083 - There's No Rock and Roll on Mars

TL;DR

Episode 083 of Dear Hank and John champions Alvin and the Chipmunks’ “There’s No Rock and Roll on Mars” as an underappreciated song that deserves hit status. After receiving a vinyl LP at NerdCon: Nerdfighteria, Hank and John discuss the song, a Mars-themed Chipmunks coloring-book illustration, their NerdCon experience, and giving up the social internet for Lent. Read on for their reasoning, observations, and dubious advice.

Transcript

egg that is not the usual thievery zip - dear Hank and John do you know what you just heard it was chipmunks right now Hank you are listening to the dulcet tones of the Chipmunks singing their hit song there's no rock and roll on Mars so while we were at nerdcon nerdfighteria we met up with John Harrison a nerdfighter who we've known for a while no... Read More

Key Insights

• 💩 The podcast episode discusses the cultural significance of turning the Chipmunks' song into a hit.
• 😑 Hank and John reflect on their experience at Nerdcon and express excitement for upcoming events.
• ❓ The conversation touches on Lent and the decision to give up the social internet.
• 🇧🇩 The expansion of the universe and the Big Bang theory are briefly mentioned, highlighting the challenges of understanding these concepts.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is “There’s No Rock and Roll on Mars” in Dear Hank and John episode 083?

It is an Alvin and the Chipmunks song included on a vinyl LP of songs from their television program. Hank and John present it as one of the greatest Chipmunks songs and jokingly set out to give it the recognition they believe it deserves.

Q: Why do Hank and John want to make “There’s No Rock and Roll on Mars” a hit?

They say the song has not yet been culturally acknowledged as one of the greatest Chipmunks songs. They jokingly describe the podcast’s mission as turning it into the hit it deserves to be and giving the Chipmunks proper credibility.

Q: Who gave Hank the Alvin and the Chipmunks vinyl LP?

John Harrison, a Nerdfighter whom Hank and John had known for a while, gave Hank the LP. They met up with him at NerdCon: Nerdfighteria, and John also thanks him for his friendship.

Q: What happens in the Chipmunks coloring-book illustration discussed in the episode?

Alvin, Simon, and Theodore are shown playing soccer on Mars while singing “There’s No Rock and Roll on Mars.” John questions the accuracy of the large moon depicted in the Martian sky, though he observes that the Chipmunks appear to be having a good time.

Q: What are the lyrics quoted from “There’s No Rock and Roll on Mars” about?

The quoted verse says there is no rock and roll on Mars and no beat among the stars. It concludes that Earth is the place to be because Mars lacks rock and roll.

Q: How did John describe his experience at NerdCon?

John calls NerdCon magical and says it made him excited for VidCon Europe in Amsterdam that April and VidCon during the summer. He also praises Hank and his collaborators for creating amazing experiences.

Q: What did Hank say about performing at NerdCon?

Hank says his voice was still raw because he had sung intensely at the event. He describes the experience playfully, saying his soul left his mouth, crowd-surfed for a while, and was thrown back to him.

Q: Why did John give up the social internet for Lent?

John says it was Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, and that he had decided to give up the social internet for the observance. At the time of recording, he says the experience was going well.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Hank and John discuss receiving an LP of Alvin and the Chipmunks singing hit songs from their TV show, including "There's No Rock and Roll on Mars."

• They joke about the lack of moon accuracy in a chipmunk coloring book illustration of the chipmunks playing soccer on Mars.

• The podcast then transitions to a discussion about Nerdcon and the excitement surrounding upcoming events. Hank discusses giving up the social internet for Lent.