Comments on: Impromptu jam in a NYC subway car

By: cmholm

cmholm — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:40:00 +0000

A couple of years ago, I was on the 7 train from a Mets game back to Manhattan, most of my ride graced by a young woman facing the door, singing beautifully. I didn’t want to risk breaking the spell, and thus only glanced at her in my peripheral vision, and kept my camera holstered.

But, not everyone is as big a weenie as I am.

By: Gunelle

Gunelle — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:23:00 +0000

Sad that people have to be haters and find something to dis about everything.

By: Gunelle

Gunelle — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:21:00 +0000

The point your missing is that the reason this is getting attention (from BoingBoing and others) is that it’s (supposedly and I do think it is not set up) IMPROMPTU — two strangers who decide to jam together. Yes, there are lots of musicians on the subway all the time, African American, Latino etc, but they are usually a group or duo or whatever that have planned to perform together. Again it’s the impromptu randomness of this that’s getting it attention. Also, besides the fact that the singer is the leading the music and therefore has the camera on her, the video is taken by a guy, so obviously he’s gonna focus on the girl, duh. If you want to put a prejudicial spin on it, blame it on sexism, not because she’s white. (And you do minorities a disservice – ever heard of “cry wolf” — if racism is cried out at every little thing, it loses significance, for those moments when it really may be a case of racism.)

By: Craig Bensinger

Craig Bensinger — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

good talent– want to see more

By: Skwidspawn

Skwidspawn — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 00:23:00 +0000

If this were a publicity stunt, you’d probably be able to understand WTF she’s singing over the HORRIBLE noise of the subway.

By: greggman

greggman — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 06:51:00 +0000

Hmmm, I looked at it the other way around. Every time I’ve been to NYC I see African American or Latin musicians on the subway giving free performances which I enjoyed very much. I didn’t see those stories here on Boingboing and they’ve been going on for years so there’s certainly a part of me that thinks this is only here because she’s white.

Of course maybe I missed those other posts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IBP5E8e9uA

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

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

By: Eski Morris

Eski Morris — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:55:00 +0000

what song is that it sound familiar

By: El Stinko

El Stinko — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:26:00 +0000

He’s been doing that “Moose Call” schtick for years. I am always kind of impressed that he seems to be having fun despite that he must have done that routine thousands of times.

By: AvianMinded

AvianMinded — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:25:00 +0000

My gay black Jewish friend thinks you’re silly.

By: sean

sean — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 00:02:00 +0000

She is good enough to be in the SUNNYGIRLS!

By: millie fink

millie fink — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:06:00 +0000

Jeez, just move to another car if it bothers you so much.

By: wrybread

wrybread — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:41:00 +0000

You forgot to say “get off my lawn”.

By: i_prefer_yeti

i_prefer_yeti — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:45:00 +0000

She’s gonna be huge! The next Amber Lamps!

& yes, I get a 10% kickback on any licensed promotional materials.

By: David Pescovitz

David Pescovitz — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:43:00 +0000

yeti, you subjected me to that yesterday. What are you, the public pisser’s agent or something?

By: i_prefer_yeti

i_prefer_yeti — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 20:04:00 +0000

Pfffffft. Here in San Francisco we know how to properly use our public transportation. By pissing out the window, of course.

http://www.missionmission.org/2012/01/01/peeing-out-the-window-of-a-moving-muni-bus/

By: andyosaurus

andyosaurus — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 19:37:00 +0000

Sad internet commentors make me sad.

By: VibroCount

VibroCount — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:23:00 +0000

I like ukulele playing.

I suppose I might be a hipster, but at the age of 61, I doubt it.

By: Quiche de Resistance

Quiche de Resistance — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:13:00 +0000

I hate them both.

By: taj1f

taj1f — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 18:07:00 +0000

Cory, it’s not buzz marketing. This was a true, spontaneous event (I know Jess).

By: Joseph Finn

Joseph Finn — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:57:00 +0000

And this is why we need conductors to go through cars and make sure riders aren’t bothering other riders who may just want to read and not be subjected to other riders loud music and phone conversations.

By: sdmikev

sdmikev — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:43:00 +0000

Jesus Christ, it’s not necessary to be offended by everything. Is it possible to just enjoy a song on the internets?

By: millie fink

millie fink — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:42:00 +0000

Ha, that didn’t take long.

Another common white tendency–finding some other reason than a common white tendency for common white actions.

By: sdmikev

sdmikev — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:42:00 +0000

This is what makes NYC so great. And I mean that sincerely.

By: Toffer99

Toffer99 — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:37:00 +0000

Superb performance from both.
Hey, if you don’t like music, don’t comment, we don’t wanna know.

By: Manny

Manny — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:12:00 +0000

I think it’s more “singer gets center stage”, which happens in all musical groups except Santana.

By: Nathan Largesse

Nathan Largesse — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:10:00 +0000

I am sad that some commenters are hating on this video because the girl is white. She got most of the camera time because she was leading the music. These two musicians got on BoingBoing because they are supposedly strangers and also this is quite impressive for an on-the-subway performance. Not because it is a white girl with a uke. Some of these comments read like being white is a dis qualifier for rightfully-deserved attention.

By: jayson

jayson — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:41:00 +0000

Music on the subway cars is an everyday occurrence. You see black barbershop quartets, Latin mariachi bands, kids rapping for tips, you name it.

What’s different here? Oh, it’s a white girl with a ukelele.

By: irksome

irksome — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:35:00 +0000

I used to see a guy with a stomped, beat up trumpet; he’d make horrible noises with it, punctuated with “Give me money and I’ll stop!”.

By: millie fink

millie fink — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:27:00 +0000

Damn straight. White “center-stage phenomenon” strikes again.

By: bklynchris

bklynchris — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:25:00 +0000

Far better than an obnoxious 4 course meal only for the invited

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/04/dining/04train.html

At best, this was twee.

actually, I see it was a 6 course meal. Hipsters……..