Reply To: Introduce Yourself
Ahhh, I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship.
Two months ago, I had never heard of Jonathan Coulton. I mean, seriously. Can you IMAGINE? Now, I can't get his songs out of my head, and he is absolutely dominating my iPod. Not even the Beatles can hang with him anymore.
For my journey from there to here, I can blame (I mean thank) some since-forgotten blog link to Spiff's Re: Your Brains video. Enjoyed it, bookmarked it, forgot it. A week or two later, another link brought me to Spiff's Code Monkey video. Damn, that's good.
I watched Code Monkey over and over, loving it more each time. Great job, JC! Great job, Spiff! Realized that this was the same guy who sang Re: Your Brains. Same guy? I have got to check this out. I have got to check out some of this Coulton fellow's other music. I wasn't overly hopeful though. How many times have you done that? Found a great new song or two by an artist you've never heard of, then eagerly dug deeper only to find….. one hit wonder, and nothing more.
That initial skepticism turned to hopefullness, happiness, and finally outright amazement as I dug in to the JC universe. I simply couldn't believe what I was hearing. Beautiful music, staggeringly clever lyrics. Maybe I used too many monkeys? I waved with my flipper? Stupid insistence on scanning my iris?? Dolphins are all PHONIES?? I used to think They Might be Giants were witty, but they're not in this guy's league. Ha ha, fat chance, as the saying goes.
And to find that his story is as good as his music…. damn! I The guy found out his wife was pregnant, and quickly decided to QUIT his well paying cubicle job to become a Rock Star. Are you KIDDING ME? If I ever stumbled in to a movie and saw that plotline, I'd get up and walk out and ask for my money back. It's just that improbable.
I have since spread the Coulton gospel to my mother. She is in her mid-70's, and nobody's idea of a geek or nerd. Not JC's stereotype demographic, is what I'm saying. I burned a CD of the Second Life concert and gave it to her. Gave her another CD with a selection of thing-a-week songs and a few others.
She called me the next day at work, and said "This guy is a genius, isn't he?"
Yes mom, he is.
Of course I don't have to tell any of you that, now do I?