This is considered Prog Rock, or Progressive Rock. To me, this song is about exploring your instrument- testing its limits... and one of Thjis’s instruments is his head.
It rocks hard, but it's also funny, which is what it's supposed to be girl. It's like, he yodels, then he sings jibberish, he plays the flute, he whistles....It becomes a "what's he going to do next?"The tempo is very fast in this version. Faster than in the studio recording. Like others say, the're a progressive rock band - or "prog rock." It's a genre that started in the late 60's, was at the height of it's popularity in the 70's, but continues to the present day, albeit not in the mainstream. Prog rock often aims to mix rock with elements from classical music and/or jazz.
Jan Akkerman was voted as the best guitarist in the world by the rock community back in the 70s' , too bad that this band never was actually famous . Also if you are willing to check another interesting rock band which also used the flute , react to Jethro Tull - My god (live) or thick as a brick (live)
the song was actually nearly 7 minutes long ... they only had a max of 4 minutes so gladis appologized that they could't play the entire song ... they went ... ok .. we got this. hold my beer
Focus is a Dutch band. The have a dozen prog rock albums and are still going strong. Meanwhile Jan Akkerman has been doing Jazz Fusion on the side. He is an underrated guitarist. This song was from an album called Hamburger Concerto. The song is seven minutes long and they were told they only had five minutes to perform it - so they sped it up. If you aren't laughing after hearing this song, you're dead!
This got a lot of airplay back in the day. The song “ Sylvia “ also got a lot of play time on the radio. The “Album Rock “ stations. The full version is really excellent. 📻🙂
I enjoyed your reaction. I saw them in 1974 in South East London at Croydon with 3,000others and it cost £1 or $1.34.... They were given a 4-minute slot for this 7-minute Album song hence the speed. "Sylvia" and " Love Remembered" are classics by this Dutch Group. ENJOY :)
When you saw the interview of the older man in the second video, were you thinking that it might have been the same guy that yodeled in the 1973 video? It actually is the same man. It is Thijs van Leer.
I love this reaction. As an older man, I can suggest loads of songs for Throwback thursday, but I don't do it now. I will suggest a song for Female Friday. The band Nightwish is an icreadable band and although it is impossible to be better as the singer, Floor Jansen equals her bandmembers at least. It is a 10 minute song, that I do request, but I'm sure, when you listen to this song, this will be the shortest 10 minutes you experience. The song is called: Ghost Love Score, the band is Nightwish and I will leave you the link. czcams.com/video/JYjIlHWBAVo/video.html Greatings from the Netherlands.
7:01 "it kinda makes you like laugh a bit" No kidding. I could not stop laughing when i first saw this video a few months ago. And not the next ten views either. They were (or at least Thijs was) high as a kite during the performance and that added to the experience. 🤣 Still makes me smile every time I see it.
As has been mentioned regarding to the time allotted for this song, this is what happens when you tell 4 of the best musicians of the day to cut parts out of their music to fit the time given. To which they reply, "No, we don't think we will be doing that. All right boys, Double time the tempo!"
I'm a bit late to the party, but you're not alone: many reactors struggled to express themselves after witnessing that high speed version of hocus pocus! Female vocalists Joni Mitchell's Amelia, or Shades of Scarlet Conquering; Janis Ian's Society's Child; Barbra Streisand doing Laura Nyro's Stoney End, Toni Braxton's Unbreak My Heart; Billy Eilish's TV. LDR's D'd you Know that There's a Tunnell Under Ocean Boulevard; Imelda May's Sixth Sense. . .
There are 2 persons who stand out Thijs van Leer (keyboards etc) and Jan Akkerman who was voted best gitarist of the world 1973 by melody maker. Both are still alive (thijs is from 31-03-1948 and jan is from 24-12-1946). And it was OPRAH who did the introduction (you missed that)
For another band from the Netherlands, you'll surely love the song *"Venus"* from the Dutch group *"Shocking Blue"* in 1969. Here's a link to the best video you'll find to react to: czcams.com/video/8LhkyyCvUHk/video.html
I got a kick out of the line, "I can't get over the vocals". -- You're not supposed to try to get over them, it's not some kind of contest. Just let them roll over you! 🙂
Can you also react to "Focus 50 years - Thijs van Leer vocal history", that shows his vocals through the years. czcams.com/video/VqOfPeTrv4o/video.html. I know a lot about Focus, I am a big fan. They actually rehearsed and jammed in that castle a lot in the 70's, and there's even videos of it on CZcams. The castle is Kasteel Groeneveld. Focus still records, tours and performs.
Gary Hoey's 1993 HARD ROCK version really blows this one away...In my opinion. It's on the album "Animal Instinct" and I listen to it on my iPOD all the time! While driving, working out...it just pumps me up! No yodeling, which is a vast improvement in my book.
@@johnclaeys9514 Quite right, But as a guitarist who when growing up was absolutely gobsmacked by Akkerman's brilliant playing (and clumsily trying to imitate it), she doesn't realise it exists, never mentions it, even talks over it: it basically doesn't exist as far as she's concerned. Clueless. That's called being unable to appreciate what you're listening to.
Many bands back then were experimental and very talented, but they never seemed to lose sight of the fun.
This is considered Prog Rock, or Progressive Rock. To me, this song is about exploring your instrument- testing its limits... and one of Thjis’s instruments is his head.
Jan Akkerman one of the best technical guitarist
Ever
It rocks hard, but it's also funny, which is what it's supposed to be girl. It's like, he yodels, then he sings jibberish, he plays the flute, he whistles....It becomes a "what's he going to do next?"The tempo is very fast in this version. Faster than in the studio recording. Like others say, the're a progressive rock band - or "prog rock." It's a genre that started in the late 60's, was at the height of it's popularity in the 70's, but continues to the present day, albeit not in the mainstream. Prog rock often aims to mix rock with elements from classical music and/or jazz.
Jan Akkerman was voted as the best guitarist in the world by the rock community back in the 70s' , too bad that this band never was actually famous . Also if you are willing to check another interesting rock band which also used the flute , react to Jethro Tull - My god (live) or thick as a brick (live)
I remember hé never went to collect his price. For what ever reason!
the song was actually nearly 7 minutes long ... they only had a max of 4 minutes so gladis appologized that they could't play the entire song ... they went ... ok .. we got this. hold my beer
Correct sir. Dutch pride.
more like "hold my coke"
@@frededy4 Part of the 70's my friend.
@@frededy4 hehe... coke though was not that big back then. More like lsd and such.
Focus is a Dutch band. The have a dozen prog rock albums and are still going strong. Meanwhile Jan Akkerman has been doing Jazz Fusion on the side. He is an underrated guitarist. This song was from an album called Hamburger Concerto. The song is seven minutes long and they were told they only had five minutes to perform it - so they sped it up. If you aren't laughing after hearing this song, you're dead!
This got a lot of airplay back in the day.
The song “ Sylvia “ also got a lot of play time on the radio.
The “Album Rock “ stations.
The full version is really excellent.
📻🙂
I enjoyed your reaction.
I saw them in 1974 in South East London at Croydon with 3,000others and it cost £1 or $1.34....
They were given a 4-minute slot for this 7-minute Album song hence the speed.
"Sylvia" and " Love Remembered" are classics by this Dutch Group. ENJOY :)
I saw them in Luxembourg at the Blow-Up disco in 73/74 as well. At the the beginning until the drug razzia. 😁
When you saw the interview of the older man in the second video, were you thinking that it might have been the same guy that yodeled in the 1973 video? It actually is the same man. It is Thijs van Leer.
Pure manic joy.
I wonder how many people in 1973 were listening to music from 50 years before. that is from 1923?
I love this reaction.
As an older man, I can suggest loads of songs for Throwback thursday, but I don't do it now.
I will suggest a song for Female Friday. The band Nightwish is an icreadable band and although it is impossible to be better as the singer, Floor Jansen equals her bandmembers at least. It is a 10 minute song, that I do request, but I'm sure, when you listen to this song, this will be the shortest 10 minutes you experience. The song is called: Ghost Love Score, the band is Nightwish and I will leave you the link.
czcams.com/video/JYjIlHWBAVo/video.html
Greatings from the Netherlands.
7:01 "it kinda makes you like laugh a bit" No kidding. I could not stop laughing when i first saw this video a few months ago. And not the next ten views either. They were (or at least Thijs was) high as a kite during the performance and that added to the experience. 🤣 Still makes me smile every time I see it.
As has been mentioned regarding to the time allotted for this song, this is what happens when you tell 4 of the best musicians of the day to cut parts out of their music to fit the time given. To which they reply, "No, we don't think we will be doing that. All right boys, Double time the tempo!"
Wild and crazy Prog Rock! They did many great instrumentals. Also try the band Renaissance.
I'm a bit late to the party, but you're not alone: many reactors struggled to express themselves after witnessing that high speed version of hocus pocus! Female vocalists Joni Mitchell's Amelia, or Shades of Scarlet Conquering; Janis Ian's Society's Child; Barbra Streisand doing Laura Nyro's Stoney End, Toni Braxton's Unbreak My Heart; Billy Eilish's TV. LDR's D'd you Know that There's a Tunnell Under Ocean Boulevard; Imelda May's Sixth Sense. . .
Mind Blown. Successful.
There are 2 persons who stand out Thijs van Leer (keyboards etc) and Jan Akkerman who was voted best gitarist of the world 1973 by melody maker. Both are still alive (thijs is from 31-03-1948 and jan is from 24-12-1946). And it was OPRAH who did the introduction (you missed that)
Sorry, it was not Oprah, it was Gladys Knight.
Flute in rock? Try Jethro Tull. Ian Anderson will blow you away. He is a self taught flutist.
You kept your cool when plenty lost theirs 🤩💕eccentric prog, fabulous
It would interesting if you react other Focus songs, such as "Elspeth of Nottingham" or "Love Remembered", to see how eclectic this band was.
For another band from the Netherlands, you'll surely love the song *"Venus"* from the Dutch group *"Shocking Blue"* in 1969.
Here's a link to the best video you'll find to react to: czcams.com/video/8LhkyyCvUHk/video.html
Yes. I bought this soon after :)
You should listen to Silvia, also by Focus
Try "Sylvia" and "House of the King" from Focus.
for great location recording check out Pink Floyd live in Pompei, you will love it
echos part 1 and 2 live pompei are the most awsome
Lovely
I got a kick out of the line, "I can't get over the vocals". -- You're not supposed to try to get over them, it's not some kind of contest. Just let them roll over you! 🙂
Hay play led zeppelin
Dazed and confused
Welcome to Dutch INSANITY
Can you also react to "Focus 50 years - Thijs van Leer vocal history", that shows his vocals through the years. czcams.com/video/VqOfPeTrv4o/video.html. I know a lot about Focus, I am a big fan. They actually rehearsed and jammed in that castle a lot in the 70's, and there's even videos of it on CZcams. The castle is Kasteel Groeneveld. Focus still records, tours and performs.
only yodeled in the one piece
Gary Hoey's 1993 HARD ROCK version really blows this one away...In my opinion. It's on the album "Animal Instinct" and I listen to it on my iPOD all the time! While driving, working out...it just pumps me up! No yodeling, which is a vast improvement in my book.
Give me a fuckin' break....🙄
This must be the three hundred and fifty seventh reaction video to Hocus Pocus. A little variety please?
if you don't want to see it, don't click on it, dude.
@@johnclaeys9514 Quite right, But as a guitarist who when growing up was absolutely gobsmacked by Akkerman's brilliant playing (and clumsily trying to imitate it), she doesn't realise it exists, never mentions it, even talks over it: it basically doesn't exist as far as she's concerned. Clueless.
That's called being unable to appreciate what you're listening to.
It would interesting to see someone reaction on Hocus Pocus, then on Elspeth of Nottingham or Love Remembered, to see how eclectic Focus was.