You've Been Ragrolled!

September 16, 2009 4:26 PM

Classic 80s hits interpreted for ragtime piano. (SLYT)
posted by FfejL (29 comments total)

Oh this is so fun isn't it? I love this guy. My other yt ragtime crushes are these guys doing the Cantina Band Song from Star Wars. Some day I will go to the Scott Joplin festival in Missouri and completely dork out if I see Bryan Wright there.
posted by dog food sugar at 4:41 PM on September 16, 2009 [3 favorites]

This would have been better if, instead of a picture of him in a vest playing on a modern electric piano, he had shown a series of b/w stills of old-timey people photoshopped with 80s hairstyles, clothes and objects/products
posted by davejay at 4:42 PM on September 16, 2009

Have y'all heard Autechre's version of "The Entertainer"?

Autechre has not covered "The Entertainer".
posted by everichon at 4:51 PM on September 16, 2009 [2 favorites]

This would have been better if . . . NAW, FUCK THAT . . . it's perfect just as it is.
posted by jason's_planet at 5:09 PM on September 16, 2009

My only complaint: needed to be shot in sepia with missing frames and lots of dust and scratches . . . in a saloon . . . with a puffy shirt with arm garters and a green (sepia green) visor and a bartender with an eyepatch who only serves whiskey.
posted by isopraxis at 5:10 PM on September 16, 2009

That stride style is incredibly difficult to play with any finesse. Color me impressed.
posted by phrontist at 5:12 PM on September 16, 2009 [1 favorite]

(does anyone know what model keyboard that is?)
posted by phrontist at 5:13 PM on September 16, 2009

Nord Stage 73 or Compact
posted by reishus at 5:16 PM on September 16, 2009 [1 favorite]

Can it be that our beloved Meta-Filter is falling prey to the primitive forces of dissolution and anarchy that lie behind this deceptively "light" music, whose syncopated rhythm implies the widest latitude of moral uncertainty? This so-called "ragtime" portends a depravity so terrifying it beggars imagination...

I mean: Most enjoyable, and thanks for the post!
posted by languagehat at 5:52 PM on September 16, 2009 [2 favorites]

You had me at "classic 80s hits"...and lost me at "ragtime piano".
posted by The Tensor at 5:53 PM on September 16, 2009 [1 favorite]

Some of the material he found a ragtime feel for; some he didn't.

I'll take phrontist's word for it that the man deserves respect as a technician.
posted by Joe Beese at 6:01 PM on September 16, 2009

I imagined Dickie Crickets singing "elevator... baby loves my elevator! Ridin' it up and dooooooown!" along to it and it was even better.
posted by Mayor Curley at 6:05 PM on September 16, 2009 [2 favorites]

It's hard to find good, modern recordings of ragtime music. One exception that comes to mind: Alessandra Celletti recorded an excellent album of Joplin's rags in 2003 [MP3 / CD].

The New England Conservatory Ragtime Ensemble is also worth checking out. They have several albums available, including The Art of the Rag and The Art of Scott Joplin.
posted by cribcage at 6:28 PM on September 16, 2009

Play Holiday in Cambodia.
posted by ovvl at 6:46 PM on September 16, 2009

ovvl: "Play Holiday in Cambodia."

Funny enough, the chord progression to that tune probably fits a rag better than any of the songs the guy actually picked. Not to mention the original tempo was about right.
posted by idiopath at 6:53 PM on September 16, 2009

could someone please list the songs?
posted by cogneuro at 6:56 PM on September 16, 2009

"Ragtime" doesn't mean "ragged (in the bad sense) meter". He sounded like he was playing at a speed at which he could just barely avoid disaster; a slightly less breakneck tempo would have resulted in a more sure-handed and musical performance.

Still pretty cool, though.
posted by Greg_Ace at 7:03 PM on September 16, 2009

could someone please list the songs?

From the sidebar next to the video:

Come on Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners
Don't You Want Me Baby - Human League
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN - Europe
Axel F - Harold Faltermeyer
Material Girl - Madonna
Every Breath You Take - The Police
Don't Stop Believin' - Journey
Living on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
Never Gonna Give You Up - You've Been Rickrolled! ( or Ragtimerolled?)
Total Eclipse of the Heart - Bonnie Tyler
posted by cobwebberies at 7:06 PM on September 16, 2009

He's also done a Michael Jackson keyboard medley upon realizing he made a "glaring omission" - it's also nice, though not in ragtime style.
posted by cobwebberies at 7:08 PM on September 16, 2009

He sounded like he was playing at a speed at which he could just barely avoid disaster;
He recorded a longer version of this medley on a regular piano and he's selling it on iTunes. It's a lot cleaner and more precise.
posted by sideshow at 7:38 PM on September 16, 2009

"It is never right to play ragtime fast." --Scott Joplin
posted by neroli at 8:03 PM on September 16, 2009 [1 favorite]

How about playing the songs on an actual piano? Was that annoying clicking sound his synth keys, or did he just really need to trim his nails? I give him an A for the concept, and a B- for execution.
posted by ericbop at 8:30 PM on September 16, 2009

Oh ftttt ericbob.




I'm sure this is a double because I fell in crazy in love with this guy and his 80s medley last year and it must have been thru mefi (where else?) but I 'aint going to look because the more ragtime on the front page the better.
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:49 PM on September 16, 2009

ericbop, sorry.
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:49 PM on September 16, 2009

How about playing the songs on an actual piano?

The version he's put up for sale was recorded on an actual piano.
posted by kenko at 9:40 PM on September 16, 2009

will be playing this at work tomorrow when i'm the only one in the office. yay!
posted by Gonestarfishing at 9:42 PM on September 16, 2009

I get that Weird Al vibe.
posted by cashman at 6:02 AM on September 17, 2009

For modernish rags, you might enjoy William Bolcom. Included in his work is The Graceful Ghost and The Poltergeist which are polar opposites in feel (both were recorded by my brother as part of the 2000 Van Cliburn competition).
posted by plinth at 7:15 AM on September 17, 2009

cribcage: There's also Joshua Rifkin. I love his 1990 recording which is still available, but there's apparently a 2005 recording (remaster?) as well. Joplin annotated his rags with "Ragtime should never be played fast." Rifkin appears to take this to heart, playing at a decent clip, but with great precision, so that you hear each melodic line. It's fun to listen to.
posted by The Bellman at 8:17 AM on September 17, 2009