The Capital Song

Learn your state capitals, punk-rock style.

By Jeff Ruby

The embarrassing results of the Capital Showdown

This article appears in the April 2009 issue of Chicago Magazine.

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Reader Comments:

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Mar 23, 2009 11:49 pm

Posted by denisep

I can't believe you gave it up with Chianti. Such a rookie mistake. Also, you must know that the Arkansas slip cuts deep.

Mar 24, 2009 01:34 pm

Posted by JulieJR

Nice job! I will definitely remember that Indianapolis and Anapolis are crapolis. :)

Mar 24, 2009 02:30 pm

Posted by bstrauss

you should have used skittles

Mar 24, 2009 02:48 pm

Posted by KEH

Since when is Texas a blue state?

Mar 28, 2009 05:36 pm

Posted by Nick Charalambous

Jeff: Love it bro. Never heard the capital song before. The vid did it more justice than it deserved ;)

Apr 7, 2009 12:27 pm

Posted by spareme

South Dakota's capital is pronounced "Peer", as in "I peer into the darkness" or "peer pressure". It is not pronounced "Pee-yair".

Apr 7, 2009 12:30 pm

Posted by ckofchgo

Very cool. That is how to lose a bet with class! So the capital of South Dakota, although spelled Pierre, is pronounced like the work "pier" by locals and people in the know! Inquiring minds want to know. Or not.

Apr 7, 2009 08:04 pm

Posted by Coupy

Did anyone else notice that North Carolina (right at the beginning) was the appropriate shape, then somehow "morphed" into Virginia for about half of the song before someone noticed and the next frame showed it as NC for the rest?

Apr 14, 2009 09:21 am

Posted by Bethany M.

This is absolutely fantastic...and accurate, too! I love the creativity behind this.