Street music that stopped you dead in your tracks

[Derish]

Had this happen to me a couple of times so far, last one was a few weeks ago on a Saturday trip to Knaresborough. A chilling performance from a middle aged gent singing 'Major Tom' and some other classics from the period with just a guitar and a small amp. Brilliant stuff.

Another case was a South American busker on a train in Barcelona (quite popular there) delivering a great unplugged rendition of this local classic:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svvNRwAS8fY

Finally, these fellas from Jerusalem who seem to have a YouTube following by now... Talk about music bringing folks together:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rirDOIttODM

Tell us about your experiences, or just relevant stuff you may have seen online and would love to hear live.

[jas xjr]

Just online I am afraid , but look out for dub fx on YouTube.well worth a watch.
His track " made ," is a good introduction.

[98elise]

Freemont Street Vegas...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCIPYhjmuSY

[Stinkotanko]

If they were any good they wouldn't be standing begging for cash on the streets. The guy singing "Major Tom" [sic] obviously has neither the talent nor the drive to write his own material and as such is not worthy of our adulation.

[motco]

This chap in Covent Garden Sheng music, and the impromptu arias sung in the main piazza part of Covent Garden. Soprano for example.

[Alpacaman]

I did stop to watch the Two Sopranos a couple of times up in Edinburgh. Obviously because of their musical talent!

[droopsnoot]

There used to be a group in St Annes Square, Manchester, that did a cracking version of "Losing my religion" by REM. But I can't help being a bit suspicious of those that have a "backing track", wondering just how much of what I can hear is on that and how much the performer is actually doing. Maybe I'm just a bit cynical.

[SeeFive]

Or even stop the busker dead...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_DWWE3cjgg

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HNaF4-oK_Oo

I think the reaction by the busker at the end of the first vid is funny... 2nd one has a smack of publicity about it.

One thing, many street buskers are actually professional musicians (maybe not the guys above ) so I am not particularly surprised when they produce something worth listening to.

[DuncanM]

Stinkotanko said:

If they were any good they wouldn't be standing begging for cash on the streets. The guy singing "Major Tom" [sic] obviously has neither the talent nor the drive to write his own material and as such is not worthy of our adulation.

I can't make out whether you're the finest troll we've had on here for sometime, or just an awful human being.

Hopefully a troll

[Krikkit]

droopsnoot said:

There used to be a group in St Annes Square, Manchester, that did a cracking version of "Losing my religion" by REM. But I can't help being a bit suspicious of those that have a "backing track", wondering just how much of what I can hear is on that and how much the performer is actually doing. Maybe I'm just a bit cynical.

The buskers around the central areas of Manchester can be very talented indeed, Chetham's school is just next to Victoria station, so they're often out at the weekend for a spot of practice.

[Derish]

jas xjr said:

Just online I am afraid , but look out for dub fx on YouTube.well worth a watch.
His track " made ," is a good introduction.

An oldie but a goodie... Indeed, boy's got skills!

motco said:

This chap in Covent Garden Sheng music

Cool tunes and instrument, however I get the feeling he's not really Chinese, more likely Mongolian or something from that region.

SeeFive said:

Or even stop the busker dead...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_DWWE3cjgg

Always wanted to do that! only 2 things stopping me:

1. Fear of getting ass kicked
2. Lack of any vocal or musical talent

[anonymous-user]

Stinkotanko said:

If they were any good they wouldn't be standing begging for cash on the streets. The guy singing "Major Tom" [sic] obviously has neither the talent nor the drive to write his own material and as such is not worthy of our adulation.

Wtf?

Loads of famous musicians started off as buskers.

[TIGA84]

Stinkotanko said:

If they were any good they wouldn't be standing begging for cash on the streets. The guy singing "Major Tom" [sic] obviously has neither the talent nor the drive to write his own material and as such is not worthy of our adulation.

Of course not. Ed Sheeran hasn't gone very far at all has he?

[Derish]

Let's not go there, shall we?

[vantara]

Stinkotanko said:

If they were any good they wouldn't be standing begging for cash on the streets. The guy singing "Major Tom" [sic] obviously has neither the talent nor the drive to write his own material and as such is not worthy of our adulation.

Little ray of sunshine ain't ya!

[parakitaMol.]

I like this lot, often see them in Brighton. Always a lot of fun and just make people smile.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJLbI9LikRU

[98elise]

Stinkotanko said:

If they were any good they wouldn't be standing begging for cash on the streets. The guy singing "Major Tom" [sic] obviously has neither the talent nor the drive to write his own material and as such is not worthy of our adulation.

May be you don't understand the difference between a performer and a writer. Some people write, some people perfrom, some do both. Its a bit like actors and screen writers.

[Stinkotanko]

TIGA84 said:

Of course not. Ed Sheeran hasn't gone very far at all has he?

Was Ed Sheeran a busker? Yes? Past tense then? So he's not a musical beggar?

[Stinkotanko]

98elise said:

May be you don't understand the difference between a performer and a writer. Some people write, some people perfrom, some do both. Its a bit like actors and screen writers.

Let's be honest. A homeless alcoholic strumming an out of tune guitar and doing bad cover versions of Bowie ain't a performer.

[dfen5]

http://youtu.be/mD2xXNg_Vy8