Merton - "Chat Roulette Funny Piano Improv #1"

Released: March 11, 2010
Format: video posted to YouTube

Songwriting: 8
Performance: 8
Recording: 4
First Impression: 8
Staying Power: 5

Chat Roulette is just that: live, one-on-one video chat with whoever happens to be there at the right (or wrong) time.  If you're extremely lucky, then you might get an improvised musical serenade from Merton, the maestro himself.  If you're somewhat less lucky, then you might get an improvised musical serenade from a growing number of Merton imitators.  Some are better than others, but no one save for Ben Folds (yes; Ben actually jumped on the bandwagon!) could come close to the original.

Recommendation: Don't bother with Chat Roulette itself unless you're looking for things that your mother would be ashamed to see (nothing wrong with that, but I digress).  Instead, head over to YouTube to watch the best of the best.

Edit: the original video - four million hits and all - was removed due to "violation of terms of use" (whatever that means), so here is a self-censored version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTwJetox_tU.  The original version can still be found if you look for it.