The Surprisingly Badass Life of the Inventor of the Saxophone

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In this video:
The favoured instrument of the likes of Lisa Simpsons, former President Bill Clinton, and the co-author of this article and founder of TodayIFoundOut, the saxophone has variously been described as everything from “the most moving and heart-gripping wind instrument” to the “Devil’s horn”. Rather fittingly then the instrument’s inventor, Adolphe Sax, was a similarly polarising figure and led a life many would qualify as fulfilling all of the necessary specifications to be classified as being “all kinds of badass”.
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Sources:
articles.latimes.com/1990-11-0...
books.google.co.uk/books?id=R...
books.google.co.uk/books?id=O...
books.google.co.uk/books?id=D...
time.com/4101405/adolphe-sax-s...
www.historytoday.com/history-...
www.pri.org/stories/2013-12-0...
heavy.com/news/2015/11/adolph...

Пікірлер: 759

  • @TodayIFoundOut
    @TodayIFoundOut4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you, Skillshare! Sign up today and get a 2-month free trial here: skl.sh/2SOK30u

  • @WeShareTheSameAir

    @WeShareTheSameAir

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for broadening my world. How about doing one on whether or not Simon Birch would be able to kill someone with a baseball, as portrayed in the movie?

  • @WeShareTheSameAir

    @WeShareTheSameAir

    4 жыл бұрын

    @Luis Alberto Pérez Nájera Nah papa sueno, I'd prefer watchin' us sing some Wisin y Yandel whilst singing "ja je" in a mini golf tournament.

  • @WeShareTheSameAir

    @WeShareTheSameAir

    4 жыл бұрын

    @Luis Alberto Pérez Nájera Nah sweetloaf entails using cheerios instead of whack bread crumbs. Iight, well take care pa.

  • @LordDragon1965

    @LordDragon1965

    4 жыл бұрын

    Misspelling "Surprise" on the splash screen?

  • @Trav2016

    @Trav2016

    4 жыл бұрын

    Starts at 0:50

  • @faithfullyfaithless
    @faithfullyfaithless4 жыл бұрын

    Some inept time traveller really didn't want this guy to invent the saxophone...

  • @Lauzenger

    @Lauzenger

    4 жыл бұрын

    faithfullyfaithless omg what a great thought 😂👍🏼 made me chuckle! Wicked comment!

  • @TheJocularJurist

    @TheJocularJurist

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@Elganleap was just off by over 100 years 😂

  • @gooby8953

    @gooby8953

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@Elganleap "why do they keep shooting at me im just a homeless artist"

  • @lucar6897

    @lucar6897

    4 жыл бұрын

    faithfullyfaithless or an adept one did

  • @rhodesianwojak2095

    @rhodesianwojak2095

    4 жыл бұрын

    heh

  • @TheJta20
    @TheJta204 жыл бұрын

    I'd love to see an "Amadeus" style movie based on this dude's life.

  • @laura1443

    @laura1443

    4 жыл бұрын

    That would be awesome!

  • @housepianist

    @housepianist

    4 жыл бұрын

    I concur.

  • @ceciliaspears161

    @ceciliaspears161

    4 жыл бұрын

    RIGHT????!!!!

  • @arthurw8054

    @arthurw8054

    4 жыл бұрын

    Great idea!

  • @jaydunbar7538

    @jaydunbar7538

    4 жыл бұрын

    If you've ever played the game DOOM you already know how the part of his childhood goes lol

  • @DigitalHabit
    @DigitalHabit4 жыл бұрын

    Holy crap, I can not believe what this guy had to go through. I will play my saxophone from now on with nothing but pride for such a strong inventor who went through constant hell to provide the world with some of the best instruments known to man

  • @brendanr1525

    @brendanr1525

    Жыл бұрын

    " I will play my saxophone" Please don't...

  • @tiestokygoericprydz3963

    @tiestokygoericprydz3963

    Жыл бұрын

    Antoine-Joseph "Adolphe" Sax was Belgian

  • @pamelamays4186
    @pamelamays41864 жыл бұрын

    Young Sax grew up trolling the Grim Reaper.

  • @noangles1564

    @noangles1564

    4 жыл бұрын

    you think after so many close call Death just gave up

  • @WanderingWriter

    @WanderingWriter

    4 жыл бұрын

    Hmmm I wonder if the song "devil went down to Georgia" is actually about Sax. It makes sense

  • @hyperhare0624

    @hyperhare0624

    3 жыл бұрын

    They need to make him the star of his own historical drama.

  • @dragonsword7370

    @dragonsword7370

    3 жыл бұрын

    Or you may mean "the grim reaper was trolling young Sax"?

  • @Fede_uyz
    @Fede_uyz4 жыл бұрын

    This guy had his guardian angel working double shift and extra hours

  • @LesNasesdu38

    @LesNasesdu38

    4 жыл бұрын

    Aziraphale on coke. For 79 years.

  • @HyperionaSilverleaf

    @HyperionaSilverleaf

    4 жыл бұрын

    Probably a whole team

  • @CieJe.Alexander

    @CieJe.Alexander

    4 жыл бұрын

    He was blessed with Genius. He was persecuted by life. Was he one of the luckiest or, one of the unluckiest man of his time?

  • @tenhirankei

    @tenhirankei

    4 жыл бұрын

    His enemies would call it "the devil's own luck"!

  • @christianheichel

    @christianheichel

    4 жыл бұрын

    *Angels boss..* you're supposed to keep him safe! *Guardian angel..* he's alive... You do better.

  • @jaimejohnesee
    @jaimejohnesee4 жыл бұрын

    Am I the only one wondering if his parents were trying to kill him? 🤷‍♀️

  • @PurplePinkRed

    @PurplePinkRed

    4 жыл бұрын

    Now that you mention it... Makes perfect sense!

  • @christopherconard2831

    @christopherconard2831

    4 жыл бұрын

    Today, the parents of any child that had that many "accidents" would definitely investigated.

  • @stephengalindo6340

    @stephengalindo6340

    4 жыл бұрын

    They couldn't take the random instrument noises any more 😂😂😂

  • @MinistryOfMagic_DoM

    @MinistryOfMagic_DoM

    4 жыл бұрын

    It definitely seems like he was being severely abused and his parents were covering it up.

  • @CieJe.Alexander

    @CieJe.Alexander

    4 жыл бұрын

    Was there a life insurance policy on him?

  • @SimuLord
    @SimuLord4 жыл бұрын

    Musical duels were rap battles for 19th century Frenchmen.

  • @gregbenwell6173

    @gregbenwell6173

    2 жыл бұрын

    More like the Battle Of The Bands back in the 1970s and 1980s!!! Rap music doesn't play instruments then just steal a sample of a more popular song (oddly enough from a 1970s or 1980s rock band) then turn that into so called "music"!

  • @karenamyx2205

    @karenamyx2205

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@gregbenwell6173 What a generalization. I doubt you have dived into hip hop music at all. You prolly hear the songs on the radio (which many rap fans also find annoying) and heard a few songs with samples, and generalize the WHOLE genre. Here's a generalization, all dudes named Greg Benwell are old, lame, idiots. Go put on some hair spray and skin tight snake skin leggings, weirdo.

  • @yrinauda

    @yrinauda

    2 жыл бұрын

    yes, but not as primitive

  • @andrewjustice210

    @andrewjustice210

    2 жыл бұрын

    I like to picture them happening like that video of the Alto and Bari Sax players on the subway

  • @andrewjustice210

    @andrewjustice210

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@gregbenwell6173 wow…. What a douche bag…. You have CLEARLY displayed your lack of knowledge about rap or hip hop in general…. You are obviously just shitting on your keyboard and posting the resulting mess… Let me guess, the Civil War was about “State’s Rights” too, huh?

  • @Bigandrewm
    @Bigandrewm4 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, Adolph Sax was a genius. It's probably fair to include him as one of the great engineering minds of the 19th century. Somewhat akin to how Tesla was later doing similar things with electricity.

  • @bobthegoat7090
    @bobthegoat70904 жыл бұрын

    Wow, this mans life is a perfect symbol for what jealousy is. I just don't get how a whole organization can be formed only fueled by the hatred for a single man. It must have been so infuriating for him. And just imagine what other great inventions he could have made if it were not for the wasted time he spent in legal battles

  • @PrizmSeeR

    @PrizmSeeR

    4 жыл бұрын

    Looks like narcissists have always been around

  • @sarreqteryx
    @sarreqteryx4 жыл бұрын

    all this bears the question: Why is it Murphy's Law, instead of Sax's Law?

  • @williamralph6444

    @williamralph6444

    4 жыл бұрын

    Because Murphy's law is younger as a matter of fact, Simon and the team actually did a show on it.

  • @Supersonic
    @Supersonic4 жыл бұрын

    This story legit made me mad. To know that mankind's progress can and is commonly halted by jealous people who literally just don't want to see someone succeed....

  • @apexone5502

    @apexone5502

    4 жыл бұрын

    Agreed. I found myself getting annoyed at Sax's rivals. A bunch of haters.

  • @evanray8413

    @evanray8413

    3 жыл бұрын

    Jealousy and/or greed.

  • @evanray8413

    @evanray8413

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@jonathanwatson268 Then be average. Any excuse to be lazy hmm?

  • @karenamyx2205

    @karenamyx2205

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@evanray8413 cringe.

  • @TrekDelta

    @TrekDelta

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@karenamyx2205 says one of many whom associates with the unremarkable.

  • @Parasyte316
    @Parasyte3164 жыл бұрын

    Honestly Sax’s determination to keep the saxophone as an instrument led me to keep playing it. Going on 8 years now of playing sax.

  • @CieJe.Alexander
    @CieJe.Alexander4 жыл бұрын

    They kept knocking him down but, he kept on bringing saxy back!🎷😜

  • @markreynolds1436

    @markreynolds1436

    3 жыл бұрын

    The most grudging like I've given.

  • @vidarbonsak7855
    @vidarbonsak78554 жыл бұрын

    Imagine the task of building something as delicate and complicated as a saxophone from scratch in the 1800s.

  • @lawsfreelancemalice1380

    @lawsfreelancemalice1380

    2 жыл бұрын

    And soldering/brazing

  • @christopherconard2831
    @christopherconard28314 жыл бұрын

    So, you are saying that a group of French men were absolute pricks towards someone they saw as not French, or having something that wasn't seen being a proper piece of French culture? Unheard of!!

  • @minisciencedude

    @minisciencedude

    4 жыл бұрын

    @mxt mxt Then or now?Now most Americans are accepting of foreign culture and people(except for the KKK,neo-Nazis,and White Nationalists).

  • @SirMatthew

    @SirMatthew

    4 жыл бұрын

    mxt mxt uncool and untrue

  • @minisciencedude

    @minisciencedude

    4 жыл бұрын

    @mxt mxt Yes it is.

  • @minisciencedude

    @minisciencedude

    4 жыл бұрын

    @mxt mxt Most Americans aren't xenophobic.You just think they're are.

  • @minisciencedude

    @minisciencedude

    4 жыл бұрын

    @mxt mxt Give me a example.

  • @laura1443
    @laura14434 жыл бұрын

    THIS is what I'm talking about in regards to your long videos; who invented the sax? 'Who cares', says I! Then I listen while I'm washing dishes, and my 'who cares?' turns to 'I do! I care!' Just fascinating and I'd have never learned about Sax, had it not been for all your hard work. Thanks again!

  • @alexanderkarayannis6425
    @alexanderkarayannis64254 жыл бұрын

    When music experts were asked what Bill Clinton could do to improve his saxophone playing skills,they quickly answered..."Inhale"!...(Following his famous performance on the Arsenio Hall show back in the day...)😁

  • @tylerchaney1533

    @tylerchaney1533

    4 жыл бұрын

    Monica's performance with the skin flute was tremendous!

  • @dicktator8802

    @dicktator8802

    4 жыл бұрын

    An epic performance in the Oral Office😀

  • @surlygirly1926

    @surlygirly1926

    4 жыл бұрын

    😂

  • @missScarlatine
    @missScarlatine4 жыл бұрын

    You mean he was an...EPIC SAX GUY?

  • @WeShareTheSameAir

    @WeShareTheSameAir

    4 жыл бұрын

    Tax* guy; the flapjack would happily complete taxes for acquaintances

  • @spencerellis83

    @spencerellis83

    4 жыл бұрын

    First porn i got was a penthouse forum called hot sax

  • @missScarlatine

    @missScarlatine

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@spencerellis83 I guess it didn't contain any sax, did it?

  • @bundimathiu5714
    @bundimathiu57144 жыл бұрын

    Moral of the story, "your hard childhood and youth, is to prepare you to counter your adulthood problems including an assassination LOL."

  • @tambal40
    @tambal404 жыл бұрын

    What is the history of media control buttons like the pause button being to parallel lines and the play button as a triangle etc ?

  • @Firstname137

    @Firstname137

    4 жыл бұрын

    That is a damn good question...damn you

  • @scruffster2497

    @scruffster2497

    4 жыл бұрын

    en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Media_control_symbols

  • @scruffster2497

    @scruffster2497

    4 жыл бұрын

    Still want to see the video on it though.

  • @eljakimdeclerck1941

    @eljakimdeclerck1941

    4 жыл бұрын

    here you go: kzread.info/dash/bejne/iH93qKZ7gNmwZ5c.html

  • @_.-._.-._.-._.-.

    @_.-._.-._.-._.-.

    4 жыл бұрын

    I'm not sure about the play symbol, but the pause button is based on the caesura symbol from sheet music. The symbol means to break or pause the music, with the length of the pause being up to the performer or conductor.

  • @likebot.
    @likebot.4 жыл бұрын

    So... they had Anti-saxxers in the 19th century...

  • @RichardCroft19670711
    @RichardCroft196707114 жыл бұрын

    I knew who the inventor was but never until now what he as both a musician as well as an inventor. Imagine music without the Saxophone. What a sad story of a Man who was persecuted by a group of Ungifted people.

  • @WeShareTheSameAir

    @WeShareTheSameAir

    4 жыл бұрын

    Like Simon Birch, right papa Humphrey?

  • @davidgustavsson4000

    @davidgustavsson4000

    4 жыл бұрын

    "imagine music without sax" sure, that's most classical music, rock and pop. Sax is great, but in no way necessary for music.

  • @WeShareTheSameAir

    @WeShareTheSameAir

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@davidgustavsson4000 You got dat Grumpy Ol' Men surname n shit.

  • @jessicaavery1080

    @jessicaavery1080

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@davidgustavsson4000 there are plenty of rock and pop songs that have used the sax. It may not be as popular today, but a lot of awesome 80s pop and rock (not heavy metal) wouldnt exist without it

  • @davidgustavsson4000

    @davidgustavsson4000

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@jessicaavery1080 I said "most"

  • @SEThatered
    @SEThatered4 жыл бұрын

    A Tesla of the musical instrument world.

  • @ryanbradleyrankin

    @ryanbradleyrankin

    2 жыл бұрын

    OMG. i got so fucking offended when i saw tesla because of how much of a fuck Elon musk is....then i realized im a fucking moron and feel insulted on behalf of tesla that those cars are called that.

  • @merevel436
    @merevel4364 жыл бұрын

    The Anti-Sax club literally sounds like a teen drama antagonist.

  • @Kenxclout
    @Kenxclout4 жыл бұрын

    I don't want to sound like I'm showing off or something, but people put bricks through my windows... just so they can hear me practicing my saxophone louder.

  • @WeShareTheSameAir

    @WeShareTheSameAir

    4 жыл бұрын

    You stay gassin' it up makin a flapjack expand ya comments n joint. How about considering the toll on arthritis shorty doo-wops?

  • @Jallge

    @Jallge

    4 жыл бұрын

    Way to toot your own horn.

  • @WeShareTheSameAir

    @WeShareTheSameAir

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@Jallge The only way I know is blowing air through it. That's it, papa freedom

  • @BlissfullWulf

    @BlissfullWulf

    4 жыл бұрын

    Sure they weren't trying to send the opposite message?

  • @christelheadington1136

    @christelheadington1136

    4 жыл бұрын

    Ken Fulton- I hope you're practicing safe sax.

  • @PacmanRocks100
    @PacmanRocks1004 жыл бұрын

    Quick correction: for the Bass Clarinet in the Opera story, the composer was Donizetti, not Dom Sebastien (which was the opera itself)

  • @Milshare
    @Milshare4 жыл бұрын

    This guy does indeed, sound like he was epic.

  • @SplotchTheCatThing
    @SplotchTheCatThing4 жыл бұрын

    Wow... should we change the expression to "curiosity killed the sax"? Also oh no anti-saxxers! XD Practically cartoon villains too, aren't they?

  • @ezdboy
    @ezdboy4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you very much for this one. This stuff wasn't covered in music school.

  • @sarunasazna5408

    @sarunasazna5408

    4 жыл бұрын

    mhh, at my music school it was kind of covered - we(pupils who learned sax) were getting notion that - "we are not as good palyers(if we are talking about exact level) because it is harder to play clarinet or trumpet" or the fact that saxaphones are not the part of volc-orchester or cameric-orchester though clarinet and trumpet is :D Not

  • @l1233799
    @l12337994 жыл бұрын

    They could make a movie or TV series out of his life if they haven't already

  • @GraciePincer
    @GraciePincer4 жыл бұрын

    We owe this man so much, I mean Careless Whisper ALONE.

  • @tigerprincess9222
    @tigerprincess92224 жыл бұрын

    As a Saxophonist & Clarinetist, I throughly LOVED this video! Thank you soooooooo much for doing it ❤🎷

  • @SpeedyXGunz
    @SpeedyXGunz4 жыл бұрын

    "Saxamaphoooone. Saxamaphooooone" - Homer Simpson

  • @LetsTalkAboutPrepping

    @LetsTalkAboutPrepping

    4 жыл бұрын

    Best comment here.

  • @andytennant4094

    @andytennant4094

    2 жыл бұрын

    He loved it when he was on medicinal marijuana, saw that episode yesterday

  • @terribethreed8464
    @terribethreed84644 жыл бұрын

    This guy was definitely ADHD lol! Actually most inventors, artist's, musicians, writer's, politician's & other's have been forensicically diagnosed as having ADHD, which is a little known fact. Australia & the U.S. have the highest rates of ADHD in the world. They say it has something to do with the fact that our gene pool's are filled with our ancestors who were the bad ass kid's of their day lol! I can attest to that, being ADHD myself. I was the most accident prone kid growing up. We have a tendency to not think before we leap, so to say & we're stubborn as hell lol! You should do a segment regarding this. It would be a really interesting subject, that a lot of people could associate with. Thank you for all your wonderful program's, I really enjoy them.

  • @xxXthekevXxx

    @xxXthekevXxx

    4 жыл бұрын

    Bump

  • @Waccoon
    @Waccoon4 жыл бұрын

    Simon's vocal delivery reminds me of a saxophone performance. Can't unhear... and there's nothing wrong with that. 8)

  • @iteerrex8166
    @iteerrex81664 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for inventing the sax instrument. It truly is one of life's most awesome pleasures ;-)

  • @calebwinfield1403
    @calebwinfield14034 жыл бұрын

    Will you please talk about how documentary shows get in touch with people in the witness protection program or are in hiding to interview them? I've always wondered.

  • @alexgallagher4594

    @alexgallagher4594

    4 жыл бұрын

    This ^

  • @grandetaco4416

    @grandetaco4416

    4 жыл бұрын

    Sorry Mr. Gotti that's classified information.

  • @phenethylamine91
    @phenethylamine914 жыл бұрын

    Sax's enemies obviously never used Skillshare.

  • @boydmerriman
    @boydmerriman4 жыл бұрын

    That proves God wants us to have a saxophone since the young man has been miraculously saved over and over again.

  • @davidklein1667
    @davidklein16674 жыл бұрын

    Thank you M. Sax!!! Without the sax 70s music just wouldn't have been the same!!

  • @lealtosaxist1117

    @lealtosaxist1117

    4 жыл бұрын

    Or 20's or 30's. Id say any music that has a saxophone(s) in it wouldn't be the same or ever created

  • @davidklein1667

    @davidklein1667

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@lealtosaxist1117 totally agree! In fact that was the golden age of sax! The 70s sax thing was a joke with us...don't get me wrong..we loved it! It's just that it always seemed like the same guy playing that same set of 70s riffs! Was it Carli Simon that did Jaz Man!? Perfect example

  • @davidklein1667

    @davidklein1667

    4 жыл бұрын

    @@lealtosaxist1117 correction...it was Carole King

  • @calichef1962
    @calichef19624 жыл бұрын

    Of all the instruments I have learned to play, and there have been a dozen of them, the saxophone was the one that was the most fun to learn. It is easy to learn the basics of fingerings and ombucher, and it is a required instrument in any marching band, jazz band or the so-called "big bands" that played the popular music of the 20th century. What would the songs String of Pearls, In the Mood, Baker Street or Careless Whisper be without those classic sax riffs? It is said that the saxophone is the instrument that most resembles the human voice, and I have to agree. The sound of a saxophone is unmistakable! I really wish I'd learned about Mr. Sax long ago when I learned to play his lovely instrument. What a lucky genius he was! And now I *MUST* go listen to String of Pearls! Thanks TIFO Team!!! You folks are awesome!

  • @calichef1962

    @calichef1962

    4 жыл бұрын

    Nice song, and screen name! I'm a Whovian, too! Matt Smith is my favorite Doctor, slightly hedging out David Tennent. But I'm quite willing to make room for Jodie Whittaker and I really enjoyed her first season/series, depending on which side of the pond you reside.

  • @xxXthekevXxx

    @xxXthekevXxx

    4 жыл бұрын

    I’m curious what all instruments you have learned? I also take joy in learning many instruments! So far I’ve learned piano, guitar in many tunings, extended range guitar (7- & 8-strings), 12-string guitar, bass, extended-range bass (5- and 6-string), drums and various percussion, ukulele... things I have on my list to learn are harps, mandolins, banjo, shamisen, and saxophones! Always loved the sax. Was the first instrument to make me interested in music.

  • @wingracer1614

    @wingracer1614

    4 жыл бұрын

    When I think Sax, I hear Born to Run!

  • @susanhepburn6040

    @susanhepburn6040

    2 жыл бұрын

    I'm in agreement and would also add the sax on 'Will You?' by Hazel O'Connor and 'Your Favourite Trick' by Dire Straits. I absolutely take my hat off to the great Mr Sax! 🌟❤️🙏🏻

  • @calichef1962

    @calichef1962

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@xxXthekevXxx In approximate chronological order: autoharp, penny whistle, recorder, piano, organ, marching snare drum, marching band "bells," (basically a small, 2.5 octave upright xylophone) alto sax, tenor sax, flute, piccolo, marching bass drum, six-string guitar, electric bass. Gee, I guess I underestimated the number? But if the different versions/sizes/keys of saxophones, flutes/piccolos and drums are all counted as just one each, rather than the actual number of different versions of any given instrument I can play, well... we arrive at 10! 😁

  • @jennymunday7913
    @jennymunday79134 жыл бұрын

    I don't think he actually died, he just got tired and took a nap. Legends say he's still napping to this day.......

  • @iroquoisplissken3583
    @iroquoisplissken35834 жыл бұрын

    He’s up in heaven now, listening to Kenny G.

  • @bartman999
    @bartman9994 жыл бұрын

    7:54 I think you mean Gaetano Donizetti composed the opera Dom Sébastien, not the other way around :)

  • @DrivermanO

    @DrivermanO

    4 жыл бұрын

    Exactly!

  • @kierenmoore3236
    @kierenmoore3236 Жыл бұрын

    What an incredible life/story! I just started learning saxophone - will try to channel the inventor’s determination!! 🎶🎷

  • @Wapohead
    @Wapohead4 жыл бұрын

    I must say I truly enjoyed this account of badassery! It was quite the inspirational tale and one I can relate to being a walking disaster myself. I also own an entertainment company in Japan which, being a foreigner, proves to be quite tedious due to the archaic ways things are done here. Thank you, Simon, for this video!!

  • @hyperhare0624
    @hyperhare06243 жыл бұрын

    It is like he LITTERALLY put his soul in his invention and that is why the Saxophone is an element of "Soul" music.

  • @CrowleyTheVampire
    @CrowleyTheVampire4 жыл бұрын

    I have an antique silver alto saxophone that I still play and have since middleschool. Glad to know that we're the coolest of the instrument players because our instrument's inventor was a badass dude.

  • @jimscimonetti1457
    @jimscimonetti14573 ай бұрын

    Thank you for covering this!!!

  • @colehalford1893
    @colehalford18934 жыл бұрын

    What a story, thank you. I forwarded this to my friend who plays the Saxophone 🎷.

  • @threeballwilly
    @threeballwilly2 жыл бұрын

    "Just go and get started, that's the best thing to do." You got my upvote before your sponsor segment finished, because of this line. :)

  • @SGprod
    @SGprod4 жыл бұрын

    I don't want to hear any rapper/celebrity talk about their "haters" ever again. This is what having real haters is.

  • @kennbiggs9311
    @kennbiggs93114 жыл бұрын

    This dude is legendary.....he kicked sax!

  • @Amateur0Visionary
    @Amateur0Visionary4 жыл бұрын

    As a recovering sax player, i approve.

  • @stanleyhercules
    @stanleyhercules2 жыл бұрын

    Incredible, I have so much respect for those who create the tools with which artists speak in new ways, it's like its own form of meta-art. I wish this guy could've seen Charlie Parker and Coltrane pushing his invention to its absolute limits a few hundred years later :)

  • @raxsavvage
    @raxsavvage4 жыл бұрын

    damn anti saxxxers but the mental image i have now of a musician in a military force roaming the battlefield with a saxphone and im fine with this

  • @hiddenpanda02
    @hiddenpanda024 жыл бұрын

    I can't tell if this guy was extremely lucky or extremely unlucky

  • @LetsTalkAboutPrepping

    @LetsTalkAboutPrepping

    4 жыл бұрын

    Sounds like one followed by the other, repeatedly

  • @housepianist
    @housepianist4 жыл бұрын

    One of the most interesting stories I've heard in a long time. Very fascinating.

  • @heyitsjoe8446
    @heyitsjoe8446 Жыл бұрын

    I dunno why but as soon as you said he had musical duels I just pictured him ripping into “Baker Street”. “You’re not ready for this, but your great great grandkids are gonna love it”

  • @ColonelSanders17
    @ColonelSanders174 жыл бұрын

    As a sax player, I can dig it!

  • @Schumanized

    @Schumanized

    4 жыл бұрын

    ColonelSanders17 As a piano player (and frustrated sax player) i can dig it too👍🏽

  • @christinak1053
    @christinak10534 жыл бұрын

    I found your channel a few days ago and I subscribed after the first one and watched SO MANY since. I absolutely love it. Thank you so much and keep up the great work!

  • @TodayIFoundOut

    @TodayIFoundOut

    4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you I appreciate that

  • @germandragon8136
    @germandragon81363 жыл бұрын

    simon 2019: 20 minute videos are long Simon 2021: WELCOME TO ANOTHER EPIC BLAZE! (1h+ runtime)

  • @saltamas
    @saltamas4 жыл бұрын

    Excellent work on this video. Oh yes, best segue ever

  • @DaidriveCJ
    @DaidriveCJ4 жыл бұрын

    His life would make for a pretty cool and interesting film or mini series. I'll have to look up rather or not one already exists or not.

  • @sinarius3669
    @sinarius36693 жыл бұрын

    Seems like great proof of a time traveler trying to take him out hahaha That river just kept on flowing!

  • @rockyghosh2607
    @rockyghosh26072 жыл бұрын

    Sax flourished in the musical workshop but not without his own pitfalls. His childhood was riddled with a collection of near-fatal accidents. For instance, he once thought a certain liquid to be milk and actually drank some diluted sulfuric acid. He was hit on the head by a stone, nearly drowned in a river, and poisoned three times by varnish. He also swallowed a needle and fell from a three-story window. There’s little wonder why his mother, nerves likely frayed, bemoaned: “He’s a child condemned to misfortune; he won’t live,” and that his nickname was “little Sax, the ghost” Berlioz celebrated his creation, which then was only called the bass horn, writing: “Its principal merit in my view is the varied beauty of its accent, sometimes serious, sometimes calm, sometimes impassioned, dreamy or melancholic, or vague, like the weakened echo of an echo, like the indistinct plaintiff moans of the breeze in the woods and, even better, like the mysterious vibrations of a bell, long after it has been struck; there does not exist another musical instrument that I know of that possesses this strange resonance, which is situated at the edge of silence.” allthatsinteresting.com/adolphe-sax

  • @crystalaustin2845
    @crystalaustin28454 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this video. I used to play the alto saxophone when I was in middle and high school.

  • @justanotherjezebeI
    @justanotherjezebeI4 жыл бұрын

    Yay! You have your neon on! Lol, it's honestly pretty sweet that you have an awesome neon sign with your initials. 👍 you should have it on in more videos!

  • @calichef1962

    @calichef1962

    4 жыл бұрын

    In his office tour video he said that the reason he doesn't turn it on very often in videos is because it causes overexposure and washes him out to a ghostly Simon. But he seems to have figured out a work-around. Bravo, sir!

  • @jillking5876
    @jillking58762 жыл бұрын

    I, as a sax player, was totally gob stopped by this article. Thanks, Simon.

  • @mikeg4972
    @mikeg49723 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for inventing the Saxophone, Sax!

  • @ariellefebvre4434
    @ariellefebvre44344 жыл бұрын

    There seems to be a small mistake in the script. Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti composed the opera Dom Sébastien, not the other way! This was actually the last opera he fully composed before his death! ;P

  • @kb-yi6oe
    @kb-yi6oe4 жыл бұрын

    Carry on Chap! Excellent channel. Great, great work.

  • @wschnabel1987
    @wschnabel19873 жыл бұрын

    Learned how to play a Tenor saxophone in middle school, was fairly easy to learn too!

  • @rhythmictiger
    @rhythmictiger4 жыл бұрын

    The United association of instrument makers sound like Regina George on steroids on steroids.

  • @Games_and_Music
    @Games_and_Music4 жыл бұрын

    Typo in the thumbnail, it says: "Suprise Badass", i'm sure you're aware of it now, and know it needs an extra R in there. Just saying :) Now i will commence watching this video

  • @lesliekilgore648
    @lesliekilgore6483 жыл бұрын

    as a former sax player for many years, never exactly perfecting it but enjoying the alto and baritone sax; i've always had a warm place in my heart for this guy. i knew of his crazy troubles with morons and nay-sayers in Paris but was entirely unaware they'd tried to ruin him 'with Sax and Violins' multiple times! :o i was also unaware he could 'blow your Sax off' with epic skills to keep paying the bills in musical duels! such great background Simon and the guys! the childhood, the cancer? wow! i didn't know any of that but i was aware of the tragic loss of his son. here's to the guy who gave Dave Koz, Candy Dulfer, Kenny G, and in a MUCH tinier way myself such joy! plus, any soft jazz nay-sayers... go blow your own horns somewheres else. i'll keep enjoying the relaxing and soulful sounds of the saxophone when i'm chilling and ring out a clarion call with vim vigor and vitality when an energetic mood hits me.

  • @alejandronieto576
    @alejandronieto5764 жыл бұрын

    Thanks 4 this video!

  • @MUMSUniverse
    @MUMSUniverse4 жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this 🎷 Mr. Sax.

  • @C4P0221
    @C4P02214 жыл бұрын

    He's one of the most awesome Belgians! ❤️

  • @jaydunstan1618
    @jaydunstan16184 жыл бұрын

    Brilliant Simon.

  • @gradyrm237
    @gradyrm2372 жыл бұрын

    He didn't only suffer from an early head injury it arguably made him who he was. Head injuries have been linked to more and more geniuses. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

  • @tonk1044
    @tonk10444 жыл бұрын

    "When I heard that my last name sounds like -sex- , I made the saxophone." Adolphe Sax

  • @tonk1044

    @tonk1044

    4 жыл бұрын

    You all know it's fake.

  • @tonk1044

    @tonk1044

    4 жыл бұрын

    Please dislike this stupid comment.

  • @PeterCiesla
    @PeterCiesla4 жыл бұрын

    This is the best telenovela I have ever seen!

  • @brenbabe
    @brenbabe4 жыл бұрын

    Oh my god!!! You guys out did yourself this time! This video was the best one I’ve seen yet... and I’ve seen most of them! How about doing some on other instruments? I played the contrabass clarinet in high school and college... I’d love to hear about them......although I’m definitely sure it won’t have the same surprising stamina of the great Adolfo Sax...

  • @AnonyDave
    @AnonyDave4 жыл бұрын

    Snooty french music instrument makers: Here's the no Saxs club! Sax: But you let my father in Snooty french: It's the no Sax-s club, we can have one Sax

  • @davidgustavsson4000
    @davidgustavsson40004 жыл бұрын

    Fleur East: "If you wanna hear me sing you better play that sax." Trumpetist: "My time to shine!"

  • @ChaseSchleich
    @ChaseSchleich2 жыл бұрын

    Thankfully his name was something cool like Sax. Imagine if it was Fred or Bob. The Fredaphone? The Bobaphone? Never would have taken off.

  • @notavailable8130
    @notavailable81304 жыл бұрын

    we would never have had.... Gerry Rafferty - Baker Street !!! much respect Mr. Sax

  • @ninchan2
    @ninchan24 жыл бұрын

    during my last trip to Paris I went to Montmartre Cemetery and visited Sax's grave site (amongst others) and I knew of his inventive prowess, but not the extent and variety of hurdles life threw at him. glad to know it now, tho!

  • @firstname__lastname
    @firstname__lastname4 жыл бұрын

    "Sax-a-ma-phoneeeeeee... Saxamaphonnnnne"

  • @kevink8965
    @kevink89654 жыл бұрын

    I'm a very saxual person myself. Thank you for making this video, I knew who created the instrument just not the great back story

  • @voshadxgathic
    @voshadxgathic2 жыл бұрын

    With the amount of times I've dodged things by mere seconds just going about my day, such as a sheet of ice falling off a roof and landing just behind me, I feel like I have the opposite luck. Glad he found his struggles worth it all though.

  • @jonasjiller
    @jonasjiller4 жыл бұрын

    Just pointing out a mix-up: at 7:55 the composer is Gaetano Donizetti, and his opera is "Dom Sébastien"; the opposite is spoken.

  • @MarcusMaximillianAugustus
    @MarcusMaximillianAugustus4 жыл бұрын

    you never cease to amaze!!

  • @steeljawX
    @steeljawX4 жыл бұрын

    Adolphe Sax: The Belgian Musical Rasputin. But honestly, I want to see the designs of the Saxo-cannon. I wonder if the Maginot Line and Belgium would have worked better (Maginot Line) or lasted longer (Belgium) in WWII if it was actually created. Imagine the history books!!! "The German Werhmacht plowed their blitzkrieg into the Belgian boarder, but they were repelled by the Belgian army armed with 40 Saxo-cannons." That'd be both awesome and kinda funny. I'd imagine it would look kinda like a saxophone, so. . . yeah. Fun times....

  • @Butterworthy
    @Butterworthy4 жыл бұрын

    The universe really tried to save us from the saxophone, but this guy just wouldn't die.

  • @davidhart8835
    @davidhart88354 жыл бұрын

    Hey Davin hey Simon hi Shell. I just wanted to say I love you guys the pieces and with my severe mental,condition your videos calm my mind while educating me. I am unfortunately very poor so I cannot financially supoort your channel but I always try to like and comment when I have time and remember while I watch.i could never repay you folks for thr piece of mind you give me with your beautifully done videos. Wholeheartedly I love this channel as well as Highlight History, Top Tenz, Biographics and of course the brain food podcast. Please keep up the amazing work. And I hope you read this and feel how much love i am trying to convey. I hope you are having a wonderful summer and you and your loved ones have a fulfilling year as well.

  • @calichef1962

    @calichef1962

    4 жыл бұрын

    This may be the nicest, kindest, sweetest comment on this, or any channel, that I have ever read! In spite of your illness, it's very clear to me that you are a prince of a man. I feel honored to have read your beautiful comment. Best wishes to you. I hope you start feeling better very soon.

  • @Treasurevh2222
    @Treasurevh22223 жыл бұрын

    this would make an awsome movie/show i mean the guys a fricking badass!!

  • @SilverFeatheredFox
    @SilverFeatheredFox3 жыл бұрын

    There's a quote in this episode that compares the insanity of Sax's enemies to those of Benvenuto Cellini. I think he might be an extremely good pick for an episode of Biographics (or Today I Found Out). He wrote an autobiography as well, of which I have an old copy. Here are some section headings picked largely at random from the book: "Cellini mans the guns" "Sentenced for assault" "He avenges his brother's death" "A quarrel with the Pope" "Black Magic in the Colosseum" "Duke Alessandro's murder" "Cellini expels an intruder" "Escape from the Police" "Bernardo's diamond swindle" "Cellini is poisoned" And that's not even mentioning the absolutely astounding act of trolling directed at Michelangelo and Bandinelli that is the placement of his famous Perseus statue.

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