It happens to the best of us…
Found on YouTube, posted by Thomasalsine, is a clip of what must’ve been one of those moments where you wish a giant hole would appear and swallow you up. Here is synth and electronica legend Jean Michel Jarre performing Oxygene live at the Marigny Theatre in Paris, December 2007. After encountering some tuning issues pre gig, the unthinkable happens live on stage when his MemoryMoog exhibits a massive detune.
You see, it happens to the best of us. And if we ever needed a reminder why we moved to digital so swiftly, this is it. I have to say that the audience slow clapping can’t have been particularly pleasant. Most, if not all, should have some sympathy with what JMJ was attemtping and the inherent dangers of performing live with very old analogue hardware. all credit to JMJ for soldiering on and I hear he eventually recovered to complete the performance.
At least it’s not as embarrassing as when Eddie Van Halen completely fecked up “Jump” by playing in completely the wrong key.
All the EvH fanboys try to blame the keyboard player on this one, but if he’s out of tune, how come the bass player is in tune with the keys ? Sorry Eddie, guess you’re human after all ;o)
Did you pick up your copy of the rerecorded version of Oxygen free with the Mail on Sunday? I was surprised at how authentic it sounded.
There are people who make a living out of what JMJ did in the video, they just call it artsy farsty noodling. I’m sure there must have been people in the audience shouting up “just use one of the other fucking keyboards” lol I think the clapping was well meant but it really made me cringe, it all became cheesy cabaret at that point.
One last thing, before I watched the video I “quickly” read what you wrote and I was disappointed when I didnt see JMJ fix his synths by “soldering on” live on stage 🙂
Yes, I got my freebie and enjoyed it too. I’ve been desperately trying to get hold of the CD+3D DVD package ever since, but with no joy. I’ve been into Virgin & HMV in London, checked everywhere online and much more besides and can’t get hold of the feckin’ thing !