I still have yet to find any sound better than Merry's voice crack followed by Mick and Keith's "whooo". It will forever be an iconic moment in music history
Little did Merry know that when she was awakened in the middle of the night and asked to come to a recording studio and sing on a sound track with a band she hadn't heard of that she was making history. She's incredible on this track.
New Orleans girl, out of the New Zion Baptist Church choir, one of the best backup singers that ever was. BTW, she laid down those vocals while she was still in her pajamas, her hair in rollers and she was four months pregnant. Because, the producer of the record called her in the middle of the night and got her out of bed. She lost her baby to a miscarriage the next day, which she partially attributes to the strain of belting out her lyrics on the track. She's still alive, and is now 73 years old. Her solo album, "Beautiful Scars" was released in 2021.
Merry Clayton is one of the few female singers that can give me instant goosebumps... The power in her voice is unmatched. Such a shame she didn't get more recognition.
This was written in ‘68/‘69. The US and the entire world was going through a lot during those days. ‘68 saw the tet offensive in Viet Nam in addition to the assassinations of MLK and RFK, the riots in Chicago at the Democratic Convention while huge protests and reactions to those were threatening to tear the US apart. This song is so poignant and it was performed exquisitely. I totally agree with the comment about Merry Clayton’s cracking voice being a huge contributing factor to the perfect execution of this song.
Thing is that in the 1960's people started seeing some pretty ugly images in the news enter their living rooms for the first time - Vietnam, inner city riots, campus shootings and the middle East. Songs like this just reflected how real things were getting for most people who found it all harder to ignore.
And I love these songs. The Woodstock era, artists wrote relevant lyrics that mattered. Rock lyrics were much simpler before Bob Dylan switched from folk to rock in mid 60s. And today major label lyrics are stupid and people just like the sound. I suggest For What It's Worth (Buffalo Springfield), Trouble Every Day (Zappa), Southern Man (Young), Wooden Ships (Jefferson Airplane), Masters Of War (Dylan), Manic Depression (Hendrix), and Ohio (CSNY). Any of ya dig it? Peace y'all!
That is when the media did their jobs by reporting the truth, not like today, as they have just become propaganda machines for the governments of the world.
@@stevep2430 I agree except do you suppose they're propaganda machines more accurately for the Corporations? The bezos, the piss bottle shitbag himself 💩
Never fails to give me chills. The intro is epic. The droning bass and pulsing beat, and the lyrics so pigment and heavy. Top it off with the most intense vocal bridge ever recorded by Merry Clayton. Hell yeah!!!
This evokes images of Vietnam- especially that poor naked girl fleeing her burning village. It’s so visceral. We saw those horrific images on evening news every night. They sparked the student protests which ultimately turned the country against such a destructive war.
Karen I remember it well. This song still sends chills. As a child watching the images of a senseless war and seeing the young men in my neighborhood coming home in crutches and wheelchairs was truly an experience. Some never made it back home. Bless the veterans.
I remember exactly what you’re talking about. This song came out my senior year in high school. Everything seemed so crazy and dark with the nightly death totals on the news each night. Plus, my older brother was in Viet Nam and I worried about him. This song has always evoked the feeling of those times for me. Street Fighting Man from Beggars Banquet is another.
The most powerful moment in this song, as if the body isn’t already on vibrate up to this point is the solo by the very talented Merry Clayton, who in her third and final solo stanza strain so hard, it’s crystal clear her voice cracks jusd breaks the glass entirely. She was called into a late night session in Los Angeles ti drop her pipes in last minute scenario, Meery was also pregnant and just hours after returning home from dropping her chops sadly miscarried and was told by her doctors it was caused by very recent exceptional strain. No one could ever really prove this but for those who choose to believe that to not, she sung her ass clean off to give that song the power pinnacle it needed. When you hear Mick Jagger yell “whoo!” right after that voice cracking verse, that was unplanned. Mick was so blown away at how powerful Merry could deliver such a brilliant solo into scream of desperation, he just blurted it out and it put the cherry on top of that piece of the song. Her solo was so forceful the studio glass shook. It’s a transformational song at a very turbulent time in the 🇺🇸 back in 1969. And it left its mark so ingrained in American culture one can’t see any war movies since that doesn’t include the track in it. Legendary work.
Sort of. It started out as a song literally about people running for cover in a rainstorm, according to Keith Richards. Later the Stones added references to civil unrest and war that they were seeing on the TV in England. It might refer obliquely to Vietnam among other wars, but it is not primarily about it. It is capturing the spirit of the times.
This song is about drug addiction and this guy is trying to beat it.i know, I’ve been there. Sober 13 years. This song is hard to listen to. I can feel the pain , I’ve felt that pain
Merry Clayton, tragically, had a miscarriage shortly after the singing session.. Honestly her performance in this recording is one of the most substantial vocal recordings ever... And in her own words the recording was too painful emotional and powerful for her listen to.. true story
Merry Clayton brings it from great to iconic. If the apocalypse is going to have a theme song this one gets my vote. There was only one band that could have created Gimme Shelter. Great video guys thanks
Indeed! Graduated HS in 1970. Turbulent times and yet fun times, as it seemed people at least attempted to get along better. Sadly, now seems like we're going backwards...and all over politics!!
My favorite Stones song by far!! This was an anthem for protest vs the Vietnam War. All those horrible things are "just a shot away". But in the end, "love" is just a kiss away. Meaning, both are simple if that's what you're after. "make love not war" concept. A couple other amazing songs: Wild Horses, and Angie
Gimme Shelter meant more to us drafted Nam vets than it ever did to the war protesters that were never there. Gimme Shelter from harm as it may be just a shot away. Just a shot away. Get it?
@@danielfeinstein1096 just a shot away also refers to the peace that you get when you shoot up. You have no idea what we went through back here and we didn't experience Nam like you did. It was a horrible time for both of us, at least it was a horrible time for me
You CAN'T compare what the people at home go through to the actual soldiers fighting a war,not by choice either,but through a draft. One minute they're going about their daily lives,the next they're witnessing unimaginable horrors. Watch people die in front of their eyes,knowing any minute could be their last and most of them young men barely more than boy's. Yes it must have been hard on their families as well,BUT you can't say it's the same. That's a bit of an insult to those brave young men sent off to fight a pointless war,turning them into killers or dead bodies and for what ? I didn't agree with Nam,it acumplished nothing, all that bullshit about keeping those at home safe 😅 how did going to the jungles of Vietnam keep America safe ? ( im not American nor was i aliveat the time)BUT i have utmost respect for all vets
It got Mick, too. He says something to her when it cracks - but I can’t figure it out since it’s so low in the mix! I guess that’s why there’s Google I just realized, lol.
Musically, this is Keith Richards' song. The lineup for this song was... Mick Jagger-vocals, harmonica Charlie Watts-drums Keith Richards-everything else.
My favorite Stones song, I go crazy for two versions, the original one with Merry Clayton's vocal solo and the incredible ones with Mick Taylor's guitar solo in the 1972/73 live shows
There was a great 2013 documentary called "20 Feet From Stardom" about the often unheralded role of backup singers in popular music. One of the featured singers was a woman named Merry Clayton whose incredible voice you hear on "Gimme Shelter" (and A LOT of other classic songs). Here's a clip from the movie: ua-cam.com/video/ChONufP0FEs/v-deo.html Merry Clayton also appeared on the Queen Latifah Show (along with fellow legend Darlene Love) talking about recording "Gimme Shelter": ua-cam.com/video/jxc-nvknPfo/v-deo.html
It's a great documentary, so fun and interesting to meet these people who contributed so much to great music. Gimme Shelter would not have been so great without Merry, period.
First off I'm now a 67 year old man and I was very much alive and into music as a 15 year old teenager. This song was written in 1969 right at the height of the Vietnam war. Before I delve into the song a HUGE shoutout goes out to MERRY CLAYTON. The woman who did the background vocals with Mick Jagger. Merry was at the time an American Gospel singer and her manager had just gotten her this gig with The Stones. She Flew across the Atlantic and with no rest from her flight walked into the recording studio and laid the track down in her very first attempt at recording and forever put her down in the history books. This Stones song was a major hit at the time when it was released in Dec. of 1969 and her background vocals were a topic of many music enthusiasts at the time. Big time kudos out to her. Now to the song itself. The times then were rampant with many anti war songs from a variety of bands at the time. This sentiment was engrained into the culture of the time. Plus Woodstock had just occurred several months earlier adding to the fuel of the theme. And far too many assassinations which had occurred prior, the latest being Bobby Kennedy. A favorable candidate of the people by far. The air was filled with the chantings of peace and love by the younger generation while receiving nothing but stubborn resistance and outright disdain and insults by the status quo older generation. The atmosphere was electric and charged at the time. So much so was the unrest of the time that the 4 students killed by a simple protest at Kent State University was just months away. Occurring on May 4 1970. Four young college students shot outright and murdered by the National Guard for simply exercising their first amendment right to protest and redress grievances against their government. Plus the verse referring to "flames in the street" to me is significant because just the year before that very thing happened in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention. The Democrats themselves being so divided on their own platform demonstrated and rioted against their own party burning, rioting and looting in the same fashion as BLM and Antifa has recently done. Civil unrest was the soup du jour of the times. The very last lyric, "love is just a kiss away." is symbolic of the very well known chant of the times, "Make Love, Not War." Very electric and very charged times back then. Many wondered then if our country would survive such charged and divisive times. Songs like this one were meant to influence change over the powers that were in charge. That was a brief description of living in the sixties and into the early seventies.
It was recorded in L.A. A pregnant Merry was awoken late in the evening, came down to the studio in her hair curlers, and proceeded to lay this down. Unfortunately, she miscarried shortly afterwards. Flew across the Atlantic? Research further, my friend.
Merry Clayton sings back up and you can hear her voice crack twice and mick go “whoa” in the background. She came in the studio late at night after being called in. This is 1969, a year of total unrest!
It never ceases to amaze me at just how lucky I am to have grown up listening to and loving all of the great music by great bands in my lifetime. It makes me so happy to see you young folks enjoying the same music that was so much a part of my life growing up. Keep doing your fantastic reactions cuz you make this old guy smile!
Asia, I was waiting for your expression at 6:57, when guest singer Merry Clayton's voice cracked in the midst of, *"MURDERRRRR!"* and your squint followed by a head shake said it all. That crack in Merry's voice is iconic in rock history lore. It was unintentional, but Mick and the boys loved the raw emotion behind it, and wisely kept it in. Great reaction, to both of you. Next from The Stones, I suggest you try one of their gorgeous ballads called, *"Angie"* you'll both love it!! (Studio version.)
A song about war, the Vietnam war which was raging at the time. and the atrocities being brought on the civilian people of Vietnam. This was the first time this was ever torn open to see what really happens in war.
Do you know a lot of groups back in the 60s and 70s did create songs about what was going on at the time… And we listen to them and we agreed with them, and it just so happens they were great musicians vocalist in their chart busting songs were all over the place. It was important to us, kind of like today these songs resonate today but nobody is listening
MOST GROUPS. IT WAS WHAT THE GENERATION WAS ABOUT. AS THINGS GOT DARKER IN THE LATE 60S and into the early 70s many many groups.. had messages IN THEIR MUSIC. Its not easy for younger generations to TRULY UNDERSTAND HOW THE VIETNAM WAR, THE CIVIL RIGHT MOVEMENT and the changes happening culturally totally had a hold on our generation. We weren't feeling lollypops. Whether it was MARVIN GAYE'S INNER CITY BLUES, or THE STONES OR BOB DYLAN....THERE WERE MESSAGES in our Music.
Great reaction guys! The Vietnam war was still raging and the Stones created this immortal song to speak to its destruction. Merry’s vocal is one of the greatest in rock history. Love how her vocal cracks twice from the power of her voice!!
Saw one where a husband interrupted at the big emotional payoff that had built up in Bridge Over Troubled Waters. The comments wanted to shake him with exasperation lol
I am 74 and I still love the Stones. I hope you see them do this in performance. The electricity of the band and the crowd will let you know what iconic is. Most bands never get there.
This song brings back childhood memories. 😢 Veitnam, the Draft, Woodstock, Flower Power, Hippies, and Charles Manson/Helter Skelter... there was so much division, so many lives lost. U.S. Soldiers were spit on by other Americans and called "Baby killers" for fighting in Vietnam.😢 It was a very rough time... yet we made it thru, together.
Merry Clayton MADE this song. They tell a story about recording this song in the middle of the night at Muscle Shoals Sound in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Woke Merry up out of her sleep. She went to the studio and made this magic all in her pink foam rollers. She's amazing.
Merry Clayton delivers the best vocal cameo in a rock song I can think of... as good a Stones song as there is. The song was released in 1969, so Vietnam and the assassination of MLK are fresh in the news.
I have 1 memory of the Vietnam war. I was born in 67 so I was too young to remember the whole war or to even understand that there was a war but when I was in Kindergarten this boy's father left for Vietnam. When we were in 1st grade our Kindergarten teacher came out on the playground and took Tommy to the office the next day our teacher told us his father was killed in Vietnam. Tommy was never the same again. It wasn"t till years later I learned about the war.
They called Marry in the middle of the night to ask her to come in to do backup vocals. She was pregnant and her husband asked her not to go. She went in and gave the most amazing performance ever! Very soon after she miscarried the baby.
Merry Clayton. She claims she miscarried her daughter due to the physical strain of her vocal belting, but professional medical people tend to disagree that was the cause.
@@oahuhawaii2141I think it’s true, lots of vibration stress, could’ve even gave birth there!😮hope she made a fortune for a lifetime at least, sure mick would agree❤
I love watching you two listening to a great band I grew up with in the sixties.That was our time the stones the beatles and so many more top bands from the UK.
Asia and Bj…Love the fact you are willing to listen to older music….there are so many songs from 1960’s and 1970’s that are Important to many of us!! and your thoughts are on point! Thank you 🙏🏻 ❤️🙏🏻
The story about Merry Clayton coming to be on this song is that the Stones were recording it well into the morning. The band members felt it was lacking something..one of the engineers said he knew someone who might give it what it lacked. In the wee hours of the morning, Merry comes in and lays this down. Supposedly in pajamas and rollers.
You have to watch the documentary, "20 Feet from Stardom" They feature Mary Clayton and the part she sings in this song. It is about the black backup singers that were used to give the needed flavor to rock and roll music. They also talk about the Queen of backup singers, Lisa Fischer. Who went to sing backup for the Rolling Stones including this song. Lisa also won a Grammy for the song on her debut album entitled "How can I feel the pain" which you should react to as well. She never made an album again. And was more comfortable as a backup singer. If you do the reaction, do the one live in Japan. Hands down one of the top female singers for vocal range and control.
It was a reference to the Vietnam War I think. The woman who sang on this song was pregnant and allegedly had a miscarriage after recording the song. That's why she screamed when singing "murder!" and you can hear Mick Jagger in the background going "whoo!" in the background, impressed by her vocals.
I love this song very much, with Mick Jagger‘s voice but Merry Clayton no words can describe what she did to this song but if I could say anything she gave it life her voice is haunting and brought to a new level .what a beautiful voice can do to a song
6:51 on the 3rd "rape, murder", her voice cracks. the band was in listening in the booth, loved it and went nuts. you can just barely hear Mick go "yeah" in the background right after her voice cracks. pretty cool.
The bluesiest rock band ever! The Stones never held back from calling people out...... It's either a shot and get death and heartache or it can be a 💋 and live in love and peace..... but it's up to us! Another great reaction Asia and BJ!!
Female vocalist Merry Clayton has a video on UA-cam where she explains the circumstances behind her role in the making of this song. Great story and an even greater vocalist! She was very young and very preagnant at the time. I believe her agent called her late night early morning and asked if she would do this for a band she was unfamiliar with at the time. She arrived at the studio in a fur jacket and her pj's and met the Stones for the very first time. When she read the part she was to sing she was very shocked, but did not disappoint. She actually held back a bit, and then when laying down her main track she decided to blow the roof off the studio... and the rest is history!
This song was released in 1969 and was an antiwar song in regards to the Vietnam War which was going on at that time. This to me is one of their best songs. Cheers
This is my absolute favorite Stones song. Big respect for singer Merry Clayton. This song wouldn't have been as powerful had she not performed on this song. Outstanding!
The female vocals on this track were done by Merry Clayton. She was called out of bed in the middle of the night while pregnant and curlers in her hair to perform on this track by a band she knew nothing about. She killed it. There's a short video on UA-cam about the events that led her to perform on this song. Definitely worth checking out. Btw I really look forward to your guys videos. You guys are the shit.
I do love your reactions. When you started talking about the happeningss of the times related to the lyrics, I couldn't let it go that Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, CSNY, CCR, Rush, plus countless others from the sixties and seventies wrote a plethora of songs addressing political and social issues. Their lyrics are timeless and would be relevant thousands of years ago till today and especially into the future. Cheers from the canadian Queen nut.
Love the reaction, please more of The Stones. This song brings out emotions, loved the goosebumps reference, you guys brought out a few of my own just watching. Keep the great reactions coming.
The song was released right during the vietnam war, when things were really starting to heat up. Also for the first time people were seeing the flag draped coffins of the soldiers killed in action being offloaded from the planes of the television.
Great song, Great reaction!! I was bobbing and swaying with Y'all. This was released at the end of 1969 and was timely then as it is now. Timeless! Wonderful instrumentation and vocals. Thank You!!
I was in high school when this song came out...a dark period. Watching your great reaction and hearing this song again makes me realize how even scarier it is today.
This song was recorded shortly after the nightmare concert at Altamont on Dec 6 1969 and most of the songs references are about that rock festival in which the Stones performed... ASIA and BJ watch the movie Gimme Shelter and find out why they recorded this song.
@ 5:48 This was definitely an anti-war song given that the Vietnam War was still in full rage. As far as stopping these music videos to talk... it's okay man. But I love the looks Asia gives you man, when you do! Hahaha! Of course she stops them too sometimes. But it's okay because we've heard these songs a million times and know them by heart in our heads. It's nice when you do stop to comment because it means the songs are SO good and impactful you must stop to catch your breaths and talk about them a bit. See, back in the day we didn't have pause buttons on the radio so we had to hear songs all the way thru. One of the greatest inventions of the 20th century are the pause and rewind buttons! LOLOL!! After looking at the Stones songs you've done I can recommend a few others: "Start Me Up", "Emotional Rescue" where Jagger delivers an awesome falsetto, "Jumpin' Jack Flash" very popular Stones iconic song, and definitely a must you should do is "Can't You Hear Me Knocking". And Asia, you'll get a lot of goosebumps with these! Great reaction video!✌😎
A Stones concert is such an experience , a dance party really , vary cool , this is such an iconic song , Mick Jagger is a front man in touch with the audience , he helps you feel the music , some of the best shows I've seen were the Stones .
The tension of society's growing hatred for a war and its atrocities was a tremendous influence for fantastic, deeply meaningful rock songs. Anthems, really.
One of many great Rolling Stones songs. I would suggest "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" from the Sticky Fingers album. Great album along with the album this song came from Let it Bleed. Two of the best albums in rock history IMO.
All time favorite Stones song!!!!! The funky bluesy, rock vibe combines the political times wars rampant by n the world. The hippie love vibe wrapping it up is just a masterpiece!!!!
This was during the Vietnam War era and a lot of people were experiencing anxiety about being sent off to fight and quite often die for reasons they could not understand, political reasons. Those bad ass Rolling Stones articulated our heightened emotions through their music and by the way sold hundreds of millions of records in the process. Thank You for bringing this music back to a forum like yours. Too bad they would not let you use a video of their performance. I am assuming that is why you only had words.
In my opinion, Merry Clayton made this song... The Rolling Stones may have written it, but she is the reason this song was so popular... when she sings "Rape, Murder... it's just a shot away", it sends chills up your spine
From a black guy former Marine was born 1960 joined the Marine Corps 1979 this was a big song all across this nation I was jamming on this music and high School from 1975 to 79 everybody jammed on the rolling Stones they're another great they played with Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock and also with Santana and a bunch of other great artists were there at Woodstock 1968
MAGIC!!! What a magical musical time and the STONES put a exclamation mark on it! And no band delivered live like the STONES! Blessed to never have missed a tour since 1969 and get to see them once again in May and July of 24!
I still have yet to find any sound better than Merry's voice crack followed by Mick and Keith's "whooo". It will forever be an iconic moment in music history
Great analogy and what it can or does reference. Love yall reactions and thoughts on this one.
The amazing Merry Clayton tells the story in the absolutely fantastic documentary "20 Feet From Stardom."
I’ve listened to this many times just to hear her voice crack…authentic and emotional.
So amazing! Simply indescribable.
in her bathrobe and curlers in her hair after getting a unexpected call to come to the studio in the middle of the night to add some backing vocals
Little did Merry know that when she was awakened in the middle of the night and asked to come to a recording studio and sing on a sound track with a band she hadn't heard of that she was making history. She's incredible on this track.
She was pregnant as well. I saw her on some documentary, 30 feet from fame, or something like that.
While pregnant
The incredible female vocalist is Merry Clayton.
Merry Clayton was pregnant at the time Mick Jagger called for her to do the back-up vocals. She ended up having a miscarriage afterwards...
New Orleans girl, out of the New Zion Baptist Church choir, one of the best backup singers that ever was. BTW, she laid down those vocals while she was still in her pajamas, her hair in rollers and she was four months pregnant. Because, the producer of the record called her in the middle of the night and got her out of bed. She lost her baby to a miscarriage the next day, which she partially attributes to the strain of belting out her lyrics on the track.
She's still alive, and is now 73 years old. Her solo album, "Beautiful Scars" was released in 2021.
She makes the song.
Incredible is perfect adjective
What happened to her??
Merry Clayton is one of the few female singers that can give me instant goosebumps... The power in her voice is unmatched. Such a shame she didn't get more recognition.
Not a huge fan of the Stones, but to my ears, this is one of the greatest rock songs ever, due to her contribution
I agree again. The song has so many elements and that vocal was just enough, in fact, left you wanting more.
The opening riff gives me the goosebumps - then Merry's voice gives me the chills and mkes my hair stand on end. Never fails to move me.
please don't speak about Merry in the past tense she's still here.
This was written in ‘68/‘69. The US and the entire world was going through a lot during those days. ‘68 saw the tet offensive in Viet Nam in addition to the assassinations of MLK and RFK, the riots in Chicago at the Democratic Convention while huge protests and reactions to those were threatening to tear the US apart. This song is so poignant and it was performed exquisitely. I totally agree with the comment about Merry Clayton’s cracking voice being a huge contributing factor to the perfect execution of this song.
Thing is that in the 1960's people started seeing some pretty ugly images in the news enter their living rooms for the first time - Vietnam, inner city riots, campus shootings and the middle East. Songs like this just reflected how real things were getting for most people who found it all harder to ignore.
And I love these songs. The Woodstock era, artists wrote relevant lyrics that mattered. Rock lyrics were much simpler before Bob Dylan switched from folk to rock in mid 60s. And today major label lyrics are stupid and people just like the sound. I suggest For What It's Worth (Buffalo Springfield), Trouble Every Day (Zappa), Southern Man (Young), Wooden Ships (Jefferson Airplane), Masters Of War (Dylan), Manic Depression (Hendrix), and Ohio (CSNY). Any of ya dig it? Peace y'all!
That is when the media did their jobs by reporting the truth, not like today, as they have just become propaganda machines for the governments of the world.
@@stevep2430 I agree except do you suppose they're propaganda machines more accurately for the Corporations? The bezos, the piss bottle shitbag himself 💩
Truth
Not to mention nuclear threats.
Never fails to give me chills. The intro is epic. The droning bass and pulsing beat, and the lyrics so pigment and heavy. Top it off with the most intense vocal bridge ever recorded by Merry Clayton. Hell yeah!!!
This evokes images of Vietnam- especially that poor naked girl fleeing her burning village. It’s so visceral. We saw those horrific images on evening news every night. They sparked the student protests which ultimately turned the country against such a destructive war.
I grew up in the DC area in the 60's and 70's. My mom was always marching. Both against the war and for civil rights.
Karen I remember it well. This song still sends chills. As a child watching the images of a senseless war and seeing the young men in my neighborhood coming home in crutches and wheelchairs was truly an experience. Some never made it back home. Bless the veterans.
@@ricknblueridge good for her!👍
@@oldiesguy7552 yes indeed !
I remember exactly what you’re talking about. This song came out my senior year in high school. Everything seemed so crazy and dark with the nightly death totals on the news each night. Plus, my older brother was in Viet Nam and I worried about him. This song has always evoked the feeling of those times for me. Street Fighting Man from Beggars Banquet is another.
The most powerful moment in this song, as if the body isn’t already on vibrate up to this point is the solo by the very talented Merry Clayton, who in her third and final solo stanza strain so hard, it’s crystal clear her voice cracks jusd breaks the glass entirely. She was called into a late night session in Los Angeles ti drop her pipes in last minute scenario, Meery was also pregnant and just hours after returning home from dropping her chops sadly miscarried and was told by her doctors it was caused by very recent exceptional strain. No one could ever really prove this but for those who choose to believe that to not, she sung her ass clean off to give that song the power pinnacle it needed. When you hear Mick Jagger yell “whoo!” right after that voice cracking verse, that was unplanned. Mick was so blown away at how powerful Merry could deliver such a brilliant solo into scream of desperation, he just blurted it out and it put the cherry on top of that piece of the song. Her solo was so forceful the studio glass shook. It’s a transformational song at a very turbulent time in the 🇺🇸 back in 1969. And it left its mark so ingrained in American culture one can’t see any war movies since that doesn’t include the track in it. Legendary work.
In my understanding this song is a protest against the atrocities that were happening in the Vietnam war. And can be summed up to "Make love not war"
Correct, and it took a British Band to do it.
Sort of. It started out as a song literally about people running for cover in a rainstorm, according to Keith Richards. Later the Stones added references to civil unrest and war that they were seeing on the TV in England. It might refer obliquely to Vietnam among other wars, but it is not primarily about it. It is capturing the spirit of the times.
Goosebumps here, too. Must've heard this song near 1,000 times over the past 50 years, and still get goosebumps every time.
Me too
Add me to the list too!
Yet In 50 years you've only heard it 1,000 times ? What a shame
@@Smacksnack-n4d I know, I'm deprived...!
me too
Easily my favorite Stones song. I can't even imagine that song without the incredible vocals of Merry Clayton.
lisa fischer in the late 90s
Wasn’t it Jimmy Miller’s idea to use a backup singer? He indeed produced the band’s most incredible run of albums.
This song is about drug addiction and this guy is trying to beat it.i know, I’ve been there. Sober 13 years. This song is hard to listen to. I can feel the pain , I’ve felt that pain
@@timtinsley9887 I always thought that- thx for the clarification. ! - neal a.
gimme shelter amsterdam
Simply the best rock song ever.
Yes!!!! Completely agree!
Probably my favorite Stones song. The background singers on this song are on point!
It’s that black American soul music baby
@@mookiestewart3776 the amazing Merry Clayton. Nobody else could’ve sung that song the way she did.
@mookiestewart3776 what has American got to do with black or soul. Delusion
Merry Clayton, tragically, had a miscarriage shortly after the singing session.. Honestly her performance in this recording is one of the most substantial vocal recordings ever... And in her own words the recording was too painful emotional and powerful for her listen to.. true story
The look Asia gave him when he stopped in the middle of the solo. 😄
Exactly. Wouldn't want to ever get on her bad side! :)
He earned it though.
Ha! Loved it. 🤣
That look spoke a thousand words. Go Asia!
re-thinking the whole relationship in that second LOL "who is this man??"
Merry Clayton brings it from great to iconic. If the apocalypse is going to have a theme song this one gets my vote. There was only one band that could have created Gimme Shelter. Great video guys thanks
Indeed! Graduated HS in 1970. Turbulent times and yet fun times, as it seemed people at least attempted to get along better. Sadly, now seems like we're going backwards...and all over politics!!
My favorite Stones song by far!! This was an anthem for protest vs the Vietnam War. All those horrible things are "just a shot away".
But in the end, "love" is just a kiss away. Meaning, both are simple if that's what you're after.
"make love not war" concept.
A couple other amazing songs: Wild Horses, and Angie
Gimme Shelter meant more to us drafted Nam vets than it ever did to the war protesters that were never there. Gimme Shelter from harm as it may be just a shot away. Just a shot away. Get it?
@@danielfeinstein1096 just a shot away also refers to the peace that you get when you shoot up. You have no idea what we went through back here and we didn't experience Nam like you did. It was a horrible time for both of us, at least it was a horrible time for me
Thank all the Viet Nam vets for their service.
You CAN'T compare what the people at home go through to the actual soldiers fighting a war,not by choice either,but through a draft. One minute they're going about their daily lives,the next they're witnessing unimaginable horrors. Watch people die in front of their eyes,knowing any minute could be their last and most of them young men barely more than boy's. Yes it must have been hard on their families as well,BUT you can't say it's the same. That's a bit of an insult to those brave young men sent off to fight a pointless war,turning them into killers or dead bodies and for what ?
I didn't agree with Nam,it acumplished nothing, all that bullshit about keeping those at home safe 😅 how did going to the jungles of Vietnam keep America safe ? ( im not American nor was i aliveat the time)BUT i have utmost respect for all vets
aaah... actually... I liked "I Know it's Only Rock-'n'-roll".
Keith Richards cant be killed by conventional weapons
Who the hell would want to kill Keith?
When her voice cracks.
It gets me every time.
It got Mick, too. He says something to her when it cracks - but I can’t figure it out since it’s so low in the mix! I guess that’s why there’s Google I just realized, lol.
Its like a punch
Ha! What I just wrote. Scrolled down n here it is. Glad I’m not the only one!!!!
@@donfette5301 He says Whoo!
Here’s Merry’s isolated vocal
ua-cam.com/video/ChONufP0FEs/v-deo.html
The Stones at their best! The vocals, the guitar, the bass, the harmonica, the DRUMS!!! And Merry Clayton's unbelievable backing vocal. 💢💢💢💯
Watts' drumming is so amazing on this track. And the rest of the guys play along with him and it's pure perfection
Exacto.....Charlie was the Stones. On Ya Ya's he was the show. Love in vain from Robert Johnson Charlie was the concert.
@@johnlothrop4591 "Charlie's good tonight."
Possibly the greatest rock and roadand. still playing at like 80. We're always tight, no matter who played in different times.
Musically, this is Keith Richards' song. The lineup for this song was...
Mick Jagger-vocals, harmonica
Charlie Watts-drums
Keith Richards-everything else.
@@wynstonsmith7194 Everybody is excellent here, but yes, I did note that Keith is doing some superb work that deserves recognition..
The most blues influenced rock song ever.
"This song bleeds subject matter"...what a perfect comment! Y'all nailed it.
My favorite Stones song, I go crazy for two versions, the original one with Merry Clayton's vocal solo and the incredible ones with Mick Taylor's guitar solo in the 1972/73 live shows
There was a great 2013 documentary called "20 Feet From Stardom" about the often unheralded role of backup singers in popular music. One of the featured singers was a woman named Merry Clayton whose incredible voice you hear on "Gimme Shelter" (and A LOT of other classic songs). Here's a clip from the movie: ua-cam.com/video/ChONufP0FEs/v-deo.html
Merry Clayton also appeared on the Queen Latifah Show (along with fellow legend Darlene Love) talking about recording "Gimme Shelter": ua-cam.com/video/jxc-nvknPfo/v-deo.html
It's a great documentary, so fun and interesting to meet these people who contributed so much to great music. Gimme Shelter would not have been so great without Merry, period.
That is an AWESOME documentary! HIGHLY recommended for anyone who likes the music of that time.
One of the greatest rock songs of all time!!
Released in 1969 at the height of the Vietnam War. A year after the Tet Offensive when the govt. knew it was a lost cause.
First off I'm now a 67 year old man and I was very much alive and into music as a 15 year old teenager. This song was written in 1969 right at the height of the Vietnam war. Before I delve into the song a HUGE shoutout goes out to MERRY CLAYTON. The woman who did the background vocals with Mick Jagger. Merry was at the time an American Gospel singer and her manager had just gotten her this gig with The Stones. She Flew across the Atlantic and with no rest from her flight walked into the recording studio and laid the track down in her very first attempt at recording and forever put her down in the history books. This Stones song was a major hit at the time when it was released in Dec. of 1969 and her background vocals were a topic of many music enthusiasts at the time. Big time kudos out to her. Now to the song itself. The times then were rampant with many anti war songs from a variety of bands at the time. This sentiment was engrained into the culture of the time. Plus Woodstock had just occurred several months earlier adding to the fuel of the theme. And far too many assassinations which had occurred prior, the latest being Bobby Kennedy. A favorable candidate of the people by far. The air was filled with the chantings of peace and love by the younger generation while receiving nothing but stubborn resistance and outright disdain and insults by the status quo older generation. The atmosphere was electric and charged at the time. So much so was the unrest of the time that the 4 students killed by a simple protest at Kent State University was just months away. Occurring on May 4 1970. Four young college students shot outright and murdered by the National Guard for simply exercising their first amendment right to protest and redress grievances against their government. Plus the verse referring to "flames in the street" to me is significant because just the year before that very thing happened in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention. The Democrats themselves being so divided on their own platform demonstrated and rioted against their own party burning, rioting and looting in the same fashion as BLM and Antifa has recently done. Civil unrest was the soup du jour of the times. The very last lyric, "love is just a kiss away." is symbolic of the very well known chant of the times, "Make Love, Not War." Very electric and very charged times back then. Many wondered then if our country would survive such charged and divisive times. Songs like this one were meant to influence change over the powers that were in charge. That was a brief description of living in the sixties and into the early seventies.
It was recorded in L.A. A pregnant Merry was awoken late in the evening, came down to the studio in her hair curlers, and proceeded to lay this down. Unfortunately, she miscarried shortly afterwards. Flew across the Atlantic? Research further, my friend.
merry clayton said much differently
Thank you! Good info.
Merry's part was actually recorded in LA during a mixing session. The Stones recorded this in London, however.
THAT was an excellent synopsis of the times.
Merry Clayton sings back up and you can hear her voice crack twice and mick go “whoa” in the background. She came in the studio late at night after being called in. This is 1969, a year of total unrest!
She also lost her baby shortly after. Recently she has had her leg or legs amputated.
Ok - she lost the baby girl the next day and a car accident ended up taking both her legs. She never had any children 😭
Right on. - I heard that...I dont remember noticing that b4. !! - neal a
@@andreadeamon6419 oh my god....sorry. - neal a
It never ceases to amaze me at just how lucky I am to have grown up listening to and loving all of the great music by great bands in my lifetime. It makes me so happy to see you young folks enjoying the same music that was so much a part of my life growing up. Keep doing your fantastic reactions cuz you make this old guy smile!
Asia, I was waiting for your expression at 6:57, when guest singer Merry Clayton's voice cracked in the midst of, *"MURDERRRRR!"* and your squint followed by a head shake said it all. That crack in Merry's voice is iconic in rock history lore. It was unintentional, but Mick and the boys loved the raw emotion behind it, and wisely kept it in. Great reaction, to both of you. Next from The Stones, I suggest you try one of their gorgeous ballads called, *"Angie"* you'll both love it!! (Studio version.)
Wild horses is really nice also
Listen to the whole song just to hear that alone
Me too... Asia's eyes and expressions are becoming legendary... but B.J has some great expressions as well...
A song about war, the Vietnam war which was raging at the time. and the atrocities being brought on the civilian people of Vietnam. This was the first time this was ever torn open to see what really happens in war.
Do you know a lot of groups back in the 60s and 70s did create songs about what was going on at the time… And we listen to them and we agreed with them, and it just so happens they were great musicians vocalist in their chart busting songs were all over the place. It was important to us, kind of like today these songs resonate today but nobody is listening
Tom MacDonald
MOST GROUPS. IT WAS WHAT THE GENERATION WAS ABOUT. AS THINGS GOT DARKER IN THE LATE 60S and into the early 70s many many groups.. had messages IN THEIR MUSIC. Its not easy for younger generations to TRULY UNDERSTAND HOW THE VIETNAM WAR, THE CIVIL RIGHT MOVEMENT and the changes happening culturally totally had a hold on our generation. We weren't feeling lollypops. Whether it was MARVIN GAYE'S INNER CITY BLUES, or THE STONES OR BOB DYLAN....THERE WERE MESSAGES in our Music.
Great reaction guys! The Vietnam war was still raging and the Stones created this immortal song to speak to its destruction. Merry’s vocal is one of the greatest in rock history. Love how her vocal cracks twice from the power of her voice!!
This might be the greatest song ever.
It's easily the best Stones song.
When BJ stopped it Asia's face is PRICELESS 🤣!! She looked like she was going to throw hands 😂
That was great -- Asia was rocking out and BJ pulled the rug out from under her....she looked truly pissed☺️💕 but was quick to forgive ❤️❤️
Saw one where a husband interrupted at the big emotional payoff that had built up in Bridge Over Troubled Waters. The comments wanted to shake him with exasperation lol
...and her death stare at 5:00 after they restarted it...dang!!!
Stupid c*nt goes on to stop it again just as Merry Clayton is kicking in.
The most awesome Merry Clayton- she sang her part while she was pregnant- one of the greatest stones songs ever made!! Great reaction as always!
I am 74 and I still love the Stones. I hope you see them do this in performance. The electricity of the band and the crowd will let you know what iconic is. Most bands never get there.
The Rolling Stones stand out from every other rock band. Iconic.
With one exception
This song brings back childhood memories. 😢 Veitnam, the Draft, Woodstock, Flower Power, Hippies, and Charles Manson/Helter Skelter... there was so much division, so many lives lost. U.S. Soldiers were spit on by other Americans and called "Baby killers" for fighting in Vietnam.😢 It was a very rough time... yet we made it thru, together.
What a great song. How freaking talented do you have to be to create something like that.
That's why the Stones are still around,their talent.
That's all Keith Richards. He wrote the words and the music to this... I think it's his masterpiece.
Merry Clayton MADE this song. They tell a story about recording this song in the middle of the night at Muscle Shoals Sound in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. Woke Merry up out of her sleep. She went to the studio and made this magic all in her pink foam rollers. She's amazing.
Merry Clayton delivers the best vocal cameo in a rock song I can think of... as good a Stones song as there is. The song was released in 1969, so Vietnam and the assassination of MLK are fresh in the news.
Heard it last night live in Denver. Still gives goosebumps.
Merry Clayton makes this song her stunning vocals just brings it all home perfection for sure.
And that was the beginning! The signs are everywhere, it's coming 100 fold
Every single word, 100% still relevant today. The GREAT Merry Clayton's vocals 🔥🔥
Its a master piece lyrics and melody !!!!
I have 1 memory of the Vietnam war. I was born in 67 so I was too young to remember the whole war or to even understand that there was a war but when I was in Kindergarten this boy's father left for Vietnam. When we were in 1st grade our Kindergarten teacher came out on the playground and took Tommy to the office the next day our teacher told us his father was killed in Vietnam. Tommy was never the same again. It wasn"t till years later I learned about the war.
Thanks for that, one almost never hears about American orphans of the Vietnam War.
Magnificent Musicians. The Stones are on continuous 💌playlist. Ms Clayton 🌹
Greatest bandever....the power is with it.
They called Marry in the middle of the night to ask her to come in to do backup vocals. She was pregnant and her husband asked her not to go. She went in and gave the most amazing performance ever! Very soon after she miscarried the baby.
Merry Clayton. She claims she miscarried her daughter due to the physical strain of her vocal belting, but professional medical people tend to disagree that was the cause.
@@oahuhawaii2141I think it’s true, lots of vibration stress, could’ve even gave birth there!😮hope she made a fortune for a lifetime at least, sure mick would agree❤
@@60sbaby456: Well, it seems you know more than the thousands of doctors and nurses who have the experience.
I love watching you two listening to a great band I grew up with in the sixties.That was our time the stones the beatles and so many more top bands from the UK.
Asia and Bj…Love the fact you are willing to listen to older music….there are so many songs from 1960’s and 1970’s that are Important to many of us!! and your thoughts are on point! Thank you 🙏🏻 ❤️🙏🏻
Stones do give goosebumps.....do Tumbling Dice please!!!!!!
Another great song and reaction! Stones are so easy to lose oneself into a fantastic vibe zone. Thanks Asia n BJ
The story about Merry Clayton coming to be on this song is that the Stones were recording it well into the morning. The band members felt it was lacking something..one of the engineers said he knew someone who might give it what it lacked. In the wee hours of the morning, Merry comes in and lays this down. Supposedly in pajamas and rollers.
You have to watch the documentary, "20 Feet from Stardom" They feature Mary Clayton and the part she sings in this song. It is about the black backup singers that were used to give the needed flavor to rock and roll music. They also talk about the Queen of backup singers, Lisa Fischer. Who went to sing backup for the Rolling Stones including this song. Lisa also won a Grammy for the song on her debut album entitled "How can I feel the pain" which you should react to as well. She never made an album again. And was more comfortable as a backup singer. If you do the reaction, do the one live in Japan. Hands down one of the top female singers for vocal range and control.
"Burns like a red coal carpet, mad bull, lost your way." One of the most iconic lines ever.
It was a reference to the Vietnam War I think. The woman who sang on this song was pregnant and allegedly had a miscarriage after recording the song. That's why she screamed when singing "murder!" and you can hear Mick Jagger in the background going "whoo!" in the background, impressed by her vocals.
I've read shortly after. Not the same night. I'll look it up again. I'm going off of reading it about 7 years ago
She lost her baby girl the next day. She lost her legs in an automobile accident also
I love this song very much, with Mick Jagger‘s voice but Merry Clayton no words can describe what she did to this song but if I could say anything she gave it life her voice is haunting and brought to a new level .what a beautiful voice can do to a song
6:51 on the 3rd "rape, murder", her voice cracks. the band was in listening in the booth, loved it and went nuts. you can just barely hear Mick go "yeah" in the background right after her voice cracks. pretty cool.
He shouts woo not yeah
The bluesiest rock band ever! The Stones never held back from calling people out...... It's either a shot and get death and heartache or it can be a 💋 and live in love and peace..... but it's up to us! Another great reaction Asia and BJ!!
The song is timeless, just as meaningful today as the late 60's
Ain’t that the truth.
This song is a true Time Machine. You are transported into the late 60's and fully immersed.
Female vocalist Merry Clayton has a video on UA-cam where she explains the circumstances behind her role in the making of this song. Great story and an even greater vocalist! She was very young and very preagnant at the time. I believe her agent called her late night early morning and asked if she would do this for a band she was unfamiliar with at the time. She arrived at the studio in a fur jacket and her pj's and met the Stones for the very first time. When she read the part she was to sing she was very shocked, but did not disappoint. She actually held back a bit, and then when laying down her main track she decided to blow the roof off the studio... and the rest is history!
This song was released in 1969 and was an antiwar song in regards to the Vietnam War which was going on at that time. This to me is one of their best songs. Cheers
6:59 I swear I hear someone in the stuido yell "Woah!" after that gnarly voice crack!
You did hear someone in the studio yell " woah " that someone was Mick Jagger.
If you want dark, off the same album, try Midnight Rambler by the Stones.
I'm so proud to have been a part of that generation. Some of the best music came out in the 60s and 70 s. Here is just one of those examples.
This is my absolute favorite Stones song. Big respect for singer Merry Clayton. This song wouldn't have been as powerful had she not performed on this song. Outstanding!
There are a few guitar riffs that when you hear them you know the song
YES! MAKE LOVE NOT WAR!
I love this song and your reaction to it!
I still get chills when I listen to it!
You need to watch Merry Clayton’s isolated vocals for this song. They woke her up in the middle of the night, pregnant, to do this song.
The female vocals on this track were done by Merry Clayton. She was called out of bed in the middle of the night while pregnant and curlers in her hair to perform on this track by a band she knew nothing about. She killed it. There's a short video on UA-cam about the events that led her to perform on this song. Definitely worth checking out. Btw I really look forward to your guys videos. You guys are the shit.
there was a special on merry...she was a famous back-up singer
I do love your reactions. When you started talking about the happeningss of the times related to the lyrics, I couldn't let it go that Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd, CSNY, CCR, Rush, plus countless others from the sixties and seventies wrote a plethora of songs addressing political and social issues. Their lyrics are timeless and would be relevant thousands of years ago till today and especially into the future. Cheers from the canadian Queen nut.
The Roiling Stones the best band ever.....and Merry Clayton I think she sang background in curlers and a housecoat look it up.
Love the reaction, please more of The Stones. This song brings out emotions, loved the goosebumps reference, you guys brought out a few of my own just watching. Keep the great reactions coming.
If you listen carefully on the third chorus by Merry Clayton as she hits those very high note you can hear Jagger go "whoo" in appreciation .
One of my FAVS along with Sympathy for the Devil 👿
The song was released right during the vietnam war, when things were really starting to heat up. Also for the first time people were seeing the flag draped coffins of the soldiers killed in action being offloaded from the planes of the television.
Great song, Great reaction!! I was bobbing and swaying with Y'all. This was released at the end of 1969 and was timely then as it is now. Timeless! Wonderful instrumentation and vocals. Thank You!!
Stones are the GOAT baby!
I was in high school when this song came out...a dark period. Watching your great reaction and hearing this song again makes me realize how even scarier it is today.
This song was recorded shortly after the nightmare concert at Altamont on Dec 6 1969 and most of the songs references are about that rock festival in which the Stones performed... ASIA and BJ watch the movie Gimme Shelter and find out why they recorded this song.
Great band, great song!! Seen them twice...lucky me. I believe this was on the soundtrack for a great movie, Apocalypse now
@ 5:48 This was definitely an anti-war song given that the Vietnam War was still in full rage. As far as stopping these music videos to talk... it's okay man. But I love the looks Asia gives you man, when you do! Hahaha! Of course she stops them too sometimes. But it's okay because we've heard these songs a million times and know them by heart in our heads. It's nice when you do stop to comment because it means the songs are SO good and impactful you must stop to catch your breaths and talk about them a bit. See, back in the day we didn't have pause buttons on the radio so we had to hear songs all the way thru. One of the greatest inventions of the 20th century are the pause and rewind buttons! LOLOL!! After looking at the Stones songs you've done I can recommend a few others: "Start Me Up", "Emotional Rescue" where Jagger delivers an awesome falsetto, "Jumpin' Jack Flash" very popular Stones iconic song, and definitely a must you should do is "Can't You Hear Me Knocking". And Asia, you'll get a lot of goosebumps with these! Great reaction video!✌😎
A Stones concert is such an experience , a dance party really , vary cool , this is such an iconic song , Mick Jagger is a front man in touch with the audience , he helps you feel the music , some of the best shows I've seen were the Stones .
The tension of society's growing hatred for a war and its atrocities was a tremendous influence for fantastic, deeply meaningful rock songs. Anthems, really.
One of many great Rolling Stones songs. I would suggest "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" from the Sticky Fingers album. Great album along with the album this song came from Let it Bleed. Two of the best albums in rock history IMO.
With you....made fantastic by Mick Taylor's fantastic guitar.
Next to the Beatles, the rolling stones are the biggest group in the world!
The Stones are phenomenal…stories told to great rock music!
One of the greatest rock songs ever imo..Thank-you for playing it
Man don't stop Asia's groove ! Priceless expression on her face. Wild Horses is another great old Stones tune.💖💖💖
That song is an enduring WOW! And absolutely timeless as a masterpiece of artistic expression in music
All time favorite Stones song!!!!! The funky bluesy, rock vibe combines the political times wars rampant by n the world. The hippie love vibe wrapping it up is just a masterpiece!!!!
This was during the Vietnam War era and a lot of people were experiencing anxiety about being sent off to fight and quite often die for reasons they could not understand, political reasons. Those bad ass Rolling Stones articulated our heightened emotions through their music and by the way sold hundreds of millions of records in the process. Thank You for bringing this music back to a forum like yours. Too bad they would not let you use a video of their performance. I am assuming that is why you only had words.
In my opinion, Merry Clayton made this song... The Rolling Stones may have written it, but she is the reason this song was so popular... when she sings "Rape, Murder... it's just a shot away", it sends chills up your spine
From a black guy former Marine was born 1960 joined the Marine Corps 1979 this was a big song all across this nation I was jamming on this music and high School from 1975 to 79 everybody jammed on the rolling Stones they're another great they played with Jimi Hendrix at Woodstock and also with Santana and a bunch of other great artists were there at Woodstock 1968
The guitar layering in this song is just classic rock perfection!
MAGIC!!! What a magical musical time and the STONES put a exclamation mark on it! And no band delivered live like the STONES! Blessed to never have missed a tour since 1969 and get to see them once again in May and July of 24!