Five Life Lessons From an Unlikely Musical Duo
What we can learn from Tico the parrot’s rise to rock stardom.
The first time I stumbled upon one of Tico & the Man’s videos, I was blown away. In the video, Tico, a double yellow-headed Amazon parrot, is singing along to The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun” as his owner, Frank Maglio, Jr., plays it on the guitar. Tico climbs onto a perch in front of Frank and improvises melodies that fit with the music. May I emphasize — improvises. He’s not regurgitating tunes he’s been taught — he’s creating them. And he’s in tune with the guitar. The joy, both in Tico’s performance and Frank’s delighted smile, is palpable. And with that first viewing, I was hooked.
Each day since, I have looked forward to hearing Tico’s vocal stylings, paired with Frank’s playing. The two cover an array of musical genres, including rock, pop, and jazz classics. Two of my personal favorites are U2’s “One” and Blue Oyster Cult’s “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” Both performances are great examples of Tico’s musical talent.
Lyrics aren’t Tico’s thing — at least not the lyrics we’re familiar with. He creates his own, singing his name or screeching “baby” in a drawn-out scream that would make any rock front man jealous. He inserts some spoken words, such as “Frank,” and sound effects reminiscent of Beaker from the…
