Johannes Schult

“Unquestionably the funniest song you will ever hear about THE FAULT IN OUR STARS.” –John Green

This ain’t a book about a ballet dancer
No, it’s a book about a book about cancer
But there is something that is more important
This book mentions Natalie Portman
In 3 out of 25 chapters – I think she’s pretty scarce
That’s the fault in “The Fault in Our Stars”
Yeah that’s the fault in “The Fault in Our Stars”

If you do the math then you will see
22 chapters without Natalie
The ones that mention her are way too short, man!
John Green should have added way more Portman
It wouldn’t have been as difficult as landing a rover on Mars
That’s the fault in “The Fault in Our Stars”
Yeah that’s the fault in “The Fault in Our Stars”

At least the book doesn’t end in the middle of

(more…)

Gestern Abend fand im Kulturladen Konstanz einmal mehr die Kulturnacht des KUK statt. Los ging es mit einer beeindruckend flüssigen Tanznummer. Im weiteren Verlauf gab es allerlei coole Auftritte, von Leuchtschwebestabfaszination über tendenziell skurille Texte von Matze B. bis hin zu einem mehr als kurzweiligen Kurzfilm. Es gab auch allerlei Musik, u.a. etwas Herr-der-Ringe-Filmmusik und zum Schluss das unterhaltsame Akustik-Trio Redensart mit flotten Songs.

Zwischendurch war auch ich für ein paar Lieder auf der Bühne.  Hier ist “Konrad”:

Meine Setlist sah so aus:

1. Einkaufszettel
2. Konrad
3. Reis
4. I Wish Natalie Portman Was My Neighbour

A few minutes ago, I put my final 52-second song for 2011 online. By now, I have made 104 52-second songs – 52 in 2010 and now 52 in 2011. Thanks to everyone who listened to my 52-second songs and said encouraging things and shared my little tunes with their friends and had fun along the way. I certainly enjoyed the ride! I’ll update my music page in the near future. Meanwhile, check out the last two songs – each in an extended video version:

“I Won’t Be Your Mary Magdalen” is a homage to Dar Williams and Richard Shindell, whose music I love love love! The lyrics became kind of meta – and I think they provide a nice closure for my 52-second song project. I’m looking forward to write longer songs in 2012, for a change. Actually, I might elaborate on this song fragment with my band Manticess.

“Spoo for Christmas” was inspired the science fiction TV series Babylon 5. In the series, a lot of folks enjoy eating spoo, which “is a meat based food product“. Happy Holidays!

Last Friday I played here in Konstanz at the Rheintorturm. Thomas and Suff-X played as well. It was a lot of fun. Here’s a first video from that evening, “Omas Weihnachtsessen” – a Paul and Storm cover.

My setlist ended up looking like this:

1. Die wichtigen Fragen
2. Einkaufszettel
3. Konrad
4. Die Müllabfuhr der Seele
5. Toilet Song
6. A Mallful of Brains
7. Omas Weihnachtsessen
8. Reis
9. I Wish Natalie Portman Was my Neighbour
10. Der Speckgürtel von Paderborn

Mein Auftritt im Vorprogramm von Phrasenmäher im Kulturladen hat Spaß gemacht! Meine Setlist sah ungefähr so aus:

1. Die wichtigen Fragen
2. Reis
3. Badreligion
4. Laundry Day
5. 135 Zeichen
6. Lisa
7. Konrad
8. Der Speckgürtel von Paderborn
9. Fußball und Katze
10. A Mallful of Brains
11. Essen
12. Die Müllabfuhr der Seele
13. Einkaufszettel
14. I Wish Natalie Portman Was My Neighbour

Der Auftritt von Phrasenmäher war sehr kurzweilig. Ein, zwei Songs waren zu groovy und zu wenig rockig für meinen Geschmack – aber insgesamt klang das alles sehr ansprechend. Neben unterhaltsamen Liedern wie “Hochklappdings” und “Vater” gab es auch diverser improvisierte Einlagen, die für Kurzeweile (?) sorgten. Das Publikum, das bei mir noch überwiegend abwartend am Boden saß, war beeindruckend aktiv, springend, singend, divend und sogar joggend! Und nicht eine einzige Nase, die desinteressiert hinten stand. Schöner Konzertabend!

Diesen Donnerstag (10. November) spiele ich im Kulturladen Konstanz im Vorprogramm von Phrasenmäher einen Solo-Auftritt. Kommt alle!

Ich werde überwiegend 52-Sekunden-Lieder spielen. Hier ist eines davon: “Konrad”

Heads up: I’ll be playing a solo gig here in Konstanz on December 16th, opening for Suff-X. I’m also hoping to line up one or two more shows. Meanwhile, here are the links to a bunch of my 52-second songs.

• The most recent one is my attempt at a “Wedding March”, because a friend of mine, who likes ska, was getting married last weekend.
• My song about the “Bud Spencer Tunnel” is my first video to get more than 1,000 views. It even got me on German television.
• My belated birthday song “Nachträglich” is another German song, presumably better than the quickly penned tunnel anthem.
• “Dragons Fly to Burning Asgard” is a rather experimental song in which I try to sound like a cappella metal pioneers Van Canto.

Here’s a little piano piece – “Waiting for the Tide”.

Today at 19.15 German time (13.15 EST) I’ll be broadcasting a short live show online. Join me at Ustream!

I made a Jutze 52 page to wrap up the past 52 weeks of short songs and deadline frenzy. To celebrate the successful completion I also uploaded another live video. Check out “Laundry Day” below.

PS (edited): I played a jolly gig in Konstanz on December 17th, last year (!). Maybe there will be video footage online at some point. For now, here’s the setlist (I’m a bit pedantic with this kind of things):

1. Die wichtigen Fragen
2. Joey Dumps Pacey
3. Wunschzettel
4. Bio-Bier
5. Mr. Tom Furby (Joe Covenant Lamb-cover)
6. Der Speckgürtel von Paderborn
7. Reis
8. Laundry Day
9. Einkaufszettel
10. I Wish Natalie Portman Was My Neighbour
11. Tinnitus

This song is sung from the perspective of a 52-second song. It sums up one of the main goals of “Jutze 52”. I wrote and recorded it back in spring.

This track is licenced Creative Commons (by-nc) – just like all my 52-second songs. This means you’re allowed to copy, share, edit, adapt the song right away (no need to ask me for permission) as long as you don’t make money with it (non-commercial) and attributed the music to me. So you have the perfect filler for the ending of your next mix tape (or mix CD or mix iPod or whatever it is that is being mixed these days).

#52 52-Second Song

Hi there, I’m a 52-second song
Just a short one, just a quick one
To fill up the remaining free space on this CD
This is why I’m here – the reason for my existence
This is why I’m here – a 52-second song

And it’s just a coincidence that I’m also here to tell you
That whoever made this CD does care a lot about you
This is why I’m here – the reason for my existence
This is why I’m here – a 52-second song

And while we’re at it
Please save the whales!
This is why I’m here – the reason for my existence
This is why I’m here – a 52-second song

(words and music by Johannes Schult)