Over the past few years I’ve read more articles and papers on remix culture than I’m willing to admit. But after all the bullshit, I’m proud to have encountered a real, tangible example of it in the wild.
On YouTube there’s a still-frame video posting of a song called “The Device Has Been Modified” by Victims Of Science. It’s a collection of samples from the game Portal, pitch-shifted for musical appropriateness, placed over a slick synth beat. The video description laments the practical nonexistence of the artist.
*Please note, this song ISN’T made by me (or anyone that claims to on YT), it’s by Victims of Science, who don’t seem to have a website.. if you find one, please let me know*
A song inspired by Portal using various sounds from GLaDOS.
The song is so absolutely hardcore, it’s difficult for me to contain myself.
[audio:thedevicehasbeenmodified.mp3]
I’ve wrought my Google Fu, and the oldest source I can come up with is a blog post by Jonathan Coulton dated October 23, 2007. The YouTube video linked to above was posted October 24, 2007, which says to me that the song couldn’t have hit the internet much earlier than the Coulton post.
I’ve looked up the track on Last.fm and the oldest wall shout is also dated October 24, 2007. I checked for diggs, and the oldest I found was posted 54 days ago, which, according to my calculations, means November 7, 2007.
I must find this artist so that I can PayPal him my life savings. And then give him something in addition to that 16MB 3dfx Voodoo3 card I never threw away. I’ve already listened to this song way more than is healthy.
OK, yeah, and I listened to a German version of “Silent Night” by Manowar. That’s definitely not healthy and I’m already seeking a therapist for help.
[audio:manowar-stille_nacht]
Download the MP3s directly here:
Über props to J for telling me about this. (I’m talking about the Portal song, not the Manowar one. Don’t want to shame him or anything.)
Conor, really liked the Victims of Science track. A lot. Below are two links to some good Christmas music. I know one of the violinists, who pointed me to the website:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNvo3-aRwEc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwTOlg1LCeA
Glad you liked it! I found it really awesome, and fortunately I think it’s gotten Jordan all fired up and maybe we’ll hear something to top it soon.
BUT NO PRESSURE DUDE.
Oh dear. As I watched those videos, I fully expected comic relief such as paint falling from the ceiling or a lion attacking one of the choir members. YouTube, what have you done to me?!
Thank you so much for classing up the peanut gallery that is the comments section on my blog, Paul.
I mean, I’m gonna go so far as to say that the Handel piece was better than the Manowar song I posted.
I desire to make that my some sort of ringtone