State Of Mind

Transcript

OPHIRA EISENBERG, HOST:

You're listening to ASK ME ANOTHER from NPR and WNYC. We're coming to you from the Carolina Theatre in Durham, North Carolina.

(APPLAUSE)

EISENBERG: I'm Ophira Eisenberg, and with me is our one-man house band Jonathan Coulton and our puzzle guru, Art Chung.

(APPLAUSE)

EISENBERG: Let's welcome our next two contestants, Nadia Vielot and Jen Ferris.

(APPLAUSE)

EISENBERG: So this game is called State of Mind. Nadia, you're getting your Ph.D. in public health.

NADIA VIELOT: Yes, I am.

EISENBERG: What is your state of mind going into this competition, Nadia?

VIELOT: It's the same as the state of mind I had this past weekend when I ran my fourth full marathon, which is nervous, but can-do.

(APPLAUSE)

EISENBERG: Jen, you're a former Lucha Libre wrestler.

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EISENBERG: OK, what was your character?

JEN FERRIS: Well, we kind of don't disclose...

EISENBERG: Oh. Oh, yeah.

FERRIS: ...Our characters. We have to keep a sense of mystery. But I will tell you, I was a bad guy.

EISENBERG: Oh, you were a heel?

FERRIS: I was a heel.

EISENBERG: What is your state of mind going into this competition as a former wrestler?

FERRIS: I'm ready to fight.

EISENBERG: All right. OK.

(APPLAUSE)

VIELOT: I no longer feel can-do.

(LAUGHTER)

EISENBERG: This round is a music game. It's going to be a great time. Jonathan, what's in store for these lovely people?

JONATHAN COULTON, BYLINE: Well, this game is about songs featuring the names of states in their titles. But in the interest of thinking globally and being generally more inclusive, we have replaced the state names with some more exotic locales. We trust that world peace will follow because we have done this. All you have to do is ring in and identify the original state name. Are you ready?

VIELOT: Maybe. Yeah, sure.

COULTON: I mean, maybe, we'll see.

FERRIS: Are you going to give an example first?

COULTON: No.

FERRIS: Oh.

(LAUGHTER)

COULTON: I could give you an example, but it would be one of the clues. And then - I know you can do this. I believe in you.

(LAUGHTER)

EISENBERG: I've listened to other shows. Other people get examples.

(LAUGHTER)

COULTON: I feel like people are using it as a crutch now. They tune out for the explanation and then they're like, oh, well, I'll just listen when they do the example, and then I don't need to - well, guess what? School is in session.

(LAUGHTER)

COULTON: OK. Here we go.

(Singing) Well, Tanchon girls are hip. I really dig those styles they wear. And the Kaesong girls, with the way they talk, they knock me out when I'm down there. The Wonsan farmers' daughters really make you feel all right. And the Pyongyang girls with the way they kiss, they keep their boyfriends warm at night. I wish they all could be North Korea, I wish they all could be North Korea, I wish they all could be North Korea girls.

(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)

COULTON: Jen.

FERRIS: (Singing) I wish they all could be California girls.

COULTON: Yeah, you got it.

(APPLAUSE)

EISENBERG: South Korean girls, though, have more Seoul, right?

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EISENBERG: Sometimes we write the joke first and the game after.

COULTON: Yeah, yeah.

(LAUGHTER)

COULTON: It all centers around that joke. Ophira will come into the office - I have a great idea for a pun.

EISENBERG: (Laughter) Exactly.

(LAUGHTER)

EISENBERG: Just figure it out. Figure it out.

COULTON: (Singing) Start tweeting the news. I'm leaving today. I want to be a part of it - Japan, Japan. These Hello Kitty shoes are longing to stray right through the very heart of it - Japan, Japan.

(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)

COULTON: Nadia.

VIELOT: (Singing) New York, New York.

COULTON: Oh, yeah. That's right.

(APPLAUSE)

EISENBERG: We often have to ask our contestants - no, no, no, please sing. But you two just jumped right in.

VIELOT: All day.

EISENBERG: You sing all day?

VIELOT: Yes. Mostly in the car.

(LAUGHTER)

COULTON: (Singing) All my exes live in Norway.

(LAUGHTER)

COULTON: (Singing) Norway is the place I dearly love to be. But all my exes live in Norway. That's why I hang my hat in Italy.

(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)

COULTON: Nadia.

VIELOT: (Singing) All my exes live in Texas.

COULTON: Yeah, they do.

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VIELOT: I'm getting a real workout on my Southern drawl here.

COULTON: (Laughter).

EISENBERG: Where are you originally from?

VIELOT: Detroit, Michigan, the motor city.

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VIELOT: Thank you.

EISENBERG: Yeah. Like, three people cheered.

(LAUGHTER)

EISENBERG: Are your exes in Detroit?

VIELOT: Some of them.

(LAUGHTER)

COULTON: Oh, yeah. You know that country song, some of my exes are in Detroit?

(LAUGHTER)

COULTON: All right. This is your last question.

(Singing) In my mind I'm going to Indochina.

(LAUGHTER)

COULTON: Can't you just see the Mekong? What do you think of my new thong? Can't you just be a friend of mine? Check out my behind. Guess I'm going to Indochina in my mind.

(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)

COULTON: Jen.

FERRIS: (Singing) I'm going to North Carolina in my mind. Well, it's Carolina. But we're here in North Carolina.

COULTON: We are. Oh, I see. You're just pandering to the crowd. I'll allow that. Yeah, that's correct.

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EISENBERG: Amazing thing just happened, audience. I commend you. You took the right answer above your own state.

(LAIGHTER)

EISENBERG: You were like, wait a second. I know we love it here, but get it right.

(LAUGHTER)

FERRIS: It's Carolina.

EISENBERG: It's Carolina.

COULTON: Well done. Puzzle guru Art Chung, how did our contestants do?

ART CHUNG, BYLINE: We have a tie.

(APPLAUSE)

CHUNG: Our contestants high-fived. Hands on your buzzer. It's not a musical question. According to the title of a Ray Charles song, what state is always on my mind?

(SOUNDBITE OF BELL)

CHUNG: Nadia.

VIELOT: Georgia.

CHUNG: Georgia is correct. You are the winner.

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "NIGHT TRAIN")

JAMES BROWN: (Singing) Atlanta, Georgia. Raleigh, North Carolina. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.