The most unexpected acoustic guitar performance | The Showhawk Duo | TEDxKlagenfurt

Music works a lot like language does - except instead of words and ideas, it expresses emotions and intent. It also gives us an oxytocin boost, which plays an important role in increasing the bonding and trust between people. The Showhawk Duo bonded with TEDxKlagenfurt’s audience with their spectacular approach to playing the guitar. Listen to the magic they created on stage with their version of Insomnia - I can't get no sleep, Tiesto’s Adagio For Strings, or the most unexpected thing you can expect on a guitar: Bohemian Rhapsody.

Young British guitarists Mikhail Asanovic and Jake Wright, together known as the Showhawk Duo, started out as buskers and have since gone on to play all over the globe. They have appeared on BBC Radio 1 on the Nick Grimshaw’s Breakfast Show and have performed for the LAD Bible and BBC Radio Bristol. They have played in the UK's largest festivals, including the Main Stage at Bestival, Glastonbury, Secret Garden Party, Wilderness, Somersault and more. International performances include F1 Grand Prix in Singapore, Seychelles, club tours in Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands and a 20-day residency at Pacha in Ibiza.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you very, very, very much.

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So ...

we are the Showhawk Duo.

My name is Jake.
This is my good friend Mikhail.

And we met about 10 years ago,

and we've been in a band ever since.

We met through a mutual love
of good music and playing the guitar.

Mikhail: As simple as that.

That's right, and this next song
we're going to play for you guys,

it started life as
a classical piece of music.

It was written by a guy
called Samuel Barber.

And then it was remixed in the '90s
by a DJ called Tiesto.

This is Adagio for Strings.

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Jake: Thank you very much.

Mikhail: We didn't want to do
too much talking, so I'll be quick.

Our philosophy is to always try to play
the most unexpected thing you can expect

on the guitar.

I know that doesn't make any sense,

and -

So bearing that in mind,

we are going to move away
from the dance music,

and we're going to play you our rendition
of Queen's classic, Bohemian Rhapsody.

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J: Okay. Ah. See?
You're all in good voice.

So as I am sure, you're all aware
by now, we don't sing.

We strictly play guitar.
We're not very good at singing.

But you guys are all in really good voice.

So it'd be really nice if we could get
a few of you to join in and sing along.

If you do or don't know the words, feel
free to make them up as you go along.

Most people do that anyway.

Yeah, this is Queen's Bohemian
Rhapsody. Thank you very much.

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Thank you.

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Thank you very much.

Thank you very, very much.

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