Jon Lajoie Explained

Jon Lajoie
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Jonathan Lajoie
Birth Date:21 August 1980
Birth Place:Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
Origin:Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Years Active:2003–present
Label:Normal Guy Productions

Jonathan Lajoie (; born August 21, 1980) is a Canadian comedian, actor, rapper, singer, songwriter, director, record producer, musician and Internet celebrity.[1] He gained fame mostly from his YouTube channel, posting comedic original songs (often as rapper characters, such as "Everyday Normal Guy") and comedy skits. Lajoie is also known for his role as Taco MacArthur on the FXX comedy series The League. Since 2016, he has released indie folk music under the moniker Wolfie's Just Fine, and has also contributed original music to TV shows and films.[2]

Early life

Lajoie was born in Longueuil, Quebec, Canada and raised on the South Shore of Montreal. His father was Québécois and his mother is English-Canadian, and he is the third of nine children. Lajoie had formative experiences with music while attending a Pentecostal church and taking lessons.[3] He graduated from Dawson College on the Island of Montreal. He completed a professional theatre program in 2002, after which he played in a band in the Montreal area for three years.[4]

Career

From 2003 to 2017, Lajoie portrayed an English-Canadian musician named Thomas Edison in Radio-Canada's French-language television series L'Auberge du chien noir.[5] Lajoie began his career as a comedy musician in 2006. His performances include music, skits, and some comedy. Jon Lajoie has also released four studio albums, the first two featuring comedy music. His third and fourth albums eschewed comedy and were released under the moniker 'Wolfie's Just Fine'.[6]

Television

Lajoie was cast in the FXX TV show The League as Taco MacArthur, a perpetually stoned and unemployed musician.[7] Throughout the series, Lajoie performed songs written for the show.[8]

He guest-starred as Caleb95 in one episode of the Williams Street original television show . In February 2022, LaJoie was featured in the Canadian edition of Amazon Prime's comedy competition LOL: Last One Laughing alongside Tom Green, Colin Mochrie, and Dave Foley among others.[9]

Comedy Central Presents

Lajoie filmed an episode of Comedy Central Presents on November 7, 2009.[10] It premiered on March 5, 2010.[11] The same special aired uncensored as part of Comedy Central's Secret Stash on June 6 featuring the world premiere of the video for his song "Pop Song".

Film

Lajoie was featured in the 2014 movie Let's Be Cops, as the boss of Damon Wayans, Jr.'s character. He was also featured in Quentin Dupieux's 2013 movie Wrong Cops as Officer Regan.

Music

Lajoie has published several novelty songs that he has made available on websites such as Funny or Die and YouTube. Though he initially hesitated to release a "serious album" due to his reputation as a comedic actor, in 2016, Lajoie released his first project of non-comedic music under the moniker Wolfie's Just Fine (whose name is a reference to ).[12] [13] The 10 track indie folk album titled I Remembered but Then I Forgot, released on April 8, was produced by Joe Corcoran and mixed by Phil Ek. The themes of the album predominantly draw on and recount Lajoie's formative childhood experiences. The song "A New Beginning" was inspired by Lajoie's experience watching his first horror movie , whose music video (directed by Lajoie and Brandon Dermer) is a tribute to the film by way of a shot-for-shot remake of a particularly impactful scene.[14] [15]

In 2018, Lajoie followed up with a Wolfie's Just Fine EP titled Perfection, Nevada, which was produced by Bright Eyes' Mike Mogis.[16] Released on June 22, the release explores coming of age themes and features references to nineties films.[17] Lajoie co-directed a music video for the single "Break My Back" featuring actor Xander Berkeley, as well as "Trying to Sleep" which pays homage to the film Tremors.[18]

Songwriting for film and TV

LaJoie made his first foray into writing songs for film and television with his contributions to The League, for which he wrote and performed 14 songs over the course of the show.[19]

In 2019, Lajoie wrote five songs for Warner Bros.' , including "Catchy Song" (produced by Dillon Francis) and "Not Evil".[20] [21]

In 2022, Lajoie wrote three songs for the third episode of The Afterparty, with lyrical contributions by Jack Dolgen.[22] [23]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2012Wrong Cops: Chapter 1MC VaginaShort film
2013Wrong CopsOfficer Regan
2014Let's Be CopsTodd Connors
2016Moments of ClarityCarter
2020Wish Upon a UnicornLouis Dindal

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2003–2019L'Auberge du chien noirThomas Edison
2009–2015The LeagueTaco MacArthur84 episodes
2013Caleb95Episode: "A Hard Drive to Swallow"
2014Kroll ShowJon LajoieEpisode: "Banff Is on Fire"
2022LOL: Last One Laughing CanadaHimself

Discography

Studio albums

TitleDetails
You Want Some of This?
  • Release date: January 30, 2009
  • Label: Normal Guy Productions
  • Formats: CD, music download
I Kill People
  • Release date: November 15, 2010
  • Label: Normal Guy Productions
  • Formats: CD, music download
I Remembered, But Then I Forgot [24]
(as Wolfie's Just Fine)
  • Release date: April 8, 2016
  • Label: Normal Guy Productions
  • Formats: CD, music download
Everyone Is Dead Except Us
(as Wolfie's Just Fine)
  • Release date: June 16, 2023
  • Label: Normal Guy Productions
  • Formats: CD, music download

Singles

as Jon Lajoie
as Wolfie's Just Fine

Music videos

Year Song title Director(s) Album YouTube release date
2007"High as Fuck"You Want Some of This?October 1, 2007
"2 Girls 1 Cup Song"November 1, 2007
"Everyday Normal Guy"November 21, 2007
"Cold Blooded Christmas"December 10, 2007
2008"Why Did You Leave Me?"January 8, 2008
"Everyday Normal Guy 2"January 16, 2008
"Song for Britney"February 4, 2008
"Sunday Afternoon"March 11, 2008
"Show Me Your Genitals"May 31, 2008
"Stay at Home Dad"August 21, 2008
"Show Me Your Genitals 2: E=MC Vagina"September 5, 2008
Bootlegs & B-Sides (including "I Don't Understand" and "Potty Training Song")October 11, 2008
"Too Fast"November 17, 2008
2009"Everyday Normal Crew"January 5, 2009
"Alone in the Universe"I Kill PeopleMarch 8, 2009
"I Kill People"April 23, 2009
"Michael Jackson Is Dead"June 26, 2009
"Radio Friendly Song"August 27, 2009
"WTF Collective"October 5, 2009
2010"Chatroulette Song"March 26, 2010
"I Can Dance"April 19, 2010
"Blackbird" (The Beatles parody)May 31, 2010
"Pop Song"Julien Demers-ArsenaultYou Want Some of This?June 5, 2010
"Mel Gibson's Love Song"I Kill PeopleJuly 5, 2010
"WTF Collective 2"November 16, 2010
"In Different Ways"Julien Demers-ArsenaultDecember 18, 2010
2011"Very Super Famous""Very Super Famous" singleFebruary 15, 2011
"Osama Is Dead"May 2, 2011
"The Best Song""The Best Song" singleJune 21, 2011
"Fuck Everything"Jon Lajoie"Fuck Everything" singleJuly 29, 2011
"WTF Collective 3"Jon Lajoie"WTF Collective 3" singleDecember 5, 2011
"Sexpenze Commercial"Jon Lajoie & Brandon DermerDecember 30, 2011
2012"Broken-Hearted"Jon Lajoie"Broken-Hearted" singleJuly 23, 2012
"The Prank War"Jon Lajoie & Brandon DermerAugust 27, 2012
"Jon Lajoie on Marriage Equality"Jon LajoieOctober 23, 2012
"The Best Christmas Song"Jon Lajoie"The Best Christmas Song" singleNovember 28, 2012
2013"Started as a Baby"Jon Lajoie"Started as a Baby" singleApril 23, 2013
"Jon Lajoie's Kickstarter"Jon Lajoie"Jon Lajoie's Kickstarter" singleMay 28, 2013
"Merry Christmas Exclamation Point"Jon Lajoie"Merry Christmas Exclamation Point" singleDecember 12, 2013
2014"Please Use This Song"Jon Lajoie"Please Use This Song" singleApril 30, 2014
"Commercial Actors Mingle"Jon Lajoie"Commercial Actors Mingle" singleMay 28, 2014
2016"It's a Job" (as "Wolfie's Just Fine")Jon Lajoie & Brandon DermerI Remembered but Then I ForgotMarch 2, 2016
"A New Beginning" (as "Wolfie's Just Fine")Jon Lajoie & Brandon DermerI Remembered but Then I ForgotJune 27, 2016
2018"Break My Back" (as "Wolfie's Just Fine")Jon Lajoie & Brandon DermerPerfection, NevadaMay 18, 2018
2023"Everyone Is Dead Except Us" (as "Wolfie's Just Fine")Jon LajoieEveryone Is Dead Except UsApril 13, 2023
2023"Hulk Hogan Slammed Andre the Giant" (as "Wolfie's Just Fine")Jon LajoieEveryone is Dead Except UsMay 18, 2023

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Radio-Canada: – – Zone Radio . Radio-canada.ca . 2010-01-09.
  2. Web site: Brennan . Collin . Stream: Jon Lajoie's debut album as Wolfie's Just Fine, I Remembered But Then I Forgot . April 19, 2021 . April 6, 2016.
  3. Web site: Saunders . Hilary . Jon Lajoie Does Give a F**k . Paste . April 19, 2021 . April 20, 2016.
  4. Web site: Lisa-Marie Glive . The Official Website – About Me . Jonlajoie.com . September 19, 2008 . 2010-01-09 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090830070117/http://www.jonlajoie.com/aboutme.html . 2009-08-30 .
  5. Web site: Personnages | L'auberge du chien noir | zone Télévision | Radio-Canada.ca (in French) . Radio-Canada.ca . December 7, 2009 . 2010-01-09.
  6. Web site: Wolfie's Just Fine. Wolfiesjustfine.com. March 16, 2019.
  7. Web site: Simpson . Peter . Jon Lajoie cancels Canadian tour for big TV gig – The Big Beat . Communities.canada.com . September 4, 2009 . 2010-01-09 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20100507025708/http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/bigbeat/archive/2009/09/04/jon-lajoie-cancels-canadian-tour-for-big-tv-gig.aspx . 2010-05-07 .
  8. Web site: NSFW: The Songs of The League. TV.com. December 14, 2015. December 21, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151221195924/http://www.tv.com/shows/the-league/community/post/nsfw-the-songs-of-the-league-1379536429/. dead.
  9. Web site: Ho . Rachel . 'LOL: Last One Laughing' Proves the Strength of Canadian Comedy . Exclaim . March 26, 2022 . February 18, 2022.
  10. Web site: Want to See a Taping of Comedy Central Presents? | Comedy Central Insider Blog . Ccinsider.comedycentral.com . 2010-01-09 . January 11, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120111203727/http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2009/10/14/want-to-see-a-taping-of-comedy-central-presents/ . dead .
  11. Web site: Comedy Central TV Show Schedule – Find when your Favorite Funny Shows are Playing | Comedy Central. Comedycentral.com. February 22, 2010. January 23, 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100123170014/http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_schedule/index.jhtml?seriesId=11667. dead.
  12. Baltin . Steve . Jon Lajoie Proves Wolfie's Just Fine . Billboard . April 19, 2021 . March 23, 2016.
  13. Web site: A New Beginning: An Interview with Wolfie's Just Fine's Jon Lajoie . PopMatters . April 19, 2021 . May 20, 2016.
  14. Web site: Barkan . Jonathan . NSFW: Wolfie's Just Fine Channel 'Friday the 13th' in "A New Beginning" . Bloody Disgusting . April 19, 2021 . June 27, 2016.
  15. Web site: Vanderbilt . Mike . Jon Lajoie composes an eerie neo-folk tribute to Friday The 13th: A New Beginning . The A.V. Club . April 19, 2021 . July 7, 2016.
  16. Web site: Griffin . Noemi . Exclusive: Jon Lajoie Shares New Wolfie's Just Fine Track "Save the World", off Forthcoming EP Perfection Nevada . Paste . April 19, 2021 . June 14, 2018 . April 19, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210419032230/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/wolfie-s-just-fine-/exclusive-jon-lajoie-announces-new-wolfies-just-fi/ . dead .
  17. Web site: Papadatos . Markos . Review: Wolfie's Just Fine soars on 'Break My Back' single and video SPECIAL . Digital Journal . April 19, 2021 . June 5, 2018.
  18. Web site: Squires . Josh . 'Trying to Sleep': Wolfie's Just Fine Pays Tribute to 'Tremors' With New Song from the Graboid's Perspective . Bloody Disgusting . April 19, 2021 . May 29, 2020.
  19. Web site: The League (Original Soundtrack) . registration . Tidal . March 26, 2022.
  20. Web site: Saxena . Jaya . This "Catchy Song" Is Gonna Get Stuck Inside Your Head—By Design . GQ . March 26, 2022 . February 7, 2019.
  21. Web site: Moran . Sarah . Every Song In The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part . Screen Rant . March 26, 2022 . February 8, 2019.
  22. Web site: Khosla . Proma . 'The Afterparty' musical episode just gave us 2022's first TV banger . Mashable . March 26, 2022 . January 29, 2022.
  23. Web site: Thomas . Kaitlin . 'The Afterparty' could dominate one Emmy category with a hat trick of absolute bangers . GoldDerby . March 26, 2022 . February 21, 2022.
  24. 2016-03-23 . Jon Lajoie Proves Wolfie's Just Fine . 2024-04-24 . Billboard.