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Interviews: Ask Jonathan Coulton What You Will
Jonathan Coulton's song Code Monkey became an anthem for many programmers (not just ones with managers named Rob) and his success is proof that you really can become an internet rock star. Since we last talked, Coulton has became the house musician for the NPR show Ask Me Another and had one of his songs copied without permission, credit, or thanks by the show Glee, much to his chagrin. Jonathan has agreed to answer all your questions about music, internet stardom, and robots. Normal Slashdot interview rules apply.
That'll teach 'em!
“He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
Did you have a specific girl in mind at the office when you wrote that song?
What's John Hodgman REALLY like in the sack?
Over the past five years I've taken on the mantle of karaoke nerd (I will also answer to diva), and I've really enjoyed performing the karaoke tracks which I bought from your website and persuaded various KJs to import. "First of May" tends to get me some funny looks, and despite the disclaimer, I've yet to be punched in the nose after singing it./
Do you have plans to release any new karaoke tracks? Is there any chance that "Still Alive" will get one, or does Valve own those rights?
What about more sheet music?
Promote proofreading. Don't mod up sloppy posts.
Any plans on releasing an updated version on the internets? I've liked the additional lyrics when I hear it live. And thank you sir for your work. ~ from a fellow code monkey
According to your own definition of success, have you reached that point where you feel like you've made it happen? If so, what was that point? If not, what would you like to have happen?
I've been a fan ever since I discovered Thing A Week as an undergrad. My dormmates and I discussed doing a musical theatre version of "Skullcrusher Mountain." "I'm Your Moon" was our first dance at our science-themed wedding. Keep up the awesomeness!
Did you finish Portal 1 and 2?
I should use this sig to advertise my book ISBN-13 : 978-1501515132.
Do you ever wish you were "Tom Cruise Crazy"? Did you ever get any flak from him for that song?
Hi Jon. Have you been approached for Portal 3?
Also, thanks for releasing all those tracks for Ultrastar DX. My son was absolutely terrified of the Creepy Doll song and my kids love to sing RE:Your Brains (They're 6 and 5).
When the CBS show "The Good Wife" copied your Glee saga (in the season 5 episode titled "Goliath and David") right down to the Reddit sleuths uncovering the background noise, did you receive credit or compensation? It would be pretty hilarious if that too were blatantly reproduced without permission...
Can you give some details about the technology you use on stage when playing live without a band?
Clueless troll is clueless. And also punctuates poorly.
Welcome to the Panopticon. Used to be a prison, now it's your home.
He used to post on Slashdot a lot was pretty famous here. Lurk more.
What are the best first steps and what was your greatest challenge in leaving the day job?
(Yes, I know, two questions. Sue me.)
What is your approximate breakdown of revenue annually (i.e. % from digital downloads, CDs, live shows, royalties)? How has it changed over the years?
Like...how much?
As a consumer listening to songs I find only a small percentage of work of any single artist strikes that perfect mix that makes me want to put a song on a "favorites" playlist. As you look back at your library of songs, is there a group that you think really are just meh and how many do you still really, really enjoy performing? As a followup - if the songs you perform the most get stale for you as a performer do you look to your catalog to keep things fresh or do you prefer to write new material?
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
Will you come sing at my birthday party, pro bono? I am old enough for this to be weird, but you are a hero of mine.
- Your stupidity got you into this mess, why can't it get you out? -Will Rogers
I've heard you referred to as a modern-day Tom Lehrer. What is your take on that comparison?
What's your favorite song?
Coder's Stone: The programming language quick ref for iPad
The notice you gave via RSS for the Portland gig a few months back was way too short. Thanks for doing the Humble Music Bundle. You rock.
Cloudiot: A person who does not see offsite storage as a way to lose control over access to his or her own data.
... and the tools at your disposal. Any FOSS stuff? Production gear you particularly like?
Rob can actually be funny sometimes, you know.
SJW's don't eliminate discrimination. They just expropriate it for themselves.
How does it feel to know that this has been posted for nearly two hours, this is the 29th post and most of the others aren't real questions?
Sorry, this is question #2, but since I know you'll be reading these and the number of questions seems light so far, I figured I'd ask. I love Artificial Heart, although the bonus tracks are a bit incongruous. "Today With Your Wife" chokes me up. Nice work.
Cloudiot: A person who does not see offsite storage as a way to lose control over access to his or her own data.
Hi Jonathan!
These days it's quite popular to both bash the copyright system and sue those thieving filesharers to oblivion. I'd like to ask you what you, as an independant musician, think would be a good balance between the creator rights and the public interests? Would it be a RIAA wet dream where all the content is locked up behind paywalls and getting a copy from an unauthorized source, like say a library, would constitute a crime with a minimum of 6 months in jail? Do you believe more in the Pirate Parties vision of abolishing the monopoly on creating copies, but retaining the protection against economic abuse? Or are you more in favor of going full nuclear by abolishing the entire copyright system alltogether? Thank you for all the great songs you have produced over the years!
systemd is not an init system. It's a GNU replacement.
My teenage son got PAX tickets before the acts were announced and he's kind of bummed that you're not on the show list.
On one of your recent visits to Atlanta you had your merch-guy sing your encore. Is that common practice for you?
You weren't at the last PAX Prime, nor will you be at the upcoming PAX East. Any story behind that?
I think it's been a couple years since Artificial Heart came out. I know that you've been busy with Ask Me Another, touring, cruising, etc., but are you working on anything new?
Also, how do you feel about Artificial Heart compared to your earlier (do-it-yourself) albums?
What are your retrospective thoughts on you're thing a week project? I'm particularly interested in if you thought it was a success (and what that might mean), and if you would suggest something similar to other artists.
Loved your music ever since i heard about you through Slashdot 6 or 7 years ago! Thanks for all the laughs and entertainment!
So did the protag sleep with the town crotch?
Do you still log into Second Life and would you consider doing another concert there?
What's your opinion of the Oculus Rift and other advancements in three dimensional technologies, and you believe they will inspire renewed interest to virtual reality?
Many thanks
Can you tell us what the song Now I Am An Arsonist is about? It's not as obvious as the title might suggest. It talks about astronauts and acrobats while arson is hardly mentioned. Did you have the backstory of some particular arsonist, real or imagined, in mind when you wrote it?
I think he's trying to be John Mayer but gayer, if that's possible.
So, Joco, I had no idea who the hell you were when I stumbled across the PopSci podcast from the moon, which was really awesome and still what I think of when I think of your work. Not all these songs everybody else thinks of. No, for me it's a wacky but informative podcast.
So what happened? Why did they stop? How come you don't talk about them?
Sig for hire.
Have you considered a female point-of-view version of your song "Better"? It'd be interesting to hear the logic behind her upgrades, and what she was after in the first place.
Also, is there any kind of correlation between "Better" and "Nobody Loves You Like Me"?
Do, please keep up the Wonderful Work! Great, insightful and thought-provoking body of work, BTW!
I thought I asked a couple of decent questions, but it seems they were toxic, and the thread has died a miserable death... Anybody still out there? Has anyone gotten any kind of answers from JoCo?
Does any body know where my BBQ Fritos went?