The Internet is truly a wonderful place, as evidenced by the recent video of a music fan covering Toto’s ‘Africa’ on two sweet potatoes and a squash.
Over the years, we’ve well and truly seen proof that anything can be an instrument if you try hard enough. Why, we’ve seen Tool covered on actual tools, the Red Hot Chili Peppers played on actual chilis, and who could forget Noel Gallagher’s scissors player?
However, Finnish ocarina maker Toni Patanen appears to have taken the cake, becoming the latest musician to cover Toto’s iconic 1982 hit.
As The Independent reports, Patanen’s video was uploaded on New Year’s Eve, and shows the artist whittling away at two sweet potatoes and a squash to expertly craft a handful on intriguing instruments.
Before long, the opening gourds (sorry) of Toto’s track are played through the squash, and we’re given the vegetable rendition we never knew we wanted.
Check out Toni Patanen’s Sweet Potato & Squash cover of Toto’s ‘Africa’:
Speaking to The Press Association, Toni Patanen explains that this isn’t his first run in with musical veggies, having previously covered Darude’s ‘Sandstorm’ on a potato in the past.
“Playing Darude’s ‘Sandstorm’ on the recorder and later the ocarina has been a gimmick I’ve been performing since high school,” he explained. “I got the idea of combining those two concepts, and thought it would be good marketing for my ocarinas.”
“This gave birth to the first video I uploaded.”
“I just covered Africa because it was requested the most, and had risen to meme status somewhat recently,” he continued. “Of course I also very much enjoyed covering this legend of a song.”
While we’re not quite sure this performance is up to the same standards as Toto’s recent Aussie tour, we’re certain that Toni Patanen has one amazing musical future ahead of him.
In the meantime, we’re just going to rewatch his sweet patoto cover on repeat.
Check out Toto’s ‘Africa’:
