July 30, 2013

Pianos In Flight -- Good Morning. You're Welcome. [Updated]

The record of yet another series of moments when the beauty of the Earth and the human race rises up and takes your heart with it. The Creator made the world and the entire universe for moments exactly like this. And gave you a ringside seat.

Coldplay - Paradise (Peponi) African Style (Piano/Cello) Cover - The Piano Guys ft. Alex Boye

"On a whim we decided to back away and take an entirely new approach to the song—an African approach. It may seem random in retrospect, but at the time it was an exciting way to restart the arrangement. It was working, but our journey still was on foot until we called in Alex Boye, one of the most talented people we've ever met. Alex has this contagious energy that gave new life to the song and to us. He sings the tune in 4 different languages: Swahili, English, Yoruba (his mother's native language), and Alex's own African "scat" (we'll call it...Scafrican) =) Most of the words you hear are translated from the lyrics in the original Coldplay Tune."

UPDATE FROM JANUARY, 2012: And now, recently published, how this astonishing and moving video happened to get [almost] accidentally made. Hint: It was the first time they had to figure out how to lift a brand new $20,000 piano....

"Peponi is one of those things where you’re using classical instruments with a Coldplay tune with a guy singing in four different languages on top of a cliff..... That isn’t one of those ideas you wake up in the morning and say, “Oh yes, that would be a cool idea.” No, it involved so many planet aligning concepts coming together at one crazy moment...."

Posted by gerardvanderleun at July 30, 2013 10:57 AM
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Another one nailed out of the park!

Posted by: pdwalker at January 10, 2012 6:09 AM

I think if you squint, you can see that it is still soaring.

Posted by: Jewel at January 10, 2012 6:46 AM

Thank you Gerard. I am especially happy with "Where Are You Christmas" by this pair.

Posted by: Terry at January 10, 2012 10:54 AM

that really was a wonderful find. thanks for that. I'm going to repost.

Posted by: Mo Rage at January 11, 2012 12:11 PM

I already liked them on Facebook. It is electrifying.

Posted by: newton at January 11, 2012 2:26 PM

Thank you Gerard, just, thank you.

Posted by: Cliff at January 15, 2012 12:57 PM

One of the best musical offerings in years. This was so wonderful that I listened to it again and again and again, and then looked up Alex Boye and the Piano Guys. Could this be the Year of the Mormon? I hope so.

Posted by: nlmoss at May 22, 2012 3:17 PM

Wonderful! I've heard it many times and it's one of my recent favorites. In appreciation of your kind offering, I in turn offer

Weather Report, Birdland
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae0nwSv6cTU

Posted by: Jim at May 22, 2012 3:28 PM

I bet I've played this video 30 times since I found it here this morning. Downloaded the song, pasted vid on Facebook, and emailed the link all over the place.

Posted by: StephUF at May 25, 2012 8:09 PM

It's still my favorite of their videos.

Posted by: pdwalker at July 31, 2013 4:06 AM

Hi, I’ve already been a lurker all around your blog for a couple of months. I love this article and your entire website! Looking forward to reading more!

Posted by: adam at August 7, 2013 8:39 AM