"I'm a Barbie girl" again, but in the style of 6 classical composers 🎹 🎤 - Josep Castanyer Alonso

🎹 Sheet music transcription: payhip.com/b/oaYNA
On the day of the ”Barbie” film premiere and almost exactly one year after my Barbie Girl Fugue ( • "I'm a Barbie girl" bu... ), nothing less could be expected than a follow-up!
In the same educational spirit as in the previous videos, this video serves as a parodic and slightly critical take on one of the most well-known tunes from the 2000s -even incorporating its somewhat questionable lyrics.
The six variations featured in the video illustrate the style of some of my favorite composers. The primary inspiration for this project came from Dudley Moore's timeless parody of a Beethoven piano sonata ( • Dudley Moore Beethoven... ). Additionally, the visual design of the video draws some influence from a respected colleague, Nahre Sol, whose creative work I have admired since my teenage years. I highly recommend visiting her channel ( / @nahresol ) for great visualisations of classical music.
_______
00:00 Intro
00:06 In the style of Mozart
00:49 In the style of Beethoven
01:33 In the style of Schumann
02:35 In the style of Schubert
03:43 In the style of Chopin
05:02 In the style of Ravel
05:49 Outro

[@JosepCastanyerAlonso]

Exciting news that has been brewing for the last few months: I'm delighted to announce that Sony Music Masterworks has made the music of my latest video, "Barbie Girl in the Style of 6 Classical Composers," available on all major streaming platforms! You can stream it on: Spotify: spotify.link/I35FbiGXEDb Other streaming platforms: SonyMasterworks.lnk.to/BarbieGirlVariationsAY

[@mauriciocamara]

Congratulations @JosepCastanyerAlonso! BTW, I use to watch this video daily and I´ve been missing it on the last days. Congratulations and keep up your excellent work!

[@atemdesfruhlings53]

Congrats!!! I watch this video every day for uplifting myself. I'm soooooo glad your video is back now after a few days break

[@user-qu6vw6do4d]

This is great relief: We need this video for educational purposes!!! 🎉😊 Great news Josep - and keep it flowing. Looking on to what you come up with next.

[@nloconductor7395]

That's a GREAT relief! Your talent should get as much exposure as possible! Congrats!!

[@reassez]

you are magical, so talented! God Bless✨

[@mruberduck]

Everything about this is unreasonably good. Absolutely exceptional quality of composition and production! I’m blown away!

[@peters972]

Well put

[@albertmademont]

Great comment! Comments like that should be pinned!

[@keyconcept2023]

I totally agree 👍

[@cooldebt]

Agree - even the captions were not just on point but also humorous

[@elikintisch1046]

Amazing piece

[@Glarses]

This was insane

[@Phoenix3568]

Are you going to make a custom keyboard keeb with tactile switches?

[@sll0th511]

didn't think i would see u here

[@renascitur7051]

Different keyboard

[@supasayajinsongoku4464]

wrong keyboard buv

[@nxyuu]

is my yt glitching out and showing me this comment on the wrong video, or is glarses actually commenting on a classical music related video?

[@e-mo666]

Mozart is a happy little kid Beethoven is a funky goth auntie Schumann is a melanholic father Schubert is a relatively normal grandfather who enjoys walks in nature Chopin is a dramatic rebel teenager with many intrusive thoughts Ravel is a painter mother (Great video, immensely enjoyed, thank you 😊)

[@alkautsarpurnamaagung1842]

Lol, so accurate. I cackled reading your comment.

[@e-mo666]

@@alkautsarpurnamaagung1842 🫡

[@Harrietmjones]

Perfectly described! Can just imagine those characters, each fitting the various composers. 💛

[@e-mo666]

@@Harrietmjones thank you!

[@1981stonemonkey]

Grandfather Schubert also terribly misses his wife, though...

[@flowingwaveart3224]

A full semester course in composition delivered with grace, humor, and clarity in 6 minutes! If I were still teaching theory/comp, I would begin each semester with this video!

[@anjagoller]

We watched this in analysis class...

[@obedcepeda664]

What’s amazing is that he is actually a cellist in his orchestra so imagine how good he is at that !!!

[@jessicaann5641]

Came here to say just that - he describes himself as playing the piano "a bit" LOL!

[@hetedeleambacht6608]

NO WAY !!

[@williamstrachan]

He produces such a complete knockout of a video, not just the piano playing but everything else basically... and didn't even use his main professional skill. Absolutely amazing.

[@thorr18BEM]

🤯

[@ShinnoEli]

I want to leave some sort of reply, because that is basically the coolest thing ever, but the words just...are not there. x_x How can this possibly be a side gig for him?? Reminds me of the guy Hugh Gallagher claims to be in his college application essay... 😂

[@samig9032]

The running snarky commentary is such a great touch: it entertains while simultaneously explaining the nuances that us laypeople can vaguely perceive, but don’t actually understand. Lovely video.

[@LilLingLing6789]

We musicians from other genres feel the same way.. Most of us never reach this level of understanding nevermind apply it to other songs I think the equivalent is flamenco.. Classical guitar is a walk in the park compared to piano and composition pieces in terms of understanding and applying it all it's extremely advanced.. Jazz is my limit

[@gabotron94]

* bonk *

[@goodsound4756]

Great, I wished there was a part 2 with Liszt, Satie, Rachmaninoff, Händel and of course Bach! 🎵🎶

[@Maxley..]

Wow. I came here to name those exact five! And, as it's a wish-list, to tack on Scarlatti or Vivaldi and Wagner!

[@HiCy2012]

Debussy

[@anthonya9702]

@@HiCy2012 Debussy + 2

[@h.seanhsu8965]

I wonder how Gershwin would do it…

[@laurin__]

DABUSSSY??

[@higherresolution4490]

The talent here is incredible. It's hard to imagine how someone can extemporaneously produce such elaborate stylistic changes from a single theme like "I'm a Barbie Girl". In my opinion, pure genius.

[@sfmike711]

@higherresolution4490 : He did not "extemporaneously produce" this. "Extemporaneous" means "without preparation". Obviously he planned this out ahead of time, practicing to get everything down just so. And, yes, it's genius.

[@andy.morris]

bro is a genius

[@hisky.]

omg it's you !

[@TuneTemptation]

Hi, big fan❤

[@gabrielwickley1048]

The innovation was done by other people, it's the dissection and mastery that made him more of an expert, rather

[@NahreSol]

Ohhh wow this amazing!!! And thanks for the shoutout, very flattered 😅 and obviously thanks for watching my videos through the years ❤

[@DemirSezer]

More channels should adopt this structure tbf, both this video and your videos are amazing at showing these small nuances on each composers different styles

[@Gallahaut]

Ahhhhh!!! My first thought was "oh wow it's a lot like Nahre Sol!" This NEEDS to be a thing! I am so inspired by all of this creativity 🥳🥳🥳

[@JosepCastanyerAlonso]

What an honour! Thanks Nahre!!! ❤/Josep CA

[@nezkeys79]

Imagine you admire someone for years and then they say "hi, you're amazing" 😮❤

[@TheNat11]

i actually went to the comment section to say, whoever loved this as much as i did should go watch nahre sol! and there she already was!

[@SpencerMusicSchool]

Josep: Fantastic. I'm a concert pianist myself and this was perfectly executed and composed on the Barbie theme. Also great lecture into the styles of the composers picked. Very entertaining.

[@rientsdijkstra4266]

Impressive understanding of what gave those composers their special character! Fun fact: what this musician is doing is precisely what many of the great composers did in their time: take a simple "folk" or "popular" melody if the time and use as a theme or motif to expand and vary upon... Only this time the popular melody "I am a barbie girl".

[@Saxysellig]

The level of: 1) ASSIMILATED musical culture 2) creativity 3) pianistic mastery required to produce such a masterpiece is OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD!!! And I also looove the added analytic comments into the video!

[@andrewpearce2562]

And his main instrument is actually the cello....

[@k.c.3022]

As a fellow pianist here your annotations literally made me CACKLE 😂😂😂😂🤣 I was so entranced by the actual compositions at first that I didn’t notice. Then had to go back to rewatch to experience the humor 🤣 thank you for such a great laugh!! I’m so happy to have found your channel

[@k.c.3022]

God I can’t stop laughing, the text was just as genius as the actual compositions!!! Any pianist with a sense of humor watching this right now is absolutely dead 😂🤣

[@louisegogel7973]

@@k.c.3022Likewise, I’m finding myself unable to stop smiling ever since I listened a couple of hours ago!

[@A-Minor-Music]

My favorite was Chopin's "hit or miss left hand". 😅😅 Many practice sessions were spent on this issue 😆

[@parantbellum]

I feel lucky I wasn't sipping coffee at "tendinitis incoming" 😄 overall great job, kudos!

[@museislander]

I actually was drinking coffee at that very moment. It was a close call!

[@robertrodger3055]

I love that you explain the elements of style for each composer. I like seeing why this sounds like bach and so on. Very well done.

[@lizard3755]

The level of mastery this guy has of the piano is insane! Variations of the same song, all vastly different, and great captions to boot.

[@xSafin]

You literally did everything correct for the perfect video right now. You found a current trend, applied lots of but not overwhelmingly much theory in it and made it sound enjoyable as well as relatable for anyone who is at least a little into classical music. You also chose 6 composers everyone has heard of and listened to and especially the twist at the end rounded the video off perfectly. 10/10

[@louisegogel7973]

And made it very fun! I’m smiling and smiling long after having listened to and watched it. 😁

[@davidcatabui2018]

I've never heard of the last guy, and I'm a professional classical musician

[@NinjaCoto]

And the captions were also great

[@M00nflowers]

You nailed it with your comment! ❤

[@simonshepherd492]

​@@davidcatabui2018Maurice Ravel? Probably best known for Bolero, but also wrote Daphnis et Chloé as well as The Sunken Clock. Give him a listen when you have the time :)

[@TomD67]

Brilliant! Not only do you convincingly mimic their styles, you also identify the characteristics of each in spot-on snarky remarks! And you play beautifully. Bravo, and thanks!

[@umihereuminoumi6177]

The AI set is mind-blowing 🤯 It also explains my listening preference... Mozart for working, Ravel for dancing in my living room like a clumsy ballerina, Chopin for driving... thanks for this! It was a feast for my ears 🥰

[@TheRocketcost]

this guys just nails the styles so well. The Beethoven commentary was so good

[@GoldenOwlEvents]

This was an EDUCATION! I learned more music theory in 5 mins than I did in 3 years of private piano lessons as a kid. Outstanding video. You are a great teacher.

[@ailinmc]

I don't think anyone learns Neapolitan sixths in 3 years of piano lessons.

[@MaGaO]

​@@ailinmc Which is why he learned more 😅

[@alisonrobinson675]

Agreed!

[@AdelineCowgirl]

You must have had absolutely terrible teachers if this taught you more than 3 years of lessons 😂

[@AdelineCowgirl]

@@MaGaOThis video doesn't teach you Neapolitan sixths either. It's just a demonstration.

[@leeyahfareed7630]

Not only is this a fun take on a modern pop song, but your understanding and your explanation of the different characteristics unique to each composer is also really interesting. When you hear it then you can understand how you identify but also what the differences are that you hear in each unique composer.

[@Poeme340]

Fantastic!! The Ravel is killer!👍👍

[@Lisa_is_an_evil_snail]

Incredible! I learned so much from this. You really help to identity what characteristics these composers used to make them unique. And the Barbie girl melody was a nice and simple vehicle to help keep the focus throughout. And the AI reveal at the end. So cool! Blown away. You’re a master at piano and this was a beautifully made video.

[@apersunthathasaridiculousl1890]

One of those rare videos that deserves all the attention it got/is getting

[@TheElectricCheeseProductions22]

Such a talent. This person not only has the ability to generate music with such a deep understanding and grasp of the unique characters of the composer he is emulating allowing him to integrate it with a famous, modern melody, but also has the technical ability to perform it on the keyboard. This is what I aspire to be able to do. I find it to be a shame such people do not get nearly as much recognition as they deserve probably because such things are not as palatable to the majority of people.

[@happypiano4810]

@@CustardSpace Beethoven.

[@Memories_broken_]

Music has evolved and classical music is not mainstream anymore. And thats the reason.

[@TheElectricCheeseProductions22]

@@CustardSpace As if that's the only point that can resonate with people. What a piece of classical music can embody, represent, or communicate to someone is not restricted to class. And besides, the majority of people who could afford lessons for playing classical music probably don't care much for it either. And it's not as if elitism in music is not present today in mainstream music. Even though the music of, say, Taylor Swift or Ed Sheeran does not with it contain the connotation of class superiority, there's still an elitist element to the success and prominence of these people and their music. These people are worth hundreds of millions of dollars with immensely powerful corporations behind them that propagate their work. It's at a point where I'd attribute their success more to that than their apparent talent. They're also the people who get to attend events like the Met Gala, incredibly famous people with voices and social influence, who can do things most people will never have the option to. These people are elites and their continued success is a product of that elitism. It's kind of the same thing without the air of superiority and things of that nature.

[@TheElectricCheeseProductions22]

@@CustardSpace But with all that being said, I guess I can see and understand how someone, especially people who you could consider as in the lower rungs of society would have a harder time appreciating classical music when it does have that connotation of cultural or intellectual superiority. Especially when that's already the basic stereotype of it, people are likely to already be familiar with that stereotype even they haven't really engaged with the medium. So I guess even if I can go on about how how mainstream music today also has an elitist element, that doesn't really matter much because it's more of a matter of how people see it

[@RaphThys]

​​@@CustardSpace'm not sure if it is because here in Belgium, the cost of music education is fairly low (music academy cost around 100€ per year and the conservatory is like 350/500€ per year for the public ones), and without counting the cost of the instruments (that can be rented but you still need to buy one at some point), but having myself study classical music in those schools, yes there is some people from rich family but it's really not a majority. And some of the most talented people I met came from average middle class families. And there's quite a lot of things that are done to make classical music more accessible to everyone. It's a universe still locked in so many old fashioned habits but trying to modernize, slowly. It seems it's not the same way in the UK so I can't really deny your opinion but I wanted to add this

[@Richard.Atkinson]

I normally don’t like these types of videos, since most don’t really capture the styles of the composers they claim to be imitating - but this is fantastic! Especially impressed that you didn’t make Mozart sound like his simplest, least interesting pieces composed for beginners (like most of these types of videos do)!

[@JosepCastanyerAlonso]

Hey Richard, I absolutely ADORE your videos and analyses. I am very flattered, thanks for your comment! 😊/Josep CA

[@louisegogel7973]

❤

[@BiggyJimbo]

Wow. This might be the best musical video I've seen for years. You've clearly studied and understood the compositional styles of these 6 composers to a high degree! I particularly enjoyed the Ravel one, with the reference to Scarbo at the end. Please make more videos like this!

[@userTJ39780]

This was a music theory tour-de-force! Loved all the annotations!

[@erikacombs6129]

As a 62 year old classical music lover and a lifetime Barbie fan, this was absolutely magical!!! Ty so much!

[@julia.vasilieva]

hahaha you're so funny :)

[@kronoscamron7412]

h-how ?

[@avosmash2121]

You guys do realize Barbie has existed since almost a century now and that there are collectors of the franchise the world over of many ages and genders for decades now?

[@_PJW_]

I think the Beethoven interpretation is superbly suitable in convincing your little girl that "I'm a Barbie girl" was actually written by Beethoven. And then convincing her she should take piano lessons.

[@00bean00]

I laughed at 1:16 thereabouts

[@TheRprecupjr]

So this popped up in my feed and i thought, "Oh, this'll be cute". Yeah, right. This was the most incredible thing I've seen/heard in ages! Just absolutely brilliant musically and the fact that your ongoing commentary shows that your sense of humor is at the same level as your musicianship and creativity is just glorious!

[@lordwillibur438]

This is musically hilarious xD. Your work is fricking amazing man! Like literally, your skill is off the frickin charts! The composition(the reimagination and the original bits) and the playing is magnificent, you are truly talented🤩

[@Jantsenpr777]

I was expecting either Brahms, Liszt, or good ol' Rach at the end, but Ravel was a marvelous choice. Exquisitely thought out and performed, by the way. Every style was on point, but the Schumann was on another level! Bravo!

[@andersjohansson4734]

Bach, Debussy and Bártok would be nice too, and Händel.

[@rafe7678]

Well considering they're not classical it makes sense

[@quarkonium3795]

@@rafe7678 I mean, neither are Ravel, Schumann, or Schubert if you're arguing for composers strictly within the classical period. Even Beethoven is a borderline case as he could be considered romantic, especially in the middle period which is the style that's being represented here. Mozart is the only truly "classical" composer here if you distinguish the romantic period from the classical one

[@rafe7678]

@@quarkonium3795 sorry my bad - I had only just started watching the video when I replied so had only seen Mozart

[@jasperchance3382]

I was expecting Debussy.

[@rashifarsya]

That pianistic multitasking in Chopin part is magical, that’s probably why I find Chopin arrangements really fascinating and grande 👏🏼

[@tomekdarda]

Indeed! He might have not written symphonies, but those piano works of his show you don’t really need to make it grandiose.

[@VonDivaTheRebel]

I'm beyond blown away... "blown away" is an understatement. Absolutely amazing. The amount of work you put into composing AND THEN practicing what you made!!?? ... it shows. Absolutely wild!!!

[@vianneymusical5658]

Just... WOW. Everything is brilliant: the idea, the music, the playing, the graphics, the pedagogy... Well done!

[@TheSLUSO]

The never-ending modulation for Beethoven was PERFECT! 🤣 BRAVO!

[@-ElevenStoreMindanaoAve]

I laughed so much with the never-ending modulation annotation! Sooooo Beethoven...

[@KiwiRedstone]

Wait a min... This guy is a legend!!! The arrangement was already incredibly impressive, plus the fact that he animated all those little text and notes detail by himself, and the imagination of the shots that was preplanned to be generated by AI. Not to count the fact that he uploaded this so fast after the Barbie girl was released. I would imagine a video with this kind of quality to be made in a month, not days. Respect man...

[@vari1535]

Completely agreed with everything; I was going to comment especially on the editing--absolutely insane to do all that in a few days.

[@RoneryBob]

Why a few days? Where did he write that that he composed, aranged the music and built the video starting from movie premiere? The song I'm a barbie girl is from 1997 and he did a video based on it a year ago. Beside that, he did great work and deserves more than one thumbs up and a subsribe.

[@violin3394]

And also, he's a cellist primarily..

[@vari1535]

@@RoneryBob That's fair haha. I still think the quality of the music and the editing is insane, impressive, and worth noting, though, done in a few days or not.

[@philip.stigaard]

Bruh piano isn’t even his first instrument and he plays in a good orchestra

[@nadjajohansson8569]

This was beautiful, hilarious and ingenious! Thank you for this delightful surprise!

[@lad9732]

I have no words. I do not know how to express how im feeling and it got worse after the Chopin multitasking cos it became relatable. This is beyond amazing.

[@ev13191]

I'm usually skeptical of these sorts of videos because they tend to be not very good but holy SHIT am I glad I watched this. you are absolutely fantastic, these pastiches are on POINT, and the way you write (and play) is also artful in and of itself. obsessed

[@ev13191]

like I could genuinely listen to 100 more of these lol

[@tig968]

This is exactly how I felt too! I've seen a fair share of these kinds of videos, but often find the arrangements very surface level and even caricaturistic. These are actually well done and quite accurate to the time periods!

[@michelangelomarobin1168]

Masterpiece. Years of study summarized in six minutes of elegant irony. We want it more, for example Morricone remade by Bach or Metallica interpreted by Chopin.

[@robertwilloughby8050]

Oh yes, Bacharach taken through the Romantic composers!

[@lazarostossounidis9990]

Indeeed Hiw well expressed!!!!

[@chrisender6801]

What an excellent pedagogical exercise for grad school students! It shows they understand each composer's style and contributions to music. Absolutely brilliant!

[@MillGnthr]

The captions are making roll in laughter, as a classical pianist myself. Very brilliant!

[@bluewren65]

Incredible! The shade thrown on Chopin was hilarious. The Ravel iteration was truly beautiful.

[@hoon_sol]

What, you tellin' me you don't like flamboyant modulation that goes nowhere?

[@TheNat11]

isn't that what we love about chopin?

[@bluewren65]

@@hoon_sol I love it, but I love it even more with witty subtitles.

[@animemusic8]

@@TheNat11 True! That's what unique about Chopin! ^_^ I love it!

[@KyriosHeptagrammaton]

@@hoon_sol I seem to recall my piano lessons book saying something about him saying he threw those in there to wake people up.

[@chrisbryan7794]

I don’t have the ability to articulate how impressive this is - so I’ll simply say thank you.

[@kalospiano9470]

wow, brilliant arrangement, brilliant playing, brilliant production

[@nerissawood73]

I remember that song back when it was first released. I cringed listening to it back then and had ever since. Never ever did I think anyone could give the piece any value at all. This wasnt just next level, but so many levels above that. I now have an appreciation for this music. That performance had me captivated from start to finsh; I wanted more! Well done and thank you for sharing with us all.

[@iisansann5510]

always love when composer renditions are done this way as if the composer wrote barbie themselves... it isn't just the theme slapped onto a popular piece

[@matthewai32]

This has got to be one of the best videos of the year! The on-screen text commentary really helps highlight all the inventive ways you have adapted the Barbie Girl song to each composer's style. It also really shows how deeply familiar you are with their work and musical idiosyncrasies. It's clear that you've devoted a lot of time and effort to studying classical music, in addition to building your skills on the instruments themselves!

[@cerebrummaximus3762]

I'm so glad he added the commentary. As barely even playing an instrument, I'd have never gotten in full without the commentary.

[@marvolie5939]

this was the best six and a half minutes i spent on youtube. and every video from now on will suck because nothing could top what you just did there. i swear when the video was done i stood up and applauded to my tv. hope to see more of these in style videos in the future

[@Beannin]

That Schubert "Yo-de-le-iOO" was just *chef's kiss*. I audibly snort-laughed out loud. In public. Thank you ❤

[@ElGrooveEstaEnElFlan]

You're a classic man in a plastic world. And your playing is fantastic.

[@HaydenPianoCovers]

This is INCREDIBLE. Your composition and performance (and editing) skills are off the charts.

[@luisvivanco6897]

Absolutely magnificent, one of the best performances I have heard, combines not only expertise in piano and in the styles of all the musicians involved, but also a very fine humour with much good taste, which is rather uncommon. Congratulations.

[@Dr.RiccoMastermind]

Just amazing!!! Great show-off of the great ones 😎🫶👽🙏🇩🇪

[@DanielPappasTV]

All of your interpretations are spot on! I could hear each composer's signature in each style change. My personal favorites were Beethoven and Ravel. Super impressed with your arranging skills. You took a simple song from the 1990s and created six individual masterpieces. Loved it!

[@icanogar]

Agree, but Barbie Girl is anything but a "simple" song. Only such a well buildt theme allows for this display of bravura.

[@aurinkotuliruusu9983]

Mein Favorit ist Schumann. Interessant wäre noch Bach gewesen.

[@DanielPappasTV]

@@icanogar Well built theme, yes. But it's still a simple song. Many of the best songs ever written are simple.

[@69EBubu]

Absolutely excellent ! Now we can't wait for "in the style of Satie, Debussy, Scriabine, Liszt, Albeniz, and Rachmaninoff" ! 😂

[@albertperson4013]

Tchaichovsky too!

[@jonathanwyble4227]

In the styles of Berg, Webern, Schönberg, Hindemith, Pärt, and Glass. 😂

[@ErikaEmody]

Yes!

[@JonasViatte]

Yes!

[@charlottelabarbe]

Curious about Mendelssohn, too !

[@julieb3996]

I've never seen a more perfect interpretation of classical musicians based on a contemporary tune. Also very entertaining

[@Dave1507]

The captions are gold!

[@elliottcsmith5447]

It’s the written commentary throughout that brings the joy along with the virtuosity. “Unending modulation” and “incoming tendinitis” cracked me up. Brilliant on every level.

[@philippnaumann6409]

Really had me at "flamboyant modulation that goes nowhere" ^^

[@Ulysse.3113]

This is definitly one of the best videos on youtube

[@TubaDragoness]

Fun meme premise, careful and thoughtful composition, and utterly flawless captioning. This was a joy to watch.

[@eduardofrena]

This is SO BIZARRELY GOOD it's scary. Congratulations, my man. This is legendary.

[@gamerman-ip5iq]

I really loved Mozart's variation, it really sounds like something he woul'dve written!

[@farfalles2665]

Beethoven too!

[@mistymoonrose]

TOTALLY, he's my favourite composer and this was so very him!!

[@user-tl6jr2ez7s]

The “you can touch, you can play” straight up sounds like Turkish March

[@marchcomposer2257]

haha that was incredible, thank you for the smiles!

[@zzzut]

Being so talented and so good-looking at the same time is unfair!

[@mitcar14]

Excuse me, but who are you? And why is this so good?! Excellent writing, playing, recording, and commentary!

[@ami4511]

I was curious too so I looked at his profile page on youtube and it says he is a cellist who plays the piano a bit. I think he and the rest of the world may have different definitions of a bit. 😭

[@philiphunt2065]

Yes

[@autumnwinter1462]

@@ami4511 I just read that too. He can definitely play more than ‘a bit’ lol

[@Sonomaniaque]

@@ami4511 I just can't imagine how he plays the cello ????

[@alyssaskier2656]

I fully expected a mashup of Barbie Girl with Rondo Alla Turca and Moonlight mvt. 1, which is what these sorts of videos usually do, and instead got actual variations on the theme of Barbie Girl in the style of different composers, as advertised. Well done.

[@sparklingmarxist6688]

Yet the rondo alla Turka was prominently featured. Well done indeed

[@alyssaskier2656]

@@sparklingmarxist6688 Only in the sense that the verse section of Barbie Girl - see kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKrLo4yfqJpjb6M - sounds kind of like the A major section of the rondo, so ... sure, he used a somewhat similar scoring. But it's always actually a setting of Barbie Girl, not a mashup.

[@thexalon]

And the Beethoven version drew heavily on the Pathetique.

[@GrotrianSeiler]

The level of clever in this video is off the charts. Bravo.

[@jujuapples7283]

'right hand show-off'

[@surielcastillo5718]

The Ravel was amazing! I can't express into words how much I loved the reference to the Rigaudon at 5:19 (which is one of the most beautiful passages of the movement and a personal favourite), and you captured the tenderness of much of his music in the "cute music box character" passage, previous to the one I pointed. It reminded me the beginning of the 4th movement of his trio and the celesta on both the aria of 'la tasse' in "l'Enfant et les sortilèges" and the very blatant music box moment in the introduction of "L'Heure Espagnole" in character. Great work, and thank you for sharing!

[@whimblaster]

I love that you didn't just play it but also explained all the motives and what you were actually doing. Was really helpful to understand each famous composer! Congratulations!

[@kevinmarquez6349]

Absolutely brilliant... I love admiring musicians like you "Pep". 👏👏👏😎

[@willwalker24601]

the notes written throughout the video describing what was happening made this much more interesting

[@DavidBadilloMusic]

This is simply a masterclass for all aspirant composers (and arrangers) on how to grab a relatively simple melody and explore parallel universes on variations, voicings, rhythms, harmonies, etc., with it!!

[@boredPianoAdv]

I'm a sucker for variations like this; you've delivered in this video and more! Also, the analysis captions and production value have gotten better again, somehow. Crazy how you do it all yourself. Keep it up! I bet I'll lose count of how many times I rewatch this in the next few days

[@edby263]

"bonk"

[@thefrenchguy3000]

You, sir, are a fantastic human being, a genius of tremendous proportions. Thank you for perfectly demonstrating the inherent fun of classical music. Your brilliance delights us all.

[@user-rc8yn5by2q]

This is incredible, so spot on!

[@gnrnando88]

Your Schuman's adaptation for this song was probably closer to him than if he played himself. Outstanding performances!

[@JosephGiorgiDrums]

Best version of "I'm A Barbie Girl" I've ever heard. Well done.

[@amybradley2514]

this is so much fun! All the commentary with musical terms and observations just makes this extra delightful. You, sir, have an amazing talent.

[@lazarostossounidis9990]

Oh my You are a triple genius!! Bravo ! I am grateful Thank you for creating and posting !

[@johnson941]

This is unironically way better than the original. You also really nailed the styles in my opinion.

[@michaelkay3197]

Thanks for this excellent video. I hardly ever use superlatives as very few things in life are actually ever amazing or brilliant. But this is both. This is a masterpiece at every level! So clever - so well composed and performed. Love it.

[@JosepCastanyerAlonso]

Hey Michael! Wow, thank you very much for this, it means a lot for me. Greetings from Stockholm, 😊/Josep CA

[@00bean00]

@@JosepCastanyerAlonso Please, please do some Scarlatti variations some time! (Since he has so many varied styles and techniques)

[@deskesh]

I rarely comment but I enjoyed every aspect of this video. The animation, the witty remarks, and of course the music and performance. I used to play and listen to each one of them (except Ravel) many many years ago when I was a kid and so I immediately recognized all the quirks (?) these composers have even though I never really studied them in depth in terms of music theory. Thanks a lot for this video!

[@ThePantherin75]

Description of his channel: "...I do also play the piano a bit..." 🤪🥰 Cool description, unbelievable and a surprise to listen to...👍🏼🎹🙌

[@marco119w7]

This is absolutely insane. From the deep understanding of composer characteristics to the wild editing and the beautiful playing and recording, everything about this video is perfection. I can't believe you only have 10k subscribers. You deserve so much more attention.

[@emilycheeger4029]

This is nuts. As a daughter and granddaughter of classical pianists, thank you for making my inner child both giggle and feel very very safe!

[@StelinaJustice]

Now this video has various "levels" of hearing! It's deep, all the details are there. This is a challenge even for classical pianists, and how classical piano should be taught actually, enabling composition instead of mere "copy-paste-play".🐈beautiful

[@Teapot-Dave]

This is pure genius and hilarious in equal measures. I love it, and wish I had just half of this man's talent!

[@Nalimias]

I love that you added the lyrics, it really helps to follow the song and see how you held onto the essence of the original. Also that Schubert really grew on me in that second half, ngl.

[@chrisprou9216]

This was a delightful 6 minutes. you've synthesized, created, analyzed, and satirized. Oh that any one of us should achieve such a level of mastery in any domain of life!!! take a bow. take 2.

[@boomstick900]

Apparently the dude actually plays cello in an orchestra. Piano isn't his main instrument lol

[@corneliasalzburger2229]

We are all loosers compared to him

[@johncormack20]

Everything about this is brilliant!

[@desireealexander5738]

Omw ! Your annotations had me laughing so hard ! 😂 that was awesome!

[@Joelthinker]

If all the composers themselves heard this, i bet they'd be flattered and love it tremendously!

[@MrStrenggeheim2000]

This may have been the best content I’ve seen for a long time here on KZbin. Not only your creativity and knowledge to create those pieces but also your way making them more accessible and enjoyable for not-so-professionals just nails it. Had so much fun watching.

[@royer_redos]

This is the best thing I have seen on youtube EVER. Hysterical and also beautifully done musically.