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Bespoken: Amazing Music Made From The Bicycle, by Johnnyrandom

Written by Tyler Benedict
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Composer Johnyyrandom’s debut single, Bespoken, creates a beautiful piece of music using only bicycle parts. As in, 100% of the sounds in the song are made by tuning, rubbing, strumming, banging and tapping the frame and components. This video provides a look at the process, and you can get the whole song on iTunes here. There’s also the Inverted Mtb Remix here.
Tyler Benedict
11,283 articles

Tyler Benedict is the Founder of Bikerumor.com, where he’s been writing about the latest bikes, components, and cycling technology for almost two decades. Prior to that, Tyler launched and built multiple sports nutrition brands and consumer goods companies, mostly as an excuse to travel and ride in new places.

Based in North Carolina, Tyler also loves the Vanlife & family adventure travel and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part and off-grid adventure.

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tosis
tosis
11 years ago

Seen it before:

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caliente
caliente
11 years ago

No squeal of improperly adjusted Cantis?! what gives?

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kj
kj
11 years ago

The avid disc brake “turkey gobble” noise might make some good dubstep.

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pmurf
pmurf
11 years ago

or the steady creak of a PF30 BB. But seriously, all cutting room regrets aside, this is very cool. Definitely worth $0.99 to have in the collection.

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Peter
Peter
11 years ago

Frank Zappa–yes, that Frank Zappa–did this back in 1963 on the Steve Allen Tonight Show.

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gatorcycle
gatorcycle
11 years ago

Here’s Frank Zappa’s interpretation of bicycle music back in 1963:

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Johnnyrandom
Johnnyrandom
11 years ago

@Peter – I’ve always had the impression that Frank Zappa was pulling one over on the “Steve Allen Show”, especially since he was notorious for being hilariously subversive… There are some interesting similarities to John Cage’s performance of “Water Walk” on the show “I’ve Got A Secret” in 1960. youtu.be/SSulycqZH-U

When I composed “Bespoken”, I was going for the sonic opposite of what Cage or Zappa did: I wanted to make something that was mostly free of arhythmic cacophony or abrasive elements… I hope that makes sense.

That said, you’d be surprised how far back this concept goes: Samuel Goss invented the “Musical Bicycle” in 1899: goo.gl/Us2uo5

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