I have probably listened to "Awaken" in the course of my life time at least hundreds of times and never get sick of it. The same holds true for me for many YES songs. Especially during the "Classic Yes" period of 1971-1979. You can tell Anderson truly believes and feels every word he sings. Just an outstanding singing voice.
"It's a lot." Yep. You can listen to most YES songs hundreds of times and you will hear something in the hundreth listen that you didn't catch before. Thanks for the reaction!!
The lights went out and Wakeman started playing, the stage started revolving slowly and around came Squire with a triple neck bass guitar and it was magnificent. When it was over I wiped the tears from my eyes noticing many doing the same. YES the greatest show on earth.🙏🍁
Kelly Auditorium, St. Louis, MO.... We had the same reaction, quiet at the end of the song and then a great eruption from the audience. We all knew we had been witness to the greatest piece of music by YES.
Seeing hundreds of people hold their arms out for the last section of the song is amazing. Master of images…it gets in touch with God for me, almost like communion through amazingly spiritual music. Only Yes.
The last great epic song of Yes. I remember seeing them in April 1991 for the Union tour. There were eight of them on the central stage. To my great surprise they did this song. What emotion ! After doing this song, the group left the stage. There was a monster ovation lasting 15 minutes without anyone leaving the Colisée de Québec! The lights were all on. The stage technicians began to dismantle the stage and disconnect the wires. Suddenly the team leader, returning from the dressing room, shouted to reconnect everything. The band returned to play Starship Trooper (without Steve Howe). A magical and unforgettable moment ! Today it's the 50th anniversary of their double album : Tales From Topographic Oceans !
Really glad you enjoyed Awaken. It is epic. Still stands the test of time. Great reaction. Hope you keep exploring the greatest musicians and band ever!
One of the best things about Yes is that "its a lot". Because then you get to slowly understand the music over a number of listens. Extending the pleasure of the discoveries of their sound, Way ahead of its time. Even better, they are one of the few groups or solo artists that make music that is "timeless". Every decade since any of the 70's Yes albums came out the music still sounds fresh and inviting to anyone, anywhere.
I think I got this album in the winter of 1992, and my friends and I would sit in the dark and listen to this song and just watch snow falling out the window illuminated by Christmas lights, and it was just magical.
Slide over Bach and Beethoven. For me this is the greatest score ever written! Beauty, feeling and I believe understanding of reality best displayed in this Masterpiece "Awaken"!
This is my all time favorite Yes track. I don't know of any other band capable of writing a song that goes through the entire chromatic circle of fifths and still keep it interesting. Amazing writing. When the organ solo starts up it is just mesmerizing. I listened to this so many times with headphones and eyes closed when this came out. Never get tired of it. Thanks, Justin.
Jon Anderson said in an interview that Awaken is Yes' masterpiece. He also said before he sang it in New Brunswick, New Jersey this month with the Band Geeks that Awaken is his favorite song. It is quite a song. Not many songs take to the place that Awaken takes the listener to. A brilliant timeless composition. Anderson's voice is angelic! How about Steve Howe tearing it up on the guitar? Holy smokes, he's playing fast. I'm always amazed at his guitar playing in Awaken!
My absolute favorite Yes song of all time. They frequently have included this on their setlist for their concerts and it sounds just as amazing when done live.
Well done! Epic Epic Epic! Next Close To The Edge and then you'll only have 7 more symphonic masterpieces of YES to react to, good thing your a young pup. 🙏🍁
A few of us should pitch in 5 or 10 bucks through venmo to get him to do it. I couldn't believe how moving the Todd Mobile version is. I didn't expect it...
That first third of the song, as you noted, reminds me of the bridge section on Roundabout. Anderson and Howe were getting what I call a National Geographic feel. Camels crossing a Roger Dean landscape. Love this band for the visual imagery they evoke. I really enjoy your reactions. Coming from a trained musician, they mean a lot. Thanks!
Probably my favourite Yes track, loved the fact Wakeman saw the church organ and thought, that'll do for me! I've seen Rick do intimate shows, he does not take himself seriously, very funny guy. Look up the Yes induction speeches (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), it's like a stand up comic routine! Glad you like this one.
Was happy to see Awaken live in Rotterdam in 2003. The highlight of the evening! At the time I wasn't aware of the set list. So when they played it, I was going, wow, are they really doing this?
In that final solo section, Howe goes from elec guitar to steel for those really high notes. Does the same in solo to Gates right before going into Soon.
Yeah it's epic... this was the tune I was really getting into when I went to Florida over 30 years ago and had it playing on my little Sony Walkman... It's complex but not in the way which is off-putting... believe me it gets better over the years... That pipe organ hit at 14:51 and choir just gets me everytime. For me the best progressive music track ever recorded bar none. Even as a keyboardist from the UK I was never that into Wakeman until I heard this... he is a master of pipe organ and this kind of orchestration... the keyboard sounds are really nice too... very dreamy underwater glassy sounds at times which were reminiscent of the sounds that would come with the D50/Wavestation kind of keyboards... albeit in a lo-fi kind of way...
Turn of the Century was sleepy? OMG! Go back and listen again, and again. It is an incredible love story. But if you listen for the music only, not the feeling of the song, then you still need to listen again LOL. That song was the brainchild of Alan White. This whole album is incredible. ☮️❤️🎼
I love Awaken, and it’s definitely one of their very best. The musicianship of all the band is mind blowing, including Jon’s incredible vocals. it’s not as good as Close to the Edge, in my opinion. Then again, Close to the Edge is the best progressive rock song I’ve ever heard.
Epicness but I do agree with the fact there is a certain mood you must be in to get this and the album as a whole. Justin I really appreciate you doing this and your patience. This is not an album full of foot tapping music you cruise to on a road trip. I have loved it since its release and it's top 5 all time for me at least and this includes Rush and all other bands I like. It would be interesting for you to do Tormato sometime lol. Cheers brother....👍
Thanks for sponsoring this, Kenneth. I'm really glad JP dug a lot of it, and I have a feeling he'll give it more chances. As others have said, Yes isn't a "one-and-done" kind of listening experience.
John Petrucci said he wanted Dream Theater to be a combo of Yes and Metallica. You can definitely hear it in Awaken. I suggest spinning movements and a 2 cups of cappuccino to prep for Yes's prog-odyssey (I should coin the term) lol. The end of the tune is so evocative and would be a good background for a 'ascending toward Heaven's gates' scene.
I am not sure the cathedral organ is an overdue. I think the point with the telephone cable is that Wakeman could listen viaa headphones what was going on in the studio and play along. What do you think?
Glad you liked it. It is pretty epic. “Parallels” will probably grow on you, if you let it. It’s weird because it’s a Squire composition. Whether you do it on your own or on the channel, as a bass player you should listen to his “Fish out of Water” solo album. It’s really cool. PS: in my own mind, I have noted before that touch of similarity with Perry Farrell’s voice. 👍
This is a pinnacle - not just for the band, but for anything connected to rock. There are works by major composers that can't stand up to it. IMHO, It uniquely brings rock into the canon and on a footing with more than a few works in classical sacred music. I don't believe in channeled transmissions from higher dimensions or whatnot, but if I did it would sound like this. Listen again to the moving background voicing and instrumentation! You will hear more.
Good reaction to the top prog band Yes, unfortunately this was the last prog album they made! Please do close to the edge from yes, the best prog rock ever made😘
This is the one YES album that can never be Remastered because the original Master tapes were lost. And to me this is the album that would benefit from it most. Huge bummer
You’re going to love Close to the Edge and Gates of Delirium ❤ Also Ritual. For me, Awaken is slightly down a notch because of the wash of production. It’s a bit overly dreamy. The other Yes epics are a little more clean and clear but equally impressive. But hey, it’s still perfect and others will undoubtedly disagree ❤
Although I'm not a huge Yes fan I adore _Awaken._ I probably listen to it ten times as often as anything else by them, and Going For The One is the only album of theirs I rebought on CD after moving away from vinyl. I generally agree with your overall verdict on the album's other songs too.
Thanks for the three ad interruptions, UA-cam (hope you got some coin out it, JP). But wow, he liked it. Hey, Mikey! 😉 Now I wonder if JP might actually like the Close to the Edge album. Hopefully it's in the queue and we can all find out. Close to the Edge is widely regarded as the pinnacle of progressive rock, but Jon Anderson has often said that "Awaken" is the one song he's most proud of. It's a tragedy there's no pro-shot footage of the tour for this album (just a crappy, multi-copy audience VHS from Glasgow.) I don't recall the glowing reviews, but then most prog fans have been annoyed for decades because of the unrelenting, harsh slagging Yes got once punk arrived. Of course time has changed a lot of people's opinions. "Nothin' but f-ing epics!" -- Mike Portnoy
@@JustinPanariello Really? So why do reaction videos get blocked, if the people owning the copyright are still making money off of them? (pardon the tangent)
On this song the overly bright (at times even tinny) production of this album is not as pronounced. For some reason this album always sounded poorly produced to me, except for this track. I love some of the other songs on this one (Wondrous Stories and Parallels), but have always hated the sound quality.
Not too much of a fan of Yes's new age epic prog stuff. Much prefer Bill Bruford as drummer - kept it real, and down to earth. Producer: How much reverb do you want? Yes: 🤣
Here we go!!!!! The greatest band of them all…
You got that right I'm a Philly fan I never missed a Yes concert!!! 🎉🎉🎉
I have probably listened to "Awaken" in the course of my life time at least hundreds of times and never get sick of it. The same holds true for me for many YES songs. Especially during the "Classic Yes" period of 1971-1979. You can tell Anderson truly believes and feels every word he sings. Just an outstanding singing voice.
And it gets better w/every listen.
Jon talks about having an NDE, I also did as a child, I think that's why it's so relatable.❤
"It's a lot." Yep. You can listen to most YES songs hundreds of times and you will hear something in the hundreth listen that you didn't catch before. Thanks for the reaction!!
Just a masterpiece.
The lights went out and Wakeman started playing, the stage started revolving slowly and around came Squire with a triple neck bass guitar and it was magnificent. When it was over I wiped the tears from my eyes noticing many doing the same. YES the greatest show on earth.🙏🍁
Kelly Auditorium, St. Louis, MO.... We had the same reaction, quiet at the end of the song and then a great eruption from the audience. We all knew we had been witness to the greatest piece of music by YES.
That's KIEL Auditorium...I hate spell-check!
Seeing hundreds of people hold their arms out for the last section of the song is amazing. Master of images…it gets in touch with God for me, almost like communion through amazingly spiritual music. Only Yes.
Jon Anderson said this is his favorite Yes song of all time!
Awaken, Close To The Edge, Gates Of Delirium, and Ritual are the high bars of prog rock in my eyes.
You named them all ❤
Especially Ritual on YesShows
Awaken is one of the greatest songs ever written by the greatest band to ever do it!🤩
@@TigerMtnKing and the other greatest songs are by them too!
The last great epic song of Yes. I remember seeing them in April 1991 for the Union tour. There were eight of them on the central stage. To my great surprise they did this song. What emotion ! After doing this song, the group left the stage. There was a monster ovation lasting 15 minutes without anyone leaving the Colisée de Québec! The lights were all on. The stage technicians began to dismantle the stage and disconnect the wires. Suddenly the team leader, returning from the dressing room, shouted to reconnect everything. The band returned to play Starship Trooper (without Steve Howe). A magical and unforgettable moment ! Today it's the 50th anniversary of their double album : Tales From Topographic Oceans !
a top 5 song of Yes...a top five song period...immaculate.
Really glad you enjoyed Awaken. It is epic. Still stands the test of time. Great reaction. Hope you keep exploring the greatest musicians and band ever!
One of the best things about Yes is that "its a lot". Because then you get to slowly understand the music over a number of listens. Extending the pleasure of the discoveries of their sound, Way ahead of its time. Even better, they are one of the few groups or solo artists that make music that is "timeless". Every decade since any of the 70's Yes albums came out the music still sounds fresh and inviting to anyone, anywhere.
I think I got this album in the winter of 1992, and my friends and I would sit in the dark and listen to this song and just watch snow falling out the window illuminated by Christmas lights, and it was just magical.
Slide over Bach and Beethoven. For me this is the greatest score ever written! Beauty, feeling and I believe understanding of reality best displayed in this Masterpiece "Awaken"!
A timeless Masterpiece!
This is my all time favorite Yes track. I don't know of any other band capable of writing a song that goes through the entire chromatic circle of fifths and still keep it interesting. Amazing writing. When the organ solo starts up it is just mesmerizing. I listened to this so many times with headphones and eyes closed when this came out. Never get tired of it. Thanks, Justin.
Jon Anderson said in an interview that Awaken is Yes' masterpiece. He also said before he sang it in New Brunswick, New Jersey this month with the Band Geeks that Awaken is his favorite song. It is quite a song. Not many songs take to the place that Awaken takes the listener to. A brilliant timeless composition. Anderson's voice is angelic! How about Steve Howe tearing it up on the guitar? Holy smokes, he's playing fast. I'm always amazed at his guitar playing in Awaken!
My absolute favorite Yes song of all time. They frequently have included this on their setlist for their concerts and it sounds just as amazing when done live.
Welcome To the world of Yes!!!
YES! 😁
Well done! Epic Epic Epic!
Next Close To The Edge and then you'll only have 7 more symphonic masterpieces of YES to react to, good thing your a young pup. 🙏🍁
Please react to The Todd Mobile Version of Awaken with Anderson,
It's like... Really out there ...
You won't regret it.
Take Care.
Yes and YES'S live version
I have watched that version a couple times and it is awesome even though besides Anderson it isn't"Yes" guys doing it.
10-4 on that one, loop. I always have to have Kleenex on hand, especially with the ending...whew!
I meant "loup".....sorry!
A few of us should pitch in 5 or 10 bucks through venmo to get him to do it. I couldn't believe how moving the Todd Mobile version is. I didn't expect it...
Greatest piece of music YES ever did. It shouldn't be any wonder that many YES fans have stated this song brought them to God.
It was amazing live. No drugs needed to float along
That first third of the song, as you noted, reminds me of the bridge section on Roundabout. Anderson and Howe were getting what I call a National Geographic feel. Camels crossing a Roger Dean landscape. Love this band for the visual imagery they evoke. I really enjoy your reactions. Coming from a trained musician, they mean a lot. Thanks!
Absolutely beautiful song. My favorite Yes track. This and Close to the Edge are my two favorites. Both from my two favorite albums.
Yay! You made it to Awaken Justin, this is such a powerful song. Glad enjoyed! Thank you for reaction.
My favorite piece of music since I first saw them play it in 1991. Amazing work.
Howe and Anderson collaborated a lot in Yes. This is one of my favorite Yes tracks.
Peak Yes right there……..!
One of my favorite songs.
There we go.
Probably my favourite Yes track, loved the fact Wakeman saw the church organ and thought, that'll do for me! I've seen Rick do intimate shows, he does not take himself seriously, very funny guy. Look up the Yes induction speeches (Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), it's like a stand up comic routine! Glad you like this one.
PHENOMENAL IN CONCERT 🎉🎉
Love your style.... I saw this live in 77.
Was happy to see Awaken live in Rotterdam in 2003. The highlight of the evening!
At the time I wasn't aware of the set list. So when they played it, I was going, wow, are they really doing this?
My friend and I used to play this album over and over as we sat and drew our wonderful superhero characters.... Good times
In that final solo section, Howe goes from elec guitar to steel for those really high notes. Does the same in solo to Gates right before going into Soon.
I like the whole album, Most excellent work by Wakeman,
Nice, a studio reaction to YES! have a LIKE. i wouldn't turn my ears away from Zep, Type-O, more YES, Black Sabbath with Ozzy
Yeah it's epic... this was the tune I was really getting into when I went to Florida over 30 years ago and had it playing on my little Sony Walkman... It's complex but not in the way which is off-putting... believe me it gets better over the years... That pipe organ hit at 14:51 and choir just gets me everytime. For me the best progressive music track ever recorded bar none.
Even as a keyboardist from the UK I was never that into Wakeman until I heard this... he is a master of pipe organ and this kind of orchestration... the keyboard sounds are really nice too... very dreamy underwater glassy sounds at times which were reminiscent of the sounds that would come with the D50/Wavestation kind of keyboards... albeit in a lo-fi kind of way...
Turn of the Century was sleepy? OMG! Go back and listen again, and again. It is an incredible love story. But if you listen for the music only, not the feeling of the song, then you still need to listen again LOL. That song was the brainchild of Alan White. This whole album is incredible. ☮️❤️🎼
I love Awaken, and it’s definitely one of their very best. The musicianship of all the band is mind blowing, including Jon’s incredible vocals. it’s not as good as Close to the Edge, in my opinion. Then again, Close to the Edge is the best progressive rock song I’ve ever heard.
Epicness but I do agree with the fact there is a certain mood you must be in to get this and the album as a whole. Justin I really appreciate you doing this and your patience. This is not an album full of foot tapping music you cruise to on a road trip. I have loved it since its release and it's top 5 all time for me at least and this includes Rush and all other bands I like. It would be interesting for you to do Tormato sometime lol. Cheers brother....👍
Thanks for sponsoring this, Kenneth. I'm really glad JP dug a lot of it, and I have a feeling he'll give it more chances. As others have said, Yes isn't a "one-and-done" kind of listening experience.
I would add one more word to describe this song, inspirational. You can see why so many prog bands say that Yes was a very influential band for them.
John Petrucci said he wanted Dream Theater to be a combo of Yes and Metallica. You can definitely hear it in Awaken. I suggest spinning movements and a 2 cups of cappuccino to prep for Yes's prog-odyssey (I should coin the term) lol. The end of the tune is so evocative and would be a good background for a 'ascending toward Heaven's gates' scene.
I am not sure the cathedral organ is an overdue. I think the point with the telephone cable is that Wakeman could listen viaa headphones what was going on in the studio and play along. What do you think?
Glad you liked it. It is pretty epic. “Parallels” will probably grow on you, if you let it. It’s weird because it’s a Squire composition. Whether you do it on your own or on the channel, as a bass player you should listen to his “Fish out of Water” solo album. It’s really cool.
PS: in my own mind, I have noted before that touch of similarity with Perry Farrell’s voice. 👍
The audacity to record a song like this! Epic!
Moraz wrote this ... Jon + Rick made it special. Patrick is loved and special. Love Russ
This is a pinnacle - not just for the band, but for anything connected to rock. There are works by major composers that can't stand up to it. IMHO, It uniquely brings rock into the canon and on a footing with more than a few works in classical sacred music. I don't believe in channeled transmissions from higher dimensions or whatnot, but if I did it would sound like this. Listen again to the moving background voicing and instrumentation! You will hear more.
Yeah. A really good song.
Beautiful song. Try the live Todmobile and Jon Anderson version.
This is pinnacle of prog. Thaks
Good reaction to the top prog band Yes, unfortunately this was the last prog album they made!
Please do close to the edge from yes, the best prog rock ever made😘
This is the one YES album that can never be Remastered because the original Master tapes were lost. And to me this is the album that would benefit from it most. Huge bummer
You’re going to love Close to the Edge and Gates of Delirium ❤ Also Ritual.
For me, Awaken is slightly down a notch because of the wash of production. It’s a bit overly dreamy. The other Yes epics are a little more clean and clear but equally impressive. But hey, it’s still perfect and others will undoubtedly disagree ❤
I can't find where you've listened to anything from the Close to the Edge album. Saving the best for last?? :)
Although I'm not a huge Yes fan I adore _Awaken._ I probably listen to it ten times as often as anything else by them, and Going For The One is the only album of theirs I rebought on CD after moving away from vinyl. I generally agree with your overall verdict on the album's other songs too.
Frickin' French-Switzerland speak. 😆
I think they ripped Rush off on this one with another "naked butt man" on the cover. 😂
Did you know Geddy said if it wasn't for yes there would have been no rush
Turn og century is beatiful. What s hsppening 😮
Real pipe organ..rrcirded in a church
Thanks for the three ad interruptions, UA-cam (hope you got some coin out it, JP). But wow, he liked it. Hey, Mikey! 😉 Now I wonder if JP might actually like the Close to the Edge album. Hopefully it's in the queue and we can all find out. Close to the Edge is widely regarded as the pinnacle of progressive rock, but Jon Anderson has often said that "Awaken" is the one song he's most proud of. It's a tragedy there's no pro-shot footage of the tour for this album (just a crappy, multi-copy audience VHS from Glasgow.) I don't recall the glowing reviews, but then most prog fans have been annoyed for decades because of the unrelenting, harsh slagging Yes got once punk arrived. Of course time has changed a lot of people's opinions.
"Nothin' but f-ing epics!" -- Mike Portnoy
No coin. Majority of videos with copyright material money goes to copyright holder.
@@JustinPanariello Really? So why do reaction videos get blocked, if the people owning the copyright are still making money off of them? (pardon the tangent)
@@yes_head for use. They dont want you using their work.
No different they dont want certain advertisers or politicians to use their song. All down to use.
Overdub
Great reaction but you really blew it at the very end with your comparison to that loon
On this song the overly bright (at times even tinny) production of this album is not as pronounced. For some reason this album always sounded poorly produced to me, except for this track. I love some of the other songs on this one (Wondrous Stories and Parallels), but have always hated the sound quality.
Yes? No!
Not too much of a fan of Yes's new age epic prog stuff. Much prefer Bill Bruford as drummer - kept it real, and down to earth.
Producer: How much reverb do you want?
Yes: 🤣