Aperture Science Rocks: The Top 12 'Still Alive' Cover Versions
Inspired by the absolutely awesome news (ta Jane!) that singer-songwriter Jonathan Coulton - the composer of the spectacularly catchy Portal end-theme 'Still Alive' - is playing a gig in San Francisco on the Friday of Game Developers Conference, GameSetWatch had a fun thought.
So, the Internet is good with this whole 'user contributed content' thing. And 'Still Alive' is so damn hummable, it hurts. So, could we put together a Top 12 of 'Still Alive' cover versions, as posted on ubiquitous and gigantic video upload megalopolis YouTube? Oh boy, we could - and here's the sometimes delightful, sometimes painful results:
12. 'Still Alive' - The Fursuit Version
Needless to say, furries are some of the first people to seize on a trend and 'enhance' it to their level, hence the 'Still Alive' (Fursuit Edition), which is, simply enough, somebody in a furry suit playing the song on a keyboard. User comments include: 'I wish I learned a fursuit friendly instrument the guitar doesn't lend itself to being easily played in a fursuit'. Sigh.
11. A 'Still Alive' FPS Shooting Duet?
Possibly the video that came closest to blowing my mind, this performance was conducted using Garry's Mod for Half-Life 2, with one player shooting chords from a distance and the other one hitting the melody from close up. Complete insanity.
10. Bizarre 'J-Pop' Cover Version
You've always wanted to see an Asian lady in dungarees and a beret playing on a kids playset while singing along to a xylophone-replete cover of 'Still Alive', right? OK, just checking, cos that's what you're getting with Portal " Still Alive" by Cana:n Cana:n.
9. The Band Bros DS Cover
The Japan-only DS title Daigasso! Band Brothers allows you to compose music using the touchscreen after you unlock 'score maker pro' in the game - hence this not unreasonable cover version using that app.
8. Hatsune Miku Takes A Hack At It
For those not in the know, Hatsune Miko is a major Japanese craze, sophisticated voice synthesis software which allows any geeked-out otaku to compose, synthetically create and replay vocals from a super-cute Japanese cybergirl - hence this version, using Yamaha's Vocaloid tech to good, slightly Japanese accent-tinged effects.
7. Incredibly Awkward Bedroom Singalong
This version had one solitary view when I came across it, which was more because it was new than particularly terrible, of course, but if you enjoy nerdy girls with obvious gothloli leanings singing along using a webcam - with occasional use of Bob Dylan-esque cards - then, uhh, go right ahead.
6. The Player Piano Is 'Still Alive'
Didn't realize that today's breed of player piano can be programmed pretty easily, apparently, and so we get this spookiness - a piano _playing itself_ and blasting out 'Still Alive', thanks to a reader request, apparently. Does the piano want cake? Is that it?
5. The LipSync Is The Message
Where would we be without the lipsync-ing webcam video? In a world without Numa Numa Kid, that's where, so we have to thanks 'RaisinAznJason' for this particular version, with some strangely choirboy-like emoting and choppy audio - but hey, Portal folks, someone likes your ending song enough to randomly emote to it.
4. The Revenge Of Vocaloid
Wait, we're not done with Hatsune Miko - here's a Japanese-language cover of 'Still Alive', also done with the Vocaloid 2 synthetic voice software, and actually replete with some nice vibrato, slide, and delicate vocal phrasing, I reckon. Great job, if no actual accompanying video to speak of.
3. The Devil Music Version
Possibly the strangest of all of the versions on YouTube, this has a simple logo screen and the song played backwards, for no discernable reason. However, it sounds much cooler than one would expect, and there's a rash of inevitable comments insisting GLaDOS is saying rude, (even more) diabolical things only now revealed by the backwards spin. Suuure.
2. The Song, 'Covered' By The Auteur
OK, this is somewhat cheating, but here's Jonathan Coulton himself appearing on the AT&T Tech Channel (!), with a beautifully simple version of 'Still Alive', just him, acoustic guitar, and a grinning idiot eating cake.
1. Still Alive On 8080
Linked quite a bit recently and topping our largely random chart, this version geeks out in style: "Everything on the terminals and sound is controlled by an Intel 8080 Microprocessor at 2MHz. The sound chip is a MOS SID (From a Commodore 64)." And yes, the source code is available.
Comments
Awesome to see Thrashbarg's 8080 rendition made it to the top of the list. If you want to download the files though, try it through this article - http://www.gamingsa.com/index.php?nid=869 - we've permission to host them so that the other server doesn't get swamped and pulled down.
Posted by: Daniel Purvis | January 19, 2008 12:48 AM
My vote goes to #11, #7, #6, #4, #2 and #1
Great list :)
Posted by: Cake | January 19, 2008 1:17 AM
The 8080-version was very cool, but I can't help but think that the sid chip can do a lot better in the hands of a talented coder/musician...
Uh, and aren't you being a bit insensitive in the description of no. 7? You're an adult, and she's not, so you should watch what you say and remember that comments like that can be hurtful. IMO.
Posted by: wing commander | January 19, 2008 12:10 PM
I did say that Clip #7 was low on page views 'more because it was new than particularly terrible', which I think was _relatively_ polite. It's the only clip of the twelve that I can't really sit through, FWIW.
Posted by: simonc | January 19, 2008 12:24 PM
No, it wasn't that, it was the "nerdy girls with obvious loli leanings" (and mostly the loli-bit) I reacted to.
Posted by: wing commander | January 19, 2008 12:29 PM
Ah, I think maybe I've run into some definitional difficulties in GothLoli vs. Loli, though both are clearly from the same root - I've edited the post accordingly, and you'll see what I mean. In any case, check the costuming in her other videos - there is umbrella twirling!
Posted by: simonc | January 19, 2008 12:41 PM
I love this song!!
#7 is just *LOL* but all around great stuff!
Posted by: Jim | January 19, 2008 1:04 PM
I saw #7's video a while ago and it -really- pisses me off. Why would you release a video in which you butchered the god damn lyrics, melody -and- tempo of the song? She ruins the song.
And you can't fucking post comments on the video or her main page. What a bitch. DURHUR I DON'T LIKE CRITICISM.
Posted by: Bryan | January 19, 2008 1:16 PM
"GothLoli" isn't a term anyone uses... And if she's trying to be a Sweet Lolita, she's really failing. She just looks like a bad cosplayer to me.
Posted by: PissesExcellence | January 19, 2008 1:32 PM
You missed VG catz one. It easily beats most of those.
http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=251
Posted by: Michael | January 19, 2008 4:33 PM
Nice list, I found this techno version pretty cool
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGwRLKl2Co4
Posted by: Thomas | January 19, 2008 5:59 PM
I love the game and I love the song. Check out http://www.virginmega.fr/musique/titre/bia-estrela-do-mar-bille-de-verre-101258222,page1.htm if you want to hear what's probably a major influence for the tune...
Posted by: Mario's Pants | January 19, 2008 6:02 PM
If Simon uses a term, then people are using a term. So GothLoli is a term that people are using.
Posted by: Jason Scott | January 20, 2008 3:36 AM
This is #7 saying a big thank you :) i was shocked and just honestly trying to have fun and wow thank you so muchhhhh
Posted by: Nadine | January 20, 2008 4:05 AM
I also read the comments and to clear some stuff up
1. i merely trying to have fun
2. Im not a minor I am actually going to be 20 soon
3. "GothLoli" :) wow i am happy you knew the term :) I am actually sweet lolita which is a brighter version
4. Bad cosplayer. This is actual authentic clothing. It can resemble a costume if you don't know what it is. It's not cheap either the lace is the only proof i can show you.
5. The comment on my video wasn't the nicest but it didn't really hurt my feelings, I am a nerd, not really an otaku but oh well
6 as for "And you can't fucking post comments on the video or her main page. What a bitch. DURHUR I DON'T LIKE CRITICISM." the account was just created a day ago off course I'm not done editing everything
Posted by: CupcakeAndTea | January 20, 2008 7:09 AM
Please delete creepy cake guy from the video.
Posted by: Varion | January 20, 2008 12:38 PM
No listing for the VGCats flash version?
Posted by: Greywolfe | January 20, 2008 2:32 PM
The 8080 one... the MOS chip the C64 uses is the 6502 chip which is the base for the 2A03 processor that the NES uses in case anyone who has never used a C64 claims that it was actually an NES chiptune. You could recreate that using an NSF tracker.
Posted by: Skunk | January 20, 2008 6:13 PM
Wow. What a selection. I enjoyed the diversity but could not choose a favorite.
Posted by: Daniel E. Friedman | January 20, 2008 7:00 PM
<3 Thrashy!!
Posted by: Subdolus | January 20, 2008 8:44 PM
GO THRASHBARG! *cheers*
Posted by: MasterCJ | January 20, 2008 8:50 PM
ahahaha!!
Bloody awesome to see Thrashbargs' version at no. 1!!
Who knew that vid we made only a week ago would get so popular...
Congrats mate :D
Posted by: sherman | January 20, 2008 9:04 PM
the vgcats flash isn't a cover. it's a video set to the original recording. that's not what this list is about.
Posted by: k.t. | January 21, 2008 8:32 AM
#7 was my favorite
Posted by: ck | January 21, 2008 10:40 AM
aww jeez some many ppl ranting on my very first video...
at least give constructive critism
i dont need insults
Posted by: RaisinAznJason | January 21, 2008 3:00 PM
What the hell is so awkward about the little girl singing? It was adorable and sweet and made me appreciate the new generation of geeks all the more. You are all a bunch of dorky videogame nerds yourselves and should know better than to tear apart a poor little kid who was taking a risk to put themselves out there and be quirky and fun. You should be ashamed of yourselves, frankly.
Posted by: no | January 22, 2008 7:27 AM
Devil music version for the win.
Posted by: Morden Night | January 22, 2008 8:07 AM
It is very honorable of the commenters to defend the little girl in #7... but she has been a legal adult for two years now. Plenty of time to have figured out that the world is not made of sugar and sparkles and that she can't sing worth a damn.
Posted by: Girl | January 22, 2008 9:28 PM
I'd count the VGCats one as a cover. It's not conceptually different from the Asian guy who lip-syncs the song.
Posted by: antzpantz | January 22, 2008 10:11 PM
Okay, the backwards one is really freaking awesome. And the Japanese one is cute, even if the pacing got kind of weird.
The "little girl" in #7 is actually nineteen, EXTREMELY socially awkward, and isn't actually Lolita ("gothloli" is kind of an inaccurate term).
Utatte, gtfo.
Posted by: ribon | January 22, 2008 10:39 PM
Props for #1 ! C64 was my first computer so any nod to it gets points from me. Now I want to go play Fist II.
#5 Was the only one I couldn't watch... that's just embarrassing...
#7 Anyone can see that that girl is an adult. Cute nerd girls are awesome, and her bad singing only makes her cuter. If I ever see her at a con she's getting a hug.
She can dress however she damn well pleases. She gets points. LEVEL UP!
Besides, we're all here because portal is awesome, which pretty much makes us all a bunch of dorks so just calm the fuck down people.
Posted by: Ghola | January 24, 2008 10:03 AM
This "creepy cake guy" has a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics, you pointy-hair fool!
Posted by: Ilia Chentsov | January 24, 2008 11:50 AM
#1 is so awesome. And the most 'in the spirit of' the original, imo. Bravo!
Posted by: Laurie | January 25, 2008 12:57 PM
An interview/feature article with #7 is now up at www.jumpbuttonmag.com
Posted by: Jump:Button | January 29, 2008 6:06 PM
dude taht rocked # 1 is personally my fave
Posted by: Kimmiko | February 4, 2008 6:55 AM
The best Still Alive cover is the one Beth Kinderman did at MarsCon 08 (sorry, I can't find a video for it, but I assure it was awesome)
Posted by: Stephen | August 6, 2008 7:07 AM
Awesome list! Thanks for putting this together and bringing a huge smile to my face. I only discovered this song 2 nights ago (when I stayed up late to beat the game) and now I feel like I'm in on some awesome new subculture.
Posted by: Jordan | August 9, 2008 10:36 AM
I did a nice duet remix:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2aQM_H_Z8A
Posted by: Michael Briel | November 20, 2008 12:40 PM