:R U Professional

File:Christian Bale - 002.jpg in July 2008|alt=Profile shot of a man looking down and to his right. He has a goatee and stubble, and is wearing a black dress shirt with collar and a black blazer.]]

In July 2008, actor Christian Bale was immersed in shooting a scene for the film Terminator Salvation in New Mexico.{{cite news | last =Bryant |first=Adam | title =Christian Bale's Verbal Attack Draws Today's Attention | work =TV Guide | date =February 3, 2009|access-date=September 30, 2015|url=http://www.tvguide.com/news/christian-bale-today-1002384/|archive-date=September 30, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150930162848/http://www.tvguide.com/news/christian-bale-today-1002384/}} While performing with actress Bryce Dallas Howard, Bale shouted at the film's director of photography, Shane Hurlbut, for walking into his line of sight.{{cite news | title =Christian Bale's F-Word-Laced Verbal Tirade Caught on Tape | work =Fox News | date =February 3, 2009 | url =https://www.foxnews.com/story/christian-bales-f-word-laced-verbal-tirade-caught-on-tape | access-date = February 4, 2009| url-status =live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514041332/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2009/02/03/christian-bale-f-word-laced-verbal-tirade-caught-on-tape|archive-date=May 14, 2013}} Hurlbut responded calmly, apologized to Bale, and continued shooting for seven hours after the incident.{{cite news | last =Inside Track | title =Outburst reveals Christian Bale's 'Dark' side | work =Boston Herald | date =February 4, 2009 }}

An audio recording of the incident appeared on the website TMZ on February 2, 2009.{{cite news | title =Holy expletive! Bale caught in on-set meltdown | work =Agence France-Presse | date =February 3, 2009 | url =https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jaJT1WIl1cyzmCr1nW2LZxdGRZGw

| access-date =February 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224154712/https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jaJT1WIl1cyzmCr1nW2LZxdGRZGw|archive-date=February 24, 2013}} During the four-minute audio recording, Bale can be heard shouting and swearing at Hurlbut and threatening to quit the film if Hurlbut did it again and was not fired. Prior to releasing the audio on the internet, TMZ had reported on the incident on their website in July 2008.{{cite news|last=Sweeney |first=Fionnuala |title=Bale's on set rant goes viral: TMZ's Mike Walters explains how they got the tape of Christian Bale's outburst on the set of 'Terminator Salvation.' |agency=CNN |date=February 5, 2009 |url=http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/showbiz/2009/02/04/intv.walters.tmz.on.bale.cnn?iref=videosearch |access-date=February 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019151428/http://www.cnn.com/video/ |archive-date=October 19, 2014 |url-status=dead }} TMZ reported that film executives for Terminator Salvation had sent a copy of the audio recording to the film's insurance company in case Bale quit the film.{{cite news | last =Access Hollywood | author-link =Access Hollywood | title =Christian Bale's profane tirade caught on tape: Actor berates director of photography who walked on set during filming | agency=Today.com |date =February 3, 2009 | url =http://today.Today.com.msn.com/id/28984085/ | access-date =February 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131220123037/http://www.today.com/id/28984085/|archive-date=December 20, 2013 }}

In a statement to Los Angeles radio station KROQ-FM on February 6, 2009, Bale said he had behaved inappropriately, and that he and Hurlbut had talked after the incident and fully resolved the issue. Bale acknowledged that the two worked together for several hours after the incident, and for a month afterwards as well. He noted that he had viewed a draft version of the film and praised the cinematography work done by Hurlbut.{{cite news | title =Actor Bale speaks out over rant: Film star Christian Bale has called a US radio station to apologise for a tirade which was leaked onto the internet, calling it 'inexcusable' | work =BBC News | date =February 6, 2009 | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7875756.stm | access-date = February 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217172357/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7875756.stm|archive-date=February 17, 2009}}

{{multiple image

| footer = The Mae Shi performing at Summer Sundae in Leicester, England (August 2008)

| width = 250

| image1 = TheMaeShiSSW2008.jpg

| alt1 = The Mae Shi band members performing on stage

| image2 = TheMaeShiSSW2008 2.jpg

| alt2 = The Mae Shi band members performing on stage

}}

The Mae Shi explained the group's inspiration to write the song in a statement. The group felt Bale's outburst was irrational and was motivated to write a piece about it. The Mae Shi emphasized in their statement that this was not a traditional song associated with their group's normal work, but rather a homage to Bale.{{cite news | last =Gregory | first = Jason | title =Christian Bale Terminator Rant Turned Into A Tribute Song By The Mae Shi... | work =Gigwise | date =February 4, 2009 | url =http://www.gigwise.com/news/49156/Christian-Bale-Terminator-Rant-Turned-Into-A-Tribute-Song | access-date = February 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207050951/http://gigwise.com/news/49156/Christian-Bale-Terminator-Rant-Turned-Into-A-Tribute-Song|archive-date=February 7, 2009}}{{cite news | last =Kirby | first =Terry | title =Bale's furious rant becomes instant electro-dance hit | work =Evening Standard | agency=Associated Newspapers Limited | date =February 4, 2009 | url =http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23634363-details/Bale%27s+furious+rant+becomes+instant+electro-dance+hit/article.do | access-date = February 7, 2009|archive-date=October 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019194428/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/bales-furious-rant-becomes-instant-electrodance-hit-6880073.html}}

The Mae Shi drummer Brad Breeck commented in an interview that the band decided to make a song about the incident late in the evening of February 2, 2009. Breeck noted that they listened to the audio of the Bale diatribe and put together their tribute piece within a span of two hours before putting it online. Jacob Cooper, another drummer in the band, commented to The Arizona Daily Star that he was surprised how popular their piece became when they had devoted relatively little time to composing and recording it.

The lyrics of the song include references to films Bale appeared in including Newsies, Swing Kids, American Psycho, and The Dark Knight. The song begins with the phrase, "He is the Dark Knight, he is professional."{{cite news| last = OTR/PRESS News Agency| title = Una bronca de Christian Bale aprovechada como letra para una canción | work = ABC newspaper | date =May 2, 2009 | url = http://www.abc.es/20090205/gente-celebrities/bronca-christian-bale-aprovechada-200902050852.html | access-date = June 6, 2010 |language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208112606/http://abc.es/20090205/gente-celebrities/bronca-christian-bale-aprovechada-200902050852.html|archive-date=February 8, 2009}} The piece incorporates audio clips from the incident through the use of sampling.{{cite news | title =Bale tirade becomes YouTube sensation | work =United Press International | date =February 3, 2009 | url =http://www.upi.com/Entertainment_News/2009/02/03/Bale_tirade_becomes_YouTube_sensation/UPI-90221233694011/ | access-date =February 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206125237/http://upi.com/Entertainment_News/2009/02/03/Bale_tirade_becomes_YouTube_sensation/UPI-90221233694011|archive-date=February 6, 2009}} The chorus of the song references Bale's use of the word professional in his altercation: "Oh, whoo wow / He is professional / But I think he's lost control". Lyrics include: "Swing Kid with a violent streak", "Step back, stay out of his light / Better not try to put up a fight / Newsies will get you tonight / 'Cause they're professional!",{{cite news | last =Matheson | first =Whitney | title =Hot trend o' the week: Christian Bale remixes | work =Pop Candy; USA Today | date =February 3, 2009 | url =http://blogs.usatoday.com/popcandy/2009/02/hot-trend-o-the.html?csp=34 | access-date = February 7, 2009|archive-date=February 21, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221134522/http://blogs.usatoday.com/popcandy/2009/02/hot-trend-o-the.html?csp=34}} and "Don't look too deep in his eyes/he can't hide what's inside of his mind/and it might get a little bit ugly/and you might meet an American Psycho".{{cite news | last =Reynolds | first =Simon | title =Bale tantrum becomes web phenomenon | work=Digital Spy | date =February 4, 2009 | url =http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/a145639/bale-tantrum-becomes-web-phenomenon.html | access-date = February 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809080303/http://www.digitalspy.com/celebrity/news/a145639/bale-tantrum-becomes-web-phenomenon.html|archive-date=August 9, 2011}}

File:The Mae Shi at Detour.jpg performing at LA Weekly Detour Music Festival in Los Angeles (October 2008)|alt=The Mae Shi band members performing on stage]]

"R U Professional" was made available on YouTube and MediaFire on February 3, 2009.{{cite news | last =Sciretta | first =Peter | title =LOL: The Christian Bale Fun Continues | work =/film | date =February 3, 2009 | url =http://www.slashfilm.com/2009/02/03/lol-the-christian-bale-fun-continues/ | access-date =February 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112161724/http://www.slashfilm.com/lol-the-christian-bale-fun-continues|archive-date=November 12, 2011}} The video description on YouTube by the group stated, "Song By The Mae Shi celebrating the life and work of Xtian Bale. Bale's performance as John Connor in the upcoming Terminator 4 'Redemption' Film will no doubt be one of the greatest of all time. He will win every Oscar for his performance, even the special effects and animation ones."{{cite news | title = Christian Bale Remixed | work = Pedestrian TV | date = February 3, 2009| url =http://www.pedestrian.tv/pop-culture/news/christian-bale-remixed-/2006.htm | access-date =June 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006150435/http://www.pedestrian.tv/pop-culture/news/christian-bale-remixed-/2006.htm|archive-date=October 6, 2011}} The Independent reported that the band would appear at a music festival, "The Fans Strike Back", and requested they perform "R U Professional".{{cite news| last = Harley | first =Kevin | title = Ten best gigs | work = The Independent | page = 5; Section: The Information | date = May 2, 2009 |location=London}}

Several media outlets attempted to place the work within a particular genre. MTV compared the song's style to the group Devo and new wave music.{{cite news | last =Kaufman | first =Gil | title =You Can Now Dance To The Sound Of Christian Bale's Fury | agency =MTV | date =February 3, 2009 | url =http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/02/03/you-can-now-dance-to-the-sound-of-christian-bales-fury/ | access-date =February 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218223943/http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2009/02/03/you-can-now-dance-to-the-sound-of-christian-bales-fury|archive-date=February 18, 2009}} El País described the piece as an electropop song that contributed to the viral spread of the Christian Bale rant after its release on the Internet.{{cite news| title =El hombre o la máquina | work = El País | date =June 5, 2009 | url = http://www.elpais.com/articulo/portada/hombre/maquina/elppgl/20090605elptenpor_2/Tes| access-date =June 6, 2010 |language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014001521/http://elpais.com/diario/2009/06/05/tentaciones/1244226173_850215.html|archive-date=October 14, 2012}} Dose described it as an electro jam session which made adept use of sampling from the audio of Bale's rhetoric.{{cite news | last =Collins | first =Leah | title =The Best Thing I Ever Heard...This Week | work =Dose | agency=Canwest Interactive | date =February 6, 2009 | url =http://www.dose.ca/music/story.html?id=f627a31c-8075-4b4b-8a60-1fd6c26a403d | access-date =February 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221214337/http://www.dose.ca/music/story.html?id=f627a31c-8075-4b4b-8a60-1fd6c26a403d|archive-date=February 21, 2009}} The Los Angeles Times called the piece a lively pop music tribute to the actor.{{cite news | last =Boucher | first =Geoff | title =Christian Bale, Robert Downey Jr., Kristen Bell and Skeletor, all in Everyday Hero headlines | work =Hero Complex; Los Angeles Times | date =February 4, 2009 | url =http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2009/02/robert-downey-j.html | access-date = February 7, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506150628/http://herocomplex.latimes.com/uncategorized/robert-downey-j/|archive-date=May 6, 2014}} USA Today called the song fun dance music and creatively motivated. The Toronto Sun praised its original lyrics and use of audio from the incident, and described the piece as a fusion of electro-pop styles and a good song for dancing.{{cite news| last = Sterdan | first = Darryl | title = Down Stream; 3 Picks. 3 Clicks. 3 Cool Online Tracks | work =The Toronto Sun | page = E16 | date =February 15, 2009 }} New Musical Express recommended the piece, and described it as electro-rock which astutely sampled Bale throughout the song.{{cite news | title =Christian Bale tirade – The Mae Shi record tribute song | work =New Musical Express | date = February 4, 2009 }} The St. Louis Post-Dispatch described the piece as a form of new wave music which used the most spasmodic segments of the incident, and commented that the end product was comedic.{{cite news | last =Fernandes | first =Matt | title =The Mae Shi, playing Gargoyle Sat., remix Christian Bale rant | work =St. Louis Post-Dispatch | date =February 20, 2009 }} The Arizona Daily Star described the piece as a pop music dance song.{{cite news|first=Kevin W.|last=Smith|title=Mae Shi turns Bale's tirade into dance song|date=March 12, 2009|work=The Arizona Daily Star|via=NewsBank|page=5}}

Multiple sources remarked upon the speed with which The Mae Shi were able to put the song together and release it. The A.V. Club highlighted the song among Internet memes inspired by the Bale melee, and wrote that though the piece was put together quickly it was quite entertaining and inventive.{{cite news | last =Koski | first =Genevieve | title ="Fucking Distracting!!": Your meme of the week | work =The A.V. Club | date =February 6, 2009 | url =https://www.avclub.com/fucking-distracting-your-meme-of-the-week-1798215693 | access-date = February 6, 2009| url-status =live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304052927/http://www.avclub.com/article/fucking-distracting-your-meme-of-the-week-23550|archive-date=March 4, 2014}} The Irish Independent was surprised at the speed multiple different satirical adaptations of the Bale commotion audio including "R U Professional" were put together. The newspaper questioned whether the song was composed in one day, and speculated that the melody might have been written by the group previously and modified to use with audio from the Bale incident.{{cite news | last = Marsden | first =Rhodri | title =Christian Bale: All the rage on the web – The first clip appeared within minutes – and a week on, Christian Bale's fury is inspiring Oscar-worthy satire. Rhodri Marsden follows the links | work =Irish Independent | date =February 9, 2009 | url =http://www.independent.ie/business/technology/christian-bale-all-the-rage-on-the-web-26512530.html|access-date=October 19, 2014}} Pitchfork Media was impressed that "R U Professional" was made in twenty-four hours.{{cite news | last =Richardson | first =Mark | title =New Music: The Mae Shi ft. Christian Bale: "R U Professional" Stream | work =Pitchfork Media | date =February 3, 2009 | url =http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/148888-new-music-the-mae-shi-ft-christian-bale-r-u-professional-stream | access-date=February 7, 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20090206080756/http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/148888-new-music-the-mae-shi-ft-christian-bale-r-u-professional-stream|archive-date=February 6, 2009}}

Various websites commented that the song was a unique way to pay tribute to Christian Bale and his body of work. Boing Boing called the song an amusing homage to Bale.{{cite news| last = Bledsoe | first = Derek | title =BB Video: The Mae Shi are "Professionals" | work = Boing Boing | date =March 17, 2009 | url =http://www.boingboing.net/2009/03/17/bb-video-the-mae-shi.html | access-date =June 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322151310/http://www.boingboing.net/2009/03/17/bb-video-the-mae-shi.html|archive-date=March 22, 2009}} C7nema commented that the song was hilarious and dedicated to Bale's odd behavior.{{cite news | title = Salvar o futuro: a saga 'Terminator' – Parte IV | work = C7nema | language = pt | date =June 3, 2009 | url = http://www.c7nema.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1093&Itemid=33&limitstart=3| access-date =June 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622231830/http://www.c7nema.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1093&Itemid=33&limitstart=3|archive-date=June 22, 2009}} The Celebrity Cafe wrote that the piece was better than "Bale Out" by RevoLucian which also dealt with the incident.{{cite news | last =Hunt | first =Kristin | title =A Funny Thing Happened . . . | work =The Celebrity Cafe | date =February 11, 2009 | url =http://www.thecelebritycafe.com/features/24602.html | access-date = February 11, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090221014055/http://www.thecelebritycafe.com/features/24602.html|archive-date=February 21, 2009}} Chicagoist wrote that the song by The Mae Shi was their favorite of the Christian Bale remixes.{{cite news | title =Download: Batman Flips The F*#K Out | work =Chicagoist | date =February 4, 2009 | url =http://chicagoist.com/2009/02/04/download_batman_flips_the_fk_out.php | access-date = February 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210183809/http://chicagoist.com/2009/02/04/download_batman_flips_the_fk_out.php|archive-date=February 10, 2009}} Chico News & Review called the piece a caring accolade to Bale's on-set tirade.{{cite news | last =Lore | first =Mark | title =Agit-pop: The road-worn Mae Shi take on Batman and Miley Cyrus | work =Chico News & Review | date =March 26, 2009 | url =http://www.newsreview.com/chico/content?oid=932633 | access-date = March 28, 2009|archive-date=October 19, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019200423/http://www.newsreview.com/chico/agit-pop/content?oid=932633}}

• List of Internet phenomena
• "Ocean's Three and a Half", an episode of Family Guy which also dealt with the story

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|The Mae Shi}}

• {{YouTube|7oFjz6JfACk|"R U Professional"}} account of The Mae Shi
• {{cite web|url=http://themaeshi.blogspot.com/2009/02/mae-shi-ft-christian-bale-r-u.html |title=The Mae Shi {{bracket|ft. Christian Bale}}: 'R U Professional' – Song By The Mae Shi celebrating the life and work of Xtian Bale |work=The Mae Shi – We Do This All the Time |access-date=October 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110830224321/http://themaeshi.blogspot.com/2009/02/mae-shi-ft-christian-bale-r-u.html |archive-date=August 30, 2011 |url-status=live |publisher=Blogger |date=February 3, 2009 }}

{{The Mae Shi}}

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Category:2009 songs

Category:American pop songs

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Category:Electropop songs

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Category:Satirical songs