when the band is late

i live for the riff at 1:18
Discord: / discord
Original video: • Blackbird by Bobby McF...
Song: Blackbird (Lennon-McCartney)
Performer: Bobby McFerrin
faq:
Q: how old are you / A: i'm in high school!
Q: how are you related to jacob collier? / A: i'm not, we just have the same last name
Q: how do you transcribe? / A: i use musescore for notation and 'Transcribe!' for beat marking, slowing down etc
Q: do you have perfect pitch? / A: no
Q: where can i suggest videos? / A: / discord
Q: what music do you listen to? A: open.spotify.com/playlist/0zP...
Q: why are some videos not transcribed by you? / A: sometimes other people submit transcriptions, most are commissioned from others who can do a better job than i can. i want to make sure you see the best transcriptions possible!

[@kokosolbube6615]

Imagine doin all that, while also playing an imaginary bass.

[@gabrielevion7055]

an imaginary bass that he just so happens to be slapping....someones gotta recreate that

[@LiMCRiMZ]

@@gabrielevion7055 it won't happen.

[@Cheese_Meister]

Shot in the dark, maybe it’s his muscle memory instrument for reference. Musicians do that.

[@linlasj]

@@Cheese_Meister I do believe that the imaginary bass is doing something for him to memorize things.

[@teuncb]

I think I saw an interview with him once where he said he was using that technique, but with the clarinet. This does look more like a bass though.

[@late8641]

It sounds like he swallowed a band and now they're jamming inside his gut.

[@SchoolofRockNRoll]

Thats what she said

[@joelmondejar4939]

@@SchoolofRockNRoll what the fuck.. no

[@LiMCRiMZ]

@@SchoolofRockNRoll lmao w h a t

[@senqui]

@@SchoolofRockNRoll that's what your mom said

[@neth7826]

and a couple of birds too

[@tfofurn]

The control to hit every one of those notes so softly and so accurately has always been amazing.

[@mtnman1984]

The added difficulty of hitting them with both directions of breath is what gets me.

[@expiredmilk5435]

@@mtnman1984 I thought it would be easier to go both ways

[@mtnman1984]

@@expiredmilk5435 vocal chords require different tension to get the same pitch between an inhale or an exhale. To have accurate pitch and dynamics both ways while performing music like this takes incredible skill.

[@expiredmilk5435]

@@mtnman1984 oh that makes sense. Thanks

[@mtnman1984]

@@expiredmilk5435 no problem

[@sax_madness]

Those bird fluttering sounds were perfection

[@markiplierSINGSbadly]

the perfect delay at the end was insane too. sounded like a studio effect 100 percent

[@yahlikejazz]

*BIRD NOISES*

[@Tentin.Quarantino]

Some fava beans and a nice chianti are required to pull that off so flawlessly.

[@MrGom3zone]

Blackbird.

[@triola_3]

**breathes in in tune**

[@basielu]

YES LIKE HOW

[@phillabong520]

It’s a combination of inward singing and circular breathing. It’s pretty insane lol

[@johnnyquest9519]

Does anybody else realize he is singing while breathing in? Its inward singing! He’s not just a rocking half the time anymore!

[@ocho27hd]

“And then I’ll start some lyrics and I CANT BELIEVE IM SINGING” 🤘🏽

[@johnnyquest9519]

@@ocho27hd hahahaha YES!!!

[@ocho27hd]

@@johnnyquest9519 Long Live the D!

[@viever9158]

It’s not that hard if you try, but his execution was absolutely perfect and most people wouldn’t be able to achieve anything similar.

[@johnnyquest9519]

@@viever9158 riiiiiiigght

[@jackpasternak7586]

man is outlining the ENTIRE band with single notes, holy hell

[@AdamFaruqi]

It's only one guitar and voice, not the whole band.

[@adamkent639]

@@AdamFaruqi okay

[@ButteryAftertaste]

@@AdamFaruqi Yeah it's like when you find out you won the lottery, but it's like just the regular lottery, not the powerball or something. The crushing disappointment of settling for only like $8 million. So disappointing. That's what it's like when you realize he's only doing guitar and voice, instead of the whole band. So disappointing, you know?

[@mcmire]

@@ButteryAftertaste what

[@biggusdickus1689]

@@AdamFaruqi ​ I mean the bass line just outlines the guitar parts, and he performs the low notes in the bass register, and the percussive delivery definitely fills in for drums. Id say one man band is fairly accurate.

[@BD-yl5mh]

1:19 there’s no one alive with a soul that couldn’t love that riff

[@elementalsheep2672]

does anyone know the name for this riff? i've heard it elsewhere too

[@anxitled4317]

This man is one of my most admired vocal performers for a reason, the way he replicated delay with his own voice at 2:24 was immaculate, to the highest degree

[@tissuepaper9962]

Every able-bodied person has the same vocal machinery as Bobby, why can't we all sing like him? Of course, he is a gifted singer, but the bulk of his talent is not in the singing, his talent is in the *listening* that must precede the singing. In the same way that a great realistic painter sees the world differently than the average person, a great musician hears the world differently. Over years, both have cultivated their ability to ignore the assumptions and shortcuts our brains use to accelerate visual/auditory processing, and experience their surroundings in a more objective way. They are able to exactly replicate what they experience because they are able to experience it entirely. I don't know what my point is but this has been my TED talk.

[@anxitled4317]

@@tissuepaper9962 No no, I actually really appreciate this, I’ve always had this in the back of my mind, but from the way you phrased it, I may need to strive more towards applying it directly to my music. Thank you

[@arturjogi2667]

@@tissuepaper9962 this is false at like, the complete start of the comment. Great singing takes years of training.

[@tissuepaper9962]

@@arturjogi2667 do you not understand that "vocal machinery" is referring to the human body? Where did I say singing doesn't take training? "Over years, they have cultivated the skill..." -Me, in the comment you apparently didn't read very carefully.

[@arturjogi2667]

@@tissuepaper9962 humans are not machines. We are not all the same. You could say everybody has the *potential* to be like that, but that would also be a lie. Vocal range, singing in tune, other factors, largely come down to genetics, and random chance. We quite literally do not all have the same "machinery". It's got nothing to do with "listening".

[@williamsanborn9195]

The thing I find most impressive is how easily he jumps from F below the staff to F on the top line of the staff. That was AWESOME!

[@donkeypunch236]

I haven't thought about Bobby McFerrin in too long. This man is too talented

[@suvaang1823]

Same.

[@famousdavemusic]

Best gig I ever saw was Bobby McFerrin in the National Concert Hall in Dublin in 2007 or so. Just him and a mic. The audience was spellbound.

[@JamesCamienMcGuiggan]

@@famousdavemusic I was about to say "I was there!" but actually I think I saw him the next time he played there, when he was "officially" there solo (or maybe with one or two other occasional guests?), but he called up a four-part choir of volunteers from the crowd halfway through. (In retrospect I wonder if the choir was a plant but it was a hell of a show anyway.)

[@famousdavemusic]

@@JamesCamienMcGuiggan Well I actually saw him twice at the same venue, and the second time, I made sure I had an aisle seat so that I could be one of those who got to get up on stage! On that occasion he just asked for four volunteers and got about 10, so I can confirm that at the very least *I* was not a plant!

[@havenbastion]

I was just thinking that's who that was.

[@_Renaissance_Man]

He’s singing notes breathing inward and uses the hitting on his chest to help jump intervals cleanly

[@_huyster5710]

Lmao didn't realize this came out so recently, his voice is strangely calming though

[@badgerbucks4460]

Yeah it's gotta have happened at least within the last 100 years.

[@chickenfryz]

2008 is when the video was originally published to KZbin

[@ericforsyth]

This is from a show on the Spontaneous Inventions tour. So 1986, maybe. 2 years before he released Don't Worry, Be Happy.

[@James-gk8ip]

Yeah he looks great for 71, innit

[@Psykel]

This guy seems really happy. I bet he’s not worried about stuff.

[@DeliciousVicious777]

I see what you did there 😏

[@jordanolson]

underrated comment

[@Psykel]

He has a second happy gland where his worry gland is supposed to be.

[@flippy5655]

BaDuM - *TsChHhH*

[@cooldebt]

😆

[@dom785]

Dude really practised this like non stop

[@camcantrun]

No.... he's just the goat

[@caitlinjopepe541]

@@camcantrun I promise you goats practice a LOT

[@OdaKa]

@@camcantrun... Practice is what seperates the GOATS from the piglets

[@breakfastplan4518]

I saw him improvise entire movements like this. Nah, he was special- and from a special era of music.

[@OdaKa]

@@breakfastplan4518 Even virtuoso improvisers have a foundation of practice upon which to build their improvisation on. You don't just wake up one day able to spontaneously use these techniques to such a high degree without practicing.

[@RogiervanReekum]

Him doing the flutter sound is so great because you would indeed not see and only hear a black bird in a dark black night. What a gesture. He's making quite a point.

[@bobfrediii2131]

Jacob collier on hard mode

[@basielu]

just now noticing how much jacob was inspired by this performance :') also BRO THE CONTROL edit 2 DID HE JUST DO A DELAY EFFECT?????

[@nessun8457]

WHAT THE HELL

[@user-up7mp9vl1u]

OH MY GOD

[@oscargill423]

I was looking for a comment that talked about the delay effect. That was crazy.

[@NoThumb]

Astonishing range, he should consider singing professionally

[@JediO-lq3cb]

but its bobby mcferrin

[@NoThumb]

@@JediO-lq3cbThis Bobby guy should consider singing full time

[@asura7393]

@@NoThumb yeah ikr he's way too good he should try singing in front of a crowd.

[@NoThumb]

@@asura7393 That might be just a tad much for him at this point but he'll get there one day :)

[@JediO-lq3cb]

what is happening

[@MrPSaun]

I like how the crowd stops clapping when they all realize they are experiancing something brilliant. EDIT: Thanks for all the likes! Never gotten this many likes on a comment!

[@Richard_Nickerson]

And the edit is exactly why you *didn't* get my like.

[@MrPSaun]

@@Richard_Nickerson What a gentleman.

[@saucybaka4439]

Thanking for likes is for wastes of skin

[@everlasting1237]

EDIT: REMOVED MY LIKE

[@youknowme2295]

Edit: I’m inside your oven

[@kimdeleon268]

Thank you for bringing light to this guy! Barely anybody knew who I was talking about when I said that my favorite musician is Bobby McFerrin and when people did know who he was, only knew his song "don't worry be happy". He is one of the most talented musicians in my eyes because of his ability of vocal percussion and his ability to involve the audience while bringing out beautiful harmonies.

[@ardentlemonid1093]

This is incredible. It took me a moment to realise that he was also still singing lyrics on top of performing instruments with his voice. Goosebumps!

[@lambsauce7586]

What are the lyrics

[@47brthatswagbicht10]

that Delay Effect was beautifull

[@punkassparker]

Bro I was just about to go smoke a bowl and now I'm watching this and questioning if I'm already high, this is incredible

[@punkassparker]

Update: yeah I'm super high now this is amazing

[@eggnogthespacecadet3392]

I honestly love every single one of those swung riffs

[@McArRuIzO]

Started off like "aight it's a little silly" but then it started to sound pretty cool. I dig it.

[@jamesnichols5998]

I've watched this before and was amazed, but adding the music sheet to follow along makes it even more mindblowing how freaking accurate he is THE WHOLE TIME. Sheesh

[@LimitedEditionEDC]

I will never forget the day I got to whitness this live. He can do this for an hour straight if he feels like it too! Probably the most inspirational thing I ever whitnessed in person

[@theEduEnthusiast]

I FREAKING LOVE BOBBY MCFERRIN- I GREW UP LISTENING TO HIM - he’s the only music I would fall asleep to

[@HeavyZeppelin68]

I was so lucky to see him perform at Symphony Hall in Boston in 1988... it was amazing.

[@ClickClack_Bam]

My man fell on a needle of unknown origin just outside this venue. He wandered in & did this video.

[@gabrielkirby73]

Best of luck on trying to cover this arrangement ha

[@derrickburwell7777]

I can do that. 👍🏾

[@gabrielkirby73]

@@derrickburwell7777 Reply back again when you’ve posted it on KZbin. I would be most interested in your cover

[@derrickburwell7777]

@@gabrielkirby73 I will. :)

[@cynicalglasses3069]

Imma comment here to get a notification on the new cover lol, please tag me to make sure I get it!!

[@derrickburwell7777]

@@cynicalglasses3069 Yes Ma'am. 👍🏾

[@AmgedphaLimael]

The amount of "stress" on your vocal chords is staggering. Amazing. What a control of your voice and breathing..... I knew this man could sing....but this.....wow wow wow

[@breakfastplan4518]

Bobby was always a BEAST! And before him... the forgotten 'GOAT' Al Jarreau.

[@iFeelGlee]

while the intake of breathe makes me very anxious, this is definitely a very difficult and beautiful piece of art. and the RIFFS oh the RIFFS.

[@ryanaiden]

Sounds like someone unlocked the POWER of Inward Singing!!! 🤘🏼

[@Saxziton]

Always been enchanted by this performance. Never realised the actual music sheet was so crazy. He makes it sound so simple, and kind of pure.

[@kristofferh2312]

I once bought a ticket to go see this man in my small hometown in NorwaY. Not knowing who he was, or what he was doing on stage, I didnt understand anything as he stepped on stage holding only his microphone. 2 hours later I left the theater, not trusting reality, completely mindblown!

[@juliangrubb3994]

I’m so glad that someone posted this, I’ve only seen this performed by Jacob Collier with his harmonizer and I did not realize that this was the influence!

[@Hello_there_obi]

This is so impressive but I feel out of breath and all tense just listening to it hahaha

[@leovicar7020]

The riff at 1:18 is FIRE

[@Harmonic_shift]

Yodeling is quite a difficult skill of voice control, but that ending where he mimics delay is really impressive to me.

[@CaptJDavixx]

Loki: I have an army Tony: We have a Hulk Musicians: We got this man

[@natebaker3672]

Bobby McFerrin is such a legend

[@Lellow]

He has some real earth, wind and fire vibes.

[@omarbison8946]

Beatboxing before it's was cool

[@maddox8681]

True

[@maddox8681]

Just thought of footboxg

[@leslielees5438]

I loved his first two albums and took a friend to hear him in London and was raving about his genius. I turned around and Bobby was standing behind us. I was so embarrassed but he laughed and did the wing beating sound totally impromptu. Seriously the man is a force of nature

[@benpeters9874]

Really captivating performance. This has become my favorite channel on KZbin. Such a great variety of artists and musical styles, and the transcriptions are super fun! Thank you George, these videos bring me a lot of joy during tough times

[@DodderingOldMan]

Well, damn, that's one of the most impressive, and one of the most musically pleasing, things I've heard/seen in a while...

[@duncanjones7310]

dynamics and articulation are spectacular would be cool to see them

[@BLooDCoMPleX]

I love this man's work so much.

[@heh_boaner]

The most qualified guy to play an air bass

[@breezyillo2101]

I saw Bobby McFerrin live when I was 17. It was an amazing concert but it was highlighted by the fact that me and my homie sold our 3rd ticket to a dude outside for an eighth of shrooms.

[@tissuepaper9962]

Good barter.

[@YoCullen]

I wore out this VHS back in the day. Thank you! Do more from this show!

[@arothmanmusic]

My uncle introduced me to Bobby’s music when I was a kid. I had this album on vinyl and his self-titled jazz debut on tape. If I could hang out with any famous person for a day, he’d be on my list. Such a talent.

[@TopaT0pa]

he is basically yodeling very fancy - love it :D

[@TDCflyer]

This man could do Daft Punks "Harder, Better, Faster" all by himself in a live session...

[@cooldebt]

Pomplamoose did a pretty good cover

[@eFse7en]

One of my favorite performances of his are from (most likely) same concert "Bobby McFerrin - Thinkin' About Your Body"

[@SweetSpotGuitar]

Three hours one Atlanta night. An empty stage, save a stool, a mic stand with mic, a bottle of Perrier, and one Bobby McFerrin. Three hours of just him (except when he got us to be his jam loop). Absolutely amazing stuff.

[@canoedist]

Saw him do this very tune one summer in Kresge Auditorium at Interlochen. He ended the show with a whole bunch of students (a master class worth of them?) joining him down at the front of the stage for a number. So neat!

[@AngelDaniel1977]

Trust me, I think that this man had studied even the features of this microphone in order to get this quality.

[@erich.5326]

Watching this makes me feel out of breath. My brain wants him to take a breath

[@teacupincc]

the fact that he used his inhales as notes too 👏😳

[@jacksonbernardo670]

That's crazy! I loved the sounds of the birds :0

[@HamiltonMechanical]

this guy has always amazed me. seriously underappreciated! Well, Actually, I think folks these days like don't worry be happy more than when it was released initially

[@caitlinjopepe541]

I was showed this by a teacher in high school and only become more impressed with it every time I see it

[@kennyboii]

I remember watching his performances so long ago, can't believe I'm finally hearing him again

[@gregonline6506]

Saw him in a concert. What a musician. Incredible. Love him.

[@teunkiewiet840]

He must be a master at yodeling

[@pugwhisperer6502]

That man took the energy of every lilter and made this absolute spirit bomb of a performance

[@eltedioso]

yikes alive, this is great. I've heard it before, but watching it along with the transcription is just other-level.

[@jojolapatate6662]

this is both very exhausting and soothing to listen.

[@MarianZep]

this channel is gold

[@paulvillarreal1588]

I've known about Bobby McFerrin for ages...and this is STILL astounding...just unbelievable!

[@duncanjones7310]

very cool would be great to see the inhales notated too cause it's all so rhythmic

[@ChumBait]

this is amazing, I don't recall any piece by McFerrin that shows his skills so clearly as this one!

[@ALFYsk8]

I'd say Drive does. The one from Montreal Live or the SNL Live version (couldn't find it on youtube) are the best in my opinion. Okay, he can make it easy for himself in Drive, which he cannot do in Blackbird, since it's packed with notes, but when he decides he can make Drive just as heavy. Not to mention Opportunity from the same concert as this Blackbird.

[@Vicho_cletaprrr]

This reminds me of beatbox competitions when participants do covers, just brutal.

[@mrwassef]

Bobby is a badass. I love his performance of Drive, absolutely mind blowing.

[@rhinrhino]

I've never seen someone that can control their voice that good. Incredible

[@Fireflyepic]

Watching this at 6am. And no, I don't wake up early.

[@davidf6233]

Dude Imma use those riffs next time for sure

[@calldwnthesky6495]

absolutely incredible

[@genexxer1]

"When the band is late!" Ha! his smile at the end made the whole title! Lol

[@jeremystobingham2362]

I love how you can see how Bobby is imagining himself playing an upright bass in his left hand.

[@robertcameronjones]

Would love to see him sing with Winslow. That would be off the charts.

[@awesomebanana8761]

Loved the part where he made noises with his mouth, quite impressive

[@maisnon1329]

Inward singing, the most powerful invention since yodeling dude

[@hopelessstrlstfan181]

I miss seeing this guy show up in pop culture. I saw a concert feature on PBS which focused him in the 1990's. Thanks for the post. He is a genius & very easy to listen to, as opposed to some Jazz guys who sound like they don't even care if nobody wants to listen to their playing. I hope Bobby M is still making music.

[@dietcoke8114]

im amazed on that man but im impressed by how you transcribe everything ..

[@uu4700]

I didn't understand what he was doing and thought there was an instrument playing at the back. Then the camera panned out and he was standing all alone. That's when I realized this man was a genius.

[@vitalmincie]

he was yodeling in blues... He..was yodeling...in blues...

[@NailikNoteworks]

This is gonna be stuck in my head for a while. And that's okay.

[@Teladian2]

Bobby McFarrin is one of the nicest people in person. Very giving of his time and love of music.

[@animatorireenie8319]

He's so good! 1:18 This is so great

[@robinthebobin6537]

This is the single most spectacular thing I have ever seen wtf

[@pigman6954]

incredible what some people can do with their voices

[@rifdifirebolt]

is there like a music theory breakdown for this clip such gold

[@jakubkrticka1040]

The inbreathing in tune absolutly mad

[@samidtaek_]

"Sorry boss, traffic's been-"

[@ryanlack1934]

I remember seeing this on A&E when it originally aired. My dad and I were glued to the TV and threw in a VHS to record it.