Ok... I am amazed.
July 12th, Adam Rafferty released a cover of this song... my jaw dropped. I love Adam... his arrangements are awesome and I love watching his videos - he just seems to love playing SO much!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alX21cqhUmc
Well...
12 days later, Sungha Jung releases his cover of Adam's cover.
Un. Freakin'. Believable. I don't know how it can be... but I think it is better. Maybe it is the quality of the recording. Maybe it is just the louder high notes (a big prob with Adam's recording -or playing?)... but... wow.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7GdENQRt1Y
12 days later. I don't know if Adam gave the music to Sungha prior to the release of his video. Or, how many days after he got it from Adam... or... the thought blows my mind... that Sungha covered it by ear, or transcribed it from Adam's video... but any scenario is mind blowing.
Wow.
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http://fsguitar.wordpress.com
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Nicely done, as always. I'm a believer. :wink:
Like a bird on the wire,
like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
I think Adam's version grooves a lot better and the intonation is a bit better to my ears, too. But both are impressive.
After listening to them both many more times, I have to agree.... Adam's is better - more real, with more feeling.
But, considering Adam arranged it, knows the song inside out perfectly... it makes it amazing that a 15 year old kid can play to that level in 12 (maybe) days.
Years ago I was amazed by Sungha... and really look forward to seeing what he does in the future.
So far, he has shown the ability to "copy" pretty much anybody's style... the slapping and hammering techniques like Andy McKee, the more classical playing like Ulli Bergenshoesen (sp?), the jazzy style of Adam Rafferty... anything. I hope some day he develops a new amazing technique of his own.
My Fingerstyle Guitar Blog:
http://fsguitar.wordpress.com
My Guitars
Ibanez Artwood AWS1000ECE-NT
Schecter S-1 30th Anniversary Edition
Ovation CS257
LaPatrie Etude
Washburn Rover RO10
the kid's a little lacking in groove, but he probably hadn't played through it nearly as many times.
the kid's a little lacking in groove, but he probably hadn't played through it nearly as many times.
I listened to a few of his vids, and he lacks groove in them all. It'll no doubt come with time but, for now, he's a promising talent but not a solid performer, imo. I hope he isn't under pressure to keep posting vids of new tunes, and gets the chance to really lock in on pieces to develop this aspect of his playing and just enjoy the tune. I couldn't help wondering if maybe there was a little pressure from the people around him to be doing what he does - with all the uploads and stuff, like someone's trying to make him a star before letting him grow enough to have something solid to say. I'd prefer the latter, and I hope he gets that opportunity.
The kid looks like he captures and loses the "groove". It's the price he pays whenever he has to concentrate on a technical portion.
What interested me was the use of a big bottom end on Adam's version. It sounded like the type of constant, deep hum that I normally try to reduce. He amplifies it and adds it to the music. Almost like having someone playing a light bass. I know all fingerpickers in that style do it, but his seemed to me much more amplified. (Probably obvious to you more experienced players, but I found it interesting.)
Roy
"I wonder if a composer ever intentionally composed a piece that was physically impossible to play and stuck it away to be found years later after his death, knowing it would forever drive perfectionist musicians crazy." - George Carlin
I think the kid should pick some simpler songs and make them sound good.
