Comments on: Theremin Crazy

Theremin Crazy

generic230 — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:46:00 -0800

Two words: Hip Hop and Theremin. Turns out the weird, spooky sci-fi noise machine plays all sorts of good music: Video Killed the Radio Star, The Legend of Zelda and sometimes, in the right hands, it speaks of a man's love of White Castle.

By: ChestnutMonkey

ChestnutMonkey — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 21:56:43 -0800

Not sure if I would categorize Gnarls Barkley as Hip Hop, but a cool post nonetheless.

By: louche mustachio

louche mustachio — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:11:34 -0800

Isn't "hip hop" two... oh, never mind.

By: daq

daq — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:11:37 -0800

One of my favorite unique artists, "The Voodoo Organist", uses a theremin in his music. It is awesome.

By: mattoxic

mattoxic — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:37:57 -0800

That was WAY cool, thanks heaps

By: parallax7d

parallax7d — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 22:49:42 -0800

That Gnarls Barkley cover blew my mind. I think that's crazy.

By: rossination

rossination — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:15:26 -0800

The Video Killed the Radio Star one is pretty terrible, though. I always thought that people playing theremin looked like the people in the Happy Hands club from Napoleon Dynamite. I mean that as no offense to the hearing impaired.

By: BrotherCaine

BrotherCaine — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:24:30 -0800

Is the theremin going to make Parkinson symptoms sexy? I don't know, but I predict the glass armonica making a comeback.

By: dhartung

dhartung — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 23:51:39 -0800

I loved the ending to "Crazy" where you watch him Google the Wikipedia article for theremin.

By: -harlequin-

-harlequin- — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 01:02:51 -0800

I have a theremin sitting around that while I was idly curious about, I didn't know the finer techniques of how they are supposed to be played. Seeing people play it on video was very useful - I should have hit youtube sooner. Thanks!

By: the dief

the dief — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 03:56:45 -0800

Oh man, you have made me so happy to be a theremin player.

By: robocop is bleeding

robocop is bleeding — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 04:26:34 -0800

Awesome, being a slightly psychotic Midsomer Murders fan, I've been harboring a desire to acquire a theremin for some time.

By: aught

aught — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 06:11:24 -0800

I don't know about teh hip-hop, but the most amazing theremin playing I have ever seen was by Pamela Kurstin with Bela Fleck's band a few years ago. Many with interest in the theremin probably already know about this, but in case not, there's this interesting documentary, with comments by Robert Moog, Brian Wilson, and Todd Rundgren amidst the biographical material on Theremin.

By: plant

plant — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 06:14:15 -0800

Pamelia Kurstin is definitely my favourite thereminist. She's so awesome that her website is uglier than her myspace page!

By: jlowen

jlowen — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 07:10:40 -0800

One of my favorite unique artists, "The Voodoo Organist", uses a theremin in his music. It is awesome. Awesome.. I've seen the Voodoo Organist three times now. Very cool. Anyone unfamiliar with him I suggest everyone check it out (youtube.. Theremin use at 1:30ish)

By: Jon B

Jon B — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 08:01:07 -0800

The entertaining adventures of one thereminist as he's seduced by Hollywood and Slyders.

By: vishnubob

vishnubob — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 08:29:00 -0800

I am a big fan of Pamelia Kurstin, a theremin virtuoso and friend of Bob Moog. When you listen to her music, realize that it's all theremin. She uses looping pedals to add the layers you hear.

By: Midnight Creeper

Midnight Creeper — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 08:36:54 -0800

Project : Pimento uses the theremin in their crazy hepcat lounge music. Including their version of the theme to Star Trek, complete with vocals!

By: ROU_Xenophobe

ROU_Xenophobe — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:33:31 -0800

The Video Killed the Radio Star one is pretty terrible, though. Nonsense. Flubs aside, the only thing cooler than playing VKTRS on theremin is playing VKTRS on theremin while dressed as an old-style Cylon warrior.

By: eegphalanges

eegphalanges — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 10:33:40 -0800

Barney the Theremin Wizard. "Sounds like: Throbbing Gristle, early Psychic TV, a bag of drowning cats."

By: subtle_squid

subtle_squid — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 12:08:05 -0800

ChestnutMonkey, rapping does not equal hip hop. Turntableism and mic control are two of the four elements of hip hop, both evident in the work of Gnarles Barkley. Add to that Cee-lo's Goody-Mob origins and I think its safe to call it hip hop.

By: BrotherCaine

BrotherCaine — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:42:43 -0800

Wow, Pamelia Kurstin is awesome, thanks for the liinks.

By: Target Practice

Target Practice — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:43:04 -0800

I'm confused. Those videos look like some guy is just shaking his hands in the air over some box. Is there an actual device here that's doing something?

By: Jon B

Jon B — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 13:57:25 -0800

Target Practice, watch the beginning of this video, or read up on how a theremin works at Thereminworld.

By: jal0021

jal0021 — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:11:08 -0800

I was wondering if this would ever show up on MeFi. Randy (the theremin player from the the Crazy and Zelda videos) is an old college roommate and close friend of mine. He's actually a classically trained bassoonist, so when he decided to take up the theremin, I was a bit... surprised. He's pretty dedicated, however, and it shows.

By: Many bubbles

Many bubbles — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 22:05:37 -0800

I'd never heard of a theremin before. Very cool. Especially liked the Legend of Zelda one. ...And in the Video Killed the Radio Star, doesn't the part where it's doing "video" sound like it's saying "internet"? (It doesn't hurt that I've heard the "Internet killed the video star" one, I'm sure....)

By: MrMustard

MrMustard — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 23:51:19 -0800

Crazy Horses.

By: redteam

redteam — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 01:09:16 -0800

I've always wanted to hear the teacher from Peanuts sing. That "Crazy" video is incredible. I thought the Theremin was a one-trick pony (one really cool trick, though) until now.