Piano Guys' Wedding Songs: What Makes You Beautiful

The Piano Guys, a group of five Utah musicians, rose to fame on YouTube with their creative music videos garnering over 100 million views. They are known for their unique and playful interpretations of popular songs, including their plucky makeover of One Direction's hit What Makes You Beautiful. Their rendition of the song, which showcases their unconventional and experimental approach to music, has gained significant attention and even helped them secure a recording contract with Sony Masterworks. The Piano Guys' music, including their cheerful and family-friendly take on What Makes You Beautiful, has found a special place in the hearts of many, even becoming a popular choice for weddings.

The Piano Guys' most-watched music video

The Piano Guys are well known for their musical covers of popular songs, encompassing the piano and the cello. Their most-viewed music video is their cover of "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri, which has garnered over 228 million views on YouTube. The song was initially released as part of the soundtrack for the film Breaking Dawn. The Piano Guys put their own instrumental twist on the song, and it has since become their most-watched video to date.

In addition to "A Thousand Years", The Piano Guys have several other highly viewed music videos. Their cover of "Beethoven's 5 Secrets" by OneRepublic has accumulated 150 million views. They also covered "Titanium/Pavane", a mashup of songs by David Guetta and Faure, which has received 135 million views. Their cover of "Let It Go" by Idina Menzel and Vivaldi's "Winter" is another popular video with 119 million views.

While not among their most-viewed videos, The Piano Guys' cover of "What Makes You Beautiful" by One Direction has gained significant attention. The song was released in 2012 and the music video was filmed at the Sandy, Utah Amphitheater, facing several challenges due to weather and timing. Despite these obstacles, the video was successfully completed, and the song has become a popular choice for weddings, with its catchy melody and family-friendly lyrics.

The song's family-friendly appeal

The Piano Guys' rendition of "What Makes You Beautiful" is a family-friendly song that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. The song's catchy tune, upbeat lyrics, and fun music video make it a delightful choice for weddings and other celebratory events. Here are some reasons why "What Makes You Beautiful" by The Piano Guys has a family-friendly appeal:

Catchy and Upbeat: The song "What Makes You Beautiful" is known for its catchy and upbeat melody. The Piano Guys' version stays true to the original while adding their unique touch, making it enjoyable for guests of all ages. This song can uplift the mood of your wedding and create a joyful atmosphere.

Family-Friendly Lyrics: The Piano Guys chose this One Direction song because it passed their Sesame Street test, meaning the lyrics are family-friendly. This is an important consideration when choosing music for a wedding where guests of all ages, from children to grandparents, will be in attendance.

Relatable for All Ages: The song's message is relatable for people of all ages. It's a fun and lighthearted tune that can bring a smile to the faces of your guests, from the youngest to the oldest. This relatability is essential in creating an inclusive and welcoming atmosphere at your wedding.

Classic for Modern Weddings: "What Makes You Beautiful" by The Piano Guys has become a modern classic for weddings. It offers a refreshing change from traditional wedding songs while still maintaining a sense of elegance and romance. This song can be a delightful surprise for your guests and create lasting memories.

Versatile for Wedding Moments: The versatility of "What Makes You Beautiful" makes it suitable for various wedding moments. It can be played during the bridal entrance, cake-cutting, or as a fun recessional song. Its energy and positivity can enhance the joy of these special moments.

"What Makes You Beautiful" by The Piano Guys is a delightful choice for weddings, offering a modern twist on traditional wedding music. Its family-friendly appeal ensures that your wedding celebration includes guests of all ages and creates a warm and joyful atmosphere.

The song's music video filming

The music video for The Piano Guys' "What Makes You Beautiful" is a fun and lighthearted take on the original One Direction song. The video was filmed backstage at the Sandy, Utah Amphitheater, where the group was scheduled to perform a sold-out show. They had to film between the hours of 2 AM and 7 AM due to scheduling conflicts and a big storm that knocked everything down on stage during soundcheck. In the video, at the 2:30 mark, you can see the morning light breaking as the sun rises.

The Piano Guys, a group of five middle-aged married men, chose to cover "What Makes You Beautiful" because of its catchiness and family-friendly nature. They enjoyed the challenge of taking on a song by a teenybopper boy band and experimented with unconventional piano-playing techniques, such as plucking strings and banging out a beat.

The video concept was born during a brainstorming session for a different video shoot when one of the group members started flicking a piano string. Soon, everyone joined in, and the original meeting agenda was forgotten as they played around with the piano.

The Piano Guys' "What Makes You Beautiful" music video is a perfect example of their musical talent and creativity. They took a well-known pop song and made it their own, adding their unique style and instrumentation. The result is a fun and uplifting track that has garnered over 82 million views on YouTube.

The Piano Guys' popularity

The Piano Guys are an American musical group consisting of pianist Jon Schmidt, cellist Steven Sharp Nelson, videographer Paul Anderson, and music producer Al van der Beek. They gained popularity through YouTube, where they began posting piano and cello compositions combining classical, pop, film score, and original music, showcased through elaborate or cinematic videos. As of February 2024, they had uploaded 227 videos, garnering over 2.3 billion views and 7 million subscribers. Their most-watched video is a cover of Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years", with over 223 million views.

The group originated as a social media strategy for Anderson's piano store, The Piano Guys, in St. George, Utah. In 2009, Anderson saw a music video that Schmidt had uploaded to YouTube, "Love Story Meets Viva la Vida" – a musical blend of the Taylor Swift country pop tune and Coldplay's pop song "Viva la Vida", which Schmidt performed with Nelson on cello. That video logged more than one million hits. Anderson then asked the musicians to do more videos that he would professionally film and upload to his store's Facebook and YouTube pages to promote his store.

The Piano Guys' first eight major-label studio albums each reached number one on Billboard Classical Albums or New Age Albums charts. They have also toured worldwide, with sold-out concerts in the US, Canada, UK, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Australia, and Russia, among others. They have also played at major classical and pop venues, including Carnegie Hall, Greek Theatre, Royal Albert Hall, and The Grand Ole Opry.

The Piano Guys are known for their mashups of classical and contemporary songs, blending artists such as Mozart and Adele, Liszt and Coldplay, Tchaikovsky and Shawn Mendes, Bach and Michael Jackson, or Vivaldi and Disney. Their covers of popular songs, combined with their impressive musical talent, have made them a popular choice for wedding songs. Their cover of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" has garnered over 82 million views on YouTube and is often chosen as a song for the bride's entrance.

Other wedding songs by The Piano Guys

The Piano Guys have become renowned for their musical prowess, covering many popular songs that are perfect for weddings. Their most-watched video to date is their cover of Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years", which has garnered over 228 million views on YouTube. The duo put their own instrumental twist on the song, featuring piano and cello, which has proven to be a hit with couples.

The Piano Guys also covered Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love", which is a popular choice for wedding ceremonies and receptions. Their cover of "Over the Rainbow/Simple Gifts", a combination of songs by Joseph Brackett and Judy Garland, is another popular choice for weddings, with 58 million views on YouTube.

The Piano Guys have a large repertoire of songs that would be perfect for weddings, including "Beethoven's 5 Secrets" by OneRepublic, "Titanium/Pavane" by David Guetta and Faure, and "Let It Go" by Idina Menzel and featuring Vivaldi's Winter. Their covers of popular songs are a great way to add a unique and modern twist to your wedding, while still incorporating classic and well-known songs that your guests will know and love.

With their impressive musical talent, The Piano Guys can help make your wedding day even more special and memorable. Their music is a beautiful blend of piano and cello, creating a romantic and enchanting atmosphere that is perfect for weddings.

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