Laufey, dodie, and Jacob Collier perform 'Wild Mountain Thyme' with NSO | Next at the Kennedy Center

Official Website: to.pbs.org/3CBecJa | #KenCenNextPBS
Laufey, dodie, and Jacob Collier sing the ode, "Wild Mountain Thyme," combining their talents in a fascinating musicality blend. The artists stun in their solos as well as their melodic intertwining, with Collier encouraging the audience to engage in a fun twist of events. Stream on the PBS app: to.pbs.org/3CBecJa
Ben Folds Presents Declassified - Next at the Kennedy Center
Ben Folds invites the virtuosic Jacob Collier, rising jazz superstar Laufey, and chart-topping English singer-songwriter dodie, to join him and the National Symphony Orchestra to reimagine their music through an orchestral lens.
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#dodie #laufey #jacobcollier #livemusic
Next at the Kennedy Center
A dynamic mix of artists across hip hop, jazz, modern dance, and more perform at the Kennedy Center. Each episode weaves together performances filmed live at the Center with intimate off-stage moments contextualizing each artist’s cultural impact. Stream on the PBS app: to.pbs.org/3CBecJa

[@JusticeConstantine]

Oh my Lord, to have Jacob, Laufey and Dodie together with the New York Symphony. What a treat.

[@matdrat]

It's the National Symphony Orchestra, Washington D.C.

[@mydogsareneat]

Literally didn't even get to my headphones and I was already emotional from this

[@richardgrier8968]

@@matdrat ty from a dc resident.

[@Intheslithytoves]

@@matdrat Thank you! With NSO Pops Conductor Steven Steven Reineke--he rocks!!

[@judemunizmusic9803]

Awsome

[@claraboe2755]

Ahhh jacob collier playing his two favourite instruments: the guitar and the audience 😂❤

[@vehemore]

not the piano? 🥺

[@yea4253]

He can't play guitar though

[@MegaMaskedrider]

@@yea4253 haha yes ok. But he can play his 5-string thingy ;)

[@eviltomthai]

Corny joke

[@coralesangiovannibattistastezz]

I love Jacob ❤❤❤ kisses from Italy 😘😘😘

[@iconicore]

this is my super bowl

[@fernfern4656]

love this comment

[@mouser2216]

Couldn’t agree more!!

[@paigeofthebook]

literally

[@user-xq8ud7pd5e]

Me too❤❤❤

[@kadk25]

my roman empire fr

[@peacefulwanderer2050]

Jacob alone is a master. Laufy is an absolute gem. Dodie is simply so grounding. Together, a wonderful treat. Dodie's pure amazement and enjoyment at Jacob's conducting of the audience, so sweet.

[@plastictaste_]

Seeing her reaction made this entire thing even better

[@margaretdowns9350]

I kept being upset when the camera panned away from dodie because I just wanted to watch her watch Jacob! I've seen performers like that before, where even when they're not actively playing/singing they really elevate the experience by being visibly happy/moved. One violinist in particular (Gil Shaham) just GRINS ear-to-ear when he's not playing and the energy is really infectious, and I felt similarly watching dodie.

[@grahambell4310]

dodie is learning...(as in being taught) 😊

[@billmccomb4629]

@@margaretdowns9350 Oh yes. I have been watching Jacob on KZbin for well over a year now, but to my knowledge I've never seen Dodie before this video. Watching her watch (and love) Jacob during this song made it all the more special for me.

[@margaretdowns9350]

@@billmccomb4629 See, I've had the opposite experience! I'm more familiar with dodie than Jacob; I actually heard about Jacob for the first time on a podcast pretty recently and have really enjoyed checking out his work. Dodie's tiny desk is well worth a watch if you liked her in this.

[@noelarthur1916]

We're all Dodie watching Jacob

[@joannezzy]

she is so real for that

[@fairyfarms]

honestly!!

[@StevePaulSounds]

Hand on heart ❤

[@roryainsworth556]

So real

[@RoyKellermanJrDemo]

I love what Ben says "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your future. I think it's going to be OK." 💯

[@louisemyles4971]

Loved that too 😌💕

[@benja1378]

Guess that future isn't for us non-binary folks since people always exclude us :)

[@mydogsareneat]

Stop im trying to catch my breath over here 😢

[@FouratAmri]

That's all I needed to have faith

[@TiffanySoulbird]

I do agree. ❤

[@Edward_Cruz]

I will never forget being a part of this audience. I have been waiting months for a video to be published and I am so happy to see it again.

[@mydogsareneat]

You took part in healing me Edward. Thank you.

[@laurakazimir1712]

Oh my goodness. I’m so glad to be able to experience this vicariously through PBS/KZbin ~ I can only imagine how heart-expanding this must have been in person!!!❤

[@georgeinthejungle23]

Must have been a great experience

[@Techelet_Bseder]

What a great fortune you had - to be there and to be a creator of this!

[@EggertEggertsson-cz7ln]

Was it planned like with singer in the audience or just spontaneous beautiful moment? It was great anyways 🙂

[@peterg5383]

I *love* how much dodie loves it. It's so gratifying and fulfilling to see the artist as moved by the music as we in the audience are.

[@typebeats5162]

And I'm Rhombus tilda, rombla choir! The singers certainly show talent, and the rombla of it all gunges me. the Ganges. Cleveland 8118. And the simple Rhombularg is WOW!!! unbelieavable. Seamus Higgins. Penina Biddle Gottesman. Cleveland is from the same walk of life really sam. Sircle steven. justin taylor ligeti continuum. Rhombaloid. In the shape, neighborial arborial forest within alaska within all things great. rhombishi choir song, dog wait this actually slaps so hard respectfully OQQQQWWWWWWWWWWWWW. Justine Kadota. Holy moly, the audience impromptu choir was something else sais guerakun. edward cruz. stop showing me things now.

[@oDiiJei]

love Dodie for that, always so wholesome and so expressive when she's moved!

[@lanie9879]

I'm begging for this to be put on Spotify, please absolutely gorgeous

[@jacksonbyrne4020]

might genuinely pay for youtube premium just to download it

[@johnjohnson5961]

​@@jacksonbyrne4020 youtube downloader??

[@case12hdsybncjkd]

Probably the best audience choirist of his generation.

[@oaristes]

Who do you have in mind from previous generations? I think this is level up from Bobby McFerrin

[@d3li0n]

I don’t know why, but this moved me to tears… There is some kind of magic happening when people are in harmony. Simply beautiful. The world needs more of this. Thank you

[@Jaco2k]

You and me - profusely...

[@sunnexito]

Samee I just know its the power of music the power of art In general and i really love how it can moves u ,I really felt the same when the harmony started

[@HAL9007]

I'm not crying. You're crying.

[@zach-shea]

Same. Twice. Doesn't get old.

[@sage_rage]

@@HAL9007 Yes i am. Sobbing. Uncontrollably

[@emmetdunnemtl]

Connection. The peak of humanity. Pull yourselves together. We are the only thing that saves us. I love you all.

[@liciawilliams2228]

❤

[@user-xq8ud7pd5e]

Love u too❤

[@lachlanwhittle]

❤️

[@nursebridgie]

❤

[@theonlycma]

I love that you can see every emotion on Dodie’s face 🥹

[@georgegodbaz9939]

i think shes in love, low key 7:17

[@will0w01]

​@@georgegodbaz9939in love with the music. With the art. With the talent, yes

[@christianfelix1869]

the way doddie always kept looking at jacob when he's leading the orchestra

[@CaptainTedStryker]

"I can't believe how quickly he turned the audience into a choir, this is insane!" Her, probably.

[@charlottemabury1164]

She fell in love right then and there lol

[@SarahEBarlow]

the way that the audience intuitively knows what notes to hit as he moves his hands up and down... 🤯

[@christopherantolin-wilczek8992]

If you get a chance see the lecture panel with Bobby McFerrin bouncing up the stage. Same principle but on a larger scale

[@DanielBarberMusic]

It’s cool, isn’t it? McFerrin discovered that we naturally sing pentatonic scales in this kind of situation. Jacob has also figured out how to get people to sing notes outside of the key (without telling them to), but it takes some clever chord movement and a slightly modified hand direction. Check out his masterclass in Mexico City from April 2024.

[@TH-lo8mq]

I'm always blown away by the number of legit singers in the audience.

[@GraemeMarkNI]

@@DanielBarberMusicThey’re singing a major scale, but they have context like they’ve been hearing the song for a few minutes.

[@Whalebelly2239]

Despite what people might tell themselves, being tone-deaf is incredibly rare :)

[@LeonLJ]

I love the part where Jacob yells: "It's Wild Mountain Thyme", and proceeds to WildMountain everyone.

[@ethanmulvihill7177]

😭

[@bluedabadeee]

this made me giggle

[@LeoEscamend]

my favorite part was when he said "I am Wild Mountain Thyme"

[@bridgetduffin1929]

I've never really cried watching music on TV but it just happened. Came here hoping it'd be online so I could save it and rewatch it! Thank you.

[@TheDavidlloydjones]

I was just about to post, so I shall, "This had me in tears."

[@jojodunn835]

Same!! My Mom and I watched it last night and it is simply stunning!! We were bawling by the end. 🙏🏻🖤💜

[@cmusicman13]

Me too. Beautiful

[@jj5jj5]

❤️🥹😭

[@heatherkingham5222]

Yep

[@KatelynC]

Jacob Collier in *crocs* on stage with Laufey and Dodie is just *iconic*

[@zairazaira_]

and dodie's barefoot!

[@cynewulf1]

@@robertfurlong2079 Stay miserable then.

[@r0flgal0re]

The audience choir always gives me the chills.

[@user-yh1cl1zf2q]

And the giggles. Music in its purest form. Brought me down to tears

[@joelsans-musicnature]

Fascinating! There is a moment where the world is upside down: the full orchestra becomes the audience of the audience choir! Magic all that people doing music together 🙂

[@dylanlaster1419]

I swear, If Jacob is on a stage, he ain't leavin til he turns the audience into a choir

[@clarkem4119]

Dodie's reaction was as beautiful as the performance.

[@mrBlagstock]

Beautiful does as beautiful is

[@markjmoser]

What a celebration of music and humanity. Instead of war, let's make more music.

[@peterwu8471]

Right - how can we get new leaders to take us away from war instead of rushing towards it with no regard for anything?

[@simonwild428]

To quote The Streets… ‘Imagine the world’s leaders on pills, then imagine the morning after…’

[@ethanmulvihill7177]

I know you probably don't care and think I'm a [insert bigot name] but this reminds me of when Jehoshaphat in the Bible sent the choir into the battle in front of his army and the Lord confused the enemy ranks resulting in Israel's victory

[@markjmoser]

@@ethanmulvihill7177thank you for sharing this thought. I think positively of you and wish you well!

[@ChristelleCY]

I had the privilege to witness this in person and it was such a surreal moment. It felt like a dream!

[@TKSnatch]

You're very lucky, I would've loved to have been there!

[@powerfulpaper3559]

I would give anything. ANYTHING to be there live

[@bluebutterfly5303]

My aunt is in the throes of passing. She's 4 thousand miles away from me but we're one heart. I've just sent this to my cousin to play this for her.

[@coup919062]

Wishing you peace and condolences ❤

[@ethannickerson1901]

It's incredible that the audience actually stayed in key without drifting off - anyone that's sung in an a cappella ensemble can tell you it's not easy.

[@GautierSeguinMusic]

This is the trio I've always hoped for, and I'm not disappointed. This is the peak of music. I can't express enough how happy I am to live in this era with these incredible musicians.

[@felity1773]

the trio of Jacob Collier, Lizzy McAlpine and John Mayer is definitely equally great

[@GautierSeguinMusic]

Yeah i agree, "Never Gonna Be Alone" was a banger too !@@felity1773

[@ethanmulvihill7177]

@felity1773 ooh hard disagree. It's crazy to me that musical preferences can be that disparate and still contain Jacob Collier 😭

[@JerPlaysGuitar21]

Madison Cunningham and Chris Thile also complement him perfectly imo :D

[@guerakun]

Holy moly, the audience impromptu choir was something else ..

[@sorchamccarrey]

every time he conducts an audience i know it's coming but i still weep like a newborn anyway. showing new ways for music to be, so precious to me

[@guddefulgaming]

This is what happy crying sounds like.

[@mountainmusic77]

I love how Jacob's mother is this rock supporting him even now. She's not in the credits, but I'm pretty sure that's her playing violin in the black sequins during his pieces. The NSO folks don't wear sequins. :)

[@shannonmack9604]

Major praise to the conductor Steven Reineke, and the National Symphony Orchestra, for their beautiful contribution to this wonderful performance!

[@olivebrown7379]

Amazing. I hope nobody tries to change this young man's style. He absolutely had that whole audience at his fingertips and it was magical.

[@shoeshampoo2771]

JACOB, DODIE AND LAUFEY performing my favourite song together. Is this a dream?

[@iangreer4585]

It's real. And it's every little bit as magnificent as you might expect. Actually, no it surpasses that.

[@BoneLocker]

Amazing. I can't imagine being in the audience and not knowing anything about Jacob and everybody just starts singing, and they're like, "oh it's our turn? I didn't even practice!" 😅

[@SailingROX4321]

Literally me at Bonnaroo last year. It was beyond spiritual. I’ve never felt so connected to the world.

[@carabushy]

trying not to cry on the train difficulty: extremely high

[@meryemkabak9103]

i was happy, i was confused, i was crying.

[@megwelborn]

The way I was holding my phone, intently watching, and crying over this video says everything. So beautiful and moving.

[@katjamlinar9500]

Oh, the summertime is coming And the trees are sweetly blooming And the wild mountain thyme Grows around the blooming heather Will you go, lassie, go? And we'll all go together To pull wild mountain thyme All around the blooming heather Will you go, lassie, go? I will build my love a bower By yon clear and crystal fountain And on it, I will pile All the flowers of the mountain Will you go, lassie, go? And we'll all go together To pull wild mountain thyme All around the blooming heather Will you go, lassie, go? I will range through the wilds And the deep glen sae dreamy And return wi' their spoils Tae the bower o' my dearie Will you go, lassie, go? And we'll all go together To pull wild mountain thyme All around the blooming heather Will you go, lassie, go?

[@SidMohede]

Was watching and humming along… and suddenly warm tears just rolled down my cheeks. Music is truly a gift and a mystery. Thank you Jacob, dodie, Laufey, the symphony and the amazing audience for a magical 10 minutes… 🙏🏼❤️

[@KCZ570]

Yess.. Truly the beauty of music Ps.Sid🔥

[@louisemyles4971]

Makes me think of something that put such feelings in words. ‘Is music something we make or something we are made of’. As these comments suggest, it speaks to the core of one’s soul…bringing us to the vibration of Oneness together 💖

[@STR82DVD]

If Heaven has a sound, this is it.

[@BottleOfCoke]

We atheists agree!

[@chichai6348]

The smile of Dodie and Jacob is so sweet when Laufey started singing My heart😤💕😭

[@justkatierose]

These three are emanating choir kid energy and I mean that in the best way possible.

[@higher_haze]

Dodie has come so far!! It’s wonderful to see her perform with Laufey and Jacob with this arrangement ✨

[@1saamor897]

bruh dodie was known before laufey

[@Toasty_Mr.Marsh_]

Her voice has definitely gotten much stronger

[@horizonkyun7203]

@@1saamor897 sure. def not as respected as a musician though.

[@weempwomp13]

theres no way i wouldnt have burst into tears at this performance in person

[@emmathompson4446]

Audience harmonies building to joyful high notes, some strained with laughter mixed in made my CRYYYYYY what the heck George for real this is magic

[@jeronimomarquez5191]

8:30 to 9:30 are my new favorite 60 seconds of music ever. Never thought a trio this perfect could exist, I would have given anything to see this live

[@Fortune090]

This has been one of my dream trios and to see it ALSO accompanied by an orchestra... Involuntary tears this whole section every time.

[@stevegrant7762]

I got a bit teary when they came in together

[@Thebadpiper]

Respect to all the people in the audience just enjoying this beautiful moment without recording on their phones.

[@vehemore]

he mastered the audience as an instrument

[@plastictaste_]

this is literally heaven, three of my favorite artists collabing and doing such amazing things.. and having dodie in there makes it 100000 times better, PERFECTION

[@althejazzman]

The way Jacob controlled the audience like a piano was breath taking. To keep track of what each section was singing and give clear enough directions that they could all follow it was ridiculous, and then for the orchestra to come back in and everything was still on pitch. But I suppose he knew that would have made microtonal adjustments to the audience if necessary or a big choir is a self regulating pitch instrument.

[@charlottemabury1164]

Three of my favourite musicians singing Wild Mountain Tyme with the National Symphony Orchestra, plus Jacob does an audience choir?? This is the perfect collab I never knew I needed

[@rhiannonmason4945]

I WISH this was on Spotify 😭

[@matthiaskalt7041]

If Jacob is not the new-born Mozart - who is then? He is the same out-of-the-box genius as Mozart was in his period. Simply amazing …

[@MrMattSax]

This caused a feeling in me that I could not control. An overwhelming feeling of… togetherness

[@startingfingerstyle]

I was so close to tears watching that. I've loved Dodie's work for a long time, only fairly recently found Laufey (via a Tiny Desk concert) and Jacob (similar means of discovery). Jacob Collier is a gift to us all. Wow! Mesmerising!

[@lindscouv]

I love how timid this crowd was but by the end they were so surprised and proud of the sound they made

[@mjacton]

The man at the end talking about the future being okay echoed my exact thoughts.

[@simont390]

"the man at the end" are you kidding? That's Ben Folds 🤦

[@alexgrodkiewicz1746]

Find yourself a person who looks at you like Dodie looks at Jacob

[@dvzo1924]

they. need. to. release. this. on. everything.

[@skidroe83]

Caught this show on PBS last night. Absolutely astounding!! I have Ben Folds music in my library, but I had no idea he was so into symphony music and also encouraging the younger generation of musicians. These 3 performers were amazing, of course, and watching the NSO perform was so enlightening. But the topper was Jacob's idea of directing the audience to sing. I've never seen such a thing and it's hard to believe, really, that this random audience could perform like they did at his direction. I'm so glad I recorded the TV show and have not deleted it yet. I gotta watch it again!

[@KevinFry-ub4ck]

Jacob does this at all his concerts. It's come to be known as the Audience Choir and it's well worth your time to check out the innumerable KZbin videos of him doing this at concerts all around the world. If you like this, you should check out the Mahogany version of his song Little Blue on KZbin. If you aren't crying by the end of it, there's something wrong with you. (Make sure it's the Mahogany recording and not the album version.)😉

[@tactus72]

Yeah, Jacob is like a musician’s musician. Except for collaborations, he generally plays every single instrument on his albums. His career began with those fantastic choral arrangements of Stevie Wonder and the Flintstone covers that got him discovered by Quincy Jones. So, I’m guessing he attracts a lot of musicians to his concerts (me being one of them I used to sing in a classical choir).

[@FaultyWirestv]

Ben has a long history of working with orchestral setups, seeing this comment a month later. Check out the Ben Folds Five album "The unauthorized biography of Reinhold Messner", specifically the song "Magic". He also has an album with yMusic, a sextet, and there's a great recorded concert of Ben Folds with the WASO orchestra live in perth. A lot of his later Ben Folds Five and some of his solo work has been a lot more compositional.

[@preciousjewelamor]

can i just say i love the viola part at dodie’s entry 😭😭😭😭😭

[@jenniferspring8741]

There is some thing about singing together that is a real sweet spot for humanity. Instant connection and joy. I wonder if it's not really so much about how the audience choir sounds, but how it feels to them😊

[@matthewkondziela6733]

This one song hit so many of my musical interests it feels like the algorithm made it just for me.

[@nohandle508]

same. isn't it great you're not alone)

[@peterwu8471]

There is something so beautiful and humbling about a group singing like that - it's like heaven.

[@finlay4469]

Moved to tears, and so proud to be Scottish. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿😭

[@NatFao]

never seen something like this. and i cried

[@notalkmeimangyy]

this is the craziest trio ever, i can't believe these three amazing people are in the same room, let alone playing together!!!

[@amyisaway7800]

dodie's pure look of joy and wonder is enough to get me through this week. so much talent on one stage

[@susanarecio1407]

I love the smile on the conductor's face when the audience is singing

[@catherineono3387]

YES! I noticed that too. I’d enjoy hearing his take on this…

[@TimpTim]

A huge thank you to Ben Folds, the NSO and PBS for this amazing collaboration and program!!! Had me in tears several times...unashamedly so.

[@Shadyladybird]

We played this song at my dad's funeral and it was already one of the most beautiful and haunting melodies in the world to me, but to see this version by 3 of my favourite artists... it's just otherworldly

[@stewiegriffin993]

This is so profoundly beautiful that it's beyond any personal sense of aesthetics, it's beautiful to my very body.

[@ottogibbs]

Thank you, Stewie Griffin from Family Guy.

[@banana_chip_stained]

HELP what is this collaboration???😭 did i die and go to heaven??? i didn't expect this???!!!

[@marktodd7397]

Not only are they are our future but they are a link for the youth and older people to come together as one. ❤

[@masonmount17]

Dodie's reaction at 7:19 👌same girl.....same

[@ellielovesbands]

I am in tears! this is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen and heard. I love music, how it moves you, how it unites us all and what an incredible power it has. Long live the music!

[@MsMsmak]

Greatest audience participation ever. Incredible.

[@bluedabadeee]

this is one of jacobs favorite songs, and you can truly see it every time he performs. humble, but so grand. thanks for the upload.

[@sarahlunow2435]

This is a little slice of heaven. What an absolutely incredible group.

[@joeycarlisle9844]

A prime example of how music can connect us

[@lojay2000]

Okay why am I crying?

[@infour44]

Upon their day of passing a Scottish person would be eased across the lochs and mountains to join the ultimate gathering of the clans with never a sweeter musical embrace than this.

[@jinaeasmr4196]

Getting these 3 in one room is gods work. Thank you!

[@GraemeSinclair]

One of Scotland's most beloved folk songs, I've heard lots of beautiful renditions over the years, but this one was special.

[@virtuehealthcare]

sobbing like a baby

[@gracie7244]

dodie and her reactions perfectly capture her passion for music and the response it makes people have. I LOVE HER SO MUCH . such a beautiful moment

[@natalie33980]

This is the most incredible thing I have ever seen.

[@talkingcake]

Three of my favorite voices plus the audience choir and orchestra?! This is what heaven must sound like

[@ObliByMe]

Bruh the sheer amount of talent on that stage

[@user-xh3nu7tp2j]

This is the ideal trio. I want them to co-write songs!

[@BottleOfCoke]

This is the most beautiful musical performance I've ever seen. It was absolutely stunning!

[@roryainsworth556]

Not me bawling my eyes out 🥹 I want to listen to this on a hill in the dark quiet night Almost a prayer out to all of the souls in the universe to feel the connection and power of all of our souls

[@kevinbortz2854]

The crescendo at 8:31 is spine tingling. Just gorgeous.

[@ofkhod3638]

One day I must be present at a concert with the audience as a choir because if it's so powerful through video, I can only imagine how moving it is in actuality

[@andresortiz6915]

Hands down the most angelic s**t I’ve ever taken

[@zanewright9686]

This felt like 500 people shaking hands at the same time

[@SuperBowlofSoup]

I have not wept like that in a long time. Thank you to every single person in that room.

[@MagdalenaShakti]

This is the finest and most exquisite part of being human. This is what we truly are given the opportunity and guidance. Weeping ...