Finding joy through comedy-rap-jazz | Harry Baker & Chris Read | TEDxUniversityofBristol

As schoolchildren Harry and Chris, a poet and a musician, once played covers of their favourite songs from the charts. Now after pursuing their own blossoming solo careers they have returned to work together to create something new. In this talk they bring their own brand of comedy-rap-jazz to the University of Bristol. Their performance is a combination of sharing a couple of their absolute faves and distilling their process and the motivation behind their music. It is about how to find space for the day-to-day moments of joy in the world, not as a means of turning one’s back on reality of what’s going on in the world, but as a way of finding an alternative narrative that can parallel to and in amongst it. Harry Baker has loved words from a young age and been a full-time poet since he graduated from Bristol with a maths degree in 2015. Most commonly this takes the form on standing on stages and sharing his words with others, but he is always looking to collaborate with new people and find new places to take it. Harry became the youngest ever Poetry World Slam Champion in 2012, and his first collection of poems The Sunshine Kid was published with Burning Eye in December 2014 - he is currently working on his second collection, as well as regularly giving workshops and performances and having fun touring around the UK as part of Harry and Chris.
Chris Read lives and works in his hometown of London, UK, performing regularly with various lineups, mostly with Harry Baker as half of 'Harry and Chris', and sometimes with his quartet, with whom and alongside other musicians he recorded his first album, 'If I Knew', which he released in April 2016. The Chris Read Quartet is a young, energetic band focused around a raw, soulful voice and honest songwriting. The arrangements match complexity with a solid groove to present original music, and bring a modern twist to timeless standards. They are based in London and have played at countless venues around the city, as well as further afield. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@arianathomas1884]

It’s funny when you don’t know someone personally but you’re still genuinely proud 😂💙

[@ariannakennedy9722]

These are two of my most favourite people ever. So happy I get to see them every year!

[@rajirino4949]

The world should know these guys.

[@guillermotejeda692]

I just found Harry when searching spoken word and he has powerful poetry.

[@npcrafterak1246]

Finding joy never goes out of fashion.

[@keeleymchale]

Thank you, Harry and Chris, for seeing the best in ourselves and sharing that with everyone. You guys and are such flipping tens! Hope you continue to succeed in spreading your joy, positivity and bromance.

[@emilym5330]

Chris’s first ted talk ! I feel so proud !!!

[@iracailles8903]

How does this only have 14K views? Their performance is amazing. They need at least 4M views.

[@simmy7209]

i just suddenly realised when they said 'We both got married' it could easily be misunderstood as them getting married to each other because they were talking & building up about their relationship with each other 😂 (yes i know they're both married to their wives lol)

[@Fishy-with-spaghetti]

Okay that you for that, I was trying to figure out “if they’re married to each other and a woman is there more?”

[@MatthewNJDavis]

These guys are astoundingly good, and I've adored Harry Baker's talent since I first heard of him.
Telling people they're perfect how they are, however, is a detrimental lie. We all have areas of.ourselves which need improvement, and so you should only be happy with who you are if your direction and momentum fits accordingly.
For example; I'm overweight, but I'm okay with that, as I'm eating clean, and exercising daily. Or that I haven't achieved the level in my subject that I wish to (degree/fluency), but I'm regularly putting in the work in a scheduled manner to reach that point as soon as is reasonably feasible.

[@Bananapeels-Make-Great-Skates]

I just laughed out loud on my own. Always a good sign. 😁

[@lucyluo8293]

How is every word a masterpiece

[@dewicripps6870]

I love these guys, saw Harry’s original post years ago and it kept me going through dark days. Thanks star child ;)

[@ZENO_J]

Chris's vocal skills are out of the world ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Angelina-ln2bc]

This is genius!! Two talented beautiful people 👏❤

[@orielwiggins2225]

That was great. And late congrats on marriages!

[@kape_at_asukal]

this video just makes me so happy!

[@zoebonnett7890]

Love these guys! Go H&C

[@saltytea7367]

made me chortle more than once comgrats.

[@rwen]

I was streaming for copper but i stumbled across platinum and diamonds

[@jacobinatangiuushona]

I need the simpler times song 😭❤️

[@pholoshoseloane986]

Wow iiii like this

[@olf777f]

Flight of the concords without the laughs

[@fia8086]

Hey wait..did I just hear assalamu alikum? Wow brothers!😂👽 Icnu who dislikes it?