Welcome to Day Four of POP! GOES THE CLASSICAL Week on IPR’s Kids Commute. We’ve been exploring several artists and ensembles that use their creativity and training to reinvent modern music.
Today, we focus on 2Cellos, a duo of cellists that have a history of competing against one another. While they were highly respected because of their musical accomplishments, they weren’t necessarily financially successful until they realized the key to success was being different from other talented and accomplished musicians.
2Cellos took the internet by storm with the viral video of their performance of Michael Jackson’s Smooth Criminal that has gained almost thirty million views on YouTube! Knowing that this is what makes them unique, they’ve gone on to reinvent popular songs such as "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC, last year’s hit song "Despacito," and "I Will Wait" by Mumford and Sons.
Today, we'll hear the hit that made them famous - Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal."
KC 223
"Smooth Criminal"
Michael Jackson
2Cellos (Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser)
Here's today's Kids Commute:
Here is the 2Cellos viral video of "Smooth Criminal."
Hear their beautiful playing in "Despacito."
