Hey Rana, glad you found the way, was thinking about how and where to give you notice of this... This will be a great journey, Aleks is a very attentive reactor who will pick out a lot of amazing details in her songs, lyrically and emotionally... What would be your suggestion for her next reaction? I had though about going in order of the album, but mixing studio and live versions, but now as I saw her medley at the EMAs last night I changed my mind and recommended that one, as obviously that's the way RAYE decided to present herself to a large new audience... What do you think?
Now the stubborn Aleks comes in. It will be the 2024 EMAs performance. It is set in stone. However, Rana, your suggestions are welcome for future reactions too. 😉
@ I would personally love the performance at the Brits.. it provides a medley of a few different songs. My current favourites are the music videos for Genesis and Ice Cream Man. But I’m keen on any Raye!!
This was an incredible reaction, and I loved watching it! I'd love to see you react to more of her performances-she's such a talented singer and songwriter, and her vocals are amazing. If you're open to it, I'd suggest reacting to her performance of Worth It at The Hilton on Park Lane. Or, if you're up for a longer reaction, her Tiny Desk performance is my personal favorite! Lots of love from South Africa!!
Hallo weer, my Suid-Afrikaanse vriend! 😊 I was introduced to Raye by @Hundhammer and it seems that for this particular artist I will need a guide. I've decided to let him (a major fan or Raye) give me a tour, one song at a time. Knowing me, I might veer off course at some point, and simply jump in creating even more chaos, but for starters I'll let him lead the way. Just in case I do go ballistic, I jotted down your suggestions as well. So glad you enjoyed this one! Let's see what else comes up. ❤
@@AleksReacts Both suggestions are among my favorites as well and I recommended these on various channels, if you feel like it you don't do wrong by watching these... But if we want to go in order of the album for thematic cohesion those would have to wait a little... all of the suggested songs are on her album, and the Tiny Desk has been mentioned before, it really is a wonderful stripped back performance with fours songs that lets a lot of her personality shine through as well... We might do that after her EMA's performance (next) and Oscar Winning Tears live at the Royal Albert Hall... The Tiny Desk would make a nice contrast with the full orchestra and choir of OWT... It has Worth It in it as well, but the recording at the Hilton is very different in regard of the setting and arrangement... We might do that later on... Boah, it's really hard, because I don't know how many songs I got, and my choices would be different depending on how many shots I got... And I've always said I don't want this to be a Kiddo feature, Matt's suggestions are definitely great choices, if you feel like it, do it! - Worth It at the Hilton is definitely a feel good song, very classy and elegant with a positive vibe (she placed it towards the end of her album), whereas the Tiny Desk is covering a broad spectrum of themes and emotions in a stripped back version which gives you a intimate look at her supremely sublime vocals and sweet personality... Peace and love from BavaRAYEa!
One at a time, kiddo! I'll be going with Escapism / Oscar Winning Tears / Body Dysmorphia next. Then we can figure out where to go from there. She really does create a lot of chaos and it's hard to tell what's what when you don't know it or haven't heard it yet. Half of her stuff I don't know how to put ON the list. So, I've decided. One at a time (or several in Raye's case) and we'll keep going slowly... Love to the everlasting kid in Bavaria! ❤❤❤ Your excitement is so childlike sometimes and other times you're so serious. I can't decide if you're Kiddo or Dominik.🤣
@Royal_BLT Odd that we disagree for once. I just do not hear it here... Maybe it comes through in some other song by Raye. @Hundhammer Hmmm, that really is interesting. I'm starting to wonder why I do not hear it, especially with Bruce thinking it's there... We'll see as I keep going...
Such a convoluted mix, my gosh I've never seen you look almost shellshocked after you paused at 6:20 and then suddenly again at 8:00 back in time. Some of her vocals are quite pleasing though. Aleks, if I took my 1200 plus vinyl records, mashed and pressed them into one single album it would probably sound like this! Yup you are right CHAOS🥴❤ just had an additional thought, music is a lot of things amongst which is entertaining, this certainly was that!!
I did not think this could happen, this level of confusion, but Raye did it. Yes, I agree, she really can sing and has a lovely voice, but I'm still not sure what this was. It might take me a couple of years of listening to totally "get her" or maybe simply to hear more music by her... Also, I had the same feeling. She took all the music, all the lyrics, all the social media comments, all posts and conversations and squished them together into a song. Chaos, Inc. As you neatly put it, very entertaining and thought provoking chaos, though. 😂
😅🤣 I absolutely REFUSE to comment before DommyBoy does, so I'll just say thanks a lot for checking Raye out. But I WILL say that she in my mind is an absolute genius, like few others out there. Maybe THIS wouldn't be my introductory performance to her, but it does leave an impression, that's for sure. It's not one that you will easily forget. Mission accomplished in that regard 😄 I'll catch you guys later I guess. Love from Norway ♥♥♥♥♥
So here comes the RAYEman... - First of all: Thank you so much for doing this for me! Also, having read the comments and your replies and remarks at different places I know this video is documenting one moment in time, your very first encounter, but meanwhile you've heard it several times and also watched the MV, so I assume some things that might have seemed random on first listen, and in a live setting without the enhancing visuals, might have fallen in line by now... but your impression of "organized chaos" of course has a lot of value to it, one might also call it highly organized chaos because there's even more complexity to it than might appear on first listen, and of course nothing is random here... RAYE introduced this song on her Instagram with a quote by Nina Simone (whom she repeatedly mentioned as a big source of inspiration and one of her favorite artists): “It is an artists duty to reflect the times”. - So that's what she wanted to do with this song, from a very personal point of view, she's been through all she's singing and talking about, and you realized that intention early on... In my opinion she succeeded in a brilliant way, with the theme of light holding together the different parts, but actually on Spotify she released parts i, ii and iii seperately, with part ii getting many more plays than i, iii or all combined... I usually listen to the whole thing (and most reactions cover all parts, as most reactors did the MV which contains all three), I love parts i and ii, musically, but am always looking forward for the resolution into the "light" of the blues/jazz/swing part... For your private pleasure before you'll eventually dive into the next one: On her channel there's a video of the live recording session of part iii, (whereas i & ii were put together in a studio, a contrast in the MV which of course is not noticeable in a live performance) - I enjoy watching that even without the other parts ... Now of course I'm interested in your thoughts about the MV, as the production is quite different to what she can do live on a stage, and the visuals are actually more than just an illustration of the lyrics... - Would you have preferred to watch the MV first? As far as I know you are the first person on the internet who started her RAYE journey with this live version of Genesis, at least that's one thing that sets you apart from the flock... And where do we go from here? As you also noticed, RAYE can do literally anything with her vocals, and she likes to do so, not always in one song though, but she covers so many themes, styles and genres it is hard to pick one song which would be "representative" for her, in a way RAYE is as much as a dozen other artists mashed into one, Ren and Rihanna is one combination I haven't heard yet, but it's as valid as Nicky Minaj and Beyoncé having a baby, or Billie Holiday and James Brown having a baby, or Amy and Adele and Drake having a baby... I've heard countless comparisons or approximations by different reactors. RAYE herself has mentioned Rihanna as a major influence as well, and she has expressed her admiration for Ren, noting his unique sound and artistry. She appreciates his storytelling ability and the emotional depth of his music... Do you want to hear one of her major hits, watch a big performance, or would you rather discover things I consider hidden gems, like acoustic versions of songs with just one instrumentalist, or even just herself on the piano? I think you'd really enjoy her cover of Nina Simone's "Feeling Good", it's just her and a grand piano for "Like A Version" (triple j channel) - but that's not an original song... you may of course have a look at the suggestions in other comments, I don't want this to be a Kiddo show... I think you'd get most requests for Oscar Winning Tears at the Royal Albert Hall, or her Brit Awards Medley, and for a reason...these are just stellar performances musically and vocally, but I also love her more intricate, stripped songs, where her incredible voice and emotional connection shines even more; just before watching your video I watched another new reaction on another favorite channel of mine, "Soul Session Sundays", and Adrianna was crying after 20 seconds of her acoustic version of "All Dressed Up", which is one of those criminally underrated performances of her, with a ridiculously low number of views... So I guess I'll just wait and see what you'll come up with next, basically you can't go wrong with her (lol, yesterday I saw a clip from an interview where she was asked about songs she sung which she doesn't like, and she mentioned "Tequila" with Jax Jones... you can spare out that one, she definitely has only better ones... You have a great evening and enjoy it! Peace and love from Bavaria!
I'll start by saying that her intent is rather clear from the lyrics, but the format is just nuts in a good way. No, I would not have preferred to start with the music video, as this required more focus and the music video is kind of more "telling" - you picked the right approach that suits my somewhat chaotic nature. What I did not know is that she's speaking from personal experience as too many social topics along with personal topics are touched (though some are covered in more detail). She definitely draws attention to the light motif (in this case quite literal) which consistently throughout the song brings some hope to the chaos and it might even be possible to miss that when watching the MV until the 3rd part. Out of all the artists you mentioned I can hear some Amy in there, maybe Billie Holiday in certain parts, but definitely not Nicky Minaj, Beyoncé or Adele. Drake I happily avoided, so I can't really tell and she does not evoke James Brown for me at all. After having read your second comment, I think it might be best to go with her turning point i.e. the album you mentioned and maybe even go in order - yes, I said that. 🤣 Seems like she created a story and it just doesn't work unless one starts at the beginning. It might end up being like reading Red Riding Hood from the belly of the wolf if I do it my usual way - chaotic and without order. 😉 I'll close with this. My husband and I don't always match in musical tastes. I say don't always match, but I mean often don't match. I wasn't yet sure what to think, but he loved it at first listen and ultimately we agreed (when I caught myself singing bits of it out of the blue).
@@AleksReacts What a beautiful comment! Definitely made my day, I will go to sleep, imagining you and your husband duetting on a RAYE song. "Worth It" would be perfect for that, but if we go in order of the album that will have to wait until close to the end... Hope none of you will ever sing Oscar Winning Tears to one another...
Hey Aleks, I have come back to this after attending the WIAWB premiere (great show, and I will definitely watch the beginning later on, but after they shut down my final remark in the chat which was supposed to have been "period." I felt more like watching this again and share a few more of my thoughts. I must say I enjoyed it even more the second time, as I was focusing on your facial expressions instead of what you were saying, and your helplessness and confusion at some points had me laugh out loud... Yes Ma'am, her band is tight, I love that about her music: As she's not only a vocalist, but a true musician, instrumentalist, composer and producer she knows exactly what she wants for a performance, and as she has been working with at least her core band for quite a while these guys communicate very well and deliver on point. I hope I'm not boring you with too much "story" when I'm telling you I heard her talk about how she and the band were developing and rehearsing new versions and arrangements on the fly while touring, discussing the set of the next show on the bus, in the hotel or on a plane. Of course you will discover more of her incredible versatility by reacting to different songs along the way, but as a hardcore fan who is free to spend as much time as I please with RAYE I can tell you it is a lot of fun to watch and compare different shows from last summer, she never sings a song the same way twice, and to me it seems she always manages to perfectly meet the requirements of the location and audience. This was Genesis - the Montreux version, apt for that venue and audience, but you have heard the MV version as well, and you might literally hear a rock version of a song one night, and only a couple of days later you might get a bossa version on a concert in Brazil...and it works! I think she's a truly amazing artist... - One final thought: Having heard you talking about how you love to discover a true artist through their art I wondering if it wouldn't make sense if you went to listen to the songs of her album in order. Of course, as you know by reading my comments, she has put out a lot of music before that album, but that for her was really a turning point. She has said she always wanted to record an album as a body of work, and when she was finally independent and able to that she basically wrapped a lot of her story into songs and consciously put them together in a certain order, it's, as it used to be, an album like Pink Floyd's The Wall, or The Who's Thommy, all songs are somehow interconnected and carry sort of a storyline, at least in regard of themes and moods... It's no damage that you started with Genesis, as that is a stand alone EP released after the album. Maybe kind of an abstract or epilogue to "My 21st Century Blues"... So how about leaving away covers and older songs for now and focusing on the album next? I'm not sure myself, because that means sparing out some recordings I really love, at least for now... so it's just an idea, you'll have to decide and maybe do whatever your instinct is steering you towards, I've mentioned different options over time... Anyway, the opening song of her album is Oscar Winning Tears, and the live version from the Royal Albert Hall is the actual recording session for her live version of the album called "My 21st Century Symphony" - be aware that these are two completely different settings, musically, but we might still do the songs in order, yet switch between studio and live versions (or you do them both back to back in one reaction?). Amyway, as OWT live is a truly epic performance, and as there are not many videos from the live recording, most of the album is audio only outside the UK, I'd suggest you start with that OWT live if you want to keep the order and not do both versions... That's it for now, I think, love and peace!
Welcome back, Kiddo! I am pretty sure I'm not going to figure out Raye from one song. It seems there has to be some order to this chaos and perhaps you're right, I should go against my chaotic nature which seems to clash with Raye's chaotic nature confusing me all the more and actually go in some order. So, just to confirm, you're suggesting the next one I should hear is Oscar Winning Tears from which performance? A link would really help, at this point and I'll let you guide me song by song. Does that work?
@@AleksReacts perfect, here's your next one: RAYE - Oscar Winning Tears. (Live at the Royal Albert Hall) th-cam.com/video/BtdBQ1-fzXM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=9tvnI416mVH0Awf6 Good night Piccolina!
OK, I must truly appreciate your ractions to allow you to keep pulling me from my Far East into the winding paths of this mysterious and, as you said, chaotic West. Far be it from me to deny the genuinely artistic qualities of Raye. She isn’t merely commercial. For sure ! To tell you the truth, her introduction even vaguely reminded me, in spirit more than form, of what Shang Wen Jie did in her early youth in France when she sang "'the deeper you drive the knife into your flesh, the clearer everything becomes". So, we can certainly grasp the effects the West can have on minds. And then… for a jazz lover like me, who spent six years in Switzerland during my early youth, Montreux brings a wealth of memories. Her latest performance, by the way, helped me reconnect with the Montreux I knew. Anyway, regarding chaos, did you know that an ancient Chinese Emperor, weary of traveling across his vast country, had the idea to summon to his palace musicians from various Chinese provinces ? Thus, simply by listening to their music, he could diagnose the state of these provinces. He even derived a universal law of musical evolution : "When the music is serene and harmonious, the country remains at peace within its blessed tradition. When the music is romantic, the country is in the midst of revolution. When the music is loud and experimental, the country is in utter chaos". Does that ring a bell ? May I offer you an antidote in the form of Mo Li Hua by the divine Huo Zun ? th-cam.com/video/ntSruXKU07g/w-d-xo.html
Wow, now this is an interesting comment! Thanks, will listen to your suggestion when I'm done with my daily dose of RAYE! Peace and love from BavaRAYEa!
@@Hundhammer As you mentioned in your comment, music (and art) must (or may) be a reflection of the times. When I say "may be," I imply two ways of viewing this : either music conceived as a witness to the era, or music conceived as a means to heal the era. In response to a chaotic time, an artistic testimony through chaos. Or... In response to a chaotic time, the need to bring through art a serenity that can rebalance energies, reduce stress, and heal people. These are two paths. Each has its purpose and value. Chaotic art can awaken those who are asleep, while serene art calms those who are stressed. But, of course, each path is only effective when it arises spontaneously from the artist. The moment there’s a political, moral, or, even worse, commercial intent-it falls flat.
@@continentzero7572 I'm just listening to your suggestion, but I paused the video at 2:40 because that switch up completely took me by surprise. The first part was beautiful and soothing, very calm, great control, but suddenly the beat dropped and her vocals changed completely to a quite metallic and nasal tone... I don't know where this will be going as I have not finished the song, just wanted to say this for me was as unexpected and "chaotic" or "random" as RAYE's change between parts ii & iii - I love what RAYE is doing, so I don't mind what Huo Zun is doing at all, I'm just wondering about similarities and differences...
@@Hundhammer I can understand the Western listener’s bewilderment when faced with Chinese musical tradition. It’s worth noting that the song "Mo Li Hua" is 400 or 500 years old. It's probably the number one classic in China. Even Western singers, like Céline Dion or Mireille Mathieu (and many children’s choirs), have sung "Mo Li Hua". In China, Dimash has performed three or four different versions of it. Huo Zun himself, notably in a duet with Gong Lin Na, has offered us various arrangements of this song. This brings us to the subject of tradition. Contrary to what many Westerners think, tradition is not about repeating things from the past. For Eastern people, at least, tradition is a transformation of past elements in a continuous line. Not a rupture. Could jazz and rock be considered traditional African music ? Certainly not. Even if they retain a vague memory of Africa, they are a break from it. They don’t integrate into a tradition. Does flamenco belong to the tradition of Qawwali ? Even if one can trace the path of this music from India to the Camargue, no ! However, from medieval Peking Opera to the today's one, the line is direct… even though Western opera, tango, and even rap have been welcomed as guests. In the same way, all the variations of "Mo Li Hua" remain "Mo Li Hua". By the way, what you call a "metallic and nasal tone" is the conventional way of singing in Peking Opera for men in female roles. Huo Zun was a star of Peking Opera, and simply introduced an operatic style in the second part of his "Mo Li Hua", which perfectly fits this ever-evolving yet unbroken tradition.
@@continentzero7572 Again, thank you very much for your extensive explanations, appreciate that! Of course I listened to the whole song after my first pause and it sure was an interesting experience! I love digging into new musical realms and traditions, without desiring to become an expert, and it's double the pleasure to have an experienced guide! Of course I had some encounters with Chinese music and artists over the years, also Dimash and some Chinese singers on those TV shows, and I enjoyed many, but so far none grabbed me enough emotionally to really dig deeper into a specific artist, with one exception which you might find weird and bewildering: There's one quite young artist / singer who goes by the name of "Wang OK" whom I find totally thrilling. Of course she does a lot of covers of "Western" songs in English, but I love also her Chinese (Mandarin I suppose?) songs, she has something about her voice and style which I find utterly attractive... - with Huo Zun's song I definitely enjoyed her vocals in the first and final part, that "operatic" middle part was interesting, but may be a cultural thing you need to "learn" to be able to really appreciate it, just like Western opera...
Ähm, sorry Piccolina, for interrupting your duet, meanwhile it's 3 a.m. and some things have happened which didn't let me sleep, and had me change my mind completely: Of course you still might do OWT next, in the live album version I sent you the link for, and then proceed in order if you feel comfortable with that... But what just happened is: Tonight RAYE won the MTV European Music Awards for Best Artist (UK and Ireland), and she had a live performance at the 2024 EMAs which, again, totally blew me away... It's another medley of originals, and when I read the title(s) I associated certain songs, but what I got to hear was completely beyond my expectation and imagination... Also a very daring decision to chose the third song as a closer on this occasion, and to sing that one in full length, opposed to her "big" songs at the beginning being presented in completely changed snippets... Now, my thoughts are as follows: As RAYE decided this is the way she wanted to present herself to a huge new audience (the MTV EMA's are such an occasion), why not go with the flow and react to this next? It's brand new, it's exciting, it's confusing, it's different, it's genius all over the place, it's raw, it's rare, it's RAYE... I have a feeling this is just down your chaotic alley and she literally threw it in our way on the day of your first experience with her, I think this is a clear sign and although you are completely free in your decision, this is what I'm recommending now... I know you may be stubborn once you come to a decision, but you may also do the least expected, so I have no idea about how you like this new turn of events, but that's how it is, now you deal with it... - as it is new and will be trending, the EMA performance would probably get more views and attract more old and new fans to your channel, which means more comments and suggestions and work for you, but probably also fun... But you could also do "All Dressed Up" (acoustic) next and we would have a nice little party in the comments, like at the end of "Wrapped...", just Sharky hearty, you and me...here's a link for your convenience: Raye - "Escapism" / "Oscar Winning Tears" / "Body Dysmorphia" | 2024 EMAs th-cam.com/video/Wgm_HfdlNiQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=sTrPLZKrsMUyaBtS (200k views in three hrs., should be at a million by tomorrow evening...) Peace out!
Don't worry about the views. She's new to me and it generally takes a while for people at large to find a new reactor... I don't give up that easily, just because the views are low. I'm not a dummy either, so your new suggestion works from all angles. As you said, she dropped it on the day I first reacted to her, then there's the benefit of hearing 3 songs in one go which seems to be her hectic thing (and mine) and finally, it makes sense to have more people watching a reaction - I'd do it either way, but it does help when it's popular and interesting to more than 5 people. 😂 About half of the songs that I put up have a copyright claim and do not bring in cash, but I have a job and cash on TH-cam is just another way of reaffirming that I made the right decision in doing this i.e. that someone other than myself enjoys this. It might become a source of income some day. Right now it's a source of a couple a coffees a month. Then again, I like music, books and coffee (and cigarettes, but shhh about that one) 😉
@@AleksReacts I love coffee and cigarettes (the movie by Jim Jarmush, with Tom Waits, and Iggy, and Marianne, if I remember correctly -it's been a while- and more greats like Roberto Benigni...), and I have to make a confession: I love Tom Waits as a musical genius even more than as an actor... Never saw him live, but measured on the hours I spent with his music he must have been as influential for me as The Cure are for you...
I find this so interesting. Our tastes sometimes entirely overlap while other times they are complete opposites. I so did not like that movie, couldn't even finish watching it (after multiple attempts). Though I do like Iggy, Tom Waits I plan to use in my old age to bore me to sleep. 🤣 At the same time, you recommended Raye and like AJ and most of all we both seem to really like AnnenMayKantereit and Pentatonix while you really don't seem to like The Cure much (like, they're ok, but meh) or have I got that wrong?
@@AleksReacts As I said, for some years during my adolescence I would listen to their music on repeat, it perfectly met my feeling of Weltschmerz and feeling somewhat out of place with my environment, alienation if you will, and I still think they done wrote some really great songs and hooks, but somehow it feels like I have grown out of them, occasionally I came back to one song or another and still enjoyed it, but more as a dear memory than actual excitement... If you would ask me why I'm somewhat reluctant to e.g. check that new stream you and Sharkey had watched yesterday... I think I would not be disappointed, I liked that new version of Lovecats I shared yesterday, but I didn't even listen to the whole song, it was more like "ah, ja, that was that..." and then I wanted to move on... I'd say, overall, their music is somewhat too depressing for my current mood, I'm vibing on some very high energy with RAYE. Maybe I'm completely wrong, it's just that idea in my head, something in my brain saying "I'd rather watch another reaction to RAYE, or generally something else, something more uplifting..." - or more thrilling, newer to my ears... that's the case with all of my old fav bands and music, there are hundreds of CDs under my bed and I haven't been touching them in years, not The Doors, not Led Zeppelin, not even Tom Waits, very occasionally I watch a new reaction or cover if one strikes my eye and seems to be promising... Ten years ago, when moving from Munich to the Allgäu, I dumped a whole suitcase of old mixtapes / cassette recordings of LPs in the garbage container and never regretted it, whenever an old song come to my mind and I want to hear it I look it up on TH-cam... This is not to say I don't like that music anymore, it's just I don't need it anymore, there's so much exciting new music, new artists from all parts of the world accessible now on the internet, I feel like wasting my time when listening to the same old stuff over and over... I did that for many years... to a point where I suddenly felt fed up with everything, and for about two or three years quit listening to music more or less completely... and some day, by chance, I discovered Angelina and Haley (both nearly on the same day), and reaction channels, and that opened a whole new world for me... Also I find that in my old days true vocal artistry, a great voice doing crazy things is more attractive, than a certain sound, style or genre of music, though I'm generally drawn more and more towards jazz (started with that also early on, but more on the side...) But without any doubt THE CURE are a great band and I know how enjoyable they are when you're in the mood... Peace out!
Oh, I see what you mean when you mentioned The Doors. There are many bands and singers I have happily forgotten, although I loved them as a child, teenager and in my 20's. I mean, come on, when I was 14 I thought Madonna and Skid Row were great. 🤣🤣🤣 Still, to this day I cannot but stop and scream along (out of tune) when I hear e.g. Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song. With Metallica (up to the black album) and with The Cure, it's a love that never died and every now and then I sting a few hours together listening to their music, just because. I also know what you mean in terms of looking for new and fresh excitement in music and the focus on vocals that come with age. I mean, I started this entire channel to discover music I have not yet found and listen to it with other people. 😂 Then again, Robert Smith's vocals are amazing and that trademark Cure sound seems to be in my veins now... Not to worry, I don't judge people for not enjoying what many perceive as the "darkness" of The Cure. That is no reason to suddenly stop communication. We're not kids anymore. 😉 They can easily be depressing... In my mind's eye, they are everlasting romantic love, passion, fear, recklessness, dreams, pride, elegance, life, death and so many other things, but most of all they match my internal chaos like the right piece of the puzzle. ❤
Listen to it several times. It's crazy good really, albeit totally confusing at first listen. I thought you might like it and I really wonder if she'll grow on you. 😁
@@AleksReacts Oh I like it just not sure what to make of it..have not heard this before so it is new t me..will check out some of her other stuff to get a bettr sence of the artist......
I'm "not allowed" to do that if I am ever to react to her songs, but I've listened to this one multiple times and like you, I'm still not sure what to make of its entirety. This one is a conundrum. 😊 Maybe I'll figure her out as I hear more by Raye...
What a hot mess! But still fun in a weird way. Not that I would listen to this normally, but I have to say the musicians and the singer did an impressive job. It was entertaining to watch your confused reaction 🤣 Just curious, when you talked about she reminded you about some singers covering new songs in a vintage style... did you by any chance mean Vintage Jukebox? For instance, this cover by Haley Reinhart of the song "Creep" is very very impressive, even though I've never been a big fan of the song. th-cam.com/video/m3lF2qEA2cw/w-d-xo.html
Oh yes! It is! I started dropping Haley's name here on the channel a while ago, so Aleks will eventually get used to it, and I promise I'll get her to do a reaction to that one at some point, but as far as I can tell she'll be busy with a lot of reactions that are already scheduled at least until Christmas... But then, with Aleks you never know, if she's in the mood she might suddenly drop it out of the blue... At least she will note down your suggestion as we already are two... Peace and love!
@tolun99 It was entertaining to be confused by this. It is both chaotic and at the same time perfectly rehearsed. I'm glad @Hundhammer "set me up" with this one. 🤣 As he said, this is not where people usually start listening to Raye, but I actually love doing things "upside-down", so for me this worked really well. Now, I'm intrigued. 😉 Tbh, I don't know which one I meant. Everything I heard so far was not my cup of tea really - a lot of it is "cute" and musically really good, it just doesn't seem to do much for me... Can't really tell why. On the other hand, I do like "Creep" and maybe I could give vintage covers another go, especially since both of you are recommending Haley specifically. Warning, though, I still may not like it for whatever banged up reason in my head. @Hundhammer I haven't recorded a thing yet, I only have the next one for Wednesday done, so like you, even I don't know what will happen. I could avoid it or literally out of the blue feel like giving it a try... It's on the list now, of course. ❤ Now, we can just hope for midlife mood swings. 🤣🤣🤣
@@AleksReacts Follow your heart and your intuition - the most important part is that you enjoy doing this. Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure it will be great and entertaining. We don't mind surprises :)
@@AleksReacts Imo Haley is one of the most underrated vocalists they got in the US. She has the toolkit to become a legend, but she wasn't lucky with record deals, so she preferred to make a living as an independent artist... As she had some big numbers like her double platinum cover of Elvis's "Can't Help Falling In Love" or that fabulous "Creep" cover - she's incredibly expressive and sophisticated in that one and Scott Bradlee's arrangement is on point - and I see her being busy on stages with all sorts of great musicians with both covers and originals, I suppose she has the kind of life she wants for herself, living from and for her passion which is music, and being free to do whatever she wants, Whereever she wants and with whom she wants. The downside of it is that she has no promotion but by her fans, no airplay by commercial stations... but she has a strong base of dedicated fans from all parts of the world, people like you and me, who love real artistry...
@Hundhammer For you kiddo! You cared so much that I had to see it at some point. I won't share more, don't want to spoil the fun. ❤❤❤
I love RAYE. She’s PHENOMENAL. thank you for the video
Thank you for watching. ❤️
❤❤❤
Here for Raye!!
Welcome to the channel! ❤❤❤
It's only my first and I still don't know what to expect from her. Such a rollercoaster this woman!
Hey Rana, glad you found the way, was thinking about how and where to give you notice of this... This will be a great journey, Aleks is a very attentive reactor who will pick out a lot of amazing details in her songs, lyrically and emotionally... What would be your suggestion for her next reaction? I had though about going in order of the album, but mixing studio and live versions, but now as I saw her medley at the EMAs last night I changed my mind and recommended that one, as obviously that's the way RAYE decided to present herself to a large new audience... What do you think?
Now the stubborn Aleks comes in. It will be the 2024 EMAs performance. It is set in stone. However, Rana, your suggestions are welcome for future reactions too. 😉
@ I would personally love the performance at the Brits.. it provides a medley of a few different songs.
My current favourites are the music videos for Genesis and Ice Cream Man. But I’m keen on any Raye!!
This was an incredible reaction, and I loved watching it! I'd love to see you react to more of her performances-she's such a talented singer and songwriter, and her vocals are amazing. If you're open to it, I'd suggest reacting to her performance of Worth It at The Hilton on Park Lane. Or, if you're up for a longer reaction, her Tiny Desk performance is my personal favorite! Lots of love from South Africa!!
Hallo weer, my Suid-Afrikaanse vriend! 😊 I was introduced to Raye by @Hundhammer and it seems that for this particular artist I will need a guide. I've decided to let him (a major fan or Raye) give me a tour, one song at a time. Knowing me, I might veer off course at some point, and simply jump in creating even more chaos, but for starters I'll let him lead the way. Just in case I do go ballistic, I jotted down your suggestions as well. So glad you enjoyed this one! Let's see what else comes up. ❤
@@AleksReacts Both suggestions are among my favorites as well and I recommended these on various channels, if you feel like it you don't do wrong by watching these... But if we want to go in order of the album for thematic cohesion those would have to wait a little... all of the suggested songs are on her album, and the Tiny Desk has been mentioned before, it really is a wonderful stripped back performance with fours songs that lets a lot of her personality shine through as well... We might do that after her EMA's performance (next) and Oscar Winning Tears live at the Royal Albert Hall... The Tiny Desk would make a nice contrast with the full orchestra and choir of OWT... It has Worth It in it as well, but the recording at the Hilton is very different in regard of the setting and arrangement... We might do that later on... Boah, it's really hard, because I don't know how many songs I got, and my choices would be different depending on how many shots I got... And I've always said I don't want this to be a Kiddo feature, Matt's suggestions are definitely great choices, if you feel like it, do it! - Worth It at the Hilton is definitely a feel good song, very classy and elegant with a positive vibe (she placed it towards the end of her album), whereas the Tiny Desk is covering a broad spectrum of themes and emotions in a stripped back version which gives you a intimate look at her supremely sublime vocals and sweet personality... Peace and love from BavaRAYEa!
One at a time, kiddo! I'll be going with Escapism / Oscar Winning Tears / Body Dysmorphia next. Then we can figure out where to go from there. She really does create a lot of chaos and it's hard to tell what's what when you don't know it or haven't heard it yet. Half of her stuff I don't know how to put ON the list. So, I've decided. One at a time (or several in Raye's case) and we'll keep going slowly... Love to the everlasting kid in Bavaria! ❤❤❤ Your excitement is so childlike sometimes and other times you're so serious. I can't decide if you're Kiddo or Dominik.🤣
@@AleksReacts just wanted to say that Matt made some great suggestions as well...
🇨🇦 I hear a lot of Adele's influence in her voice ! 🇨🇦
See Aleks, as I said... wouldn't have come to my mind though, but it's not a minority opinion...
@Royal_BLT Odd that we disagree for once. I just do not hear it here... Maybe it comes through in some other song by Raye.
@Hundhammer Hmmm, that really is interesting. I'm starting to wonder why I do not hear it, especially with Bruce thinking it's there... We'll see as I keep going...
Such a convoluted mix, my gosh I've never seen you look almost shellshocked after you paused at 6:20 and then suddenly again at 8:00 back in time. Some of her vocals are quite pleasing though. Aleks, if I took my 1200 plus vinyl records, mashed and pressed them into one single album it would probably sound like this! Yup you are right CHAOS🥴❤ just had an additional thought, music is a lot of things amongst which is entertaining, this certainly was that!!
I did not think this could happen, this level of confusion, but Raye did it. Yes, I agree, she really can sing and has a lovely voice, but I'm still not sure what this was. It might take me a couple of years of listening to totally "get her" or maybe simply to hear more music by her... Also, I had the same feeling. She took all the music, all the lyrics, all the social media comments, all posts and conversations and squished them together into a song. Chaos, Inc. As you neatly put it, very entertaining and thought provoking chaos, though. 😂
😅🤣 I absolutely REFUSE to comment before DommyBoy does, so I'll just say thanks a lot for checking Raye out. But I WILL say that she in my mind is an absolute genius, like few others out there. Maybe THIS wouldn't be my introductory performance to her, but it does leave an impression, that's for sure. It's not one that you will easily forget. Mission accomplished in that regard 😄
I'll catch you guys later I guess. Love from Norway ♥♥♥♥♥
Yeah, let's wait for the RAYE man himself! I actually liked this one as an introduction. It's kind of "me." Glad you like it too, Shakster. ❤️❤️❤️
@@AleksReacts 👍👍👍
So here comes the RAYEman... - First of all: Thank you so much for doing this for me! Also, having read the comments and your replies and remarks at different places I know this video is documenting one moment in time, your very first encounter, but meanwhile you've heard it several times and also watched the MV, so I assume some things that might have seemed random on first listen, and in a live setting without the enhancing visuals, might have fallen in line by now... but your impression of "organized chaos" of course has a lot of value to it, one might also call it highly organized chaos because there's even more complexity to it than might appear on first listen, and of course nothing is random here... RAYE introduced this song on her Instagram with a quote by Nina Simone (whom she repeatedly mentioned as a big source of inspiration and one of her favorite artists): “It is an artists duty to reflect the times”. - So that's what she wanted to do with this song, from a very personal point of view, she's been through all she's singing and talking about, and you realized that intention early on... In my opinion she succeeded in a brilliant way, with the theme of light holding together the different parts, but actually on Spotify she released parts i, ii and iii seperately, with part ii getting many more plays than i, iii or all combined... I usually listen to the whole thing (and most reactions cover all parts, as most reactors did the MV which contains all three), I love parts i and ii, musically, but am always looking forward for the resolution into the "light" of the blues/jazz/swing part... For your private pleasure before you'll eventually dive into the next one:
On her channel there's a video of the live recording session of part iii, (whereas i & ii were put together in a studio, a contrast in the MV which of course is not noticeable in a live performance) - I enjoy watching that even without the other parts ...
Now of course I'm interested in your thoughts about the MV, as the production is quite different to what she can do live on a stage, and the visuals are actually more than just an illustration of the lyrics... - Would you have preferred to watch the MV first? As far as I know you are the first person on the internet who started her RAYE journey with this live version of Genesis, at least that's one thing that sets you apart from the flock...
And where do we go from here? As you also noticed, RAYE can do literally anything with her vocals, and she likes to do so, not always in one song though, but she covers so many themes, styles and genres it is hard to pick one song which would be "representative" for her, in a way RAYE is as much as a dozen other artists mashed into one, Ren and Rihanna is one combination I haven't heard yet, but it's as valid as Nicky Minaj and Beyoncé having a baby, or Billie Holiday and James Brown having a baby, or Amy and Adele and Drake having a baby... I've heard countless comparisons or approximations by different reactors. RAYE herself has mentioned Rihanna as a major influence as well, and she has expressed her admiration for Ren, noting his unique sound and artistry. She appreciates his storytelling ability and the emotional depth of his music...
Do you want to hear one of her major hits, watch a big performance, or would you rather discover things I consider hidden gems, like acoustic versions of songs with just one instrumentalist, or even just herself on the piano? I think you'd really enjoy her cover of Nina Simone's "Feeling Good", it's just her and a grand piano for "Like A Version" (triple j channel) - but that's not an original song... you may of course have a look at the suggestions in other comments, I don't want this to be a Kiddo show... I think you'd get most requests for Oscar Winning Tears at the Royal Albert Hall, or her Brit Awards Medley, and for a reason...these are just stellar performances musically and vocally, but I also love her more intricate, stripped songs, where her incredible voice and emotional connection shines even more; just before watching your video I watched another new reaction on another favorite channel of mine, "Soul Session Sundays", and Adrianna was crying after 20 seconds of her acoustic version of "All Dressed Up", which is one of those criminally underrated performances of her, with a ridiculously low number of views...
So I guess I'll just wait and see what you'll come up with next, basically you can't go wrong with her (lol, yesterday I saw a clip from an interview where she was asked about songs she sung which she doesn't like, and she mentioned "Tequila" with Jax Jones... you can spare out that one, she definitely has only better ones...
You have a great evening and enjoy it! Peace and love from Bavaria!
I'll start by saying that her intent is rather clear from the lyrics, but the format is just nuts in a good way. No, I would not have preferred to start with the music video, as this required more focus and the music video is kind of more "telling" - you picked the right approach that suits my somewhat chaotic nature. What I did not know is that she's speaking from personal experience as too many social topics along with personal topics are touched (though some are covered in more detail). She definitely draws attention to the light motif (in this case quite literal) which consistently throughout the song brings some hope to the chaos and it might even be possible to miss that when watching the MV until the 3rd part. Out of all the artists you mentioned I can hear some Amy in there, maybe Billie Holiday in certain parts, but definitely not Nicky Minaj, Beyoncé or Adele. Drake I happily avoided, so I can't really tell and she does not evoke James Brown for me at all.
After having read your second comment, I think it might be best to go with her turning point i.e. the album you mentioned and maybe even go in order - yes, I said that. 🤣 Seems like she created a story and it just doesn't work unless one starts at the beginning. It might end up being like reading Red Riding Hood from the belly of the wolf if I do it my usual way - chaotic and without order. 😉
I'll close with this. My husband and I don't always match in musical tastes. I say don't always match, but I mean often don't match. I wasn't yet sure what to think, but he loved it at first listen and ultimately we agreed (when I caught myself singing bits of it out of the blue).
@@AleksReacts What a beautiful comment! Definitely made my day, I will go to sleep, imagining you and your husband duetting on a RAYE song. "Worth It" would be perfect for that, but if we go in order of the album that will have to wait until close to the end... Hope none of you will ever sing Oscar Winning Tears to one another...
I think I should both laugh and cry, but I think I have to hear both songs to see exactly why. 🤣 Good night, dear Dominik!
@@AleksReacts Good night, sleep tight!
First time hearing. Uuuuhm well I guess the title says it all. Greetings from South Africa
Yeah, this can take one aback. Greetings to South Africa!
Hey Aleks, I have come back to this after attending the WIAWB premiere (great show, and I will definitely watch the beginning later on, but after they shut down my final remark in the chat which was supposed to have been "period." I felt more like watching this again and share a few more of my thoughts. I must say I enjoyed it even more the second time, as I was focusing on your facial expressions instead of what you were saying, and your helplessness and confusion at some points had me laugh out loud... Yes Ma'am, her band is tight, I love that about her music: As she's not only a vocalist, but a true musician, instrumentalist, composer and producer she knows exactly what she wants for a performance, and as she has been working with at least her core band for quite a while these guys communicate very well and deliver on point. I hope I'm not boring you with too much "story" when I'm telling you I heard her talk about how she and the band were developing and rehearsing new versions and arrangements on the fly while touring, discussing the set of the next show on the bus, in the hotel or on a plane. Of course you will discover more of her incredible versatility by reacting to different songs along the way, but as a hardcore fan who is free to spend as much time as I please with RAYE I can tell you it is a lot of fun to watch and compare different shows from last summer, she never sings a song the same way twice, and to me it seems she always manages to perfectly meet the requirements of the location and audience. This was Genesis - the Montreux version, apt for that venue and audience, but you have heard the MV version as well, and you might literally hear a rock version of a song one night, and only a couple of days later you might get a bossa version on a concert in Brazil...and it works! I think she's a truly amazing artist... - One final thought: Having heard you talking about how you love to discover a true artist through their art I wondering if it wouldn't make sense if you went to listen to the songs of her album in order. Of course, as you know by reading my comments, she has put out a lot of music before that album, but that for her was really a turning point. She has said she always wanted to record an album as a body of work, and when she was finally independent and able to that she basically wrapped a lot of her story into songs and consciously put them together in a certain order, it's, as it used to be, an album like Pink Floyd's The Wall, or The Who's Thommy, all songs are somehow interconnected and carry sort of a storyline, at least in regard of themes and moods... It's no damage that you started with Genesis, as that is a stand alone EP released after the album. Maybe kind of an abstract or epilogue to "My 21st Century Blues"... So how about leaving away covers and older songs for now and focusing on the album next? I'm not sure myself, because that means sparing out some recordings I really love, at least for now... so it's just an idea, you'll have to decide and maybe do whatever your instinct is steering you towards, I've mentioned different options over time... Anyway, the opening song of her album is Oscar Winning Tears, and the live version from the Royal Albert Hall is the actual recording session for her live version of the album called "My 21st Century Symphony" - be aware that these are two completely different settings, musically, but we might still do the songs in order, yet switch between studio and live versions (or you do them both back to back in one reaction?). Amyway, as OWT live is a truly epic performance, and as there are not many videos from the live recording, most of the album is audio only outside the UK, I'd suggest you start with that OWT live if you want to keep the order and not do both versions... That's it for now, I think, love and peace!
Welcome back, Kiddo! I am pretty sure I'm not going to figure out Raye from one song. It seems there has to be some order to this chaos and perhaps you're right, I should go against my chaotic nature which seems to clash with Raye's chaotic nature confusing me all the more and actually go in some order. So, just to confirm, you're suggesting the next one I should hear is Oscar Winning Tears from which performance? A link would really help, at this point and I'll let you guide me song by song. Does that work?
@@AleksReacts perfect, here's your next one:
RAYE - Oscar Winning Tears. (Live at the Royal Albert Hall)
th-cam.com/video/BtdBQ1-fzXM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=9tvnI416mVH0Awf6
Good night Piccolina!
Good night, Kiddo! Thanks for everything today. ❤
OK, I must truly appreciate your ractions to allow you to keep pulling me from my Far East into the winding paths of this mysterious and, as you said, chaotic West. Far be it from me to deny the genuinely artistic qualities of Raye. She isn’t merely commercial. For sure ! To tell you the truth, her introduction even vaguely reminded me, in spirit more than form, of what Shang Wen Jie did in her early youth in France when she sang "'the deeper you drive the knife into your flesh, the clearer everything becomes". So, we can certainly grasp the effects the West can have on minds.
And then… for a jazz lover like me, who spent six years in Switzerland during my early youth, Montreux brings a wealth of memories. Her latest performance, by the way, helped me reconnect with the Montreux I knew.
Anyway, regarding chaos, did you know that an ancient Chinese Emperor, weary of traveling across his vast country, had the idea to summon to his palace musicians from various Chinese provinces ? Thus, simply by listening to their music, he could diagnose the state of these provinces. He even derived a universal law of musical evolution : "When the music is serene and harmonious, the country remains at peace within its blessed tradition. When the music is romantic, the country is in the midst of revolution. When the music is loud and experimental, the country is in utter chaos". Does that ring a bell ?
May I offer you an antidote in the form of Mo Li Hua by the divine Huo Zun ? th-cam.com/video/ntSruXKU07g/w-d-xo.html
Wow, now this is an interesting comment! Thanks, will listen to your suggestion when I'm done with my daily dose of RAYE! Peace and love from BavaRAYEa!
@@Hundhammer As you mentioned in your comment, music (and art) must (or may) be a reflection of the times. When I say "may be," I imply two ways of viewing this : either music conceived as a witness to the era, or music conceived as a means to heal the era. In response to a chaotic time, an artistic testimony through chaos. Or... In response to a chaotic time, the need to bring through art a serenity that can rebalance energies, reduce stress, and heal people. These are two paths. Each has its purpose and value. Chaotic art can awaken those who are asleep, while serene art calms those who are stressed. But, of course, each path is only effective when it arises spontaneously from the artist. The moment there’s a political, moral, or, even worse, commercial intent-it falls flat.
@@continentzero7572 I'm just listening to your suggestion, but I paused the video at 2:40 because that switch up completely took me by surprise. The first part was beautiful and soothing, very calm, great control, but suddenly the beat dropped and her vocals changed completely to a quite metallic and nasal tone... I don't know where this will be going as I have not finished the song, just wanted to say this for me was as unexpected and "chaotic" or "random" as RAYE's change between parts ii & iii - I love what RAYE is doing, so I don't mind what Huo Zun is doing at all, I'm just wondering about similarities and differences...
@@Hundhammer I can understand the Western listener’s bewilderment when faced with Chinese musical tradition. It’s worth noting that the song "Mo Li Hua" is 400 or 500 years old. It's probably the number one classic in China. Even Western singers, like Céline Dion or Mireille Mathieu (and many children’s choirs), have sung "Mo Li Hua". In China, Dimash has performed three or four different versions of it. Huo Zun himself, notably in a duet with Gong Lin Na, has offered us various arrangements of this song.
This brings us to the subject of tradition. Contrary to what many Westerners think, tradition is not about repeating things from the past. For Eastern people, at least, tradition is a transformation of past elements in a continuous line. Not a rupture.
Could jazz and rock be considered traditional African music ? Certainly not. Even if they retain a vague memory of Africa, they are a break from it. They don’t integrate into a tradition. Does flamenco belong to the tradition of Qawwali ? Even if one can trace the path of this music from India to the Camargue, no !
However, from medieval Peking Opera to the today's one, the line is direct… even though Western opera, tango, and even rap have been welcomed as guests. In the same way, all the variations of "Mo Li Hua" remain "Mo Li Hua".
By the way, what you call a "metallic and nasal tone" is the conventional way of singing in Peking Opera for men in female roles. Huo Zun was a star of Peking Opera, and simply introduced an operatic style in the second part of his "Mo Li Hua", which perfectly fits this ever-evolving yet unbroken tradition.
@@continentzero7572 Again, thank you very much for your extensive explanations, appreciate that! Of course I listened to the whole song after my first pause and it sure was an interesting experience! I love digging into new musical realms and traditions, without desiring to become an expert, and it's double the pleasure to have an experienced guide! Of course I had some encounters with Chinese music and artists over the years, also Dimash and some Chinese singers on those TV shows, and I enjoyed many, but so far none grabbed me enough emotionally to really dig deeper into a specific artist, with one exception which you might find weird and bewildering: There's one quite young artist / singer who goes by the name of "Wang OK" whom I find totally thrilling. Of course she does a lot of covers of "Western" songs in English, but I love also her Chinese (Mandarin I suppose?) songs, she has something about her voice and style which I find utterly attractive... - with Huo Zun's song I definitely enjoyed her vocals in the first and final part, that "operatic" middle part was interesting, but may be a cultural thing you need to "learn" to be able to really appreciate it, just like Western opera...
Ähm, sorry Piccolina, for interrupting your duet, meanwhile it's 3 a.m. and some things have happened which didn't let me sleep, and had me change my mind completely: Of course you still might do OWT next, in the live album version I sent you the link for, and then proceed in order if you feel comfortable with that... But what just happened is: Tonight RAYE won the MTV European Music Awards for Best Artist (UK and Ireland), and she had a live performance at the 2024 EMAs which, again, totally blew me away... It's another medley of originals, and when I read the title(s) I associated certain songs, but what I got to hear was completely beyond my expectation and imagination... Also a very daring decision to chose the third song as a closer on this occasion, and to sing that one in full length, opposed to her "big" songs at the beginning being presented in completely changed snippets... Now, my thoughts are as follows: As RAYE decided this is the way she wanted to present herself to a huge new audience (the MTV EMA's are such an occasion), why not go with the flow and react to this next? It's brand new, it's exciting, it's confusing, it's different, it's genius all over the place, it's raw, it's rare, it's RAYE... I have a feeling this is just down your chaotic alley and she literally threw it in our way on the day of your first experience with her, I think this is a clear sign and although you are completely free in your decision, this is what I'm recommending now... I know you may be stubborn once you come to a decision, but you may also do the least expected, so I have no idea about how you like this new turn of events, but that's how it is, now you deal with it... - as it is new and will be trending, the EMA performance would probably get more views and attract more old and new fans to your channel, which means more comments and suggestions and work for you, but probably also fun... But you could also do "All Dressed Up" (acoustic) next and we would have a nice little party in the comments, like at the end of "Wrapped...", just Sharky hearty, you and me...here's a link for your convenience:
Raye - "Escapism" / "Oscar Winning Tears" / "Body Dysmorphia" | 2024 EMAs
th-cam.com/video/Wgm_HfdlNiQ/w-d-xo.htmlsi=sTrPLZKrsMUyaBtS
(200k views in three hrs., should be at a million by tomorrow evening...)
Peace out!
Don't worry about the views. She's new to me and it generally takes a while for people at large to find a new reactor... I don't give up that easily, just because the views are low.
I'm not a dummy either, so your new suggestion works from all angles. As you said, she dropped it on the day I first reacted to her, then there's the benefit of hearing 3 songs in one go which seems to be her hectic thing (and mine) and finally, it makes sense to have more people watching a reaction - I'd do it either way, but it does help when it's popular and interesting to more than 5 people. 😂
About half of the songs that I put up have a copyright claim and do not bring in cash, but I have a job and cash on TH-cam is just another way of reaffirming that I made the right decision in doing this i.e. that someone other than myself enjoys this. It might become a source of income some day. Right now it's a source of a couple a coffees a month. Then again, I like music, books and coffee (and cigarettes, but shhh about that one) 😉
@@AleksReacts I love coffee and cigarettes (the movie by Jim Jarmush, with Tom Waits, and Iggy, and Marianne, if I remember correctly -it's been a while- and more greats like Roberto Benigni...), and I have to make a confession: I love Tom Waits as a musical genius even more than as an actor... Never saw him live, but measured on the hours I spent with his music he must have been as influential for me as The Cure are for you...
I find this so interesting. Our tastes sometimes entirely overlap while other times they are complete opposites. I so did not like that movie, couldn't even finish watching it (after multiple attempts). Though I do like Iggy, Tom Waits I plan to use in my old age to bore me to sleep. 🤣 At the same time, you recommended Raye and like AJ and most of all we both seem to really like AnnenMayKantereit and Pentatonix while you really don't seem to like The Cure much (like, they're ok, but meh) or have I got that wrong?
@@AleksReacts As I said, for some years during my adolescence I would listen to their music on repeat, it perfectly met my feeling of Weltschmerz and feeling somewhat out of place with my environment, alienation if you will, and I still think they done wrote some really great songs and hooks, but somehow it feels like I have grown out of them, occasionally I came back to one song or another and still enjoyed it, but more as a dear memory than actual excitement... If you would ask me why I'm somewhat reluctant to e.g. check that new stream you and Sharkey had watched yesterday... I think I would not be disappointed, I liked that new version of Lovecats I shared yesterday, but I didn't even listen to the whole song, it was more like "ah, ja, that was that..." and then I wanted to move on... I'd say, overall, their music is somewhat too depressing for my current mood, I'm vibing on some very high energy with RAYE. Maybe I'm completely wrong, it's just that idea in my head, something in my brain saying "I'd rather watch another reaction to RAYE, or generally something else, something more uplifting..." - or more thrilling, newer to my ears... that's the case with all of my old fav bands and music, there are hundreds of CDs under my bed and I haven't been touching them in years, not The Doors, not Led Zeppelin, not even Tom Waits, very occasionally I watch a new reaction or cover if one strikes my eye and seems to be promising... Ten years ago, when moving from Munich to the Allgäu, I dumped a whole suitcase of old mixtapes / cassette recordings of LPs in the garbage container and never regretted it, whenever an old song come to my mind and I want to hear it I look it up on TH-cam... This is not to say I don't like that music anymore, it's just I don't need it anymore, there's so much exciting new music, new artists from all parts of the world accessible now on the internet, I feel like wasting my time when listening to the same old stuff over and over... I did that for many years... to a point where I suddenly felt fed up with everything, and for about two or three years quit listening to music more or less completely... and some day, by chance, I discovered Angelina and Haley (both nearly on the same day), and reaction channels, and that opened a whole new world for me... Also I find that in my old days true vocal artistry, a great voice doing crazy things is more attractive, than a certain sound, style or genre of music, though I'm generally drawn more and more towards jazz (started with that also early on, but more on the side...) But without any doubt THE CURE are a great band and I know how enjoyable they are when you're in the mood... Peace out!
Oh, I see what you mean when you mentioned The Doors. There are many bands and singers I have happily forgotten, although I loved them as a child, teenager and in my 20's. I mean, come on, when I was 14 I thought Madonna and Skid Row were great. 🤣🤣🤣
Still, to this day I cannot but stop and scream along (out of tune) when I hear e.g. Led Zeppelin's Immigrant Song. With Metallica (up to the black album) and with The Cure, it's a love that never died and every now and then I sting a few hours together listening to their music, just because.
I also know what you mean in terms of looking for new and fresh excitement in music and the focus on vocals that come with age. I mean, I started this entire channel to discover music I have not yet found and listen to it with other people. 😂 Then again, Robert Smith's vocals are amazing and that trademark Cure sound seems to be in my veins now...
Not to worry, I don't judge people for not enjoying what many perceive as the "darkness" of The Cure. That is no reason to suddenly stop communication. We're not kids anymore. 😉 They can easily be depressing... In my mind's eye, they are everlasting romantic love, passion, fear, recklessness, dreams, pride, elegance, life, death and so many other things, but most of all they match my internal chaos like the right piece of the puzzle. ❤
Damn..there is a lot going on here...a mix of a bunch of styles but it is interesting..not sure what to make of it.....
Listen to it several times. It's crazy good really, albeit totally confusing at first listen. I thought you might like it and I really wonder if she'll grow on you. 😁
@@AleksReacts Oh I like it just not sure what to make of it..have not heard this before so it is new t me..will check out some of her other stuff to get a bettr sence of the artist......
I'm "not allowed" to do that if I am ever to react to her songs, but I've listened to this one multiple times and like you, I'm still not sure what to make of its entirety. This one is a conundrum. 😊 Maybe I'll figure her out as I hear more by Raye...
What a hot mess! But still fun in a weird way. Not that I would listen to this normally, but I have to say the musicians and the singer did an impressive job. It was entertaining to watch your confused reaction 🤣
Just curious, when you talked about she reminded you about some singers covering new songs in a vintage style... did you by any chance mean Vintage Jukebox? For instance, this cover by Haley Reinhart of the song "Creep" is very very impressive, even though I've never been a big fan of the song.
th-cam.com/video/m3lF2qEA2cw/w-d-xo.html
Oh yes! It is! I started dropping Haley's name here on the channel a while ago, so Aleks will eventually get used to it, and I promise I'll get her to do a reaction to that one at some point, but as far as I can tell she'll be busy with a lot of reactions that are already scheduled at least until Christmas... But then, with Aleks you never know, if she's in the mood she might suddenly drop it out of the blue... At least she will note down your suggestion as we already are two... Peace and love!
@tolun99 It was entertaining to be confused by this. It is both chaotic and at the same time perfectly rehearsed. I'm glad @Hundhammer "set me up" with this one. 🤣 As he said, this is not where people usually start listening to Raye, but I actually love doing things "upside-down", so for me this worked really well. Now, I'm intrigued. 😉
Tbh, I don't know which one I meant. Everything I heard so far was not my cup of tea really - a lot of it is "cute" and musically really good, it just doesn't seem to do much for me... Can't really tell why. On the other hand, I do like "Creep" and maybe I could give vintage covers another go, especially since both of you are recommending Haley specifically. Warning, though, I still may not like it for whatever banged up reason in my head.
@Hundhammer I haven't recorded a thing yet, I only have the next one for Wednesday done, so like you, even I don't know what will happen. I could avoid it or literally out of the blue feel like giving it a try... It's on the list now, of course. ❤ Now, we can just hope for midlife mood swings. 🤣🤣🤣
@@AleksReacts Follow your heart and your intuition - the most important part is that you enjoy doing this. Whatever you decide to do, I'm sure it will be great and entertaining. We don't mind surprises :)
@@Hundhammer Yeah, Haley is great. Don't know why she always have to sing in a "seductive" style though 🤣. But it's fine, her voice is simply amazing.
@@AleksReacts Imo Haley is one of the most underrated vocalists they got in the US. She has the toolkit to become a legend, but she wasn't lucky with record deals, so she preferred to make a living as an independent artist... As she had some big numbers like her double platinum cover of Elvis's "Can't Help Falling In Love" or that fabulous "Creep" cover - she's incredibly expressive and sophisticated in that one and Scott Bradlee's arrangement is on point - and I see her being busy on stages with all sorts of great musicians with both covers and originals, I suppose she has the kind of life she wants for herself, living from and for her passion which is music, and being free to do whatever she wants, Whereever she wants and with whom she wants. The downside of it is that she has no promotion but by her fans, no airplay by commercial stations... but she has a strong base of dedicated fans from all parts of the world, people like you and me, who love real artistry...