I never could figure out why they played this at such a crazy, breakneck tempo, but I finally found out not long ago that this television show wasn't going to give them enough time to play the song and was trying to force them to only play a part of it! So they decided to play it as fast as they could to get it all in!
@andrewmorton9327
9 ай бұрын
I think that wa a different show where they played it even faster.
@paullynn473
9 ай бұрын
Oh the days musicians were so talented, I miss them🎸
@davexvs
9 ай бұрын
yup they only had a 4 minute 30 slot so they played it all double time brilliant
@gorbaggoescamping1329
9 ай бұрын
I don't know about the story behind it but that was PUNK F'ING ROCK as hell! Loved it!
@stephenbroughman3231
8 ай бұрын
Suggest you listen to the recorded sound, gives you a much better sound and understanding of the vocals.
@brucefelger4015
9 ай бұрын
Apparently, one of, if not the only standing ovation ever on that show.
@russellmorgan5611
9 ай бұрын
You won't find anything as crazy as this in their back catalogue, just great musicianship.
@alanshepherd4304
9 ай бұрын
Jeeze, it must be fifty years since I last heard this. I bought the single and was playing REALLY loud in my bedroom and my dad stormed in demanding what the hell was I listening to!!😂 Yes they were a Dutch band, one member I think was Jan Akkerman!!😂😂🇬🇧
@irvinvalkowitz2867
9 ай бұрын
He was the guitarist
@JacobBailey
9 ай бұрын
Oh geez Silas, this was one of my favorite we've done together! Don't let me choose too many songs - i have some weird eclectic tastes that are not always easy to digest for others. I know after we stopped this recording we had a nice chat about the pressures of performing on a show like this for bands. I read another comment that said they had the play the song much faster than normal to fit in the TV spot. In other words they only had these couple of minutes to shine. I love the song fast and like I said in the video, this song alone makes them legends in my book!
@perustc9158
9 ай бұрын
I'm 68 and this the BEST REACTION EVER! I saw Focus once in Saint Louis, Mo. It was fantastic for me as I am a drummer so.. I practiced for 5 years to be able to play that fast (no lessons). Thanks guys... brought back a lot of memories watching you 2. You looked like I feel LOL!
@steveowens2505
8 ай бұрын
Saw same show. I remember David Blue opening and was drunk. Yelled at staff to fix the GD sound system when it was his strings hitting mic.
@jeffking4176
9 ай бұрын
The Vocalist, Keyboards, and Flautist, is Thijs Van Leer is STILL PERFORMING as of 2023‼️ There are videos on KZitem. Also, the song “Sylvia “ was another song that got a good deal of airplay on the “Album-Rock “ radio stations. 📻🙂
@daveloboda1769
9 ай бұрын
I saw these guys live twice in the 70s. Basically, they were mad and both nights were brilliant.
@briancleveland6115
8 ай бұрын
That's not fair, but it is Cool 👍
@daveloboda1769
8 ай бұрын
@@briancleveland6115 believe me mate, it's fair, they were loonies!!!!! 😜🤪
@briancleveland6115
8 ай бұрын
@@daveloboda1769 Good on you 👏 OK I believe you but it's still not fair for me. I've seen a lot of concerts but never had a chance to see Hocus Pocus 🤘
@jefferytheis4157
9 ай бұрын
A bit of a novelty - and definitely fun - but sort of overshadows the fact that they were really a good band and talented musicians.
@WaxPundit
7 ай бұрын
There's zero novelty at work here IMO
@angharaddenby3389
9 ай бұрын
The line up there is Thijs van Leer - keyboards/flute/vocal gymnastics, Jan Akkerman - guitar, Burt Ruiter - bass and Pierre van der Linden - drums.
@ericanderson8886
9 ай бұрын
Jan Akkerman on that guitar is one of the great ones.
@musiclover9361
9 ай бұрын
I saw them play live last year. They can still do this. They were utterly brilliant!
@correctlyrics
9 ай бұрын
With words like "wow", "awesome", and "unbelievable"...the most common words for this performance are... "What the...?"
@martinking4181
9 ай бұрын
Jan Akkerman is a fantastic guitarist, this genre plus jazz also plays the lute...a true master.
@erickvermeulen9734
9 ай бұрын
In the seventies, Thijs van Leer also recorded a few light classic albums including some Bach music, with the orchestra conduced by Rogier van Otterloo. A few years ago he played flute on a live Ayreon concert. .
@lesblatnyak5947
9 ай бұрын
He was a music professor at a very young age
@finngaarskjr3305
9 ай бұрын
The frontman and yodeler is called Thys van Leer and an incarnation of the band is till active and touring. He still yodels and they still occasionally put out albums.
@tomroome4118
9 ай бұрын
Jan Ackerman was in the band Brainbox before Focus. Some very good stuff there!
@FrancesThompson-e3m
9 ай бұрын
Jan Ackerman was voted the world’s top guitarist one year.
@tobytanzer
9 ай бұрын
I had the pleasure and honour of meeting Thijs van Leer a few years back on Cruise to the Edge. He is one of the nicest most friendly musicians you'll ever meet. He reformed Focus and they put out a new album - Focus X - then toured. Their catalogue is filled with excellent prog rock and Hocus Pocus is their only novelty song. Jan Ackerman is one of the top guitarists of the era, as was Pierre van der Linden on drums and Thijs on flute vocals and keys. Other songs to react to - Sylvia, Eruption, Hamburger Concerto.
@erickvermeulen9734
9 ай бұрын
Search on KZitem for Kroepoekfabriek, that channel has a concert of a few years ago by Focus, with Thijs van Leer (organ, flute, vocals) and drummer Pierre van der Linden still in the band, I think.
@danielniswander7338
9 ай бұрын
Of course they got a REAL STANDING OVATION!!!!!!!
@noelleone1305
5 ай бұрын
Just lovely to see you and your dad having fun together. May God bless you both.😊
@danwagner1702
9 ай бұрын
They are Dutch. The singer's name is Thijs van Leer, the guitarist is Jan Akkerman... sorry, not sure about the drummer or bassist. People tend to laugh at this performance but when you get right down to it, the musicianship is incredible and van Leer has a huge vocal range.
@davidlitchke4964
9 ай бұрын
The wildest rock tune of all time. When this first came out, it blew me away!
@Slo-ryde
8 ай бұрын
It was definitely different when it came out; it was good but a bit goofy…,. BUT, compared to the music of today; it can be considered a major masterpiece!
@miguelperez3203
5 ай бұрын
The seventies, my friends, the seventies. the peak of rock and imagination
@annebokma4637
17 күн бұрын
A longer uncut, even more impressive version of this performance was released by the official Midnight Special channel, well worth seeing
@christomashofski9160
9 ай бұрын
For a more serious side of this band, try listening to their song simply titled "Sylvia." I think it is their most beautiful piece.
@keithatkins4033
9 ай бұрын
They Did another more mellow track called Sylvia if you ever want to check that out and the crazy yodel vocalist and keyboard player is Thijs van Leer.
@keithatkins4033
8 ай бұрын
and I've since found out they had 11 studio albums and 6 Live albums they recently did a 50th anniversary tour I watched a video of that not so long back and Thijs van Leer though an old man is still reaching those high notes.
@pabloponce5068
4 ай бұрын
I can't believe that in my 44 years of life I haven't heard this song. It is brutal and extremely amazing!!
@maryannturton9830
8 ай бұрын
Your dad reenacting his facial expressions,and you laughing your ass off...😂
@rphilyaw1
9 ай бұрын
Kind of sad that they had to play this so fast because of time constraints on the show. Check out the studio version when you get a chance. I agree with other comments that it's a bit of a novelty song - but these guys are first-class musicians and their other stuff is amazing. Highly recommend Hamburger Concerto, when you're in the mood for a long-form prog piece. The guitarist is indeed Jan Akkerman - he blazes on this, of course - but other Focus and his solo stuff are also outstanding. The lunatic on keyboards is Thijs van Leer, and yes - he's a bit out there. But again, an amazing musician and equally talented on flute and keyboards. There's a great video out there of him jamming a bit with Rachel Flowers. Anyway, check out some of their other stuff, you and Dad will enjoy. Keep up the great content.
@ursgeiser6570
9 ай бұрын
The single version - a huge hit in Europe, sounds like a nice 8:15 radio song. This energetic, creative live version pushes all boundaries, typical of late prog; Yodeling from the Alpine region. Jan Akkerman was, of course, brilliant. Addendum: The Progues were a brilliant choice, thank you!!! the only musicians besides The Dubliners and Van Morrison that I knew from Ireland at the time; later Thin Lizzy (Tip: Whiskey In The Jar) and Rory Gallagher.
@ElunedLaine
8 ай бұрын
There was a Dutch pirate radio ship anchored off the UK coast - Radio Nordsee International, which broadcast in the early 70s, so we in the UK are very familiar with Focus
@chadheckman2693
8 ай бұрын
I actually bought the 45-rpm record when I was a teenager, and this song was being played on the radio. 😆
@stevedahlberg8680
9 ай бұрын
I actually remember hearing this on the radio as a kid and I first came across this video a number of years ago. It really is fascinating.
@clairmarkcordes6834
9 ай бұрын
The strange mix of yodeling, flute and whistles with breakneck speed and unbelievable guitar. It’s the ultimate geek jam.
@tonyrock5313
9 ай бұрын
when I was in the army I heard this sing in the barracks all the time.
@michaellombard894
4 ай бұрын
What an amazing, frenzy of talent and zaniness too!! 8:13
@michaellowrey8159
3 ай бұрын
My brother was one of probably a handful that bought the Quadrophonic stereo system and had this album and Edgar Winters They only come out at night recored for this stereo system. The Early 70s.
@Idefixu
9 ай бұрын
You would like this one too: "Ian Anderson Flute Solo 1976" (7 minute flute solo, nothing else)
@christomashofski9160
9 ай бұрын
The yodel guy's name is Thijs van Leeuw (I may have misspelled), and they are Dutch.
@doplinger1
9 ай бұрын
While this is fun and all, it doesn’t represent the song very well - I hope you’ll listen to the original track, Silas! I had the album on 8 track back in the day and I really enjoyed it, it’s a good album.
@MrCome4numb
8 ай бұрын
This song was a big hit when I was 14 we used to make fun of the yodeling parts when it came on the radio.
@angharaddenby3389
9 ай бұрын
That is how play a 7 minute track in 4 minutes without leaving anything out - just play it twice as fast! The track started out as their late-60s warm up exercise.
@philipdickey6460
9 ай бұрын
I think the studio version is about six minutes long, but one great song
@stephanie.r382
9 ай бұрын
I believe there's quite a skill to yodelling! Great reaction 😁
@BernardHodgson
6 ай бұрын
You seem to have a great relationship together. Thank you, great fun!
@noplacelikehomecrochet5335
8 ай бұрын
In today’s world we need a fantastic belly laugh 😂 we watched this show every week. The world needs more good times ❤
@Kimmcmahon
9 ай бұрын
Too much fun to watch you two react
@michelangelobasque2157
9 ай бұрын
OMG Hocus Pocus!! Love that song!
@andreasmeissner
9 ай бұрын
Very funny and yet musically special! R.I.P. Thijs van Leer
@MrMondo-xf2ji
9 ай бұрын
R.I.P? He's still touring with the band!
@andreasmeissner
9 ай бұрын
@@MrMondo-xf2ji My mistake! I obviously mixed something up. Thanks for the correction. 🙏
@showmoke
9 ай бұрын
‘Focus’ brought the fun into prog rock in the ‘70’s. 😊
@uzurpon
8 ай бұрын
As you could see (and hear) this was played quite fast. The reason for that was that they were the last segment in the television show for the evening and there wasn't enough time to play the song in the original length. So Focus was asked to shorten it somehow. Focus chose to speed it up. And this is the result. Not bad. Vocalist/keyboard/flute Thijs van Leer is still active at the age of 75. Guitarist Jan Akkerman still active age 77. Bass Bert Ruiter died 2022. Drums Pierre van der Linden who is still active age 77 and plays with van Leer.
@cocoboobenstein
8 ай бұрын
Silas, the look on your face is absolutely priceless when the yodeling starts. Loved it!
@juliemanarin4127
8 ай бұрын
This was always hilarious!
@dukeemzworth3005
9 ай бұрын
Introduced by Gladys Knight.
@danielviggiani6486
8 ай бұрын
Don't forget there's a Hocus Pocus part 2!!!
@Straydogger
9 ай бұрын
It's so funny to watch reactors watch this one. LOL :-)
@steveowens2505
9 ай бұрын
Wasn’t a fan, but friend took me. I had perforated eardrum and they sounded underwater. They played this twice.
@jattotling3475
9 ай бұрын
Giants, dutch indeed (offcourse)...many great albums
@stannelson8306
9 ай бұрын
May be the greatest live performance ever!
@j.h.3777
9 ай бұрын
Watch Edgar Winter Band "Frankenstein" video - pretty epic also.
@diedzjeeoudshoorn7726
24 күн бұрын
It's a masterclass!!!!
@paulkazakoff9231
9 ай бұрын
GENIUS
@renevw5812
8 ай бұрын
Normaly this song is a bit slower, but the producers of the show wanted the song to be shorter, so what they did....lets play it quicker. How brilliant are they. The guitarist is Jan Akkerman and that other guy Thijs van Leer.
@LaraValerioSilva-ve2up
7 ай бұрын
Van Leer is genius!Vocals and flute!Jan Akermann is The Best guittar player of all times!Focus is genius!Thank you for video!funny reaction!I'm brasilian!Congratulacions father and son!very funny!jajajajaja
@HannibalFan52
5 ай бұрын
The vocalist's name is Thijs van Leer. Thijs is pronounced 'TYE(ZH)', with a long 'i' sound.
@brooksboyd1959
9 ай бұрын
Shit got real back in the day
@balticstain7150
3 ай бұрын
Great band fantastic music especially focus 3 lp depending on which cover you have ....brings back memories...
@js6729
8 ай бұрын
This is a perfect example of when YOU don't do speed SPEED does you! 😂😂😂
@js6729
8 ай бұрын
I feel like I should mention they're from a place that doing speed as a recreational drug is legal lol
@ianbennett1491
3 ай бұрын
Brian May of Queen described Akkerman as one of the great guitarists.
@johnf2683
9 ай бұрын
The funny faces the singer makes in the beginning could be a facial warming up..maybe(?) 😮😲🤪😵🥴🤡👀🤨
@randyhodges8782
9 ай бұрын
Your dad is officially cool. U2.🙂👍
@89801wink
9 ай бұрын
This is the only song on this album like this. The rest is still a strange kind of prog rock. I have this on original vinyl and cd.
@keefsmiff
5 ай бұрын
Sick ...just sick
@kathyedleman633
9 ай бұрын
In the 70s they played this song on the radio alot. I was 11, try listening to the studio version. This one is too fast. ❤
@mitchgold4666
8 ай бұрын
Sounds like he was yodeling high
@julieb.5860
6 ай бұрын
can you imagine that being released today? rock used to have room for so much more fun...
@robindavis5065
2 ай бұрын
Only standing O in Midnight special history up til that point
@Ooofaa-Maa
8 ай бұрын
Dude looks like Mel Gibson a little bit? Especially when he does the crazy eyes 👀 😂
@alexanderstyrlander7991
7 ай бұрын
Jan Aakerman was voted worlds greatest guitarist in 1973 I think
@scottdebruyn7038
9 ай бұрын
How about them lyrics, Man! 🤣 The only thing I ever liked about this tune(?) was the sheer, surprising oddity of it. Of course, it was nearly a decade after 'my time'... 😏
@dougww1ectebow
4 ай бұрын
I wonder if this was what inspired Andy Kaufman foreign guy? LOL.
@TheFilmsPodcast
9 ай бұрын
The channel is awesome. Would love love love a reaction to Meat Loaf's "Bat out of Hell"!
@SilasBaileyReacts
9 ай бұрын
Thanks! I’ll try to check it out soon!
@marktrail8624
7 ай бұрын
They sure started of shaky and out if key on the guitar but they really settled into a groove, eh?
@alfredocuomo1546
3 ай бұрын
They played the song at double speed because Midnight Special only gave them four minutes of TV time to play their over six minute song. These guys are all great Musicians and are still playing today in their 70's. They are still great but the vocals have come down a few notches as would be expected. I hope people understand just how Challenging those Vocals really are & should be admired for their talent.
@candacebailey7357
9 ай бұрын
Bailey boys rule!
@cdnrednek1027
6 ай бұрын
Midnight Special only gave them a 4min time slot, they fit a 7min long song in 4mins
@michaelestabrook2018
3 ай бұрын
the gutarist was worlds best at this time, the drummer quit after this show, and focus is still playing this in some form in 2024!
@JanDaanen
8 ай бұрын
here is the Jan Akkerman album mentioned: kzitem.info/door/PLbYRXG4ljrf9EBxjNSl0k2sPhryUElB5o&si=zjEW3aim6qt4xbR4
@williamlewis1001
6 ай бұрын
Guitar player try Dire Straits Sultans of swing live in London 😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮😮
@Sopmylo
9 ай бұрын
Not representative of their music generally, it's like Jethro Tull on speed.
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