Now you need to watch a "real" version of this song. They were told by the producers of the show that they only had about half the length of the song of air time. Focus, being true artists, refused to cut the song down and performed the entire thing at double-speed at a maniacal level. Their artistry and talent was not lost in the performance, but actually reveals just how incredible they were as a band. Thijs van Leer is completely remarkable, and still is! Jan Akkerman has always been a guiding light on guitar. Unfortunately, the two of them had a falling out after making such wonderful music. I find it sad that so many people judge Focus by this one performance and don't seek out their incredible catalog. Thijs is not an insane goofball, but this gives that impression. "House of the King" is a beautiful example of what they can do. Sadly, the zaniness of them playing a brilliant song at double-speed creates content that attracts attention, so this has become everybody's first (and frequently) only impression of the "fathers of Dutch progressive music." You statement of the "beautiful, organized chaos" is a great description of your appreciation and understanding. Just one of many reasons you're one of my very favorite reactors!
There is a live version of House Of The King from exactly this same show (Midnight Special), which also is sped up from the original recording. They must have thought: "Since we're already on high speed, why not do all of it that way?"😉 Also worthwhile mentioning: Jan Akkerman was voted the world's best guitarist in 1973 (the same year as this appearance on MS) by readers of UK magazine Melody Maker.
They only had 4.5 minutes to fit in a nearly seven minute song and were asked to reduce it. Nah we will just speed it up. And the rest is history. Jan Ackerman jumped in with the guitar when Thijs was playing the flute. Brief description by Thijs van Leer “Shortly before leaving for England to record the second album, we were playing at a castle, when the guitarist suddenly played that riff,” van Leer recalls of the birth of their breakthrough song. “Then completely spontaneously Pierre threw in a two-bar drum solo and I started yodelling. It came from nowhere; a piece of pure improvisation, inspired by the fun of playing together.”
Pierre (drummer) must have had the hardest time of them all, playing so fast! I had some LP's of Focus in early '70' s . Nowadays Thijs and Pierre are touring together and apart from them Jan with band. All playing Focus music. I once went on tour (as a technician) with Pierre playing in a band that would accompany a (female) dutch singer in 1994. Good music with Pierre being 'the motor of the band', real steady drumming. He was a nice guy to work with, and i once beat him in a game of chess. He has made a solo album with drummusic on it, called "Drum Poetry".
Not true. This is an edited version. There are longer versions on You Tube. This version misses out the extended yodel section. And even the longer version is edited. The band introductions are removed. They always play it fast live.
As others will point out, this was not the normal tempo.. but they were limited by the tv appearance, so instead of chopping the song, they just played faster.
@@BartdeBoisblancHave to disagree. It would for those of us who grew up with Focus in the 70's. If you don't own Moving Waves you really should give it a spin. Plus I don't think their is a guitarist of note alive today who does not know or revere Jan Akkerman. Just my opinion.
@@RonniePeterson I have no doubt anyone having listen to this group play it at normal speed would agree with you. I am referring to people today watch this channel having not grownup hearing the group before.
I am not able to comment that is why post a reaction here. @the Vocalyst the reason why is good at vocals is probably he learn somethings from his aunt because she was a mezzo sopraan.
If was fun to see the joy (and confusion!) on your face as you watched this. I was lucky enough to see these fellows play Hocus Pocus live, albeit at a more sedate pace, in about 1972. This was very much their party piece and huge fun. With kind regards.
It was their hit, not a party piece. Sylvia too. They wrote it in minutes. Focus is great but I haven't listened to hocus pocus in decades. They are so much more
Organized chaos is a perfect description, that's exactly what they were going for. That same year Jan Akkerman was voted world's best guitarist in the UK. Thijs van Leer (vocals & flute) had a great solo career playing the flute, I still have 2 of his albums on vinyl. I grew up in the early 60s in the Netherlands and have fond memories of Focus during my high school days. My favorite song of Focus is 'Sylvia' (1973), every time I hear it I tear up. Brings back a lot of nostalgic feelings so listen to it if you can, you can find it here on RUclips. Thanks for the reaction video.
When you create music like this and 50 years later people are still flabbergasted when they hear you for the first time, you are a real artist making unique music!! This is so much fun. Genius!!!
What you can't hear very well is Jan Akkerman's incredible guitar work. At the normal tempo of the song he just shreds as fast as any guitarist you'll ever hear, but at this double-speed he takes that to yet another level. Absolutely remarkable. And van Leer is just plain nuts. They created this song because their music wasn't translating well to an American audience, so it's all just sounds without lyrics. It was really popular for a brief time and then people just forgot about it. Every once in a while, though, it's nice to remind ourselves just how spectacular they were as musicians.
I heard Akkerman's work. Every time I hear this, I try to impart to the reactor (who's largely paying attention to the vocals) just how good a musician Jan Akkerman is. He's not your typical garage-band guitarist. I studied jazz improvisation in college, and this guy has it all over modal and other jazz scales that he just floats in and out of without any effort. Every time I see these videos talking about the world's best guitarists, the creators of those videos always focus on rock guitarists; but Akkerman is a studied jazz musician and blows the doors off improvisation. In this video, he's giving a clinic.
@@christopheryochum3602 I think the problem is that for the 70s he was basically the best guitarist in the world but looking back it's less impressive because the level has risen a lot. His peak was still exceptionally high even by modern standards but in a world of Tim Hensons this kind of stuff stops being godlike and is "merely" excellent.
Every time, I hear this song, I think " You have to be so hyper-talented and gifted to push a song to the edge of chaos, out of tune, and overall craziness but never cross that line"
But it aint edge of chaos or out of tune. May sound like it at first hear but everyone is playing tight to the rhythm (fast!) and especially the guitarist Jan Akkerman is showing how exceptionally fast and inventive guitar notes he could bring to the mix.
I saw Focus for the first time in 1973 !!..After 50 years I visit next mont a concert of Focus in The Netherlands . They still perform, great band. Organist Thijs van Leer and drummer Pierre van der Linden are still in the band. Guitarist Jan Akkerman isn’t the band anymore but is still playing soloshows. Bassplayer Bert Ruiter died last year.
I was literally crying from laughing so hard watching your expressions during this reaction. It's not often you find a performance that makes a reactors jaw drop multiple times in just a few minutes, each time for a different thing! That being said, I'll echo the other comments and say you need to listen to the full 'record' version of this song. I was very young when this song came out (1 or 2) but this was a still a staple when I started getting into music in my early tween/teen years. It was a must have record for anyone into music in those days. There was never another band quite like Focus in all the years that have since passed, and probably never will be.
Thank you. Best reaction I've seen yet, to this clip. It's fun to watch someone who is able to actually appreciate the range of talent of Thijs Van Leer.
What.......the..........fudge? Haha...once I got over my initial SHOCK,..this song was really fun! Again, your reaction made it doubly enjoyable. Love,...love.. LOVE it!
I've seen 5 or 6 vocalists react to this version of this song and they all have the same reaction to the whistling part. Its a combination of "Are you kidding me?" mixed with utter joy.
I was fortunate enough to see Focus playing in my home town earlier this year, on their 50th anniversary tour. Each and every band member displayed incredible musicianship and they all had plenty of solo spots to showcase their talents, during which, Thijs sometimes left the stage and sat in the audience to fully appreciate their performance. Of course, they played Hocus Pocus and it was a little speedier than the original recorded version, no doubt due to the popularity of this TV show performance, but he keeps the vocals an octave lower now. I met Thijs after the show and he was such a kind and gracious man. It really was an unforgettable evening.
Your facial expression is priceless. I listened to this song in the early 70’s, just thought it was cool and so unique. Your expert analysis of the song is so accurate.
Awesome reaction! Your jaw must have been sore from all the smiling! 😂 The "duetting" was just him vocalizing when taking a breath. Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull does a lot of that while playing the flute.
He was vocalizing, but she was talking about the sharp unison bends that happen on the guitar at that point. And yes, it is the guitar, you can see him inhaling during at least one of them,
The duetting was undeniably Jan doing unison bends on his guitar. During the last couple notes, the sound of the flute and the duetting unison bends overlap. Even Thijs isn’t talented enough to make two distinctly different sounds with different pitches come from one flute at the same time.
Thank you Beth for going through such a rich history of contemporary music. Thijs van Leer was always crazy. With his Tyrolean singing or "Jodeln" and his histrionics he was the founder and leader of Focus, a band from the Netherlands in the 70's together with guitarist Jan Akkerman. Beautiful time of great talent and where everyone had something different to show.
God I love your expressions. So much emotion and thought. I don’t quite operate that way. I know when I like something and am generally content with that but love how you and other reactors tell me why I like it so much. Of course after I hear something repeatedly I am able to pick out things that stand out and amaze me but you find it all immediately. I get a lot of enjoyment watching (for lack of better words) your blank stare and anticipating what is going to be next. I can imagine the little “loading” circle above your head. So cute.
This was, without doubt, one of the most enjoyable reactions to Focus I have EVER seen - it is cogent, compelling, wonderfully analytical and powerfully thrilling to watch Your Excitement at the performance of these master musicians. I would like to suggest that you seek out MOVING WAVES (U.S. Album Title) - the record with the studio version of Hocus Pocus. The Second Side of The Album has my favorite Focus Composition, ERUPTION - it takes up the whole side (and is worth every second). Thank YOU for such an amazing 17 minutes 💕💕💕💕💕
Brilliant. Ask a kid I can remember hearing this for the first time and I was blown away with what I was hearing. You just did not know what was coming next.
theres a huge vat of regular old music that younger peeps werent exposed to that will completely reorganise their metaphysical sock drawer ... this and kate bush are pre loaded into the "wtf" shotgun ... any more recomends ?
@@EvilSean62 absolutely, saw Kate Bush twice at the Before the dawn shows in 2014, The Beatles and particularly Strawberry fields forever and Helter skelter are my go to reactions.
Greetings from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Focus's *_Hamburger Concerto_* is an epic album. It's a true prog-rock gem. It starts off with their take on, Variations on a Theme by Haydn by Johannes Brahms. From that point it grow with a couple of verses of a traditional Dutch Christmas time hymn, *_O Kerstnacht, Schoner dan de Dagen._* Naturally, Thijs van Leer's vocals are epic, as are his keyboard, flute, recorder and accordion skills. Jan Akkerman not only demonstrate his mastery of the electric guitar, he also shows us how he's a virtuoso lutist. One can't leave out the trusty rhythm section, with Bert Ruiter on bass, autoharp and percussion. Colin Allen on the drums and larger percussion. These two, do a masterful job at holding it all together. You should really check it out. It's a real treat.
As someone who is only familiar with this one song, you have inspired me to listen to their entire album. You make it sound like an adventure in sonic mayhem. Thank you.
I was a fresh faced 16 year old when I originally heard this song back in 1973. I had no idea it was already 3 years old at that time. So I was 13 when it 1st was released. Your description of organized chaos is spot on. Especially after the 1st time I watched this video 4 years ago and thought it was was faster and more frenetic then I recalled. And after reading the comments here I now know why. I was watching your reaction to hearing the sped up version. And like you I was completely blown away. By what he pulled off on the Midnight special. 51 years ago. Watching your facial expressions as you genuinely reacted was quite delightful. As some one who doesn't have any vocal talent when it comes to music. But having taking some basic linguistic courses and having very rudimentary understanding of Physics. I really appreciate your analysis of the difficulty of what Thijs did on the show
Apologies if someone has said this before: during the flute solo he was duetting ... with himself. The high notes were whistle notes from the same instrument, so in a way he was yodelling on the flute. Brilliant reaction video by the way. Love your combination of expertise and enthusiasm.
one of the other voice coach videos on YT said the same = who is duetting with Thijs at this point? - but Thijs does this on several studio albums as well - he is "duetting" with himself on flute - its a super sharp intake of breath which makes a kind of high-pitched woo or wow sound - its not Jan (though Jan might be playing then also)
I doubt it. The last few fractions of a second before the rest of the band joins in again you can clearly hear the "normal" flute sound and the louder "scream" play exactly simultaneously. It's Jan's guitar for sure.
You had the greatest expressions while listening to the song, I saw them live many years ago and was in awe of his voice and how tight the band was, I’ve been to many shows and by far they would rank in the top five of live performances that I’ve ever seen.
Oh, it's that crazy song with the nutty yodeling and manic guitar playing. I feel sorry for the generation growing up now, that they don't have anything to listen to that compares. I really appreciate how much you appreciate this!
When I heard organised chaos ... I immediatly thought : Magma Focus is so underrated. prog Rock of the 70's is pure gold Big fan of Sylvia, focus II and Bennie Helder Focus is one of the best collab ever
Primarily this is a instrumental song and for 1973 it’s incredible…..but loved this song when it hit the radio in 73 and to hear this guys “vocals” and the ranges holy cow it was insane ✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼…also watching you’re expressions is great 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
This song, particularly the respective live version, always give me a big grin from start to finish. Good music should evoke some sort of emotion... and sometimes it's laughter. I love the fact as well that Gladys Knight introduced this. No doubt her jaw was on the floor too ;-)
The studio version is slower and to be alble to play the full song they had to speed it up due to the limited time they had to perform. This song is unlike anything you've heard before! First time you ever see/hear this you get one of those wt...is this moments but also what did he take 😅 I know i had and also wondered! When he goes for the high notes he gets this like crazy kind of look of someone you wouldn't wanna meet in a dark alley or backstreet!
This is about how four superb musicians can have the maximum fun they can in front of a live audience. They had half the time to play their song, and would have had to cut it short. No problem for Focus, just play the entire song at double time. Result? GENIUS! One of the most memorable musical performances of all time. Ha ha....nobody was duetting him.....Thijs van Leer was yodeling through the flute (i.e. playing the flute and yodeling at the same time). How creative is that? Thijs came from a family consisting of generations of musicians and musical composers. Jan Akkerman, lead guitarist was voted joint greatest guitarist in the world in 1973. He could literally wipe the floor with all other guitarists, is adored by Brian May of Queen, and has been noted as the most under rated guitarist of all time. Why? Because this man is beyond incredible on guitar. But let's not forget Pierre van der Linden on drums, and Bert Ruiter on bass. We are talking seriously SERIOUSLY talented musicians. This sounds like musical chaos, but every one of the artists involved in the band knows exactly what they are playing. One thing to note though is that every musician gets their chance to shine in this performance. Lead guitar, bass, drums, organ, and vocals all get their chance to shine. That's why I love it so much. When you listen it is like this is what I can do, and this is what I can do, etc. etc. Everyone is given their spot to shine. Love it.
The best is the expression on your face tells it all, they were sadly a one hit wonder but I did buy the Album. But what a hit, They are still together and saw them perform this song, they must be in their 70's but the music was still spot on but the vocals have come down a few notches as expected.
Others have mentioned that the normal song is 6:30 and in this case they were told they only had 4 minutes. Amazing is how flawlessly they were able to pull this off. This is why there is "a lot going on" for this whole song.
So funny to hear a song, just shy of 7mins long, at 6:44, played so fast, to fit it into the 4min time allotment, for the TV show! This was one of my absolute fave songs, as a kid growing up in the 70s. So odd, kooky, and that badass riff! Ive never forgotten it. :)
Midnight Special has no time allotment. Go search for the full unedited version of this that is only shorter than the album version by 40 or so seconds. They just like to play it faster in concert.
I love your reactions. You have great knowledge of vocals. I remember when this song first came out it was one of the great songs of the day. I'm not sure but, I a;ways thought the dueting was him just breathing on the edge of the flute. \mXm/
You asked what was accompanying him in parts of that flute playing... The answer in no-one... what you were hearing was him singing ove the the sound hole of the flute ast the same time as playing it.... THAT is crazy... Ian Anderson from Jethro Tulll does the same thing when he plays the flute...!! I remember watching this open mouthed when the album came out.. There was a late night music show on British TV called the Old Grey Whistle Test... and so many album bands played on it and Focus were just one... I just sat there open mouthed as I watched it... If I remember correctly it was early 1971 and I've been enjoying watching others discover them ever since...!! Keep on Rocking
You have one of the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen and this performance had you smiling from the moment he opened his crazy mouth!! Another live performance with astonishing vocals, (more than just lyrics, again), please try Tobacco Road by the multi-talented Winter brothers, Johnny and Edgar. Have a wonderful day. ✌🏼❤
Great reaction. I was studying, your face as you concentrated on what you were watching. I could see your excitement, and when you smiled, your face just lit up so bright. You have got the most radiant smile.❤
Epic! Saw them just a few years ago still ripping it up, seemed a big sound for a small venue lol. Thijs is still a virtuoso on flute, keyboards, 'yodel' and any other instrument that's put in front of him - just such a naturally gifted guy, the new guitarist was excellent and as for the drummer Pierre Van Der Linden well he had a manic and energetic 8 minute solo (in his late 60s) that brought the house down 😊😊😊😊
I loved and followed Focus back in the 70's and to the best of memory all the band members were orinally classically trained. In fact Jan Akkerman had straight classical guitar album Tabernakel which I had and is am excellent listen. I also had Focus - Hamburger Concerto, Focus III and Focus Live all excellant albums. One of my favorite songs is "Sylvia". Love your analysis and facial expressions. Thijs Van Leer is an exceptional vocalist and multi instrumentalist. Oh yeah I actually watched that Midnight Special with them on that night. Thank You for recognizing the level of talent involved.
Great reaction, you’re adorable and super knowledgeable. I’ve been listening to this song since it was new and was very surprised to see all the fairly recent reaction videos. I’m a little sad you didn’t find the longer version of this performance. There are at least two more breaks with him “singing”, one of which really shows his incredible breath control and is not to be missed. I would of loved for you to see it and react. Whomever decided to cut pieces out of this amazing performance should be flogged. Not your fault as most of the reaction videos use this shorter version as well, but there are at least two that use the longer version and one of those is a great reaction video as well. Would love to see more Led Zeppelin in the future (stick with the 1973 Madison Square Garden performances - any and all of them).
What a pleasure watch. Focus are still touring today and I saw them recently. TVL is the only original member and he is as long as he is tall. He can no longer hit the high notes, but the musicianship of him and his band is superb and definitely still worth seeing.
What a fantastically good and honest reaction. I have heard this and many other versions of Hocus Pocus (they never do it the same way twice) but I thoroughly enjoyed rewatching this and seeing the look of surprise on your face. Unlike many on the tube you appear to be knowledgable and sincere in your assessment. I have been an admirer of Focus since around 1972 and I had the good fortune to see them in 2022 with two of the original lineup, Thijs Van Leer and Pierre van der Linden. It was a small, cosy venue and they were exceptional. Thijs obviously cannot reach the notes of his youth but still does other unusual vocal sounds incorporating electronic effects. His father was a classically trained flautist and his Mother was a singer. He began playing piano age 3 and wrote his first composition "Uncle Willy" aged 6. Pierre van der Linden still plays the drums with talent in abundance. Jan Akkerman the original guitarist was and still is a phenomenal musician whom I believe was also classically trained. He also plays the lute. Thanks. Take care and have fun.
THIS was the "sped up" version, done for live TV, as they were only allotted so much time to perform the song. YOU MUST listen to the original studio version. An absolute masterpiece!
Bethany, I've been following your channel for some time now, but I somehow missed out on this particular reaction, supposedly because I didn't know the song myself until today (what a discovery!!!). I do enjoy your reactions quite a bit, but this one took the cake... Your facial expressions are everything: confused, pleasantly surprised, mesmerized and overall full of sheer joy and amazement - what a wonderful piece of fun!
By far the greatest reaction to this song ever. It was probably recorded before you were born, and to see your happy facial expressions throughout the whole reaction are priceless.
He was actually creating the dual sounds with his voice while playing the flute . Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull used to do the same technique of singing a note very quickly between breaths and flute notes. Pure Genius , and , Though I do not play flute I am a guitarist . I can only imagine this to be VERY difficult to master.
Focus is wonderfull!!! Poor people witch did not listen before, I do since 13 years old, over 50 years enjoying this incredible band and still getting goosebumps!!!
Greetings from Scotland. I can't tell you the joy your reaction gave to me. To see your face reacting to the yodelling, the flute playing and the whistling was special. It also brought a tear to my eye. Thank you. Regards and respect, Howard.
I watch this a couple times a week - cannot get enough of your reaction. So great to see you try to break it down to the science amidst absolute chaos!
This tempo is super-fast (133%?) compared to the recording. Everything else is pretty much on, although his yodeling is maybe a bit more maniacal here, which helps break up the monotony of playing same thing over and over again, notwithstanding it being a great riff to jam around. A great bunch of musicians, obviously a lot to absorb. As an afterthought, have you ever reacted to Gladys Knight? One of my favorite voices, soulful, with a fullness that not many people possess.
Absolutely love that song, love those guys !!! I first heard this with my dad in 1973 at Wells Beach Maine when I was eight years old. I remember him doing the whistling and making me smile and I love this song. Incredibly talented band. Plus, she is so fun to watch and listen to as well. I don't know who is more fun to watch and listen to, them or her ! lol 🤣 I love it !!!
Such a great reaction, but I knew it would be. As was pointed out, this is a rushed version of the song, so his ability to compensate for that the way he did was truly amazing. Though I think that's why we got the funny faces during some of those climbs and yodels. He had to be thinking "Oh crap! This is really fast." 😏
The song is 5 minutes long a d were told to cut some parts out to fit in the time slot. The band decided to speed things up, which created a phenomenal performance
Your excellent analysis of this band's performance, particularly as concerns the phenomenal vocalist, was surpassed only by the musical dynamism and musical genius of this band called Focus. I completely join you in your enthusiasm and appreciation of the band's performance. Again your analysis was topshelf!
I know you are a professional vocalist and that's where your attention goes, but Akkerman's guitar work set the bar for at least a decade. In this live performance he used a new technique called "sweep picking" and it changed the game for electric guitar players. The drummer is using some ridiculous techniques here as well...his fills were superb! I enjoyed your speachlessness!! Lol
Oh lala, the Dutch band Focus! Yes, since I'm Dutch, I remember this band!! As soon as you said the name of the band, I vaguely recognized the name. And seeing the singer I had total recall. My goodness, yes, what a sensation it was at that time, seems long ago. I've never seen the band play, but I've got a gut feeling that this band was famous at the same time as when the band Shocking Blue became famous with the song Venus. It's fascinating that a few famous Dutch bands originated from fishermen's places near the IJsselmeer Lake, dating back to the time when trade by sea was typical Dutch, fishing too ;)
I can't count the number of reactions I've seen to this performance, but I've never seen anything quite as beautiful as the way your face lights up with each curve ball they throw at you. 😄
The face he makes at the end of whistling interlude when he goes into the run back to the main part of the song cracks me up every time. Also when he just randomly all of the sudden has a flute.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Now you need to watch a "real" version of this song. They were told by the producers of the show that they only had about half the length of the song of air time. Focus, being true artists, refused to cut the song down and performed the entire thing at double-speed at a maniacal level. Their artistry and talent was not lost in the performance, but actually reveals just how incredible they were as a band. Thijs van Leer is completely remarkable, and still is! Jan Akkerman has always been a guiding light on guitar. Unfortunately, the two of them had a falling out after making such wonderful music. I find it sad that so many people judge Focus by this one performance and don't seek out their incredible catalog. Thijs is not an insane goofball, but this gives that impression. "House of the King" is a beautiful example of what they can do. Sadly, the zaniness of them playing a brilliant song at double-speed creates content that attracts attention, so this has become everybody's first (and frequently) only impression of the "fathers of Dutch progressive music." You statement of the "beautiful, organized chaos" is a great description of your appreciation and understanding. Just one of many reasons you're one of my very favorite reactors!
There is a live version of House Of The King from exactly this same show (Midnight Special), which also is sped up from the original recording. They must have thought: "Since we're already on high speed, why not do all of it that way?"😉
Also worthwhile mentioning: Jan Akkerman was voted the world's best guitarist in 1973 (the same year as this appearance on MS) by readers of UK magazine Melody Maker.
Absolutely! Sylvia is pretty nice, too. My favourite, though, has to be Anonymous II.
@@avanoosterhout8397 First of all ... he should have been, just for this performance! I'll have to look up "House of the King" on speed.
@@nightwishlover8913 They have a great catalog! It's all worth a listen.
Moving Waves my favorite very introspective
Can't remember the name of this song but at the end the drumming sounds like fireworks, beautiful!
They only had 4.5 minutes to fit in a nearly seven minute song and were asked to reduce it. Nah we will just speed it up. And the rest is history.
Jan Ackerman jumped in with the guitar when Thijs was playing the flute.
Brief description by Thijs van Leer
“Shortly before leaving for England to record the second album, we were playing at a castle, when the guitarist suddenly played that riff,” van Leer recalls of the birth of their breakthrough song. “Then completely spontaneously Pierre threw in a two-bar drum solo and I started yodelling. It came from nowhere; a piece of pure improvisation, inspired by the fun of playing together.”
Pierre (drummer) must have had the hardest time of them all, playing so fast! I had some LP's of Focus in early '70' s . Nowadays Thijs and Pierre are touring together and apart from them Jan with band. All playing Focus music.
I once went on tour (as a technician) with Pierre playing in a band that would accompany a (female) dutch singer in 1994. Good music with Pierre being 'the motor of the band', real steady drumming. He was a nice guy to work with, and i once beat him in a game of chess. He has made a solo album with drummusic on it, called "Drum Poetry".
Not true. This is an edited version. There are longer versions on You Tube. This version misses out the extended yodel section. And even the longer version is edited. The band introductions are removed. They always play it fast live.
"Beautiful, organised chaos" is such a good description of this performance.
As others will point out, this was not the normal tempo.. but they were limited by the tv appearance, so instead of chopping the song, they just played faster.
This song would not be a memorable today if not for this performance.
It's a 7 minute song played in 4 minutes, and it lives on as one of the greatest live performances ever
@@BartdeBoisblancHave to disagree. It would for those of us who grew up with Focus in the 70's. If you don't own Moving Waves you really should give it a spin. Plus I don't think their is a guitarist of note alive today who does not know or revere Jan Akkerman. Just my opinion.
@@RonniePetersonI’ll second that. The Focus III double album is a gem as well. Jan is still gracing us with his great chops.
@@RonniePeterson I have no doubt anyone having listen to this group play it at normal speed would agree with you. I am referring to people today watch this channel having not grownup hearing the group before.
Only time in the 9 years of The Midnight Special that a group got a Full Audience Standing Ovation.
guessing the crowd understood that they'd turbo-charged an already fast song
I would have been so stunned that I doubt I would have been able to move. Brain overload.
masterpiece in 1973, incredible song i think it went to number one in australia
I am not able to comment that is why post a reaction here. @the Vocalyst the reason why is good at vocals is probably he learn somethings from his aunt because she was a mezzo sopraan.
I love your comment. "The most beautiful organized chaos". Exactly!!
I love watching people "TRY" to wrap their minds around this song! BTW the lady that introduced them on this show is the legendary Gladys Knight!
Thank you. I knew I recognised the lovely hostess of the show, but the name escaped me. 🙂
I think that was Marilyn McCoo.
AND YOU WOULD BE WRONG!!!@@andyharman3022
And she is in the back watching thinking, "What the hell are those white boys doing?"
and the answer to that question is "Drugs"🤣@@gttim
If was fun to see the joy (and confusion!) on your face as you watched this. I was lucky enough to see these fellows play Hocus Pocus live, albeit at a more sedate pace, in about 1972. This was very much their party piece and huge fun. With kind regards.
Me too about the same time. Spoilt me rotten because I never found alive band so captivating since.
You can still see them.
It was their hit, not a party piece. Sylvia too. They wrote it in minutes. Focus is great but I haven't listened to hocus pocus in decades. They are so much more
we aren't too far apart in age then. I never got to see them. But I recall where I was when i initially heard this song on the radio in 1973
Organized chaos is a perfect description, that's exactly what they were going for. That same year Jan Akkerman was voted world's best guitarist in the UK. Thijs van Leer (vocals & flute) had a great solo career playing the flute, I still have 2 of his albums on vinyl. I grew up in the early 60s in the Netherlands and have fond memories of Focus during my high school days. My favorite song of Focus is 'Sylvia' (1973), every time I hear it I tear up. Brings back a lot of nostalgic feelings so listen to it if you can, you can find it here on RUclips. Thanks for the reaction video.
When you create music like this and 50 years later people are still flabbergasted when they hear you for the first time, you are a real artist making unique music!!
This is so much fun. Genius!!!
What you can't hear very well is Jan Akkerman's incredible guitar work. At the normal tempo of the song he just shreds as fast as any guitarist you'll ever hear, but at this double-speed he takes that to yet another level. Absolutely remarkable. And van Leer is just plain nuts. They created this song because their music wasn't translating well to an American audience, so it's all just sounds without lyrics. It was really popular for a brief time and then people just forgot about it. Every once in a while, though, it's nice to remind ourselves just how spectacular they were as musicians.
I heard Akkerman's work. Every time I hear this, I try to impart to the reactor (who's largely paying attention to the vocals) just how good a musician Jan Akkerman is. He's not your typical garage-band guitarist. I studied jazz improvisation in college, and this guy has it all over modal and other jazz scales that he just floats in and out of without any effort. Every time I see these videos talking about the world's best guitarists, the creators of those videos always focus on rock guitarists; but Akkerman is a studied jazz musician and blows the doors off improvisation. In this video, he's giving a clinic.
Akkerman is indeed an absolute monster on the guitar. One of my all-time favs.
@@mutt3135 i know Akkerman’s guitar playing as well, i think the intro guitar is quite sloppy in his case.
@@christopheryochum3602check out his work on Peter Banks(original guitarist for YES)solo lp "Two Sides of Peter Banks" (also in 1973 !!)
@@christopheryochum3602 I think the problem is that for the 70s he was basically the best guitarist in the world but looking back it's less impressive because the level has risen a lot. His peak was still exceptionally high even by modern standards but in a world of Tim Hensons this kind of stuff stops being godlike and is "merely" excellent.
Every time, I hear this song, I think " You have to be so hyper-talented and gifted to push a song to the edge of chaos, out of tune, and overall craziness but never cross that line"
But it aint edge of chaos or out of tune. May sound like it at first hear but everyone is playing tight to the rhythm (fast!) and especially the guitarist Jan Akkerman is showing how exceptionally fast and inventive guitar notes he could bring to the mix.
I saw Focus for the first time in 1973 !!..After 50 years I visit next mont a concert of Focus in The Netherlands . They still perform, great band. Organist Thijs van Leer and drummer Pierre van der Linden are still in the band. Guitarist Jan Akkerman isn’t the band anymore but is still playing soloshows. Bassplayer Bert Ruiter died last year.
I was literally crying from laughing so hard watching your expressions during this reaction. It's not often you find a performance that makes a reactors jaw drop multiple times in just a few minutes, each time for a different thing!
That being said, I'll echo the other comments and say you need to listen to the full 'record' version of this song. I was very young when this song came out (1 or 2) but this was a still a staple when I started getting into music in my early tween/teen years. It was a must have record for anyone into music in those days. There was never another band quite like Focus in all the years that have since passed, and probably never will be.
I bought my copy of Moving Waves for $1.00 in the cutout section, sometime maybe in 1977.
Great comments...(literally unnecessary)....👍😁
Thank you. Best reaction I've seen yet, to this clip. It's fun to watch someone who is able to actually appreciate the range of talent of Thijs Van Leer.
What.......the..........fudge? Haha...once I got over my initial SHOCK,..this song was really fun! Again, your reaction made it doubly enjoyable. Love,...love.. LOVE it!
I've seen 5 or 6 vocalists react to this version of this song and they all have the same reaction to the whistling part. Its a combination of "Are you kidding me?" mixed with utter joy.
I first heard them in 71, was blown away...still love their Music today...Timeless. Thanks.
Especially focus 3 lp and covers usa or uk 2 different covers...
First heard them in 95 loved this song ever since
You gave the best description for one of my favorite songs of all time: "The most beautiful organized chaos I've ever seen." You nailed it!😊
That really WAS a great descriptive phrase! 🙂
The look on your face of shock and enjoyment is wonderful to watch. 😁😁😍😍
I was fortunate enough to see Focus playing in my home town earlier this year, on their 50th anniversary tour. Each and every band member displayed incredible musicianship and they all had plenty of solo spots to showcase their talents, during which, Thijs sometimes left the stage and sat in the audience to fully appreciate their performance. Of course, they played Hocus Pocus and it was a little speedier than the original recorded version, no doubt due to the popularity of this TV show performance, but he keeps the vocals an octave lower now. I met Thijs after the show and he was such a kind and gracious man. It really was an unforgettable evening.
Your facial expression is priceless. I listened to this song in the early 70’s, just thought it was cool and so unique. Your expert analysis of the song is so accurate.
Awesome reaction! Your jaw must have been sore from all the smiling! 😂
The "duetting" was just him vocalizing when taking a breath. Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull does a lot of that while playing the flute.
Yes Jethro Tull famous for "Aqualung" and "Locomotive Breath"!
He was vocalizing, but she was talking about the sharp unison bends that happen on the guitar at that point.
And yes, it is the guitar, you can see him inhaling during at least one of them,
Definitely guitar -- quick volume swells.
The duetting was undeniably Jan doing unison bends on his guitar. During the last couple notes, the sound of the flute and the duetting unison bends overlap. Even Thijs isn’t talented enough to make two distinctly different sounds with different pitches come from one flute at the same time.
This man's high notes are the DEEPEST FORM OF SHAMELESS SELF EXPRESSION I HAVE EVER WITNESSED (!!!) What a talent!
I love watching someone discover this song for the first time 🤘😁
Thank you Beth for going through such a rich history of contemporary music. Thijs van Leer was always crazy. With his Tyrolean singing or "Jodeln" and his histrionics he was the founder and leader of Focus, a band from the Netherlands in the 70's together with guitarist Jan Akkerman. Beautiful time of great talent and where everyone had something different to show.
God I love your expressions. So much emotion and thought. I don’t quite operate that way. I know when I like something and am generally content with that but love how you and other reactors tell me why I like it so much. Of course after I hear something repeatedly I am able to pick out things that stand out and amaze me but you find it all immediately. I get a lot of enjoyment watching (for lack of better words) your blank stare and anticipating what is going to be next. I can imagine the little “loading” circle above your head. So cute.
This was, without doubt, one of the most enjoyable reactions to Focus I have EVER seen - it is cogent, compelling, wonderfully analytical and powerfully thrilling to watch Your Excitement at the performance of these master musicians. I would like to suggest that you seek out MOVING WAVES (U.S. Album Title) - the record with the studio version of Hocus Pocus. The Second Side of The Album has my favorite Focus Composition, ERUPTION - it takes up the whole side (and is worth every second). Thank YOU for such an amazing 17 minutes 💕💕💕💕💕
Brilliant. Ask a kid I can remember hearing this for the first time and I was blown away with what I was hearing. You just did not know what was coming next.
Your reaction so ROCKS!!! bless you bless your whole life!! Great it was to watch
I can't get enough of young people reacting to this astonishing song and performance.
theres a huge vat of regular old music that younger peeps werent exposed to that will completely reorganise their metaphysical sock drawer ... this and kate bush are pre loaded into the "wtf" shotgun ... any more recomends ?
@@EvilSean62 absolutely, saw Kate Bush twice at the Before the dawn shows in 2014, The Beatles and particularly Strawberry fields forever and Helter skelter are my go to reactions.
After growing up with this as a kid...MANY years ago... It is heartwarming to find 'younger' people who can appreciate the music from that era.
I was ten years old in 1973 and this was and still is one of the greatest songs I love.
Greetings from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Focus's *_Hamburger Concerto_* is an epic album. It's a true prog-rock gem. It starts off with their take on, Variations on a Theme by Haydn by Johannes Brahms. From that point it grow with a couple of verses of a traditional Dutch Christmas time hymn, *_O Kerstnacht, Schoner dan de Dagen._* Naturally, Thijs van Leer's vocals are epic, as are his keyboard, flute, recorder and accordion skills. Jan Akkerman not only demonstrate his mastery of the electric guitar, he also shows us how he's a virtuoso lutist. One can't leave out the trusty rhythm section, with Bert Ruiter on bass, autoharp and percussion. Colin Allen on the drums and larger percussion. These two, do a masterful job at holding it all together. You should really check it out. It's a real treat.
As someone who is only familiar with this one song, you have inspired me to listen to their entire album. You make it sound like an adventure in sonic mayhem. Thank you.
@@Edman116 It's an absolute gem! 😎🎸
I was a fresh faced 16 year old when I originally heard this song back in 1973. I had no idea it was already 3 years old at that time. So I was 13 when it 1st was released. Your description of organized chaos is spot on. Especially after the 1st time I watched this video 4 years ago and thought it was was faster and more frenetic then I recalled. And after reading the comments here I now know why. I was watching your reaction to hearing the sped up version. And like you I was completely blown away. By what he pulled off on the Midnight special. 51 years ago. Watching your facial expressions as you genuinely reacted was quite delightful. As some one who doesn't have any vocal talent when it comes to music. But having taking some basic linguistic courses and having very rudimentary understanding of Physics. I really appreciate your analysis of the difficulty of what Thijs did on the show
Your reactions are always a joy and this one was exceptional. Thank you.
I love that you called it "organized chaos". I have described it that way for decades. I have this album on original vinyl and CD.
You finally discovered the Genius of Thijs van Leer, great! Also, the guitarist is the marvelous Jan Akkerman.
Early guitar shredding! This particular performance has always been so very impressive to me!
The drummer is pretty badass too
Apologies if someone has said this before: during the flute solo he was duetting ... with himself. The high notes were whistle notes from the same instrument, so in a way he was yodelling on the flute. Brilliant reaction video by the way. Love your combination of expertise and enthusiasm.
Exactly right. He was duetting between his voice and his flute, watch his lips. Literally amazing.
No the high notes between the flutes is the guitar. Jan Akkerman's bending the b string to sync it with the high e string
one of the other voice coach videos on YT said the same = who is duetting with Thijs at this point? - but Thijs does this on several studio albums as well - he is "duetting" with himself on flute - its a super sharp intake of breath which makes a kind of high-pitched woo or wow sound - its not Jan (though Jan might be playing then also)
I doubt it. The last few fractions of a second before the rest of the band joins in again you can clearly hear the "normal" flute sound and the louder "scream" play exactly simultaneously. It's Jan's guitar for sure.
He's dueting with the guitar.
You had the greatest expressions while listening to the song, I saw them live many years ago and was in awe of his voice and how tight the band was, I’ve been to many shows and by far they would rank in the top five of live performances that I’ve ever seen.
Oh, it's that crazy song with the nutty yodeling and manic guitar playing.
I feel sorry for the generation growing up now, that they don't have anything to listen to that compares.
I really appreciate how much you appreciate this!
When I heard organised chaos ... I immediatly thought : Magma
Focus is so underrated. prog Rock of the 70's is pure gold
Big fan of Sylvia, focus II and Bennie Helder
Focus is one of the best collab ever
Primarily this is a instrumental song and for 1973 it’s incredible…..but loved this song when it hit the radio in 73 and to hear this guys “vocals” and the ranges holy cow it was insane ✌🏼✌🏼✌🏼…also watching you’re expressions is great 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Your reaction was pure joy and your facial expressions. Awesome!
Listen to the whole album, songs like Janis or Le Clochar are trully beautiful.
It is almost as much fun to watch you watching the performance... as it is to watch them do it.
Your face said so much... without a word being spoken.
This song, particularly the respective live version, always give me a big grin from start to finish. Good music should evoke some sort of emotion... and sometimes it's laughter. I love the fact as well that Gladys Knight introduced this. No doubt her jaw was on the floor too ;-)
Her shocked face is the funniest thing!!!
Talent, dexterity, boldness and creativity like you rarely see in today's music scene!
I grew up withy dad listening to Focus, that song was always my favorite ❤
When you see a music analysis smile, big smile at that, facial expressions crazy and put excitement all on top of that,, the reaction was priceless,,,
The studio version is slower and to be alble to play the full song they had to speed it up due to the limited time they had to perform. This song is unlike anything you've heard before! First time you ever see/hear this you get one of those wt...is this moments but also what did he take 😅 I know i had and also wondered! When he goes for the high notes he gets this like crazy kind of look of someone you wouldn't wanna meet in a dark alley or backstreet!
Go search for the full unedited version of this performance. It's only shorter than the album version by 40 seconds. Nobody limited this band.
This is about how four superb musicians can have the maximum fun they can in front of a live audience. They had half the time to play their song, and would have had to cut it short. No problem for Focus, just play the entire song at double time. Result? GENIUS! One of the most memorable musical performances of all time. Ha ha....nobody was duetting him.....Thijs van Leer was yodeling through the flute (i.e. playing the flute and yodeling at the same time). How creative is that? Thijs came from a family consisting of generations of musicians and musical composers. Jan Akkerman, lead guitarist was voted joint greatest guitarist in the world in 1973. He could literally wipe the floor with all other guitarists, is adored by Brian May of Queen, and has been noted as the most under rated guitarist of all time. Why? Because this man is beyond incredible on guitar. But let's not forget Pierre van der Linden on drums, and Bert Ruiter on bass. We are talking seriously SERIOUSLY talented musicians. This sounds like musical chaos, but every one of the artists involved in the band knows exactly what they are playing. One thing to note though is that every musician gets their chance to shine in this performance. Lead guitar, bass, drums, organ, and vocals all get their chance to shine. That's why I love it so much. When you listen it is like this is what I can do, and this is what I can do, etc. etc. Everyone is given their spot to shine. Love it.
The studio version will really allow you to hear how amazing his performance actually is.
The best is the expression on your face tells it all, they were sadly a one hit wonder but I did buy the Album. But what a hit, They are still together and saw them perform this song, they must be in their 70's but the music was still spot on but the vocals have come down a few notches as expected.
😂😂 the fact that I know and love this song made me so happy to see her reaction-total coinfusion and pure joy!
Others have mentioned that the normal song is 6:30 and in this case they were told they only had 4 minutes. Amazing is how flawlessly they were able to pull this off. This is why there is "a lot going on" for this whole song.
Double speed to the original ditty❤. Godspeed you girl, and keep on reacting. Greetings from Jonas Gothenburg Sweden.
So funny to hear a song, just shy of 7mins long, at 6:44, played so fast, to fit it into the 4min time allotment, for the TV show!
This was one of my absolute fave songs, as a kid growing up in the 70s. So odd, kooky, and that badass riff! Ive never forgotten it. :)
Midnight Special has no time allotment. Go search for the full unedited version of this that is only shorter than the album version by 40 or so seconds. They just like to play it faster in concert.
i've heard this so many times. the whistling at the end is such a perfect cherry on top. i love it so much.
I love your reactions. You have great knowledge of vocals. I remember when this song first came out it was one of the great songs of the day. I'm not sure but, I a;ways thought the dueting was him just breathing on the edge of the flute. \mXm/
You asked what was accompanying him in parts of that flute playing... The answer in no-one... what you were hearing was him singing ove the the sound hole of the flute ast the same time as playing it.... THAT is crazy... Ian Anderson from Jethro Tulll does the same thing when he plays the flute...!! I remember watching this open mouthed when the album came out.. There was a late night music show on British TV called the Old Grey Whistle Test... and so many album bands played on it and Focus were just one... I just sat there open mouthed as I watched it... If I remember correctly it was early 1971 and I've been enjoying watching others discover them ever since...!! Keep on Rocking
You have one of the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen and this performance had you smiling from the moment he opened his crazy mouth!!
Another live performance with astonishing vocals, (more than just lyrics, again), please try Tobacco Road by the multi-talented Winter brothers, Johnny and Edgar. Have a wonderful day. ✌🏼❤
Great reaction. I was studying, your face as you concentrated on what you were watching. I could see your excitement, and when you smiled, your face just lit up so bright. You have got the most radiant smile.❤
Epic! Saw them just a few years ago still ripping it up, seemed a big sound for a small venue lol. Thijs is still a virtuoso on flute, keyboards, 'yodel' and any other instrument that's put in front of him - just such a naturally gifted guy, the new guitarist was excellent and as for the drummer Pierre Van Der Linden well he had a manic and energetic 8 minute solo (in his late 60s) that brought the house down 😊😊😊😊
I loved and followed Focus back in the 70's and to the best of memory all the band members were orinally classically trained. In fact Jan Akkerman had straight classical guitar album Tabernakel which I had and is am excellent listen. I also had Focus - Hamburger Concerto, Focus III and Focus Live all excellant albums. One of my favorite songs is "Sylvia". Love your analysis and facial expressions. Thijs Van Leer is an exceptional vocalist and multi instrumentalist. Oh yeah I actually watched that Midnight Special with them on that night. Thank You for recognizing the level of talent involved.
You should check out van leers introspection series.
From a performance aspect, this is frightening. They are literally running across a burning tight rope with a piano on their back. No wrong steps
There 's life before, and life after hearing Hocus Pocus, and your video is the epitome of that transition in the best way possible.
This is a wild, manic ride.
This quickly became one of my favorite songs! Whenever I’m feeling uninspired I throw this on and get pumped
Great reaction, you’re adorable and super knowledgeable. I’ve been listening to this song since it was new and was very surprised to see all the fairly recent reaction videos. I’m a little sad you didn’t find the longer version of this performance. There are at least two more breaks with him “singing”, one of which really shows his incredible breath control and is not to be missed. I would of loved for you to see it and react. Whomever decided to cut pieces out of this amazing performance should be flogged. Not your fault as most of the reaction videos use this shorter version as well, but there are at least two that use the longer version and one of those is a great reaction video as well. Would love to see more Led Zeppelin in the future (stick with the 1973 Madison Square Garden performances - any and all of them).
Just about the most exciting music clip you can ever hope to watch - unbelievable!
I’m so proud of myself right now: I recommended this band a couple months ago…
Hocus Pocus brings a tear to my eye nearly every time I hear it. It was really super to see the genuine delight on your face.
What a pleasure watch. Focus are still touring today and I saw them recently. TVL is the only original member and he is as long as he is tall. He can no longer hit the high notes, but the musicianship of him and his band is superb and definitely still worth seeing.
What a fantastically good and honest reaction. I have heard this and many other versions of Hocus Pocus (they never do it the same way twice) but I thoroughly enjoyed rewatching this and seeing the look of surprise on your face. Unlike many on the tube you appear to be knowledgable and sincere in your assessment. I have been an admirer of Focus since around 1972 and I had the good fortune to see them in 2022 with two of the original lineup, Thijs Van Leer and Pierre van der Linden. It was a small, cosy venue and they were exceptional. Thijs obviously cannot reach the notes of his youth but still does other unusual vocal sounds incorporating electronic effects. His father was a classically trained flautist and his Mother was a singer. He began playing piano age 3 and wrote his first composition "Uncle Willy" aged 6. Pierre van der Linden still plays the drums with talent in abundance. Jan Akkerman the original guitarist was and still is a phenomenal musician whom I believe was also classically trained. He also plays the lute. Thanks. Take care and have fun.
THIS was the "sped up" version, done for live TV, as they were only allotted so much time to perform the song. YOU MUST listen to the original studio version. An absolute masterpiece!
Wrong
Bethany, I've been following your channel for some time now, but I somehow missed out on this particular reaction, supposedly because I didn't know the song myself until today (what a discovery!!!). I do enjoy your reactions quite a bit, but this one took the cake... Your facial expressions are everything: confused, pleasantly surprised, mesmerized and overall full of sheer joy and amazement - what a wonderful piece of fun!
Shout out to the guitarist Jan Akkerman.....Shredding the hell on the guitar.
One of the best😁
oh, hes easily one of top 50 greatest modern electric guitarists
By far the greatest reaction to this song ever. It was probably recorded before you were born, and to see your happy facial expressions throughout the whole reaction are priceless.
He was actually creating the dual sounds with his voice while playing the flute . Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull used to do the same technique of singing a note very quickly between breaths and flute notes. Pure Genius , and , Though I do not play flute I am a guitarist . I can only imagine this to be VERY difficult to master.
It's kind of mind blowing. I think this band may be from another planet honestly!
Focus is wonderfull!!!
Poor people witch did not listen before, I do since 13 years old, over 50 years enjoying this incredible band and still getting goosebumps!!!
Tellement puissant ...on sent une telle osmose entre tous les membres du groupe !Tous unis dans une fièvre orgasmique musicale.Juste grandiose.
Greetings from Scotland. I can't tell you the joy your reaction gave to me. To see your face reacting to the yodelling, the flute playing and the whistling was special. It also brought a tear to my eye. Thank you. Regards and respect, Howard.
I watch this a couple times a week - cannot get enough of your reaction. So great to see you try to break it down to the science amidst absolute chaos!
This tempo is super-fast (133%?) compared to the recording. Everything else is pretty much on, although his yodeling is maybe a bit more maniacal here, which helps break up the monotony of playing same thing over and over again, notwithstanding it being a great riff to jam around. A great bunch of musicians, obviously a lot to absorb.
As an afterthought, have you ever reacted to Gladys Knight? One of my favorite voices, soulful, with a fullness that not many people possess.
Absolutely love that song, love those guys !!!
I first heard this with my dad in 1973 at Wells Beach Maine when I was eight years old. I remember him doing the whistling and making me smile and I love this song. Incredibly talented band. Plus, she is so fun to watch and listen to as well. I don't know who is more fun to watch and listen to, them or her ! lol 🤣 I love it !!!
Such a great reaction, but I knew it would be. As was pointed out, this is a rushed version of the song, so his ability to compensate for that the way he did was truly amazing. Though I think that's why we got the funny faces during some of those climbs and yodels. He had to be thinking "Oh crap! This is really fast." 😏
I love watvhing reations to this video/song to see the reactors facial expressions !!! YOURS were great !!!!!
The song is 5 minutes long a d were told to cut some parts out to fit in the time slot. The band decided to speed things up, which created a phenomenal performance
This is a recycled comment and wrong.
Im glad you appreciate the vocal genius he is. And the incredible musical talent they all have.
Studio version is a MUST!
Your excellent analysis of this band's performance, particularly as concerns the phenomenal vocalist, was surpassed only by the musical dynamism and musical genius of this band called Focus. I completely join you in your enthusiasm and appreciation of the band's performance. Again your analysis was topshelf!
I know you are a professional vocalist and that's where your attention goes, but Akkerman's guitar work set the bar for at least a decade. In this live performance he used a new technique called "sweep picking" and it changed the game for electric guitar players. The drummer is using some ridiculous techniques here as well...his fills were superb! I enjoyed your speachlessness!! Lol
Bet you’ve heard ‘Sylvia’ somewhere, sometime… beautiful.
Oh lala, the Dutch band Focus! Yes, since I'm Dutch, I remember this band!! As soon as you said the name of the band, I vaguely recognized the name. And seeing the singer I had total recall. My goodness, yes, what a sensation it was at that time, seems long ago.
I've never seen the band play, but I've got a gut feeling that this band was famous at the same time as when the band Shocking Blue became famous with the song Venus.
It's fascinating that a few famous Dutch bands originated from fishermen's places near the IJsselmeer Lake, dating back to the time when trade by sea was typical Dutch, fishing too ;)
even shocking blue made it far enough for my brazilian friend to already know "love buzz" done by nirvana was a cover too :D
The look on your face and eye roll when he started whistling was priceless/cute!! haha
I can't count the number of reactions I've seen to this performance, but I've never seen anything quite as beautiful as the way your face lights up with each curve ball they throw at you. 😄
The face he makes at the end of whistling interlude when he goes into the run back to the main part of the song cracks me up every time. Also when he just randomly all of the sudden has a flute.
Thijs van Leer is still touring with Focus at age 75, I will be seeing them next month :)
Best ever reaction on this piece of music, thxs 👍
Thijs van Leer is a musical genius and Jan Akkerman is one of the best guitarists in the world!
... And Pierre Van Der Linden one of the greatest drummers of all time. Truly sensational group...