Source Video - • Al Stewart - Year Of T... Our Patreon - / enoma No copyright infringement intended. We do not own this video. This reaction constitutes Fair Use.
In my opinion, the brilliance of Alan Parsons as an audio engineer is his full use of the dynamic range available to him. He knows that the small brush strokes are as valuable as the big bold ones to the overall composition of the work of art. That is why my ears enjoy music engineered by him, like this song.
I am a 60 year old African American, who has recently come across your channel. I find the both of you absolutely adorable! Indeed, you bring so much more essence to your re-actions than most others. Quality of this caliber is an acquired taste, which is why you must stay the course, and just as sure as I found your work an cannot get enough of your insights - rest assured,- your success will be as inevitable as the rising sun. Namaste
Al says the song is about a love affair taking place in North Africa and the movie Casa Blanca inspired him to write the song. He calls it an updated North African love song that is set in 1975, which happens to be the year of the cat in Vietnamese astrology.
This song is set in Morocco. Al Stewart's girlfriend at the time had a book of Vietnamese zodiac signs and it was opened to the year of the cat. Casablanca was on and it gave him the idea to set it in Morocco, Northern Africa. The first line is "on a morning from a Bogart movie in a country where they turn back time". Humphry Bogart was the star of the movie Casablanca. This is one of my very favorite songs!
One of my favorite songs ever. Real classic . Love how they integrate the little cat sounds. There is something alluring and magical about cats and that is reflexed in the lyrics. Like being in a strange exotic place - like some bizarre foreign market . Maybe like in an Indian market with some quixotic cat-eyed Asian girl seen through Western eyes. Like in the line Peter Lorre contemplating a crime in some far off place like Casablanca. Something to experience but in the end dangerous but a danger you are drawn to but only in a temporary way. Think any adventurous heart seeks out those experiences but like a cat, and like a women, they are so fickle and temporal.
I watch your indiareacts channel and just found out you have another channel! This song is so beautiful, it always brings tears to my eyes. When I go to heaven this is the song that will lead me there.
Great reaction, didn't interrupt the song, just gave non verbal accolades. Thank you. I do understand the "over produced" comments though. After listening to a lot of music with high production levels, it can be satisfying to listen something with less "polish". But this is, almost indisputably, a great song.
Your eyes speak volumes at each twist and turn of the whole compostition. An absolute masterpiece. And, everyone who reviews this is amazed at how perfect it is. It took Al over a year to finally get this recorded the way wanted it, sometimes frustrating Alan Parsons. But, It was definitely worth the wait.
I love the inclusion of the flavor of the Spanish guitar. My only problem with the song is it's too short. Save you some time "On the Border" ua-cam.com/video/z2L_OyS21lM/v-deo.html
This is certainly in my Top 10 songs of all time. This has just about everything to love in it. I especially love the strong outro and fade out, with all the instruments, strings, guitars, and saxophone all working in perfect conjunction.
The year of the cat is in the Vietnamese zodiac. He recorded the song in the year of the cat, 1975. It was released in 1976. Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre were in 9 films together, so this song is a reference to those movies. And they were all film noir which makes sense as she wore the long black dress. Probably it was Lauren Bacall he was referring to. But definitely this was taken from movies. Morning: The Big Sleep Blue Tiled walls by market stalls: Casablanca She doesn't give you time for questions, she locks you up in her arms: To Have and Have Not Hidden door: Dark Passage A river runs through it: The African Queen Your direction completely disappears: High Sierra The one movie set in China was The Left Hand of God. And in a country where they turn back time, that is Hollywood.
I too Peter, was 17 when this was released in 1976. Though, I purchased Al Stewart's "Modern Times" on vinyl a couple of years earlier and what a fantastic album this was.
So thoughtfully produced and musically performed, esp the transiton of spanish guitar- electric guitar and into the beautiful saxaphone, really amazing, always loved al stewart.
Thank you for reacting to this! I am so happy that it pleased you as much as it has the millions of other people who have fallen in love with it! I feel that it's one of those rare songs that are so good that the performer(s) should be allowed to retire because they've contributed such a beautiful gem for the rest of world.
@@dongill9650 The problem is that modern generations have been swamped with new garbage and told that "old stuff is YUCK" ... thus anyone new thinks this is underrated because they havent heard it before.
Superb Analysis of my favourite singer and the music on this song which was cleverly produced by Alan Parsons. I like the gleam in your eyes and when you applaud those tiny magical moments in the song. Keep it up Kirti. Enjoy all your analysis of Al’s songs.
This is a song about a man traveling in a different country who sees this exotic creature “in a silk dress running like a watercolor in the rain”. She captivates him immediately and all she will say about herself references a year in the Vietnamese Zodiac calendar “The Year of the Cat”. She might be Asian but the reference to “blue tiled walls of the market stalls” seem to point to Morocco or some other North African setting. The man ends up spending the night with this exotic beauty waking the next morning to the realization that he is going to stay with her a while longer. This alludes to the possibility that while he knows he will leave her someday he will never forget her and may regret leaving at all. Old cliche but they do not write songs like this anymore.
The instrumental section is a most sensual description of the couple's lovemaking. Listen again and note the slow, smooth start; the building orchestration, volume, and tempo; the pointed rhythmic strings, all building to the climax . . with the strident saxophone note the release. All after this is the afterglow with more gentle repetition of now familiar pleasant themes. The song is all about the lovemaking.
Classic and legendary...great love song.This is one of the most haunting and beautiful songs of all time.One of those songs you hear the first time and love it...like I feel a thousand times later.Great review by you....
Holy mother of...Dark Side of the Moon, Bohemian Rhapsody, Bridge Over Troubled Water and The Chain!!! What I mean is, I’m in my young 60s and although I’d always “kinda liked” this song since I was a teen, I never really paid much attention to it because I was into harder rock...but I just listened to a high quality version of this via Spotify with headphones and at a higher volume than usual, after being inspired by this reaction, and I am absolutely BLOWN AWAY by the lyrics, the composition and the sound engineering in this song...they are on the masterpiece level of the aforementioned songs! I think this is the first time I’ve been truly “blown away” by any performance since I watched Disturbed perform Sound of Silence on Conan, but in this case I could have been enjoying it for nearly five decades and missed it all this time! Great request, great reaction, MAGNIFICENT song!!! 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆. ❤️✌🏻✌🏻❤️
If you have ever been far from home, and had your heart broken, the sax riff at around 4.50 in this song will drop your heart from the stratosphere into 1000 pieces on the floor. Just epic...
There is no such thing as a good song or a bad song...A song is just a song...Only the listener can like, love or hate the song...Perspective is such a subjective thing...If you love the song then, there is no argument...Those that attempt to tell you how wrong or right your opinion is, are foolish and ignorant..The beauty we see in this world is only there because we perceive it as beauty, the ugly we see also comes from the one recognizing it as such. Keep reacting to Music Kirti, I love to see your face when the music moves your soul...It is such a beautiful thing, to regularly immerse ourselves in the joy of music...Let the haters keep their hate, they are the owners of their own Karma.
A Great song..shame he never really went on and had more huge hits as this was so well written and the composition is fantastic..it is one that takes you on a real journey as the song progresses Thank You for the reaction Keep Safe Keep Strong
Since you liked this so much, I recommend you listen to the whole album. Each song is a masterpiece. Same with the album Time Passages. Not a bad track on either one.
I wish your husband was on for this reaction. I'd like to believe he'd be smiling throughout as well. (I haven't seen either of you smile very much over the last several years. I miss that.)
I know, it's brilliant, isn't it?! : ) Funny how you mention that somehow this reminds you of Simon and Garfunkel, because Paul Simon used to be Al Stewart's flatmate, before he wrote this!
The context story uses referenced "actors", BOGART MOVIE PETER LORRE? the artist uses many interacting historical scenarios, but it is a love song esentially?
Yes, the song is genius! The little, strange ringing sounds toward the end of the song was done with an electric guitar with an effects box to give it the sound you hear. The story of the song is about a man who goes somewhere in north Africa, the place is not named. For the sake of the song it is meant as an ambiguous name for really anywhere someone may have such a romantic encounter, whatever the name of the place might be. During his guided tour visit in the market place while he is strolling, he is seen by a woman who really wants him for a romantic encounter. She encounters him and sweeps him away to a secret door and they begin their romantic night. Obviously, he has consented to this sudden, marvelous and wonderful encounter with a mysterious, beautiful woman who's "eyes shine like the moon in the sea". The next day he realizes he has lost his ticket to go back to where he came from and so he stays with the woman for an unspecified period of time. It is like a lovers dream come true, and while the Year of the Cat is an astrological sign in Chinese, in this case, it is the name of the dream/place she takes him to for his mysterious, dreamy romantic encounter. It is not a real story, but it could be anyone's real story. Most of us here also agree with you. Maybe the song was overproduced, but we don't care! It s a massive wall of different sounds coming through in their correct times and cadence. Every instrument that is used, no matter how many, can be heard. If one listened to the song a dozen times over, they may get to hear all of them, or maybe not! LOL! This song is well put together. In fact, the entire album is well put together. Thanks for the share! It was, and still is after 40 plus years, a superb song to hear!
As one who has owned a few cats.......knows.......dog owners......I appreciate you...but cats are much more. I was a dog person as a young person...but events as I got older.....learned cats were so so much more loyal and closer. You would not think it. I had school kids after class come and run up to my stoop too pet them .
To my understanding, there is no "year of the cat" in the Chinese zodiac. So I think everything that he's describing with that phrase is meant to mean that it's unique or fleeting or mysterious - something that could've been. That's just my opinion.
Your repeated applauds during the listening is so heartwarming 🥰
One of the greatest songs ever written from a truly remarkable album. Let us not forget a huge thank you to the genius that is Alan Parsons.
You can tell the song deeply emotionally touches her
In my opinion, the brilliance of Alan Parsons as an audio engineer is his full use of the dynamic range available to him. He knows that the small brush strokes are as valuable as the big bold ones to the overall composition of the work of art. That is why my ears enjoy music engineered by him, like this song.
Well said. Agree.
The three instrument solo is the most intense climax every recorded acoustic , then electric guitar and then sax. BAM
I am a 60 year old African American, who has recently come across your channel. I find the both of you absolutely adorable! Indeed, you bring so much more essence to your re-actions than most others. Quality of this caliber is an acquired taste, which is why you must stay the course, and just as sure as I found your work an cannot get enough of your insights - rest assured,- your success will be as inevitable as the rising sun. Namaste
This song is so musically satisfying. ✌️
could not agree more
He is the Pride of Scotland.
This sweeping orchestral eargasm.
That depth of Scottish melancholy.
Beautiful!!
Al says the song is about a love affair taking place in North Africa and the movie Casa Blanca inspired him to write the song. He calls it an updated North African love song that is set in 1975, which happens to be the year of the cat in Vietnamese astrology.
Yeiii I was born in 1975!!! 😅😅😅😅😅😸😸😸😸
This song is set in Morocco. Al Stewart's girlfriend at the time had a book of Vietnamese zodiac signs and it was opened to the year of the cat. Casablanca was on and it gave him the idea to set it in Morocco, Northern Africa. The first line is "on a morning from a Bogart movie in a country where they turn back time". Humphry Bogart was the star of the movie Casablanca. This is one of my very favorite songs!
Wow! Thank you for this background information Carol!
I always wonder about the facts behind it! Thanks!!!!🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽🫶🏽
Thank you!
Gracias año del Gato....
this 7 minute gem of a song is like being in a 2 hour mystery movie,
Thankyou for not interupting. I just wish more reaction videos were like this. Listen to the song then give us your thoughts. Thankyou.
A song from a time when musicians wrote and performed songs that were played on the radio.
The guitar solo bleeding into the short sax solo gets everybody.
This song is written and recorded so well
This song was a masterpiece and one of my favorites of all songs. Truely a song where you can float away to some other place.
A true classic in every way. Stewart's voice is so sweet & clear, his diction perfect. Always pleasing.
One of my favorite songs ever. Real classic . Love how they integrate the little cat sounds. There is something alluring and magical about cats and that is reflexed in the lyrics. Like being in a strange exotic place - like some bizarre foreign market . Maybe like in an Indian market with some quixotic cat-eyed Asian girl seen through Western eyes. Like in the line Peter Lorre contemplating a crime in some far off place like Casablanca. Something to experience but in the end dangerous but a danger you are drawn to but only in a temporary way. Think any adventurous heart seeks out those experiences but like a cat, and like a women, they are so fickle and temporal.
Hi Kirti glad to see you react to this song. It's savy mellow sound that's catchy , I like your reaction Kirti thanks for covering this song
This song 🎶 is a hug for our hearts ♥️ I’ve loved it since it came out & it still gives me chills! Much love from 🇺🇸✌️
I always wait for that saxophone instrumental and then pow, that smile. Such a brilliant song.
I always wait for the power guitar part. Goes to show the complexity of the Great song.
I have not seen one reactor NOT smile at the first sound of that Saxophone.
Great song! Acoustic guitar, electric guitar, violin and sax - plus the vocals of Al. I love it!!!!
Masterpiece! This Song should have Won a Grammy!
His folly is excellence.
when there is a song that you can listen to over and over and over again, WITHOUT GETTING TIRED OF IT, you know you have an absolute MASTERPIECE
Alan Parsons was the producer. Very accomplished session musicians as well.
Kirti you look so happy, I smiling to too this Masterpiece
He sounds like that singer from The Pet Shop Boys. Great song.
I watch your indiareacts channel and just found out you have another channel! This song is so beautiful, it always brings tears to my eyes. When I go to heaven this is the song that will lead me there.
Great reaction, didn't interrupt the song, just gave non verbal accolades. Thank you.
I do understand the "over produced" comments though. After listening to a lot of music with high production levels, it can be satisfying to listen something with less "polish". But this is, almost indisputably, a great song.
Your eyes speak volumes at each twist and turn of the whole compostition. An absolute masterpiece. And, everyone who reviews this is amazed at how perfect it is. It took Al over a year to finally get this recorded the way wanted it, sometimes frustrating Alan Parsons. But, It was definitely worth the wait.
Loving reaction !.. thank you !..
Thxs!
I can tell you enjoyed that song, listen to "On The Border" another great Al Stewart tune!! Very melodic!!
Check out the live version from the 1981 "Indian Summer/Al Stewart Live" album, it's amazing.
I love the inclusion of the flavor of the Spanish guitar. My only problem with the song is it's too short. Save you some time "On the Border"
ua-cam.com/video/z2L_OyS21lM/v-deo.html
Seems to be a lost art in music since 2000... instruments like the saxophone, clarinet or flute and how much they add to the song
When I hear this wonderful voice and beautiful music with just magic lyrics it fills my heart and brings tears to my eyes.
This is certainly in my Top 10 songs of all time. This has just about everything to love in it. I especially love the strong outro and fade out, with all the instruments, strings, guitars, and saxophone all working in perfect conjunction.
The joy on your face renewed 4 or 5 times during this song! Was a joy to listen with you.
The year of the cat is in the Vietnamese zodiac. He recorded the song in the year of the cat, 1975. It was released in 1976. Humphrey Bogart and Peter Lorre were in 9 films together, so this song is a reference to those movies. And they were all film noir which makes sense as she wore the long black dress. Probably it was Lauren Bacall he was referring to. But definitely this was taken from movies.
Morning: The Big Sleep
Blue Tiled walls by market stalls: Casablanca
She doesn't give you time for questions, she locks you up in her arms: To Have and Have Not
Hidden door: Dark Passage
A river runs through it: The African Queen
Your direction completely disappears: High Sierra
The one movie set in China was The Left Hand of God.
And in a country where they turn back time, that is Hollywood.
What a perfect reaction 😊
What a great song. I love this song so much.
You said it all with your facial expressions during the song. So glad you love this. I was 17 when this was released in 1976. A masterpiece.
I too Peter, was 17 when this was released in 1976. Though, I purchased Al Stewart's "Modern Times" on vinyl a couple of years earlier and what a fantastic album this was.
Thanks for reacting to my favourite Al Stewart song.
So thoughtfully produced and musically performed, esp the transiton of spanish guitar- electric guitar and into the beautiful saxaphone, really amazing, always loved al stewart.
Funny that you say it reminded you of Simon & Garfunkel ... you know that Al Stewart shared a flat with Paul Simon for a brief time in the '60s.
1 of my favorite songs.
Thank you for reacting to this! I am so happy that it pleased you as much as it has the millions of other people who have fallen in love with it! I feel that it's one of those rare songs that are so good that the performer(s) should be allowed to retire because they've contributed such a beautiful gem for the rest of world.
Essa música me traz uma lembrança inesquecível de uma pessoa, que saudade.
Painting with words
He has another song you will like called Time Passages. Another masterpiece. Give it a listen if you have not already done so.
This is sucha underrated gem love the piano in it ofc!! Lovely reaction as always
It's not underrated.
Definitely not underrated. Since it came out, it has been well known as an engineering miracle and brilliantly written.
@@dongill9650 The problem is that modern generations have been swamped with new garbage and told that "old stuff is YUCK" ... thus anyone new thinks this is underrated because they havent heard it before.
You are so, correct... i've LOVED this song since it came out. Al Stewart is a genious.
Sicuramete la canzone piu' bella delle prime 10 dal 1970 ad oggi !!! Sfiora la perfezione !!!
It takes genious to recognize genious. Thank you
Minha falecida mãe adorava dançar comigo esta música isto em 1977.
Viaje a los maravillosos años 80 gracias año del Gato
No one ever mentions what a brilliant bass line by George Ford. Yes, I know it's all good, but I think his playing on the track is outstanding.
I think they call call the production value of this song "Lush".
Al put this as the last song on the album because he did not think it would become a hit!
The lyrics are perfect. Just gorgeous
I have been binging on this song for weeks. That talent is only still available on UA-cam.
Top notch classic that is full of music....His other great hit” Time Passages” has even greater saxophone,if that is possible.
Superb Analysis of my favourite singer and the music on this song which was cleverly produced by Alan Parsons. I like the gleam in your eyes and when you applaud those tiny magical moments in the song. Keep it up Kirti. Enjoy all your analysis of Al’s songs.
Paul Simon was roommates with Al Stewart in London in the 60s.
Jimmy Page has played on one of Al’s albums!
No one is ready for the sax. Love your reaction.
I enjoyed seeing your reaction to this gem of a song from the 70's ! It's one of my favorites too .
Great reaction.
This is a song about a man traveling in a different country who sees this exotic creature “in a silk dress running like a watercolor in the rain”. She captivates him immediately and all she will say about herself references a year in the Vietnamese Zodiac calendar “The Year of the Cat”. She might be Asian but the reference to “blue tiled walls of the market stalls” seem to point to Morocco or some other North African setting. The man ends up spending the night with this exotic beauty waking the next morning to the realization that he is going to stay with her a while longer. This alludes to the possibility that while he knows he will leave her someday he will never forget her and may regret leaving at all.
Old cliche but they do not write songs like this anymore.
The instrumental section is a most sensual description of the couple's lovemaking. Listen again and note the slow, smooth start; the building orchestration, volume, and tempo; the pointed rhythmic strings, all building to the climax . . with the strident saxophone note the release. All after this is the afterglow with more gentle repetition of now familiar pleasant themes. The song is all about the lovemaking.
Classic and legendary...great love song.This is one of the most haunting and beautiful songs of all time.One of those songs you hear the first time and love it...like I feel a thousand times later.Great review by you....
Al's biggest hit. A great song by a great songwriter.
60s and 70s were remarkable times to live and listen. They will never be duplicated. I guess thats why it is called classic rock.
What a wonderful song, it really takes you to another time and place.
Check out "End of Day"&" Almost Lucy " from Time Passages!🗿
I have this album on vinyl. I think I wanna put it on now!
Holy mother of...Dark Side of the Moon, Bohemian Rhapsody, Bridge Over Troubled Water and The Chain!!! What I mean is, I’m in my young 60s and although I’d always “kinda liked” this song since I was a teen, I never really paid much attention to it because I was into harder rock...but I just listened to a high quality version of this via Spotify with headphones and at a higher volume than usual, after being inspired by this reaction, and I am absolutely BLOWN AWAY by the lyrics, the composition and the sound engineering in this song...they are on the masterpiece level of the aforementioned songs! I think this is the first time I’ve been truly “blown away” by any performance since I watched Disturbed perform Sound of Silence on Conan, but in this case I could have been enjoying it for nearly five decades and missed it all this time! Great request, great reaction, MAGNIFICENT song!!! 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆. ❤️✌🏻✌🏻❤️
If you have ever been far from home, and had your heart broken, the sax riff at around 4.50 in this song will drop your heart from the stratosphere into 1000 pieces on the floor. Just epic...
There is no such thing as a good song or a bad song...A song is just a song...Only the listener can like, love or hate the song...Perspective is such a subjective thing...If you love the song then, there is no argument...Those that attempt to tell you how wrong or right your opinion is, are foolish and ignorant..The beauty we see in this world is only there because we perceive it as beauty, the ugly we see also comes from the one recognizing it as such. Keep reacting to Music Kirti, I love to see your face when the music moves your soul...It is such a beautiful thing, to regularly immerse ourselves in the joy of music...Let the haters keep their hate, they are the owners of their own Karma.
Wonderful song. Anytime of the day.
A Great song..shame he never really went on and had more huge hits as this was so well written and the composition is fantastic..it is one that takes you on a real journey as the song progresses
Thank You for the reaction Keep Safe Keep Strong
Year of Kirti
How about "September" by the group Earth, Wind and Fire? You won't regret it. Upbeat and joyous music.
Great reaction! This is truly the definition of a masterpiece
Oh, and a great, honest and intelligent reaction. But sometimes people over analyse the lyrics. Just enjoy it for what it is.
Alan Parsons produced this album. You would love some of his music. You might try old and wise and silence and I and dammed if I do !
I've always loved this song!
Since you liked this so much, I recommend you listen to the whole album. Each song is a masterpiece. Same with the album Time Passages. Not a bad track on either one.
Every time I hear this song! I feel like it is for the first time!
This came out when I was in High School. It has been a favorite ever since the first time I heard it. I love getting older.
I wish your husband was on for this reaction. I'd like to believe he'd be smiling throughout as well. (I haven't seen either of you smile very much over the last several years. I miss that.)
Thank you for knowing Year of the Cat is from the Chinese calendar. Most have no clue! Now, what movie is being referenced?
I knew she would go crazy over this. One of the best yacht rock songs.
I know, it's brilliant, isn't it?! : ) Funny how you mention that somehow this reminds you of Simon and Garfunkel, because Paul Simon used to be Al Stewart's flatmate, before he wrote this!
Thank You!
The context story uses referenced "actors", BOGART MOVIE PETER LORRE? the artist uses many interacting historical scenarios, but it is a love song esentially?
God save us all..’
Great reaction .... i agree with all you said. :)
Happy Friday Kirti
This song was produced by Alan Parsons... and we know you like Alan Parsons... *hint* *hint* :)
Yes, the song is genius! The little, strange ringing sounds toward the end of the song was done with an electric guitar with an effects box to give it the sound you hear. The story of the song is about a man who goes somewhere in north Africa, the place is not named. For the sake of the song it is meant as an ambiguous name for really anywhere someone may have such a romantic encounter, whatever the name of the place might be. During his guided tour visit in the market place while he is strolling, he is seen by a woman who really wants him for a romantic encounter. She encounters him and sweeps him away to a secret door and they begin their romantic night. Obviously, he has consented to this sudden, marvelous and wonderful encounter with a mysterious, beautiful woman who's "eyes shine like the moon in the sea". The next day he realizes he has lost his ticket to go back to where he came from and so he stays with the woman for an unspecified period of time. It is like a lovers dream come true, and while the Year of the Cat is an astrological sign in Chinese, in this case, it is the name of the dream/place she takes him to for his mysterious, dreamy romantic encounter. It is not a real story, but it could be anyone's real story. Most of us here also agree with you. Maybe the song was overproduced, but we don't care! It s a massive wall of different sounds coming through in their correct times and cadence. Every instrument that is used, no matter how many, can be heard. If one listened to the song a dozen times over, they may get to hear all of them, or maybe not! LOL! This song is well put together. In fact, the entire album is well put together. Thanks for the share! It was, and still is after 40 plus years, a superb song to hear!
As one who has owned a few cats.......knows.......dog owners......I appreciate you...but cats are much more. I was a dog person as a young person...but events as I got older.....learned cats were so so much more loyal and closer.
You would not think it. I had school kids after class come and run up to my stoop too pet them .
To my understanding, there is no "year of the cat" in the Chinese zodiac. So I think everything that he's describing with that phrase is meant to mean that it's unique or fleeting or mysterious - something that could've been. That's just my opinion.