As seen in episode nine of The Real World Brooklyn, Atlantic Records took advantage of the RW cameras by agreeing to let Chet Cannon "interview" the group Danger Radio. This was so the group could get some airtime/publicity on MTV. Strangely, Chet felt "accomplished" by this. He didn't get the concept that Atlantic Records would have been just as happy having Scott Herman's water bottle interview the group if it would get them some airtime.Later, Chet was invited to a club to watch Danger Radio perform. He brought MTV Ryan Conklin along with him. After the performance, Ryan and Chet invited the group back to the Real World house. They agreed and so an impromptu party was held at the house.
Chet encouraged Ryan to play some of his music for DR, which he did. One of the songs he sang was his ode to the historical nature of his hometown of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a song appropriately titled "1863". That was the year that the Battle of Gettysburg was fought and the year that Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address.
Before starting Ryan warned that it was "like a rap song" because it's "fast as s***." Hmm... a rap song about white-bread, rural Pennsylvania? No. It's a light-hearted novelty song emphasizing life in a small town.
Ryan sang about several aspects of the town that stood out for him, including Gettysburg College (where he used to work in the Security department with his brother Aaron), Devil's Den on the battlefield, and of course, the Giant supermarket off Highway 30.
For the chorus, Ryan sang about wanting to leave the town because with "farmfields and rednecks, it ain't no mystery." Ironically, dressed in his woven plaid jacket and plaid trucker cap, it was kind of a mystery, as Ryan didn't look like he would be noticeably out of place there.
Still a good time was held by all, especially for Baya Voce and Sarah Rice as they joined in with a hearty woo-ooo-ooo on the chorus. Danger Radio had fun too even though one of them starting vogueing during the song. Perhaps he was trying to show that he appropriately appreciated Ryan's "rap" song.
