Debussy - Clair de Lune 

Clair de Lune, one of Debussy's finest works, a journey of emotion and intensity. This has been a favorite of mine for a long time now, and I'm glad I could perform it for you! Thank you for enjoying my videos so far, there are many more to come :D

I was lucky enough to be born into a house with music. My dad loves to play piano, and he wasn’t the most talkative person, but when he started to play piano, you could feel him speaking to you. When I was 2 years old, he would sit me on his lap and play this song. When I was 14 years old, he was diagnosed with cancer, and they told him he wouldn’t live to the end of the year (it was August) He lived for two more years, defying everything the doctors had told him. He died surrounded by his family, and his last words to me were, “never stop playing, can you please, play for me? And not forget me? Can you do that for me?” At his funeral, I was asked if I would play a song, and I chose to play this song, the song he played while I would sit on his lap. The song that could bring back a thousand memories. And now, 8 years later, I sat down at the piano with my beautiful 2 year old girl, who we decided to name Claire, and played this song for her.

I have played piano for 18 years. My Dad loved this song. I played this for him frequently. He said if I memorized this piece he would give me $100. I had a concert and featured this piece and after the concert my dad gave me the $100. A few years ago he passed away and I played Clair de Lune at his funeral. I know he heard me when I played this at his funeral. He can hear me playing the piano still. RIP Dad.

my mother just passed a few days ago. She was a classical pianist. As she aged, she wasn't able to play complex songs. I remember as a child laying on the floor for HOURS, listening to her play Debussy, Lizst, Beethoven, and more. No matter how bad things got as a teenager, I was always pulled back to her by her music. It would pour through my soul. And it does once again. It always will. Thank you, mom.

This is the type of music that you can play at the best moment of your life or the worst and it hits in the feels either way. Absolutely brilliant!

Funny thing is that "Clair de Lune" means "moonlight" and so I guess Beethoven and Debussy both had very different views on what moonlight should sound like.

"It's a soothing song that calms your heart, like the moon's reflection on water" - Ultimate Pianist

He really put his whole Debussy into this piece.

This is one of those rare pieces of music that I simply cannot listen to without crying. It’s so heartfelt and ethereal, and carries this intangible quality with it that feels like the manifestation of pure beauty. How lucky we are to live in a world where it exists alongside us.

I accidentally clicked on this.. *best mistake of my life*

Finally... After all these years... *I found the name.*

We're getting the knuckleblaster with this one 🗣🗣🔥🔥🗣

I’ve always loved this arrangement So beautiful- I imagine myself dancing with my late husband once again. Such a powerful piece.

This masterpiece somewhat describes the world. It has pity, sadness, anger, ambition, but it still makes you happy.

Does anybody else imagine playing this perfectly in front of all their friends?

My son just sent me this song. He has been going through a lot and is now on the way to a beautiful life ahead. I listened to this piece and it opened my heart up so much. Really felt like my son is talking to me. Saying 'i am okay mom' .

This piece sounds like finally accepting the fact you can't be with someone you love and for one last time you recall the moments you had with them. Moving on, leaving the past in a way it buries as a beautiful memory. That's what this piece does

there's an old saying in my culture goes like this, one minute on stage, ten years of efforts behind it.

At first I was like ”Oh yea, easy, could learn that in like, a day” Then, the fire nation attacked.. and more fingers were needed.

I have been playing piano for 70 years, this, moonlight Sonata and Hallelujah are my 3 favorites 😍

Who needs drugs, when you’ve got this masterpiece

I started fucking WWIII

“i believe in you so you should definitely believe in yourself”

I can't even imagine that I found this masterpiece in a hell-themed first person shooter. Thank you, Hakita.

I too had made a promise .When I was little my aunt always told me to play the piano for her but I was very shy so I went and hid.. Now I regret not having played piano for her. every time she asked me. It's been several months since she left this world and I only remember the promise she made me promise. She asked me to play "Claire de Lune" for her when I was more experienced and now I just listen to this piece and cry in front of this sweet melody. Even watching Your Lie in April I remember my aunt. My aunt is my reason for playing the piano and I gave my all for her. Thank you Chopin.

No, I haven't played this song in my dad's funeral, neither have I a sad story relating to it. I just think Debussy was a f*ing genius.

my mom taught me this when I was 9 yrs old was one of our faves she passed when I was 19 I am 60 now still miss you mom xo

As a young girl watching a movie in the 50's hearing this song left me mesmerized. I have loved this all my life and when I look up at the Moon I smile and greet it thinking of this beautiful, beautiful song. ❤❤❤

My love used to play this piece often. I remember watching her learn to play it, her performances being the highlight of my day. Although she is not here anymore, every time I listen to this I am reminded of her warm embrace.

*I think Debussy strongly believed that evolution would bring us more fingers*

If this dosen't play in my funeral, well I'm not dying.

I swear, this song has to be immortalized or whatever. It deserves it.

Such a range of emotion on this, the ups and the downs, the sweet spots dashed with the low spots, you can almost feel and hear what he is saying through the piano. Just a beautiful song! Beauty comes of ALL things!

imagine playing that in the empty dark auditorium with a piano in the middle.. all the seats are empty as everyone else is eating lunch. but instead of feeling lonely, the melodies accompany you.

After 6 months, I've finished to learn this piece by heart and can play it wherever I want, so I play it as soon as I can play it. Nobody cares, yes. I'm just proud of me for the first time in my life. Hope you're proud of yourself.

I would listen to my older sister play this flawlessly every Sunday after a fantastic meal. As a family of 10 it took a lot for us all to pause for a moment but this would transform time.

This song is just so comforting. I felt affection after a long time. Even though my mom and dad love me dearly, I still cannot feel their affection. I just cannot feel anyone affection anymore. And if I feel it, I feel suffocated by it. But at the same time I want affection. This song gave me affection without suffocating me. I will definitely learn to play this, when I restart playing piano.

I think this is what falling in Love sounds like

9 year old kid in the simply piano ad: *plays simple chord progression* 4 year old Asian Kid: *plays Moonlight Sonata 3rd Movement*

Wow, I'm not really sure why, but listening to this piece while reading the comments made me cry for the first time in over a year. I've been having a really stressful and depressing week, and today I've been painfully reminded of how lonely I am, and how it probably won't change. And reading all these wonderful comments about their bittersweet experiences. That, in essence, is what this piece means to me. About how life is beautiful and hideous at the same time. About how your existence does not matter yet means everything. Our problems mean so little but are so important. Despite all this, life will go on, things will keep living, and we will experience the best times and the worst times. All of this is to say, no matter how depressed or suic*dal you might be, things will get better. Your most terrific experiences are ahead of you, keep going. If anyone sees this, feel free to trauma dump in the replies. Maybe one day I'll even reply in there.

I love how much people appreciate classical music. It’s wonderful really❤❤.

it’s so weird that everyone’s saying it’s about love or grief cause in my head i always picture a slow rainy day on a lake or something with no humans at all just the beauty of nature (edit: finally finished this after 1 year)

This should play at the end of our lifes when the credits show up

When I was a kid my dad would practice this song at night while I was going to sleep. This is my favorite piece of all time. It is so beautiful. I cry whenever I hear it because it takes me back to a simpler time. I will always love and cherish those memories.

This song has been my grandmas favorite, she loved to play it for me when I was young, and when I got older I learned to play this for her and she sat on her bed in delight. When I turned 11 my grandma was diagnosed with bone cancer. She sat at the hospital in pain, she listened to me playing the song on my phone. While everyone was sitting in the room, she felt that she was going to pass away, and her last words were, thank you for caring for me, I love you. I am now thirty five with my 5 year old daughter named Luna. Thank you grandma, I miss you.

Man's just summoned an entire fandom

Kinda scares me how nice everyone is being, I rarely see nice comments on RU-vid.

I remember being on a plane travelling back to NZ, and when it was night time I listened to this piece while most people were sleeping. It was so relaxing to listen to. Thanks Rousseau for bringing back great memories!

WE MAKING IT OUT OF LIMBO WITH THIS ONE 🔥🔥🔥🔥✍✍✍✍✍🗣🗣🗣🗣

If this masterpiece is not played at my funeral, then I’m not dying.

brought me to tears. man, he really put his entire debussy into this one right here.

This is definitely the most calming music in history of composers

I’m currently learning this piece! I’m leaving time stamps to certain parts as a reference: Tempo rubato 1:13 peu a peu cresc. et anime 1:32 un pocco mosso 2:05 Eu animant 2:32 Calmato 2:48 oh god no please 2:53 Arpeggios before a tempo 3:05 a Tempo 3:11 a Tempo (cont.) 3:47 morendo jusqua la fin 4:24

"Yup, that's our promise. I'm leaving everything up to you, Shuichi. ...Goodbye."

"Music is the silence between the notes" -Claude Debussy

Someone in my grade played this song infront of a bunch if people, they somehow played it flawlessly

I played this for my son when he was a newborn and he is 5 now still asking for this song at bedtime. I hope he still continues to ask for this song in the future

This song is like getting to know someone then falling in love then slowing growing apart

this song makes my depression depressed

He put his whole Debussy into this 😫

I use this rendition to put my baby daughter to sleep. Thank you Debussy and thank you Rousseau

just in case nobody knows,”clair de lune“ means “moonlight”

My mother used to play this song when I was a kid... No sad history, she stills alive.

I was brought up in a jamaican household mainly listening to reggae and motown and watching top of the pops and many songs resonate with me but this from a totally different genre by Debussy is a much-loved master piece that I carry in my heart

Debussy really cooked at 1890. great piece

The way i see it this isnt a love story, its a story about losing someone you love and how you feel afterwards. And throughout the song it takes you through the different stages of dealing with loss, until it finally ends with acceptance

I think this is the most beautiful piece of music ever composed.

WE BLOWING UP CORE WITH THIS ONE❗❗❗❗❗🔥🔥🔥

Currently learning this. Got the sheet music today and I’m using this to mark notes/fingerings on it. Love how you played this

I finaly finished to learn this piece after almost 6 months. Pretty proud of myself :)

This song makes me feel a specific emotion. A feeling of sad nostalgia and loneliness.

my boyfriend left me a few days ago, this music reminds me of him, I normally played this when we talked seriously and it reminds me of ultrakill, and it reminds me of how hes gone... it was the only way it could of ended...

my face upon seeing an exact copy of me break through a cathedral window and shit talk me in morse code

Me: gets a piano RU-vid recommendations: getting a piano I see? Here is something you won’t be able to play

This music makes me have memories of things i haven't lived yet.

WE BEATIN' 1-4 WITH THIS ONE❗❗🔥🔥🔥🔥

it feels like drifiting down a stream, accepting your fate as an hero, to be gone away, to be a legend, to say goodbye...

I want to find someone that makes me feel the way this song does.

My son died 2 years ago, this was one of his favourite pieces of music, when I listen to this I feel peace and tranquility, and totally connected to him, sleep sweetly boy.

im not gonna sugarcoat this

I think of spring when I hear this music, it's like the start of something, it could also sound like the end of something.

My dad loved this song. He passed away recently and I got the chance to play this at his funeral. Something he told me before he left was: "When you lose something dear to you, you lose a part of you. You may grieve. You may cry. You may grow angry, believing it was your fault. But know that nothing in this world lasts forever. Eventually everything will disappear. But before that time comes, live your life to the fullest. Don't hold yourself down and mope in your self pity. If you fall, pick yourself back up. Keep dreaming. If you keep pushing forward, you will find happiness once again. And if you already have. Strive further." Miss ya dad I'll never stop loving you (I know there's another comment about their father passing as well. I genuinely mean what is said here. And my heart goes out to that person and anyone else who's ever lost someone dear to them. Even though their gone, their memory remains with you. Be grateful that you still have that.)

"I wish there was a piano here. I would play you a song to help you cheer up!"

0:05 you see them for the first time 0:38 you see them smile from afar 0:44 you talk to them for the first time 1:14 you start to fall for them 1:23 your heart skips a beat when they look you in the eye 1:54 you hang out with them more often 2:05 you think about them more often 2:24 they smile at you 2:32 you think about telling them 3:13 you walk up to them, ready to tell them 3:37 they pause, listening to you 3:53 they say yes to liking you back 4:00 you text them more. 4:25 you’re dating them now 4:41 they tell you they love you 4:44 you say the same. I was bored so there is your Clair de Lune love story

this is typa song that plays before you fight a red robot

I was playing this piece, about 4 months ago. I was about half way through it, working on getting the first couple pages down, when my piano teacher died. She was one of a kind. I have a new one, now, but he's not even close to as good as my old one. This was the first time I had the courage to listen to it again. So beautiful

Is it me or does the intro sound more beautiful the second time around at the end when it plays it again. Makes you feel like you went on a journey and got back home.

You motivated me to play Piano again after 6 months Thank you!!!❤🎹

Clair De Lune is the greatest piano piece ever constructed in my opinion it goes to show that you don't need everything to make beauty a song so simple compared to it's piers yet it brings a level of grace with it that not many can match. We will never see a piece like this ever

One year ago, this video was posted. I can finally play it. If it wasn't for Rousseau, I wouldn't have learnt this. Thank you so much.

Clair de Lune may just be the most beautiful piano piece in the world

This is one of my favorites by far, I can listen to this on repeat and it will never get old

+RICOSHOT +FISTFUL OF DOLLAR +FISTFUL OF DOLLAR +FISTFUL OF DOLLAR +FISTFUL OF DOLLAR +FISTFUL OF DOLLAR (slightly niche reference, but i've loved this song my whole life, it's one of the reasons i started piano)

I don’t cry almost ever. I’m a 20 year old dude. No movie can make me cry, no sad video, nothing…. But this song makes me ball my eyes out almost immediately.

It sounds like you're a machine travelling through the depths of hell, eradicating the demons standing in your way. Eventually, you reach the deepest part of Limbo, and face a machine, supposedly the one who had replaced you.

+PARRY +FRIENDLY FIRE +RICOSHOT (x1) +PROJECTILE BOOST

I realized there was a moment in Debussy’s life where he heard this piece for the final time

Guys, this song isn't always sad. Remember Ocean's Eleven when this plays after they stole millions of dollars? That was happy.

My grandmother passed away this month, April, and she was a pianist, and I think one of the reasons why I learned was because of her. She would’ve loved to hear my playing, since she was a pianist. I hope if I can see her again if there even is an afterlife, I can play for her. Thank you for this cover, since it makes me remember how much I love piano.

DA BUSSY?!?!?