I, Tamagotchi

[imomus]

A few years ago I wrote a song about the absurdities of celebrity. It was called Tamagotchi Press Officer and the lyrics went:

His painting exhibition is at Andrea Rosen
His rock band rocks the Budokan
And his book I, Tamagotchi is in its third impression this week
But Mr Tamagotchi is asleep

It occurred to me the other day that I have actually become Mr Tamagotchi. I've actually achieved the absurd full-spectrum dominance that this accomplished tamagotchi has of all media. My art exhibition continues at Zach Feuer, literally two doors down from Andrea Rosen. My "rock band" (actually mostly Garageband backings on an iPod) will rock the Highline Ballroom on May 26th (also Philly, Boston, Northhampton that same week).

As for Mr Tamagotchi's book, well, Amazon has just listed The Book of Jokes, "the uproarious first novel from cult songwriter Momus", on its site, complete with cover image (the first time, in fact, I've seen it). It doesn't come out until September, but I'll be reading bits of it at Starr Space on Sunday 24th May, in the company of Lord Whimsy.

The song may say "no interviews with Mr Tamagotchi today", but in fact there is an interview tonight: Aki Sasamoto and I will appear live on Gerry Visco's radio show between 9 and 10pm EST on WKCR, the Columbia University student radio network. It streams live online, or on your radio dial at 89.9FM.

As for the tamagotchi's private life this Sunday, well, the song says it all: "He is asleep, and when he wakes he will need to be fed, then he will sing, then he will go back to bed".

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Is the internet's democratization of art responsible for the popularity of this awful kind of amateurish hipster scribble art, or is it merely a coincidence?

[krskrft.livejournal.com]

Actually, they look a lot like Shel Silverstein's drawings. So I think the answer to your question is "no."

[imomus.livejournal.com]

The artist for the American edition is Nicholas Motte (http://www.nicholasmotte.com/).

[imomus.livejournal.com]

Well, one of the interesting things about having it coming out in three different languages is that there are three different cover designs, each reflecting the national mindset of the publisher. The french edition will sport a drawing by Stéphane Blanquet. (http://www.blanquet.com)

[cityramica.livejournal.com]

p.s. i think the display type is some form of Bembo

first day

[(Anonymous)]

[mrobot.livejournal.com]

i loved the performance yesterday, momus. i look forward to hearing the interview, but hopefully i'll still have some questions remaining!

[(Anonymous)]

Full spectrum dominance? You may have your itsy bitsy fingers in many tiny pies, but it's hardly dominance, is it?

Why this compulsion to post about how fabulous you are? It smacks of insecurity.

[imomus.livejournal.com]

I'M BIGGER THAN A TAMAGOTCHI, I TELL YOU!

[xishimarux.livejournal.com]

Will you travel around and do book signings? :)

[imomus.livejournal.com]

No. Apparently they're more trouble than they're worth to set up, and they don't sell books.

[bmw-repair.livejournal.com]

i used to have a tamagotchi =) back than everyone had to have one. lol

[psychronic.livejournal.com]

I listened to the intervew yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed it. I wish Aki Sasamoto said more or was allowed to say more, because what she did say was right on. That's not taking anything away from you though because I did love to hear you ramble on. Maybe it's because you've been living in Germany but you sort of sounded like Werner Herzog early on. Just one thing though--you kept mentioning how dark your performance is and likened it to David Lynch. Were you just dumbing it down for Americans so they would be enticed to come along? Because usually as soon as someone starts saying how Dark and Lynchian something is I immediately tune out because it's the worst kind of affectation I can think of.

[(Anonymous)]

I was moved by your performance last week. It certainly made my day in Chelsea. The two of you together are a great match. I also wanted to hear more of Aki speaking on radio. I hope you two will continue working together.