Canon Rock (2006)

added Oct 24, 2009 at 04:46PM UTC

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About

Canon Rock is a classical/metal instrumental composed by the Taiwanese musician and songwriter Jerry Chang (aka JerryC). The guitar arrangement is based on Johann Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major, a well-known classical masterpiece often used during wedding ceremonies.

JerryC’s arrangement was subsequently covered by a South Korean guitarist known as Funtwo, which became viral and went on to recieve over 64 million views and inspired over 2,000 video responses.

Origins

The video footage of Jerry’s performance was initially uploaded on his band site, but later spread over to other video-sharing sites like YouTube#, where it has received over 8 million views [as of March 2010]. But Canon Rock recitals didn’t quite go viral until Funtwo, a guitarist from S. Korea, uploaded his own rendition of Canon Rock on a Korean musicians’ site called Mule.co.kr. Simply titled “guitar”, it gained overnight exposure and quickly spread over to YouTube, where it became the 18th most watched video on YouTube [as of March 2010]:

For more information on the backstory of Canon Rock, you can check out the NYTimes article (Aug 27th, 2006).

Derivatives

Many derivatives of Canon Rock have taken the setting from Funtwo’s video, where the guitarist is sitting on a bed with a baseball cap concealing his/her identity.

MattRach

hackologue

sktr32gtr

goljadkin, who performed an acoustic version

Incorporating Other Memes

digihero, did a version in Mario Paint Composer

anonymarchive created a MAD featuring Shuzo Matsuoka

…and many, many more.

Ultimate Canon Rock

After countless covers of Canon Rock were uploaded onto Youtube, a user named Impeto created a video of 39 guys (and one girl) performing the instrumental including the original, Funtwo’s, and many others. The compilation was titled “Ultimate Canon Rock”.

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25 Comments

Joeflims
Oct 24, 2009 at 06:30PM UTC , Joeflims wrote:

YOU BEAT ME TO IT!!!!!!!!!!

Deuxieme_en_pie
Oct 24, 2009 at 06:45PM UTC , Deuxieme_en_pie wrote:

I am proud to say that I can play this song

Tomberry
Oct 24, 2009 at 07:13PM UTC , Tomberry wrote:

That is pure awesomeness, no doubt.

Watcher
Oct 25, 2009 at 04:12AM UTC , Watcher wrote:

This is awesome…
no other words can describe it

Chris Menning
Oct 25, 2009 at 04:45PM UTC , Chris Menning wrote:

I’m glad to see someone make an entry for this. About a year ago I put together a script to make a KYM episode about this meme, but at the time JerryC was doing his compulsory service in the Chinese army, so there wasn’t much of an ending to talk about. I’ll update the article to include a followup of what JerryC is up to now. There was also some controversy when a few different people were claiming to be Funtwo.

Rihk
Oct 25, 2009 at 08:08PM UTC , Rihk wrote:

This music is 340 years old. It was written circa 1680. I don’t know if people playing music that old in their personal styles is something I can stand behind as a meme. Of course, when this guy talks about it, it seems memetic… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdxkVQy7QLM

Jest
Oct 25, 2009 at 10:52PM UTC , Jest wrote:

As a guitarist this meme bugs me, because you constantly get people wanting to show it to you on Youtube. “Have you seen this video?”. That being said, it’s played well, not sure why it’s so huge but it definitely is huge.

Brad Kim
Oct 30, 2009 at 08:38PM UTC , Brad Kim wrote:

heh yeah, i think i’ve gotten my share of “dude, check this out!” e-mails about Canon Rock and the likes. regardless, a meme is a meme…’firmed.

sgdonovan79
Oct 31, 2009 at 04:31AM UTC , sgdonovan79 wrote:

I have to say I enjoy these videos and the sound is amazing, but alas putting a rock element in this piece of music is nothing new. The indie band Zox did it back on their 2002 album “Take Me Home” (http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:hvftxqualdde – Track 13). It’s not the exact same and I’m not saying that JerryC ripped it off. His version is unique and quite remarkable, but he’s not the pioneer this site is making him out to be.

Take a listen to Zox’s version of Canon in D here (http://www.imeem.com/people/iM_mLB/music/ySm3mWh3/zox-canon/) and see for yourself. It’s a shame no one made a meme out of this version back in ’02.

Jack Mannik
Oct 31, 2009 at 03:12PM UTC , Jack Mannik wrote:

It doesn’t have to be new to be a meme.

Chris Menning
Oct 31, 2009 at 03:40PM UTC , Chris Menning wrote:

sgdonovan79,

Canon in D is probably the MOST covered and most reworked song around. But the Canon Rock videos on Youtube all share one thing in common: they all play along to the backround track that JerryC put together.

Chris Menning
Oct 31, 2009 at 03:44PM UTC , Chris Menning wrote:

Not really part of the meme, but this is another good video about Canon in D.

Rihk
Nov 01, 2009 at 08:40PM UTC , Rihk wrote:

Hah, Chris, that’s the video I linked. :)

joe blow
Nov 06, 2009 at 12:34AM UTC , joe blow wrote:

HOW THE FUCK IS THIS A MEME?!?!!?!?

Matt Hopper
Nov 10, 2009 at 03:41PM UTC , Matt Hopper wrote:

@ joe_blow

IT JUST IS!!

AND IT ROCKS!!

The Geeks
Nov 13, 2009 at 06:19AM UTC , The Geeks wrote:

Probably should also mention the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s version, “Christmas Canon Rock,” from 2004.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Christmas_Eve

The Geeks
Nov 13, 2009 at 06:21AM UTC , The Geeks wrote:

Probably should also mention the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s version, “Christmas Canon Rock,” from 2004. It probably bears the most resemblance to this interpretation of the song.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Christmas_Eve

http://www.lala.com/#song/360569535363447530

The Geeks
Nov 13, 2009 at 06:22AM UTC , The Geeks wrote:

Probably should also mention the Trans-Siberian Orchestra’s version, “Christmas Canon Rock,” from 2004. I think it bears the most resemblance to this interpretation of the song.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lost_Christmas_Eve

http://www.lala.com/#song/360569535363447530

Someguy503
Nov 14, 2009 at 05:50PM UTC , Someguy503 wrote:

The way I see memes is like a giant inside joke based on the common ground a [internet] community has. If I were to say another meme song line sort of like “Like a boss” or “I’m on a boat” only those acquainted with it understand the joke/history behind it. But Canon rock in this case is just a popular song. One that several people have done renditions of. It doesn’t translate to a meme because there is no inside joke/secret within the community behind it.

Lanthus [Chicken Ace & Taking Names mode activated]
Nov 30, 2009 at 10:56PM UTC , Lanthus [Chicken Ace & Taking Names mode activated] wrote:

“Know Your Meme: Documenting Internet phenomena: viral videos…”

Hmm, where have I heard the term “viral Video” before…
It may not be a full blown meme but, what do I know?

Fertel
Feb 21, 2010 at 02:57PM UTC , Fertel wrote:

Even MADs were made about it.

Cathbrian McKillen
Feb 23, 2010 at 09:23PM UTC , Cathbrian McKillen wrote:

My Ears Just Shat There Pants…

frans16611
Mar 01, 2010 at 09:25PM UTC , frans16611 wrote:

The Canon by a french band live !
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4966944728026746646#

SSBMMasta
Mar 04, 2010 at 01:25AM UTC , SSBMMasta wrote:

Updated. Thnx Fertel for the EPIC video.

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