Dude, most musicians write "in timely fashion" for their music producers & their followers. Andrew's stuff bubbles out from a deeper place in the mind that you can't control. Welcome to the world of true art.
Just went to a show of his last night. Oh how I wish his records were able to capture the magic of his live performances. It's insane how talented he is, and how he can utterly transform a song from record to live. Simply genius. Nowadays most live performers aren't nearly as good as their recorded selves - it's just the opposite for Andrew Bird. Anytime Andrew Bird comes to your town, missing seeing him live is a mistake.
Yes!!!! His live performances are hypnotic, the way he loops blending new tech with whistling and a violin and the wats he uses that violin as like 4 instruments ,so fun to watch what you are hearing developing b4 your eyes
Exactly. He's so at home & comfortable playing music for & with people, and yet its excruciatingly painful & difficult for him to record his music in a studio, even when said studio is on his remote farm in rural Illinois. The reality of this strikes you when you see him perform live in person-he seems to spiritually/mentally blend with his audience in a terribly profound way, creating a great deal of joy in the people he plays for.
i was 12 when i first watched this, my brother showed it to me. i learnt how to whistle properly to the tunes of the songs he performed here. indelible and precious.
The first song he played was called Hot Math. It's on the album Useless Creatures. Second was called Eyeoneye from Break It Yourself. Third (obviously) was Weather Systems, title track from the album of the same name. All on itunes
1. Andrew Bird is a BRILLIANT musician. 2. He's not trying to impress anyone with the looping. He just loves making music, and this is just the way he chooses to make it. Why does this bother people? 3. He started looping out of necessity when his band couldn't make it to a gig. He found that it worked well for him so he continued working that way. 4. There is too much negativity in this world. Chill out.
I felt so honoured watching this. It felt very intimate, like I was actually watching him in person. Can't wait to hear what happens to the new song (Loops/Heartbreak). Long live Andrew Bird.
i wish people had the capabilty to apreciate and understand what is simple and as utterly beautiful as music. If this type of music was on the radio, the world would be so much better.
when you think he's reached the top, he just keeps going higher. Andrew Bird's talent is limitless. Looking forward to seeing the outcome of the "heartbreak" song. Keep flying Bird =)
I saw Andrew Bird at Oran Mor in Glasgow on Thu 14th May 2009 with out his band and it was an absolute treat, to see and hear him master this type of music. I don't know about music so I can only say how somthing feels to me and listening to Andrew at his gig in Glasgow was amazing it felt that even his whistling and voice was used like an highly tuned instrument, well worth seeing.
I had the pleasure of seeing him in Dublin this year at a festival. Truly awesome. I'm so glad a person like this is in our world. My dad said the only good thing anyone has ever done for anyone is play music. I'd agree.
i saw andrew bird last year with his band, he was equally incredible and creative. He's just such a real guy when he's performing. He makes mistakes in the middle and goes "woops," and laughs it off. If you don't like the music then that is opinion. Regardless, the intricacy of his music and the caliber of his talent is unquestionably awe-inspiring. If you're too proud to admit that then go put on some blink 182 and have a blast. *sarcasm font needed*
@Neylonx (continued) Have you listened to and tried to understand the heartbreaking aria from Madame Butterfly, that never fails to make me weep but also to think of how woman are treated, how cultural divides only seem to get bigger, and that the love of a mother for her child is one of the most beautiful things in this world. I too love a heart thumping, mind freeing techno beat, packed in with friends and strangers alike moving and dancing in perfect harmony its awesome.
I love this guy's quirkiness, been listening to him for a few months. Am I the only one bothered by TED videos being uploaded to RUclips at higher quality than they are on their website?
@instereovideos I use a loop machine and sometimes a xylophone, and there are others who are in three piece bands, and others who make sample based music, or just playing instrumental piano. A lot of people do the same things, but it's how they do them that makes them stand out. Sure anyone can buy an instrument or loop pedal both are just musical tools, but it's not the tools that matter it's the person manning them. If you can't understand that you are quite superficial in your perspective.
i want to know how he does so many loops with such a low noise level. Whenever i try looping multiple instruments i end up with lots of low end noise. he is a friggin genius, by the way.
He is beyond genius. He completely transmits resonance. Frequency. It reminds me of the yogis. Experiencing healing resonance through sound, mantra and in Bird's case, one with the angels. Supreme gratitude!
I was thinking "cute, but I've spent the day listening to Man Man and The Flaming Lips". Right up to 2:20, and I realize there was almost 20 minutes of this. Around 15 I realized this was the sort of madness everyone wishes they had. Had the time for.
@instereovideos Sorry dear, dare I say, he's not called a hipster or a scenester or whatever. It comes down to that he is a musician. He's clearly passionate about music, and I wouldn't ever call a love for music narcissism. Who cares if it's one man or a band or an orchestra. It's music. Yes, people have different tastes. It doesn't mean that any musician that plays anything that's not 'mainstream' is necessarily egotistical or narcissistic.
I began to wonder about whether music would just slide into the abyss of capitalism or raise itself up through the miasma. Andrew Bird expresses a journey through love itself. Thank you Andrew Bird
@Neylonx (continued) but just because you appreciate the value of one does not negate the value of the other, and that goes for those who dismiss techno and hold classical as the only viable musical genre. I have found the ridiculous and the sublime in both, and would encourage everyone on both sides of the fence to try to just feel it, and see if they can't find something in it they didn't know was there.
@hydrademian You've got a good point, at least on the surface level. But, when you're able to (on the fly) get all that to work and then to harmonize both instrumentals and vocals (or whistles), there's a lot of talented display here. His pedal board features pedals that distort in certain ways too. So, there really is a lot going on here. Also, it's true that "every kid" can potentially do what he's doing with music software-but, music software is severely different than live performance.
@oldfashionedbc I have seen him multiple times, and I know he uses the Line6 DL4 Delay Modeler to record his loops. One of the pots on the pedal allows you to slow down the loop.
@niginit You seemed to have missed my point.Maybe it's easy to establish a clear distinction between temporal pop music and the great classical composers, but when you say some music is empirically better, you imply the existance of a heirarchy, which would exist within every genre. The broader genre classifications are, nevertheless, loose aggroupations (taking into account all styles and variations). Would you say all -e.g.- jazz is "good"? Is there better within the genres? How do you decide?
@DCioccoloni There's a couple of problems with that argument. A) There is a posibility that, e.g., Britney Spears' popularity will outlive that of Beethoven in the next 400 years, where would you stand on that? B) What happens when you compare widely acknowledged, long deceased musicians (lets say they were contemporaries with a similar sound or within the same genre) and their work? The existance of a hierarchy implies one will hold a higher spot; and surely it can't be all based on popularity.
@DarnocRis Same here. He was opening for Ani DiFranco. He gave me an autograph that was just a bunch of weird scribbles and lines from what I can tell. I get what @WyldOrbit is saying, too. Not quite emotionless, just... calm. Like incredibly mellow.
@monsieurpoopy Still in the making. Just like all of his songs, past present and future. But more to the point, I believe that particular one is a bit more complete in the sense that it has an ending.
@Trickeralexx you 2 deserve a medal since you, my friend, are the first to reply to the person who placed the first comment on this video! (btw my comment is on the first comment page =D)
Dude, most musicians write "in timely fashion" for their music producers & their followers. Andrew's stuff bubbles out from a deeper place in the mind that you can't control. Welcome to the world of true art.
🤟
0:23 The Happy Birthday Song
9:30 Eyeoneye
13:10 Weather Systems
Now you all can look them up in the future!!!
Thank you from the future.
Vasilieva same! ;)
First song is Ethio invention number one/ Happy birthday song I think
*Damn, Thanks. xD*
0:23 9:30 13:10
He should call his songs duets, because the way he plays makes the violin almost come alive and sing for itself.
hahaha adam i fucking creased at your comment
Just went to a show of his last night. Oh how I wish his records were able to capture the magic of his live performances. It's insane how talented he is, and how he can utterly transform a song from record to live. Simply genius. Nowadays most live performers aren't nearly as good as their recorded selves - it's just the opposite for Andrew Bird. Anytime Andrew Bird comes to your town, missing seeing him live is a mistake.
I want to see him so much! He is captivating
Andrew is something to see live. I've been privileged to witness his genius multiple times, it's mind blowing
Totally agree!
Yes!!!! His live performances are hypnotic, the way he loops blending new tech with whistling and a violin and the wats he uses that violin as like 4 instruments ,so fun to watch what you are hearing developing b4 your eyes
I love how modest he is. He's like an awkward middle schooler saying "thanks" and then leaving the stage.
I'm not one to idolize but....
I totally love this man and am so jealous of anyone who has every seen him live.
Exactly. He's so at home & comfortable playing music for & with people, and yet its excruciatingly painful & difficult for him to record his music in a studio, even when said studio is on his remote farm in rural Illinois. The reality of this strikes you when you see him perform live in person-he seems to spiritually/mentally blend with his audience in a terribly profound way, creating a great deal of joy in the people he plays for.
If it is the end of the world or last day of my life, I wish I could listen to Andrew on the radio till he says 'good night' and I can close my eyes.
Amen
111!
❤❤❤❤
A true creative genius engulfed in sensory exploration and expression.
No one like... him. He lifts me up and out of this world.
I've never experienced a musician in such a way. As said, he's pure art
I always come back to watch his performance here... even after six years. Still breathtaking as the first time
i can't wait to introduce my children to his music.
Alfredo Zuniga me toooooo
Has my son nearly 2 years ago now and he's been listening since the womb lol a lot of his baby videos have AB music to them. And he still loves it!
I make mine listen to a lot of Andrew bird. It's just a portion of their daily training.
Have you yet?
My son recently listened to The Mysterious Production of Eggs & told me he really likes it. Made me so happy! :)
i was 12 when i first watched this, my brother showed it to me. i learnt how to whistle properly to the tunes of the songs he performed here. indelible and precious.
Makes me keep my hope that good musicians like andrew bird are still out there. A truly great musician.
The first song he played was called Hot Math. It's on the album Useless Creatures. Second was called Eyeoneye from Break It Yourself. Third (obviously) was Weather Systems, title track from the album of the same name. All on itunes
Seeing him in Austin, Texas in October this year. Been waiting for this since I was 13. i'm 25.
How was it?👏
1. Andrew Bird is a BRILLIANT musician.
2. He's not trying to impress anyone with the looping. He just loves making music, and this is just the way he chooses to make it. Why does this bother people?
3. He started looping out of necessity when his band couldn't make it to a gig. He found that it worked well for him so he continued working that way.
4. There is too much negativity in this world. Chill out.
I felt so honoured watching this. It felt very intimate, like I was actually watching him in person. Can't wait to hear what happens to the new song (Loops/Heartbreak). Long live Andrew Bird.
Second song turned out to be Eyeoneye, so cool to see it in a developmental state!
the song name is even cooler with that anecdote that he mentions before playing it too! :)
There's a hint of Hole in the Ocean Floor in the opener as well, when he lays down the long bow lines.
A truly enlightened man.
He is utterly mesmerizing.
i wish people had the capabilty to apreciate and understand what is simple and as utterly beautiful as music. If this type of music was on the radio, the world would be so much better.
when you think he's reached the top, he just keeps going higher. Andrew Bird's talent is limitless. Looking forward to seeing the outcome of the "heartbreak" song.
Keep flying Bird =)
UM WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME THERE WAS AN ANDREW BIRD TED TALK!?!
oh because you don't matter anymore than anyone else... wanker...
same. I AM SHOOKITH
YES! That's how I feel
I know rigth?
youtube must have, you dork
I went to search Andrew Bird talks about Violins, then I saw Ted Talk and I spit out my hypothetical tea.
How do people down vote this seriously I could fall asleep listening to this guy, btw that's a good thing
Standing ovation. Simply incredible. Mesmerizing.
This is just so good, when I watched it for the first time I felt like it just changed everything
Sometimes, he sounds like Tim Buckley. Gorgeous performance, by the way. I like the guy, he has a NPR Tiny desk live that is greeeeat.
TheGhostRhythms Yes, that gorgeous pitch perfect warble
Since English is not my first language i find it difficult describing how this makes me feel.. Amazing..
Never knew being a TED fan and Andrew Bird fan would come together. LOve it!
I can't even imagine being able to play back so many different parts so flawlessly, much less in front of a large crowd. This is awesome!
15:23 absolutely enchanting
This is such a wonderful performance of his. I could listen to it every day.
When he goes into the "wooooo" falsetto it's so beautifully haunting!
I saw Andrew Bird at Oran Mor in Glasgow on Thu 14th May 2009 with out his band and it was an absolute treat, to see and hear him master this type of music. I don't know about music so I can only say how somthing feels to me and listening to Andrew at his gig in Glasgow was amazing it felt that even his whistling and voice was used like an highly tuned instrument, well worth seeing.
Finally, a wonderful TED music guest.
I had the pleasure of seeing him in Dublin this year at a festival. Truly awesome. I'm so glad a person like this is in our world. My dad said the only good thing anyone has ever done for anyone is play music. I'd agree.
i saw andrew bird last year with his band, he was equally incredible and creative. He's just such a real guy when he's performing. He makes mistakes in the middle and goes "woops," and laughs it off. If you don't like the music then that is opinion. Regardless, the intricacy of his music and the caliber of his talent is unquestionably awe-inspiring. If you're too proud to admit that then go put on some blink 182 and have a blast. *sarcasm font needed*
Bird is in my top 5 for sure.
Who else? I need more like Bird
@@jonahfarrell6235 Elliott Smith, Mitski
It's so cool to hear this song since his new album is out and see how it has transformed.
Hey Andrew, you're going to call this song Eyeoneye.
The "doesn't have a name yet" at 9:26 song is really good! And yes, there is definitely some Thom Yorke over him!
@Neylonx (continued) Have you listened to and tried to understand the heartbreaking aria from Madame Butterfly, that never fails to make me weep but also to think of how woman are treated, how cultural divides only seem to get bigger, and that the love of a mother for her child is one of the most beautiful things in this world.
I too love a heart thumping, mind freeing techno beat, packed in with friends and strangers alike moving and dancing in perfect harmony its awesome.
That whistle harmony at 1:39
Andrew Bird is a human canary.
the music of adrew bird resonates through me and gives me opportunity to feel the boundries of my soul.
So glad you chose this song to introduce those who don’t know your magic ❤️
Extraordinary.
Wow...he us absolutely amazing. That last song was awesome!!
I love this guy's quirkiness, been listening to him for a few months.
Am I the only one bothered by TED videos being uploaded to RUclips at higher quality than they are on their website?
@instereovideos I use a loop machine and sometimes a xylophone, and there are others who are in three piece bands, and others who make sample based music, or just playing instrumental piano. A lot of people do the same things, but it's how they do them that makes them stand out. Sure anyone can buy an instrument or loop pedal both are just musical tools, but it's not the tools that matter it's the person manning them. If you can't understand that you are quite superficial in your perspective.
Al escucharlo pienso en lo que hubiera hecho Bach con un Loop!!! Tremendo. Gracias por compartir.
I thought I was the only one whose eyes did that.
Went to your concert in Eugene Oregon in the early 20's...love it
He's so lovely.
It's so wonderful to see the song realised after having watched this video.
The "nameless" song in this TED talk emerged as "Oh Baltimore" without the lyrics on Fingerlings 4 that was just released.... just wondrous.
1. Happy Birthday Song - 0:14
His music is almost enchanting
almost?
That just made me regret quiting violin when I was in 8th grade...
i want to know how he does so many loops with such a low noise level. Whenever i try looping multiple instruments i end up with lots of low end noise. he is a friggin genius, by the way.
He is beyond genius. He completely transmits resonance. Frequency.
It reminds me of the yogis. Experiencing healing resonance through sound, mantra and in Bird's case, one with the angels. Supreme gratitude!
this guys talks to his violin. mad props from this pianist.
All art is rushed, but not everything rushed is art. I think an artist is someone that can find that balance.
He is a genious. Original and pure.
wish they could have a recording of what he first played :( im mesmerized by everything that song holds
They kinda do; it's a fusion of "Ethio Invention I" and "The Happy Birthday Song"
This man is the Wes Anderson of music
I was thinking "cute, but I've spent the day listening to Man Man and The Flaming Lips".
Right up to 2:20, and I realize there was almost 20 minutes of this.
Around 15 I realized this was the sort of madness everyone wishes they had.
Had the time for.
@instereovideos Sorry dear, dare I say, he's not called a hipster or a scenester or whatever. It comes down to that he is a musician. He's clearly passionate about music, and I wouldn't ever call a love for music narcissism. Who cares if it's one man or a band or an orchestra. It's music. Yes, people have different tastes. It doesn't mean that any musician that plays anything that's not 'mainstream' is necessarily egotistical or narcissistic.
I love Andrew Bird...
so much.
Wow, i think it would be awesome to see him live!
Underrated. A national treasure.
International*
Cosmic treasure ⋆ ♡
I was afraid music was dead until I met Andrew Bird's music.
I began to wonder about whether music would just slide into the abyss of capitalism or raise itself up through the miasma. Andrew Bird expresses a journey through love itself.
Thank you Andrew Bird
Can we have a guitar mom?
No there's guitar at home
Guitar at home: 4:42
The last piece he played was mesmerizing. Ahgggghgg 😍
@Neylonx (continued) but just because you appreciate the value of one does not negate the value of the other, and that goes for those who dismiss techno and hold classical as the only viable musical genre. I have found the ridiculous and the sublime in both, and would encourage everyone on both sides of the fence to try to just feel it, and see if they can't find something in it they didn't know was there.
i love him so much
A guy with passion for music right here. His singing voice reminds me of jeff buckley and Thom yorke. anyone else agree?
i’m twelve years late to this comment but yes definitely, his voice in the song armchairs especially reminded me of buckley
looking forward to spending an evening with him and his music tomorrow night!
Lovely musical loops, much like we live our lives, yet more lyrical
You can see the music flowing out of him!!!
@hydrademian You've got a good point, at least on the surface level. But, when you're able to (on the fly) get all that to work and then to harmonize both instrumentals and vocals (or whistles), there's a lot of talented display here. His pedal board features pedals that distort in certain ways too. So, there really is a lot going on here. Also, it's true that "every kid" can potentially do what he's doing with music software-but, music software is severely different than live performance.
That is a glockenspiel, not a xylophone.
ADAM RAGUSEA????
Why I correct others, not myself.
Piss off Adam
Oh Baltimore always tugs my heartstrings
Most inspirational thing I've seen in a LONG time
I can't stop listen to Andrew
Genius !!!!!!!!! He's a strong thinker and musician
I had no idea he was on TED Talks. I think I understand why I am so in love now.
@oldfashionedbc I have seen him multiple times, and I know he uses the Line6 DL4 Delay Modeler to record his loops. One of the pots on the pedal allows you to slow down the loop.
@niginit You seemed to have missed my point.Maybe it's easy to establish a clear distinction between temporal pop music and the great classical composers, but when you say some music is empirically better, you imply the existance of a heirarchy, which would exist within every genre. The broader genre classifications are, nevertheless, loose aggroupations (taking into account all styles and variations). Would you say all -e.g.- jazz is "good"? Is there better within the genres? How do you decide?
@DCioccoloni There's a couple of problems with that argument. A) There is a posibility that, e.g., Britney Spears' popularity will outlive that of Beethoven in the next 400 years, where would you stand on that? B) What happens when you compare widely acknowledged, long deceased musicians (lets say they were contemporaries with a similar sound or within the same genre) and their work? The existance of a hierarchy implies one will hold a higher spot; and surely it can't be all based on popularity.
Was nice. Thanks Bird and Ted
Mind you, the first song is the background of 'Hot Math' from Useless Creatures with the lyrics from 'Birthday Song'.
@DarnocRis Same here. He was opening for Ani DiFranco. He gave me an autograph that was just a bunch of weird scribbles and lines from what I can tell. I get what @WyldOrbit is saying, too. Not quite emotionless, just... calm. Like incredibly mellow.
@monsieurpoopy Still in the making. Just like all of his songs, past present and future. But more to the point, I believe that particular one is a bit more complete in the sense that it has an ending.
Andrew you are your music and your music is you
you need to love one to love the other
till next time hope is soon
TED + Andrew Bird =
@Trickeralexx you 2 deserve a medal since you, my friend, are the first to reply to the person who placed the first comment on this video!
(btw my comment is on the first comment page =D)
@niginit Stop overthinking so much, sit down, close your eyes and enjoy the music.
Beautiful
All I'm thinking is...this is going to end up on a Wes Anderson soundtrack.