This Melbourne Hospital Made An Equally Cursed & Wholesome Video Teaching People To Put On PPE
'Pen Pineapple Apple Pen' has been given a COVID-safe spin
One of the internet’s most cursed earworms has been bought back to life by a Victorian hospital, who have put a COVID-safe spin on the infamous ‘Pen Pineapple Apple Pen’ video for our pleasure.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital — which is on the frontlines of Victoria’s coronavirus battle — has managed to capture the chaotic energy of the PPAP music clip and created a PPE pastiche, showing essential workers how to correctly put on personal protective equipment when dealing with COVID-19.
The video shows Dr Jonathan Papson from RMH Emergency demonstrating how to properly fit a gown, mask, goggles and gloves to avoid contamination. It’s something you need to see, even if it’s just to enjoy the sassy dance and 80s-style graphics at the end.
Did you watch Dr Jonathan Papson on @Channel9 Emergency last night? This is what J Paps is working on in his spare time when he isn’t saving lives…becoming TikTok famous.
We think maybe keep the day (and night) job 😛 pic.twitter.com/lvxA1UUAtA
— The Royal Melbourne Hospital (@TheRMH) August 5, 2020
It’s all very, very silly and very, very funny — and more power to “J Paps” for creating something entertaining out of it, because the reality of having to wear restrictive PPE every day pretty much sucks.
In another video also shared by the hospital, a clinical nurse specialist named Abbey talks about the impact COVID-19 has had on her and her colleagues.
“My colleagues are working overtime covered head to toe in PPE which leaves us dehydrated, often sweating, hot and covered in pressure sores from where it rubs into our face. This is all day, every day,” she said.
“I’ve watched my colleagues sacrifice every piece of themselves in the fight against this pandemic and I’ve watched them do it with such integrity, strength and grace that I’m constantly in awe of all I have witnessed them achieve.
“If we, the frontline healthcare workers are doing all we’re doing to keep you safe and alive, the very least you as a community can do for us is stay home. Wear a mask, wash your hands, socially distance yourself and follow the restrictions. But most importantly, take care of one another.”
If they can put up with that, the least you can do is wear a mask when you duck out for groceries.
The Royal Melbourne Hospital has published this catchy (?) and baffling (?) tiktok about wearing PPE. Duet this 👇 pic.twitter.com/8ni6DrVtWv
— casey briggs (@CaseyBriggs) August 6, 2020
The RMH video was first bought to our attention by ABC news analyst (and bona fide COVID numbers gremlin) Casey Briggs, who dragged it from the obscurity of The Royal Melbourne Hospital’s very underappreciated TikTok account.
The RMH uses it to share important health messages, but also (some would argue equally-as-important) great meme content. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen a bunch of hospital staff strut down the hallway in full PPE gear to “Gangsta’s Paradise”.
People are very much enjoying the energy of their latest video.
in case you think I am making fun of this. I actually love it.
— casey briggs (@CaseyBriggs) August 6, 2020
In case you’ve blocked that slice of internet history from your brain, the original PPAP (Pen Pineapple Apple Pen) music video went viral back in 2016.
It was recorded by Pikotaro — the alter ego of Japanese comedian Daimaou Kosaka — who also put out another version back in April to promote handwashing.
All versions are now burned into my brain for all eternity.