Remix Stephen Colbert's Interview With Larry Lessig!
The Colbert Challenge
In case you missed all the hullabaloo, Indaba co-founder Daniel Zaccagnino was the guest on The Colbert Report on Feb 2nd! You can see the full interview here!
This appearance was the latest installment in an epic saga, involving a remix challenge issued by Mr. Colbert three weeks ago, an overwhelming response by the Indaba community, and a bluntly reissued challenge.
Below is a summary of the events in this still-unfolding drama.
The Story
Once upon a time (well... actually... on January 7th), Stephen Colbert issued a challenge during an interview with Creative Commons founder and copyright innovator Larry Lessig.
"Never... ever... ever... take anything of mine and remix it! For instance, I will be very angry if anyone takes this interview right here and remixes it with some great dance beat, and it starts showing up in clubs across America."
Provoked beyond any human's ability to contain their creativity, the Indaba community responded in full force when we posted the audio in a public session. More than 150 collaborators and 50+ amazing remixes later, Colbert was forced to recognize the power of the remixing community.
During the January 21st Colbert Report, he played Chris Lewis' remix (along with a really cool video) and issued another challenge. Foolish man! Indaba users once again responded with a stellar smorgasbord of remixes.
It's all been such fun and the public session became so big that we've moved it over to a new page, where you'll find it easier to check out the submissions and post your own. We’ve uploaded the audio from both challenges - you can find them in the source tracks section.
So now the question is how this all ends! Check out the submissions below, post your own ear-splitting remix, and tell people what you think of the state of copyright laws! Thanks to everyone who submitted already and made this such a big success!
This program is no longer accepting entries
Source Files
Dan on The Colbert Report
Colbert's Full Interview With Lessig
Colbert's Second Challenge
Colbert Audio Book Excerpt - Accept the Authority
Colbert Audio Book Excerpt - Pretty Steamy
Colbert Audio Book Excerpt - Ask Any Baby
Colbert Audio Book Excerpt - Think About It
Colbert Audio Book Excerpt - We're At War
Colbert Audio Book Excerpt - Use Your Imagination
Prize
The "prize" is the look on Stephen Colbert's face when he hears how jaw-droppingly, ear-poppingly fresh your remix is!
Judges
If, by "judges", you mean the one person who's going to decide whether you're yanking his chain hard enough to make him laugh out loud, that would be Colbert!
Leader Board
Random Submissions
Discussion
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions? We have no questions. Only answers. [wink]
We're just humble audiophiles, though. If you have questions about the state of copyright law, we'd strongly encourage you to go to Creative Commons and talk to the really smart law-type folks over there.
Matt Palmer wrote on June 5, 2009:
Hey guys,
Just to address the confusion over a winner -- all of you guys are winners in this one!
This "contest" was always more of a featured session. It was set up as a fun way for the Indaba community to work with audio, and you all did such a fantastic job! Unlike the true contests on Indaba, there's not going to be an official announcement of a winner, but you all can be proud that you were part of one of the biggest events ever on Indaba Music.
Thanks for all your incredible entries!
Sreyas "Hollidayrain" Krishnan wrote on May 21, 2009:
Oh dang, winners announced on the 31st? Jeez, I thought this competition was over! haha...sweet. Good luck to everyone in that case.
Dave Cicchetti wrote on May 18, 2009:
Does Anyone know what's going on with this Contest? Is Colbert picking a winner?
Kava 1. wrote on May 5, 2009:
I was wondering if i could rally the support of the people in THIS contest... and get them to support the OTHER indaba contest entry i've submitted... please checkout my submission in the "Classified remix M.C. contest"
vote--------->"Kava-1 ~ Trouble (Classified remix)"
thanks dudes... any word on a third challenge from Mr. Colbert?... anyways... my track's worthy and definately NOT a wasted vote... thanks for those who support... peace K-1
Randy Colby wrote on April 24, 2009:
+1 Jesiah. Great attitude, man! Keep producing the quality material.
Jesiah M. wrote on April 20, 2009:
Howdy ya'all...
For the record, yeah, I totally understand that the track I put together had to be taken down. I suspected that as a possibility before I ever started working on it, but then I never though I would rank, let alone win the popular vote. Given the nature of this specific remix contest (I think we've all heard those samples of Colbert's opinion on copyright law and remixing about a million times now!), I decided that the mashup was really the only way to go.
Also, going into this there was never any indication of a popular vote ("JUDGES:"... that would be Colbert!"), and I made the track specifically with that show in mind, certainly not in an attempt to win any popularity contest. Otherwise I may of stuck with synth lines and drum patters, not samples.
Anyway, for the sake of the site, I'm alright with the track not being playable for the public. There's no reason Indaba should put themselves in danger of legal action over this silly thing.
However, I think most of us agree that, in line with the spirit of this contest, "copyright laws need to change to allow remixing." As such, whether or not my track is any good (I certainly don't have the perfect pitch of David - Great job on making Colbert sing!), it's still a valid submission in this contest. Whatever it's worth, the contest ended with my megamix in 1st, and Colbert (or his "people") should be able to see that and hear the track for themselves.
My ideal would be to keep this all humorous.
Put the track/link back up how it was, but when people click the play button, a message can pop up saying "Sorry! We're unable to host this track due to the current state of copyright law! BUMMER!"
thanks for listening,
- jesiah
The Fine Print
As joint copyright holder of the interview, Lessig has licensed the audio to you under a Creative Commons BY License. Remix away!
If you are interested in starting a program, please email contests@indabamusic.com
WOW... shows how bad my a.d.d. is; i thought this contest was over a LOOOOOOOOOONG time ago haha!... not bad; 12th place w/ no promo @ all... well... i'll take this opportunity to start opening the flood-gates of shameless self-promotion...
http://www.indabamusic.com/submissions/show/5532
... check it out and vote for it if you deem worthy... big ups to the man at the top of the mountain right now; mr. Dave Minnick... thanks for the vote in the Classified contest btw... good luck everyone... peace K-1