It is no secret that the little video screen on YouTube is actually the window to opportunity. Take singer/songwriter Sam Tsui for example. He caught the attention of millions of people with his a cappella versions of a Michael Jackson medley and “Don’t Stop Believing.” Tsui often gets help with his arrangements from his friend, Kurt Schneider, both of whom are from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. Since their premiere on YouTube, Tsui and Schneider have appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Ellen DeGeneres show.
“I think they do well because both Sam and Kurt have real talent,” senior Yuria Matsushita said. “They perform popular songs in a really new and creative manner, so it’s a change from what you hear on the radio.”
Tsui and Schneider are not the only fortunate ones on YouTube. Megan & Liz, a duo group from Edwardsburg, Michigan that consists of twin sisters Megan and Elizabeth Mace, became YouTube famous with their videos of original songs and popular song covers. The girls recently posted a video of them performing with the Plain White Ts, and they also had a cameo role in Justin Bieber: Never Say Never. Bieber even has ties to YouTube. The star was signed after a music executive accidentally clicked on one of his videos.
“People can find someone randomly by browsing through other videos and if they’re lucky, they’ll really catch the viewers’ attention,” Matsushita said.
YouTube is an easy way for up-and-coming performers to get their names out there.
“I think YouTube helped people seeking fame because it is the easiest way to be known, and since everyone tends to post videos on Facebook or send it to each other through instant messages, it spreads really quickly,” Matsushita said.
However, senior Candice Mendez thinks that the fame that extends from YouTube is not always a good thing.
“I guess it can be a good thing or a bad thing,” Mendez said. “Like Fred, who had that horrible movie on Nickelodeon.”
YouTube is not just a place for musicians. Australian video blogger Natalie Tran has thousands of subscribers and millions of views due to her comedic commentary and portrayal of everyday events, such as accidentally dialing someone on your cell phone, or liking random Facebook statuses. Tran is currently the 26th most subscribed YouTube user of all time.
“She doesn’t do the typical singing stuff that most YouTubers do,” senior Rima Ghamrawi said. “Instead, she talks about everyday funny stuff. It’s more entertaining. She’s addicting.”
Matsushita likes Tran’s videos because she can relate to them.
“She makes videos about random situations and I always can say, ‘I do that too,’” Matsushita said. “She posts videos consistently, like every three to five days, and each one is always interesting.”
Another one of YouTube’s comedians is GloZell, whose YouTube account name is glozell1. GloZell often posts videos “translating” popular song lyrics to what she really believes the artist is trying to say.
“She is one of the most hilarious YouTubers out there,” Matsushita said. “She makes rants about popular songs or anything that seems to be mainstream and makes fun of it. It’s even funnier if you don’t like the popular song she is ranting about.”
YouTube users have shown that with some initiative and a little luck, you can go far.
“It’s kind of like a free publicity stunt,” Ghamrawi said. “You put yourself out there and see the feedback that viewers give you and that helps you just keep building onto your channel until you’ve gotten lots more subscribers.”
