10 great songs made with the Bob Moog Google Doodle
The latest Google Doodle, created to commemorate synthesizer inventor Bob Moog's birthday, allows users to play and record their own songs. Here's a list of the best we've listened to so far.
The latest Google Doodle, created to commemorate synthesizer inventor Bob Moog's birthday, allows users to play and record their own songs. Here's a list of the best we've listened to so far.
Google鈥檚 first Doodle was an Impressionist sketch of the company鈥檚 logo, created by Dennis Hwang in 2004. Since then, Google has upped the ante by devising interactive Doodles that put visitors in charge.听
Users have previously been able to strum a Les Paul guitar and play a quick round of Pac-Man 鈥� now, you can play and record songs via Bob Moog鈥檚 synthesizer.
Robert 鈥淏ob鈥� Moog sparked a musical movement that has been described as 鈥渁ssertive, bouncy, exotically wheezy and occasionally explosive.鈥�
In other words, he is the inventor of the synthesizer. His creation lent a hand to the explosion of musical genres such as disco and electronic music in the form of Donna Summer and the soundtrack from the futuristic Stanley Kubrick film, 鈥淎 Clockwork Orange.鈥�
This latest Doodle has inspired musicians (and quite a few talented amateurs) to tinker with Google鈥檚 homage, which includes oscillators and filters and a 25-key keyboard. We鈥檝e compiled a list of the best examples of songs posted on YouTube and Google+, ranging from movie theme songs to the work of a classical composer. To get started on a song of your own, see our guide to the Doodle.
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1. "Summer" by Vanessa James
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YouTube user听barabas89 got more than 11,000 hits for this take on composer Vanessa James鈥� number. Barabas89 recorded separate parts of the song and layered them with some editing, culminating in a sophisticated example of what the Doodle can do.
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2. "The Imperial March" from 鈥淪tar Wars鈥�
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It鈥檚 one of the most easily recognizable movie themes, even when played on a small keyboard. YouTube user听willdsgn put together a 20-second clip of the song most often associated with Darth Vader and the evil Empire.
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3. 听"Happy Birthday"
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Considering that the Doodle was made to celebrate Robert Moog鈥檚 birthday, a take on the 鈥淗appy Birthday鈥� song seems appropriate. YouTube user听EversonFreitas22 recorded a quick homage to Moog infused with the typical electronic vibrations of any synthesizer.
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4. "Tetris"听theme
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One of the most popular video game songs ever, the Tetris music is ingrained in the minds of GameBoy enthusiasts. YouTube user听joshntx compiled a 50-second version of the puzzle game鈥檚 upbeat theme song.
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5. 鈥淐anon in C"听by Johann Pachelbel
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And some say classical music is dead. Despite Moog鈥檚 synthesizer being one of the most modern musical inventions to date, YouTube user听askymoon made a simple clip of one of the most famous orchestral pieces in history.
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6. "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from 鈥淭he Lion King鈥�
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In one of the most beloved Disney movies, Simba and Nala sing a sweet love duet when they see each other for the first time in years. 颅With music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice, the song won the 1994 Academy Award for Best Original Song 鈥� and now, it鈥檚 come to Google鈥檚 latest Doodle.
(Listen to the recording here.)
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7. "Main Title (The Godfather Waltz)"听from 鈥淭he Godfather鈥�
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Italian composer Nino Rota鈥檚 waltz arouses memories of watching the Corleone family sink themselves deeper and deeper into trouble in Francis Ford Coppola鈥檚 classic film series 鈥� even with one listen of this synthesized recording.
(Listen to the recording here.)
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8. 鈥淭ubular Bells"听from 鈥淭he Exorcist鈥�
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YouTube user听lappingthesun鈥檚 approximation of one of the scariest film鈥檚 theme song is enough to send chills down your spine. 鈥淲hen I played the song it was ok,鈥� the video description reads, 鈥渂ut then [i]t played back weird and different every time with the player so I found the best version of the riff and I [l]ooped it.鈥�
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9. "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star"
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For budding musicians, this English lullaby is often one of the first songs to learn. For those experimenting with the latest hands-on Google Doodle, it鈥檚 an easy tune that has yielded a product worthy of praise (in YouTube user听CErixsson鈥檚 case).
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10. "Hey Jude"听by The Beatles
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Even without the voices of John, Paul, George, and Ringo, 鈥淗ey Jude鈥� is a model song. YouTube user听MattStottmann, who calls himself a 鈥渕anipulator of sound and creator of sonic texture鈥� on his听Twitter, recorded a nearly three-minute take on one of the most famous songs to come out of The Beatles鈥� 10-year existence.
What are your favorite recordings of the Bob Moog Google Doodle? Let us know in the comments section below.
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