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Then, the music started: a springy horn soon joined by some woodwinds.
Wiig looked around puzzled.
Not sure what that was, Ferrell told the audience.
But a few seconds later, it came back.
Guys, this song does something to us, as you might see, Ferrell explained.
The song in question is a piece of royalty-free music called Fluffing a Duck.
I find problems in the world and I give a shot to fix them, says MacLeod, 51.
I cant explain it.
Oh, so you take commissions and you score video games?
Well, I used to.
Used to score TV series, but I dont.
Just hanging out, banging on the piano as a 4-year-old or whatever it was.
I went to college for music education.
I never graduated, but I learned a lot about music.
I started sharing it online, and then YouTube came out, and that changed the world.
So, what makes a royalty-free composition work?Today, the thing that works is exactly one feeling.
Its pretty common in music to take people on a journey.
Your song starts out one way and maybe itll turn, and thats the exciting part.
Youve got to hit the emotion and then just keep it.
Trust that the editors will cut it when they need to cut it.
Youre just building a LEGO brick for a much bigger thing.
So, clarity of thought in a single purpose.
Not all of my music has it, and most of my music is not popular.
The ones that are popular tend to be this way.
What were they telling you?I didnt pick up.
I watched it at seven the next morning.
Im like,Wow, this is really good!
Do you think they picked the right song of yours for the bit?I absolutely think they did.
And the writing: supreme.
Everybody in the room was laughing.
It seems like to a lot of them, that was the funniest moment of the night.Yeah, yeah.
There was a reason that was the No.
1 trending and not the big, big awards.
That song, Fluffing a Duck do you remember making specific songs?Most of them, no.
I can give you a time period.
I can tell you where I was living, maybe.
They did an animated setcalledZakumi, who was the mascot, and he was a soccer-playing South African animal.
What was he,a lion?I forget.
And I wrote it for over-the-top comedic relief for that cartoon series.
That one I do remember because it was part of a hell month that I was going through.
But hey, Kristen Wiig and Will Ferrell got it, too.Theyre brilliant actors.
Maybe theyve never heard it before, but my God, did they sell it.
And of course they did.
Thats some high-caliber talent.
Its like, is it popular?
Were people affected by what you did?
It doesnt matter if you win an award or not and Ive won a bunch of awards.
Awards shows are great because fans need to be appreciated, and thats what these shows are for.
I dont need to be appreciated.
Invite me to whatever awards show you want, Im not going to go.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
