Super Mario Athlete's Rag Air Platform sight-read; Tom Brier

[PJL1988]

Really nice job..keep it up!! :)

[MuscleGarunt]

Tom has perfect timing excellent,

[ApocalypticMagikarp]

like a boss

[camtheman3x6]

He no asian?!?!!?!

[retephgiel]

The Koji Kondo is strong in this one

[ThunderhorseOfHell]

He is mind blowing.

[SKStylez]

this inspires me to stop trying to learn from midi sequences and get to practice reading music

[S4disticJ0k3r]

This is really good..

[idoom]

Some things just make me smile wider then anything on the planet. This is one of those things.

[SplankyCP]

Great arrangement! Keep on swinging, Tom!!! (:

[CopainVG]

Great performance, congrats !

[TeamEverBlazeVideos]

duude i so wanna be like him some day

[heymynameistyler]

YEA! you shouldnt of said that 2:30

[TexxVegas]

His wife was the second love of his life. He fingered his high school girlfriend and she immediately died.

[Keeper1st]

@smokethechron To people our age who grew up on Atari, those games aren't retro; they're after our time!

[smokethechron]

@Keeper1st well, you know what I'm getting at :P Plus, that collection has atari 2600 games and possibly the commodore64, but regardless, excellent video and even better skills. Keep up the excellent work my friend

[freespace2dotcom]

@Keeper1st I can understand that to an extent, although I've always been a gamer, so I'm not the best example, but being from the NES generation, (having played the atari during that time as well) it seemed natural to move on to the next as it happened. Then again, the gap of processing power from computers and consoles was much more signifigant back then, wasn't it?

[MyGrassIsGreenest]

You do that neckbeard great justice. This is fantastic!

[anth4195]

2:34 Oh no! Im running out of time! Must. reach. the. end.

[BringBeckyTheUnicorn]

Mind = Blown.

[aaaaaa001001]

If Tom Brier recorded an album of all of the Mario rags, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. Please do it.

[MaxikingNimero]

Dat beard

[aaaaaa001001]

@MaxikingNimero Correction: Dat Neck-beard lol

[TJhandford524]

why was this embedded on Failblog? kinda defeats the purpose of the site.

[Keeper1st]

@TJhandford524 I found that surprising too when I saw the updated stats. It turns out that failblog has a section for "wins" as well as its namesake "fails".

[DibzIsHere]

I like to imagine that him playing this for the first time is like us reading a good book for the first time, or hearing a clever joke. Like he would really enjoy having played it when it was his first time ever seeing it.

[MrBrentFallon]

He's similar to Dr Sampson. The longer the neck beard the better his piano skills are.

[bigbluechevy12345]

I came here to watch his neckbeard.

[miketheman321]

This is unbelievably impressive!

[AkumuKeayo]

his beard scares me

but goddamn

HIS TALENT.

[MQuinny1234]

I....hate him so much for this, but yet...God, this is beautiful.

So skilled...so jealous...

[Talasas]

I often wonder what people like Tom who don't play video games but are masters of music think of these scores?

[TheMrBreinholtz]

It's clearly thanks to the beard he can play this good

[plasmathunderdx]

Its a matter of practice right? I bet it's just as easy for him to sight-read play that piano just as easily as it is to read a book for him.

[Keeper1st]

@plasmathunderdx That's what he has said -- that because he learned sight-reading from age 5, it developed as sort of a second language.

[avalonkiller]

He's reading them notes like reading English.

[bmariani77]

the neard!!

[MineRealmLive]

Typed in "mario sheet music" to no avail. Typed in "mario sheet music neckbeard" there we go.

[xzc426]

I guess reading piano scores is just as easy as touch typing is for us.

[MrWorld09]

epic neck beard

[undome2u]

Someone should dubstep this

[DankerTehLulz]

That fucking neck beard.

[HoraceTheClown]

116,000 views solely from reddit... That's just amazing.

[gooel]

his hair moved from the top of his head to the bottom of it!

[NipplyHippo]

I have the weirdest boner right now

[AnotherIdiot]

I imagine Mario as a pool shark with this music. Maybe Wario.

[0DarkByakko0]

I don't know what's more awesome; his piano playing, or his neckbeard.

[latexink]

Dat Neckbeard

[6G3rm4N9]

@latexink can only imagine what secrets its hiding...

[nestadam]

The second time he played through I had a flashback to running out of time...

[ValerieMillward]

Me : God? Is that you?

God : Yes, I've disguised myself as a ragtime piano player. Find me.

Found him.

[johnwikfors]

Tom might not play video games (wich is sad) but he sure knows how to bring back the Ol'gaming nostalgia by button mash that piano! Cheers man and hope you still rocking good!

[Litestorm17]

The slower beginning piece almost sounds like something you'd hear playing in an old Western Saloon.

[KyleSpringer12]

I used to ragtime piano, then I took an arrow in the knee.

[masterfly]

Beethoven's got nothing on this.

[TheLastTogepi]

I think his toupée slid down to his chin.

[wk2oo8]

I read the description as "Tom is a highly retarded pianist" and I thought he was like Rainman but with piano, then I realized I was just a highly retarded reader.

[jjf121]

I used to be able to play like that...but then i took an arrow to the knee.

[eddieroa]

swingin... but that's a fucking nasty ass neck beard

[CommanderShafty]

It's like the hair on his head is migrating to his neck to be closer to the music.

[ZenPunk]

He's really quite good. You know it would be great to have tom hear the originals and record him playing these peices with some proper sound recording equipment. You'd probably have enough of a potential market for an album to license the pieces.

[Madgamerdude2020]

O.o

[RexyWonderCookie]

if thats sight read thats AMAZING! i cant even play this with sheet music with weeks of practise :l

[SalmonSnake]

I want my father to be like him!

[X4Imonkey]

after a long @ssed day, with general good results, this topped it off!

This Vid made my day.

Thanks to uploader and the awesome gentleman playing the piano.

Thou art both made of lossless winscore for reviving my childhood in a cold and harsh time such as this. Peace, and music, be upon you.

[RyanAteTheCup]

I heard you like neckbeards, so we put a neckbeard on your neckbeard so you can kick arse while you sight read.

[kitsyheartszombies]

Wow. This man is brilliant.

[broman113]

SR FC! =D

[SapphireExile]

I want to hear the Legend of Zelda theme from him, he's THAT good!

[Keeper1st]

@SapphireExile Martin Spitznagel, 2011 World Champion of Old-Time Piano Playing, has done a ragtime version of the Legend of Zelda Theme on his latest album, "Handful of Keys; Face-Melting Ragtime".

[arcderek]

I dare him to do it with the Yoshi "clops" percussion.

[Ponthion]

this leads to an epic SALOON FIGHT

[Fyndy]

Holy crap that was awesome! o.O

[OutlawJoseyWales909]

EPICNESS!!!!

[theZwnDclan]

dont suppose there's any chance of a midi version of this? would be really helpful to learn in sibelius or synthesia :)

[OCUBOX]

when you can SIGHT-READ, you can play anything, does not matter whether it's first time or not :)

[greiteneis]

For some reason i want a stogie and an 8 bit controller in my hand

[devoidexpression]

Woah, neckbeard to the max!



[skfkazu]

凄く感動してしまった…

[stommenickname]

nice! and awesome beard!

[codetylar]

素晴らしい。

見事な演奏。



[ramdomguy560]

do Zelda

[lookitsagrape1]

i dont know whats more impressive, the playing or that incredible neckbeard

[didaludi]

The first time he played it I and everyone who has played Super Mario World noticed the tempo was slower compared to the song in the game. However it still sounded so cool that I could imagine a dusty wild west saloon and this tune being played on a honky-tonk piano in the corner. Plus he threw in a bit of his own flare into the song. Then he sped it up... WOW! Goosebumps overload :D

[Efemral]

HIs piano playing is nearly as impressive as his beard.

[The0Keyboard0Kid]

@Efemral His hair moved to his neck to be closer to the music.

[leigh8959]

the shape of the stats curve for this video is fascinating.

[Keeper1st]

@leigh8959 Heh yeah. After three years, its hit count doubled overnight. What used to appear as a somewhat significant spike when it was blogged about by deadmau5 last year now appears as a mere ripple.

[MasterPenguinMP]

@Keeper1st Actually, the popular website wimp just featured it several days ago, which would explain it (it's a website where they showcase the best video's on the web).. they totally should have featured him playing super mario world ending theme, THAT VIDEO IS AMAZING!

[MasterPenguinMP]

@MasterPenguinMP i just looked up the exact date, it was featured on november 18th, and the full website is wimp . com for anyone that wants to know. :)

[BFBCFTW]

@MasterPenguinMP It hit the front page of Reddit a couple of weeks back too.

[twitcher64]

@Keeper1st Reddit?

[Lolifreakout223]

@Keeper1st It's up on Danielles doodles on tumblr. It was found by a lot of people today. ^^ It's where I came from too. Love the video. Peace! =)

[PutterLee]

how do we knows he's sightreading? huh?! huhh????!

[Keeper1st]

@PutterLee Um, 'cause he is? 'cause there are dozens of people on YouTube who have witnessed him doing so, and a few who have posted videos of him doing so? There are several videos of him sight-reading where you can hear him comment on a piece or pause for a moment to figure out a more complicated piece. You're welcome to come to one of his appearances and witness it for yourself. Compose a rag and give it to him. You'll be amazed.

[Ext3rmin8er101]

Please do the casino theme music from "dragon quest 8: journey of the cursed king" for ps2

[Keeper1st]

@Ext3rmin8er101 Didn't realize that was as recent as the PS2, but I did hear that one and want to transcribe it. Great ragtime tune.

[Ext3rmin8er101]

@Keeper1st ikr

[autospawn]

Please do some Kirby songs!

[wapaaiai]

@Keeper1st why won't you see him until May! Find him now!

[Keeper1st]

@wapaaiai Snow prevents me from going over the mountains. I don't drive a car -- only a motorcycle -- so the winter makes the Sierra Nevada impassable. I live near Carson City; these ragtime events happen in Sacramento and Sutter Creek, California. I make an exception for this past weekend's West Coast Ragtime Festival in which I take Greyhound to get to Sacramento and back.

[Marinoninewb]

He's a computer programmer? NO SHIT!

[crustytowel]

@StandardFez NEARD*

[crustytowel]

THE NEARD

[AGKFreak]

Koji Kondo musics!

[callistodusk]

I'm curious if he liked the tune, not having the nostalgia factor most people do

[mooseknuckle51]

This makes me want to walk into a dusty saloon wearing a mario hat.

[iamdmc]

I hope they make a new mario where he goes back in time to a saloon (for at least a level/world anyway) and this is the theme.

[theryall]

Wow, I want to have a go! Are sheets like this online?

[mastershakeaq]

@theryall Read the D the link at the bottom is a link to the PDF of the sheets.

[DavidGoodrich]

THE GAME GODS HATH DECLARED: LET THE NECKBEARD RETURN AND LET IT GO FORTH AND BE PRO.

[lanecfisher]

I can't see the dislike bar at all.

[sevsquad]

@StandardFez That's how you know he is a programer with a job.

[oromisszane]

how has this nerdy guy never played mario lol?

[haxorus313]

this is what youtube is for. awesome home-videos like this. he just seems so happy playing this too.

amazing video, amazing playing. i mean, thats it. i hope he realizes how good he is :)

great work.

[Yetiforce]

Tell Tom he is a badass that rocks!

[Shadowdark1994]

Hello 240p, it has been a long time.

[anthat7777]

Awesome. Takes me back - I wanna play Mario again :-)

[MrPrydain]

When he starts playing it fast I felt the rush that I need to finish the level fast or I'll lose.

[Viratic]

@MrPrydain truer words have never been spoken

[dkwonderweasel]

@MrPrydain THATS IT!!! I couldnt figure out what that fucking weird feeling was xD

[l0wpk3r]

That evil laugh at 2:26 ...

[haxorus313]

ohmygosh, ragtime Mario. thank you for bestowing this upon my ears....

[sfurules]

So this is totally awesome...but you keep making this big deal about how he has never heard this before and yada yada.

HE IS A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN. MUSICIANS READ MUSIC.

It's the equivalent of shitting yourself because someone who has never read a Harry Potter book was able to make in through book one (even though they have been reading their whole life).

Is this awesome? Totally. I love it.  Is it unexpected that a professional ragtime pianist can read ragtime sheet music?

No.

[Narthorn]

@sfurules As a pianist myself, I can assure you that such sight-reading skills are really amazing. Many professional musicians can only play by ear.

[Harmonyww]

@sfurules He doesn't make a living from music. His 9-5 job is a computer programmer. And most professional musicians don't play the piano and sight read anywhere near as well as Tom can. That's why his talent is so amazing.

[MickHawks]

Ignore my comment, seems like you already did show him other sheets!

[MickHawks]

We want more!! Show him other sheets from video game music and record it! Mario, Zelda, Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, FF, Secret of mana, etc.!

[Keeper1st]

@MickHawks I don't just show him videogame music. The focus is on finding new ragtime pieces. If they happen to come from videogame soundtracks, great. I did just give him a bunch last night at the end of the West Coast Ragtime Festival but his fingers were worn out, so reading them then and there was out of the question. This does mean he'll get a chance to go through him on his own terms, but whether I'll ever see him play them is the question! Won't see him again until May probably.

[MickHawks]

@Keeper1st Well I'll subscribe, then I'll see if in May he decided to play them! Thanks for the response.

[mellowcello123]

Play me off johnny!!

[Bellairs120466]

Oh god, the music sped up.

MUST RACE TO THE FINISH LINE

[ohcalcutta81]

incredible!

[bluehaloknickls]

happiness.

[NLRamonNL]

thats fucking sick O.o

[crmurph10]

i hate to be THAT guy.... but just to clarify: hearing it makes very little difference as to whether or not you can sightread it perfectly on the first try. this guy is an AMAZING sightreader, yes. and hearing it helps, yes. but it's not like everyone can just go listen to piece, and then they can just go play it perfectly on the first read through. sightreading takes practice, and lots of it, which he clearly has.

this all coming from a fellow pianist who is ENVIOUS of this man's abilities.

[chrisXDfull]

@crmurph10 so to obtain this skill all u would do is keep sight reading right? cos i consider myself quite a good sight reader but when chords start coming into the right and left i begin to fail,

[ommerrill]

This guy is a music reading cyborg sent back from the future to show you how it's done. Boom!!!

[mrsub360]

Wow... My sight reading is awful, this is just amazing...

[MarkQP]

@StandardFez

TOP COMMENT.

[melosebrainuhoh]

Minor problems like them both being men, one having died hundreds of years ago, and the other being a fictional character didn't get in the way of Mozart and Rain Man having a child together.

[jackan92]

I just couldn't stop smiling when he started playing. Nostalgia is great :)

[chaincold]

He has the finger's of Chuck Norris himself.

[Cengiz159]

sick, just sick

[Drunkhead27]

wow amazing, you're so fuckin good, i need years of practice for try it :(

[shereef59]

FREAK!!

[TransSonic83]

My stepdad found this on Wimp.com. It made my day. :D

[worktosser]

Most impressive. Piano Jedi you are.

[keaton275]

chuck norris could play it faster!

[SurvivalGrounds]

this guys awesome!

[wrightaboutit]

omigod, the neck beard!

[lurganguy]

can't believe he's sight reading that, absolutely class

[123qwerty]

everyone knows this melody, it doesn't matter if oyu have played the game before or not

[DestroyedArkana]

@123qwerty Except when he's playing this he hasn't even heard the melody before. Just like all of his other sight reading videos.

[123qwerty]

@DestroyedArkana and you know that because it is in the video description, right?

[Keeper1st]

@123qwerty Not true. Not everyone is in their 20s or 30s. I discovered this tune by seeing videos of people playing it on YouTube. As you can see by my titles, I didn't even know exactly what game it was from. I played a lot of videogames in the early '80s, but once the first generation of consoles died out, I was into computers (mostly for games to be honest!) and ignored the entire Nintendo/Sega console scene.

[andizee]

Amazing!! The score sounds so much better coming from this man than it does from the game!!... Don't get me wrong, it sounds great in the game, it just sounds better when played live... don't most scores?? xD

Also.... It would of been awesome if you had shown him the game right after!!! Lol! xD

[Frigdogg]

Amazing talent, AND epic neck beard!

[EyesOfFrozenMeat]

Sounds like Chopin

[EyesOfFrozenMeat]

@EyesOfFrozenMeat

And it is excellent.

[bronney]

challenge accepted!!!! lol nice skills

[dance4lifenow]

even haters can't hate this video! It's just EPIC and AMAZING )

Epiazing ?

I don't know, but it's in my favs now :)

[senmoru]

This video has inspired me... *sets off to develop Piano Hero*

[NoUserNamesLeft007]

it`s... It`s like the top of his head got tired of holding it up so his hair slipped down to his neck and chin..

[interfl0p]

Wadsworth Constant does not apply.

[TheGeneralCritic]

@StandardFez THE KING OF NECKBEARDS! ALL HAIL! ALL HAIL!

[t0st0m0lat0]

@TheGeneralCritic LOOOOOOOLL!!!

[Toprem]

You mean a guy who plays the piano and can read music can play said music? Guy must be a fucking wizard or something. The only amazing part about this is that he has somehow not heard the music before, must be pretty boring living under that rock.

[matthewcross]

totally amazing... 32 people accidentally clicked the thumbs down.

[DeathnoteBB]

@matthewcross well it's not reallyh that impressive that a skilled pianist that can sight-read music is playing a song he never heard before.

[matthewcross]

@DeathnoteBB I don't understand. What would be impressive, then? Someone who had never played piano before, doing this? You're saying that, if someone is good at something, practices it for years, and gets amazing at it, then what they do is trivialized by their ability to do it?

You and I really differ in what we find impressive.

[DeathnoteBB]

@matthewcross Well, yeah, that would be rather impressive. Seeing someone who knows how to play a piano play a piano isn't very impressive. It doesn't leave an impression on me. Seeing something that should happen really doesn't, seeing something that shouldn't happen does.

[FASChrisCaze]

@DeathnoteBB Clearly you're not a musician, if this doesn't "impress" you. A piece like this would usually take weeks for someone to master. This guy sits down and sight-reads it. This means not only is he reading the notes, he's getting every finger to play every note -- at a pretty damn good pace. This guy isn't just "good at piano." He is processing all the information on a piece of sheet music faster than most of us could even name the notes in the first measure. That's the impressive part.

[DeathnoteBB]

@FASChrisCaze Well I'm not. So great deduction skills there. 

[IHasTheRabies4Yaoi]

My God this is a work of art <3

[minitoast01]

this is awesome!!!

[caliherbs]

32 dislikes were beethoven's family members

[yarnietings]

32 people clearly have no soul.