Jon Lajoie
{{Short description|Canadian comedian, actor, and singer (born 1980)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Jon Lajoie
| image = One Thing (Jon Lajoie) screenshot (2m51s) (cropped).jpg
| alt = Headshot of Lajoie facing right
| caption = Jon Lajoie in 2021
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Jonathan Lajoie
| alias = {{ubl|Wolfie's Just Fine}}
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1980|08|21}}
| birth_place = Longueuil, Quebec, Canada
| origin = Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| genre = {{Hlist|Comedy|hip hop|indie folk}}
| occupation = {{Hlist|Comedian|rapper|actor|singer|songwriter|record producer|director}}
| instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|drums|sequencer}}
| years_active = 2003–present
| label = Normal Guy Productions
| website = {{URL|www.jonlajoie.com/}}
}}
Jonathan Lajoie ({{IPAc-en|l|ə|ˈ|ʒ|w|ɑː}} {{respell|lə|ZHWAH}}; born August 21, 1980) is a Canadian comedian, actor, rapper, singer, songwriter, director, record producer, musician and Internet celebrity.{{cite web|url=http://www.radio-canada.ca/radio/christiane/modele-document.asp?docnumero=57060&numero=1880 |title=Radio-Canada: – – Zone Radio |website=Radio-canada.ca |access-date=2010-01-09}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Brennan |first1=Collin |title=Stream: Jon Lajoie's debut album as Wolfie's Just Fine, I Remembered But Then I Forgot |url=https://consequence.net/2016/04/stream-jon-lajoies-debut-album-as-wolfies-just-fine-i-remembered-but-then-i-forgot/ |access-date=April 19, 2021 |date=April 6, 2016}}
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.{{cite web |last1=Saunders |first1=Hilary |title=Jon Lajoie Does Give a F**k |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/jon-lajoie-does-give-a-fk/ |website=Paste |access-date=April 19, 2021 |date=April 20, 2016}} 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.{{cite web |author=Lisa-Marie Glive |url=http://www.jonlajoie.com/aboutme.html |title=The Official Website – About Me |publisher=Jonlajoie.com |date=September 19, 2008 |access-date=2010-01-09 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090830070117/http://www.jonlajoie.com/aboutme.html |archive-date=2009-08-30 }}
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.{{cite web|url=http://www.radio-canada.ca/emissions/l_auberge_du_chien_noir/2008-2009/personnages.asp |title=Personnages | L'auberge du chien noir | zone Télévision | Radio-Canada.ca (in French) |website=Radio-Canada.ca |date=December 7, 2009 |access-date=2010-01-09}} 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'.{{cite web|url=http://www.wolfiesjustfine.com/|title=Wolfie's Just Fine|website=Wolfiesjustfine.com|access-date=March 16, 2019}}
=Television=
Lajoie was cast in the FXX TV show The League as Taco MacArthur, a perpetually stoned and unemployed musician.{{cite web |last=Simpson |first=Peter |url=http://communities.canada.com/ottawacitizen/blogs/bigbeat/archive/2009/09/04/jon-lajoie-cancels-canadian-tour-for-big-tv-gig.aspx |title=Jon Lajoie cancels Canadian tour for big TV gig – The Big Beat |publisher=Communities.canada.com |date=September 4, 2009 |access-date=2010-01-09 |url-status = dead|archive-url=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 |archive-date=2010-05-07 }} Throughout the series, Lajoie performed songs written for the show.{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/shows/the-league/community/post/nsfw-the-songs-of-the-league-1379536429/|title=NSFW: The Songs of The League|website=TV.com|access-date=December 14, 2015|archive-date=December 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151221195924/http://www.tv.com/shows/the-league/community/post/nsfw-the-songs-of-the-league-1379536429/|url-status=dead}}
He guest-starred as Caleb95 in one episode of the Williams Street original television show NTSF:SD:SUV::. 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.{{cite web |last1=Ho |first1=Rachel |title='LOL: Last One Laughing' Proves the Strength of Canadian Comedy |url=https://exclaim.ca/film/article/lol_last_one_laughing_canada-hosted_by_jay_baruchel |website=Exclaim |access-date=March 26, 2022 |date=February 18, 2022}}
=''Comedy Central Presents''=
Lajoie filmed an episode of Comedy Central Presents on November 7, 2009.{{cite web |url=http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2009/10/14/want-to-see-a-taping-of-comedy-central-presents/ |title=Want to See a Taping of Comedy Central Presents? | Comedy Central Insider Blog |website=Ccinsider.comedycentral.com |access-date=2010-01-09 |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111203727/http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2009/10/14/want-to-see-a-taping-of-comedy-central-presents/ |url-status=dead }} It premiered on March 5, 2010.{{cite web|url=http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_schedule/index.jhtml?seriesId=11667|title=Comedy Central TV Show Schedule – Find when your Favorite Funny Shows are Playing | Comedy Central|website=Comedycentral.com|access-date=February 22, 2010|archive-date=January 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100123170014/http://www.comedycentral.com/tv_schedule/index.jhtml?seriesId=11667|url-status=dead}}
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 Terminator 2: Judgment Day).{{cite magazine |last1=Baltin |first1=Steve |title=Jon Lajoie Proves Wolfie's Just Fine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7271786/jon-lajoie-proves-wolfies-just-fine |magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 19, 2021 |date=March 23, 2016}}{{cite web |title=A New Beginning: An Interview with Wolfie's Just Fine's Jon Lajoie |url=https://www.popmatters.com/a-new-beginning-an-interview-with-wolfies-just-fines-jon-lajoie-2495432183.html |website=PopMatters |access-date=April 19, 2021 |date=May 20, 2016}} 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 Friday the 13th: A New Beginning, 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.{{cite web |last1=Barkan |first1=Jonathan |title=NSFW: Wolfie's Just Fine Channel 'Friday the 13th' in "A New Beginning" |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/music/3396618/nsfw-wolfies-just-fine-channel-friday-13th-new-beginning/ |website=Bloody Disgusting |access-date=April 19, 2021 |date=June 27, 2016}}{{cite web |last1=Vanderbilt |first1=Mike |title=Jon Lajoie composes an eerie neo-folk tribute to Friday The 13th: A New Beginning |url=https://www.avclub.com/jon-lajoie-composes-an-eerie-neo-folk-tribute-to-friday-1798249106 |website=The A.V. Club |access-date=April 19, 2021 |date=July 7, 2016}}
In 2018, Lajoie followed up with a Wolfie's Just Fine EP titled Perfection, Nevada, which was produced by Bright Eyes' Mike Mogis.{{cite web |last1=Griffin |first1=Noemi |title=Exclusive: Jon Lajoie Shares New Wolfie's Just Fine Track "Save the World", off Forthcoming EP Perfection Nevada |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/wolfie-s-just-fine-/exclusive-jon-lajoie-announces-new-wolfies-just-fi/ |website=Paste |access-date=April 19, 2021 |date=June 14, 2018 |archive-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419032230/https://www.pastemagazine.com/music/wolfie-s-just-fine-/exclusive-jon-lajoie-announces-new-wolfies-just-fi/ |url-status=dead }} Released on June 22, the release explores coming of age themes and features references to nineties films.{{cite web |last1=Papadatos |first1=Markos |title=Review: Wolfie's Just Fine soars on 'Break My Back' single and video SPECIAL |url=http://www.digitaljournal.com/entertainment/music/review-wolfie-s-just-fine-soars-on-break-my-back-single-and-video/article/523945 |website=Digital Journal |access-date=April 19, 2021 |date=June 5, 2018}} 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.{{cite web |last1=Squires |first1=Josh |title='Trying to Sleep': Wolfie's Just Fine Pays Tribute to 'Tremors' With New Song from the Graboid's Perspective |url=https://bloody-disgusting.com/music/3618532/trying-sleep-wolfies-just-fine-pays-tribute-tremors-new-song-graboids-perspective/ |website=Bloody Disgusting |access-date=April 19, 2021 |date=May 29, 2020}}
==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.{{cite web |title=The League (Original Soundtrack) |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/140993865/credits |url-access=registration |website=Tidal |date=May 15, 2020 |access-date=March 26, 2022}}
In 2019, Lajoie wrote five songs for Warner Bros.' The Lego Movie 2: The Second Part, including "Catchy Song" (produced by Dillon Francis) and "Not Evil".{{cite web |last1=Saxena |first1=Jaya |title=This "Catchy Song" Is Gonna Get Stuck Inside Your Head—By Design |url=https://www.gq.com/story/this-catchy-song-is-gonna-get-stuck-inside-your-head-by-design-lego-movie-2 |website=GQ |access-date=March 26, 2022 |date=February 7, 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Moran |first1=Sarah |title=Every Song In The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part |url=https://screenrant.com/lego-movie-2-songs/ |website=Screen Rant |access-date=March 26, 2022 |date=February 8, 2019}}
In 2022, Lajoie wrote three songs for the third episode of The Afterparty, with lyrical contributions by Jack Dolgen.{{cite web |last1=Khosla |first1=Proma |title='The Afterparty' musical episode just gave us 2022's first TV banger |url=https://mashable.com/article/the-after-party-apple-two-shots-breakdown |website=Mashable |access-date=March 26, 2022 |date=January 29, 2022}}{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Kaitlin |title='The Afterparty' could dominate one Emmy category with a hat trick of absolute bangers |url=https://www.goldderby.com/article/2022/the-afterparty-songs-emmy-predictions/ |website=GoldDerby |access-date=March 26, 2022 |date=February 21, 2022}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class = "unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2012
| Wrong Cops: Chapter 1 | MC Vagina | Short film |
| 2013
| Officer Regan | |
| 2014
| Todd Connors | |
| 2016
| Carter | |
| 2020
| Wish Upon a Unicorn | Louis Dindal | |
=Television=
| class = "wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class = "unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2003–2019
| L'Auberge du chien noir | Thomas Edison | |
| 2009–2015
| Taco MacArthur | 84 episodes |
| 2013
| Caleb95 | Episode: "A Hard Drive to Swallow" |
| 2014
| Jon Lajoie | Episode: "Banff Is on Fire" |
| 2022
| Pizza Prime | 1 Episode |
| 2022
| LOL: Last One Laughing Canada | Himself | |
Discography
{{BLP unreferenced section|date=December 2015}}
=Studio albums=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| style="width:16em;"| Title
! style="width:18em;"| Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| You Want Some of This?
|
|
| scope="row"| I Kill People
|
|
| scope="row"| I Remembered, But Then I Forgot {{Cite magazine |last=Baltin |first=Steve |date=2016-03-23 |title=Jon Lajoie Proves Wolfie's Just Fine |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/jon-lajoie-proves-wolfies-just-fine-7271786/ |access-date=2024-04-24 |magazine=Billboard}} (as Wolfie's Just Fine) |
|
| scope="row"| Everyone Is Dead Except Us (as Wolfie's Just Fine) |
|
=EPs=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| style="width:10em;"| Title
! style="width:16em;"| Details |
|---|
| scope="row"| Perfection, Nevada (as Wolfie's Just Fine) |
|
=Singles=
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
;as Jon Lajoie
- "High as Fuck" (2008)
- "Show Me Your Genitals" (2008)
- "I'm Inside Me!" (2010)
- "Very Super Famous" (2011)
- "The Best Song" (2011)
- "F**k Everything" (2011)
- "WTF Collective 3" (2011)
- "Drinking Beer and Smoking Cigarettes" (2012)
- "Song for the Students" (2012)
- "Broken-Hearted" (2012)
- "The Best Christmas Song" (2012)
- "Started as a Baby" (2013)
- "Miley, You're a Good Girl" (2013)
- "Merry Christmas Exclamation Point" (2013)
- "Please Use This Song" (2014)
- "One Thing" (2021)
{{col-2}}
;as Wolfie's Just Fine
- "It's a Job" (2016)
- "I Forgot" (2016)
- "A Song for the Election" (2016)
- "Break My Back" (2018)
- "Save the World" (2018)
- "Everyone is Dead Except Us" (2023)
- "Hulk Hogan Slammed Andre the Giant" (2023)
{{col-end}}
=Music videos=
| class="wikitable"
! Year !! width="200"| Song title !! width="175"| Director(s) !! Album !! YouTube release date |
| rowspan="4"|2007
| "High as Fuck" | rowspan="22" {{n/a|Unknown}} | rowspan="14"|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 |
| rowspan="9"|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 |
| rowspan="6"|2009
| "Everyday Normal Crew" | January 5, 2009 |
| "Alone in the Universe"
| rowspan="7"|I Kill People | March 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 |
| rowspan="7"|2010
| "Chatroulette Song" | March 26, 2010 |
| "I Can Dance"
| April 19, 2010 |
| "Blackbird" (The Beatles parody)
| {{n/a|Non-album song}} | May 31, 2010 |
| "Pop Song"
| Julien Demers-Arsenault | You Want Some of This? | June 5, 2010 |
| "Mel Gibson's Love Song"
| rowspan="2" {{n/a|Unknown}} | rowspan="3"|I Kill People | July 5, 2010 |
| "WTF Collective 2"
| November 16, 2010 |
| "In Different Ways"
| Julien Demers-Arsenault | December 18, 2010 |
| rowspan="6"|2011
| "Very Super Famous" | rowspan="3" {{n/a|Unknown}} | "Very Super Famous" single | February 15, 2011 |
| "Osama Is Dead"
| {{n/a|Non-album song}} | May 2, 2011 |
| "The Best Song"
| "The Best Song" single | June 21, 2011 |
| "Fuck Everything"
| Jon Lajoie | "Fuck Everything" single | July 29, 2011 |
| "WTF Collective 3"
| Jon Lajoie | "WTF Collective 3" single | December 5, 2011 |
| "Sexpenze Commercial"
| Jon Lajoie & Brandon Dermer | {{n/a|Non-album song}} | December 30, 2011 |
| rowspan="4"|2012
| "Broken-Hearted" | Jon Lajoie | "Broken-Hearted" single | July 23, 2012 |
| "The Prank War"
| Jon Lajoie & Brandon Dermer | {{n/a|Non-album song}} | August 27, 2012 |
| "Jon Lajoie on Marriage Equality"
| Jon Lajoie | {{n/a|Non-album song}} | October 23, 2012 |
| "The Best Christmas Song"
| Jon Lajoie | "The Best Christmas Song" single | November 28, 2012 |
| rowspan="3"|2013
| "Started as a Baby" | Jon Lajoie | "Started as a Baby" single | April 23, 2013 |
| "Jon Lajoie's Kickstarter"
| Jon Lajoie | "Jon Lajoie's Kickstarter" single | May 28, 2013 |
| "Merry Christmas Exclamation Point"
| Jon Lajoie | "Merry Christmas Exclamation Point" single | December 12, 2013 |
| rowspan="2"|2014
|"Please Use This Song" | Jon Lajoie | "Please Use This Song" single | April 30, 2014 |
| "Commercial Actors Mingle"
| Jon Lajoie | "Commercial Actors Mingle" single | May 28, 2014 |
| rowspan="2"|2016
|"It's a Job" (as "Wolfie's Just Fine") | Jon Lajoie & Brandon Dermer |I Remembered but Then I Forgot | March 2, 2016 |
| "A New Beginning" (as "Wolfie's Just Fine")
| Jon Lajoie & Brandon Dermer |I Remembered but Then I Forgot | June 27, 2016 |
| 2018
|"Break My Back" (as "Wolfie's Just Fine") |Jon Lajoie & Brandon Dermer |Perfection, Nevada |May 18, 2018 |
| 2023
|"Everyone Is Dead Except Us" (as "Wolfie's Just Fine") |Jon Lajoie |Everyone Is Dead Except Us |April 13, 2023 |
| 2023
|"Hulk Hogan Slammed Andre the Giant" (as "Wolfie's Just Fine") |Jon Lajoie |Everyone is Dead Except Us |May 18, 2023 |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.jonlajoie.com/}}
- {{YouTube|user=jonlajoie}}
- [http://www.funnyordie.com/jonlajoie Lajoie on Funny or Die] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906222350/http://www.funnyordie.com/jonlajoie |date=September 6, 2008 }}
- {{IMDb name|1476655}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lajoie, Jon}}
Category:Canadian comedy musicians
Category:Canadian male comedians
Category:Canadian people of English descent
Category:Canadian people of French descent
Category:Canadian male rappers
Category:Canadian stand-up comedians
Category:Anglophone Quebec people
Category:Quebecers of French descent
Category:Warner Bros. Animation people
Category:People from Longueuil
Category:Dawson College alumni
Category:21st-century Canadian rappers
Category:Comedians from Quebec