The movie is "Crossroads" and they're dueling in front of the devil. He's not really playing, though he learned enough to fake it mostly convincingly. Back when it came out people used to joke that Steve Vai should've won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for acting like he couldn't play that part at the end and losing the duel.
You all prolly dont give a shit but does anyone know of a way to log back into an instagram account..? I was stupid lost my account password. I appreciate any assistance you can offer me.
I've always appreciated how well Ralph mimics the actual guitar playing of it; even makes playing it finger-style look believable.. like there are youtubers now who do a worse job miming playbacks, he obviously took it relatively seriously for the movie (or maybe he actually plays guitar, frankly I don't know that much about him).
He took lessons from the great Arlen Roth. His credits are numerous, a virtual who's who of the music business. Arlen's hands appear one time in the movie, when Eugene tries out the Pig Nose amp at the pawn shop.
As mentioned below in the movie this is literally a battle for souls against the devil (the older black gentleman who is seated). The classical piece he performs at the end to win is "Paganini's 5th Caprice", written originally for violin by Paganini who was said to be able to play so well that he must have sold his soul to the devil. See what they did there? Huh? Huh? Hehe
Well...Vai's version is a variation of Paganini's Caprice No 5. Vai's intro and ending are a variation, while he only used about 8 bars of Paganini's actual Caprice. As for Paganini selling his soul? True, that is the legend. However, this movie was based on Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil in 1935, at Route 49 and Route 61 in Rosedale, Mississippi. That's why there are so many references to the blues. Historically, the blues started in the South USA, around 1860. Paganini died in 1840, so I'm pretty sure they weren't playing the blues in Paganini's day. ;)
Benedictine Punk I agree, Roth definitely had a successful solo career. Eat,em and Smile was high octane rock, JLP was fun, a little ain’t enough was bluesy and one of my favorites, and DLR Band got back to the old Van Halen sound. His works in between were true Diamond Dave. I think Jamal would get the full effect with the yankee rose song and official video (A bottle of anything....to go!) - Roth, Vai, Sheehan and Greg.
Steve Vai and Billy Sheehan was just ridiculous. Have not seen a guitar/bass duo like that since. Shyboy was another crazy song (brought over from Billy's solo repertoire I think).
This was kind of " coming full circle " for Ralph's character. He started in school playing classical music, but he had a love for old blues. And his professor tries to discourage him from blues music, because he believes it is inferior. He meets the old blues man and begins his training. He becomes a blues player, but in the end it takes both his blues and classical skills to beat the devil's chosen representative and save the old man's soul.
I think the idea that Eugene playing Paganini's Caprice #5 is ironic, seeing as how Paganini was said to have sold his soul to the devil for his musical ability.
I love this movie, I saw it in the theatre and then bought the VHS at the time when it was available and then got the DVD and watch it about once a year. I kind of drive my family crazy when we watch it together because I know every line in the movie.
The movie is called "Crossroads" where the Ralph has to save the old man's soul from the devil with a guitar battle. Steve is the devil's choice for the fight.
It's actually a part from Niccolo Paganini's fifth violin caprice. I was working on transcribing those for electric guitar before I saw this movie in the 80's. In fact, I bought the sheet music for them from Tupper and Reed Music in Berkeley where Steve's old guitar teacher Joe Satriani was giving lessons at the time. Sadly for me, I didn't know who Joe was until after _Surfing With The Alien_ came out. Big missed opportunity for me. Ah well. But yea, any of those caprice's are really hard to play. Some I found actually impossible to play at tempo. Back in the 1800's Paganini some people said he must have made a pact with the devil, because no one could play like him. That's why they used one of his pieces of music in this movie.
Arlen Roth was Ralph's tutor and played most of his parts throughout the move but for the final duel it was arranged by Arlen, Steve, Ray Cooder, and Bill Kanengiser who play all the classical parts.
Steve Vai actually plays both parts, except for the slide guitar parts which were played by Ry Cooder (or Arlen Roth). He is supposed to be the Devil's guitar player, and therefore has to lose the battle. Vai also has some songs on Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey. These guys aren't really plugged in - they're finger syncing. "Tender Surrender" was also duplicating the finger positions to go along with the recording. He talked about it in interviews. To see some older Vai, when he was in Frank Zappa's band see "Stevie's Spanking" from 1982: ruclips.net/video/WJxoV5O8HUU/видео.html Notice the cigarette in Zappa's guitar. But he was just copying Eric Clapton from years before.
If memory serves Tender Surrender - and all the songs on the Alien Love Secrets EP album - have an accompanying commentary by Vai to the videos on the DVD of the same name. He mentions at least once that it’s not live playing, so to say.
I saw this movie on VHS in '87 and had been playing guitar for only a few years. When the scene cut to Vai first playing, my jaw hit the floor. I was heavily influenced by Van Halen but Vai just blew my mind. That was when my Vai journey began...and it still is going strong to this day.
The movie was the reason I went to school for classical guitar. Not Julliard haha but a community college that had a good music progra though. Completely changed the way play guitar, in my opinion for the better, playing classical teaches you a entirely new way to maneuver the fretboard
@@zwood1838 I hear you brother I had been playing guitar for 20 years before I started studying classical guitar and it changed they way I played. I was mostly a folk guitarist and played finger style but studying classical greatly improved both my left and right hand technique. That was nearly 40 years ago and it is still influencing and improving my guitar playing.
Dinodas Bunce classic guitar removes your reliance on the pick so you're able to pick multiple strings at the same time. It also helps you play clean instead of being sloppy. In my opinion it improves any style of music you play by orders of magnitude. I used to play, though not very well, until I injured one of my fingers and now arthritis is setting in. I really miss playing my old 12 string acoustic. :( I've always loved the sound of 12 strings.
@@lkw6640 I love 12 string acoustics as well I have been looking for a good use 1970s to early 80s Ovation or Adamas 12 string or an early Guild F-512. That will complete my guitar requirements.
Dinodas Bunce. Man I LOVE the sound of Ovation 12 strings. I've always wanted one but I could never afford it. That's what made me get the one I have. It's an old Hohner. I thought they only made harmonicas lol. It needs refretted and the bridges probably need refiled or replaced but it really gave me a lot of enjoyment throughout my life.
Crossroads is a great movie. If you haven't seen this hidden 1980's gem, you really should check it out. Ry Cooder did most of the playing except for the classical stuff when he battled Steve Vai. Vai did both those parts. You can find it on Amazon Prime. Just search Crossroads or Crossroads 1986. Crossroads is about searching for the lost songs of the late great Bluesman, Robert Johnson. It has always been alleged that Johnson went down to the Crossroads in Mississippi to sell his soul to the Devil in order to become the greatest slide guitarist of all-time, so Macchio's character goes down with an old Blues harmonica player who allegedly knew Johnson.
Love this movie it’s so underrated. Pony boy stayed golden in this one. You should check out Stone temple pilots i suggest sex type thing, wicked garden, big empty
Ralph's character changed the rules of the game. Steve's character plays traditional blues guitar that uses improv. Ralph's plays classical, which is about precision.
Alright, Jamel... You know Steve Vai and you've experienced David Lee Roth singing for, Van Halen. After he left Van Halen, DLR formed a solo band. It included, Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan (on Bass) and Greg Bissonette (on Drums). A real Dream Team lineup! Songs to hear: Yankee Rose, Goin' Crazy, Tobacco Road. For searching purposes the "band" is called, David Lee Roth.
This is from the 1986 movie "Crossroads." Steve Vai's Jack Butler character is Satan's guitarist. That's actually Steve playing the classical bit in the competition. The guitar instructor at the university I graduated from said that the shots supposedly of Ralph Macchio's character's fingers as he practices classical guitar in his dorm were actually the superimposed fingers of another guitar instructor she personally knows. Ralph could probably play a bit but not good enough to win a "head-cutting" competition. Michael J. Fox and David Alan Grier, who is classically trained, are two actors who can actually play guitar.
The movie is "Crossroads" and if you love the blues, you have to see this movie. maybe a bit sappy but well worth the look. Then you will understand this ending.
The music I was told was composed and played by Steve Vai, and a blues legend name Ry Cooder. Ralph did a great job impersonating a guitar player. The movie is called CrossRoads and if you get a chance to see it, then it is well worth seeing it. , I watched that movie about 10 times and never got tired of it lol. Your reaction was priceless! Cheers!
Have so many damn people I'd love to meet She yalke about Jamal and Damn WV jaimie Peter o worked with him I met Steve shortly.she had so many stories and life .Ira.
The thing that I love so much about the climactic scene, is the staging of the characters: satan’s champion is resplendent in triumph, satan laughing; the hero downtrodden, his second is shamefaced. It’s almost operatic in the blocking of the scene! The soundtrack is a great album ( although it can get a little longish, as it includes the incidental music as well as the featured songs ).
The movie is "Crossroads". I believe this movie was supposed to be a depiction of the blues player Robert Johnson's life, in the mid 1930's. Who supposedly made a deal with the Devil at the Crossroads to become the greatest blues player ever. He was the original member of the 27 club, which now includes : Robert Johnson (1911-1938)... Brian Jones (1942-1969) ... Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson (1943-1970) ... Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) ... Janis Joplin (1943-1970) ... Jim Morrison (1943-1971) ... Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (1945-1973) ... Kurt Cobain (1967-1994) and Amy Winehouse (1984-2011). All of which died at the young age of 27.
One thing about Steve Vai is he plays guitar like a magician... as in the way he moves and how theatrical he is. He is really great at it and acting in this clip.
Love the reaction ;) People have already commented on which movie and who's playing, so just a little extra info on this: The guitar parts Machio plays at the end to beat Vai (Vai actually wrote and recorded that part) is a variation of Paganini's Caprice No 5. Vai only used about 8 bars of Paganini's actual Caprice, while the beginning arpeggios and ending arpeggios are variations on Pagaini, but all Vai. This movie was loosely based on Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil in 1935, at Route 49 and Route 61 in Rosedale, Mississippi. That's why there are so many references to the blues in the movie. ;)
I forgot how epic this was! Thank you for reminding me!! And for the record, I'll take good blues guitar over shredding any day of the damn week! Woo! Check out Nuno Bettencourt from Extreme "Flight of the Wounded Bumblebee", it is truly awesome!
This could be dangerous. I might have to start seeking out more electric guitarists' interpretations of Flight of the Bumblebee. I think the first I heard was Temur Kvitelashvili's rendition, like the one near the end of this video: www.RUclips.com/watch?v=vSD6QqpgzZs It was an earlier video I heard first, but the one above has better audio/video quality. His rendition is still one of my favorites.
Jamal, thanks for your posts. We've all seen and heard the music you check out, back in the day. It's great to see you react to all the amazing music that our generation grew up with, as you discover it fresh in your vids.
The movie is crossroads after the place where the famed Robert Johnson made a deal with the devil. Also the place where the devil met SRV and said F -It im outa here
I've seen this movie several times and to really understand what happened, you need to see the movie. IMO, Ralph reverted back to Mozart, which many believed was divinely inspired by God and the devil's prodigy could not recreate it.
I saw this movie in the fall of ‘89, when I was 17, and this movie, called Crossroads, has always been an old favorite of mine. Thanks for reacting to this, Jamel. Have a great week brother!
Everyone should watch this movie. It’s really good and is all about blues music. This is the ending and while Ralph’s character plays blues guitar, it’s his background in classical guitar that he pulls out and wins in the end. Great movie about blues, classical, and the guitar. No matter what your musical tastes, it’s a good movie to watch. It’s also worth mentioning this came out right when flashy technical guitar was becoming popular in the 80s. So, that’s the backdrop. This ending scene is the perfect ending where classical musicianship beats out technical shred guitar.
Well, since you brought up Steve Vai, I'll segway to Frank Zappa and, although Steve didn't play on this one, I'd recommend "Montana" ...and for the musically intrepid, "Zomby Woof".
He really needs to check out Zappa... "Dirty Love" would be my pick. Would he pick up on the double entendre title? I guess the song itself is explanatory enough.
I wore out a VHS copy of this movie when I was younger. Just a little back story on this scene in the movie, It was a battle for souls similar to Devil went down to Georgia.
Well I guess I didn’t see what I saw or hear what I Hurd seeing I was in the studio when it was recorded. I remember it like it was yesterday this is what led to David lee Roth asking Stevie to join his band being I was his guitar tech. I’ve known Steve my whole life.
@@anthonydemers3813 You are absolutely full of shit! LMMFAO!! This has to be the most hilarious thing I've ever read. Steve Vai was referred to David Lee Roth from Billy Sheehan who admired his work from Frank Zappas band. You weren't his guitar tech nor have you ever met him. His guitar tech during this film as well as Roths first tour was the legendary tech Thomas Nordegg whom Steve met during his Zappa years as Thomas was Zappas guitar tech since 1972. Thomas cut ties with Steve after that first Roth tour due to his obligations with the bands Missing Persons, Duran Duran and Tears for Fears. Thomas and Steve hooked up again in 1999 and since then, Thomas has been Steve's full time tech for 21 straight years. I will be more than happy to link you the Guitar world magazine interview with Thomas Nordegg as well as 40 other interview links with both him and Steve if you like. You know, the funny thing about the internet is you can be anyone you want, say anything you like.... to feel special. But it is also a wealth of knowledge for research to break down people like you. I actually kind of feel sorry for you. You don't have to lie to make people like you dude.
@@anthonydemers3813 oh and yes, it is well known that Ry Cooder played ALL of Ralph's slide parts in the movie. Or are we suppose to believe you or the actual ending moving credits naming him? Lol
I loved that movie, but that ending is so epic and timeless. Steve Vai was not nearly as well know back then as he is today, so to most people it was some nobody on playing guitar. Steve Vai did all the guitar work for the movie, Ralph Machio just did a phenomenal job of looking like he was playing. His character, at the start of the movie, is in a music school playing classical guitar, but his passion is blues. So he helps his blues idol escape an old person home and they go on this trip to get that person's soul back from the devil while Ralph's character learns to play the blues along the way. It is a good movie.
That one section where they are dueling hot licks sounds like parts of Cliffs of Dover which is considered one of the hardest things to play on the electric guitar. Eric Johnson spent I think 7 years perfecting that song in it's entirety before he was comfortable to play it live. Check it out some time.
Ry Cooder played with the Rolling Stones on the album "Jamming with Edward"(1972). It was Ry Cooder, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, and the legendary Nicky Hopkins. "Blow with Ry" is a great jam. New York snow!
Both shred parts are Vai, Ry Cooder is playing the bluesy parts with the slide. This is from the movie "Crossroads", which I highly recommend watching.
Steve Vai actually played Ralphs "classical" part, however I read that Ralph did learn to play a little for the movie. I always loved this hidden gem of a movie, and I appreciate that you took the time to react to the "Head Cuttin' Contest" of Crossroads.
I’ve been watching this movie for 35 years and this duel never gets old. I’ve got an unofficial game with a life long friend and we try and work quotes from the movie in to regular conversations with each other and other random people...it still cracks us up all these years later. 😂🎸
Great air guitar by Ralph. Ralph should have gotten an Oscar for his air guitar work. ;-) Steve is playing bought sides. "Crossroads" is the name of the movie.
Развлечения
![Steve Vai - Crossroads Duel | [Reaction!!] | DJ can't believe it](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6dbMUAittjw/mqdefault.jpg)
Steve Vai Played both parts. the slide playing is done by Ry Cooder
I concur
You can tell when Maccio is playing the classical parts, the film has been slowed down during filming and is sped up during playback. Movie magic!😊
Correct info here 👍
I stand corrected I know cooder was on all but a few of the songs on the soundtrack. If I’m not mistaken.
So Stevie played the classical part?
The movie is "Crossroads" and they're dueling in front of the devil. He's not really playing, though he learned enough to fake it mostly convincingly. Back when it came out people used to joke that Steve Vai should've won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for acting like he couldn't play that part at the end and losing the duel.
All i wanted to say has been said :)
@@DJ_Mescalino that goes for me too but it was a good movie
And most of Macchio's guitar parts were done by Ry Cooter and Steve Vail
When this came me and my cousin joked about it being good movie, but laughed at karate kid beating Steve Vai.
@@andyoreo333 well yes, but the story kinda made up for the ummmm " casting"?
"Blues ain't nothing but a good man feeling bad"
Thinking about the Woman he once was with.
@@snowice8816 Oooh! my Baby left me again....But this time, she took my last bottle of Gin....
Ooh! I said my Baby left me again.......
"Crossroads" 1986. You should watch this entire movie. It's one of my favorites! 😎
I second that! I've watched it many times and it never gets old! One of the greatest story lines of all time!
My all time favorite!
@@amandabrady2826 .. Good choice ;-)
Great movie. I need to add it to my collection.
Mine too!!! :)
This video is a cut down version of the guitar duel from the movie Crossroads. Watch the whole thing if you get a chance.
I know, they always cut out the best part! When Willie comes out on the harp.
Its definitely worth a watch.
@@jacoblalomia8900 Damn....now I gotta watch the whole movie.again. That scene in the Juke Joint...."Bring Lightning to the stage" So Classic!
@@jacoblalomia8900 so true
You all prolly dont give a shit but does anyone know of a way to log back into an instagram account..?
I was stupid lost my account password. I appreciate any assistance you can offer me.
" Damn Daniel san ............ Wax on, wax off" . lmao!
"Wax on Right Hand...Wax off Left Hand"
Daniel: "I can't Mr. Miagi, I CAN'T do it..."
"I Can't Wax Off with my Left Hand."
lol
LOL!!!
Right actor.Wrong movie.lol....before I get any replys back I think he knows.I know he knows.lol.
@@jcb0249 Macchio reverting to his classical training is like Daniel doing the Crane kick.
Why does he look like a vampire? Because he's EVIL. He's an evil guitar player, just like Slash in Six String Samurai. 😁
Ralph isn't playing but they did a great job of making it look like he was.
I've always appreciated how well Ralph mimics the actual guitar playing of it; even makes playing it finger-style look believable.. like there are youtubers now who do a worse job miming playbacks, he obviously took it relatively seriously for the movie (or maybe he actually plays guitar, frankly I don't know that much about him).
He took lessons from the great Arlen Roth. His credits are numerous, a virtual who's who of the music business. Arlen's hands appear one time in the movie, when Eugene tries out the Pig Nose amp at the pawn shop.
Yes! They taught Ralph how to fake playing
Yup.. They sure did
mafoota
He did mimic the playing well. The right hand is a little iffy but I’ve always been impressed with his mimicking.
You have no idea how sacred this scene is to so many guitarists. ❤❤❤❤
Also this is actually a cool movie, you should check it out. Cult classic
It's a clash of Blues,Metal,and classical. All in one
As mentioned below in the movie this is literally a battle for souls against the devil (the older black gentleman who is seated). The classical piece he performs at the end to win is "Paganini's 5th Caprice", written originally for violin by Paganini who was said to be able to play so well that he must have sold his soul to the devil. See what they did there? Huh? Huh? Hehe
Thanks! Didn't see this before I commented with the same info. \m/
Which goes to show that heavy metal is just classical music with a crap ton of distortion..... ;o)
The times change, the story remains the same.
@@armynurseboy YES!
Well...Vai's version is a variation of Paganini's Caprice No 5. Vai's intro and ending are a variation, while he only used about 8 bars of Paganini's actual Caprice. As for Paganini selling his soul? True, that is the legend. However, this movie was based on Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil in 1935, at Route 49 and Route 61 in Rosedale, Mississippi. That's why there are so many references to the blues. Historically, the blues started in the South USA, around 1860. Paganini died in 1840, so I'm pretty sure they weren't playing the blues in Paganini's day. ;)
Makes me wanna watch the movie again. I always thought it was an underrated movie. Steve Vai always a beast.
José Rosa
Agreed, definitely underrated.
Walter Hill...underrated director!
Peep 'Streets of Fire'!!
Yep now I want to watch it.I have it on dvd.If I can only remember where it is.lol.
Watch the whole movie and you will really understand this scene
Robert Johnson, Willie Brown, the devil....can’t believe anyone left who hasn’t seen this... lol. A great movie... definitely watch this one..!
I’ve never seen it Nor heard of it. Looks like I have a movie to watch!
So Ralph didn’t play the guitar?! Right? I keep seeing mixed answers.
The best acting was Steve Vai pretending that he couldn’t play that part.
That really took talent for him to act like he was slipping on that piece.
I think the best acting was Ralph Macchio pretending that he could, to be honest!
The response riffs that Eugene (Ry Cooder playing) lays down are some of the most intense slide tones ever. EVER!
I went to a Steve Vai concert a couple years ago and he opened the show by playing this scene on a large screen. Very cool!🤘🏻
It's from Crossroads. Steve Vai did all the guitar really. He coached Ralph a lot to make it look right.
Ry Cooder played slide and provided a lot of music for the film as a whole.
Arlen Roth coached Ralph's "guitar synching", Steve played all the picked parts and ry cooder played all the slide
@@ehcmier The soundtrack is fantastic, by Ry Cooder, still one of my favorite albums. The guitar duel isn't on the soundtrack album.
No you didn’t! CLASSIC scene. I used to watch this religiously in the 80’s. Steve is a guitar genius and a PRINCE fan
Next reaction should be “Yankee Rose” - David lee Roth (Van Halen singer) and Steve Vai on guitar!
Lee Perdue There is a lot of good solo Roth. Just Like Paradise, Knucklebones, Goin Crazy, Damn Good.....
Ladies'nite in buffalo
Benedictine Punk I agree, Roth definitely had a successful solo career. Eat,em and Smile was high octane rock, JLP was fun, a little ain’t enough was bluesy and one of my favorites, and DLR Band got back to the old Van Halen sound. His works in between were true Diamond Dave. I think Jamal would get the full effect with the yankee rose song and official video (A bottle of anything....to go!) - Roth, Vai, Sheehan and Greg.
Do it!!
Steve Vai and Billy Sheehan was just ridiculous. Have not seen a guitar/bass duo like that since. Shyboy was another crazy song (brought over from Billy's solo repertoire I think).
This was kind of " coming full circle " for Ralph's character. He started in school playing classical music, but he had a love for old blues. And his professor tries to discourage him from blues music, because he believes it is inferior. He meets the old blues man and begins his training. He becomes a blues player, but in the end it takes both his blues and classical skills to beat the devil's chosen representative and save the old man's soul.
Thank yall for waiting on me .its been hard mAn
Think Luke Skywalker:
One must experience the Dark before one can master the Light!
(Or Lightning?)
The Hero's Journey! 😎
I think the idea that Eugene playing Paganini's Caprice #5 is ironic, seeing as how Paganini was said to have sold his soul to the devil for his musical ability.
I love this movie, I saw it in the theatre and then bought the VHS at the time when it was available and then got the DVD and watch it about once a year. I kind of drive my family crazy when we watch it together because I know every line in the movie.
That sounds like me with the movie the Last of the Mohicans and then also the Honey Mooney’s as well
The movie is called "Crossroads" where the Ralph has to save the old man's soul from the devil with a guitar battle. Steve is the devil's choice for the fight.
Old contract, plus himself on the battle
The Macchio part is called "Eugene's Bag of Tricks". I've heard Vai say it's one of his hardest songs to perform.
It's actually a part from Niccolo Paganini's fifth violin caprice. I was working on transcribing those for electric guitar before I saw this movie in the 80's. In fact, I bought the sheet music for them from Tupper and Reed Music in Berkeley where Steve's old guitar teacher Joe Satriani was giving lessons at the time. Sadly for me, I didn't know who Joe was until after _Surfing With The Alien_ came out. Big missed opportunity for me. Ah well.
But yea, any of those caprice's are really hard to play. Some I found actually impossible to play at tempo. Back in the 1800's Paganini some people said he must have made a pact with the devil, because no one could play like him. That's why they used one of his pieces of music in this movie.
I love your reaction at 5:53 when Ralph starts his finale and your facial reaction coincides with the actors in this scene. Genuine!!
Arlen Roth was Ralph's tutor and played most of his parts throughout the move but for the final duel it was arranged by Arlen, Steve, Ray Cooder, and Bill Kanengiser who play all the classical parts.
I love this film's soundtrack. Ry Cooder's been involved with several movie soundtracks & it's ALL good.💙💙💙
This movie is amazing (1 of the best soundtracks ever) but all that really needs to be said about ry cooder is... the Buena vista social club.
@David Millar
I love his work on the "Crossroads" soundtrack too. One of my favorites!💙
Paris Texas is a good example
Steve Vai actually plays both parts, except for the slide guitar parts which were played by Ry Cooder (or Arlen Roth). He is supposed to be the Devil's guitar player, and therefore has to lose the battle. Vai also has some songs on Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey. These guys aren't really plugged in - they're finger syncing. "Tender Surrender" was also duplicating the finger positions to go along with the recording. He talked about it in interviews. To see some older Vai, when he was in Frank Zappa's band see "Stevie's Spanking" from 1982:
ruclips.net/video/WJxoV5O8HUU/видео.html
Notice the cigarette in Zappa's guitar. But he was just copying Eric Clapton from years before.
Vai also did the soundtrack for PCU, a college partying movie.
If memory serves Tender Surrender - and all the songs on the Alien Love Secrets EP album - have an accompanying commentary by Vai to the videos on the DVD of the same name. He mentions at least once that it’s not live playing, so to say.
@@bryansilverstein4975 I bought it on VCR, but I read about it in guitar magazines. You can also Google an old interview where he talks about it.
This movie and especially this scene never get old. It is an indelible reminder of my youth.
I saw this movie on VHS in '87 and had been playing guitar for only a few years. When the scene cut to Vai first playing, my jaw hit the floor. I was heavily influenced by Van Halen but Vai just blew my mind. That was when my Vai journey began...and it still is going strong to this day.
Best part is just when Ralph seems beat, he reminds us that he was studying at Julliard for Classical guitar.
The movie was the reason I went to school for classical guitar. Not Julliard haha but a community college that had a good music progra though. Completely changed the way play guitar, in my opinion for the better, playing classical teaches you a entirely new way to maneuver the fretboard
@@zwood1838 I hear you brother I had been playing guitar for 20 years before I started studying classical guitar and it changed they way I played. I was mostly a folk guitarist and played finger style but studying classical greatly improved both my left and right hand technique. That was nearly 40 years ago and it is still influencing and improving my guitar playing.
Dinodas Bunce classic guitar removes your reliance on the pick so you're able to pick multiple strings at the same time. It also helps you play clean instead of being sloppy. In my opinion it improves any style of music you play by orders of magnitude. I used to play, though not very well, until I injured one of my fingers and now arthritis is setting in. I really miss playing my old 12 string acoustic. :( I've always loved the sound of 12 strings.
@@lkw6640 I love 12 string acoustics as well I have been looking for a good use 1970s to early 80s Ovation or Adamas 12 string or an early Guild F-512. That will complete my guitar requirements.
Dinodas Bunce. Man I LOVE the sound of Ovation 12 strings. I've always wanted one but I could never afford it. That's what made me get the one I have. It's an old Hohner. I thought they only made harmonicas lol. It needs refretted and the bridges probably need refiled or replaced but it really gave me a lot of enjoyment throughout my life.
"Legbah done changed his name to scratch!"
Crossroads is a great movie. If you haven't seen this hidden 1980's gem, you really should check it out. Ry Cooder did most of the playing except for the classical stuff when he battled Steve Vai. Vai did both those parts. You can find it on Amazon Prime. Just search Crossroads or Crossroads 1986. Crossroads is about searching for the lost songs of the late great Bluesman, Robert Johnson. It has always been alleged that Johnson went down to the Crossroads in Mississippi to sell his soul to the Devil in order to become the greatest slide guitarist of all-time, so Macchio's character goes down with an old Blues harmonica player who allegedly knew Johnson.
Love this movie it’s so underrated. Pony boy stayed golden in this one. You should check out Stone temple pilots i suggest sex type thing, wicked garden, big empty
Haha, yeah but Thomas C. Howell was Pony Boy, in the movie, "The Outsiders", not Ralph Macchio. 😄
David A. Fye II I know but Ralph is the one with the quote between this and the karate kid we know who the true golden pony is
Ralph Macchio was Johnny...
Sheri Don’t worry I know who the characters are and who played them just referencing the movie. You guys must be great fun at parties
I have this movie "Crossroads" & it is awesome!
🤘🏻🎙🎸🎷📻🔊🎼
Ralph's character changed the rules of the game. Steve's character plays traditional blues guitar that uses improv. Ralph's plays classical, which is about precision.
Now I wanna watch the movie again. Such a great scene! And the whole movie is great to watch. Thanks for this great reaction video Jamel!
Alright, Jamel... You know Steve Vai and you've experienced David Lee Roth singing for, Van Halen.
After he left Van Halen, DLR formed a solo band. It included, Steve Vai, Billy Sheehan (on Bass) and Greg Bissonette (on Drums). A real Dream Team lineup! Songs to hear: Yankee Rose, Goin' Crazy, Tobacco Road. For searching purposes the "band" is called, David Lee Roth.
I agree with everything said above. If you like David Lee Roth and Steve Vai the "Yankee rose" video is the pinnacle of perfection.
Love this movie. Saw it when it came out. Helped me get into the blues.
When you're playing for your soul, it's a serious thing.
This is from the 1986 movie "Crossroads."
Steve Vai's Jack Butler character is Satan's guitarist. That's actually Steve playing the classical bit in the competition.
The guitar instructor at the university I graduated from said that the shots supposedly of Ralph Macchio's character's fingers as he practices classical guitar in his dorm were actually the superimposed fingers of another guitar instructor she personally knows.
Ralph could probably play a bit but not good enough to win a "head-cutting" competition.
Michael J. Fox and David Alan Grier, who is classically trained, are two actors who can actually play guitar.
You want to hear some amazing music, listen to comedian Steve Martin play on the banjo. That guy can pick!
@@studlord9970 Yes. Steve Martin ranks near Earl Scruggs of "Beverly Hillbillies" theme song fame as a banjoist.
@@studlord9970 fuck that listen to Joe Biden playing in that Burt Reynolds movie Deliverance now that’s real talent right there
You made the exact look as the devil did when Ralph interrupted the laughter and started playing hahahahah....I'm loving this shit!
The movie is "Crossroads" and if you love the blues, you have to see this movie. maybe a bit sappy but well worth the look. Then you will understand this ending.
This movie made me take up guitar. Didnt know for a few years he wasnt playing.
I always loved this movie, now is a good excuse to go revisit it after many years.
The music I was told was composed and played by Steve Vai, and a blues legend name Ry Cooder. Ralph did a great job impersonating a guitar player. The movie is called CrossRoads and if you get a chance to see it, then it is well worth seeing it. , I watched that movie about 10 times and never got tired of it lol. Your reaction was priceless! Cheers!
I remember seeing this in the theater and making all the Karate Kid references, too. Ha ha haaaaaa
the hardest part for steve is failing at the end lol
Pretending that he doesn't know how to play Bach
Nah she knew I couldn't let my heart go.
Have so many damn people I'd love to meet
She yalke about Jamal and Damn WV jaimie Peter o worked with him I met Steve shortly.she had so many stories and life .Ira.
JuDD.Joel Elizabeth.I still remeber meeting Peter she damn sure could command a set o lnow that .I miss her dearly
Some Stardust woman for MKM .
Steve didn't fail, his character did. Acting.
The thing that I love so much about the climactic scene, is the staging of the characters: satan’s champion is resplendent in triumph, satan laughing; the hero downtrodden, his second is shamefaced. It’s almost operatic in the blocking of the scene! The soundtrack is a great album ( although it can get a little longish, as it includes the incidental music as well as the featured songs ).
This is one of my fav movies of all time.
The movie is "Crossroads". I believe this movie was supposed to be a depiction of the blues player Robert Johnson's life, in the mid 1930's. Who supposedly made a deal with the Devil at the Crossroads to become the greatest blues player ever. He was the original member of the 27 club, which now includes : Robert Johnson (1911-1938)...
Brian Jones (1942-1969) ...
Alan “Blind Owl” Wilson (1943-1970) ...
Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970) ...
Janis Joplin (1943-1970) ...
Jim Morrison (1943-1971) ...
Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (1945-1973) ...
Kurt Cobain (1967-1994) and Amy Winehouse (1984-2011). All of which died at the young age of 27.
On the ending...Ralph's character was a student of classical guitar before he pursued the blues. So, his classical skills saved the day in the end.
One thing about Steve Vai is he plays guitar like a magician...
as in the way he moves and how theatrical he is. He is really great at it and acting in this clip.
Love the reaction ;) People have already commented on which movie and who's playing, so just a little extra info on this: The guitar parts Machio plays at the end to beat Vai (Vai actually wrote and recorded that part) is a variation of Paganini's Caprice No 5. Vai only used about 8 bars of Paganini's actual Caprice, while the beginning arpeggios and ending arpeggios are variations on Pagaini, but all Vai. This movie was loosely based on Robert Johnson selling his soul to the devil in 1935, at Route 49 and Route 61 in Rosedale, Mississippi. That's why there are so many references to the blues in the movie. ;)
I forgot how epic this was! Thank you for reminding me!!
And for the record, I'll take good blues guitar over shredding any day of the damn week! Woo!
Check out Nuno Bettencourt from Extreme "Flight of the Wounded Bumblebee", it is truly awesome!
This could be dangerous. I might have to start seeking out more electric guitarists' interpretations of Flight of the Bumblebee. I think the first I heard was Temur Kvitelashvili's rendition, like the one near the end of this video:
www.RUclips.com/watch?v=vSD6QqpgzZs
It was an earlier video I heard first, but the one above has better audio/video quality. His rendition is still one of my favorites.
Isn't anyone going to mention that the "Classical part" is an adaptation of Paganini's Caprice no 5 ?
yeah, steve trowbridge did a month ago.sorry to burst your bubble
Rallarbusen probably not, only classical players would know it.
love this movie and this scene especially!! A must watch! Crossroads
Jamal, thanks for your posts. We've all seen and heard the music you check out, back in the day. It's great to see you react to all the amazing music that our generation grew up with, as you discover it fresh in your vids.
Had to explain to my parents when we watched this movie that Steve Vai could play all of that and was playing parts of both
Ry Cooder was playing Ralphs part ..Steve Vai played the classical at the end
The movie is crossroads after the place where the famed Robert Johnson made a deal with the devil. Also the place where the devil met SRV and said F -It im outa here
Amen!
zeb Johnson It’s like they say: The devil went down to Georgia because he knew damn well Stevie Ray lived in Texas...
@@the_black_arts lol good one ✌
😮 😃😄😁😆😂🤣 🤘🏻🎸🤘🏻
Straight in for this one! Been waiting for it!
Any time I want to hear some outfreakinstanding guitar licks I listen to this duel. Speaks to my core. Much love.
I've seen this movie several times and to really understand what happened, you need to see the movie. IMO, Ralph reverted back to Mozart, which many believed was divinely inspired by God and the devil's prodigy could not recreate it.
Paganini,, not Mozart.
I saw this in the theater. I'm old af I guess.
Loved this movie when it came out (I was 15 and had just started playing guitar!).
I saw this movie in the fall of ‘89, when I was 17, and this movie, called Crossroads, has always been an old favorite of mine. Thanks for reacting to this, Jamel. Have a great week brother!
The movie Crossroads is inspired by the myth of Bluesman Robert Johnson making a deal with the devil at a crossroads.
You need to watch Jason Becker playing the 5th Caprice by Paganini...the 5th Caprice being the inspiration for the final solo that defeats Vai!
Paganini, now there's a rabbit hole!
I saw Steve Vai with DLR on the eat em and smile tour. He played this in his guitar solo and did it way faster and flawlessly. The guy is a machine.
Everyone should watch this movie. It’s really good and is all about blues music. This is the ending and while Ralph’s character plays blues guitar, it’s his background in classical guitar that he pulls out and wins in the end. Great movie about blues, classical, and the guitar. No matter what your musical tastes, it’s a good movie to watch.
It’s also worth mentioning this came out right when flashy technical guitar was becoming popular in the 80s. So, that’s the backdrop. This ending scene is the perfect ending where classical musicianship beats out technical shred guitar.
You should react to Frank Zappa- stink foot
Ralph Maccio took almost 2 years of intensive guitar lessons just to be able to accurately “fake “ the playing.
Bullshit
Just found your channel. Really enjoying watching you go down the rabbit hole of different styles of music I grew up with.
One of my favorite movies! This guitar duel was called “cutting heads.” Watching now. They were battling g for Willie’s soul.
Still, Vai is devil... 🥳
Well, since you brought up Steve Vai, I'll segway to Frank Zappa and, although Steve didn't play on this one, I'd recommend "Montana" ...and for the musically intrepid, "Zomby Woof".
That guitar solo in "Zomby Woof" will curdle milk.
He really needs to check out Zappa... "Dirty Love" would be my pick. Would he pick up on the double entendre title? I guess the song itself is explanatory enough.
Check out Tony Macalpine from back in the day!
One of the best scenes in one of the most underrated films. Great reaction.
I wore out a VHS copy of this movie when I was younger. Just a little back story on this scene in the movie, It was a battle for souls similar to Devil went down to Georgia.
"Kuttin Heads"!! No Steve played all his parts and RY Played his.
That was Steve playing everything
Actually Ry Cooder is doing the slidework
Actually, it was Arlen Roth, Ry Cooder and Bill Kanengiser.
Well I guess I didn’t see what I saw or hear what I Hurd seeing I was in the studio when it was recorded. I remember it like it was yesterday this is what led to David lee Roth asking Stevie to join his band being I was his guitar tech. I’ve known Steve my whole life.
@@anthonydemers3813 You are absolutely full of shit! LMMFAO!! This has to be the most hilarious thing I've ever read. Steve Vai was referred to David Lee Roth from Billy Sheehan who admired his work from Frank Zappas band. You weren't his guitar tech nor have you ever met him. His guitar tech during this film as well as Roths first tour was the legendary tech Thomas Nordegg whom Steve met during his Zappa years as Thomas was Zappas guitar tech since 1972. Thomas cut ties with Steve after that first Roth tour due to his obligations with the bands Missing Persons, Duran Duran and Tears for Fears. Thomas and Steve hooked up again in 1999 and since then, Thomas has been Steve's full time tech for 21 straight years. I will be more than happy to link you the Guitar world magazine interview with Thomas Nordegg as well as 40 other interview links with both him and Steve if you like.
You know, the funny thing about the internet is you can be anyone you want, say anything you like.... to feel special. But it is also a wealth of knowledge for research to break down people like you. I actually kind of feel sorry for you. You don't have to lie to make people like you dude.
@@anthonydemers3813 oh and yes, it is well known that Ry Cooder played ALL of Ralph's slide parts in the movie. Or are we suppose to believe you or the actual ending moving credits naming him? Lol
oh man! i haven't seen that film in years! i used to love it! thanks for reminding me ( and everybody else ) of it :)
dude your channel just keeps on giving.
This is the first time I have seen anyone react to this. Its one of my favorite music movies.
You can hear Ry Cooder for sure😃👍but yeah you hear Steve everywhere hahaha real funny for crossroads. Love the ladies dancing😋 great reaction bro.
I remember downloading the audio to this off limewire when I was in high school. classic!!
You did it Jamel! I don't remember you breakn' out any curse words before, but this vid deserves it.
Big cheers to who ever requested this!!!
Your reaction is Priceless!!! Keep the Love Flowing!!!
I loved that movie, but that ending is so epic and timeless. Steve Vai was not nearly as well know back then as he is today, so to most people it was some nobody on playing guitar.
Steve Vai did all the guitar work for the movie, Ralph Machio just did a phenomenal job of looking like he was playing. His character, at the start of the movie, is in a music school playing classical guitar, but his passion is blues. So he helps his blues idol escape an old person home and they go on this trip to get that person's soul back from the devil while Ralph's character learns to play the blues along the way. It is a good movie.
Yay!! Thank you so much for reacting to this one!! 🎶❤
That one section where they are dueling hot licks sounds like parts of Cliffs of Dover which is considered one of the hardest things to play on the electric guitar. Eric Johnson spent I think 7 years perfecting that song in it's entirety before he was comfortable to play it live. Check it out some time.
Damn Danielson! wax on, wax off!! hahaha lol. awesome! lol.
Ry Cooder played with the Rolling Stones on the album "Jamming with Edward"(1972). It was Ry Cooder, Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, and the legendary Nicky Hopkins. "Blow with Ry" is a great jam. New York snow!
Ry Cooder also co-produced The Long Black Veil with the Chieftains. The Chieftains and Stone perform Rocky Road to Dublin together
Both shred parts are Vai, Ry Cooder is playing the bluesy parts with the slide. This is from the movie "Crossroads", which I highly recommend watching.
Wish someone would react to this entire movie. Very underrated and some fantastic music.
Glad you did this one. A fun movie and great music.
I could have the most difficult day and your channel just makes everything soo good!!!! Hooraaay For Jamal!!!
Steve Vai actually played Ralphs "classical" part, however I read that Ralph did learn to play a little for the movie. I always loved this hidden gem of a movie, and I appreciate that you took the time to react to the "Head Cuttin' Contest" of Crossroads.
Also I'm giving your channel a subscription, I should have a long time ago. I do enjoy your content!
I was a teen when this came out. Loved it!
I’ve been watching this movie for 35 years and this duel never gets old.
I’ve got an unofficial game with a life long friend and we try and work quotes from the movie in to regular conversations with each other and other random people...it still cracks us up all these years later. 😂🎸
Steve said the hardest part of playing these parts was when he had to mess up during the filming 🤣🤣
This was a great reaction video. Probably the same reaction everyone got when they watched this scene in the movie. Lol
Great air guitar by Ralph. Ralph should have gotten an Oscar for his air guitar work. ;-) Steve is playing bought sides. "Crossroads" is the name of the movie.