4 Chords | Music Videos | The Axis Of Awesome 

The fact that those 4 chords made them famous makes their thesis true.

The fact that Ed Sheeran presented one of their videos at his defense trial for copyright infringement is a thing of beauty.

The fact that 12 years later this song was part of Ed Sheeran's successful defense against a frivolous copyright infringement lawsuit just makes it even more legendary.

In case you want the songs: 0:10 Don’t Stop Believing - Journey (1981) 0:18 You’re Beautiful - James Blunt (2004) 0:29 Where is the Love - The Black Eyed Peas (2003) 0:38 Forever Young - Alphaville (1984) 0:45 I’m Yours - Jason Mraz (2008) 0:55 Hey, Soul Sister - Train (2009) 1:03 Wherever You Will Go - The Calling (2001) 1:12 Can You Feel the Love Tonight - Elton John (1994) 1:22 Don’t Matter - Akon (2006) 1:30 Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver (1971) 1:38 Paparazzi - Lady Gaga (2008) 1:44 With Or Without You - U2 (1987) 1:53 Pictures of You - The Last Goodnight (2007) 2:02 She Will Be Loved - Maroon 5 (2002) 2:11 Let it Be - The Beatles (1970) 2:16 No Woman, No Cry - Bob Marley (1974) 2:18 Marcy Playground - Sex and Candy (1997) 2:20 Land Down Under - Men At Work (1981) 2:23 The Funny Things You Do - Jill Colucci (1991) 2:30 Taylor - Jack Johnson (2003) 2:36 2 Become 1 - Spice Girls (1996) 2:39 Take On Me - a-ha (1984) 2:55 Save Tonight / Africa - Eagle-Eye Cherry / Toto (1997 / 1992) 3:04 If I Were A Boy / Behind These Hazel Eyes - Beyoncé / Kelly Clarkson (2009 / 2004) 3:10 In My Head - Jason Derulo (2009) 3:20 Bullet with Butterfly Wings - The Smashing Pumpkins (1995) 3:24 One of us - Joan Osborne (1995) 3:26 Complicated - Avril Lavigne (2002) 3:33 Self Esteem - The Offspring (1994) 3:39 You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid - The Offspring (2008) 3:47 Beautiful - Akon (2008) 3:55 Apologize - Timbaland ft. OneRepublic (2007) 4:03 Love The Way You Lie - Eminem ft. Rihanna (2010) 4:10 It’s My Life - Bon Jovi (2000) 4:20 Poker Face - Lady Gaga (2008) 4:25 Barbie Girl - Aqua (1997) 4:27 Other Side - Red Hot Chili Peppers (1999) 4:34 Double Rainbow Song - The Gregory Brothers (2010) 4:43 Kids - MGMT (2007) 4:55 Con te partirò - Andrea Bocelli (1995) 5:02 Auld Lang Syne - Tiny Hill and his Orchestra (1939) 5:09 Superman (It’s Not Easy) - Five for Fighting (2000) 5:13 Bird Plane - The Axis Of Awesome (2008) 5:27 Scar - Missy Higgins (2004)

“Musicians hate them, learn these four chords to play any song”

You just go 50 songs stuck in my head at once

13 years later. Damn take me back to the simple times.

I just love how the last song, "Scar" has the chorus that explains this entire video and then ends with the line "That's all it takes to be a star." It's like it was makes just for it to be in this video because I never knew of it's existence until Axis made this.

Don’t get me wrong. 42 million is a lot of viewers, but..I still feel like more people should know about this gem

i fricking love discount jack black

We performed this at a choir concert one year and the audience loved it. Highly recommend for large student choirs.

Currently i am drunk in a train towards Amsterdam. I walked through the train when i encountered a group singing this song. We sang the whole song together until they took off, right at the birdplane song . Thank you for this moment!

When I was in middle school, my bunk mates and I mashed up "Soul Sister", "I'm Yours", "Party In The USA" and "123" for our summer camp talent show. It turns out we had... several more options...

4 chords that made a million...

I feel like the fact that a solid 80% of these absolute bangers is maybe the even more impressive part. Like what about these cords is sooo appealing?

11 years later and this is still epic!

7 years later and this is still a banger

I'd love to see an updated version of this

And now this is Ed sheerans defence in court against yet another copyright infringement

I play this every time I'm inconsolable to the point of being a danger to myself. Thank you from the ADD/ADHD family. I personally endorse this song as the best medicine for those with a short attention span. I appreciate your art.

Imagine how many copystrikes this video could get.

"Endgame is the most ambitious crossover." The Axis of Awesome:

I still come back to this whenever I need cheering up. I live in the Scottish highlands and am lonely and sore with a chronic illness. This makes me smile every time x

after 11 years of coming back to this every few months I've just now realised that the industry formula for catchy songs caught me even through a parody of said formula...

*I - V - vi - IV* Journey - Don't Stop Believing 0:09 James Blunt - You're Beautiful 0:18 Black Eyed Peas - Where Is the Love 0:27 Alphaville - Forever Young 0:37 Jason Mraz - I'm Yours 0:45 Train - Hey Soul Sister 0:54 The Calling - Wherever You Will Go 1:04 Elton John (Lion King)- Can You Feel The Love Tonight 1:12 Akon - Don't Matter 1:21 John Denver - Take Me Home, Country Roads 1:28 Lady Gaga - Paparazzi 1:37 U2 - With Or Without You 1:44 The Last Goodnight - Pictures Of You 1:53 Maroon Five - She Will Be Loved 2:01 The Beatles - Let It Be 2:11 Bob Marley - No Woman No Cry 2:15 Marcy Playground - Sex and Candy 2:17 Men At Work - Land Down Under 2:19 Jill Colucci - The Funny Things You Do 2:23 Jack Johnson - Taylor 2:30 Spice Girls - Two Become One 2:35 A Ha - Take On Me 2:39 Green Day - When I Come Around 2:41 Eagle Eye Cherry - Save Tonight 2:55 *vi - IV - I - V* Toto - Africa 2:56 Beyoncé - If I Were A Boy 3:03 Kelly Clarkson - Behind These Hazel Eyes 3:04 Jason DeRulo - In My Head 3:11 The Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet With Butterfly Wings 3:20 Jan Osborne - One Of Us 3:23 Avril Lavigne - Complicated 3:27 The Offspring - Self Esteem 3:32 The Offspring - You're Gonna Go far, kid 3:39 Akon - Beautiful 3:46 Timbaland feat. One Republic - Apologize 3:55 Eminem feat. Rihanna - Love The Way You Lie 4:03 Bon Jovi - It's My Life 4:10 Lady Gaga - Pokerface 4:19 Aqua - Barbie Girl 4:25 Red Hot Chili Peppers - Otherside 4:27 The Gregory Brothers - Double Rainbow 4:35 MGMT - Kids 4:43 *I - V - vi - IV* Andrea Bocelli - Time To Say Goodbye 4:55 Robert Burns - Auld Lang Syne 5:02 Five For Fighting - Superman / The Axis Of Awesome - Birdplane 5:09 Missy Higgins - Scar 5:26

Some dude in the quad: I can play like 50 songs on guitar

Man, all these years later and these guys have 45 million friggin views... awesome... I remember watching this on TV once on a comedy special or something, now all these years layer it comes into my feed and I’m stoked. Awesome work

Here I am, more than 11 years later, still loving this song. It's still so good.

Look folks, before you start talking about how pop stars are unoriginal, there actually aren't many chord progressions out there. There are surprisingly few combinations that work and sound good. This happens to be one of the most powerful chord progressions; that's why it gets used so much.

Jack Black, Neil Patrick Harris, and Aiden English make quite the trio.

I just love the bits with Lee, that imperfect singing still matching drives it home.

Still stuck in my head a decade later. Wow, time flies

Who’s music teacher also showed them this?

Pop music is 4 chords for 1,000 people, Jazz is 1,000 chords for 4 people.

I always loved how they sing "Can you feel the love tonight"

Perfect music for my adhd. Keep it going❤

I don't know there names, but the one with (in my opinion) the best voice is the one who looks like a Pug. The Chihuahua is pretty good. I'd love to hear the Great Dane when he really tries.

It just struck me that this actually tells a story of a guy falling in love getting married, argue and fights with his wife, he cheats, tries to apologize, but its too late and then they split and he's single again.

Over a decade old now, never get tired of this video, these 4 chords or these songs! :D

It was this song that made me realize how much I like that chord structure like most of the songs on this list and a bunch of songs that aren't that I noticed after

4:25 every time I hear poker I always sing “come on Barbie lets go party” at that part.

I used to recite this song with my brother. The song is 6 minutes long, and we still sang it all the way through many times. It probably irritated my mom and my sister, but we didn't care. It hurts whenever I remember these times and realize he's gone.

A forever gem of youTube.

Back to this video after 8 years. Unforgettable…

0:21: Accidentally gets paper in his mouth 0:28: Trying to spit out paper with no success 0:33: Conspicuously chewing something

They sing half of these better then the original singers did

I know I'm not one to talk (yet) but I miss how creative people used to get with relatively low budget. The spirit still lives on and I love it!

This just never get old. So good.

for those wanting to play on guitar easily- capo on 2nd. C, G, AM, F

I can't be the only one who is very impressed that Benny could hit the high note in "Take On Me". A note that probably is an entrant on the list of "most botched notes by otherwise decent karaoke singers".

Listening to this song just makes you feel such nostalgia & happiness it’s amazing

I could only imagine how fun this must've been for them to compose especially with the constant small adlib's from other songs 😂legends thank you xx

My life is brilliant, my love is pure I saw an angel, of that I'm sure People killing people dying Children hurting you hear them crying Can you practice what you preach? Would you turn the other cheek? Forever young, I want to be Forever young I won't hesitate, no more no more It cannot wait, I'm yours Your lipstick stains On the front lobe of my left side brains I knew I wouldn't forget you If I could, then I would I'll go wherever you will go And can you feel the love tonight? Nobody wants to see us together But it don't matter no 'Cause I got you Oh country roads, take me home To the place, where I belong I'm your biggest fan I'll follow you until you love me Papa-Paparazzi 'Cause I can't live, with or without you Pictures of you, pictures of me Hung upon your wall for the world to see And she will be loved yeah, she will be loved When I find myself, in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me No woman no cry Yeah mama this surely is a dream I come from a land down under Red, white and blue all the funny things you do America, America, this is you They say Taylor was a good girl never one to be late Complain express ideas in her brain I need some love like I never needed love before I wanna make love to your baby Take on me (when I come around) Take me on (when I come around) I'll be gone, winner of you... Save tonight (Its gonna take a lot to drag me away from you) And fight the break of dawn come tomorrow (There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do) Tomorrow I' ll be fine Here I am, once again I'm torn into pieces Can't deny it, can't pretend Just thought you were the one In my head I see you all over me In my head, you fulfill my fantasy In my head Despite all my rage I am still just a rat in a cage What if God was one of us? Tell me, why'd you have to go and make things so complicated? I see the way you're Actin' like you're somebody I know she's playing with me Well, that's okay 'cause I got no self esteem With a thousand lies and a good disguise Hit 'em right between the eyes Hit 'em right between the eyes 'Cause you're so beautiful So damn beautiful Too late to apologize, too late... Just gonna stand there and watch me burn But that's alright because I like the way it hurts It's my life... It's now or never I ain't gonna live forever Can't read my, can't read my No you can't read my poker face Come on Barbie lets go party How long how long will I slide Separate my Double rainbow all the way 'cross the sky Yeah, yeah, so intense Enjoy yourself Take only what you need from him A family of trees wanting Time to say goodbye Veduto e vissuto con te Should auld acquaintance be forgot And never brought to mind? I'm more than a bird I'm more than a plane I'm a birdplane... I'm a birdplane a mother f-ckin' birdplane Doesn't that sound familiar? Doesn't that hit too close to home? Doesn't that make you shiver? The way that things have gone And doesn't that seem peculiar 'Cause everyone wants a little more It's something I do remember to never go this far That's all it takes to be a star...

Oh, the disappointment when you check out some of these songs and they're no where near as good as in this video...

Can't believe this came out a decade ago. I still remember when it first came out..

I grew up listening to this. This made my childhood:)

If you're still listening to this masterpiece in 2024 you're a legend.

I find myself singing this in random places, and I think people assume I can't keep my mind on one thing or something.

12 years later and this still scratched my brain just right 😂

2:25 Holy shit. That America’s funniest home videos hit… Rest In Peace, Bob Saget

It's incredible how clear they speak English, I understood words that from the original didn't.

There are only 4 bases in every DNA strand, (A, G, C, and T,) but the progression of arrangements of those 4 bases produces anything from a human being to a wombat.

nahhhh that transition at 3:12 was smoooth

It's been more than a decade and I keep coming back to watch this video and the other one, and they're still good.

We need a yearly update of this song! "4 chords 2019", "4 Chords 2020" etc

Such a brilliantly executed concept!

This video has lived rent free in my head for 6 consecutive years. Not even lying. There is always some influence from this song in my ehad somewhere at any given time to this day. And I still remembered all the words and timing just now. Legendary

I kid you not this never gets old. Whether I'm drinking to forget the long day or just hanging with friends this takes me to a whole 'nother plane of awesome where old mixes with new and there are NO complaints from this guy on MUMZ I swear

We watched this in music class at school. Is a sick mashup!

All the time when I'm singing one of these songs I keep on singing the way it is here....I forgot how most of the songs actually continue because of this!!

Theres a new YT ad trying to claim this is their idea to sell Piano lessons

If you're trying to learn music theory this is the perfect way to relate what you're learning to songs you already know. It would be fun if people made more iterations of this idea with progressively more obscure chord progressions and they slowly got less pop culture and more incomprehensible.

My life is brilliant, My love is pure, I saw an angel, Of that I'm sure, People kill and people dyin' Children hurt and you hear them crying' Can you practice what you preach, Would you turn the other cheek, Forever young, I wanna be forever young, I won't hesitate, No more, no more, It can not wait, I'm yours, Lipstick stains, And the front lobe of my left side brains, I knew I wouldn't forget you, If I could, Then I would, I'd go wherever you will go. And can, You feel the love tonight. Nobody wants to see us together, But it don't matter, no. Cause I can't- Oh country road, Take me home, To the place, Where I belong. I'm your biggest fan, I'll follow you until you love me, Papa-Paparazzi, Well I can't believe, With or without you. Pictures of you, Pictures of me, Hung up on your wall, For the world to see, And she will be loved, Yeah, she will be lo-... When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me, No woman no crying, (Yeah momma this surely is a dream), I come from the land down under. Red, white and blue, Funny things you do, America, America, This is you. They say that Taylor was a good girl, Never wanna be late, Complain, express ideas, and complain, I need love like I've never needed love before, I'm going to make love to your baby, Take on me, (When I come around) Take me on, (When I come around) I'll be gone, In a day or two! Save tonight, (It's gonna take a lot to drag me away from you) And fight the break of dawn, (There's nothing a hundred men or more could ever do) There's more before I'm gone, (If I were a boy) Here I am, Once again, I'm torn into pieces, Can't deny it, Can't pretend, (I think I would understand) Just thought you were the one in my head, I see you all over me in my head, Beautiful fantasies of you in my head, Despite all my rage I'm still just a rat in a cage, (What if God was one of us?) Tell me, Why'd you have to make things so complicated, I see the way you're acting like somebody- (I know she's playing with me, Well that's okay 'cause I got no self esteem) With a thousand eyes and a good disguise, Hit 'em right between the eyes, Hit 'em right between the eyes, You're so beautiful, So damn beautiful.. Too late to apologize, Too late.. Just gonna stand there and watch me burn, But that's all right 'cause I like the way it hurts, It's my life, It's now or never, I ain't gonna live forever, Can't read my, Can't read my, No he can't read my poker face, (Come on Barbie, Let's go party) How long, How long, Will I slide, Separate my, Double rainbow all the way across the sky, Yeah, Yeah, So intense. Enjoy yourself, Take only what you need from it, A family of treason. Time to, Say goodbye, (veduto e vissuto) Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind, I'm more than a bird, I'm more than a plane, I'm a birdplane, I'm a birdplane, A motherfuckin' birdplane, Doesn't that sound familiar, Doesn't that hit to close to home, And doesn't that make you shiver, The way that things have gone, And doesn't seem peculiar, 'Cause everyone wants a little more, It's something I do remember, To never go this far, That's all it takes to be a star.

For anyone who needs the chords that are actually in this key : D A Bm G

"That's all it takes to be a star". This has inspired me to keep writing. Thankyou. ❤

Ive loved this song for 10 years and still listen all the time. Thank you

My roommate started teaching me how to play guitar. His first lesson was learn this four chords and you can play over 1000 popular songs

That sudden Billy corgan bullet with butterfly wings got me...

Without a doubt, Bennys voice has the widest range. By far.

I always come back to this. Thank you for amazing timeless content.

Whos seing this in 2019 and wonders why these guys arent famous by now?

Anyone here coz of their music teacher?

How could I miss this gem

Hahaha you guys are Awesome! Oh wait…I get it now 😂 The customs, the acting, the music…just perfect😍

Almost 10 years old and still brilliant, nothing less,

i want a full cover of The Offsprings- You're going to go far kid.

It's 2021 and I still come back and watch this every so often because it is just that mind-blowing how programmed we are to like this specific chord progression lol

it only became taboo because it was too powerful, that's why you won't forget it

2:52 Dayum...I could never hit that note.

I’m here because of my music teacher. Wow. This is so fascinating.

Legends say they‘re still playing

Heartbreaking coming back 13 years later.

only one question remains... who was the first

Instead of slamming music for being "all the same", I think this has more of a "look at all these artists can do with the same 4 chords" feel to it, and I think it's quite neat.

I can't believe how happy this made me, so amazingly well done!

First time I saw this I didn’t know what a “chord” is. A decade later, still no ear for it.

ALL SONGS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER: 0:17 | James Blunt - You're Beautiful 0:27 | Black Eyed Peas - Where is the Love 0:36 | Alphavill - Forever Young 0:44 | Jason Mraz - I'm Yours 0:53 | Train - Hey, Soul Sister 1:03 | The Calling - Wherever You Will Go 1:11 | Lion King - Can You Feel The Love Tonight 1:21 | Akon - Don't Matter 1:28 | John Denver - Country Roads 1:37 | Lady Gaga - Paparazzi 1:44 | U2 - With Or Without You 1:52 | The Last Goodnight - Pictures of You 2:01 | Maroon 5 - She Will Be Loved 2:08 | *Awkward Silence* 2:10 | The Beatles - Let It Be 2:15 | Bob Marley - No Woman, No Cry 2:17 | Marcy Playground- Sex and Candy 2:19 | Men at Work - Down Under 2:22 | America's Funniest Home Videos Theme 1990 2:30 | Jack Johnson - Taylor 2:34 | Spice Girls - 2 Become 1 2:39 | A-Ha - Take on Me / Green Day - When I Come Around 2:55 | Eagle-Eye Cherry - Save Tonight / Toto - Africa 3:03 | Beyonce - If I Were A Boy / Kelly Clarkson - Behind These Hazel Eyes 3:11 | Jason Derulo - In My Head 3:19 | The Smashing Pumpkins - Bullet with Butterfly Wings 3:22 | Joan Osborne - One Of Us 3:27 | Avril Lavigne - Complicated 3:31 | The Offspring - Self Esteem 3:38 | The Offspring - Self Esteem / The Offspring - You're Gonna Go Far, Kid 3:46 | Akon Colby O'Donis - Beautiful 3:54 | Timbaland - Apologize ft. OneRepublic 4:02 | Rihanna - Love the Way You Lie ft. Eminem 4:10 | Bon Jovi - It's My Life 4:19 | Lady Gaga - Pokerface 4:25 | Aqua - Barbie Girl 4:27 | Red Hot Chili Peppers - Otherside 4:34 | Double Rainbow Song 4:42 | MGMT - Kids 4:54 | Andrea Bocelli & Sara Brightman - Time to Say Goodbye 5:01 | Andrea Bocelli & Sara Brightman - Time to Say Goodbye / Beautiful Version Of Auld Lang Syne 5:08 | Axis of Awesome - Birdplane 5:26 | Missy Higgins - Scar What was/were your favourite part(s)? Mine were: 1:28 | 2:10 | 2:30 | 2:39 | 2:55 | 3:19 | 3:31 | 5:26

For all you wondering "How can all these songs have the same four chords? This is so unoriginal!" They don't actually have the exact same chords. They have the same Chord Progression. All they did was place them in the same key so they'd all sound the same. Plus it's not unoriginal even if they had the same exact chords, because it takes more than that to make good music. They could all have different tempo, rhythm, and melodies, and they'd be a totally different song and most people wouldn't even realize it's the same chords

You’re brilliant and extremely talented!!! I miss your channel. You’re work has always been AWESOME!!!

Wow.. I was just letting RU-vid stream anything, all my videos had all ready played... When this came on I stopped cleaning & was in complete awe ... U guys are truly talented!