Béla Fleck and the Flecktones - Big Country

[Stonemeister]

I would love to play with Victor Wooten. He just seems like a musician who not only plays well himself, but brings those he plays with up a notch too. Flawless bass is flawless.

[fakes222]

banjo ♫ ♩ ♪ ♬ 

[piaten]

12 dislikes! WTF's up with that?!!! Well, I guess you can't force good taste on people..

[einsfck]

Sends chills down my spine every time I listen to this. Amazing.

[sparrmage]

this is by far my favorite song

[tristramshandy3]

A celebration of life- exactly what music SHOULD be. Fuck yeah!

Read Montaigne's essays.

Possibly the best book ever published :)

[MyNameIsChaseThomas]

ARE THOSE EMG'S IN A FUCKING BANJO?!?!?

[ken0815s]

Gooooooooooooddddddd music !

[ichkanns1]

I'm pretty sure you could start a polytheistic religion called The Church of Fleck and there would be a pantheon of the four greatest musicians to ever start a band.

[jrussellawesome]

Dear Youtube,

For this video there is a like button, not a love button. Please fix that right away.

From Jrussellawesome

[BIGfxhndBOSS]

This song is downright beautiful. Very uplifting. Probably one of the few YouTube videos where the comments are about the music and not hateful towards anyone's thoughts or opinions as well.

[sLes12]

I tried to find this tab for the banjo but all I could find was a continuos line of numbers....

[BrothersFreedive]

seems like 12 justin imbieber fans stumbled upon this video...

[mrspiderman519]

I have been listening to these guys for years. Brilliant is an insult. this is simply magic

[CoffinAvenue]

Beautiful..



[bonnybayboyo]

twelve people live in small countries

[corrda1993]

Thumbs up for Jazz Bassoon.

[cloudrunner11]

Not only are these all incredibly skilled musicians, but the music in itself is heartstopping. Its uplifting in a way that instrumental music rarely is. Thankyou, Flecktones, for your gift to this world.

[ilovetheocean4]

My math teacher's brother-in-law is Victor Wooten, I think...some kind of relation like that...

[dangle456]

Strangest collection of instruments... ever... I can't help but love it!

[TureNeutral]

sounds like the song from mulan

[KieroTakoBell]

Paul McCandless took this song to a higher level.

[KieroTakoBell]

12 people dislike this video? really? WOW... Big Country is the best song ever!

[daveprimley]

i was lucky enough to see Bela with Dave Mathews a few years back. I was so blown away I couldnt think straight for weeks.



[streetcornersongbird]

@daveprimley That must've been unbelievable!

[truthslap]

So many legends together on one stage, such an indescribably beautiful sound. this is just the greatest performance.

[scrawfrd02]

3:00 is brilliant that jam between coffin and victor

[jopiedereal1]

This is period. Heaven.

[suguspjr]

Went from Big Country to Madness, then Eddy Grant, now Bela Fleck. It's just getting better

[DOCTOR562]

Victor Wooten gotta lovem

[Awesomo038]

This is heaven. Period.

[squashbucket70]

at 4:08 victor is definitely playing the main riff from continuum

[arthurrimbaud1944]

@squashbucket70 unmistakably, great song

[ztnagobw]

@squashbucket70 Ten frickin' thumbs up

[songsmadeforyou]

i like how this video is tagged with the keyword "benjo"

[OnTapCo]

@songsmadeforyou there would probably be another 200k hits if "benjo" was spelled correctly! LOL

truely amazing musicians!

[MrAlexRiv]

if this song were a pancake....it would be an f*in awesome pancake

[18Hongo]

@MrAlexRiv You don't play the clarinet by any chance, do you?

[justdiemodell]

Apparently 11 folks out there have no soul.

[420protoman]

right around 4:00 if you like music, you should get the chills

[songsmadeforyou]

@420protoman i think there is a small percentage of people that don't like music

[Intsiknacrested]

You can really hear the similarities with PHISH at 5:13 (and several other places). He was a guest contributor to Hoist. I we he'd tour with them!

[AAArrows]

Tagged with benjo!

[jtpro0244]

never mind. concert e haha

[jtpro0244]

what key?

[JPastorius3]

@jtpro0244 E major, the major pentatonic's used for the head melody.

[rschauland]

Seriously one of the most elegant displays of

musicianship I've ever seen.

[callofd0obie]

11 people tried to duel Bela on banjo

[RealMadrid560]

that banjo solo is more beautiful than any guitar solo I've heard...

[stupidfatuglybastard]

So, good music does exist in the 21st century...

[adolfo1981]

Victor Wooten is insane..makes bass playing seem so easy. Switching from the surrounding rhythmic base to playing melody...

[ripelcannon]

So smooth

[AlbionsNumberOne]

Beautiful.

[saildapper2001]

11 people are so out of it they hit the wrong "like" hand.

[KillTheStranger]

no likey

[cosmiccharlie45]

my mind is blown -_-

[mymudroom]

Why can't iPad users watch this?

[kjtheking469]

I caught a cramp in my hand just watching the banjo solo... Im stickin' to Bass... lol

[slothbotmusic]

more bassoon solos!

[slothbotmusic]

more bassoon solos!



[steveguy13]

i can't get all the way through this song without getting emotional

[GeorgeRBM1999]

From the standpoint of musicianship, none of this is possible. Not one of these parts could possibly be played by a mortal.

[tomaspepino]

Because, now that music is inmortal ª

[VERBAL136]

@andrexstroke I don't understand your language, but i know exactly what you said. That moment is epic. Music crosses all language barriers

[dam3000]

Mamma mia! Ma in italia non venite mai?

[TallManUTube]

this song is Loch Lomond.

[Bowser287]

@TallManUTube Good ear! Maybe that's why this one "just arrived.. done"

[andrexstroke]

l minuto 3:36 me sublima! DX  intensamente

[fry530]

I love how at 4:06 Victor throws in a little Jaco bassline haha!

[fishingthesky57]

I've just recently gotten back into the flecktones....this performance is so beautiful. so musical!

[amansdemise]

Wooten pulls his power from the vest....

[MateoIsAGull]

Cleveland Brown at Bass and Sam from LotR at bassoon lol

[Liton777]

its bands like this that makes it so I can stand not being in the 60s.

[travysdad]

Its so great to just grab my guitar and try and jam along with these great musicians. They always blow me out of the water but that's not what it's about. Good times.

[deadstrings01]

Anybody that want's to know about the banjo Bela is playing can message me. We can build a banjo to any specs you want!! We can even build one exactly like the one Bela is playing here!! Here @ Nechville we are HUGE Bela fans!! In fact, I have wached this vid 16 times in the past 6 months!! Big Country is my fav Bela tune!!

[AndersontheCameraman]

@deadstrings01 I've definitely watchedthis video more than 100 times in the last 6 months

[deadstrings01]

Yeah!! He is playin a Nechville Banjo!! I build Nechville Banjo's every day!!

[entpoopwuh1]

I think I'm in love with Victor.

[Mightypaul]

For some reason I cant find this video on my phone, This sucks because I would love to listen to it in my car

[atavener]

8 minutes of awesomeness! I really want to hear how he sung that into his answerphone :P

[PJ92386]

Thanks for sharing

[thiagofarah1988]

This makes life worth to be lived.

[tenorman86]

This is the greatest thing ever.

[abouzeid91]

WTF ARE VICTOR WOOTEN AND JEFF COFFIN DOING! I can't breath! I believe I can die a happy man now.

[rio197]

@abouzeid91 that is craft, my friend. craft.

[ztnagobw]

@abouzeid91 A musical passage of true breathtaking beauty

[drewper73]

This kind of music makes me wanna live.

[Malzarin]

Perhaps his best melodic piece. It never fails to please my ear. I went to see the reformed Original Flecktones and they played this and it has been in my head ever since. It is probably more succinct with fewer instruments but there is no denying that melody!

[beendover]

One of my favorite Flecktones jams... it has a very Copland-like, Americana feel to it. Nice going, guys.

[ChildsPlay2008]

@beendover Actually, it's not Copland-esque at all; it's Scottish. More specifically, the melody is almost EXACTLY the same as the "Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond" which is a traditional Scottish song that's over 150 years old. I love Bela Fleck and this song and mean absolutely no disrespect, but it's a pretty blatant...uhh...remix...Look up the song and judge for yourself:

[atjoslin]

@ChildsPlay2008 Unfortunately, when you make music you will often come up with these 'remixes' whether intended or not

[MrChadbag]

@ChildsPlay2008 There are some similarities. I have heard other Scottish songs that have a similar feel. Maybe some subconscious or unconscious inspiration. Bela is not the sort of person to consciously rip something off without attribution.

[tmbgRAWKS]

The melody reminds me of Hide Away Folk Family by They Might Be Giants, just a bit.

[buefyYT]

Continuum!!! at - 4:10 :) :)

[CzarTyush]

Just saw them play this last night. Best concert I've ever been to. Bela Fleck was literally 2 feet in front of me during his banjo solo. I was in awe the entire time!

[Wilbursson]

Thats great that it breaks down to donna lee at the end of Wooten's solo tribute rules!

[theoriginalbassman]

please!!! anyone know where theres a bass tab, notes, sheet music, ANYTHING to learn how to play this peice of art on the bass

[GelatinousYam]

@theoriginalbassman Use your ears. If you can't figure it out that way you're probably not ready to play it.

[theoriginalbassman]

@GelatinousYam yeah, ive been playing the bass for 3 years now; 6 months on a fretless. but i cant seem to ''feel'' the notes as Victor does in this song, might need a little more work, lol

thanks dude

[GabrielDhalaman]

is so good to see wooten playing the fretless,because it is the only bass i play

[willetaci]

the best song!!!!.....

[LilDrummerBoy74]

The sax and bass dueling solo may be the best thirty seconds of a song I have ever heard.

[MrTedhawkinson]

why arent the steel drums on their studio albums?!?!

[MrChadbag]

@MrTedhawkinson The steel drum guy, the sopranino guy, and the bassoon guy were guests for this concert.

[fififluteplayer]

11 ppl r gonna get beat by a soprano sax

[TheyCallMeJake1]

favourite solo ever

[chenitas]

<3 I love it!!! :D

[PIRATFELIXT]

To make banjo sound real beautiful takes som serious skill, respect!

[deadstrings01]

@PIRATFELIXT You are right. it does take a really good player who understands Dynamics and tonal quality to use a banjo. This is however a Nechville Banjo. When one plays a Nechville Banjo it is easy to get the great sound you hear on this recording. In fact, I can duplicate this sound perfectly, all that is left is up to the player and how you play and what kind of dynamics you wish to have.

[JackBass199]

3:40 - 4:10

[applewhiteroad]

every time i hear this , i get jealous and excited all at once. these guys arent just playing music they are having a grand conversation, instead of using words they are using melody! just beautiful!!!!!!!!

[pedroelalto]

The banjo solo is astonishing. Could do without the steel drum and the second soprano though...too cheesy!

[TheHamburgler123]

god damn this is too good...

[shalommeodedff7]

man vic is toned for a tenor bass

[mdm12341]

truly the music gods of our time

[MrChadbag]

@austgyu Engage!

For us, we are engaging 7/27/11

[MegaDiddly]

OMG….OMG…Never seen anything like that before….it's awesome!



[MrChadbag]

@austgyu Whatever floats your boat! I am not putting down Hornsby or anything, but for the "limited" length of a concert I'd rather see the Flecktones! If the concert were twice as long then I could see both willingly ;-)

[grafity21]

I freaking love this song ... the firts one i heard from them.. and it is so good!

[MrChadbag]

@austgyu I have tickets to see Bela Fleck open for Bruce Hornsby in SLC this summer! My son and I are stoked. Of course, I'd rather just see Bela Fleck and the Flecktones play longer and forget about Hornsby, or have Hornsby open for the Flecktones...

[migbee]

who the hell disliked this video???? seriously??

[foolery15]

This brings back memories of my teenage years. Am I weird?

[kappa87]

@foolery15 not if you grew up in Kentucky

[foolery15]

@kappa87 Chicago.

[kappa87]

@foolery15 then yessir, you are weird :)

[kappa87]

"..I call my machine at home and I sing the melody.."

How the fuck do you sing THAT??

[SnarkAttack12]

@kappa87 haha.. he must be a better singer than he says!

[tpstrat14]

@kappa87 lol... probably just sang the main musical ideas.... not every note haha

[kappa87]

@SnarkAttack12 lol I know, right? But I think @tpstrat14 is probably right, and he just sings the basic theme, not harmonized. Otherwise he would have to make a dozen calls every time :)

[tomaspepino]

all what u play in you instrument is in you mind.

[DrAznmuff]

@kappa87 dawg, i sing the melody of big country to myself all the time: dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum dum.

[imnemigre]

Break after break, these guys go right into hyperspace!

[blitzkrieg148]

Look at the fuckin size of that red bong!!!

[shakbhaji]

Joe Biden jammin' on the sopranino. :D

[lygs2000]

@austgyu Too jealous!!!

[andrewbautista23]

i think it will be more interesting if victor just did some root and 5th 8th notes.

[awinagainof14]

wheres the "love" button?

[rltolbert]

There is so much talent here, it's crazy! The sopranino is rippin it at 7:24.

[BHSkid2]

@rltolbert I agree! But I think that the entire soprano solo is awesome. From the very beginning he totally makes it his own. It's one whole musical phrase that is flawlessly executed though it's entirety!

[blueyedboymrdeath]

real beauty.

[squashbucket70]

OH MY GOD that was incredible. anyone else notice the main riff from jaco's "continuum" victor wooten thew in from 4:06 to 4:23? sooo sick!!!

[christschool]

How about a little love for the original artists of this song Bela? Big Country and the song is called In a Big Country, not just Big Country.

[MrChadbag]

@christschool Because maybe the name is about all they have in common? (And a general scottish theme)?

[christschool]

@MrChadbag The melody sounds the same to me. Are they different songs entirely?

[MrChadbag]

@christschool When I first ran across the Flecktones and Big Country I wondered the same thing so I went and listened to Big Country: In a Big Country. At the time I did not hear any similarities. After reading your comment I went again and found some In a Big Country takes on YouTube and listened again, and again, I don't hear the same melody at all. YMMV, but I think the name is the only similarity.

[christschool]

@MrChadbag There are hints of In a Big Country though. If you listen at 1:20, it sounds like the same chords to me. The rest between chorus' seems the exact same. In a Big Country came first, no? The similarities are really too hard for me to tell apart.

[MrChadbag]

@christschool Most songs share chord patterns. That has little meaning. Honestly when I listen to In a Big Country I don't hear any riffs or anything the same. YMMV

[MrChadbag]

@christschool As an example: v=5pidokakU4I

[MrChadbag]

@christschool wikipedia under "Left of Cool" where this song originally appeared gives credit to a traditional Scottish song The Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond .

[atje43]

Brilliant :)

[CoffeeJanitor]

@DrCochon This song along with a few other Flecktones tunes inspired me to become a bassist. Music is now my biggest hobby, and the 'Tones are a big part of why that's true.

[thebatman101069]

@CoffeeJanitor Victor is the man!

[MrBurns242]

This song is amazing. I just... It's awesome!

[sLes12]

My favorite part is 0:00-8:05

[lovekurt]

4:00 i cry of joy

[Fatman845]

There is so much talent in this band! Bela and Victor are so inspirational, but everybody else in that band does their job so well too! I'm so glad that people still appreciate real talent in today's world.

[darkenker]

the continuum part sounds simply amazing... beautifull

[Milessmile]

Every time I hear this song my nipples get hard enough to cut diamonds.

[Metroyeti17]

@Milessmile thats really weird

[roibasses]

Victor... understands melody - the secret to good music.

[kotaboner42]

this reminds me more of pat methany or a (lol alert) mike breker set at north sea jazz fest

[kotaboner42]

they may have disliked cuz they heard the Uncommon Ritual Version, i like that one better too

[manbowv8]

he makes the soprano sax sound easy...........but its really farthest from that lol. amazing tone. crazyyyyyyyyy.

[trogdor125]

beautiful call and response!!

[TrentTheNun]

If I was at the front during this show I wouldn't be stand still like these folks are.

[VivicusTheGreat]

@TrentTheNun I think they are paralyzed with awesomeness, but I hear ya, I wouldn't be still either

[1986chuckles]

They are playing the Saskatoon Jazz Fest June 28th 2011!!!

[1986chuckles]

They are playing the Saskatoon Jazz Fest June 28th 2011!!!

[Osmun79]

this is what pure bliss sounds like

[malohastaloshuesos]

Una delicia para mis oidos!

[krackafoo6]

Can't wait to see these guys at Summer Camp.

[rclsa1982]

I usually find those stupid comments about people who thumbs down useless. But in this specific case, I have to agree. How can someone not like this song?

[Phishboy26]

One of the most beautiful songs ever .

[greatsea]

Six people are either dyslexic or aesthetically retarded.

[jondotwoz]

5:15 - 5:20 Pebbles and Marbles FTW!

[MrZeroAxlX]

AMAZING COMBONATION

[MrZeroAxlX]

AMAZING