Omg! The original! You're one of only 2 reacting to this beautiful song . People make fun of it because the lyrics are strange....but so is Whiter Shade of Pale...what a monster that is~~~❤️
@suraya1224
2 жыл бұрын
The people who think the words are strange probably don't know what the writer, Jim Webb, revealed about it in an interview w/NPR. He said as a young man in the mid 60s, when he wrote it, he used to meet his high school sweetheart, Suzy Horton, at MacArthur park in L.A. for lunch, when she worked at Aetna Insurance Co, adjacent to that park. Everything in the song was autobiographical (the old men playing checkers, her yellow dress, feeding the birds, etc). The melting cake was a symbol of the end of their love affair (she ended it), ; unrequited love on his part. (In 1993, Suzy married Linda Rondstat's cousin, Bobby. Jim Webb also wrote 4 other songs about her: The Worst That Could Happen, By The Time I Get To Phoenix, Didn't We, and Where's The Playground, Suzy?-- which I think Keith Urban recorded?) I think without the orchestra music, I wouldn't have felt the same about the song; but when I later heard the story behind it, I knew my 1st reaction to it, quite emotional, had been accurate, & that this was what the writer was trying to express. I've loved it since it came out, when I was 15. It's been 54 yrs now, & I still get teary-eyed each time I listen. Magnificent, especially with headphones!
@travissweat9098
Жыл бұрын
@@suraya1224 I'm 76...I've love it foever.and knew what it was about in my soul.
@studiosinger
Жыл бұрын
This song was a #79 billboard hit in sync 3 weeks prior to Robert F Kennedy’s assassination. It went to #2 in June 22, 1968. He would have been President. This live performance was in 1972 according to Jimmy Webb who wrote it.
@davidwilsonBC
Жыл бұрын
Having been a teenager throughout the sixties, and being a slower version of one today, I assure you that the 60's ARE the best decade for music.
@MarinaB63
2 жыл бұрын
My father first introduced me to this song and bought the original album, which I played over and over again. This is an incredibly beautiful song, full of love, passion, and regret. It has three distinctive musical themes that flow into each other beautifully. Many people find the lyrics strange. But they are 'stream of consciousness' lyrics. The cake in the rain is simply symbolic for something that is delicate and that cannot be reproduced once it's destroyed, much like the love that he has lost and now regrets. Richard Harris was the perfect person to sing this masterpiece! It was great to see your reactions as you were hearing this for the first time. The entire album, 'A Tramp Shining', is full of poetic, lyrical gems. The length of this song is balanced in the album by the fact that the other songs are quite short, almost like musical haikus.
@TheGreatGig73
2 жыл бұрын
Many great versions of this but this is still my favorite.
@garydeforest7911
Жыл бұрын
Richard Harris is one of the great actors of the Sixties -- and I am still amazed at his wondrous, dramatic interpretation of this song by legendary writer Jimmy Webb.
@snakeplissken526
Жыл бұрын
Phenomenal song sung by an incredibly talented actor, singer, drinker and written by an incredible songwriter.
@shereewilson6278
Жыл бұрын
This whole version of this song is a piece of art Richard Harris was known more for his great acting which is probably why the delivery of it is so amazing as Harris takes the song emotionally to another level.
@jeffmartin1026
3 жыл бұрын
Richard Harris was an Irish actor/singer of stage and film. He played King Arthur in the stage and film productions of Camelot. His last role was that of Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films before his death in 2002. This song hit the Top 10 in Brittan and America and brought him a wider fan base. I bought this LP when it first came out and this song still holds a great deal of power. In the 1950's and early 60's Stereo recording was reserved for Classical and Stage/Film recording. In the early to mid 60's Pop and Rock began using stereo and with the swift advancement of analog recording from 2>4>8>16 tracks opened the doors for a flush of creativity in those genre. There was an explosion of what could be done across the board. I enjoyed your review. Carry On!!
@modder1975
2 жыл бұрын
Yeah. A man called horse is another jem with him too.
@suraya1224
2 жыл бұрын
Toward the end of his life, Harris also appeared as the character 'English Bob', in the Clint Eastwood movie, "Unforgiven". p.s. Personally, I love this song; the orchestra music stirs a very deep emotional response for me, plus, knowing the back story of the meaning of the song, as told to an interviewer by the author, Jim Webb.
@johnnyblitzkrieg8985
2 жыл бұрын
Written by Jimmy Webb. He is still touring with his piano and telling the stories behind his songs. If in your city, it's more than worth of the ticket price.
@joannparker1977
11 ай бұрын
The song is completely metaphoric. It’s a serious and beautiful song Look it the meaning. It helps you realize how important of a song it truly is.
@bobsatuloff1621
10 ай бұрын
This was written by the brilliant Jimmmy Webb, who also wrote "Wichita Lineman." Richard Harris was a celebrated stage and screen actor, who played King Arthur in "Camelot."
@BarnicleBillable
Жыл бұрын
Richard Harris? He is an Iconic Actor. Never knew he could sing.
@mikerivers9634
2 жыл бұрын
Written by the brilliant Jimmy Web who penned Wichita Lineman and Galveston for the late great Glen Campbell and Up, Up and Away amongst others. This version by Richard Harris stunned everybody at the time. I loved it since as a teen you never paid much attention to the lyrics anyway. My parents (along with half the UK population) were confused (nothing unusual there!) -“ It’s a beautiful song but what the hell is he singing about?” Anyway a superb record instrumentally in the same vein as Classical Gas by Mason Williams.
@studiosinger
Жыл бұрын
He wrote it about a broken relationship of a woman he loved. However this song seemed to many some purpose in the U.S. at the time as a #1 hit two weeks prior to the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
@carmenana4890
2 жыл бұрын
This is a epic song 👏
@carolyncomings521
2 жыл бұрын
Oh, my... I have not heard that song for YEARS, but I still remember every note of the instrumental section. We played it in high school marching band about 50 years ago!
@Ozarkprepper643
2 жыл бұрын
Same here but ours was the High School concert band.
@thomasreyes2432
3 жыл бұрын
Loved this song when it came out. McArthur Park is just west of downtown L.A.
@KingOFuh
Жыл бұрын
This is one of the best written songs of the 1960's and is not appreciated by as many Americans today as it was in 1968, when it was a GIANT hit. I love it and the entire album this song came from, A Tramp Shining. Admittedly, the upbeat instrumental in the middle is dated, i.e., very 60's sounding. The whole song sounds as if it should have come from a Broadway musical, so no wonder so many today do not like it.
@studiosinger
Жыл бұрын
This song was a #1 hit in U.S. in sync 2 weeks prior to Robert F Kennedy’s assassination in 1968. He would have been President. The strange lyrics seemed a metaphor for what RFK felt dying on the floor of a hotel kitchen after his hopeful campaign speech. Harris went down to the floor in his performance as if his heart was dying.
@memorast
Жыл бұрын
Beautiful Amazing reaction
@Hawksmere
Жыл бұрын
Thank you so much
@KingCharles3
3 жыл бұрын
Richard Harris was a very famous actor both on stage and film. I would recommend checking out some of his films like Camelot or Cromwell. He lived a very exciting and fun life!
@donhansen7601
Жыл бұрын
Listen to Richard Harris "My Boy" and "Didn't We". His emotional singing and talking voice is magical.
@pljms
3 жыл бұрын
The most remarkable thing about that song and record was that it was written, arranged and produced by someone who was only 21 at the time, Jimmy Webb.
@thomastimlin1724
2 жыл бұрын
Who was a hell of lot better at it than Phil Spector.
@crispy5000
2 жыл бұрын
Wow, did Webb arrange it too? That instrumental break is just stunning
@TPOrchestra
2 ай бұрын
@@crispy5000 Yes, he did. An amazing talent.
@jlonzoy
2 жыл бұрын
Young Dumbledore really could sing very well!!!
@Ozarkprepper643
2 жыл бұрын
Thank you for covering the original. 60 early 70 had the best music brought about by the times we lived in. 67- 70 seemed to be a particularly good years..
@bepto4877
2 күн бұрын
8:49 where you paused it has always reminded me of a Cinema advert back in the day, can't think of it right now but I know someone will tell me, always used to be played at the intermission.
@petebestbeatles9117
Жыл бұрын
Love this or hate it, everyone should see Weird Al Yankovic's brilliant parody, Jurassic Park.
@studiosinger
Жыл бұрын
This song was a #2 hit in U.S. in sync first played on radio in April, 1968 just weeks prior to Robert F Kennedy’s assassination on June 5, 1968. He would have been President. The strange lyrics seemed a metaphor for what RFK felt dying on the floor of a hotel kitchen after his hopeful campaign speech. Harris went down to the floor in his performance as if his heart was dying. However, Jimmy Webb wrote somewhere this performance live with the London Symphony was in 1972 so Harris may have acted out with RFK in mind (unsure, just speculation).
@rickardroach9075
4 ай бұрын
8:49 Yes, I'm sure it was played in connection with some sports show here in Australia.
@simplyamazed4059
3 жыл бұрын
Nice reaction! You know him from his acting. You will be reminded if you search him on Wikipedia. 🙂
@Hawksmere
3 жыл бұрын
Yes I sew that! Camelot. That’s where I remember him from. What a wonderfully talented man ❤️
@alanbrown8527
Жыл бұрын
Richard does a nice job with Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne”
@steviesellers
2 жыл бұрын
He did this to win a bet , the bet was he couldnt do this very big song . He obviously won the bet and downed a few pints on the winnings . Richard Harris was a hellraiser a self confessed alcoholic and a wonderfull actor
@jKLa
Жыл бұрын
The song was also deeply personally relatable to Richard Harris as well. It was written and composed from true life experience of Jimmy Webb. Suzie Horton was the name of the love of Webb's life he wrote about here. But untill Richard Harris, nobody Webb had offered Macarthur Park to had been willing to touch the song. Harris could sing it from the depths of his own heart given his own failed marriage to someone he loved deeply, and realizing he would never marry again nor settle down, not because he didn't want to but because he knew he couldn't. The result was a hit that not only helped Jimmy fully launch his career to wealth and fame, but also helped bring him out of a bout of homelessness. Yes, Jimmy Webb actually lived on the street for a while in LA, being dirt poor even as he tried to make a name for himself.
@chrisblower8868
Жыл бұрын
Another great long song from around the same time, around late '68 off the top off my head, Barry Ryan - Eloise. You might like it.
@wilfriedmatusch9293
2 жыл бұрын
Richard Harris an English Actor famous for among other things a movie “A Man called horse “
@db50
2 жыл бұрын
He's Irish....from Limerick.
@jeanmank742
Жыл бұрын
I still wish somebody would strip the vocals so I could finally hear the Grammy-winning arrangement underneath. P.S. He didn't sing the last notes, of course. The lead singer of "Edison Lighthouse" did.
@thomastimlin1724
3 жыл бұрын
Good for you going back to the original Jimmy Webb composition as it was intended. I am so sick of Donna Summer's disco version. There is a Glen Campbell version as well. Jimmy Webb wrote a lot of songs for Glen. obviously the actual recording is superimposed on the video rather than using the live performance soundtrack here. imagine me, at 12 years old with my parents and brother on vacation driving across the desert in Nevada or wherever it was, with mountains in the background, hearing this masterpiece for the first time. Radio stations had a sh*t fit because it was so long, longer than the later released the same year Hey Jude by the Beatles.
@coffeebotography
2 жыл бұрын
Dumbledore can sing!
@jakeblack212
Жыл бұрын
"Didn't we" same album Richard harris
@Alan-lv9rw
2 жыл бұрын
Great song.
@Gioveolympus
2 жыл бұрын
When you have a chance, please listen to Donna Summer's version of this song recorded in 1978. She reached the number one position on Billboard with it.
@travissweat9098
Жыл бұрын
Jim Webb wrote this kinda as a joke for the Actor Richard Harris...telling him he could write a song about anything and it would be a hit...so here it I s. BTW MacArthur Park is in California named for the famous WWIIAmerican General Douglas MacArthur. Richard Harris was a famous English Shakespeare's actor who starred in a famous American movie...A Man Called Horse.
@jKLa
Жыл бұрын
It was actually written by web based on a true story from his life, of breakup from a back and forth often in between relationship with a young women who could see his potential but was still socially out of his league at the time, being from s much more privileged background then him. She was from a middle class background not rich or anything, but he was dirt poor and from Rural Oklahoma, even as was trying to make a name from himself in LA. It was also written after and influenced by him having lost his mom to early death, who had been his almost sole support for his musical and songwriting visions. And it is about his prophetic vision of his own future. He has said the song was given to him by God, and that it was all real at the time or has since come to pass, just as in the song, eerily so. Richard Harris was the first willing to sing Macarthur Park after everyone else Webb offered the song to had rejected it. Richard Harris could also relate to the song at a deeply personal level unlike most, his badly troubled marriage to someone he loved deeply ending, realizing he would never marry again not because he didn't want to be married (he did!) but because he realized he couldn't. That the marriage he lost was also forever in his heart, and that he just wasn't truly capable of settling down enough or controlling his own demon's enough yet to be a good husband, and that he would be old by the time he did, if he ever did. Well he mostly did in fact, eventually, but not untill he was old! Harris never married again. Yes, Richard Harris's understanding of himself was also eerily prophetic as well and he was also singing this song deeply from his own heart as well. You can really hear the honest pain and his relating to the lyrics in this performance!
@jKLa
Жыл бұрын
Fun note that women Jimmy was inspired to write this song about, Suzie Horton, was touched by the song so that they got back together for a while several years after the song came out. But they broke up again, this time Jimmy doing the dumping, to his later everlasting regret, even as both are now happily married to others. He has said it didn't feel like a Choice at the time. That he had to move on. Only realizing later that while they had both changed, he had been numbed by pain and that the love was forever. Suzie actually wrote a song herself eventually about him and her own lasting heartbreak and love for him from afar "in the stardust".
@luvbasses5487
2 жыл бұрын
Joe Osborn got the nod to play electric bass on this incredible, timeless track. Those unfamiliar with Joe, simply call up his discog. You’ll then realize why he was so sought after.
@stevefoulston
3 жыл бұрын
In the movie Gladiator Richard plays the part of Emperor Marcus Aurelius who is killed by his son Commodus peace out.
@karencrookshank4971
2 жыл бұрын
How can you be British and not know Richard Harris or MacArthur Park!!! As an English woman I’m shocked 😱 and saddened 😢 I sincerely hope you researched him afterwards. You have missed so much ❤️ I keep editing lol. Have you heard of Paul and Barry Ryan? British twins. Paul was inspired by MacArthurs Park, and wrote his classic Eloise, sung by Barry ❤️
@thomastimlin1724
2 жыл бұрын
It's an epidemic of the entire world I'm afraid. It's called musical ignorance or not bothering to look it up on this newfangled thing called "the internet." Just the other day reactors I saw were asking what was that sound they were hearing [it was the organ solo from the 1960's on the Doors song..."Light My Fire" lol]. How can anyone not know that sound?😂 then there's that annoying over used phrase "Old School." Everything they react to is older than the 1990's music is "old school." I didn't know one had to go to school to find out this music is old! lol. Why keep repeating that tired phrase? To insult grandma and put her in her place and elevate their own world status? Then there's "Without further ado." Oh please....change it...how about "Without further do-do?"
@wallacecallow2255
Жыл бұрын
@@thomastimlin1724 I've seen reactors who hadn't heard any Beatle's songs. Only slightly familiar with the name.
@domeperruzza
Жыл бұрын
👍🏻
@TheHaamleet
3 жыл бұрын
You never heard of Richard Harris - shame on you young man!
@michaeliacangelo9423
2 жыл бұрын
No shame in late but joyous discovery!
@johnbarnes2886
Жыл бұрын
See "A Man Called Horse" or "Camelot" .... if you do movie reactions, you'll find both of them interesting
@MrsRosencranz1
5 ай бұрын
Did you like that? Now imagine it being sung by Glen Campbell with his blazing guitar added to the instrumental and with Jimmy Webb on piano all supported by the Boston Pops. kzitem.info/news/bejne/yJeGy4Nmgql6mXo Or a 17-minute disco suite with 4 movements by Donna Summer and Giorgio Morodo? Sure, why not? kzitem.info/news/bejne/t3mPnGx4poV-poY
@pamelajohnson6199
3 жыл бұрын
With a few exceptions...'70s was best 🎶
@angelika_munkastrap4634
3 жыл бұрын
Tom MacDonald is dropping a new song called Don't Look Down at 9am Friday west coast L.A time. Can you please react to it the day it drops? Tom often comes by the reactions and comments
@LoneRevD
Жыл бұрын
Jimmy Webb was such an amazing composer, nobody outside of motion picture people who wrote musicals wrote anything anywhere near as good. Well sang by Richard although reading the story behind its recording was rather a train wreck lol.
@BaileyBuns9
Жыл бұрын
You look really pissed off😢
@Hawksmere
Жыл бұрын
That’s just my face 😆
@wilfriedmatusch9293
2 жыл бұрын
To grow the monetary value of your channel without bringing out the “begging bowl” you could follow the example of a mister LLBoyd who introduces his reaction by saying this one has been requested via a donation, conditioning his subscribers that songs are presented via donation, I wish you the best and look forward to you presenting one of my requests “via donation” got to work out how to do that yet. Till then cheers
@martinmitchell1361
Жыл бұрын
Hello? It’s a massive pisstake! How could you completely miss the point? Listen to the lyrics.
@dochubbell
Жыл бұрын
Even when I first heard Harris sing this song when it became a hit, I thught the llyrics were nonsensical and stupid. The song itself was beautiful and it got to the place where you mostly ignored the words and just went witht the music and singing voice. It probably isn't the first nor will it be the last ever done that feels mismatched to the music. Still in all it is classical for it's time.
@studiosinger
Жыл бұрын
Actually it was a huge hit in the U.S. two weeks prior to Robert F Kennedy’s assassination that the lyrics matched perfectly. That Harris went down singing on the stage floor seemed synchronized with RFK dying on the floor still alive.
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