Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
In an unexpected appearance, voice actor and musician Mikee W. Goodman, known for his work in Disco Elysium, joined UK indie band Sea Power, the game’s composers, on stage. Donning the iconic green jacket and flared trousers of protagonist Harry Du Bois, Goodman delivered a spirited rendition of “The Smallest Church in Saint-Saëns,” the melancholic song featured in Disco Elysium’s memorable karaoke side quest. This performance highlights the lasting impact of Disco Elysium and its unique world.
Mikee W. Goodman’s Surprise Disco Elysium Performance
Embracing the Ancient Reptilian Brian
A video shared by Goodman on TikTok captures the beginning of his guest performance. He seamlessly transitioned into the guttural register of the Ancient Reptilian Brian—one of protagonist Du Bois’s fragmented inner voices and one of eight characters voiced by Goodman in the original Disco Elysium.
@mikeegoodman
♬ original sound – Mikee
Reprising Roles and Theatrical Flair
Goodman later revisited his role during the show, reciting the Ancient Reptilian Brian’s prominent opening lines from Disco Elysium as a spoken word introduction to one of Sea Power’s songs.
From Metal to Theatrical Acting
Alongside his video game contributions, Goodman is a longstanding member of the influential djent metal band SikTh and has incorporated similar spoken word performances into his music previously.
However, this performance felt different, characterized it as a theatrical undertaking, aiming to embody the essence of Harry Du Bois:
“I just thought to myself man, do you know what? This is my first on stage acting performance, because even though I’m just singing a song, actually it’s theatrical.”
Cosplaying Harry Du Bois
To perfectly embody Harry Du Bois, Goodman matched his own discotheque-style flares to those seen in the game, complete with a screen-accurate Horrific Necktie (another character voiced by Goodman), and even borrowed an official Atelier ZA/UM green jacket from the studio.
The Significance of “The Smallest Church in Saint-Saëns”
A Karaoke Staple in Disco Elysium
Within Disco Elysium, “The Smallest Church in Saint-Saëns” is presented as a poignant anthem of heartbreak favored by Harry Du Bois. In a side quest, attempting to sing it at karaoke can result in:
- A successful performance: Du Bois sings in Goodman’s Ancient Reptilian Brain voice.
- A “failure”: Harry descends into the frail falsetto of the Limbic System—also voiced by Goodman.
The Song’s Real-World Inspirations
“The Smallest Church in Saint-Saëns”, a clever, French-tinged reimagining of a Sea Power song, “The Smallest Church in Sussex” which reportedly exists in reality and can be visited. Other tracks in Disco Elysium similarly riff on earlier Sea Power compositions, such as “Instrument of Surrender,” which bears resemblance to “Red Rock Riviera” released in 2013.
Goodman’s Other Projects
Beyond SikTh and his work as a voice actor/director, Goodman has unveiled a new single, “Hermits Under Blankets” with his other project, The Sad Season. Goodman engages with fans on Cameo, offering personalized video messages as his various Disco Elysium personas, and curates all his projects in one directory via Linktree.