Deconstruction: the Weeknd - 'Blinding Lights' w/ Ski Oakenfull in Ableton Live 11

[@filipjonathan]

It's amazing how simple this song is and yet it's taken over the whole world!

[@thesahel7218]

the vocals make it seem really complex with the prechorus and verses

[@chickenlolipop7501]

Fr it really brings tons of inspiration to learn to make music, well at least for me it does

[@oscarv8267]

His education and experience makes it seem simple but there is nothing simple about it🧐 Actually it’s been years for this song to evolve into this masterpiece

[@MrSh4des]

@@jocu475lmao

[@David-hs1bu]

its not simple you are just biased as hell, high on copium

[@baroufess]

Pure gold these deconstructions .Now i know about the Rod Stewart track too.Thank You So Much!!!!

[@herbytube2006]

Could not say better... Ski´s Dcon´s are amazing !

[@maikrobin]

I don´t know since how many years I´m watching this channel, but Ski is getting better with every track ( actually he doesn´t - he is constantly great..!!) And every video puts a smile on my face! Thank you for that and please keep them coming! 🙏

[@muratevgin]

How cool 👍I’ve always wanted to make videos like this for my own songs. Your videos are amazing👏Thanks for the inspiration🙏🏻

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Thanks for watching. Please tag us if you do make anything of your own.

[@muratevgin]

I will. Your welcone🙏🏻🎬🎸

[@ThePawTrax]

Love the format of tbese deconstructions

[@pointblankmusicschool]

We love these kinda comments!

[@jazzsong8566]

Ski, you are a genius! Need more deconstructions along the year. They are awesome 🙏🙌💚

[@zapp442]

Master Ski. Thank you for all your deconstructions. So informative and educational.

[@RockstahRolln]

Wow!! Fantastic deconstruction with both The Weekend and Rod Stewart! Excellent stuff as always Ski!

[@JamesBermingham]

Great programming and sequencing. 👍

[@cubedroid5087]

These videos are so helpful

[@evolvic]

Brilliant, as always.🙏❤️

[@PendelSteven]

15:04 I do this with Izotope RX. Even the version you get with Music Production Suite can do that. I mean, if you bought that for Ozone, Neutron, Nector & Vocal Synth.... Don't forget you have a plugin for that!

[@seanstage]

Unbelievable, I wish I could like this more than just a simple like!!

[@kahmusicaustralia]

Fantastic work mate. Loved the smoothness of your workflow :)

[@aaronmread]

Brilliant deconstruction. I knew of the Take On Me likeness / mod but didn't know of the Young Turks one. Now when I play the official Instrumental version that it available everywhere digitally. I am going to try and sing along using the Young Turks lyrics to the Blinding Lights Instrumental and see if I can actually keep pace.

[@PabloDeModeOfficial]

Excellent! So simple and complex at the same time :)

[@frano5957]

A master decrypts a master :)

[@hillyfieldproductions]

Just amazing. Wow

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Thank you!

[@ishaanvohra2311]

Yess! I've been awaiting this video for so long!

[@markjhorsley]

Great vid as always ski

[@JoelHernandez-vs1kn]

Gracias

[@WillisKeeper]

Ever since I heard this song the first time I was wondering why everything in it sounds so oddly familiar. Thanks for letting me know!

[@homelessballoon]

Brilliant Ski! As always. 😀

[@CatherineMeeson]

So grouse, just found your work amazing different way to use ableton

[@Keithoconnellsongwriter]

Great video Ski. I attempted to deconstruct the main riff section with all the parts when it first came out. I ended up using Serum to create the main intro sound. I must revisit it to compare where I can make some improvements. I love these videos. Keep up the good work 👏

[@kayokk-]

Great job. Thanks

[@endfreq]

Great deconstruction for a great song.

[@bouttalk4061]

Catchy melody

[@serkering8712]

Amazing work of deconstruction. Would love to see 'TalkTalk's Life's what you make it' deconstructed.

[@adrianoconnor3020]

love rod in the mix,great job as usual

[@floatinganarchychannel3204]

Beautiful workflow. I love the use with analog! Are the patches for analog available online somewhere?

[@AndersChanTidemann]

That was really awesome - thanks so much!

[@roma_redblack3640]

I love you for this angel work

[@pittan86]

Lovely Lovely stuff here. Thanks very much!

[@akshayyc010]

Loved it. Really helpful 🤌

[@caseyjones8507]

Even if I'm not particularly interested in the track of subject, I genuinely get SO much out of these deconstructions. Ski just has a way of distilling things down to the core of it.

[@smgmusiq1882]

Amazing.❤🔥

[@JohnLynagh]

Sounds great. It would be cool to add the sweeps too , just to see how you make them.

[@pointblankmusicschool]

That might be one for future videos!

[@winstondsouza42]

Maaan 🔥ski are genius

[@Scheffan]

love your videos!!! thanks for the teaching. greetings from Argentina

[@psyolent.]

thank you this is really very good. i never made the connection between turks by rod and this.

[@pointblankmusicschool]

Cheers Gregg.

[@arixtomusic]

Very similar 🤯

[@Le_Lys_Eclectique]

Hi man thank you for the great work! It would be AWESOME if you could show how to deconstruct "Premiers Symptômes" by the French Band "Air". I would LOVE to know more of this track! Thank youuuuuuuuu!!! ❤🙏

[@MrMallum]

Bang on! Really gr8 vid

[@juandenz2008]

Informative deconstruction !

[@a.d.h.s.]

amazing!

[@dianafernandezs]

Amazing!

[@ggyatt]

Man you're the god, thank you

[@ReeltoRealDemoTapes]

Awesome Ski

[@Phaseish]

damn i wanted to see what the arpeggio rise part was XD obv some c- outline & that descending scale part , and the detuned riser part in hook B. he dropped the instrumental with it which is very humble and cool ,. all in all great stuff glad I found your channel!

[@officerpd]

AWESOME! Thank you very much!

[@markandrewsdj]

Really nice deconstruction, Ski!

[@MsEtherx]

incredible, thanks

[@favio347]

Basically its a great educational video, thanks for sharing.

[@soundfilet]

superb!!!!

[@cyrildia]

Loved averything about that deconstruction. Cannot understand how one would consider the key to be C, but loved all the rest !

[@RohitGarg-l9q]

One love from india sir❤

[@MrJonesdj]

Amazing!!

[@TheVoltar100]

Well done!

[@moksh8]

First to comment - You make it possible to dream! Please do Sacrifice next? Keep up the good work! Thanks

[@clint-lee]

Genius!

[@oryolmusic]

dude, very fresh deconstruction

[@TeleporterM11]

Ski I can understand how you recognized the notes and chords but how did you arrive at or find similar sounding instruments, Did you use any Ai software to help you.

[@AutPen38]

Years of experience. In much the same way that a classical musician can tell the difference between a violin and viola or clarinet and an oboe, experienced synth heads can recognise basses, pads and plucks that were staple sounds on synths like the Juno 60 or the DX7. It's relatively easy - for an experienced sound designer - to recreate synth sounds from the early '80s with modern VSTs and stock plugins, because it's mostly just a case of using a saw wave and getting the filter, resonance, and ADSR envelope right.

[@ClectaSkiMusic]

You're just showing off Ski...(haha Kidding of course) this was so awesome thanks for doing this & keep them coming.

[@DJFusia]

Brilliant Ski !!!! Your Deconstructions are always on Point !!!! I would love to see a demo on how you made those Kavinsky Synth and Kavinsky Bass sounds using the Ableton Analog stock plug ins !!!! I am using Ableton 10... the Analog plugin looks different or perhaps I have the wrong one selected.... Thanks for everything you do sir !!!!

[@djade76]

Spectralayers 10 or Izotope RX is great for Separation. Great Video btw - The Rod vocals sit nicely with Blinding Lights. Good work

[@snmix90records80]

Thanks for the greatest deconstruction. Which software do u use to extract that acapella

[@SamyKdj]

Super !! :)

[@BestTop-tj3kx]

Very very good 😀

[@u-sayn]

Great 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@ivermctinn5487]

Great as usual, though I can't believe you didn't mention Maniac by Michael Sembello? 😉

[@strangerthings9143]

the weeknd untouchable

[@skowdish]

Could u tell me how to make the yellow outlined box grouping those tracks

[@dazziep4468]

I love watching your deconstructions, I keep hoping that one day you will do Future Sound Of London - Papua New Guinea ... please please please that would be awesome..I know you won't though as you will be inundated with thousands of great tracks to do but I can wish ;)

[@AutPen38]

There's also an annoying problem with Papua New Guinea. The publisher of it doesn't just claim the copyright money from tutorials that include snippets of it. They do the whole "takedown" thing and the KZbin video gets completed blocked, so no one can watch it.

[@kdjbeatzz349]

how did you find these chords???

[@pw7752]

Close listening and some trial-and-error is my guess. Plus lots of experience would shorten that process!

[@BeardslapRadio]

The thumbnail had me thinking that John Oliver had gotten into music production.

[@albertlopez2762]

I really enjoyed this. I've heard of another app to get acapellas...it's called lalal or something? In any case, I really liked how you included the theory/chords although I suppose one could argue what the key center is.

[@ralphooms4776]

What is the name of that Programme which is Used to separate the rod stewart vocale?

[@larrydavid2728]

If you listen to the 1st 10 seconds of Chicane salt water originally version. You can hear the beginning of this track

[@gamonutz]

ngl when the 'young hearrrrts run freee' dropped... I was rockin

[@SkinnyJeansLive]

Can you send the drum preset? Is it a groove agent file?

[@atanasprodatanasov9233]

I didn't knew John Oliver is such an excellent musician.

[@Phoebedumplings]

These a reconstructions surely? 😎

[@skioakenfull]

probably yes! 🤔 although you've got to deconstruct it to reconstruct it!

[@BarrettRodriguez]

Very nicely done. Time to get Abelton. The song has Max Martin all over it. The man is a master at pop hits. I wonder now if the song was written with instruments or a DAW.

[@stev5293]

This is great. However is there any way to get an acapella without the artefacts? Want to do this myself.

[@marcocabrera9476]

Cual es nombre del software que separa los elementos de la canción?

[@redlettervagrant1159]

A question I've been struggling with for a couple years now: Do you know why when I get my tracks to the loudness of one of my reference tracks, it will sound fine in my studio monitors and my headphones, and even my couple sets of crappy speakers I keep in my studio in order to get a feel for what it sounds like on cheaper speakers, but on a phone or via my phone's bluetooth in my vehicles, I always have to turn my phone down 2 notches because at full volume it will be distorted?

[@olxs__]

Because phone speakers can't handle the harmonic content above certain frequency range, thus sounding like a sort of saturation

[@Drrolfski]

Pretty cool, ngl

[@talnomix3164]

Which snare did you use?

[@f.herumusu8341]

3:22 eigth, not sixteenth

[@skioakenfull]

Yup, wins prize for being correct I was waiting for this comment, it was a silly mistake on my part 😂

[@ntartienii]

Still fighting to find how to set that cut off knob

[@СергейПрокопенко-й2е]

hello, what is the name of the program you use at the end of the video to extract the vocals? she breaks the track into 4 components: vocals, drums, bass, and melody.

[@kingkuts]

Take on me base line

[@ירוסבירו]

neural mix pro how i download

[@marcusviniciusmagalhaesdea3779]

To me, the song samples the opening of the 80's cartoon "Pole Position".

[@JamesJohnAgar]

Great well done, so would the Weekend have had to pay some sort of Royalty to Rod Stewart then if he ripped the beat/chord from the original songs?

[@juandenz2008]

No. Generally speaking the Harmony and the Rhythm are aspects of musical works that can't be copyrighted. So feel free to use a rhythm and harmony that you like. Note I'm not talking about a specific recording which can be copyrighted.

[@AutPen38]

Things are gradually changing and there's sometimes an agreement/payment for elements of a backing track, but music copyright law historically assigned intellectual property ownership only for the top line melody and lyrics. It's why a lot of (mostly black) bass players and drummers that have been sampled to death died in poverty, while the lyricists, singers, and music publishers usually got paid. As a general rule, you are free to "steal" the notes in the chords, bassline, and drum patterns from other songs, but not the lyrics or main melody. This old rule is basically why Ringo Starr and George Harrison only had half the money of Lennon and McCartney. Harrison wrote his own guitar licks and Starr invented his own drum fills, but the copyright of those Beatles songs went to Lennon and McCartney for writing the toplines.

[@SNAGGABENZ]

It would like to hear take on me mashed up with 🎉blinding lights. For Rod Stuart mash up the syth needs to cut and copied to the chorus

[@DeepfriedBaby]

I always thought it had an influence from that aerobics championships video that was a trending meme video.

[@debler]

From day 1 i Argued n swore this was inspired by Michael Sembello - Maniac!!! 😏 🎶💃👏💃👏💃🎶

[@skioakenfull]

It definitely sounds influential, especially with the arpeggio synth!

[@debler]

@@skioakenfull Thank you!! Glad someone else hear's it... 🙂 🎶💗🤗💗🎶

[@The1mrpmrp]

Do you have to ask them when doing a deconstruction ?

[@AutPen38]

No. Anyone can do a cover version, but when you upload it, the original publisher can request the mechanical royalties. KZbin's AI also does it automatically (albeit clunkily - it sometimes fails to identify the song), so the ad revenue from this particular upload is going to the rights holder rather than Ski's channel..