98% of the acts on TOTP were mimed. Give the man a break. If you had hair like that and you were going on TV miming in front of a predominantly teenage audience, would you be more concerned about your MDI controller being plugged in or covering your bald patch?
Nothing on TOTP was EVER live. That's the way the producer's wanted it. I know two bands that went on TOTP and both were asked to mime. Jan looks uncomfortable. Perhaps if he was really playing and given a little musical leeway he'd be happier.
Why is he using a Fairlight CMI for the main hookline? The Synth he used to do it was a Yamaha DX7 according to what I read on a Site that tells you what Synths he used in that Recording.
The site you read was wrong.. most of the Miami Vice music was written on a Fairlight. DX7s and TX816s were used in augmentation to the Fairlight, but it was still Jan's main instrument of choice
I remember seeing this in 87 and was amazed! May I just remark,that in 87,NO-ONE played `live` on TOTP.Jan rocks,always been a big fan of his and Miami Vice.
I know how to play this song off by heart, the keys he's pressing aren't matching up to the song at all..
Also, if you notice, his MIDI controller (tha black one he uses on the electric guitar parts) isn't even plugged into a computer. So where the hell are them sounds coming from? I don't think they had wireless back then lol.
A MIDI controller relies on the computer for the sounds/intsruments. You just press the notes and the computer plays the sound.
I think Jan Hammer uses transposition. He plays Crockett's Theme in one key but sets the system to play it in the key of D minor.
If you listen to Crockett's Theme and play along with it on a piano, it starts on D, however in the videos I've seen where we see him play it, he plays it in a different key.
Wireless isnt a complete impossibility but back in those days it would be expencive. Then again he had the cash to buy that stuff.
I would however agree with you here, that's just TOTP for you
You are certainly right about it not being live.. I'm surprised they even gave him power to the Fairlight to be honest. But in terms of wireless MIDI, the Lync controller he is playing (and was customised for him by Lync) did have a (rather expensive) wireless option, even in '86
@mikser I agree with you. No one would be talking about Miami Vice today if it wasn't for Jan Hammer's music. When he left after the 4th season, the show was already done.
98% of the acts on TOTP were mimed. Give the man a break. If you had hair like that and you were going on TV miming in front of a predominantly teenage audience, would you be more concerned about your MDI controller being plugged in or covering your bald patch?
milleniumd 5 months ago
Nothing on TOTP was EVER live. That's the way the producer's wanted it. I know two bands that went on TOTP and both were asked to mime. Jan looks uncomfortable. Perhaps if he was really playing and given a little musical leeway he'd be happier.
smash4686 8 months ago
it's hard for a keybord player to "ROCK OUT!"
KOLSARNIT 11 months ago
Watching this in '87 was the very single moment that, at the age of 6, I knew what I wanted to do when I was older.
Electronic music has been my life ever since.
feralferret 1 year ago
Still looking for that particular keytar...
GJmusique 1 year ago
Definitively this gentleman is a phenomenon
microfern49 1 year ago
Well I think it's a performance from playback. It's sounds exactly the same as original.
Crockett1984 1 year ago
Epic keytar player!
Drinkman7 1 year ago
Anyone else get the impression Mr.Hammer looks a bit bored and would rather be somewhere else?
JMR83 1 year ago
om he's loaded like the techno terminator!! love it!!
FoetopsY82 1 year ago
Why is he using a Fairlight CMI for the main hookline? The Synth he used to do it was a Yamaha DX7 according to what I read on a Site that tells you what Synths he used in that Recording.
JonMcElectro 1 year ago
@JonMcElectro
As a sequencer? ;-)
GJmusique 1 year ago
@GJmusique Didn't know that.
JonMcElectro 1 year ago
@JonMcElectro
The site you read was wrong.. most of the Miami Vice music was written on a Fairlight. DX7s and TX816s were used in augmentation to the Fairlight, but it was still Jan's main instrument of choice
chevytraveller 1 year ago
@chevytraveller Didn't know that. Thanks for the information mate.
JonMcElectro 1 year ago
This is an all action performance!
grahamgregson 1 year ago
I remember seeing this in 87 and was amazed! May I just remark,that in 87,NO-ONE played `live` on TOTP.Jan rocks,always been a big fan of his and Miami Vice.
fezufo 1 year ago
Comment removed
ShroudedFury 2 years ago
This is obviously NOT live.
I know how to play this song off by heart, the keys he's pressing aren't matching up to the song at all..
Also, if you notice, his MIDI controller (tha black one he uses on the electric guitar parts) isn't even plugged into a computer. So where the hell are them sounds coming from? I don't think they had wireless back then lol.
A MIDI controller relies on the computer for the sounds/intsruments. You just press the notes and the computer plays the sound.
ShroudedFury 2 years ago
I think Jan Hammer uses transposition. He plays Crockett's Theme in one key but sets the system to play it in the key of D minor.
If you listen to Crockett's Theme and play along with it on a piano, it starts on D, however in the videos I've seen where we see him play it, he plays it in a different key.
Wireless isnt a complete impossibility but back in those days it would be expencive. Then again he had the cash to buy that stuff.
I would however agree with you here, that's just TOTP for you
Xylaquin 2 years ago
Yeh i, myself, tried playing the song starting with that note and it is possible to do it but it requires playing some 'black?' notes too?
Yes it probably would be expensive i mean he uses a KORG and they're very pricey lol.
ShroudedFury 2 years ago
@ShroudedFury
You are certainly right about it not being live.. I'm surprised they even gave him power to the Fairlight to be honest. But in terms of wireless MIDI, the Lync controller he is playing (and was customised for him by Lync) did have a (rather expensive) wireless option, even in '86
chevytraveller 1 year ago
@ShroudedFury TOTP hasn't been live since the late 60's lol
Drinkman7 6 months ago
I remember seeing this on tv like yesterday. This guy was amazing,,miami vice wouldn't have had the impact it did without his music
mikser 2 years ago 4
@mikser I agree with you. No one would be talking about Miami Vice today if it wasn't for Jan Hammer's music. When he left after the 4th season, the show was already done.
Margie75 1 year ago
@Margie75. Yes Margie, nice to know there's another aficionado out there. Just looked at your channel. You've great taste in music by the way.
mikser 1 year ago
@mikser, Thank you for the compliment! :)
Margie75 1 year ago
nice work jan hammer
heroknaderi 2 years ago
That is amazing!
I hate asking this, but i dont suppose you have a full length version do you?
Or where one could get it.
djsmithy 2 years ago
You can buy the single track online, or the album "Escape from Television".
Xylaquin 2 years ago
so nice
drdracula 2 years ago
really love that soundtrack...=)
recklessroad86 2 years ago
I want that Fairlight I have a DX 7.
thunderbirdsdog 2 years ago
I want that fairlight :D
DX5 3 years ago
i want yamaha dx 7
TunnelAllstars 3 years ago
very nice clip. Jan's The Man
600SELV12 3 years ago 4
rare stuff! 5*5
1eXi1 3 years ago 2