The Story Behind “Rush E” by Sheet Music Boss
The internet is full of mysteries, but few have captivated music loves quite like “Rush E” — an absurdly difficult piano meme that has inspired viral feats of virtuosity. For those unfamiliar, “Rush E” originated as a parody song made up entirely of rapid sixteenth notes on the E key.
Of course, such relentless repetition of a single note is humanly impossible to play (or is it?). But that hasn’t stopped ambitious pianists on YouTube from taking up the challenge, adopting “Rush E” as a vehicle to showcase their skills.
As a piano learner myself, I was immediately intrigued when I first discovered “Rush E.” The song’s very impossibility seemed to taunt the capabilities of even trained musicians. And yet, talented pianists across the internet took the bait, posting videos attempting to adapt and perform this preposterous piece. Many added their own spins, arranging the chaotic E’s into everything from dramatic crescendos to lively ragtime melodies. Soon, an internet piano challenge was born, with pianists competing to create the most impressive version of an absurd meme song. Even Markiplier, the YouTuber who originally inspired “Rush E,” chimed in acknowledging the viral craze.
Where does “Rush E” come from?
The origins of “Rush E” trace back to May 2018, when the YouTube channel Sheet Music Boss posted a parody video demonstrating “how to play” the so-called Lord Marquaad E meme. This meme simply involved hitting the E note on a keyboard, mocking overly simplistic piano tutorials. Commenters jokingly requested a “Russian version” of the meme song, leading Sheet Music Boss to create “Rush E” by transposing the E note into the key of E minor.
While the original “Rush E” song consisted of relentless 16th notes on the E key — completely unplayable for a single pianist — some ambitious YouTube musicians attempted their own rearrangements. According to Adam (no known surname) from Know Your Meme, in summer 2021, a pianist called ProLitening shared his admirable effort at tackling the absurd piece. However, another pianist named Fanchen dismissed the performance as “mediocre” in the comments.
After being called out for critiquing without providing a better version, Fanchen rose to the challenge. His impressive rendition of “Rush E” went viral, gaining over 6 million YouTube views. The viral call-out and expert piano duel sparked widespread discussion, leading popular YouTuber Cr1TiKaL to share the drama with his millions of subscribers.
Beyond captivating musicians, the “Rush E” trend has inspired memes across social media. The song represents an ironic commentary on the culture of online tutorials — overly ambitious challenges that seem designed to garner clicks rather than teach. It has also provided classically trained pianists a contemporary platform to showcase their technical skills through reconstructing an absurdist internet joke. This mashup of highbrow piano technique with lowbrow meme culture perfectly encapsulates the irreverent spirit of the online world.
So while “Rush E” was created as a silly parody, it ultimately motivated skilled musicians to push boundaries and adapt the unconventional piece. This meme song that was never meant to be played has fueled a viral community of pianists determined to master the ridiculous. It’s a story of creativity thriving when confronted with the unthinkable — proof that even the most absurd memes can inspire impressive art.
If you would like to listen to Rush E and other iterations of the song, you can check out Sheet Music Boss’ Youtube Page or listen to it now on Spotify.
Adam. “Rush E.” Know Your Meme, 2022, https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/rush-e. Accessed 24 July 2023.
Lee, Shirley. “The Latest YouTube Feud Is Getting Pianists Millions of Views.” Shirley Lee, 3 August 2021, https://thatshirleylee.medium.com/the-latest-youtube-feud-is-getting-pianists-millions-of-views-d3a0ec15fbd7 . Accessed 24 July 2023.
