The Glasgow Thing
April 10th, 2008
I’ve spoken here before in cagey mysterious ways about what brought me over to the UK to begin with that resulted in the London show. In case you missed it (because you don’t live in Scotland), it was for an appearance on Video Gaiden, a BBC Scotland show about gaming. Here is the entire special awards episode I was on. And if you grow weary of the brogue (and how could you? it’s awesome), here is just the part with me singing Still Alive after being introduce by a guy with a giant fake head. Will you check out the awesome Portal set they created? That cake is real…
wow! the cake /wasn’t/ a lie!
I’m enjoying the rant about hype that comes on a bit after your song, too.
I still have my doubts about the cake….but the performance was amazing!
Lessee: Cool set? Check. Guy with big head? Check. You in great voice? Check. Cake? Check. You being referred to as “The one and only…”? Double check.
Yeah.
Did they let you eat the cake? Or was the promise of it some kind of evil fabrication?
off-topic: here is an article about Seahorses. i love jonathan’s Seahorse song. That is all.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/04/seahorses-found-thames-river.php
That wasn’t a guy with a giant fake head. It was Frank Sidebottom.
Be careful, Jonathan: a man is judged by the company he keeps…
Planescape Torment? how old are these games?
John D’Arc:
Over there, technology gets so much hate
Video games are about a year or two late
Don’t make me go oooover there
That’s true Encubed, we’re still waiting for Rock Band!!!
Holy crap. You were introduced by Frank Sidebottom!
I didn’t know he was still working – though reading his wikipedia page, it seems I’m just a clueless yank, and out of the loop.
Maybe I’ll go home tonight and rip the FS vinyl I have.
That was many kinds of awesome.
Hahaha, I just got home from work and watched this. Looks like they spent most of the budget on flying JoCo over.
Also, for the first 30 seconds or so I thought they were talking funny on purpose, then realized it’s their actual accent. *embarassed*
I also saw you on IFC! They played you just before “Waiting For Guffman”. Pretty good company, if you ask me.
Can’t wait for Minneapolis!!
I loved watching this even though I have never heard of Frank Sidebottom and have no idea what Portal is.
No idea what Portal is!!!! It’s a combination of well executed, pitch black humour (( Canadian U )) and very unique and compelling gameplay. And of course a song by our favourite JoCo =), but I’m sure you already knew that.
Well of course the cake is real….we know that! who actually ever believed it was a lie???
lovely singing, JoCo!!
Nice, although a bit strange. Good performance.
hahah
That Cake is Real.
Sounds like a new phrase like “this sh*t just got real” or “thats the real McCoy”
Syphro, I was just going to say that. “That cake is real” sounds like an expression for something truly awesome. Pop culture should make it so.
What do you mean fake head? That is Frank Sidebottom, his head is real!
He was a cult star from the 1980′s…he doesn’t look any older.
Frank Sidebottom!! Introducing Jonathan Coulton!!!
This may be the best YouTube video ever.
I’m so pleased with this in so many different ways – the Scottish antics, the set, the performance, Frank Sidebottom.
Oh, if I tickled myself, I wouldn’t be chuckling more!
Anyway, the performance, this website have been linked on my small and inconsequential blog, along with a widget to get a performance (via Eventful) in the Cumbrian fastness in which I reside (ha!).
Oh, and Frank Sidebottom is performing this summer at a festival not far from Kendal, UK – Kendal Calling (http://www.kendalcalling.com/) so if you want to experience his truly mesmeric comedy, make your way there in early August 2008. Maybe JoCo could get on the bill as well, making at least two of my dreams come true in one fell swoop.
Just me getting the irony of Frank Sidebottom introducing “Still Alive” ?
Very very odd thing to watch – I’d stick clear of BBC Scotland for your next TV gig dude ! Not that English video game shows are much better…
Dude, I never get tired of hearing that song.
It’s times like this when I really miss my companion cube. :’(
I’m scarred for life by that artifical-headed person.
THANKS JONATHAN!
Wow, that big-headed guy looks like one of my son’s Fisher Price characters. Next year… dare we hope… JoCo plays Stonehenge?
Playing a concert at Stonehenge? Or covering the Spinal Tap song?
That was awesome! I think the mike should have picked up a little more guitar, but that’s my personal opinion.
That cake DOES look delicious and moist!
Frank Sidebottom is still going? I was in a band with someone who was featured singing “Planet Earth” on one of his records.
Glad you plugged the Videogaiden boys – they also do Consolevania (http://www.consolevania.com/). Really enjoyed the performance and the set sold it to me even more!
There’s plenty more Videogaiden goodness on the VG site too for those videogame-inclined – and their accents are hella cool
i’m of scottish and irish ancestory and i’m a huge fan of yours, jonathan. so it pains me to bring up the “brogue” issue but, as a bit of an obsession of mine, i feel i must. refering to Scots speech, it is a “burr”. a “brogue” refers to Irish speech. however, neither is correct. Scots and Irish speak English — with an “accent”. Scots accent; Irish accent. A burr refers to the rolling “Rs” in Scottish accents; a “brogue” is a shoe and no kind of speech at all.
Coulton? In my city of Glasgow. And I missed it…
;_;
But I love Video Gaiden at the best of times anyway…
So this was trully great….