can find several foxes in your family tree, would you please enlighten me, and other rabbit hole readers, “What does a fox say?”

The answer to this question is found a couple of pages deeper in this rabbbit hole.
Thanks for writing, Michael. – Indy

Michael R. Drew