NieR: Automata - A Beautiful Song strings cover

KEIICHI OKABE ROCKS MY FACE.
After becoming obsessed with NieR/Drakengard and definitely this piece, I thought it'd be a fun challenge to try and transcribe it. Originally I wasn't even planning to record it, but it worked way better than I expected!
As usual everything except percussion is played on string instruments And actually borrowed a real viola this time (Thanks Ruth!)

[@daviverle_9211]

1:12 BRO i can almost hear the lyrics and the voice of the singer

[@ChickenCatzz]

THE FACT THAT THIS COVER DOESNT HAVE MORE VIEWS IS ABSOLUTELY CRIMINAL!!!!! the way your incorporated simone's cries in the beginning is SO GENIUS and HEART WRENCHING!!!

[@Gabrielcostalves]

No matter how many views this video gets, it'll still be a valid comment.

[@marzipan7755]

AGREED

[@marlepeace9844]

I’m looking for ONE thing... *Does the opening Opera notes* ... and I found it *presses like*

[@ManuelJBD]

It'd be a crime not including those! Glad you liked

[@riceballbaby]

why does this only have 48k views!!!!! everyone is missing out on this perfection of a cover

[@AnQiao]

Im very impressed by this arrangement.

[@ManuelJBD]

Thank you!

[@noname-nm3ts]

BRO, HOW DOES THIS NOT HAVE MILLIONS OF VIEWS. I LEGIT FELT CHILLS CRAWL DOWN MY DUCKING SPINE IN THIS WHOLE DUCKING VIDEO. AMAZING COVER DUDE.

[@ManuelJBD]

Thanks! Worked my ass off on this, so it's nice to hear hahah

[@ongzijun3910]

THANK YOU FOR DOING THE OPENING

[@JCDadalus]

You hit those bass notes with the guitar and cellos so well I can't even tell that they aren't a part of the percussion synths. PERFECTION!!!!

[@ManuelJBD]

Thank you! I tried my best to play everything myself. In the end I managed to only use virtual instruments for the drums, timpani, tambourine and bells. Everything else was either violin, viola, cello or bass guitar. Gotta get me a tambourine someday! hahah

[@JCDadalus]

@@ManuelJBD Amazing work :D

[@overlord2066]

Im not much of a music fan but the sheer dedication and effort required to pull something like this off is just beyond me, insane how youre not a million subscriber channel with the effort you put into your work.

[@ManuelJBD]

@@overlord2066 that means a lot, thanks!

[@Melteq]

bro you're probably one of the few who did the opening sequences Thanks for doing it, appreciate it man.

[@ZerakimSC2]

This is seriously underrated, and this is awesome.

[@ManuelJBD]

Thank you!

[@luthierwing]

Shared it

[@cloroxbleach9222]

I'm hoping the algorithm blesses this video, all of your videos even, this effort needs to go noticed

[@manah5017]

That's legit the best cover I've ever heard for this song, I'm so impressed!

[@nopanttynolife]

Damn, this video is the best cover that i have heard so far...

[@ManuelJBD]

Thank you so much!

[@cxrpsie]

I thought I heard the lyrics. This dude needs MORE views

[@trapdeath]

This is simply beautiful!

[@derlynhernandez2727]

This is......BEAUTIFUL!

[@Dayard]

What a madman, you nailed it !

[@chopparini8070]

OMG im speechless!!! BRAVO!!!! its almost like this guy did 98% of the original xD why is this video not super popular??!?!?

[@snowjae9380]

This is a beautiful song indeed. Nice work!

[@adriangutierrezmartinez8374]

MASTERPIECE

[@Hiruma_]

This cover truly fits the name of the song. Amazingly well played!

[@aigis3117]

this cover made me shiver 😲, its as if the violin were the robots themselves, great cover bruh! 👍

[@mesrepadam]

This arrangement is one of a kind. Masterpiece

[@ALEKPO06]

well that takes a lot of great technique and it's an awesome perfomance. Great job man!!

[@VunderVaffleDG2]

Phenomenal cover! Definitely captured the epic of the original!

[@Pedrithor]

Woaw, dude. This is amazing :D

[@Duhemsounds]

This is very beautiful and epic, great job =3

[@Tysonbaradad]

gorgeous!

[@MikiDrummer]

I've just found this video and i have to say it's an absolute masterpiece, your talent is amazing! Very well done Manuel :)

[@pappysheart6710]

Wow! The sound, the mix, the playing! 👍👍👍👍👍

[@ar110sp]

the auras and tension ~ actually carried ~ amazing ~

[@LegalSenpai]

This is awesome!

[@chongyunwithdiarrhea3880]

I just discovered this song yesterday and planned to find some covers.....THIS IS AMAZING 😭❤️

[@PhilippeLabutin]

This amazing!!!

[@isvai08]

wow, excellent work.

[@ruaiori]

Amazing cover!!!!

[@darshio8307]

Broooo, this is sooooo cool

[@domagojalagic6678]

Amazing stuff!

[@thylis75]

gods I can't get enough of this!! seriously this is so awesome I am in love

[@ManuelJBD]

Thank you! :)

[@fauna1314]

真的好厲害😮

[@iwasagirlineldiadoingalrig7290]

Woah! ♥👍

[@SegNode]

Amazing!

[@christien6230]

TALENT

[@PrettyPatterns]

Huge work on this cover dude, i love it, looking forward to more stuff like that

[@ManuelJBD]

Thank you! Definitely put a lot of work into this. The reaper project for this has around 100 tracks! :)

[@mArio291291]

el mejor cover de largoo este, felicidades

[@vewoee]

wow this is the most amazing video i have ever watched you are incredible!!!!!

[@ManuelJBD]

Thank you! I'm glad the effort was worth it :)

[@nicolasapocryphos6696]

It's perfect

[@blueskyblazingrose]

Respect.

[@YggdrasilVer101]

holy cow this is beautiful

[@ManuelJBD]

It is definitely a beautiful piece. I tried my best to make it justice. Thanks! :D

[@thehandsomenaps5445]

YOU ARE SO GOOD ! CONTINUE LIKE THAT !

[@ManuelJBD]

Thank you! :)

[@milarjo]

Por fin te inspiraste, excelente

[@BegoRM]

This sound amazing dude!!! Congrats for your amazing cover!!!! You achieved a sound as powerfull as the original!

[@ManuelJBD]

Thanks a lot! It took sooo much work, but it was so worth it :D

[@luthierwing]

Awesome

[@miloslavaorekhova17]

Wow! A great job, really impressive 0.0

[@ManuelJBD]

Thank you! I was a looot of work hahah

[@NikoD239]

Oh, this is so good sir.

[@ManuelJBD]

Thank you!

[@AizawaMundy]

Awesome work!!!!

[@ManuelJBD]

Thank you!

[@alterviola21]

El solo de viola en 1:12 suena INCREIBLE!!! magnifico cover, tenés un nuevo fan!!

[@ManuelJBD]

Muchisimas gracias! En cuanto a rango pude haberlo tocado en violin, pero preferi usar la viola para mostrar mejor el contraste entre la voz de J'Nique y la de Emi en la cancion original. Ademas, el sonido de la viola me encanta :)

[@alterviola21]

@@ManuelJBD si, me parece una decisión muy acertada, te lo digo como fan de NieR y su genial música y como músico qué soy (toco viola en la orquesta nacional de mi país :))

[@ManuelJBD]

@@alterviola21 muy bien!

[@marcopolojogos1832]

Os melhores covers de nier são desse cara.

[@aaalbeert]

only found this now... many chills, this is so good!!!!!

[@ManuelJBD]

Thank you!

[@aaalbeert]

​@@ManuelJBDno u

[@lorde-voldemort]

Damn this is hauntingly good!

[@ManuelJBD]

Thank you!

[@boinkohh8394]

WELL DONE!

[@rato5611]

omg, it's epic

[@samuelaquino7857]

Perfeito!!!

[@DannyPerdomoHeirGrindelwald]

Excelenteeeee

[@Astareia7312]

MUST. BE. BEAUTIFUL.

[@fabilous_hunter]

This is so fckn awesome!

[@RyanRickyW]

This is very good cover

[@ugoasiegbu3979]

why this video don't have 1 billion views ?

[@johnwickinyt3017]

you have my respect

[@user-qh3dl9zb5z]

Очень красиво исполнено!

[@nicolasapocryphos6696]

Many covers are either reinterpretations or poorly translated, i'm really glad this one accurately retranscript the music for a change

[@leonardoaguirre2523]

Nice

[@bmac4]

Hell yea Good stuff

[@ManuelJBD]

Thanks!

[@julioc.urbina7103]

i like it!!! and i've seen your video evetime i am on youtube!!! sorry I mean I LOVE IT!!!!!!

[@ManuelJBD]

Glad you like it! Makes all the efforts that goes into this even more worth it :)

[@pappysheart6710]

He preserves the feeling of desperation in the "groove".

[@sandwulfsam]

Excellent and underrated video! This must have taken a lot of work...

[@ManuelJBD]

It sure did! Took so many listens to write down all the parts, and I recorded close to 100 tracks, but it was lots of fun :)

[@mortimerdarknessb4889]

We need the complete version

[@theultimateogrelord2783]

4 years 0 dislikes pure excellence my guy

[@user-li8kz7nt7x]

Лучший ковер на эту песню❤❤❤

[@kaminarineko3292]

Woa :o

[@ManuelJBD]

:)

[@MarkusProductions]

Way too less views and likes for this kind of awesomeness

[@BurtleYT]

good job

[@harm991]

Here before 1 million views

[@ManuelJBD]

Maybe a biiiit too enthusiastic, but let's gooo! :)

[@hilmyyassar]

SO FKING AMAZING, PLEASE DO SONG OF THE ANCIENTS ATONEMENT PLEASSEEEEE

[@erikondrums]

Very nice as usual! It would be fun if we’d make a cover together sometime! Me on drums and you on your usual instruments! :)

[@slaywee]

wow its amazing, how did you sync them all together? it must be really hard

[@shiki7689]

Imma just keep listening to this until it reach 1 mil views. Just 985,787 more times to go

[@mrzvp]

I need this musescore 🙏

[@Edo_Ginting]

Are those bells i am hearing? Nice!

[@ManuelJBD]

The bells are suuper important. Couldn't leave them behind! ;)

[@piano134]

EARGASM

[@gweevelicious]

Did anybody hear the "Shia la.." from the violins!?

[@JebusPrimeDLC]

If possible, may I request a download link for personal music collection? Thanks.

[@georgeception]

Incredible ending. Better than original

[@user-li8kz7nt7x]

Не плохо.Не просто охреннено

[@pauljoshuamarquez9979]

sirrrr this is very awesommeeee may humbly ask if I can get a piece of the transcription? I d just like to imitate the intro, particularly the tremollo-like semiquavers, I watched this and it's so cool I want to try it myself :((( cool playing sir

[@ManuelJBD]

Thank you! No problem, here's a condensed extract of the intro parts: we.tl/t-kczhQ72jSY Have fun!

[@pauljoshuamarquez9979]

@@ManuelJBD sirrrr thank you very much I enjoyed that part sooo much, I am glad to have played it, thanks and looking forward to more of your covers :D

[@НьютонНаЖёлтомФоне]

It's great. Too few views

[@morishimaharuka8754]

damn this violin feels like talking

[@christinpark6012]

do you have sheet music to this?? :oooo

[@uinasenskam8326]

I’m late as hell but do you have sheet music for this??