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Joy

Dad remakes AC/DC’s ‘Thunderstruck’ using only a year's worth of his baby's recorded sounds

Prepare to be thunderstruck.

Photo credit: Canva

Ever seen a baby "sing" a rock song before they can talk?

Few things bring as much joy to a parent’s heart as the adorable sounds their babies make. But back in 2024, when a dad with a vision, a camera and a year's worth of footage uses those sounds to recreate one of the most iconic rock songs ever…let's just say joy alone doesn't quite cover it.

In one of the most epically adorable and adorably epic song renditions ever, dad and video editor Matt MacMillan spliced together tiny snippets of his baby's sounds to make AC/DC's "Thunderstruck." And it's one of those things you just have to see to believe.

Below, enjoy little Ryan singing a is jaw-droppingly awesome baby-fied version of"Thunderstruck." Nothing but awe and respect for a guy who takes a whole year to get just the right sounds at the right pitches and figures out to put them together to create this masterpiece:

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

Making a sneeze into a cymbal? Are you kidding me?

People have been understandably impressed, with the video getting over 6 million views.

"Ryan becomes the vocalist of AB/CD."

"I need a cover in 17 years whenever he is an adult singing over the instrumentals lol"

"'I recorded my son for a full year. I edited for the next 5'"

"The fact that he genuinely found clips that fit every note he need instead of just pitch shifting like most videos like this do really makes this stand out. Good job he’s adorable."

"This dude had a kid just so he could make this song. What a Legend."

"Other parents: 'I want my child to create masterpieces.' This guy: 'my child IS the masterpiece.'"

"I'm a residential plumber and I've had an absolutely horrible day on a work shift that's lasted 13 hours and even after crawling through human poop all day this made me smile laugh and giggle like a small baby."

Believe it or not, it's not autotuned or pitch-shifted. Those notes are all baby.

The real question is: How did he do it? This isn't just some autotune trick. MacMillan really did it all manually, going through each video clip of Baby Ryan, organizing them by pitch and figuring out what notes they were.

Perhaps most impressively, he didn't even know the notes of "Thunderstruck" to begin with and doesn't really read music. He had to pluck the song out on the piano and then match those notes with his baby's sounds.

As he wrote, "It took forever." But he shared an inside look at how he did it here:

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

Seriously, doesn't seeing how he did it make it even more impressive? Pure human creativity and perseverance on display. What a delightful gift Ryan will have for the rest of his life. Much better than a standard baby book.

Baby Ryan's "Thunderstruck" was not MacMillan's first foray into baby covers, either. He previously created a rendition of "Carol of the Bells" using Baby Ella's sounds, and it is just as impressive (and adorable) as Baby Ryan's. Here's one to add to your holiday playlist:

- YouTubewww.youtube.com

Here's to the humans who wow us with their ambitious, innovative projects that exist purely to bring a smile to people's faces.

You can follow Matt MacMillan on YouTube.

This article originally appeared last year.

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Joy

An errant pitch hit a Little League player in the head. His response was peak sportsmanship.

An unforgettable moment.

Photo credit: Canva

A viral video from a Little League game has people celebrating good sportsmanship.

Youth sports have gotten more intensely competitive, to the point where overeager parents and coaches have to regularly be reminded to take it down a notch. So when humanity takes precedence over team rivalries, it's extra heartwarming.

And considering how many "kids these days" laments we see coming from older generations, it's also heartening to see kids showing excellent character qualities when no one directly asked them to.

baseball, kids, sports, sportsmanshipPart of playing sports is learning to be a good sport. Photo credit: Canva

A viral video from a Little League baseball game is giving us a nice dose of both—good sportsmanship and basic human kindness from two players from opposing teams.

As reported by USA Today, Isaiah (Zay) Jarvis, a batter from Oklahoma, took a pitch from Texas East pitcher Kaiden Shelton right to the side of his helmet. It was a hard blow that caused Jarvis to spin around and crumble to the ground, grabbing his head. The replay in slow motion shows that the ball basically just knocked his helmet off, though it was undoubtedly jarring and probably painful as well.

Jarvis was able to continue playing, but Shelton was shaken up. No matter how fierce the competition, no one wants to be responsible for injuring another person. He was visibly upset on the mound, so Jarvis left first base and approached him.

Watch the classy interchange:

That a kid this age would approach a player who hit him with a ball and comfort him with a hug, especially knowing that all eyes were on him, is just so lovely. Someone raised this young man to put people's feelings ahead of competitiveness and not worry about what others might think.

And the fact that the pitcher was so distraught at the possibility of having hurt someone is also so sweet. This was a moment that showed the true character of both of these boys, and both of them exemplified caring and compassion.

People praised the boys' empathy and humanity.

"Both of those boys are what you want your kids to aspire to," wrote one commenter. "One willing to forgive and knows it wasn't intentional and the other showing remorse and sorrow. I love it!!"

Thankfully, these kids aren't some one-off anomaly. We see examples of kindness and empathy all the time in sports. Despite how fierce competition can get, enjoyment of the game and the self-improvement on all levels that comes with playing is what it's all about, and many coaches and parents strive to make sure that their kids are learning all of those lessons.

This video demonstrates even more than simple respect for an opponent. It shows that this kid recognized his opponents humanity first and foremost. He didn't just say, "It's no problem." He recognized that the pitcher had feelings of his own and wanted to make sure he was okay. That's a whole other level of sportsmanship to strive for, one that takes nothing away from strong competition and doing your best to win.

sportsmanship, athletes hug, kindnessSportsmanship is what it's all about.Giphy GIF by Major League Soccer

Many adults could even learn from the emotionally intelligent and empathetic interaction of these two kids. Good sportsmanship all around. Love to see it. Big kudos to these kiddos and whoever raised them.

This article originally appeared three years ago.



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They thought their son lived an isolated life. But when he died, friends showed up in droves.

Mats Steen's parents were shocked to learn their severely disabled son had lived a rich, independent life they knew nothing about.

Netflix/YouTube

Mats Steen lived a secret life that his family only discovered after he died.

Mats Steen was only 25 years old when he passed away, his body succumbing to the genetic disease that had slowly taken his mobility since childhood. He'd lived in a wheelchair since his early teens, and by his 20s, his physical abilities had deteriorated to the point of only being able to move his fingers. He could push buttons and use a mouse, and he spent nearly all of his waking hours playing video games in his parents' basement.

His family loved him and cared for him through it all, giving him as much of a normal life as they could. But they also lamented everything they knew he'd missed out on. "Our deepest sorrow lay in the fact that he would never experience friendships, love, or to make a difference in people's lives," Mats' father shares.

Mats left behind the password to a blog he kept. Not knowing if anyone would actually read it, his parents published the news of Mats' passing in a blog post, adding their email address in case anyone wanted to reach out.

Much to their surprise, messages began pouring in from around the world—not just with condolences, but with heartfelt stories from people who called Mats their friend.

The Steens soon discovered that their son had lived a much fuller life than they'd ever imagined—one that included all the things they always wished for him.

As his online life was revealed, the family learned that Mats began his days with a routine 30-minute sprint through the forest. He frequented cafes and pubs, chatting with strangers and flirting with women. He sat by campfires having heart-to-heart conversations. He made friends and enemies. He fought heroic battles. He supported people in times of need. He gave advice that people took. He experienced his first kiss.

And he did it all as "Ibelin," his handsome, muscular avatar in the online game World of Warcraft.

- YouTubeyoutu.be

Mats' life is showcased in the documentary The Remarkable Life of Ibelin, in which his parents share the story of how they discovered their son's group of friends they didn't know he had.

People who've never played an open world roleplay game like World of Warcraft may wonder how real community can be built through it, but Mats' story proves it's possible. The friends he made through the game have shared the real influence he'd had on their real lives, from helping them with problems they were facing to empowering them to make positive changes in their relationships.

Though he never met them face-to-face, Mats' online friends say he made a significant impact on them.

A young woman Ibelin had connected with as a teenager—the one with whom he'd shared that first virtual kiss—shared that her parents had taken away her computer when they feared gaming was interfering with her studies. When she logged on at a local library, Mats gave her a letter he had written to give to her parents, encouraging them to talk with her about her gaming hobby and to work out a solution together that didn't require her to give it up completely. She printed it and gave it to them. Miraculously, it worked.

Another woman had been having a hard time connecting with her autistic son as a young adult. When she talked with Ibelin about her struggles, he suggested that she and her son start gaming together and connect in that way first. Eventually, that connection via the virtual world led to warmer in-person interactions between them—and a life-changing shift in their relationship.

"I don't think he was aware of the impact that he had done to a lot of people," the mother shared.

Mats interacted with the same online friends as Ibelin for years, going through the kinds of ups and downs all friendships experience. He kept his physical condition a secret until close to the end of his life, when he finally opened up to another player who convinced him to share his reality with the others. Some traveled from other countries to attend his funeral, with one of them speaking on the group's behalf and a few of them serving as pallbearers. Those who knew Ibelin also held a memorial in-game at his virtual gravesite—a tradition that has spread beyond just his own guild.

Typically, we think of someone escaping the real world and spending hours a day playing video games as unhealthy, but for Mats, it was a lifeline. As Ibelin, Mats was able to have a level of independence and a rich social life that simply wasn't possible for him in the offline world—an uniquely modern phenomenon that technology and human creativity have made possible.

Mats' impact on his online community was real, and 10 years after his passing his impact is spreading even further.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the genetic disease that Mats lived with and ultimately died from, affects 300,000 boys worldwide. It only affects males and it has no cure. But CureDuchenne, a global nonprofit dedicated to funding and finding a cure, partnered with video game company Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft in Mats' honor from the end of 2024 until January 7, 2025. During that window, World of Warcraft players could purchase a limited-edition pet fox named Reven ("fox" in Norwegian). The Reven Pack, which includes a transmog backpack and Reven’s Comfy Carrier, costs $20, with 100% of the purchase price being donated to CureDuchenne.

The Reven Pack on World of Warcraft—100% of purchase cost goes to the CureDuchenne foundation.World of Warcraft/CureDuchenne

“Mats Steen lived a life in World of Warcraft that he couldn’t in the real world as he fought Duchenne muscular dystrophy alongside his incredible family, who I’m proud to have met and fallen in love with,” said Holly Longdale, executive producer of World of Warcraft. “Working with CureDuchenne for our Charity Pet Program, in honor of Mats’ memory, allows us to harness the power of our phenomenal global community to bring meaningful impact to so many lives.”

In February 2025, CureDuchenne announced that The Reven Pack raised over two million dollars in support. Later in the month, Debra and Hawken Miller of Cure Duchenne spoke with ViceVice and shared how The Reven Pack helped raise valuable awareness about Duchenne in addition to funds. For those interested in updates, the site keeps donors and supporters current on all developments in Duchenne research news.

Mats life was truly impactful in many ways and to many people. His love, kindness, and friendship touched lives and his legacy continues to help those struggling with this rare disease. According to the site, since the inception of CureDuchenne, life expectancy for those with the disease has increased by a decade and over fifty million dollars have been raised for research, education, and care.

You can learn more about Mats' story in the award-winning documentary, The Remarkable Life of Ibelin on Netflix.

This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated.

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Growing up poor can make you grateful for little things others take for granted

Even years after gaining financial stability, being able to afford "small luxuries" still feels surreal.

Photo credit: Canva

Fresh flowers are a huge splurge for many people.

People who grow up with financial stability—not necessarily wealthy or well-off, just financially comfortable—may not have any clue what it's like to truly worry about money. Not being able to afford everything you want is vastly different from not being able to afford everything you need, and those in the latter category have experiences and relationships with money that are unique to being poor.

In fact, as a thread on X shows growing up poor can create a lifelong perspective on spending money that ultimately leads to gratitude for things others often take for granted. A post asked people who grew up poor but are now financially stable to share small luxuries that still feel surreal, and the answers are eye-opening. Those who didn't grow up poor might expect answers like "being able to buy name brand shoes" or "being able to afford a concert ticket," but the "small luxuries" are a lot less luxurious than that.

"Real food storage containers, not the used margarine and cool whip tubs!" shared one person. While some people might choose to recycle food containers that way for environmental reasons, storing food in recycled plastic containers that aren't meant for that purpose can be unhealthy. Having a set of dedicated food storage containers is a big deal.

Another response was "Just having bills on autopay." People who aren't struggling to make ends meet each month can put their bills on autopay and not worry about whether the money to pay them will be in the account on the withdrawal date. People who are struggling often have to carefully track and and manage dates and amounts so as to not overdraw their account, which leads to more fees.

Many people talked about having a reliable car:

"Having a reliable car. AC works. Tires are good and under a warranty. Seats are heated or cooled front and back. Steering wheel is heated. With a remote start so it can be warmed up or cooled off by the time I get to it. And if something does go wrong AAA will come and save me."

"Affording safe tires and vehicle repairs."

"Running AC in my car without worrying about the car overheating. When I was a kid, our cars would overheat and we had to blast the heater in the middle of summer to cool it down."

And simply filling up the gas tank? Priceless.

getting gas, gas pump, gas station, car, luxuryFilling your tank with gas feels like a luxury for many.Giphy GIF by Andrew W. K.

"Just pulling up to a gas pump and allowing the fuel to pump as I go in and buy a drink, all while not calculating how that will impact my month!"

"Getting a full tank of gas. My mom would get $3 at a time. I didn’t understand as a child. As an adult, I always fill up the tank. That’s a privilege."

"Being able to fill my gas tank instead of wondering how far my $10 in change would actually get me."

"Filling up the gas tank without doing math first feels rich when you grew up in a '$4 on pump 3' household."

Another luxury? Prescription sunglasses.

"Every time I put them on I'm like 'Ahhh I made it.'" wrote one person.

"I’ve had thick prescriptions since I was a kid. Never had sunglasses until well into adulthood," another share. "It’s a good feeling."

Many people shared that being able to go out to eat at a restaurant and not having to order the cheapest thing on the menu still tickles them. But perhaps the most repeated answer was about grocery shopping without calculating your way through it.

"The most common response, and also my answer, is grocery shopping without checking the prices and being able to purchase 'options.' Growing up, we had about a five year period where every meal was rice and beans or whatever we had canned from the garden harvest from the previous fall."

"Biggest thing for me is shopping for food and not really worrying about the prices. Buying my Ribeyes and coming home to enjoy cooking them in my nice whole set of iron skillets, being able to curl up in beautiful blankets, watch TV, sit in my porch rocking chair, it's the peace."

grocery shopping, food budget, buying groceries, money, luxuriesGrocery shopping is more enjoyable than stressful when you're not having to calculate every penny.Photo credit: Canva

"Grocery shopping with no set budget. Still feels great after 40 years."

"Going to the grocery store without using a calculator the whole time."

Other things like buying fresh flowers, ordering an appetizer, having a refrigerator in the garage, or not having to stress about home repairs were mentioned, all of which drove home the point: When you grow up poor, you gain an appreciation for little things that people with means just consider normal living.

money, wallet, spending, cash, financial stability, financesOpening your wallet without worry is a small luxury.Photo credit: Canva

As one person wrote:

"It’s not the designer clothes. It’s walking into a room and not hearing debt breathing down your neck. It’s opening the fridge and not seeing struggle staring back. It’s buying two of something just because you f-ing can. People born rich will never understand the godlike power of:

- Filling your gas tank without checking your bank app

- Buying your mom that thing she never asked for

- Ordering food without scanning the right side of the menu

- Sleeping without fear gnawing at your chest."

No one should have to understand the fear that comes with being poor, especially children, but the one silver lining of growing up in financial struggle is the wonder and gratitude that sticks with you when you're finally able to let that fear go.

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