Must Dos — COVID-19 Edition
By Chelsea Kern For nearly 20 years, we’ve showcased local events in our “Must-Do” section of Utah Valley Magazine. But 2020 is so not 2019. Check out some of our favorite “musts” — but this time, no tickets or selfies in the seats are required. We’ve gathered podcasts, books and YouTube channels created by our […]
Utah-Tube: Jon Schmidt showcases his childhood dream in ‘Million Dreams’ music video
A young pianist had “a million dreams” that became a reality — and not just in this music video. The Piano Guys pianist, Jon Schmidt, shared his dreams of becoming a professional pianist in a new music video. Covering “A Million Dreams” from “The Greatest Showman,” a young Schmidt, played by 14-year-old pianist Milo Allman, sweeps […]
Utah-Tube: A few of the greatest ‘Greatest Showman’ covers by local artists
“The Greatest Showman” hit theaters Dec. 20, 2017. Since then, the musical’s anthems have been on repeat throughout the world. With music written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul — the award-winning songwriters behind Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen” and movie musical “La La Land” — most artists want a piece of the songwriters’ genius, including […]
Utah-Tube: Piano Guys cellist shares his love story through music
Steven Sharp Nelson, the cellist in the Piano Guys, shared why his love story is written in the stars in the group’s Valentine’s Day video. “I wish I could even portray, with music, what she means to me. I can’t. There’s just not music beautiful enough,” Nelson said. “However, I want to give it my […]
Utah-Tube: Jon Schmidt dedicates Christmas song to deceased daughter Annie
The Piano Guys’ pianist Jon Schmidt created a music video for people who are missing someone they’ve lost, especially if they are missing them during this holiday season. He dedicated the song to his daughter Annie, who died while hiking last year. “So last year, was a really tough year for us,” Jon Schmidt said. […]
The Piano Guys, David Archuleta and guests host live #LightTheWorld YouTube event in New York
A group of LDS artists came together for a live YouTube concert as part of the #LightTheWorld campaign for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Piano Guys, David Archuleta, Nathan Pacheco, Lexi Mae Walker, Claire and Dave Crosby, Taylor Davis, Tiffany Alvord and Peter and Evelyn Hollens joined together to sing Christmas songs […]
Utah-Tube: The Piano Guys light up the night with dancing Christmas lights and piano music
The Piano Guys took a hint from Clark Griswold for their “I Saw Three Ships” music video by lighting up the night sky with piano music. Using 500,000 Christmas lights, pianist Jon Schmidt manipulated the dancing lights with his keyboard. And, yes, he really did play the piano that made the lights dance, according to […]
Utah-Tube: The Piano Guys shoot new music video with iPhone X
The Piano Guys became one of the first groups to film a music video entirely on an iPhone X. On Thursday, the piano and cello duo released a cover of Niall Horan’s song, “Flicker.” “We loved the chorus melody and felt there was tremendously emotional capacity in the longing built into the lyrics, which the […]
Utah-Tube: The Piano Guys create ‘La La Land’ inspired music video
The Piano Guys are giving fans a taste of the “city of stars,” but it isn’t through their music this time — it’s through the video. In their newest music video, The Piano Guys recreate a popular scene from “La La Land,” the movie musical that won five Oscars in 2017. This time around pianist […]
Utah-Tube: The Piano Guys harmonize with Sir Cliff Richard to echo a hopeful message
The Piano Guys harmonized with Sir Cliff Richard to echo a hopeful message, “It’s Gonna Be Okay.” This music video features the song, “It’s Gonna Be Okay,” performed by The Piano Guys and guest singer Sir Cliff Richard. Sir Cliff Richard is a British rock ‘n’ roll sensation who’s been performing since the 1950s. The Piano […]
Utah-Tube: Spencer Schmidt shares Annie Schmidt’s hauntingly timely last song
“Why do you have to go?” These are the first lyrics in “Don’t Worry Darling,” a song co-written by Annie and Spencer Schmidt. Spencer shared the last song he had written with his sister on YouTube just five days after Annie’s body was found at the bottom of a cliff in Oregon. Annie went missing […]
Utah-Tube: Indiana Jones meets Aladdin in The Piano Guys’ new music video
Continuing their quest to film music videos at all Seven Wonders of the World, The Piano Guys released a video from their fourth visited Wonder — Petra, Jordan — Tuesday morning. This music video combines the theme song from “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” along with “Scheherazade,” a classical composition by Russian composer Nikolai […]
Utah-Tube: The Piano Guys share upbeat message of hope with ‘Okay’
In a video uncharacteristic for The Piano Guys, singer Al van der Beek joins the group, adding vocals to their typically instrumental songs. The Piano Guys chose the song “Okay” written by Andy Grammar and Dave Bassett, because they wanted to uplift in a world that focuses on sharing the bad news. “This is the essence of hope,” […]
Utah-Tube: The Piano Guys hit third Wonder of the World with ‘The Jungle Book’ hits
It’s just the “bear necessities” for a Piano Guys music video: take a popular modern song, mix it with a classical piece and then film it in front of a national icon. For The Piano Guys newest music video, they mashed together songs from Disney’s “The Jungle Book” with “Sarabande.” Then they mixed in Mayan […]
Hello, new Piano Guys video: Adele and Mozart’s musical minds mesh in mashup
Hello, new Piano Guys mashup. Imagining Adele and Mozart meeting for a co-write session, the Piano Guys combined Adele’s chart-topper, “Hello,” with Mozart’s “Lacrimosa” for a emotionally reflective new song. “They share the same fundamental feeling — ‘Lacrimosa’ (meaning ‘weeping’ or ‘tearful’) mournfully bemoans spiritual death, while ‘Hello’ gripes about relationship regrets,” the Piano Guys wrote on their […]
VIDEO: The Piano Guys cut through silence with ‘Silent Night’ featuring Plácido Domingo
The Piano Guys joined with legendary tenor Plácido Domingo for a calming edition of the classic Christmas hymn “Silent Night.” “He is an artist whose illustrious, exalted career has not snuffed out his sweet disposition or his genuine love for the art of music,” The Piano Guys wrote about Domingo. While touring the East Coast, […]
VIDEO: The Piano Guys credit grace for Scottish ‘Fight Song’ mashup coming together
They’ve taken a grand piano to the top of the Great Wall of China and on cliffs in Southern Utah and now The Piano Guys have ventured to the Scottish countryside for their newest music video. The Piano Guys mashed together Rachel Platten’s popular anthem, “Fight Song,” with “Amazing Grace” in their newest music video. […]
Piano Guys reverence ‘Jurassic Park’ theme song in music video
Dinosaurs aren’t so scary with The Piano Guys reverent version of the “Jurassic Park” theme song released on YouTube Wednesday. With “Jurassic World” coming to theaters Friday, The Piano Guys created a very calming version of the classic theme song, including a dinosaur’s shadow reflecting off of the piano. The Piano Guys wrote on their site, […]
‘Studio C’ solves mystery on how The Piano Guys transfer pianos for music videos
The Piano Guys have made incredible music videos in what a new YouTube video calls some of “the most dramatic of locations,” including at some of the wonders of the world. From the Great Wall of China to the ice castle in Midway, The Piano Guys have always made these vibrant videos with a grand piano […]
The Piano Guys are ‘Bach’ with a mix of the 1770s and 1970s
The Piano Guys are “Bach” with a new classy, yet funky, twist. Mashing up the Jackson 5’s pop favorite, “I Want You Back,” and five melodies from composer J.S. Bach, The Piano Guys mix classics from two decades — the 1970s with the 1770s. “We decided to put together a gig with two wigs in dandy attire and two hep-cats in […]
Utah YouTube channel collaboration breaks world record
Angels gathered in Provo on Rock Canyon Park’s hillside in November to help The Piano Guys and other Utah YouTube stars break the Guinness World Record for the largest nativity scene with real people — and they did it. The new video, “Angels We Have Heard on High,” broke Britain’s record from last year (898) by […]
The Piano Guys tell an emotional story with their newest music video
The Piano Guys have once again released a cover of a popular song, but this time they’ve done something different — they’ve shared a story. After completing their arrangement for One Direction’s “Story of My Life,” The Piano Guys discussed how they wanted to present the video. “What happened surprised us all. The story itself […]
YouTah Valley: The new Hollywood for YouTube sensations
The Beehive State ranks No. 3 in the world for YouTube celebrities, and just about all of them gained their fame right here in Utah Valley, according to Plaid Social Labs. “Utah Valley has the first group of Utubers that have come out with true high-end production,” said Ricky Ray Butler, founder and president of Plaid […]