and he plays into it some at times, he'll be all serious, then throw a one-liner at you. So you'll be listening to the serious, not realizing it's REALLY serious, cuz you're waiting for the one-liner. "ShopGirl" is surprising that way too. Serious, very sweet.
ok. i'm not ONLY a genius...but an idiot!!! the song's name is "Song for Diane Keaton" see the thing is...i completely forgot how to read...but then i picked up 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Letters and Words That Make up Meanings to Those Who Gaze at Them." a VERY good read!
@EmperorHilo OH!!! thanks! this goes to show how full of misinformation the internet is. i searched and researched...and i got some blog talking about it....they were wrong. "Father's Pride"--i'll remember that! THANKS AGAIN
I lived in the DC area and had a friend who worked for the Kennedy Center for years. She used to get me comp tickets all the time. Great venue, fantastic shows--but DC area audiences are some of the most pretentious, snooty, culturally elitist, and intellectually hollow audiences in the country... Poor Steve... Great performance--lousy audience...
He's a good player but an awful musican. That tune was lackluster and mundane. Sorry Steve... I know your hearts in the right place at least where your freinds are concerned. But stick to comedy.
I can tell the difference between good and bad compositions without having to be a composer myself. Critics are paid for a reason, and most of them can not do what they critique. Knowledge of how to create good music is not required to recognize bad music, or enjoy good music.
I think he's a good banjo player, but judging by this composition, he is not , at least in this instance , a great composer of banjo music. He may write some music well, but this tune is a flop.
Tony Ellis is dear to Steve's heart and it's a shame that the crowd did not "get it" Typical in certain contexts. Hopefullythe music of Tony Ellis, Steve Martin, Bella Fleck, Tony Truschka, Yens Kruger and Chris Coole will eventually bring people to the light.
@thombanjo3 Yes, people are basically philistines...just be greatful they didn't clap along to the song (as happened when Steve and Paul Simon did a small jam).
I heard an interview of Steve Martin where he described the way he would make mouth shapes when concentrating on learning the banjo - I think Diane Keaton would have appreciated Steve's gentle humor in this.
he is wonderful and i felt the same way the first time i played this video but i think at first they had a hard time taking him seriously as he has made us all laugh for years. like a true gentleman that he is he just played so beautifully till the end without letting them distract him. i love steve martin. he has sooo much spirit.
I can tell from this video that more than half of the audience was appreciating this amazing piece of music coming from such a grand talent as Steve. This sounds like chuckling adults breaking the moment, that could be considered disrespectful to many.
The faces Steve makes may be him shrugging the laughter off and continuing the piece, being the Pro that he is.
Sweet rendition of the Tony Ellis tune...and now that Mr Martin's banjo album, The Crow, has done so well, I have to wonder....who's laughing now? Good job Steve...good work Mr Ellis.
This song is NOT a joke. This was his tribute to Diane Keaton, who had sung for him at the Kennedy Center Honors. The audience was totally off to laugh. In fact Steve Martin is a very accomplished banjo player and it's a shame the audience couldn't appreciate his beautiful talent. I felt badly for him. I can only imagine how frustrating it would have been for him and for those in the audience who were "got it."
Diane Keaton did not sing for him at the Kennedy Center Honors. She sang for him when he won the Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center. And this song was a joke, even though he is an accomplished banjo player.
As a banjo and bass player of 30 years, this WAS a serious song, and very ingeinously wrote and performed. And whoever said steve was making faces becuase he was try to get the fingering right...well, that's stupid, Steve has been playing longer than me and knows the fingerboard, he has no problem getting the notes correctly. Great song Steve!
While I don't understand what about the music is funny, I won't presume that laughter is an inappropriate response. Perhaps the sheer joy of the music triggered an emotion that some could only express through laughter. On another level; people and Pavlov's dogs have a lot in common.
For one, some people don't or can't appreciate music and the second thing is people probably were expecting him to do something funny so laughed anyway.
@Everhill69 I think you're right. Steve Martin's comedy style is often parody, so for whatever reason, the audience thought that this song a comedy routine parodying whatever style of music or song or performance they imagined him parodying.
People love Steve Martin, and so naturally, they wanted to make him feel comfortable by laughing at what they imagined was a comedy routine.
I was puzzled throughout, and I turned it back several times, asking myself, "What joke did I miss???" LOL
well theyre laughing because people are so used to seeing his silly side but he truly is an amazing musician. Its kind of a shame in way because they are kind of spoiling a good moment.
People expected it was going to be a joke and there was never a punchline. That actually wasn't uncommon for Martin's style of comedy either. That said, whether it was serious or not I don't think Martin cared one way or another. He is a professional and he knows some people don't "get it."
i honestly and sincerely do NOT get why the audience was laughing! steve martin is a PHENOMENAL banjo player (banjoist?). he didn't do ANYTHING REMOTELY funny or silly that he's done in his comedy routines! sheesh, some folks just don't have any common sense! many kudos for steve martin! you GO dude!!!
Apparently no one in the audience realizes how music is written. There is always a common theme played throughout the song. I don't know about you all, but I don't start cracking up whenever "I Go To Extremes" gets back to the chorus.
So why isn't the audience clapping and cheering along with the music, like when I saw him play the banjo in his act...oh yes, the audience was filled with rich people from New York. Morons...laughing at one of the greatest banjo players alive.
I can't watch this clip without getting angry at those disrepectful idiots. Sorry.
You know what I want to see? I want to see the footage from the camera backstage. I want to see him throwing his hands up, like WTF JUST HAPPENED OUT THERE?! GiantDevilfish below, acting... uh, intelligent, saying it's not serious? What a stupid comment- hell that's my whole point- it's Steve Martin, so whatever he's doing, it MUST be funny. He dropped his napkin LET'S ALL LAUGH. His car got hit by a tree branch FUNNY! Isn't it? It isn't? But it's Steve Martin! People are losing... everything.
the song is called "fathers pride" by Tony ellis from his album dixie banner. Shame people are laughing through what is a really nice tune. He isn't trying to be funny!
No this wasn't meant to be funny. This is a textbook example of a superficial, sniggering mercantile 'culture' meeting something simple, pure and heartfelt.
he was absolutely being serious, you dooface. it's obvious ...and if it wasn't obvious to you read the "more info" section. this clip makes me sad and uncomfortable.
That happens to a lot of performers who have made a career out of being funny. Audiences associate them with laughter even when they're doing something not intended to elicit laughter. I'm sure Steve understands that, but he must have been disappointed and annoyed just the same.
they think steve martin is strictly a comedian, they hav eno idea that he has practiced the banjo for over 40 years and that is why they are lauging at him becaus they think it is part of his comedy scettch.
Don't laugh unless something is funny and you get the joke!
The awkward laughter from some members of the audience heightened the poignancy for me. They are laughing b/c they think they are supposed to, not b/c it was funny.
I also feel sorry for the poor people in the audience that knew it was a sincere performance...
aww sad. I wish they would appriciated the fact that he isnt just a funny guy all the time and that he doesnt have to be "on" all the time to make them laugh. its gotta be hard for him feeling like he always has to put on a show
If you guys can see though Steve Martin is actually smiling, so he isnt taking it to heart, well i hope not. If ANYBODY takes the piss outa steve martin they wudnt av long 2 live i tell ya tht now, i love him 2 pieces hehe!
Wow. I can't believe how disrespectful this audience is. Do they not realize how unbelievably talented Steve Martin is, in the non-comedic sense? They should be ashamed. How embarrassing for THEM!
YOu know, I'm just sayin', we don't know what the intro to this was. Perhaps Steve came out and said, "I've written this song, and everything I say here I truly mean." And then he says nothing. Just b/c the poster of this vid says Martin's serious doesn't mean he is. The only time he's been serious in a public forum like that was when Gilda Radner passed away.
For those who are complaining about the audience laughter...it is obviously a laugh track laid on top of the video for some unknown reason. The audience on hand for this event is not actually laughing during this banjo solo.
I don't see why anyone would go to the trouble of inserting fake audience laughter. Someone would need to have on hand a clip of hundreds of people laughing in a very large auditorium to get the sound right. Not only that, the audience in the sound clip would have to be laughing at nothing, just sitting in an empty auditorium and laughing, otherwise we'd hear the audio of what they were actually laughing at. I guess it's possible, but what's the point? And why is it so obviously fake?
People are so used to laughing at Steve that they were conditioned to laugh. He often plays the banjo (i.e. tunes that should never be played on a banjo) to create humor and when he played this pretty tune, well they laughed anyway. Too funny! But I'm sure he understood later when he thought about it.
Yea I dont think most people realize Steve Martin is a comedian AND a really really good banjo player, it seems like they thought this solo banjo was going to turn into some kind of punchline, and they kept laughing at how long he was going to pretend to keep playing, not even listening to how good of a song was being played for them.
Amen, mrzisme, you nailed it. I tried , but you explained the whole deal. but the punchline never came?? Did IT?? Good Job in translating thoughts. Steve martin is the best, loved his stuff since I was a kid.
This audience was ignorant..Geez..No arrow in head no funny. Just a touching song for a lady that has played his wife in many movies. Steve Martin=CLASS> funniest man I grew up with. LOve Ya Steve!!
I quess just because of his reputation. Steve always pulled off some crap when he had that banjo in his hand. You know also, Steve is a accomplished Banjo player. Like I said before, they were looking for a arrow in his head.
I don't get it. Why are people laughing? This is a tender and beautiful tribute. Good on ya, Steve. If you can see this, I applaud your serious banjo playing as well as love your comedy. You are an original and a legend and I for one applaud you for this in particular. You touched my heart. Thanks.
It's because they realized that his sincere gesture of playing a nice simple song was a very moving monumental moment. They laughed because they felt crying would embarrass them.
Hey Plaidshirt. Give it a rest!!!! The people you mentioned are professional comedians and probably think Steve Martin is good. The other thing that Steve Martin did was to become a very successful movie star and writer for such publications as the New Yorker magazine. He is a talent whether you like it or not. While you post your comment on every video of him you should take the time out and watch them.
Manhattan snobs have no Idea what is any good. I think steve was really hurt by the fact that he cannot be taken seriously. I think the fact he is smirking is because he can't believe what idiots manhattanites are!
I'm pretty sure this is a Tony Ellis tune. Tony Ellis writes beautiful music for the banjo. Also, I think the reason people are laughing is because Steve keeps smiling in a funny way on the big screen.
When you build much of your entire comic reputation on unusual/incongrous behaviour (as martin has done)- of course people are going to laugh when you show up at a tribute and play an instrumental banjo song (the banjo and straight faced persistance being two things he has worked for laughs for years. People are just conditioned to laugh when they see Martin doing something.
The laughing really ruins the video. I think its just the ignorance of the audience because really the only time you either hear or see a banjo in the media it is usually to make fun of something or refer to some southern redneck.
If I take out my banjo around people that have never seen it in real life the only thing they seem to say is "can you play that one song?" I play the first few notes of Dueling Banjos and they laugh. Its really a pity because the banjo is a wonderful instrument.
The laughing is a bit odd. But, I find that laughter in this instance comes from ignorance. Those who do not understand cover their ignorance on the matter by laughing.
Of course, I COULD say something like "Elitist liberals..."
i love steve martin and have an old album cover of his on my wall (looking at it right now - "How wonderful it is that we're all smoking"). but Keaton is my hero. she is the greatest! i didn't know this tribute went down. it makes me very happy. anything good going her way is deserved 1000 times over. i love you Diane Keaton! i'll write it one more time: You are my hero! and of course the laughing was too bad. Martin is a great banjo player...
I love Diane Keaton, too, that was why I was at the Lincoln Center function. I have to admit, I kept waiting for something funny to happen...then after a bit, I wished everyone would stop laughing, as it became obvious that it wasn't going to be funny. It was truly a tribute for Diane and beautifully played.
I love Diane, too, which is why I was at the tribute for her. When Steve started playing, the expectation was that it would turn into something funning. After a bit, it became obvious that he was just playing...playing for Diane. It was too bad that the laughing happened, but it wasn't completely without some preconceived ideas that he wouldn't make it funny, which is what he has always done!
well, I think its partially that they thought it strange that he can play the banjo. But I think its also something that he said almost 30 years ago: that the banjo can't do anything but make a person feel really good, esp. if played well. Kudos to you Steve. :)
This piece is great....I find it's really easy not to take banjo music as anything other than funny. This is a piece that really shows that its able to play pieces that really capture the audience. Steve Martin is the greatest.
All the way down on the bottom there, you who elevated your dog's abilities above the collection of half wits in the audience, you made me laugh for real.
It's a beautiful piece of music, and very well performed. Steve is such a pro that he kept his cool and just played while the laughter spread. I agree that the audience was just anticipating something funny from him. He's a truly great performer, both musically and as a comic. Thank you for posting this.
people were laughing because he is steve martin! he has made so many of us laugh so many times that sometimes just to see him is enough to make us laugh its a trained response. laughter is contagious also youo hear it perfectly just a couple people chuckle then it spreads.
Steve Martin has a reputation for being a funny man. Early in his SNL days he did many a stand up performance with his banjo. So, somepeople were expecting a funny act when he performed even though it was meant to be serious.
what is the lyrics?
hhmarton95 3 months ago
What is so funny is the song has no ending
bigjoetube 4 months ago
and he plays into it some at times, he'll be all serious, then throw a one-liner at you. So you'll be listening to the serious, not realizing it's REALLY serious, cuz you're waiting for the one-liner. "ShopGirl" is surprising that way too. Serious, very sweet.
Dobes2TBK 7 months ago
whats so funny?
peppy6078 10 months ago
That was quite gorgeous. I would love to be able to say, "Steve Martin played the banjo for me."
ajreyesf13 11 months ago
anyone know the title to this piece??
HowDaddyIsDoing 1 year ago
@HowDaddyIsDoing apparently, Steve Martin composed it. so pretty. i love this melody...was humming it in the shower just now. he's wonderful!!!
HowDaddyIsDoing 1 year ago
@HowDaddyIsDoing
ok. i'm not ONLY a genius...but an idiot!!! the song's name is "Song for Diane Keaton" see the thing is...i completely forgot how to read...but then i picked up 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Understanding Letters and Words That Make up Meanings to Those Who Gaze at Them." a VERY good read!
HowDaddyIsDoing 1 year ago
@HowDaddyIsDoing The songs name is Fathers Pride and it was composed by Tony Ellis, it is however a great tune.
EmperorHilo 11 months ago
@EmperorHilo OH!!! thanks! this goes to show how full of misinformation the internet is. i searched and researched...and i got some blog talking about it....they were wrong. "Father's Pride"--i'll remember that! THANKS AGAIN
HowDaddyIsDoing 4 months ago
I wonder how those people who laughed felt afterward. The moral of the story, if you don't think it's funny don't laugh because some fool does.
MrFcmalek 1 year ago
The hollywood elites. Assholes. The banjo is a very personal instrament. He is a great player
tenorismo 1 year ago
I lived in the DC area and had a friend who worked for the Kennedy Center for years. She used to get me comp tickets all the time. Great venue, fantastic shows--but DC area audiences are some of the most pretentious, snooty, culturally elitist, and intellectually hollow audiences in the country... Poor Steve... Great performance--lousy audience...
stereodreamer23 1 year ago
Steve is a fine musician. Listen to "The Crow". This is a nice, simple tune.
I suppose that people think they ought to laugh cos hes a comedian. But doesn't the laughter sound terrible. :]
Misterphyl 1 year ago
He's a good player but an awful musican. That tune was lackluster and mundane. Sorry Steve... I know your hearts in the right place at least where your freinds are concerned. But stick to comedy.
DoubroDoubro 1 year ago
Comment removed
Purushadasa 1 year ago
@Purushadasa
I can tell the difference between good and bad compositions without having to be a composer myself. Critics are paid for a reason, and most of them can not do what they critique. Knowledge of how to create good music is not required to recognize bad music, or enjoy good music.
I think he's a good banjo player, but judging by this composition, he is not , at least in this instance , a great composer of banjo music. He may write some music well, but this tune is a flop.
DoubroDoubro 1 year ago
@DoubroDoubro ... in your lay opinion.
Purushadasa 1 year ago
Wow poor steve that would of felt terrible as hes obviously put tonnes of effort into it WTF audience come on
peppie875 1 year ago
just because a banjo is being played doesn't mean it's a comedy song. i mean come on yall.
k0vert 1 year ago
he's a COMEDIAN retards!!
ph1149 1 year ago
The audience reaction is damn weird. Is there something happening off stage we don't see?
cinemaforever7 1 year ago
Comment removed
cinemaforever7 1 year ago
The Ampthill Mob - Father's Pride - Live Woburn Sands Folk Festival 2010
Great music
golfscotland 1 year ago
just shows how dumb people really are
bsinbreed 1 year ago
Wish the crowd had behaved better, but good on you, Steve - you're a class act.
Otacon144 1 year ago
The song has no beginning and no end.
bigjoetube 1 year ago
Tony Ellis is dear to Steve's heart and it's a shame that the crowd did not "get it" Typical in certain contexts. Hopefullythe music of Tony Ellis, Steve Martin, Bella Fleck, Tony Truschka, Yens Kruger and Chris Coole will eventually bring people to the light.
thombanjo3 1 year ago
@thombanjo3 Yes, people are basically philistines...just be greatful they didn't clap along to the song (as happened when Steve and Paul Simon did a small jam).
hargra123 1 year ago
I heard an interview of Steve Martin where he described the way he would make mouth shapes when concentrating on learning the banjo - I think Diane Keaton would have appreciated Steve's gentle humor in this.
Fangor42 1 year ago
fathers pride by tony ellis
conlon187 1 year ago
Steve, if your out there..how bout putting this song on your next album. It's beautiful.
omyajt 1 year ago
is this a real tune or did he make it up himself? Anyone know the name of this?
blackfang82 1 year ago
why are they laughing! Hes a Great Banjo Picker
serilopr 2 years ago
he is wonderful and i felt the same way the first time i played this video but i think at first they had a hard time taking him seriously as he has made us all laugh for years. like a true gentleman that he is he just played so beautifully till the end without letting them distract him. i love steve martin. he has sooo much spirit.
sharonra2000 2 years ago
@sharonra2000
Its a song written by a friend of mine, Tony Ellis, who has played w/Steve and tunes banjo to a "mountain C" tuning
brickerville 1 year ago
@brickerville sure would love to see him play in concert. maybe one of these days!!!!
smoothjill09 1 year ago
@serilopr because literally anything he does is funny
XXXOffroad 1 year ago
i agree----liqour and ignorance mix all too well-----beautiful music
iammikmik 2 years ago
A shame some people can't distinguish the difference between sincerity and comedy. This is Steve being sincere, in the only way he can. Thanks Steve!
GAIVS2007 2 years ago
I can tell from this video that more than half of the audience was appreciating this amazing piece of music coming from such a grand talent as Steve. This sounds like chuckling adults breaking the moment, that could be considered disrespectful to many.
The faces Steve makes may be him shrugging the laughter off and continuing the piece, being the Pro that he is.
Let us be nice to everyone on here,
Best Of Holidays To All
Jskelington2000 2 years ago
Sweet rendition of the Tony Ellis tune...and now that Mr Martin's banjo album, The Crow, has done so well, I have to wonder....who's laughing now? Good job Steve...good work Mr Ellis.
waterdog456 2 years ago 2
This song is NOT a joke. This was his tribute to Diane Keaton, who had sung for him at the Kennedy Center Honors. The audience was totally off to laugh. In fact Steve Martin is a very accomplished banjo player and it's a shame the audience couldn't appreciate his beautiful talent. I felt badly for him. I can only imagine how frustrating it would have been for him and for those in the audience who were "got it."
Den7Bass 2 years ago 5
Diane Keaton did not sing for him at the Kennedy Center Honors. She sang for him when he won the Mark Twain Prize at the Kennedy Center. And this song was a joke, even though he is an accomplished banjo player.
bigjoetube 2 years ago
I feel bad for Steve, it's a beautiful song. As for the audience, that's just a blatant display of ignorance.
SR722 2 years ago 5
As a banjo and bass player of 30 years, this WAS a serious song, and very ingeinously wrote and performed. And whoever said steve was making faces becuase he was try to get the fingering right...well, that's stupid, Steve has been playing longer than me and knows the fingerboard, he has no problem getting the notes correctly. Great song Steve!
rarebasses 2 years ago 5
I dont understand, but STEVE comedy has always required your presence, so there maybe something they were picking up that we werent
ryan49321 2 years ago
what a stupid audience - plain rude
contardi 2 years ago 6
While I don't understand what about the music is funny, I won't presume that laughter is an inappropriate response. Perhaps the sheer joy of the music triggered an emotion that some could only express through laughter. On another level; people and Pavlov's dogs have a lot in common.
auggaguuggagcgg 2 years ago
Sugar,
was Diane actually in the audience or what?
If she was, I bet she was one of the people who didn't laugh!
TheDunHorse 2 years ago
fuck this audience is awful.
sunnyvale123 2 years ago
For one, some people don't or can't appreciate music and the second thing is people probably were expecting him to do something funny so laughed anyway.
Everhill69 2 years ago 15
@Everhill69 I think you're right. Steve Martin's comedy style is often parody, so for whatever reason, the audience thought that this song a comedy routine parodying whatever style of music or song or performance they imagined him parodying.
People love Steve Martin, and so naturally, they wanted to make him feel comfortable by laughing at what they imagined was a comedy routine.
I was puzzled throughout, and I turned it back several times, asking myself, "What joke did I miss???" LOL
Purushadasa 1 year ago
Were these people stupid?
lkl8 2 years ago 6
They are laughing because the song has no beginning and no end.................just like Steve!!!!!!!
bigjoetube 2 years ago
youre an idiot
solidsnakejt 2 years ago
If you dont know this song is a joke, you are the idiot.
bigjoetube 2 years ago
shut up imbecile
solidsnakejt 2 years ago
Apparently Steve makes shapes with his mouth to get the fingering right...
Fangor42 2 years ago
Poor Steve Martin. This wasn't intended to be comedy- he's actually a good player.
Composer1990 2 years ago 20
I know right!
Kissy731 2 years ago 4
I don't get it! What to be laugh about? That's kinda rude.
s922918 2 years ago 7
well theyre laughing because people are so used to seeing his silly side but he truly is an amazing musician. Its kind of a shame in way because they are kind of spoiling a good moment.
ibcannonball 2 years ago 6
Yeah, I kind of wondered the same thing.
Then again, Mr. Martin is too well respected now as a musician, so I'm guessing that there was a joke in the music (like PDQ Bach).
kevinthecursed 2 years ago
WTF ARE THEY LAUGHING ABOUT?!
smoky90210 2 years ago 3
Beautiful tune. Amazing he could hold it together while all the idiots were laughing - I would have thrown my banjo at the fools.
babbchuck 2 years ago 5
People expected it was going to be a joke and there was never a punchline. That actually wasn't uncommon for Martin's style of comedy either. That said, whether it was serious or not I don't think Martin cared one way or another. He is a professional and he knows some people don't "get it."
azzers1999 2 years ago
i honestly and sincerely do NOT get why the audience was laughing! steve martin is a PHENOMENAL banjo player (banjoist?). he didn't do ANYTHING REMOTELY funny or silly that he's done in his comedy routines! sheesh, some folks just don't have any common sense! many kudos for steve martin! you GO dude!!!
tersieface2 3 years ago 2
Apparently no one in the audience realizes how music is written. There is always a common theme played throughout the song. I don't know about you all, but I don't start cracking up whenever "I Go To Extremes" gets back to the chorus.
tonyblueeyes 3 years ago
So why isn't the audience clapping and cheering along with the music, like when I saw him play the banjo in his act...oh yes, the audience was filled with rich people from New York. Morons...laughing at one of the greatest banjo players alive.
I can't watch this clip without getting angry at those disrepectful idiots. Sorry.
freecatpaws 3 years ago 5
isn't the funniest part about it the fact that everyone's arguing over whether or not it's funny?
steve martin wins again...
lishatao8746 3 years ago
type "father's pride" tony ellis in the little box at the top and you will find a video of the original.
kebo072 3 years ago
You know what I want to see? I want to see the footage from the camera backstage. I want to see him throwing his hands up, like WTF JUST HAPPENED OUT THERE?! GiantDevilfish below, acting... uh, intelligent, saying it's not serious? What a stupid comment- hell that's my whole point- it's Steve Martin, so whatever he's doing, it MUST be funny. He dropped his napkin LET'S ALL LAUGH. His car got hit by a tree branch FUNNY! Isn't it? It isn't? But it's Steve Martin! People are losing... everything.
ColostusRex 3 years ago
the song is called "fathers pride" by Tony ellis from his album dixie banner. Shame people are laughing through what is a really nice tune. He isn't trying to be funny!
nigelandkelly 3 years ago
This is so, so beautiful. Does anyone know the name of that tune and where I can buy it?
ThirdPoliceman1 3 years ago
No, idiots. It's NOT serious. Martin is playing the same riff over and over again. Good grief. He's making fun of the gesture itself.
GiantDevilfish 3 years ago
Yes, because he's playing a song.
pccbassbone 3 years ago
You're a moron.
xlrwrite 3 years ago
No this wasn't meant to be funny. This is a textbook example of a superficial, sniggering mercantile 'culture' meeting something simple, pure and heartfelt.
pekoe67 3 years ago
do u have ears? that was a composition not the same riff over and over.
JulietsMan 3 years ago 2
I don't even understand what they think they are laughing at. What of that was funny?
wydok 3 years ago 3
wow a lot of people dont realize this is steve martin's style of comedy, he wasn't being serious
osheatz 3 years ago
he was absolutely being serious, you dooface. it's obvious ...and if it wasn't obvious to you read the "more info" section. this clip makes me sad and uncomfortable.
jenndo21 3 years ago
That happens to a lot of performers who have made a career out of being funny. Audiences associate them with laughter even when they're doing something not intended to elicit laughter. I'm sure Steve understands that, but he must have been disappointed and annoyed just the same.
clashwho 3 years ago
I feel sorry for the audience. They missed out on a beautiful song..............and were right there in the moment.
kebo072 3 years ago 3
laughing because they think they should be laughing - pathetic.
thisisnothappening2 3 years ago 3
they think steve martin is strictly a comedian, they hav eno idea that he has practiced the banjo for over 40 years and that is why they are lauging at him becaus they think it is part of his comedy scettch.
rdubb604 3 years ago
What an embarassing audience.
f1nuts 3 years ago 3
Don't laugh unless something is funny and you get the joke!
The awkward laughter from some members of the audience heightened the poignancy for me. They are laughing b/c they think they are supposed to, not b/c it was funny.
I also feel sorry for the poor people in the audience that knew it was a sincere performance...
spare2288 3 years ago
shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhit
LongLiveHammond 3 years ago
aww sad. I wish they would appriciated the fact that he isnt just a funny guy all the time and that he doesnt have to be "on" all the time to make them laugh. its gotta be hard for him feeling like he always has to put on a show
Specialcookie246 3 years ago 4
If you guys can see though Steve Martin is actually smiling, so he isnt taking it to heart, well i hope not. If ANYBODY takes the piss outa steve martin they wudnt av long 2 live i tell ya tht now, i love him 2 pieces hehe!
Anabana21yeh 3 years ago 2
Wow. I can't believe how disrespectful this audience is. Do they not realize how unbelievably talented Steve Martin is, in the non-comedic sense? They should be ashamed. How embarrassing for THEM!
inhymnilive 3 years ago 6
YOu know, I'm just sayin', we don't know what the intro to this was. Perhaps Steve came out and said, "I've written this song, and everything I say here I truly mean." And then he says nothing. Just b/c the poster of this vid says Martin's serious doesn't mean he is. The only time he's been serious in a public forum like that was when Gilda Radner passed away.
PlanitReality 3 years ago 2
actually, i watched this on tv,
people were actually laughing during this,
debfred86 3 years ago
For those who are complaining about the audience laughter...it is obviously a laugh track laid on top of the video for some unknown reason. The audience on hand for this event is not actually laughing during this banjo solo.
utoob676 3 years ago
I don't see why anyone would go to the trouble of inserting fake audience laughter. Someone would need to have on hand a clip of hundreds of people laughing in a very large auditorium to get the sound right. Not only that, the audience in the sound clip would have to be laughing at nothing, just sitting in an empty auditorium and laughing, otherwise we'd hear the audio of what they were actually laughing at. I guess it's possible, but what's the point? And why is it so obviously fake?
Neku86 3 years ago
Even a Lincoln Center crowd would probably associate Steve with humor rather than the sophisticated guy he really is.
moegolden 3 years ago
purely out of curiosity, how do U know it's a laugh track inserted and what makes it 'obvious'? Just asking...
Trommylee 3 years ago
totally agree, lack of respect from the audience, that's untolerable
vai82 3 years ago 3
I love Diane and Steve in Father of the Brigd. That's a wonderful movie. It feels like you know them.
eprexe 3 years ago
People are so used to laughing at Steve that they were conditioned to laugh. He often plays the banjo (i.e. tunes that should never be played on a banjo) to create humor and when he played this pretty tune, well they laughed anyway. Too funny! But I'm sure he understood later when he thought about it.
cwtwang 3 years ago 2
i hate that everyone was laughing, i could felt angry for steve....
Aelisbaby 3 years ago 5
Yea I dont think most people realize Steve Martin is a comedian AND a really really good banjo player, it seems like they thought this solo banjo was going to turn into some kind of punchline, and they kept laughing at how long he was going to pretend to keep playing, not even listening to how good of a song was being played for them.
mrzisme 3 years ago 4
Amen, mrzisme, you nailed it. I tried , but you explained the whole deal. but the punchline never came?? Did IT?? Good Job in translating thoughts. Steve martin is the best, loved his stuff since I was a kid.
tubemeokay 3 years ago 3
I agree. Wow. Stupid audience.
dancefreak50 3 years ago
steve martin is one of the best banjo pickers there is
harlan1988 3 years ago 2
and the joke is????
nothing was funny there , i would have been so pissed if i was steve, he was completely undermined!!!!!
06holder 3 years ago 3
Incredible how dumb this audience is. They are killing themselves laughing, yet have no idea why.
KarenSusan 3 years ago 4
This audience was ignorant..Geez..No arrow in head no funny. Just a touching song for a lady that has played his wife in many movies. Steve Martin=CLASS> funniest man I grew up with. LOve Ya Steve!!
tubemeokay 3 years ago 5
Why was the audience laughing?I found nothing funny,other than a really great song,& a great person XD
Mushisaning 3 years ago
I quess just because of his reputation. Steve always pulled off some crap when he had that banjo in his hand. You know also, Steve is a accomplished Banjo player. Like I said before, they were looking for a arrow in his head.
tubemeokay 3 years ago 3
Yeah, that was weird.
Just goes to show you that a room full of rich people with good seats can still have zero class.
muskie97 3 years ago 7
This is not the Kennedy Center Honors broadcast on CBS. It's a different show called the Mark Twain Prize, broadcast on PBS.
KayCeeHarter 3 years ago
I don't get it. Why are people laughing? This is a tender and beautiful tribute. Good on ya, Steve. If you can see this, I applaud your serious banjo playing as well as love your comedy. You are an original and a legend and I for one applaud you for this in particular. You touched my heart. Thanks.
amontgomery1978 3 years ago
Great player, Beautiful song,...terrible audience...
I couldnt agree more with AcmeProfessional
albertmunoz01 3 years ago
Great player, Beautiful song,...terrible audience...
AcmeProfessional 3 years ago 2
What a pro! I love how he just stuck to his guns and performed the lovely tune unwaveringly. Bravo!
amberbella13 3 years ago 3
stupid audience.. they're used to see him in comedy-movies so everything he does is funfunfun :O
jonarunx 3 years ago 3
idiot audience......
ducati78 3 years ago 3
It just shows the ignorance of the crowd that they can't tell that this was a sincere offering By Steve Martin to Diane Keaton
drewby7777 3 years ago 5
Please help! Steve Martin did a song with the actor George Segal (also an EXCELLENT banjo player). Can someone help me find a video?
justjoseph43 4 years ago
was that really spposed to be funny? cause i didn't see the humor in it.
Janybody17 4 years ago
I LOVE Steve Martin. He's so amazingly talented.
CaiperLane 4 years ago
here is another sincere steve martin banjo moment: youtube. com/watch?v=Wi8NW29xCso&NR=1
DanFrederiksen 4 years ago
Begs the question, can a person expectd to be funny, do something serious :)
RedGrooms 4 years ago
that's not what "begs the question" means.
jonbirge 3 years ago
a steve martin-sufjan stevens duet would be awesome.
preschooleratheart07 4 years ago
That laughing is really anoying!!! Beautiful song..
Igot2shout 4 years ago
this is good banjo playing from the heart, they laugh because they...don't get it???
jlwats 4 years ago
It's because they realized that his sincere gesture of playing a nice simple song was a very moving monumental moment. They laughed because they felt crying would embarrass them.
dylanfan1969 4 years ago
they laughed because steve martin has never had a serious public moment in his life :)
DanFrederiksen 4 years ago
He's known for how good his banjo-playing is. Ask any of the folks who were around when he first came onto the scene.
youlittlecowyou 4 years ago
why are they laughing??? i dont get it? is it funny to laugh at somebody for doing something that they will never? its a nice song
rexreeper99 4 years ago
I thought that was from Annie Hall
swimcoach666 4 years ago
at first i though i must me an other steve martin. never though the actor would play a banjo
rexreeper99 4 years ago
Thanks for making so many of us feel so very, very old.
DarkRider69 4 years ago
Or wait...Duelling banjos reallly slow???
swimcoach666 4 years ago
Strike that! it is Duelling Banjos in reverse!
swimcoach666 4 years ago
Hey Plaidshirt. Give it a rest!!!! The people you mentioned are professional comedians and probably think Steve Martin is good. The other thing that Steve Martin did was to become a very successful movie star and writer for such publications as the New Yorker magazine. He is a talent whether you like it or not. While you post your comment on every video of him you should take the time out and watch them.
saxesisme 4 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
STEVE MARTIN DOES NOT DESERVE THIS HONOR YET!
JERRY LEWIS
PHYLLIS DILLER
SID CEASAR
MEL BROOKS
They deserve to be honored right now. Hey Steve how much did you donate! LOSER!
I HAVE LOST ALL REPECT FOR YOU! To accept this before the people who paved the way for you. WOW!
greenplaidshirt 4 years ago
That's all well and good, plaidshirt, but you're too late; he actually got this honor several years ago.
The ceremony shown here is for Diane Keaton, who sang a song for Steve at his, so on behalf of everyone who read the posters' comments;
aaaaaaaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWH, Shut UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUP.
Otacon144 3 years ago
Manhattan snobs have no Idea what is any good. I think steve was really hurt by the fact that he cannot be taken seriously. I think the fact he is smirking is because he can't believe what idiots manhattanites are!
jeff61177 4 years ago 5
absolutely. mostly pseudointellectuals with more money than class. i know a lot of them, unfortunately.
jonbirge 3 years ago
I'm pretty sure this is a Tony Ellis tune. Tony Ellis writes beautiful music for the banjo. Also, I think the reason people are laughing is because Steve keeps smiling in a funny way on the big screen.
bigbadbucksnort 4 years ago
When you build much of your entire comic reputation on unusual/incongrous behaviour (as martin has done)- of course people are going to laugh when you show up at a tribute and play an instrumental banjo song (the banjo and straight faced persistance being two things he has worked for laughs for years. People are just conditioned to laugh when they see Martin doing something.
andyscenic 4 years ago
I totally agree. That is what exactly what I first thought when I heard this.
KevinStorms 4 years ago
The laughing really ruins the video. I think its just the ignorance of the audience because really the only time you either hear or see a banjo in the media it is usually to make fun of something or refer to some southern redneck.
If I take out my banjo around people that have never seen it in real life the only thing they seem to say is "can you play that one song?" I play the first few notes of Dueling Banjos and they laugh. Its really a pity because the banjo is a wonderful instrument.
skywav 4 years ago
the laughing makes it sad, no?
lemonpeepee 4 years ago
why is diane keaton honorting steve martin, i dont think she had any part of his career,
txguy4u2001 4 years ago
they were in father of the bride 1 & 2 together
dukie04 4 years ago
The laughing is a bit odd. But, I find that laughter in this instance comes from ignorance. Those who do not understand cover their ignorance on the matter by laughing.
Of course, I COULD say something like "Elitist liberals..."
scifiradioguy 4 years ago
i love steve martin and have an old album cover of his on my wall (looking at it right now - "How wonderful it is that we're all smoking"). but Keaton is my hero. she is the greatest! i didn't know this tribute went down. it makes me very happy. anything good going her way is deserved 1000 times over. i love you Diane Keaton! i'll write it one more time: You are my hero! and of course the laughing was too bad. Martin is a great banjo player...
thedwork 4 years ago
I love Diane Keaton, too, that was why I was at the Lincoln Center function. I have to admit, I kept waiting for something funny to happen...then after a bit, I wished everyone would stop laughing, as it became obvious that it wasn't going to be funny. It was truly a tribute for Diane and beautifully played.
totowolf 4 years ago
I love Diane, too, which is why I was at the tribute for her. When Steve started playing, the expectation was that it would turn into something funning. After a bit, it became obvious that he was just playing...playing for Diane. It was too bad that the laughing happened, but it wasn't completely without some preconceived ideas that he wouldn't make it funny, which is what he has always done!
totowolf 4 years ago
that just shows how people will laugh at anything if they THINK they're supposed to.
Kissy731 4 years ago 2
i guess they were waiting for a punchline...
bluegrassrulz 4 years ago 4
Steve Martin once said something along the lines of "it's impossible to play a sad note on the banjo".
zeplinwolf 4 years ago
The only thing keeping me from favoriting the video is the laughing audience. Pity.
kawfeadikt 4 years ago 2
The people in the audience were just a bunch of un-informed pretentious f**ks who expect him to have an arrow through his head.
mjtracy 4 years ago
The laughing does seem a little odd.
dancefreak50 4 years ago
I think it was funny because it was supposed to be a song, but the words never began...
Qermaq 4 years ago
What the hell was so funny? Playing the banjo takes skill like any other instrument. The laughter just seemed out of place.
Rocketman23 4 years ago 4
well, I think its partially that they thought it strange that he can play the banjo. But I think its also something that he said almost 30 years ago: that the banjo can't do anything but make a person feel really good, esp. if played well. Kudos to you Steve. :)
iranon1661 4 years ago
This piece is great....I find it's really easy not to take banjo music as anything other than funny. This is a piece that really shows that its able to play pieces that really capture the audience. Steve Martin is the greatest.
Hilodorf 4 years ago
All the way down on the bottom there, you who elevated your dog's abilities above the collection of half wits in the audience, you made me laugh for real.
manisintheforest 4 years ago
So what was the actual title of this song?
solanusdracon 4 years ago
I think it's called "Father's Pride."
Don't remember who wrote it, though. ^^;
Otacon144 3 years ago
Tony Ellis wrote the song.
phurque 3 years ago
Thanks. :)
Otacon144 3 years ago
A great display of leadership and polarity will.
Peace to all
sledger132 4 years ago
It's a beautiful piece of music, and very well performed. Steve is such a pro that he kept his cool and just played while the laughter spread. I agree that the audience was just anticipating something funny from him. He's a truly great performer, both musically and as a comic. Thank you for posting this.
olmmbill 4 years ago 3
The lafter was just odd.
BryanAJParry 4 years ago
people were laughing because he is steve martin! he has made so many of us laugh so many times that sometimes just to see him is enough to make us laugh its a trained response. laughter is contagious also youo hear it perfectly just a couple people chuckle then it spreads.
bearshaman0 4 years ago
Steve Martin has a reputation for being a funny man. Early in his SNL days he did many a stand up performance with his banjo. So, somepeople were expecting a funny act when he performed even though it was meant to be serious.
eightday 4 years ago
i hate those people... i think he did a hella good job... bravo, steve!
KakoMorejo 4 years ago 2
This is a perfect example of how we put people into boxes. Lots of us are way more than one talent.
tutlover39 4 years ago