No matter. There are always more rock and roll nerds who'll never play anywhere close to Albert Hall. This song is not for him anymore, but it's for them.
I once came up with the greatest and best youtube username in the world, This is just a tribute. [guitar materialises out of nowhere and starts playing tribute by tenacious D]
@@trafalgarlaw8373 The original name for the piano was 'pianoforte' which literally translates to quiet-strong. The line is a play on the original name and the phrase that something can play to a forte or strength.
@@matthewlacey4198 Italian, French or German are the main language-- universal is Italian but depends on where the composer is from. Dynamics are always marked in Italian though (unless you look at Stockhausen or Berg who were a bit nutty)
As a massive fan of classic rock and roll I have to say that Tim Minchin is easily one of my top ten favourite musicians of all time. He's a master pianist.
Rachel Shaskin But Tim is ginger and you were talking about selling your soul. My point was, perhaps you haven't been to one of his concerts yet because you, in fact, have a soul and must get rid of it before you can get a ticket.
"But he doesn't want to seem self-obsessed So he writes in third person In an attempt to seem more rock'n'roll But he suspects it's not working" Will never fail to make me laugh out loud
It is a happy song though, albeit quite subtly - the subtext is that he proved them all wrong (most of all his own self-doubt). He's singing a song about how much he doesn't rock *while completely rocking the house*.
He doesn't have a problem with drugs He just doesn't get them He's fine that his mates have tattoos But he thinks they'll regret them He likes going to pubs But he hates when the music's too loud He tends not to go to rock concerts Cause he can't stand the crowds But all he's ever wanted to be Is a rock star on Rage or MTV But he knows that it's not fucking likely He's just turned thirty He knows that he will always be A rock'n'roll nerd He'll keep writing songs the world will never hear And though they won't be heard He'll just keep writing Oh yeah But you see the problem is He always dreamt of being a star But he learned piano instead of guitar Which in the '90s didn't get you very far So while all the other kids were learning Stairway He was the piano to their forte But he was convinced one day He'd rock their fucking asses Be an icon for the disenfranchised masses And grow his hair long And rebel against the state But just for now that'd have to wait Cause he's running late for his morning classes And he will always be A rock'n'roll nerd He'll keep playing gigs that no one knows about And though it sounds absurd He'll just keep playing Oh yeah But you see the problem is There's not much depth in what he's singing He's a victim of his upper middle class upbringing So he can't write about the hood Or bling bling So he sits and imagines his girlfriend is dead To try and invoke some angst in his middle class head But the bitch is always fine at half past nine When they go to bed And he's not spent a single night in prison He has no issues with nutrition He has no drinking problem And no drug addiction Unless you count the drugs they put in chicken And marijuana always tends to make him cough He doesn't look good with his t-shirt off And when he tries to act tough You can tell he's tricking While his mates all go out late Popping pills and having fun He goes home and showers And gets a good eight hours He gets his thrills from his morning run And while his mates all go on dates Taking speed and drinking cans of Jim Bean He stays home and cooks Curls up with a book With the girl he's had since he was seventeen Cause he's never really been part of the scene Give him Guns N' Roses, he'll take Queen He's more into Beatles than The Stones He's more Stevie Wonder than Ramones And he's never owned a panel van He's never shot a Panterra fan He doesn't know the difference between metal and thrash He couldn't tell you nothing about Axel and Slash He likes Ben Folds and the Jackson Five He knows all the words to Staying Alive And though he wants to be all grungy and cool He spent eleven years in a private school So it don't matter how he tries He cannot hide behind his rock'n'roll lies Cause you've either got it or you don't You'll either rock it or you won't Yeah, you've either got it or you don't Yeah, you'll either rock it or you won't He knows that his music lacks depth But it just can't be helped He has nothing interesting to say So he writes about himself But he doesn't want to seem self-obsessed So he writes in third person In an attempt to seem more rock'n'roll But he suspects it's not working And deep in his heart he knows That he'll never be Silver Chair or Eskimo Joe And even if he was quite pretty With small pants like Kylie He knows that he will always be A rock'n'roll nerd He'll keep writing songs the world don't care about And though it sounds absurd He'll just keep writing Oh yeah You can criticise him But he won't care Cause he wants to rock And he will never be deterred But he'll always be a fucked up little Try-hard wannabe rock'n'roll nerd
ausraider He encapsulates the christian apologist and science denialist. He even runs a museum that tries to explain geological and historical phenomena through the bible. It's horrible really, Bill Nye unfortunately gave him a platform by "debating" him, which went about as well as you'd expect a chess game against a pigeon to go.
As a guy that's just starting to learn to play piano, I can appreciate all performances like this. To be able to play something complex like this (or Darkside), sing, and act via facial expressions, without errors... baffles me. Ridiculous talent.
That bit about "he doesn't want to appear self obsessed so he writes in the third person" or words to that effect is incredibly well observed - I knew someone who did just that. To date, the world hasn't heard his songs either. Fuck, the poignancy...
From my experience, 20 minutes in I've bummed everyone out with nerdy comedy comments nobody gets or deep conversations with people who don't want to have them. After that I get drunk and I'm hangover for the next 3 days. So, you're not missing out on anything.
He's a musician and a comedian at the same time. If he didn't play any instrument his act would be OK, and he may not be a born rock star, but the comedy and the music together have made him very well-known. He may not be Mick Jagger or David Bowie, but he's great at what he does.
Not saying he's not a funny bloke, but whenever I listen to this guy, I can't help but look past his comedy. When you listen to him as a pure pianist, he's absolutely brilliant...the comedy is just a bonus - and some bonus it is
I love how he can make such an emotional song funny, but still emotional. You can tell when he's singing it and his facial expression, that he's serious and sad and it's just amazing... haha
I did the live Twitter thing tonight for Tim's new album that came out today, and one person (affectionately) called us all nerds. Which instantly reminded me of this song. Nice to come back again to this boppy tune after the melancholy/poignant tracks on the Apart Together album.
as much as I enjoy Tim with the orchestras, I still prefer the more intimate solo/small band (B&P). I really enjoy acoustic piano playing (don't like synths/organs). Tom Lehrer and Tim Minchin are 2 guys I could listen to all day. Sharp wit and great piano skills. Thanks Tim, for sharing. Peace and Plenty!
Tim Minchin is one of the most amazing musicians I have ever seen. His ability to compose is absolutely mind-blowing, melodically, rhythmically and improvisationally. He also manages to be a fantastic comedian at the same time! Definitely someone I admire.
The best part about this song is that he is describing himself and later he even admits by saying "He has nothing interesting to say So he writes about himself But he doesn't want to seem self obsessed So he writes in third person"
I suspect that the Stairway-outro is a nod to the lyrics from 1:18 to 1:41 Rocking those guitar-playing kids' fucking asses and showing that he made it.
I think I saw a Tim Minchin reference in Family guy, so decided to rewatch the Rock’n’Roll nerd which I loved 8 years ago. This one’s so powerful. And the guy’s just great. Thank you! ⭐️
I have a comment somewhere in this thread from years ago. This song still gets to me, even now. I enjoy Mr. Minchin so much, and some of his music is still a part of my life. This, and White Wine in the Sun, are just 2 of my favorites. That soul is in there, and its brilliant.
Every time I think I found my favorite Tim song, and every time I fing a somehow even better one. The man is a mad genius! Can't believe I only found him now...
This man is just a genius. Brilliant, amazing, ridiculously talented man. I love the audience in this video too, very responsive to pretty much all of the jokes! Love it!
I find this so amazing... as someone who plays guitar with a friend, and wants to start a band, I guess I have those same dreams of being a "rock n roll" star. But I'm as big a nerd as I probably could be, I've never drunk alcohol, would never take drugs, smoke, get a tattoo, pretty much everything Tim says here. Whats more we play Metal music, where you're expected to be some kind of tough guy. Its pretty weird to have a dream you know almost 99% certain will never happen.
