What connects the "Song of the Summer" trend, Marie Antoinette's death mask, and Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal?" In this episode of the WikiHole podcast, D'Arcy Carden and her guests explore the curious origins of pop culture phenomena like the annual craze over naming a definitive "Song of the Summer" and memorable VMA moments. They also delve into the historical and morbid practice of creating death masks, the surprising origins of the iconic CPR training dummy Resusci Anne, and the unexpected connection to Michael Jackson's anti-gravity lean.
The episode jumps down intriguing Wikipedia rabbit holes, unraveling how the "let them eat cake" myth started, why Madame Tussaud relied on death masks, and the shared roots between cultural icons like Beyoncé and Quincy Jones. Full of such moments of enlightening trivia, this episode is a truly eclectic, surprising glimpse into the interconnected world of pop culture and history.
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D'Arcy Carden and Howell-Baptiste trace the idea of naming a "Song of the Summer" back to a 1910 New York Tribune article speculating about the upcoming season's popular song. The trend solidified in the 1990s as music grew more influential in pop culture.
The infamous 2009 VMAs saw Kanye West interrupt Taylor Swift's acceptance speech, declaring Beyoncé deserved to win. Beyoncé herself holds the record for most VMA wins with 27 Moon Man trophies. Quincy Jones, famed producer of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal," has won 28 Grammy Awards over his storied career.
The quote "let them eat cake," often attributed to Marie Antoinette, is unverified. However, the French queen's death mask notably inspired Madame Tussaud, renowned for her wax museums, whose figures were frequently modeled after death masks before photography existed.
Death masks preserved the likenesses of influential figures for commemorative purposes. The CPR doll Resusci Anne was designed after the mask of an unknown woman who drowned in the Seine in the 1880s, with her face chosen to make male trainees more comfortable practicing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
The iconic line "Annie, are you okay?" from Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" was inspired by the Resusci Anne CPR dummy, which trainees were instructed to address by name during resuscitation practice.
1-Page Summary
Explore the origins of the "Song of the Summer" concept, memorable moments from the MTV Video Music Awards, and iconic musical artists with their record-breaking awards achievements.
D'Arcy Carden and Howell-Baptiste describe the history behind the popular "Song of the Summer".
The New York Tribune published an article in 1910 speculating about the nature of the upcoming summer's song, pondering whether it would be humorous, sentimental, or "unmitigated trash."
Public attention to naming a "Song of the Summer" started solidifying in the 1990s, not as a creation of the '50s or '60s pop rock era, but due to better industry reporting and a growing influence of music in pop culture that turned the concept into a veritable tradition.
The VMAs have been the stage for some standout pop culture occurrences.
A trivia question revealed that Kanye West infamously interrupted Taylor Swift's win for the video "You Belong to Me" at the VMAs, asserting that Beyoncé should have taken the award. This incident has solidified itself as a notorious example of the outrageous interruptions that have since become a part of the VMAs' storied history.
Tracing the achievements of music artists like Beyoncé and Quincy Jones highlights their considerable impact ...
Pop culture and entertainment trivia
In discussing historical and cultural items, the speakers demystify a popular quote attributed to Marie Antoinette and delve into the significance of death masks and their connection to Madame Tussaud's wax figures.
The speakers tackle the myth surrounding Marie Antoinette, confirming that there is no evidence to support that she ever made the statement "let them eat cake." Often quoted as a symbol of aristocratic insensitivity to the plight of the poor, the phrase is likely apocryphal and not a genuine utterance from the French queen.
The group also discusses a trivia question regarding Marie Antoinette's death mask and reveals that Madame Tussaud, a renowned wax figure artist, was hired to create it. This piece of information led speakers to an interesting connection between the French queen and the legacy of the famous Madame Tussauds wax museums.
Death masks served a significant cultural purpose before the advent of photography by preserving the likeness of influential or historical figures after their death. They were often used as references for portraits or commemorative sculptures, serving as a tangible connection to the past.
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Historical and cultural references
D'Arcy Carden and Jackie Tohn engage in a conversation that emphasizes the quintessence of Wikipedia.
The CPR doll known as Resusci Anne bears the face designed after the death mask of an unidentified young woman who drowned in the Seine River in France during the 1880s. The mask of her face was created by a morgue worker taken by her beauty, and it became fashionable to have a copy of it in Parisian Bohemian society.
When creating the Resusci Anne CPR doll, the designers chose a female face for the mannequin, as they believed that male trainees would be more comfortable practicing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a woman than a man.
Interestingly, the iconic refrain "Annie, are yo ...
Miscellaneous Wikipedia trivia
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