HE HIP FLIP. I have been obsessed by this crazy 1960s Parker Brothers party game ever since I was presented it by the Student TCouncil President of my high school, Charlie Stone. He said the Hip Flip might come in handy one day. To my amazement it actually did! Twice! First in 1988, I used it as the title of the a gig I put on featuring my all time favourite band, The Gruesomes. And now sixteen years later, for some unexplained reason, I decided to bring back the magic Hip Flip as part of my attempt to document the Great Canadian Election of 2004. How would the leaders of the three major parties in Canada respond to my request to do the Hip Flip with them? Well, flip back your hip and find out right here…. Nardwuar vs. NDP Leader Jack Layton! NDP Campaign Office, Edmonds Street, Burnaby BC, Canada Tuesday, June 1, 2004 Nardwuar: Hey Mr. Layton, Nardwuar: ’Cuz I have– would want to do this? still trying to get the Hip Flip how far would Jack Layton: [Looking at the Hip Flip Jack Layton: You know something, it’s assembled] you be instructions Nardwuar is holding] let me not something we ever practiced. Are Jack Layton: What I am going to ask willing take the flyer about the you going to actually attempt to teach you to do is give us a copy (of the to go to Hip Flip– me? instructions) we can take with us. I will get the Nardwuar: Nardwuar: Yes, I will. I‘ll try practice on the bus– youth Well I have to teach you. [Nardwuar then Nardwuar: You promise. You vote? the Hip Flip tries to assembly the Hip Flip, promise– Would right here. haphazardly pulling parts of it Jack Layton: I’ll practice on that bus. you be [Nardwuar out of his bag] And if I can pull it off maybe we will willing to shows Jack Layton: I tell you what. Next time I be doing it together. do the Layton a come here I will have practiced and Nardwuar: Thank you Mr. Hip Flip? part of the perhaps we will be able to pull it off. Layton! Jack Layton: Well, we’re doing lots Hip Flip] Nardwuar: [With the crazy Hip Jack Layton: [Laughs] All right. of parties, we’re having a great time– And I was just wondering if you Flip bell ringing, Nardwuar is Nardwuar: Thank you. Nardwuar vs. Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin! Floata Seafood Restaurant, Keefer Street, Vancouver BC, Canada Tuesday, June 22, 2004 Nardwuar: Prime Minister you to do the Hip Flip? Martin Security Staff: No [laughs] do the Hip Flip with Prime Martin, Prime Minister Martin, [Nardwuar gets stuck in the doors to Nardwuar: Are you sure? Minister Martin? will you do the Hip Flip? the restaurant as Prime Minister Martin Security Staff: Positive. Martin Security Staff: He’s going to [Martin walks right by Nardwuar Martin’s security team hustle Martin Nardwuar: So no means no? come out and talk to you now. through the lobby of the restaurant onto his bus. Nardwuar now can’t see Martin Security Staff: No means no. Nardwuar: [In disbelief] He towards his bus. Nardwuar starts to the Prime Minister.] Nardwuar: really will? Oh! Thank you run after him] Nardwuar: very much! Nardwuar: Mr Martin! Mr. [Frantically] [A few minutes Martin! Prime Minister later Martin steps [Nardwuar is having a hard time keep- Martin! Prime off his bus] ing up to Martin and his security staff] Minister Martin! Prime Minister Nardwuar: Prime Minister Prime Minister Martin: How Martin! Martin! are you? [Nardwuar is still chasing the Prime Martin Security Staff: Nardwuar: Mr. Minister] Woah, easy, easy, Martin, thank Nardwuar: Prime Minister easy, easy! Ok. you for the Martin! Nardwuar: [To Martin Security We will give time! [Nardwuar is now running as quickly Staff member] Would it be ok, up [Nardwuar walks away but Prime Minister as he can after the Prime Minister] Sir, if we came on the bus and then spots another one of Martin: My time is yours. Nardwuar: [Yelling] Hey Prime did a Hip Flip with Prime Martin’s Security Staff] Would Nardwuar: We wanted to ask Minister Martin is it okay for Minister Martin? it be ok to go on the bus and you about the youth vote, and I guess I was wondering, once chucked rocks at the his bus] Layton, did not do the would you do the Hip Flip Soviet Embassy? Nardwuar: Please Hip Flip [Nardwuar is with me? Prime Minister Martin: [Laughs] It’s Mr. now grabbed by Prime Minister true! It’s true! Yes it is! Harper! Harper’s Security Staff Martin: All right, Nardwuar: Please Mr. and being led out the sure. You’re going Because that Harper! parking lot] This is to have to show was in your [Nardwuar is your big chance to me how. Dad’s mem- then pushed do the Hip Flip! Nardwuar:It’s oirs. aside by [Harper’s bus pulls away] quite easy, Prime Minister Harper’s Nardwuar: [To you just Martin: I did. I Securty Staff] Harper’s [Nardwuar did. Nardwuar: Securty Staff] sets up the Nardwuar: [To Harper’s We’re just try- Hip Flip Now did you Securty Staff] ing to get between ever tell the What did you Stephen himself Soviets that? think about the Harper to do and Prime Minister Martin: Hip Flip? Did you the Hip Flip. Martin] [Laughs] Actually I did. I guys like the Hip Harper’s Securty and you– told Mr. Putin. Flip? Staff: [Silence] [Nardwuar Nardwuar: Harper’s Securty [As Nardwuar is and Martin Well thanks Staff: [Silence] getting carried out attempt to very much Mr. Nardwuar: of the parking lot he rotate the Martin. Keep [To Harper’s decides to lift his legs ‘flipper.’ After on rockin’ in Securty Staff] and enjoy the ride eight attempts, the free Did anyone Harper’s Security Staff they do it!] world and see me play- is giving him. They are [Cheers then arise doot doola ing the Hip not amused.] from the crowd of doot doo… Flip video? Nardwuar: [Now people around Prime Minister Harper’s Securty released by Martin’s bus] Martin: Doot Staff: [Silence] Harper’s Nardwuar:Yeah! doola doot … [Nardwuar is still trying Security Staff All right! Thank and I want to do that again! to get on the bus, but is and standing you Mr. Martin! I [points to the Hip Flip] getting bounced on the outskirts just want to ask you one Nardwuar: Almost. Doot around by Harper’s of the parking quick thing, how wild were doola doot doo… Securty Staff like a kid lot] I guess you as a youth? Is it true you Prime Minister Martin: …Doot doo! on a trampoline] we’ve found out, Nardwuar: [To well, Jack Layton Nardwuar vs. Harper’s Securty maybe will do Conservative Leader Stephen Harper! Staff] Will you verify I the Hip Flip, Paul played it (the tape of Martin Martin will do the Sheraton Guildford Hotel, Surrey BC, Canada Hip Flipping)? Hip Flip, but Stephen Harper Saturday, June 26, 2004 Harper’s Securty Staff: [Silence] definitely will not do the Hip Nardwuar: [Looking through Flip! [Nardwuar is waiting outside of them to get Mr. Harper to do the Hip the windows of Stephen [Nardwuar then heads to A&W in Stephen Harper’s bus showing every- Flip. But they don’t seem to care.] Harper’s bus] Paul Martin did Coquitlam, BC for a Chubby Chicken one (ie: Harper’s Security Staff, includ- [After a short while Mr. Harper the Hip Flip, Jack Layton, Jack Burger] ing his chief press offi- appears.] cer!), a video of Nardwuar: Mr. Hip Flip Extras!! Jack Layton Harper, Mr. Harper, Download your own Hip Flip instructions refusing to do would it be okay here! the Hip Flip and for you to do the http://www.hasbro.com/ of Paul Martin Hip Flip? common/instruct/HipFlip.PDF doing the Hip [Without stopping Mr. Watch Prime Minister Paul Martin do the Flip. It is hoped Harper glances at Hip Flip here! that this video Nardwuar, shakes his http://www.muchmusic.com/ might influence head, and walks onto events/muchvote04/video/ Thanks to Chris Nelson from MuchMusic’s ‘Going Coastal’. hris Nelson, host and videographer of MuchMusic's "Going Coastal," chance, and neither Nardwuar nor I thought anything would happen. As soon as he saw Cfilmed all three of the Hip Flip "encounters" you have been reading Martin, though, Nardwuar was like a dog with a bone, fighting crowds and Mounties all the about here. The following is his insight into what happened: way to the campaign bus. Nardwuar did not let up, and I think LWH recognized his valiant efforts (as well as the fact they’d look like assholes for not giving MuchMusic the time of fter five years of recording all of Nardwuar’s interviews, I’ve day). Alearned to expect that a) we could get beaten up, b) arrested, or c) Stephen Harper, on the other hand, was unafraid to look like an asshole. He could’ve both. I certainly thought a beatdown was coming at the Layton breezed past Nardwuar without so much as a glance, but the guy actually took the time to encounter…not from the Mounties guarding Layton, mind you, but look at the Serviette and shake his head dismissively (no doubt a look he gives to homeless the uptight political reporters assigned to follow him around like lem- people on the street when they ask for change).