The Fear of Being Cringe

[@maplesally1218]

Thanks for best meme music 👍

[@TeusTudor]

I have been watching your videos since 2011, and despite not commenting so far, I do wanna say you have really positively influenced my life. It's great to see later down the line now talking about everything and remembering how it started.

[@RexCable]

As a floundering creative (I'm always moving from one thing to another), I found this video incredibly helpful. As a matter of fact, I consider it required viewing for every creative. Bravo!

[@MattMulholland]

Thank you! From one floundering creative to another haha.

[@agustinmarinangeli]

Hey, Matt! Haven't seen you in years, and then suddenly you pop up on my home page talking about this topic, which is something I've been struggling for years now. I've always wanted to write meaningful music, at least for me, but I always get to this feeling halfway writing a song, and then I just throw it away. I've managed to write a handful of songs over the years, and I'm actually pretty proud of them, but every time I sit down to write something new, I give up. Nevertheless I keep trying, and this video just motivated me to grab my guitar and start creating something again. So thank you, for this, and for the laughs and the music you gave me over the years! Cheers from Argentina, mate.

[@MattMulholland]

That’s so great! Yeah man, I hear you. It’s like we start the judgement and editing process before the thing has even been finished! The best things take time, stoked you’re keeping on keeping on :)

[@lilbiscuitlive]

Dude this video is so similar to my experience. I watched your early videos so much and honestly you were an inspiration for me to be myself in my music adventures. I recently made a song that originated from sketchpad brand "Fabriano" my daughter bought from the store, it's my first song with vocals and I think it's cringy but I'm also so proud of it. It was such a fun experience to just let loose and have no fear and let the creativity flow. Thanks for putting this out there and normalizing it!

[@SSj5Bob]

This is a super cool video, thank you for sharing your thoughts on this, it’s always nice to hear these thoughts from someone who has experienced this sort of thing and pushed past it to some extent. As someone who has had a lot of problems with anxiety, I think I and a lot of other people rationalise the fear or being “cringe” or otherwise being rejected as being “self aware”, “pragmatic”, and in some cases “not wanting to bother other people.” The best way I’ve found to overcome this is to try and half a little more ego and selfishness about yourself and your creations; focus on the drive you feel to create and if it sucks then it’s everyone else’s problem, you’re here to create for creation’s sake and to fulfil that need you have inside you. If people don’t like it, fuck ‘em. If people make fun of you for it, they were pieces of shit to begin with and why do you care if a piece of shit doesn’t like you? Be open, be honest, self-deprecation is a defence mechanism that doesn’t even work, and you’ll spend your whole life hiding behind a mask if you smother your authentic self beneath irony and half-hearted conformity then you’re always going to feel unsatisfied. On a much lighter note. Matt, your falsetto video pops into my head almost every single time falsetto comes up in barbershop rehearsals and it never stops being funny. Thank you for making something that’s such a recurring source of joy. That and the acapella chicken for love video, it’s just fun.

[@Katernator1]

I remember watching all of your vids back in the nostril recorder days, nice to have this pop up and see you all grown up :) but your Macy Gray cover will always be my fave.

[@NeoStar]

Omg so much that I relate to here. Absolutely chose to do deliberately cringy, “funny” stuff as a younger performer because I was afraid of criticism or, ironically, being called cringy for being honest. The fear of criticism is a huge hurdle for me and it stops me from being an authentic performer at times even when I’m just singing to backing tracks. Thanks for your insight. What a great video. Thank you.

[@Christian_Pitts]

I am entering my 30s this year and this has been what has made it so hard for me to make art I am happy with and proud of until now. I appreciate the authenticity and honesty you've shown us in these vlog-type videos you've started making it's truly inspiring.

[@isaac10231]

Great video! I've been ranting about this for a while, being cringe is _really important_ if you wanna make something worthwhile. That's just how it is.

[@MattMulholland]

Yeah man, absolutely!

[@ScaredWhiteKidJake]

Here for this serious, adult Sort Your Shit Out.

[@Amins88]

The difference between cringe and comedy is confidence. It's that simple. And if you can't handle criticism, that is a big sign of a lack of confidence. It's okay for people not to like what you've done as long as you're happy with what you've made. Either use the criticism as a sign to improve, or accept that it's just not in their taste and move on. When you create from a perspective of having something to prove, you've already failed before you've started. I've made things that have been heavily criticized, but there hasn't been a single time I've taken it personally. Just used it as an opportunity to learn, or double down and target the right audience.

[@TimothyBreadman]

Maybe the real cringe was the friends we could have made along the way....

[@MattMulholland]

Haha

[@the_seamoose]

WE GOIN' HANDS FREE NOW BABYYYYYYYYYY For real, though, I have been adapting some Irish mythology into a one-act musical for young audiences, and I came across many moments in the scriptwriting process where I started to think what if children who see this find it cringy instead of entertaining or informative. It took a short time to realise that children will naturally immerse themselves in the narrative because they love listening to stories!

[@gnarleypunkroker5]

i just go w/ the flow and do what i want regardless of what others think. its one life, i wanna have fun.

[@MattMulholland]

That’s the dream!

[@SkaerKrowe]

I think that part of you that wanted to make it cringe or a joke was the part of you that was born by the people who mocked and belittled you by calling you a try-hard. You're growing and learning to be your true self again.

[@UDCMComedy]

My entire body of work is cringe but I love it.

[@victortestani]

Mi sensación de ser cringe surge cuando alguien no entiende mi sentido del humor. Muchas veces he quedado fuera de lugar por esa situación. Como cuando te miran serios mientras tu estás con esa sonrisa tonta en la cara. Pero estar en un escenario es lo que amo, no siento vergüenza cuando actúo. Casi siempre estoy nervioso antes de actuar porque quiero que todo salga bien, pero nervioso y avergonzado son dos cosas diferentes. Al fin y al cabo, mientras uno sea genuino no debemos sentir vergüenza. Buena idea con estas charlas. Saludos desde La Plata, Argentina! Te admiro y disfruto mucho de arte. Siempre.

[@닝이-u4f]

당신의 리코더 영상은 한국에서 전설이 되었고 많은 사람들의 기억 속에 추억으로 자리 잡았습니다. 저는 그때 당시의 당신이 초현실주의 연주자라 생각합니다. 넌 최고였어!

[@GleeChan]

Matt talking about the fear of cringe really does ring true, especially in his early comedy career. The ability to just not give a fuck and go out there and make yourself look silly for laugh is extremely hard. In fact, I heard a K-Pop idol (of all people) talk about the very thing just this weekend, so it's sort of crazy that Matt is bringing it up now. She's well known for being both talented with singing and dance, but more recently is gaining a reputation for being hilarious and amazing on variety shows due to her unpredictable reactions and responses. She said her secret is to turn her brain off and just say anything and do anything that comes to mind, and then trust the edit to make her look good. She said that when she looks back at the shows she's on, she often embarrassed at herself, but understands that her funny side is what people have come to love. I have to wonder if deep down she feels the same way as Matt does today. Like comedy is fine, but she didn't get into the industry to be a comedian, she wanted to sing and dance. While she still is doing that, and people acknowledge she's good at that, the only thing they talk about is her funny side.

[@MattMulholland]

Haha, turn her brain off and trust the edit. There’s definitely truth in that. Thankfully I’m usually editing myself, so I can at least cut something if it’s too shit. It’s an interesting thought! I think the world is full of people who had a specific goal, but then found success or happiness in something different. I guess you never really know what’s going to resonate so you may as well just do whatever and hope for the best haha.

[@gml4]

Well said Matt. Kudos to you and your authentic self. Sometimes the insurmountable obstacles we face are of our own creation. Thank you for continuing to put yourself, and your art and talent, out there. P.S. I'm afriad I was expecting you to slip in there... "And here's tip #5... penis." But I'm glad you didn't.

[@MattMulholland]

haha I should've done it! Keep everyone guessing. Thank you :)

[@Slimoooo]

youre the guy that made titanic song

[@diarrheagondola]

My biggest issue with your work, Matt, is even though your serious stuff is technically well done, you're much more enjoyable when you're being absurd. Singing "O Holy Night" with only the word "penis" is genius.