Write The Best Song | Full Task | Taskmaster

From series 7, James Acaster, Jessica Knappett, Kerry Godliman, Phil Wang, and Rhod Gilbert attempt to write the best song that can be performed in 30 seconds.
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In this Broadcast Award-winning, BAFTA and Emmy Award-nominated entertainment show, Taskmaster tyrant Greg Davies (Man Down, Cuckoo), with the help of his loyal assistant Alex Horne (The Horne Section and the show’s creator), sets out to test the wiles, wit and wisdom of five hyper-competitive comedians.
Comedians that have risked life, limb, and dignity in the hope of making the Taskmaster proud so far include: Frank Skinner (The Frank Skinner Show), Mel Giedroyc (The Great British Bake Off), Romesh Ranganathan (Asian Provocateur), Hugh Dennis (Outnumbered), Sally Phillips (Bridget Jones’ Diary), Rose Matafeo (Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner 2018), and Russell Howard (The Russell Howard Hour). Unaware of what awaits them in each wax-sealed envelope, only one competitor can become the victorious owner of His Royal Task-ness’ golden head and be crowned the next Taskmaster Champion.

[@iamarprestar]

"Is that a boulder... or is it a big rock?" may be the subtlest call back to a previous series.

[@Dutchman4real]

What would it call back too?

[@SennaAugustus]

@@Dutchman4real Maybe Series 1 when they had to move that boulder.

[@Hanny0PL]

@@Dutchman4real It's a quote from Frank Skinner in the "move the boulder the farthest" task

[@albasmith5824]

Greg looks at James like a disappointed father😂

[@jenelaina5665]

It adds another level to James and Rhod's dynamic on this show when you realize James is legitimately a huge Taskmaster geek to slide that reference in 6 seasons later and Rhod didn't watch an episode before he filmed. Heh.

[@bagelbaker411]

That grown man screaming "AYE, TOOTHLESS GOON!" in a little girl's voice is my sleep paralysis demon.

[@zuzanasommerova3935]

I think about James’ song more often than I probably should. So catchy though...

[@CC-yx2rt]

Totally

[@jamesonmoore1837]

I mean, when did a musician last dare to engage with the real questions of boulders vs. rocks?

[@thegamingbro123]

OVER MY SHOULDERRRRR

[@natnatluv]

Same

[@lukek5303]

Definitely sounds like an acoustic song the misfits would make when goofing around in a session.

[@michelle.mightbereading]

imagine stumbling across this video without having seen taskmaster. “some silly pieces of music, that’s so fun...wait...why is that man on a leash?”

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎

[@sapereaude1661]

that's precisely what happened to me

[@MrShenhai]

I study medieval literature at uni and after watching this task, I really want Rhod to perform a dramatic reading of Beowulf in one of my Old English classes.

[@Posit_Zero_Blue]

"...and shoots Grendel's shitting face off!"

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@MrR2TheZ]

This task really captured everyone's personality: James - Off the wall; Makes a subtle reference to a previous series Jess - Fun, whimsical, and childlike (as called out by Greg) Kerry - Frustrated until getting some wholesome encouragement Phil - Book smart; difficulty improvising Rhod - F*cking insanity

[@tereasia]

Maaan, I wish they had this task in every series!

[@itsokay7989]

What you call book smart, I call lazy as fuck lol. Phil was just lazy through most of the tasks tbh and never actually tried. In this case he merely told them to play a blues and played THE basic note on the trumpet along.

[@EEEEEEEE]

E‎ ‎

[@mountainboy88]

"All I ever wanted was for the people to dance"

[@amyheath6324]

“The Ballad of the Toothless Goon” By Rhod Gilbert Eastern Europe We join our toothless goon In an unassuming house on an unassuming street Where he sits by an unlit fire He snores Deeply Fast asleep despite his cold and stony hearth Wait What’s this a knock at the door And a little match girl Selling her wares She can’t get the toothless goon’s attention So deeply does he sleep She shakes her matches and bangs the door And in her desperation she decides to knock at the window and shout Ay! toothless goon! Hello! toothless goon! Despite her shouts of toothless goon The goon sleeps so deeply Our little match girl decides to come around the back of the house and put the window through But still our goon he sleeps Deeply and loudly He dreams of teeth in days gone by and a lit hearth Our little match girl approaches with her matches And rests her hand upon his slumbering shoulder Whereupon our goon wakes up with as startle Agh! Whizzes round and shoots her shitting face off

[@georgegeorges9652]

What style of music is this?

[@SapkaliAkif]

@@georgegeorges9652 Closest I can think of is Ballad.

[@SapkaliAkif]

@@georgegeorges9652 oh it is named a ballad as well :D

[@mrbenoit5018]

@@georgegeorges9652 avant-garde folk

[@lendmesomesugar97]

What a lyricist!

[@ericsarchive7718]

They are all catchy in their own ways, but let's admit it, not a Tree Wizard among them.

[@MJones-xk8zu]

The band kept doing cool stuff. The contestants tried their best. But it’s never good enough. Hey, look at that boulder.

[@brucegrossman3531]

Tree Wizard is an anthem for our generation.

[@NoisqueVoaProduction]

Also it is not a Ted Hudson rap/anthem (Mayor episode)

[@hollyludvigsen6763]

The fact that James didn’t earn 5 points here is just upsetting, his song was amazing

[@TheCheesyNachos]

James made a nice quirky song (a good one to be fair), but Jess' song was an actual masterpiece, could be an opening piece of a movie if it was extended a bit more.

[@Italsik]

@@TheCheesyNachos but of all of them you can't deny everyone remember James' the most. Like I can still sing the lyrics even until now randomly 🙈

[@lenochod6]

I mean it was awesome but Jess was so much better. But that does not mean James was not amazing.

[@NewGalaktos]

At 8:33 you can see the resigned look on Alex’ face as he realizes who “someone to perform a lovely dance to it” refers to ^^

[@sth5033]

i'm laughing so hard at how alex breaks character at "or is it a big rock?" 7:38

[@gracewilson6179]

god they really keep putting James in the thumbnail and we keep falling for it

[@jwrs6292]

One of my favorite tasks ever. Jess' song and Alex's dance to it are legendary.

[@EvlNabiki]

Greg maniacally juggling the reins as Alex dances is killing me 😭😭😭

[@thefinalfrontear]

the things that absolutely kill me that i’ve only noticed on subsequent watchings: -james is playing drum on a banjo -the child lead greg has for alex

[@doctormixup5388]

I love you little Alex Horne for creating this show, it is glorious.

[@chelseawildflowerloftinwey1945]

I’m glad they started including the scoring in these! bullshit that Rhod’s scored the same as James’s though.

[@ladydreadpirate336]

It's like Whose Line Is It Anyway, the points are arbitrary. I think it's so they can spread out the wins leading to the finale.

[@simonandersson5117]

Why did Kerry's tune sound like absolutely anything we'd hear here is Sweden on midsummer? Breathtaking! Bravo! *Tear run down cheek*

[@jamesbutler6253]

It sounded very English to me. But will we be allowed to have midsommar gatherings this year? If so, I will probably go to Alsters Herrgård again, as I do most years. 🙂🇸🇪🇮🇪

[@simonandersson5117]

@@jamesbutler6253 I'm not all that well travelled in English folk music. 😁 But I did get a feeling of the game Unravel from Kerry's tune. (And clips of Swedish celebrations, of course) I hope you'll get the chance to have some snaps and herring in Värmland again this year. I have no idea who will be allowed where so just go for it. 😊💪☀️

[@BoarhideGaming]

Absolutely agree, had the innocent, playful vibe of Nordic midsummar songs or something like that

[@Drewbydrew]

Jess’ song sounds like a Maritime Canada folk tune Rhod’s sounds like… well I don’t know but I loved it

[@dirk9787]

I love James' song and I have to admit I sing it from time to time.

[@sonablom]

As I get older it becomes more and more meaningful to me

[@afluka]

I do agree Jessica's piece deserved first place, but it's only Rhod's ballad that keeps me coming back to listen again.

[@Sam-lr9oi]

I guess it's been long enough that I'm gonna watch series 7 again. Lee Mack's weather task vaguely reminded me of Rhod's little matchgirl song

[@lauriefromks7263]

Lee Mack was robbed in that task. Fog was the only different weather and deserved at least 3 points.

[@gwen8982]

I wish James would do a full version of his song

[@parklloyd6690]

I’m picturing Lloyd, wearing a dress, jumping out onto the stage, and screaming the lyrics.

[@UltraDumbass1782]

I think Rhod’s was the best, because it was more detailed than the rest, and it was really cool and gave a story. Next was James, obviously. James’ was just a masterpiece.

[@Wazeer10]

7:50 Jess's music is the best piece of the lot.

[@altblankn1448]

OMG THEY FINALLY UPLOADED IT I KEPT LOOKING FOR THIS VIDEO FOR LITERAL MONTHS

[@dcr645]

Great!

[@ann1ka_]

i dont know why but "here i am - im a violin" made me laugh

[@taralown7023]

"shoots her sh$%ing face off", I peed my pants. Funniest crap Ive heard in forever

[@stargate525]

Finally The Ballad of the Toothless Goon is on youtube

[@angeladunnangiedraws]

Hands down THE BEST TASK if ONLY for Jessica's song! Holy shit I love it so much! They're all so damn good!

[@superwhiterice8640]

Since I first watched this in 2018, James' was the only one that I remembered. So who really won the task?

[@Italsik]

I think it was Jess from the comments

[@rold-hx8bu]

That dance was beautifully improvised

[@blackwiza24]

Rhod is a genius.

[@tjenadonn6158]

Tom Waits' long lost Welsh cousin

[@AceJoker72]

I woke up with James song stuck in my head and I'm on a completely different season at this point.

[@JoffJk]

I just saw the thumbnail and immediately started sing over me shoulder ...

[@hegmonster]

I like to imagine myself in these challenges, but all I can think to say to these musicians is: "I am arytmic and tone deaf and with any luck, this is the worst day of the rest of your lives."

[@ChickenGeorgeClooney]

"I don't think I'm doing anything with this anyway" "I like it" "You're right. It's my band anyway." A summary of Alex and The Horne Section's relationship

[@gwen8982]

I also like the "I quite fancy him" after that scene in the studio

[@n0isyturtle]

Jessica's song keeps unironically getting stuck in my head.

[@Tess791]

Yes! Finally my favorite videoooo

[@jeremysmith9088]

Match stick girl was the freaking best!!!

[@rossplendent]

Here I am - I'm a Violin sounds like a wholesome melding of Celtic and American Southeast music.

[@sophiusdynami3401]

James was the best song

[@lauriefromks7263]

But hard to dance to. And that's all Jess and I ever wanted - was for the people to dance! (Sometimes even off the stage...)

[@sophiusdynami3401]

@@lauriefromks7263 hahahaha to winn both the tasks 🤣

[@Italsik]

@@lauriefromks7263 but a song isn't made only to dance... Beside it was quite catchy to dance like generic pop songs.

[@alexandrakopko]

If you know the actual story of The Little Match Girl, this is... surreal lol

[@andracatheduckking257]

i playyyyed the trumpet....in that clip.

[@bewitched975]

'Over my shoulder' still holds up, I legit sing it at random

[@annaolson4828]

This is my favorite task, and was from the first time I saw it. I definitely still reference Toothless Goon on a semi-regular basis.

[@Adrian-xb5fq]

Rhod's was absolutely flipping brilliant. Understand why Jess won, but in my heart, Rhod is the deserved winner. Especially since he introduced me to the term "match girl."

[@wegotdawsonhere1659]

The muscians looook soooo saaad I love it

[@izworth9123]

Rhod giving off heavy Tom Waits vibes

[@Sunset553]

I’m guessing the composers are much better paid than the actual musicians?

[@mulatso7959]

The Knappett

[@SensationalBanana]

Lmao, Jessica's tune is SO HER!!

[@Daplin1]

PROUD! Proud? Proud or ashamed?!?

[@Joseph_Tackett]

Man, this is hilarious

[@RichManSCTV0]

That poem escalated

[@AarOnCoasters]

Series 7 was the unofficial Champion of Champions.

[@darklingdarkengar705]

One of those musicians looks like that jazz maverick - Howard Moon xD

[@flourchylde]

Love Jessica. She also has the longest neck I have ever seen on a human.

[@Tepalus]

02:11 The Shire but 1 note off...

[@Tou24601]

Did you post this just because of the Eurovision semi-final last night?

[@smuukipuuki]

Isn't Jessica's song veryy similar to 'Mr Fox's Promenade' by Alexandre Desplat?

[@bcjohnd101]

"Deh Masteh Clahss"

[@elviratornay2070]

6:27, you're welcome

[@isabellaearnhardt6380]

💗

[@pavelmalikov5321]

Seems like Rhod reimagined Horses by Patti Smith

[@Tessunia]

But is it a Boulder or a big rock?

[@TheFacrecords]

If you don’t think this is the most amazing sequence on TM, than you should be in jail. Indefinitely.

[@footbroke]

Shoulda just asked if they knew how to play Freebird.

[@josemaria8177]

Clump Stump is a better punk band than Green Day

[@chelseawildflowerloftinwey1945]

any band is a better punk band than Green Day

[@harrygato2582]

Green Day are not punk.

[@duvan-solis]

Having a great time any time, well it makes me feel great any time...(weird)

[@msai257]

I can't parse what James says at 0:32 for the life of me. "Ah yes, fly into my hut see ya mate fuck you"? That makes no sense :'D

[@markbank9959]

Pretty sure it's "Fly into my hands here, mate, fuck you."

[@-Fionaa-]

“Playing into my hands here mate, fuck you” :)

[@thedrizzle5411]

Acaster's song was amazing, my only regret is that Lloyd from Pindrop couldn't get involved

[@mikewazowksi7938]

i like rhod’s

[@theoneandonlydrowlf819]

Wow 🤣

[@codeman4301]

But overall great show I love it

[@SoNextJenn]

Masktaster

[@Italsik]

OVER ME SHOULDER

[@anianikka]

i only just now realised that Jess was pregnant during tasks

[@SoumyajitSarkar]

It's not here but I think Nish Kumar's one was the best song

[@Efrumful]

Isn't Jessica's song more of a Reel than a Jig?

[@wegotdawsonhere1659]

Oml

[@Matatabi6]

Why does the guy in Rhos song have the guitar

[@anitasarkeesian3658]

Jess is a goddess

[@belg4mit]

James was robbed

[@saumya9173]

there is something deeply wrong with the thumbnail of this video

[@joepritchard1393]

Highly recommend watching this task at 2x speed, thank me later…

[@a_commenter]

Rhod should've won that one

[@ShinyHubCaps]

Nah, sometimes breaking the rules gets you disqualified. The task said 30 seconds.

[@charlesmartiniii1405]

Surprised at the amount of music theory everyone knew. Guess Europe has better music educarion

[@charlesmartiniii1405]

Also Greg tryna hate on 12 bar. Add some 2 5 turnarounds and extensions and a 12 bar can be timeless

[@iamironclaw]

o/

[@J_ST]

Hi

[@taurnilx]

Rhod should have been disqualified

[@masterboby1]

Truth off my chest: Phil ruined this season for me, and this clip proves it even more in my eyes. His song was the weakest and lamest and you then see him get angry when he gets last place. 😒 You can't play the loser guy and then be mad when you lose

[@greyep3145]

Seems pretty clearly like mock upset to me

[@codeman4301]

The task where y'all make them do music usually is the worst ones y'all should stop asking to do that it's a great show and I love it it makes me laugh but the tasks where they have to usually make music or just dumb usually don't end up watching them

[@Italsik]

It's all personal preference you may hate it but some like it too. If you don't like watch it then just skip

[@grandmastersenseichosenone2742]

I can assure you, you're in the minority on this.

[@chrism82793]

For being a little scattered at times it seems, Jessica's song was beautiful