Every Second Counts (video contest)
Every Second Counts is the name under which a parody video contest amongst European satirical late-night talk shows was launched by German comedian Jan Böhmermann's Neo Magazin Royale on 2 February 2017. The goal is to ridicule U.S. President Donald Trump, especially his inaugural statement that "From this day forward, it's gonna be only America first! America first!" by introducing one's own country with a dose of self-deprecating humour and requesting to become 'second' after America.[1]
History
Origins
The contest was inspired by Dutch comedian Arjen Lubach's show Zondag met Lubach, which broadcast the parody video "The Netherlands welcomes Trump in his own words" on 22 January 2017.[1] In the video, Trump's speeches and actions –mostly from his election campaign– are imitated and mocked by voice actor Greg Shapiro,[2] who gives a short description of the Netherlands using some self-mockery as well, finishing with the request that the Netherlands may come 'second' if America is to be 'first'.[1] A semi-serious undertone is formed by fears that Trump's announced "America First" policy signifies isolationism, including withdrawing U.S. support for NATO:[3] "If you screw NATO, you're gonna make our problems great again."[4] The video went viral, being discussed by multiple international newsmedia[5][6] and reaching over 73 million views worldwide by 3 February.[1]
Contest launched
On 2 February during Neo Magazin Royale, Böhmermann challenged the Dutch's second place, broadcasting a rival video that claimed 'Germany second' whilst making fun of the Netherlands and Germany itself as well. Then, he encouraged other satirical talkshow producers in all European countries to make similar videos parodying Trump, themselves and challenging the Netherlands' second place behind America.[1][7] Production teams in at least eleven other countries committed to making their own parody videos, and by 3 February, versions for Belgium (by De Ideale Wereld), Switzerland (by Deville Late Night), Denmark (by Natholdet), Portugal (by 5 Para A Meia-Noite) and Lithuania (by Laikykitės ten) had been released; these would all be gathered on the website everysecondcounts.eu.[1][7] Several videos were narrated by voice actor Shaun Streeter.[2]
Beyond Europe
By 6 February, Italy (by Casa Surace), Luxembourg (by Studio Ben), and Morocco (a non-European country, expanding the contest further) had joined the fray.[8] On 8 February, the website of Every Second Counts changed the original layout from a virtual 360° NATO council room with national flags of all European countries plus Morocco and Namibia next to each seat, to a clickable world map divided into the continents of "Europe", "Middle East", "Africa", "Oceania", "North Asia", "South Asia", "North America" and "South America", with "North Asia" and "North America" currently being unavailable.[9]
Common elements
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Though widely varying in contents specific to each country's presentation, and the way in which they criticise and/or ridicule President Trump and his ideas and actions, the videos often share common elements. Many revolve around (sarcastically) taking pride in or mocking their own country's history, and comparing it to Trump's actions or American history in general, and how the latter is better, equal or worse.[4][10][11]
- Criticism of Trump's immigration policy[10][11][12]
- Criticism of Trump's electoral promise and since 25 January 2017 plan to build a wall along the U.S.–Mexican border, and make Mexico pay for it, including comparisons to countries' own "walls" such as the Afsluitdijk and the Berlin Wall[4][10][11][12]
- Criticism of Trump's electoral promise and since 27 January 2017 decree to halt immigration from several Muslim-majority countries[10][12]
- Criticism of Trump's treatment of women, especially the grab them by the pussy incident[4][11]
- Criticism of Trump's mockery of Serge F. Kovaleski, an investigative reporter at The New York Times with arthrogryposis.[13]
- Criticism of Trump's apparent lack of commitment to NATO[4][10]
- Criticism of Trump's alleged tax evasion[12]
- Ridicule of Trump's appearance: his allegedly "tiny hands" and "orange" skin colour[10][11]
- Criticism of the Trump administration's usage of the terms "fake news" and "alternative facts"[10][11]
- Joking that nobody knows where their country is located, and pointing to a different country if Trump might ever want to strike it with a nuclear attack[12]
List of videos
This list only includes those parody videos mentioned on everysecondcounts.eu. Several unofficial videos have also been made by individuals or groups not connected to Neo Magazin Royale. These often feature non-European countries or subnational regions within European countries.
Entries accepted by everysecondcounts.eu
| Country | Date | Creators | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 22 January 2017 | Zondag met Lubach | "The Netherlands welcomes Trump in his own words" |
 | 2 February 2017 | Neo Magazin Royale | "Germany second | NEO MAGAZIN ROYALE mit Jan Böhmermann" |
 | 2 February 2017 | Natholdet | "Denmark second | Denmark Trumps The Netherlands at being no. 2" |
 | 2 February 2017 | 5 Para A Meia-Noite | "Portugal Second" |
 | 2 February 2017 | Deville Late Night | "Switzerland Second (official)" |
.svg.png){kind=small} | 3 February 2017 | De Ideale Wereld | "America First, Belgium Second" |
 | 3 February 2017 | Laikykitės ten su Andriumi Tapinu | "Lithuania welcomes Trump" |
 | 5 February 2017 | Studio Ben | "Luxembourg Second (Official)" |
 | 6 February 2017 | Amiroo | "America First ... but what about Iran? #everysecondcounts" |
 | 6 February 2017 | Casa Surace | "Italy Second - Reaction to Trump's America First" |
 | 6 February 2017 | Marouane Lamharzi Alaoui | "Morocco Second (Official)" |
 | 7 February 2017 | Willkommen Österreich | "Austria Second - Willkommen Österreich" |
 | 7 February 2017 | Gospodari Na Efira | "Bulgaria second (Official) | България втора" |
 | 7 February 2017 | Stream.cz | "America first, Czech Republic FIFTY FIRST! (official)" |
 | 7 February 2017 | Emisiunea Lumina | "AMERICA FIRST, MOLDOVA SECOND (hand)" |
 | 7 February 2017 | Coolbox Cinema & EES TV | "America First /NAMIBIA FIRST (NOT SECOND) | Response to the Netherlands Trump welcome video" |
 | 7 February 2017 | Ta teden z Juretom Godlerjem | "America first... Slovenia second (OFFICIAL)" |
.svg.png){kind=small} | 8 February 2017 | The Weekly with Charlie Pickering | "The Weekly: Make Australia Second" |
 | 8 February 2017 | Jono and Ben | "America First, New Zealand Second" |
 | 8 February 2017 | Z Dupy | "AMERICA FIRST, POLAND FIRSTER!" |
 | 9 February 2017 | News Bar | "Croatia Second | OFFICIAL | News Bar" |
 | 9 February 2017 | Nútíminn | "Iceland Second (official)" |
 | 9 February 2017 | Noin viikon uutiset | "America First, Finland Second (OFFICIAL)" |
 | 9 February 2017 | Late Motiv | "LATE MOTIV - America First, Spain Second. Official Vídeo" |
 | 11 February 2017 | Tá no Ar | "Hey, Mr. Trump: America First, Brazil Second" |
 | 12 February 2017 | Gav Ha'Uma | "Lior Schleien - America first, Israel second" |
 | 13 February 2017 | ArmComedy | "Armenia Second (Alternative First) | An Introductory Video For Donald Trump" |
 | 13 February 2017 | Njuz.net | "America first, Russia also first, and Serbia first after that #everysecondcounts" |
 | 13 February 2017 | (unknown) | "America First, Slovakia Second/ Slovakia Welcomes Trump In His Own Words (Official)" |
 | 14 February 2017 | Sooperfly | "America First, India Second [Official] - Welcome President Trump" |
 | 15 February 2017 | Lovin Malta | "America First, Malta Second" |
 | 16 February 2017 | Joe Tube | "America First | Egypt Second (OFFICIAL)" |
 | 16 February 2017 | C8 | "America first, France second (official)" |
 | 22 February 2017 | Radio Arvyla | "America First. GREECE SECOND! (Official)" |
 | 25 February 2017 | Cyprify Cypriots | "America First, Cyprus Second (official)" |
 | 28 February 2017 | Kfm Breakfast | "America first, South Africa second -by KFM Breakfast" |
 | 21 March 2017 | NANO | "America First, Chile Second" |
 | 23 March 2017 | iMedia HUB | "Georgia Second Official" |
Other videos
| Country/Territory | Date | Creators | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 4 February 2017 | Mr. Kapuzo | "KAZAKHSTAN SECOND (official) America First | Response to the Netherlands" |
 | 6 February 2017 | Creative Shugel | "Pakistan Third, America First" |
.svg.png){kind=small} | 7 February 2017 | quer | "America First - Bavaria Second!" |
 | 9 February 2017 | Miksa Perényi | "America first, Hungary third?" |
 | 10 February 2017 | Karaoke Shqip | Introduction video to Trump #EverySecondCounts" |
 | 10 February 2017 | eightytwenty | "America First, Ireland Second." |
 | 10 February 2017 | Hutong School | "America First, China Second #EverySecondCounts (Official)" |
 | 10 February 2017 | Phenomeno Studios | #EverySecondCounts #VibraMexico" |
 | 10 February 2017 | BRomania | "America First & Romania Second or at Least Top 100 Please (OFFICIAL)" |
 | 10 February 2017 | TheSmartLocal | "America First, Singapore Second (Official) - Welcoming Trump In His Own Words #EverySecondCounts" |
 | 11 February 2017 | Japan Second | "America First, Japan Second(Official)日本語字幕あり- Welcome President Trump" |
 | 13 February 2017 | 451 Grad | Russia welcomes Trump in his own words | everysecondcounts" |
 | 14 February 2017 | OscW | "America First - Sweden second?" |
 | 15 February 2017 | NRK Humor | "America First - Norway Second" |
 | 28 February 2017 | Rwabiit | "America First, Yemen Second (OFFICIAL)" |
 | 12 April 2017 | ZeroSquared | "America First, UK Second (official) #everysecondcounts" |
 | May 2017 | Naveed Mahbub | "America First, Bangladesh Second" |
See also
References
- Gijs Beukers (3 February 2017). "In navolging van Lubach strijdt heel Europa om 'second' te worden". de Volkskrant (in Dutch). Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- Hillary Busis (7 February 2017). "Meet the Men Trolling Trump in Those Viral European Videos". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- Krishnadev Calamur (21 July 2016). "Donald Trump's NATO Remarks Stuns U.S. Allies". The Atlantic. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- Amanda Erickson (25 January 2017). "Dutch TV trolls Donald Trump hard in this new 'welcome' video". The Washington Post. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- Mark Molloy (24 January 2017). "Dutch TV trolls Donald Trump's 'America First' speech in 'welcome' video". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- AP (26 January 2017). "Video Introducing Trump to the Netherlands Goes Viral". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- "Varianten op Lubachs introductievideo blijven binnenkomen". NOS (in Dutch). 3 February 2017. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- Camila Domonoske (6 February 2017). "If America's No. 1, Who's No. 2? European Nations Compete For The, Uh, Honor". NPR. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- "Click this page. It's Huge. Like Donalds hands. It's the funniest website in the world! Believe us!". Every Second Counts. Neo Magazin Royale. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- Sarah Sjolin (8 February 2017). "America first, fine — but these European countries would sure like to be No. 2". MarketWatch. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
- Philipp Wilhelmer (8 February 2017). "Flöte mit Schoko-Hoden: Was an "Austria Second" alles nicht lustig war". Kurier (in German). Retrieved 10 February 2017.
- "Luxembourg joins line-up of Europe's Trump trolling videos". Luxemburger Wort. Saint-Paul Luxembourg. 6 February 2017. Retrieved 10 February 2017.
- https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2017/01/26/this-dutch-satirical-video-riffs-on-trump-and-the-internet-is-eating-it-up.html