The Beautifully Strange World of Outsider Music

Hey everybody! Thanks for watching this video on "The Beautifully Strange World of Outsider Music". This is a topic that I've wanted to do for a long time and I'm glad I finally got around to it. Whether we're talking about The Shaggs, Wesley Willis, B.J. Snowden, Eilert Pilarm, Shooby Taylor, Gary Wilson, R. Stevie Moore, Tiny Tim, Luie Luie, Daniel Johnston, or whoever else -- this category of music is all about originality/authenticity. These musicians and artists aren't the most polished in the world, but they make up for it with passion and creativity. Open your mind up, go down the rabbit hole of outsider music, and have a good time!

Outsider Music / Daniel Johnston / True Love Will Find You in the End / Introduction / What Is / Explanation / Explained / Wesley Willis / The Shaggs / Eilert Pilarm / Shooby Taylor / Tiny Tim / Gary Wilson / R. Stevie Moore / B.J. Snowden / Songs in the Key of Z / Luie Luie / Irwin Chusid / Reaction / Review

[DannySullivanMusic]

It's like Indie except actually Indie

[mortyc]

what was so special about the shaggs was their absolute mastery of the 17/52 time signature

[spoopyskeleton]

As soon as i heard “ROCK N ROLL MCDONALD’S” I instantly loved this man for now I know who created such work of art

[xato]

I knew a guy who was physically disabled and had autism. He wanted to be a musical comedian like Bo Burnham and wrote and recorded pretty lo fi and offensive music. Everyone at our school said that it was mean to listen to his music and laugh at his songs, but that was the whole point of what he wanted. You don’t write comedy music for people not to laugh. It was sometimes nonsensical and purposely bad, but everytime he came out with a new song I genuinely enjoyed how funny and off beat the songs were. It was way more insulting to not engage with his music the way HE wanted you to engage with it because you felt sorry for him or thought laughing at poorly written music was mean. As a fan myself I was never laughing at him, I was laughing at jokes he was intentionally making, but people tend to not see those with disabilities as people with thought and intention that should be engaged with as such. Anyways, I feel glad to have been able to follow an outsider musician for a time.

[oolabob]

Wesley Willis was a troubled guy whose one source of joy was his art and music. Making music and drawings was his way of coping with life. The voices in his head (his "demons") said horrible things to him, but he stayed a sweet, friendly guy most of the time because of making and selling his artwork. It kept him anchored in the world that was clouded by his mental illness.
To me, that's heroic.

[mjwanni]

“It’s not music that just sucks”
*shows Jake Paul’s music video*

[ridespirals]

even funnier about The Shaggs is the fortune teller the dad went to see was his own mom, lol

[StFrannn]

Oh, Daniel Johnston..❤
"True Love Will Find You In The End" gets me teared up every time.❤

[micahwilson]

Another thing that I love about Daniel Johnson is that when someone asked to here his albums/eps (before he was signed) he would sit down, record his cassette tape, and play the entire album through. Then hand draw the art, and give it back to the person next day. Every. Single. Time. I might be wrong but I believe there are over 500 unique copies of “hi how are you” only on cassette. Sad that they’re removing his songs on Spotify. That problem needs to be solved so more people can hear all about him.

[MikaelLewisify]

I’ve been a professional musician for 25 years and I still think the best thing I’ve ever done was recorded on a ghetto blaster in my bedroom when I was 15 and had no idea how to play guitar. Just me noodling and my friend reading his poetry over the top of it.
Nothing but beautiful noise.

[pizzaman]

Perhaps the most interesting part of the story of The Shags is that, through one way or another, the seer's prediction actually turned out to be true

[Wizard_mouse]

Daniel Johnston is one of my favorite artists of all time and I’m so happy someone is talking about him, his song “story of an artist” is one of the most accurate depictions of what it is like to try and be an artist nowadays. Also his song “walking the cow” is really important to me because I was listening to it the time I got to pet a cow for my birthday because cows are my favorite animal they feel like cats if anyone is wondering

[WorkYourWisdom]

To be honest, this video made me super emotional...as a music artist, its hard at times to not take yourself so seriously. Hearing you talk about these artists with such dignity and respect reminds me that creativity is really found in all sorts of places and it doesn't have to (and shouldn't look like) what we are used to. It also reminds me to give myself a damn break and just be productive, no matter what comes out. I remember the joy I found in making music because I wanted to, not because I was expected to, and this video gave me the push I need to access that joy again. Thank you so much!! Also, I'll be sure to check out more of artists and works featured!!

[LLusion]

this video felt like a breath of fresh air. thank you.

[nickburmanmusic]

These people got off the couch and did something. They created and expressed thoughts freely. THAT is what the world needs.

[ringrulepigs]

I knew of Tiny Tim and OF COURSE, Daniel Johnston.

All of Johnston's early "lo-fi" stuff is genius. When I first heard him YEARS ago I thought, why isn't he a huge star? Why haven't I heard of him? Did he become a producer? Did he die young?? Never thought of it as being outsider music. Just really rough, but brilliant.

There's a GREAT documentary called "The devil and Daniel Johnston" which is superb.

[whtwudtristando]

The movie "Frank" does a great job capturing the wonder of outsider music. It also touches on the humanity and struggle of these types of artists. Definitely worth a watch.

[Ebolaface]

Wesley Willis forehead bumped me as a teenager at a show. I do remember some people laughing at his expense, but for me, what I remember most is the feeling of "Wow, this guy is doing what he wants to do and not letting anyone stop him, and succeeding." I think he was very inspiring

[osamardi]

So basically, the palm reader was right

[bananapancake]

Is this the best video on the tube? Perhaps. I am entertained, Iearned a bunch, and I feel inspired to delve deeper into those amazing souls you just introduced to us. thank you from the bottom of my heart