Clown

Clowns are comic performers who employ slapstick or similar types of physical humour, often in a mime style.

Clowns have a varied tradition with significant variations in costume and performance. The most recognisable modern clown character is the Auguste or "red clown" type, with outlandish costumes featuring distinctive makeup, colourful wigs, exaggerated footwear, and colourful clothing. Their entertainment style is generally designed to entertain large audiences, especially at a distance.

Modern clowns are strongly associated with the tradition of the circus clown, which developed out of earlier comedic roles in theatre or Varieté shows during 19th to mid 20th century.

Many circus clowns have become well known and are a key circus act in their own right. The first mainstream clown role was portrayed by Joseph Grimaldi (who also created the traditional whiteface make-up design). In the early 1800s, he expanded the role of Clown in the harlequinade that formed part of British pantomimes, notably at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane and the Sadler's Wells and Covent Garden theatres. He became so dominant on the London comic stage that harlequinade Clowns became known as "Joey", and both the nickname and Grimaldi's whiteface make-up design were, and still are, used by other types of clowns.

Clowns (video game)

Clowns is a 1978 multiplayer game (consisting of 1 - 2 players) similar to Circus Atari in which the player controls a seesaw to propel two clowns into the air, catching balloons situated in three rows at the top of the screen. "Clowns" has no definite ending - instead players can compete against previously-set high scores in beaten levels. On multi-player mode, two players can go against each other, seeing who can get the highest score or complete levels together. The game was released in the arcade in 1978, on cartridge for VIC-20 home computers in 1982, and then released a year later for the Commodore 64.

Gameplay

Players start with two clowns and they get to control where they go with a seesaw. The goal is to prevent them from falling to the ground, or else the level is lost. Players get three lives and can earn more after getting a certain amount of points. Getting to the center ring at the top of the sky, while gaining points from popping balloons, will help players complete levels. As the player advances to the next level, hazards and objects will start appearing in the air trying to hurt the clowns.

Clowns (song)

"Clowns" is a folktronica song performed by British duo Goldfrapp. The song was written and produced by Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory for the duo's fourth album Seventh Tree (2008). It was released as the album's fourth single in October 2008.

On 20 October 2008, "Clowns" was available to digital download for free from Goldfrapp's official website and MySpace page. A live version of the song, performed at the 2008 BBC Electric Proms, was also released as a free download. As part of the newspaper's week of free Goldfrapp giveaways, The Guardian released a live version of "Clowns" recorded at Union Chapel in London, England. The song was played over the film's end of Veronika Decides to Die (film). It has been covered by Melora Creager of Rasputina.

In a video interview with Blender, Alison Goldfrapp claimed the song was about the overabundance of women on reality television with breast implants.

Tracklist

Digital single

Official versions