A Huge Travesty! - Feng E on AGT

ghostrdr

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There's no way he should be sent home. I don't think people realize or appreciate how insane Feng E's talent is. If you watch his other videos, you know the only thing holding him back is a seatbelt. Seriously, mad respect...

 
Yeah, he's very skillful, but what a bloody awful din! Not my thing, I guess.

John Colter
 
Yeah, he's very skillful, but what a bloody awful din! Not my thing, I guess.

John Colter

I agree, and I actually think I could produce similar sounds with one of my electrics and an amp. I would certainly not want a CD of that. To each his own. I've heard him play better.
 
Yeah, he's very skillful, but what a bloody awful din! Not my thing, I guess.

John Colter

Yes, I agree. For my taste, there was not a lot of substance there. I have seen other clips of him which were better.
 
I've been looking on YouTube and can't seem to find a video without an effects pedal or some awful added echo. Its a shame as he's probably very good but there is too way much unnecessary 'sound bling' which overpowers everything else.
 


You can find a bunch of acoustic things on his channel.
 
Actually I found a John Mayer cover he did that I thought was good. He was playing a guitar.
 
I didn't find that performance enjoyable at all. Sure, it was a demonstration of of great skill and technique but that was about it. I've watched several of this kid's videos and that seems to be what he is all about. My thoughts when I hear him play - Stop showing off! Sometimes less is more, he's serving his need to demonstrate skill and technique over the heart, soul and feel that would better serve the song. I couldn't sit and listen to this type of performance for any length of time. He's definitely got talent but I probably wouldn't have advanced him either.
 
He's a kid. It takes a lot of maturaity to play with musical restraint, and as an intrumental soloist it takes even more. He is amazingly skilled. I could practice for 200 years and not have that techical skill. Luckily I only care about techical skill to the point that it allows me to play things that I find pleasing. At some point he will likely mature musically and/or be playing in setting that better allows for that. If/when that time comes it will be incredible what he plays. He may already have that maturity, but given the setting simply choose to show off his technical prowess.

I may not advance him either just from the standpoint of what is most likely to entertain wide audiences (instrumental music especially instrumental uke music is niche to begin with), but I'm also not critical of where he currently is in his musical journey. Given his age and the setting, it makes total sense.

(I personally also dislike the sound of ukulele pickups...even the most natural sounding ones I've heard...and he was definitly emphasizing the less natural tones. Nothing wrong with it, just not my cup of tea. It would probably pretty damn hard to use a mic in that setting)
 
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I didn't find that performance enjoyable at all. Sure, it was a demonstration of of great skill and technique but that was about it. I've watched several of this kid's videos and that seems to be what he is all about. My thoughts when I hear him play - Stop showing off! Sometimes less is more, he's serving his need to demonstrate skill and technique over the heart, soul and feel that would better serve the song. I couldn't sit and listen to this type of performance for any length of time. He's definitely got talent but I probably wouldn't have advanced him either.

I hope he isn't reading these posts. :D
 
Ideally technique should support the music. Just because one can play a million notes or pyrotechnics that does not mean one should. I can think of jazz fusion players or metal guitarists who have prodigious skill who I cannot listen to because it is just sound and not music. Some players grow over time and develop a more musical approach, some don't. At the same time, there are many who love listening to the jaw dropping skill. It may be not be everyone's taste, but some want to hear that. Those competition shows cater to certain approaches that are pure showmanship- the flurry of notes, the singer who overextends that high note. As the saying goes, "high, fast and loud."

I don't think this was the best representation of what he has to offer, but he took a chance. I am looking forward to hearing him over the years and to see how he grows as a musician.
 
I hope he isn't reading these posts. :D

Maybe it's exactly what he needs to hear! :D

I'll offer up some contrast in a like player. Around the time I was listening to Feng's videos I was also listening to the videos of a drummer named Yoyoka. I think most of the videos out there are performances she did between the ages of 8-10. (I think she is currently 10.) Her drum covers demonstrate a musical maturity and skillful technique WAY beyond her years. What's great about her is that she plays in support of the music and she just kills it. She plays so well that she can add her own panache without showing off or taking the spotlight off of the song. It's a joy to watch her because it looks like she's having a blast and obviously enjoys what she is doing. Her videos so delight me that I can't help but laugh out loud at times.

Check out some of these covers:

Queen - Stone Cold Crazy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qds6sr2kliw

Peter Gabriel - Steam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZJhhY5h9Hc

The Police - Murder By Numbers (This one is jazzy with time changes and off-rhythms which would be very difficult to play but she nails it.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdeiMkCpSn8

Grand Funk - We're An American Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc1N5gIelqs

Led Zepplin - Good Times Bad Times
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91pz1E8pAOY
 
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Maybe it's exactly what he needs to hear! :D

I'll offer up some contrast in a like player. Around the time I was listening to Feng's videos I was also listening to the videos of a drummer named Yoyoka. I think most of the videos out there are performances she did between the ages of 8-10. (I think she is currently 10.) Her drum covers demonstrate a musical maturity and skillful technique WAY beyond her years. What's great about her is that she plays in support of the music and she just kills it. She plays so well that she can add her own panache without showing off or taking the spotlight off of the song. It's a joy to watch her because it looks like she's having a blast and obviously enjoys what she is doing. Her videos so delight me that I can't help but laugh out loud at times.

Check out some of these covers:

Queen - Stone Cold Crazy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qds6sr2kliw

Peter Gabriel - Steam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZJhhY5h9Hc

The Police - Murder By Numbers (This one is jazzy with time changes and off-rhythms which would be very difficult to play but she nails it.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdeiMkCpSn8

Grand Funk - We're An American Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc1N5gIelqs

Led Zepplin - Good Times Bad Times
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91pz1E8pAOY

Wow, she is amazing!!
 
Maybe it's exactly what he needs to hear! :D

I'll offer up some contrast in a like player. Around the time I was listening to Feng's videos I was also listening to the videos of a drummer named Yoyoka. I think most of the videos out there are performances she did between the ages of 8-10. (I think she is currently 10.) Her drum covers demonstrate a musical maturity and skillful technique WAY beyond her years. What's great about her is that she plays in support of the music and she just kills it. She plays so well that she can add her own panache without showing off or taking the spotlight off of the song. It's a joy to watch her because it looks like she's having a blast and obviously enjoys what she is doing. Her videos so delight me that I can't help but laugh out loud at times.

Check out some of these covers:

Queen - Stone Cold Crazy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qds6sr2kliw

Peter Gabriel - Steam
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZJhhY5h9Hc

The Police - Murder By Numbers (This one is jazzy with time changes and off-rhythms which would be very difficult to play but she nails it.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdeiMkCpSn8

Grand Funk - We're An American Band
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xc1N5gIelqs

Led Zepplin - Good Times Bad Times
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91pz1E8pAOY

OMG adorable talent.
 
Ok. I'll agree that maybe the song he chose was not the best and did not appeal to everyone. I think maybe COVID worked against him. If he were able to do perform in front of a live studio audience, maybe he might have picked a different song that was less "noise."

But, seriously, check these out: It's like he's playing multiple instruments at the same time. a uke, a bass, and drums! (and no amplified effects!)





That kid is talented. I remember reading one of the comments of his video - someone posted the usual "Tabs?" and then followed up with "who am I kidding?"
 
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