‘Froze my brain up in Canada:’ Chilly Manitoba musician parodies Toto’s ‘Africa’
OAK LAKE, Man. — It’s as if Canadian hosers Bob and Doug McKenzie did a mash-up with Weird Al Yankovic.
Rob Thiessen, an occupational therapist and part-time musician from Oak Lake, Man., and his brother-in-law Joe Kaonga have released a music video parody of the ’80s song “Africa” by U.S. rock band Toto.
The new version about Manitoba’s recent bone-numbing temperatures had attracted 171,000 views as of early Tuesday afternoon on Thiessen’s Facebook page.
“Hey! We’re coming to you from Manitoba, Canada, where it is cold outside tonight,” says Thiessen, who is wearing a parka and a winter hat with earflaps, as he sits in front of a crackling outdoor fire.