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You Know This Song (but the Orchestra Doesn’t) | Jacob Collier & VSO School of Music Orchestra | TED

Jacob Collier walks onstage to conduct an orchestra … but none of the musicians know what song they’re about to play. In a joyful experiment in live music-making, Collier pieces together an iconic song with the VSO School of Music Orchestra (and a little help from the audience in the TED Theater). Turns out, all…

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Jacob Collier walks onstage to conduct an orchestra … but none of the musicians know what song they’re about to play. In a joyful experiment in live music-making, Collier pieces together an iconic song with the VSO School of Music Orchestra (and a little help from the audience in the TED Theater). Turns out, all you need is some improvisational magic. (Recorded at TED2026 on April 16, 2026)

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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.

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#TED #TEDTalks #JacobCollier #TheBeatles

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26 Comments

26 Comments

  1. @CecilCeceRobert

    June 24, 2026 at 1:51 pm

    🙄

  2. @ProdByNuvano

    June 25, 2026 at 6:56 pm

    Yo can he pls start making this a weekly thing, its always so beautiful

  3. @lisa1689LBC

    June 25, 2026 at 6:59 pm

    I’d love to know what Paul Anka, Paul Williams and Richard Carpenter think of this brilliant guy.

  4. @RichMulholland

    June 25, 2026 at 7:00 pm

    Thank you wonderful humans ❤️‍🔥

  5. @strangecws123

    June 25, 2026 at 7:15 pm

    Absolute premeditated genius. Jacob has invented a new performance art form.

  6. @sandragiuria8725

    June 25, 2026 at 7:24 pm

    Genius you and a great group of musicians.AwesomeAmazing !!!!

  7. @sandragiuria8725

    June 25, 2026 at 7:25 pm

    Thank you Jacob and everyone!!!❤

  8. @JayWisco

    June 25, 2026 at 7:29 pm

    Low tier content. What happened to TED?

  9. @brickviking667

    June 25, 2026 at 7:38 pm

    I finally identified the piece – around about 10:00. Props to Jacob Collier for leaving the mystery that long.

  10. @jesusestanislao1253

    June 25, 2026 at 7:53 pm

    Goosebumps…

  11. @S3VENROY

    June 25, 2026 at 7:57 pm

    Killer band!

  12. @geordie4339

    June 25, 2026 at 7:57 pm

    Am I the only one that doesn’t get it?

  13. @BrianHurry

    June 25, 2026 at 8:08 pm

    2:41 I know it
    Edit: nope I was wrong

  14. @BrianHurry

    June 25, 2026 at 8:19 pm

    I can’t afford tickets but next time can you tell me when you’re in Vancouver I’ll sneak in and see you

  15. @mati.romero81

    June 25, 2026 at 8:21 pm

    Might be the longest running scam ever. kuddos to him

  16. @reneem.fountain7250

    June 25, 2026 at 8:23 pm

    Absolutely amazing! Astounding! ❤❤❤❤

  17. @dbadagna

    June 25, 2026 at 8:29 pm

    VSO = Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

  18. @ThangNGQ

    June 25, 2026 at 8:32 pm

    Absolutely incredible!

  19. @rdking58

    June 25, 2026 at 8:34 pm

    Greatness

  20. @mjears

    June 25, 2026 at 8:35 pm

    Brilliant and beautiful as usual! But this was not mostly “improvisational magic” (from the description). Except for the very end with the audience, this was all brilliant _arranging_ by Jacob. With his absolute pitch, he appears to pick notes out of the air, but it’s all in service of the arrangement in his head. Notice, too, how he simplified Lennon’s 7-beat verse into 4+4 to avoid throwing people off. Marvelous skills, delightful spirit, joyful music. ❤

  21. @martinzeddy

    June 25, 2026 at 8:38 pm

    Probably because I’m old, but I knew it by 5:00. Jacob and the orchestra are all amazing!

  22. @kurosawa1120

    June 25, 2026 at 8:49 pm

    pure genius without a doubt

  23. @samenger1508

    June 25, 2026 at 8:51 pm

    5:57 Yeah ngl i would be scared too if i had this genius in front of my face

  24. @guitars4ever176

    June 25, 2026 at 9:00 pm

    Jacobian brilliance. Truly a blessing to humanity!

  25. @SeanDring

    June 25, 2026 at 9:07 pm

    The buildup reminds me of penguin café orchestra. Check out broadcasting from home album.

  26. @leonardodalongisland

    June 25, 2026 at 9:27 pm

    He’s musically brilliant and wish he was my teacher. I’d repay him with fashion lessons.

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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

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