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In 2008, when the “Jesus Is a Friend of Mine” video blew up on YouTube, it seemed almost too good to be true. An early ’80s Christian ska video from public access television? Was this even real? The video is hilariously of its time, the lyrics are religious but also kind of silly, and the ska music at its core — incredibly — is actually good! On this episode of In Defense of Ska, the gang gets into the true story of the ska-tastic piece of internet history. Listen above, or wherever you get your podcasts.
First off, the video is very much real. It was penned by Sonseed, a catholic band from New York that formed in the ’70s and broke up in the early ’80s. Shortly before breaking up, they appeared on a small television show in New York called The First Estate. Then, 25 years after the song was recorded, it unexpectedly went viral.
To tell the story of the video and explain its context within ska and internet culture, the In Defense hosts talk to four people: Sal Polichetti (bassist of Sonseed and writer of the song), Paul Williams (leader of the British ska band The Skapones), Jamie Loftus (internet culture expert and host of 16 Minutes), and Doug Prinzivalli (owner of Dougsploitation, the site that introduced the web to the video in 2008).
So, sit back and listen to the story of the greatest viral video to ever graze the internet above, and what the heck, watch “Jesus Is a Friend of Mine” below.
Make sure to like, review, and follow the series wherever you get your podcast. Don’t forget to check out all the Consequence Podcast Network series here. Additionally, you can support the In Defense host Aaron Carnes by purchasing a copy the new expanded, 2nd edition of his book, In Defense of Ska. Meanwhile, Davis’ Omnigone released their latest record, Feral, last year.