CANADIANS TALKING ABOUT AMERICA?! First Time Hearing The Guess Who - American Woman Reaction!
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- Опубликовано: 10 окт 2024
- 🎸 About The Guess Who:
The Guess Who, a Canadian rock band that gained fame in the late 60s and early 70s, is best known for their hit "American Woman." This song, iconic for its gritty guitar riff and bold lyrics, is often interpreted as a critique of American politics and society at the time. With its catchy chorus and powerful rock sound, "American Woman" has remained a rock anthem, reflecting the band's influence on the rock genre.
Join us as we listen to "American Woman" by The Guess Who for the first time! This track is not just a staple of classic rock radio but also a cultural statement, making it a fascinating piece for Canadians and audiences worldwide. Watch our reaction to see how we're struck by the song’s message, musicianship, and its bold stance.
🎵 What to Expect in This Video:
First Impressions: Our immediate reactions to the famous guitar intro and the commanding vocals.
Musical Elements: Analyzing the song’s instrumentation, including its memorable guitar solo and rhythmic drive.
Lyric Discussion: Delving into the lyrics and their potential commentary on American culture and politics from a Canadian perspective.
Overall Impact: Considering how "American Woman" has aged over the years and its relevance in today’s cultural landscape.
🤜🤛 Who We Are:
We’re a couple who loves diving into the stories behind legendary songs and understanding the contexts in which they were written. Join us as we explore classic tracks that have shaped the musical and cultural canon.
👍 Like and Subscribe:
If you enjoyed our reaction to "American Woman" by The Guess Who, please like, subscribe, and click the bell. We’re excited to share more reactions to music that has not only entertained but also made a statement.
💬 Join the Conversation:
What are your thoughts on "American Woman" and its message? How do you interpret the song's stance as seen from a Canadian band? Let us know in the comments below, and suggest other politically charged songs that we should react to!
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• The Guess Who - Americ...
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You can find The Guess Who - American Woman on Spotify, RUclips and Apple Music at the links below:
• American Woman
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#theguesswho #americanwoman #firsttimereaction
Writing and lyrics
The music and lyrics of the song were improvised on stage during a concert in Southern Ontario (the guitarist, Randy Bachman, recalled it being at a concert in Kitchener, although Burton Cummings, the lead singer, said it was at the Broom and Stone, a curling rink in Scarborough). Bachman was playing notes while tuning his guitar after replacing a broken string, and he realized he was playing a new riff that he wanted to remember. He continued playing it and the other band members returned to the stage and joined in, creating a jam session in which Cummings improvised the lyrics. They noticed a kid with a cassette recorder making a bootleg recording and asked him for the tape. They listened to the tape and noted down the words that Cummings had extemporized, and which he later revised.
I bet you'd like "Share the Land", "Laughing", and "Undun"...
Great choices 👌 Undun was my favorite as a teenager.
Share the Land. That one. My fav Guess Who song
I love both of these songs. Classics.
In the late 1960s, The Guess Who found themselves performing at a Canadian curling arena, a setting that would spark the accidental genesis of “American Woman.” Guitarist Randy Bachman, dealing with a broken guitar string, found himself improvising a riff that would eventually become the song’s signature opening.
Yes, Burton has said American Woman was an accident. Take a look an interview. I believe he said there was no politics involved. It was about Canadian vs American women.
@@Cutey-uy4uv I was in a room with Randy Bachman while telling the genus of that riff and lyric. Randy re-tuning called Burton back on stage to sing any words to help him remember that riff. The riff was too hard for typical love ballet lyric so Burton belted-out "American Women" in anger of the Vietnam war, referring to the Statue of Liberty
@@T-ShirtMagic, ok. Obviously Bachman would know. Cummings didn’t mention that but I guess he didn’t have to. Either way, it is a masterpiece.
@@Cutey-uy4uv Burton's interview may have been from a time when most gay people hid-in-the-closet.
A couple of more parts from Randy's telling of that story:
1) The band just crossed Canada US border for a gig on a work-visa and customs directed them to go directly into *The White Building* But before doing so, they stopped for gas and station owner asked where they were going. Upon learning of custom's directions he strongly advised them to tear up their work-visas, turn around and go back home and not return until the Vietnam War was over. ( *The White Building was the military's direct deployment operations to Vietnam* )
2) Randy had to keep riff going while others searched for Burton who was eventually found in the parking lot buying weed from some kid. 😆
Your shadow on the wall bopping your head is the greatest reaction ever 😂😂😂
It's something I can't unsee! LOL!
I’m on my soapbox again someone needs to explain to me why the Guess Who are not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It is a crime and makes the Hall a joke!
Because they had no impact outside of the USA and Canada, there is a criteria for the crappy hall of fame.
Obviously Madonna, Michael Jackson, boy George,George Michael and Jay z are way more rock and roll than these guys. The Rock and roll Hall of Fame should be called the leftist propaganda Hall of Fame. Kansas, styx, bad company, 38 special, also not in.
The rock establishment has never been fans of Randy Bachmann plus The Guess Who has been touring for decades without with either Burton Cummings or Randy Bachmann in the lineup. That has weakened the brand.
Because it's been taken over by a bunch of progressive idiots who want to "broaden" the meaning of rock and roll to nominate artists like Mary J. Blige, Kool and The Gang, and A Tribe Called Quest
because the rock 'n' roll Hall of Fame is a joke. these bands don't need to be in there. they're great we all know it that's all that matters!
Grand Funk Railroad’s “We’re An American Band” was written in response to this so you might want to check out that out next (if you haven’t already)
👍💯
Killer guitar by Randy Bachman, cofounder and writer of the this song and group. Later to become the head of BTO. One of your greatest Canadian artist who does not get his due recognition..
I'm next to youngest of 13 kids, I'm now 58yrs old , I was listening to this and other generations of music. The Guess Who has always been a favorite of mine. Have a Blessed and Beautiful Day ❤.
Great reaction, next Undun, No Time.
This song was released as a single in March of 1970 and soared to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for 3 weeks! It was certified gold by the RIAA in May of 1970. The song also reached the top 10 in the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Austria. Great stuff by The Guess Who and Burton Cummings. I was 13 years old in the midst of when The Guess Who was ripping the charts up as a top Canadian Band. Such a unique voice.
The man with one of the best voice in the world 🌎great live performances
They are from my home town of Winnipeg. Neil Young grew up in Winnipeg and started his first band called The Squires. Also from Winnipeg is Bachman Turner Overdrive, Monty Hall of Let’s Make A Deal, Tony winner and actor on Blue Bloods Le Cariou and Winnie the Pooh.
Comedian, philosopher, writer and actor David Steinberg as well. Not sure why I knew that as I'm not from Winnipeg!
@@SPAMDAGGER22 I knew that too but I thought no one would know who he is.
The movie this was featured in was one the Austin Powers movies. Lenny Kravitz did a cover as well. Look on youtube for the 'running back thru Canada' version... My understanding is the American Woman refers to the Statue of Liberty...
The Spy Who Shagged Me.
It was also in the fantastic
karaoke scene in "Cable Guy" with Jim Carrey. JC killed Jefferson Airplane's "Somebody to love" as well in that same scene.
When they were thinking they had not heard this after all, I snickered to myself and said "wait for it".
'Clap For The Wolfman' next please. Cheers.
Burton Cummings is one of the greatest singers ever. For me this may be the best song of 1970. I knew it would be a big hit. From Canada. Many very good songs. My favorites are this, These Eyes and Laughing. I believe he wrote most of the songs, very talented!! I believe hes still performing, mid 70s.
The Guess Who definitely belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
American Woman was the Statue of Liberty. Protesting the Vietnam War aka War Machine. Lots of young American men were heading into Canada to avoid the draft. Need to react to jazzy "Undun" where Burton plays the flute!
Well said and YES to “Undun!”
Yes I spent the summer of '71" with the Hippies and Draft Dodgers in Banff and Jasper Alberta.
I have an uncle who was in the army during the time of the cold War and Vietnam, but he just had to get based in Berlin as an appointment as an mp to guard the Berlin wall.
So true, as a Draft Dodger on All in the family stated: I can think of more reasons Not to kill, than the President can think of to kill. It was a very politically charged time!! Elvis sang In the Ghetto as well.
When my uncle got his draft papers, he told me that his dad got the mail for him, saw it was from Washington, gave it to my uncle and told him he could do what's in the envelope or get a good paying job and move to Canada.
"I don't want your war machines, I don't need your ghetto scenes" says it all!
Amazing that this song that slams American women was such a big hit at the time, here in the States! Love your reactions!!
Love the Guess Who. Please react to my favorite - Undun!
One of the greatest anti-war songs ever
Protest songs are largely a thing of the past. Sad. They used to make our youth think about what's going on in the world.
For me, the top hits by the Guess Who are this song, plus "These Eyes," and also "No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature" and "No Time." All in a bit of a theme.
Undun, Laughing, SHARE the Land
One of the most recognizable guitar riffs ever. So glad you did the full version with the bluesy intro. Thanks.
Lots of great Guess Who tunes for you to react to - No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature, Undun, No Time, Laughing, Runnin' Back To Saskatoon, Hand Me Down World, Rain Dance, Share The Land, Bus Rider, Albert Flasher and Star Baby.
She Took My Heart Away, Clap for the Wolfman, Foreign Song, My Warning, Hand me Down, all fantastic songs.
Lead singer Burton Cummings discusses this song on an episode of "Professor of Rock" here on YT and it is well worth a look from anyone reading this. I don't recall him saying anything in the interview about "American Woman" representing the Statue of Liberty or the song being a war protest song. It has been several months since I saw the interview, however, so I could be wrong. More Guess Who? "Share The Land", "No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature" and the often overlooked, "Life In The Bloodstream"!! Peace!!
The Canadians win again!
In your dreams! CA or TX cld out do you.
@@kirkkimball-martinez2402 ?I don't need your opinion over mine.Why do people like you still live?
Having only heard it on the radio, I have NEVER heard that intro segment.
Hang on to Your Life is an incredible song. Hard hitting, as much as any. And the ending recitation. Peak Psychedelia
This song really defined the early 1970s... it set the tone...
The guess who their guitar player Randy Bachman went on to form bachman-turner overdrive. His best song in the 70s was called let it ride. Burton Cummings, his best song in the 70s is called Stand Tall.
American woman is not being derogatory about women from America. It’s a metaphor on US foreign policy, and the contrast between Canada and big city America.
Great song, great vocal, great band! I'd suggest No Time next for a tune similar to These Eyes, then Undun, Laughing, and No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature. The latter is in the vein of fusing multiple lyrical themes and/or melodies into one song, a practice made popular by The Beatles.
from Burton Cummings solo career "Stand Tall" show his vocal range
We are "North Americans" too... You know... the continent. To the South Mexico, in the middle US N. Americans and up North, the Canadian N. Americans... There, that was an easy Geagraphy lesson😊
Here we go.
North America comprises of 3 countries.
The Confederation of Canada
The United States OF America.
The United States OF the Republic of Mexico.
The problem is that there is no America.
There's North America, Central America, South America.
The USA is using the wrong context in their own name.
It's The United States OF North America, not America. The USA is Not America.
Fkd up, I know.
No wonder they can't get their schitt together.
😶🌫️✌️🫴🍁
I had conversation yesterday with Vietnam vet, it was pretty obvious that he had never come home. He did two tours and got wounded in the second, told me he had had 13 operations, and had been on all types pain killers, he said didn't sleep with his wife because he felt a danger to her. He said I was taught to kill and kill quick and quiet.
As someone who got as close as the induction center for "that" war, I can say this was an incredible song.
There is a cover by Lenny Kravitz that you MUST see. Yeah do the video. O.M.G.
Really glad to see you take the trip. As others have said, seeing your shadow with the beat was just amazing happenstance. Well... maybe you didn't do it intentionally. LOL
As we say in Texas; y'all be safe.
Great song! Glad you did the album version as they didn't always play the intro on the radio. I grew up with this great Canadian band. They had so many hits such as "No Time", "Laughing", "Undun", "Hand Me Down World", "Share The Land", "Bus Driver", "Star Baby", "Albert Flasher", "Rain Dance" etc. Burton Cummings has a great voice. One of the best out there. Randy Bachman later left to form (BTO) Bachman Turner Overdrive & had many hits. And Burton Cummings had a great solo career with lots of great songs. "American Woman" is not about a lady but more about a country (I don't want your war machines or your ghetto scenes).
You can see many interviews with Burton. It really wasn't a protest song. The band was doing a gig and we're on a break. Burton was in the alley trying to pick up some rare records and heard the band start up. He ran inside and Randy was filling around playing this. Burton got on stage and just started singing what ever came to him. What the words did... they rhymed. Check out some of the interviews.
Should have done the long LIVE version of American Woman complete with the intro. You will NEVER, EVER hear a better version than that.
I graduated from high school in 1970 so I listened to all these songs. Radio stations never played the intro though.
Were 6 yo riding around with my older brothers in 1972. They had a 65 chevy car and 8 track player.
6 yo, muscle cars, bull riding, whiskey, beer and women. God how I am I still alive.
Long story behind the song as my older twin brothers had to make me stop singing it. To young to understand what it was all about.
CLAP FOR THE WOLFMAN BY THE GUESS WHO NEXT!!!
He's gonna rate your record high
Radio stations have never typically played the blues intro. Lenny Kravitz gave this song new chart life when he covered it, a huge hit, just like this original classic rock hit.
There is an interview with Randy about how this song came about. It was completely ad-lib, and if it wasn't for a guy recording a bootleg tape of the concert, the song would have been lost. The band was able to get the tape and now had a record of the song.
I saw them live in Toronto in front of 500,000 crazy Canadians singing this songs with passion 😂 Anything from The Guess Who, Burton Cummings solo and BTO are fire 🔥 No sugar/new mother nature is a must. Great reaction as usual my friends and Peace out ✌️ 🙏 ☮️
I never saw The Guess Who in their early 70s heyday (too young), but grew up with their hits on AM radio. Even my Dad liked them.
About 2 decades ago I found out that Burton Cummings (lead singer/piano) and Randy Bachman (lead guitar, backing vocals) were doing a BACHMAN/CUMMINGS "duo tour" which featured them playing all the good stuff they had done for The Guess Who (they were the 2 writers of the tunes), songs from their solo or later bands (ie Bachman doing his best BTO tunes) and tell stories about each song. I didn't want to miss a chance to see that, so even though the concert was at a casino, I went.
INCREDIBLE SHOW. Their stories and anecdotes were funny and interesting, they really gave us intimate insights, and the setlist was just incredible, hit after hit,both still in peak form.
I will always treasure that show. That tour was video recorded, so it would be well worth reacting to some live versions in good quality.
Lenny Kravitz has a remake of this, which takes its own turn on this classic song.
Next up, CLAP FOR THE WOLFMAN. It's a Humorous song with Wolfman Jack making a great cameo about hit records. You will absolutely love it. Guaranteed.
Great choice, the long version. subtle intro before the song.
Yeah, the AM radio version cut the intro out but I can't listen to it without that "blues" lead-in.
"Hand Me Down World" and "Share the Land" are two more traditional sounding Guess Who hits. "No Time" is more of a rocker mixing a clean guitar with dirty lead line played over it.
So pleased you listened to the full version. The intro should NOT be optional.
Burton gives some strong Robert Plant vibes on this one. (Yes, a very trite observation 😒)
You two always dig in to the music and rhe lyrics.
Nice.
They released a live album where they did a long jam to this song which is really cool. You can find on the yub tubs a recording of the band reunited doing a lot of their catalog including the extended jam on this song. I recommend checking this out for your own edification if for no other reason. It is really fun. It is also cool watching these guys as old geezers still being really good as musicians.
I've listened to this song 10,000 times and never thought of it as political. It's just a fun song to sing along to.
No Time, Share The Land, Hand Me Down World, Laughing.
I think you'd really enjoy Burton Cummings' live - vocals and flute solo - on a Midnight Special performance of another great Guess Who song, Undun.
My favorite is No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature (studio version). Love the blending of the two songs at the end and the lyrics on New Mother Nature work perfectly. ❤
I wish I could have been there with you, and at the beginning, say "wait for it." Great song. Thank you for your reacton.
Would definitely like you to react to Burton Cummings solo effort "Stand Tall". Really incredible vocal display!
In the mid/late 80's a musician friend's group had an opening gig at Summers on the Beach in Fort Lauderdale. The headlining act? The Guess Who. I obvious had heard of the band but only a couple songs came to mind. It's hard to explain just how surprised I was when after they began playing - I kept saying to myself: "I know this song." "I know this song too" "And this one" "and this one" - all night long. I was schooled in my ignorance of how many songs I 'knew' but wasn't aware it was them. My best explanation was the name similarity to 'The Who' kinda' put me off as a kid/young man.
Edit: Nice hair cut - looks good.
Like the haircut! Looks real clean.
I had The Best of The Guess Who and Rare Earth on 8 Track growing up. Great music!
The Guess Who are icons. Love this song so very much. Love your reactions!
“American Woman” represents state power. This is a protest song against the state and its demands on citizens, for example against military service (in Vietnam at the time).
Not even close
And also about draft dodgers burning their draft cards and fleeing to Canada in opposition of the Vietnam War
For Muscle Car rock & roll, checkout "She Builds Quick Machines" by Stone Temple Pilots, "Fuel" by Metallica, & "Drivin' Wheel" by Foghat!! 🔥🎸🔊, Great Reaction🤘🎶
My 2nd concert I ever went to was Three Dog Night and The Guess Who was the support band for the concert. Best $3.50 I ever spent. Yes, it was a very long time ago....
The Guess Who 👍🏻
Please give a listen to Lee Michaels "do you know what I mean"
The Guess Who is a very talented group and glad you were able to tap into it. They had a few good songs.
If These Eyes appeals to you, I recommend two by the Guess Who. Glamour Boy from Guess Who #10. A song about (subtly) David Bowie and how rock was becoming more of a show instead of about the music. A beautifully etched song with harps, tubas, strings and a cutting vocal. And by the way, I can't recall any channel EVER reacting to this song, so it's probably a first. Second, the live version of UNDUN from the Midnight Special, only because it highlights the power vocals of Burton Cummings.
Their best known song and a huge hit, they were the first national act I ever saw in concert in 1971 and boy did they deliver. This song was expanded to 15+ minutes in concert with the entire band getting a chance to stretch out. I suggest you listen to the live suite: American Woman into Trucking Off Across the Sky from their classic live album, Live at the Paramount. It was a whole side from that double album and would blow your minds, just like the Who's Live at Leeds side 2 does with My Generation and Magic Bus, the jams belong together as a whole, we always listened to the entire side in either case. The music is mind blowing good. Either of the above and you will be in a state of euphoria, Enjoy! 🔥🎵🎸🎤🎸🎹🎶🔥
Glad you enjoyed it! I love this version, but I also love Lenny Kravitz's version. It would be fun to compare the two because they are soooo different.
Love them live! Bad ass band
Lenny Kravitz brought this song back to forefront in 1999. This was a very popular song during its opening run.
Love this song. Check out Lenny Kravitz's cover. It's incredible.✌️🌻🌻
The live version recorded at the Olympia in Seattle (?) is also worth a listen :)
As with so many of these awesome classics, I would always 1000% prefer to watch a LIVE performance.
Which BTW…
There is an AMAZING live performance of “American Woman”, done by Lenny Kravitz AND The Guess Who onstage together!
That high guitar tone is such an iconic sound
Undun is a must must for you!
The Spy who Shagged Me.
American Beauty
2 movies this was in
The Cable Guy
They rarely played that beginning so many people aren't familiar with it. Love the Guess Who.
Lenny Kravitz did a great cover of this song you should check it out !!
These Eyes and Share The Land are my favorites by them
Hey, Phil and Sam, another Guess Who song you should definitely do a reaction to is "No Sugar Tonight"
Knew you guys would dig The Guess who 😊😊
American Woman = Statue Of Liberty. One of the great protest songs
Burton never said that
Burt Cummings sings a song titled "Stand Tall," which he sings brilliantly. Highly recommended.
Laughing is their follow-up to These Eyes. Their other many hits of the time included Undun, No Time, No Sugar Tonight, Share the Land, Hand Me Down World, etc.
Saw them live in portland. Oregon on the river,,absolutley terrific
This was right in the middle of the anti-Viet Nam war era that was tearing the country apart. If you weren't around then, you can't understand. People in other countries were protesting against our involvement.
Randy Bachman said he had broken a guitar string, was retunning starred playing that riff, Burton just started making up words to go with it. Luckily someone in the audiance was recording it. They got the recording and polished it up.
I bought this album. While in the service, my ship USS Yellowstone AD-27 took some R&R in the spring of '70, in Greece. While walking around Athens in my Sailor Uniform with an American Flag sown on my shoulder, Middle Aged American Women would walk up to me and ask if I spoke English.
Just discovered your channel. I'm in!!!
Need to check out their song Undun!!! One of the greatest songs from the Guess Who! I grew up and as a teenager jammed to these guys on 8track! Noone else sounds like them.
Also, you guys probably recognize American Woman; but not from them probably from the great cover that Lenny Kravitz did. It's very good also!
ironic that since this song came out in the 60s it still applies today - nothing really ever changes
The song I like best from The Guess Who is No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature.
Guys the Guess Who had from 1968 to 1971 14 top 40 sokgs in the US including 5 top 10 songs also including 2 #-1 hits 'American Woman' and 'No Sugar Tonight' American Woman was not from any movie, I was 13 at the time in 1970.
i believe.........this was the 1st Canadian Band to go to the US Top 10 with this song ? Lenny actually did a good job on the Cover.
Cummings, who composed the lyrics, said in 2013 that they had nothing to do with politics. "What was on my mind was that girls in the States seemed to get older quicker than our girls and that made them, well, dangerous. When I said 'American woman, stay away from me,' I really meant 'Canadian woman, I prefer you
You might have heard Lenny Kravitz do a cover of this song back in the early 2000s or so. It was extremely popular at the time, and was also featured on one of the Austin Powers movies.
Next "Undun"
The beginning is never played on the 45 rpm but clearly on the album. the Guess Who had some wonderful songs .”No Time” was a big hit.
Check out "No Time" and "Hand Me Down World". Both great songs with incredible vocals.
I consider this to be my favorite album ever, mostly for nostalgia reasons. When I got my first record player as a gift for my 8th birthday, this was one of the vinyls my dad gave me along with it. Still have it have to suggest No sugar tonight/new mother nature. My favorite track off the album. I actually still have it on record. Great reaction!
A 1 chord song...shows how much you can do by just 1 chord...❤
If you want Burton's vocals, I suggest "Stand Tall" from his solo career