Grammy-winning musician Jacob Collier has a name for the feeling that moves through a great piece of music: the wiggle. Watch him break down the idea into its three parts — melody, rhythm and harmony — with nothing but his own voice, a grand piano and Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.” Turns out life, like music, was never made to run in straight lines. (Recorded at TED2026 on April 14, 2026)
(“What a Wonderful World” was written by Bob Thiele and George David Weiss.)
Join us in person at a TED conference:
Become a TED Member to support our mission:
Subscribe to a TED newsletter:
Follow TED!
Instagram:
LinkedIn:
TikTok:
Facebook:
X:
The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less) — plus originals, podcasts and exclusive content. Look for videos on Technology, Entertainment and Design as well as science, business, global issues, the arts and more. Visit for our entire library, transcripts, translations and personalized recommendations.
Watch more:
TED videos may be used for non-commercial purposes under a Creative Commons License, Attribution–Non Commercial–No Derivatives (or the CC BY – NC – ND 4.0 International) and in accordance with the TED Talks Usage Policy: . For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a request at
#TED #TEDTalks #Music
@jupitired777
September 19, 2026 at 3:57 pm
immensely talented and hardworking dude
@shpakvel
September 19, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Thanks, Jacob.
@lila44411
September 19, 2026 at 4:17 pm
Yeah. I’m going to need Jacob to redo all my music theory and practical experience. I don’t tire of listening to him.
@lila44411
September 19, 2026 at 4:19 pm
It’s incredible how much watching a prodigy can both humble and inspire you to such intense degrees 🤣🤣🤣
@oc7445
September 19, 2026 at 4:30 pm
So, when will Jacob write a book?
@fangirl6115
September 19, 2026 at 4:34 pm
😊
@Iwa_Biafwyla
September 19, 2026 at 4:42 pm
If you want maximum “HOOOO BOY” vibes I highly recommend just watching this and Tim Exile’s TEDtalks back to back on repeat.
They’re both amazing eccentrics who approach music from a very unique dimension, to say the least
@loading9525
September 19, 2026 at 4:45 pm
JACOB MY BELOEVED
@TheWaveFiles
September 19, 2026 at 4:49 pm
Well, he’s as good as a songwriter as chatgpt when it comes to emotions for me , if he write a song as emotionally charged as “Stand by me” or “Hotel California” or Radio head’s masterpiece “paranoid Android” and ” Street spirit fade out ” then we’ll see….
@matnreyes
September 19, 2026 at 4:50 pm
Woah woah woah
@zedkaido
September 19, 2026 at 4:52 pm
Wiggle WIgGle WIGGLE
@bumshitty-o5v
September 19, 2026 at 5:01 pm
Utterly insufferable
@jonasc1221
September 19, 2026 at 5:09 pm
Beautiful, wow.
@nakedhand
September 19, 2026 at 5:37 pm
Mega grifter. The cult is in the comments
@MarkWestbrookRadio
September 19, 2026 at 6:02 pm
This is your sign to keep going and never give up
@LordGoogoo_432
September 19, 2026 at 6:16 pm
What would we do without Jacob. He’s the soaring and guiding light that keeps music alive. In a world seemingly devout of talented musicians he is still on top. So much of music has lost its true value. Jacob puts the music first and always has. Lady Gaga too.
@biggic2004
September 19, 2026 at 6:31 pm
Thank you! All one ever needs to know, to know everything about everything.. 😊❤
@iam91noble
September 19, 2026 at 6:34 pm
Ppl rlly hate on this man for 0 reason 🤦♂️
@JuliaisJulieMallen-e3r
September 19, 2026 at 6:42 pm
It will be quite interesting to visually see how everyone is going to wiggle thier way to the narrow path.
😏🫶🪶🐻❄️🦢🦕💖🪽🪽🪽🕊️😎⌚🇺🇸☘️💎💎💎💎🩵🦕💖🦢🐻❄️🪶🪶🪶🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋⭐⭐⭐⭐🐻😎🦎
@aidanfoley5627
September 19, 2026 at 6:43 pm
Jethro!
@mikefrank8511
September 19, 2026 at 7:08 pm
Breathtaking
@TREACLsales
September 19, 2026 at 7:47 pm
10 minutes with Jacob is all it takes to open the heart
@seyaro_
September 19, 2026 at 8:37 pm
I can’t wait for Sor Hands to react to this
@marker52
September 19, 2026 at 9:13 pm
Woah woah woah
@hugh_jerrah
September 19, 2026 at 9:21 pm
His Jumper has given me a vestibular migraine
@x.MINUS.x
September 19, 2026 at 11:21 pm
Dang, all these people are really drinking up the Collie-Aid, huh?
@mipmipmipmipmip-v5x
September 20, 2026 at 9:46 am
judging by the many adoring comments he’ll lure knobheads to his cult compound in Tuscany for years to come
@TwisterTornado
September 20, 2026 at 12:36 pm
His faces are dumb, but he sounds okay.
Why complain, though? If you think that the bar is too low, why aren’t you focusing on getting ahead?
@TableTennisIsrael
September 20, 2026 at 12:33 am
Legend
@pedro.pandeirada
September 20, 2026 at 1:06 am
Thank you Jacob for building this brilliant bridge to bring people closer to the beauty of music ❤
@salley199
September 20, 2026 at 1:19 am
Lovely 🌹
@Lily-2r
September 20, 2026 at 3:19 am
Great
@JJCoolStuff
September 20, 2026 at 3:27 am
Gosh, I love this guy so much! ❤ Jacob’s energy and ability to share his wonder with others is therapeutic and healing. What a wonderful world indeed! 🌎✨
@noahluard
September 20, 2026 at 4:08 am
delicious and nutritious as he would say
@Ningen_1234
September 20, 2026 at 4:31 am
❤❤
@joenremmer
September 20, 2026 at 5:20 am
I can’t stop wiggling
@mipmipmipmipmip-v5x
September 20, 2026 at 6:01 am
oh god this clown again, literal clowns custome, not even hiding that audience pays big bucks to see the elon musk of music, facade of pretentious rambling to cover nothingness behind it
@TwisterTornado
September 20, 2026 at 12:35 pm
Why the jealousy? And what’s wrong with clowns?
@awombat1
September 20, 2026 at 7:01 am
How about giving credit to the actual writers of the song … George Douglas and George Davis Weiss who wrote the song specifically for Louis Armstrong?
@aswoopyas
September 20, 2026 at 8:52 am
💗
@viktorsincic8039
September 20, 2026 at 9:01 am
Martin Phillips is the original Wiggle, check him out he’s a brilliant comedian!
@saramercado2624
September 20, 2026 at 9:14 am
Grandioso Jacob❤❤❤. Gracias por los subtitulo en español. 😊
@Ijir0
September 20, 2026 at 9:20 am
Honestly, a WONDERFUL take on music. I’ve only heard of Jacob Collier from a classmate of mine from college a few days ago for an activity. As a producer myself, I notice his perspective being pretty much can resonate as mine. Embracing these small yet important details of music being applied to life makes me want to appreciate every bit of it.
I’m very glad I saw this video ❤️
@harrypearle9781
September 20, 2026 at 10:07 am
DEMOCRATS, DEMOCRATS need this, RHYTHM, JAZZ to WAKE UP Voters, now
================================================================ Time to Wake up?
TIME backwards is EMIT the truth, with freedom, constantly, over and over, and over.. TNX MCH
@ladydimare
September 20, 2026 at 12:30 pm
You are such medicine for this world, Jacob Collier. Shine on!
@Lcsmrgx
September 20, 2026 at 12:37 pm
It gets to the point where Jacob looks more like a mythological creature than a human beign.
@stealthzi7465
September 20, 2026 at 12:38 pm
he is proof that vulnerability, finding & conquering yourself is the true goal in life , then sharing it with others
@graysonmorton5090
September 20, 2026 at 2:45 pm
Jacob has such an enchanting way of talking. His one-of-a-kind-ness shines through so brightly.
@annmiddleton8780
September 20, 2026 at 3:11 pm
Magical heart Jacob Collier 🎶❤️🎶
@RenéSchaub-f6l
September 20, 2026 at 4:11 pm
Vibrations, that’s life right ❤ and we can give some great feeling to others, only happiness is growing when you share it ❤
@erkan.pursues.happiness
September 20, 2026 at 5:23 pm
Sir, with all due respect, you are missing the most important fourth element: MEANING. Your E effing major flat effing five raised half a flat chord will be meaningless if sky is covered with black smoke, trees are burning and babies are crying for all the wrong reasons. Sorry, it is not a wonderful world anymore, grow up !!!
@erkan.pursues.happiness
September 20, 2026 at 5:23 pm
All these three elements are just building blocks of music, they are not the music itself. There is also a fourth element: meaning, which comes later with wisdom in life. Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are all building blocks of life, but they are not the life itself. Skies are covered with black smoke, trees are burning and the babies cry because of all the wrong reasons and there is a lot to do to change that. It is just not a wonderful world anymore. Next time pick Imagine from John Lennon.
@mias567
September 20, 2026 at 6:01 pm
Beautiful.
@Composeyourselfcare
September 20, 2026 at 7:51 pm
Be a wiggle in this wonderful world! 🌈 beautifully stated. Thank you, Jacob 💖🤘
@duaneeickhoff288
September 20, 2026 at 9:41 pm
One of this generation’s outstanding minds (and hearts).
@goronGoroGoro
September 20, 2026 at 10:53 pm
My tears wouldn’t stop🥹🥹❣️
@MarcShake
September 21, 2026 at 2:41 am
If my music teacher would have loved music, I would probably have become a professional musician. But he destroyed my plans. I got back to music, but I was super insecure about that.
@Taro-g2x
September 21, 2026 at 4:01 am
“Jacob Collier” should become a mandatory music lesson at school. It’ll change the world.
@RenéSchaub-f6l
September 21, 2026 at 4:12 am
It’s impressive, that the audience wiggles when you explain what you call “wiggle” 😂❤
@vedant.156
September 21, 2026 at 7:17 am
Jacob, you making the “Wonderful World” and the World more Wonderful!
@freelancereunion756
September 21, 2026 at 7:36 am
Jacob for PM or President or New World Leader
@AndreFifth
September 21, 2026 at 11:04 am
Wicked, Jacob!
@bobsbigboy_
September 21, 2026 at 11:37 am
stop this nonsens
@bthemonarch
September 21, 2026 at 12:20 pm
He can’t really sing well, make a proper song, , write decent lyrics, but other than that he’s a genius
@tomelk84
September 21, 2026 at 2:36 pm
🥰🥰🥰
@M1ster77
September 21, 2026 at 3:50 pm
DON’T LOOK @ HIS SHOES!
(or you’re going to hear “yellow submarine” in your head for the entire rest of the video! I swear! 👻)
@Ren_Luv
September 21, 2026 at 4:12 pm
The wiggles between the wiggles is my favorite too ❤ Thank you for teaching us these wonders Jacob
@jennifermurphy5910
September 21, 2026 at 5:26 pm
Masterclass in Music and Metaphysics! What could be better?!!!!! Tysm! ✨💖🙏💖✨
@AngelLight444
September 21, 2026 at 5:51 pm
Truly Exquisite, dear Light of our World… AND BEYOND🌟🌠 How Fun 2 play with Life, others, Self, creativity, music & any artistry these ways. God bless you and us ALL with our Grace, Ease, Joy & Glory of Remembering, Living and Relating. And so IT IS🕊🌻🐦🙏💞
@tubelator
September 21, 2026 at 7:58 pm
Who is buying his clothes? sack him/her 🙂
@lestmak
September 21, 2026 at 8:31 pm
5:58 Today I learned that What A Wonderful World is the melody of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star in a different rhythm.
@nhathuyp
September 21, 2026 at 9:16 pm
3:43 ARCTIC MONKEY