The King's Singers - Blackbird

From Byrd To The Beatles

[@margaretschaap5673]

Shout out to the guy who stayed on the same note the whole time. Much harder than it sounds.

[@sophiagyger6932]

Margaret Schaap Been there

[@margaretschaap5673]

Ok. I guess my ears were just playing tricks on me...

[@margaretschaap5673]

Sophia Gyger are you an alto? I am, and have sang several pieces where I'm on one note most of the time :(

[@jonathanboyer2030]

Margaret Schaap there actually is someone who continues on one note the whole song... Henry isn't listening or has older ears and can't really hear it all that well anymore. It Sounds very difficult.

[@hskshag00]

+Henry Loomix listen carefully. there's someone on a G the entire time, continuously following the rhythm of eighth note-sixteenth note-eight note-sixteenth note-eight note

[@KidIndigo1]

One of the things I love best about the KS is that every one of them has a potential virtuoso voice, yet they all use their instruments to combine in a true ensemble, blending and creating a GROUP work. Brilliant.

[@elisebrockmann3913]

amen....couldn't have said it better.

[@michaeltutty1540]

A newer a capella group that is equally talented is Pentatonix.

[@bontyjarron]

That whistle though.

[@OrdinaryLatvian]

I can't whistle. :( I feel like I've been missing out something huge.

[@mrmitch2424]

bontyjarron I know. It’s so perfect I just can’t understand.

[@originaldeftom]

Dem eyebrows though.....

[@aqeiwwrgunaug4ne3]

best whistle i've ever heard

[@elebecepe]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/sICQknaHa917Y5o

[@ddmnlm0]

WHO WHISTLES THAT PERFECTLY?? This is so good

[@nuranbintangsabihat4032]

Dingalingalingling..

[@nicolasriveros9266]

hahahaha best lyric ever

[@A_Wild_Dyzzy]

I'm most impressed with the guy that sang the same note for the whole song without wavering. It's more difficult to do that than it sounds.

[@NateCristofori]

Respect to Philip for staying on the G for the entire song.

[@heywood4010]

SERIOUSLY! 🙌🙌

[@ozielich]

Unreal, isn't it?

[@Juliaflo]

Ahhh-you have perfect pitch, too.

[@windsordawn]

Yes!

[@kayzatron3459]

Mr. Bean looks so pleased with himself.

[@78910idontknow]

god dammit, I always think I can listen to this while studying. Turns out it is actually impossible to listen to this without watching or at least paying attention to how incredibly good they are. I really want to keep living on this planet?

[@corasidney1932]

Same here, am alone at work at night, supposed to do numbers for reports, thought I'd put the KS in the background and, well....

[@ozielich]

Definitely not background music!

[@Jourell1]

absolutely. i think its hard for people who haven't sung in a choir or an acapella group to realize how hard it actually is to stay exactly on one note for an entire song. our voices naturally want to "move" and it takes concentration to overcome that tendancy

[@panetrya]

These guys are incredible! :)

[@MrDemonking15]

yes they are

[@bravaLiz]

I just LOVE them! Now THIS is a cappella at it's BEST. And yes...the dude who whistles is unreal! As far as the exquisite harmonies..it's a given that they display absolute perfection!

[@pwebsers]

@davidrfleming you know, a funny thing happens when you're in an ensemble like this, and you have a "boring" and non-melodic part like this. although you may not have the spotlight, he's just as important to the performance as the bass line. you can appreciate that you're contributing to a beutiful song.

[@mich262]

saw them live, and this was my fave of all the songs they sang! No one compares to them! Absolutely beautiful.

[@FAXLN]

that whistle tho ~~ 1:27 ~~

[@stonedmermaid679]

Made me burst in tears. And that whistle. He saved humanity because they asked me to whistle for my life I'm just gonna drop dead lol

[@MsOhenderson]

His whistling defines perfection

[@sheldontucker268]

Have loved the "King Singers" and had their albums since the 70's. Just wonderful singing!

[@albertorangel6533]

59 persons don't have a heart

[@mountplusBladeequals]

61

[@olivermejiaa]

125

[@fred6059]

Thank you. My favorite McCartney song. I have loved the Beatles for 37 years.

[@altareggo]

This was actually the first version of Blackbird i ever heard, believe it or don't!! For years, i didn't know it was a Beatles song, lol! GOTTA love the King's Singers. They were corny, irreverent, cheeky and all that, but CONSUMATELY PROFESSIONAL and always fun and edifying to listen to.

[@Blackbird68233]

Muy bella interpretación de una de las canciones más hermosas de The Beatles.

[@tomhavenith2330]

Even after 10 years I'm coming back to the King's singers when I'm studying. Thanks so much, thanks so much!

[@hawbydawg]

How did I know this was going to give me goosebumps. Gorgeous. I'm just sorry it took me this long to discover you.

[@evenstar0]

I saw the king's singers once in a small concert hall on a university campus. definitely one of the best concerts I've ever seen.

[@mariahharperrussell6632]

I have tickets to see them in December! I have never been so excited to go to a concert! I hope they sing this song and Down To The River To Pray

[@nuranbintangsabihat4032]

Mr bean? Is that you? God damn you are so multitalent mr bean..

[@Iolannaa]

I've never seen it before, that's wonderful ! These guys are very talented !

[@ivrin9]

they make it look so easy while in fact it's horrendously difficult to sing. especially countertenor part

[@HyperDragonDemon]

extraordinary. My family saw this group in concert at The University of the South near Chattanooga. Never forget it.

[@Naightlife]

Man! I love the King's singers!!!

[@Draculica]

Oh my freakin' God, they are amazing, I'm melting on my seat right now...

[@xGirlInTheStripyTopx]

The bald guy in the middle is my school's new singing teacher :P

[@jenniferbate9682]

Lilly Rushby lucky you!

[@elgoobero8285]

I have no idea why, but this song makes me so happy.

[@moechoeke1912]

it's so beautiful!!!! I could listen to this song whole day long...

[@bkeels002]

I love how this is the level of skill it takes to fully do a Beatles cover justice.

[@bkeels002]

Man, if I could even whistle as good as Robin I'd be satisfied.

[@54bayleaf]

These guys are GREAT

[@TheOwl54]

This harmony and perfection: Lovely and amazing ! A wonderful performance !

[@bravaLiz]

I have followed this Group for YEARS...nothing like their Christmas CD that came out...oh..maybe 25 years ago(?)...the MOST beautiful arrangements of so many beautiful selections.Singers get replaced over the years, but the 'signature sound' of the King's Singers never changes! LOVE THEM.

[@laraatkins1676]

I LOVE this song can't stop watching it. The prevalence of KS fans indicated by the number of comments below inspires me to add this: My grandfather was headmaster of King's College School at the time when the KS were formed. He tells the following story. The choir were on a boat touring somewhere (possibly Norway or Sweden?). One of the little boys in the choir went up to the captain of the ship and said, "Did you know you have a world famous choir on board? And if you let me steer the ship for the afternoon, a selection of them will sing for your passengers over dinner tonight". So the captain let him steer the ship, and at the end of the afternoon he went to David Willcocks (then choirmaster, and a great friend of my grandfather), and told him that he'd promised a concert. So apparently a few of the men got together and that's how the group started. :-)

[@diletantus]

My favorite song. Quite perfect interpretation! Bravo!

[@antoniocoppola7644]

La canzone è di per sé un assoluto capolavoro e queste straordinarie voci riescono a servirla in guanti di velluto.

[@nevilleturner9594]

whats with vibrato in blackbird lead singer

[@scarlettgold4556]

Oh my god, I'm a huge fan of Glee and I just came across this and I have now realized that Glee completely took their arrangement for Blackbird from this song. Either that, or it's an epic coincidence. But the universe is rarely that lazy.

[@icguy]

i have a third explanation. This arrangement is almost unavoidable. The guitar part can be cut into 3 parts: the one which stays the same all song, the bass, and an upper part singing the 10ths (3rds) from the bass. It is almost impossible to arrange this some other way, and is certainly much harder to sing and won't sound any better. I dont really know glee and maybe they ripped this off, i dont know nor care, but this is another possibility.

[@MrJVictor88]

Actually this arrangement and the Glee's arrangement is based on the Trio Esperança's vocal version. They were the ones who came up with this whole idea but they are not famous. I am not making this up this is a fact and I am not too sure if you will be able to find any information on the Trio Esperança online. Take care

[@spudweg]

I think they are different arrangements, both wonderful. kzbin.info/www/bejne/ioOxloKDZ7h5Y8U

[@sritanvigottumukkala2346]

Yoongi!!

[@OAmus]

nearly impossible to tell what sound comes from whom...

[@ilovehifi]

Its not possible to sing better, one hundred percent performance. Love it.

[@ozielich]

Who is the guy singing the G pedal all song long? just fantastic!

[@helenbryant404]

Heard this last night- absolutely stunning. I cried. And Daryl is, I'm proud to say, a friend of mine. I saw him last night, for the first time in far too long.

[@EmpereurBonaparte]

It's kinda funny that they're both counter-tenors too...the shortest then the tallest... :D

[@realias]

Great whistling at 0:52 :D by the way how tall is he! he's huge! :) great lead also of course!

[@jvccamcordermov]

beautiful! perfection. For the guy who had criticism, you truly need to have your hearing checked. The pitch is very nearly perfect throughout the group. Thankyou Kings Singers for your beautiful music!

[@MusicisLife11893]

Never pass up a chance to see these guys in concert. They are phenomenal.

[@cameragirl90]

@Death9897 they are worth going to see, when I was in High school my choir went on tour to Canada, and they came to our hotel and performed, and we got to meet them afterwards, they were so nice so cool!

[@virgotao]

Goosebumps! Utterly beautiful!

[@kenhutley971]

The audience made these six guys at least as happy as they made the audience. A Happiness Fest! Makes me happy too. Thank you!

[@viviennelsen]

@CelticKisses Singers are supposed to be listened to, not merely looked at.

[@Jackman24601]

The bald one with the impressive beard, in the middle, but it's actually Chris, the tall blond one to his right, who's singing the G.

[@MrBadripper]

How the hell can they sing so beautiful??

[@NicholasWingComposer]

Beautiful.

[@bballqueen945]

Absolutely amazing. That's so hard to with voices. Hope these guys are on iTunes

[@lilangel722]

I'm learning this in choir!!! Sooo excited, though our STUDyhall choir would do it better justice, we as madrigals will try our best to do it justice.

[@NedyahSeugirdor]

Dude stop compairing them to glee for fucks sake...

[@No1Seed]

Amazing countertenor!!

[@MusicisLife11893]

@iamachickenwing Yes! The King's Singers I just saw them last week.

[@bennyfarbstein]

dingalingalingdingalingalingdingalingalingdingalingaling

[@Blitsun]

If you ever a get a chance to see these guys on tour- do it! They are awesome. The best boy band ever ;)

[@solitonqt]

Absolutely excellent. Superior performance. Thanx for the upload. Even though U-tube is nothing like a live experience. The acoustics in that recital hall must be awsome. I wish I was good enough to play my baritone sax in a similar place or dance to good music on a wooden floor instead of street concrete or hotel carpet.

[@evenstar0]

also, boys who sing a cappella are hawt.

[@bigblakdawg]

How could someone dislike this?! I get to do a vocal workshop with them tomorrow, along with a few other schools. I'm SO excited! :D

[@Jackman24601]

Maybe because they're fucking amazing?

[@jimraw1]

@MtnSiren89 The King's Singer's concert took place in Cadogan Hall, Chelsea (a suburb of London). It was originally was the First Church of Christ (Scientist) but was converted into a 900 seat concert hall in 2001. The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (which is the closest thing to Britain's national orchestra) performs almost all of their concerts here.

[@WheatusOfficial]

beautiful

[@Josquinquin]

They take this beautiful jewel of a McCartney and shine it to a polished gleam.

[@PIRATESOFTHEC3]

I sang this in my Vocal Jazz class for High School. It's a personal favorite of mine.

[@themrqwertymark]

chistopher is crazy good on that one do the whole time

[@galletitamortal]

All is difficult in a good interpretation.

[@mimosapercy5402]

Very expressive eyebrows!(': love it. real music, real and raw emotion.

[@ThePatrick9a]

lol these guys are gonna be awesome at the concert in toronto

[@pepperstreet8614]

I love how close they stand together

[@gangoffour1]

Simply astounding!

[@squishable1000]

thanks for existing!!!!!!:-) i feel instantly uplifted and stress-free when i listen to the kings singers...your version of lullaby is my favourite song :-D hope you come to Dublin :-)

[@ChristelVinot]

they're so magestic

[@rantanen1]

@musicnerd96 actually the original members studied in the kings college back in -68. the current members dont study there but they honor the name

[@taylorbegg8283]

The whistling is absolutely beautiful. I wish I could whistle like that.

[@kathleenreynolds4506]

Wish I could whistle!

[@mixmam1]

damn he can whistle all right!

[@stefanshanscott]

If you all look closely then you will see that Philip is the one that is keeping the beat not singing.

[@tibsu14]

This is lovely. I'm really excited to hear you singing together with Mika at Little Noise!

[@tommietrinh]

@Death9897 don't worry, they're still alive and well. just the alto (the 2nd from the left) left and was replaced.

[@Beans_in_toasts]

@Guichotpresident Fair enough. Each to their own, and thanks for not biting my head off like nearly everyone tends to do on youtube. UC men's octet do a nice version of this too.

[@justin11678]

its surprising how 6 guys can sing better than a whole crew of paid actors can

[@Naightlife]

Guys, as much as I adore and obsess over Glee, Chris did great, but I was a King's Singers fan first and I love them!! oh my I miss chorus so much!! :)

[@ekirchtag]

What they are doing with their voivce..... cant describe it

[@vetlerradio]

Singing.

[@SellyNue]

@realias You do realize that he is surrounded by shorter than average men, right? I'm taller than either Paul and David and I'm only 5'9.

[@crazyaboutmika]

I love their voices; I love men's choirs! Thanks Mika for the link! I bet your gig with them will be heavenly! Have a great gig!:) I'd love to be in the audience!

[@SuzetteGrist]

The most beautiful Beatle song, beautifully sung. ❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉

[@Beans_in_toasts]

@Guichotpresident eh? just check out viba femba's version. it's better. imho is an abbreviation for in my honest opinion.

[@SellyNue]

@1234567bryce Stephen Connolly in this video. However, he is no longer with them. Their new bass is Jonathan Howard.

[@jlucguitar]

j'adore cette version !!!!!!!! toujours avec ce flegme légendaire super !!!