Who Serenades Chatroulette Better: Merton Or Ben Folds As Merton?

Robbie Daw | March 22, 2010 11:18 am

If you thought Chatroulette was just another social networking time-suck—albeit one with a bit more potential for scandalous encounters—then clearly you haven’t bumped into piano sensation Merton while happily camming your way through the users there. Merton’s viral video, which features him making up impromptu songs for various people he came across while in Chatroulette, has garnered over four million views in the past week. And Saturday night Ben Folds paid homage to the YouTube star by dressing up in similar attire and pulling the same Chatroulette piano trick during a North Carolina concert.

Hmmm. Come to think of it, they do look and sound pretty similar. Are Merton and Ben Folds the same person? Watch below and decide for yourself.

Below is Piano Chat Improv star Merton’s original video (and as noted in the beginning, it’s NSFW). Bonus points to the geeky ivory-tickler for banging out “Fireflies” upon request:

And here’s Ben Folds jackin’ Merton’s swagger at a Charlotte, North Carolina gig on March 20:

The high point is the user “Bobby” tricking Ben into turning his head sideways to read a note he’s holding up in front of the camera.

But other than the fact that Merton’s hoodie is missing the white lining that Ben’s has—not to mention Ben has maybe a few pounds on Merton—their voices are kind of similar. We’ll leave it up to you to determine whether these piano men are either one in the same (not likely), or at least in cahoots with one another (possibly).