He is a performer who doesn't just play the guitar and play music, but has a relationship with the instrument and the music. He is one with both. He is the guitar and he is the music. Many try to impress with their "mastery" but he is just plain MUSIC. THE true Maestro.
Rarely do I ever hear a guitar actual "sing." I've only ever done it once on a fluke. Absolutely love Tommy. The other song where I've heard it is John butler trio - ocean (the original version, old. Not the solo new/version :))
There are no words to describe how incredibly intense and LOUD this song sounds like when you hear it live, youtube just cannot revive that feeling. I literally felt my bones resonating inside my body...something I had never felt in my life before, I'm not kidding! He's amazing.
To help you understand the music and ceremony. IN some aboriginal cultures initiation is taking a young boy out to a remote site and lighting a camp fire and leaving him there. The men then go and hide in the bushes and make all the noises and sounds of wild animals and spirits of their culture. The boy has to stand his ground and not run. If he stands his ground and faces his fears he is "initiated" as a man in the tribe and in some cultures rewarded with circumcision. Tommy is just brilliant with this interpretation.
I always knew about tapping, muted strumming and picking and drumming... but I have never NEVER seen a guitar played like this... and you know, I'm truelly amazed by this... One day I will meet you, Tommy...
This is an absolutely phenomenal song, musician, and performance. I have been listening to this for ten years and it is still awesome (in the true sense of the word).
Wow, the imagery that comes to mind when hearing this is amazing! It's so clear... What an amazing artist. He's a guitarist's guitarist. He's why I picked up the guitar almost 30 years ago in the first place. I'm usually awestruck every time I here Tommy play. Simply awestruck. Peace.
I always love watching Tommy, because he plays the guitar with his whole body, especially on this song. He closes his eyes for pretty much the whole song and just feels the music and the story he tells with it.
love how he tells the sound man to turn up the pa in front of him and you can't even hear that he is gesturing towards the soundman-no pause, no flaw, this man amazes me every time anew
I met Tommy in a country town called Shepparton. Waiting patiently in line for what was my first feeling of infinity, with guitar in case and a smile ear to ear I asked politely 'can you sign my guitar please Mr Emmanuel?' He opened the case and upon seeing the layer of dust on the guitar, responded: 'You must love your guitar, sorry I can't sign it'. What was disappointment then, is now that smile ear to ear again! Thx Tommy!
I saw Tommy on the 22nd of Feb. in Charleston, SC. he closed his set with this song, he ROCKED the house, He is the best, no doubt, in his field!!!!!!!!!
If I close my eyes,I don't even know I'm listening to a guitar...It's the most amazing thing I've ever heard from one instrument....raw talent,genius....Thanks Tommy!!
I'm an aussie and grew up watching tommy play live, i have been to 8 of his australian concerts going back to the 80's, i've met him 3 times, i'm so glad the world is now getting to see what us aussies have always known, that tommy emmanuel is simply the best ever !!!!
Absolutely stunning. i only saw this live once but I was just blown away of how powerful it is. It tells a story and you can picture the images only by listening to it. WOW!!!
been to a concert of his in Debrecen, Hungary. Man, was that MUSIC! He played this tune too, magical! And the ticket wan't even expensive 'cuz he doesn't have a manager to pay. What more can you ask for? He's also one helluva showman!
I just saw him play this last night... absolutely incredible, and I recommend that anyone goes to see him live whenever they can. This song especially was AMAZING to hear live.
Uniquely capturing the Aboriginal sound and the outback......a masterpiece that could never be copied....TE is pure genius. James Morrison and TE, the best Australian musicians....
I can't believe I've never heard of this man until last nigh on a program on PBS called Tommy Emmanuel : Center Stage. Lucky for me I landed on the channel right when he was beginning this song, and I was amazed and mesmerized, I couldn't change the channel. I was completely submersed in the emotion of this song, it's so haunting and strange and hypnotizing. Needless to say I am a huge fan now, I still can't believe he does all that with one single instrument.
Yeah, watching him play is a great experience. His body expression is great and it makes his music pulse with so much emotion. As a musician, that's something that I need to learn from Tommy.
this is one of the sickest stuff i've seen in my life, I always knew he was the best, but this took it one step further, seriously, how much feeling can a man have?
I agree with everyone who says RUclips DOESNT CUT IT! I saw this last night in Syracuse, NY, and I have never EVER felt so amazed and awed and overall HAPPY coming out of a concert. This song is the one that sticks with you though. He's amazing. It was so loud, my ears practically bled, but it was completely worth it, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Anyone familiar with the process of initiation should accept this as a reasonable facsimile of the emotional experience involved: highly charged and intense. That Tommy can produce such an accurate representation of an intimate spiritual and physical experience is a work of art par excellence: A true representation of spiritual realities. Bravo!!
Thanks for posting, Tommy sure know how to transmit his passionate playing to the audience. This theme tells the whole story without words! (thru the universal language of music) Now that is SOUL POWER... Peace!
I saw him play the Laycock street theatre on the central coast in 1993 whilst in yr 11 or 5th form. I was already a guitarist but Tommy is a master's master. I had the privilege of learning from one of Tommy's teachers The humble beautiful man that is / was Don Andrews. He was amazing too. Love the music/ guitar and listen to as much as you can... Your playing style will improve. Love you music !
This is a piece I'll never forget from the first time I heard it 20 plus years ago. I had the good fortune of meeting Rhian Sheehan who toured with this master
He uses simple echo, then plays in perfect sync with it to produce the most brilliant, unearthly effects. This man is far beyond "talented" or "gifted." Calling him that would be like saying the sun is "bright."
i first heard this song when i was about 10, this is the first time i learned that he actually did all those sounds in the intro on his guitar. mind blown.
I saw this a few years ago on OETA, and I'm still enchanted by it. He is brilliant! You can't miss the expression of absolute satisfaction on his face. That's living by design!
Just saw him Live at the Belmont in Nashville for Chet Atkins Week.. AMAZING!!! I've seen Vai, Joe Sat Live.. He is without a doubt,, the Best Guitar Player in the World!!
every time I watch him play or listen to him, I'm inspired to do more with my life, to see more with my eyes, to dream more with my mind. I have always considered myself wild at heart, yet each experience of Tommy Emmanuel is like waking up from a slumber and finding a new world of possibility and adventure that awaits.
absolute genius. completely captures an aboriginal feel to telling a story. this mans hands and musical mind are that of a higher being. this piece is definatly moving.
I remember the first time I was aware of Tommy was when he performed Initiation on Hey Hey It’s Saturday (yep, we got it here in NZ). I’d never seen an acoustic so beaten up that still sounded amazing.
class, I saw him 'play' this at Southport in England a few years back. I had never heard him play before and in a live venue this blows your socks off.
This is the single song where a video would never do justice. Go see him life and take in the experience and feel the rhythm in your chest and be transported to the desert :)
I completely agree. I saw him perform this in Montreal earlier this year when he just had his guitar pimped out. It was the best version I've ever heard, and I've seen him play that song live many times now XD.
Saw him in Munich yesterday. I have never seen such a creative artist. It's amazing how he uses every part of his guitar. Thanks for the trip to Australia, Tommy!
que viagem!! thrilling performance! Eine mitreißende Darbietung, die jeden Zuhörer in den musikalischen Strudel hinein zieht, ist absolut beeindruckend
He's a true Australian. I saw him live in Wollongong. He dedicated his Guitar. Called it The White Man's Thunder Stick. Then he played this. Jaws dropped. We were Initiated.
Thanks for posting this! His "Only" album is my favourite - great to see other people love his gentler sides too.. Such a phenomenal musician. I love all the comments here - his expression brings out a response doesn't it? Music of and for the soul. Thanks to Tommy for his amazing musicality and humility in sharing it with all of us. And thank you for sharing these vids. Amazing.
tommy performed this in toronto on may 4 2008 700 jaws had to be picked up from the floor. mine is still there. there is a reason he is considered the best guitar player in the world. HE IS.
History will oneday look back and they will be talking about how great Tommy Emmanuel was, so lucky that we can see him live now, if you ever get a chnace folks go see him live because seeing him here TRUELY does not do him any justice.
Hendrix lives! Converting the guitar to something different a la "Machine Gun" or "Star Spangled Banner." Amazing how Tommy can capture the feel of a culture and make a guitar talk it...He does something similar on "Mombasa." True genius.
with this piece (you can only call it a tune on a normal guitar level ) .he uses the guitar to take you into the transcendent spiritual atmosphere like nobody else i've heard. he's the only man i know who has ? to accomplish this. if you go with it and don't bail out ,it's a spiritual experience .
Btw tommy uses a reverb unit and sends out a loop and then plays back over and against it as he plays, thats why he gets that amazing effect , thats why you see him reach down and make slight adjustments during the performance, totally brilliant !!
He could tell a goodnight story with that guitar, he is so freaking unbelievable good at playing his guitar. (in every single way,that is!) Before i die, i wanna meet him!
The video shows about 2% of what the song really sounds live. No comment or video can describe that feeling, please, if you have the smallest chance to go to his concert, grab that chance, don´t let it go and you will have one of the strongest experiences of your life. Believe me, I have seen him live.
Also agreed. Seen this live in large hall several times. Although it can verge on being too intense. But his use & control of echo somehow evokes an image of Aboriginal outback landscape. Probably audience projection following his intro, but it sure seems to fit.
I remember seeing him play this when I was about 8 years old. I was at the state fair with my dad and brother. It was pretty fun. By the way, this dude is freakishly hard on his guitars....somebody had to say it. :)
He is a performer who doesn't just play the guitar and play music, but has a relationship with the instrument and the music. He is one with both. He is the guitar and he is the music. Many try to impress with their "mastery" but he is just plain MUSIC. THE true Maestro.
Rarely do I ever hear a guitar actual "sing." I've only ever done it once on a fluke. Absolutely love Tommy. The other song where I've heard it is John butler trio - ocean (the original version, old. Not the solo new/version :))
There are no words to describe how incredibly intense and LOUD this song sounds like when you hear it live, youtube just cannot revive that feeling. I literally felt my bones resonating inside my body...something I had never felt in my life before, I'm not kidding! He's amazing.
How is it possible there are 27 people in the world who chose not to “like” this? I feel sorry for them.
31+ now the idiots
@@hambob-cw4px maybe it scared 😱 them to much?!
If all musicians played with as much passion as he has, the world would be such an awesome place.
To help you understand the music and ceremony. IN some aboriginal cultures initiation is taking a young boy out to a remote site and lighting a camp fire and leaving him there. The men then go and hide in the bushes and make all the noises and sounds of wild animals and spirits of their culture. The boy has to stand his ground and not run. If he stands his ground and faces his fears he is "initiated" as a man in the tribe and in some cultures rewarded with circumcision. Tommy is just brilliant with this interpretation.
Circumcision is no reward. It's abuse and it's barbaric.
@@Smudgeroon74 I guess you missed the sarcasm .
I always knew about tapping, muted strumming and picking and drumming... but I have never NEVER seen a guitar played like this... and you know, I'm truelly amazed by this... One day I will meet you, Tommy...
A living national treasure.
No-one comes even close to this man
This is an absolutely phenomenal song, musician, and performance. I have been listening to this for ten years and it is still awesome (in the true sense of the word).
Same here.
Wow, the imagery that comes to mind when hearing this is amazing! It's so clear...
What an amazing artist. He's a guitarist's guitarist. He's why I picked up the guitar almost 30 years ago in the first place. I'm usually awestruck every time I here Tommy play. Simply awestruck. Peace.
I always love watching Tommy, because he plays the guitar with his whole body, especially on this song. He closes his eyes for pretty much the whole song and just feels the music and the story he tells with it.
love how he tells the sound man to turn up the pa in front of him and you can't even hear that he is gesturing towards the soundman-no pause, no flaw, this man amazes me every time anew
Sound man would need to be absolutely focused... imagine missing the signals 🥴
I met Tommy in a country town called Shepparton. Waiting patiently in line for what was my first feeling of infinity, with guitar in case and a smile ear to ear I asked politely 'can you sign my guitar please Mr Emmanuel?'
He opened the case and upon seeing the layer of dust on the guitar, responded:
'You must love your guitar, sorry I can't sign it'. What was disappointment then, is now that smile ear to ear again! Thx Tommy!
Ludwig Van Beethoven once said "Guitar is the small orchestra"....... It's Tommy Emmanuel who actually proved his quote.......
I saw Tommy on the 22nd of Feb. in Charleston, SC. he closed his set with this song, he ROCKED the house, He is the best, no doubt, in his field!!!!!!!!!
If I close my eyes,I don't even know I'm listening to a guitar...It's the most amazing thing I've ever heard from one instrument....raw talent,genius....Thanks Tommy!!
I was front row in Sydney and i cannot give this guy enough credit, simply incredible.
I'm an aussie and grew up watching tommy play live, i have been to 8 of his australian concerts going back to the 80's, i've met him 3 times, i'm so glad the world is now getting to see what us aussies have always known, that tommy emmanuel is simply the best ever !!!!
Haunting.. I felt the whole story within Tommy's playing alone, that's why I cant stop listening to him, frightening stuff indeed.
Absolutely stunning. i only saw this live once but I was just blown away of how powerful it is. It tells a story and you can picture the images only by listening to it. WOW!!!
Exactly. I did not even realize when picture of an old forest and crow came up to my head.
been to a concert of his in Debrecen, Hungary. Man, was that MUSIC! He played this tune too, magical! And the ticket wan't even expensive 'cuz he doesn't have a manager to pay. What more can you ask for? He's also one helluva showman!
I just saw him play this last night... absolutely incredible, and I recommend that anyone goes to see him live whenever they can. This song especially was AMAZING to hear live.
Uniquely capturing the Aboriginal sound and the outback......a masterpiece that could never be copied....TE is pure genius. James Morrison and TE, the best Australian musicians....
I have no choice in the matter this gorgeous song puts images of a full moon in the desert.
This captivated our whole family when we heard it!
he is my biggest guitar idol
awesome!
I don't know how anyone could say he isn't the greatest guitarist in the world!
again AWESOME!!!!!!!!
I can't believe I've never heard of this man until last nigh on a program on PBS called Tommy Emmanuel : Center Stage.
Lucky for me I landed on the channel right when he was beginning this song, and I was amazed and mesmerized, I couldn't change the channel. I was completely submersed in the emotion of this song, it's so haunting and strange and hypnotizing. Needless to say I am a huge fan now, I still can't believe he does all that with one single instrument.
I cant get that melody out of my head. Tommy is a master. What a journey this song is.
Yeah, watching him play is a great experience. His body expression is great and it makes his music pulse with so much emotion. As a musician, that's something that I need to learn from Tommy.
4:39 haha he's telling the guy to turn up the monitor volume, and even thumbs up when he's satisfied..... and yet the song plays on flawlessly.
this is one of the sickest stuff i've seen in my life, I always knew he was the best, but this took it one step further, seriously, how much feeling can a man have?
I agree with everyone who says RUclips DOESNT CUT IT! I saw this last night in Syracuse, NY, and I have never EVER felt so amazed and awed and overall HAPPY coming out of a concert. This song is the one that sticks with you though. He's amazing. It was so loud, my ears practically bled, but it was completely worth it, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Anyone familiar with the process of initiation should accept this as a reasonable facsimile of the emotional experience involved: highly charged and intense. That Tommy can produce such an accurate representation of an intimate spiritual and physical experience is a work of art par excellence: A true representation of spiritual realities. Bravo!!
How in the fucking hell could anybody - no matter what you like and what you listen to - dislike this amazing, unique and incredible piece?
Thanks for posting, Tommy sure know how to transmit his
passionate playing to the audience. This theme tells the whole story without words! (thru the universal language of music) Now that is SOUL POWER... Peace!
I absolutely love this song. Heard it live once. Just had goosebumps
He's definitely channeling some ancient spirits of Australia, godly music...
Just saw this guy on IPTV, am amazed and thrilled. Many ideas running through my mind right now.
Thats just pure Genius/Class and absolute quality...This guy has got talent beyond words.
I saw him play the Laycock street theatre on the central coast in 1993 whilst in yr 11 or 5th form. I was already a guitarist but Tommy is a master's master. I had the privilege of learning from one of Tommy's teachers The humble beautiful man that is / was Don Andrews. He was amazing too. Love the music/ guitar and listen to as much as you can... Your playing style will improve. Love you music !
Awesome music! Whether he plays with acoustic guitar or electric, this bloke is a master! :)
This is a piece I'll never forget from the first time I heard it 20 plus years ago. I had the good fortune of meeting Rhian Sheehan who toured with this master
Oh all songs, this is the one to experience live ... a wall of sound
He uses simple echo, then plays in perfect sync with it to produce the most brilliant, unearthly effects. This man is far beyond "talented" or "gifted." Calling him that would be like saying the sun is "bright."
i first heard this song when i was about 10, this is the first time i learned that he actually did all those sounds in the intro on his guitar. mind blown.
LIVE you've a blast et you're transported. Words feebly attempt to describe what only the heart and soul can understand Tommy's music!
Oh lucky me, I was there that amazing night. What an outstanding player.
This man is a god! The best guitarrist ever, wow... huge inspiration
Thanks for sharing this, I love this song, only TE can produce such quality as this.
~~~~~~~~~M~~~~~~~~~
Seeing him again this May in Toronto, just seeing the name of the piece brings back strong memories. Truly an experience.
I saw him in Norman Oklahoma and I still can't get his playing out of my head. Goddamn Amazing, the best I've heard in a LOOOOOONG time.
I seen him live 20+ years ago and it made me tear up then and again now watching for the first time since!!
I saw this a few years ago on OETA, and I'm still enchanted by it. He is brilliant! You can't miss the expression of absolute satisfaction on his face. That's living by design!
This song is great. He just played at my school, and I love how he uses the same guitar, only now the scratched-off part is much larger
I felt all The Corroboree.
Epic.
Scary.
Cathartic.
Powerful Musician.
Tommy Emmanuel
Just saw him Live at the Belmont in Nashville for Chet Atkins Week.. AMAZING!!! I've seen Vai, Joe Sat Live.. He is without a doubt,, the Best Guitar Player in the World!!
every time I watch him play or listen to him, I'm inspired to do more with my life, to see more with my eyes, to dream more with my mind. I have always considered myself wild at heart, yet each experience of Tommy Emmanuel is like waking up from a slumber and finding a new world of possibility and adventure that awaits.
absolute genius. completely captures an aboriginal feel to telling a story. this mans hands and musical mind are that of a higher being. this piece is definatly moving.
I remember the first time I was aware of Tommy was when he performed Initiation on Hey Hey It’s Saturday (yep, we got it here in NZ). I’d never seen an acoustic so beaten up that still sounded amazing.
Very powerful song. Has to be experienced live, as you can visualise more. Has to be my favourite song of Tommy.
i have never seen a guitar used in such a way... damn gifted!!!
Any person can pick up a guitar and learn to play it. But not many can instill emotions and create an atmosphere such as this.
class, I saw him 'play' this at Southport in England a few years back. I had never heard him play before and in a live venue this blows your socks off.
This is the single song where a video would never do justice. Go see him life and take in the experience and feel the rhythm in your chest and be transported to the desert :)
I completely agree. I saw him perform this in Montreal earlier this year when he just had his guitar pimped out. It was the best version I've ever heard, and I've seen him play that song live many times now XD.
Saw him in Munich yesterday. I have never seen such a creative artist. It's amazing how he uses every part of his guitar. Thanks for the trip to Australia, Tommy!
serious ive seen him hes top banana this guy is a inspiration in music
que viagem!! thrilling performance! Eine mitreißende Darbietung, die jeden Zuhörer in den musikalischen Strudel hinein zieht, ist absolut beeindruckend
This is by far the best version I have seen of this on the internet.
Genius.
Still so proud to be a part of this!!! Sierra Center Stage, Chico Ca.
He's a true Australian.
I saw him live in Wollongong.
He dedicated his Guitar.
Called it
The White Man's Thunder Stick.
Then he played this.
Jaws dropped.
We were Initiated.
Thanks for posting this! His "Only" album is my favourite - great to see other people love his gentler sides too.. Such a phenomenal musician. I love all the comments here - his expression brings out a response doesn't it? Music of and for the soul. Thanks to Tommy for his amazing musicality and humility in sharing it with all of us. And thank you for sharing these vids. Amazing.
I saw this guy at the Mooroopna (Vic) civic centre in about 2002/3. Fantastic performer.
Just amazing, love it,
@AZStony so true. I don't think I've ever truly seen someone play the guitar until now.
tommy performed this in toronto on may 4 2008 700 jaws had to be picked up from the floor. mine is still there. there is a reason he is considered the best guitar player in the world. HE IS.
Amazingly Awesome! So moving and inspirational.Similar to experiencing the Lakota Medicine Bear Sweat Lodge experience that I had.
History will oneday look back and they will be talking about how great Tommy Emmanuel was, so lucky that we can see him live now, if you ever get a chnace folks go see him live because seeing him here TRUELY does not do him any justice.
unbelievable fresh, inspiring style!!
This is deep
Wow, what a crazy style in the beginning! I've never seen something like that.
tommy and phil are bloody awesome!! gotta love aussies
Too Good! Cheers from Aussieland👍
O_O I can't believe my ears......i'm left speachless.....
It seems that the guiter has life !! I love his facevery enjoy playing it !
why hasn't this gone viral???
i saw him live in concert just this sunday night. it was crazily amazing when he played this
Hendrix lives! Converting the guitar to something different a la "Machine Gun" or "Star Spangled Banner." Amazing how Tommy can capture the feel of a culture and make a guitar talk it...He does something similar on "Mombasa." True genius.
I saw him play this 15years ago yes its breathtaking :)
This guy is not human! He's the Guitar God!!!!
That was some awesome effects! I have never heard guitar like that!
with this piece (you can only call it a tune on a normal guitar level ) .he uses the guitar to take you into the transcendent spiritual atmosphere like nobody else i've heard. he's the only man i know who has ? to accomplish this. if you go with it and don't bail out ,it's a spiritual experience .
Btw tommy uses a reverb unit and sends out a loop and then plays back over and against it as he plays, thats why he gets that amazing effect , thats why you see him reach down and make slight adjustments during the performance, totally brilliant !!
He could tell a goodnight story with that guitar, he is so freaking unbelievable good at playing his guitar. (in every single way,that is!)
Before i die, i wanna meet him!
The video shows about 2% of what the song really sounds live. No comment or video can describe that feeling, please, if you have the smallest chance to go to his concert, grab that chance, don´t let it go and you will have one of the strongest experiences of your life. Believe me, I have seen him live.
This HAS to be experienced LIVE..... the video pales in comparison.
I was lucky enough to see "the trails" live and oh what an experience! Seeing him this coming may again!
Agreed. Seen this live in concert hall several times. Transported.
+Yvonne Magener unfortunately i can only imagine what its like live :(
... but my imagination is pretty vivid ;D
Also agreed. Seen this live in large hall several times. Although it can verge on being too intense. But his use & control of echo somehow evokes an image of Aboriginal outback landscape. Probably audience projection following his intro, but it sure seems to fit.
100% agree
that guitar is priceless...million dollars is not enough
Guitarist and performer like no other...
I would give my both eyes to listen this live.
I remember seeing him play this when I was about 8 years old. I was at the state fair with my dad and brother. It was pretty fun. By the way, this dude is freakishly hard on his guitars....somebody had to say it. :)