Now, back on Earth, on the second night of Idol’s long-awaited season 9 opener, it wasn’t the celebrity guest judges, or the news that this would be Simon’s last season, or even the talented singers who auditioned that has the country abuzz. No, it was someone who will never compete in Idol that has the media and the internet agog.

Bravo to the visionary producer who decided to let “General” Larry Platt audition despite his 62 years. In the final moments of the shows’ Atlanta auditions, the idol judges along with Mary J. Blige were treated with an audition that will now compete with the infamous William Hung audition of season 3 . In fact, a Google search for “William Hung” will now turn up Hung, with a little Larry Platt sprinkled in, and Perez Hilton has already dubbed him the next William Hung.

The general’s rendition of his rap “Pants On the Ground” went viral just hours after the show’s air. He seems to have evoked emotions in people from every swath of America. This can be seen in the hundreds if not thousands of YouTube video tributes that were recorded just after Platt’s audition. There are tributes, covers, and remixes of “Pants On the Ground” in every musical genre you can think of. We have a representative assortment (listed to the right) of some of the better ones.

Jimmy Fallon Loves "The General"

Even Jimmy Fallon was inspired to impersonate Neil Young and perform the song “folk style” on his show. Kids are making videos too, and unfortunately pulling their pants down everywhere on the internet. The song’s hook is absolutely infectious and it has a lovable messenger in General Platt, who is a bona-fide civil rights warrior who walked with Rev. Martin Luther King in Selma on Bloody Sunday and was beaten by police. Already with a day named after him in Georgia, he has coined a phrase that seems to hit home with nearly every demographic.

What sets him apart most is that he went up in front of those judges on Idol not to sell himself, but his message, one that chides young adults for what he sees as disrespectful behavior – wearing baggy pants that sag to expose one’s underwear. For him, he was beaten and arrested regularly just for the chance to be respected as a human being,  and people who dress this way seem to be taking that for granted.

The jury is still out on whether his hit will actually make kids pull their pants up or keep them on the ground.

 Idol Season 9 Schedule Guide