Mac Willaert: Bohemian Rhapsody Semi-Final

[harrycrum73]

Fucking beautiful

[macwillaert612]

@harrycrum73 Sorry I just now saw your comment -- I very much appreciate it! As you probably know at this point, I did not make the tour but it was a fantastic opportunity and I still appreciate the compliments! Makes the whole thing worthwhile -- as if meeting Roger Taylor, Spike Edney and crew in the Foo Fighters studio didn't make it worthwhile on its own ;)

[zosocat]

Great job in the Band B QE live finals audition video! The chemistry you mentioned is quite apparent to me just watching that & there's this certain guitarist who told me it felt really good, too. ;-) Well, it's nervous time for all the great musicians awaiting the results, so just wanted to drop by and wish you all the best - good luck!! -- Catherine

[LHRvideo]

Congratulations, and good luck in the finals! I voted for you! --Jim from round 2 guitarists

[macwillaert612]

@LHRvideo Thanks, man! I'll do my best to make the most of your vote, haha.

[macwillaert612]

Hey friends -- I uploaded my Seven Seas of Rhye initial audition, in case you're curious. My original video didn't have my name on it, so I uploaded it personally for ease of use. It's still a bit hard to find at the moment due to it having about six hits, haha, but if you want to take a look, just click on my username to get to my channel and you'll find it there!

Thanks all,

Mac

[girloutthere]

This was beautiful. You could feel every note. Well done. Congratulations. You deserved it.

[macwillaert612]

@girloutthere Thank you so much! Another incredible compliment. You guys are great.

[stevezoso]

Congrats Mac, look forward to meeting you out here in LA next week!

Cheers!

Steve Z

[macwillaert612]

@stevezoso Thanks, man! Checked out your video too, great job. Very "May" sound you've got going on. Looking forward to jammin' in LA with you!

[hedlytmartin]

Congrats and good job. See u in LA

[macwillaert612]

@hedlytmartin Thanks, enjoyed your video as well! See ya there.

[shadyrosy]

Awesome Mac, you rock. Have fun at the 3rd Round - keep us all posted! Wish we could be there to hear the live performance.

[notekidds]

Congratulations!

[HarryByCracky]

Congrats, Mac! You deserve it. Hope things don't get too hairy in LA! (...by cracky...)

[macwillaert612]

I made it, everyone! Thank you, I cannot even begin to explain how much this means to me. I'll do my best in LA!

[jconcilio]

@macwillaert612 My buddy the drummer didn't continue on, but I'll be cheering for YOU - was so glad to see you move on!!

[macwillaert612]

@jconcilio Sorry about your buddy, but thanks! I appreciate it.

[bsennello]

You have the best version of Bohemian Rhapsody out there. I love watching you play it. Thanks for your performance!

[macwillaert612]

@bsennello - Thanks for WATCHING my performance, haha! Waiting for the results is slowly killing me inside.

[jconcilio]

I got into this to vote for my friend, a drummer, but I'm a pianist and I was listening to all the auditions and was really depressed... till I got to yours. You get it. Congratulations on having the best rendition by far.

[macwillaert612]

@jconcilio Thanks a ton, man. That comment is fantastic and makes me feel like YOU "get it" as well regarding what I was trying to do. Thanks again.

[macwillaert612]

@jconcilio Also, good luck to your friend!

[macwillaert612]

As we enter the final day of the competition, I just want to thank everybody for your well-wishing, comments, and votes! I hope the next couple days bring good news, but even if they don't, this has been really incredible. Thanks so much!

[staystrong8966]

Well look at that - you got my vote after all! ;) Good luck with the competition!

[zonsonus]

@macwillaert612 - Thanks for the vote and kind words, sir! I really enjoyed your performance and have returned the electoral compliment. Best of luck! - Jason Marshall (Bass entrant)

[macwillaert612]

Wow! Thanks so much to all the Wredling voters. That's incredible, and it means a lot to me. I still love that school, haha. Go Redhawks!

[belieberforeva629]

i'm from wredling middle school where you once went! I'm student council so one of the students informed us about you! So our whole school is voting for you! We realy hope you win!

[QueenFan0264]

Great job. I seriously think you might be the only semi-finalist that FEELS this song instead of plays it like a robot or just mashes the keys all over it. Voted.

[AbigailCorinne]

so good.

[macwillaert612]

Thank you, internet, for helping me to be the first keyboardist/pianist to 1,000 YouTube Views! Sincere gratitude to everyone who voted and viewed; unfortunately, views don't equal votes, but I'm hoping it correlates. This competition means an unbelievable amount to me, as do all of your comments -- best of luck to everyone for the remaining 9 days!

[readaholic222]

Great job! Your passion for your instrument shows through. Having viewed many of these submissions, yours stands out for it's simplicity - just you and the piano - and your reliance on your ability to FEEL the music rather than go for a gimmick. I hope we see more of you in the future!

[doodleoakes]

You had me from "hello" ... outstanding individual, outstanding talent, outstanding support ... and sooo good looking! He is a win/win talent ... "go mac" ... follow your dream!!

[HarryByCracky]

You play with such emotion! Beautiful rendition. Gentle, soft, and builds to the most tasteful flourish of the bunch. I'm voting for you. BEST OF LUCK!

[macwillaert612]

Wow. Thank you for the compliments -- they truly mean a lot. I'll have more where this came from if I do make it through to L.A., so thank you for the kind words and votes!

[wpaldridge]

Wow. What a great performance! Very strong, yet nuanced. Definitely has my vote!

[24laylarocky]

so much feeling and passion - could you please keep playing!

loved the part around the time frame of 1:42 - brings chills

you have my vote!!

[mw6689]

simply phenomenal. powerful points at both the high and lows. glad you took it to the real instrument rather than the electronic. the softs have such a wonderful feel/tone. well done.

[acvb26]

truly an amazing and individual spin on a classic. you are so talented, and the piano looks like an extension of you!!! :)

[Excitable67]

LOVED this rendition. So beautifully done!!

[MrKellythepig]

Best audition of the bunch! you make it look easy and natural. You've got my vote :)

[rmsturge]

I predict Willaert, Schell, and Ethridge in the finals. Great audition, but Ethridge is getting my vote, hands down.

[mw6689]

@rmsturge completely agree on the 3, rmsturge, but I found Willaert's build far more robust that the technically precise version of Ethridge.  Beauty of music in that is in the ear of the beholder I suppose. However, Willaert's dynamics leave Ethridge swimming in his wake.

[macwillaert612]

@TheAcerB I've heard from two or three people that they're having issues hearing the piano at all like you, not just generic "sound quality" issues. The piano should be blasting well over the track volume by the time I get to the verse. I'm looking into seeing if there's some sort of technical error going on, because it is quite loud on the computers I've been using. Thanks for the heads up, man, investigation is ongoing, haha.

[JohnCalanchini]

I was thinking about the suit for my video as well, I thought it might be aesthetically appropriate for the bit we had to play. I decided against it though, largely because I had access to a purple room with an electric piano, not a concert hall with a grand (Yamaha?).

You have good ideas in there, best of luck!

John

[macwillaert612]

@JohnCalanchini Thanks man, good luck to you too!

[staystrong8966]

Quality of video and sound lost it dude. Sorry, you really are good though!

[macwillaert612]

@staystrong8966 Hey, if you vote me through, maybe I'll be able to afford some better gear! Haha.

[djknee]

Great job! I voted for you. But if I can just ask...why the suit? I love the fact that you used an actual piano and not electric keys, but the suit seems stuffy...relax! =)

[macwillaert612]

@djknee I was in a tux from a concert I was just in, swapped out the fluffy shirt for the black one, haha. I was more going for "casual-formal" than super fancy anyway, but thanks for the feedback and for your vote!

[michelle31891]

Great dynamic contrast! You really give new life to this already amazing song! Good luck!

-Michelle (vocal semi-finalist)

[macwillaert612]

@michelle31891 Thanks Michelle, and everyone else who has been voting!

[imMC3]

You got my vote! =)