Jajaja, como me reí con esta canción.

[Via: Geek]

Do you remember Ally McBeal and the whole thing about theme songs? Recently I came across this song, White & Nerdy  (click here, I couldn't get video to load on blog) by Weird Al Yankovic, and bestowed it on DA for his very own personal theme song. Pretty much whenever I see him this song starts playing in my head, and I want to dance.

If you're wondering how I picked this for DA's theme song, let the evidence below persuade you:

1. He's a Physicist - he knows all about Pi

2. He didn't play D&D, but he still plays his old Atari 2600

3. He can quote Monty Python And The Holy Grail and have me ROTFLOL (I must admit, I like it too)

4. He has a soldering gun; he used it to fix his Atari 2600 (I'm not kidding)

5. He still likes to play chess

6. He likes to pop bubble wrap - "pop-pop"

7. He says the equation behind Weird Al is - "the time-independent Schrodinger Equation with a Coulombic potential." But I knew that already - didn't you?

You've seen the video. Now take this quiz!  I know you're dying to know - How White & Nerdy are you? Post your results under comments :)

I'm 26% White & Nerdy!

DA is 50% White & Nerdy, but I'm convinced he's really more.

Luckily, when I returned from my intercontinental "vacation" to a world where MP3's were the norm and burning CDs was fast, easy, and much less time intensive than tapes, I had siblings to show me how it all worked.  I guess where I'm going with this it that those good old days of tapes were good.  I don't want to go back, but they were fun at the time.

So, back to Weird Al.  Once, on a trip home from Salt lake with my mom and her mom, I asked (ever so politely I'm sure) if we could listen to Weird Al (I guess I carried tapes with me everywhere or something.)  Mom politely refused the offer.  I impolitely took it upon myself to entertain myself in the back seat and decided to sing the Weird Al songs the whole way home.  I'm lucky they didn't just abandon me somewhere to make my way in the world far out of ear shot.

So, when I came across this video the other day, I thought it was awesome.  Some sort of stop motion project like this would be VERY cool (if time consuming) to attempt some day.

For anyone interested, you can see the original music video (with Donny Osmond cameo!) here.

Liz: My dear! Are you ready to rummmmmble? The question is -- has white boys rapping in online videos hit a saturation point? I mean, good things have definitely come of the genre...

Jill: ...but you sort of get that comedy fine line between time-tested trope and cliché. I am sort of reluctantly in favor, though. The sophisticate in me says find a new format already, but then there's always some new thing that pops up and amuses me despite my better judgment.

Liz: But does it amuse you because it's actually something fresh and new, or because it's playing on old tropes?

Jill: I think the white boys rapping field is actually split into two camps: There are the ones whose comedy is solely derived from the juxtaposition of white boy and rap, and then there are those who are genuinely using the rap as a way to exercise their creativity, much as any other rapper would do.

I mean, if you're just some white guy wearing a chain and saying "yea' boyeee," then I would agree that you are just basically comedy lameness. But for the latter camp, the white-boy-rapping convention is just a springboard.

Liz: Do you have any examples of the latter?

Jill: Well, you know I'm fond of Mean Kitty, and that's really about the content and the clever rhymes and the cute cat, and not so much about the comedy of white-boy-trying-to-be-gangsta.

Liz: But are Mr. Safety and his ilk really free of that burden? No matter how clever your lyrics are, you're still treading in someone else's garden. And why are there so many white boys rapping online, while in the world of actual rap the only ones of note are Eminem and Vanilla Ice?

Jill: I think the world of rap is still pretty closed to white rappers, which is probably one of the reasons recreational comedy rapping is rampant among white boys. They can't play legitimately, so they kind of mess around in the kiddie pool.

Liz: "The kiddie pool" is an interesting way of putting this, because you're right, these shorts aren't getting Diddy on the phone with an offer of a record contract.

I think I'm just really really tired of the use of the juxtaposition. "Oh, rap is the coolest, most hardcore thing you can do. So it'll be funny if I rap about my cat." I don't deny that it can be executed well. In fact, some of my favorite comedy shorts have a rap element. I just think that the Internet can only take so much before it just flat-out explodes.

Jill: Well, I think online comedy video, by its very nature, trends toward oversaturation of genres/tropes/etcetera. There's always kind of too much of everything, frankly. And then your bar for enjoyment gets set higher and higher.

Liz: Does it? These days, when I watch the latest WBR video, I feel the same way I feel when I watch a silly Jason Statham movie: embarrassed by how easily I'm pleased.

Jill: I guess I'd feel a lot more comfortable telling the white comedy rappers to eff off if I could point to a fresh and innovative new wave of comedy and say, "Go do that."

Liz: But in the same way that reality TV is crowding out fresh and interesting new programming, I worry that the easy joke of WBR is suckering even comedy powerhouses like College Humor out of creating that innovative new stuff.

Jill: I think people see a lot of stuff that's out there and think, "I can do that, as well or better." Sometimes they're right, and sometimes they're wrong, but because it's now so easy to shoot something and put something up, there are a lot more of people wanting to jump in. Which is not a bad thing, it just means there's a LOT out there that is just sort of "pretty competent," and you need to sift to find the extraordinary.

Liz: So let's make a decision. If we cannot stop white boys from rapping, perhaps we can curtail what they are allowed to rap about?

Jill: This falls into the whole queen-of-the-world decree-making scenario, of which I am always a fan. What would you outlaw as subjects?

Liz: Well, we probably can't say "the entire Internet," but after Facebook Gangsta, I am prepared to say that social networking sites are done.

Jill: Fair. I can agree to that.

Liz: What else?

Jill: I would say anything that is pure gangsta, with no new content, just for the sake of a white person being nasty. AKA anything from Bo Burnam to Natalie Portman. They are amusing but played out.

Liz: Yes, though I do have this perverse fondness for Bo Burnam.

Jill: As I have for the Natalie Portman rap.

Liz: Part of me really wants to make an exception to any rapper who accompanies himself on a Casio keyboard.

Jill: Hah. Also, you have to actually rap well. Just rapping for the sake of being Caucasian-ly incompetent, á la Screech on Saved by the Bell, is ooooollllllddd. As proven by my very example.

I'm trying to think of anything else that should be forbidden rap material... Anything about being white?

Liz: That's a good call.

Jill: White and Nerdy being the exception, obviously, as Weird Al gets to do what he wants.

Liz: What about romance?

Jill: I liked when Daryl "Chill" Mitchell rapped the Shakespearean sonnet in Ten Things I Hate About You, but that's all that I can think of.

Liz: Well, Daryl "Chill" Mitchell is black. Black people are allowed to rap whenevers.

Jill: I'm sure they'll be glad to hear that.

Liz: I figure that after 400 years of racial oppression, it's the least I can do.

Jill: You're a sport.

Liz: Hey, they invented rapping, and they did a damn good job of it too.

Jill: True dat.

"She probably wants it."
And seriously? That's your line? My parents have kitchenware with "What's cooking Good Looking on it?" Lame. But that was the 80s.

I love Meatballs!

Goodbye, hiphop dudes in porkpie hats. This my new isht.

5. "Thriller", Michael Jackson. This was one of my favorite music videos as a kid (and one of my favorite albums, too). Some would consider this THE classic and put it at No. 1, but for me it's just a bit too dated for that. It's not as timeless as my other four top picks. But it's still a great video despite it's eight-minute length. How did they get away with that?

4. "Sledgehammer", Peter Gabriel. You may wonder how this one tops "Thriller", which I just called "dated" above. "Sledgehammer" does indeed look dated, too, with its '80s-era stop-motion animation. But this video was one of the first ones I ever saw, and it still makes me smile every time I see it. It's a funny song and a hilarious video. I vaguely remembering that it won video of the year back in 1986, but for me it's No. 4 of all time.

3. "Survivalism", Nine Inch Nails. Yes, another NIN video. Why? Because they are awesome. Every single one. But "Survivalism" marks not only the return to form for NIN in general, but also one of the best stories ever told in music video form. And the cinematography, filming the security camera monitors of apartments and hallways in an apartment building? Get outta here. It's fan-freaking-tastic. And the ending? A political knockout. A dramatic re-imaging of Big Brother of 1984 fame, updated for the post-9/11 age.

2. "Hurt," Johnny Cash. It's another Nine Inch Nails song, but this time it's being covered by someone else. And not just anyone -- Johnny Cash. ZOMG! I don't know where even to begin with this music video. It's the most moving music video I have ever seen. Johnny Cash took one of my favorite NIN songs and injected it with more realism, more pain, more suffering, more agony than I ever could have imagined. And the video is just as lonely, just as agonizing. The fact that Cash looks near death (it is believed that this video was meant to be his epitaph) certainly adds to the haunting effect of the video. And images and videos of Cash's past drive home that this song seems to have been written about Cash's troubled life. Wow. I mean, Wow.

1. "White and Nerdy," Weird Al. Before you get upset and start sending me hate mail, hear me out on this one. Let's get the easy ones out of the way first: Weird Al, like him or not, is an incredible musician (and I'm not just talking about his spot-on parodies of popular songs). His videos are always hilarious, and this one is no exception. What puts this one over the top compared to any other video I have seen is the attention to detail. From lyrics (my favorite: "Happy Days is my favorite theme song / I can sure kick your butt in a game of Ping Pong / I'll ace any trivia quiz you bring on / I'm fluent in JavaScript as well as Klingon") to the images of Donny Osmond dancing spastically behind Weird Al dressed as a gangsta to an incredibly brief cameo of Seth Green (of Robot Chicken fame) showing off his action figure collection before smacking his ass, it's easy to see why this is the funniest video EVER. It mentions all of the nerd stereotypes -- Star Trek, Star Wars, PASCAL, fanny packs, Renaissance Faires -- and even some I wasn't aware of -- nerds love mayonaise and get freaky at night with bubble wrap. Throwing in the "real" gangstas, who are both appalled and annoyed by Weird Al's wannabe gangsta attitude is just the icing on the cake. And did I mention that Weird Al directed the video, too? Awesome. How much do I love this video? It's the only one that I have ever purchased; I bought it soon after seeing it the first time. Two bucks was a steal for a video that I watch monthly. It's just that damn good.

And since this is my No. 1 music video ever here's another version done completely in stop-motion animation with LEGOs. Genius.

EV = our expected value
f = probability our opponent folds to our bet
p = current pot (before our bet)

Note: I’m completely ignoring any further play
EV = (fold equity) + (SD equity given call)
EV = f*p + (1-f)*(SD equity)
EV = f*(p - (SD equity)) + (SD equity)
We of course want EV > 0, so
f*(p - (SD equity)) + (SD equity) > 0
f > -(SD equity)/(p - (SD equity))

To make this equation complete, let
w = probability of winning at showdown when called
b = our bet
then,

These equations make sense because:

1. When we have 0% chance to win if called, our showdown equity is –b, so we have:
   f > b/(b+p)
2. On the other hand, when we have a lock (100% chance to win), our equity is p+b (the pot plus opponent’s call), so we have:
   f > (p+b)/(p+b-p) = (p+b)/b, which means we never want the villain to fold
3. This also tells us that the result "f > 1" lies somewhere between 0% and 100% to win. This is obviously because of pot odds, since we win (p+b), but lose only b, we don't actually need a lock to want the villain to call every time (ex: when you have straight vs set, you never want opponent to fold, even though a set will suck out quite often)

Case in point our number seven entry to the Great List,

7. Weird Al Yankovic's "White and Nerdy".

Sure, I could go on about "Amish Paradise" or "Like A Surgeon" and I probably will someday.  But, for now, I just want to hone in on Weird's latest masterpiece.  I mean, there's enough to blather on about really with just the one song parody.  It's so genius on so many levels.  For those of you not street enough to know, "White and Nerdy" is a rip on Chamillionaire's "Ridin'"

One of the things that make Weird Al's parodies so successful is how closely he follows

song structure and style.  Chamillionaire has gone on record to say that he's a fan of the homage and that actually, he was duly impressed by Weird's rapping ability.  Parody isn't easy.  It can come off looking that way when it's so well done--but when it's not, it sounds cheap and talentless.  Neither tool nor ornament if you will.  Al, as it happens is a gifted musician AND a clever parrot.

His parodies are funny enough to just listen to, really-- but the videos often make it twice as funny.  It's important, though, that you are at least vaguely familiar with the song that he's taking on.  So, here's Chamillionaire's video for "Ridin'".  Don't feel you have to sit through the whole thing...the first minute and a half should be enough to educate you on the song and the tone of the video.

Before I unveil the mastery that is Weird Al Yankovic's "White and Nerdy", here are a few things to look out for:

--Donny Osmond's outstanding supporting performance as a backup dancer

--Blink and you'll miss it appearance by Seth Green (obviously a fan)

--Judy Tenuta! Sweet lord almighty!  Some screen time for Judy Tenuta!

--homage to YouTube sensation "Star Wars Kid".

I love this song for simultaneously making fun of and promoting nerdism.  I am at least half the things in this song (less the references to super-intelligence and more the references to collecting comic books).  But, I'm giving it all away!  Just watch the darn thing already.

Bet you want to know who the top 8 friends are.  They are:  Bill Gates, Napolean Dynamite, Mr. Peabody, Albert Einstein, Screech, Frodo, Pee Wee Herman, and (best of all) Tom.

Obrigado White and Nerdy Eitch pela dica. Deixo vocês com o melhor clip de hip-hop, rap ou seja lá o que for desde Marky Mark.

this afternoon i was reminded of a promise i made on tuesday evening to update my blog daily. no excuses. blog challenge 2008. (once a nerd, always a nerd)

• Expensive cars? Check!
• Numerous objectified females in estrous shaking their junk? Check!
• A singer who's waving his arms around like he's about to punch you in the mouth? Check!

Oh well, I guess it's like the Fuzzy Haired One says: I'm just too white and nerdy.

By the way, if you have to have women and fast cars in your video, at least have the common decency to do it right... like Kanye West in Can't Tell Me Nothing.

And no, I have no idea what a woman doing the Dance of the Seven Veils in front of a wind machine and a Lamborghini cutting donuts down on the dry lake bed have to do with this song. But at least it looks cool.

POSTSCRIPT: Oh, and here's a bemusing little take on Gasolina. Imagine Yoda singing reggaeton from inside the body of a blinged-out turtle and...

Yeah, just watch.

THE COOLEST NEWS EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's right, the two funniest things in the planet are getting together to kill you all on Tuesday February 5. Weird Al Yankovic and Mystery Science Theater 3000. Or more specifically, Weird Al and Mike Nelson with Rifftrax.

Update: They just posted this clip.

Update II: I saw it! Read my review HERE.

It was announced yesterday that Jurassic Park was the latest Rifftrax. When it came out that Weird Al was going to the the guest riffer, I died. It's true. I am the living dead typing this right now, so I need to finish this article before my fingers start falling off.

He wrote a song about it. Uh, Jurassic Park that is. It's been stuck in my head all day.

I know that so far I have not expressed to you how freaking awesome Weird AL is. So let me express it now. He rules the universe. Metaphorically speaking, of course. I don't belong to Weird Al Dianetics or anything. You know, The Church of White and Nerdy.

I first heard of Weird Al while listening to Doctor Demento as a kid. He got his start there. His songs were regularly in the top ten every week.

When he started putting out albums, I started buying them. I didn't have much money then, so I had to be selective, but I had the food album and I got Alapalooza on DVD. It was the album with the Jurassic Park parody. I listened to that album so many times that I had the songs memorized.

Last year I got quite a surprise when it was announced Weird AL was coming to Idaho falls. I immediately bought tickets and my brother came up from Salt Lake City to go to the concert with me. It was held at the Civic Auditorium. It's a strange building in that it is an auditorium attatched to the side of a high school. The city rents the building to the high school for use in assemblies and things.

I didn't know what to expect out of the concert. I had never thought of Weird Al as a live performance type of guy, but the show was brilliant. He had his full band. The Show was well produced, with lazers, smoke effects, and everything.

He did most of the songs off his new album and some of his old stuff. He changed costume maybe twenty times during the show, He came out in the fat suit from his music video for Fat. He had his Jedi costume on for The Saga Begins. It was really cool. Let me tell you as well, the guy has energy. With all the jumping and dancing and running around he did, it was amazing that he could still sing at all.

While we were there Weird Al stated that it was his 1000th show. He said that when they were planning the tour, he reminded his manager that the 1000th show was coming up. He said, "I can't promise anything, but I might be able to get you in a high school auditorium in Idaho." Weird Al was like, "That's perfect!"

I left the concert with a new appreciation for the guy. If only he had done my favorite song from the new album:

When the Rifftrax guys asked who the fans would like to see as a guest riffer, Weird Al was my first choice. I don't know how many other fans picked him, but February 5th cannot get here fast enough.

So go out and support this Rifftrax project. Buy, borrow, or rent Jurassic Park and buy the Rifftrax. I hope that this is so successful they do it again.

I'll leave you with some of my favorite Weird Al videos.

Gump: He can really kick his leg over his head like that. I saw him do it live at the concert.

The Drive Thru. Just about the funniest thing he has done.

Here is a more rare one. This is the life from Johny Dangerously:

The Saga Begins At the live concert, he and the band were dressed as Star Wars Characters. He had a bunch of stormtroopers, Darth Vadern and Darth Maul come out on stage during the song as well.

All About The Pentiums. He did this one live too wearing that same outfit.

Weasel Stomping Day. Video by Robot Chicken

And last but not least, here is a song that Weird Al recorded for his last album that the label (Atlantic Records) would not let him use after James Blunt had given him permission.

You're Pitiful

The White and Nerdy All Donny Osmond version

The party was a lot of fun - very casual, nothing formal.  We prayed the New Year in, and we are looking forward to what God is going to do in 2008.

Of course, Nerd Wisdom is a full-service blog, so you'll also want to check out the detailed Wikipedia entry on "White & Nerdy", the White & Nerdy lyrics, and here's the fascinating "Making of White & Nerdy" video: