Benedict Cumberbatch honored with name-mangling musical tribute

By virtue of his participation in such projects as Sherlock, Star Trek Into Darkness, and Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy, nattily attired British thespian Benedict Cumberbatch has achieved the rarefied status of deity among pop culture nerds. It is only appropriate, then, that there should be hymns in his honor, musical hosannas to the power and the glory that is Cumberbatch. One such hymn has arrived in the form of Insane Ian’s “Benedict Cumberbatch,” a triumphant tune that has lately been topping the request lists on the online-only Dr. Demento Show. Against a triumphant musical accompaniment, Insane Ian gives listeners a thumbnail history of Mr. Cumberbatch’s life and career, including his upbringing and his most memorable roles. So far, so good. Things take a turn, however, when the background singers start mangling the actor’s name in a variety of ways (including, memorably, “Burger King Chicken Fries”), and the factual accuracy of the lyrics becomes more and more dubious with each succeeding verse (such as a claim that the actor is “the true ruler of the kingdom of the Land of Oz”).