In the Writers to Be Read category over there on the right, you’ll see a link to something called Froogville. Its proprietor, one (presumably pseudonymous) Froog, runs a second blog as well: Round-the-World Barstool Blues whose mission, he says there, can be summed up as “Musings on life & love from the bars of the world.”
In a recent post, titled “Great Drinking Songs (9),” Froog includes a video of a group of Cornish fishermen singing the song “[Bound for] South Australia.” Which is entertaining, sort of — in the way any given film of any arbitrary group of non-professional semi-professional [thanks, Froog] singers, singing any given drinking song on a beach in a vaguely disorganized way, is entertaining.
Much much better, though, is the YouTube video below (a simple link to which Froog provided in his post), of an Australian guitarist named Tommy Emmanuel — playing the same song in a manner which frankly left me slack-jawed with amazement. I have NEVER seen or (I think) heard anyone play a guitar this fast.
See what I mean? I close my eyes and hear not a guitar but a banjo, or maybe a mandolin. But guitar…?
marta says
I wish I knew more about music and guitars to comment intelligently about his playing, but I will say that I liked it.
John says
@marta – Amen! I’m in awe of musical talent. (Can noodle around with a harmonica — and I drum with my fingers on the back of the passenger seat out of habit — but that’s my limit.)
Isn’t it interesting that some of the best musicianship seems to be among some of the least-known musicians? (And hmm, now that I’m thinking about that, it’s kinda like a certain other medium…)
froog says
I’m glad you enjoyed this clip of Tommy Emmanuel. That is some very fancy picking.
Sorry you weren’t quite so impressed with the Fishermen’s Friends. They are in fact semi-pro, I think, quite in demand on the English folk circuit. I’ve always loved that song.
Thanks for linking to me in your sidebar. I wonder how you found me? Was it perhaps through a post I did ages ago about the Coen brothers’ film Miller’s Crossing (which features the ‘running after one’s own hat’ motif rather prominently)?
Yrs pseudonymously, Froog
John says
Miller’s Crossing: love that movie. I was going to say it’s underrated, but that’s not quite right… sometimes I think people just forget it’s in the list (of Coen films, I mean). I’ll have to track down your post about it. (Nice catch on the RAMH tie-in, btw.)
But no, that wasn’t how I found you. Which was via moonrat’s blog. First time I visited the ‘ville was a couple-three months ago, after posting a review of Catch-22 for her reading extravaganza. I really liked your comments in the ensuing thread and, well, there I was.