Comments on: The Next Man On The Moon Will Be Chinese!

The Next Man On The Moon Will Be Chinese!

jtajta — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:17:33 -0800

Inspired by the staccato brilliance of political bitch-fest The McLaughlin Group, rocker Andrew W.K. has composed a song (direct mp3) based on a particularly scattered exchange. Here he is explaining the process on the public radio show "Fair Game." The song has already sponsored a video tribute.

Transcript of the original exchange (you can hear it played in the radio segment): MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Question: Does Romney's endorsement seal the deal? Is McCain now the inevitable Republican nominee? I ask you, Pat. MR. BUCHANAN: John, absent celestial intervention, I think he's going to get the nomination. MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Absent what? MR. BUCHANAN: Celestial intervention. MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Well, it happens, Pat. May he rest in peace, Paul Wellstone. John Heinz was killed in an airplane crash. MR. BUCHANAN: Well, let's not speculate on it. MR. MCLAUGHLIN: Death comes in the night on cats' paws, Pat. You never know. MR. BUCHANAN: On little cats' feet. That's the fog, John, that comes in on little cats' feet. Mr. MCLAUGHLIN: I changed it to cat - Sandberg be damned. And the lyrics to Andrew's song: If it happens, Pat... If it happens, Pat... If it happens, Pat, may he rest in peace Death comes in the night on little cats' feet! If it happens, Pat, may he rest in peace Death comes in the night on little cats' feet! on little cats' feet, on little cats' feet! on little cats' feet, on little cats' feet! The next man on the moon will be Chinese! The next man on the moon will be Chinese! The next man on the moon will be Chinese! The next man on the moon will be Chinese!

By: krautland

krautland — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:20:53 -0800

I love that show. just wished they would actually update the podcast feed. don't miss lawrence o'donnell going off on romney

By: Smart Dalek

Smart Dalek — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 12:38:28 -0800

THAT'S HARDLY SNARKY I THOUGHT THERE'D BE A PARTY THAT'S REALLY REALLY SORRY TRY AGAIN TOMMORRY QUOTING PBS? THAT'S SUCH A BORING MESS THOUGH IT WOULD'VE BEEN MORE FINE WITH ELMO OR FRONTLINE ROMPER-STOMPER TELEPROMPTER ROMPER-STOMPER TELEPROMPTER ROMPER-STOMPER TELEPROMPTER ROMPER-STOMPER TELEPROMPTER IT MUST BE PLEDGE WEEK

By: sciurus

sciurus — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:13:20 -0800

Here's the Sandberg poem they're referencing.

By: ignignokt

ignignokt — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:20:36 -0800

Awesome. It makes me think of Buchanan and MacLaughlin kicking really high and spazzing out.

By: Sys Rq

Sys Rq — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:26:54 -0800

I changed it to cat No, he changed it to death paws. Poetry Pedantry Point for Pat.

By: Wolfdog

Wolfdog — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:29:11 -0800

So, is there a mirror? Or do I have to make stock Andrew WK jokes without HingTFS first?

By: equalpants

equalpants — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:30:42 -0800

Fuck yeah, that's awesome. Also, Andrew W.K. should get together with Corn Mo. They would make one hell of a team.

By: Wolfdog

Wolfdog — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:39:30 -0800

Ah. It's coming through. There's I, IV, and V, but no (VI)m. So more one of his straight-ahead rockers than one of his wild progressive fantasias. (I fully approve of it, make no mistake. I'd sell my tail - er? - to write shit that catchy.)

By: MeatLightning

MeatLightning — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:44:04 -0800

Never been a fan of Andrew W.K... he's ok as far as joke rock goes I guess... but that's not saying much IMHO. BUT Boy howdy do I love the McLaughlin Group! It's like dinner at my parent's house but without the food. I hope this sparks some kind of ironic hipster feeding frenzy. I can see the t-shirts already... BYE BYE! P.S. I can't imagine this song being funny to anyone unfamiliar with the TV show?

By: Wolfdog

Wolfdog — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:46:11 -0800

P.S. I can't imagine this song being funny to anyone unfamiliar with the TV show? I am not familiar with the TV show, but "death comes in the night like little cats' feet" over thumping guitars is intrinsically delightful.

By: Skorgu

Skorgu — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:56:40 -0800

Catchy little earworm innit.

By: TheWhiteSkull

TheWhiteSkull — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 13:59:58 -0800

I have mixed feelings about Andrew W.K.- normally I can't deal with the whole hyper "everyone must party all of the time" persona he puts on (it's sort of like being trapped in a room with a bunch of Australians). However, every once in a while, I'll catch a flash of brilliance from him in an interview or some other situation. This is an excellent example. Somehow he has managed to treat Buchanan and McLaughlin's asinine exchange with exactly the level of seriousness it deserves. In fact, I think the song pretty much sums up how I feel about the entire genre of noisy, pundity talk shows that (in my opinion) serve primarily as the political equivalent of anti-radar chaff. And this is in the same week that I got to see Tim Russert sit there and nod approvingly while Terry McAuliffe put forward the ridiculous proposition that Hilary should get the nomination because her states were the "more important" ones. The next man on the moon will be Chinese, indeed.

By: 23skidoo

23skidoo — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:01:25 -0800

Dear god, that video made me into a 9-year-old girl with epilepsy.

By: Wolfdog

Wolfdog — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:06:45 -0800

You know, I like complex stuff. I just like complexity. Intricate systems and nested loops and grand overarching patterns. I love baroque music and will pick it apart every way I can think of, and the same goes for grand classical architectural designs, the precision-engineered chaos of a Lutoslawski symphony, the exquisite contortions and contrivances of serialism, prog-rock extravaganzas, you name it. But what really and truly awes me, because I have no way to even approach understanding it, is a flawless Andrew WK song, or Girls Aloud, or what have you. They're irreducible. They're their own and sole justification. It's perverse to think of them as formulaic, but it makes you feel better. Oh, I see I've said essentially the same thing earlier. Well, whatever, I imagine it will never cease to be a fascination.

By: Partial Law

Partial Law — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 14:36:31 -0800

The lawyers and law students among you may be interested to learn that Andrew W.K.'s father is Prof. James E. Krier, who may have written your Property casebook.

By: NortonDC

NortonDC — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:10:39 -0800

I knew somebody that worked on that show. She would get a few drinks in her and threaten to get Chomsky booked just to screw with 'em, even though she had some grudging respect/sympathy for the clearly aging McLaughlin. The story about Secretary is only for meetups, though.

By: Sticherbeast

Sticherbeast — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 22:36:52 -0800

Andrew WK was (is?) in the live band for Current 93. It's a glorious combination of religious visions. Also, he's awesome. I relented at first, but eventually I gave in.

By: GrammarMoses

GrammarMoses — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 05:44:50 -0800

There's another video for the song here, featuring amusing cartoon versions of Faith Salie, Andrew, John McL, Pat, the Grim Reaper and an astronaut of undetermined nationality.

By: Sys Rq

Sys Rq — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:10:14 -0800

Also, he's awesome. I relented at first, but eventually I gave in. Yes. YES. Exactly. Andrew WK, on the surface, is a greasy dumb-ass, and his music is reminiscent of various theme songs of 1980's children's cartoons. But you know what? I'm pretty sure he's the most intelligent and savvy musician I've ever seen interviewed. And he's fun.