Jonathan Coulton

atdt1991 played "Skullcrusher Mountain" for me, and Scalzi had me listen to "Code Monkey", "Mandelbrot Set" and "Re: Your Brain" on his iPod. These songs by Jonathan Coulton were enough to make me ask Lady Sarah to please see if there is any way Coulton would like to perform at Penguicon. I've been listening to his free samples and buying his music all day, and have transformed into a fan eager to tell everyone I know.

Some of his music is genuinely tender and touching, while remaining... weird. Consider for instance, his song from the point of view of Pluto's moon Charon. I can see them in my minds' eye holding hands, spinning around and around each other.

Other songs are hilarious. Listen to "Podsafe Christmas Song" if you want to laugh. The lyrics are just the tip of the iceberg of what's funny about it:

We want a podsafe Christmas song
We want a song that’s safe to play
Don’t think us rude
We don’t want to get sued
By the thugs at the RIAA
We have been good the whole year long
Santa don’t delay
Give us a podsafe Christmas song
To celebrate Christmas day

Hodgman and Coulton

Watch on YouTube

Daily Show Resident Expert John Hodgman, (who'll you may recognize as "Hi, I'm a PC" from the Apple commercials) and Traveling Troubador Jonathan Coulton (who I blogged about last night) seem to have some kind of co-promotional partnership, constantly mentioning each other in their blogs, and touring together. They'll appear at the Borders Books And Music on Liberty in downtown Ann Arbor on Wednesday, October 4 at 7PM. However, the only way Coulton will give a concert later that night is if we all go to Eventful and ask for it.