Simply incredible that Jonathan Richman was putting music like this together in the early seventies. Seems so far ahead of its time... even today sounds fresh.
he was heavily influenced by Lou Reed and John Cale... in a good way years later he pretty much said this music represented a time in his life where he was sort of miserable but it was self-inflicted misery anyways I agree with you - it's great in it's own way and certainly a bit different from where he later went
There's a guy at my local bar I have referred to as 'Hippie Johnny' numerous times. Ended up seeing him last night and played him this song. He really liked it.
The Real Kids started in about 1972 or 73 but didn't record until 77. John Felice and Jonathan Richman grew up together in MA, and Felice was actually in the first version of the Modern Lovers but never recorded with them. Both great, great bands.
+Will Maclachlan Lol, the story behind this song was that he was making fun of a guy that kept trying to take his girl, referred to him as "Hippy Johnny", and went on and on about being straight (never doing drugs).
Commenting on Richman, Felice has said, "Me and Jonathan, as close as we were, you know, I was like a punk, I was a wise-ass kid. I liked to do a lot of drugs, I liked to drink, and Jonathan was like this wide-eyed, no-drugs, ate nothing but health food..." Source: jojofiles.blogspot.com/2004/05/john-felices-interview-1998.html
The funny thing is, my frriends/bandmates and I all got high on weed and listened to this song, and we loved it sincerely. It wasn't a novelty, certainly not to me. I related very strongly to this song without having to be clean & sober. All that matters to me is that Jonathan is saying "I refuse to follow the trendy crowd . . . but I want _you."_
In my opinion, this is Jonathan Richman's masterpiece. Earnest without being cutesy, and complete with the most crude, dirty, shambolic guitar sound you could want. I love it!
I can't believe this masterpiece is from the mid 70s - an older cool girl agreed to date me for a few minutes and turned me onto things like this and "The Only Ones" ... My playlists always seem to contain this song.
I've listened it for the first time half an hour ago, and the last half hour I've listened it already 5 times! Really, one of the best songs ever made! And I'm straight!
Don't know if they're on this track, but the Modern Lovers had the drummer from the Cars, and keys from Talking Heads. So many talented players from Boston MA.
My parents would always ask me if I was "straight," meaning, was I sober. When I went to school and used this old terminology, people thought I was asking them if they were heterosexual. I quickly readjusted my vocabulary.
today was the first time i have ever heard this song...makes me feel like i have been in a new york apartment for 2 weeks with no money, smoking dope and drinking stale beer. im in love with this song...im ohh so grateful i have heard this during my lifetime.
i will explain my commentary, this is a song that is very similiar to the 1980s straight edge movement which imo was defined by the hardcore punk band minor threat, hence my initial remark. xoxox
I knew "Hippie Johnnie," Ernie of the Modern Lovers and saw Jonathan play three times, twice in NYC and once in Paris. I loved and bought this stuff right from the beginning. I wonder what happened to my poster? You hadda get this stuff mail order from Beserkley, HOME OF THE HITS. It was so fun. "Modern girls and modern rock 'n' roll." Modern world, baby.
Wow, this is really awesome. I seriously thought this was the official music video, you capture the mood and feel of this ridiculously awesome song perfectly. Great job.
Wow I love Jonathan but never heard this song before. Love it! I don't like to get high and always felt uncool in school.But straight or high it's a great song.
Saw Jonathan a few years ago in a tiny venue of maybe 50 people and hoped he would play some Modern Lovers. He didn't but he was really fun to watch and listen to. I don't nerd up on his influences or who he influenced or what his music was and what it is now, he is just a fun performer now and worth the ticket.
Absolutely brilliant clip. Hippie Johnny was actually John Felice from the Real Kids, a friend of Jonathan Richmans. This is very cool, thanks for posting this.
I thought that in the original version of the song he was 'Hippie Ernie', as in the version of this song currently on TH-cam labelled as being live at Harvard in 1971-2. Jerry Harrison said (in a recent interview with Marc Maron) that Ernie Brooks (their bassist) objected after awhile, so Richman pointed it at himself.
I had a roommate in college named Johnny who sold pot and who got girls I liked, drank, and did other drugs... and now I'm sober after many years of alcoholism and multi-substance abuse and married and love myself for who I am and am genuinely happy despite everything going on around me. If I can do it (that is, overcome whatever it is and be happy) Anyone can :)
Jonathan and the Modern Lovers really picked up where the Velvet Underground left off....to early for punk to late for psych mod...raw and timeless....
@harwicke This is from 1972 and the Modern Lovers were inspired by a lot of 60s music, especially the Velvet Underground and the Stooges. Their own music and attitude marked a transition between the hippee and punk eras. Two of them went on to found the Cars and Talking HEads.
Jonathan Richman is a genius! Imagine if he had stayed the course with this pre-punk style. If we could have gotten 4 or 5 records like this out of him before he sort of changed gears. I wonder...
I had the Modern Lovers vinyl album but this (FANTASTIC) song wasn't included. I only dicovered this on a Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers cd album which I downloaded. It contains a few (I think three) fantastic additions.
A lot of kids at my school vape and are into pot, but I'm not one of them. It makes me sad to see all the kids that I grew up with go down the road of drug use, which will end in drug addiction. But seeing this video makes me proud to be straight-edged.
Cheers from a Straight Edge kid.. now ancient.. I have friends that I've known since I was a kid.. still.. my family of brothers and sisters.. One i see almost everyday, met him at 13/14.. Together we've seen a lot.. come and go.. The hard (go)... Since you seem like a person who has that.. outside looking in view.. The ability to make your own choice, think for yourself, choose what you actually like, not fallow the Trend.. You will never lose this... Be who you are.. Rise above it all.. Massive Respect from Orange County California 🇺🇸..
@sl1ghtlystoop1d The Velvets were The Modern Lovers' biggest inspiration. Jonathan Richman's first solo gig was opening for them in Western Mass, The Modern Lovers covered "Foggy Notion" in their live set, and John Cale played produced many tracks on their first album and even played piano on one song.
few indeed were the rock musicians in 1972 who could so unabashedly beg the girl of their dreams to leave "hippy johnny" because he's always stoned, and let the "straight" jonathan take his place.
"Oh I'm certainly not stoned, like hippie Johnny is. I'm straight and I want to take his place." does anyone else get the impression that hes completely baked whilst saying this? haha
My favorite part is "Now I like him too .... Hippie Johnny". It's the most perfect joke in the whole song for me.
I think this is the best song ever made.
not anymore I guess
@@tschau92 😁yeah
True or true Not, there is No think!
11 years ago. One of them.
Simply incredible that Jonathan Richman was putting music like this together in the early seventies. Seems so far ahead of its time... even today sounds fresh.
totally... such a great launchpad for bands to come
he was heavily influenced by Lou Reed and John Cale... in a good way
years later he pretty much said this music represented a time in his life where he was sort of miserable but it was self-inflicted misery
anyways I agree with you - it's great in it's own way and certainly a bit different from where he later went
poetry is timeless
written when he was 17 yrs old ........killer song
This song is priceless. This band belongs in the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame.
Definitely!
Nah they’re too cool for the Rock n roll hall of fame. As Johnny Rotten said, it’s a “piss stain”.
Unfortunately the “Rock Hall” gets worse with each induction. Time change the name to music hall of fame.
Me, gay and stoned listening to this : i m s t ra i gh t
There's a guy at my local bar I have referred to as 'Hippie Johnny' numerous times.
Ended up seeing him last night and played him this song. He really liked it.
I call myself 'hippie Shawny' have for over 20 years thanks to a mix tape, google, youtube and of course this awesome song :)
One of the coolest songs I've ever heard.
I met and talked to Jonathan in 1982..Nice guy
One year str8 today, had to listen to this :P
Congrats.
+Alex Alex hoping its 18 months today :)
not anymore I guess
@@tschau92 funny enough I've got about a year clean again rn lol
@@AlexAlex-of6ms how about now?
i can not stop listening to this song
And it's a great video!!! 😀👏👏👏
I can still remember when someone said I have this new album and put on Modern Lovers. It was a game changer..
aongus hennesey hipped me to this
. Can see the true line from Modren Lovers to Moutpiece alrih !
That is a fantastic drum sound they got in that studio.
The Real Kids started in about 1972 or 73 but didn't record until 77. John Felice and Jonathan Richman grew up together in MA, and Felice was actually in the first version of the Modern Lovers but never recorded with them. Both great, great bands.
Listen to the early demos. Post, John Felice formed The Real Kids and cut a new lp on Ace of Hearts Records like 5 years ago. Bought it.. fn rocks!
This song honestly just changed my life. This is amazing music. Incredible...
The great thing about this is that Jonathan was able to make being sober and slightly nerdy sound edgy and dangerous.
+Will Maclachlan Lol, the story behind this song was that he was making fun of a guy that kept trying to take his girl, referred to him as "Hippy Johnny", and went on and on about being straight (never doing drugs).
Ha ha yeah its john felice btw, the guitar player who is hippy johnny.
He really does, doesn't he?
Unique!!
Commenting on Richman, Felice has said, "Me and Jonathan, as close as we were, you know, I was like a punk, I was a wise-ass kid. I liked to do a lot of drugs, I liked to drink, and Jonathan was like this wide-eyed, no-drugs, ate nothing but health food..."
Source: jojofiles.blogspot.com/2004/05/john-felices-interview-1998.html
The funny thing is, my frriends/bandmates and I all got high on weed and listened to this song, and we loved it sincerely. It wasn't a novelty, certainly not to me. I related very strongly to this song without having to be clean & sober. All that matters to me is that Jonathan is saying "I refuse to follow the trendy crowd . . . but I want _you."_
Hippie Benny
***** Now, I like hippie Benny.
This is a great I WANT YOU blues.
Right. I'm not straight (in the sense meant here), but I LOVE this song.
yes... it's jonathan
In my opinion, this is Jonathan Richman's masterpiece. Earnest without being cutesy, and complete with the most crude, dirty, shambolic guitar sound you could want. I love it!
I agree. If you’d said summer time is the masterpiece, i’d agree too. My love is a flower.
Agree!
This is turning into my favorite cut of all time. I cannot stop listening to it.
I mean, you can see where punk was coming from, what an amazing band as short-lived as it was.
I can't believe this masterpiece is from the mid 70s - an older cool girl agreed to date me for a few minutes and turned me onto things like this and "The Only Ones" ... My playlists always seem to contain this song.
I've listened it for the first time half an hour ago, and the last half hour I've listened it already 5 times! Really, one of the best songs ever made! And I'm straight!
Hell of a drum sound
Don't know if they're on this track, but the Modern Lovers had the drummer from the Cars, and keys from Talking Heads. So many talented players from Boston MA.
@@rustybeltway2373 facts! Thank you!
I'm certainly not stoned.
I am
Like hippie Johnny is
My parents would always ask me if I was "straight," meaning, was I sober. When I went to school and used this old terminology, people thought I was asking them if they were heterosexual. I quickly readjusted my vocabulary.
...not that there's anything wrong with that (wink, wink).
Wish I could give this 10 stars, both for the great song & the cool video!
Smoked a drug to this, very (fun/good!) Music today is (bad/good!), this music is very (cool/fun!). VERY underrated.
"Why can't they take this place, and take it straight!" Words of wisdom for a substance abuser- I'm one!
Tears are in my eyes right now its like this song was made for me. i wish she would come back.
Cool song. I thought it was Cake when I first heard it. Also a lot of VU influence.
My new favorite song; can't believe I've never heard this before. Brilliant.
I'd love to have been a fly on the wall when he Lou Reed hung out. With their different views on drugs, but respect of each others music
today was the first time i have ever heard this song...makes me feel like i have been in a new york apartment for 2 weeks with no money, smoking dope and drinking stale beer. im in love with this song...im ohh so grateful i have heard this during my lifetime.
jonathan richman was just a minor threat
etha s
Talking Heads won the war.
Did they? Jonathon has had quite a long and successful career writing and performing exactly the music he wants.
i will explain my commentary, this is a song that is very similiar to the 1980s straight edge movement which imo was defined by the hardcore punk band minor threat, hence my initial remark. xoxox
I know I am 4 years late, but the Minor Threat comment is brilliant.
Lol
best song ever - great video too
I knew "Hippie Johnnie," Ernie of the Modern Lovers and saw Jonathan play three times, twice in NYC and once in Paris. I loved and bought this stuff right from the beginning. I wonder what happened to my poster? You hadda get this stuff mail order from Beserkley, HOME OF THE HITS. It was so fun. "Modern girls and modern rock 'n' roll." Modern world, baby.
Wow, this is really awesome. I seriously thought this was the official music video, you capture the mood and feel of this ridiculously awesome song perfectly. Great job.
This song was so popular with all my stoner mates in the 80s
I just heard this song for the first time yesterday. It's the best song I've ever heard and I'm 66 and I'm straight right now.
One of the best songs about jelousy ever written.
Wow I love Jonathan but never heard this song before. Love it! I don't like to get high and always felt uncool in school.But straight or high it's a great song.
I’m from Mass and I never heard them till now. Wtf? Better late than never
Absolutely hypnotic....love it!
That was fantastic.
First "straight edge" song! Drugs suck and so does hippie Johnny!!
THANK YOU for posting this! I remember when this song came out and it took me years and years o find it again. Excellent tune.
Damn, forgot how good this song is.
good video ..good song.
Great video...and great song too ;)!
And this song and the whole first LP were produced by the great John Cale!
hydrogenated!
you made yourself and us a brilliant video here my man!!!
cheers to you!
Saw Jonathan a few years ago in a tiny venue of maybe 50 people and hoped he would play some Modern Lovers. He didn't but he was really fun to watch and listen to. I don't nerd up on his influences or who he influenced or what his music was and what it is now, he is just a fun performer now and worth the ticket.
o wow i thought it was an official video. super well done. cheers
Great song and great video for it. Cheers.
This is my fav off the album... and was very happy to find it accompanied by a vid... thanks for the upload
pure brilliance
Absolutely brilliant clip. Hippie Johnny was actually John Felice from the Real Kids, a friend of Jonathan Richmans. This is very cool, thanks for posting this.
I thought that in the original version of the song he was 'Hippie Ernie', as in the version of this song currently on TH-cam labelled as being live at Harvard in 1971-2. Jerry Harrison said (in a recent interview with Marc Maron) that Ernie Brooks (their bassist) objected after awhile, so Richman pointed it at himself.
unbelievably cool video. soooooo suits the song.
hippy johnny...
It's a perfect call!
nice work
Oh my god this is excellent.
God damn Hippie Johnny messing up our shit since 1976.
This is from 1970 at the latest! Recorded in 1971-2, released in 1976. Hope for us awkward nerds, just being patient.
Some of the greatest lyrics ever.
This song is awesome!
hydrogenatedupload: thanks for posting. Happy Birthday today(May 16) to Johnathan Richman. Cheers! 🥨
Rough and wonderful!
Thanks dude i loved that crazy song
Damn!! that is one amazing video. Kudos!! Modern Lovers were one of the greatest bands of all time.
i really like this performance
liked those images. suits the song.
great video- totally tops man.
I had a roommate in college named Johnny who sold pot and who got girls I liked, drank, and did other drugs... and now I'm sober after many years of alcoholism and multi-substance abuse and married and love myself for who I am and am genuinely happy despite everything going on around me. If I can do it (that is, overcome whatever it is and be happy) Anyone can :)
thank you. thank you. thank you. for posting this.
Man, so psycodelic!
sounds so fresh!
Jonathan and the Modern Lovers really picked up where the Velvet Underground left off....to early for punk to late for psych mod...raw and timeless....
Absolute amazing!
I love the song but also I loved the video you made..really captures the mood
Vancouver 2010 mourning song, THANKS.
Your vid is brilliant! Perfect for this great song!
Greatest song ever. In the history. Of non music and music.
@harwicke This is from 1972 and the Modern Lovers were inspired by a lot of 60s music, especially the Velvet Underground and the Stooges. Their own music and attitude marked a transition between the hippee and punk eras. Two of them went on to found the Cars and Talking HEads.
Jonathan Richman is a genius! Imagine if he had stayed the course with this pre-punk style. If we could have gotten 4 or 5 records like this out of him before he sort of changed gears. I wonder...
I had the Modern Lovers vinyl album but this (FANTASTIC) song wasn't included.
I only dicovered this on a Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers cd album which I downloaded.
It contains a few (I think three) fantastic additions.
He throws that cigarette down with authority!
nice job man
Brilliant!! Thanks for putting this together!!
The theme of the song ? Why...Nice guys finish last of course.....
Only the best F'ng song Ever!!!!!!!!
una de las mejores canciones del mundo
Phenomenal
very good work :)
A lot of kids at my school vape and are into pot, but I'm not one of them. It makes me sad to see all the kids that I grew up with go down the road of drug use, which will end in drug addiction. But seeing this video makes me proud to be straight-edged.
Cheers from a Straight Edge kid.. now ancient..
I have friends that I've known since I was a kid.. still.. my family of brothers and sisters..
One i see almost everyday, met him at 13/14..
Together we've seen a lot.. come and go..
The hard (go)...
Since you seem like a person who has that.. outside looking in view..
The ability to make your own choice, think for yourself, choose what you actually like, not fallow the Trend..
You will never lose this...
Be who you are..
Rise above it all..
Massive Respect from Orange County California 🇺🇸..
I am such a Hippy Johny
reee
Your name makes your comment 100 times better
Too much Moloko Vellocet?
@sl1ghtlystoop1d The Velvets were The Modern Lovers' biggest inspiration. Jonathan Richman's first solo gig was opening for them in Western Mass, The Modern Lovers covered "Foggy Notion" in their live set, and John Cale played produced many tracks on their first album and even played piano on one song.
missing hippie john, salad days are gone
Remembering things just to tell 'em so long
Those drums!
Dave Robinson, who later found fame and fortune with the CARS!
I hadn't realized you made this video yourself to go with the song. My hat is off to you, sir!
few indeed were the rock musicians in 1972 who could so unabashedly beg the girl of their dreams to leave "hippy johnny" because he's always stoned, and let the "straight" jonathan take his place.
"Oh I'm certainly not stoned, like hippie Johnny is.
I'm straight and I want to take his place."
does anyone else get the impression that hes completely baked whilst saying this? haha
He's not, he's judging Hippie Johnny. JR is straight edge.
@@DianaLopezDlo oooh so he's gayy I see now. sherlock lmfao! Owo
Lmao
no tho he's like the original sxf straight edge, naturally high already essentially
Hes hippy johnny
I wish I could time travel and go out with this guy when I was young
Genius