Kurt Hugo Schneider
Encyclopedia
Kurt Hugo Schneider is an American film director, producer, singer and songwriter, who is noted for his production of YouTube
music videos in collaboration with other musicians. He is best known for his production of music videos for Sam Tsui
, especially the musical medley
videos in which Tsui appears as a one-man choir, which have garnered both national and international attention from the media. His blend of musical and technical skills have been sought after by other musicians and organizations.
, a suburb of Philadelphia, where he lived just a street away from Sam Tsui
, whom he met while attending Wissahickon High School
. He is of German and Austrian descent on his father's side. Kurt has an older sister. He graduated from Yale University
in 2010 with a degree in mathematics
.
Schneider is also a chess master
and played for Yale's chess team.
while they were both in high school, and this collaboration continued when Tsui enrolled at Yale, one year after Schneider matriculated there. Initially, they produced videos of Tsui
singing covers
and medleys, but they have since made an online musical series (College Musical) and produced original songs.
They first garnered media attention with a video of a Michael Jackson
medley. This video remains the 2nd most viewed (more than 26 million) on Schneider's YouTube
channel KurtHugoSchneider, which has over 270 million total views and more than a million subscribers. This medley is one of several in which Schneider, using video editing
techniques, is able to create the illusion of a one-man a cappella choir, with Tsui covering both lead
and backing vocals
and playing multiple versions of himself. Their medley videos have been described by Time
as a combination of Glee
and Attack of the Clones, and the resulting media attention has led to many appearances on national television, including on talk shows like The Oprah Winfrey Show
and The Ellen DeGeneres Show
. On February 3, 2011, Schneider's video of Tsui covering Hold It Against Me
, in which Tsui sang and played the piano with Schneider on percussion, was featured on Britney Spears
' official website.
The popularity of their videos has encouraged the duo to branch out to other projects. Shooting for an independent film, College Musical: The Movie, based upon their online musical series, has been completed in the summer of 2010 and the film is currently in post-production. A series of behind-the-scenes videos for the movie, filmed and narrated by Nick Uhas, has been released on YouTube. Since September 2010, Schneider and Tsui have also begun to release videos of original songs.
medley sung by Christina Grimmie
, a duet between Tsui and Grimmie singing Just A Dream
(the most viewed video on 'KurtHugoScheider), and a Starcraft-themed parody video, with Husky
, of Baby
. He has also recently parodied the infamous "Friday" known as "Void Rays". In addition he has collaborated with Tiffany Alvord on a Taylor Swift
Medley and Matisse
on a Medley of Rihanna
songs .
Schneider was also an associate producer for a musical admissions video for Yale, which features a cast consisting of Tsui
and fellow Yale students.
and recorded with artists other than Sam Tsui
.
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
music videos in collaboration with other musicians. He is best known for his production of music videos for Sam Tsui
Sam Tsui
Samuel "Sam" Tsui is an American musician and Internet celebrity who rose to fame on YouTube. He is best known for covering and performing songs by popular artists, as well as original medleys and mashups...
, especially the musical medley
Medley (music)
In music, a medley is a piece composed from parts of existing pieces, usually three, played one after another, sometimes overlapping. They are common in popular music, and most medleys are songs rather than instrumental. A medley which is a remixed series is called a megamix, often done with tracks...
videos in which Tsui appears as a one-man choir, which have garnered both national and international attention from the media. His blend of musical and technical skills have been sought after by other musicians and organizations.
Background
Schneider grew up in Blue Bell, PennsylvaniaBlue Bell, Pennsylvania
Blue Bell is a census-designated place in Whitpain Township in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 6,067....
, a suburb of Philadelphia, where he lived just a street away from Sam Tsui
Sam Tsui
Samuel "Sam" Tsui is an American musician and Internet celebrity who rose to fame on YouTube. He is best known for covering and performing songs by popular artists, as well as original medleys and mashups...
, whom he met while attending Wissahickon High School
Wissahickon High School
Wissahickon High School is the sole public high school of the Wissahickon School District, and is located in Ambler, Pennsylvania, in the United States.-Academics:...
. He is of German and Austrian descent on his father's side. Kurt has an older sister. He graduated from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
in 2010 with a degree in mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
.
Schneider is also a chess master
Chess master
A chess master is a chess player of such skill that he/she can usually beat chess experts, who themselves typically prevail against most amateurs. Among chess players, the term is often abbreviated to master, the meaning being clear from context....
and played for Yale's chess team.
Collaboration with Sam Tsui
Prior to his studies in Yale, Schneider had already begun to collaborate with TsuiSam Tsui
Samuel "Sam" Tsui is an American musician and Internet celebrity who rose to fame on YouTube. He is best known for covering and performing songs by popular artists, as well as original medleys and mashups...
while they were both in high school, and this collaboration continued when Tsui enrolled at Yale, one year after Schneider matriculated there. Initially, they produced videos of Tsui
Sam Tsui
Samuel "Sam" Tsui is an American musician and Internet celebrity who rose to fame on YouTube. He is best known for covering and performing songs by popular artists, as well as original medleys and mashups...
singing covers
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
and medleys, but they have since made an online musical series (College Musical) and produced original songs.
They first garnered media attention with a video of a Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
medley. This video remains the 2nd most viewed (more than 26 million) on Schneider's YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
channel KurtHugoSchneider, which has over 270 million total views and more than a million subscribers. This medley is one of several in which Schneider, using video editing
Video editing
The term video editing can refer to:* Linear video editing, using video tape* Non-linear editing system , using computers with video editing software* Offline editing* Online editing...
techniques, is able to create the illusion of a one-man a cappella choir, with Tsui covering both lead
Lead vocalist
The lead vocalist is the member of a band who sings the main vocal portions of a song. They may also play one or more instruments. Lead vocalists are sometimes referred to as the frontman or frontwoman, and as such, are usually considered to be the "leader" of the groups they perform in, often the...
and backing vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
and playing multiple versions of himself. Their medley videos have been described by Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
as a combination of Glee
Glee (TV series)
Glee is an American musical comedy-drama television series that airs on Fox in the United States, and on GlobalTV in Canada. It focuses on the high school glee club New Directions competing on the show choir competition circuit, while its members deal with relationships, sexuality and social issues...
and Attack of the Clones, and the resulting media attention has led to many appearances on national television, including on talk shows like The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
and The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show, often shortened to Ellen, is an American television talk show hosted by comedian/actress Ellen DeGeneres. Debuting on September 8, 2003, it is produced by Telepictures and airs in syndication, including stations owned by NBC Universal. For its first five seasons, the show...
. On February 3, 2011, Schneider's video of Tsui covering Hold It Against Me
Hold It Against Me
"Hold It Against Me" is a song by American recording artist Britney Spears, released as the first single from her seventh studio album, Femme Fatale. It was written and produced by Max Martin, Dr. Luke and Billboard, with additional writing by Bonnie McKee. Luke explained that he wanted "Hold It...
, in which Tsui sang and played the piano with Schneider on percussion, was featured on Britney Spears
Britney Spears
Britney Jean Spears is an American recording artist and entertainer. Born in McComb, Mississippi, and raised in Kentwood, Louisiana, Spears began performing as a child, landing acting roles in stage productions and television shows. She signed with Jive Records in 1997 and released her debut album...
' official website.
The popularity of their videos has encouraged the duo to branch out to other projects. Shooting for an independent film, College Musical: The Movie, based upon their online musical series, has been completed in the summer of 2010 and the film is currently in post-production. A series of behind-the-scenes videos for the movie, filmed and narrated by Nick Uhas, has been released on YouTube. Since September 2010, Schneider and Tsui have also begun to release videos of original songs.
Other works
Schneider has also made music videos in collaboration with other artists. Popular videos include a Miley CyrusMiley Cyrus
Miley Ray Cyrus is an American actress and pop singer-songwriter. She achieved wide fame for her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana....
medley sung by Christina Grimmie
Christina Grimmie
Christina Victoria Grimmie , known on YouTube as zeldaxlove64, is a pianist and singer known for covers of hit songs by artists such as Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Christina Aguilera, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and many more...
, a duet between Tsui and Grimmie singing Just A Dream
Just a Dream (Nelly song)
"Just a Dream" is a song performed by American recording artist Nelly, taken from his sixth studio album 5.0 . The song was written by Nelly, Rico Love, Jim Jonsin and Frank Romano with Jonsin and Love producing the song. The song was released from August 16, 2010 to iTunes Stores around the world...
(the most viewed video on 'KurtHugoScheider), and a Starcraft-themed parody video, with Husky
Husky (commentator)
Mike Lamond, better known by his online alias Husky or HuskyStarcraft, is an electronic sports shoutcaster currently specializing in providing commentary for StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty, a video game published by Blizzard Entertainment and played on the online gaming service Battle.net...
, of Baby
Baby (Justin Bieber song)
"Baby" is a song by Canadian recording artist Justin Bieber. It was released as the lead single from the latter half of Bieber's debut album, My World 2.0. The track was written by Bieber with Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Terius "The-Dream" Nash, both of whom worked with Bieber on "One Time",...
. He has also recently parodied the infamous "Friday" known as "Void Rays". In addition he has collaborated with Tiffany Alvord on a Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift
Taylor Alison Swift is an American country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress.In 2006, she released her debut single "Tim McGraw", then her self-titled debut album, which was subsequently certified multi-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America...
Medley and Matisse
Matisse (singer)
Matisse Matisse Matisse (full name Brittany Smith, born 1985 in Wilton, Connecticut, is an American actress, model, singer and songwriter. She was best known for being part of the duo Brit & Alex (with twin sister Alex), up until their breakup in 2009...
on a Medley of Rihanna
Rihanna
Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...
songs .
Schneider was also an associate producer for a musical admissions video for Yale, which features a cast consisting of Tsui
Sam Tsui
Samuel "Sam" Tsui is an American musician and Internet celebrity who rose to fame on YouTube. He is best known for covering and performing songs by popular artists, as well as original medleys and mashups...
and fellow Yale students.
Discography
The following is a list of singles released digitally to iTunes StoreITunes Store
The iTunes Store is a software-based online digital media store operated by Apple. Opening as the iTunes Music Store on April 28, 2003, with over 200,000 items to purchase, it is, as of April 2008, the number-one music vendor in the United States...
and recorded with artists other than Sam Tsui
Sam Tsui
Samuel "Sam" Tsui is an American musician and Internet celebrity who rose to fame on YouTube. He is best known for covering and performing songs by popular artists, as well as original medleys and mashups...
.
Singles
| Year | Title | Artists | Original Artists |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | "Chopsticks! Chopsticks (music) "Chopsticks" is a simple, extremely well known waltz for the piano. It was written in 1877 by the British composer Euphemia Allen under the pseudonym Arthur de Lulli... " |
Andrew Johnson | Euphemia Allen Euphemia Allen Euphemia Allen was a British composer. She composed the tune Chopsticks in 1877 under the pseudonym Arthur de Lulli.- External links :... |
| "Iris" | Kurt Hugo Schneider, Jake Bruene | Goo Goo Dolls Goo Goo Dolls The Goo Goo Dolls are a Grammy-nominated American rock band formed in 1986 in Buffalo, New York, by vocalist and guitarist John Rzeznik and vocalist and bass guitarist Robby Takac. Since the end of 1994, Mike Malinin has been the band's drummer, a position previously held by George Tutuska... |
|
| 2011 | "Hold My Hand Hold My Hand (Michael Jackson song) "Hold My Hand" is a duet performed by American recording artist Michael Jackson and Senegalese-American singer-songwriter Akon, from Jackson's first posthumous album Michael. The song was originally recorded by Akon and Jackson in 2008 and was set to be the first single from Akon's 2008 album,... " |
J Rice, Kurt Hugo Schneider | Michael Jackson Michael Jackson Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records... ft. Akon Akon Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first... |
Film
| Year | Title | Credits | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | That's Why I Chose Yale | Associate producer, music producer, sound editor, vocalist, actor | Video (17 min) produced in collaboration with the Yale admissions office |
| Nothing Left Unsaid | Director | Short (13 min) starring Daniel Amerman, Julie Shain and Jay Frisby | |
| 2011 | College Musical: The Movie | Post-production | |
Music videos
This list covers only music videos made for solo works, Sam Tsui originals and collaborations with other artists not listed in the discography for Sam Tsui.| Year | Title | Artists | Original Artists or Work | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Miley Cyrus medley | Christina Grimmie Christina Grimmie Christina Victoria Grimmie , known on YouTube as zeldaxlove64, is a pianist and singer known for covers of hit songs by artists such as Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Christina Aguilera, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and many more... |
Miley Cyrus Miley Cyrus Miley Ray Cyrus is an American actress and pop singer-songwriter. She achieved wide fame for her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana.... |
Medley of songs by Miley Cyrus Miley Cyrus Miley Ray Cyrus is an American actress and pop singer-songwriter. She achieved wide fame for her role as Miley Stewart/Hannah Montana on the Disney Channel sitcom Hannah Montana.... |
| "For Good For Good "For Good" is a musical number from the hit musical Wicked. It is sung as a duet between Elphaba and Glinda, as a farewell to each other. The song's music and lyrics were written by composer Stephen Schwartz.-Context:... " |
Sam Tsui Sam Tsui Samuel "Sam" Tsui is an American musician and Internet celebrity who rose to fame on YouTube. He is best known for covering and performing songs by popular artists, as well as original medleys and mashups... ft. Nick Pitera |
Wicked Wicked (musical) Wicked is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Winnie Holzman. It is based on the Gregory Maguire novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West , a parallel novel of the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz and L. Frank Baum's classic story The Wonderful Wizard... |
Cover version of musical number from Wicked | |
| "Don't Want An Ending" | Sam Tsui Sam Tsui Samuel "Sam" Tsui is an American musician and Internet celebrity who rose to fame on YouTube. He is best known for covering and performing songs by popular artists, as well as original medleys and mashups... |
Sam Tsui Sam Tsui Samuel "Sam" Tsui is an American musician and Internet celebrity who rose to fame on YouTube. He is best known for covering and performing songs by popular artists, as well as original medleys and mashups... |
Original video featuring Amanda Glassman | |
| "I Will Follow You Into The Dark I Will Follow You into the Dark "I Will Follow You into the Dark" is a song by Death Cab for Cutie and the third single from their fifth album Plans. It is a solo, acoustic ballad written and performed by frontman Ben Gibbard and was recorded in monaural with a single microphone and little editing. The song details the singer's... " |
Kurt Hugo Schneider | Death Cab for Cutie Death Cab for Cutie Death Cab for Cutie is an American alternative rock band formed in Bellingham, Washington in 1997. The band consists of Ben Gibbard , Chris Walla , Nick Harmer and Jason McGerr .... |
Cover version | |
| "Just A Dream" | Sam Tsui, Christina Grimmie Christina Grimmie Christina Victoria Grimmie , known on YouTube as zeldaxlove64, is a pianist and singer known for covers of hit songs by artists such as Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Christina Aguilera, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry and many more... |
Nelly Nelly Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is an Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album... |
||
| "Banelings" | Husky, Kurt Hugo Schneider | Justin Bieber Justin Bieber Justin Drew Bieber is a Canadian pop/R&B singer, songwriter and actor. Bieber was discovered in 2008 by Scooter Braun, who came across Bieber's videos on YouTube and later became his manager... |
Parody version of Baby Baby (Justin Bieber song) "Baby" is a song by Canadian recording artist Justin Bieber. It was released as the lead single from the latter half of Bieber's debut album, My World 2.0. The track was written by Bieber with Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Terius "The-Dream" Nash, both of whom worked with Bieber on "One Time",... |
|
| 2011 | "Hold My Hand" | J Rice, Kurt Hugo Schneider | Michael Jackson ft. Akon | Cover version |
| "Pretty Eyes" | Alex Goot | Alex Goot | Original video featuring Julie Shain | |
| "Start Again" | Sam Tsui Sam Tsui Samuel "Sam" Tsui is an American musician and Internet celebrity who rose to fame on YouTube. He is best known for covering and performing songs by popular artists, as well as original medleys and mashups... |
Sam Tsui Sam Tsui Samuel "Sam" Tsui is an American musician and Internet celebrity who rose to fame on YouTube. He is best known for covering and performing songs by popular artists, as well as original medleys and mashups... |
Original video featuring Veronica Ballestrini Veronica Ballestrini Veronica Ballestrini is an Italian-American country music singer and songwriter from Waterford, Connecticut. Her self-made success story has caught national attention as Jon Caramanica wrote in the New York Times, "...When someone like Ms... and Nick Uhas |
|
| "You've Been on my Mind" | Dave Days | Dave Days | Original video | |
| "Void Rays" | Husky, Kurt Hugo Schneider | Rebecca Black Rebecca Black Rebecca Renee Black is an American pop singer who gained extensive media attention with the 2011 single "Friday". Her mother paid $4,000 to have the single and an accompanying music video put out as a vanity release through the record label ARK Music Factory. The song was co-written and produced... |
Parody version of Friday Friday (Rebecca Black song) "Friday" is a song by American recording artist Rebecca Black, written and produced by Clarence Jey and Patrice Wilson. It was released as a single on March 14, 2011, by Ark Music Factory as Black's debut single. The music video for the song became a viral hit due to criticism of the song's lyrics,... |
|
| "B-e-a-utiful" | Megan Nicole | Megan Nicole | Original video featuring Michael Jimenez | |
| "Rihanna Medley" | Matisse Matisse (singer) Matisse Matisse Matisse (full name Brittany Smith, born 1985 in Wilton, Connecticut, is an American actress, model, singer and songwriter. She was best known for being part of the duo Brit & Alex (with twin sister Alex), up until their breakup in 2009... |
Rihanna Rihanna Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers... |
Medley of songs by Rihanna Rihanna Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers... |
|