Video: Jonathan Coulton performing 'Still Alive' Rock Band DLC

by Christopher Grant { Feb 24th 2008 at 4:25PM }

On Friday night we were lucky enough to witness a pretty special event: geek-rock troubadour Jonathan Coulton performing his song "Still Alive" at San Francisco's Great American Music Hall. There's nothing new about that, he's been performing it since Portal's release last year. What is new is that he was playing it in Rock Band, where it's due to be released as downloadable content, and we just so happened to get it all on camera.

Unfortunately, most of Coulton's Rock Band band wasn't quite up to his level, with the lone exception of ... hey, it's Mahalo Daily's Veronica Belmont, who you should recognize from her GDC videos here on Joystiq.

One of the Harmonix folks there told us the track was only in production for an unusually short six weeks, thanks in no small part to Valve's willingness (you might even call it eagerness) to license the song. They also said that, though nothing has been finalized yet, they're expecting the track to be attractively priced at $0.99 leaving you no reason to avoid it. High-def video embedded after the break.

Tags: GDC08, Jonathan-Coulton, Portal, Rock-Band, Still-Alive

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ebeezy @ Feb 24th 2008 4:27PM

hey maybe we'll see "First of May" on rock band =)

Monkeydog @ Feb 24th 2008 4:30PM

I would love that.

Dravir @ Feb 24th 2008 4:34PM

Leo Laporte failing for the ultimate win!

Ignatius @ Feb 25th 2008 10:22AM

Holy crap.

I have a hell of a time with Run to the Hills on Hard, but these guys are absolutely TERRIBLE.

I'm the drummer in my band and even though I'm not great, seeing them fail makes my eyes HURT.

Ignatius @ Feb 25th 2008 10:23AM

However, without an edit button, if they were doing that blind, I have my condolences for them, however, I really doubt they'd be doing the song blind.

NintenDood @ Feb 24th 2008 4:35PM

But wouldn't you love "Re: Your Brains" on Rock Band better? :D

Hoamie @ Feb 24th 2008 4:37PM

am i the only one who thinks that song is gay and will never buy it for RB at any price? there must be 5 different posts about this stupid song on joystiq in the last few days- enough already. we get it- its a geeky song, written by a geek, loved by geeks. lets move on.

spoo @ Feb 24th 2008 4:47PM

Go buy Orange box now.

Tiptup300 @ Feb 24th 2008 4:51PM

no, go die.

SabreCat @ Feb 24th 2008 5:04PM

So I guess what you're trying to say is, it's hard to understate your satisfaction?

Poisoned Al @ Feb 24th 2008 5:15PM

You're calling people geeks while posting in a gaming blog. Get a dictionary, and look up the word "irony." Look up "stupid" while you're at it too.

LesbianHam @ Feb 24th 2008 6:15PM

And "gullible", I hear they've taken it out :/

April @ Apr 17th 2008 4:29AM

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14355559001

check out this group "Rockband Addicts" !!!

we need more officers?????

The Artist formally known as Jesus @ Feb 24th 2008 4:42PM

Haha

Jonathan Coulton,

You will remember this as the day you ALMOST completed Still Alive

April @ Apr 17th 2008 4:24AM

Girls really do play Rockband--oh and dig the Men that
Play too ;) !!!

check out my new group "Rockband Addicts"
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=14355559001
we need more officers?!?!?!

deft @ Feb 24th 2008 4:43PM

XD @ Leo Laporte being there.

That guy is awesome.

And this dlc will be a HUGE SUCCESS!!!

DarkTetsuya @ Feb 24th 2008 6:31PM

And he wore 'The Jacket' ... how awesome is that?!

deft @ Feb 24th 2008 6:49PM

Pretty damn ****ing awesome

ThornedVenom (Ludwig Defense Force) @ Feb 24th 2008 4:44PM

Rockband is such an awesome game: it's just really fun no matter how much you suck at it. =)

TIMMY! LIVIN' A LIE!!!!!!

Hoamie @ Feb 24th 2008 4:54PM

"no, go die"

see what i mean? only a dork would say that.

Grimble Crumble @ Feb 24th 2008 5:01PM

Just like only a dork would read and post on Joystiq?

peacebyanymeans (AKA: Moorio) @ Feb 24th 2008 5:07PM

Go drink the chemicals under the sink.

Poisoned Al @ Feb 24th 2008 5:18PM

Oh, while you still have that dictionary, look up "reply" and "function." You might also want to look up "epic" and "fail" and try to do it less.

DWells55 @ Feb 24th 2008 6:36PM

Wait guys, I think he's onto something. Maybe we are all a bunch of dorks who need to go outside and get a new hobby. Perhaps we should go find a job somewhere. Maybe Black Mesa?

...

THAT WAS A JOKE, HAHA. FAT CHANCE!

bigsim @ Feb 25th 2008 5:01AM

Oh wow, I wish I could mod you up to 100

Dr. @ Feb 24th 2008 5:12PM

A-plus, baby!

Deck @ Feb 24th 2008 5:22PM

Oh man, this was great! YAY!

mr mobius @ Feb 24th 2008 5:25PM

I'm guessing Veronica didn't fare too well from that? She took it well though.

beuks @ Feb 24th 2008 5:48PM

Quite the opposite. She was on lead (stage/screen right), and was the one rescuing the bassist and drummer when they failed.

Christopher Grant @ Feb 24th 2008 5:56PM

Yup, having played with Veronica a couple times, I assure you she was not the one failing here. The stage placement on the other hand ...

mr mobius @ Feb 24th 2008 5:57PM

Oh right. I assumed that she had the fret that appeared straight behind her. She did a good job then.

ApolloIV @ Feb 24th 2008 5:27PM

That guy is a true hero. I could see this as a free download but a full JoCO pack i would be all over.

Lance @ Feb 24th 2008 5:36PM

CODE MONKIES PLZ

KAYTHXBAI

capt_carl @ Feb 24th 2008 5:38PM

lol @ the 99% completion.

I really need to buy Rock Band.

plake @ Feb 24th 2008 6:01PM

my god, 99 % completion hahaha!!

this is so awesome, I'm glad it's the real GLaDOS version of Still alive. Now, please EA, release Rock Band in Europe already!!

NACHO @ Feb 24th 2008 6:07PM

Is it nerdy if that was the most entertaining thing of the day?

mr mobius @ Feb 24th 2008 6:32PM

Either yes or its been a very quiet day.

Kevin Leonard @ Feb 24th 2008 8:27PM

Well, just to warn everyone else, (and save them a little time), the song doesn't even start until 3 minutes into that video.

Donald @ Feb 24th 2008 9:08PM

Leo Laporte AND Merlin Mann?

I think I just nerdgasm'd.

Dave Silva @ Feb 25th 2008 12:07AM

Spam spam
yummy spam
pink and gooey and squishy spam!

miffy495 @ Feb 25th 2008 12:53AM

Love Portal, and the song is good, but seriously, don't you guys think this has gone just a bit too far? As a movie geek as well, I can't help but have flashbacks to Napoleon Dynamite, where a really charming and funny product is run into the ground by people who think quoting it is an adequate substitute for a sense of humour. I liked Napoleon Dynamite, but it got to the point that when I heard it quoted, I wanted to vomit. I liked Portal, but the cake, Still Alive, and companion cube references are beginning to be put into the same category. It's a great game, really it is. One of my top 5 of the year. I laughed my ass off the first time I heard the song. Seriously though, stop the quotes. It's gotten really tired and just a bit irritating.

e @ Feb 25th 2008 3:37AM

word to this. I agree completely. My friends ruined the song for me within a week. The thing is, it was me who showed it to them. Then they played and quoted it OVER AND OVER AND OVER. Quoting Monty Python, Napoleon Dynamite, Portal, whatever - it gets old.