Watch: Tesla coils ‘performs’

Photo: Franzoli Electronics/YouTube

Watch: Tesla coils ‘performs’ Toto’s ‘Africa’ [video]

Watch as Toto’s ‘Africa’ is performed entirely on electrical zaps from Tesla coils in a new viral video.

Watch: Tesla coils ‘performs’

Photo: Franzoli Electronics/YouTube

Nerdist recently noted that the internet definitely has an obsession with Toto’s Africa. This is evident with a new cover of the hit song, this time played entirely by Tesla coils – an electrical resonant transformer circuit designed by inventor Nikola Tesla in 1891.

Toto’s Africa played by Tesla coils

It’s said that the video comes from the YouTube channel Franzoli Electronics and it’s not just a light show. The purple sparks produced by the coils actually create the music. Here’s the official explanation for the video.

“For those who did not understand what is going on this video, here’s a brief explanation: The main loud music really comes from the Tesla coil sparks. They are literally playing the music due to the programmed phase, pulse width, and firing frequency! So, there are no speakers, no audio/video special effects. It looks even better in person and sounds almost the same, just without the beat/percussion backing track.”

Toto’s Africa played on some sweet potatoes and a squash

Previously it was reported that YouTuber Pupsi decided to take it up a notch and used squash and sweet potatoes to play the popular song by Toto.

On an eternal loop in Namibian desert

Both of these ‘covers’ ultimately comes after Max Siedentopf set up a sound installation to pay tribute to Toto’s Africa in the Namibian desert.

“Set in the Namib desert, which is not only the oldest desert in Africa but the world, I set up a sound installation which pays tribute to probably the most popular song of the last four decades, Toto’s Africa,” Max wrote at the time. “The sound installation consists of 6 speakers which are attached to an MP3 player that only has one song on it – Toto’s Africa. The song is put on loop and the installation runs on solar batteries to keep Toto going for all eternity.”

Max told CNN that the desert, on the west coast of Southern Africa, is around 55 million years old, making it the world’s oldest desert and the “perfect spot” for his work.