BBC Proms 2011: Tim Minchin - F Sharp (Comedy Prom)

[sovata]

1:40 Who drinks water at the culmination, the most tense moment!

[OrioleBeagle]

They should have Josh Groban on this show singing celebrity tweets!

[CrissCross407]

the orchestra is impressive, but i prefer my minchin with just the piano :)

[posiethompson]

awkward....d minor not f major

[BrandonSpendlove]

@posiethompson Meaning, Dminor is the relative minor to F major.

[blutsklave]

@posiethompson chord's Dm wich is D. F and A, he's singing the major 3rd, F#.

He does that for best results :P

[mancunianhardcore]

@posiethompson probably knows more about piano than you pal

[iwanwh]

He gets F# perfectly the first few times, but his climactic 'F#' is more like G. That being said, Mr Minchin is a flippin' genius...

[XtractionProcess]

That is fucking spectacular, considering how many instruments are behind him...

[eltonjohnfan100]

VERY VERY good looking steinway and sons Model D...used to have one :(

[nikwik2]

Brilliant

[DrTran06]

Tim minchin is just amazing

[mensamoo]

Im sure its been said.. but if this was in F major the bum note in the chorus is A, not F sharp

[TheMusicalMaestro123]

as a musician, is it just me that dies a little inside when people say F major and D Minor are the same thing?

But on another note, was one of the highlights of the comedy prom and tim minchin is funny no matter what key he's singing in. XD

[FutureAbe]

@TheMusicalMaestro123 I'm sure what they mean is that F major and D minor are based on the same scale

[anidiotcalledgregg]

What a Genius!

[Asenceana]

Could we please have Tim Minchin's introduction song?

[sekirk]

I'm not a musician or a professional singer but it sounds so wrong haha and i can see how it will be near imposable! He is a special talent

[lovetohate12]

I tried this (I'm a musician and pianist) and this is practically impossible, because you lose track of which note you're supposed to sing, as it's completely malfunctioning with the harmonies. Big props to you, Tim ^^

[dorkasaur98]

@lovetohate12 do you happen to have the sheet music?! (or have written your own?)

[lovetohate12]

@dorkasaur98 Well, I just found the chords online, I think they are bB, A or A7 Dm, E diminished, Gm, and F. (And C7 just at the last part) just play the chords and find out where they fit using for instance this vid, or just search for the chords ^^

[ianokamotochannel]

@alchimistenz Yes, on purpose. Only the chorus is supposed to be out of tune.

[owen281194]

I wanted to shove my tevision in a blender when Bill Bailey wasn't hosting the comedy proms. - Let alone not even being on it.

[sjkopite94]

@owen281194 Bill Bailey > Tim Minchin :D

[owen281194]

@sjkopite94 AGREED

[Boredom2989]

@sjkopite94 Lies.

[rubbishrider861]

@sjkopite94 no in a million years mate:P

[sjkopite94]

@rubbishrider861 Everyone's entitled to an opinion mate, I like Tim Minchin, I just happen to prefer Bill Bailey is all. I'm not here to slag off Tim in any way.

[rubbishrider861]

@sjkopite94 not really sure why you would be here in the first place if you prefer bill bailey, ur jst trolling really...

[sjkopite94]

@rubbishrider861 honestly, I'm not trolling. I did just say that I like Tim Minchin, and for the record I think this song is brilliant, which is why I watched it. Just because I prefer one thing doesn't mean I'm suddenly not allowed to watch another. My original comment was a reply to someone who had brought up the fact Bill had nothing to do with the proms, I wasn't trolling, just stating an opinion.

[rubbishrider861]

@sjkopite94 ok..

[alchimistenz]

OK, but am I the only one who noticed he's not *actually singing out of tune* for 98% of the song?

[D0Msmagic]

good for you tim

[DJDunsie]

Genius.

[gretamagik]

I LOVE Tim <3 If he were 10 years younger i would have made him my boyfriend!

[kairakia]

This song must be difficult enough normally, but with an entire orchestra in the background it's damn near impossible. The man is a genius.

[nagatzul]

A tie...? Is Tim not feeling well?

[ADFROMAN]

Ironically the last note he sings is a G :P

[JeLoUs2]

@ADFROMAN it's an F# but it's a tiny bit sharp so it sounds close to a G

[fr36r1k]

@JeLoUs2 True. AND who cares, sound horrible anyway! And @ADFROMAN U try sing off key live. Is not easy at all....

[fuckedupguy3]

@ADFROMAN i hear an f

[thelittleewelamb]

i swear this was cut from the original broadcast (love the song though :D)

tim minchin's awesome <3

[Boogieforme]

Haha the apalled reaction of the audience xD

[kootenaylad]

This man is simply... BRILLIANT!!

[SharpsConnor]

Can someone tell me the exact reson why it's funny? Because it's him, because he's singing the two keys at the same time, because F major is the relative major of D minor, something like that?

[mentalguitarisist]

@SharpsConnor because it's friggin' awesome!

[LorgonJortle]

@SharpsConnor F is the relative Major of Dm, yes. That's not really the point though. What's funny is that he's singing a semitone (F#) higher than what he's playing in (F). The reason (if you listen to more of him) for this, you'll find, is that his mother told him to stop swearing so much, so he researched what people did before swearing was as colloquial as it is today. This is the product of that research.

[PatrickAureus]

@SharpsConnor Mainly, it sounds horrible. But deliberately.

[EnglishGavz]

Uh, I know music, I didn't care because the song was funny and well composed. Also yeah, the Proms is about reaching out to ALL the people.

[shadow9t6]

Am I the only one who actually doesn't give a crap about the key matter, but more the way the orchestra ruin it by going WAY to fast in the second verse... stupid conductor :/

[GameOfYears]

@shadow9t6 Nice find. Didn't notice that.

Look at that hateful look he gives to him.

I guess it's kind of Tim's fault, he plays a bit slow at 1:15

[shadow9t6]

@GameOfYears Indeed he does. I actually prefer the accordion version of the song anyway ;)

[XxOwnDXuk]

who was it the person who was the human beatboxer?

[xerxes52]

What is this idiot doing at a great music festival?

[TheBigLittleM]

@xerxes52 its a comedy prom you retard

[xerxes52]

@TheBigLittleM If you think that's funny, then you're the retard

[TheBigLittleM]

@xerxes52 really? you have no sense of humour. you don't know how stupid it is when someone sings so out of tune. you havent seen all those talent show auditions like the x factor, where all the sh*t ppl go on thinking they're amazing. its funny because of the sound and those innocent faces he makes, but then if you think a brand new comedy prom is a great music festival, you are really retarded.

[Vetthaner]

@xerxes52 Of course you always sing out of key...

[Opusjustitiaepax]

This sounds horribly out of tune. Genius!

[CrocodileRocker]

I hope you people don't talk like this to your imaginary girlfriends/boyfriends.

[BethanyCabe]

HURR DURR I DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT MUSIC OR ANY OTHER FIELD AND FEEL THREATENED BY PEOPLE WHO DO

LET ME DEMAND THAT OTHER PEOPLE ALL CONFORM TO WHAT I WANT TO BE THE CASE

You stop it.

[jonting91]

HURR DURR IM A MUSIC GEEK

LET ME SPOUT UNNECESSARY KNOWLEDGE ON A YOUTUBE VIDEO

stop it

[mlmpro1059]

I know my music as well as anyone but have you lot any idea what a bunch of total anaraks you sound?

[HillDaisyProductions]

Watching this makes me feel like such a music geek but I totally love it!!!!! :L

[Matteroy]

D minor is the relative minor of F major. Just saying.

[carfanaticphil]

@Matteroy Congratulations, you understood why it was funny.

[Matteroy]

@carfanaticphil It was actually aimed at the comments with everyone saying 'he's not playing in F major; it's D minor' blah blah blah.

[Killerzac]

@Matteroy and F (E# in the scale) is with the key of both Fmaj and Dmin

[WrestleTheDecibel]

But he's playing in D minor, not F major. Lying fucker



[Taidgh17]

.....O.O......................­..............

[doojamaflick]

People don't realise how difficult it is to sing out of tune on purpose, and at specific times. Massive love for this, even my Mum was amazed and she's not a big fan of Musical Comedy, etc. :')

[jarrmite]

I really can't quite make quite who is arguing which point between as I am not used to leaving comments on here so I shall not direct this at any of you but merely point out that at least you don't have to be able to spell to be a PROFESSIONAL singer and a tierce de Picardie doesn't even come into it really does it?!? And as for true musicians as Concert level pianist, music teacher and music therapist I should like to think of myself as somewhat "professional" and I pissed my pants! Encore!

[MaidensOfTheSpear]

@jarrmite if you bothered to read the comment by @niezabijaj you'd see that she/he said a Tierce de Picardie occurs in *the vocal part only*! Minchin is playing a D minor chord, but singing the major third, thus creating the slightly clashing note of the F natural against the F# .... so yes.... a Tierce de Picardie does come into it :)

[livandjazz]

@MIKE1238663 yes i know thats what i was talking about you dont need to spell it out for me im a proffesional singer

[niezabijaj]

A real musician won't laugh at this...but they would point out the fact that his piece is in D minor, with a tierce de picardie occurring only in the vocalist's part.

On another note, what the hell is THIS doing at the proms?!

[Arcadeburner1]

@niezabijaj Indeedy do. Tierce de picardie? You're not from the U.S., are you? :P

[Leafytreefrog]

@niezabijaj I agree, but it is the new "comedy proms" not the actual proms

[angrychipmunk99]

@niezabijaj this is in the proms because it is light hearted musical entertainment which is able to reach out to a wider audience than 'boring' classical music (i'm not saying classical music is boring btw). I think its hilarious and i'm a musician.

[mikeandroe]

Stuff like this always frustrates the heck out of me. I LOVE music, listen to it pretty much all day every day. Yet, I cannot play an instrument for my life, and I wouldn't have been able to tell he was singing/playing in 2 different keys if my life depended on it. How the heck can you even tell, it just sounds like singing and playing to me.

[jobloe3393]

@mikeandroe When he sings sharp the note should sound a bit jarring like it doesnt belong there.

[Arcadeburner1]

@jobloe3393 lol that's the point. F# is a half step from F.

[3darkn1t]

@mikeandroe It's the tone. from the sound of what you said, seems like you're tone deaf :/

[littlechrist]

It has so much more effect when he does it with his accordion.

[Jabulon88]

a dude with make up?? FUCK OFF!

[sophie96299]

Hard core this is legendary :D xx

[choquera]

Can someone please upload Lullaby from the Proms? it was here but BBC took it off...Thanks!!!

[itsinjakesblood]

just noticed on the address bar at the end mh_lolz, lol :D

[tabbyroxs04]

That must have been really hard to do. Singing and playing in 2 different keys. Wow!!!

[livandjazz]

it doesnt matter that he is singing in D minor he is just epic :)

[MIKE1238673]

@livandjazz Erm, he's not. D minor was just one of the brief modulations. It's in F major, the relative major to D minor?!? Go three semitones up from D and you'll find F. Res ipsa loquitur.

[niezabijaj]

@MIKE1238673

Wrong! Check again.

[Pygmalleon]

Ahh, Tim Minchin. The hipster's Bill Bailey.

[segjulie]

EPIC!

[DaveyL1954]

There is a problem here. Mr Minchin sings in Dmin NOT Fmaj. This is the relative minor key to F. Thus when he sings about singing the note of F#, there is a clash of a semitone (F against F#) and there is the fun. Sadly the mixing of the audio at this point create an illusion that he is singing in D major with an F# (the maj 3rd of Dmaj), thus cancelling out the semitone clash, and sounds OK! He gets it right at the end with a modulation to F and sings F# but goes up to G thus creating an Fmaj9

[kainejoyes]

the only musician who actually excites these days, stand head & shoulders above just about everyone else, fantastic

[minichapify]

He must be a genius... He's epic XD

[mas5003]

that is honestly more difficult to do than its made out to be. out.fucking.standing

[MrBlip94]

The funny how good a singer has to be to sing badly.

[shionamcmillan675]

WWWWOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

[Aceronian]

The only time when you can get applause for singing out of key. Brilliant.

[adamnlloyd]

@Aceronian He isn't singing out of key. :p he's singing two keys at the same time. :)

[123456yum123456]

never heard of Jedward, then?

[Aceronian]

@123456yum123456 A very good point, I never even considered that they would be popular enough to have people go to their 'gigs'.

[RossTCGE]

Love Tim Minchin!

[Uraken74]

Could someone upload 'prejudice' at the proms please, I can't find it anywhere!!! Any suggestions? Thank you please :)

[HauntsMeLikeACurse]

@Uraken74 I really want to see it! and i want to see him doing the Dr Who theme tune at the end!!! If you find it anywhere PLEEEASE let me know XD

[LoveToSingLoudly]

This is probably my favourite thing ever.

[Mrseabob07]

Genius!!

[bananachip33]

@RossTCGE Can't tell if trolling or just stupid... It's Minchin, dear.

[RossTCGE]

@bananachip33 Yeah, I'm sorry. I forgot.

[JuliusCowdrey1]

haha brilliant!!!!

[Wimpoman]

He nearly killed me just now by making me choke on a piece of cheese from laughing. Luckily, his plans were thwarted by gag reflex. lol

[Wimpoman]

lolololol

[mensamoo]

enjoyed this. it does highlight the 'capo' problem all musos have. My particular remedy is to play in DADGAD (D major) and write the melody to suit my own range. I really think if he was forced to sing in F rather than F Sharp then the vocal difference is negligible. However as a bass singer its sometimes bloody difficult to sing any popular song in its original key

[Gekk071]

@mensamoo Sorry - it's stupid I know, but your comment brought to mind the mental image of Tim trying to fit a massive capo to his piano.

...which I found massively funny (much like the video)

...It's a guitarist thing. :-)

[3darkn1t]

@Gekk071 I get what you mean. i play piano and guitar so it's a pain transposing chords from different guitar tunings

[mensamoo]

@Gekk071 anything is possible....the piano capo

[8iluvhorses]

love it love it love it love it love it! You never get bored, just watch it again and again!

[summer29497]

Amazingly funny

[shingashinga1]

musicallically

[BrixtonSkate7]

they should get flight of the concords to perform next year

[8iluvhorses]

You don't get tired of it, you just watch it again and again. You never get bored!

[8iluvhorses]

You can't help crying! It's hilarious! Undescribable!

[mindydrummer]

DYING.

[EmilyCompton1996]

THAT WAS AMAZING! F sharp with a whole orchestra :') I just cryed a little bit xD The arrangement was amazing - such talented musicians xD I'll do anything to be a trumpeter in an arrangement of F sharp! PHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA :')

[Xamnada]

Just watched it on tv. Bloody brilliant, as usual.

[ismcb4sc]

i dont get it

[WilmaBridget]

@ismcb4sc Even though he knows the 2 keys don't sound good together, he likes to play in F major and sing in F sharp so he will do it anyway.

[3darkn1t]

@ismcb4sc F sharp is the key he prefers to sing in whereas F is the key he prefers to play in. they are not relative in anyway whatsoever, despite people claiming that he played in D minor.

[LatexModel]

Brilliant. Just brilliant!

[YouBrokeMyUsername]

One of my favourite songs of the night! I was there as well - anybody else in the arena?

[ssbaum]

I was there! He was amazing!

[Symons90]

Tim Minchin sounds like fucking awesome with an orchestra!

[GinervaWeasleyPotter]

im watching him perform live this weekend at a festival! eek! i cant w8!

[Bladeherox]

Ah, I was there! I loved the whole show. He was so on form.

[142520452213]

That's an incredibly hard thing to do! He must be very musical.

[asmcdonald84]

Is it just me or does he look really uncomfortable? This is no where near as good as his other versions.

[Mrdoctorwhomad]

@asmcdonald84 Well, would you be comfortable performing infront of the Royal Albert Hall?

[asmcdonald84]

@Mrdoctorwhomad Of course, I'd probably vomit.

But he's done the halls before and was fine. This just seems like a really bad performance.

[3darkn1t]

@asmcdonald84 he is a musical genius who is trying to do something that no one has attempted before, singing in a different key from what he's playing knowingly. It's uncomfortable because he has to be careful not to sing in the key he's playing in.

[1010IlSm]

@asmcdonald84 He doesn't look uncomfortable, he looks totally in control of what he's doing.

[Gjkeane]

Epic

[mechachomp]

they should give tim an entire orchestra more often

[TheGazcrowbar]

@mechachomp His latest tour (since last year) has been with his own orchestra.

[Symons90]

justin beiber does the same thing but he has producers with auto tune to correct it

[simonearly]

thats hard to do and he does it brilliantly - bastard.

[nantes222]

I had the amazing pleasure or meeting mr Minchin, also ironing that shirt

[alexk93093093]

I was there as well.

[tombomdoodle]

I love these Comedy Proms! Tim Minchin is an absolute legend.

[L3w1s1114]

1337th viewer!

[1010IlSm]

please upload some more! i want to see how it began, listening to it on the radio at the minute!!

[ekmad]

@1010IlSm they're all available on the iPlayer

[1010IlSm]

@ekmad is that not just to listen to? not to watch?

[Blaber121]

@1010IlSm I think the comedy prom is being broadcast on the 27th August on BBC2. That's what I gather from the page for this particular prom.

[iamagod360]

I was there :-)

[1010IlSm]

@iamagod360 how amazing was it live? Im so jealous i didnt get to go :(

[phobe1923]

i want him in the proms EVERY YEAR!

[Snookbone]

Did anyone else notice this is in D minor? (Except the last few bars)

[Rudge26]

@Snookbone well they are related so....

[Snookbone]

@Rudge26 Perfectly aware they're related... but it's not the same key. I've just played in a Prom by the way...

[livebenrules2]

@Snookbone but the fact they are related is the reason it doesnt fit