Spaff recently attended a reunion dinner with some old friends. Kurt asked if anyone had dietary restrictions. Dave said cilantro. Then he added, "Not allergic. Just can't stand it." And a song parody was born!

What we learned about cilantro:

o Americans call coriander leaves cilantro. Other English speakers call all of it coriander.

o An olfactory receptor gene, OR6A2, determines your response to the aldehydes in cilantro. Which is to say, it's not just your preference. It's genetic.

o A bunch of coriander was found in King Tut's tomb. You can decide if that's what killed him.

What we learned about "Fernando":

o Before ABBA's English remake, the song was released in Swedish by Frida (Anni-Frid Lyngstad) and is about a brokenhearted bartender, not a Latin American freedom fighter.

o In 1976 (Happy Bicentennial!) "Fernando" hit #1 in 15 countries. In Australia it was the longest-running #1 ever (until it was beaten by Ed Sheeran's "Shape of You"). In the US it only reached #13.

o Musicologist Philip Tagg wrote a 500-page book about "Fernando" and even he wasn't sure exactly which instruments were used. Bob had to make an educated guess.

Swedish Chefs:

Ashby, Lucas: Audio engineering

Bad Beth and Beyond: Lead and backing vocals

Bob Emmet: Instruments, arranging, and production

Apprentice Chef Spaff: Lyrics