when you can't afford a choir but have a VILLAGE

Download transcriptions at georgecolliermusic.com and check out the Discord!: / discord
Original video: • Bobby McFerrin - LIVE ...
Performed by: Bobby McFerrin and the public
Transcribed by: Tony Williams
faq:
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!

[@flatbread42]

That person in the audience who just took and ran with it did a fantastic job

[@Das644]

Like the second one’s ear. Was on to something imo

[@adamkozakiewicz6766]

@@Das644 Not well trained in doing this, but well trained ear and good idea. She'd be good at this with some practice. Some music background (but probably not vocal) or natural talent. Confidence suggests the first one.

[@Doubleclapper]

you can see him have a double take as soon as she whips out the beat

[@Feimicha]

I agree : >

[@Das644]

@@adamkozakiewicz6766 yea I agree. But her voice could be worked on. Was very unstable and weak, shaky too but things that could be worked on. But I really must say what was in her head when she sang was very beautiful and musically inclined towards the song imo.

[@BeinIan]

He's an actual wizard. Reality itself is his instrument, he simply sets the vibes and invites others to join him. It's beautiful to watch.

[@seanpe8474]

a bard in every truest sense of the word

[@theant2266]

@@seanpe8474 He is a bard to every stretch of the goddam definition and I love it

[@Jasmixd]

The Vibesetter.

[@ricardobautista-garcia8492]

A music wizard, hmm, a new idea.

[@walkerx1813]

Who is he and what language is he speaking, I need *more*

[@gubbinsly]

I love how interactive he is with the audience. Really makes you feel like a part of the performance.

[@lightsnmore6253]

Because you are.

[@gubbinsly]

@@lightsnmore6253 I know, but in a lot of performances done by popular artists now, it just feels like you’re listening, and not really participating in it at all. I just love being apart of the music!! It makes me happy

[@itsbazyli]

He does a weekly thing now in Berkeley CA, where he gets the whole audience to sing with him and anyone can go up to the stage and grab a mic. It's on Mondays at noon at Freight & Salvage. Can recommend, a lot of fun.

[@aairosatherys3636]

and iun a sense who sn't i mean we're all singing even in front of the screens

[@warspite1995]

Real Freddie Mercury energy there

[@joyeuxnoel7941]

Props to the choir to stay in tempo XD,, it’s incredibly hard to do without a conductive

[@shinsuiasura4232]

the red army's choir practice this thing a lot

[@themelancholyofgay3543]

a conductor is there

[@squidge903]

Maybe your choir needs to practice more. ... Also he's not waving his hands about hut everyone is following his body and movements.

[@decayingsun5915]

Honestly, as long as the choir practices a lot then it'll go a bit smooth

[@TrapConnoisseur]

Not when the whole audience is acting as a metronome the entire time lol

[@lugui]

I like the fact that at 1:08, the choir picked up on the change where the man did the lower notes and woman did the higher ones without communicating at all

[@kawansiesquad6659]

You don’t have to communicate that type of note because it rlly depends on which one you can reach, most singers already know whether or not they can reach a note when they hear it, if you hear a very low note or very high note and you KNOW that you can’t reach it, you would automatically go either a key higher or lower but it’s still the same note, don’t rlly need communication for that type of thing👍

[@lugui]

@@kawansiesquad6659 makes sense

[@phoog2977]

I'd say his body language and facial expressions definitely communicated what he wanted

[@DrRhyhm]

He went directly to the women part of the choir with that part, its hard to miss the queue

[@Elbenzo64]

A crowd of people will always equal out to the perfect note for any accompaniment. Our species is so tuned to the idea of communicating and synchronizing with music, and so many of us aren't even actively aware of it. This was probably our first language

[@swiftlymurmurs1825]

Lest we forget, this man is still the only one to get a #1 hit in America with a fully acapella song (Don't Worry Be Happy)

[@OGseoulite]

Wait this is the man who made that song???!? Oh my god

[@lealowenstern]

😎

[@TheSeeking2know]

@@OGseouliteYep.

[@jauxro]

...that convinces me, then. I won't worry 😌 I'll be happy.

[@TiagoCavalcanti-ji6hu]

That, and I got to see someone use "lest" and it sounded perfect. Cheers !

[@CSLWoodward]

Didn’t think I’d stick around for the whole thing but I absolutely did. So magical!

[@jamieweller7397]

Bobby McFerrin kennedy centre is the whole thing it’s incredible

[@ilverdsgames3819]

I watched it twice

[@Scraxxer]

Yeah nice vid, I will skip any second now... Yeah I will skip soon... Nope aLrEaDy OvEr?!?

[@perseusperez1037]

u just made me realize I did the same thing. singing along and everything

[@fakesmile3430]

Yup yup

[@TheBritishPatriot]

Was expecting him to break out and suddenly start singing “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” 😂

[@dryoshiyahu]

Yeah, I've sung that bass line before. Very familiar! 🤣

[@emmbeesea]

100% the vibe I was getting too! If anything, that soloist should've quoted it!

[@delarkaBCN]

@@emmbeesea that soloist? do you remember "dont worry, be happy"?

[@delarkaBCN]

of course you did, you bigot

[@dehanbadenhorst1398]

Me tooooooo

[@postolartripper8184]

Bobby McFerrin is so underrated, it is a shame

[@evanbell]

One of the most talented vocalists of our era, and a large portion of the population thinks he's just a one-hit wonder from "Don't Worry, Be Happy" It's a massive shame.

[@rodrigoodonsalcedocisneros9266]

@@evanbell Most people don't even know who sings that song and many think it is Bob Marley...

[@spencereades]

@@evanbell Hehe, you can always pick out the people who watched the Todd in the Shadows video

[@callmepease]

huh- Bobby Mcferrin has definitely recieved worldwide fame hasnt he?

[@jasonmahan6600]

I am a simple man. I see Bobby McFerrin, I upvote.

[@brandondavidson4085]

3:25 I love when Bobby gets the crowd back on the right beat. No judgement, no helping them create something beautiful.

[@BardicheOverhead]

They got offbeat because sounds travels slowly, and hits the audience at the back at a different time than the ones in the front.

[@waltuh2.3bviews3secondsago3]

I think it’s mainly because he wants to lead that accelerando

[@brandonver-non7573]

Audience member gave me chills. I LOVE when musicians incorporate the audience in their work

[@justrandompeople2157]

This where the happiest came

[@bliss4492]

I swear every single video I've seen of Bobby is just.. so SO mighty. Pure serotonin doesn't even begin to describe the feel good feels I get. Something transcends and it truly is a larger than life experience. Every time.

[@henrikpaasgaardschmidt2705]

Then you should try being in the audience. It's that sensation times a hundred. You really get the feeling of making great music, even if you can just barely hum a tune by yourself. Bobby McFerrin is just a musical wizard!

[@1337-Nathaniel]

Don't worry. Be happy. :)

[@NidokingOtsutsuki]

Wait until you try MDMA

[@writer5790]

@@NidokingOtsutsuki what a depressing existence.

[@NidokingOtsutsuki]

@@writer5790 WHOOOOOOOSH.

[@bittybean]

Everyone talking g about the second woman in the audience, but that first woman was very clearly nervous to sing infront of so many people, but she pushed through and did a great job. I have real respect for her!

[@damookster5919]

This is such a basic comment and I’m a musician- I know how annoying it is when people say this broad statement and are talking about just pop music but: I LOVE music. There is no feeling in the world like hearing the stuff like this- the stuff that hits your heart, makes you feel one with others, and gives us all the same feeling we can understand. It’s a language you don’t need to speak to understand. I LOVE music.

[@lightsnmore6253]

Music is one of the many universal languages.

[@mutaziones]

@@lightsnmore6253 I just wanted to say something similar, but you outdid me.

[@FurSealed]

Musician here as well, I've been to quite a few concerts, but good audience participation will instantly skyrocket my feelings about it. I remember being at a Passenger concert and at the end he got everyone singing a 4-bar phrase and the whole crowd of 200 or so people were singing it perfectly, I was amazed. We kept singing it for a good few minutes after he left the stage until he came back for an encore and just picked up the song again from the crowd's singing.

[@jchi]

Why would people saying this about pop music be annoying?

[@Despotic_Waffle]

I say don't feel discouraged to express this feeling. What you've done is expressed a pure and unfiltered love for music. In many ways that is artistic and poetic in its own way.

[@llamalitany]

You can tell that the second singer took that solo with confidence because she launched into that pickup almost as soon as she got the mic rather than waiting for the top of the bar to come around

[@miguelitotheoneandon]

That woman on 2:14 was incredible! If you are having a bad day, please return to this video and enjoy music and enjoy life back again 😊😊😊

[@Wonderlandish]

Indeed she gave me chills!!!

[@coopersnodgrass5941]

That one guy in the choir clapping so aggressive and so out of time at 2:57

[@jeremystig98]

Nah dud he's just clapping quintuplets or something

[@owenbrowne5174]

reminds me of Steve Martin in The jerk

[@samrusso9753]

Hes doing a forte clap, with you put your hands over the crowd

[@CompleteHearsay]

@@samrusso9753 They ment the man in the choir

[@youtubehand]

No. he was on the beat

[@Novedrake]

Bobby McFerrin is the only person you can attend his concert and legitimately be in contention for winning a Grammy.

[@shahir1395]

legit

[@aarons3014]

I've seen him live. You feel as though you're part of a building-size instrument. It's amazing.

[@QQ-yi6yg]

>building-size instrument Someone should construct a few of those in the shape of a Pyramid.

[@CreativeIsolation]

So THAT’S where Jacob gets it from 😉 Seriously though, a Jacob and Bobby collaboration would be amazing; everyone on the planet would be smiling from ear to ear.

[@Footballar09]

I can hardly imagine how incredible that would be. Saw Jacob this past April and it was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. Most mind melting concert I’ve ever been to.

[@CreativeIsolation]

@@Footballar09 I saw him in April too! Where did you see him? I saw him in Portland

[@rafiki_9562]

@@CreativeIsolation I had tickets to the Portland concert and missed it 😢

[@CreativeIsolation]

@@rafiki_9562 how did you miss it?

[@michaeltagor4238]

wtf you mean, that snob and Bobby? your comment is a disrespect towards Bobby lol

[@lckeeper1]

Recommend McFerrin's "Vocabularies" album. Awesome vocal arrangements with choir backup. One of my favorite albums ever!

[@boejudden9011]

Indeed. Overlooked and unique record 👌🏾

[@JackAllum]

Omg, just listening now, and it's INCREDIBLE. Never heard anything quite like it. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@lckeeper1]

@@JackAllum Happy to oblige! It blew my mind when I first heard it. Still my favorite album on long drives, puts me in a great head space :)

[@TuTuChief]

Hear hear!!

[@darrywolf5562]

Thank you!

[@skorp5677]

Funfact, the offset in the call and response part usually comes from the sound needing some time to travel the room :)

[@regnhyld]

That one person in the choir (middle) who couldn't clap to the beat to save their life, I'm assuming they were too excited to hold the rhythm because they were in the company of such wonderful people.

[@joebiscocho1504]

He is my absolute hero and role model. What an incredible understanding of people + music theory. He walked so Jacob Collier could run!!!

[@stephenbeck7222]

Eh Bobby runs a lot!

[@joebiscocho1504]

@@stephenbeck7222 I agree! I think what I meant to say is that Bobby totally laid the groundwork for Jacob to absolutely thrive on!!! I admire them both 💯

[@GeorgeCollier]

He ran

[@kturn5953]

Ugh, this could not have been phrased more poorly. Jacob has years to catch up to the musical dexterity, control, and musical decision making that McFerrin possesses. A master versus a student (a good student of course)

[@Butho_04]

“He ran all the way…” IYKYK😂😂😂

[@jakesanchez6621]

Never in my life have I seen someone conduct so many people with such harmony. Musicians like him are the reason people believe music touches the spirit.

[@prestok]

That video where he uses the crowd to explain the pentatonic scale is among my favorite things ever. If you, fellow commenter scrolling through this, don't know it, please look it up. "Bobby McFerrin pentatonic scale" should get you there.

[@merseyviking]

Absolutely! It's my go to when I'm in need of cheering up and a sing! YT links are ok: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJaZpXVogM6Nq80

[@escobarines]

Thank you!

[@adrienneallen194]

💯 can attest that is another magical live Bobby McFerrin experience. I've been a fan of his since the cradle with his album "Medicine Music"

[@SamuraiGuy]

I remember seeing that video, but I didn't realize it was the same person. This guy is awesome!

[@thejmax]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJaZpXVogM6Nq80 There you go!

[@Tylran]

This what's so great about African music especially, and other indigenous music styles. The communal aspect of it all. Everyone is part of the music. Nobody needs to fear being put on spotlight. Everyone leaves feeling envigorated and glowing. I'm shit at teaching music, although I'm an elementary school teacher. I wish I could be skilled enough to pull off and encourage something like this with the students.

[@jb76489]

Shit race realists say

[@pantrymonster]

The vibes are immaculate in this video 😊

[@matiasaguilar2500]

As an atheist this is what I imagine heaven being

[@UnspokenChicxulub]

I love how you even transcribed the last celebratory "dee"

[@kap79]

As an old choir kid, this spoke to me deeply. Couldn't help but sing along. What a joy.

[@kaan_bey]

I remember distinctly the very first time I watched his performance of Live in Montreal, it was absolutely mindblowing for me. I was a little kid back then and it totally changed my perspective on singing and shaped my musical journey in the following years.

[@user-zb4ss5ze5s]

1:17 holy fuckeroly that shit almost made me cry man.

[@depressoespresso5904]

this is actually so beautiful its just the pure joy and basking in what magic that they created together

[@BLooDCoMPleX]

Bobby is such a great musician, he understands the social aspect of music so well.

[@mrL9122]

I attended an orchestra concert in St. Paul as a teen. He was in line right in front of me. People were coming up to him just to say hey. This guy is friends with everybody.

[@bipolarminddroppings]

I've always wondered whether these are really intricate lyrics in a language I don't understand or just nice noises.

[@Jellysfrickingstuff]

Nah bobby’s said in his concerts and interviews that he’s just making up words on the spot. Having go-to vowels and stuff helps but it’s all jibberish.

[@mihailmilev9909]

lol

[@mihailmilev9909]

@@Jellysfrickingstuff the most artistic language

[@stephenbeck7222]

Jacob Collier is learning how to take his theory and apply it with real people (the latest one that went viral was real good) but Bobby M is still the GOAT at audience vocal harmony.

[@GuyNamedSean]

Jacob Collier is still young, though. Bobby ran and I'm convinced Jacob's gonna be flying high by that age.

[@muscleman4271]

what do you mean?

[@LadyDeadPooly]

This is what humanity should work like. Sing together, have fun together. This is beautiful.

[@stephenhawk8384]

That is a true lesson in leadership. The one person who refused the mic will regret it forever. No one would have let them fail.

[@sailaalias3161]

That’s a big loop pedal

[@postolartripper8184]

Playing the audience like Jacob Collier before Jacob Collier!

[@robertoallegra]

Jacob Collier was profoundly inspired by McFerrin and he makes no mystery of it. See, for example, Collier's version of Blackbird that in some parts quotes *very* closely Bobby McFerrin's performance in Spontaneous Inventions.

[@stephenbeck7222]

And still does better than Jacob imo

[@postolartripper8184]

@@stephenbeck7222 Well they do it differently, he goes up to a single audience member, and Jacob plays rows

[@brad5286]

@@stephenbeck7222 Exactly. Because Bobby is showing his audience how smart they are and Jacob is showing his audience how smart he is.

[@stephenbeck7222]

@@postolartripper8184 Bobby has ‘played’ an entire football stadium full.

[@cotgar4432]

Bobby McFerrin’s concerts are always so fun cuz of stuff like this. It’s not every day the whole audience is interacting and singing like this

[@co-musician640]

2:13 adorable sister singing with soul

[@h0lly_blue]

I love how Bobby just shushes the choir at the beginning

[@zionm.]

Ooh did anyone else notice how the last line of the second audience member's improvisation, became the first line of Bobby's interaction with the audience? Something I found interesting hehe

[@simonorojian8771]

03:08 *fall a bit behind the beat*. This man broke sheet music

[@bengaltiger1667]

Bobby McFerrin is a real treasure.

[@mostlysondheim1930]

How can you watch this and not be filled with immense joy?

[@NeilTruick]

I remember seeing Bobby back in 1991. I have attended hundreds of concerts since then, but his was one of the very few (if not, only) where I felt completely refreshed afterward. I may not be describing it correctly, but it's the same feeling you get just after an hour after the sun rises and you walk outside and the temperature is just right and there is a small breeze that blows in your face which is slightly cooler than the ambient temperature and you hear that bird you can't see singing from somewhere and that's the only sound you hear and you can feel yourself smiling. That feeling.

[@TheSeeking2know]

Great description! I began to visualize for a moment!

[@lightsnmore6253]

I have seen bobby in person. The man is a genius. Audience participation is required, warranted, and BEYOND enjoyable.

[@abrarar]

When he said "we le we le we le"... I felt that

[@RebekahWallerstedt]

2:56 the one dude in the choir in the middle cannot clap on beat to save his live 😭

[@nitram.9621]

The magical thing about this is that you didn't think you'd go through the whole video, but you in fact did.

[@musician523]

One of my favorite musicians to do crowd work. Such fun. I really hope to see him on tour some time. . .

[@biomeman2547]

After watching this video several times and then the full performance, I'm convinced that the human voice is the most beautiful instrument

[@CaptainManatee]

It's like a southern baptist improv acapella group I fucking love this

[@wistyroamlands7495]

This is one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard. Jeez.

[@mikeblank6667]

This is the joy of togetherness. the sheer elation of being part of a shared moment of solidarity and humanity. I wish I had been there.

[@batcat4136]

"bask in glorious major chord" at the end, whoever did these, I guess captions(?), is amazing

[@BarakaAndrew]

People who haven't seen this live have no idea how different it is live vs video. It's on a whole different level

[@dominctiemes9483]

Imagine going to a concert and it suddenly because so interactive. This is a priceless and wholesome joy!

[@IceGoddessRukia]

Getting everyone to sing together, I can't imagine the electricity in the room! So beautiful...

[@dowfreak7]

Honestly, this just feels like a primal example of what music came from. Just a communal thing everyone joined in on and something that brought people closer together without the need for language, even. Every man or woman will be captivated by music in some way and this just encapsulates that. We want to swing and groove to a tune like this. It's such a simple joy.

[@dparnell89]

And at the end when it’s over they all see that that was actually the custodian and the actual artist walks in.

[@WYouga]

This is amazing in a whole new level!

[@james_robnett]

Freddy Mercury would have loved that.

[@user-vx2ur4vw3h]

This is what i what i want to hear every morning in a village in the middle of a rainforest. the sound of water gushing through a clear stream and birds chirping in the trees

[@PassengerInMortality]

Bobby McFerrin has a special kind of gift.

[@sayoko4053]

I'm just sitting here grinning from cheek to cheek because this is so awesome!

[@tatesands]

This made me tear up; so beautiful to see everyone join together and make music

[@aaroncheng3858]

This is one of my favorite videos of all time. I can’t explain it, but I’ve watched it at least 6 or 7 times

[@MrFunkyfranky]

Crazy how music can put you in a different world for a moment, a world of joy

[@jaanaberg6125]

I saw Bobby MacFerrin at April Jazz 2019 in Finland and it was basically like this. It was amazing it was just him with 4 other singers just doing the whole show a cappella, taking turns soloing and a good chunk of the show involved the audience as well. He's truly one of the all tine greats

[@mysan7754]

LOVED EVERY SINGLE SECOND OF THIS!!! SMILING SILLY ALL THE WAY THROUGH!

[@Phantomsbreath]

It's like watching the sausage get made, but even the process is *facinating*

[@boop6441]

I'm surprised no one in the audience broke out singing the "lion sleeps tonight"

[@danielekummer7420]

This is honestly what music is all about. Just a nice rythm and having fun all together. Love it!

[@karlwilker579]

That second solo! Wow!

[@Burnerbaby]

Absolutely beautiful. Loved the crowd interaction, the joy, the feeling of community. Just…chills.

[@MusicalJackknife]

I'm so hyped that you finally did some Bobby McFerrin, I've never seen any of his scat improv notated so this is a real treat 😀

[@pixelheart4840]

1:47 when the teacher say" you wanna talk? talk in front"

[@christianmichalsky2826]

I looooovvveee African Chants so much!!! Not only are they catchy, but also a joy to sing along to!

[@wyattstevens8574]

Someone else said he's basically scatting the whole time!

[@randomindividual9966]

I have always loved improv chorus!! So much fun to create chords piece by piece and see what we can come up with.

[@bruh-js7tz]

This is perfect 😭 It sounds so good, and he just interacts with the audience so well and the amazing solos are just 👌

[@orangutan.manusiawan]

0:52 So you thought *Oh Oh oh... oh Oh OH oh oh* was hard? Just wait 'till you *perform heartwarming dance and plan next move*

[@mayochupenjoyer]

as a choir singer i’d love to see more vocal videos

[@imamidevz9245]

Myyyyy Goddd! Bobbyyyy you are such an inspiration! Love your vibes so much!

[@m4rt_]

Why do I have a feeling that this is how songs started. People just making sounds together, and hopefully it sounded good. I wonder what came first, that, or actually talking to each other.

[@Freiya2011]

Some people just ARE music!😍 Highly contagious!

[@spd2last]

I was clapping and singing along! Loved it!😍

[@vashthevicar9864]

I had a dreadful day today. Tomorrow, however, I will have forgotten the details except to remember that this helped pick me back up again. Cheers.

[@juancelop]

This was amazing! Talented Bobby as usual but that choir team has lots of skill and talent, damn! Crowd was going along well too! Overall, it's just so wonderful!

[@FemaleFullmetal]

This guy has a crazy range!

[@Bunnyyoutube1222]

This man never gives us up, never let us down, never run around and deserts us. He never make us cry, he never says ‘goodbye’ to us. He also never tells a lie and hurts us. Thank you.

[@sunnyphillips6508]

The love and joy in this man as he directs the crowd is such an uplifting experience. I needed it this morning. Thank you

[@mystaee2914]

i adore how seemless everything sounds its absolutely magical! I hadnt realized when the clapping had started and had to rewind to find out that the clapping for the lady had naturally turnned into a back beat

[@tobyrightenger9748]

We don’t need a stage to be amazing, we need to stick together to be amazing ❤

[@TainoMoya]

That was actually amazing wow

[@Ozhull]

Thank you for sharing these videos. There's so much bad news, these brief glimpses of our beauty are so necessary. I appreciate it

[@departamentedc564]

I felt like a piece of shit in the morning aftet too little sleep. I grabbed a phone and this was one of the first things that popped out in the morning. This made my entire day

[@Twizzledoc187]

This sounds like the type of song that would make you stop every thing and follow the source 😂. Just walk off of your job if you hear this song in the distance and hope everyone follows😂.