British guitarist analyses Adrian Belew's FUTURISTIC guitar!
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2019
- Tonight I'm taking a look at Adrian Belew and his signature Parker Fly!
Original video - • Adrian Belew performs ...
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He's been getting sounds like this out of analog gear for decades, the technology finally caught up with _him,_ not the other way around. Adrian's in a class by himself.
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First time I saw him was live with Talking Heads in 1980 in brussels - nobody was expecting that! As a guitar player, I was amazed, and he put on a great show too.
This is so great! Whether with Zappa, Bowie, Talking Heads, King Crimson, solo, The Bears.... Adrian has such developed experimental and straight "pop" sensibilities, both, and is always such an imaginative player! Too bad this had to be cut short. I won't claim to know why, but I will say that I never particularly liked "Within You Without You" in the original Beatles version, among George Harrison compositions, but what Adrian did with it, and what Jimmy Herring did with it, and what Andy Timmons did with it, and what The Mermen (Jim Thomas) did with it, make it one of the great instrumental rock guitar classics for improvisers.
While Adrian's use of technology is top-tier, this could come across as the uniqueness coming from the impressive tech. Even decades ago, Adrian was making and imitating unreal sounds with the much more traditional tools of the time. Not a slight on the reaction, but his back-catalog is worth checking out, and being mindful of how insanely creative he's always been.
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David, you're exactly right. Something that Phil doesn't really bring out is that Adrian Belew, among all guitarists, is the least bound by fixed pitches. He's not just playing, let's say, a "D" - he's playing the whole range between C# and D#, and in fact way beyond that. This approach grows out of Jimi Hendrix, and Adrian Belew took it to a whole different level, where he really is playing the whole spectrum, not limited to the 12-tone scale. Technology aside, this is what allows him to think, what does some animal sound like, or what kind of journey do I want these notes to go on, and make it happen on the guitar.
Oh, and he shapes the volume of every note too.
Yes, exactly correct. Me. Belew's approach was otherworldly back in the days of playing with Talking Heads and David Bowie. At that time, he was using a stratocaster and the same stomp boxes everybody had. However, he definitely did not sound like everybody else.
I never know what kind of cool guitar playing master you will showcase next... another great video,thank you Fil ! 😎🤘
Adrian loves sound. I still listen to the Discipline album when he was fronting King Crimson. Old but great stuff. Elephant Talk was played on radio a lot back in the day.
Probably my favorite King Crimson album. Challenging music but still extremely listenable, in my opinion. I saw Adrian live last year and he absolutely killed it.
He/They did Elephant Talk on SNL. Unfortunately I missed the live broadcast, but my brother-in-law did. Next day he went out & bought the LP, & a big Crimson fan ever since, & as turned me onto it I became one too.
It was?
Adrian is one of the pioneers of this style, along with Robert Fripp,. Just amazing. I saw Adrian play with David Bowie's band during the Stage tour of 1978. He blew the place away. Thanks so much for this video and all the incredible information you always supply Fil...Paul
No problem!
David borrowed AB from FZ.
He was the only one who could really play RF guitar parts
Check him out with Talking Heads
You can see why he and Fripp went together so well
Weird though. Fripp is exacting, and Adrian flies by the seat of his pants.
@@ursafan40 well weird is part of what they have in common also LOL, not to say they aren't great!
@@knawl Oh yes they are both great great. Together they are even greater than the sum of their parts. Seeing that "Discipline" version of King Crimson was one of my life's musical highlights.
@@ursafan40 I think that's what made their band so great. The tension between the two opposing approaches to playing. Great stuff. Fripp seems to be a Martian.
@@bwalla50 :-) Martian LOL Belew from Saturn Levin from Venus and Bruford form Jupiter The whole band was out of this world
Wild thing is I saw Adrian at local bars when it was just him a strat, fuzz and echoplex.. he always sounded like ...Adrian.
Once heard, never forgotten. He went all Les Paul to make his own life easier, but you're right, he's always sounded like Adrian Belew.
Back in the day! Mable's on U of I Champaign/Urbana campus, great music venue!
Regarding Ade and technology, there is a funny story from his days with King Crimson. He and Fripp were given two of the first guitar synthesizers from a Japanese company (Yamaha or Roland?) to use while recording and touring in support of their Discipline LP. When the engineers at the company heard "The Sheltering Sky" (viewable on UA-cam from the 1982 Frejus show), they were so blown away, that they flew Fripp and Belew to Japan to explain to them how they had used the company's equipment to produce such unbelievable sounds.
I was fortunate enough to have seen them twice on the Discipline tour, once from the front row just a few feet from Adrian. I swear half the time even he didn't know what sounds were going to come out of the speakers when he hit the strings of his guitar, bent its neck, waved it back and forth in front of the speaker, etc., based on the look of sheer joy and at times genuine surprise on his face.
To me, he and Jeff Beck are the only two people alive who truly know what to do with a guitar and how to make it an extension of one's soul.
But art is subjective, so if you like Slash and Eddie van Halen, I'm OK with that too, just a little sad inside. 😉
Adrian Belew my mind! Awesome, Dear Fil! Thank You for the insightful entertainment and entertaining insights. ❤️
No problem!
A mad genius of guitar sound! Some of those lines sounded middle eastern, maybe the Persian scale. He’s in a world of his own, he might be an alien. The Twang Bar King🤘🏻
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I have to go watch the video for "Big Electric Cat" now (really).
James Hinckley Lone Rhino great album 🤘🏻
Very good analysis as usual!
Thanks!
Reminds a bit of Keller Williams' set up as far as the looping effects. He uses that whammy so effectively. Thanks for another great installment 😎
Really enjoyed that, great sound and so fluid, amazing what people can do on a guitar nowadays
You ROCK Fil. I learn something new every time I watch you!
It is incredible where this man takes the electric guitar to. So original and intense. One of the all time greatest electric guitarists ever. Fantastic video and analysis.
Another great pick and someone whose work I know well. BTW, hate that the Frippertronics vid got blocked, but not surprised. For those of you unfamiliar with him, he's been using cutting edge technology to explore the sounds a guitar can make since at least the early eighties. Listen to his guitar on "Lone Rhinoceros" and "Big Electric Cat" from his first solo album and "Elephant Talk" from King Crimson's Discipline album and you can hear why these songs have the names that they do. High tech experimentation is why he and Fripp lasted as long as they did and explains Adrian's compatibility with Laurie Anderson--see her Home of the Brave movie.
Been a fan of his since the late 60s.Nice to see you doing a videos of him. He lives north of me and I have chatted with him on Face book a little.Nice guy.
Cool!
Great review, Adrian is from Covington, KY near me but unfortunately I've missed him in concert every time he's stopped back in the area had to work. Great musician, love him. Saw your Fripp video to love Fripp/Crimson as well.
Great vid Fil. I saw an interview with Adrian at his home studio once. He had a wall filled with pedals. He is the tone sculpting master.
I love the fact we have these people doing their own thing. They are the Inventors of the next musical trends that will keep Music evolving and keep Us coming back for more,
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I love his playing because he always pushes the envelop. For example, his off the wall solo on David Bowie's "I Am the DJ." Belew played a lot longer with King Crimson than some people realize. For example, on The Power to Believe he an Fripp do some incredible lead stuff where they trade notes back and forth in stereo, something I'd never heard before or since (imagine lead lines where you only play ever other note). Guitarists were a lot more daring back in the 70's and 80's than they are now. Even Geordie of Killing Joke played some super cool stuff, particularly on the "Fire Dances" album. I'm a fan of ALL types of guitar playing. I could listen to this and then Jerry Reed without experiencing aural whiplash. As you say ROCK!
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Adrian has always been forward thinking. Pure genius.
Check out his album 'The Twang bar King'.
Wow, intricate! Thanks, Fil for straightening me out vibrato and tremelo, defined. Love'em both but now I've got it. The Whammy bar motions look like he's taming some pesky malfunctioning control, but the effect is amazing.
Good timing! 👍👍
Genius guitar & guitarist! Thnx Wings for presenting to us!
Have you done one on 80s Belew? When he was using gear the rest of us use and getting wildlife sounds rather than typing spreadsheets with his customised Microsoft whammy arm? Show us how he could open your eyes with a strat and an ibanez delay...
No this is the first Belew video so far ☺
@@wingsofpegasus please do! There is a great OGWT performance and an American one of Elephant Talk that both show his fretboard dodging prowess...
TY BROTHER !! ANOTHER GOOD ONE !!
Thanks!
He became 1of3 guitargods by playin'w d other2,FZ&RF,&also Bowie&THeads,what a CV🎉Can't wait2c Beat!☮️&❤from Oslo.Time flies,use it,fly
FINALY! ;) I've been pushing this guy forever. First became aware of him with Zappa, then Talking Heads and Bowie and of course King Crimson. Thanks for this
No problem ☺
That's one special guitar & probably out of this world expensive. Great analysis!
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I love this stuff! It's so nice to see cutting edge tech being used to really generate a unique sound. Great job as always.
Devin Townsend please 😁
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Adrian has been with many of the great. Zappa (whom I'm sure taught him to read. I can't see Zappa keeping a player who couldn't sight-read). Zappa's "Freaks" has Adrian's signature sound lurking throughout the background. As well as his excellent (and hilarious) Bob Dylan impression. Bowie's album "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps). Talking Heads and Tom Tom club. King Crimson of course. Laurie Anderson's "Home of the Brave" (with the rubber guitar). Laurie painted a guitar for him. Solo work, the Bears. Adrian is an essential part of the sound of the '80s. Legend has it he was about to retire, he was sick of playing Holiday Inns with a keyboardist who needed charts for "Colour My World" (dude, it's a chromatic scale). He came home and told his wife it was time to get a real job, she told him, not so fast, Frank Zappa called.
Haha cool!
Robert Fripp played on "Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)". "Lodger" is the Bowie studio album that features Adrian Belew, and he is also all over the live "Stage" album from the year before.
Wings of Pegasus on Adrian Belew! There is hope yet for western civilization. Cheers Fil!
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I'll see Adrian in March on my birthday, thanks for wetting my appetite. I've seen him a dozen or so times and each time is a special experience. Sorry I missed your Fripp review. I'm sure it was fantastic.
Cool!
Belew is definitely on the outer fringes of pioneering guitar sounds. I love what he's able to pull out of the instrument. Seeing him do this live is a life altering experience.
I've had the pleasure of seeing him with both Crimson and the Adrian Belew power Trio. Always inspiring and unique. Saw him on Guitar for Bowie as well.
Cool!
Another outstanding analysis. Pity that you won't be able to showcase Mr. Belew in Elephant Talk. Plenty of his work elsewhere. Perhaps you could do a video on Tony Levin.
Wow, sounds like an opera, or a song in a movie, like Cleopatra, or similar to that.. @ 2 thumbs up, he's different in his techniques, and sounds... Great video, Fil, you are a master, sir...
I saw AB and the Bears in the 80's at the Chestnut Cabaret in Phila. ( and with FZ).
He and his band were great.
It gave me chills each time be bent the hell out of his guitars' neck, I kept expecting it to break.
I have some great b&w photos of that show, I walked up to him at the end of the show and shook his hand and thanked him.
Its too bad there are no clubs like the CC anymore, that was a special place.
Cool!
Sounds a bit similar to Jan Hammer and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. I hear gated compression in the processed notes. I love it. Most pleasantly unique. Good pick Fil. Thanks so much.
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Have to love loopers they are a big help when you're alone playing and need a backing track. His guitar is a Parker custom made for him!! I like him in Zappa!!
Thanks for drawing the distinctions with the tremolo bar. I'd just call this live recording style of play dubbing; I can't speak for how harmoniously that language/description/abbreviation works for everyone else, though.
I heard a radio interview with Adrian Belew years ago where he credited Earl Scruggs as one of his greatest influences and a musician he greatly admired.
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I love his album "Twang Bar King", bought it years ago on vinyl. I have a Majik Blue Parker Fly, they are great to play, light and very resonant. The only minus is the pickups IMO, they aren't subtle, but you can still get some good sounds out of them.
Mr.Belew..love him ..Amazing
Amazing control of his guitar! Yeah Parker Fly great sound....Unfortunately the frets are glued on or they were! Reeves Gabrels using one to ...sounds awesome! Adrians playing in this piece sounds a lot like Vai! Totally enjoyed this he’s really innovative and melodic! Thanks Fil! Cheers Mario!😁🤘🤘
You have asked us what we think.
I'm agreeing with you fully here on Mr. Belew and his art.
I imagine it's somewhat obsolete now, being after The Before Times.
Surely, he'll be linking with his guitar cranial/spinally before long; perhaps optically?
I saw Adrian Belew with his band The Bears years ago in a small club. He was amazing, and seeing him live changed my approach to playing guitar. At that time I was pretty much a straight up metal guitarist, but that show opened up so many roads of sound and texture for me. In my book Adrian is one of the greatest guitarists of his generation. Sadly he does not get the credit he deserves in spite of a career playing with so many great artists. Thank you so much for doing a video on his playing!
Cool!
He's developed himself one wicked guitar!!! WOW! Impressive!!
I saw him live with Bowie, I think glass spider or sound and vision tour, pretty pink rose era. Amazing pro on stage.
Cool!
Glad you got to reviewing Adrian Belew one of the Gods of Guitar (lol) I’ve followed him since the late 70’s.... Just Awesomeness what else is there to say...
Genius? Madman? Visitor from another Planet? Could be all three!
Love it....
You just mentioned a snake charmer. I had been looking for the basket🐍
Very cool performance by Adrian Belew when You mention all the different sound Adrian could make with His guitar, the Sitar came to my mind then Ravi Shankar followed another interesting player. another great informative analysis and break down Fil. Thanks
Yeah!
Good video and great analysis. I loved the description of the guitar and it's possibilities. Why not? A synthesizer uses a keyboard, any instrument should be possible to create special effects.
Speaking of any instrument, can you do an analysis of Seamus by Pink Floyd?
Or another one Grantchester Meadows? I love this song for the acoustic style. And I loved the video since it showed nature with insects and birds. I sent it to my daughters since I am worried about our sixth extinction.
Thanks!
Would've liked to see him with David Bowie when he was with him
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I can't swear it but I think there's one or more videos of him playing live with Bowie. He doesn't get to stretch out all that much though.
Too bad your Robert Fripp video was blocked. I enjoyed that one. Oh well. Great video of Adrian.
Yeah it's a shame!
I definitely would have enjoyed seeing an analysis of Fripp. Rock on.
@@ellenfalls1330 Sadly, if Fripp didn't authorize it, Fripp doesn't want you enjoying an analysis of himself. He's always been stanch in his stance against unauthorized use of his material for pretty much any reason. I remember reading that he really despises bootleggers, and my guess is he feels this (reactions) is a form of it.
On a humorous note, there is a youtube channel (or a series of channels) that keeps reposting the In the Court of the Crimson King album using different titles, they get removed and then a few days later it pops back up under a different title or or as put out by another group. Someone actually did a playlist of several of them. I think some people feel Fripp goes a bit overboard with it and do it to try to upset him.
@@overtheedge4711 😂. Court of the Crimson King was my bread and butter at age 17 in 1971. I can look at his attitude from multiple perspectives. Lately I've been reflecting on how lucky the members of Led Zeppelin were that they had a manager who ensured they got *all* their money during their haymaking years. It saved them a lot of financial struggle and heartache later on.
there is running meme of sorts With people uploading "In the Court of the Crimson King" using different band names. Like Saying Rush recorded it or what not. They are usually not up for long of course.
HI Fil. I know this is a late comment but I'm new to your channel and goiing back to ck out your previous segments. While I see the entertainment value in this and I can see it playing in movies with special affects, at what point do we do away with the musician and go all in on A.I. and technology. I know I'm old fashioned and prefer to listen to a truly talented musician with only a guitar and that should be acoustic. To me everything else falls into another catagory all together.
Great video. Great guitarist. Here one you may want to watch. Ian Crichton of the band called saga
Thanks!
I saw Joe Satriani open for Bowie at Giant's Stadium in 89' and Adrian Belew was playing with Bowie and he totally smoked Satriani's performance while playing Bowie tunes. He's such a great guitarist!
Adrian Belew has been playing “futuristic” guitar for quite some time now.
Listen to Lone Rhino, Twang Bar King and his tracks on the Talking Heads Remain in Light and The Tom Tom Club, King Crimson Discipline and Three of a Perfect Pair all from the 80’s.
Adrian Belew is awesome!
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Awesomeness Wonderful Wow Cool Thanks Fil, Inspiring Guitarist Great Teaching Lesson Fil, Thank You Again Fil 🎶💕🎶🏄🥇😎🤸♂️💃🏼🚀🎼
No problem!
What a wierd and awesome way to play the guitar...This is a very impressive instrumental.
Thanks FIL
Well his music isn’t my favorite, with the snake charmer, jazz, new age, mix up; however, I do appreciate his talent and the amazing guitar he designed to create the sound he plays. And thank you Fil for taking the time to break it all down for us on your videos. You are clearly a wealth of information and very entertaining to watch.
Thanks!
I’ve Got 2 Parker Guitars: Nite Fly (pearl white) & Fly Classic (Red) !!
Bought Both 1999 !!
Cool!
I've seen Fripp in a small venue with maybe 30 in the audience. He's beyond eccentric but still appreciate him.
Belew, meanwhile, is balls out just letting it rip and doesn't care.
I'm going to see KC this September for the first time. Sadly I missed quite a few awesome lineups, so I have to take this opportunity while it's here. And Adrian is playing around here in March, so I'm hoping to see him as well.
He and Fripp were on consecutive Bowie albums IIRC - would be great to have something on Mark Ronson, great video though thanks
Parker fly is such a cool guitar!
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may i suggest live version of "touch and go" by the cars ? elliot easton
When he strikes the fretboard on a Parker guitar, does that make him a Parker Flyswatter?
I seriously LOVE the creativity of Belew… but the one that intrigues me the most is Julie Slick on bass. She seriously knocks my socks off:) She may be the best bass player I have ever seen:)
I got to see him with Crimson not too long after that first version of them formed with him, Fripp, Levin and Bruford. I met them all briefly at a sort of limited fan reception at their hotel after the concert (except Fripp who is apparently anti-social.) All the rest of them were very nice including Belew and especially Bruford. Adrian's first big opportunity was playing with Zappa and might not have had nearly the success and popularity he's enjoyed if it wasn't for Frank. (Talking Heads, Bowie, solo, Crimson, etc.). He was the only person in that lineup of FZ's band that couldn't read music, so Frank had to take a lot of extra time with him, but did so patiently. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to show the same level of appreciation for what FZ did for his career as say a Vai or a Bozzio or many others.
I have heard Adrian Belew dole out praise on countless occasions to Frank Zappa and what he learned from him, so I am not sure I understand your aim or what you are trying to insinuate in the last sentence above.
Awesome guitar player and video. Actually I need to give you a small tip Fil. Adrian and Robert are actually two virtuosos, with two different goals.
I've seen Adrian Belew and he did a small Q&A here in Amsterdam (I believe it was round 2011).
He told the crowd Fripp wanted to make the same kind of music as displayed on the record Discipline (a great, not if FANTASTIC record!)
Belew and Fripp were nearly fighting over the thing, and could had broken up. Anyhow they continued Belew's path, making innovative music, over 'commercialized' music.
The band never broke up, but they have always made records in 'ProjeKCts', maybe those two heroes for me, will never play together again.
Funny thing he also mentioned was that Fripp was in it to make money and he (Belew) just wanted to make innovative music. And that he (Belew) should earn a medal or trophy for the time he works/worked with Fripp.
Maybe this gives you some handles for more content! Love your videos and love your positivity!
Cheers from The Netherlands!
Haha yeah might be why Robert blocks all videos of his performances, not sure he realises he'd be earning money through the ads!
You hear about Fripp more, but personally, I find Belew to be way cooler. Something about his music leads me to believe that he is influenced by EVERYTHING. Not just music, or even sound. Life, the universe, and everything seems to come through. Wish you could have done the whole show, Fil, but thanks for this little slice. Yet another good one.
As a fan of British 70s rock you know I love my UK brothers. But Adrian is not only an absolute genius, but a point of pride for us Americans as a member of the Brit Musical University which is King Crimson. I think I've watched live from Frejus about a million times. Edit.... In my haste I somehow forgot to mention his contribution to my man Bowie...RIP Spaceman
Amen.
Hey man love your videos
I'm not sure why you would want some of these sounds to come out of a guitar.... but I guess it's cool that it's possible?
Yeah I used to use it too, I customised my Ibanez so live I could have keys without a keys player!
Great solo. I particularly like your analysis here, Fil, covering the equipment as well as the playing.
It's especially weird tha tthe whammy bar was called the tremolo, given that tremolo is such a common technique in guitar playing.
I'm going to ask you (again - sorry!) to check out Lionel Loueke. Dark Lightning, which starts at 41:50 into this concert, ua-cam.com/video/_Alxf14A5fw/v-deo.html, mkaes great use of looping and other effects; on this version he ends with some terrific percussive playing. Louke's approach to the guitar is totally unlike anyone else's and his fans include some of the most legendary names in jazz (Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Chick Corea). He also has a unique vocal style.
Wish I could remember the name of the tour, but I went and saw Neil Young perform a concert one time and there were no other musician's involved at all. It was just Neil center stage with a variety of loopable musical devices positioned around him in a semi~circle. For each song he'd move from device to device, program a loop in each device, then step on a switch located at the center of the semi~circle which would trigger all the devices to play in unison. While it was a decent show, it was rather bizarre at the same time.
Cool!
Rock 🤘
Long live the twang bar king
Trippy
Have you done any Phil Keaggy?
Yeah!
@@wingsofpegasus And Phil also recorded an album with the Parker guitar. It's called On The Fly.
Love Adrian Belew and his playing...he's playing a "song," not a track. "Song and track" is like "vibrato and tremelo." Rock on! Wahi' Valleys
Hi Fil, what do you think of totally electronic acts, like the Chemical Brothers or Daft Punk? I think the top talent puts together some really good stuff. Songs like "Around the World" or "Star Guitar" are exhibitions in structure and layers.
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How about doing one on Ron Jarzombek?
that's why they call him the twang bar king
Adrian was also in Frank Zappas band for a while (late 70's?).
waiting for you analysis on Mr Fripp :))
I did but Fripp is off limits unfortunately as the copyright blocks all videos!
@@wingsofpegasus time to use the famous WoP work around.
The only thing Missing now is Fripp and Belew together. In other words, doble guitar heaven
Love him.I waiting patiently for the most incredible Mr.Robert Smith and THE CURE.xoxoxo
Adrain is definitely a sound
Chameleon! Adrian Belew Power Trio, King Crimson, Frank Zappa, David Bowie,Talking Heads, Tom Tom Club, NIN. This guy is just
Amazing! It's ashame they don't
build Parker guitars anymore.
They were really ahead of their
time.
Yeah it's a shame.
Here is an old Bears video, check out 47:47, where he bends the neck during Elephant Talk
ua-cam.com/video/OcB1TIYYjyA/v-deo.html
I love how Adrian seems to approach the guitar like it has an unlimited voice, as if it doesn't just have a set of scales and notes but more as if every sound can be bent and stretched into any shape.
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I heard some violin in there, as well. Sometimes technology is amazing!
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