The Cog is Dead: WEIRD [Official Music Video]

The Cog is Dead's official music video for "Weird." This song is fairly autobiographical. As a kid with ADHD who had trouble focusing in school and was a bit awkward I got made fun of quite a bit for being "weird." I just wanted to spend my time working on things like drawing, making videos, playing music and acting.
It's no coincidence that I am releasing a song called "Weird" on the same day as the new Weird Al parody biopic "Weird." Weird Al is still my greatest musical influence. As a weird kid I was hooked on his song parodies and his versatility as a musician on his original songs. His music both got me through my school years and also really inspired me to pursue music. Back then I wanted to make song parodies and send them to Dr. Demento (who actually played The Cog is Dead's "The Walking Taco" on his show earlier this year!) When I heard that the movie was being released on November 4th I thought it would be a fun way to celebrate the impact that Weird Al has had on my music career and life by making an autobiographical song about being weird and both embracing and celebrating it! It's great to be weird!

[@thewretchedmessgarage7097]

My favorite saying growing up was telling people ,"you laugh at me because I'm different. I laugh at you because you're all the same!" Great song John! I believe those of us who embrace our "weirdness" are generally happier than most.

[@beanstheclown]

And now you are both ridiculing each other instead of realizing that both ways of being are valid and working to accommodate each other. Good going.

[@gearsandgeckos523]

As someone who was diagnosed with ADHD/ADD as a child and autism as an adult, this song SLAPS!! I was very isolated as a child because I was weird and I relate to this so much!!

[@goldholz]

100% Agree

[@JamesSarin]

Ok, so this song popped up as a random video in a suggested play list. It suddenly hit hard. Instant fan.

[@PlushKlavier]

As someone with ADD and autism myself, I relate to this a great deal, and I'm lucky to have people in my life now who are just like me!

[@thatraccoon13]

And it ends with a photo of a happy weird kid. That's awesome!

[@shillinhite3911]

I'm 31 and just now attempting to structure the way I do things around the way my brain works and not around how I was always told to do things. Take it from me, being weird is better than the alternative of trying so hard for so long to force yourself into conformity that you break. Much love to everyone out there just trying to make it.

[@grimoireweiss6428]

Many of us can relate to this song. We weirdos should always stick together.

[@PlaceboFXMakeup]

Grew up with extreme social anxiety, but found a huge passion for working in haunted houses around Halloween time. My social anxiety is still present to a much lesser degree, but three years ago my husband and I started our very own haunt in our small town. It’s non-profit, and fully volunteer based, and we’ve created our own little family of weirdos that I love dearly. It really is so important to find your tribe.

[@AwesomeJCR]

First original C.I.D. song I've heard in a while and it's an absolute banger. Plus pretty relatable as someone as weird as myself. Never stop being amazing John.

[@frankreaper6895]

Steam powered giraffe and The Cog is Dead would be one hell of a crossover album.

[@SkydreamsArts]

Autism in my case, but this song is a huge mood. As always, you guys are awesome.

[@VoidOfTheEyes]

I also relate to this due to my autism as well!!

[@Snakeeatinfasnakee]

I have autism and adhd I relate a lot to the song too!

[@GoldKitsuneBrony]

The line "And to my amazement I found others who were just as strange as me!" Hits me the most.

[@Irobert1115HD]

amen to that. lets saddle up our steam engines and find a nice spot to listen to this song together.

[@otakumana3869]

Same here.

[@krockpotbroccoli65]

As an oddball dude with an oddball wife and three oddball kids, I wholeheartedly approve of this song. CHEERS!

[@imafreakbic2010]

That was so cool! His vocal range is insane! 🥰

[@zackw7609]

This randomly popped up on KZbin's "My Mix". Never hearing of these guys before, I can honestly say this definitely belongs on my list alongside songs I listen to on a daily basis. My god this is so good! Embrace the WEIRD!

[@Tadghda]

I am 32 now and love the person I have become but I have ADHD and ADD through Middle school and High school I was not bullied per-say but I could tell that the only reason some people wanted to be my friend was so they could say “I am friends with a kid that takes special ed classes and I am cool for it” this song hits home for me in many different ways. I just want to say I love all your songs and to keep up the great work

[@remius112]

Не знаю как ютуб переведёт это. Мой английский плохой, но не надо понимать его. Сама интонация голоса, музыка прекрасна. Заряжает позитивом, вдохновляет и радует. Повторю это снова. ВЕЛИКОЛЕПНО!!! Рад что познакомился с вашим творчеством.

[@thecogisdead]

Все в порядке, я могу использовать Google для перевода. Большое спасибо! Я так рада, что тебе нравится звучание песни.

[@jmaddox_]

I don’t have ADD, ADHD, or anything like that but I’m still considered “weird” and I’m proud of it and this song has helped, thank you❤

[@acompletelynormalhuman6392]

"And now that I'm here, tonight, it's gonna get weird!" Honestly I've rarely related to music as much as I relate to this song especially the part of not having many people in your life during childhood. as I was homescooled and though we went to the park often and with other homeschoolers I Mostly just climbed trees and never really made atempeds at socializing so it makes sense that I did not have any friends and was just the weird tree climber though my lack of friends did not bother me at the time

[@thecogisdead]

I was made fun of so much in first grade that my parents took me out of school and homeschooled me for the rest of the year. Thankfully in 2nd grade I was enrolled in the gifted program and became lifelong friends with another kid in my class. But those first few years had some rough times.

[@muenstercheese]

BILLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

[@Lawofimprobability]

@@thecogisdead I can kind of relate. I did spend a year in a gifted program and probably would have benefited from the social awareness I was thinking about things in depth more than my peers. I still think fondly on a book group for gifted children I got to participate in. Trying to believe that adults and others use sloppy wording or thinking is very hard for me to internalize so I can relate to being "weird".

[@Kelly-hh7jz]

Hi fellow homeschool kid! 👋👋

[@physics_hacker]

Me too. I was homeschooled throughout elementary due to overly helpful (read: overprotective and stifling) teacher behaviors in kindergarten due to my poor vision (at that time, considered "legally blind", the distinction "low vision" which I truly am did not exist yet), I learned quite rapidly in that time, so by the time my parents considered enrolling me in middle school to help me improve my social skills, said skills were shot, almost none of the other kids could relate to me (the only friends I had were fellow outcasts), school both bored and overworked me, and because of what kind it was, the school was a massive clique anyway so I might not have fit in even if I was entirely normal by their standards. Left when my last major friend there ditched me to try and be less of an outcast. From what I've been told, no surprise at all, they all turned on her the second I left. She still feels bad about it to this day but I never blamed her for doing the logical although unfortunate thing. We lost contact after that, we've been back for a couple years now, that it's own story but we're pretty close now and it's nice. Anyway, I actually ended up learning most of my social skills online and went back to homeschooling for high school. All of this has led to me not really caring whatsoever about being normal, I never have been so who cares. So I am very, very weird now. Makes it difficult to find my people but when I do we forge a bond that pretty much can never break. Diamonds in the rough. Sorry about the wall of text haha. Hopefully my experience has helped someone feel more understood.

[@zogkuma]

ADHD, autism, anxiety, and depression here. This song speaks a lot to me as well. Being weird isn't at all bad as long as you can find a way to accept your weirdness even if others can't. It's your life, not theirs. Also I love your music! It's awesome!

[@DrWylde]

When people hear me listen to the cog is dead they give me weird looks, so now i turn this up as loud as I can :)

[@thecogisdead]

YES! Be as weird as you can be! 😁

[@spookyhogan]

Why has this been hidden from me so long? This is an Anthem that I WILL stand for

[@curtishoffmann6956]

3 months later. Sitting here in my "It's Great to be Weird" t-shirt. Still great.

[@echo7869]

I may not have ADD, but I wasn't popular either at school, mocked and made fun of for any reason they could find. Ever since I found this band, it's been one of my favourites. Keep going strong for as long as your wonderfully weird heart will let you.

[@vaultofart]

As someone with adhd and autism who wants to do music I relate very much to this song. Really like the switch to metal, as always a fantastic song John. :)

[@christyfoster400]

I love this "community of unity" and so glad to be part of it!

[@PineappleDealer37]

So this is where all the "Too heavy metal to fit the channel" which John talked about few years back went into. Cool

[@thecogisdead]

Haha, finally unleashed all that pent-up rage! 🤣

[@Frozenkoldfury]

ADHD here, nice to know I'm not the only one who had a hard time finding people in school who could understand my brain

[@Hylzeben]

So happy I accidentally found TCID through finding the steampunk genre. Keep it up guys!

[@sarahmeacheam7517]

I myself have A.D.D. and when I was a kid I was bullied for being overweight and weird. Growing up neurodivergent is weird because a lot of the "normal" folks think you're broken and try to "fix" it but, in trying to "fix" me it felt like they were actually breaking something. On the brightside I now help kids who were like me when I was a kid. I'm a Para Educator and I teach children in unique ways so they can learn and it's way less painful than when I was a kid!

[@LupinCosplay]

I was bullied throughout most of my childhood and only recently in high school did I find a couple people who happened to enjoy the same odd things that I do, so this song really resonated with me :)

[@gengarpixel3954]

Hello! First off, This is a banger. Second of all, In my case, I have (late diagnosed) Autism. I can relate to this song in a few ways. I love your music, And i appreciate this. Thank you. :D

[@JohnScott-Ashtree]

How do you keep doing this? Every time you release a song, and I love it and think, oh, they'll NEVER top that!!! You go and do this, and do. Wonderful.

[@LegndryGingrWars]

You guys NEVER stop being weird and AMAZING!! Loved cog is dead since day 1 for its uniqueness

[@DarkHestia]

Every time my son thinks he has to change himself to 'fit in' I let him hear this song. He will always have the support of his family and this song gives him back the strength to just be himself.. Sooner or later there will be people who are just as weird as him

[@MD_Hooligan_8]

That was a whole lotta fun! I'll be smiling till I fall asleep!

[@yraamulumberjack919]

Man your vocal range. Just enjoyable. Thanks for that guys

[@pastapastajfollower2919]

This genuinely rocks man! Hope your enjoying your hobby, as it really paid off!

[@CaptainTak]

hooooly moly the production value of this music video is amazing. The song sounds great and I just can't get over how impressive those orbiting shots were!!!

[@SeleneDethly]

Damn, if you guys had been around in my teenage years; this would have been my anthem. lol

[@GryphonBrokewing]

This is awesome -- blending of styles, different moods at different points. Lament to triumph. Flavor of "Weird" Al melded to Deaf Pedestrians via Danzig. Most excellent song & message.

[@Mivychi]

Huh, usually what KZbin recommends me fails. This, however, is fun. I wonder if it was recommended to me because I do watch Weird Al-related content. 😆

[@jamescustodio3094]

I was weird when I grew up, strange and bookish and not so social. Interests in sciences and technology and more. But that all died and now I work a horrid job collecting taxes from people. Keep to heart what your inner self desires, do not lose the inner child. For if you do, you'll end up like me, depressed in a job I dislike. Stand strong buddy, and don't end up like me.

[@paulasandfordangel45]

Totally relate to this. I have both Autism & ADHD.

[@erinesque1889]

I’m proud of being weird!!

[@gilljest1409]

I remember myself as a child. A great song!

[@captainehollywood1682]

The vocalist's charisma is something wonderful. amazing track!

[@eugenezhitnikov]

1:25 - I remember I asked what's John's vocal range and he said he didn't know. Well, I guess he still doesn't, but this high and this low - oh my god...

[@terryhiggins5077]

That was great! Abnormally Awesome Acoustics rating

[@curtishoffmann6956]

"I don't care what they think, I *LOVE* the things I do! trying to find some words here that rhyme with canoe..."

[@saintlulu3387]

This hits deep for me lol. One of my new fav songs

[@chrisj5505]

Being weird often protects you from social brainwashing that happens with group think often. Not caring about social norms makes you immune to peer pressure and often to emotional manipulation used by narcissists to control others. I have always been weird. Ever since I was a kid I prided myself in being different from my friends. I like the puzzled reactions people give when you talk about deep philosophical things that go over most people's heads. You occasionally get one person that gets it and then it all pays off. Being a non-conformist is not to go along with trends it is to go with the obscure things most people have never heard of

[@BeeWhistler]

Bless you, sir. We live in ADHD/Autism Land and this is my life.

[@randalbuhler9042]

Keep Life Weird and the Cog will Always Live 🙀‼️‼️‼️

[@TheMagickHat77]

As a 40-something ADHD kid myself, whose passions was one of the few things keeping afloat growing up and even today, this song is speaks to me! I knew there was a reason you music connected to me (and not just the steampunk aspect of it). Thank you for sharing this song and your skills, Captain. You're an inspiration! It doesn't hurt that "Weird Al" Yankovic was also a pillar of my childhood and continues to be so!

[@Daybreakerflint]

Hello there! I just found your music and I kinda binged your content. And yeah this song is a mood. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my weirdness. Keep up the awesome work!!

[@michaellay7164]

It really does feel wonderful to find your people.

[@The_Red_Fox439]

I found one of your song not long ago, and I already have most of your songs in my playlist. From you I learned about steampunk, and I love it! Keep going full steam ahead! (Terrible pun intended)

[@techyanimator7511]

Stunning! Been a fan for many years now. Incredible vocal range and the music is very well put together. Can’t wait for more!

[@szigtema]

Thanks from this ADD kid who grew up to teach kids w Autism, Downs, ADHD, etc. Thanks for writing us an amazing anthem for celebrating our fabulous forms of weirdness!❤

[@thecogisdead]

❤️❤️❤️

[@theunwelcome]

oh! what's this? a new favorite band for me? the sound of my people?!? a momentous day, this 12th of November in the year of 2022

[@righter8665]

Child of the 70's. How I hate that I grew up in the 70's 80's and 90's where being different, or not liking the same things as others professed to, was an instant sentence to ridicule and isolation. I see people half my age who now can go about and loudly proclaim their love of the things I used to feel ashamed of liking, and I feel so jealous, but happy, that they can find supportive communities of others like them.

[@thecogisdead]

❤️💔❤️‍🩹

[@delta0dst]

1. As someone with autism, I vibe with this song 2. Can we appreciate this man’s vocal range

[@memegenerator2360]

Dazzling type of comfort song. I'm so glad I found this not so dead cog

[@thelastdisciple]

On purpose or coincidence, great timing with the Weird Al movie coming out and everything. Love it!

[@VanguardJester]

it is fantastic to see you making songs instead of covers again! Ever since I heard 'the death of the cog' all those years ago, i've been a fan ever since!

[@thecogisdead]

Thanks! I prefer to write originals, but haven't had as much time to write since I've been so busy. The covers are a great way to stay productive and sharp even when I don't have the time to write.

[@SilverEyesValentino]

Best part about this song? The general details fit just as many different people as the specific details. Just about everyone I know could relate to this.

[@ariebrons7976]

Man, this is a surreal banger. great job capturing that 'adams family' air that seems to surround creatives.

[@JDarach]

The song itself is great, but I also love the 'robots' playing the other instruments. It's oddly fascinating to watch.

[@Andervit]

Как всегда снос башки! Это круто!

[@swaggyboy2054]

I have autism and a.d.d. I had a hard time fitting in at school and when ever I tryed talking in a conversation the other students would say they are talking about nothing, I was bullied and once threatened. Because I always tryed to be positive and smile, this song definitely relates, I wonder why till I check the description Your band is awesome! And I always loved the stories it told

[@rodrigocoockiemonster4460]

Even 20 years later people still look at me weird, and I love it!

[@akamrhell]

My new daily anthem. 🖤🖤🖤

[@lsherrick1]

This video randomly popped up in my feed. That was spectacular!! Huzzah!!

[@robertpennington1381]

Looking at the Thumb Nail pic it hit me, the title looks like it is saying 'The Cog is; Dead Weird' - which is the way we like it ^-^

[@TheFlyingSeaTurtle]

amazing work as always

[@animatorireenie8319]

This is so, so good! Amazing vocals) I'm glad that you can do what you're passionate about, it makes your art special.

[@spacemanspiff168]

... and you can still surprise me! I can absolutely feel this song with every little part of me. :D

[@Boloniumband]

EPIC! You're pipes and bellows are amazing!

[@kyoyameganebereznoff]

I used to listen to y’all about a decade ago and unintentionally drifted away to other music and forgot. Well, I’m so excited to have rediscovered y’all and to see that you’re still putting out music!

[@crazy-4-cooking]

Thanks for making this.

[@Dislike_and_Unsubscribe]

This song sums up my habits and lifestyle so well

[@justaspiral13]

I found yall from your inspector gadget cover, and I'm glad I did!

[@Drakon547]

Hits the soul.

[@CarpeDMPhoto]

This is amazing! I feel so seen. And an accordion!!!

[@garlicbreath4690]

Finally caught a premiere! This is amazing John!

[@naach7667]

This was absolutely Amazing!

[@Windthin]

Weird is the only way to be, with absolute certainty.

[@aliciakirtley6901]

This is my favorite song. It is very relatable.

[@ObviouslyNotXenrek]

well this was a fun thing to find in my recommended

[@apronthriftgirl]

absolutely fantastic!

[@mitchhaelann9215]

Growing up in the 80's and 90's, I was mocked for being 'weird'. And by 'mocked' I mean 'beaten frequently'. But my artistic talents are lacking, so I never had an outlet. Nothing but respect for those who went through similar situations without breaking. You all deserve happiness. Follow your passions.

[@thecogisdead]

Thanks, though you deserve happiness as well! No one deserves to be mocked and beaten for not fitting in.

[@mitchhaelann9215]

@@thecogisdead Thank you for the kind words, and for the fantastically entertaining music!

[@TFGRhinehart]

This was pretty much my experience growing up, too. I can absolutely relate to this song. Bullies seem to be really good at sniffing out anyone who's "different." Music was always my comfort and escape in life. I hope everyone who needs to hear this song hears it.

[@chrisstieler7638]

At school, I'd struggle with my speech and and with my learning disability this song has helped me break out of my dark shell

[@thecogisdead]

That's great, so glad to hear you're improving at facing your struggles! It's a challenge at times but it's well worth the effort. Glad to hear you appreciate the song!

[@valentin7541]

I really love your unique style cog!

[@str8nutz1]

This might be one of the coolest things I've ever heard. I sing stuff like this in my head as I go thru life, but you guys are recording it. My associates will never get it, which makes it even better

[@borismarkovic5426]

This duck loves this and loves you mates!

[@DragonLordNight]

Amazing song, it lines up so we'll with my own experiences. Having been diagnosed with autism, adhd and Asperger I was always a outcast in school. And having moved around a lot which meant many different schools I very quickly gave up trying to fit in their mold an made my own mold

[@Mrshadowmind14]

This song...hit real close to home, and damn if i don't feel it

[@candymaker1708]

Always love the songs that inspire me to be me. Astonishing music, as always!

[@saltbaker8683]

I'm honestly glad I'm not the only one who had my own "special needs " and "condiment" and you god sir may be underrtaed but will always remember you by heat each and every day of our daily (and sometime monthly) support!