Writing the music paper that's gonna kill me -- about how to make a nice non-superstar middle class life while playing music -- and came across the exact same geek theme in songs from the 2000s and the 1920s.First music video: A couple of regular-looking guys fronted by Todd Burge, who are covering a song from the 1920's.
The relevant bit run up to the 2:00 mark: The video and the song tell a beautifully simple story about the woman who comes to town "to work on the telephone," which was the height of modernity at the time.
While Lady Lovelylocks sets to work, the song's shy narrator just pines and paces in the background, fantasizing about the perfect life he could have if she would just abandon the damned phone company and run off with him.
(Thanks to John Radcliffe for pointing me Burge's way.)
And then here's this new video for Jonathan Coulton's "Codemonkey," about a computer programmer making puppy dog eyes at the office admin. It's a wonderful song, but now that it's been set to japanime, it's just spooky good.
(Thanks to Coulton's blog for pointing out the new vid.)
I guess even when you're writing about technology, you have to work some sex -- or at least sexual frustration -- into the mix if you want people to care.
