As an Australian myself, i find this stunningly beautiful and mesmerizing. It feels like home. A unique conjuring of the heartbeat and spirits of our ancient land and a tribute to our First Nations Peoples. Tommy is a genius and this resonnates with my soul🫶..... but i can completely understand that many won't like it😅
The first thing you hear is him creating a summer storm....hearing the thunder and lightning even wind & birds flying over the 'camp' ....wow! feet stomping the playing of a didgeridoo what an amazing talented man is Tommy Emmanuel. Then you facture in Tommy's own genius and heart just sheer perfection. Thanks to you both for this reaction. Love from Australia
Great reaction! I first heard Initiation at a music festival in Winfield Kansas many years ago. It was outside at night and Mr. Emmanuel transported us to Australia to the 'outback' to the Aboriginal world with his amazing guitar work. I was initiated.
It’s a soundscape. Tommy has gotten three guitars to the state in which he can get all of the percussive noises he needs out of a single guitar to play Initiation. I don’t think I have heard any other guitarist produce the range of noises that Tommy can get out of a guitar. The more you rewatch, the more you can see how each noise is made. I know, it’s mind blowing. I think he must have experimented with emotional movements like his sleeve over over the strings first, and discovered the sound it made second, and slotted that sound/emotion in where and when he needed it on the Initiation journey last. Glad you were moved, even if it was to fear. Initiation is so moving to this Australian.
Got to see Tommy here in Anaheim (CA) a month or so ago. Long time fan, first time seeing him. He didn’t play this piece, but that’s okay, it was still phenomenal as you’d expect from Tommy. (Aussie too, lived here a while) 🇦🇺
I first heard this song from a younger Tommy and can tell you the song has evolved over the years. He may even play a different version each time. As a guitar player, I can say one of the things we do is experiment with different sounds we can make. Tommy is amazing at using those sounds in his music. What is also amazing is that Tommy's brother Phil, who has passed, was equal to or greater than Tommy. Together they were magic! ☮💛🎶
Tommy is a musical savant. You have listened to what he can do with Classical Gas and now Initiation. I suggest you next listen to Somewhere Over the Rainbow which is absolutely beautiful. He can do anything he wants with the guitar.
I love your awe-struck reaction and understand it well. I have seen Tommy perform several times and the first time I saw him perform this piece was in Sacramento, CA at the Crest Theater. Such an amazing talent that always pleases my senses. Bravo!
Tommy and Mark Knopfler of dia straits fame both learnt a lot from American guitarist-singer Chet Atkins who had a way of playing that sounded like guitar, bass and rhythm all at the same time. Tommy wrote to Chet when he was a boy and Chet wrote back inspiring Tommy and his guitar playing. Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins recorded an album together it was called Neck to neck and it is to this day one of my favourite albums ever.
👍 I saw Tommy at the Cape Hatteras High School on New Years eve 2001-2002. Incredible talent. Hey guys. Here's an innovator you probably haven't heard of: Monte Montgomery. Keep reminding yourself that he's playing a hollow body acoustic. Little Wing (Acoustic) - Monte Montgomery ua-cam.com/video/PjpkVv9OrZQ/v-deo.html Festival International, Lafayette, LA April 2002. I'm walking from one venue to the next and I hear Mark Knopfler's Romeo and Juliet. I ease in close to the stage to see a guy in shorts sitting on the edge of the stage, just nailing it. I mean perfect. After 3-4 just killer tunes, I notice standing in front of me is none other than Derek Smalls, the bass player for Spinal Tap. (lol Yep, Harry Shearer lol) Just after this tune (encore), he turns and our eyes meet and we both just shake our heads and smile. I've seen Monte 7-8 times now. Stunning every time. And it's funny, a Monte show is like a Sonny Landreth show, in that there is always a row of open mouthed, guitar players on the front row, looking at each other, smiling, and shaking their heads... lol GO SEE HIM LIVE! (you may have to go to Texas... lol)
Surprised to see a few negative comments in here. Each to their own, I suppose. You may not call it music or entertainment, but I do. Not something I would play in the car, but I love watching first time reactions. Tommy is self taught and pretty sure he still doesn't read or write music. It's all by memory. As a boy, he and his brother would copy songs on the radio. They learned to play ALL the sounds. Not knowing there was 2 or more guitars in the song. Keep exploring his work. He is simply unmatched. Some people play similar to him now.... I saw this "song" on Australian TV 35 years ago!!!!
Try "Beautiful Lie" from "Yoav" wonderful guitar layers and a beautiful song, of course hes not a genius like Tommy😄 but he is at least a litte genius.
The Soundscapes was created by Brian Eno...Robert Fripp is my guitar soundscapes Idol...but this man, take it these Sounds to a Master Cosmic God Level!!! ❤
It’s still remarkable how much sounds he gets from the guitar and it definitely isn’t just a bunch of sound effects, there’s lots of musicality going on, but I agree it’s very ambient and I also don’t enjoy it as much as his other stuff. But knowing what a great musician he is you know this isn’t just sound effects and he has put much thought and passion into it. I suggest if you haven’t heard other stuff from him to go do it, he is one of the best guitarists in the world, this is his only song that’s like this.
Pretty forgettable stuff. I would never pay money to see a "concert" where this is the main attraction. Tommy Emmanuel is a very good guitarist but this is boring and useless "music."
![Tommy Emmanuel - Classical Gas [by Mason Williams] (REACTION) with my wife](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XyV707DEGsM/mqdefault.jpg)
As an Australian myself, i find this stunningly beautiful and mesmerizing. It feels like home. A unique conjuring of the heartbeat and spirits of our ancient land and a tribute to our First Nations Peoples. Tommy is a genius and this resonnates with my soul🫶..... but i can completely understand that many won't like it😅
The first thing you hear is him creating a summer storm....hearing the thunder and lightning even wind & birds flying over the 'camp' ....wow! feet stomping the playing of a didgeridoo what an amazing talented man is Tommy Emmanuel. Then you facture in Tommy's own genius and heart just sheer perfection. Thanks to you both for this reaction. Love from Australia
Great reaction! I first heard Initiation at a music festival in Winfield Kansas many years ago. It was outside at night and Mr. Emmanuel transported us to Australia to the 'outback' to the Aboriginal world with his amazing guitar work. I was initiated.
It’s a soundscape. Tommy has gotten three guitars to the state in which he can get all of the percussive noises he needs out of a single guitar to play Initiation. I don’t think I have heard any other guitarist produce the range of noises that Tommy can get out of a guitar. The more you rewatch, the more you can see how each noise is made. I know, it’s mind blowing. I think he must have experimented with emotional movements like his sleeve over over the strings first, and discovered the sound it made second, and slotted that sound/emotion in where and when he needed it on the Initiation journey last. Glad you were moved, even if it was to fear. Initiation is so moving to this Australian.
Got to see Tommy here in Anaheim (CA) a month or so ago. Long time fan, first time seeing him. He didn’t play this piece, but that’s okay, it was still phenomenal as you’d expect from Tommy. (Aussie too, lived here a while) 🇦🇺
This guy is not even human!!! I saw him in Västerås Sweden back in 2010. He blew my socks off. Thank you. Cheers from a finn in Sweden.❤❤
I first heard this song from a younger Tommy and can tell you the song has evolved over the years. He may even play a different version each time. As a guitar player, I can say one of the things we do is experiment with different sounds we can make. Tommy is amazing at using those sounds in his music. What is also amazing is that Tommy's brother Phil, who has passed, was equal to or greater than Tommy. Together they were magic! ☮💛🎶
Tommy is making excellent use of the DELAY and REVERB features of his pedals or amp. Makes him almost sound like a U2 concert.
The delay is making it echo 4-5 times and the reverb makes it sound as though it is in a canyon or giant hall.
Tommy is a musical savant. You have listened to what he can do with Classical Gas and now Initiation. I suggest you next listen to Somewhere Over the Rainbow which is absolutely beautiful. He can do anything he wants with the guitar.
He has been one of my fav guitarist since the day i first saw him He is one of the best
I love your awe-struck reaction and understand it well. I have seen Tommy perform several times and the first time I saw him perform this piece was in Sacramento, CA at the Crest Theater. Such an amazing talent that always pleases my senses. Bravo!
Tommy and Mark Knopfler of dia straits fame both learnt a lot from American guitarist-singer Chet Atkins who had a way of playing that sounded like guitar, bass and rhythm all at the same time. Tommy wrote to Chet when he was a boy and Chet wrote back inspiring Tommy and his guitar playing. Mark Knopfler and Chet Atkins recorded an album together it was called Neck to neck and it is to this day one of my favourite albums ever.
Welcome... to the Dreamtime
👍
I saw Tommy at the Cape Hatteras High School on New Years eve 2001-2002. Incredible talent.
Hey guys. Here's an innovator you probably haven't heard of: Monte Montgomery.
Keep reminding yourself that he's playing a hollow body acoustic.
Little Wing (Acoustic) - Monte Montgomery
ua-cam.com/video/PjpkVv9OrZQ/v-deo.html
Festival International, Lafayette, LA April 2002. I'm walking from one venue to the next and I hear Mark Knopfler's Romeo and Juliet. I ease in close to the stage to see a guy in shorts sitting on the edge of the stage, just nailing it. I mean perfect. After 3-4 just killer tunes, I notice standing in front of me is none other than Derek Smalls, the bass player for Spinal Tap. (lol Yep, Harry Shearer lol) Just after this tune (encore), he turns and our eyes meet and we both just shake our heads and smile. I've seen Monte 7-8 times now. Stunning every time. And it's funny, a Monte show is like a Sonny Landreth show, in that there is always a row of open mouthed, guitar players on the front row, looking at each other, smiling, and shaking their heads... lol
GO SEE HIM LIVE!
(you may have to go to Texas... lol)
Saw him and Molly Tuttle live recently. What an experience!
All you can do is watch it again and again.
Surprised to see a few negative comments in here.
Each to their own, I suppose.
You may not call it music or entertainment, but I do.
Not something I would play in the car, but I love watching first time reactions.
Tommy is self taught and pretty sure he still doesn't read or write music. It's all by memory.
As a boy, he and his brother would copy songs on the radio.
They learned to play ALL the sounds. Not knowing there was 2 or more guitars in the song.
Keep exploring his work. He is simply unmatched.
Some people play similar to him now.... I saw this "song" on Australian TV 35 years ago!!!!
i listen to some music of him but this sounds rare
Try "Beautiful Lie" from "Yoav" wonderful guitar layers and a beautiful song,
of course hes not a genius like Tommy😄 but he is at least a litte genius.
The Soundscapes was created by Brian Eno...Robert Fripp is my guitar soundscapes Idol...but this man, take it these Sounds to a Master Cosmic God Level!!! ❤
You picked the wrong song to get initiated to him. He is very musical and can play like no other. Try Somewhere over the Rainbow or guitar boogie.
He takes a brand new guitar and uses sandpaper to get the capbilities he wants. Old guitars he gives away.
I wouldn't even call this music its just a series of sound effects. Not enjoyable or something I'd want to have to listen to again.
It’s still remarkable how much sounds he gets from the guitar and it definitely isn’t just a bunch of sound effects, there’s lots of musicality going on, but I agree it’s very ambient and I also don’t enjoy it as much as his other stuff. But knowing what a great musician he is you know this isn’t just sound effects and he has put much thought and passion into it. I suggest if you haven’t heard other stuff from him to go do it, he is one of the best guitarists in the world, this is his only song that’s like this.
There is a better version of this song he does.
Pretty forgettable stuff. I would never pay money to see a "concert" where this is the main attraction. Tommy Emmanuel is a very good guitarist but this is boring and useless "music."