Abney Park - Herr Drosselmeyer's Doll live - Steampunk

[OrMabinogi]

I know, late to the show, but this was just moving. It makes me think of a Gothic/Victorian version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. One of my favorite songs from the album and this performance was exceptional.

[GraveyardRomance]

So I just played this and Sleep Isabella for my music education class, to represent two of Merriam's Functions for Human Musicality.... Everyone told me they are now really interested in Abney Park.

yeah :)

[LadyeXo]

I like her better with her mouth closed. It's all about Captain Robert :D

[Rei328]

Orianna the clockwork girl?

[jkiddo223]

i love the neo-victorian, post-apocalyptic, insano-melancholy gypsy-circus, steampunk thing these guys have going.

[xskullxkissesx]

this really does inspire me to learn pointe and ballet :)

[xxxdeadmunkxxx]

how us people cling to things and create worlds ..... its amazing .... never knew steam punk was followed with such dedication and facination .... amazing amazing world .... :)

[TheSerjAlex]

am i the only one that is fascinated by Steampunk? :D

[kagetora78]

@TheSerjAlex Ever heard of the other "punks"? For instance DIESELPUNK. Think, you'll love it:D

[TheSerjAlex]

@kagetora78 i did search them! :D they sound awwsum! thanks!

[LWillRuleTheWorld]

@TheSerjAlex No. I like the old world with our modern technology.

[frozenlilies1]

Aw Finn, we miss you hun! You're so talented I wish you so much lucky in your projects!

ABNEY PARK! *fistpump*

[zombiebreakdance2]

my fave song, yet not of all cuz i love all his songs.

[freakk21]

Was this performance at the Edison in downtown LA?

[maxmin]

@freakk21 Yes, from the first time the band played there.

[nightwishwolf999]

its almost like the doll gradually comes more to life as the dance goes on, its beautiful *-*

[FrisianDude]

I think the singer should wear a good hat, or better yet, facial hair.

[nightwishwolf999]

this inspires me to learn pointe or ballet, but i think its too late(I'm almost 17) to think of anything professional....

[FrisianDude]

@nightwishwolf999 You can always try.

[ArmchairQuarterbacks]

awful

[EnigmaticUnseen]

Cap'n missed his cue!

[AspergirlSithstress]

I agree with milkman conspiracy.

[nightwishwolf999]

what is the name of the ballet dancer? Her outfit is amazing and she's beautiful :D

[WheelsRCool]

@nightwishwolf999 Finn Von Claret

[littlegurlini]

This is beautiful and fantastic and so interesting, like nothing I've ever seen.

[PhoenixFirecat]

this song and video has been stuck in my head all week....i want a clockwork doll costume now.....

[fallingblack]

Watch the muscles in her arms. She was totally into this.

[kaerftra]

this is incredibly beautiful and i love it, but i've always loved the nutcracker and it makes me kind of sad to think of it in this way.

[finehomemadewine]

What a lovely live doll..

[jdcfreak2]

i bet u her feet is all fucked up

[Chaosisalifestyle]

what macmin said

[whowantsabighug]

LOL. Cap'n almost missed his cue!

[LadyeXo]

@whowantsabighug I'm glad I'm not the only one who caught that!

[PatrickLohKamp]

One of my Favorite live songs!

Wish I could find some good video from Steam Con, they rocked that too.

[TheGothickDoll]

Those legwarmer things are so adorable.. i've been thinking i might make myself some from an old lace skirt i have....

[cafalump]

@kbaptiste28 I agree with him.

Al-Bhed are pretty damned steampunk.

But yeah, that's about it in terms of steampunk in FFX.

[kamica0]

she's a talented dancer toe point is not easy

[warcrykarys]

awesome! *.*

[KenshinKunsinagi]

Love the Sepia tone the camera used for the video.

[antikill1235]

Toe points, they're not comfortable to do.

Great performance for the song.

[Mystefier]

Oh yea! Drosselmeyer as in Uncle Drosselmeyer from the Nutcracker.

[Exclamation]

Captain Robert forgot to sing at first! Hehehe!

[whowantsabighug]

shows its live

[CristianApostol]

does anyone know any good steampunk games?

[xboxluver1993]

Bioshock is pretty Steamy, and if you like older games it's based off of System Shock.

[Jackd91]

Actually I would categorize Bioshock as Dieselpunk since it takes place in a 50's-ish type world.

[A7XLeon]

neosteam

[Klangeddin]

The best Steampunk game is definitely Arcanum.

[sidraptor]

Longest journey and dreamfall have a few steampunk elements so does syberia.

then there is crimson skies!!

[kittiecakes]

Skies of arcadia,FFX and some new one called edge of twilight. ANd if you want a beta game go to Unreal Tournament sitde and look up my schools steampunk game boilerplate.

[Blackmage777]

I'll agree with Skies of Arcadia for the most park, but nothing about Final Fantasy X is steampunk in essence.

[CAPTSCRU33Y]

When you think about it, there's very little steampunk in FFX.

[kbaptiste28]

the al-bhed are totally steam-punk.

[CAPTSCRU33Y]

Yeah tell me about it. The weapons they have...

[biomusiccube]

@kbaptiste28 More diesel-punk, they don't use steam

[Blackmage777]

Arcanum: of Steamworks & Magic Obscura is a fantasy steampunk RPG.

[Anakha13]

So sorry to see Finn go. Best of luck to her in her future endeavors.

[ThanatosRXthana7]

we shall miss youl, Finn

[LadyeXo]

I must play over and over again

It's so beautiful

I think I may preform this...

It feels like my life.

[lancimouspitt]

Awesome!

[celticshadow27]

<3 i adore this music!! i've gotten a few pieces of jewlery for steampunk too from some people on deviant art. the whole style is awesome! seriously, google TeaCat Designs, they have stuff that matches this music stuff

[beanjavert]

ugh dude steampunk the whole point is making it yourself

[jackdiesal666]

2:50 so feakin cool

[azraelcwb]

i think that the ideia of song, and of the performance as well, is to show a lonely man having as "daughter" it´s creation, the dancing doll, wich he made to ofter to anyone who wants a "spin"

[TestaXDizzy]

Most of the dance she looks Mechanical, very nice. I think It went well with the songs idea. ^^

[fernny101]

c u guys in hollywood ca.

[cyberakuma666]

the tune reminds me of the one that's playing throughout the first candyman film

[MilkmanConspiracy]

I don't know. She's undeniably skilled, and the dance is beautiful, (certainly far better than anything I could ever do) but the style of the dance doesn't seem to fit the mood of the song. The dance is kind of light-hearted and flirty, but the song is kind of melancholy to me.

Still great song and performance, though.

[maxmin]

But the song is literally about a wind-up ballerina that dances in a seductive way for men.

[LadyeXo]

@maxmin I'm sorry, but I think you're wrong. "The sour flesh pines, grunts and thumps

"Step right up, boys, tuppence for a spin!""

She isn't dancing.

[ResidentNinja]

Juxtaposition my friend.

It helps get the message carried in the song across.

[MilkmanConspiracy]

Juxtaposition? Maybe. I could see that, but the performance seems to lack the irony necessary. Mmm...

[Gigaslasher]

Yeah bro. the song lyrics tell exactly what she is, A wind up ballerina that dances flirtatiously for men. :]

[LadyeXo]

No, not only so

She is preforming, and she breaks

"Her spring is sprung, her dance is done"

And he rebuilds her to use her for his own advantage.

As I see it, that is

[666necromonger]

like the dance is exactly how its suposed to be to the song herr doctormeyer is the maker of a wind up doll that dances for men (not literal it of chorse made up)

[Kynell]

may not fit the song but it fits the style of class for if someone were to make a doll such as her it would be a ballerina and with the lyrics she would have been flirty. Got to love steampunk lol

[Sinewmire]

@MilkmanConspiracy Did you not notice how stilted and jerky the dance was? Did you not see the sudden inhuman pauses? She's Coppelia.

[YugSihtTsuj]

@MilkmanConspiracy Yeah, it kinda breaks the mood. Though if she'd kept her face deadpan the entire time but still started the flirty movements during the spoken bit, that would have been really powerful.

Kinda moot, though...I understand she's left the band. Her replacement, Jody Ellen, is more a singer than a dancer.

[MyranndaMorbid]

my favorite song by abney park!

i love captain robert!

[xbanxsanityx]

i love her hoopskirts ^-^

abney park is amazing... period. <3.

[spartanyouthradio]

Spartan Youth Radio got to chat with Cpt. Robert of Abney Park. Check out our channel for the interview. There's an extended 24 minute version at Spartan Youth Radio.

[Jacktheripperrer]

This may sound odd, But This music feels like Music for a Time, after our time, You know what i mean? And her danceing is lovely,

[ManiakMonkey]

Yeah, which is strange since it also seems like music you would hear in the past...but with a more industrial feel.

[hellfreak007]

you do realize that with jacktheripperrer's comment plus your's, you guys pretty much defined steampunk in a nutshell. dont you?

[ManiakMonkey]

lol, you could say that, I just got into the genre honestly so Im a bit slow here :P

[hellfreak007]

oh dont worry. ive loved the style all my life but until about a month ago i had no idea what it was called.

[melancholymistress89]

I was in the same boat, up until a few years ago. I actually found a definition in the back of an art book and it hit me: "wow! Someone else has thought of this as well!"

[hellfreak007]

Finn seems nice and all but her face soemtimes gives off looks that make you feel like she could eat your heart without thinking twice.

[dmholman]

You say that like it's a bad thing.  :)

[hellfreak007]

lol what i meant is that she is very pretty but she has the meanest looks on her face sometimes

[SaraSohma7]

yay my second favorite song of theirs next to air ship pirate and wrong side of life

[NightOwlat12]

sorta disturbing, but still a really neat idea for a band, haha

[FedoraGamer]

It's a genre actually. This band is one of many.

Steampunk is a life.

[NightOwlat12]

oh I know lol, I really like steampunk, I just saw this band on G4 Underground, I didn't know they had bands too! Have you ever read the Larklight books? they're great steampunks books

[VorpalBob]

Yup, G4U is where I heard of it as well. Now I HAVE to read Dune.....

[ShotgunSanchez]

loved the performance!

[obrydzyk11]

I love this band. greetings from he... from Poland

[Zonyah]

Finn really moves like a doll. Nice!

[Lostwhtrabbit]

en pointe is always nice, unless you are a toe or foot

[RossKilgariff]

It's weird, there isn't usually sex appeal portrayed in SteamPunk, but I guess every society must have that kind of element.

[Matroxxtriste]

isn't there? i must have missed the corsetry stockings and button down heel boots as the weapons of mass distraction they really are :)

[CirqueSteamPunk]

SteamPunk: the beautiful union of technology and romance...

[mizpriz]

I am totally basing my steampunk outfit on hers!

[madvillainess]

Finn's completely hypnotic to watch...totally mesmerising. Abney Park are a recent discovery of mine, and I have to say their performance concepts are brilliant. Thank you for posting.

[h3artilly]

was Magdalene Veen in the band before Finn? If so, how come she left? Not that I don't love Finn

[ResidentPyro]

I'm jealous. If I tried that dance, I'd fall flat on my face. And the song is awesome too.

[Demurely]

Ohmigosh... I'm officially in love with Finn. The way she lifts on and off pointe is just lovely.

Abney Park rocks my socks.

[skullshonin]

is there a name for that dance?

[Symbolis]

Robo-ballet?

[emobyblood]

yeah i get that shes on her toes and there is not allot of stage space but i want to see more ballet influence in her dancing!!

[Pathman]

It's a Doll!-tard.

[emobyblood]

i get that but shes wearing a ballerinas dress. so she i would think she would be doing more ballet!

[coolbean22]

No not really. She's supposed to be a wind-up doll and they are always portrayed in that manner.

[emobyblood]

and this is a steampunk band...STEAMPUNK, the era that never existed. i would think they would be a bit more unique in the presentation...

i guess im expecting to much :(

[Tdemon]

I don't understand your problem. What they're doing is fairly unique. I mean, you're right, it's steampunk. You don't get much more steampunk than I a life sized wind up doll.

[Sakuyababy]

some people expect too much due to the scene in which they submerge themselves.

[featheredskyblue]

I don't know - even having this much balletic influence is a departure from something like "Doll on a Music Box" in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and she does have quite a bit of loosening-up after the pimping monologue (best term I could think of).

And steampunk may have never existed, but it is still bound by the limitations of the concept. Portraying a clockwork doll still requires that the dancer make most every move through that lens and make those movements appear to be clockwork-derived.

[jazzknh]

The one of her at dragon con is not such great quality but her movements are far more clockwork.

[PlatinumIvory]

Seems you didn't understand what Pathman was trying to say.

She-is-immitating-a-doll.

[xbanxsanityx]

hun, you obviously don't know too much about ballet yourself if you don't get this. Herr Drosselmyer is the uncle in the ballet the Nutcracker. If you'd ever seen it, you'd know that this is actually pretty close to the level of dancing of the dolls in the proper stage performance. and, as a dancer myself, her ballet is fantastic- she's well on pointe, and she's got fantastically sharp movement. Dance isn't all about fouette's and leaps, you know.

[akissy]

@xbanxsanityx As a dancer, and I know this was 2 years ago, but still I would like an answer, do you think that somebody as old as...say... 23 years old could still learn ballet? And I don't mean like for professional, just because that person likes it? ^^

[MissAmeliaM]

@akissy As long as you can find a ballet shool that's not meant for school students, then yes, you can study ballet just because you like it. In my ballet school, we have a program meant just for people like this. (:

[akissy]

@MissAmeliaM Oh ok then, great. ^^ there's tons of places here that teach ballet to people who just like to dance.^^

Thanks. ^^

[xbanxsanityx]

@akissy anyone can dance. I've had people that age in my classes because they just felt like trying it. It's a fantastic way to stay in shape, and plenty of places offer adult classes. Go for it :).

[akissy]

@xbanxsanityx Awh, thanks! ^^ I really do need to stay in shape... I just am a bit embarassed to be in a leotard. XD Because i'm quite chubby. XD

[QuixoticMyst]

Just lovely! *sighs happily*

[Anninymous]

The dancer is positively brilliant.

[Hindasound]

Yay!! Steampunk is the perfect place for Herr Drosselmeyer and that doll (whom I so want to be!)

Perfect.

[silentfist862]

Depraved... in the best sort of way.

Nothing short of amazing.

[feysuicides]

LOVE IT! I was there when this was performed at the Edison, I was so very exited when she was changing into her costume!!! <3

[lokisidewinder]

steampunkerific!

come to chicago!!

--JD

[Snowball99]

Awesome! I soooo wanna see Abney Park live! (come to SF!)

[NightShipT]

Lovely!