【Dear Utol (2025): Kilay is Life Episode 42】

I don't even know what this thing is Dear Utol (2025): Kilay is Life Episode 42called, but I love it.

For the past few years, I've noticed a growing trend of YouTube videos where extremelytalented musicians take clips of people speaking, find the notes, and then record a rendition with their instruments.

I've searched far and wide for what exactly this might be called in musician circles and either I am terrible at Google or it doesn't have a name. Still, it's something that has sprung up more and more and I couldn't be more delighted.

If you still don't know just what in the hell I'm talking about here's the first one I remember seeing way back in the beginning of 2016 from incredible bassist Iggy Jackson-Cohen.

See what I am saying?

What skill! How do you even time something like this? I've noodled my way around a guitar for the past few decades like any other white dude, but I couldn't conceive of putting together a project like this.

He did another one based on that old viral video of the girl trying and failing to sing "And I Will Always Love You."

But this brilliant bassist is far from the first to make music out of meaningful monologues.

Let me introduce you to the awe-inspiring talent of YouTuber Mono Neon.

See what he does with this old gem:

And while that video is GREAT. It doesn't speak to Mono Neon's true passions. 1. He seems to prefer guitar over bass and 2. He definitely prefers rapper Cardi B to everyone.

He has made it his mission to regularly honor some of the "Bodak Yellow" singer's raw social media posts by turning them into immediately watchable videos.

He's done a lot of them.

Mono Neon is the king. He's even inspired others like YouTuber sgmaniak (who thankfully does shout out Mono Neon in his video).

If you think this is only something that is possible with stringed instruments, then sit down, my child. You have a lot to learn.

Let me introduce you to amazing drummer David Dockery.

And behold! His magnum opus! The Pepe Silvia monologue from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.

It was so good that it inspired another musician, sub kilohertz oscillations, to add in some bass to the mix.

This musician is also super on board this train.

But many other drummers exist who seem to really get a kick (drum) out of finding the percussion in commercials.

I get a kick out of it as well.

Surely manyother videos of this nature exist; the internet is a huge place. I can't help but marvel at the sheer virtuosity that these musicians bring to such mundane things.

If you need me, I'll be in the bowels of YouTube, looking for more.

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