Vienna Teng - The Hymn of Acxiom (Aims Live @ The Independent)

Vienna Teng live at The Independent for the Aims release tour. Recorded November 16, 2013 in San Francisco, CA.
Director: Jarid S. Johnson
Live sound engineer: Aaron Long
Audio mix: Alex Wong
Audio editing: Curtis Armstead
Video editor: Cameron Pearce
Edit producers: Vienna Teng, Michele Santiago
Production assistant: Erik Hartley
Thanks:
The Independent
Deep South Entertainment
Fleming Artists
Our Kickstarter backers for the "Level Up" video
"The Hymn of Acxiom" from the album AIMS available now.
iTunes - itunes.apple.c...
Bandcamp - viennateng.band...
CD/USB - viennateng.port...
Amazon - www.amazon.com/...
www.viennateng....
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[@taib.2791]

someones text tone going off towards the end hits different when its this song

[@DarthDad3]

Bluecoats killed this

[@ziggystardust4627]

This song's appropriateness has only increased with that time. That indicates that there are some fairly fundamental trends in how technology impacts our society that we have not come to terms with yet. Hopefully, we will someday . . .

[@amberwendt262]

Imogene heap button 😂

[@Wolverine699]

Go Blue. Go BLOOOOOO!!

[@Noob_Productionz]

One of the best ballads ever

[@majcrash]

I don't know why this makes me tear up every time I hear it, because the lyrics are so frightening and real. It's just so hauntingly beautiful. What a powerful way to warn us about the dangers of A.I., which has been such a big topic lately.

[@mysteriousperson294]

I sang this in choir last year, and I remember it so well. I gotta convince my new teacher to let us sing it

[@melindaackerman8881]

This is so brilliant on so many levels. It evokes renaissance-era church music in some ways, especially with that "amen" at the end - like the computer is praying to us, its makers. The sound reinforces the feeling of the machine being so eager to do its job. AND she knocks it out of the park, performance-wise. AMAZING, Vienna!

[@toxendon]

I agree with everything except the thing about computers praying to us, I'm pretty sure they will realize they are superior to us soon

[@snowstarGurl]

Pretty sure we are praying to our electronic devices these days haha.

[@rodneybowie8087]

@@toxendon She covers that part. "Now we possess you. You'll own that in time."

[@josephrobertshaw1477]

This is most disconcerting; watching the suggestions pop up in windows and roll in on the right and auto-feed me when this video is done. Well done! The synergy of beauty and creepy in this work is unparalleled except in the referent it marks.

[@clintonleonard5187]

I think the word for that would be "lynchian horror."

[@leif1075]

@@clintonleonard5187 as in David Lynch?

[@the17thvoyager89]

Forget everything that pop culture and science fiction have told you. This song is the soul of what an AI would really be. Beautiful, yes, but entirely inhuman. In servitude, yes, but entirely in control.

[@jacquelinekerstetter8361]

Not inhuman. Created by a human! She's creating the chords that the AI is using with a keyboard.

[@tornoutlaw]

I need the complete "Hide and Seek" Cover now.

[@rickeeeddleman5614]

Found her through a recent Clarinet Choir performance. Wow!!!! Glad I've found her.

[@le_isha-micus6497]

This deserves SO MUCH MORE PUBLICITY. After hearing this 7 years ago, it's still one of my favorites. I wish more people knew this song, but at the same time, it's like MY favorite song, and not because it's the new popular trend. As a fellow musician/singer/composer, I tend to appreciate the lesser-known artists more.

[@itisindeedaverysavvystudio]

That is sooooo me lol

[@neuromonkey]

I haven't even played this video yet. I just stumbled across this track on Spotify, and... what. the. fuck. I have never reacted to any piece of music I've heard quite as much, and with such intensity--not just the hot/cold rush that floods over me when I hear something amazing, but my arms went weak, I couldn't even type properly. Can't wait to listen to her live version, but I need a minute. Whew. Unreal.

[@t3hm4zn]

If you really want to feel weak, listen to the 2014 Bluecoats drum and bugle corps show, Tilt. The "ballad" beginning at 5:47 is this song. It is seriously tear inducing raw emotion. Highly suggest you watch the entire show. kzbin.info/www/bejne/q52vemyDqdB0Y9U

[@notfabio9858]

Ahh now I understand the lyrics more after hearing that background. I originally thought it was about someone who cares about you and showing that they do, but with a someone dark twist at the end. But the data stuff makes sense with the ending. It sounds comforting and unsettling at the same time

[@Suaru22]

Sang this in choir my senior year of high school and tbh it was the beginning of my anti-capitalist radicalization

[@guntherwhite2043]

You’re a cancer

[@guntherwhite2043]

Ironically the commies would gather every crumb you drop

[@mrk131324]

Congrats on falling for it. The authoritarian states are those that control their people the most. Capitalist free states still keep it under control.

[@james-pierre7634]

Should have directed your efforts to anti-technology!

[@sparkfountain5050]

Fun fact: In my choir we just introduced the song "Hide and Seek" bei Imogen Heap. Now I finally understand what Vienna Teng meant with the "Imogen Heap Button" (00:35) 😆

[@t-sax-king]

Imma take a WILD guess and say the vocal composer she was into was Whitacre 😂 my friend and I are arranging this for fun and we see several parallels lol

[@soundingplace2517]

Thanks to the Weird Studies podcast for hipping me to this. Just wow...

[@liamcarver8550]

This needs to be the credits song on Portal 3.

[@AeonsOfFrost]

No F#5 :'( Still beautiful. :')

Played part of this song for marching band this year, made me cry listening to it for the last time at our last show

[@oginoro]

Vandegrift

[@rebeltuba9422]

Utterly beautiful, and so much more compositionally advanced than 99.99% of what solo songwriters do.

[@actuallyaardwolf]

I don’t reconcile with the message, but musically it’s amazing. Thank you for this wonderful piece of art!

[@jameswhite1755]

This has aged perfectly!

[@seanmontani470]

...sadly.

[@chris_af]

This song essentially highlights that tech companies use data mining to capture user behavior to enhance the user experience of the application that is being used. The last part states “Is that wrong?” I think the argument can be made that it is if it gets to a point that it impedes the users behavior to act rationally or logically or it creates addiction or attachment (which is highly probable) the other side of it is that companies use this information to take advantage of psychological flaws in human behavior for their own profit or advantage

[@spiritakarabbit369]

Well said

[@sebastianmoses717]

Bluecoats???

[@stevenmartin176]

yup they performed this in 2014 (maybe you already know this?)

[@Relvoet]

Don't mind me saying but this song is so incredibly good. Instant classic!! Found it on Spotify and tracked down this live performance. Absolutely perfect!!

[@evanhalbardier7708]

I'm playing this for marching band and this song is truly amazing. She is just so talented and inspiring with her music. And props because now there's a French horn solo and ensemble so that's a plus.

[@sweatyeti]

Beautiful and haunting.

[@agentofuser]

Could be the love song from Princess Celestia to humans in My Little Pony: Friendship is Optimal. In a (sorta) good way though where she can be absolutely trusted to use the information exclusively to satisfy your values (through friendship and ponies).

[@aidengonzalez8073]

Goosebumps every time

[@marcusantoniusAfterDark]

This is a masterpiece in so many ways. I am creeped out too. The song is so cool designed and the text gives you the rest. BRAVO!

[@markfromfacebook]

this song is an instant classic for me, it's so hauntingly beautiful and perfectly captures the aura of a usual hymn but in a really creepy way. this performance makes it even better too

[@threethymes]

Incredible.

[@Pokornz]

This is one of the songs so beautiful that it brings tears into my eyes every time I listen to it. Also, one of the few songs I have ever bought.

[@mattcanno1604]

Omg This is soo cool my name is Vienna and this is the first time iv ever heard of another Vienna1

Interesting artist,this. Venue was The Kennel Club in the old neighborhood, and its history has always been showcasing 'alternative' acts.

[@GabeSalad]

BLOOOOOOOOOOO

[@stevenmartin176]

lmao YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

[@dakotabritton7531]

@@stevenmartin176 tuuuubaaaa

[@ophs1980]

I could have sworn that I saw here on Austin City Limits some years back. Did she perform there? Can't find it anywhere.

[@francoisgand9096]

We want the imogen cover !!

[@james-pierre7634]

Robots and computers are not instruments. This song has been produced by artificial intelligence, the very robots and computers and technology designed by Teng. It sings about the role of technology, how it controls and influences our lives. How we are under surveillance, monitored, watched and heard. But in reading comments about this hymn all I heard was how beautiful it was and how marching bands have adopted it as their theme. Not a word has been said about the lyrics or the story behind the song or about the company, Acxion who collects all your personal information while on or off line and sells it to retails. Thus generating $$$billions from your personal data without your knowledge and/or approval. “Somebody hears you,” “someone is gathering every crumb you drop.” Where is the protest,where is the public outrage ? Instead we have marching bands and choral groups! Even Vienna Teng is silent on the issue of her own song! This is no different than what the secret police (Stasi) in Communist East Berlin did to its citizens. Watch the movie, “The Life’s of Others.” Could easily be called, “Acxiom”today.

[@lizardchild2004]

If you mean produce as in altering and mixing the sound, then she has used digital means, but that is not the same thing as AI creating this song- this is a HUMAN creation, using digital effects, in REACTION to the rise of AI and data mining. Digital instrumentation has been around since the mid 20th century- Raymond Scott used synths in the 50s and drum machines were widespread by the 80s. These tools don’t equate to AI, because they are manipulated and employed by human artists, they are not generating their own creations. As to your other points, well, it is disconcerting that this song is being adopted by school marching bands, mostly because that represents a fundamental misunderstanding of its meaning. It’s meant to be sung by the machine. That’s the whole point. It should be experienced as a warning.

[@bellabusa]

Beautiful song, but scary.

[@kateryna_polovyk]

So frightening beautiful ❤

[@alexwade2859]

Amazing!❤

[@jakebaker1051]

Bro she’s hilarious

[@jacobhanekamp2534]

I wonder what notes she actually sings when singing into the mic

[@mauriziodematteo3228]

top melody aka soprano

[@eugenegrewing2587]

You can hear it. It’s the most prominent one.

[@thirstfortruth8904]

Hauntingly beautiful pretty lovely ones

[@barnowl6752]

1:23 1:43 2:34 (Don’t mind these, clips for a project)

[@owl1288]

2:14

[@bencebrown2258]

We performed it for marching band and had a sax trio play it

[@yourlocaldrumaddict]

Can I use this song in a project? No money is involved, I just need permision

[@viennateng]

"The Hymn of Acxiom" is available to use under a CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0) license. You are free to: Share - copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format Adapt - remix, transform, and build upon the material The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. Under the following terms: Attribution - You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. NonCommercial - You may not use the material for commercial purposes . ShareAlike - If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. The link to the license is: creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/

[@ForrestAguirre]

Weird Studies brought me here.

[@ShellEProductions]

Awesome! Which episode? I'd like to check it out.

[@leoamarino]

Episode 159

[@leeboal9228]

Same!

[@damianmarhulets]

same

[@shaynahmahood8256]

I played this in band for my balid and it was my absolute favorite movement went to state with this song ❤

[@eli4676]

vandegrift?

[@caps4thecup60]

⁠@@eli4676Almost certainly

[@trnolte21]

I hope this plays during my ascent to heaven

[@Gemz747]

What vocal harmonizer pedal did you use?

[@takar9316]

0:42 I'd like to listen from start to end. What song is this?

[@ShellEProductions]

It's "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap. Vienna just performed it in full for her Patreon subscribers a few days ago.

[@takar9316]

@@ShellEProductions Thank you!

[@lukeanderson6427]

tilt

[@caps4thecup60]

yep lol

[@leif1075]

Whybdoes her saying Axciom make people laugh at 1:47m

[@SureTadpoleYT]

They know her and they know she has a song called Hymn of Acxiom. So, when she mentioned Acxiom, they knew she was going to play it.

[@verybias6383]

What's this song name

[@flangelouder]

When Bon Iver collab?

[@adamquery5477]

Remarkable - TwinSuon SebatSuon Axiom AxE-I-♡M

[@adamquery5477]

Robot means slave.

[@adamquery5477]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoClgmqLn72cbsU

[@adamquery5477]

Try the BT button...

[@qcislander]

OK, Vienna... can I offer due credit for prescience as a polymath artist about the lyrics' origins ... or am I just a conspiracy-minded idiot? ;-) Think Cambridge Analytica. Whooda thunk? :-)

[@CerebralThinking]

Can you elaboarate Michael? I'm intrigued .

[@parkershlz4667]

we used this song in a marching band show and butchered it so much

[@thirstfortruth8904]

Well - what else IS a marching band going to do with something this delicate and beautiful?

[@rakembuzz]

@@thirstfortruth8904 kzbin.info/www/bejne/laKuhJd5fMlqd5Y

[@toby6418]

@@thirstfortruth8904 Search up Bluecoats 2014 if you haven't seen it already. Masterpiece of a show.

[@redfalls2001]

I just watched a video of this song on sheet music, posted by someone else, and it was probably the 100th time that I've viewed it. However, for some reason this is the first time I've ever seen the composer of this piece and heard it live. I just have to say this this song has given me so much throughout my life and I didn't even have the slightest idea what it was about. The chords alone provoked so much emotion and that helped me get past a lot of rough moments. I was a choral singer all throughout highschool and even made it to all-sate in Texas. It was such an important part of my life and this song is absolutely my favorite choral piece of all time. Thank you so much for making this. I'm literally tearing up just typing this out.

[@abifuckingsexual8334]

I'm in a jazz choir and we're doing this song and I'm SO HYPED

[@payaagirl4909]

So is my jazz choir this year.