By Tricia Pursell
The Daily Item
---- — A Snyder County videographer and friends have made a YouTube video of his native county, spoofing Pennsylvania Dutch culture in a style that would have made Weird Al Yankovich proud.
Although the video may seem a bit more risque in some areas, he admits.
James Burgess, 24, a Susquehanna University graduate, formerly of Selinsgrove, and a New York City resident as of Sunday, said on Monday that he was surprised to see the "We're from Snyder County" video, set to the tune of a recent country song, reach more than 9,200 views on Monday — only three days after it had been posted, and in a county that has only 38,000 people. The only promotion was a link on Facebook.
"It's a perfect example of how something can go viral," Burgess said.
Justin Derr, of Sunbury, and Jason McGuigan, of Coal Township, were the singers and lyricists for the video. The three men performed in front of a green screen, wearing Amish attire.
They previously posted spoofs on Sunbury and Shamokin as well. But there was no one town in Snyder County that had enough to sing about, they said.
"We thought it would be a good thing to try a whole county," McGuigan said. "A lot of people were asking us to make something there."
So they did some research — not a hard thing for Burgess or McGuigan, Snyder Country natives, and they took some photos. They even borrowed a baby goat for a day to serve as one of their props.
In the video, they poke fun at some of the unique and "happening spots" in Snyder County, including several country stores, the Selinsgrove Speedway and carnivals. They also mention visiting with famed Monkees singer Davy Jones at the Shade Mountain Inn, finding deer meat in refrigerators, experiencing "big city life" in Kratzerville, and sitting by the roadside drinking beer and watching NASCAR trucks roll by.
They heard a country song one day, and immediately changed some words to say, "We're from Snyder County, and we like it that way."
"It just fit," Derr said. "The next thing we know, three-quarters of the song was written in an hour."
"I know that all people in Snyder County aren't like that," he said. "We just want to make people laugh."
Several comments on YouTube show that their goal was achieved. They also suggest that viewers believe the lyrics were "dead-on."
"You almost have to be an insider to know all the good stuff," McGuigan said.
Several people, however, wondered why the McClure Bean Soup wasn't included.
"It would have definitely been in there if I had heard of it," Derr said with a laugh.
While most viewers have applauded the video, several Snyder County officials had some reservations.
"You have to be a little sensitive to it," said John Bickhart, Selinsgrove's borough manager. "But I didn't react violently to it."
"It's funny, without being totally insulting," he added. "I can take this as comedy."
"Yes, I laughed," admitted Snyder County Commissioner Peggy Chamberlain Roup. "It was a hoot when I watched it."
However, "some parts I found rather offensive," she added. "You can't watch it in mixed company."
"Everyone should receive it tongue-in-cheek," she said.
"The video is certainly not for family viewing," said Selinsgrove Councilman Erik Viker, who is running for the 85th Legislative District seat, "and I would understand if some of our Amish neighbors would find it insulting."
"As satire," he added, "this video depends on exaggeration in an attempt to be humorous, but unfortunately this sort of humor is usually at somebody else's expense."
Commissioner Joe Kantz declined to comment.
Derr, McGuigan and another friend who now lives in Texas, form what they call SloppySecondz — the production company for the YouTube videos.
"I know we're going to keep on doing it," Derr said.
Another visit to Sunbury is in the works, and they are open to researching other areas, as well, he added.
n E-mail comments to tpursell@dailyitem.com.
