Comments on: The Elements Song (Tom Lehrer tune), Super Cute Japanese Version http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 16:22:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: secretagentmoof http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906763 secretagentmoof Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906763 @19: Japanese does have native words for a few elements ('suzu' for tin), but its chemical engineering nomenclature mostly comes from German - e.g. kalium for potassium, naturium for sodium. On the other hand, they use 'tungsten' instead of 'wolfram'. @19: Japanese does have native words for a few elements (‘suzu’ for tin), but its chemical engineering nomenclature mostly comes from German – e.g. kalium for potassium, naturium for sodium. On the other hand, they use ‘tungsten’ instead of ‘wolfram’.

]]> By: minamisan http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-907039 minamisan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-907039 Anything with the words 'super cute' and 'Japanese' is usually enough to make me run away screaming, but that song wasn't bad. I must be getting soft. Anything with the words ‘super cute’ and ‘Japanese’ is usually enough to make me run away screaming, but that song wasn’t bad. I must be getting soft.

]]> By: sic transit gloria C.F.A. http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-909107 sic transit gloria C.F.A. Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-909107 #28 - no longer true? It will <b>always</b> be true. Funny how An got so much of the Eur- genes and Je got so much of the -Asian. #28 – no longer true? It will always be true.

Funny how An got so much of the Eur- genes and Je got so much of the -Asian.

]]> By: AlphaLackey http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906822 AlphaLackey Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906822 You're cousins with Thomas Howard Lichtenstein? That's awesome! I played many of the early Guitar Freaks / Drummania games (illegally imported into a couple select arcades, but shhhh, don't tell anyone) and some of my favorite songs were ones he composed and sang in. Primal Soul, Depend on Me, Stop Spinning Me In Circles being my favorites. Glad to see he's still hard at work doing what he loves. On my behalf, please give him a high-five from an overseas fanboy! You’re cousins with Thomas Howard Lichtenstein? That’s awesome! I played many of the early Guitar Freaks / Drummania games (illegally imported into a couple select arcades, but shhhh, don’t tell anyone) and some of my favorite songs were ones he composed and sang in. Primal Soul, Depend on Me, Stop Spinning Me In Circles being my favorites. Glad to see he’s still hard at work doing what he loves. On my behalf, please give him a high-five from an overseas fanboy!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906603 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906603 I'm going to sneak this onto my boyfriend's phone and make it his ringtone. I’m going to sneak this onto my boyfriend’s phone and make it his ringtone.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906605 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906605 Cool. I volunteer this from Taiwan with Ry Cooder http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJO9yLoQx-E Cool. I volunteer this from Taiwan with Ry Cooder http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJO9yLoQx-E

]]> By: caipirina http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906609 caipirina Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906609 Nothing beats starting the day with a big fat smile on my face! And I learned what autotune is (always wondered about Cher and T-Pain, just never knew what it was called) For twins, they look like An got papa's genes and Je got all of mama's ... Nothing beats starting the day with a big fat smile on my face!

And I learned what autotune is (always wondered about Cher and T-Pain, just never knew what it was called)

For twins, they look like An got papa’s genes and Je got all of mama’s …

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906635 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906635 does anyone has a link to an mp3 version? i have gotten a reputation at work for annoying ring tones and this might just be the one. also, it would make a perfect alarm clock sound with the introduction part and all.... (talking about big smile day starts) any suggestions, please? does anyone has a link to an mp3 version?
i have gotten a reputation at work for annoying ring tones and this might just be the one.
also, it would make a perfect alarm clock sound with the introduction part and all…. (talking about big smile day starts)
any suggestions, please?

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-907148 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-907148 Link to MP3 offered for sale by the composer/the performers' dad http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/thlfeatangelinaandjennif Link to MP3 offered for sale by the composer/the performers’ dad

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/thlfeatangelinaandjennif

]]> By: kib http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906386 kib Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906386 I just played TL's original for my J'se wife last month and we were trying to figure out some of the element names in her language. Can't wait to show this to her! "twin 13-year-old, half-Japanese first cousins once removed" Whaaa~? I just played TL’s original for my J’se wife last month and we were trying to figure out some of the element names in her language. Can’t wait to show this to her!

“twin 13-year-old, half-Japanese first cousins once removed”

Whaaa~?

]]> By: Niklas http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906393 Niklas Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906393 The girls are twins, they are first cousins once removed from the the person writing the text. Catchy tune! The girls are twins, they are first cousins once removed from the the person writing the text.

Catchy tune!

]]> By: Dave Faris http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906398 Dave Faris Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906398 Pretty sure it's autotuned, isn't it? Pretty sure it’s autotuned, isn’t it?

]]> By: Sekino http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906405 Sekino Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906405 I'm glad he didn't go with pop idols. These kids did a wonderful job! I’m glad he didn’t go with pop idols. These kids did a wonderful job!

]]> By: Lula http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906406 Lula Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906406 They do sound totally autotuned but I love it. It adds to the entire surreal experience. In fact, I'd be disappointed if the heads floating in the black void <i>weren't</i> autotuned. They do sound totally autotuned but I love it. It adds to the entire surreal experience. In fact, I’d be disappointed if the heads floating in the black void weren’t autotuned.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906415 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906415 For those who don't recognise the tune, Lehrer quite happily acknowledges that he stole it from Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Model Major General". Always steal from the best. And the girls are perfect: I feel like I almost understand Japanese. Leonard For those who don’t recognise the tune, Lehrer quite happily acknowledges that he stole it from Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Model Major General”.

Always steal from the best.

And the girls are perfect: I feel like I almost understand Japanese.

Leonard

]]> By: Gag Halfrunt http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906930 Gag Halfrunt Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906930 In case you thought Thomas Howard Lichtenstein was Xeni's cousin, he isn't. He's Theodore Gray's cousin. In case you thought Thomas Howard Lichtenstein was Xeni’s cousin, he isn’t. He’s Theodore Gray’s cousin.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906422 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906422 "So there you have it, my contribution to increasing the world's supply of WTF" This is absolutely my favorite quote of the week. Thanks, Xeni. “So there you have it, my contribution to increasing the world’s supply of WTF”

This is absolutely my favorite quote of the week. Thanks, Xeni.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906423 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906423 confess xeni - thats just you reading "die antwoort" lyrics played backwards on autotune. confess xeni – thats just you reading “die antwoort” lyrics played backwards on autotune.

]]> By: Scarecrow Repair http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906427 Scarecrow Repair Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906427 I kept on waiting for the big gasps for air at the end of each verse. Doesn't seem quite the same without them. I kept on waiting for the big gasps for air at the end of each verse. Doesn’t seem quite the same without them.

]]> By: anansi133 http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906429 anansi133 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906429 That's just pickled! I'd love to know how they translated that last verse. We'd recognize 'Harvard', if it were in there, wouldn't we? That’s just pickled!

I’d love to know how they translated that last verse. We’d recognize ‘Harvard’, if it were in there, wouldn’t we?

]]> By: renniweg http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906441 renniweg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906441 Roughly: These are all the elements that have been discovered until now. No mention of Harvard... Roughly: These are all the elements that have been discovered until now.

No mention of Harvard…

]]> By: caipirina http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906699 caipirina Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906699 dear Anon #17 .. if only you had left some means of contact ... the mp3 is on my iPod :) dear Anon #17 .. if only you had left some means of contact … the mp3 is on my iPod :)

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906702 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906702 I noticed that Japanese don't have its own word for sodium. I noticed that Japanese don’t have its own word for sodium.

]]> By: gwailo_joe http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906449 gwailo_joe Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906449 I like the Polonium icon. . .I'd wear a ring like that for special occasions. This song is happy and educational. . .Also being a lounge singer in Osaka sounds really cool: but for 20 years?! That's quite a lifestyle choice. . .gets respect from me! I like the Polonium icon. . .I’d wear a ring like that for special occasions.

This song is happy and educational. . .Also being a lounge singer in Osaka sounds really cool: but for 20 years?! That’s quite a lifestyle choice. . .gets respect from me!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906715 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906715 @caipirina/no.18 - i figured out a way to get mp3 off youtube (including the option "insane quality"), did some cutting in audacity and voila it was on my nokia :) received two calls and 6 strange looks already. success!!!! but domo-arigato for the offer :) @caipirina/no.18 – i figured out a way to get mp3 off youtube (including the option “insane quality”), did some cutting in audacity and voila it was on my nokia :) received two calls and 6 strange looks already.
success!!!!

but domo-arigato for the offer :)

]]> By: rimstalker http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906720 rimstalker Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906720 about the mp3: There is sites like this one: http://www.video2mp3.net/ Haven't tried it, though. about the mp3: There is sites like this one: http://www.video2mp3.net/

Haven’t tried it, though.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906722 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906722 I like the fact that they've updated it with some of the newer elements I like the fact that they’ve updated it with some of the newer elements

]]> By: KanedaJones http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-906481 KanedaJones Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-906481 its autotuned like it was originally ment to be used.. where some people miss it and think it is natural. I think she still sounds like nails on chalkboard because of it though. I still have burned into my brain the horrid but catchy ending credits to the educational tear jerker anime Element Hunters - I think they are comparable http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMf6fcPsLto its autotuned like it was originally ment to be used.. where some people miss it and think it is natural. I think she still sounds like nails on chalkboard because of it though.

I still have burned into my brain the horrid but catchy ending credits to the educational tear jerker anime Element Hunters – I think they are comparable http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMf6fcPsLto

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-907259 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-907259 Am I right in thinking there are actually more elements mentioned in this version than in the original? TL's exit line "There may be many others but they haven't been disCAAAVAAAD" is no longer true - has the song been updated? Am I right in thinking there are actually more elements mentioned in this version than in the original? TL’s exit line “There may be many others but they haven’t been disCAAAVAAAD” is no longer true – has the song been updated?

]]> By: kjhart0133 http://boingboing.net/2010/10/08/the-elements-tom-leh.html#comment-907772 kjhart0133 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-907772 Though the tune behind this ditty is usually attributed to Tom Lehrer, who first performed The Elements back in the sixties, I think some credit should be given to original source of the tune, which is the song "The Modern Major General" from the musical "Pirates of Penzance." Though the tune behind this ditty is usually attributed to Tom Lehrer, who first performed The Elements back in the sixties, I think some credit should be given to original source of the tune, which is the song “The Modern Major General” from the musical “Pirates of Penzance.”

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