Fun Fact: Living Colour was discovered by Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger when they were performing at CBGB's. He produced their early demos and got them a record contract and set them as the Stones' opening act on the next tour.
Yep, I saw them open for the Rolling Stones on the Steel Wheels Tour in 1989. A lot of the Baby Boomer Stones fans, were gobsmacked by these guys when they exploded onto the stage. It was still a half empty stadium (old CNE Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) but they really filled the space. Quite a show even before the Stones appeared.
I can’t help but give a knowing grin when younger black folks realize that not all black artists are rappers. Look up Jimi Hendrix, Little Richard, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, or Sister Rosetta Tharpe. If you want to see more all-black bands, check out X, Bad Brains, and, Death.
@@RobSquadReactions Rock & Roll was birthed from the Black community. Look up specifically Little Richard & Chuck Berry. Then, why is Elvis called "King of R&R"? First, he rejected that title. Something about the only king being Jesus. but, he also knew he learned from the masters--Chuck Berry & Little Richard. The record labels thought only black audiences would listen to "negro music". Thus, they discounted Rock & Roll. When they heard Elvis, they were excited to have a white kid with a "negro sound". So, they promoted him. Some in the black community thought he "stole" their music & were offended. When Elvis played Little Richard's "Tutti Fruiti" on national TV, some in the Black community were outraged, including LIttle Richard. But, millions of Elvis fans simultaneously said to themselves "I gotta check out Little Richard!" that's when LIttle Richard realized that he had been honored & respected when Elvis sang one of his songs, not "ripped off". Check out: LIttle Richard - "Tutti Fruitti" or "Good Golly Miss Molly" Chuck Berry - "Johnny B. Goode" or "No particular Place to Go"
I was 20 in 1988 when this was released, and I remember Arsenio Hall introducing them live on his show! The music is just as good today as it was then, really timeless!
I was 18 in 1988..and yes! We played the crap out of this!!! Never even cared or thought about them being black- none of us did- and I’m a little white woman living in the Deep South- though nothing of if, other than loving it! 🤷🏻♀️. ✌️
@@JoeBlack1108 because mainstream not that I take any stock In that, didn't give them the props, they so richly deserved, & they shut have been a household name. More people are agreeing with me, than not. That's just my opinion, that they were underrated & underappreciated for the musical talents that they were
@@Kevin-cy4qn well my friend, they were played everywhere when I was young. I live in Ontario, Canada. Esp had a tribute guitar in Vernon Reid's name in 2017, I wish I would have bought one. I didn't know it was going to be one run, really kicking myself
mmm yes and no the fact he says Gandi and stalin were the same fuck no they werent on any level there are these books you can find them in this large buildings they are called history books look up stalin murdered 3 million of his own people vs Gandi who advicated that there was too much of gap between the rich and poor and managed to beat the dominate power of the 20th Century the British Empire into handing back India to its people without violence and without firing a gun. So fuck that comparison
@@RK-zf1jm I never interpreted the song to be saying they were the same. I've always interpreted it to mean that there are extreme opposite ends of personalities that have made up history. Famous personalities, but their existence have made us all who we are today, because Ghandi, Stalin, Kennedy, Mussolini, all impacted the world's history. Everyone on the planet share the same world history. Therefore, we have more in common than we sometimes realize. That's music, I guess. Different people have different interpretations.
True that. That song came out when the grunge era was beginning to pick up in rock. I would also say their rock is more post grunge before it could even be post grunge. In today's age with Trump and the dangers of dictatorship and how people blindly follow someone they believe to be a leader that only exploits them, this song becomes more relevant than ever. Lead singer Corey Glover has a voice that hasn't aged and Vernon Reid is one of the best guitarists I have ever listened to.
I grew up as a young teen in this era living in the midwest. I can tell you, as a very young metal head, we were ALL SHOOK when this came out. It was like nothing we'd ever seen or heard before on so many levels and your reaction, although 30+ years later, mirrored and is on point with what many of us felt when we saw this on MTV for the first time. Our heads were blown. We (metal heads) LOVED them. How couldn't we? They smashed barriers that were profound at the time and had some of the most incredible musicianship and lyrics to back it up. Vernon Reid (the guitarist) just crushed it on this song and played his ass off. Truly amazing! IMO, this song sounds just as fresh and relevant in 2021 as it did the day it came out.
As a fellow 80's metalhead(Loved Beavis & Butthead, too! LOL), who was already a metalhead, by the time this came out, as it was unheard of, havin Black's, other than the great's, like Jimmy Hendrix & Slash, it was still unheard of, to see an all Black group, that could clash with the best of them, back then. So, with it still even more fresh in our head's back then, it was a bit more of a shock, makin us love it that much more! Cause, like I said bout Hendrix & Slash, but they were just the guitarist's, not the whole band. And, when Aerosmith & RUN D-M-C teamed up, and did a remake of Aerosmith's old song Walk This Way, it was even after this came out! And, with the huge feud, between the metalhead's & rapper's back then, it was a huge ordeal, and damn near unheard of. So, it sent shockwave's in every direction!
Still holds up today and does not sound dated at all, at least to me. I was coming of age during this era, I'm 44 now I guess I was probably 12. 13, 14, somewhere in there when this came out and it melted my face. To this very day this song still melts my face
They were so significant and such underrated artists. Vernon Reid needs to be hailed for his frantic licks that initially seems so outlandish until you really listen to the patterns of his playing, wild swoops of sonic sound, simply sublime on so many levels. They were sure as hell not a gimmick. Legit hard rock legends.
Yes baby boy, this is a Black rock band! Being a Black woman born in 1955, I have endeared myself to all forms of music. I'm so proud that these guys are brave enough to be free. You take this opportunity to discover your freedom my friend👍🏾👵🏿🙆🏾♀️🎵💖.
Janet, this so true. When I talk about why I love reactors, I explain how I'm reminded of how good we had it. We've experienced decades of amazing music. So lucky 👍🏾❤🇺🇸👵🏿
Music is the language of the heart. It's really cool that all these kids are learning it again through these reaction videos happening. I find it kinda comical, cuz we knew how good this band is.
Living Colour was such an underrated band and I'm glad they are still together also Cult of Personality is my favorite song of theirs also the band is called Living Colour not The Colour or Thr Living Colour it's just called Living Colour
My mom LOVED this band. Back in the olden days before the internet, she would write letters back and forth with them. They’d actually reply! Super nice and talented guys.
You had a look like; "Did they want me to react to this because they're black? ...or because they're a good band? They are a very good band and they happen to be black 🖤
All virtuosos! Vocals,,,, killin it! Guitar,,,, killin it! Bass,,,, thumpin! Drums,,,,,, kickin asss! These guys are extremely talented and, still touring! If you get a chance to see them dont miss it!
Number one on my top 3. 1. Only you can set you free. 2. Don't dream it, be it. 3. As soon as you're born you start dying so you might as well have a good time.
I think your reaction was the same as all of us in the 80’s. With all the great blues singers and Motown and then Hendrix, I think we were all saying yes to Living Color.
As soon as you saw they are black, the look on your face, eyes open wide, pausing the video.... priceless! (I knew that would be your reaction) This band was incredible when they came out. This songs kicks ass and love it every time I hear it. The message in the lyrics is powerful and on point as well!
I've heard this a million times. Still as good as it was back when i was a teenager. These men can rock, and still do. I second the Fishbone recommendation. I remember seeing them on SNL back in the 80's wondering what in the hell i had just seen.
Bro, it’s Living Colour and a bigger kick was they were waaayyy ahead of their time. This was during the hair/glam metal bands like Mötley Crüe. These guys flipped the script on everyone.
@@clonexx Metallica can't hold a candle to Living Colour on musicianship, songwriting, or style. Compared to the stuff Vernon Reid was doing on guitar, Metallica may as well have been Kenny G, he was so far ahead of them. Burnin' Vernon grew up playing with Ronald Shannon Jackson's Decoding Society, which is free jazz and musicianship of the HIGHEST order. Kirk Hammett made his career playing stuff Vernon outgrew by the time he was 18. Will Calhoun could do things with one foot that took Lars Ulrich two, and Will's groove is so deep your gonna loose your damn HOUSE in that pocket. And Cory Glover is one of the 10 best male rock singers ever to open his mouth. Not. Even. A. Competition.
@@lightaces You’re perfectly entitled to your opinion, but I would bet a substantial amount of money that the majority of metal fans and musicians would pick 80s era Metallica over Living Colour. Lars used to be a great drummer, he isn’t anymore. Hetfield is one of, if not the best rhythm guitarist of all time. Kirk is mediocre most of the time but has his moments. Cliff was insane on Bass and Jason was a beast as well. It comes down to taste, because music is largely subjective. The era he was talking about though, the hair metal era? That was Metallica firing on all cylinders. More bands have been influenced by them than any other metal band from that era. I never said Living Colour had no talent, I wasn’t even comparing their talent to Metallica. I was responding to him saying that they were ahead of their time in the hair metal era, which Metallica had been the same since 1983 through their first 4 albums and all of the 80s.
@@clonexx A lot of stuff is subjective. It is simply fact that the dudes in Living Colour have a broader and more complex musical experience than anyone else in Metal, and really most guys in rock. You put anyone in Metallica on a stage with Sonny Rollins, they're out of their league. They are completely lost, and have no clue what to play, unless Sonny takes pity on them and plays a simple blues. You put any of the guys in Living Colour on that same stage, and they can not only hang, they can cut some heads. Metallica is only really comfortable playing Metallica. Living Colour can play Metallica at least as well as Metallica (and Will could do it with only one kick pedal - no kidding, I've heard him do it), but they could also play with Ornette Collman, Sam and Dave, John Lee Hooker, Earth Wind and Fire, Emmy Lou Harris, Sting, Prince, or anything else you can name, and they can play them all at a level the guys in Metallica can only occasionally reach when playing their own music. You say yourself, Kirk "has his moments." Vernon is nothing BUT amazing moments. One of these days the rest of us might catch up to the ideas he was working on, but I doubt it. I'm not talking about popularity. I'm talking about musicianship. There is NO competition. The guys in Metallica are rock stars. The guys in Living Colour are musicians. I know which one I care about, and it's not how much Gucci James Hetfield can buy.
@@lightaces I don’t care about money or “rock stars”, it’s a simple fact that I enjoy Metallica’s music over Living Colour’s, and I’m a musician. You’re making statements that you have no way to verify or back up. You have no idea what kind of talent as a musician James has. He’s well more than just a thrash “chug chug chug” guy. Rob could hang with the best of them, just listen to his work in Suicidal Tendencies, but he wasn’t there in the 80s Metallica era we’re talking about. I listen to a fairly diverse range of music, but my home is and always will be metal. I’ve been into bands like Dream Theater, been into them since their first album, especially since they are from Long Island, where I used to live. There’s also more to a band being good than just musicianship. Dream Theater isn’t nearly as big as a lot of bands with severely less talented people in it. They’re all insane musicians at the top of their respective instruments, yet they aren’t that big in the US. Songwriting talent and lyrical talent both also play a huge role in being a musician. I recently listened to Shade, and it’s a good album, was an interesting listen. I’m not sure why you felt the need to come in and go off about Living Colour in the first place. The fact is Metallica was breaking molds and led the thrash world for 3 years before Living Colour had a consistent lineup, the one you were referring to for their talent I believe, and 5 years before the masses got to hear Cult of Personality. While I said I dislike the solo in the song, that doesn’t mean I don’t like the song, the hook is amazing. All I said was “Metallica has entered the chat” and you seem to have taken it as some sort of slight against ILC, it wasn’t. It was an answer to someone saying they were breaking molds in the hair metal era, which Metallica happened to be doing, a year before ILC was even formed and 3 years before the mega talented lineup was formed, that’s all. It doesn’t mean ILC weren’t breaking molds also, because more than one band can be doing so at the same time. Have a good one bud.
I'm 57 years old , these guy's are my all time favorite band , got to see then live. This was their # 1 hit and it's great but so many great songs. Type is a good one ..
Such a relevant song, even today. Top notch talent here. I remember when it was released, blew everyone's minds! So glad you are having the experience ☺️
Do not EVER apologise for reacting Jay, songs hype you up, bring you down, shock you, shook you, bring you tears and/or slap a smile on your face. A bit of language is no issue to me, it's part of your reaction to what is an awesome song by an extraordinary band/group (not sure what to call them either). I'm white, in my late 40s and a New Zealander; I remember when this song hit the air, loving it, seeing the video, still loving it. Now? Bopping along like you, singing along to the bits I remember. This journey you are on is going to hit you with every emotion available, and maybe a few new ones, but you are going to love most it. Keep being awesome Jay.
You response at the end being so shocked had me giggling. "I'm outta here, I can't do this" lmao Now you know to always keep an open mind about anything because you never know.
@@acemodez3169 it's fun to see people learning about music we grew up on. Sometimes it seems strange though because my son is in his mid 20s and knows music from every genre/decade.
@@jacquiekrieger2170 it seems odd to me that so many people have never heard some songs. They're such good songs and played so much like do they live under a rock? I understand people don't grow up listening to some genres or whatever except I've always known so much music forever even music way before my time, same with old tv shows actually. It's very difficult to find something I haven't at least heard of if not listened to (or watched)
"I don't know what genre they even are" " I hope it's going to be good". Me : gleefully rubs my hands together knowing your mind is about to be blown lol. Incredibly underrated musicians. They formed at Berkly and their social consciousness reflects what they were witnessing first hand.
Um.... Around the 1920s, the cool white kids had to sneak across the tracks to get some of the best music in town. Berry Gordy founded MoTown, because "Black music" wasn't being properly respected by the existing music labels. Although there are divisions...anyone can play anything. There are black country music legends. There are white Hip Hop or Rap legends, too. America is free like that.
@@kathyp1563 I meant division within the audience. I have everything from Rare Earth to Parliament to John Denver to Mozart and Led Zeppelin. Labels are part of the intuition that's trying to keep us from binding together.
@@deannacrownover3 Ah. I agree whole-heartedly. The audience always liked what they liked. The audience always just respected talent. The labels made assumptions & created divisions.
Living Colour = one of the most underrated rock bands, Cult of Personality = Best rock song 1988, look on your face when you realize they are black = PRICELESS!!!
This is one of the greatest Rock songs of all time! Perfect song, perfect singing, perfect guitar, perfect bass, perfect drums, perfect message. It’s just perfect. Love this song!
We keep telling y'all the 80's and 90's were the best decades. I literally just played that sound a couple weeks ago introducing it to my 3 kids. Love that song.
When this burst onto the radio, not many folks knew they were black. They were unbelievable and a breath of amazing, electric fresh air. And their lyrics are even more appropriate today.
@@vickiroman189 I found Living Color because of Corey Glover's acting. Herd he had a band and I wanted to check it out. Then they blew up on MTV. Just thought everyone knew the band was black, Never really thought it that strange back then.
@@larzakalazerath6655 Guess I should have said most folks I knew didn't know they were black. I am surprised about the number of black reactors who are shocked when they see them. Just another example proving great music has no color. Have a great day, fellow music lover!
@@vickiroman189 I find it funny too. Especially since Rock n roll and metal was so inspired by a lot of blues and Motown which has been dominated by all kinds of black Artist. You are so right about great music. It has always broke though all divides that we silly humans make. Hope your day has been grate as well !
Greatest rock band ever. I’ve seen them live too many times to count. One night Vern and Corey came outside to talk to fans after the show, there were only about 5 of us waiting out on the sidewalk. Vern was busy answering guitar questions so I introduced myself to Corey. He opened the back doors of one of their vans and we sat and talked about some real shit. Life, influences, inspirations, and our kids. It was so great to be talking to someone who I hold in such high regards about our personal lives. At one point we were both in tears talking about how our children have changed our lives and how we’re raising them with open minds and hearts. My daughter was only 3 at the time. I took my daughter, now 21, to see Living Colour at the same venue a few years ago. We were right up against the stage. Another amazing show.
This video was HUGE when it debuted on MTV. (back when they actually played music) Oh man, I LOVED this reaction! This music expedition you're on is a long road with many surprises and us subscribers? We just get to sit back and enjoy watching you learn what we already know. Keep up the good work and your channel will do very well. You're straight up with minimal bullshit at the beginning. You don't interrunpt every 15 seconds. Keep doing what you're doing!
My brother, you do not have any flaws. You and your wife Amber deliver all the time. From an admiring fan in Los Angeles, CA. God Bless. Love anything the both of you put out there. Continue no matter what. F…… the criticism
I’m so glad for your reaction! This song was huge back in the day. I didn’t appreciate the deeper meaning as much when I was a teen, but I never get tired of this song. I’m glad it blew you away. The twins who react on RUclips mostly commented on their tight pants and missed the significance of the band and song.
This on of my favorite 80s rock songs. When it comes on the radio, I never turn it off. It still sounds fresh to me. Vernon Reid is an underrated and underappreciated guitarist.
You asked what the cult of personality was. It's referring to the ability of charismatic people to gather huge followings of people no matter what the people are spouting, good or bad simply based on how charming they are. And that people will blindly follow those people even if what they're saying makes no sense at all to humanity.
Their second album 'Time's Up' is one of the best of the decade - and it came out in 1990! I wish more people knew about the legacy of this band. Radio just didn't quite know what to do with them and that is a shame. Glad to see they are still out there touring. My favorite of theirs is the album cut "This is the Life" - beautiful message. Can we also give some props to Will Calhoun? One of the all time great rock drummers, and far too underappreciated.
Look at you! haha! How can you NOT head Bang to this! Your whole body and mind is IN right NOW! Classic! Best Rippin Dirty Metal Riff ever! Glad you discovered it. Enjoying it all over again with you! Your reaction makes me feel good ROB!
I remember when this song first came out and everyone had the same reaction! I remember them doing an interview at the time and he said, " why would it seem strange to have a black rock band when it was black bands that first invented rock music?" Its very true and made great sense to me. To me great music is great music, don't care what color they are, and these guys certainly were an underrated great band.
Fishbone is a little lighter than them. One of my all time favorites… Ska/Reggae mixed with rock. Bad Brains are🔥. They are heavy heavy punk rock . Representation matters and the Rock genre needs more black musicians that can melt faces.
Without a doubt, one of the strongest voices in rock ever. There's a live video of them on the Howard Stern show from 2019 doing this song. He still has that strong voice.
Dude, when this dropped in ‘88 it was a wake up call! A hard rock band singing about politics and social issues…while rocking with the best of them shook my world. The whole album is still freaking awesome…Vivid, listen to the entire album!!
I've been a Living Colour fan since I saw them on MTV. Check out open letter to a landlord and broken hearts. You get to see the depth and range that they have.
A couple of years before this song came out on the radio, Corey Glover (the singer) was in the film Platoon. I didn't realize that Living Color were a black group or that Corey was their singer. I learned both of those things when I went to see them play at TT The Bear's, a club in Cambridge in 1988, just a few weeks after their album 'Vivid' came out and this song was burning up the airwaves. When Corey Glover walked out on stage I recognized him immediately from Platoon. I was right by the stage and called that out to him and he acknowledged that it was indeed him. Imagine my surprise! The show was fantastic. I was at Tower the next day buying the album. Still have it on vinyl today.
We heard that song on WEBN local radio station when it debut and rocked out! Later that day saw the Premiere Video on MTV and had our minds blown when we saw it was a all black band! They rock and one of my top 5 songs! When we heard it on the radio you couldn’t tell, love Living Colour!
I opened a compact disc store in 1988. Three groundbreaking albums came out that year. Every one of them still sounds fresh and pertinent today. Joe Satriani - Surfing With The Alien; Living Colour - Vivid (pick any song); Guns N Roses- Appetite for Destruction. And I like to add an honorable mentions for Melissa Etheridge’s self-titled first album with som terrific acoustic guitar work (6 and 12 string) coupled with very well crafted songwriting and singing.. “Like The Way I Do” Somebody Bring Me Some Water are written with beautifully unusual construction for rock songs IMO. My favorite lyric from Cult: is: You Gave Me Fortune, You gave me fame, You gave me power in your Fod’s name” Loved this reaction, Jay. Almost everybody of any race felt the same way when we first heard and saw them on MTV! Not sure how I missed it when you originally did this one. Thank you.
"Wait, is this a black rock band?" Believe me, those of us who aren't black didn't see it that way. We listened to the music (and it's really that good). Who cares what color their skin is? Bonus fact: When approached by Activision to make Guitar Hero, they were asked for a recording of this song. Sadly, no original recording existed at the time, because it was lost somewhere. The version in Guitar Hero is an original recording, done specifically for the game. Second Bonus Fact: This was their only hit song. They became a one-hit wonder. RUclips has suggested to me your reaction to Aerosmith. The thumbnail for that one suggests that Aerosmith is a one-hit wonder. Aerosmith is a rabbit hole worth diving into.
That’s a straight lie. You’re speaking specifically. Speaking generally, there were PLENTY of white promoters, venues, and Yes FANS that had a problem with them. They questioned their musicianship. They were labeled “Milli Vanilli”, as in fake playing. Coming from a black dude who was 16 when this came out and a musician playing in clubs with both R&B and a rock band, trust me when the song came out BEFORE the release of the video, yes, white boys loved it. Once the video came out, that’s when the hate came out. And, at my summer job, white boys would talk about it. Mostly saying black people cant play rock. And, the very next day, I brought my bass and practice amp to work along with my childhood, high school friend and his guitar, and we played this song for them note for note without drums. So, yeah, there was A LOT of BS about the band when this song first hit
@@Keepdapocket As a white person who heard this song first in Guitar Hero, and only seeing the music video now for the first time: I was happily surprised! Through watching Rob's videos, I found myself thinking "I've not seen any black rock bands... I'm sure they're out there, just don't know any by name." Low and behold, one of my favorite rock songs is by a black rock group! It sucks that people reacted to the band that way, it's really dumb. But major props to you and your friends for showin' 'em that rock has no one colour!
In the mid to late 80's I was always introducing my friend to bands like Anthrax, Metallica, Poison, etc and he was always introducing me to EZ E, Public Enemy Etc, Slick Rick. One day he said I had to listen to this and my reaction was just like yours lol.
Amazing song, and actually a great way to teach this concept. Used to play it to teach Intro to International Relations undergrads. Also, Vernon Reid just shreds that guitar. Definition of "Face-melting"
Yes bro, a Black Rock'n Roll Band!! An awesome one!!! I saw them live in Argentina. They play rock, metal, funk, soul, reggae, all. They are un-be-lie-va-ble!!!
Not just a Black rock band, but a great rock band.
Fun Fact: Living Colour was discovered by Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger when they were performing at CBGB's. He produced their early demos and got them a record contract and set them as the Stones' opening act on the next tour.
Yep, I saw them open for the Rolling Stones on the Steel Wheels Tour in 1989. A lot of the Baby Boomer Stones fans, were gobsmacked by these guys when they exploded onto the stage. It was still a half empty stadium (old CNE Stadium in Toronto, Ontario, Canada) but they really filled the space. Quite a show even before the Stones appeared.
Vernon Reid, the lead guitarist, is ranked #66 in the top 100 Greatest Guitarists of all time. The entire band was underrated.
he should be top 20!
Absolutely underrated!!! One of the most influential and long lasting bands of all time
I wish I could hit like a million times.
He is one of the reason that I even learned the axe.
Considered by many more of a jazz guitarist in a rock band than a rock guitarist.
Living Colour - still blowing minds 30 years later!
The look on your face when you noticed they were black was priceless, imagine how your students will react
Last thing I was expecting 😂🔥
@@RobSquadReactions 🤣😂🤣
I can’t help but give a knowing grin when younger black folks realize that not all black artists are rappers. Look up Jimi Hendrix, Little Richard, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Sam Cooke, or Sister Rosetta Tharpe. If you want to see more all-black bands, check out X, Bad Brains, and, Death.
@@RobSquadReactions Rock & Roll was birthed from the Black community. Look up specifically Little Richard & Chuck Berry.
Then, why is Elvis called "King of R&R"? First, he rejected that title. Something about the only king being Jesus. but, he also knew he learned from the masters--Chuck Berry & Little Richard.
The record labels thought only black audiences would listen to "negro music". Thus, they discounted Rock & Roll. When they heard Elvis, they were excited to have a white kid with a "negro sound". So, they promoted him. Some in the black community thought he "stole" their music & were offended. When Elvis played Little Richard's "Tutti Fruiti" on national TV, some in the Black community were outraged, including LIttle Richard. But, millions of Elvis fans simultaneously said to themselves "I gotta check out Little Richard!" that's when LIttle Richard realized that he had been honored & respected when Elvis sang one of his songs, not "ripped off".
Check out:
LIttle Richard - "Tutti Fruitti" or "Good Golly Miss Molly"
Chuck Berry - "Johnny B. Goode" or "No particular Place to Go"
Prince was one of the best rock guitarists on the planet.
He may have released a lot of R&B type albums but seriously, that man could play
I was 20 in 1988 when this was released, and I remember Arsenio Hall introducing them live on his show! The music is just as good today as it was then, really timeless!
I was 18... LOVED them, saw them live. They were ahead of their time, in a world of Glam Rock, they broke the mold. They should have been even bigger
I was 18 in 1988..and yes! We played the crap out of this!!! Never even cared or thought about them being black- none of us did- and I’m a little white woman living in the Deep South- though nothing of if, other than loving it! 🤷🏻♀️. ✌️
*CM Punk has joined the chat*
*CM Punk has entered the vibe lounge*
the performance on Arsenio Hall made me buy 'Vivid'. Incredible performance.
wow i was like 13, and was great, it was like , welcome to the jungle GNR
Living Colour was SO UNDERRATED!!
Not in Holland, we love these guys
Still are. Their cover of “Who Shot Ya?” gives me chills!
How was it underrated? In was huge in the 80s, I know I was there.
@@JoeBlack1108 because mainstream not that I take any stock In that, didn't give them the props, they so richly deserved, & they shut have been a household name. More people are agreeing with me, than not. That's just my opinion, that they were underrated & underappreciated for the musical talents that they were
@@Kevin-cy4qn well my friend, they were played everywhere when I was young. I live in Ontario, Canada. Esp had a tribute guitar in Vernon Reid's name in 2017, I wish I would have bought one. I didn't know it was going to be one run, really kicking myself
I love it when black people react to living colour and say ‘what! There black! 😂
Such a great band.
Almost scary how relevant this song and another song on the album "letter to a landlord" still is.
I thought the same thing. Some songs just stand the test of time.
mmm yes and no the fact he says Gandi and stalin were the same fuck no they werent on any level there are these books you can find them in this large buildings they are called history books look up stalin murdered 3 million of his own people vs Gandi who advicated that there was too much of gap between the rich and poor and managed to beat the dominate power of the 20th Century the British Empire into handing back India to its people without violence and without firing a gun. So fuck that comparison
@@RK-zf1jm I never interpreted the song to be saying they were the same. I've always interpreted it to mean that there are extreme opposite ends of personalities that have made up history. Famous personalities, but their existence have made us all who we are today, because Ghandi, Stalin, Kennedy, Mussolini, all impacted the world's history. Everyone on the planet share the same world history. Therefore, we have more in common than we sometimes realize.
That's music, I guess. Different people have different interpretations.
Oh man, I'd totally forgotten about Letter to a Landlord', what a killer song!
Definitely needs to do Open Letter To A Landlord. Or...Love Rears It's Ugly Head Live on Arsenio.
This group was *SO* ahead of their time. I don't think the world was ready for them. But *damn* what a band!
You are so right Budin
True that. That song came out when the grunge era was beginning to pick up in rock. I would also say their rock is more post grunge before it could even be post grunge. In today's age with Trump and the dangers of dictatorship and how people blindly follow someone they believe to be a leader that only exploits them, this song becomes more relevant than ever. Lead singer Corey Glover has a voice that hasn't aged and Vernon Reid is one of the best guitarists I have ever listened to.
@@pavelromanenko3718 you're absolutely right
They are on tour in 2024
These Brothas gained the respect of White rockers EVERYWHERE with this song.....straight up! It still rings SWEET!
Listen to one of their other top hits, "Glamour Boys"...oddly prescient in the days of social media.
I'm 44. Big fan for more than 30 years. Kisses from Poland.
That is no lie. I used to watch these guys on MTV every afternoon.
I grew up as a young teen in this era living in the midwest. I can tell you, as a very young metal head, we were ALL SHOOK when this came out. It was like nothing we'd ever seen or heard before on so many levels and your reaction, although 30+ years later, mirrored and is on point with what many of us felt when we saw this on MTV for the first time. Our heads were blown. We (metal heads) LOVED them. How couldn't we? They smashed barriers that were profound at the time and had some of the most incredible musicianship and lyrics to back it up. Vernon Reid (the guitarist) just crushed it on this song and played his ass off. Truly amazing! IMO, this song sounds just as fresh and relevant in 2021 as it did the day it came out.
Well-put from a fellow Midwesterner who was 20 when this came out.
As a fellow 80's metalhead(Loved Beavis & Butthead, too! LOL), who was already a metalhead, by the time this came out, as it was unheard of, havin Black's, other than the great's, like Jimmy Hendrix & Slash, it was still unheard of, to see an all Black group, that could clash with the best of them, back then. So, with it still even more fresh in our head's back then, it was a bit more of a shock, makin us love it that much more! Cause, like I said bout Hendrix & Slash, but they were just the guitarist's, not the whole band. And, when Aerosmith & RUN D-M-C teamed up, and did a remake of Aerosmith's old song Walk This Way, it was even after this came out! And, with the huge feud, between the metalhead's & rapper's back then, it was a huge ordeal, and damn near unheard of. So, it sent shockwave's in every direction!
This was in the late 80’s! They were so ahead of their time- true innovators.
Still holds up today and does not sound dated at all, at least to me. I was coming of age during this era, I'm 44 now I guess I was probably 12. 13, 14, somewhere in there when this came out and it melted my face. To this very day this song still melts my face
They were so significant and such underrated artists. Vernon Reid needs to be hailed for his frantic licks that initially seems so outlandish until you really listen to the patterns of his playing, wild swoops of sonic sound, simply sublime on so many levels. They were sure as hell not a gimmick. Legit hard rock legends.
Headbangers ball y'all kicked major keister and im 73 so thereee
"Open Letter to a Landlord" is another excellent song by them.
Absolutely Love that song. My favorite on the album.
Their entire album was amazing. Many bands from that time had something to say.
Yes baby boy, this is a Black rock band! Being a Black woman born in 1955, I have endeared myself to all forms of music. I'm so proud that these guys are brave enough to be free. You take this opportunity to discover your freedom my friend👍🏾👵🏿🙆🏾♀️🎵💖.
We loved this! My friends and I. We were just as surprised as he was. Ha Still a banger song. I'm a '66 chick.
@@bethkahn8278 born during the summer of love 1967 - PEACE LOVE n HIPPYNESS!
Hi Sabrina I was born in 1952 and I’ve been loving watching all these kids experience our music… 50s to now, we’ve had so much to choose from! 🥰🎶🦋🎶❤️
Janet, this so true. When I talk about why I love reactors, I explain how I'm reminded of how good we had it. We've experienced decades of amazing music. So lucky 👍🏾❤🇺🇸👵🏿
Music is the language of the heart. It's really cool that all these kids are learning it again through these reaction videos happening.
I find it kinda comical, cuz we knew how good this band is.
Living Colour was such an underrated band and I'm glad they are still together also Cult of Personality is my favorite song of theirs also the band is called Living Colour not The Colour or Thr Living Colour it's just called Living Colour
Saw the band live! Great music and very energetic exciting band
LENNY KRAVITZ "ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY"....BETTER PUT ON YOUR SEATBELT FOR THIS ONE..TRUTH.
The 80s baby. The guitarist was one of the best guitarist. His phrasing was phenomenal
My mom LOVED this band. Back in the olden days before the internet, she would write letters back and forth with them. They’d actually reply! Super nice and talented guys.
Damn I feel old when u say your mom liked them
Lol
They were a good band that didnt get enough respect
Olden days!.. WTF!.. You make it sound like it was the 1920's!..Ageist much?
Jenn- how's Dante doing!?
Your mom raised you right!
@@simstress062 It was the 1920's 😭
I just saw these guys last weekend in Philly. They’re still outrageously good, and they haven’t lost a step!
Check out some Lenny Kravitz
“Fly Away” & “Are You Gonna Go My Way”
1st one has a fun video 😉
Get outta here with that kravitz crap ,we out
Vernon Reid just SHREDS on that guitar! I think he also did most of the writing for the group... great musician!
You had a look like;
"Did they want me to react to this because they're black? ...or because they're a good band?
They are a very good band and they happen to be black 🖤
This ^^^^
Good music knows no color
They opened for the Stones (Steel Wheels tour) in 1989. They were great.
@@33MarciS I would have killed to see that tour. I wasn't even born yet.
@@33MarciS I was vaguely aware of them when I saw that tour. I went out and bought a couple of their albums after seeing them.
YES...Hard Rock Black band...and they are awsome!
The message of the song from the early 1980's hits hard in today's world.
I would say more true today then when originally released.
I think early 1990's
1988
Late 80s...88
It’s a reaction to The Reagan era. We didn’t learn, unfortunately.
All virtuosos! Vocals,,,, killin it! Guitar,,,, killin it! Bass,,,, thumpin! Drums,,,,,, kickin asss!
These guys are extremely talented and, still touring! If you get a chance to see them dont miss it!
Deep lyrics!!! Wish more people would realize "Only you can set you free"!!! Liberty & Freedom is for all humans!!!
Vive la libertè!!!
So true - awesome lyrics like this do not appear in music nowadays.
Number one on my top 3. 1. Only you can set you free. 2. Don't dream it, be it. 3. As soon as you're born you start dying so you might as well have a good time.
Authentic Sovereignty is the opposite of The cult of personality. Which we ALL are guilty of. Use your God given sixth sense. Become free.❤️
Yezzir ...preach. Lyrics are toooooo damn deep. "I tell you 1 and 1 is 3"
You want some serious social commentary, check out their 'Open Letter to a Landlord'.
I think your reaction was the same as all of us in the 80’s. With all the great blues singers and Motown and then Hendrix, I think we were all saying yes to Living Color.
As soon as you saw they are black, the look on your face, eyes open wide, pausing the video.... priceless! (I knew that would be your reaction) This band was incredible when they came out. This songs kicks ass and love it every time I hear it. The message in the lyrics is powerful and on point as well!
I've heard this a million times. Still as good as it was back when i was a teenager. These men can rock, and still do. I second the Fishbone recommendation. I remember seeing them on SNL back in the 80's wondering what in the hell i had just seen.
One of the best riffs ever, Vernon Reid is killing it. This album “Vivid” wasone of the first albums I ever bought. I was hooked!!!
IMO, not even their best song. Two of my favs are "Glamor Boys" and "Love Rears it's Ugly Head"
That album was so underappreciated
@@scully5860 love rears its ugly head and pride
Give Shade (2017 album) a listen
It was the first CD that I bought after having bought hundreds of albums, cassettes and 8-tracks over the years.
Their lead guitar player is A BEAST!!
I could watch him ALL day!
P.S. BEST, BEST, BEST Reaction!
Bro, it’s Living Colour and a bigger kick was they were waaayyy ahead of their time. This was during the hair/glam metal bands like Mötley Crüe. These guys flipped the script on everyone.
*Metallica has entered the chat* :P
@@clonexx Metallica can't hold a candle to Living Colour on musicianship, songwriting, or style. Compared to the stuff Vernon Reid was doing on guitar, Metallica may as well have been Kenny G, he was so far ahead of them. Burnin' Vernon grew up playing with Ronald Shannon Jackson's Decoding Society, which is free jazz and musicianship of the HIGHEST order. Kirk Hammett made his career playing stuff Vernon outgrew by the time he was 18. Will Calhoun could do things with one foot that took Lars Ulrich two, and Will's groove is so deep your gonna loose your damn HOUSE in that pocket. And Cory Glover is one of the 10 best male rock singers ever to open his mouth. Not. Even. A. Competition.
@@lightaces You’re perfectly entitled to your opinion, but I would bet a substantial amount of money that the majority of metal fans and musicians would pick 80s era Metallica over Living Colour. Lars used to be a great drummer, he isn’t anymore. Hetfield is one of, if not the best rhythm guitarist of all time. Kirk is mediocre most of the time but has his moments. Cliff was insane on Bass and Jason was a beast as well.
It comes down to taste, because music is largely subjective. The era he was talking about though, the hair metal era? That was Metallica firing on all cylinders. More bands have been influenced by them than any other metal band from that era. I never said Living Colour had no talent, I wasn’t even comparing their talent to Metallica. I was responding to him saying that they were ahead of their time in the hair metal era, which Metallica had been the same since 1983 through their first 4 albums and all of the 80s.
@@clonexx A lot of stuff is subjective. It is simply fact that the dudes in Living Colour have a broader and more complex musical experience than anyone else in Metal, and really most guys in rock.
You put anyone in Metallica on a stage with Sonny Rollins, they're out of their league. They are completely lost, and have no clue what to play, unless Sonny takes pity on them and plays a simple blues. You put any of the guys in Living Colour on that same stage, and they can not only hang, they can cut some heads. Metallica is only really comfortable playing Metallica. Living Colour can play Metallica at least as well as Metallica (and Will could do it with only one kick pedal - no kidding, I've heard him do it), but they could also play with Ornette Collman, Sam and Dave, John Lee Hooker, Earth Wind and Fire, Emmy Lou Harris, Sting, Prince, or anything else you can name, and they can play them all at a level the guys in Metallica can only occasionally reach when playing their own music. You say yourself, Kirk "has his moments." Vernon is nothing BUT amazing moments. One of these days the rest of us might catch up to the ideas he was working on, but I doubt it.
I'm not talking about popularity. I'm talking about musicianship. There is NO competition. The guys in Metallica are rock stars. The guys in Living Colour are musicians. I know which one I care about, and it's not how much Gucci James Hetfield can buy.
@@lightaces I don’t care about money or “rock stars”, it’s a simple fact that I enjoy Metallica’s music over Living Colour’s, and I’m a musician. You’re making statements that you have no way to verify or back up. You have no idea what kind of talent as a musician James has. He’s well more than just a thrash “chug chug chug” guy. Rob could hang with the best of them, just listen to his work in Suicidal Tendencies, but he wasn’t there in the 80s Metallica era we’re talking about.
I listen to a fairly diverse range of music, but my home is and always will be metal. I’ve been into bands like Dream Theater, been into them since their first album, especially since they are from Long Island, where I used to live. There’s also more to a band being good than just musicianship. Dream Theater isn’t nearly as big as a lot of bands with severely less talented people in it. They’re all insane musicians at the top of their respective instruments, yet they aren’t that big in the US. Songwriting talent and lyrical talent both also play a huge role in being a musician.
I recently listened to Shade, and it’s a good album, was an interesting listen.
I’m not sure why you felt the need to come in and go off about Living Colour in the first place. The fact is Metallica was breaking molds and led the thrash world for 3 years before Living Colour had a consistent lineup, the one you were referring to for their talent I believe, and 5 years before the masses got to hear Cult of Personality. While I said I dislike the solo in the song, that doesn’t mean I don’t like the song, the hook is amazing.
All I said was “Metallica has entered the chat” and you seem to have taken it as some sort of slight against ILC, it wasn’t. It was an answer to someone saying they were breaking molds in the hair metal era, which Metallica happened to be doing, a year before ILC was even formed and 3 years before the mega talented lineup was formed, that’s all. It doesn’t mean ILC weren’t breaking molds also, because more than one band can be doing so at the same time.
Have a good one bud.
One of the most underrated bands in music history. These guys were AMAZING. Also one of the best guitar solos, EVER, period.
I agree completely underrated
Best lines:
“I exploit you, you still love me. I tell you 1 + 1 is 3.”
Meaning leaders take advantage of your loyalty.
Like Trump. He has cult-like followers.
“When a mirror speaks, that reflection lies.”
@@BUHNANUHBREAD or like Bidens supporters who believe the lie of the media🤷♂️
...at some point, you have to realize that, not only are they all lying to you, but none of them care about you, your wellbeing, or your future...
@@BUHNANUHBREAD Most of Trumps 'lies' are being proven as fact. Meanwhile, we have a senile President and an incompetent Vice President.
Here’s something to think about. The singer, Cory Glover, plays a soldier in the film “Platoon”. The film was released the same year as this song.
I'm 57 years old , these guy's are my all time favorite band , got to see then live. This was their # 1 hit and it's great but so many great songs. Type is a good one ..
Such a relevant song, even today. Top notch talent here. I remember when it was released, blew everyone's minds! So glad you are having the experience ☺️
Do not EVER apologise for reacting Jay, songs hype you up, bring you down, shock you, shook you, bring you tears and/or slap a smile on your face. A bit of language is no issue to me, it's part of your reaction to what is an awesome song by an extraordinary band/group (not sure what to call them either). I'm white, in my late 40s and a New Zealander; I remember when this song hit the air, loving it, seeing the video, still loving it. Now? Bopping along like you, singing along to the bits I remember. This journey you are on is going to hit you with every emotion available, and maybe a few new ones, but you are going to love most it. Keep being awesome Jay.
This song will never get old. One of the best metal/rock songs and solos of the eighties.
Yes, this is indeed a black rock band, and one of my most favorite songs from my early teen years.
Brilliant!! One of the best lead guitarists of all time!!
You response at the end being so shocked had me giggling. "I'm outta here, I can't do this" lmao Now you know to always keep an open mind about anything because you never know.
A good follow up to this to enforce the open mind would Home Free's cover of End of the Road.
I saw them on Arsenio. Amazing talent and I wish they did more. Vernon Reid one of the best guitar players many never heard of. Awesome group!
I was a teenager when this came out..... I'm turning 50 this year.
Same except I turned 48 in February
@@acemodez3169 it's fun to see people learning about music we grew up on. Sometimes it seems strange though because my son is in his mid 20s and knows music from every genre/decade.
@@jacquiekrieger2170 it seems odd to me that so many people have never heard some songs. They're such good songs and played so much like do they live under a rock? I understand people don't grow up listening to some genres or whatever except I've always known so much music forever even music way before my time, same with old tv shows actually. It's very difficult to find something I haven't at least heard of if not listened to (or watched)
"I don't know what genre they even are" " I hope it's going to be good". Me : gleefully rubs my hands together knowing your mind is about to be blown lol. Incredibly underrated musicians. They formed at Berkly and their social consciousness reflects what they were witnessing first hand.
Funk metal.
We didn't have segregated music until recently.
I think you're gonna love this journey!
Fact.
Um....
Around the 1920s, the cool white kids had to sneak across the tracks to get some of the best music in town.
Berry Gordy founded MoTown, because "Black music" wasn't being properly respected by the existing music labels.
Although there are divisions...anyone can play anything. There are black country music legends. There are white Hip Hop or Rap legends, too. America is free like that.
@@kathyp1563 I meant division within the audience.
I have everything from Rare Earth to Parliament to John Denver to Mozart and Led Zeppelin.
Labels are part of the intuition that's trying to keep us from binding together.
@@deannacrownover3 Ah. I agree whole-heartedly. The audience always liked what they liked. The audience always just respected talent. The labels made assumptions & created divisions.
@@kathyp1563 AMEN!
I remember hearing seeing that on MTV for the first time. Incredible! And the are JUST AS GREAT live too!
Living Colour = one of the most underrated rock bands, Cult of Personality = Best rock song 1988, look on your face when you realize they are black = PRICELESS!!!
Incredible right? Just incredible!!! A timeless song!! I’m happy you really enjoyed this, and believe me so did we!
This is one of the greatest Rock songs of all time! Perfect song, perfect singing, perfect guitar, perfect bass, perfect drums, perfect message. It’s just perfect. Love this song!
We keep telling y'all the 80's and 90's were the best decades. I literally just played that sound a couple weeks ago introducing it to my 3 kids. Love that song.
Wait until he finds out who Jimi Hendrix is, and that he’s the reason SRV existed.
I think SRV's Momma and Daddy would argue with that! 😂
@@DanBoyd1111 - LOL
...and finds out the roots of funk & metal had a single source - PFD (Long Live George Clinton!)
@@greggkotzman2542 and James Brown!
Or that Slash's mother is African American.
I love the way that you two close your eyes and just take in the music. You actually listen to the lyrics. Love you!
The iconic guitar riff to this song is now just as instantly recognizable as 'Smoke on the Water.'
Well put!
And absolutely spot on!
There was a band in the late 70s I believe they we're called slade..a black band.. They were great
When black people marry their passion for life with music,......... magic happens 😉
When this burst onto the radio, not many folks knew they were black. They were unbelievable and a breath of amazing, electric fresh air. And their lyrics are even more appropriate today.
How could have you not known. In 1988 most everything Debuted on MTV. You know ,back when music video's actually played on "Music Television" ;)
@@larzakalazerath6655 Always too busy with other things in life to watch tv.
@@vickiroman189 I found Living Color because of Corey Glover's acting. Herd he had a band and I wanted to check it out. Then they blew up on MTV. Just thought everyone knew the band was black, Never really thought it that strange back then.
@@larzakalazerath6655 Guess I should have said most folks I knew didn't know they were black. I am surprised about the number of black reactors who are shocked when they see them. Just another example proving great music has no color. Have a great day, fellow music lover!
@@vickiroman189 I find it funny too. Especially since Rock n roll and metal was so inspired by a lot of blues and Motown which has been dominated by all kinds of black Artist.
You are so right about great music. It has always broke though all divides that we silly humans make. Hope your day has been grate as well !
Living Colour… still legendary… grew up with them. Saw them 4 years ago live and they are still incredible.
"When the mirror speaks, the reflection lies." What a great line.....a bar, if you will. Check out the lyrics......they are deep.
Greatest rock band ever. I’ve seen them live too many times to count. One night Vern and Corey came outside to talk to fans after the show, there were only about 5 of us waiting out on the sidewalk. Vern was busy answering guitar questions so I introduced myself to Corey. He opened the back doors of one of their vans and we sat and talked about some real shit. Life, influences, inspirations, and our kids. It was so great to be talking to someone who I hold in such high regards about our personal lives. At one point we were both in tears talking about how our children have changed our lives and how we’re raising them with open minds and hearts. My daughter was only 3 at the time. I took my daughter, now 21, to see Living Colour at the same venue a few years ago. We were right up against the stage. Another amazing show.
That's life altering stuff... Congrats
This video was HUGE when it debuted on MTV. (back when they actually played music)
Oh man, I LOVED this reaction!
This music expedition you're on is a long road with many surprises and us subscribers?
We just get to sit back and enjoy watching you learn what we already know.
Keep up the good work and your channel will do very well.
You're straight up with minimal bullshit at the beginning. You don't interrunpt every 15 seconds.
Keep doing what you're doing!
Today's relevance is mind blowing! 2024!!
Cory Glover(singer) was in the movie "Platoon" he's the guy who stab's himself in the leg's too get sent home.
He’s also the son of Danny glover from lethal weapon
My brother, you do not have any flaws. You and your wife Amber deliver all the time. From an admiring fan in Los Angeles, CA. God Bless. Love anything the both of you put out there. Continue no matter what. F…… the criticism
Late 80s early 90s was a different time. Such a killer group. Song is amazing! Great reaction. Oh and your background is great. ✌🏼
@2:34 "Whoa...!"
Yea, that is pretty much how everyone reacted back-in-the-day when they first heard this. :)
Here for ‘that’ moment. 😁🔥
I’m so glad for your reaction! This song was huge back in the day. I didn’t appreciate the deeper meaning as much when I was a teen, but I never get tired of this song. I’m glad it blew you away. The twins who react on RUclips mostly commented on their tight pants and missed the significance of the band and song.
4:26, guitarist flies like he was launched from a cannon, my favorite part.
It was awesome
This on of my favorite 80s rock songs. When it comes on the radio, I never turn it off. It still sounds fresh to me. Vernon Reid is an underrated and underappreciated guitarist.
You asked what the cult of personality was. It's referring to the ability of charismatic people to gather huge followings of people no matter what the people are spouting, good or bad simply based on how charming they are. And that people will blindly follow those people even if what they're saying makes no sense at all to humanity.
Yep!
LOL !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I bought the brand new cassette of this when it first came out . Awesome Vernon Reid on guitar
This song is still on my Spotify’s regular play list.
Same. I even put it on my kid's playlist. I love introducing them to great music and great bands.
Their second album 'Time's Up' is one of the best of the decade - and it came out in 1990! I wish more people knew about the legacy of this band. Radio just didn't quite know what to do with them and that is a shame. Glad to see they are still out there touring. My favorite of theirs is the album cut "This is the Life" - beautiful message. Can we also give some props to Will Calhoun? One of the all time great rock drummers, and far too underappreciated.
Look at you! haha! How can you NOT head Bang to this! Your whole body and mind is IN right NOW! Classic! Best Rippin Dirty Metal Riff ever! Glad you discovered it. Enjoying it all over again with you! Your reaction makes me feel good ROB!
I remember when this song first came out and everyone had the same reaction! I remember them doing an interview at the time and he said, " why would it seem strange to have a black rock band when it was black bands that first invented rock music?" Its very true and made great sense to me. To me great music is great music, don't care what color they are, and these guys certainly were an underrated great band.
ABSOLUTELY SPOT-ON! People forget about Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, Muddy Waters - all before 1950.
you should check out King's X 'over my head'.
Amazing vocals, and guitars, sort of Queen meets Hendrix and Led Zeppelin
That sounds dope! I’ll be sure to add it to the list
Dug Pinnick killer vocals and Bass grooves yeah definitely worth the check out!!!
I forgot to add them to the list. I put Family Stand, 24-7 Spyz & D-Xtreme for socially conscious BRC artist.
Moanjam is my personal favourite
Yes, Kings X. Dug is a brilliant vocalist.and bassist.
This is a rock classic. As others have said, this band was so underrated. It was so different seeing a back rock band back in the day.
Fishbone is a little lighter than them. One of my all time favorites… Ska/Reggae mixed with rock. Bad Brains are🔥. They are heavy heavy punk rock . Representation matters and the Rock genre needs more black musicians that can melt faces.
I still have the Lp... Which can be played on a record player.. dang.. this band.. wish they went on and produced more music..
This reaction was everything.... hella SHOOK!!! This song is so relevant even to today. Hot classic!
Oh it’s super relevant today and yes I was shook
Without a doubt, one of the strongest voices in rock ever. There's a live video of them on the Howard Stern show from 2019 doing this song. He still has that strong voice.
This couldn't ring more true in today's social media world...they knew things back then...
They just started a tour as of last week!! Great BAND! GREAT MUSIC AND GREAT MUSIC
👍👍👍Great song!!!
Great reaction!!!
Man you have a lot to learn!!! 😁
Nobody ever mentiones
Hootie and the blowfish!!!
I know! I think J would really enjoy *Let Her Cry* +...
Dude, when this dropped in ‘88 it was a wake up call! A hard rock band singing about politics and social issues…while rocking with the best of them shook my world. The whole album is still freaking awesome…Vivid, listen to the entire album!!
It is actually a pretty deep song if you listen to what he is talking about. Kind of difficult though at first because this is a really amazing song.
I've been a Living Colour fan since I saw them on MTV. Check out open letter to a landlord and broken hearts. You get to see the depth and range that they have.
Dude, one of my favorite CDs in high school. I am only sad that more black dudes didn't pick up guitar -- I'm glad you're on board!
A couple of years before this song came out on the radio, Corey Glover (the singer) was in the film Platoon. I didn't realize that Living Color were a black group or that Corey was their singer. I learned both of those things when I went to see them play at TT The Bear's, a club in Cambridge in 1988, just a few weeks after their album 'Vivid' came out and this song was burning up the airwaves.
When Corey Glover walked out on stage I recognized him immediately from Platoon. I was right by the stage and called that out to him and he acknowledged that it was indeed him. Imagine my surprise! The show was fantastic. I was at Tower the next day buying the album. Still have it on vinyl today.
Vernon is a beyond awesome guitarist!! This was such a great band. So glad you newbie reactioners are finding great musicians!!! :)
Couldn't agree more!
We heard that song on WEBN local radio station when it debut and rocked out! Later that day saw the Premiere Video on MTV and had our minds blown when we saw it was a all black band! They rock and one of my top 5 songs! When we heard it on the radio you couldn’t tell, love Living Colour!
"I'M SHOOK" ....great merch logo idea!🤘
😎👍
I opened a compact disc store in 1988. Three groundbreaking albums came out that year. Every one of them still sounds fresh and pertinent today. Joe Satriani - Surfing With The Alien; Living Colour - Vivid (pick any song); Guns N Roses- Appetite for Destruction. And I like to add an honorable mentions for Melissa Etheridge’s self-titled first album with som terrific acoustic guitar work (6 and 12 string) coupled with very well crafted songwriting and singing.. “Like The Way I Do” Somebody Bring Me Some Water are written with beautifully unusual construction for rock songs IMO.
My favorite lyric from Cult: is: You Gave Me Fortune, You gave me fame, You gave me power in your Fod’s name”
Loved this reaction, Jay. Almost everybody of any race felt the same way when we first heard and saw them on MTV! Not sure how I missed it when you originally did this one. Thank you.
I think you mean 1988.
@@GS-Das yeah, typo thanks. I will try to edit it.
"Wait, is this a black rock band?"
Believe me, those of us who aren't black didn't see it that way. We listened to the music (and it's really that good). Who cares what color their skin is?
Bonus fact: When approached by Activision to make Guitar Hero, they were asked for a recording of this song. Sadly, no original recording existed at the time, because it was lost somewhere. The version in Guitar Hero is an original recording, done specifically for the game.
Second Bonus Fact: This was their only hit song. They became a one-hit wonder. RUclips has suggested to me your reaction to Aerosmith. The thumbnail for that one suggests that Aerosmith is a one-hit wonder. Aerosmith is a rabbit hole worth diving into.
What about Love Rears it's Ugly Head?
That’s a straight lie. You’re speaking specifically. Speaking generally, there were PLENTY of white promoters, venues, and Yes FANS that had a problem with them. They questioned their musicianship. They were labeled “Milli Vanilli”, as in fake playing.
Coming from a black dude who was 16 when this came out and a musician playing in clubs with both R&B and a rock band, trust me when the song came out BEFORE the release of the video, yes, white boys loved it. Once the video came out, that’s when the hate came out. And, at my summer job, white boys would talk about it. Mostly saying black people cant play rock. And, the very next day, I brought my bass and practice amp to work along with my childhood, high school friend and his guitar, and we played this song for them note for note without drums. So, yeah, there was A LOT of BS about the band when this song first hit
@@Keepdapocket As a white person who heard this song first in Guitar Hero, and only seeing the music video now for the first time: I was happily surprised! Through watching Rob's videos, I found myself thinking "I've not seen any black rock bands... I'm sure they're out there, just don't know any by name." Low and behold, one of my favorite rock songs is by a black rock group!
It sucks that people reacted to the band that way, it's really dumb. But major props to you and your friends for showin' 'em that rock has no one colour!
In the mid to late 80's I was always introducing my friend to bands like Anthrax, Metallica, Poison, etc and he was always introducing me to EZ E, Public Enemy Etc, Slick Rick. One day he said I had to listen to this and my reaction was just like yours lol.
You should check out their song “Open Letter (To A Landlord)” off the same album!!!
One of my MOST favorite songs of all time! Bought the cassette (showing my age I know) and absolutely LOVED it!!
Amazing song, and actually a great way to teach this concept. Used to play it to teach Intro to International Relations undergrads. Also, Vernon Reid just shreds that guitar. Definition of "Face-melting"
Yes bro, a Black Rock'n Roll Band!! An awesome one!!! I saw them live in Argentina. They play rock, metal, funk, soul, reggae, all. They are un-be-lie-va-ble!!!