While I’m not much of a fan of country western music, I might warm to it more if the AM radio back home were this interesting in its choice of subjects. (Warning! Working man’s language and rural sexism ahead!)
Looks like it was taped in the San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena. Probably a CalTech/JPL production.
Anyway, this reminds me of a story about how the folks at GM installed a bunch of “black boxes” in its big 4×4’s in order to determine the major causes of fatal accidents involving those trucks.
They found that the drivers’ most common last words were, “Hold my beer and watch this!”
This is the second video in our Country Public Broadcasting System series. A few years ago, Brian Posehn called me and challenged HnP to make fun of a Country singer named Trace Adkins. “It’s not possible, because he’s such a redneck,” he said. Our solution was to make Adkins’ style of music about science, a topic rarely covered in the Country genre. When we started talking to Super Deluxe, this was the first song we pitched and thus the Country Public Broadcasting System was born.
Special thanks to Neil Mahoney, who directed the live action part of the video, Josh Fadem who was kind enough to appear in it, and our old friends Stonehoney for spending the day recording with us.
If you like it, by all means pass it along–be warned though, there is foul language afoot so keep it out of reach of the little ones. Science, Y’all!!!
freelunchsays
I see that they are multilingual. Not only can they sing in Sesame Streetese and country and western, but they have http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06Wuitmq4bI for those who want to learn about the heart in español.
I’ll check out more H&F later after watching American Dinosaurs:
Hugosays
My mistake, it included the final dot in the previous link so here it goes again:
maxisays
Put my jism in your schism make another organism
ROFL! I am going to remember that jewel for a rainy day!
ZekeCDNsays
I wish I’d just read the lyrics and gotten most of the funny without any of the diety-forsaken music. Give me “Dick to the Dawk” any day!
ALsays
I wish they wouldn’t phrase Ockham’s Razor as “the simplest explanation is best, all other things equal.” But I guess the reference to Carl Sagan’s Contact indicates they got it from there, and that’s how Ockham’s Razor was presented in the movie Contact.
Cool vid though.
Joe Bobsays
My kinda music! Love those primes…
UofTguysays
this is awesome! thx PZ
Kylesays
I scrolled by that a few times without watching it; finally did and it was worth it. Good stuff!
After 4 hours at the 47th Legislative District caucus (your home town PZ) I needed something that profane and funny. I come to Pharyngula and there it is. Great fun and thank you. The caucus was fun too, but a bit grueling. I was an alternate delegate for Obama. The results matched the precinct caucuses from February. 2/3rds for Obama, 1/3rd for Clinton. The shouts, hoots, and hollers were about 4/5ths vs 1/5th.
Denis Loubetsays
Now THAT’S framing! With that kind of attitude, you might actually be able to reach the ignorant masses and sneak in what science is actually about. Science with attitude.
It’s kind of like Mythbusters, which is an excellent example of the positive framing of skepticism where the skeptical-vs-credulist viewpoint is treated as a cage-match. One that reality always wins.
It’s time to lose the white labcoat shit and get right in their fucking faces.
Wildersays
No one ever actually quotes Ockham though…
I suppose, “Numquam ponenda est pluralitas sine necessitate” would be difficult to make rhyme in a country song.
HadasS says
Bwah! First rap, now country, what will be next?
Dutch Delight says
I can’t say I don’t like their corollary to Occam’s Razor.
Anon says
“Two! Three! Five! Seven!”
love the fingers…
king J says
Proof positive that chimps are evolving faster the homo sapiens
Lago says
It’s no dic to the doc, but it wasn’t half bad nun neither…
I’s well loved the 2-3-5-7 bit…
Libertarianchick says
As a Tennesseean and country fan, I don’t know whether to laugh or be offended…
KevPod says
“The second (what?) of the film Contact?”
That went by too fast.
caerbannog says
Looks like it was taped in the San Gabriel Mountains above Pasadena. Probably a CalTech/JPL production.
Anyway, this reminds me of a story about how the folks at GM installed a bunch of “black boxes” in its big 4×4’s in order to determine the major causes of fatal accidents involving those trucks.
They found that the drivers’ most common last words were, “Hold my beer and watch this!”
The Science Pundit says
“I’m a deoxyribonucleic asshole!” LOL!
By the way, was that Hard “N Firm? I remember they once did a song about pi. The video is also a PBS spoof.
jesustweak says
I believe that these are the same guys who produced this masterpiece: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfr7xG6smhU
The Science Pundit says
Okay, I just checked out Hard N’ Phirm’s website and found this explanation.
freelunch says
I see that they are multilingual. Not only can they sing in Sesame Streetese and country and western, but they have http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06Wuitmq4bI for those who want to learn about the heart in español.
Abbie says
Put my jism in your schism make another organism.
Genius.
Hugo says
I’ll check out more H&F later after watching American Dinosaurs:
Hugo says
My mistake, it included the final dot in the previous link so here it goes again:
maxi says
Put my jism in your schism make another organism
ROFL! I am going to remember that jewel for a rainy day!
ZekeCDN says
I wish I’d just read the lyrics and gotten most of the funny without any of the diety-forsaken music. Give me “Dick to the Dawk” any day!
AL says
I wish they wouldn’t phrase Ockham’s Razor as “the simplest explanation is best, all other things equal.” But I guess the reference to Carl Sagan’s Contact indicates they got it from there, and that’s how Ockham’s Razor was presented in the movie Contact.
Cool vid though.
Joe Bob says
My kinda music! Love those primes…
UofTguy says
this is awesome! thx PZ
Kyle says
I scrolled by that a few times without watching it; finally did and it was worth it. Good stuff!
Cthulhu says
The lead singer is Chris Hardwick
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0362534/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Hardwick
Kenneth Mareld says
After 4 hours at the 47th Legislative District caucus (your home town PZ) I needed something that profane and funny. I come to Pharyngula and there it is. Great fun and thank you. The caucus was fun too, but a bit grueling. I was an alternate delegate for Obama. The results matched the precinct caucuses from February. 2/3rds for Obama, 1/3rd for Clinton. The shouts, hoots, and hollers were about 4/5ths vs 1/5th.
Denis Loubet says
Now THAT’S framing! With that kind of attitude, you might actually be able to reach the ignorant masses and sneak in what science is actually about. Science with attitude.
It’s kind of like Mythbusters, which is an excellent example of the positive framing of skepticism where the skeptical-vs-credulist viewpoint is treated as a cage-match. One that reality always wins.
It’s time to lose the white labcoat shit and get right in their fucking faces.
Wilder says
No one ever actually quotes Ockham though…
I suppose, “Numquam ponenda est pluralitas sine necessitate” would be difficult to make rhyme in a country song.
Engineer-Poet says
Not as many belly laughs as “Beware the Believer”, but DAMN that was good.
falterer says
“2-3-5-7”? Lame. Gimme “2-3-5-8” ‘cos Fibonacci’s got loads more rhythm than prime numbers.
Dark Matter says
Dr. Myers-
You sound like the kind of guy that would like
Willie Nelson-
May I suggest the “Moment of Forever” CD by Nelson-
The song “Gravedigger” is pretty good.
You may want to check if it’s available on iTunes…
Sophie Hirschfeld says
That was the best country song ever …
This is awesome!
themadlolscientist says
=HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA= [gasp] =ROFL= gimme some =MAO= oxygen!!!!!
Gayla Gobbo says
I knw ths s rlly brng nd y r skppng t th nxt cmmnt, bt I jst wntd t thrw y bg thnks – y clrd p sm thngs fr m!