Musicians
judging
and rating
each other.
What a self-esteem-destroying exercise.
How do you even rate your talent?
Well, if it isn't Jubilee
who would come up with an idea like this.
Alas, it's good content for us, so...
Let's go!
- Oh, key word "perceived," right? - Mmm.
Right, so a voting popularity contest
is how they're defining talent.
- Music is subjective, right? - Yeah.
But that does bring the point of,
just because something is popular
doesn't mean it's better.
Wait, this guy still has a beginner sticker on his fingerboard?
Bruh!
And I feel like the spacing on the left hand
is not even right.
I wouldn't know, but, I mean,
- I know a beginner sticker when I see a beginner sticker. - Yeah.
Being able to adapt and improvise is a big part
of what is, inherently, a musician.
I would've been okay with that sentence
- until he said the word "inherently." - "Inherently," yeah.
I don't really agree with that, hey.
Brett: I'm just gonna say it.
Okay, look, the video's just started, let's just...
Also playing multiple instruments
I think is a sure-tale sign
that you're talented, musically, across the board.
If you can learn more instruments,
then you must be more talented!
Yeah~!
Easy analogy: which doctor gets paid more?
The generalist, or the specialist?
There you go. Moving on!
Yeah, moving on!
I would say there's, like, the skills,
and then there's this sensibility,
like, how people are gonna feel about your music.
- That's a better answer. - That's, that's a little better, that answer. Yeah,
- I agree with that. - how people feel about your music.
- Still quite vague, but I can't disprove it. - Yeah.
There's a skill aspect, and then there's how you
- feel that kind of more like, - ...feel about it.
- nuanced music-making side. Yeah? - Yeah, yeah.
Different genres, I feel like I would judge it slightly differently,
like if I'm at, like, a prog or a metal show
and I see some, like, drummer or someone just like,
going ham, I'm like, "Hell yeah!"
But if I'm at, like, a Phoebe Bridgers concert,
I'm just like, "Yes, queen, break my heart!"
Now, I think that's a solid point. Like,
you gotta know the rules, right?
Tennis is different than basketball,
so each musical genre speaks its own language,
they have their own rules, their own kind of things
they strive for aesthetically.
Julius: Went through a breakup recently, so,
I wrote a song last week,
and I actually wrote it on the piano.
- This is not America's Got Talent. - I know, right?!
He's not just like, "I wrote a song." He's like,
"I went through a breakup."
And now you're gonna assume that
the song is so much more emotional...
Yeah.
I started playing last week, so...
♪ The stars aligned so perfectly when I first met you ♪
♪ Coulda sworn that we would get through anything ♪
♪ But the daylight came ♪
♪ and washed away ♪
♪ any chance of sanity ♪
♪ I need to be free ♪
I can't speak from a singer's point of view,
- 'cause I'm not a singer... - Yup.
I heard a few moments of pitch instability,
but, I mean, pop music will get autotune on the album anyways,
- so it doesn't matter, right? - I mean, that's not a requirement to be a...
"perceived talented" musician.
*Playing Fleetwood Mac "Never Going Back Again"*
Again, I'm not a guitarist,
and again, this isn't classical guitar,
but classical guitarists would just see that cap thing
and be like, *scoff!*
*Playing Bach Suite No. 1 in G Major BWV 1007 "Prelude"*
Well...
...at least he's playing more instruments, right?
I mean, the more, the better, right?
Well, he's got the...
- the orgasm face... - Yeah, yeah, he's going at it,
and the cymbal, BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
I can't tell with drums, to be honest.
I guess, is he in time? Yeah, he's in time.
- I mean... - I'm not a drummer, but I'm impressed.
- Well, it just sounds like what a solo drummer would do. - Yeah.
I couldn't fault his rhythm.
- He had dynamics and colors, - Mhm.
and he seems to be in control.
♪ I, I'm 'bout to lose my ♪
♪ my mind, my mind ♪
♪ my mind, ♪
♪ 'bout to lose my ♪
♪ my mind, my mind ♪
- That's definitely my favorite one out of them all so far. - Yeah.
It's not easy to do that like...
♪ AaaAaaaAAAa ♪
Again, I'm not a singer, but...
I was just thinking that, they're so exposed.
- Yeah, yeah. - You know, six people who are all musicians,
- cameras... yeah. - It's like an audition, it's so intense!
It's like, right in your face.
*Playing Chopin "Fantaisie-Impromptu"*
We've both played piano before,
so I feel like we can comment more.
Yep.
I wanna start by saying, like, massive respect,
because I can actually tell that he's quite nervous.
So I almost don't wanna, like, judge, but...
too much pedal for Chopin.
*Singing melody*
- Oh, bro, I— yeah. - It was too, um,
- I mean, for someone— - ...it sounded like soup.
Yeah, he was, like, fumbling across the runs.
A little bit— yeah, yeah, yeah,
- the runs aren't like... - and it's...
They're not articulated, not rhythmically...
- Rhythmically or dynamically even. Some notes stick out, - Yes. Dynamically, yes.
some, you know.
*Imitating uneven dynamics*
Oh, the other thing I was gonna say:
- I feel like the fingers were a bit flat. - Flat! Yeah.
*Playing original composition "JFN"*
I think she was solid.
I wasn't like, super impressed, but I also think she was solid.
- I, yeah, I think she was more solid, yeah. - Yeah.
For sure.
One second, one second.
Mary: Don't worry, we're not gonna
- take it personally or anything. - Julius: I know, I know, I know. I know.
I'm sorry, but I'm just— f***, alright.
- Daniel: No, no, no, it's cool. - Mary: You got it.
So... I would say, six; I thought you were phenomenal.
Five for you, and I thought, like, your...
your piano was also just, so brilliant.
This guy has something against pianists.
He does, yeah, he does.
- Which is funny, because he had the worst - Because he played the...
- piano playing out of all of them, right?! - Yeah, the— yeah, yeah!
In terms of, like, difficulty,
at least the guy that was number six
went for something hard.
But this guy is like,
dude, you just played chords that
some little kindergartner that has one week of lessons going...
- Yeah. - *Thunk*
I would say three.
I thought you were phenomenal, your voice is beautiful.
I would say I'd give myself two,
but then I would give you number one just 'cause you...
Yeah, the drums...
The way he said, "I would give myself two,"
it basically sounded like he said,
"I think I'm number one,
- but I just don't wanna come off as arrogant." - Yeah, yeah,
"I just wanna look a bit more humble."
Like, listen to it!
I'd give myself two,
but then I wod give you number one just 'cause you...
The, yeah. The drums...
- Yeah, yeah. - "I would give myself two,
"but then that means I guess I have to give you one,
"because... oh, uh, I don't even know why, you just—
- "I wanna give myself— I give you a one, - "I can't be number one!"
because, you know, etiquette, right?"
- Michael: And we have to rank ourselves? - Producer: Yeah, it's like your own...
Aw, jeez. Okay, I'm gonna have to give you a six, just because—
OH, LET'S GO!! Put him in his place!
- I like this guy now! - I like this guy, haha!
He did not waste any time. Look at his face!
Brett: He's like, AAAWWW!
- Brett: Bro, why you do me like that?! - Eddy: Yo!
- Bro, I love this guy, he's my friend. - Yeah.
You know, I didn't see a lot of musical stuff,
songwriting, it'd be probably a different number.
Five, probably...
One instrument, I didn't get a lot of variety.
Probably four, I just saw a lot of drums.
Just drums!
Just drums.
Bro, you gotta calm down with this whole, like...
But this guy likes learning multiple instruments,
- so if you can sing and drum, and, like, - Yeah, yeah.
tap your toes,
and dance, you'd probably win.
I'd give myself a three,
I'd probably give you a two
just for your voice.
I'm gonna have to give you a one just because
not only did you basically nail that piece that you played,
but, like, just the expression, the dynamic, was, like, huge.
- Mary: Dynamics, that's what it was! - Yeah.
Mary: So good.
What did she say?
"Dynamics, that's what it was! So good!"
I feel like they just wanted to, like,
latch onto something to say.
"DYNAMICS, YES!"
"I know dynamics, too! Yay! Dynamics, oh yeah!"
That was the first actually musical relevant point.
Up till then, it was all about,
"Not enough variety 'cause you didn't play enough instruments."
"I didn't feel much."
- There was never a musical word even used. - Brett: I feel like...
...they were latching onto anything, you could almost
BS your way through, be like, "Yeah...
....c-contrapuntal!"
"Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah! ...Contra, contrapuntal!"
I'm gonna give you the six,
I mean, I liked it, I felt like—
- I think he was too arrogant, everyone doesn't like him. - Yeah, he shoulda...
- ...he was too arrogant. - Yeah, "THIS guy...
- Yeah, yeah. - "...needs to be put in his place."
Yeah, so I guess for, um, sixth, just...
the lack of experience, I guess.
Eddy: Let's go!!!
- But I love your songwriting, I think— - Julius: Seems, it seems to be a common theme.
- "It seems to be a kinda thing!" - He's so butthurt!
He's so butthurt!
He just didn't need to say the breakup thing, I'm telling you,
- that America's Got Talent— - Yeah.
People see through that s***.
Just the way he was like,
"I'm gonna have to give myself a two, I guess..."
- It's such a flimsy illusion of humbleness, - Yeah.
- Like, everyone sees through it. - Yeah.
I don't know if this is, like, a cop-out.
I think I'm just gonna give myself the six, 'cause... Is that...?
Aaw.
Drummer's like, "I'm the backing track..."
I don't think you're number six, man.
At least not below blue hair!
Yeah, give blue hair six!
- Maybe number five! Yeah! - And we're all happy from here!
Mary: Just rank yourself honestly.
Just rate yourself honestly!
I love that! She, like, just calls him out.
I'm really sorry. I think I'm gonna give you the six.
- Honestly?! "Alright, okay, fine, honest, HE'S six." - Honestly, yeah, yeah.
I'm starting to feel bad for him.
That is very soul-crushing,
having a room of musicians all say you're number six.
Yeah, that's pretty bad.
The song was, like, super moving and beautiful,
and I would wanna see it.
- Did you cry? - In the inside, a little bit.
Did you cry?
He's trying to hide himself, he's like,
"I'm crying, but did you cry?!"
He looked like he was about to cry.
That was the most painful fist bump.
"I'm just trying to be cool, man. I'm just trying to hold it together!"
I think I'll give myself the five.
I think I'm gonna give you the four,
and it might just be 'cause I'm in a band
and I'm, like, always seeing guitarists.
You, the three.
But god****** it you were so good...
but I'm also very, like, pop and rock oriented.
And then I think I'm gonna give you second,
but in terms of, like, one of, like,
I think what I would wanna go see on a Friday night,
I think it would be you, 'cause...
- beautiful voice, and solid guitar playing. - Thank you!
- I still am not hearing many... - ...musical?
- ...musical advice. - It's always about, like...
- "I prefer..." - Yeah, "I prefer rock and pop."
One thing he said was, like, "She has a beautiful voice."
- But even that's so generic. - So generic, it's like...
Instead of, the way she controls her voice
through these difficult passages, or,
the timbre of her voice, or—
Is the tone really sweet? Or is it just, yeah...
I'm gonna have to give you the six,
just based off of the fact that,
I think if you practice more piano,
and you know, you get those quote-unquote "10,000 hours—"
Basically saying, "You need to practice more."
- I mean, I agree, but she's so savage! - Brett: Yeah. Yeah.
I'm gonna give myself the five.
- Nah, don't— - No.
- Be honest, take your own thing, be honest! - Yeah, be honest, take your own advice!
I would give you the four, 'cause you went crazy,
I didn't—
Like, there was, like, 20 different time signatures
that you were playing right now, like—
....eeeehhhhhh....
Hold that thought.
...three, four. One, two, three, four,
one, two, three, four,
one, two, three, four...
*Continues counting 4/4 time*
It was basically 4/4 for the whole thing.
Not 20 time signatures.
I'm gonna give you the one.
The fact that you can pick up so many different instruments
and play it so well...
Um...
Eddy: Ugh...
His cello playing... just was not good,
like factually.
That counts as a negative one instrument.
- Well, that's the average. - Average rank, okay.
Do you agree with this?
I'd put the drummer higher.
I think one and two should be where they are.
Drummer should probably be three.
The guy in number three, probably four,
- and the guy in number four, probably five. - Yep. I think so.
Even one, two, three, I'm not sure the order
- I would choose them in. - Yeah.
But to me there was a clear difference in, like,
the first three to me feel more like actual musicians.
Like a paid gig, or a concert,
- and I could expect to hear that. - Mhm, mhm.
The other three, to me, definitely feel a bit more—
at least in terms of performance—
- not as professional. - Yep. I agree.
Producer: Number six is Julius.
- Aw, bro, poor Julius. - Yeah.
He's just getting his whole self-esteem destroyed.
Producer: Number five is Summer.
Naaaah!
I mean, look, come on, people watch America's Got Talent.
-Yeah. - What do you expect?
- Actually, no, what do you guys think? - Yeah, what do you guys think? I dunno.
Producer: Four is Daniel.
Producer: Number three is Michael.
Producer: Number two is Mary.
- Noooo. Nooo. - Nah, I—
I'm sorry, like...
Look. Whenever you want advice,
you should seek a professional.
Some of you might be wondering,
"Uh, but you guys are classical musicians, right?"
But I don't think they're actually even at the level
where it's about the genres.
There's certain fundamental parts about music that—
- Yeah, that's a good point! - Right?
- Intonation, rhythm, tone, - Tone...
"Dynamics" or like phrasing and colors...
These are like the arsenals that you must master,
and then, how you use them
- is where the genre starts shining, right? - Yes!
You can hear great jazz players,
it's not just about improvising.
They can like, play with color.
Dexterity, the phrasing, it's still like, holy moley, right?
In a singer, you can hear their color changes
in their voice, and their control.
And also, we are classical, and he played classical,
- he played Chopin. - He f—!
Actually, you know what, though?
Maybe people recognize he played the hardest piece.
- Ohhh.... - And they're like...
- "It's Chopin. Number one." - "Props for trying Chopin."
'Cause I do think he tried to play the hardest piece.
- He did play the hardest piece, yeah. - Yeah.
But then this whole thing is rigged from the beginning anyway.
The ranking is not about who played the hardest piece,
the ranking is who's the most talented.
- And I still don't think... - I still...
- ...that was number one. - No. I'm sorry, look.
I'm sorry that Jubilee put you guys through this, too.
- Yeah. - Brett: So, I'm sorry.
I think the musicians ranked themselves
more accurately than Instagram,
- but I still wouldn't agree with the musical... - Yeah, same.
That's it for today. What do you guys think?
Let us know your rankings below.
Let's see what TwoSetters and Ling Ling wannabes
think out there.
And on that note, we're gonna go practice,
so see you guys next time.
Buh-bye.