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Bobby McFerrin Is Cooler Than You

By | Posted Under Videos | Comments (33)

bobby-mc12ferrin.jpg

Yeah, this video has been around for awhile which I know bums out you kids who need everything to be “new,” but get the hell over it. The weather is disgusting on the East Coast, it’s Wednesday and I’m no doubt going to catch the plague from some snot-nosed toddler in the airport today. So you shut the hell up and watch Bobby McFerrin turn 500 strangers into a giant keyboard.

Jason Harris’s parents wouldn’t let him play an instrument as a kid.










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Comments

Oh my god I love this video. Seriously, I used to watch it a LOT because that shit is just so cool. I was taking neurolinguistics at the time (in 2009) and writing my thesis on musical rhythm in free verse poetry and . . . whatever, I'm boring myself.

Side Note: there is a documentary with McFerrin about similar issues available on Instant Netflix.

http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Music_Instinct_Science_and_Song/70121084?trkid=496624#height1259

I keep meaning to watch it and I think tonight is the night.

Posted by: MyySharona at January 19, 2011 8:15 PM

I've never seen it, so thanks!

Posted by: Three-nineteen at January 19, 2011 8:34 PM

It's new to me! Also, I kind of love Bobby McFerrin. Actually, take out "kind of" and put in "unequivocally, unironically, fully." He is a really smart, really funny dude.

Thanks, Mr. Harris! May any cold forced upon you be mild, and may your patdown be performed by a hot chick.

Posted by: Anna von Beav at January 19, 2011 8:42 PM

That was incredibly awesome and made my little music geek heart happy. Thanks for sharing.

Posted by: Jen at January 19, 2011 8:59 PM

This video made my bulldog cock his head so hard it threatened to twist right off.

Posted by: Amanda H. at January 19, 2011 9:04 PM

Posted by: Amanda H. at January 19, 2011 9:07 PM

Your dog's name is Hoagie? God I love this post, its so happy!

Posted by: aidan at January 19, 2011 9:44 PM

Welcome Mr. Harris,

I’m still in the process of reviewing your writings, I hope that you write from the heart and not from a position of wanting to fit in or make waves.


Question #1

What are your thoughts of Tyler Perry?


Question #2

What are your thoughts of Hollywood particularly as it relates to African American Directors?


Question #3

At what point will anyone over there at Pajiba review “The Game” seeing as it had the highest rated premier ever of any commercially suported show in cable teevee history at 7.7 million viewers?

Posted by: Pookie at January 19, 2011 9:53 PM

Yikes. Forget what I just said...

Posted by: aidan at January 19, 2011 9:58 PM

That was a very cool video, and I want to hug that cute smiley doggy! Who's a good boy? You are! Yes you are!

Posted by: kate the great at January 19, 2011 9:59 PM

Science boner

Posted by: Drea at January 19, 2011 10:07 PM

@ aiden @ kate the great: Yeah, my bulli's name is Hoagie. And Yeah, he welcomes all hugs. He's a very good boy.

Posted by: Amanda H. at January 19, 2011 10:10 PM

I have several things to say, and they're all swirling around in my head now like a maelstrom of hysterical shrieking responses, so I'm going to attempt to organize them thusly:

1. There is no need to atone for Don't Worry, Be Happy. It is:
a) the perfect hiking song (rhythmic, repetitive, entertaining, positive)
b) a song with a fascinating and lovely harmony that I can never quite get right.

2. I went to see Bobby McFerrin and he did this! With us! In the audience! And it was amazing! I was totally freaking out! (side note: I turn into a flailing, hyperactive fangirl whenever Bobby McFerrin comes up in conversation. It would be embarrassing if he weren't so awesome.)

3. This video never gets old. Your apology (if it can be called that) is not necessary.

Posted by: esme at January 19, 2011 10:14 PM

Holy shit that's amazing. I've never seen it before so it's new to me.

Also, it put the baby to sleep. Bobby McFerrin lullaby.

Posted by: stardust at January 19, 2011 10:33 PM

Thank you! I saw that ages ago, and then I lost the link, and I'd been trying to find it and failing. I thought it was at TED, so that probably explains it.

Things like this give me hope for humanity. If nothing else, we can all sing this together.

I figure it's that, or the five notes from Close Encounters.

Posted by: That Girl at January 19, 2011 10:52 PM

That was fun! Also: Hoagie!!! :-)

Posted by: Jami at January 20, 2011 12:14 AM

I saw Bobby McFerrin in concert about 15 years ago. He was performing with some sort of series of concerts where you could buy season tickets, and someone we knew couldn't go that night so we got to see him on a whim. What a great show. The man does not confine himself to the stage in his shows. He regularly came out into the audience and made us all a part of his performance. What a true musician. Music flows out of him.

Posted by: katy at January 20, 2011 12:26 AM

That has got to be one of the most amazing things I've seen, actually. It's kind of blowing my mind. Or maybe it's just late.

But still amazing. I think the world needs more Bobby McFerrin.

Posted by: leuce7 at January 20, 2011 1:17 AM

I have never seen that before and it gave me a mile-wide smile!
Thanks.

Incidentally it isn't just Bobby McFerrin that's cooler than me. That's a long old list indeed.


Posted by: Simon at January 20, 2011 2:12 AM

I am a choir geek. That vid amazed me the first time I saw it, and continues to do so. I will stipulate Bobby is smarter than me. That isn't that great a claim.

Posted by: Lindsey with an 'e' at January 20, 2011 3:29 AM

That's some Coolness I hadn't seen before.

Posted by: Rykker at January 20, 2011 4:07 AM

McFerrin is the man. He has more artistic talent in his voice than the sum ability of certain groups now making it big on MTV.

Posted by: Muteki at January 20, 2011 4:42 AM

OH MAH GAH. Hoagie. ADORBZ. OMG.

(Oh, geez, sorry about that. Cute bulldogs make me incapable of proper English.)

Posted by: Anna von Beav at January 20, 2011 6:41 AM

Well that was a nice way to start the day.

And my cat Bagel approves of Hoagie the bulldog. Inter-species hugz!

Posted by: Groundloop at January 20, 2011 8:06 AM

Holy shit, I want to kidnap that dog. That's the cutest picture ever. All of Pajiba shall now be a Hoagie fanclub!

Posted by: mb at January 20, 2011 8:09 AM

Wow. That video gave me a bit of a chill. Oh, the heater's not working. It was still awesome though.

Posted by: Paultera at January 20, 2011 10:07 AM

It's fascinating how easily an audience picks up on the pentatonic, in contrast to the difficulty of diatonic... which is... you know... all around us.

Posted by: Scott at January 20, 2011 10:20 AM

I love Bobby McFerrin. I wore out my "Don't Worry, Be Happy" album (well, tape) and I'm unashamed. The man uses his ENTIRE body as an instrument. I've heard interviews with him on NPR and it is amazing how much he loves what he does and how he redefines music. His love for music allows him to find it in places nobody else would.
This put a giant smile on my face, thank you. And yes, he is infinitely cooler than me.

Posted by: the bees knees at January 20, 2011 10:20 AM

Groundloop! My dog's name is Bagel! Bagel the beagle. hee

Posted by: Kristen at January 20, 2011 10:50 AM

That was wonderful! Sharing-on-Facebook worthy!

What's even more wonderful is the coming storm (possibly) between Jason and Mr. Pookie. I'll be watching...

Posted by: Rest In Peace at January 20, 2011 12:00 PM

"BOBBY McFERRIN RAPED MY GRANDMOTHER!" - Alec Baldwin (look it up)

Posted by: Case at January 20, 2011 2:13 PM

Whoa! Hoagie appreciates all the bulli-love here in Pajiba. As a token of his reciprocate affection for you all, he presents another photo for your viewing pleasure: http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u217/a_smallgirl/animules/hoagie088.jpg

(notice the drool)

Posted by: Amanda H. at January 20, 2011 3:53 PM

Bobby McFerrin is super toy number one. My dad did a whistling duet with him one time.

Posted by: Lucas at January 20, 2011 11:41 PM