Ben Folds Spoofs Merton's Chatroulette Piano Improv in Charlotte

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Chatroulette Piano Ode to Merton_m4v

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sourced by Jacob Zinn

Ben Folds performed for some 2,000 fans live and a few dozen at home in “an Ode to Merton,” the pianist featured in the Chatroulette Piano Improv video that went viral less than two weeks ago.

During his March 19 concert at the Fillmore Charlotte in North Carolina, Folds set up a laptop on his keyboard and connected to Chatroulette, dressed in a hoodie—the same way Merton had, only this time with a screaming audience in the background.

When the original Chatroulette Piano Improv video came out, many users commented that Merton looked a lot like Folds, which likely prompted Folds’ satirical response video. The video was uploaded to YouTube shortly after the concert and reached over 600,000 viewers in 2 days.

• Merton’s Chatroulette Funny Piano Improv Video a Hit on YouTube

He ends the video with an impromptu version of Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd while the other chatter holds up a lighter in homage.

Candid videos of the concert have been uploaded to YouTube, showing a bigger screen in the background for the audience to see chatting strangers.

Original Chatroulette Piano Improv Taken Down

The original Chatroulette Piano Improv video was recently removed because it violated some terms of use. Merton reposted his Chatroulette video with the faces of 2 chatters blurred out, likely to protect privacy or because he did not have their permission, both of which would have prompted the takedown in the first place.

In the new description, Merton claims that before the original video was deleted, it reached 4,238,658 views and was the Top-Rated YouTube Video of All Time. He also promised a second Piano Improv video will be posted soon.