When Management Wants “Thorough,” Cue 17 Minutes of Iron Butterfly and Malicious Compliance
There’s a special joy in responding to vague corporate requests with a dash of creativity—and a sprinkle of mischief. When your boss asks for “more thorough” without specifics, what’s a diligent worker to do? If you’re Reddit user u/bdb1518, you grab your phone, hit record, and let the psychedelic waves of Iron Butterfly’s “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” wash over your unsuspecting management. Yes, all 17 glorious minutes of it.
This is the story of how a weekly truck cleaning routine turned into a classic tale of Malicious Compliance—set to the soundtrack of 1968’s most epic rock odyssey. Get ready for a journey of spotless trucks, slow camera pans, and the kind of corporate feedback that only a drum solo could inspire.
Malicious Compliance: The Corporate Art Form
For the uninitiated, Malicious Compliance is the workplace equivalent of “be careful what you wish for.” It’s when employees follow the letter of management’s request, but not exactly the spirit—often with hilarious, eye-opening, or downright cathartic results. Corporate says, “Be more thorough!” The employee says, “Say less.”
Our protagonist, u/bdb1518, was used to the weekly grind: clean the truck, make it sparkle, record a quick one-minute video, and move on. But then came the fateful all-staff note: videos must be “more thorough.” No time minimum, no specifics—just that oh-so-fuzzy corporate ask.
Cue the Iron Butterfly
Most of us, faced with such a request, might add a few extra shots, maybe narrate a bit more detail about our cleaning supplies. But where’s the fun in that? Instead, bdb1518 decided to let classic rock do the talking.
The next video was a single, unedited, slow-motion tour of their truck—front to back, every nook and cranny—accompanied by the entirety of Iron Butterfly’s psychedelic magnum opus, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.” If you’re not familiar, the song is legendary for its length: a whopping 17 minutes of swirling organs, thumping bass, and one of rock’s most famous drum solos.
The video starts with the first drum hit and ends precisely as the song fades out. No shortcuts, no jump cuts, and presumably, no manager was left with any doubt as to how thoroughly this truck had been cleaned.
A Masterclass in Following Orders
What makes this story so delightful is its perfect blend of obedience and cheek. By the book, bdb1518 delivered exactly what management asked for: a “more thorough” video. They even went above and beyond, ensuring that every inch of the truck was documented—at a pace that would make a snail impatient.
Iron Butterfly’s soundtrack wasn’t just a fun touch; it was a brilliant, tongue-in-cheek way of highlighting the absurdity of vague corporate requests. You want longer? Here’s seventeen minutes. You want thorough? Let’s savor every detail, every bolt, every shadow, with the kind of slow pans usually reserved for Oscar-winning nature documentaries.
Why We Love Stories Like This
There’s a reason posts like this rack up hundreds of upvotes and spark dozens of comments. They tap into a universal truth: everyone, at some point, has been on the receiving end of a wishy-washy management decree. Most of us dream of finding a clever way to give the bosses exactly what they asked for—and a little bit more than they bargained for.
It’s also a reminder that sometimes, being a “good worker” means having a sense of humor about corporate life. Even though bdb1518 was probably the last person management expected to troll them with a marathon video and a psychedelic soundtrack, it’s clear from the post that they take pride in their work—and in their playful approach to compliance.
The Aftermath: Sweet, Sweet Silence (and Maybe a Shorter Policy)
While the post ends with a note that management probably didn’t find the video as hilarious as the creator did, there’s a sense of satisfaction in knowing that no rules were broken—just bent ever so artfully.
Did the policy change? Did management finally clarify what “thorough” means? We can only hope. But one thing’s for certain: the next time someone in that office thinks about asking for “more thorough videos,” they’ll probably remember the swirling organ riffs of Iron Butterfly and think twice.
What Would You Do?
Have you ever responded to a vague request with maximum creativity (or snark)? What song would soundtrack your own Malicious Compliance moment? Share your stories in the comments below—because sometimes the best workplace victories are measured not in minutes, but in memorable moments.
Rock on, and keep those trucks clean.
Iron Butterfly, Malicious Compliance, and the Art of the Long Game—sometimes the best way to follow orders is to hit play and let the music do the talking.
Original Reddit Post: Want a longer video? OK, well then I think this calls for a little Iron Butterfly