Banjos, The happiest intrument?

[Honor]

Did Steve Martin have it right? Is it possable to have a sad time on the banjo?

:confused:

[PolyFmorf]

Excerpts from SNL

Here we go. [plays a steady rhythmic riff] Hey, this guy's good. [sings] "Well, I'm ramblin', ramblin' 'round, I'm a ramblin' guy, I'm ramblin', oh, yes, oh, yes!" [whistles poorly, shrugs, speaks] Free to get in. [sings] "I'm a ramblin' guy - R-A-M-B-L-I-N apostrophe, oh yes, I'm ramblin' -- Ramblin' to New York City, N-Y-C! Rent a car, get a hotel, for only two hundred dollars a day. Oh, yes." [speaks] Okay, everybody! "I'm a ram--" Come on! Sing with me! Come on, have some fun, come on! "Ramblin' ..." Are you people uptight or somethin'? You can't sing along--? Oh, I forgot... New York. [applause, keeps playing] Okay! All right, ladies only! "Oh, look! A ramblin' guy!" Come on! Okay, this half of the room! Beautiful! Now this half! Good, good! All right, two fifths! Now, three-fifths! Good. Seven-ninths! Two-ninths. All right, in Chinese now! [sings Chinese gibberish, then sings in English:] "Well, I'm ramblin', ramblin', ramblin', ramblin', ramblin', ramblin', ramblin', ramblin'! Ram! Mah! BLINNNN!" [suddenly launches into a long, snappy, complex banjo instrumental, smiles and raises eyebrows at audience, stops, takes a fake arrow-through-the-head prop from the stool and puts it on] I like to keep the laughs rolling even while I'm playing. [finishes banjo tune triumphantly] Heyyyy! [applause]

[sings without banjo] "Oh, I'm a neat guy!" [speaks] Excuse me, excuse me. All right, um, you know, uh, the banjo's such a happy instrument, it really is. It's a good thing for a comedian, like me, and, uh, it's just a happy thing, you know. [plays a happy melody] Isn't that happy? You just can't sing a depressing song when you're playing the banjo. You can't go-- [grins, plays and sings] "Oh, murder and death and grief and sorrow!" [pauses, holds up his hand] Really, when you're with me, it's like being at Shakey's Pizza, you know? It's just... [plays "Ain't She Sweet?"] Hey! [keeps playing "Ain't She Sweet?" but sings "Swanee River"] "Way down upon the Swanee River..." [gets confused, peers at banjo, stops playing, waves dismissively]

Okay, I wanna do this, uh, last banjo tune and, uh, we'll move on with the show. Could I get, like, a tight shot, maybe, on the fingers, on this, okay? Dave? Dave Wilson, the director. I'd like to start off with a tight shot, okay? [no tight shot appears, gets annoyed] I did this thing in dress. I thought we had it worked out. I'm sorry. [clears throat, gets increasingly upset] Okay, I'll do something else then. I can go with it, all right? You know what I'm saying? It's just, uh, um, you know, you ask for something, you think you're gonna get it, throws you off, when you're a performer, a professional like I am, and uh, I'm sorry if I look a little angry but, uh, I guess I am, because, uh, you know, it hurts you. You know what I'm saying? It hurts the people who are watching the show when me, the artist, comes out here and I can't get, what, a little cooperation, you know what I mean? I mean, I can't get a little help from the backstage crew?

EXCUUUUUUSE MEEEEEEE! [applause, still upset] I'm sorry! I'm angry! [plays banjo tune, suddenly breaks out into a happy grin, apologetic] I'm sorry! We'll be back after this commercial! [tight shot on the fingers playing the banjo as we fade out]

[xStonr]

Banjos are always happy and smiling. Did you ever hear about a Banjo having the Blues?
http://www.smallpotatoesmusic.com/GRAPHICS/Philly.JPG

[Timezarrow]

Could I have a blue spot ?


Yeah, the banjo's good for the snappy happy stuff.

:)

[Tele like it is]

A ukelele is a pretty happy instrument.

[twotubman]

Watch "Cool Hand Luke" for a very sad banjo moment.

[nick803]

A couple of years ago, at the music store with our son, my wife was looking at a banjo. My son told her it was just a redneck guitar!

[BlueStrat]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SP6xd0aITFM