Code Monkey (song)
"Code Monkey" is a song by Jonathan Coulton, released on 14 April 2006[1] and part of his album Thing a Week Three released in December 2006. It is one of his most popular songs[2] and has since been downloaded over one million times.[3] The song is about a computer programmer who thinks in ape-like terms, and has been described as a "rocking anthem about dead-end programming jobs."[4]
"Code Monkey" | |
---|---|
Song by Jonathan Coulton | |
from the album Thing a Week Three | |
Released | April 14, 2006 |
Recorded | April 2006 |
Genre | Indie rock, comedy |
Length | 3:10 |
Label | Self-released |
Songwriter(s) | Jonathan Coulton |
Producer(s) | Jonathan Coulton |
The song was accidentally mastered and released in mono on the album Thing a Week Three. Jonathan Coulton later released the song in stereo for his compilation album JoCo Looks Back.[5] Although it does not have an official music video, it is still Coulton's most popular original song, having developed a small-yet-devoted cult following.
In other media
A music video for the song was created by Mike Spiff Booth using imagery from the World of Warcraft video game series and uploaded to YouTube on September 23, 2006.[6]
The song has appeared in television commercials, and is the theme song for the G4 television network show Code Monkeys.[7]
In 2008, the song was featured in an animated video presented at a free ASIFA event, written by Tom Weiser and IdleAmbition.
In 2012, Chicago-based performance troupe VStheUNIVERSE released a short film based on Coulton's work entitled "Code Monkey."
References
- "Thing a Week 29 – Code Monkey"
- "Jonathan Coulton Answers Your Questions". Slashdot, 5/31/2011.
- (No author.) "Pop songs based on office life are missing from musical history," The Times (United Kingdom), Section: Features, What else happened, pg. 2 – Career, June 7, 2007.
- Clive Thompson. "Sex, Drugs and Updating Your Blog". The New York Times, 5/13/2011.
- Coulton, Jonathan (October 10, 2008). "Funny Story". JonathanCoulton.com. Retrieved December 4, 2020.
- Mike Spiff Booth. "Code Monkey Music Video"
- Coulton, Jonathan (June 11, 2007). "Code Monkeys". JonathanCoulton.com. Retrieved August 22, 2008.