Hey, how's it going?
Today, we're going to be watching with you guys
a very interesting video.
- As you all know, Mother's Day is coming up. - Mmhm.
As musicians, it's a good time to reflect
and think about how our parents have
supported us in our musical journeys.
So we found some, uh...
...very sacrilegious footage.
And probably the most Karen parent out there.
It's called, uh...
"Parent Criticism..."
"Cri..."
"Parent Criticizes Child's Musical Ability."
"What Would You Do?"
All right, here we go. What would you do?
Is this like, what would you do in your situation? Or like...?
I don't know.
Okay.
(The limelight. The music. The fame.)
(For some, it's the ultimate dream,)
(to be a rockstar.)
I mean...
I want to become a soloist, I guess.
I just love how the narrator
just clearly sounds like some guy being paid to read.
- Like a voice actor reel. - Yeah, yeah. Yeah.
"The limelight."
"The lights."
"For some people..."
(both) "It's the ultimate dream!"
(For some, it's the ultimate dream,)
(to be a rockstar.)
(both) "To be a rockstar!"
Dude, he's like,
- "What the f*** am I reading?" - Yeah, it's like...
- "To be a rockstar." - I can't imagine...
The editor's just like, "Just read this."
He's like, "For some..."
And he's like, crying himself.
"To be a rockstar!"
And then insert like, random stock footage of like...
- Dude, that's so— Look at this. - ...lights.
- Bro! Rockstar, man! - I want...
Our editor, do this!
- Editor-san! - Yeah!
Eddy: The concert halls.
Brett: Travel the world.
Eddy: The Stradivarius.
Brett: Play Paganini.
Eddy: The prodigy.
Brett: The glory.
Eddy: For some, it's the...
Brett, Eddy: ...ultimate dream,
Eddy: to be...
Brett, Eddy: ...a soloist.
(And so it is for little Liam Swift.)
(He's out with his mom looking for a new guitar.)
- Did it just say they're both actors? - Can I...
Yeah, can I just say, it's actors? Like...
I'm so confused.
Are they in real life actors?
Or are they basically pointing out that
these are actors playing a role?
Why would they just...?
So now that we're watching it, we know they're acting,
but we're just going along with the flow?
"Hi, my name is Eddy."
- And then down here, just write like... - "Actor."
- "YouTuber" or something. - Yeah, my name is Brett!
"Had dreams."
(He loves music.)
(But his mom? She's not...)
That was the worst shot.
Can you imagine just like,
"Three, two, one, and go!"
- "Yeah, do it, but this time with just a little bit - "Oh, sorry."
more Karen vibes, please."
"Good good good good!"
(She's not his biggest fan.)
No, no.
Try it again, better.
Dude, you don't...
Okay, I know this is an actor.
But come on, it has to...
Why is it so bad, like...
You don't like, just go,
"No, no."
"Try it again."
Can I also just say, like,
I'm sure there are like, parents out there that are quite strict.
- Um... - Yeah.
My mum used to be kind of strict as well.
She was stricter...
Earlier. But, um...
I personally find, like,
if you're going to give criticism,
you should at least say why.
Yeah, you don't just go,
"Do it better!"
Like, why does it need to be better?
- Is it because it's out of tune? - Yeah.
- Is it because it's out of time? - Yeah.
You don't just go, "Be better."
- It's like, "What did I do wrong? - Yeah, what's better?
(Tough love is the only kind she knows.)
Diane: Look, Jack.
God, you're terrible!
- No! No. - No.
- Be a better mom. - "You're terrible!"
Who does that?!
I'll do better next time! I promise.
"I'll do better next time! I promise."
Dude, these lines sound like they come out from like,
- a Dora the Explorer-type cartoon. - Yeah.
Like a little kid.
(Both) "I'll do better next time!"
"I promise!"
No kid talks like...
Alright like, we've taught students.
- No kid talks like that. Nah. - Nah. The kid is... Nah.
Diane: If you can't do this, you're going to be...
You're going to be a failure your whole life.
Diane: What, are you going to cry?
"You're going to be a failure your whole life!"
Who watches this?
- Who watches this stuff? How many views? - Apparently, uh...
- Brett: 2.4...! - Eddy: 2.4 million views!
What?!
You can set standards, but you don't...
...tell them, "You're a failure."
Hey, maybe...
If you want your kid to be a prodigy,
maybe, just maybe,
take them to good lessons.
Get them to find a teacher.
- And encourage them. - Yeah.
I mean, you can hold high standards, but...
It sounds to me like clearly,
this mum doesn't even understand
- the first thing about music. - Yeah.
That's why she's giving like, the most
- nonsubstantial feedback, like, "Be better." - Yes.
- "More professional." - Yeah.
- Like, what does that mean, right? - Yeah.
Diane: What, are you gonna cry?
Stars don't cry.
Actually...
Stars undergo, uh...
...a process called nuclear fusion,
which is why the sun generates thermal radiation.
And they become black holes one day.
Yeah. So she's right.
- Stars don't technically cry. - Yeah.
Dude, I love how the video editor put like,
- a red vignette around this video. - Yeah.
It's like, you know like...
...in Grand Theft Auto, those games when you die?
Oh, we're getting punched, like...
- And there's like, red. - Yeah yeah.
Like, her stare is causing damage to your HP.
You would! If you were an actual kid,
your HP is getting affected!
Help, help!
Self esteem!
Every time you play one note out of tune,
it's like you make mistake in surgery!
You're an embarrassment!
All right, stop it.
Diane: Stop it right...
Diane: Start it again, that didn't sound right.
"That didn't sound right."
Like, what do you do with that feedback, right?
Like, imagine...
Alright like, imagine your doctor
takes your blood test, right?
And you're feeling sick.
And the result's like...
"Your blood doesn't seem right."
And that's all.
It's like, well, like..
What do I do? Is it my, like...
...blood sugar level? My choles—?
It's like, "No, it just doesn't seem right."
- "It doesn't seem right. - Just get better blood!
(At first, he can only shake his head.)
- What the...? - And...
Action!
"Oh, that's a good one!"
Dude, these expressions are all so overly done!
The most I would do,
if I was actually really triggered,
I would just be like...
Yeah, I would be like...
I would probably just listen, but I wouldn't even make a face.
I would be like, "Oh."
- Yeah, I would think to myself... - "That's a weird..."
"That's weird." But I wouldn't go...
Yeah.
Stop. Stop!
Okay?
Diane: Don't cry, okay?
Diane: Stars don't cry.
Alright, alright. Also, like,
the kid actor's not good enough to cry, so they just...
- "Just shove your head into your arms." - Yeah.
- "And then you can pretend you're crying." - Oh, he's done that a few times now.
- Yeah, just... - Imagine playing a few notes.
*mimics guitar*
"You're crap!"
*mimics guitar* "Be better!"
"Stop, stop, stop!"
(But when mom steps away,)
(he offers Liam some support.)
Liam: Thanks.
I mean, he's got good advice, guys.
Just keep practice.
That's right, guys. Just keep...
...practice.
Oooooh.
- Oooooh. - Brett: Dude!
Dude, that guy is the kid's savior.
That's the words of encouragement you need.
A few times, I've seen really really, like,
unreasonable conductors.
Or teachers just being really nasty to the students.
And the students play well.
And sometimes I think to myself, like,
- "Dude, the teacher can't even play as well as you." Like! - Yeah!
- Yeah. - I know. It's true.
(But now Liam's impatient mother is back.)
I don't hear you practicing.
Why are you practicing in the music store?
Yeah, why did you leave the kid in the music store?
- Like, practice at home. - Go home.
You're not in a music store to practice.
- You're trying out instruments or doing something. - Yeah!
(This man cannot help but confront her.)
He needs to hear the truth.
(Both) That's true.
Most of you, you know, gotta practice.
- And you'll get good, and you are good, so. - Yeah.
- Eddy: I love this guy's just like... - Brett: Yeah, he's like...
Eddy: "I'm not getting paid enough for this sh**."
"My boss told me there's a shoot happening today,"
- "to promote our shop." - Yeah.
"Okay, let me just go along with it."
(As he leaves the store, we catch up with him outside.)
What does that do to a child?
Like, conveniently, like a whole reporting...
All these mics just like...
"We saw the whole thing play out."
(As it turns out, he is only one of Liam's fans.)
What? He sounds terrible.
Diane: I sound...?
Yeah, I like that!
"You're embarrassing, my God!"
- Oh, dude, I love this guy. - Yeah, he's a good one.
He deserves this.
Diane: He's never going to be good unless he practices harder.
Well, you think this is talent?
Dude, he just kept throwing the punches.
Bro, he had to throw it out before he left the store, dude.
He did it like... He laid it out and then turned around.
"I think you're abysmal."
Well, I want him to be the next Justin Bieber.
"I personally consider pop music..."
(Both) Oooh!
- Wait, what? I thought he was... Yeah! - And then he just randomly started roasting all of pop music.
I thought he was about to diss the mother,
but he just roasted all pop music.
"I personally consider pop music trash and garbage."
I'm so confused.
Yeah, I think this script's lost its plot.
Even their parents?
Liam: So, I still have a chance?
This feels like an America's Got Talent scene right now.
It's like... Is this like some...
inspirational speech?
"They told me I couldn't do it."
"But now I can."
"So you can still do it."
They of course have to have the
inspirational music in the background.
(Both) *mimics music*
(Time to meet this good man.)
John Quiñones. I do a TV show called, "What Would You Do?"
What would your advice be to parents like that?
Who are overbearing parents?
I think Warren Buffett once said,
"Give your child the opportunity to do anything..."
Oh, wait!
I think I understand now.
The mother and son are actors.
I think the show is trying to portray these other people as
- geunine random people. - Oh, yeah. Yeah, that's why.
- I don't know. - And that's why they chase them outside, afterwards.
Oh, yeah.
Right?
I think so.
'Cause that's why the mother/son are actors
and the others are not.
Oh, so they're staging to see what
- passerbys... - People... Oh...
Alright, fine.
Makes a bit more sense,
but it still sucks.
The whole situation is just so ridiculous.
(And no one looks as emotionally affected)
(by Diane's comments,)
(as this woman.)
Liam: I'm trying. It's what I want to do, mom.
Diane: Is this what you want? 'Cause you're not good at it.
(It turns out, she can relate...)
(to Diane.)
This whole thing is so, like, wacko.
Yeah, I'm so confused now.
But they're clearly... How did they get the camera shots?
I think I'm wasting my money on the lessons and the guitars.
Why? Does he enjoy it?
If he enjoys it, then it's worth it.
- I can't take it anymore. I'm taking a walk. - Oh.
Diane: I can't take it anymore.
Dude.
Yeah, I don't know.
I know that they're trying to make it seem like these strangers are
actual genuine strangers, but I'm sus.
I'm still sus that these are paid actors.
(She is visibly shaken.)
(And now it...)
- Yeah, nah. That... I call BS. - You don't...
- They're all actors. - Visibly shaken.
I call BS.
Do you think I'm okay?
Woman: I think for an eleven-year-old,
you're fantastic, and you're cute,
and you look good and you can really do it. Okay?
You really think it's okay?
That's good. Well said.
Yes!
Standing ovation.
- I love that guy. He's so chill. - "Well said." Yeah, yeah. He is.
(Time to introduce ourselves.)
John: Hi, there!
Oh, hi.
- I'm John Q... No, no. - Oh, my... Are you kidding me?
You were wonderful.
And the advice you gave her...
Dude, what the hell is going on?
- I'm so confused. - Sorry, this is very touching. I'm very touched.
Sheeeeee.
Can I just say, like...
Don't get me wrong,
personally, if I was in public and I saw a parent
being verbally abusive...
Like, you can argue that was borderline verbally abusive.
- Yeah, that was... That was 100% verbally abusive. - Yeah. Yeah.
Like, I don't think it's the right thing.
Yeah.
But, it's more just...
The situation of how bad this whole scriptwriting is.
- Yeah. - It's so ridiculous.
What would YOU do?
Yeah, what would you do?
The right answer's, "I'm going to go practice!"
- That was my favorite part of this show. - Yeah.
Everyone needs to practice.
Sheeeeee...
That's right, guys. So remember to sheee... subscribe and, uh,
sheee... accent like button.
Sheee... See you next time.