WCAG 2.0 Theme Song
This is the theme song for the new WCAG 2.0 which is a W3C recommendation. Accessibility consultant David MacDonald wrote it during a Face to Face WCAG meeting in Los Angeles. He did the instruments, programming, vocals and mixing in his home studio. Words are below. To get a better resolution, go to the Youtube copy of this and select "high resolution". (Note the old WCAG theme from 2002 is below this one on this page.)
Download the WCAG 2.0 Theme (Mp3, 6Mg)
We want to show you the WCAG
By David MacDonald © 2005-2008
Intro by "Sharky" the ScreenReader: [Spoken]
Sharky: "W-C-A-G, WCAG, I'm a cool DJ, SHARKY, SH-SH-SH-SHARKY, Hey I'm going crazy with this cool beat, I have much better rythym since you installed that new quantizing program. Do you want to dance?
David: No Sharky, we've got to get going on this song, you can dance while I sing but don't pull yourself out of the wall socket again.
[Singing]
we're gonna to write a new specification
it's gonna work with the tool of verification
make the accessible
gonna make it testable
WCAG, WCAG
gonna make the web understandable
make it perceivable write it tangible
when its interoperable
the web will be unstoppable
WCAG, WCAG
We wanna show you the WCAG
We wanna show you what this world can be
We wanna show you the WCAG
It's not a heavy load
to open up your code
and write the WCAG, WCAG
[Spoken]
Sharky: Hey David, I heard a guy on TV say that he's the fastest rapper in the world, but I blow him away, watch this...[Sharky raps at 250 words a minute, then back to normal speed]...I'm a cool DJ, Sharky, WCAG...How's that David, am I a cool rapper now?
David: Sharky, I couldn't understand a word you said.
Sharky: Most of my blind friends understand everything when I speak at that speed, would ... you... like... me...to...speak...really...slow...for...you...David?
David: Very funny, c'mon let's do this verse.
[Singing]
We're gonna make the web a better place
For every ability and every race
Even if you're surfing from outer space
you've got the WCAG, WCAG
Repeat Chorus
David Raps (uhh sort of):
So let me tell you what the WCAG is
And what the WCAG's not
The WCAG is a set of tools
Comes with a set of rules
Helps your web site
Come to life
For people with other abilities
And sensabilities
So when they hit you online
They can have a good time
Don't matter if they're blind
Or if they have to sign
Or if their hands start to shake
With every move they make
They can easily figure out
What you are talking about
When you follow the principles that we're gonna lay out
Sharky:
Principle 1: Content must be Perceivable
Principle 2: Content and controls must be Understandable
Principle 3: Interface elements in the content must by Operable
Principle 4: Content must be Robust, enough to work with current and future technologies
[spoken]
Sharky: Hey David, your music is much more funky since you moved out of the suburbs and started hanging out downtown on street corners. I like the other theme song but it sounded a bit too unplugged and I've never been crazy about an unplugged sound, I like techno geek music where computers do everything and humans don't play any instruments. Ithink it is a lot more organic when music is played buy genuine computers. When humans play it sounds so unemotionable and fake.
David: We'll that's just because you're a bunch of ones and zeros there big guy.
Sharky: David, that was very mean of you to say that, you know I've always been very sensitive out my binary genetic coding, it's always been a source of great emotional insecurity for me.
David: Oh, c'mon Sharky, you know I love you man, and besides, you are an awesome rapper, man you should go into American Idol.
Sharky: I'm going to be a star, I can see the headlines now, Sharky wins American Idol for people with disabilities.
WCAG Theme Song (2002 version)
Here is the first WCAG theme written in 2002.
Download 2002 WCAG Theme (mp3) 4.6mg (older version)
Lyrics are below.
Accessibility consultant David MacDonald wrote this song during a WCAG meeting in Los Angeles. Here are the words:
It's Fun to Write the WCAG
©2002 David MacDonald
Intro by "Sharky" the ScreenReader:
"Oops sorry I didn't realize we were rolling. I was just brushing my teeth for a cool night on the town. Hey everybody, WCAG is writing some new guidelines so get on the dance floor. I'm not a very good dancer, I've got no rhythm, but hey, I'm a rocking robot, Cool...want to dance?"
we're gonna to write a new specification
it's gonna work with the tool of verification
make it accessible
gonna make it testable
WCAG for you and me
gonna make the web understandable
make it perceivable write it tangible
make it interoperable
you know that we're unstoppable
WCAG is the place to be
Chorus (To the tune of YMCA)
it's fun to write the WCAG
it's fun to write the WCAG
gonna make the internet a better place
for every ability and every race
Sharky talks: "Hey man I'm going crazy with this cool beat. Hey, I
am dancing really good now. ...Want to dance?"
if you come from Seattle you call it WICAG
if you come from Alabama you call it WUKAG
I say WICAG, you say WUKAG
but you know we're not just another TAG
there's Ben from Trace and Professor Vanderheiden
looking at the future beyond the horizon
Wendy, Andi, Cynthia and Jason White
staying up working till the middle of the night
Chorus
Sharky talks: "I got carried away cause these WCAG techno geeks really know how to
party. Par-tay. Let's do it again I don't get out much."
Bridge (Rap)
We've got
Wendy, Katie, Avi, Harvey, Lee, Roberto, Judy, Marti, Loretta, Alan,
Donovan, Hoehrmann, Ian, Jonathan, William, Graham, Sean, Adam, Kynn, Gian, Lisa,
Eugenia, Marja-Riitta, Cynthia, Mark, Matt, Bruce, Dick, David, Joe, Nir,
Geoff, Chuck, Leonard, Scott, Charles, Robert, Paul, Michael, Anne, Joel, John,
Jason, Daniel, Emmanuelle, Chris, Bengt, Tim, Jim, and dozens more,
getting out on the WCAG dance floor
Chorus
It's fun to write the WCAG
It's fun to write the WCAG
Gonna make the internet a better place
Even if your surfing from outer space
it's fun to write the WCAG
it's fun to write the WCAG
gonna make the internet a better place
for every ability and every race
Sharky: Hey man, these WCAG guys are real cool dancers for nerds. David I've been writing some poetry lately, cause I'm a sensitve artistic type guy, want to hear it?
David: No Sharky, Wendy and Gregg are calling us, it's time to get back to work.
Sharky rattles off the lyrics then says: Sorry Man, I got carried away 'cause these WCAG tachno geeks really no how to party, Let's do it again, I don't get out much!