A: Earlier this year, BET Animation and performer Bomani "D'Mite" Armah teamed up to produce this very entertaining mock PSA.
It's way popular (875,000+ views), but I hadn't seen it until Brian Romero posted it to his cartooning blog over the weekend.
The controversy surrounding its racial overtones made it all the way to CNN, according to a YouTube commenter. It's not racist, so much as it is just an effective satire of la vie de crunk — but I'd imagine CNN saw it differently.
Republican 2008 presidential hopeful John McCain crooned the words "Bomb Iran" to a Beach Boys' tune in joking response to a question about any possible U.S. attack over Tehran's suspected nuclear weapons program.
"That old Beach Boys song, Bomb Iran ... bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb," the Vietnam War veteran warbled softly to the band's "Barbara Ann" when he was asked when the United States would send an "airmail message" to Iran.
In McCain's defense, the reporter like totally started it.
Rockin' and a-rollin', rockin' and a-reelin'
When Brian Wilson's the least crazy guy in the room, you know there's a problem.
The Beach Boys Barbara Ann Beach Boys' Party!, 1965
DID YOU KNOW? "Barbara Ann" isn't a Beach Boys original; the Regents originally recorded it four years earlier. As Wikipedia notes, the Boys' version features an uncredited Dean Torrence (of Jan and Dean fame) harmonizing with Wilson.
By the way, the guy who wrote "Barbara Ann" is Iranian.
POSTSCRIPT: It should be noted McCain is far from the first person to come up with a "Bomb Iran" parody. Vince Vance and the Valiants first recorded a version of the song in 1979, during the hostage crisis; a subsequent recording of "Bomb Iran" became a number one hit, according to the band's bio (Fassert wasn't a fan, says Wikipedia).
A year ago, cartoonist Adam Kontras created Let's Bomb Iran! to protest/parody the Bush administration.
Link via the Comics Journal's blandly titled but content-rich daily comics blog, Journalista -- a blogroll must-have for any discerning lover of pop-art.
While you're waiting for wacko writer/director Darren Aronofsky's likely disturbing follow-up to Requiem for a Dream to hit theaters in October, check out sketch-comedy troupe Honor Patrol's "Requiem for a Loaf of Bread." It is also somewhat disturbing.