Gordon Cyrus | Through the Shattered Lens

Whale was a Swedish alternative band, made up for Gordon Cyrus, Henrik Schyffert, and Cia Berg. During the mid-90s, they were big in Europe while, in America, they were best known for this video.

When this video was first released, there was a lot of confusion as to what was meant by Hobo Humpin’ Slobo Babe. Everyone knew what a hobo and a babe were. Everyone understood humpin’. But what did slobo mean? According to the band, they misheard the British term “sloane.” A sloane is a type of fashionable, upper class person. How that ties into hobo humpin’ is open to interpretation.

Mark Pellington won the inaugural MTV Europe Music Video Award for best video for Hobo Humpin’ Slobo Babe. Whale broke up in 1999, though all three members remain active on the Swedish entertainment scene.

Enjoy!

Whale was a Swedish alternative band, made up for Gordon Cyrus, Henrik Schyffert, and Cia Berg. During the mid-90s, they were big in Europe while, in America, they were best known for this video.

00:00 — When we first see Whale, they’re performing in the type of gravel pit that should be familiar to anyone who has ever watched any Tom Baker-era episodes of Doctor Who.

00:31 — What’s Cia Berg doing right here?

00:55 — Check out Henrik Schyffert walking like an Egyptian.

01:14 — YASSSSSS! ROCK!

01:17 — This moment here is the reason why Beavis and Butt-Head loved this video.

02:03 — WON’T SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN!?

02:17 — ROCK!

2:35 — Cia looks dangerous.

3:00 — Henrik’s trying to save the children.

3:26 — YEAH!

When this video was first released, there was a lot of confusion as to what was meant by Hobo Humpin’ Slobo Babe. Everyone knew what a hobo and a babe were. Everyone understood humpin’. But what did slobo mean? According to the band, they misheard the British term “sloane.” A sloane is a type of fashionable, upper class person. I guess that means this song is about a rich girl who likes to hump hobos.

Enjoy!