Diss'n Chris Bliss
March 14, 2006 | Arts & Culture
You may remember the Chris Bliss juggling video I pointed to a while back. From the comments I learn the juggling community is annoyed that a simple routine has gotten so much attention. And, in modern re-mix form, there is an even better routine set to the same soundtrack. In a gymnasium. With five balls instead of three. And way more tricks too. Thank you commentor "dj!"
Also, the 33-pound cat posting continues to get comments.
Comments
Hmmm. Dunno.
If you read either the note on YouTube or the unnecessarily lengthy discussion on Jason Garfield's site, you'll see that Garfield simply doesn't get it.
He writes: What I think people are responding to in his routine is the choreography to the song. Bingo. Glad you could join us.
Eh.
And the whole quantity-of-balls thing? Maybe I'm wrong, but I think he's asking: Does it scale?
Posted by: cboone at March 14, 2006 11:17 PM
I find the Chris Bliss video ever so much more watchable than the (I guess) more technically correct Jason Garfield version. I know almost nothing about juggling. I do know, though, that people are responding to the whole picture: the man's enthusiasm, and even more, his obvious ability to lose himself in what he's doing. The way he looks when he's juggling reminds me of the way my brother looks when he's playing his guitar: he's totally present in the moment and what he's doing.
I'm sure Luciano Pavarotti would have a lot of criticisms of Joe Cocker's vocal stylings - but I'd say that Joe Cocker's voice has an immediacy and visceral honesty that makes it as "real" as the classical stuff. Ditto Chris Bliss vs. the juggling elitists.
Posted by: Mary at March 26, 2006 07:10 PM
I agree - the Bliss version has a lot of emotional appeal. The Garfield version is fantastic too, but in a technical sense, with less emotion.
It's kind of like the open source software guys thinking a Linux desktop is good enough, and wondering why Apple gets all the praise with a fancy UI on top of yet another Unix. People want it to be pretty!
Posted by: Michael J. at March 26, 2006 08:57 PM
Jason Garfield broke two rules, which as an entertainer, he should know:
1. Never disparage a fellow entertainer. Applaud Chris Bliss' perserverance, Garfield, if you can't think of anything nice to say.
2. Never, ever, tell an audience their taste is bad or, by implication, they are stupid.
Garfield really doesn't get it. He comes across as mean-spirited and jealous. I don't care if Bliss isn't a technically accomplished juggler. He conceived the act and did it as a comic who also juggles. He has a sense of wit and showed real joy in what he was doing. He had the audience, if you will, in the palm of his hand. That's entertainment. Look how the routine has spread all over the web.
One more thing: One of the "Chris Bliss diss" blogs referred to the Beatles medley "Golden Slumbers/Carry That Weight/The End" he juggles to as "crappy." Um, Abbey Road, the album it's taken from, is a seminal work. Hardly insignificant.
Posted by: Athenawise at March 27, 2006 05:15 PM
I have watched both vvideos. I am in no way a juggler. I was very entertained by both. But, the Jason Garfield video looked cut and edited. If you look closely the EXIT light sign over his left shoulder is off at certain angles and then on at others. People in glass houses......etc...etc
Posted by: Jeff at April 3, 2006 06:41 PM
Also, I wouldn't say Garfields routine is more 'technically' acomplished. He does a harder routine, no doubt, but it's execution is nowhere close to the precision of Bliss, who you can tell has been juggling for 25 years. Bliss hits every beat, Garfield misses on several.
It's akin to a gymnast trying a harder jump on the vault and stutter stepping the landing, while somebody who does an easier one looks incredibly graceful and nails the landing perfectly.
People like perfection, because it's so hard to accomplish. Especially over 4 minutes.
Posted by: Doug at April 5, 2006 07:55 PM
What I love is the beauty of Chris' movement and rhythm. As a pretty kinesthetically challenged woman, the fact that he's in a state of "flow" - utter absorption - while juggling three balls to the Beatles just delights me. His obvious enjoyment speaks to people's heart -
I agree that the parody by Garfield is technically interesting, but Chris is obviously the more mature performer - sharing an interpretation of life from his soul. It's a wonderful performance!
Posted by: jen at April 8, 2006 03:49 AM
Beautifully said, Jen.
Posted by: Michael J. at April 8, 2006 07:42 AM
Just a quick comment: Bliss doesn't advertise himself as a juggler. He's an entertainer/comedian, and he happens to include a juggling element in his show. Different people like different styles. Be cool, Jason.
Posted by: annie at April 23, 2006 03:23 PM
The Garfield video is less polished because Garfield did the whole thing in one day to prove (which I think he did) that the technical standard of Bliss' performance was not high. I have no doubt that had Garfield decided to do so, he could have topped Bliss' performance in basically ever category. Frankly, I saw nothing special in Bliss' ability to make faces to Beatles music while doing a simple 3-ball juggling routine. But if you did, great.
Posted by: elmo at May 7, 2006 03:59 PM
Try Sending this one around for "jason garfield" ani-fans.
You know the 'Diss Bliss' video? Jason thinks he is so great huh? Chris Bliss can take that diss, and instead watch THISS!!! Let's see if making fun of someone else's routine is still just a funny thing to do. I think it is.
RATE THE REAL THISS BLISS DISS JASON GARFIELD FINALLY PUT TO SHAME VIDEO!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTQFFbJM53k
Posted by: DAVE GARFIELD at July 12, 2006 01:27 PM
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