Gershwin plays Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue

[SagaciousSilence]

Listen to the transition the song makes at 5:33

From 5:33 on to the end is easily one of the most captivating melodies ever created by humanity. Just listening to it evokes the immensity of human ambition, hope, optimism, pep, and love. It makes you realize how amazing it is to be alive and human, and how amazing we are as a species. It makes me emotional listening to it :')

[MsFuzzyWuzzyPants]

Fantasia was always my favorite when I was a kid. The music was amazing and I loved it. Now years later I have found it again and can't stop listening. Gershwin you are my hero and favorite musician!

[poetsguild]

Best modern music ever! First heard it, not on the cartoon but at my cousin's house when I was 9 or 10. Who could not adore this piece?

[bobidou23]

Great piece. Out of curiosity, anyone else come here from Nodame Cantabile?

[mikaelfodor]

@bobidou23 I was just watching it for the first time in ages and wondering who wrote this piece.

[llarissaahhh]

Reminds me of the 20's, like great gatsby((:

[SagaciousSilence]

This song compliments Gatsby immensely. Gershwin wrote the song when he was inspired to capture the American spirit which he felt was defined by our infinite optimism, peppiness, and insane ambitiousness. Those qualities completely define Gatsby and so the two go hand-in-hand. That's why Rhapsody in Blue is declared as a song that defines America, just as The Great Gatsby is regarded as the book which defines America.

[YayILikePie]

I love a Gershwin tune. How about you?

[hubajuba1337]

I love the clarinet solo in the beginning, along with the rest of the piece.

[2jaxx2]

The best piece of American music ( and I love the Doors).Ever.

[safenders]

@2jaxx2 The Doors are good

[MultiVirginian]

Gershwin was a genius and each piece of his music is a delight.

[rockypegram]

Thumbs up if you're listening to this because it's a wonderful piece of music, but heard it from a cartoon and it has stayed with you since your childhood. Referring to Fantasia 2000. There is nothing wrong with finding a love for music from a cartoon.

[AmiraTamran]

@rockypegram Especially if you've loved it since before you could talk. I don't think loveisfearless0622 can say that.

[rickricardo94]

The bass clarinet line at 1:57 is an absolute delight! What a pleasant surprise . . .

[ajakiak]

WOW!

[swinetimetodine69]

The One and Only-Love it!



[TristanMrH]

this was one of my grandfathers favorites, they played it at his funeral, now i can't listen to this song without thinking about him and how he used to joke around and have fun. I miss him :(

[Maud93]

Manhattan. :)

[truBador2]

Who are the Simpsons?

[Troy2276]

Timeless beauty

[doggie979050]

thump up if you heard it from the Simpsons!

[ArteL01]

Only need to hear that first 30 seconds and i'm away.

[Mijicm]

Oh my God...

[mtan123456789]

love this

[ImpudentSkills]

This was at the end of some obscure video and I knew I heard it somewhere before.. and well, I'm just glad I found this again. :')

[DarkChocolateMelody]

so amazing.



[jonathan1994ish1]

Woody Allen sent me here. Thanks Woody :)

[helpAHHHH]

Brian Wilson sent me.

[kswanson20]

@helpAHHHH Me too :).

[ProyectMooneJazzers]

I am gay and I completely miss the union point between being like me and not liking this music... Anyone care to explain?

[Otacon144]

@ProyectMooneJazzers - I'd TRY to explain, but unfortunately, I don't understand it myself.

I'm told you have to be pretty stupid for it to make sense. *shrug*

[ProyectMooneJazzers]

@Otacon144

Thanks, I'll go ask a dumb-as-a-rock, homophobic guy I know for him to explain, but I don't think he can even understand my words...

[Ther0ckstar77]

@ProyectMooneJazzers Sorry. That's not what i meant. or maybe it is. im an asshole. just forget it plz.

[Muzician32]

Played this song (the full band and piano arrangement) in our high school. That clarinet solo was the funnest thing i've played in highschool!

[jasondanielpruitt]

first time hearing this. enjoying it

[Ther0ckstar77]

112 are gay or deaf. *cough* @skyserfentchase *cough*

[GodofReapers]

@Ther0ckstar77 I know plenty of gay people who love this song. Also, why would deaf people dislike a song they can't even hear?

[Ther0ckstar77]

@GodofReapers Sorry. That's not what i meant. or maybe it is. im an asshole. just forget it plz.

[00daestarr00]

I love this song! Really does remind me of my favorite American city <3

[flordecamalote]

Una de las mejores piezas de música por siempre escritas!!!

[billnear]

@skyserfentchase

No, you're gay.

[sabbersolo]

@skyserfentchase Grow up, you son of a silly person!

[ishaanc90]

Chapter One. He adored New York City...

[TheUnderratedclassic]

unfortunately at 20 years young i believe that music as excellent and accomplished such as this are lost on my generation. i say more fool them. what an intricate composition gives me goosebumbs everytime. george you are a musical genius!!!

[brotherdarek]

One of my alltime favorite pieces of music. I prefer it at a slower tempo though.

[BANDIIDO]

UN DIA COMO HOY 7 DE ENERO

1924: en EE. UU., George Gershwin termina de componer Rhapsody in Blue.

(Rhapsody in Blue es una composición musical creada por George Gershwin para piano solo y banda de jazz, escrita en 1924 en la que se combinan elementos de música clásica con efectos de influencia jazzística. La obra fue estrenada el 12 de febrero de 1924 en el Aeolian Hall de Nueva York, en un concierto titulado "Un experimento en música moderna", An Experiment in Modern Music)

[FebMarAprMayDec]

@Mrjacksonll Hardly, since he was the son of Jewish immigrants from Odessa.

[Mrjacksonll]

this shit sucks my asian BALLS

[andnowforsomething89]

Does this remind anyone else of the Fallout series? At least the radio?

[KnockelII]

Piano parts are wonderful.

[junyang86]

Thumbs up for United Airlines? ;)

[Zagat50]

@junyang86 It has been a great move from UA by choosing this anthem of the american music of all times.

[NBeach98]

I like this I'm attempting to play this clarinet solo now and it is very difficult but this video is definitely helping me hopefully I'll be able to do it! Jeeze and to think I'm only a kid :P

[EightAsterisk]

@NBeach98 I just want to give you a thumbs up for learning it. I know it's hard but the clarinet is a beautiful instrument.

[jackhammer1965]

No one plays Gershwin like Gershwin.... :-)

[ylekem1]

My favourite version of a piece of music is always when the composer conducts/plays his own music. It sounds just as it was intended to.

[Cozmogramma]

Chapter one...

[missycake1]

GENIUS!

[RUSHFAN1A]

This has always been one of my favorite pieces of music.

[BerkLeeDrm]

dislikers must be deaf!!

[Carlos1962Blanco]

Great!! fantastic no words for describe

[Tudattalan]

Jó  :)

[zickey100]

I never knew this existed. Thanks so much for posting. It's sure different from modern arrangements.

[loveisfearless0622]

Thumbs up if you're listening to this because it's the best piece of music ever written, not because of a cartoon.

[JonnyJones324]

@loveisfearless0622 That's arguable, it is, however the best piece of the 20th century for 20th century composers.. That are American.. That didn't music scoring..

[Becken95]

@loveisfearless0622 Well, I listen to it because it's an amazing piece of work, but I would never have found it if it wasn't for the cartoon. :)

[ultrayayapkingz]

@loveisfearless0622 well thats where i heard this song 

[PickleIslandLmtd]

@ultrayayapkingz I concur.

[herksky]

a mi el intro me recuerda las peliculas de woody allen!!!

[StrangerYouKnow]

@SqeakyGoldfish Omg. No. Get out.

[bwc3821]

@StrangerYouKnow of course it is, why does this composer hate america?

[sergioernestopineda]

MAGNIFICO !!!!

[redhedbedhed]

in my opinion, this is one of the best pieces of music ever written.

[Zagat50]

@redhedbedhed THIS IS THE PIECE OF MUSIC EVER WRITTEN. I WILL NEVER GET TIRED OF LISTENING THIS....I DO IT ALREADY FOR THE LAST 25 YEARS AND WILL DO IT UNTIL THE DAY I GO TO THE "SECOND FLOOR" AND WILL DEMAND THIS PIECE IN MY FUNERAL, LUV IT, LUV IT

[shakirachan12]

Love it cant get enough

[amoresicilia]

I love it.

[osocoolone]

I have a good original 78rpm copy of this and American in Paris....rhapsody in Blue c/with its original 1926 dust cover....

[smakillop1]

Hard to have a disturbed mind when listening to this level of excellence!



[lovemymuzic1]

@smakillop1

Yessss! I love that : )

[slayerized86]

Ah, the theme at 6:17 is sooo beautiful...

[TheAztecSon]

Fantasia 2000

[Gizmo837]

I used to be able to play this on the piano till i toke an arrow to the knee.

[nhodgskin]

George  Gershwin is the best composer i have ever heard, fact!

[summeryayi]

Humorous and beautiful melody. I like it so much

[seifer93]

My Humanities teacher first brought me here (and to Frank Sinatra). Then Woody Allen's Manhattan forced me to revisit this. Finally, the 30 sec clip in the second season of Glee forced me to come back once more. I don't need the piece to be featured in a movie or show to remind me how good it is though.

[EcentC]

Rosalind Sinclair sent me

[EikichiOnizuka90]

Mahnattan

[TrippyMcgee22]

@EikichiOnizuka90 Woody Allen. George Gershwin. Geniuses.

[classicUG]

I uploaded my vinyl rip of Gershwin plays Gershwin check it out!

[ZzKingz1]

Personally I don't like this recording (aside from the sound quality). Fantasia 2000 is the best IMO

[GReck4]

Thumbs up of Woody Allen's "Manhattan" brought you here

[MsRosePeddle]

In the Fantasia 2000 Gershwin comes out animated after the little girls piano lesson.

[JBARATA1996]

Dubstep is your mother

[dondeestaeldinero]

Classic... enough said.

[franklywright]

im sorry, but why are these old recordings always so crappy?

[kittykitty0204]

@franklywright

It's the quality of the recording devices they had back then. Over the years, technology has advanced so much that now we can record clean, clear, perfect audio, but that hasn't always been available. I, however, actually enjoy (and sometimes prefer) the sound of older recordings such as this one.

[franklywright]

cut out way too freaking much in the middle. ruins it

[BirdiePewPew]

Anyone got something short and funny/intresting to say about gershwin? I'm going to play a piece by him and it would be cool to say something about him :)

[franklywright]

@BirdiePewPew You know, people say Gershwin wasn't that great of a composer, and there is some truth to that. But you know, Gershwin went to Ravel and asked for composition lessons, and you know what Ravel said? "Why be a second rate Ravel when your already a first rate Gershwin."

[theastralproject]

Thumbs down for thumbs up whores.

[oshawaxpress]

@theastralproject - Look out, the 'No Thumbs' Nazi is about.

[cruxofeverynadir]

Something about Twilight that ridicules or downplays the strength of the song in order to get thumbs up.

[cpaulli]

I remember playing this clarinet solo in HS when my school performed a Gershwin review.  Still smile when I think of it. :)

[TheSeanRowe]

Thumbs up for Fantasia 2000?

[diogotomediogo]

ahaha who else knows this song from disney's movie: fantasia 200 omg! so many memories

[ThisCommentWasMade]

@diogotomediogo haha thats where i first heard this song.

[ivanoschen]

This one, performed by the author himself, is indeed different.

[deadpeasantmoon]

107 people are not losers. They simply have a different taste. If you think instruments are arbitrarily 'not real', you are narrow-minded and lack any musicality enough to explore.

[MrChargerfan71]

107 people are losers

[DolphinWhale23]

That clarinet solo is amazing!

[SirGroucho]

Why is the Clarinett laughing so laconic?

[Alex140596]

Thumbs up if you remembered Tom & Jerry while listening

[cristinaandries]

@Alex140596 You had me at ”remembered”.

[masael255]

@Alex140596 This was in a Tom & Jerry episode? I have to see if I can find that! I don't think I have ever seen it!

[therbromberg]

@Alex140596 for some reason i keep thinking animaniacs

[nanapam100]

@Alex140596 as in Simon n Garfunkle?

[MisterMarsBars]

Chapter one: He adored New York City. He idolized it all out of proportion . . .

[princessgdance]

I LOVE this piece...i always listen when i want a little uplifting. Its beautiful.

[danman380]

When I saw 8 I had my own little dance routine to this song where I would go buck wild. Also had my own little dance to Sandstorm... kinda different

[waiting4smtin]

Manhattan. 

[TheMamabeare]

That clarinet solo is amazing! I'm trying to get my brother to play it but it's a tad too hard for an 11 year old...

[lowe442]

Reminds me of being young and watching the United Airlines commercials on the television. I live this song

[Tish1023]

The timing on this, the definition is so different to how it is played today! Amazing, thank you for sharing it

[SincerestTester]

This is real music instead of all the autotuned shit today

[ryN45678]

@SincerestTester You know there where people who thought this was shit then right? This was popular music in 1928. Some one said: "I wish the orchestra would come back, im tired of all this jazz crap."

[TheAdmiralPancake]

@ryN45678

Except the autotuned shit today is crap. Saying Katy Perry is the next step in the evolution of music is terrifying.

Also, based on my limited recollection of something I read a while ago, Jazz had a bad reputation because it was played in speakeasies. People considered it immoral rather than low-quality. I don't think modern music is immoral. I just think it's awful.

[ryN45678]

@TheAdmiralPancake im not saying Katy Perry is good, or the future. Musical interest changes. Look at all the dubstep stuff breaking into the mainstream now. That kind of stuff was just for electronic music enthusiasts this time last year. . Popular music is a moving target. Its not hard to imagine a resugance of more classical/jazz elements at some point in the future.

[TheAdmiralPancake]

@ryN45678

If that happens, I will be amazed. It's possible, but doesn't fit with the current trends I see.

[dvd77612]

@ryN45678 While all of that is true, it also stands to say that this song and most of the music at the time this was written was much more harmonically complex than music of today's popular culture. While people say today's popular music is garbage just as people of the early 20's said jazz was garbage, from a harmonic and creative standpoint today's music IS garbage in comparison. So this is not a valid argument. I mean I love dubstep, but it is about as harmonically boring as you can get.

[TheAdmiralPancake]

@ryN45678

I also find it kind of appalling that modern music isn't considered more immoral than it is. A song can talk about getting high on heroin, hiring hookers, and shooting seven cops and it's not unusual. That sort of socially acceptable vulgarity seems almost pornographic. Modern pop music, rap specifically, gets by on exploitative use of sex, drugs, and violence rather than quality.

TL;DR: Most modern music is low-quality, pseudo-pornographic garbage.

[harshoranje]

@TheAdmiralPancake you are just hearinh the wrong kind of music then.Modern music is a tremendously huge category with billions of bands across millions of genres and sub-genres. How can you even club them altogether?

[TheAdmiralPancake]

@harshoranje

There's a lot of good modern music, but it's not popular. The most popular music is garbage in my opinion. Besides, forgetting great music like that in the video is not good, regardless of the quality of the stuff that replaces it.

[Watrmellom]

@SincerestTester and adding to the fact:they dont ever write any of the lyrics.so the only thing moast people do today is sing it bad then "fix it".and people wonder why there lazy -_-

[iPriestHolmes]

@SincerestTester lol what?

[Matt0ggie]

@SincerestTester All music is real, you can hear it cant you? also barely any recent artists of today use autotune. I fucking hate cunts like you.

[HipHopHasHope]

@Matt0ggie You're a moron- almost ALL artists today use auto-tune. If you're ignorant enough to not know that auto-tune is pitch correction as well as effect, then you probably live in a hole.

[Matt0ggie]

@HipHopHasHope Name 25. Also, I know what autotune is, ive used it many times for both pitch correction and effect. and I actually do live in a hole, but I cant change the geography of my town now can I?

[philtimm]

@Matt0ggie

*yawn*

inb4 Hitler

[SincerestTester]

@Matt0ggie Looks like the "Cunt" had 51 people agreeing with him? Right? Hmm?

[BasementBeginnings]

@Matt0ggie I agree in every respect that all music is music.

But prepare yourself for I will lay down an astonishing, mind-raping truth upon you that will completely shatter your world. Ready?

There's good music and bad music.

[joboyd45]

The part at 6:00 gives me goosebumps.

This music will last for eternity.

Gershwin died young. What a loss!

[CHAOSoriginal]

This song reminds me of Looney Toons.

[MrChargerfan71]

@CHAOSoriginal Well what do you expect? A classic piece from the good era of music and the best classic cartoon of all time.

[Nogi97]

gotta learn how to WRITE THIS KIND OF GENIUS MUSIC. and how to play it to.

[lilgiggityz]

I Love this song. For some reason it makes me think of loony toons

[Bubblefinno14]

@lilgiggityz Haha, me too.

[MaxxMayhem1]

@lilgiggityz That was Carl Stalling...

[DamagedMirrors]

is this dubstep?

[Milesify8]

@DamagedMirrors you're joking, right?

[shanaman23]

i can't wait to learn this on the piano.=]

[TheGaboefects]

this is one of my favorite piece of music ever!!!!

[mandolaman12]

To me this song begins early in the morning and ends at the stroke of midnight.

[johnprattchristian]

it makes me think of elephants marching in some far country in the east in the early 1900s or something (i live in the us) haha really awesome

[jazzlovr]

I just love this song so rich and complex. I was captivated the first time I heard it as a child.

[PeterFardellSongs]

That intro is just so mesmerising! I'd like to have lived in that Gershwin era! Check out my own '1920s' song efforts if you feel like it.

[ChaseMe2TheSky]

Nicasaur brought me :3

[roadkillerist]

I can play this :3

[MissLuvMovies]

This will always be one of my favorite pieces of music. I've loved it since I was little and I'll love it when I die!

[destructivedandy]

@MissLuvMovies Same here, I watched Manhattan again last night and knew I just had to hear it again. Glorious

[SadisticMagician54]

Hell yeah this 'interpretation' is way more swingin' than anybody today, wonder why they're so stiff

[shauny251]

our school orchestra performed this, amazing work

[JuiliiFromTM]

this reminds me of tom and jerry....

[rainbeforetherainbow]

props to clarinet playahs. ( i am not one myself, but brownie points you guys!)

[xoxopr0ud]

I need to start playing my clarinet again...

[peacesellsstevebuyin]

anyone know any good george gershwin. I've listened to porgy and bess and rhapsody in blue all, like a million times, any good reccomendations?

[rainbeforetherainbow]

@peacesellsstevebuyin CUBAN OVERTURE!!!



[Reggie1010101]

@peacesellsstevebuyin

An American in Paris is one of his best!

[lovelymarch1]

Is that an oboe in the beginning?

[erinelizabethmacneil]

@lovelymarch1 I think it's a clarinet?

[meatygrum]

After hearing that, I'm pretty sure I was a 1960's cartoon in my last life.