SINGER REACTS to… Focus’ “Hocus Pocus LIVE ‘73”
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- Опубліковано 9 чер 2024
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The yodeling, whistling and flute playing is what everyone gets a kick out of and it makes the song fun, but that _GUITAR_ playing is melt-your-face kind of great!!
As is the drumming
Jan never plays this tune the same. Never. Because otherwise it bored the hell out of him. But this is imho the best rendition of them all.
That's Jan Akkerman, Brian May saw him once and swooned over him like a fanboy, asked for his autograph. According to some, Jan is one of the biggest innovators of rock guitar technique.
FOR SHURE JAN ACKERMAN IS THE BEST,YOU ARE RIGHT! TOTALLY
@@robertlentink5300 FOR SHURE YOU ARE RIGHT,JAN ACKERMAN IS THE BEST FOR SHURE! HE IS GENIOUS!!!! LOT OF GREATINGS FROM ROCK 🎹 PIANO PLAYER FROM OPATIJA CROATIA!!! ALL THE BEST FOR YOU!!!!
In case no-one else has mentioned it: -
1) The song is actually supposed to be more than six minutes long - but the tv show would only give them a three and a half minute slot. Rather than cut chunks out of it the band played the whole thing at double speed!
2) I have never watched this tv show but I understand that this was the only occasion a musical performance ever received a standing ovation.
Correct! Thank you for mentioning that
They always played it at this speed live
I'm impressed you recognized Gladys Knight.
I don't think I'll ever get over watching reactions to this video.
These four are all masters at their instruments
∞ %
50 years ago, this came out on the radio. I was a senior in High School. I bought the album "Moving Waves" And everything else was very different on the record from this tune. They are very accomplished musicians for sure. I bought there next 2 records also, with Focus 3 being my favorite. Guitar players who see this are pretty floored by Jan's guitar work. For myself it was this Drummer that really caught my ear on the albums. It wasn't until a year ago i heard some European bootlegs from 1971 and 1973 of some live shows, and that showed be how ahead of his time the drummer was, with some of his solos from that long ago.
I saw Focus a few weeks ago. Pierre van der Linden is still knocking out fantastic drum solos at 76.
My dad played a lot with the drummer Pierre van der Linden and a few times with the guitarist.
Always loved this band. Actually first band I ever saw live. September 4 1971 in Maastricht The Netherlands. I was 15. Impressed me . to this day
this song was number 1 in the american charts. no joke
This song is quite like an abstract painting in a sense - you're the one that really attributes the meaning to it based on what you see and the title. To me, it feels like a modern, rock take on what a pagan chant or a magic spell would be like during middle ages or something like it.
This song was started as an warmup song before they staret the set. But it became so popular!
one of the best artists from here in The Netherlands.
This was what was so great about the music of my generation, it was filled with surprise. Every band had their own unique sound. Bands like Focus, Yes, Procol Harum, Rick Wakeman, were always expanding the horizon. When this song came it shocked everyone and blew us all away. Winter brothers Frankenstien was another one that opened up new ground.
Wgen they said to the producer of this show that their number was almost 8 minutes long, they got the answer that they only got 4 minutes. Okay, they replied, then we play double tempo. And they did. That's why the tempo of this number is so fast.
I have really enjoyed your reactions, and I appreciate the fact that you quickly realized that dismissing anything this talented as a "gimmick" would be pretty silly! 🙂
I remember hearing this tune for the first time many years ago. And I thought what the hell am I hearing? But it was very catchy and is a tune that is forever in my memories. These guys could play anything.
This was popular with us back in the day, I have never had such an enjoyable time laughing along with you while listening to this. Your laugh is infectious and awesome, thank you.
I love hearing reactions to this. People are hearing something like they have never heard before, and probably will never hear again. And the bottom line is that they are all great musicians. When a great tight band like this can make you laugh, that is pretty incredible.
This is from "The Midnight Special" TV series that ran on Fridays on NBC after The Tonight Show from 1973 - 1981. It ran 90 minutes, and was strictly music. The woman introducing Focus is the great Gladys Knight.
Focus was a Dutch prog band, and "Hocus Pocus" was their best known number, though as a novelty song it is not completely representative of their catalogue. Its original length was almost seven minutes, but they were only allotted four. Rather than edit the song down to fit the time as most other artists in the same situation did, the band decided to speed it up to get everything in.
How funny! Makes me like them even more😆😆
@@LisaDeBose every channel reviewing this song gets my like and subscribe. Love seeing the reactions on this catchy lyrics 😜. Love from the low lands
@@LisaDeBoseYou really need to listen to the studio version of this song as well. It's phenomenal in it's own way. They did the song a bit differently here. Ex ...The whistling part is different. If you LOVE the flute like I do...listen to some of their other songs & DEFINITELY listen to Jethro Tull, one of my favorite bands of ALL TIME. Ian Anderson, Tull's lead singer and flutist, is phenomenal in his own right. You are INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL BTW .. North Bronx NY guy. I so wish I knew you personally bc you seem SUPER cool & SUPER sweet and I could introduce you to some more kick-a"" rock music....👍😁
The tune was 7 minutes, they were given 4 minutes because of television time, so they pretty much doubled the tempo.
The only act to get a Standing-O on the Midnight Special.
For those of use who grew up in that era, imagine driving in the car & this came over the air.
It was like a much earlier version of the Wayne's World - Bohemian Rhapsody.
It wasn't the ONLY standing ovation, but it was the FIRST,
and the ONLY "full audience" ovation on the show.
In order to fit into the required time frame, not wanting to do
what everyone else did (cut a verse), they sped this up 30% faster
than normal speed, which showed their tremendous talent.
The normal speed (album) version (even better) can be found here...
/watch?v=MV0F_XiR48Q&ab_channel=RedBullet
Great reaction. Great smile. Originally just over 7 minute song so they had to cut it to just over 4 minutes. But they are Dutch and you don't get to tell us what to do so they just speed the entire song up.
Yes, it is a great performance. These are real artists. When you write a song as an artist, you want to tell a story. When dodo's from television tell you to cut your song in half because of television formats, a real artist would be hurt inside, because they apparently don't understand your story. Focus did it otherwise. Just play an already fast song twice the speed. And perfectly. I can't suppress the feeling this also was a f... you to the television company. And it came out brilliantly to the point of a standing ovation.
i imagine him as a music teacher that had dreams so he started a band and made them true.
The movie "Baby Driver" has a incredible choreographed chase scene to this song, the movie is great too.
They were only given 3or4 minutes to play. They refused to cut their song for the time aloud, so they sped it up. Peace
Hocus Pocus was sped up and condensed to fit a 4 minute time slot for the American Bandstand show in 1973
This makes me laugh. I remember seei ng this way back then.
You are a very pleasant person, enjoy your analysis. This was the music I heard as a young kid, still great now!
Oh no, you stopped it in mid-yodel 😁😁😎😎 Oh no, you did it again...and I don't know if they are "serious" (who said they have to be?), but this song was a huge hit
When you read about Thijs' musical background in Wikipedia you'll understand him
Great reactions! I was 14 when this album came out, I immediately went out and bought it!
Greetings from Oregon. My dad could yodel to classic country songs. I was so proud to show him our version of yodeling. Thought he was gonna kill me lol..
😂😂
Such a good time every time.
Hell yeah. Cheers from the Netherlands (he is one of the most sane ones overhere :)
The Dutch Masters😊
Love your laugh!
i seen them live late 70s back up group for aero smith was great
Thijs' (Van Leer ..the vocalist) facial expressions at 3:05 ish are so entertaining.
Thijs (pronounced TIGE)...
He yodels
He does operatic vocal runs
He plays the flute
He plays the keyboards
And he whistles like nobody I have ever heard!
The guitarist, Jan Akkermann
The bassist, Bert Ruiter
The drummer, Pierre Van Der Linden
Such incredibly talented people!
I am obsessed with this performance!
This great band produced multiple albums of great Prog instrumental music. All sorts. You should check out the band Renaissance for great Prog instrumentation, with the added bonus of an amazing singer you will admire: Annie Haslam.
Your laugh makes me laugh , win win!
It all started as a jam in a rehearsel. The jodling was found spontaneously in the jam.
If you love this, than you gonna like The Dizzy Man's Band from Holland too from the same time period.
8min song crammed into 4 adding to the already crazy song at 8 no compromise well just play it twice as fast kick ass!
Jan akkerman along with Jeff Beck are the world's greatest rock lead guitarist😮
They also make classic symphonic jazz rock
The genre is/was ' Progressive ' rock . Several bands. popular in Northern Europe centered around Amsterdam. 70s.
This is what when you have someone who is screaming in your ear telling you to hurry up and play the song! Lol!
Loved your reaction! And how they made you laugh!
I only wish I can see you in person while you are going to mimic the singing the song.
Thanks for sharing.
Hahaha! I should've recorded myself😆 thanks for watching I'm glad you enjoyed it!
@@LisaDeBose
Thanks! And I look forward to more videos on your channel hopefully. Take care 🙂
This how all their music like.
"Scorching" and "hilarious," two words seldom applied to a single song, but so apt for this one.
The vocalist is Thijs van Leer. You should listen to his INTROSPECTION albums. You will be surprised!
A lot of speeding tickets could be attributed to this song...😅
To me this is a school on music. You have a head voice and chest voice, articulation, variable range, and instrumentation.
Excellent reaction! Two thumbs up.
Thank you!! 😁
This was the first record(45RPM) I ever bought. Hocus Pocus II was on the flipside.
Saw these in a local hall early 70s as a support act to Curved Air. Cost about 25p (50 cents). Ended their show by kicking the organ to death,
That must have been a great night.
They took a seven minute song , And brought it in in under four minutes , when they were told to cut parts out do to time constraints
This must be one of the greatest guitar players of his time and I do not know the guy?
Jan Akkerman the name.
Jan Akkerman (guitar) was considered the best in these days. Brian May (Queen ) on Jan Akkerman, and its in youtube somewhere, I tried.... and failed.
I remember seeing that video. Brian is a huge fan of Jan. And then he was going to meet Jan, and was super nervous.
Found the video.
ua-cam.com/video/PWFA1wz0wFk/v-deo.html
And B.B. King was had more or less the same feeling
Live de légende !!!
hes still doing it
the funny thing about this is: this band is from Holland / Netherlands and this country has not one single mountain !
Most parts of the country a below sea level and yodeling belongs more to Bavaria than Netherlands.
The Netherlands are flat as a freakin salt lake.
They better should go drag racing than yodeling :-)
But hell, I L.O.V.E. this performance and best of it is that "chicken on meth" part starting 4:18
We have the Vaalserberg. Three hundred meters high! :)
The are extremely talented like them or not.
I had the album. 1973..listen to the long version..
Way better drummers than this guy??? Like, who?
As a child I had to learn how to whistle because there was no lock on the toilet door
This GUITAR
No they were serious, they were a one hit wonder with this, they still are together today playing concerts
Not really a one hit wonder.
Sylvia, was also a hit. And in their own country and Europe, they had other songs.
They are still around and playing.
📻🙂
1973...We were all on LSD
I like you
there only hit, go figure. I'm liking your reaction go you
Hey
Can you please please react to a video called «Thijs van Leer through the years compilation collection NEW EDIT», because it’s the Focus lead musician’s development over the years. Very interesting. Please. You shouldn’t miss it.
Interesting
Very😅
If I'm not mistaken Thijs covers 3,5 octaves in the second yodeling part.
do haleand piacedrugs song
If they did a biopic for this group, they should totally cast Taron Egerton as the lead singer.
This was their only hit...here in America, anyway. Not sure about Europe or The Netherlands.
they where verry serious.....thijs van leer was a verry good fluitist and jan akkerman was one of the best....so not the best....guitarplayer in the world....liked your video btw👍👍👍👍
Jan Akkerman was voted best guitarist in the world at least once, possibly multiple times.
I saw him live about a decade ago (after is accident and return to playing) and he is still awesome.
If you’re not sure if they’re serious or not I urge you to listen to the studio recording of this song. This live version was severely sped up for television and as a result is (in my opinion) nowhere near as good as the studio version
Are you married Lisa? You are gorgeous!!!!!
Awe, thank you💖 Yes I am, we just celebrated 10 years last year🥳
Focus never sang. They were Dutch, and could not speak English.
Mate, you know nothing…!
The guy making all the weird noises looked like he was constipated.
🤣🤣
His name is Thijs van Leer.
Or he was smoking some good shit.🤘
When I was young..
Focus.
Greetz from Amsterdam.