Axis of Awesome - 4 Four Chord Song (with song titles)

Australian comedy group 'Axis Of Awesome' perform a sketch from the 2009 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Footage courtesy of Network Ten Australia.
See www.axisofawesome.net/ for more details of the comedy trio including Jordan Raskopoulos, Lee Naimo, & Benny Davis.
Journey - Don't Stop Believing
James Blunt - You're Beautiful
Alphaville - Forever Young
Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
Mika - Happy Ending
Alex Lloyd - Amazing
The Calling - Wherever You WIll Go
Elton John - Can You Feel The Love Tonight
Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved
The Last Goodnight - Pictures Of You
U2 - With Or Without You
Crowded House - Fall At Your Feet
Kasey Chambers - Not Pretty Enough
The Beatles - Let it Be
Red Hot Chili Peppers - Under the Bridge
Daryl Braithwaite - The Horses
Bob Marley - No Woman No Cry
Marcy Playground - Sex and Candy
Men At Work - Land Down Under
Banjo Patterson's Waltzing Matilda
A Ha - Take On Me
Green Day - When I Come Around
Eagle Eye Cherry - Save Tonight
Toto - Africa
Beyonce - If I Were A Boy
The Offspring - Self Esteem
The Offspring - You're Gonna Go Far Kid
Pink - You and Your Hand
Lady Gaga - Poker Face
Aqua - Barbie Girl
The Fray - You Found Me
30h!3 - Don't Trust Me
MGMT - Kids
Tim Minchin - Canvas Bags
Natalie Imbruglia - Torn
Five For Fighting - Superman
Axis Of Awesome - Birdplane
Missy Higgins - Scar

[@aaronsmolyar2691]

Their biggest hit was just them pissing on the music industry for 5 mins straight.

[@bradleyyoung528]

Whatever it is, it's perfect

[@117nh]

You mean like the Blues Traveler song The Hook?

[@ccm963]

They used the four chords of a pop song afterall

[@marcphillips9424]

obviously an easily-piss-on-able industry then? mmm

[@torstenstingl]

And that is a good thing.

[@Gredddfe]

Ah yes, who could forget the classic Australian comedy trio Will Arnett, Jack Black and Edward Snowden.

[@projekantagonis4866]

Gredddfe edward snowden🤣🤣🤣

[@done4195]

*Chicken Little*

[@insiddious]

Half of Edward Snowden

[@cianwhittaker5982]

Look up Tristan Russcher...sorta similar for me

[@rowan7871]

Benny snowden

[@imagesbyraphael]

13 years later and I still think this is the best mash-up ever

[@tisjstme5315]

13 years later and I hear this for the first time. Awesome. I was reading on the Ed Sheeran law suit and how those songs in it are similar. Someone directed me to this song. And, I have got to say that, Ed's song is a different song. As are all these songs in this remix. I hope that the judge has viewed this video before coming to a conclusion on Ed's case. Amen. Good luck Ed.

[@anrdrewleggett5521]

I understand that it got played in the courtroom as evidence

[@steveburnett7679]

It's called a MIX.....white people stole it and called it a MASH UP....

[@tisjstme5315]

@@anrdrewleggett5521 That's great. I hear Ed won too.

[@theseeing]

13 years later and this videos helps Ed's sheeran case

[@y0ink1]

This video is 14 years old (in 2024) and i still come back to it at least yearly. Love it! Many have done this since, but the Axis of Awesome was the first time I'd ever heard it.

[@fazegfue5188]

same

[@SamirWakim]

Same! 😂

[@fromnono13]

Ironically enough this did end up as their biggest hit

[@edmasterson4588]

i dont really they that fits the definition of "irony". it is a genius idea and they prefaced the fact that they are intending to create comedic music.

[@wanderingrandomer]

@@edmasterson4588 The irony comes from the fact that the guy in the middle was skeptical that writing that chord progression would result in a hit.

[@FBarbarian]

@@edmasterson4588 are you having a stroke?

[@edmasterson4588]

@@FBarbarian probably... seizures are funnier. george clinton is the president!

[@whoknowswhocares885]

Because it is a 4 chord song. It’s a hit by default.

[@tjnaples]

I see the KZbin algorithm has brought us back together friends. Edit: Thanks for all the likes and love, 20,000 is unbelievable!

[@Adam-dv2je]

Demonitized!

[@jeanmarco40]

Nope, I searched for this song all by myself!

[@slightlokii3191]

I haven’t watched this in ages and then boom recommend is like here have this one

[@jacktherripper]

It is good to see everyone again! I hope everyone is well!

[@ask-ingarbhn6855]

It's my first time here, but do expect me to come back

[@irock123ab]

The audience isn't freaking out enough. This is the most genius song ever written

[@markhill474]

They were too busy listening and didn't want to miss anything!

[@theweddingsinger1970]

@@markhill474 ikr, i''m just enjoying the music and losing the original point

[@moonlambo5229]

I'm sure they were just in awww of the brilliance of this performance.

[@rosiejl2798]

I was 15 years old and taped the show at the time on vcr so can let you know I absolutely did freak out when I saw it and got my dad to transfer the tape to digital to transfer it to my Aldi ipod dupe.

[@Spider-Geek916]

Several of them, in fact, LOL

[@adingdingdiiing6740]

I am so glad that Ed Sheeran used this video in court to show just how many songs use the same 4 chord progression.

[@ANDY1985UK2011]

he copied the tempo too

[@manfrommaine1194]

And he played songs himself. Such a ridiculous lawsuit

[@ace-smith]

@@ANDY1985UK2011 the idea that you can copy a tempo is probably stupider than the idea that you can copy a chord progression

[@skld-xm]

@@ace-smithyes it is tempo is literally a number/rate

[@ChubbsIsTheSHIT]

​@@ace-smith 👍👍

[@justindominicvalencia9118]

The middle guy looks like a bootleg Jack Black

[@daudaliyafie546]

@Jonathan Loh how fast time changes

[@RonJohn63]

I was thinking "Meatloaf with a big nose".

[@PLAKIPLAKI14]

That was the exact thought that crossed my mind

[@Piemastermoose]

@Jonathan Loh just put a sticker on her that says 'was a male, now a female' I've got my eye on you.

[@Piemastermoose]

@Jonathan Loh just a joke I wasn't sure anyone was going to get. Before she transitioned she did skits as Paulie on the Ronnie Johns half hour. Just type those words into a search and you'll get the joke.

[@SoICanComment163]

The middle guy is like you mixed Jack Black with Matt Damon

[@80sGamerAndSon]

Just what I thought :-)

[@Nanciefy]

+KissyLipRaptor Lmfao oh my god that's so accurate.

[@Nems271]

+KissyLipRaptor A very stupid laugh came out of my mouth after I read this XD

[@mantrox]

+KissyLipRaptor ...MATT DAMON!

[@katythomson6440]

😁

[@gingerdom5623]

Bet they never thought this would be used as evidence in a copyright lawsuit against one of the most famous singers in the world

[@sickojoseph9377]

Wait they used that in Ed Sheeran's trial?

[@charliesalter3744]

@@sickojoseph9377 yeah lol. They used it to show how similar songs are, because there are only 12 different notes on a piano so obviously songs will sound similar - this video proves it lol

[@benholbrook3161]

How'd you figure out this was in the lawsuit? Were you a juror or something?

[@robertlijklema3430]

@@benholbrook3161 It was mentioned on the news during the trial: kzbin.info/www/bejne/boWtm5Wap9iMd6c

[@maxmerton]

@@charliesalter3744 12 notes on a piano, but other instruments have more, right?

[@aw12121]

My now husband showed me this video on our second date. He created a monster and has endured five years of me singing the wrong lyrics over other songs. 😂❤️

[@Aerowind]

The only one that gets me is "Come on Barbie let's go party" over the top of Poker Face. It's so intrusive.

[@Stegge1985]

you´re not alone with that@@Aerowind

[@thegithegi]

You got yourself a keeper

[@Starseeker1313]

@@Aerowind That's my favourite bit!

[@tonybanks9015]

He sounds like a very patient and understanding man.

[@MrWhangdoodles]

Irony is that a four chord song is their greatest hit.

[@yotohan]

Coincidence? 🤔

[@Vousie]

Well, this song just has such a catchy tune 😉

[@OoJoshioO]

This sucks,bnut is funny a.h :D

[@man_of_lawlessness]

Why change a winning formula 😂

[@ToxPhy]

Birdplane?

[@chamidumadumal7130]

See you all in another ten years.

[@jackx2737]

I swear ill reply to that comment in 2030

[@hairylarry4672]

@@jackx2737 I'll be waiting

[@Monetize]

lol

[@taylanparker8377]

Jack Crutchfield I’ll be waiting :) see you in ten years

[@jaybonn5973]

Cant wait to see the world in ashes mate :D

[@koine2002]

For those who want to know, the four chords at the I, V, vi, and IV chords of any key. The Roman numerals representing the note in the key’s scale (key of C Major would be C Major Scale). The lower case means a minor chord. So, in the key of C major, it would be C, G, Am, F. In the key of G major, it would be G, D, Em, C. In D major it would be D, A, Bm, G. It’s all in that order. It was the successor to the “turnaround” chord progression (same chords, different order of progression) of the “doowop” music of 1940’s and 50’s R&B. Just about any R&B (and most rock and roll) song from that era can be played using that progression (I, vi, IV, V). Unchained Melody uses that progression.

[@JamaicanOreo18]

You are an amazing human being 😢

[@jasonhathaway9746]

Learning songs in Cmajor scale now on guitar. FChord is a hand cramping nightmare but I am actually starting to get it. My instructor sent me this link and would approve of your comment.

[@maxgregorycompositions6216]

Yeah, i know.

[@crazydougthewolf]

Thank you, you are a quality human :)

[@esleptheslepth4564]

been playing guitar for years and didnt realize i was making these progressions naturally on my own for years (i tend to gravitate to the turnaround progression given i listened to oldies growing up)

[@fulldork]

I come back and watch this every few months for over a decade now. Nothing else scratches this exact itch.

[@evanleo9746]

Ironically this was their hit.

[@polybent9748]

Evan Leo my music teacher actually shared this and that's how I know these sons of guns

[@grumpyshoegirl]

I'm a music teacher and I share this EVERY SINGLE YEAR when I'm going over basic pop song construction. Then I just play the chords over and over and the kids improvise any pop songs they can think of. Always a good time!

[@zoehellriegel6533]

grumpyshoegirl Witch 4 Chords are this ?

[@bimtino]

I guess it is E B C#m A. But you can do this with every chord arrangement, circle of fifths is the keyword.

[@grumpyshoegirl]

In any key, I, V, vi, IV. In other words, the home key, one fifth up, the relative minor (minor 6th), and the fourth. When I vamp with my mixed chorus at work, I usually do D, A, Bm, and G.

[@LPkletten]

How many Copyright strikes can you get in 5min Speedrun

[@BaldMancTwat]

[Its joke.] But covers are allowed and the four chords aren't copyright obviously.

[@anonymus1234]

This have a potential for a like rocket

[@jakx2ob]

@@BaldMancTwat cover versions of songs aren't fair use, legally speaking you need a approval of the copyright holder to do a cover performance. Parodies are also not excepted. I think the performance in the video could be considered fair use since it's a form of critique.

[@fofnifolar]

@@jakx2ob parodies are fair use,

[@AnarchistMetalhead]

This is criticism of the works it uses, and only as much as needed to make the point There is no clearer example of fair use than this

[@jefferyh.9811]

It's 2024 and I'm still bumpin this classic!

[@ItsJeniDuh]

13 years later and STILL gold

[@josefk.122]

How to make drunken 90’s kids cry in the bathroom, part one:

[@steefan2248]

Land Down Under especially.

[@breathyy5963]

Down under is an 80s song lol

[@robashton8606]

Yep....yep.

[@paulkerrigan9857]

@@breathyy5963 Yeah but 90s kids were born in the 80s, otherwise they'd be too small to remember the music.

[@vVyohasakuraVv]

@@paulkerrigan9857 just no lol i was born in 90 i remember all of these songs mostly coz the got spammed on the radio and TotP constantly over the decade

[@jordankch]

"Four Chords" by Axis of Awesome 00:52 - Don't Stop Believing, Journey 00:59 - You're Beautiful, James Blunt 01:09 - Forever Young, Alphaville 01:16 - I'm Yours, Jason Mraz 01:25 - Happy Ending, Mika 01:33 - Amazing, Alex Lloyd 01:42 - Wherever You Will Go, The Calling 01:49 - Can You Feel The Love Tonight, Sir Elton John 01:56 - She Will Be Loved, Maroon 5 02:04 - Pictures of You, The Last Goodnight 02:11 - With or Without You, U2 02:19 - Fall at Your Feet, Crowded House 02:29 - Not Pretty Enough, Kasey Chambers 02:38 - Let it Be, The Beatles 02:42 - Under the Bridge, Red Hot Chili Peppers 02:46 - Horses, Daryl Braithwaite 02:54 - No Woman No Cry, Bob Marley 02:56 - Sex and Candy, Marcy Playground 02:58 - Land Down Under, Men at Work 03:01 - Waltzing Matilda, Banjo Patterson 03:06 - Take on Me / When I Come Around, A-Ha / Green Day 03:21 - Save Tonight / Africa, Eagle Eye Cherry / Toto 03:29 - If I Were a Boy / Self Esteem, Beyonce / The Offspring 03:37 - You're Gonna Go Far Kid, The Offspring 03:45 - You and Your Hand, P!nk 03:53 - Poker Face, Lady Gaga 03:58 - Barbie Girl, Aqua 04:00 - You Found Me, The Fray 04:08 - Don't Trust Me, 30h!3 04:15 - Kids, MGMT 04:23 - Canvas Bags, Tim Minchin 04:33 - Torn, Natalie Imbrugila 04:48 - Superman, Five for Fighting 04:52 - Birdplane, Axis of Awesome 05:02 - Scar, Missy Higgins Best band ever: Rick Santorum, Jack Black, and Chicken Little

[@mynewname7830]

@Michael Estwik Haha thought the exact same. Feckin hell, well on time. GG OP

[@CrashCarlisle]

The hero we needed and wanted

[@lucasestini5973]

Not the hero we deserved, but the one we needed

[@backpackeradam]

Note Torn is a cover, originally written and recorded by Ednaswap, even though Natalie Imbruglia made it most famous.

[@elijahtucker7938]

What a saint. You put in work to make these time stamps, and we appreciate you.

[@Maribro4]

Between this version and the updated version on their channel, I love this one more. The energy behind this performance is just on another level and elevates this one far above the studio recording

[@PangolinGL]

Same

[@iDogtag]

Yeah totally this performance is like lightning in a bottle.

[@vita1ogy.]

The vocals and the harmonies on this version just blow the other one out of the water

[@jasonk2518]

I like the keyboard player hits that impossible high note and the lead singer steps back and pumps his fist with emphasis. My favorite part of teams or groups is seeing someone who isn't in the spotlight enjoying the moment just as much as man or woman who is

[@WillCookSound]

Chicken Little, Jack Black and Sheldon Cooper in a band

[@guysumpthin2974]

Wayyyyyy better pipes than jack black , definitely the son of meatloaf

[@duke_hugo]

Benny looks a bit like Neil Patrick Harris too

[@dentonkellyjr8095]

@@duke_hugo a short NPH lol

[@perlandstrom5023]

pretty sure jack black is already in a band XD

[@janikbuser162]

Actually its Chicken Little, Jack Black and Eddie Murphy, check their video " yes i know" out

[@Richard_Frost]

"We've never had a hit because we've never written a 4 chords song" *Proceeds to have a massive hit comprised of literally all of the other 4 chords songs*

[@liamdickson90]

chord

[@MarceldeJong]

But one that features one of their own (birdplane)

[@Pontif11]

Genius

[@Wqube]

Soo far from being all 4-chord songs... Me and my mates did a version of this like 7 years ago and found about 15 different songs that we mixed in :)

[@Bergja]

I thought this was about 3 chord songs.

[@MiketheNerdRanger]

How the dude sang "am I not pretty enough" had me in stitches 😂😂😂

[@maartenstriepe6893]

Remember back when this still had KZbin annotations naming the various songs

[@jamescrock62]

I still remember PCFights and KZbin coming along..

[@gogogoat495]

I have that extension turned on, so for me it was today... (I'm not sure if the "click here"s used to go places though)

[@Mote.]

I no longer sing poker face without adding come on barbie lets go party

[@onemorechris]

haha! so true

[@hero3bash]

I thought I was the only one lol

[@christianthomassen8420]

I always did, which is wierd becaude i dont remember watching this video before

[@screamoneo]

Same

[@nimrowd2023]

I can't listen to Poker Face without picturing Kristen Stewart's palate of expressionless emotional faces.

[@anthonyjackson6650]

Whenever I can't settle on something to listen to...

[@kamidxvid5749]

Fr

[@bengardner4810]

So true hahaha!

[@ngonhatnam131]

Rofl xD

[@emomusicandmusicaltheatre8761]

Yup

[@WhatSayCrochet]

My best friend showed me this video for the first time yesterday. I decided WTF I'm just going to make a playlist with all of these songs.

[@zazazipper9331]

Love how "Chicken Little" is not phased by any of it and just keeps hitting the keys I watched this many years ago and then again many times over the years. It's never ever boring and always brings a smile to my face. Even when I don't know whatever supermarket you need to bring your bags to

[@holdenshowalter7566]

This was 13 years ago too. Imagine them doing it again with all the songs till the present!

[@thecrankedamps]

Most of the hit songs nowadays have only 2 chords at most. Utterly terrible stuff.

[@nitebreak]

@@thecrankedamps i think u could sing bad habit by steve lacy over this maybe. or dark red

[@srhmusic13]

The music industry has only made it easier over the last 13 years. You don't even need to be a musician or know how to say anymore. As long as you got some tits and ass, we'll put you on stage and fix the rest in the studio

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

Right and the only are using a tiny subsection of the songs they could have chosen. Like a prayer has the same chord progression.... My name is Jonas when I come around, damn it by blink.... I mean there are probably thousands of songs released every year with this chord progression. Probably a dozen hits every year at least

[@lueysixty-six7300]

Even 12 years later this just has me grinning from ear-to-ear for every moment every second of that 5 1/2 minutes

[@saigasounds3181]

haha same

[@againstthegrain147]

2022 - still laughing

[@deadly_playz585]

I agree entirely

[@donaldashford2448]

Right here with you 😁

[@gititgiitit5450]

2022 and still one of my favorites. great to share with friends and fam who are feeling down.

[@durzio9630]

Me: can we get jack black? Mom: we have Jack Black at home Jack Black at home:

[@brizzlel6732]

Omg 😂😂

[@on1117]

And now aussie Jack Black is a woman

[@femboyenthusiast3231]

@@on1117 ok? and

[@femboyenthusiast3231]

@@schantist hell yeah

[@MegaTrack23]

What a comment hahahah *click*noice

[@xSixSx]

After seeing Ed Sheeran go to court over 4 chords I had to come back here 😂

[@JoeKnows44]

I think I've now watched this video close to, if not 1,000 times over the last decade plus. It still brings me to tears more often that not. It's just a little too perfect. It hits that part of your brain that makes you feel the comfort of nostalgia mixed with the excitement of understanding something that seems like it should be obvious, but is never so charming as it is when presented this way. These guys could have done this and nothing else and I would still say their debt is paid. What a service to humanity. Just pure beauty. Thanks guys.

[@blackman4217]

00:52 - Don't Stop Believing, Journey 00:59 - You're Beautiful, James Blunt 01:09 - Forever Young, Alphaville 01:16 - I'm Yours, Jason Mraz 01:25 - Happy Ending, Mika 01:33 - Amazing, Alex Lloyd 01:42 - Wherever You Will Go, The Calling 01:49 - Can You Feel The Love Tonight, Sir Elton John 01:56 - She Will Be Loved, Maroon 5 02:04 - Pictures of You, The Last Goodnight 02:11 - With or Without You, U2 02:19 - Fall at Your Feet, Crowded House 02:29 - Not Pretty Enough, Kasey Chambers 02:38 - Let it Be, The Beatles 02:42 - Under the Bridge, Red Hot Chili Peppers 02:46 - Horses, Daryl Braithwaite 02:54 - No Woman No Cry, Bob Marley 02:56 - Sex and Candy, Marcy Playground 02:58 - Land Down Under, Men at Work 03:01 - Waltzing Matilda, Banjo Patterson 03:06 - Take on Me / When I Come Around, A-Ha / Green Day 03:21 - Save Tonight / Africa, Eagle Eye Cherry / Toto 03:29 - If I Were a Boy / Self Esteem, Beyonce / The Offspring 03:37 - You're Gonna Go Far Kid, The Offspring 03:45 - You and Your Hand, P!nk 03:53 - Poker Face, Lady Gaga 03:58 - Barbie Girl, Aqua 04:00 - You Found Me, The Fray 04:08 - Don't Trust Me, 30h!3 04:15 - Kids, MGMT 04:23 - Canvas Bags, Tim Minchin 04:33 - Torn, Natalie Imbrugila 04:48 - Superman, Five for Fighting 04:52 - Birdplane, Axis of Awesome 05:02 - Scar, Missy Higgins

[@TrollusMaximusGladiaTroll]

big big big thanks for the list !

[@tendokun138]

How long did it take you to make this? also thx

[@gerardrosal4435]

wow thanks

[@vagabond7199]

Thanks!

[@falkhammermuller9342]

13 years I've been coming back to this video over and over and finally! Finally, somebody has put a list of these together. Sincerely, thank you!

[@salatistmull8860]

When the teacher, the bully and the silent kid found a band

[@Sm-zj5vy]

Lmao

[@dynestis2875]

Hahaha that's pretty funny!

[@atvena]

Teacher bully and bullys nerdy target.

[@Ninjaboy-km7zd]

Accurate

[@malinche6505]

Lol

[@c.r.blankenship9040]

Just a note of clarity for people wondering about the Ed Sheeran trial: these 4 chords * aren't * the four chords in Thinking Out Loud. It does, however, demonstrate the argument Ed Sheeran was trying to make, which is that hundreds of pop songs use the same chord progressions as each other, and there are only so many chord progressions you can use.

[@firestargaming9521]

This is the most epic mashup I've ever heard. Truly a masterpiece

[@TheRealGuywithoutaMustache]

"How many copyright strikes do you want?" "Yes"

[@BobRooney290]

well, if all those songs have the same chords, then every artist is infringing.

[@jeremyTallen1]

All of them

[@Sousabird]

@@BobRooney290 chords aren't copyrightable.

[@focka73]

Not even one. Cover 😎

[@1minuteasmr21]

Found him again guys

[@elliotyong2331]

Middle guy looks like he’s about to ask Shrek to do the roar

[@lugertelevisioncompany]

The fuck you doing here

[@Snpe-vy6ji]

@@lugertelevisioncompany what you doing here

[@harvey4385]

@@Snpe-vy6ji what you doing here

[@benbriddon8323]

What are we all doing here

[@pyrymaani]

@@benbriddon8323 What are you doing here

[@barret50cal5]

I love how they make a 4 chord song talking about 4 chord songs and it is a hit

[@madisonscott9935]

My family loved comedy music like this, and this is the last one we all watched together. My brother and I are grown up and have gone our separate ways, our mother is gone, and our father isn’t well. None of us talk anymore really, but I still come back here to feel that comfort. ❤

[@ethanrichmond3992]

This was a four chord song and it did end up being their biggest hit.

[@joelcasey230]

Is that Morn off DS9?

[@ethanrichmond3992]

@@joelcasey230 I am him.

[@joelcasey230]

Okay then, say something Morn would say.

[@ethanrichmond3992]

@@joelcasey230 .

[@joelcasey230]

@@ethanrichmond3992 ?

[@Statalyzer]

Weird how nobody laughed at the "close to 40 years now" joke, or at Benny getting interrupted and having to introduce himself a second time, but guffawed heartily at both "Chicken Little" remarks.

[@menoswater1032]

Exactly 😂😂

[@Vermikz]

Comedy is subjectice.... And the chicken little responses had perfect timing. ;)

[@robzeleki4530]

Sounds like the crowd is bad at math lol

[@Merennulli]

Keep in mind it's over a speaker system. It's easy to miss words like that, and when you can't rewind, your brain will fill in details to make it make sense. Even if you do hear it properly, without cuing, most people will assume they misheard. The first time I watched this, I thought they said "twenty", which made me assume they were older than they looked. There's also the common phrasing of a "collective" amount of time doing things (eg. "we have 200 years of computer programming experience in our team, all 10 of us have done this for 20 years").

[@PerthScienceClinic]

at "40 years", the audience hadn't really been primed. By "Chicken Little", they had a bit of an idea of the dynamic that was being portrayed.

[@anoushka.5054]

If Ed Sheeran needs to be a Piggy bank for anyone , it's these guys!! PS. are you here after the whole Ed Sheeran 4 chord progression case?

[@dikephilip]

Yea I am.

[@paulwilkinson6977]

@@dikephilip yes

[@TecAssistive]

Ditto 😂

[@Stormy77]

Yup, me too! The case vs. him was ridiculous for this reason. There are so many 4 chord songs.

[@lucarossi8442]

Even after 13 years I regularly come back to see this video on repeat and still it blows my mind! But the most amazing thing for me is the audience keeping their composure all the time. If I was there in person I would have ripped my shirt off and danced like there was no tomorrow!

[@empanadasdequeso6203]

LOL

[@Kaineeee]

Lyrics: My life is brilliant My love is pure I saw an angel Of that im sure Were forever young I wanna be forever young I won't hesitate no more No more it cannot wait Im your's This is the way you left me Im not pretending No love no hope no glory No happy ending Cause you were amazing And we did amazing things If i could Then i would I'd go where ever you will go And can you feel the love tonight And she will be loved yeah she will be loved The pictures of you The pictures of me Hung upon your wall For the world to see Cause i can't live With or without you Whenever i fall At your feet you let your tears rain on me Am i not pretty enough When i find myself in times of trouble Mother mary comes to me Sometimes i feel like i don't have a partner Thats the way it's gonna be little darling We'll be riding on the horses yeah yeah No woman no cry Yeah momma it surely is a dream I come from a land down under Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong Take on me When i come around Take me home Oh when i come around I'll be gone With a day or too Save tonight Gonna take alot to drag me away from you Fight the break of dawn Come tomorrow There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do Tomorrow i'll be gone If i were a boy I dunno know she's playing with me I think i would understand Well thats okay cause i've got no self esteem With a thousand lies And a good disguise Hit 'em right between the eyes Hit 'em right between the eyes Cause i'm not here for your entertainment You don't really wanna mess with me tonight Can't read my Can't read my No you can't read my poker face Come on barbie Lets go party Lost and insecure You found me You found me She want's to touch me woo-hoo She want's to love me woo-hoo She'll never leave me woo-hoo Enjoy yourself Take only what you need from here Take your canvas bags Take your canvas bags Take your canvas bags to the supermarket Take your canvas bags Nothings right im torn I'm all out of faith This is how i feel I'm cold and i am shamed Lying naked on the floor Illusion never changed Into something real I'm wide awake and i can see I'm more than a bird I'm more than a plane I'm a birdplane I'm a birdplane I'ma motherfucking birdplane Doesn't that sound familiar Doesn't that hit too close to home Doesn't that make you shiver The way thing's could've gone And doesnt it seem peculiar when everyone want's a little more And so that i remember To never go this far That's all it takes to be a star

[@baikamdajel]

That's all it takes to be a star.

[@Aeroldoth3]

You deserve FAR more likes for typing all that out!

[@jamest3116]

What profound and beautiful lyrics.

[@booyahhayoob]

It’s actually “a mother-fu-in’ birdplane”

[@unlikelygamer]

Not all heroes wear capes

[@DinoPopToys]

I watch this video like.. 20 times everyday.

[@louisbalkon3231]

me too :D

[@DinoPopToys]

+Louis Balkon :D

[@jackhammer3336]

I still do XD

[@ireana5976]

+JoesephGaming I watched this video 3 times already!

[@DinoPopToys]

+Ireana I've memorized it xD

[@aranstuart566]

I love this, everything about this brings back so many happy memories of my childhood; the comedy, the clothes, the jokes, the songs, the sound quality. Melancholy incarnate. :)

[@BMLEATHER]

I come back every year to have a nice little trip down memory lane. This video brings back so many memories. And then I realize I am getting closer and closer to the old AF status...

[@JillLulamoon]

The lack of comments here praising the piano player for hitting the high note in Take On Me. Legendary.

[@Zilahi-Branyi_Laszlo]

If it were a pure tone, probably there would be much more comments about it.

[@extrm161]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sKe3pmiFhdyrbaM ⬆️

[@erikblom3147]

I read that while he was doing it, nice timing

[@dan_kay]

That's because he didn't.

[@joenunya8449]

Had to comment just cause of that!

[@cj-dog]

“We’ve never wrote a 4chord song” The last song they play, Birdplane, is a 4chord song written by them.....

[@Danielson1818]

Birdplane is technically theirs, but it is a spoof of "superman" by Five for Fighting. The lines "I'm more than a bird, I'm more than a plane" are directly taken from that.

[@ninersnerd5123]

I was coming here to mention that! Either a) they DO have a hit four chord song, or b) they included a song that isn’t a hit. Still amazing though!

[@benthomas703]

Must be fun at parties

[@AzuraSkyy]

They follow Birdplane with 'doesn't that sound familiar? Doesn't that hit too close to home?' I think they'r''e keenly aware that they have a 4 chord song and that it isn't in the same league as the other 4 chord songs

[@gavinfagan4995]

A joke from a comedy band! Well I never!

[@waurbenyeger]

I read through some comments and saw no mention of the actual chords. This is the 1-5-6-4 chord progression. Basically ... the musical notes go A-G. If you're in the key of A then 1 is A, 2 is B, 3 is C etc etc.-- So in this example 1 is A, 5 is E, 6 is F and 4 is D. That's it. That's the secret sauce.

[@trinidiana]

I was thinking the same thing and am glad you explained it lol

[@joaks1969]

Isn't 1, 5, 6m, 4?

[@Pingoping]

Fm, not F lol

[@waurbenyeger]

@@Pingoping Which is why I said "musical notes." The average person that reads the comment probably doesn't know the difference between a major and minor chord, but they can likely wrap their head around a simple note progression. But yes, in this specific case (A Major) it would be an F#m chord.

[@semperfi73533]

​@@waurbenyeger yep not a single clue what any of that means but thanks for trying to simplified anyway. Now I'm off to KZbin University to learn to read music and play guitar 😂

[@maygunhance882]

Makes me happy that all these songs are still on radio

[@CassiusClam]

This was 10 years ago. Imagine if they did another one in 2020 with updated songs. 😂

[@ryangioia2358]

Sadly they won’t because they broke up a couple years ago

[@brakoholic]

It would sound a lot worse. New music is hot garbage

[@amberrosepillay]

fam look up roomieofficial he just did one and it's awesome

[@dressageandalusian]

Roomie just did

[@fnuah]

Ssup it's here 😂 kzbin.info/www/bejne/b6CmmIZ7YrGYZsU

[@hoot2416]

This progression has been used by western composers since the 1700s. It's amusing to me that Beethoven's Ode To Joy shares the same chord progression as the chorus to Taylor Swift's Love Story.

[@maarten404]

Did this Beethoven guy steal more from Taylor's phenomenal genius?

[@gildedpeahen876]

It’s all frequency and that’s a warm pleasing frequency for sure. Funny how we think we’ve changed so much…

[@jocomfiresin6982]

@@gildedpeahen876 sadly humans are and will remain forever be nothing more then monkeys in caves. We've just built better caves and learned to destroy just that little bit better then we did originally. Inherently we all still have the exact same impulses. Fight, fuck and eat. No human is immune to all of those impulses and usually the first and second are only dug out by force through trauma.

[@HDreamer]

@@mars7612 yh, there's like endless ways to combine sounds, but most are just unpleasent noise to our ears.

[@chrishall2594]

Classical music doesn't have chord "progressions".

[@igocamping3545]

This performance still gives me goosebumps. These guys are amazing

[@gazman7030]

Not sure KZbin will let you call them “guys”……one of them is now a “woman”🤣

[@jandy608]

It's unreal how many songs can be written using one progression, no matter what order those chords are played in. Chords I IV V and vi just can make any song in the pop charts.

[@Schmelt27]

Nope 1, 5, 6#m, 4

[@jandy608]

@@Schmelt27 it doesn’t even matter what spots the chords are in tho either. Like I vi IV V could work just as well

[@alextimm7636]

They're so close, that halfway through the song they end up changing from what I've heard. Btw I think this is In the key of E

[@jandy608]

@@alextimm7636 it is in the key of E mainly bc they started with don’t stop believing which is in that key

[@alextimm7636]

@@jandy608 I see now. Any ideas as to what inversion Benny was playing on? Trying to figure out on the piano

[@GAMLABGames]

People don't notice that when Jordan says we've been a comedy rock band for over 40 years, that he is only 33

[@lollipop5968]

+GAMLAB Games I think he was meant to say 4 years cuz they were formed in 2006 and this was in 2009 and he says close to 40 so I think he was supposed to say close to 4 years.

[@GAMLABGames]

Lollipop 596 makes sense

[@lollipop5968]

I think. After all they are a comedy rock group maybe it was supposed to be a joke I dunno:/

[@tomasalegria7487]

It's a joke in another vid he says 70

[@ryansheardown30]

+Tomas Alegria no he just has a time machine

[@qui-gonjinn7179]

this video will inevitably force you to be happy

[@coreybrown6966]

You underestimate my power.

[@1TrueJuliet]

You were the Chosen One!

[@WhitecollarWashouts]

I don't like sand

[@1TrueJuliet]

The Australian Bacon I like snot.

[@JoviLevi]

+The Australian Bacon _It's rough and coarse and it gets everywhere..._

[@tracygonzalez8863]

13 years later and this song still rocks.

[@Alltimefox]

The comedy, the voice and nostalgia and emotional impact makes it perfect

[@atvena]

Well said

[@Daz555Daz]

Love that no crowd has ever laughed at the 40 years in the business joke. Epic song tho. Axis rock.

[@PorkchopSandviches]

I also just noticed how they introduced Benny after they said the band name

[@PrettyBunny112]

I'm srry but wht is the joke. is it tht there's no way they could be over 40?

[@mochaclef5091]

The 70 year one seems to work better.

[@PrettyBunny112]

***** thanks!!

[@1TrueJuliet]

I did. Moments like that kind of make me lose some faith in humanity. I miss it when people got subtlety, and sometimes didn't need to be bashed over the head with a punchline.

[@parkjihyo4719]

A young me memorized this and now that I'm adult I find it difficult listening to the songs without singing this one in succession.

[@jr.jackrabbit10]

Yes! Every time I hear "No women no cry" My brain always finishes with "Yeah baby this surely is a dream, I come from a land down under..."

[@Usario321]

Same for me lol

[@olirikable]

I keep coming back to this because it's like reliving the mystical "good old times".

[@jordanschmidt566]

After years of listening to this over and over Benny is still my favorite singer

[@loganjones738]

These guys voices are actually incredible

[@tackion5371]

When I actually watch the video I'm always thrown off guard cause of that fact

[@thequickscoperfreak4989]

I disagree

[@Denmirden]

@@thequickscoperfreak4989 they are really good

[@BK-ku1zt]

And they disagree, you’re both expressing your subjective opinions

[@gordanbabic8028]

nope

[@realkingofantarctica]

Strangely enough, by copying dozens of songs, they ended up creating something more unique than any of them. What a performance.

[@handlemonium]

Ditto! 😁👌

[@radonbox6569]

Dude a lot of these songs are still incredible despite using only four chords. Also, these are just choruses, the verses and bridges of these songs use more chords. This is not "more unique" or better than all of these songs. It's a great comedy bit, but don't pretend like it's more than that

[@kid14346]

@@radonbox6569 CJ the X is right, "4 Chord Progression by Axis of Awesome did more damage to music discussion than anything else." To many people are like, "Wow these songs are all the same!!!" despite the rest of the songs being completely different. It is almost like there are a number of Chords and Keys that are pleasing to the human ear so we use them...

[@radonbox6569]

@@kid14346 Couldn't agree more

[@kid14346]

@@radonbox6569 If you don't mind deranged rants about vaguely related topics CJ the X is amazing in their analysis of things. That particular quote comes from "Bo Burnham vs Jeffery Bezos" it is a 2 hour stream of consciousness discussing music, music comedy, transhumanism, capitalism, art, products, and Bo Burnham and Jeff Bezo's entire career paths.

[@ericmurnion6803]

14 years later, still the best thing I've ever seen

[@chriswolf72]

I watched this live on TV and it came across my feed again today. It really lifted up my spirits! These guys know what they are doing! I bow down to genus! 🙇‍♂️

[@arya6085]

This should be shown to the judges of the Ed Sheeran lawsuit. It's honestly ridiculous trying to copyright chord progressions and BPM.

[@reallyFrogman]

Yup

[@TowMater603]

thank you !!! i said the same thing

[@fuzzylumpkinns]

true, but he stole parts of the melody from those songs he’s being sued for. when you play them side by side you can literally tell he took the original and just fucked with it until it was “different enough”

[@awesome7732]

@@fuzzylumpkinns but that's literally all music. you can't copyright something different. there are only so many different combinations. if you take a phrase that has the same chord progression behind it and change the notes around, it will still sound similar bc its in the same key and has same chords and therefore some notes are forced to be in place for harmony. it's different music.

[@xominety4091]

Arya Khonsari just let them do they’re thing fgs

[@anm00727]

"Mom, can we go see Jack Black?" "We have Jack black at home" at home:

[@VanVeniVidiVici]

Yes officer, this person's mother kidnapped Jack Black.

[@CaptainCanoe]

More like Jackie Black now...

[@stevenm9026]

Greatest comment ever

[@justkafy1752]

Well im happy we have Jack at home

[@michaelgutierrez1928]

I’d be fine with this jack black anyway xD

[@fearlessviper]

Ed Sheeran played this video as his testimony in court. He won the case

[@anthonyhaylock6655]

Benny the keyboard player is a genius , love the whole act it’s truly amazing , and the fact they have various versions of this routine is absolutely brilliant

[@klandalfthewhite9859]

Dude on the left is just vibing for 90% of this, and it's premium

[@stonemonk549]

He’s waiting the whole time to say “come one barbie let’s go party”

[@emilyhannant7548]

Stone Monk imagine if he had missed his line

[@thichinhphan4010]

@@stonemonk549 what ? Is he not pretty enough ? 😂

[@matthewmcginnity9018]

@@thichinhphan4010 is his heart too broken? 😂

[@knightgem8234]

Well it goes like this, the forth, the fifth The minor fall, and the major lift The baffled king composing every pop song.

[@letskeepitformal6537]

Nice

[@PiePierrot]

Ahahaha, yesss!

[@sirpiken]

cept in this case it goes like this the first the fifth the sixth the forth.

[@FastNFurious]

i think that's a 5 chord song

[@EvanCarmichael]

Loved it 🎉

[@DavidKocher]

2023 and I'm still watching this video. I need the audio of this. Love the arrangements of all these songs.

[@whateverIFeelLike]

let me tell you. singing along with this sounds like the most insane nonsense to anyone not wearing your headphones

[@1TrueJuliet]

If they ask, just show them the video. Spread the madness.

[@unsinic]

I love singing along with this they sing just in the notes I'm able to reach....

[@matthewrandell5055]

I haven't heard of most of these songs so sometimes when one's on the radio I'm surprised bc the line I thought followed was actually a different song :')

[@RpGfreak901]

My sister and I sing and perform this song all the time.

[@robbedewaele3096]

same by me hahah

[@Wawawa60]

LYRICS: (James Blunt - You're Beautiful) My life is brilliant My love is pure I saw an angel of that I'm sure (Alphaville - Forever Young) Forever young I wanna be forever young (Jason Mraz - I'm Yours) I won't hesitate no more no more it can not wait, I'm yours (Mika - Happy Ending) This is the way you left me I'm not pretending no love no hope no glory, no happy ending. (Alex Lloyd - Amazing) Cause you were amazing and we did amazing things (The Calling - Wherever You Will Go) If I could, then I would I'll go wherever you will go (Elton John - Can You Feel the Love Tonight) And can you feel the love tonight (Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved) And she will be loved yeah she will be loved (The last goodnight - Pictures of You) Pictures of you pictures of me hung upon your wall for the world to see (U2 - With or Without You) Cause I can't live with or without you (Crowded House - Fall at Your Feet) Whenever I fall at your feet You let your tears (Kasey Chambers - Not Pretty Enough) Am I not pretty enough Is my heart too bro(ken) (The Beatles - Let It Be) When I found myself in times of trouble mother Mary comes to me (Red Hot Chilli Peppers - Under the Bridge) Sometimes I feel like I don't have a partner (Daryl Braithwaite - The Horses) That's the way it's gonna be little darling We'll go riding on the horses yeah (Bob Marley - No Woman No Cry) No woman no cry (Marcy Playground - Sex and Candy) Yeah mama this surely is a dream (Men at Work - Land Down Under) I come from a land down under (Banjo Paterson - Waltzing Matilda) Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong (A-ha - Take On Me (Green Day - When I Come Around)) Take on me (When I come around) Take me on (Oh when I come around) I'll be gone In a day or two (Eagle Eye Cherry - Save Tonight (Toto - Africa)) Save tonight (It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you) and fight the break of dawn Come tomorrow, (There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do) tomorrow I'll be gone (Beyonce - If I Were a Boy (The Offspring - Self Esteem)) If I were a boy (I know she's playing with me) I think I would understand (Well that's ok 'cause I've got no self-esteem) (The Offspring - You're Gonna Go Far Kid (The Offspring - Self Esteem)) With a thousand lies (Oh yeah yeah yeah) And a good disguise Hit 'em right between the eyes (Oh yeah yeah) Hit 'em right between the eyes (Pink - U + Ur Hand) 'Cause I'm not here for your entertainment you don't really wanna mess with me tonight (Lady Gaga - Poker Face) Can't read my Can't read my No he can't read my poker face (Aqua - Barbie Girl) Come on Barbie let's go party (The Fray - You Found Me) Lost and insecure You found me, you found me (3OH!3 - Don't Trust Me) She wants to touch me woohoo She wants to love me woohoo She'll never leave me woohoo (MGMT - Kids) Enjoy yourself Take only what you need from here (Tim Minchin - Canvas Bags) Take your canvas bags Take your canvas bags Take your canvas bags To the supermarket Take your canvas bags (Natalie Imbruglia - Torn) Nothing's right, I'm torn I'm all out of faith This is how I feel, I'm cold and I am shamed Lying naked on the floor Illusion never changed Into something real I'm Wide awake and I can see (Five for Fighting - Superman) I'm more than a bird I'm more than a plane (Axis of Awesome - Birdplane) I'm a birdplane I'm a birdplane A motherfucking birdplane (Missy Higgins - Scar) Doesn't that sound familiar? Doesn't that hit too close to home? Doesn't that make you shiver; the way that things have gone? And doesn't that seem peculiar 'cause everyone wants a little more? It's something I do remember to never go this far That's all it takes to be a star

[@autofan02x31]

Keno Fuhrken wow

[@bindardundat454]

Nice , but wish you woulda listed song titles as well

[@Wawawa60]

you're lucky that I'm actually bored enough to do that...

[@nt49777]

Thanks ❤

[@85Zeroangel]

Nice and thank you👍

[@ghomerhust]

this just never gets old. like, at all. it's still so stinking good

[@j.macmillan2293]

Just discovered this song. It’s brilliant!

[@j.thomas7128]

Are these guys technically a one hit wonder?

[@reezonoce]

@@jesternario I Think he was referencing the fact that most of the songs they did were mainstream singles that did extremely well lol

[@gambrinus330116]

​@@jesternario you dont need to argue semantics, you need a sense of humor

[@Velldog]

How to write a love song is really good too

[@markgearing]

Nope. They’re a 36 hit and 2 parody wonder, just in this one song.

[@EveryDayALittleDeath]

@@jesternario plenty of bands with a following and multiple albums are still one-hit wonders because only one song has had mainstream success. Mainstream popularity means nothing in terms of talent, but it is a major part of defining what constitutes a one-hit wonder. Also it was a joke.

[@Ethaarus]

How could you possibly dislike this? Just the fact that he managed to hit the high note in Take on me qualifies this as one of the best youtube videos!

[@AVeryUnstableAI]

Yeah when I heard him going into Take Me On I was like "Uh oh, I hope he can hit that note"

[@remuko18]

People who find these songs to be worthy of more than 4 chords while they aren't

[@Aku.777]

I think the ones that disliked where just jealus

[@lilyisacow4385]

I’m only hear for music homework

[@Itisfinished2024]

8.6k dislikes are from music producers and artists that got done

[@vaughanschoeman]

2023 and I still love it

[@gamergirl5317]

THAT IS A AWESOME song

[@Mwuuh]

Six years later and this is still one of my favourite music videos on KZbin.

[@jobsy96]

Same here!

[@walterrantapere1389]

same :))))

[@wentaoli5965]

sounds great

[@user-zh8jq1yl5v]

same here, they're awsome!

[@onedaxster]

My music teacher showed this to the class. We were on to modern music, and we started with the basic four-chord pop songs.

[@alexmacer2224]

Same got showed it for GCSE music about 5 years ago, still love it

[@empireofpeaches]

Yeah my kid just came home from school where he learned the riff from Smoke on the Water and I showed him this. The power of 4 chords!

[@chefren77]

@@empireofpeaches Do you mean the riff from Maria Quiet? :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6ibooqKlLF-eLs

[@ShesDriven55]

Same guys music theory 3rd period he played this gem

[@shaunhankin84]

Same

[@PatheticJedi]

What I've learned in every aspect of art is nothing is truly original, except you. Put your heart into it. Say it with your whole chest. This demonstrates it perfectly. These songs use chord progressions we've heard for centuries but they're SO CATCHY. And they cross so many different genres - including comedy. This is a classic.

[@vaughanschoeman]

We're coming to the end of 2022 and I still find myself returning to this video every time I need a pick-me-up

[@Tyiokrannish]

There are two kinds of people: those who haven't seen this video, and those who have watched it 20+ times.

[@derekhunter5040]

I've seen it once and it will stay that way. I much prefer listening to the audio recording in my car over and over lol.

[@BaldMancTwat]

The first time I watched this video was 11 years ago. I was 8 years old.

[@divinespear7208]

Then a third type of people... Who play it

[@menoswater1032]

@@BaldMancTwat Damn

[@MaxiHartlieb]

I ve Seen it half.

[@alliedn5266]

*KZbin mashups:* look I can fit 3 songs into one! *These guys:* anyway here's the last half century of pop songs performed in less than 5 minutes

[@AVeryUnstableAI]

That got a genuine laugh out of me

[@petergamache5368]

Only because they forgot to include Pachelbel's Canon in D ... which also uses those chords.

[@andrewaulner4759]

This is one of the first videos I showed my wife when we first started dating almost five years ago. The nostalgia makes a hilarious song an even more awesome experience for me.

[@con2enterprise.]

This never gets old

[@GKHaller]

Holy s***, you just received every copyright strike ever from everyone forever

[@0ooTheMAXXoo0]

It doesn't "sound" like any of those songs. The AI will get better but it has to sound like the original recording as the system currently works.

[@GKHaller]

@@0ooTheMAXXoo0 there are people that work for the record companies, whose job it is to go through KZbin videos and manually copyright strike stuff. It has been getting verybad lately, some people have received copyright strikes and lost the monetization on their videos just for mentioning a thing

[@atomiccrouton]

Most of the songs are sung within the allowed time limit to be used without any need of prior approval.

[@chrisblogs5115]

@@0ooTheMAXXoo0 Gus Johnson got striked for this kzbin.info/www/bejne/b3asmpyvjZxsZ7c so yeah they can get striked for these covers. Hell some KZbinrs get their videos striked for much less too

[@hush3956]

@@0ooTheMAXXoo0 r/wooosh

[@seecha8970]

55 mil views. I would argue this is officially a hit.

[@robertszeps3722]

Yeah. Cause they used the four chords.

[@thomasbratton9057]

56 million now

[@soulchip]

Almost 58 millions (July 2019)

[@tiggy_eh]

13 years later and I'm still loving it.

[@Siddhartha92]

2023 and this is the first time I've ever heard this... is it weird that its giving me happy tears?