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coolghost554255 favorited a video
(20 hours ago)
Become a TPG founder: http://thepianogu...
Support us by downloading on...
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Become a TPG founder: http://thepianogu...
Support us by downloading on iTunes: http://itunes.app...
Support us by downloading on Amazon.com here: http://www.amazon...
Be the first to see our NEW VIDEOS WEEKLY by subscribing to our channel here: http://www.youtub...
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Piano Guys http://www.facebo...
A special thanks to one of our Founders 1LAW.com
http://www.facebo...
If you liked this video you'll LOVE our version of these tunes:
Adele Rolling in the Deep: http://www.youtub...
David's Guetta's Without You: http://www.youtub...
The story behind the song:
Each time we write/arrange a tune we take a journey. We have to admit—this journey took us a lot further than we expected. Retracing our steps reveals several factors that made this a reality. As we started arranging it we had serious writer's block. Perhaps some of the worst we've ever had. In fact, one day instead of writing we went around the entire studio with a can of WD-40 and coated every piece of metal to ensure that we were a squeak-free studio. Then on a whim we decided to back away and take an entirely new approach to the song—an African approach. It may seem random in retrospect, but at the time it was an exciting way to restart the arrangement. It was working, but our journey still was on foot until we called in Alex Boye, one of the most talented people we've ever met. Alex has this contagious energy that gave new life to the song and to us. He sings the tune in 4 different languages: Swahili, English, Yoruba (his mother's native language), and Alex's own African "scat" (we'll call it...Scafrican) =) Most of the words you hear are translated from the lyrics in the original Coldplay Tune. We're huge fans of Alex -- We bet you are now too!
Follow Alex on Facebook here: http://www.facebo...
When we had finished the arrangement we all agreed that listening to it was like taking a journey to somewhere remote and ruggedly beautiful. How were we to depict this with a cello, African percussion and, most difficult of all, a grand piano? We took a risky, but oh-so-valuable turn when we called in helicopters to air-lift us and our instruments where none had gone before! (Please excuse the Trek reference). Since no one had ever done this before where were we to go for advice? Well, we can tell you that Home Depot didn't have a lot of answers (how disappointing) but we did clean them out of their strongest cable they had. We don't mind telling you that when that helicopter began lifting our brand new-never-before-played grand piano into the air we couldn't help close our eyes and cross our fingers. We consider a blessing of Heaven that it worked. I guess we figured that if it didn't, maybe it could still be a viral video -- "PIANO MOVE FAIL" =)
We'd like to thank from the bottom of our hearts, Duane Fielding who offered the helicopters and SkyHawk http://www.skyhaw... for not dropping the piano...:-) Half-way through the first day of shooting we discovered that, as typical guys, we had forgotten to bring ANY food or water to this remote location. We had two options: one, wrestle a mountain rodent and harvest cacti or two, starve. Duane, our head pilot, took pity on us. He took off (literally) and moments later landed in a Wendy's parking lot, ordered 5 of everything (sadly, he couldn't use the drive through)...took off again and brought us chicken sandwiches and hamburgers via airmail. Thank you Duane! Flying in your helicopter was a dream come true for us despite the lack of doors. =)
Filming location:
http://g.co/maps/...
All the instruments you hear are REAL instruments. We wanted to be authentic about this. The following percussion instruments were used:
Djembe (drum)
Agogo bell (like a cow bell)
Udu (the porcelain vase-looking drum)
Guiro (gourd scraper)
Djabarra (shaker)
Rain stick
Pangi seed shaker ("goat toenails" or Unas)
Credits:
Paradise (Mylo Xyloto) by Coldplay written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, And Chris Martin; Copyright Universal Music Mgb Songs And Upala Music, Inc.
Arrangement written and produced by Al van der Beek & Steven Sharp Nelson
Lead vocals: Alex Boye
Cello: Steven Sharp Nelson
Piano: Jon Schmidt
Percussion and backup vocals: Al van der Beek & Steven Sharp Nelson
Recorded, mixed, mastered at TPG Studios by Al van der Beek
Video filmed, edited, & produced by Paul Anderson & Tel Stewart
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Download the MP3 for FREE here: http://thepianogu... (limited time only)...
more
Download the MP3 for FREE here: http://thepianogu... (limited time only)
Purchase "Somewhere over the Rainbow" here: http://thepianogu...
SUBSCRIBE to our YOUTUBE Channel here: http://www.youtub...
Follow ThePianoGuys here:
http://www.thepia...
Facebook:
http://www.facebo...
Twitter:
http://twitter.co...
iTunes Download: http://itunes.app...
Amazon.com Download: http://www.amazon...
Story behind the song:
Jon Schmidt and Steven Sharp Nelson were booked for a Piano Guys show in Hawaii. How could we resist filming our next video in the land of Aloha -- beautiful beaches, green mountains, and fresh pineapple?? We went to our Founders and Facebook fans to ask what song they wanted us to play there. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was the nearly-unanimous response. But you know how we are ... we couldn't "just" do this tune by itself...so in the studio we found a made-in-heaven matchup in the timeless melody from the Shaker Hymn "Simple Gifts" written in the 1800's (also used by Aaron Copland in his Ballet "Appalachian Spring"). We feel it's an especially appropriate mash-up because of our profound love and respect for the Hawaiian culture -- a people who are so good at finding happiness in simplicity. As you probably could hear we borrowed a lot of ideas from Iz's version which has become the stuff of legend.
Getting a piano onto a sandy beach and then onto a big hill in a famous ranch within the SAME day (we only had 8 hours to film) was no small feat. The only thing harder would be to be predict Hawaiian weather, which ended up being our biggest challenge.
We had a little extra help on this one. Steven Sharp Nelson's mother, Lynne Sanders Nelson -- a main source of his inspiration for pursuing music -- passed away early in life from the effects of a brain tumor. She was an incredibly-gifted musician and taught Steven to play music passionately rather than just playing "notes" on a page. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was one of her favorite songs. We finished this arrangement on what would have been her 70th birthday. Somehow she helped.
Thank you so much to the Kualoa Ranch who bent over backwards last-minute for us and provided us such a beautiful place to shoot. Visit their site at http://www.kualoa... -- when you visit Hawaii be sure to stop by and take a tour -- its where dozens of huge blockbluster movies/tv shows have been filmed.
This song is dedicated to
Lynne Sanders Nelson, The Hill Family, J. Mueller, & the people of Hawaii
Filming locations:
Beach Scene:
Pounders Beach, North Shore, Oahu Hawaii
Finale:
Kualoa Ranch, North Shore, Oahu Hawaii (This is the place to go for sightseeing on Oahu!)
Toll Free: (800) 231-7321
Tour Desk: (808) 237-7321
http://www.kualoa...
Credits:
Over the Rainbow music written by Harold E. Arlen in 1939 for the movie "Wizard of Oz" -- originally performed by Judy Garland
Published by EMI Feist Catalog, Inc.
Inspired, in part, by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's cover
Simple Gifts written by Joseph Brackett in 1848
Arrangement written and produced by Al van der Beek & Steven Sharp Nelson
Video produced by Paul Anderson and Tel Stewart
Piano: Jon Schmidt
Electric/Acoustic Cellos: Steven Sharp Nelson
Vocals: Al van der Beek
Percussion: Steven Sharp Nelson & Al van der Beek
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coolghost554255 favorited a video
(21 hours ago)
Become a TPG founder: http://thepianogu...
Support us by downloading on ...
more
Become a TPG founder: http://thepianogu...
Support us by downloading on iTunes: http://itunes.app...
Support us by downloading on Amazon.com here: http://www.amazon...
SUBSCRIBE to our YOUTUBE Channel here: http://www.youtub...
Want to play THIS piece with Steven Sharp Nelson? Go here for details: http://www.lyceum...
Follow ThePianoGuys here:
http://www.thepia...
Facebook:
http://www.facebo...
Twitter:
http://twitter.co...
Follow Tiffany Alvord here:
Click here for the Vocal Version: http://www.youtub...
Facebook: http://www.facebo...
Twitter: http://www.twitte...
Second Channel: http://www.youtub...
Follow the Lyceum Philharmonic here:
http://www.Lyceum...
Facebook: http://www.Facebo...
Twitter: http://www.Twitte...
Story behind the song:
The American Heritage Lyceum Philharmonic (Youth Orchestra) and its director, Kayson Brown, approached us with this idea. We loved it. It combined two of the things we are working to accomplish -- inviting people to classical music and inspiring young musicians. Steven Sharp Nelson had soloed with the orchestra the previous year and loved the spirit and the talent that the orchestra showed at such young ages (ages 13-18!) Together we developed the concept of "Beethoven's 5 Secrets," combining OneRepublic's tune "Secrets" with melodies and moments from all four movements of Beethoven's 5th Symphony.
We used 5 different melodies from the 4 movements of Beethoven's 5th Symphony (not including the "bridge" the orchestra plays in the middle). Try to guess where they are and where they come from!
What are Beethoven's secrets? He had many. His most prominent secret that he desperately tried to keep from the public and that caused him to be considered extremely eccentric, irritable, and hermit-like was his "weakness." He was deaf during most of his life. Imagine that...one of the greatest composers that ever lived could hardly hear. And yet, he wrote his life's greatest works after becoming deaf. He believed that art itself had "secrets" that had to be "forced into" in order to obtain art's highest level. There is no doubt Beethoven discovered many of the "secrets" of art -- people all over the world enjoy them every day. He was a true master of music, blessed by God. This piece and video are dedicated to him.
Perform "Beethoven's 5 Secrets" and the entire Beethoven Symphony No. 5 with Steven Sharp Nelson at Lyceum Music Festival this year! Work up-close and personal with Steven and other amazing professional musicians like the concertmaster of the London Symphony and Rotterdam Orchestra. Advanced players ages 13-21 are invited to audition. Visit http://www.Lyceum... or http://american-h... for details
Filming locations:
The Mountains of St. George Utah
American Heritage School
TPG Studios
MetCom Studio (Behind the Scenes footage)
Credits
Arrangement written and produced by Al van der Beek & Steven Sharp Nelson
Orchestrated by Kayson Brown & Steven Sharp Nelson
Performed by
American Heritage Lyceum Philharmonic, under the direction of Kayson Brown
Additional violin work by Julie Ann Nelson (Steven's wife!) & Matthew John Nelson (Steven's brother!)
Steven Sharp Nelson: Acoustic cello, electric cellos, percussion, vocal textures
Al van der Beek: Vocal textures, percussion
Secrets originally written by Ryan Tedder, published by SONY/ATV TUNES LLC
Symphony No. 5 in C Minor, Opus 67 written by Ludwig van Beethoven in 1804-1808 and debuted in Vienna's Theater an der Wien in 1808
Orchestra recorded at MetCom Studios (http://www.metcomstudios.com)
All other instruments recorded by Al van der Beek at TPG Studios
Mixed and Mastered at TPG Studios by Al van der Beek
Video produced by Paul Anderson & Tel Stewart
Dedicated to Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
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coolghost554255 favorited a video
(21 hours ago)
Download the MP3 for FREE here: http://thepianogu... (limited time only)...
more
Download the MP3 for FREE here: http://thepianogu... (limited time only)
Purchase "Somewhere over the Rainbow" here: http://thepianogu...
SUBSCRIBE to our YOUTUBE Channel here: http://www.youtub...
Follow ThePianoGuys here:
http://www.thepia...
Facebook:
http://www.facebo...
Twitter:
http://twitter.co...
iTunes Download: http://itunes.app...
Amazon.com Download: http://www.amazon...
Story behind the song:
Jon Schmidt and Steven Sharp Nelson were booked for a Piano Guys show in Hawaii. How could we resist filming our next video in the land of Aloha -- beautiful beaches, green mountains, and fresh pineapple?? We went to our Founders and Facebook fans to ask what song they wanted us to play there. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was the nearly-unanimous response. But you know how we are ... we couldn't "just" do this tune by itself...so in the studio we found a made-in-heaven matchup in the timeless melody from the Shaker Hymn "Simple Gifts" written in the 1800's (also used by Aaron Copland in his Ballet "Appalachian Spring"). We feel it's an especially appropriate mash-up because of our profound love and respect for the Hawaiian culture -- a people who are so good at finding happiness in simplicity. As you probably could hear we borrowed a lot of ideas from Iz's version which has become the stuff of legend.
Getting a piano onto a sandy beach and then onto a big hill in a famous ranch within the SAME day (we only had 8 hours to film) was no small feat. The only thing harder would be to be predict Hawaiian weather, which ended up being our biggest challenge.
We had a little extra help on this one. Steven Sharp Nelson's mother, Lynne Sanders Nelson -- a main source of his inspiration for pursuing music -- passed away early in life from the effects of a brain tumor. She was an incredibly-gifted musician and taught Steven to play music passionately rather than just playing "notes" on a page. "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" was one of her favorite songs. We finished this arrangement on what would have been her 70th birthday. Somehow she helped.
Thank you so much to the Kualoa Ranch who bent over backwards last-minute for us and provided us such a beautiful place to shoot. Visit their site at http://www.kualoa... -- when you visit Hawaii be sure to stop by and take a tour -- its where dozens of huge blockbluster movies/tv shows have been filmed.
This song is dedicated to
Lynne Sanders Nelson, The Hill Family, J. Mueller, & the people of Hawaii
Filming locations:
Beach Scene:
Pounders Beach, North Shore, Oahu Hawaii
Finale:
Kualoa Ranch, North Shore, Oahu Hawaii (This is the place to go for sightseeing on Oahu!)
Toll Free: (800) 231-7321
Tour Desk: (808) 237-7321
http://www.kualoa...
Credits:
Over the Rainbow music written by Harold E. Arlen in 1939 for the movie "Wizard of Oz" -- originally performed by Judy Garland
Published by EMI Feist Catalog, Inc.
Inspired, in part, by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole's cover
Simple Gifts written by Joseph Brackett in 1848
Arrangement written and produced by Al van der Beek & Steven Sharp Nelson
Video produced by Paul Anderson and Tel Stewart
Piano: Jon Schmidt
Electric/Acoustic Cellos: Steven Sharp Nelson
Vocals: Al van der Beek
Percussion: Steven Sharp Nelson & Al van der Beek
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coolghost554255 favorited a video
(21 hours ago)
Elevator by David Archuleta from his latest album The Other Side of Down...
more
Elevator by David Archuleta from his latest album The Other Side of Down with lyrics on screen.
You can download the full album on iTunes.
The Other Side of Down Tracks:
1. The Other Side of Down
2. Something 'Bout Love
3. Elevator ♥
4. Stomping the Roses
5. Who I am
6. Falling Stars
7. Parachutes and Airplanes
8. Look Around
9. Good Place
10. Complain
11. Things are Gonna Get Better
12. My Kind of Perfect
Enjoy!
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