Moondog - Viking 1

[tzscheer]

All the years I saw him standing near the subway entrance on 7th Ave and 57th Street in front of Carnegie Hall, I never heard a note of his music until now. He had a dog and a cup for donations, and he always had a kind word for me and my sister on our way to ballet lessons. I never knew he made such beautiful music.

[cdsech]

This song is like a fairy tale :)

[bluesborn]

What an amazing individual in every sense of the word.He lived his life without compromise and and produced some unique and brilliant music.

[jmarrvin]

Oh man... I had heard about this guy and decided to see for myself why my friends liked him so much. This stuff just blows my mind.

I had no idea he'd died. The world is truly at a loss.

[marksvermillion]

6 people's villages were raided by Vikings.

[marque228]

hasta que escuche esto, creí que la humanidad seguía haciendo musica...

pero la musica murio con el...

[handymandan100]

Wow, this stuff is great!  Moondog is brilliant, from what i've heard so far. True auteur...

[joebstarsurfer]

just heard some of his music what cool guy a Viking .

[seabassthemaster]

I SHALL PLAY YOU THE SONG OF MY PEOPLE!

[polygontwin]

That's just lovely and brilliant, really brilliant. I'm sorry i'm late but glad i'm here. Thanks Moondog, came here via Mr.Scruff. Going to keep going now and know after Viking 1 this is going to be so enjoyable! Ta :)

[bongcouver]

such character in that man's face. depth on levels I couldn't begin to grasp....yet.

[TheOtherBradBird]

Why is it that I only discover people like this when they're dead?

[precinct25]

amazing tune!

[bluekitteneyes]

I love him <3

He looks like a wizard :)

[SamOG15]

@bluekitteneyes he is a wizard :)

[popeye2mil]

@SamOG15 nop he is actually a viking

[SamOG15]

@popeye2mil he is whatever he wants to be....he is that cool haha

[jurischko]

cuándo terminó la vida de Moondog?

when he died?

[bobiszon666]

@jurischko

i think in 1997 but i'm not sure

[webeustoo]

Born May 26, 1916 Died September 8, 1999

[freelancefiend66]

@webeustoo I was born on May 26 also

[MrXrajinx]

@jurischko Murio el 8 de Septiembre, 1999.

[postatility]

Moondog was truly a blind visionary.....His music is a Celestial Light with awesome powers!! I'm glad YouTube is here to preserve his memory and music.

[bmkjuana]

Which is all beside the point, Moondog was a great composer. It just takes a certain level of intelligence that not everyone posses, to appreciate that fact.

[BobbyBluntandthafunk]

Wow this is a great track! Thanks!!!

[randomnessjunk]

It just keeps oozing child-like innocence!

[BobbyBluntandthafunk]

this sounds a lot like the residents anyone else hear it?

[IAmKrow]

In which album can I find this song?

[vv901vv901]

@IAmKrow

Either on Kopf's 1977 vinyl release / 1989 CD release "Moondog in Europe" or on Roof Music's 2004 double-CD release "The German Years 1977-1999" which also withholds Moondog's last concert.

[IAmKrow]

@vv901vv901

Thanks!

[MrPlattle]

Couldn't live without my Dog..

[lordoid]

Outstanding and beautiful in every sense.

[McLeod54]

Is that anybody of note pictured with Moondog in that first pic? Thanks!

[iQtec]

"And he who seen these noble ruins at the end of his dark life. Asks himself; where is horse? where is men? where the feast? where the joy? A last bright cup, a last proud prince, our time has past as it has not been."

[inarel90]

@iQtec Where is that passage from?

[iQtec]

@inarel90 The Wanderer - Anglo-Saxon battle poem.

[inarel90]

@iQtec Thank you :)

[billybob915]

Moondog lived near my hometown, up in the hills in a cabin. On 4th of july I was stuck on top of the ferris wheel and saw him milling about the midway, surrounded by kids. Dressed like a viking.

[itsPenguinBoy]

really amazing

I find it really interesting how fantastic his visual aesthetic was, and yet he was blind... like there's a symbolic way to appreciate visuals, even if you can't see. and really a beautiful piece here.

[Leshiye69]

My God....

It's full of stars.

[cinemats]

How the hell did he manage to stay on the streets for so many years being blind and still record albums? This is not an artist. This is god.

[JohnnySpaceLace]

wooooaaaahhh!!!

[JoyGrenade]

Blindness heightens the other senses. Can you imagine what this must have sounded like to Moondog?

[ihavenoideahere]

@JoyGrenade I don't think Moondog was blind from birth. I think he lost his sight when he was 17 or 18? Don't know if this makes a difference.

[lexo30]

@ihavenoideahere - You're right. According to liner notes of the one CD I have of his stuff, he was sixteen when a dynamite cap went off in his face.

[pageponpai]

MAGIQUE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Svaple]

there should be a 'lowest rated comments' section.

[Ogaitnas900]

@Svaple Hahah totally, it'd be like a hall of infamy, a bunch of heads on spears warning everyone. Also funny.

[nugsalad]

This song is like a stardust sandwich with acid on the side.

[JBHutto]

This reminds me of Phillip Glass(or vice-versa), it has that ethereal feel to it.

[kapitol21]

@JBHutto Moondog was strongly influenced by Phillip Glass' minimalist/avant garde approach.

[BeQuietPeter]

@kapitol21 other way around. Glass & Reich both stated Moondog as an influence.

[kapitol21]

oh i didn't know that. thanks

[OliverWinton]

@JBHutto bit too upbeat for glass, i get what you mean though.

[semptress]

I remember Moondog, I saw him in the flesh in NYC. He was, and still, is one very under appreciated artistic genius.

[Davidskatenelson]

@semptress Thats what makes him so much better

[niickblase]

@semptress yep, the only kind of artistic genius

[moonshendog]

choosing to live on the streets, wear his own clothes, not follow everyone else.....

a true artist

[yeebeascurvydawg]

most people wear their own clothes

[elderlinx]

@yeebeascurvydawg

hehe, yes and no

[rbd1956]

moondog isn't most people

[yeebeascurvydawg]

@rbd1956

shut your mouth tool... you clearly have no idea what my comment was referring to

[rbd1956]

relax man :) it was meant as a compliment to moondog, and nothing to do with you, can you imagine that?

[yeebeascurvydawg]

@rbd1956

regardless... you are silly

[rbd1956]

@yeebeascurvydawg another compliment!  thank you my man.

[breakingthe4thwall]

@moonshendog That's not entirely true, he had his own apartment.

[0utgoingMessages]

@moonshendog He couldn't follow anyone 'cause he was blind.

[Henbot]

@moonshendog dont forget he even invented 3 insturments.

[Henbot]

@moonshendog but dont think artists living in poverty ist the only means for them to be a true artist, one is a true artist if they love their craft and never compromise, I think its incorrect to just create an image that artist must be suffering (yes many have) to create something that other people feel great about and put almost messiah like template on them, most artist would probably hate that.

[Chocolatmenthe]

@Henbot : But being marginal as he was is the only way to really never compromise.

[cometothesabbat]

@Chocolatmenthe True dat.

[adewale007]

I partly agree jeffg and would have contend that Moondog went beyond the 'benchmark' to the extent that bench no longer existed. I love the dude's music more than I am able to articulate with words. Lucky me!

[moonshendog]

this is great for a sound track for a film

[tobyz1]

"Is" a great sound track, or "would be" a great sound track"? (If the first, what movie is it used in?)

[adewale007]

It is a matter of perspective mate I agree but I would never call any military leader a genius because of the violence/number of deaths involved. However, Artists are worthy of the tag since their work and efforts end with something of great beauty, that will last forever, for people to enjoy. Word Up!

[jeffgallagher187]

A genius is somebody who excels or sets the benchmark in their respective feilds, it has nothing to do with beauty or morals.

[DropAcidNotBombs419]

People actually listen to this?

[DotChannel]

@DropAcidNotBombs419 Yeah we do. This is brilliant music. What do you listen to? Crap like Korn and Slip Knot?

[DropAcidNotBombs419]

@DotChannel Korn and Slipknot both suck I agree, but this song is just boring to me. So boring to raise the question out of shear amazment, do people actually listen to this?

[bmkjuana]

@DropAcidNotBombs419 You obviously have never done what your screen name preaches, because this song is awesome when you're trippin' balls. Just try it! :)

[DropAcidNotBombs419]

@bmkjuana Eat a dick you asshole

[bmkjuana]

@DropAcidNotBombs419 So I guess your screen name is just ironic then. Because from your reply I can tell you obviously would rather spread hate and violence, than love. That's fine cause I was just kidding. So you can go eat a asshole you dick.

[DropAcidNotBombs419]

@bmkjuana FAG, way to use my exact insult in reverse order. Very original. You don't even know who the fuck I am!

[Iknowmeism]

@DropAcidNotBombs419 Yup and they stick their heads in the speaker to really feel the bass.

[shatchett0]

I was watching Tavis Smiley interview Will Smith and he referred to Will Smith as a genius. A description Will Smith did not take the time to refute or to disagree with.

[grands1am]

Tavis Smiley loves to play the faux-intellectual and nothing he says should be taken very seriously.

[Semiotichazey]

Really great Moondog song that I never heard, so thanks. I don't know if I agree that it's his best, but I do not begrudge you the sentiment.

[PaulSuedeTwin]

I agree with moonrocker this does remind me alot of SAW by aphex twin... but what it really reminds me of is the chimey melody of D-Scape from the On EP

[ignoranttwat]

I have various Moondog records but I didn't really realise QUITE how good he was until I listened to H'art Songs last night.

It rocked the kasbah.

[Gerb65]

Dear ninjatomes

thanks a mille for posting this!

[imslicc]

new music. yes.

i can't explain why, and i usually can - but this is great.

[adewale007]

It is criminal that this mans work is given more attention. He is one of the few people to whom the word genius does not do justice to. I read somewhere that Miles Davis was in absolute awe of him. Cheers for posting this up.

[kakuszu]

genius is a matter of perspective. In World war II rommell was a brilliant tactical commander, some may even say genius, but because he killed many people through his orders, people choose to see him as something else. Its all a matter of opinionation and perspective.

[moonrocker]

reminds me of aphex twin selected ambient works.

[BlueChadillac]

I HAVE TO GET ME A HAT LIKE THAT>>>>>

[jesusofraleigh]

Moondog is the most underrated musician of all time. His work is truly groundbreaking in terms of originality of both musicianship and style and instruments. He even wrote the best saxophone song of all time (The Bird's Lament) and his work speaks for itself.

[StrikerSniper77]

Viking 1 went to mars. Maybe that has something to do with the name. *Shrugs shoulders*

[bluesgutter]

This is genius...

[ColdBuffetKing]

Beautiful...............anyone know why it's called Viking1?

[chunic]

Just look at his way to look in the first seconds

we looked like a movie-viking

[artwallmagazine]

i oved it! thank u moondog ;0) mona moon

[McLeod54]

Oh why does this precious beauty often make me sad and longing...guess it reminds me that even the most delicate and lovely things in life are transient...

[KingDandimite]

Brilliant. My girlfriend just introduced me to Moondog's work and I find it very intriguing.

[tieber1]

gorgeous

[herrbanane2]

genius

[dihydrogenmonoxide]

wow...

[Vladdyboy]

xylophones?

[Linkopl03]

Vibraphones

[TubeNumber1]

Moondog was one of a kind. When I was 10 years old I saw him in front of WABC radio in NYC. He was the most far-out looking man I'd ever seen to that time. His music is so hypnotic.

[JoyGrenade]

Best song ever. No exaggeration.

[andrewstadium]

I love this one. I haven't heard it in probably 15years. I used to go to the Berklee College of Music library as a student and check out albums that were on reel-to-reel tape. I believe this was on a record called Moondog in Europe. Then they did away with the reels. No more Moondog. Shame. I haven't seen this or heard this since.

[featheredmusic]

glock?

nom nom

[DJPsionix]

This definitely isn't purely analogue, you can hear the low pass filters and delays

But IMO its a lovely track

[billblaskey]

Both of those effects are capable of being produced as analog.

[connichiwah]

That Moondog sure had quite a fashion sense for a blindman! Betcha he sure stuck it to those Manhattan business squares! I just decided to check out his music after reading the article "Whence cometh Moondoggie" in the latest Surfer's Journal.

[ArtMusicRepeat]

He was blind...

[timjmoran]

WOW.. really cool.. sounds like the melody is being played on.. a celeste??

And the drums are so unusual... just barely there. Did Moondog play most of this himself?

[JoyGrenade]

This is one of the most beautiful pieces I've ever heard.

[klaotha]

Big Brother and the Holding Company did Moondogs "All is loneliness" on their first album(1966). It´s good.

[hectorsland]

this is kind of music really interests me, the kind of very unique music that isnt really easy to find nowadays. there was an album ..."angelite & huun huur tu & moscow art trio" i felt the same way about this, so many musical ideas put forward to make something amazing. can anyone reccomend something as unique as moondog?

[branlory]

pink floyd´s atom heart mother album, or rachmaninov.

[akashm2611]

radio citizen

[spinnersthegrinners]

Super Furry Animals are waffley versatile and have shades of his influence...

[lordoid]

I just discovered Moondogs Music about a year ago after found out that Mr. Scruff sampled him for "Get a Move on". His Live was very interesting. His music is simply brilliant. A very strange Fact: I found out that he lived his last years in my Hometown (Münster) in Germany and is burried here on the local Graveyard not far away from my house. Live is weird. R.I.P. Mr Moondog!

[voodoochild85858]

same here i dicov him from mr scruff

[Ochsenburg]

superb & true

[billheslop]

anyone know which album this song is on ? cheers in advance ........

[ninjatomes]

The viking of sixth avenue ;)

[vv901vv901]

@billheslop

Originally on the 1977 release Moondog in Europe.

[bboy4joy]

CAPSLOL this sounds like underwaterworld in super mario 3 lol!

[roncronton]

Ha Ha! Jesus that takes me back!

[mymoonjujumymen]

crazy song !!

i love it !!

thanks !!

[goeatroadkill]

Wow,what an awesome piece of music...

[teamcrumb]

Moondog drives me crazy with joy! My best friend bought me his Rare Material double Cd for my birthday, then a double Moondog Album on Vinyl for christmas, and some little vinyl album things, er seven inches y'all (I think). I'm hooked and for ever amen. Love this tune so much. Thankyou for posting

[TooMuchSumo]

a great story i think is that the Duke regularly give him love & some money for getting along.

[nowhereman1124]

what a unique human being. i aspire to be half the man he was.

[Jnkdog]

Met this guy this guy in NYC. He was always there... awesome to find it on youtube. Great stuff.

[jspangler01]

Pick a day. Pick a place. Chances are I had the means to be there. Pick a date pick a time. Got it from a friend of mine: the ability to socialize.

[killingswitch]

MOONDOG!

YEAH!

[motorwawt]

I remember laying on my bed in high school one night, under the influence of drugs with this LP playing, and having the very distinct feeling that the music, this track in particular, was taking me to another time or place (Maybe space as evidence by the comment above?)

[paladin520]

Saw him in NYC during a school trip. I looked out the bus window and there was this viking standing against a building...ONLY in NYC, bay-bee!!! God bless ya!!!!

[tzarrett111]

what wonderful music......

[fabula999]

The composer, Louis Hardin (MOONDOG) wrote this piece under the impression of NASA's Mars expeditions 1976 and dedicated it to the first spacecraft, VIKING I..