iDIDJ Australia Didgeridoo Cultural Hub

Amercian Idol is one of the biggest TV shows on the planet right now. Last night a contestant named Crystal Bowersox (one of the better ones!) performed a rendition of 'Come Together' (Lennon/McCartney) involving the didj. Someone has already posted a YouTube clip...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwHvK0C6Jjs

Cool... but we just cannot hear the didj at all... nor the acoustic guitar as a matter of fact... can it be playback ????!!!

The instrument was supplied by LA Outback, but what I find amazing is that they chose to use a player, Ernie, who only learned how to play 5 days before the performance. I believe he was already involved with the production, however there are plenty of good players in Southern California that could've stepped in. At the end of the day it was used as a novelty and a novelty performance is what they got!

Randy's comment was bang on... 'distracting'...
Unfortunately, this is the case when this instrument is used as a novelty act. To see the instrument performed like this in front of millions is just one of disgust.

Zed.

Zed:

I'm confused which part(s) make you feel disgusted? I don't own a TV and only saw the video at a slow bandwidth. Did I miss something?

I swear there could be a million posts, and it'll always be me that gets picked out for using a particular word. (Kyle, please give me a lesson on writing in forums)

Frodnew,
My guess is that you didn't miss a thing.

What I saw was something that makes my left elbow rest on the table to the left of the laptop, with my left palm on my forehead, and a sigh of sadness and disbelief to what I see and hear. I'll correct the latter, as I couldn't hear a thing with the exception of a beautiful voice. With regards to said instrument, I can only say that I wasn't surprised in the least at what the panel commented on. This happens to be the greatest instrument (I can't speak for you) on this planet, and to see it performed as a novelty circus piece just for the sake of looking exotic, leaves me in a state of disgust. We can change the word to deep sadness, regret, embarrassment, I don't know.
I was looking through the BBC news page only last week, when it made news that there was a 'didg beat boxer' on Blue Peter, who sounded like an elephant having a heart attack.

I've got perhaps a little too much passion for this instrument, and how it's portayed in the 21st century confirms my prediction of what I expected in the 20th century.
TV or Slow Bandwith wouldn't have made the slightest difference.

I hope you don't mind, but I've got to attend to my green tea.
All the best,

Zed.

That was a few days ago yes? I saw a spike in the number of views of my YouTube channel, it got to 18,000 views on Tuesday and at least one person commented that they found my channel only because of the American Idol show. So it couldn't be all bad, it exposes the didgeridoo to a huge audience and those who want to learn more about it would do more research, and hopefully come across iDIDJ Australia. Then they'll learn how it is really supposed to be played!

No doubt the didgeridoo has been used in lots of gimmicky things, from commercial ads, to appearances on tv shows with celebrities (think Nicole Kidman, Madonna, Ellen) etc. Tis a bit of a shame but at the same time not be to unexpected.

Guan

Hi Guan,

I didn't see it on TV, but I watched it on youtube that Dave included in his post.
Yes, it is great that it was exposed, albiet it being played and shown in the way that it was. I'm pleased that at least one person took the initiative to look up your site, but with the millions that this show draws in, could only be likened to a 'drop' in a rain storm...
My argument, actually, maybe my point was a show of that calibre couldn't have brought in the real deal to tear the roof off the place. But then again, this being the show that creates 'products' in 2010, I wasn't at all surprised. In addition to this, if the real deal was brought in, it would have out shone the 'main performer'...
Such is the catch of 22.

Sincerely,
Zed.

p.s. anyone know if it's outshone or outshined????

Outshone or outshined I think are both ok!

Guan