Nardwuar: Hey Mr. Layton,how far wouldyou bewillingto go toget theyouthvote?Wouldyou bewilling todo theHip Flip?Jack Layton: Well, we’re doing lotsof parties, we’re having a great time–

Nardwuar: Prime MinisterMartin, Prime Minister Martin,will you do the Hip Flip?[Martin walks right by Nardwuarthrough the lobby of the restauranttowards his bus. Nardwuar starts torun after him]Nardwuar: Mr Martin! Mr.Martin![Nardwuar is having a hard time keep-ing up to Martin and his security staff]Nardwuar: Prime MinisterMartin![Nardwuar is still chasing the PrimeMinister]Nardwuar: Prime MinisterMartin![Nardwuar is now running as quicklyas he can after the Prime Minister]Nardwuar: [Yelling] Hey PrimeMinister Martin is it okay for

you to do the Hip Flip?[Nardwuar gets stuck in the doors tothe restaurant as Prime MinisterMartin’s security team hustle Martinonto his bus. Nardwuar now can’t seethe Prime Minister.] Nardwuar:[Frantically]Prime MinisterMartin! PrimeMinister Martin!Prime MinisterMartin!Martin Security Staff:Woah, easy, easy,easy, easy!Nardwuar: [To Martin SecurityStaff member] Would it be ok,Sir, if we came on the bus anddid a Hip Flip with PrimeMinister Martin?

Martin Security Staff: No [laughs]Nardwuar: Are you sure?Martin Security Staff: Positive.Nardwuar: So no means no?Martin Security Staff: No means no.

Nardwuar:

Ok.We will giveup [Nardwuar walks away butthen spots another one ofMartin’s Security Staff] Wouldit be ok to go on the bus and

do the Hip Flip with PrimeMinister Martin?Martin Security Staff: He’s going tocome out and talk to you now.Nardwuar: [In disbelief] Hereally will? Oh! Thank you

very much![A few minuteslater Martin stepsoff his bus]Prime MinisterMartin: Howare you?Nardwuar: Mr.Martin, thankyou for thetime! Prime Minister

Martin: My time is yours.Nardwuar: We wanted to askyou about the youth vote, and

Nardwuar: ’Cuz I have– Jack Layton: [Looking at the Hip Flipinstructions Nardwuar is holding] let me

take the flyer about theHip Flip–Nardwuar:Well I havethe Hip Flipright here.[NardwuarshowsLayton apart of theHip Flip]

And I was just wondering if you

still trying to get the Hip Flipassembled]Jack Layton: What I am going to askyou to do is give us a copy (of theinstructions) we can take with us. I willpractice on the bus–Nardwuar: You promise. Youpromise–Jack Layton: I’ll practice on that bus.And if I can pull it off maybe we willbe doing it together. Nardwuar: Thank you Mr.Layton!Jack Layton: [Laughs] All right.Nardwuar: Thank you.

would want to do this?Jack Layton: You know something, it’snot something we ever practiced. Areyou going to actually attempt to teachme?Nardwuar: Yes, I will. I‘ll tryto teach you. [Nardwuar thentries to assembly the Hip Flip,haphazardly pulling parts of itout of his bag]Jack Layton: I tell you what. Next time Icome here I will have practiced andperhaps we will be able to pull it off.Nardwuar: [With the crazy HipFlip bell ringing, Nardwuar is

THE HIP FLIP. I have been obsessed by this crazy 1960s ParkerBrothers party game ever since I was presented it by the StudentCouncil 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 myall time favourite band, The Gruesomes. And now sixteen years later, forsome unexplained reason, I decided to bring back the magic Hip Flip aspart of my attempt to document the Great Canadian Election of 2004.How would the leaders of the three major parties in Canada respond tomy request to do the Hip Flip with them? Well, flip back your hip andfind out right here….

Nardwuar vs. NDP Leader Jack Layton!NDP Campaign Office, Edmonds Street, Burnaby BC, CanadaTuesday, June 1, 2004

Nardwuar vs. Liberal Prime Minister Paul Martin!Floata Seafood Restaurant, Keefer Street, Vancouver BC, CanadaTuesday, June 22, 2004

Chris Nelson, host and videographer of MuchMusic's "Going Coastal,"filmed all three of the Hip Flip "encounters" you have been reading

about here. The following is his insight into what happened:

After five years of recording all of Nardwuar’s interviews, I’velearned to expect that a) we could get beaten up, b) arrested, or c)

both. I certainly thought a beatdown was coming at the Laytonencounter…not from the Mounties guarding Layton, mind you, butthe uptight political reporters assigned to follow him around like lem-mings. They treated Nardwuar like an obnoxious relative who drinkstoo much at weddings, and that kind of treatment just isn’t cool.

People at the Martin encounter, however, were very cool, especially"Lady with Hair" (Nardwuar’s pet name for the Liberal press secre-tary who let him Hip Flip the PM). We spent hours waiting for our

chance, and neither Nardwuar nor I thought anything would happen. As soon as he sawMartin, though, Nardwuar was like a dog with a bone, fighting crowds and Mounties all theway to the campaign bus. Nardwuar did not let up, and I think LWH recognized his valiantefforts (as well as the fact they’d look like assholes for not giving MuchMusic the time ofday).

Stephen Harper, on the other hand, was unafraid to look like an asshole. He could’vebreezed past Nardwuar without so much as a glance, but the guy actually took the time tolook at the Serviette and shake his head dismissively (no doubt a look he gives to homelesspeople on the street when they ask for change). I don’t know if the Conservatives told thecops to throw Nardwuar out or not, but I do remember that plain-clothed Mountie who had tocarry Nardwuar off the premises. He was PISSED!

Call me crazy, but I suspect there’s something to be said for the predictive abilities of the HipFlip (the winner DID it; the loser did NOT). Perhaps the next time there’s a federal election,the leaders will have the good sense to limber up and give Nardwuar his props.

I guess I was wondering,would you do the Hip Flipwith me?Prime MinisterMartin: All right,sure. You’re goingto have to showme how.Nardwuar:It’squite easy,you just[Nardwuarsets up theHip FlipbetweenhimselfandMartin]and you–[Nardwuarand Martinattempt torotate the‘flipper.’ Aftereight attempts,they do it!] [Cheers then arisefrom the crowd ofpeople aroundMartin’s bus] Nardwuar:Yeah!All right! Thankyou Mr. Martin! Ijust want to ask you onequick thing, how wild wereyou as a youth? Is it true you

his bus]Nardwuar: PleaseMr.Harper!Please Mr.Harper![Nardwuar isthen pushedaside byHarper’sSecurty Staff]Nardwuar:[To Harper’sSecurty Staff]What did youthink about theHip Flip? Did youguys like the HipFlip? Harper’s SecurtyStaff: [Silence]Nardwuar:[To Harper’sSecurty Staff]Did anyonesee me play-ing the HipFlip video?Harper’s SecurtyStaff: [Silence][Nardwuar is still tryingto get on the bus, but isgetting bouncedaround by Harper’sSecurty Staff like a kidon a trampoline]Nardwuar: [ToHarper’s SecurtyStaff] Will you verify Iplayed it (the tape of MartinHip Flipping)?Harper’s Securty Staff: [Silence]Nardwuar: [Looking throughthe windows of StephenHarper’s bus] Paul Martin didthe Hip Flip, Jack Layton, Jack

Layton, did not do theHip Flip [Nardwuar isnow grabbed byHarper’s Security Staffand being led out theparking lot] This isyour big chance todo the Hip Flip![Harper’s bus pulls away]

Nardwuar: [ToHarper’sSecurty Staff]We’re just try-ing to getStephenHarper to dothe Hip Flip.Harper’s SecurtyStaff: [Silence][As Nardwuar is

getting carried outof the parking lot hedecides to lift his legsand enjoy the rideHarper’s Security Staffis giving him. They arenot amused.]Nardwuar: [Now

released byHarper’sSecurity Staffand standingon the outskirtsof the parkinglot] I guesswe’ve found out,well, Jack Laytonmaybe will dothe Hip Flip, PaulMartin will do the

Hip Flip, but Stephen Harperdefinitely will not do the HipFlip![Nardwuar then heads to A&W inCoquitlam, BC for a Chubby ChickenBurger]

once chucked rocks at theSoviet Embassy?Prime Minister Martin: [Laughs] It’s

true! It’s true! Yes it is!Nardwuar:Because thatwas in yourDad’s mem-oirs.Prime MinisterMartin: I did. Idid.Nardwuar:Now did youever tell the

Soviets that?Prime Minister Martin:[Laughs] Actually I did. Itold Mr. Putin.

Nardwuar:Well thanksvery much Mr.Martin. Keepon rockin’ inthe freeworld anddoot dooladoot doo…Prime MinisterMartin: Dootdoola doot …

and I want to do that again![points to the Hip Flip]Nardwuar: Almost. Dootdoola doot doo…Prime Minister Martin: …Doot doo!

Nardwuar vs. Conservative Leader Stephen Harper!Sheraton Guildford Hotel, Surrey BC, CanadaSaturday, June 26, 2004[Nardwuar is waiting outside ofStephen Harper’s bus showing every-one (ie: Harper’s Security Staff, includ-ing his chief press offi-cer!), a video ofJack Laytonrefusing to dothe Hip Flip andof Paul Martindoing the HipFlip. It is hopedthat this videomight influence

them to get Mr. Harper to do the HipFlip. But they don’t seem to care.][After a short while Mr. Harper

appears.] Nardwuar: Mr.Harper, Mr. Harper,would it be okayfor you to do theHip Flip?[Without stopping Mr.Harper glances atNardwuar, shakes hishead, and walks onto

Hip Flip Extras!!Download your own Hip Flip instructions here!http://www.hasbro.com/common/instruct/HipFlip.PDFWatch Prime Minister Paul Martin do the Hip Flip here!http://www.muchmusic.com/events/muchvote04/video/Thanks to Chris Nelson from MuchMusic’s ‘Going Coastal’.