How sign language innovators are bringing music to the deaf

Visualizing rhythms and rhymes through American Sign Language.
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Amber Galloway Gallego is one of a growing number of ASL interpreters that specializes in the performing arts, specifically music. She’s interpreted for over 400 artists at this point and has a special knack for interpreting hip-hop acts like Kendrick Lamar and Drake. She also has her own KZbin channel, here: / 1stopforasl
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[@zbsz92]

how would the world be if everyone was that passionate about their job

[@-.._.-_...-_.._-..__..._.-.-.-]

Well, you can't blame a guy who cleans prota potties at $7.25/hr for not being passionate about his job.

[@Kennclarete]

David S. except that guy earns much more than an IT professional in a developing country

[@jrome1]

Kenn Clarete okay but the cost of living is probably much higher where the cleaner lives

[@Kennclarete]

SpeedoTan yeah. Your original post had a point. I just wanted to show that his life isn't so bad. I mean, he can afford an iphone more than the IT guy.

[@leaherisson8375]

El Bstr it would be wonderful !

[@岩崎もと]

Imagine going to a concert and the interpreter being like **music**

[@parkers9095]

vacuum cleaner I have actually seen this at a concert it was awesome actually

[@RIPToNateDoggIHadToRegulate]

@@parkers9095 I think what he meant was that you go to a concert and the lady just does the sign for music.

[@parkers9095]

Xande oh! Lol. That would be terrible.

[@jin_cotl]

lol like those subtitles on KZbin.

[@XenaAndKin]

This is a new level of **kills you in Spanish**

[@sweiland75]

As a disabled person myself, although not deaf, the most important word is accessibility. It's not just being able to access a place in a wheelchair without a barrier. It's also about being provided the tools to allow us to enjoy life to the fullest, just like everyone else.

[@danemadrin5000]

we are looking for an ASL INTERPRETER located in OREGON, CT UNITED STATES. if u happen to know anyone who is fully qualified for it please replie back to me i would really appreciate it.

[@rachstone9491]

Vox is such an amazing informative channel ❤

[@isabellabornberg2153]

Rach Stone +

[@Dance_Party]

If they aren't talking about politics then yeah.

[@Dance_Party]

(+democritus) Well than why the heck would you watch a channel if it goes to much on one side? It's okay to have liberal videos but at least bring some conservative thoughts! We are not all the same and we have different viewpoints. It gets a bit annoying when this happens because they think everyone is a liberal.

[@ctwofirst6635]

No, channels do not have to pander to the broadest common denominator. They can produce whatever they believe represents important ideas or events. Vox doesn't "think everyone is a liberal" - they think that the ideas they are presenting are important and meaningful.

[@rachstone9491]

Dance Party I've never noticed a particular bias on here...thats why I like it so much compared to other sources? I don't really know what you mean

[@amandabubbles6724]

I actually saw her during a music festival. Absolutely amazing I was too busy looking at her signing instead of the band.

[@danemadrin5000]

we are looking for an ASL INTERPRETER located in OREGON, CT UNITED STATES. if u happen to know anyone who is fully qualified for it please replie back to me i would really appreciate it.

[@MOOMOO2728]

I enjoy hearing a song along with the special way she signs . She is amazing

[@dontreadmyprofilepicturead5478]

Interesting stuff

[@isabellabornberg2153]

Don't Read My Profile Picture Advanced +

[@jasonreyarana4034]

My head is bursting with thoughts to the level that I can't comprehend,, like HOW? This is really amazing! MIND BLOWN!

[@socalnative562]

I love how passionate she is and the way she signs is amazing!

[@brent3072]

Subtitles: *music* Deaf people: *starts dancing like crazy*

[@antemeridiemwolf]

*This woman is a rock star!*

[@avariceseven9443]

Wow! That passion is louder than any audible sound.

[@RaviofromsALinkBetweenWorlds]

ive been learning sign language for over a year and i think this would be an awesome thing for me to learn

[@jol3468]

This is sooo interesting. I'm a hearing person and my brother(also hearing)took ASL as his "foreign" language in h.s., he had to sign a song for his class & we just discussed this.

[@obama17522712]

Joss Fong has such a soothing voice! Wish she publishes an audio book about randoms science topics

[@Vox]

Our music videos are made by Estelle Caswell (not Joss) but yes, Estelle has a lovely voice :)

[@peyton1254]

My 1st year asl class did a group song that we translated and we preformed it to outer whole school a few times and many deaf families and older people, it was really fun😁

[@LogistiQbunnik]

That is awesome. I can almost hear the music just from the movement, it's dynamic, it makes fun (yes, I myself can also hear it, but I know may people in the world can't). Thank you!

[@dinaSgood]

Wow. This is such a wonderful improvement! What a joy to watch!!

[@CameronEly]

This is EXACTLY why I subscribed to VOX. Incredible video!

[@licklebee]

I love ASL. Its so beautiful I want learn

[@chelseadreww]

the way they cuss is amusing to me😂but this lady is doing ground breaking things here i am very pleased that things are moving along for the better in the deaf community❤️

[@MegaKarebear16]

i agree i use to sign and i was told to not sign like that but i felt like i should i don't remember anything anymore of course but i love what you are doing thank you :D

[@holkangel]

Saw this lady live on Colours of Ostrava. She is a rock star.

[@techielopez7678]

Love, love, love! God bless your heart! You are amazing in bringing music to many!

[@lesliedooley2203]

I love the ideas and images shown here. When I started watching I thought this would be a good video to show to students in my elementary music classroom or to singers in my children’s church choir, but then when the Eminem lyrics were presented, I knew that was out of the question - the language just would not be appropriate. I would love it if Amber would make another video which would be ok to show to kids.

[@enelson0003]

She's basically rewriting all of the songs, conveying all of the same meaning and cleverness, but in a totally different medium with no sound. Absolutely incredible.

[@bc9942]

Sometimes I’m just glad there’s people like her existing in this world

[@source5729]

💖 wow. This opens a whole new world for hearing impaired.

[@nanoraptoro8602]

Amber Galloway Gallego - You are a treasure and a hero!

[@TheDavidMancini]

Vox, I love your videos and what you're doing. Thank you!

[@ashleyhernandez9735]

It's crazy. This is my passion, I'm going to college to BECOME an interpreter. I want to be as important and this beautiful people one day, it's my dream

[@ElanVR]

Thank you... thank you for doing this, you are a hero

[@MAR72132]

Amazing. I wish I had a fraction of the skill.

[@heatherb697]

You are amazing, thank you for your knowledge and wanting to educate and improve with sign language

[@Sophia-he8uk]

“So it says here on your resumé you’re a musician. What instrument do you play?” Her: “it’s complicated”

[@lucia_kidtech]

Amber made me want to learn sign language. Thank you.

[@neilsumanda1538]

Im lovin this...

[@moocho1]

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC

[@theveeshowhere]

Love you; I’m not deaf, but I dig your vibe, Miss Lady!!!

[@trevorw2841]

Totally off topic, but I love all the marimba soundtracks that vox uses

[@housecat1674]

It's almost like dancing

[@BobBrownBIS]

Shes a professional air guitarist

[@charlenemcilhatton2954]

Wouldn't it have been great it had subtitles so I could show this to my deaf parents....

[@foxsmith770]

I wonder how she interprets dubstep...

[@ZinaVlada]

Fox Smith as a Deaf person, I hope she does not.

[@Cliptix]

She might have it on her youtube.

[@br0h0gg45]

She’s the one who went viral after Lollapalooza in Chicago this year

[@Thesmus]

I wanna see more use sign language in dancing, like what happened in Capital Cities' Vowels MV

[@trinity_null]

Mom said I couldn't be a professional musical.lyer.

[@nuberiffic]

Well, you can't. Because a musical is a genre of performance. A person can't be one

[@rubytski]

This is just brilliant!

[@SuperZface]

Deaf people would still be able to listen to music when using those cranium earphone joints right??

[@moshihaey1]

can you believe a video about bringing music to the deaf community didn't even mention deaf west spring awakening, a broadway musical with deaf actors

[@neubertmc]

A modern-day hero.

[@mamaieshaspeaks]

I love this woman!

[@Vawesome18]

Can you make a video on why Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five's song "The Message" is sampled so much in rap?

[@laurak5838]

This is really cool.

[@camilacmvet]

Just wow.

[@yourname61]

1:20 Korean is sometimes spoken like that, French too. But that’s all the languages that I know that do that

[@kittykatkattooxd7880]

Deaf people, watching this videos: *turns up volume*

[@Rivenmoxie]

This is beautiful

[@HeyItsTyler2000]

i feel like i've seen her at lollapalooza!!!

[@shaqeelokneal8996]

This is like that meme where the subtitle says “music” and then it shows a person dancing labeled “deaf person”

[@LynRuiz]

This lady is a rock star ⭐️

[@xg6hpyk]

Thank you for the video. I just subscribed to Amber's You Tube channel

[@unsettledculture7399]

does anybody know of any Deaf poets/songwriters who use visual rhyme and rhythm to make aesthetically interesting ASL pieces, in a similar way to how Hearing songwriting uses the aesthetic value of english words?

[@chicodepuertorico1450]

I wonder If shes worked with Sia. Sia has also been known to sign her music. Hmm... interesting to see a collaboration between the two. 👍🏻

[@seraphimsteve]

This is something I want to do.

[@isaacg.1185]

5:04 It's lit

[@stupirruccello]

this is so great

[@bens5093]

So basically sign language + dancing?

[@mattjohnston2]

This was strangely emotional for me...

[@amit4Bihar]

Love Vox

[@julianacromey7151]

So dang cool!

[@Sergio-ik4ix]

Imagine her translating desiigner.

[@donov25]

Is there a way we can take it a step further and communicate the individual notes?

[@anna-yz6wj]

i like how asl and most languages are kinda like inside jokes but asl music interpretation is like and inside joke with in a inside joke

[@erindrawson]

So cool.

[@heyheyhey40]

She’s genius!

[@scaldlemon9847]

do deaf people at concerts to "sing" along raise their hands up and sign the lyrics ?

[@ksorabbit]

Top 10 rappers Eminem was afriad to diss

[@noysymachine25]

I could tell the song just by the lady's appearance lol

[@parrisnia72]

This is awesome

[@itsfaithkay]

Smart ASF!! I wanna meet her.

[@MK-jn9uu]

Wow

[@m93samman]

So she's actually a professional player of air instruments

[@meitsi]

I knew the online course was worth it.

[@adhhxgxhhg]

I learned air guitar at Trump University.

[@martinsoendergaard-jensen9602]

Me too. I also learned the triangle. I am a professional triangle player.

[@SometimesCompitent]

I didn't know middle fingering commas was an instrument.

[@bluchismoon]

poopisnotpoop no, no. middle fingering commas is the speaking part, it's not the instrumental part.

[@amydocherty7317]

Wow

[@Mr.Anders0n_]

this documentary​ lacks something very important: the opinion of the deaf and what this type interpretation means/feels for them.

[@mars7612]

Amber actually developed this form of interpretation with almost strictly Deaf people. She also has a family of Deaf people and she herself is hard of hearing. I do wish they included that info in this video though.

[@trentmora8094]

Mars S doesn’t mean much.

[@mars7612]

@@trentmora8094 Excuse me?

[@adinahwithkaden]

I agree. I'd like to hear from Deaf people

[@staceykasirye3455]

Yeah, their insight would be appreciated.

[@daveteves]

Wow. That woman is a legend.

[@rebeccafriedman3502]

juststr8up don't be annoying

[@lyne3783]

juststr8up fat but a legend

[@JollyJoel]

justshutup*

[@JollyJoel]

racist

[@JollyJoel]

@juststr8up, i.imgur.com/axJmn.gif

[@jamesburgess2k]

Rain Drop Droptop Singing a song without her voice box

[@Nanancay]

LMFAOO

[@desireegrant9937]

Desiree Y.Grant

[@Crow3ater]

Lol is it bad that I actually enjoyed tjat

[@Vishal6969]

LMAOO

[@Jake-jm4jm]

James Burgess she has a voice and she can hear.

[@Neontronique]

that was a fantastic video and I love that woman. she's a hero.

[@shifter9653]

How is she a hero lol

[@nandaveerum4399]

what is the feminine word for hero? jk :)

[@voicelessglottalfricative6567]

@@nandaveerum4399 heroine

[@1Rab]

She truly followed her passion

[@Tw0Dots]

idk about hero lol

[@linasketch9625]

She should make a youtube channel in which she interprets songs!!

[@darkain]

kzbin.infovideos

[@gavinreed4343]

please tell me this is sarcasm

[@Jess-ws6qs]

Vincent Milum Jr r/whooosh

[@jpz3045]

Tip Tod how

[@nurulhannah4713]

She does!!

[@Differentmedia]

this is amazing yes... but my god does it seem like a ton of work!

[@abigailriggs8864]

Forrest Stevens believe me it is.

[@moonettewolfsong9960]

Abigail Riggs personally that only makes it more amazing.

[@joemunoz1476]

It's a ton of work. Especially because everyone signs different. Your ASL 1 professor will sign different than your ASL 2 professor.. then your ASL 3 professor will just be focused on selling nachos for fundraisers ..

[@ftmrebel7500]

Just like with anything else, it takes time

[@xandrine7603]

@@moonettewolfsong9960 amazed all the tme at trivolities

[@paulcasanova1909]

Get this girl a medal. I understood the rhythm of the song while watching this video muted. GJ

[@nickcaswell965]

You think you do.

[@fhb_122]

@@nickcaswell965 How do you know that he think he do? You just assume stuff. How do you know that he thinks he can or cannot interpret the music without volume? How do you know if he's deaf or hard of hearing or not?

[@ynntari2775]

People assume too much

[@wuchungus_gaming9095]

@@ynntari2775 that trueee people should lern to be happy when someone accomplsihe

[@dontmindme.imjustafraidofe9327]

I’ve seen that in Closed Captions, too. They’d just say “music”. Lately I’ve been seeing some adjective and adverbs, like “energetic music” or “somber music” or “gentle music”, so that’s better, I guess.

[@danemadrin5000]

we are looking for an ASL INTERPRETER located in OREGON, CT UNITED STATES. if u happen to know anyone who is fully qualified for it please replie back to me i would really appreciate it.

[@geewilikers9780]

my favorite is when the hero is chased into leaping out of an exploding building, with sparks showering every where and the caption says.... intense music. it seems so pointless. if you can't tell by all of the explosions that the scene is intense, then you have failed as a film maker and writing 'intense music' isn't going to save it.

[@Vox]

If you'd like a little more Amber Galloway Gallego, let me just suggest her translation of "All I want for Christmas is you" kzbin.info/www/bejne/h5aTZJSZlrZmY9E -joe

[@nightingale4786]

Vox maybe you guys should pin this comment so more people can see this!

[@volinderdhesi9500]

Vox it

[@--Paws--]

I feel it is necessary to interpret music with such emotion without this the mute and deaf will miss out on the beauty of music

[@elijahrivers3917]

Julius Toledo they don't have to Jesus heals

[@--Paws--]

Addon - Not being deaf or mute myself yet knowing for a fact they can feel vibrations of a speaker or how some can feel the subtle low notes of music; they can experience the variations of beat and rhythm. Although not as varied to those that can hear other notes - the percussions in music by itself can introduce them to the complexities of music.

[@rodrigogil3460]

cant they already hear if theyre mute?

[@jacobreeves7980]

Mute people can't speak, but they can still hear

[@malcolmcertain9971]

elijah rivers Regardless of the historical accuracy of that, Jesus is dead.

[@1darkironman1]

I'm deaf and while this is a "uplifting" video, interpreting music is kinda made up. normally, when a interpreter/deaf hear/read a word that not translatable we finger spell it but that would look funny and ineffective while interpreting music. therefore, the interpreter makes up a sign that no one know so unless there's some kind of standardized music sign language, every interpreter would be different. I seen dozens of "music" interpreting and I can only understand maybe 10% to 40% of it.

[@shanhussain6114]

Maybe someone should publish a paper on it. Get the people in office, in universities, in both the deaf and hearing community involved

[@ynntari2775]

Oh, don't worry. I'm a hearing person and I can only understand about 10% to 40% of the lyrics of musics in the languages I speak

[@Someone-ig7we]

Yeah Ƿynnťari is right. We can't understand most of the songs either but I can definitely see how yours is more of a struggle. Just don't feel too bad about it. :)

[@ynntari2775]

Music is more about enjoying the sounds rather than understanding the lyrics. So the deaf version of music would probably also be more about enjoying the flow of the moves like a dance rather than understanding the lyrics. And just as hearing people may not like the sound of some music, even if they find the lyrics good, deaf people can totally also not like the moves of a 'singer'.

[@mars7612]

For one, music for the hearing world is also similar in that aspect. Many things in songs are made up or very abstract. Also, a good interpreter shouldn't be using "made up signs", they should be using full ASL with unique and descriptive classifiers and expression.

[@N4orEditor]

i wanna see her doing rap god, she'll probably break her hands edit: i probably dont deserve that many likes, but thanks.

[@Crz4wizard]

It's on her KZbin channel. Look her up.

[@callmedriftar]

What's here KZbin channel called

[@Crz4wizard]

Her channel is called, "Amber Galloway." Same as her name.

[@firstnamebasis3300]

Rap god isn't a good song honestly and I'm a fan of Eminem.

[@N4orEditor]

First Name Basis but its pretty much known as the "fast rap" anthum at this point

[@ysolomonmalodgne1597]

they should make a band out of this. imagine the rave party.

[@ysolomonmalodgne1597]

Alexander Niyazov i hope this will be a new hipster thing in the future.

[@slowfire2]

Alexander Niyazov A deaf party would be rather loud, actually, so you can really feel the music. And deaf people are not silent. You'd realize this if you went to quite a few Deaf events.

[@br20000000]

Just add light gloves

[@msjkramey]

ysolomon malodgne yeas!!!

[@juanmaruli4977]

talking about band, there's a band in my country that always have a girl doing sign language of the lyrics in their music video.

[@AnonymousFreakYT]

Am I the only one that finds it odd that they censored the written expletives, but not the spoken or signed?

[@sev9642]

Anonymous Freak ikr

[@OriginalPuro]

I find it odd they censor no matter what.

[@alextheskaterdude07]

It’s vox. Not exactly smart folks.

[@carrotcake6572]

Why would they, they don’t censor for ethical reasons, they do it to avoid being hit with regulation or demonetization. If neither the audience nor regulatory bodies care then why bother

[@stephhhie17]

@@carrotcake6572 There is no regulatory body for Internet videos, it's only whatever KZbin deems to be appropriate or inappropriate.

[@RafaelJoseBurgos]

Rappers should perform their songs using this ASL thing. She looks amazing interpreting Eminem's song at 4:48

[@MaryS-el8du]

check out andy mineo- hear my heart. he did just that

[@mohamedzarif4473]

Rafael Burgos j

[@Northbirdy]

Also Ed Sheeran did it in his music video for you need me I dont need you

[@AbsurdExistentialist]

If you check out Amber's channel, you'll see she's interpreted "Rap God". :O

[@kimseymour5250]

AbsurdExistentialist how is that even possible? She must have to condense like four words to one sign or something

[@PhilVerryChannel]

This video made me think. It made me think about deaf people and how as a hearing person, we've often unwittingly dismissed their needs and wants from our circle. I'd never thought about it. Thanks for helping me balance that out from now on.