Jonathan Coulton Re-records 'Code Monkey' For Us

Back in 2006, we discussed Jonathan Coulton's 'Code Monkey,' a song about the plight of under-appreciated developers. In the years since, Coulton's efforts to produce geek-oriented songs have propelled him to a successful music career. To mark Slashdot's 15th anniversary, he was kind enough to do a brand new recording of 'Code Monkey' for us. The video is embedded below, and here's a description from the email he sent to CmdrTaco: "It seemed fitting to do a new version of that song. I have all these gadgets that I buy and barely learn how to play, and when I heard you guys were looking for videos and things, it inspired me to sit down and actually try to get some of them working. What you see is me doing a version of Code Monkey performed live on electric guitar and laptop. The grid with lights is a monome running Pages, Polygomé and mlrv on my mac. You're also hearing some loops and noises from Ableton Live, controlled by footswitches, the monome, and the little keyboard, which is an OP-1. Back in 2006 I didn't know what I was doing, and with all these gizmos, I still don't. So that's a relief." Thanks, Jonathan.

Code Monkeys!

[Anonymous Coward]

Nice, I loved that show Code Monkeys, which showed me this song. :) then I saw that old /. Article.

Re:

[dotHectate]

As an aside, Code Monkey's is currently on Netflix instant streaming. I've been watching it since my path was the opposite (knew the song, never saw the show).

Ya know ....

[Anonymous Coward]

Back when I was a coder in the 90s, we listened to metal, Green Day and other punk bands, Sisters of Mercy, NIN, and things like that.

I couldn't relate to this ... and I leave it at that.

Re:

[Sable Drakon]

Must not have been a programmer for very long or you were with a company that didn't treat you like a slave.

Re:

[Anon-Admin]

Wait! There are companies that dont treat you like a slave?

I dont believe you!

Re:

[Sable Drakon]

The AC seems to have found one. If it's true, I might actually be impressed!

Re:

[neminem]

Mine doesn't either. You could even figure out what it was, if you looked through my slashdot comments enough - someone made a positive post about the company's products some months back, and I said hi on behalf of them. :D

Re:

[neminem]

(For what it's worth, though, even if I do work at a company that doesn't suck, don't really like Fritos, Tab or Mountain Dew, and also have never tended to crush on people who aren't also geeks, which mostly precludes them being office receptionists... I still feel some relation to the protagonist of the song in question, dunno why.)

Re:

[crazyjj]

There are companies that dont treat you like a slave?

They're rumored to exist--in the same way Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster are too.

Re:

[Nocturnal Deviant]

i am stuck between modding you insightful, or simply typing to say that i cant even mod this funny with how accurate it is...

Re:

[WillyWanker]

You'd have more luck finding a leprechaun riding a unicorn down the streets of Atlantis.

This version going to get released?

[Earl The Squirrel]

We going to see a version of this on his site?

Re:

[X0563511]

I hope not. He did not do it any service.

Re:

[X0563511]

I have created nothing worth posting, and I can't sing anyways (it would just be some trance). Lets hear yours? At least I know something about production.

Re:

[X0563511]

FUCK YOU, you arrogant prick!

I suggest you follow your own advice.

Re:This version going to get released?

[neminem]

Not implying anything about this particular version of the song, as I haven't listened to it yet, what with being at work, but I feel compelled to quote a great post I read on a forum a number of years ago, on this subject: "Just because someone thinks something isn't good doesn't necessarily mean they think they're better. Just because the guy from Phish can play guitar better than I can doesn't mean they're good."

Re:original was better

[Nerdfest]

He's been doing a more sentimental version in his live shows for years. It is a sad little story, and it's nice to hear a different take on it every once in a while.

Re:

[X0563511]

Not with an annoying ride that includes a really high pitched beep (that sounds more like the whine from an old TV going bad...)

Assuming Jonathan sticks his head into this thread

[Shemmie]

A big, big thank you for some of the best geek music ever. Code Monkey, RE: Your Brains, the Portal work, etc - Sir, you're a legend.

Watching vs Listening

[ardyng]

I found it interesting to watch this, then listen to it without the video.

I don't know why, but I think I enjoy it better without watching him. My only guess is that I can enjoy the music more when I'm not obsessing over what each button push and dial twiddle is doing. :)

I just want to know...

[santajon]

how long of a user id Jonathan has.

Live? really?

[fabriciom]

Code Monkey chose Ableton Live? Why code monkey? Why?

Great version

[fox1324]

Great song, great dynamics, thanks very much Jonathan. Keep it up! Now I want to go pick up a tele...

I much prefer "White Collar Holler" by Stan Rogers

[wjeff]

It is a little dated, but then so am I.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsDkmVo2fg4 [youtube.com]

Re:

[metalgamer84]

It looks fine on Netflix, check it out.

Re:

[Medievalist]

Here, have some Sputnik [mentallandscape.com].

Blast from the past

[Mercano]

I first found JoCo from the original Slashdot post; I was quite excited to find out he was playing at the first PAX I attended (2008). I think I bounced from him to quite a few other geek-friendly music acts now in my iPod, Paul and Storm, Molly Lewis, Marian Call, the Doubleclicks... So, thanks, Slashdot!

Login page

[chebucto]

If you login from a story on Slashdot it kicks you back to the main page. Not very elegant, code monkey! :)

Re:

[mynameisdom]

Maybe chebucto wanna write goddamn login page himself. ;)

That was so beautiful...

[sudden.zero]

... that I almost cried.

Please Ignore

[Zumbs]

Posted to undo moderation error. Please Ignore. Sorry.

Awesome

[monk]

Loved the original, and this version is fun. The lights on the monome were a show all by themselves.

Code Monkeys t-shirt

[heuermh]

Awesome song, and loved the show. I made a t-shirt inspired by the show here

http://www.spreadshirt.com/dave-black-C3376A7953673 [spreadshirt.com]

If you would prefer to use a different t-shirt vendor, let me know and I can send the SVG or PNG design file.

Wait, what?

[TimHunter]

Jonathon Coulton is a Mac-using hipster fag Apple fanboi? Say it ain't so, Jo!

Re:

[93 Escort Wagon]

Jonathon Coulton is a Mac-using hipster fag Apple fanboi? Say it ain't so, Jo!

Yeah, it's terrible how he uses tools that help him accomplish his objectives and doesn't let mindless zealotry get in the way.

Say "Code monkey" and thou shal suffer the cons...

[lowlands]

Anyone remember that a long time member of the Community used the phrase "Code Monkey"? It's been a few years but hearing this version I wish people would just first take a deep breath, count to ten and then focus on the things that really matter...

The song is on Rock Band

[GlobalEcho]

You can buy Code Monkey (and other Coulton songs) on Rock Band. Hearing myself murder it, and then watching this version, reminds me how far I am from being a professional musician.

cmdrtaco.net?

[halcyon1234]

http://cmdrtaco.net/2012/10/joco-re-records-code-monkey-for-slashdots-birthday/

Wait, Cmdr Taco has a blog? Since when? That's cool! Why didn't he start blogging a long time ago? It would have been cool to read tech news and articles posted by him.

Re:

[Qu4Z]

Sadly I do not have mod points. But well played, good sir.

BEEP BEEEP BEEEP BEEEEEEEP!!

[Mondoz]

Couldn't listen to the whole song. That high pitched beep beep beep was grating my ears.

Well, it got me

[dosun88888]

The original faster version made me cry the first time I heard it, and this got me again. Not sure what it is.