Photo: Bosch Auto Parts
Have you ever wondered what animals would say if they could talk? What would they communicate to us humans about their lives and feelings? If dead ones came back from the grave, they would probably have a lot to tell us–especially if we were the ones who killed them.
In a new PSA video from Bosch Auto Parts and the Humane Society of the United States, furry roadkill victims don’t just talk… they sing and dance to Michael Jackson-esque songs. “Stop the Roadkill” is an odd 2.5-minute music video in which five dead animals tell the stories of how they died.
Watch “Stop the Roadkill” PSA Music Video
The opening, which borrows heavily from Vincent Price’s narration in “Thriller,” tells about how mangled, disfigured roadkill come back to life to share their stories. The cast of creature characters includes:
- Buck the Deer, a loving father who was ran over by a tractor trailer
- Francesca the Fox, a sly creature who was decapitated by a hybrid car
- Streez the Skunk, who was hit by an SUV while living in the streets to launch his rap career
- Frank the Squirrel, a voracious rodent whose torso was squashed while he was gathering nuts
- Rich the Rabbit, a family-minded bunny who was struck by a minivan
Throughout the video, the dead animals tell how their nuts were flattened, how bad the anal scent glands of a “dead mother trucker” skunk smell, and the sadness of leaving a family behind. All in comedic song and dance.
The video concludes by advertising Bosch ICON Wiper Blades, which claim to help drivers see innocent animals on the road ahead. Ultimately, though, the intent of the video is to, as its hashtag says, #stoptheroadkill.
Photo: Bosch Auto Parts
“Educating drivers about this often overlooked issue is important for both people and wildlife; and Bosch’s approach to bringing an entertaining voice to roadkill characters is an ingenious way to garner attention,” said Nicole Paquette, vice president of wildlife protection for The Humane Society of the United States. “We hope the music video PSA will shed light on the fact that being mindful of wildlife crossing the road and being able to see them clearly can help save wildlife and potentially motorists’ lives as well.”
The cause is meaningful and important, as millions of wildlife are killed by vehicles in the US every week. The approach is an unorthodox and controversial one. It’s no heart-wrenching, Sarah McLaughlin-starring PSA, that’s for sure. If the point of this PSA is to appeal to your sympathy for roaming animals, does it make you want to driver more carefully? Or does a comedic, gross-out music video detract from the seriousness of taking the lives of innocent animals? Does this build concern for animals, or trivialize them?
It’s obvious that a lot of effort was put into the video, from the intricate, life-sized puppet work to the pun-filled lyrics. Regardless of your feelings on it, “Stop the Roadkill” will certainly stick in your mind.
Aaron is unashamed to be a native Clevelander and the proud driver of a Hyundai Veloster Turbo (which recently replaced his 1995 Saturn SC-2). He gleefully utilizes his background in theater, literature, and communication to dramatically recite his own articles to nearby youth. Mr. Widmar happily resides in Dayton, Ohio with his magnificent wife, Vicki, but is often on the road with her exploring new destinations. Aaron has high aspirations for his writing career but often gets distracted pondering the profound nature of the human condition and forgets what he was writing… See more articles by Aaron.