ChatRoulette is all about making a first impression on a randomly selected audience, and a guy called Merton knows how to do just that. He positions himself behind his piano, and plays an improvised song and lyrics, depending on whoever he is connected to, to great success and appreciation of his audience.

In the original 5:28 minute long video, which Merton uploaded to YouTube, we see Merton wearing a green hoodie, playing the piano. His lyrics reflect whatever he sees in the connected Chatroulette session, which ranges from people sitting in a dark room barely showing their faces, to bored guys simply hanging out on a bed or chair, flicking through web-sessions. After a couple of random sessions, Merton becomes bolder and asks the viewer to request a song, which he then starts playing. In another session, two girls type random text, which he immediately reacts to in his song, getting him great positive reactions, including hearts, thumbs ups and text comments.

The video recording of the Chatroulette session became a great success on YouTube, being watched over 1.3 million times within the first week after being uploaded. The video has received a 5/5 rating, based on nearly 22,500 ratings, and over 6,000 comments, mostly positive. A sequel was released on March 27.

Chatroulette, which is a website randomly setting up webcam chat sessions between internet users, has quickly become a phenomenon. When participating, a random chat session is built, between two complete strangers from anywhere around the world. Each user has the ability to break off the chat session, by a simple press of a "Skip" button. Whenever a session is closed a new session is immediately started. Because of this random nature of the webcam sessions, a regular Chatroulette session comprises of a series of quick connections. Even though prohibited by Chatroulette regulations, the relative anonymous nature of connections has attracted a number of exhibitionists to the site. Therefore, some (mostly male) nudity should be anticipated when participating on Chatroulette.

Chatroulette has lead to a large number of creative videos, showing funny ways to surprise or capture the attention of the audience., similar to the piano improv. session recorded by "Merton". Some examples of funny sessions can be found further down this page.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32vpgNiAH60

Update: On March 22, the original "Chatroulette Piano Improv" video has been removed from YouTube, "Due to terms of use violation". Fortunately, an edited version of the video has been uploaded to YouTube by Merton to a new location, and the updated video can be viewed here.

Merton's comment:
"This is a new, edited version of the original Video #1. I had to make some changes in order for YouTube to be happy with it."

"My apologies to all of the subscribers for being summoned here just to see a repeat post, but there was no way around it."

"For the record, the original video had 4,238,658 Views. At the time of its demise, it was the Top-Rated YouTube Video of All Time. No shit."http://www.youtube.com/user/PianoChatImprov

During a live concert at the Fillmore Theater in Charlotte, North Carolina, on March 20, 2010, pianist Ben Folds performed a tribute to Merton's ChatRoulette improv. video. Dressed like Merton, in the trademark glasses and hooded sweatshirt, Folds connected to ChatRoulette and riffed on the strangers with whom he was connected. At one point, Folds turns his head to read a note someone is holding up. The note reads: "If you turn your head, I win."

The moment had particular significance because many had initially believed Merton was Folds when the original YouTube video was posted. Merton's description on the ChatRoulette improv. video noted that he was not Folds and had no connection to the popular indie musician and former member of the band Ben Folds Five.