Don't Miss The New Christmas Album From The Laughing Lunatic
It'll Soon Be Christmas Day
Available to stream now on Amazon Music, Apple Itunes and Spotify or if you prefer physical media, check out the new CD and vinyl at ElasticStage.com/The-Laughing-Lunatic
The Laughing Lunatic
New Lyrics, New Music, A Whole New Experience From The Author Behind The Adventures
John Roberts, real name Robert John Bortkiewicz, has been a freelance writer since 2007 with mixed success. In 2015, he began writing song lyrics alongside friends in various tribute bands. In 2025, these lyrics are finally being used to create several new albums and singles which can be streamed for free on platforms such as Spotify, Itunes and Amazon Music.
What Happened To Country
The First Album From The Laughing Lunatic Arrives In September 2025
What Happened To Country is the first album in the collection that includes Rob Bortkiewicz's lyrics and music arrangements voiced by AI to bring the whole project to life.
Over the next few months, more singles will be released on all main streaming platforms as well as some limited edition CD's, tapes and vinyl in 2026.
For all of the latest news, please subscribe to The Laughing Lunatic on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music or Deezer to receive the notifications for each new release.
New Releases Coming Soon:
8th September 2025: What Happened To Country (album)
8th September 2025: What Happened To Country (single)
9th September 2025: Ever Wondered (single)
19th September 2025: Broken Crayons (single)
19th September 2025: Chalk On The Floor (single)
1st October 2025: Text Me Back Or I'll Find You (single)
15th October 2025: Just (single)
28th October 2025: Chalk On The Floor (album)
1st December 2025: It'll Soon Be Christmas Day (single)
1st December 2025: It'll Soon Be Christmas Day (album)
1st January 2026: Raw Deal (album)
1st January 2026: It's My Old Hometown (single)
26th January 2026: If You Love Someone (single)
1st February 2026: If You Love Someone (album)
14th February 2026: Her Love Has Gone (single)
14th February 2026: For My Valentine (Love Songs Collection) (album including 8 new songs)
1st March 2026: My Life's Notebook (album)
1st April 2026: I Didn't Come This Far To Only Get This Far (album)
1st May 2026: Canvas In The Sky (album)
1st June 2026: A World That I Know (album)
01
What Happened To Country by The Laughing Lunatic
What Happened To Country
What Happened To Country was written when I was thinking about the music I grew up with. Classic country artists such as Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson etc. The modern day Country stars seem to be intent to move country music into the realms of pop, R&B and rap and this song makes you think about the storytellers from way back when.
02
Fairytale Life
The line; "Childish dreams of a life of fantasy, given a dose of reality, nobody ever tells story that have a sorry end" was the catalyst of Fairytale Life as it explores the reality of the human condition and how we shy away from bad news and experiences in exchange for our own unique version of how a Fairytale Life should be. One of my songwriting friends really connected with this song so it had to be on the album.
03
Tennessee
Tennessee is a song about not being characterised and placed in a box artistically and that is what I am looking to do with my songs, to make people feel without being catagorised into a specific genre. "Something different is what they want to see, just like when Elvis arrived in Tennessee."
04
Good Morning World
"Good Morning World, how was your night..." This is an upbeat song about no matter how bad things are, there is always reason to be thankful for another day.
05
The Laughing Lunatic
This is the song that the group was named after and the description fits my personality and my approach to the new project. To go for it and to hell with the consequences and so far, people seem to enjoy what they hear. "I've been labelled The Laughing Lunatic, they say my comments are subtle as a brick, I can't control the words they just come out, never a dull moment when they all shout, ridiculous pranks that makes them all tick, don't worry about me I'm The Laughing Lunatic."
06
Quirk Of The Heart
Quirk Of The Heart is a love story in a song that has proven quite popular. This deals with the subject of how we come to regret the opportunities that pass us by and things we should have said and done to and for loved ones in our lives. One of the longest songs on the album, it is a story of lost love.
07
If Jesus Walked The World Today
This one focuses on the obsession we have with modern technology, selfies and likes to justify our existence and how ridiculous it would look to Jesus if he walked the world today.
08
Is It Hot Downstairs
This was actually based on a true story where someone's girlfriend learnt that their partner was cheating so she soaked the condoms that he was using in jalapeno juice leading to both her partner and friend getting serious infections in intimate areas from the reactions to the juice. Who says revenge is a dish best served cold?
09
Sleeping With The Phone
Sleeping With The Phone is a tale about lovers in a new relationship waiting and hoping for a text to let them know that the other one is all right before they can sleep at night.
10
Coca-Cola And Pistachio Nuts
Coca-Cola And Pistachio Nuts took me back to when I was a teenager in our local social club people watching and socialising with my can of coke and nuts, an old style folk song of a time that seems to be dying out lately.
11
Check Up From The Neck Up
Check Up From The Neck Up is a quirky pop song that does exactly as it says, gives you a dose of reality as you let your heart rule your head so you need a check up from the neck up to see what's wrong with you.
12
We're Just Walking Each Other Home
This is a classic country song about life's journey from the cradle to the grave in a classic Alan Jackson style that has an Americana twang to it.
13
Until It's Time For You To Go
No, not the Elvis song, this is a love song about missing someone after the love has gone. "For you've gone your way, and I've gone mine, we had our differences and that was fine, but when a heart breaks it takes time to heal you know, so think of me and I'll be here and I'll stay Until It's Time For You To Go."
14
Where Were You
The longest song on the album at a whopping 7 and a half minutes and this is a story of how a child suffers when their parents relationship breaks down and the father is not around for them as they grow up.
15
Just Because
Just Because is a song about how we sometimes neglect to realise how our actions can affect others and the consequences of what we say and do and the reason? Just because.
16
Spare Me For An Hour
Spare Me For An Hour is a spiritual song that looks at the finality of life in our final hours and asking if you can be spared for an hour to make amends for the things you regret in life.
17
Don't Shoot I'm Only The Messenger
Don't Shoot I'm Only The Messenger is a prog rock track that deals with harsh truths about the world around us in this 21st century world which was inspired by the incredible prog rock music created recently by the amazing musician Matt Steady. If you haven't heard his work, take a look at www.MattSteady.com
18
What Colour Is Love
What Colour Is Love is a power ballad that explores how we can love unconditionally. "What Colour Is Love, is it red, white or blue, what colour is love, is it the same for me and you."
19
Don't Miss Me When I'm Gone
Don't Miss Me When I'm Gone focuses on mental health and how we can sometimes be the wallflowers of this world and get ignored by society until its too late and as the title suggests, if you don't have time for me now, Don't Miss Me When I'm Gone.
20
Just An Hour
Just An Hour is a reflection on how we deal with grief after the death of a loved one. "If I could talk to you for just an hour, ask your advice for just a moment more..."
21
Broken Crayons
Broken Crayons is another pop/R&B song that focuses on mental health as the song suggests; "we're all a little broken yet broken crayons still colour the same."
22
Text Me Back Or I'll Find You
Text Me Back Or I'll Find You is a quirky pop song that looks at possessiveness of needy partners who stalk their loved ones and ironically is the most downloaded song so far out of all the releases.
23
Ever Wondered
Ever Wondered is the first R&B hip-hop song of the collection and will feature on the rap/hip-hop/R&B album Raw Deal which comes out in January. "Ever Wondered how the words flow in a love song, ever wondered how long it takes to right a wrong, ever wondered if the fire still burns, ever wondered why a wounded soul never learns."
24
Chalk On The Floor
Chalk On The Floor is an upbeat pop song which is the title song from the new album due to be released on Oct 28th 2025. It is loosely based on one of my Blake Langford stories and could potentially be a theme song should these stories ever be made into films. Here's hoping but until then "all that's left here now is The Chalk On The Floor."
25
Just
Just is a new love song that is due to be released on 15th Oct 2025. I won't give too much away yet but keep a close watch on Spotify for the new release.
26
It'll Soon Be Christmas Day
It'll Soon Be Christmas Day is my first Christmas song and will be the title song of the new album being released on December 1st which will include 10 Christmas songs, 2 gospel songs and the theme song to my Children's books series, Bennie Barrier. There are plans for this album to be released as a CD too but I will update with more details closer to the time.
27
It's My Old Hometown
New Years Day is the release of my R&B/Hip-Hop/Rap album called Raw Deal and alongside that will be the single, It's My Old Hometown, which is the song that I wrote about my old hometown of Banbury in the UK. This will also appear on a future album later in 2026.
28
Ode To The Road
Ode To The Road was inspired from when I used to travel around the UK with the amazing Johnny Cash Roadshow between 2015-2019. This song catches the essence of life on the road with amazing musicians entertaining crowds every night before heading off to the next venue.
29
Happiness Is A Hot Cup Of Coffee
This quirky pop song is the inspirational pick-me-up you need to start your day, after all, Happiness Is A Hot Cup Of Coffee.
30
Another Love Song
This is an upbeat pop song that is not a conventional love song but more of a declaration of someone going through an identity crisis after a break-up.
31
When The Boss Arrives
Ever had that really annoying boss who is only interested in what furthers their own objective, never caring who they trample over to get it? This song is for them.
32
Whatever Happened To You Know Who
This song is a rollercoaster 7 minute epic love story that takes you on a journey of love that has passed you by.
33
Plum Lane
Driving through the Cotswolds in the summer, I noticed a road called Plum Lane just as a sports car sped past us going way too fast for the road we were on. This inspired the tragic story of Plum Lane.
34
The Song That We Made Love To
The Song That We Made Love To, not the erotic tale you expect, more of a memory of first love and the music playing in the background that takes you back to that memory over and over again.
35
Throwaway I Love Yous
Throwaway I Love Yous, the type you say when you're a child to your crush without realising the impact of your words to them until years later. This was inspired by visiting the old playground outside where my grandparents lived when I was a young child and thinking back to when I was a child and had a crush on one of the local girls in the street.
36
If Only They Knew
An emotional ballad that examines regrets from past relationships asking if only they knew?
37
Run And Run
This cheery pop song gives a summer vibe that we all need from time to time to remind us that things aren't really all that bad.
38
39
Heartbreak Is Just Another Bend In The Road
Classic folk song that takes us on a journey of exploration as Heartbreak Is Just Another Bend In The Road.
40
Enjoy The Ride
R&B upbeat song that encourages us to enjoy our freedoms and most of all, Enjoy The Ride.
41
A Jester's Eye
A Jester's Eye tackles the illusion of the happiest person in the room never having any problems where in fact he could be the one who hides his mental health the most.
42
Don't Fear The Love
When you don't have the confidence to make the first move when attraction hits between the two of you, Don't Fear The Love.
43
Hurt
Hurt is an exploration of the male psyche and how men can often hide their emotions as the world doesn't want to see them hurt.
44
Love Is A Game That We Play
How many times have you missed the chance to tell someone how you really feel about them? After all, Love Is A Game That We Play.
45
Stereotypical Society
The final song on the Chalk On The Floor album and one of the most popular as we examine how we all behave in this Stereotypical Society that we all live and participate in.
The Bennie Barrier Theme Song
Bennie Barrier & The Laughing Lunatic - A Musical Journey
This December - Bennie Barrier Gets His Own Theme Song!!
On December 1st 2025, The Laughing Lunatic will release his Christmas album on all streaming platforms and included in this album will be the new Bennie Barrier theme song from the series. For a sneak listen before the release date, click on the link here but don't tell anyone, it's just for you!!
Maybe This Christmas?
Maybe This Christmas?
Included In The New Adventure Is A Christmas Song With A Difference
Those of you who enjoy finding little hidden gems in the stories will notice in the new Christmas story that there is an untraditional Christmas song being sung. This song is part of the new Christmas album from The Laughing Lunatic and is called Maybe This Christmas. To listen to the whole song before its release on Christmas Day, click on the link below.
The Laughing Lunatic Christmas Album
John Roberts Is More Than Just An Author!!
It'll Soon Be Christmas Day
John Roberts, real name Robert Bortkiewicz is also known as The Laughing Lunatic and has released several albums mainly on streaming platforms but this year, something special is happening. The new Bennie Barrier theme will be included in The Laughing Lunatic's Christmas album which will be available from 1st December 2025 on all streaming platforms. However, for fans of the series, you can also purchase a CD of this Christmas album by following the link below. On this CD will be two extra bonus tracks that will not appear on streaming platforms until after Christmas including the song, Maybe This Christmas, which the carol singers sing the chorus of in the new adventure. The link will be updated soon so check back regularly for your chance to order the new CD.
46
Mistletoe Kisses
Mistletoe Kisses is the first song on the new Christmas album and sets the scene for the upbeat pop style of songs with catchy lyrics that make Christmas songs memorable.
47
Snowy Christmas Night
Snowy Christmas Night will be available on the Bennie Barrier's Christmas Bonus upload on Spotify which will be available from Christmas Day but if you don't want to wait that long, this new Christmas song is already released on the CD and vinyl versions of the It'll Soon Be Christmas Day album from ElasticStage.com/The-Laughing-Lunatic
48
Christmas Of Old Times
This is the longest song on the Christmas album and reflects on how Christmas has changed over the years and how we sometimes wish we could go back to the way it used to be.
49
Robin
Robin is the first Gospel/Spiritual song on the Christmas album which reflects on the meaning of seeing Robins around Christmastime and relating their presence with the spiritual meaning of lost loved ones who are missed and still a significant part of our daily lives even after they have died.
50
51
Christmas Chaos
Christmas Chaos is a humerous Christmas song about how we all go crazy for last-minute shopping before the big day.
52
A Hundred Miles
A Hundred Miles is a song for those who have to work away from home over Christmas and are unable to spend the quality time with their families, time that we often take for granted and wonder if they are still missed by their families when they're miles away from home.
53
54
Santa's Big Scene
Christmas is Santa's Big Scene and this Christmas pop song takes you into the festive season in style.
55
Hope In Christmas Day
Hope In Christmas Day is a reflection of current society and if we hold a mirror up to ourselves, do we still value the meaning of Christmas?
56
Would You Recognise Jesus
In today's overcomplicated, overcomputerised, self-obsessed world, tell me Would You Recognise Jesus as your friend? A gospel song that is thought-provoking and a reflection of society today.
57
Raw Deal
Raw Deal is the title song of the new album arriving in January 2026 and is a big step away from the country/pop/ballad songs from previous albums as The Laughing Lunatic takes on hip-hop/rap/R&B in this new album.