Ben Folds + Chatroulette = homage to Merton

"Ben Folds has connected, feel free to talk now." The alt.pop piano composer pays homage to internet improv artist Merton, in this hilarious video taped at a live show. He's even wearing Merton's slouchy hoodie! Video contains cussin', but thankfully all the anony-wieners have been edited out.

Chatroulette Piano Ode to Merton.m4v (YouTube, thanks to the many, many readers who suggested this)

• [butfirst]

  I’ve always been in awe of his wit and musical ability, but this is just delightful. Thanks for posting!

• [Jack]

  I love this! Look at how someone can take a world filled with pasty, pudgy and semi-creepy misc. dudes and turn it into something positive!

• [pstarr]

  and this is why i love chatroulette – even though the odds are much, much better that you will come across a weiner, there is always the chance that you might be serenaded by ben folds and 2000 of his fans.

• [godfathersoul]

  now that made me laugh. Thanks!

• [Anonymous]

  This is what the internet is for.

  Almost brought a tear to my eye, and I never even listened to Benfolds5. So- he’s acting like the guy we thought was him, who wasn’t (Merton?) This whole thing is really just- incredible. Chat roullette + pop star imitating normal amazing guy artist + guy on toilet showing up at concert with 3000 people watching him. AMAZING.

  • [deviceofmind]

    I totally agree with Anon #5 – This kind of thing makes me happy to be alive, all the weird coincidences, ironies, etc. really make life worth living. I’m not really a fan on Ben Folds (now I am I guess), but as others have said, how cool is it that people (Merton, Folds, 2000 people in Charlotte, the strangers in chatroulette) can collaborate on something that really is entertaining.

• [igpajo]

  FREEBIRD!!! Love it!

• [siliconsunset]

  Ah, the power of the internet!

  I wonder if Mr. Folds saw the video on BoingBoing!?

  Either way this is really really cool. Truly a wonderful thing. :)

• [lewis stoole]

  hell ya

• [BrianMc]

  And this is why I friggin love Ben Folds. Hats off to Merton for a brilliantly funny idea and Ben for upping the ante off his doppelganger.

• [SamSam]

  Man, that was just mean. How’s Merton supposed to out-do that?

  Oooh, maybe a Merton-Ben double ticket…

• [lhopitalified]

  It would have been hilarious if chatroulette had paired the two up with each other.

  • [Suds]

    You win this thread! Can anyone hack chatroulette and write a script that MAKES Merton and Ben Folds meet up the next time they’re both on??? Epic Piano Duel!1!!

  • [jackie31337]

    Yes! Dueling pianos via Chat Roulette!

• [Anonymous]

  a new version of chatroulette,
  less penises, more fun :)

  remember: you do not NEXT Chuck Norris!
  it is Chuck Norris who NEXT you!

• [dculberson]

  Yeah, I’m pretty much grinning from ear to ear.

• [caipirina]

  these videos are so much more fun that actually clicking next 1000 times on chatroulette … the most / best responses I got so far was when i had my cat on my lap and pointed the cam at him :)

• [Ratdog]

  Has anyone ever run into Cthulu on Chatroulette? Now that would be a good one.

• [oddharmonix]

  The epic meter would be off the scale if Merton had popped up as one of the strangers during Ben Folds set.

  • [wetterberg]

    fffuuuu – that would have made it the most convergent fantastic video ever made. Just thinking about it makes me giggle :)

• [Powerphail]

  Unspeakably awesome

• [Anonymous]

  Obviously the logical conclusion to all this is Merton v. Folds.