My favorite Stones tune. The star of the show is definitely Merry Clayton and her stellar background vocals. The lore has it that she sang so hard doing these vocals it caused her to miscarry. Her voice breaks twice in the "Rape/Murder" section. Absolutely unbelievable. To sing so hard your voice breaks. The one and only example I've ever heard in recorded music. Great song.
People put too much emphasis on Merry Clayton. While she's undoubtedly a crucial ingredient to the song, what would it be without Keef’s Maton SE777 guitar or Charlie's simple but pounding drum fills?
The thing I always loved about this song, and I’m only giving my personal interpretation, is that in the same way war can start with one shot, love can start with one kiss. It is like we are always sitting on t(e edge of destruction or glory…so, what are you going to decide, a kiss or a shot? Mary Clayton’s vocals still have to be amongst the most impactful backing vocals in rock/pop history.
Funny how I also thought Ms. Clayton's part made this song what it was, but after seeing the documentary on them actually creating it in studio, it really showed Keith's talent. That guitar just drives this so hard. So Bluesy, so Rock, so Country...
Best backing vocal ever...thank you Merry Clayton....you should watch 20 Feet From Stardom...its about all these legendary backing vocalists...you would enjoy it a lot
This is a Viet Nam protest song written off the "Make Love not War" slogan at a time when the news was nothing but war both in Viet Nam and during the rioting and protests of the 1960's/70's. The Stones usually had a pretty clean production quality but this one was intentionally made to sound more rough and edgy because of the message it was putting forth. And Mary Clayton's one-take background performance and solo is one of the most powerful in Rock history. Out of the Stones' considerable catalogue of well over 150 songs this one is my all time favorite.
Very heavy duty tune and what really separated the Stones from the Beatles and moved Rock n roll from the sixties to the seventies and got the reality of violence and pursuit of peace. Timeless tune thanks for the post . 😎
I grew up with this song. It moved me then. I watched your face as you listened to the words and felt the music. Good songs, regardless of when they're made, can grab the psyche and move the spirit.
It's only rock and roll , but The Stones are hard to nail down as far as genre goes. So many flavors. From raunchy rock tunes like Tumbling Dice, to country sounds like Far Away Eyes, or R&B like Daddy Your A Fool to Cry (one of my favorites) etc , they keep it interesting.
Merry Clayton's voice cracks twice under the strain of her spirited performance. You can actually hear Mick Jagger in the background yelling "Whooooooo!!" - egging her on. She had a miscarriage soon after because of the physical strain. She is truly a gift to this world.
It was released in 1969 at the same time as the Manson killings and was taken to reflect the dark turn that society seemed to be taking as the hippie dream began to disintegrate. Later that year, in December, there was the tragedy of their concert in Altamont speedway, which seemed to underline this impression.
One has to accord Keith Richards as one of the creative geniuses in all of popular music ever recorded. Legend, and probably fact, is that KR is responsible for ALL the guitar work on this track.
A shot away means, It's that close! War, rape, murder in our society, It's right here. For me, it's just describing the dichotomy of how we live. Of how we were when the song was written or released (1969), and timelessly, how and where we are today. War, rape, murder is just a shot away. And yet, the last stanza, Mick says, how about we can simply try another approach: Love, sister, it's just a kiss away. Mick is saying: WE make the change.
They wrote this when they went to a friends flat one day, and a protest started outside their window.. and it escalated to people throwing molotave cocktails and pulling out guns.. they said they were really scared, and they couldn't leave because it was right there at their door.... it is a Vietnam song, for sure, but it's about protests, and how they can get out of hand, like a war. It's so relevant even today, with all these protests and armed people, and hate groups.. one shot and there could literally be a war in the streets. Great song. Great reaction. Thank you. 🙂
Keef actually composed the intro while Anita and Mick were filming a love scene in Performance (1970), and the “Gimme Shelter” angle was initially about people getting shelter from the rain. It evolved into something much more powerful and profound.
Probably the only time that Mick Jagger was Completely, Entirely, and Utterly Upstaged ... this is Merry's song ... Everybody waits for that moment ... July 21 2022 (0111 hrs)
Continue your Rolling Stones journey with these songs guaranteed to Get Your Rocks Off. SHATTERED, JUMPIN' JACK FLASH, SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL, & CAN'T YOU HEAR ME KNOCKING. Enjoy.
Such a sobering song. The lyrics describe unspeakable terror. Such was the Vietnam War. In the end, it was all for not; it was pointless. And tragically, tens of thousands of people died. 50,000 of our soldiers died. I don’t know the number on the other side, nor the number of innocent civilians that were killed. A nasty war. I was little and remember that all they showed on the nightly news were dead soldiers shrouded with cloth while their bodies were loaded on cargo planes headed back home. And the daily death count. For years and years. So you can see why there were a lot on anti-war songs back then. What was worse, the way society treated soldiers returning from Vietnam. Especially those injured and disabled. People actually would spit on them. Yeah, messed up.
Another Stones song that you might want to check out from a little earlier in the same era -the late 1960’s- of the Stones’ career is Street Fighting Man. It would be interesting to hear you compare/contrast that 1 with Gimme Shelter.
Are influenced by the blues from America from the 1930s and 1940s just like Led Zeppelin on the Beatles or and particularly the song was came out during the Vietnamese war back when I was about ready and just miss being drafted so it was very pertinent
Merry Clayton tells the story of how she got brought in to record this in the excellent documentary "50 feet from Stardom". Lots of other Black backup singers in the doc who are largely forgotten: ruclips.net/video/tWyUJcA8Zfo/видео.html
I've heard this song 8 million times. On the radio. In every Martin Scorsese movie (almost).. Crawl back under your rock. Lisa and Merry. You know nothing. Thanks for sharing!
I find the whole REACTION concept to be patronising and condescending to people that have first hand knowledge and experience of music. I don't need to be told anything about something I know more about. " Hey, did you know that JAMES BROWN & His Band played Funky/Soul music that you could dance to? " " Thank you Captain Obvious!! " " I went for a swim recently and the water was wet " " Oh, wow, yeah, I had a similar experience in the shower this morning, the water was wet there too. " " Hey, just asking, Soul Brothers & Sisters, but have y'all heard of a Band called THE BEATLES? " " No, are they a new Band? " " I think we should do a REACTION video for the stupid and ignorant people " " Did you know that HILARY CLINTON got 3.5 Million more votes than DONALD TRUMP and she lost the election?" " Yeah that happened to me at the Sports Club election recently." " I got 60 votes and the other Candidate got 40 votes and they won the position of Club President " " Isn't Democracy a wonderful, fair and decent system? " " Sorry, was that a rhetorical question ? " " Can you do a REACTION video about rhetorical questions?
Mick Jagger's years of experience fighting in Vietnam gave him this bleak view. Or else it was sitting on a couch, watching TV. Or sometimes when he hired murderers as bodyguards.
Merry Clayton gives us the best moment in rock history with that insane vocal break!! 🥹💜
My favorite Stones tune. The star of the show is definitely Merry Clayton and her stellar background vocals. The lore has it that she sang so hard doing these vocals it caused her to miscarry. Her voice breaks twice in the "Rape/Murder" section. Absolutely unbelievable. To sing so hard your voice breaks. The one and only example I've ever heard in recorded music. Great song.
Me too!
People put too much emphasis on Merry Clayton. While she's undoubtedly a crucial ingredient to the song, what would it be without Keef’s Maton SE777 guitar or Charlie's simple but pounding drum fills?
Yay Mary Clayton! " Hey! "
The thing I always loved about this song, and I’m only giving my personal interpretation, is that in the same way war can start with one shot, love can start with one kiss. It is like we are always sitting on t(e edge of destruction or glory…so, what are you going to decide, a kiss or a shot? Mary Clayton’s vocals still have to be amongst the most impactful backing vocals in rock/pop history.
The beauty is in the listener's reaction. A song doesn't mean anything when there's no-one to listen to it. And you're a beautiful listener.
This does have such a haunting sound, but ends hopefully- “love, sister, is just a kiss away”
An iconic song from a fantastic band. Glad I was a teen when it was released. Still listen to this album regularly. The entire album is amazing!
3:35 You hear her sing earlier, but you think, "I'd like to hear just her". And then they give you what you wanted.
Funny how I also thought Ms. Clayton's part made this song what it was, but after seeing the documentary on them actually creating it in studio, it really showed Keith's talent. That guitar just drives this so hard. So Bluesy, so Rock, so Country...
Best backing vocal ever...thank you Merry Clayton....you should watch 20 Feet From Stardom...its about all these legendary backing vocalists...you would enjoy it a lot
Great reaction. I appreciate your perception, and it was fun to watch you listen and get it. Keep well! ☺️✌️🤘
This is a Viet Nam protest song written off the "Make Love not War" slogan at a time when the news was nothing but war both in Viet Nam and during the rioting and protests of the 1960's/70's. The Stones usually had a pretty clean production quality but this one was intentionally made to sound more rough and edgy because of the message it was putting forth. And Mary Clayton's one-take background performance and solo is one of the most powerful in Rock history. Out of the Stones' considerable catalogue of well over 150 songs this one is my all time favorite.
it hit you just as it is supposed to. it is one of the more impactful songs of the entire era in my opinion.
Very heavy duty tune and what really separated the Stones from the Beatles and moved Rock n roll from the sixties to the seventies and got the reality of violence and pursuit of peace. Timeless tune thanks for the post . 😎
God bless Merry Clayton!
I grew up with this song. It moved me then. I watched your face as you listened to the words and felt the music. Good songs, regardless of when they're made, can grab the psyche and move the spirit.
It's only rock and roll , but The Stones are hard to nail down as far as genre goes. So many flavors. From raunchy rock tunes like Tumbling Dice, to country sounds like Far Away Eyes, or R&B like Daddy Your A Fool to Cry (one of my favorites) etc , they keep it interesting.
And THAT is the only facial expression possible when listening to this song, no matter who or where you are.
One of my fav songs ever!!! Great reaction👌✌
Absolutely iconic song, for me probably the best song ever written!
Greatest rock song of all time.
So long youth! So many great memories and mind blowing concerts. Long live 60-70's 🎶
Merry Clayton tore this up!
Merry Clayton.....nuff said 🎶😎🙌👍
I watched a few reactions but your expression told me you hear it like me!
What made Gimme Shelter great was the vocal by American soul/gospel singer Merry Clayton.
Merry Clayton's voice cracks twice under the strain of her spirited performance. You can actually hear Mick Jagger in the background yelling "Whooooooo!!" - egging her on. She had a miscarriage soon after because of the physical strain. She is truly a gift to this world.
It was released in 1969 at the same time as the Manson killings and was taken to reflect the dark turn that society seemed to be taking as the hippie dream began to disintegrate. Later that year, in December, there was the tragedy of their concert in Altamont speedway, which seemed to underline this impression.
Jumpin Jack Flash and Gimme Shelter are my favorite Stones tunes
One has to accord Keith Richards as one of the creative geniuses in all of popular music ever recorded. Legend, and probably fact, is that KR is responsible for ALL the guitar work on this track.
Mick Jagger has said he was so blown away by Merry Clayton's solo that he fell out of his chair.
A shot away means, It's that close! War, rape, murder in our society, It's right here.
For me, it's just describing the dichotomy of how we live. Of how we were when the song was written or released (1969), and timelessly, how and where we are today. War, rape, murder is just a shot away.
And yet, the last stanza, Mick says, how about we can simply try another approach: Love, sister, it's just a kiss away. Mick is saying: WE make the change.
Looooove Sista its just a kiss away
They wrote this when they went to a friends flat one day, and a protest started outside their window.. and it escalated to people throwing molotave cocktails and pulling out guns.. they said they were really scared, and they couldn't leave because it was right there at their door.... it is a Vietnam song, for sure, but it's about protests, and how they can get out of hand, like a war. It's so relevant even today, with all these protests and armed people, and hate groups.. one shot and there could literally be a war in the streets. Great song. Great reaction. Thank you. 🙂
Keef actually composed the intro while Anita and Mick were filming a love scene in Performance (1970), and the “Gimme Shelter” angle was initially about people getting shelter from the rain. It evolved into something much more powerful and profound.
Probably the only time that Mick Jagger was Completely, Entirely, and Utterly Upstaged ... this is Merry's song ... Everybody waits for that moment ...
July 21 2022 (0111 hrs)
I second time waits for no one. Heartbreaker is another one that deals with social problems and is still very relevant today.
Always been their best song...Viet Nam war song
vietnam war protest song....one of my fav stones tunes
Check out this song done live in recent years. A gorgeous lady named Lisa Fisher does the backups. On stage, they let the songbird Lisa fly!
This song, "Sympathy for the Devil" and "Wild Horses" are amongst my favorites! But they have a major library!
Continue your Rolling Stones journey with these songs guaranteed to Get Your Rocks Off.
SHATTERED,
JUMPIN' JACK FLASH,
SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL,
& CAN'T YOU HEAR ME KNOCKING. Enjoy.
Add Winter, Moonlight Mile, Undercover
there are very few songs that will get this old man out of the chair, walk over to the listening device and turn up the volume. this is on of them.
Greatest rock n roll song ever..............
keith at his brillant best such hypnotic chords.mick with his dark genius lyrics.
gotta do the stones sympathy for the devil
Remember this was the height of the Cold War. If it turned bad and the balloon went up, there was no shelter from that.
OK, you should next do the Rolling Stones songs: "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" and "Time Waits For No One." Thanks!
I know that u would love "Emotional Rescue "from the stones as well .love ur reaction
If I put money in the jukebox , you'll hear this
Thanks for sitting through this lovely brutal song.
Next... "Brown Sugar."
Peace on earth.
Just a Kiss Away.
Next step into the Stones - Can’t you hear me knocking - when Mick Taylor was on lead guitar!!
Unfortunately timeless ✌🏻
one of their 2 or 3 BEST SONGS...........
Such a sobering song. The lyrics describe unspeakable terror. Such was the Vietnam War. In the end, it was all for not; it was pointless. And tragically, tens of thousands of people died. 50,000 of our soldiers died. I don’t know the number on the other side, nor the number of innocent civilians that were killed. A nasty war. I was little and remember that all they showed on the nightly news were dead soldiers shrouded with cloth while their bodies were loaded on cargo planes headed back home. And the daily death count. For years and years. So you can see why there were a lot on anti-war songs back then. What was worse, the way society treated soldiers returning from Vietnam. Especially those injured and disabled. People actually would spit on them. Yeah, messed up.
Great review!!
Another Stones song that you might want to check out from a little earlier in the same era -the late 1960’s- of the Stones’ career is Street Fighting Man. It would be interesting to hear you compare/contrast that 1 with Gimme Shelter.
You gotta check out “Southern Man” by Merry Clayton, it’s amazing! She’s amazing!
You should watch this with the war footage…
💓🌷
killer tune...
Are influenced by the blues from America from the 1930s and 1940s just like Led Zeppelin on the Beatles or and particularly the song was came out during the Vietnamese war back when I was about ready and just miss being drafted so it was very pertinent
Merry Clayton tells the story of how she got brought in to record this in the excellent documentary "50 feet from Stardom". Lots of other Black backup singers in the doc who are largely forgotten:
ruclips.net/video/tWyUJcA8Zfo/видео.html
God bless you ITZJT. Jesus is going to fix all of this. Keep faith.
Nah man. We don't need myth. It's on us.
Still like that right now.
Good Stones song....their guitar is always slipping and clipping and Mick ..well he's Mick
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🔥😍🕳💯💥😎
Mary
It's supposed to get to you. About the Vietnam War, you should actually read up on the time, you may understand better how important this song was.
the first shot...... then the rape, murder and children left dead or orphaned!!
I've heard this song 8 million times. On the radio. In every Martin Scorsese movie (almost).. Crawl back under your rock. Lisa and Merry. You know nothing. Thanks for sharing!
Mary Clayton made the song...might want to do some research BEFORE you go live
Backup singer had a miscarriage after she laid down this vocal….true story
kristens fathers whiff
sonny bargers corpse still stiff
public service tiff
I find the whole REACTION concept to be patronising and condescending to people that have first hand knowledge and experience of music.
I don't need to be told anything about something I know more about.
" Hey, did you know that JAMES BROWN & His Band played Funky/Soul music that you could dance to? "
" Thank you Captain Obvious!! "
" I went for a swim recently and the water was wet "
" Oh, wow, yeah, I had a similar experience in the shower this morning, the water was wet there too. "
" Hey, just asking, Soul Brothers & Sisters, but have y'all heard of a Band called THE BEATLES? "
" No, are they a new Band? "
" I think we should do a REACTION video for the stupid and ignorant people "
" Did you know that HILARY CLINTON got 3.5 Million more votes than DONALD TRUMP and she lost the election?"
" Yeah that happened to me at the Sports Club election recently."
" I got 60 votes and the other Candidate got 40 votes and they won the position of Club President "
" Isn't Democracy a wonderful, fair and decent system? "
" Sorry, was that a rhetorical question ? "
" Can you do a REACTION video about rhetorical questions?
Mick Jagger's years of experience fighting in Vietnam gave him this bleak view. Or else it was sitting on a couch, watching TV. Or sometimes when he hired murderers as bodyguards.
Salty?