World Wide Recorder Concert
Encyclopedia
"World Wide Recorder Concert" (also referred to as "The Brown Noise") is the 17th and final episode of season 3 in the Comedy Central
series South Park
. It was originally broadcast on January 12, 2000.
's class, are scheduled to play "My Country, 'Tis of Thee
" at the televised Worldwide Recorder
Concert in Oklahoma City
led by Yoko Ono
and Kenny G
, but a flood caused the concert to be relocated in Little Rock
, Mr. Garrison's hometown. This causes him considerable anxiety (as he confesses to Mr. Mackey) for he had "sexual molestation issues
" with his father in the past.
In Arkansas, the boys encounter a hostile group of kids from New York
, also there for the concert, who call them "queefs
". At first, the boys do not understand what queef means; assuming the New York kids had made the word up, the boys try to get back at them by making up their own word: mung
, which as it turns out, is a real word meaning "the stuff that comes out when you push down on a pregnant woman's belly." Even the other South Park kids know this word, leading to the four being jeered by both the New Yorkers and their own classmates. The boys want to find a way to get back at them, and when Cartman succeeds in his efforts to discover the legendary
"brown noise
", a sound made with the recorder that causes the listener to lose control of their bowels and "crap their pants"; the boys plan to trick the New York kids into playing it. However, by accident, the altered sheet music for the concert is discovered by the organizer of the concert and is photocopied and redistributed to everyone.
Meanwhile, Mr. Garrison has confronted his father about the issues of sexual molestation, however, the issue was not that his dad had molested him, but rather that he felt neglected because his father had not touched him. When Mr. Mackey finds out about this, he fears Mr. Garrison is so distraught about the issue that he could actually die if Mr. Garrison Sr. does not molest him. Afterwards, Mr. Garrison is assaulted in the middle of the night by a mysterious stranger, and he sets off for the concert happy to have sorted things out with his father. After he leaves, Kenny G exits a closet and refuses $100 from Mr. Garrison's father, implying that Kenny G. is actually the one who molested Mr. Garrison.
In the middle of the concert, the boys discover that everyone is playing the altered sheet music containing the brown note and race to stop the concert. Alas, they are too late and the note is played, and with the power of four million recorders behind it, everyone in the world ends up defecating in their pants, whether or not they are watching the broadcast. Some, i.e. Kenny, soil themselves to death (although, at the end of episode, Kenny is seen, alive and healthy, in the bus with the other kids). The New York kids are very impressed by this and take back the negative feelings directed at them. Mr. Mackey ends up telling the boys what a queef is, describing it as "a vaginal expulsion of gas, mmkay." Mr. Garrison is passionately kissed by Kenny G before leaving and thanks him, noting that he kisses just like his father. The boys leave and drive off into the stars.
in the UK when originally aired (in 2000) for the sub-plot in which Mr. Garrison wants to be sexually molested by his father. It remained the only episode to have the 18 certificate until all of South Parks seventh season episodes
premiered (though the DVD version has been released edited with a 15 certificate). On the season three DVD set, "World Wide Recorder Concert" has been given a 15 rating.
Comedy Central
Comedy Central is an American cable television and satellite television channel that carries comedy programming, both original and syndicated....
series South Park
South Park
South Park is an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone for the Comedy Central television network. Intended for mature audiences, the show has become famous for its crude language, surreal, satirical, and dark humor that lampoons a wide range of topics...
. It was originally broadcast on January 12, 2000.
Plot synopsis
Four million children, including those from Mr. GarrisonHerbert Garrison
Mr. Herbert Garrison is a recurring character in the American animated television series South Park. He is voiced by Trey Parker. For the first eight seasons of the series, the character was known as Mr. Garrison but underwent sex reassignment surgery in the season 9 episode "Mr. Garrison's Fancy...
's class, are scheduled to play "My Country, 'Tis of Thee
My Country, 'Tis of Thee
"My Country, 'Tis of Thee", also known as "America", is an American patriotic song, whose lyrics were written by Samuel Francis Smith. The melody derived from Muzio Clementi's Symphony No. 3, and is shared with "God Save the Queen," used by many members of the Commonwealth of Nations...
" at the televised Worldwide Recorder
Recorder
The recorder is a woodwind musical instrument of the family known as fipple flutes or internal duct flutes—whistle-like instruments which include the tin whistle. The recorder is end-blown and the mouth of the instrument is constricted by a wooden plug, known as a block or fipple...
Concert in Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oklahoma City is the capital and the largest city in the state of Oklahoma. The county seat of Oklahoma County, the city ranks 31st among United States cities in population. The city's population, from the 2010 census, was 579,999, with a metro-area population of 1,252,987 . In 2010, the Oklahoma...
led by Yoko Ono
Yoko Ono
is a Japanese artist, musician, author and peace activist, known for her work in avant-garde art, music and filmmaking as well as her marriage to John Lennon...
and Kenny G
Kenny G
Kenneth Bruce Gorelick , better known by his stage name Kenny G, is an American, adult contemporary and smooth jazz saxophonist. His fourth album, Duotones, brought him breakthrough success in 1986...
, but a flood caused the concert to be relocated in Little Rock
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, Mr. Garrison's hometown. This causes him considerable anxiety (as he confesses to Mr. Mackey) for he had "sexual molestation issues
Child sexual abuse
Child sexual abuse is a form of child abuse in which an adult or older adolescent uses a child for sexual stimulation. Forms of child sexual abuse include asking or pressuring a child to engage in sexual activities , indecent exposure with intent to gratify their own sexual desires or to...
" with his father in the past.
In Arkansas, the boys encounter a hostile group of kids from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, also there for the concert, who call them "queefs
Vaginal flatulence
Vaginal flatulence is an emission or expulsion of air from the vagina that may occur during or after sexual intercourse or during other sexual acts, stretching or exercise. The sound is somewhat comparable to flatulence from the anus but does not involve waste gases and thus often has no specific...
". At first, the boys do not understand what queef means; assuming the New York kids had made the word up, the boys try to get back at them by making up their own word: mung
Leukorrhea
Leukorrhea or leucorrhoea is a medical term that denotes a thick, whitish or yellowish vaginal discharge.There are many causes of leukorrhea, the usual one being estrogen imbalance...
, which as it turns out, is a real word meaning "the stuff that comes out when you push down on a pregnant woman's belly." Even the other South Park kids know this word, leading to the four being jeered by both the New Yorkers and their own classmates. The boys want to find a way to get back at them, and when Cartman succeeds in his efforts to discover the legendary
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
"brown noise
Brown note
The brown note is a theoretical infrasonic frequency that would cause humans to lose control of their bowels due to resonance. There is no scientific evidence to support the claim that a "brown note" exists....
", a sound made with the recorder that causes the listener to lose control of their bowels and "crap their pants"; the boys plan to trick the New York kids into playing it. However, by accident, the altered sheet music for the concert is discovered by the organizer of the concert and is photocopied and redistributed to everyone.
Meanwhile, Mr. Garrison has confronted his father about the issues of sexual molestation, however, the issue was not that his dad had molested him, but rather that he felt neglected because his father had not touched him. When Mr. Mackey finds out about this, he fears Mr. Garrison is so distraught about the issue that he could actually die if Mr. Garrison Sr. does not molest him. Afterwards, Mr. Garrison is assaulted in the middle of the night by a mysterious stranger, and he sets off for the concert happy to have sorted things out with his father. After he leaves, Kenny G exits a closet and refuses $100 from Mr. Garrison's father, implying that Kenny G. is actually the one who molested Mr. Garrison.
In the middle of the concert, the boys discover that everyone is playing the altered sheet music containing the brown note and race to stop the concert. Alas, they are too late and the note is played, and with the power of four million recorders behind it, everyone in the world ends up defecating in their pants, whether or not they are watching the broadcast. Some, i.e. Kenny, soil themselves to death (although, at the end of episode, Kenny is seen, alive and healthy, in the bus with the other kids). The New York kids are very impressed by this and take back the negative feelings directed at them. Mr. Mackey ends up telling the boys what a queef is, describing it as "a vaginal expulsion of gas, mmkay." Mr. Garrison is passionately kissed by Kenny G before leaving and thanks him, noting that he kisses just like his father. The boys leave and drive off into the stars.
United Kingdom rating
This was the first episode of South Park to be rated 1818 certificate
The 18 certificate is issued by the British Board of Film Classification to state that, in its opinion, a film, video recording, or game should not be seen or purchased by a person under 18 years old....
in the UK when originally aired (in 2000) for the sub-plot in which Mr. Garrison wants to be sexually molested by his father. It remained the only episode to have the 18 certificate until all of South Parks seventh season episodes
South Park (season 7)
Season seven of South Park, an American animated television series created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, began airing on March 19, 2003. The seventh season concluded after 15 episodes on December 17, 2003.- Episodes :-External links:...
premiered (though the DVD version has been released edited with a 15 certificate). On the season three DVD set, "World Wide Recorder Concert" has been given a 15 rating.
External links
- World Wide Recorder Concert (The Brown Noises) Full episode at South Park Studios
- World Wide Recorder Concert (The Brown Noises) Episode guide at South Park Studios