Andrew Bird's one-man orchestra of the imagination

http://www.ted.com Musical innovator Andrew Bird winds together his trademark violin technique with xylophone, vocals and sophisticated electronic looping. Add in his uncanny ability to whistle anything, and he becomes a riveting one-man orchestra.

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate. Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10

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[Bjarkediedrage]

The "doesn't have a name yet" at 9:26 song is really good! And yes, there is definitely some Thom Yorke over him!

[IGotDoubleBs]

Beardyman.

[cooperiscool9]

that song at 9.26 looks like to have emerged as his new single eyeoneye

[unimaginablyawesome]

@instereovideos Sorry dear, dare I say, he's not called a hipster or a scenester or whatever. It comes down to that he is a musician. He's clearly passionate about music, and I wouldn't ever call a love for music narcissism. Who cares if it's one man or a band or an orchestra. It's music. Yes, people have different tastes. It doesn't mean that any musician that plays anything that's not 'mainstream' is necessarily egotistical or narcissistic.

[astralacuity]

@IGotDoubleBs you've offended my family take that back at once

[hojho23]

can someone plz tell me what kind of loop machine he's using? thanks.

[MrDJtwista]

sounds like some far eastern influences; the lyrics are deep, inspiring, and amazing (probaly the reason why he is featured during a TEDtalk).

[instereovideos]

@zonybenvid thanks for the "how-to-be-a-hipster" infomercial.

[zonybenvid]

@instereovideos I use a loop machine and sometimes a xylophone, and there are others who are in three piece bands, and others who make sample based music, or just playing instrumental piano. A lot of people do the same things, but it's how they do them that makes them stand out. Sure anyone can buy an instrument or loop pedal both are just musical tools, but it's not the tools that matter it's the person manning them. If you can't understand that you are quite superficial in your perspective.

[astralacuity]

@IGotDoubleBs sexyman.