Schneider was born in Baltimore, Maryland to Laurie S. Auth, a visual artist, and Michael Schneider, a mathematician. He grew up in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia, where he lived just a street away from Sam Tsui, whom he met while attending middle school. They both later attended Wissahickon High School. He is of German and Austrian descent on his father's side but does not speak German. Schneider has an older sister who is a classical pianist. He graduated as class Valedictorian from Wissahickon, and magna cum laude from Yale University in 2010 with a degree in mathematics and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa.
Schneider played for Yale's chess team. He currently holds a USCF Elo rating of 2235 and can play multiple games of chess blindfolded simultaneously. He played against Magnus Carlsen at the CES 2014 HRM Chess Tournament, hosted by Nordic Semiconductor in Las Vegas. He is also a self-taught musician.
According to Business Insider and SocialBlade, he is believed to make over a six-figure income from YouTube.
Schneider began collaborating with Tsui while both were in high school and continued while they were at Yale; Schneider matriculated a year before. He produced videos of Tsui singing covers and medleys, and has since made an online musical series (College Musical) and produced original songs.
They garnered wide media attention with a video of a Michael Jackson medley. This video remains the 9th most viewed (more than 34 million) on Schneider's YouTube channel KurtHugoSchneider. This medley is one of several in which Schneider, using video editing, creates the illusion of a one-man a cappella choir, with Tsui covering lead and backing vocals, playing multiple versions of himself. Their medley videos have been described by Time as a combination of Glee and Attack of the Clones. The viral videos led to a few appearances on national television, including 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 was released September 3, 2014. 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 and in May 2013, Sam Tsui's debut original album, "Make It Up", was released.
Schneider has also made music videos in collaboration with other artists. Popular videos include a Miley Cyrus medley sung by Christina Grimmie, a duet between Tsui and Grimmie singing Just a Dream (the most viewed video on 'KurtHugoSchneider', with over a hundred and twenty million views), and a Starcraft-themed parody video, with Husky, of Baby. He has also parodied the infamous "Friday" by Rebecca Black with his variation being known as "Void Rays". He has collaborated with Tiffany Alvord on a Taylor Swift Medley and Matisse on a Medley of Rihanna songs. He has also collaborated with Max Schneider on a number of occasions: for example he directed a Bruno Mars medley for Max Schneider & Victoria Justice, a Maroon 5 Medley and a Christmas Medley. Schneider also co-wrote 'Standing In China' with Max Schneider for Cody Simpson's album Paradise. Schneider was also an associate producer for a musical admissions video for Yale, which features a cast consisting of Tsui and fellow Yale students.
He has also performed a cover of Beauty and the Beat by Justin Bieber with Alex Goot and Chrissy Costanza from Against the Current as well as a cover of Counting Stars by OneRepublic and a cover of Heart Attack by Demi Lovato.
In 2013, Schneider and Coca-Cola created music videos featuring creative covers of two 2013 singles: Calvin Harris' "Feel So Close" and Of Monsters and Men's "Little Talks" for a campaign called "The Sounds of AHH". Commercial edits of the singles premiered on the inaugural episode of season 13 of American Idol on January 14, 2014 on FOX.
In the two new versions, recreated by Schneider, he is shown making the track playing only Coca-Cola bottles, glasses and cans. In addition, "Feels So Close" features the vocals of Sam Tsui whereas on the track "Little Talks", he is accompanied musically by beatboxing cellist Kevin Olusola.
Roses
Kurt Hugo Schneider Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tower alone on the sea
You became the light on the dark side of me
Love remained a drug that's the high
And not the pill
But did you know, that when it snows
My eyes become large and the light
That you shine can be seen
Baby, I compare you to a kiss
From a rose on the gray
Ooh, the more I get of
You, the stranger it feels, yeah
And now that your rose is in bloom
A light hit's the gloom on the gray
There is so much a man can tell you
So much he can say
You remain, my power, my pleasure, my pain
Baby, to me you're like a growing
Addiction that I can't deny
Won't you tell me is that healthy, baby?
But did you know, that when it snows
My eyes become large and the light
That you shine can be seen
Baby, I compare you to a kiss
From a rose on the gray
Ooh, the more I get of
You, the stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom
A light hit's the gloom on the gray
I've been kissed by a rose on the gray
I've been kissed by a rose on the gray
And if I should fall along the way
I've been kissed by a rose
Been kissed by a rose on the gray
There is so much a man can tell you
So much he can say
You remain, my power, my pleasure, my pain
To me you're like a growing
Addiction that I can't deny, yeah
Won't you tell me is that healthy, baby
But did you know, that when it snows
My eyes become large and the light
That you shine can be seen
Baby, I compare you to a kiss
From a rose on the gray
Ooh, the more I get of
You, the stranger it feels, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom
A light hit's the gloom on the gray
In "Roses," Kurt Hugo Schneider uses poetic lyrics to express the complexity and intensity of a romantic relationship. The song metaphorically compares the singer's love interest to a rose on the gray.
The first verse sets the tone by describing a "graying tower alone on the sea," representing a sense of loneliness and desolation. However, the person being sung to becomes the light that brightens the singer's dark side. Love is depicted as a powerful drug, giving highs instead of the usual pill. The mention of snow represents purity and beauty, with the singer's eyes becoming large as the light of their love shines brightly.
The chorus further emphasizes the comparison between the love interest and a kiss from a rose on the gray. The more the singer experiences this person, the "stranger" it feels, likely indicating that the intensity of their bond is unexpected and perhaps overwhelming. The idea of a rose in bloom signifies growth and maturation, and how this love brings light and hope to the gloom.
The second verse extends the metaphor by highlighting the limitations of verbal expression. The singer acknowledges that there is only so much he can communicate or say about the depth of his emotions. Despite this, the love interest remains all-consuming, being the source of the singer's power, pleasure, and pain. Their connection is akin to an addictive substance that the singer cannot deny, questioning its healthiness.
The repetition of the chorus reinforces the comparison, emphasizing the powerful impact of the love interest. The snow and the light of their love continue to be significant symbols, showcasing the intensity and beauty of their bond.
The final lines express the experience of being kissed by a rose on the gray, affirming that the singer has indeed experienced the full force of this love. The potential of falling along the way suggests that the journey of love is not without obstacles or challenges. However, being kissed by a rose on the gray is a transformative experience, leaving an indelible mark on the singer's life.
In summary, "Roses" is a lyrical exploration of the intense emotions and transformative power of love. The rose on the gray serves as a metaphor for the love interest, symbolizing the way they bring light, beauty, and passion into the singer's life. However, the song also acknowledges the complexities and potential difficulties of such a deep connection. Overall, "Roses" captures the beautiful and tumultuous nature of a profound love.
Line by Line Meaning
There used to be a graying
Once, there was a fading
Tower alone on the sea
Lonely tower stood by the ocean
You became the light on the dark side of me
You became the brightness in my darkest moments
Love remained a drug that's the high
Love was like an intoxicating high
And not the pill
Not a mere medication
But did you know, that when it snows
But were you aware that in the snowfall
My eyes become large and the light
My eyes grow wider and the brightness
That you shine can be seen
Of your presence can be perceived
Baby, I compare you to a kiss
Darling, I liken you to a tender kiss
From a rose on the gray
From a beautiful rose on the dreary landscape
Ooh, the more I get of
Oh, the more I experience
You, the stranger it feels, yeah
You, the more unfamiliar it becomes, yeah
And now that your rose is in bloom
And now that your beauty is blossoming
A light hit's the gloom on the gray
A radiance dispels the darkness on the somber
There is so much a man can tell you
There is a lot that a man can share with you
So much he can say
So much he can express
You remain, my power, my pleasure, my pain
You continue to be my strength, my enjoyment, my suffering
To me you're like a growing
To me, you're similar to an escalating
Addiction that I can't deny
Obsession that I cannot resist
Won't you tell me is that healthy, baby?
Would you please tell me if it's healthy, my love?
But did you know, that when it snows
But were you aware that in the snowfall
My eyes become large and the light
My eyes grow wider and the brightness
That you shine can be seen
Of your presence can be perceived
I've been kissed by a rose on the gray
I have been embraced by the beauty amidst the sorrow
And if I should fall along the way
And if I should stumble on my journey
Been kissed by a rose
Embraced by the beauty
Been kissed by a rose on the gray
Embraced by the beauty amidst the sorrow
There is so much a man can tell you
There is a lot that a man can share with you
So much he can say
So much he can express
You remain, my power, my pleasure, my pain
You continue to be my strength, my enjoyment, my suffering
To me you're like a growing
To me, you're similar to an escalating
Addiction that I can't deny, yeah
Obsession that I cannot resist, yeah
Won't you tell me is that healthy, baby
Would you please tell me if it's healthy, my love?
But did you know, that when it snows
But were you aware that in the snowfall
My eyes become large and the light
My eyes grow wider and the brightness
That you shine can be seen
Of your presence can be perceived
Baby, I compare you to a kiss
Darling, I liken you to a tender kiss
From a rose on the gray
From a beautiful rose on the dreary landscape
Ooh, the more I get of
Oh, the more I experience
You, the stranger it feels, yeah
You, the more unfamiliar it becomes, yeah
Now that your rose is in bloom
Now that your beauty is blossoming
A light hit's the gloom on the gray
A radiance dispels the darkness on the somber
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Victoria Malyshkina
Lyrics
Taking it slow, but it's not typical
He already knows that my love is fire
His heart was a stone, but then his hands roam
I turned him to gold and it took him higher
Oh, I'll be your daydream, I'll wear your favorite things
We could be beautiful
Get drunk on the good life, I'll take you to paradise
Say you'll never let me go
Deep in my bones, I can feel you
Take me back to a time only we knew
Hideaway
We could waste the night with an old film
Smoke a little weed on my couch in the back room
Hideaway
Say you'll never let me go [x2]
Ahh, ahh, ahh [x3]
Say you'll never let me go [x3]
Ahh [2]
Say you'll never let me go
Deep in my bones, I can feel you
Take me back to a time only we knew
Hideaway
We could waste the night with an old film
Smoke a little weed on my couch in the back room
Hideaway
Say you'll never let me go [x2]
Ahh, ahh, ahh [x3]
Say you'll never let me go
Ahh
[x2
Caleb Hughes
Is it just me, or did this cover make the song actually sound really sad and beautiful. I got teary eyed.
edwin dewantoro
The original already sad and beautiful
Aniyah Mcclinton
yeah ☺.
Thào Hạnh Phủng
yeah true
Amy Hutchinson
I cried 😍😌
Sugar rush
+Amjad Mrad no just overall the mood is sad-ish
Liza Suzanna
I like hearing this song without all of the tech/electro stuff in it. The song's actually really pretty🎤💕
killed kenny
i actually like both versions
Liza Suzanna
+Heaven Music I subbed to your channel, which is so cool. Mind subbing back to mine? I post covers.
Jenn1042
I no what you are saying 😋