There's a lady who's sure all that glitters is gold
June 20, 2011 6:03 PM Subscribe
Stairway to Heaven, played by identical twins Camille and Kennerly, Third Degree Black Belts in Tae Kwon Do, "The Harp Twins". Their YouTube Channel
We're two hundred meters from the irony pinnacle. Send the sherpas back to base camp.
posted by humboldt32 at 6:13 PM on June 20, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by humboldt32 at 6:13 PM on June 20, 2011 [7 favorites]
They lost me at the wings.
posted by bwg
That was the point where I noticed that there are no mics or cables, despite it sounding like the recording is close-miced.
posted by StickyCarpet at 6:13 PM on June 20, 2011
posted by bwg
That was the point where I noticed that there are no mics or cables, despite it sounding like the recording is close-miced.
posted by StickyCarpet at 6:13 PM on June 20, 2011
Hm. Good, but they keep doing this weird thing where they add in extra notes and then can't play them properly. Like in the 'makes me wonder' bit, it sorta falls apart because they're trying to play handfuls of 16th notes and can't quite do it.
And then there's the occasional hotel lobby jazzy muzak timing that occasionally creeps in. Blecch.
posted by Sys Rq at 6:14 PM on June 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
And then there's the occasional hotel lobby jazzy muzak timing that occasionally creeps in. Blecch.
posted by Sys Rq at 6:14 PM on June 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
This camera work/editing is really, really slapdash and odd. Especially the random overhead angle and the weird framing from behind that seems to call more attention to the antique record player, as well as the constant cutting them off at the waist or placing them halfway out of frame. If it wasn't so plain ugly, I could almost suspect it's on purpose, some sort of aggressive breaking of conventions (and axes, oh, the poor axes).
The editor seems to be unsure about his cuts (probably because they're random and jarring), and so seeks to soften them by making every single one a 5-frame cross dissolve. It's painful to watch.
And, agreed, "Kennerly"?
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 6:16 PM on June 20, 2011
The editor seems to be unsure about his cuts (probably because they're random and jarring), and so seeks to soften them by making every single one a 5-frame cross dissolve. It's painful to watch.
And, agreed, "Kennerly"?
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 6:16 PM on June 20, 2011
Q. How long does it take to tune a harp?
A. Nobody knows.
posted by growabrain at 6:17 PM on June 20, 2011 [13 favorites]
A. Nobody knows.
posted by growabrain at 6:17 PM on June 20, 2011 [13 favorites]
They're good. My brain supplied the necessary Robert Plant wailing. Did you know that if you play this backwards, there still isn't anybody singing?
Also, it was really creepy when they both turned to stare into the camera at the end.
posted by killdevil at 6:19 PM on June 20, 2011
Also, it was really creepy when they both turned to stare into the camera at the end.
posted by killdevil at 6:19 PM on June 20, 2011
DON'T STOP BEPLUCKIN'
Also, it was really creepy when they both turned to stare into the camera at the end.
Come rehearse with us, Danny. Forever, and ever, and ever.
posted by cortex at 6:21 PM on June 20, 2011 [9 favorites]
Also, it was really creepy when they both turned to stare into the camera at the end.
Come rehearse with us, Danny. Forever, and ever, and ever.
posted by cortex at 6:21 PM on June 20, 2011 [9 favorites]
"You know those harps, that are like, double harps?"
posted by bondcliff at 6:27 PM on June 20, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by bondcliff at 6:27 PM on June 20, 2011 [4 favorites]
Does David Lynch know about this?
posted by R. Mutt at 6:27 PM on June 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by R. Mutt at 6:27 PM on June 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
I hope these aren't the girls from Prussian Blue only with new names.
posted by sciurus at 6:28 PM on June 20, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by sciurus at 6:28 PM on June 20, 2011 [7 favorites]
Don't play Freebird!!!
posted by not_on_display at 6:31 PM on June 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by not_on_display at 6:31 PM on June 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
It's odd. You take your identical twin daughters, weirdly sexualise them, make them play muzak covers in videos that look like they were made by a paedophile and then it turns out that the ungrateful brats are only vaguely good as a harp duo. What's a caring parent supposed to do in this crazy world?
posted by howfar at 6:35 PM on June 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by howfar at 6:35 PM on June 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
Where are they filming this thing? Do you see how many phonographs are in this video?!
posted by nasayre at 6:37 PM on June 20, 2011
posted by nasayre at 6:37 PM on June 20, 2011
They're kinda....boring...
posted by Confess, Fletch at 6:41 PM on June 20, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by Confess, Fletch at 6:41 PM on June 20, 2011 [4 favorites]
With all the crap listed on their About page (not written by their parents), why did you pick THIRD DEGREE BLACK BELT IN TAE KWON DO to highlight?
I was expecting masked assailants to be kicked through a harp, slicing them into a neat pile of cold cuts.
FASTER PUSSYCAT! STRUM, STRUM!
posted by benzenedream at 6:47 PM on June 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
I was expecting masked assailants to be kicked through a harp, slicing them into a neat pile of cold cuts.
FASTER PUSSYCAT! STRUM, STRUM!
posted by benzenedream at 6:47 PM on June 20, 2011 [3 favorites]
There does seem to be a lot of strum und drang, you're right.
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 6:49 PM on June 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Joakim Ziegler at 6:49 PM on June 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
Harpo.
Pretty much the only player I've got to compare them against. No contest.
posted by Sys Rq at 6:50 PM on June 20, 2011 [5 favorites]
Pretty much the only player I've got to compare them against. No contest.
posted by Sys Rq at 6:50 PM on June 20, 2011 [5 favorites]
Do you see how many phonographs are in this video?!
I know when I get sick of hearing my wax cylinder recordings of classic rock ballads, I hire a pair of creepy twins to play dual harp covers instead. Although you haven't really heard Led Zep properly unless you hear them on Katzenklavier.
posted by burnmp3s at 6:51 PM on June 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
I know when I get sick of hearing my wax cylinder recordings of classic rock ballads, I hire a pair of creepy twins to play dual harp covers instead. Although you haven't really heard Led Zep properly unless you hear them on Katzenklavier.
posted by burnmp3s at 6:51 PM on June 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Well, their hand position/technique is better than 99% of the other harpists I see on youtube, but still needs some work. Their closure in particular is awful; you should be bringing your fingers back to the palm of your hand unless you're playing something super-speedy, which this is definitely not.
* lessons flashbacks *
posted by curious nu at 7:00 PM on June 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
* lessons flashbacks *
posted by curious nu at 7:00 PM on June 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
I feel like I'm watching some sort of cut scene from The Big Lebowski. Maybe it would all make more sense with a White Russian or three.
posted by meinvt at 7:37 PM on June 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by meinvt at 7:37 PM on June 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Very weird. But in case you missed it the first time, here's another kid playing harp (better).
posted by Long Way To Go at 7:37 PM on June 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Long Way To Go at 7:37 PM on June 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
Thank you. That was terrific, and I mean that most literally. I'm listening to this right now to clear the schmaltz.
posted by hydrophonic at 7:40 PM on June 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by hydrophonic at 7:40 PM on June 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
I like how their bio says that they've been nicknamed "the harp twins" by their fans.
I think you'd be hard pressed to find a more imaginative fanbase.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:42 PM on June 20, 2011
I think you'd be hard pressed to find a more imaginative fanbase.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:42 PM on June 20, 2011
The video could only have been more on the nose if they'd have mixed up the stairway angel shots with them bustling in hedgerows.
I could only get about two minutes in before I had to put LZ IV on shuffle as detox...
posted by nonliteral at 7:49 PM on June 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
I could only get about two minutes in before I had to put LZ IV on shuffle as detox...
posted by nonliteral at 7:49 PM on June 20, 2011 [2 favorites]
They're wearing wings and are playing at the base of a staircase.
OH, I GET IT!
posted by SPrintF at 7:51 PM on June 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
OH, I GET IT!
posted by SPrintF at 7:51 PM on June 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Surely this must have something to do with the Russian mob. Surely.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 8:05 PM on June 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by BitterOldPunk at 8:05 PM on June 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
Funny, reading the headline I assumed they were 5 year olds or something. Having exhausted the frontpage I clicked this and now it makes a lot more sense.
posted by Buckt at 8:18 PM on June 20, 2011
posted by Buckt at 8:18 PM on June 20, 2011
and they're not even joking
posted by neuromodulator at 8:19 PM on June 20, 2011
posted by neuromodulator at 8:19 PM on June 20, 2011
Nice schtick, I hope it pays well for them. I will now join nonliteral at the LZ well to cleanse my brain pan of this tepid stuff.
posted by Ber at 9:59 PM on June 20, 2011
posted by Ber at 9:59 PM on June 20, 2011
The Stairway cover actually sounded pretty credible until I skipped ahead to where I figured it should be paralleling that whole HOLY SHIT GUITAR -> AS WE WIND ON DOWN THE ROAD bit and it was kind of like they were trying to play fast but the framerate had gone all to hell. I was hoping they were going to switch to electric or something.
Hey look, they do Santa Baby.
posted by brennen at 10:21 PM on June 20, 2011
Hey look, they do Santa Baby.
posted by brennen at 10:21 PM on June 20, 2011
That's the kitschiest thing I've ever seen filmed in natural light.
posted by Diablevert at 11:05 PM on June 20, 2011
posted by Diablevert at 11:05 PM on June 20, 2011
I never realized how ingrained that song is in my psyche until I watched that video. Every missed note, every not quite right chord, it's like nails on the chalkboard.
On the other hand, if I ever run into Guitar Hero, I am apparently going to rule the Led Zep portion.
posted by madajb at 1:09 AM on June 21, 2011
On the other hand, if I ever run into Guitar Hero, I am apparently going to rule the Led Zep portion.
posted by madajb at 1:09 AM on June 21, 2011
I was thinking about David Lynch too, but it occured to me that, with the addition of these magnificent stairs, that vid could be inserted seamlessly and perhaps more appropriately in The Shining.
posted by nicolin at 1:55 AM on June 21, 2011
posted by nicolin at 1:55 AM on June 21, 2011
Needs more wobble board.
posted by Wolfdog at 2:18 AM on June 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Wolfdog at 2:18 AM on June 21, 2011 [2 favorites]
Phenomenally bad.
posted by jet_manifesto at 2:39 AM on June 21, 2011
posted by jet_manifesto at 2:39 AM on June 21, 2011
Thank you. That just convinced me to actually look up Stairway to Heaven in its original version. The only one I knew previously was this cover. (Warning: Contains wobble board).
posted by Francis at 5:10 AM on June 21, 2011
posted by Francis at 5:10 AM on June 21, 2011
This is very, very strange and definitely Lynchean.
Personal favorite harp moment: Craig Ferguson performing unexpectedly in an episode of Drew Carey. He was quite good as I recall (apparently no clips are available).
posted by kinnakeet at 5:35 AM on June 21, 2011
Personal favorite harp moment: Craig Ferguson performing unexpectedly in an episode of Drew Carey. He was quite good as I recall (apparently no clips are available).
posted by kinnakeet at 5:35 AM on June 21, 2011
Someone call WFMU! 2006 featured a great post on Beware of the Blog with something like 101 Stairway To Heaven covers. The link has been disappeared, but it had some gems, including this version which I used to positively freak out a Led Zep purist of my acquaintance.
[FWIW, the dead link is http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2006/05/stairways_to_he.html]
posted by Chichibio at 5:52 AM on June 21, 2011
[FWIW, the dead link is http://blog.wfmu.org/freeform/2006/05/stairways_to_he.html]
posted by Chichibio at 5:52 AM on June 21, 2011
Aha, previously on The Blue. Cool how it was posted at 37 versions, then grew and grew.
posted by Chichibio at 5:55 AM on June 21, 2011
posted by Chichibio at 5:55 AM on June 21, 2011
They are staring into my soul on their homepage. Tell them to stop.
posted by stormpooper at 6:42 AM on June 21, 2011
posted by stormpooper at 6:42 AM on June 21, 2011
The really amazing thing about this is that just after the video ended, the girls crowd-surfed, vomited and passed out on the stairs. Later on they set fire to their harps while trashing their hotel room.
I guess the drugs kicked in a little late.
posted by kinnakeet at 9:58 AM on June 21, 2011
I guess the drugs kicked in a little late.
posted by kinnakeet at 9:58 AM on June 21, 2011
Right, now go back and randomly pause and attempt to view them in cross-eyed stereo.
posted by mcrandello at 2:26 PM on June 21, 2011
posted by mcrandello at 2:26 PM on June 21, 2011
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posted by bwg at 6:09 PM on June 20, 2011 [5 favorites]