when you want to do comedy but parents want you to play piano

Download transcriptions at georgecolliermusic.com. Check out the Discord!: / discord
Original video: • Victor Borge - Piano J...
Performed by: Victor Borge
Transcribed by: My Sheet Music Transcriptions (mysheetmusictranscriptions.com)
faq:
Q: how are you related to jacob collier? / A: i'm not, we just have the same last name
Q: how do you transcribe? / A: i use musescore for notation and 'Transcribe!' for beat marking, slowing down etc
Q: do you have perfect pitch? / A: no
Q: where can i suggest videos? / A: / discord
Q: what music do you listen to? A: open.spotify.com/playlist/0zP...
Q: why are some videos not transcribed by you? / A: sometimes other people submit transcriptions, most are commissioned from others who can do a better job than i can. i want to make sure you see the best transcriptions possible!

[@AIRDRAC]

He's also known for the quote: 'I'd like to thank my parents for making this night possible. And my children for making it necessary.'

[@genev3358]

I’ve never heard that but it’s quickly become one of my favorites

[@flamingspinach]

lmao

[@eleethtahgra7802]

Lol

[@penguinista]

Moving the piano over at 1:16 to extend the high notes is brilliant

[@SouthernersSax]

Between that and leaning so hard into the glissando that he fell over at 0:56, I'd say this man is a comedy genius.

[@DanielJamesEgan]

Funny joke but he took it from an old Family Guy episode.

[@Cypsky]

Victor Borge predates Family guy. 😉

[@DanielJamesEgan]

@@Cypsky I dunno, some of those early FG episodes were from the late 90s, so pretty old. Maybe site sources before you talk about things you know nothing about.

[@Cypsky]

@@DanielJamesEgan Victor Borge passed away in 2000 at age 91. Family guy started broadcasting in 1999.

[@Kylora2112]

The upside down William Tell Overture is absolute amazing.

[@E0O2X314FT]

What's even cooler is that this is a valid way to provide variations on a melody!

[@martinb.770]

In my theory there ist only one page for brass pieces, that ist being mirrored and flipped.

[@CRUCIFi777]

He came of age in an interesting time in music for piano: Tin Pan Alley was in full swing, and so was swing for that matter, and there was an enormous influx of aspiring concert pianists juxtaposed to all the advents, but no one had bridged the gap between Vaudeville and high society quite like him before-or since for that matter.

[@jasonshere]

Thanks for the insight. I enjoyed your linguistic prowess.

[@Kufunninapuh]

This is the kind of comment the internet should be full of 👍​@@jasonshere

[@DodderingOldMan]

Great pianist, but as a comedian he's one of the greatest of all time. His comic timing is second to none. Which, as a musician, makes sense I suppose.

[@caesarsalad77]

One of the legends. Between Victor Borge and Bugs Bunny, anyone should be convinced that classical music can be fun.

[@bryanquick3349]

as a child I understood this to be true and was rather disappointed when I actually played in orchestra, which was generally much less fun

[@Elriuhilu]

"Leopold!"

[@everonlyallforthee]

*Ride of the Valkyries plays* "Kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit, kill the wabbit...!!"

[@samuellickiss8463]

Bill Bailey too if you've not come across him before. Did a fantastic comedy/music show with the BBC orchestra - I especially like his Belgian jazz version of the Dr Who theme!

[@jimmyzhao2673]

@@Elriuhilu hansel? Hansel? HANSEL ?

[@gonzaleandro]

This is the nucleus and origin of all the "... but I got distracted" memes xD

[@dismaleclipse5587]

What's an example?

[@inexpensive_housing-2948]

@@dismaleclipse5587 kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWixh62Gn65lhs0

[@gonzaleandro]

@@dismaleclipse5587 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gqDag3aEnNGrmNk

[@floydfanTN]

My dad saw Victor play live in the early 70s when he lived in California. He saw him at DeAnza college, and he said Victor asked the Audience "If this is DeAnza, whats the question?"

[@lhsbandfreak11]

His audience interaction was second to none! I can recall his recorded performance in Minneapolis, a couple came in late, asked them where they were from (both from the area) and he responded "I'm from Copenhagen, and I got here before you." 😂 Then later on, a woman was absolutely dying of laughter. He hears it, looks her direction and asks " Pardon me, madam, are you laying eggs?" 😂😂😂 Never will be another like him

[@Australian_Made]

​@@lhsbandfreak11 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@robbybevard8034]

The routine was so good Victor Borge did it with almost no changes for 50 years.

[@everonlyallforthee]

I first saw him perform it when he was probably in his 70s, and I feel like the old-man-appeal made it even better haha

[@VictorBorbaMusic]

The man who forever ruins auto-fill searches for my name

[@mykal4779]

lmao rip

[@husum1201]

Well, he changed his name to Victor Borge, you can change yours too :)

[@kieran101yes]

I love your music!!

[@katenkyokotsukaramatsushinjuee]

The Bury The Light guy!!!

[@ChanahAngelicaKamen]

One of the greatest pianists ever. Not only a comical genius, but a brilliant performer with a golden touch, there's no one like him. May his memory be forever a blessing.

[@brobrothebro]

that fall was perfect

[@zackv4850]

i feel like i just watched a live action bugs bunny skit.

[@PaleCentaur]

As much as I loved the inverted William Tell Overture bit, seeing "fall of the stool" on the transcription and then watching him fall half a second later is perfect comedy to me.

[@chrisn676]

Oh man. I kinda wish you had done the one where he plays this angular thing of all parallel 5ths and tritones and is like, ???, and then turns the music NINETY DEGREES and gets "Entry of the Gladiators", because that would've been a hell of a thing in a transcription. Victor Borge was such a great comedian, and we were all very, very lucky to have experienced him.

[@micahphilson]

Thank God for the internet, we still all can! He died while I was still very young, but my dad somehow got a tape of his after that, and I continually watch everything of his I can find multiple times a year. He was such a creative, comedic, and musical genius, such a gift to the world.

[@3rdalbum]

I used to work with a guy who LOVED Victor Borge, and so I've seen this skit so many times, and I still laugh at it. It's timeless comedy.

[@micahphilson]

I've watched all of his stuff i could find dozens of times since I was a kid and I still laugh every time!

[@GerardMenvussa]

In music, having a good sense of humour is key

[@jdapaul1351]

Nice pun. 🤣

[@almitydave]

Specifically, you gotta be sharp.

[@user-ej4kf2yg1m]

Or all Your efforts will Fall flat.

[@Josh-yr7gd]

Yes, it keeps you sustained. Otherwise your joy would be diminished.

[@LovSven2011]

Victor Borge mostly uses G-sharp major key. (major sharp genious)😉

[@Gn3rd]

Another great one with Victor Borge is when he and Anton Kontra play Czardas, except Victor Borge doesn't know the song, so he basically fakes it all the way through, and it's bloody brilliant!

[@Kernel15]

He does the same with Michala Petri and breaks her

[@TacoBlend]

I am so thankful he survived the Haulocost to bring us his wonderful and hilarious talent. May he rest in peace!

[@pantarkan7]

"The Steinway people would like me to announce, that this, is a BALDWIN piano."

[@HexoESBB]

love u georgey colli :D. you got me into composing for my bass clarinet

[@Rx7man]

I remember hearing him on the radio about 40 years ago talking about Phonetic punctuation and Inflationary Language, and putting them together.. Comedy gold

[@jrk1666]

I love Victor Borge

[@Mr.Doesntmatter]

If you want to see good clean and clever humor, watch his "phonetic punctuation" and "inflationary language" routines. Yes, the man was a master pianist, as seen here or when he has an opera singer with him (check that out too), but he was a stunning straight man who is a master of telling jokes with a straight face.

[@kenjohnson8751]

Those are his two best masterpieces!

[@petertrudelljr]

his "phonetic punctuation" is what I think of whenever I see an interrobang (?!)

[@JohnLloydDavis]

My late father introduced me and my brother to Victor Borge when we were both really young and weren't really listening to music much or playing it (instruments that is). Still really funny some 50 years later (and so well executed, like his punctuation skit) and was why I love Frank Zappa so much is because, humour belongs in music :)

[@njung1990able]

victor borge was the goat :]

[@maxwellsmith2133]

My brain during the exam:

[@TheSledgehammer205]

In this day and age, many sheet music memes are on youtube, some of the better ones are channelling the grandfather of piano comedy, Victor Borge.

[@chirashidon3672]

0:05 this person who laughed knew what was up before everyone else

[@simongross3122]

I saw him once in Sydney, a long time ago. One of the best.

[@Australian_Made]

🇦🇺 👍 🐨

[@Ahuntrgw2013]

Always watched him on tv / talk shows. He was super. So missed nowadays.

[@drivernjax]

Victor Borge and Chico Marx were two of my top favorite pianists when I was growing up. I could watch both of them all day long and never be bored.

[@pbetftdi]

There will never be another two like him.

[@Pandhelito]

Man, your transcriptions are pure genius. Thank you for your extraordinary work!

[@LovSven2011]

Victor Borge also has some mostly talking comedy routines in pure english. This Danish-American comedian moved to America at 31 y.o. in 1940., not speaking a word of english; only danish. But he has some very witty word plays and whole comedy bits in English. Look it up!

[@Crunchles]

I used to listen to his inflationary language performance all the time as a kid. Anytwo up for elevennis?

[@LovSven2011]

You three-faced triple-crosser! loool

[@longgone9738]

Phonetic punctuation! Thumpf.

[@snowmonster42]

I feel a bit pleased with myself for recognizing William Tell upside down. The second one as well, but don't remember the name. I know these were not too hard to identify, which is probably why he chose them, but still . . .it's something.

[@InfluxDecline]

The second one is the Sabre Dance by Khachaturian, the third is the Blue Danube Waltz by Strauss, and the piece he plays with the wrong part of the torn paper is the Wedding March from Mendelssohn's A Midsummer Night's Dream.

[@snowmonster42]

​@@InfluxDecline The last two were transposed for us, so I didn't think there was anything special about recognizing them. But yes, I should have remembered Sabre Dance. Thank you! I feel like that was used in at least one Star Trek episode. Am I right, or was it just something similar? Edit: I looked this up myself and learned a bunch of stuff. Here are some highlights: Sabre Dance was a major billboard hit in 1948 and a few times afterwards. It has been covered by a ton of people from the Andrews Sisters to the Pretenders and used in a ton of movies and TV shows, but apparently not Star Trek. I was starting to think I'd lost my mind, but finally found a musicology dissertation about Star Trek that specifically mentioned the influences of Khatchaturian, Ravel, and Stravinsky in music composed for Amok Time. So that was a relief!

[@InfluxDecline]

@@snowmonster42 It's also played at Buffalo Sabres hockey games by the organist. Didn't know about the Star Trek stuff, that's interesting!

[@fabriceclement6587]

The upside down William Tell, moving the piano, falling off the chair and slamming the lid on time… Victor Borge had everything!

[@m3lod1an]

YES VICTOR BORGE MY FAVE he has a whole full-length special on KZbin :)

[@rodmandealerman3297]

I seem to remember watching him ages ago, maybe an HBO Special, where he comes out, gets up to the mic, and releases cigar smoke from his mouth. The audience was crying with laughter, and so was I.

[@QuadraticPerplexity]

Iirc he did this to gauge the audience composition - were they there for the music or for the gags. For a comedian, it's my impression that he took his craft very seriously

[@tylerhackner9731]

Very talented

[@YIIMM]

Twoderful

[@micahphilson]

Yes! Victor Borge is one of the greates comedians of the 20th century, maybe of all time!

[@magnificentmuttley2084]

For those of you too young to have seen him play, this genius is Victor Borge. A true gem of a musical comic and a great classic pianist. The world became a less enjoyable place with his passing.

[@JeremyEllwood]

Victor Borge is a legend. I remember watching his stuff over and over.

[@ruthkirkparick3535]

I have loved this man for as long as I can remember, and thank my father for the introduction to classical music and Victor.

[@SuzA8110]

I LOVE Victor Borge!!! Luckily I got to see him twice in person. He was a lovely and FUNNY man!

[@kikijewell2967]

He was the master! I grew up with his routines. Wish i could have seen him live.

[@mjproebstle]

Such a master of comedy, piano and a joy!

[@MySheetMusicTranscriptions]

Absolute genius

[@alonfarji]

The legend Victor Borge one of my favorite comedians

[@twain3074]

glad for anyone who discovers Borge.. He was a staple growing up: original, brilliant, and uproariously funny..

[@JeremyPlaysSax]

Hilarious! This brings me back to my 80s childhood.

[@exintrovert1337]

What a fantastic entertainer ❤

[@dhitdaba]

1:41 when you forget a part so you repeat the part that you played until you remember it and you have no score

[@davidbrandt6925]

Spot on!

[@123Ir0nman]

I love Victor Borge! Absolute legend!

[@Sujowi]

I saw him perform live …it was musically memorable and hilarious.

[@miffy9871]

He’s a genius entertainer and musician. Thanks for reminding me of Victoria Borge.

[@DanielStinebaugh]

What a legend!

[@F4T4L3RR0R]

This is genious!

[@kekesrevenge7059]

The ability to purposefully play off time is immaculate. I can't imagine practicing so much to reach that level.

[@polbecca]

Well they do say you have to know all the rules before you can break them.

[@russelljackman1413]

Victor Borge was a genius!

[@nickpatterson679]

i can’t imagine being so talented at piano…and funny enough to make this.

[@user-nh7le8he9t]

What a genius!

[@teegeevee42]

This was overdue

[@joeywomer]

1:45 when you have a record player that keeps skipping.

[@Morgil27]

Just yesterday, I was watching an older episode of Family Guy (back when that show wad good), and they did that exact same joke from the beginning of this video with the William Tell sheet music upside down.

[@coolliam422]

actually so good

[@DJWezzyK]

Hans Liberg does the same thing. He also does shows in English.

[@baadtaste1337]

He is brilliant

[@mykaelaorwig9646]

He was an absolute genius of both comedy and piano. 😂

[@gregofthelake]

I had a VHS tape of one of his performances and I wore it out.

[@merrim7765]

Fifty years ago, Mr. Borga was a guest with the orchestra in which I played as a college student. He performed the routine with the opera singer. I remember watching him from my seat on the stage behind him. I wanted to burst out laughing just like the audience but observed the other musicians and conductor remained as emotionless as wood (my appraisal -- actually, they all had pleasant expressions) and I concluded that was being professional in spite of his brilliant comedic performance.

[@texnicolor]

The Wedding March jumpscare was amazing. 😂

[@Romaction]

Victor Borge is my favorite piano comedian

[@makytondr8607]

Are we not gonna talk about the insane tremolo technique in the Tell Overture? Wow!

[@masonmount17]

Victor Borge is so good

[@martinegauthier9081]

Victor Borge is the best!!! 😂😂😂

[@gregkral4467]

Victor Borge was a hilarious dude.

[@Marunius]

Really fun :D

[@Australian_Made]

WONDERFUL, WONDERFUL, VUNDABAR !!!! 🎹

[@pi5549]

William Tell upside down is Tchaikovsky's SugerPlum Fairy.

[@Jaspertine]

"Oh that's quite alright, sing whatever you like... because I'm going to play whatever I like."

[@IckenhamPiano]

Victor Borge was both a genius in comedy and piano. His greatest talent, however, was combining the two

[@uscitizen5656]

Love Victor B.

[@kathleenpreuss]

Bravo!!!!

[@georgemitchell9696]

Slam in 2/4 time. Purfekt

[@Mtaalas]

Now THIS is a comedian for players :D

[@adambierstedt920]

I work at the museum that has his first piano, Victor Borge is a true treasure

[@wilhelmorangenbaum2]

Now we all now the origin of KZbin musical sh*tpost (the "but I got distracted" ones) lol

[@sfmmmo7599]

Hahaha this is hilarious 😭 😭

[@chamberlin06]

Love Victor Borge

[@ManMilk07]

Now that's comedy

[@contractmed1]

Victor Borge was hilarious.

[@Lil.Mrs.C]

Sooooo funny!

[@romenyesayan3855]

1:40 that bar was actually repeated 15 times

[@ikkenhisatsu7170]

This has to be 50 or 60 years old. Still funny. Good is good.

[@beachcraftonline9391]

You should be practicing right now... me too

[@trumpetmom8924]

I only wish that he had done a routine where he used both Inflationary Language and Phonetic Punctuation at the same time.

[@xenasBS]

It's like an early version of those musescore videos named shit like "mary had a little lamb but the lamb died"