TED2008
Nellie McKay: "Mother of Pearl," "If I Had You"
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The wonderful Nellie McKay sings "Mother of Pearl" (with the immortal first line "Feminists don't have a sense of humor") and "If I Had You" from her sparkling set at TED2008.
Nellie McKay - Singer/songwriter
Nellie McKay sings, croons, raps, grooves and -- barks? -- to glowing critical acclaim. Full bio
Nellie McKay sings, croons, raps, grooves and -- barks? -- to glowing critical acclaim. Full bio
Double-click the English transcript below to play the video.
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♫ Feminists don't have a sense of humor. ♫
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♫ Feminists just want to be alone -- boo hoo, hoo, hoo. ♫
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♫ Feminists spread vicious lies and rumors. ♫
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00:44
♫ They have a tumor on their funny bone. ♫
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♫ They say child molestation isn't funny -- ha, ha, ha, ha. ♫
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♫ Rape and degradation's just a crime -- lighten up, ladies. ♫
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♫ Rampant prostitution's sex for money -- what’s wrong with that? ♫
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01:12
♫ Can't these chicks do anything but whine? ♫
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♫ Dance break! Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da. ♫
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01:27
♫ Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da. ♫
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01:29
♫ Woo-hoo! ♫
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♫ Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da -- ♫
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01:35
♫ yeah, take it off. ♫
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01:38
♫ Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, dum. ♫
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01:44
♫ They say cheap objectification isn’t witty -- it’s hot! ♫
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01:52
♫ Equal work and wages worth the fight -- ♫
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01:57
♫ sing us a new one. ♫
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01:59
♫ On-demand abortion every city -- OK, but no gun control. ♫
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02:06
♫ Won’t these women ever get a life? ♫
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02:12
♫ Feminists don’t have a sense of humor -- poor Hillary. ♫
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02:20
♫ Feminists and vegetarians -- make mine a Big Mac. ♫
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02:27
♫ Feminists spread vicious lies and rumors. ♫
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02:32
♫ They're far too sensitive to ever be a ham, ♫
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02:39
♫ that's why these feminists just need to find a man. ♫
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02:44
♫ Da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da, da. ♫
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02:50
I’m Dennis Kucinich and I approved this message.
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02:56
Thank you.
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02:58
(Applause)
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03:01
Thank you.
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03:03
(Applause)
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03:06
Thank you.
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03:09
I asked my mother, you know, should I say anything in support of anyone?
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03:13
And she said, "Oh no! Just dis everybody, except Ralph Nader."
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03:19
(Laughter)
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03:25
♫ I could show the world how to smile, ♫
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03:30
♫ I could be glad all of the while. ♫
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03:40
♫ I could turn the gray skies to blue, if I had you. ♫
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03:53
♫ I could leave the old days behind, ♫
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03:59
♫ leave all my pals, I’d never mind. ♫
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04:09
♫ I could start my life all anew, if I had you. ♫
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♫ I could climb the snow-capped mountains, ♫
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♫ sail the mighty ocean wide. ♫
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♫ I could cross the burning desert, if I had you by my side. ♫
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♫ I could be a king, dear, uncrowned, humble or poor, rich or renowned. ♫
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♫ There is nothing I couldn’t do, if I had you. ♫
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05:25
Thank you. Well, thank you so much.
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ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Nellie McKay - Singer/songwriterNellie McKay sings, croons, raps, grooves and -- barks? -- to glowing critical acclaim.
Why you should listen
Playful, quirky, hilarious, endearing: not attributes of your typical political agitator. But singer-songwriter-producer-activist Nellie McKay merits the description. Her music is whimsical, colorful, catchy and as engaging as it is restless. Toying with antique genres and yet undeniably contemporary, it flirts with multiple styles of delivery while maintaining a sharp social conscience.
For these and other eccentricities, McKay has gained a devoted fan following. On stage and off, she's an outspoken advocate of animal rights, a friend and ally to any arch political quip and -- lucky for us -- artistically uncompromising. After cutting two major-label records, her own indie label, Hungry Mouse, produced her latest, Obligatory Villagers.
Nellie McKay | Speaker | TED.com