I remember this actual performance! I was there and I am in the film!! It was filmed for Top of the Pops in Bournemouth at "the Village Bowl" They filmed two songs - this and Hocus Pocus That is why some of the audience shots show the headbangers (me included) rocking to the other song! At the end of the clip mine is the face in the centre as the camera lifts out - I have looked for this clip for ages but always for Hocus Pocus so never found it till now. BRILLIANT!!! thanks for postng it.
Focus, a cool band for sure. I'm an older person now and glad this kind of music was around when I was just a young pup. These guys are phonomenal musicians. They were playing stuff like this at a time when there was more respect for the creative aspect in music. I'm thankful this time existed and I was around to take it in.
This wil always remain.. In 100 years there will still be people enjoying this absolutely outstanding song. All we gotta do is thank god on our bare knees that this kind of music was made..
Dt nummer brengt me direkt weer terug naar de tijd dat ik in de brugklas zat. Start jaren '70. Prachtig om weer te horen. Akkerman speelt hier magistraal....
As an 11 year old I watched this on TOTP in 1972 and had my musical perspective changed forever! Magical stuff - I never thought I would ever see the piece of film again!!
Bij de eerste tonen van dit nummer komen al mijn emoties en lichamelijke reacties los: tranen, kippevel, brok in mijn keel...wat een juweel van muzikale genialiteit!!
Gaaaaf!! Eindelijk beelden van Focus met Sylvia... Was nog maar 6 of 7 jaar en had ze nooit met dit nummer op tv gezien.... Hoorde dit nummer alleen maar op de radio....
I was enthralled with this in 1973 - lost track and found it again on Amazon starting from just remembering Dutch and the year. I am very happy to be reunited. Inspiring and joyful piece
Takes me back to my early days listening to this and many other classics on Radio Caroline. I missed Caroline and all the other album stations before the Internet brought all this fantastic music back to life for a new generation to hear. Great Post
..Als dit prachtige nummer vroeger in een ochtendprogramma op de radio kwam... was het onmogelijk in m'n bedje te blijven liggen! Door deze ode aan Sylvia bruiste ik van energie, wilde absoluut alles uit de dag halen!! Heerlijke stimulator.....Katalysator bedoel ik eigenlijk!!!!
I used to always think this sounded like the music after everything's come right in the movies... Like a sort of triumph but with elements of nostalgia :)
I first listened to this song when i was 5 years old. I clearly remember my sister who was a huge fun of focus, lifting me up and dancing with me on her hands. You never forget their tunes they are pure magic. Amazing music, amazing group!
I dont think there is a better instrumental track from a band, in my opinion. I love this now as i did as a boy growing up in the seventies. Proper brilliant
I remember hearing this for the first time ever at Xmas on uk radio in the 90s,bought the cd the very next day.Hooked forever!What a tune.He is an Absolute musical Genious.
Saw this band live in the early 70's not long after Sylvia was released. Moving Waves was one of those 'must have' albums along with Dark Side of the Moon and Tubular Bells - shame they lost their way though.
You are absolutely right. That's what I think too. A great dutch virtuoso and I know his music since I was twelve years old and at that time I used to listen to Zappa and Hendrtix as well. Jantje je bent de beste! (That's dutch)
One of the best instrumentals of all times it's way underrated ! ! ! ! can't believe it, been playing electric guitar for 15 years, first heard this a few months ago.........................................
Remember this on TOPT in 1973.....with lovely Jimmy Savile..erdle erdle erdle....what a great piece and a great band.....shame about old Now then Now then. Keep Focused !
This is what real music is all about. Focus are a one of a kind band and are amazing. I hope they carry on for another 40 years in some from or another. Timless.
Unreal. One of the most perfect tunes ever written. How some of the audience can 'headbang' to it defies belief. Me; I'd make a loop of it, close my eyes and sip champagne 'till I fell into a coma. :-).
I was 18 years old had my first bass guitar and sort out this baseline....wow stil love to play it!!! ( later on my first band had a guitar player who happened to be the nephew of the guitar player of focus ( jan akkerman))
I remember hearing this in the 90s for the first time ever in Liverpool on a radio station and was absolutely hooked and went and bought the album from HMV in Liverpool the very next day.I believe he played in St Helens in 2015 which I sadly missed but I hope to catch him one day as he is a legend for writing such a fantastic tune!
Why oh why are there not more instrumentals in popular music? I have nothing against singers/songwriters but I really enjoy simply listening to music without the distraction of words and/or images(ie. music videos). I'd love to hear 10-30% instrumental music on the radio. Especially of this quality!!
I love the tempo change at 2:37. To me, that is the most beautiful part of the song. Jan Akkerman's volume swells on the Gibson Les Paul blending in with Thijs van Leer's roaring Hammond sound. I love it!
Hey dont worry its all still out there to listen to. In those days we had not internet - you only shared music, but taping each other's records. Boy was it slow. Much better now that 100 years of great music - and more new every year - is safely backed up digitally. We'll never lose the great now.
Adam Walker I used to feel the same way when I'd hear the song Games People Play by The Alan Parsons Project on the local classic rock radio station here in my hometown. I'd think to myself, what a kick ass tune. But the DJ's would NEVER mention who played it. It was only recently that I was able to figure out who played it, and now I want to get the album it's featured on.
Still remember when this was a single in 1973. Thiijs Van Leer, Bert Ruiter, Pierre Van Der Linden and the Dutch master himself, the enigmatic Jan Akkerman, voted best Rock guitarist of 1973 by Guitar Player magazine. I ended up buying the Live at the Rainbow album that year. Hocus Pocus gets all the acclaim, but Sylvia is the shit.
Huge hit when I lived in Holland in the early seventies and listened to Radio Noordsee International and went to clubs in Rotterdam. Nothing but love for the Dutch people who were absolutely wonderful.
I remember listening to this brilliant piece of music at 2 minutes to midnight on radio luxemburg when it went to no. 1 in their chart back in 1973, don't I miss those times!!!
Nice to see some footage of Jan Akkerman still playing in Focus..I must have been 6 years when i was captured by this tune..Not knowing that it was Focus at first when i heard this on Radio Veronica....I only listened to pirate stations like Radio Caroline, Mi Amigo...
Jan Akkerman, I could see him playing Guitar Hero in the ancient theater of the National Hotel in Rio decade of 80. And this day also played Leslie West and Whishbone Ash, good memories
Fantastic tune! The part where Focus slows down "Sylvia" from 2:37 to 2:46 is my favourite part of the song. I just love Jan Akkerman's volume swells and Thijs van Leer's roaring Hammond in that section.
Over the years I have started quite a few young people on the way with guitar and all without exeption ask what inspired me? I play this and they understand.Thanks focus,led zep,deep purple, sabbath,moody blues for real music.
SYLVIA najväčší hit holándskej skupiny FOCUS, ktorý bol v UK rebríčku 11 týždňov od 27. januara 1973 a obsadil 4.m.Holandskú rockovú skupinu tvorili Jan Akkerman gitara, Thijs Van Leer klavesy, Bert Ruiter basová gitara a Pierre Van Den Linden bicie. Akkerman a Van Den Linden predtým hrali v beatovej skupine Brainbox. Skupina kombinovala progresívnu rockovú hudbu s klasikou a jazzovými inprovizáciami V roku 1973 sa novým hráčom na bicie stal Colin Allen bývalý člen anglickej skupiny Stone The Crows. Po neúspech albumu Motherfocus z roku 1975 sa skupina rozpadla. V UK rebríčku mali v TOP 10 dva albumy. MOVING WAVES bol v rebríčku 34 týždňov od 11. novembra 1972 a obsadil 2.m. a FOCUS 3 bol v ňom 15 týždňov od 2. decembra 1972 a obsadil 6.m..
seen them in Manchester f***k knows how many years ago Brilliant , then seen them 2 years ago,,,,,,,,still brilliant despite Jan akerman leaving ..got an excellent young lead guitarist
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I remember this actual performance! I was there and I am in the film!!
It was filmed for Top of the Pops in Bournemouth at "the Village Bowl" They filmed two songs - this and Hocus Pocus That is why some of the audience shots show the headbangers (me included) rocking to the other song!
At the end of the clip mine is the face in the centre as the camera lifts out - I have looked for this clip for ages but always for Hocus Pocus so never found it till now.
BRILLIANT!!! thanks for postng it.
Focus, a cool band for sure. I'm an older person now and glad this kind of music was around when I was just a young pup. These guys are phonomenal musicians. They were playing stuff like this at a time when there was more respect for the creative aspect in music. I'm thankful this time existed and I was around to take it in.
Jan Akkerman is voor mij de beste gitarist allertijden.
Prachtige gitaarwerk.
Het beste van nederlandse bodem.
This wil always remain..
In 100 years there will still be people enjoying this absolutely outstanding song.
All we gotta do is thank god on our bare knees that this kind of music was made..
I am a guitarist - have been my whole life.... and this is the song that made me a lifelong Jan Akkerman fan some +40 years ago.
One of the most talented groups of musicians ever brought together and seriously underrated. This is an awesome track.
This song doesnt need lyrics.The guitar speaks for itself.This is one of my favorites.
Dt nummer brengt me direkt weer terug naar de tijd dat ik in de brugklas zat. Start jaren '70. Prachtig om weer te horen. Akkerman speelt hier magistraal....
Focus - in my humble opinion....a brilliant group of the early 70's and so underrated.
How can any human possibly dislike this?!
i miss the seventies for great music like this
Stunning. Always gives me goose bumps whenever it's played on the radio, a real timeless classic and superb musicianship.
In my opinion, one of the most beautiful songs ever made.
ONE OF THE BEST INSTRUMENTALS OF ALL TIME 41 YEARS OLD AND STILL AS GOOD AS EVER
As an 11 year old I watched this on TOTP in 1972 and had my musical perspective changed forever! Magical stuff - I never thought I would ever see the piece of film again!!
Bij de eerste tonen van dit nummer komen al mijn emoties en lichamelijke reacties los: tranen, kippevel, brok in mijn keel...wat een juweel van muzikale genialiteit!!
A sweet melody with a touch of melancholy .....
Gaaaaf!!
Eindelijk beelden van Focus met Sylvia...
Was nog maar 6 of 7 jaar en had ze nooit met dit nummer op tv gezien....
Hoorde dit nummer alleen maar op de radio....
I was enthralled with this in 1973 - lost track and found it again on Amazon starting from just remembering Dutch and the year. I am very happy to be reunited. Inspiring and joyful piece
My Mum's maiden name was Ayres
Aye Jan Ackkerman...melodious genius... (y)
Takes me back to my early days listening to this and many other classics on Radio Caroline. I missed Caroline and all the other album stations before the Internet brought all this fantastic music back to life for a new generation to hear. Great Post
..Als dit prachtige nummer vroeger in een ochtendprogramma op de radio kwam...
was het onmogelijk in m'n bedje te blijven liggen! Door deze ode aan Sylvia bruiste ik van energie, wilde absoluut alles uit de dag halen!! Heerlijke stimulator.....Katalysator bedoel ik eigenlijk!!!!
Absolute stratospheric song - needs to be played very loudly
Great and brings back so many memories. Quite an emotive piece - takes me right back to living in Holland.
I used to always think this sounded like the music after everything's come right in the movies... Like a sort of triumph but with elements of nostalgia :)
Exactly- well put
What an amazing guitarist Jan Akkerman is! Can't believe he actually adjusts the tuning of his guitar mid-tune at 1:22!
This is just like a Johann Sebastian Bach prelude... The chord progressions are pure happy logic!
This is why I fell in love with rock music
I first listened to this song when i was 5 years old. I clearly remember my sister who was a huge fun of focus, lifting me up and dancing with me on her hands. You never forget their tunes they are pure magic. Amazing music, amazing group!
Just a brilliant piece of music from the 70s
I was there at the farm in Geel Belgium in the early 70 s were it al started I have so many great memories it inspired the rest of my live
I dont think there is a better instrumental track from a band, in my opinion. I love this now as i did as a boy growing up in the seventies. Proper brilliant
i was kid at school and 13.......brings back memories for me........so much.
I was at school by those years...I used to run home and turn on the radio to hear Meridiano Juvenil with one of its classics: FOCUS !!! YEAHH !!
Zonder twijfel de beste Nederlandse groep ooit.
This was played on BBC Radio 2 radio this afternoon. Just wonderful.
I'll bet it was the Ken Bruce show.
SuperRosie123 This should be played on BBC Radio 2 every day.
Almost 40 years and it is still VERY GOOD!
Focus really were something else. I was a teenager and already into prog rock when they came along. Legend!
There aren't many rock tunes that can be described as 'beautiful' but this is one of the few.
heard this on the radio ages ago......now I have found it!!!! awesome track :)
we need rock times again...
+Diego Morales And to know that the leadguitarist Jan Akkerman didn't like the song at first...
+Diego Morales Hope it will make an great comeback some day
Awesome piece. Just joy, joy with no doubts.
This song changed my life back in 72...well it sent me on a trajectory ( with other songs )
Whoever uploaded this. Thank you big time.
yeah me too,i played it to death as a 11yr old kid in 72
What a magnificent channel!
Focus were and still are the greatest band ever, not just in The Netherlands, but the WORLD!
I remember hearing this for the first time ever at Xmas on uk radio in the 90s,bought the cd the very next day.Hooked forever!What a tune.He is an Absolute musical Genious.
Gewoon omdat ik van je hou...!!!
Greetings from USA (and Chile)
Saw this band live in the early 70's not long after Sylvia was released. Moving Waves was one of those 'must have' albums along with Dark Side of the Moon and Tubular Bells - shame they lost their way though.
Shredlessly beautiful...and all the Dudes are on it..
You are absolutely right. That's what I think too. A great dutch virtuoso and I know his music since I was twelve years old and at that time I used to listen to Zappa and Hendrtix as well. Jantje je bent de beste! (That's dutch)
First heard this when I was about 12. Definitely one of the first tracks that taught me music is such a joy. Still love it today at aged 48..
Focus, simply one band no compares to nobody
yes indeed this guy can sing 4 octaves Axl Rose can sing 5 serious stuff this, happywhateveryourdoing 🎼
Pokaz pieknej muzyki ktora przekracza wszelkie bariery srodowiskowe, mentalne, psychiczne i ludowe, nie wazne skad jestesmy, wazne jakimi jestesmy!!!!
Esta canción tiene algo que me atrapa: es como si la alegría y la añoranza de tiempos pasados se entrelazaran en una sola canción.
One of the best instrumentals of all times
it's way underrated ! ! ! !
can't believe it, been playing electric guitar for 15 years, first heard this a few months ago.........................................
Remember this on TOPT in 1973.....with lovely Jimmy Savile..erdle erdle erdle....what a great piece and a great band.....shame about old Now then Now then. Keep Focused !
This is what real music is all about. Focus are a one of a kind band and are amazing. I hope they carry on for another 40 years in some from or another. Timless.
I'm 17, and I personally LOVE it!
Unreal. One of the most perfect tunes ever written. How some of the audience can 'headbang' to it defies belief. Me; I'd make a loop of it, close my eyes and sip champagne 'till I fell into a coma. :-).
I was 18 years old had my first bass guitar and sort out this baseline....wow stil love to play it!!! ( later on my first band had a guitar player who happened to be the nephew of the guitar player of focus ( jan akkerman))
I remember hearing this in the 90s for the first time ever in Liverpool on a radio station and was absolutely hooked and went and bought the album from HMV in Liverpool the very next day.I believe he played in St Helens in 2015 which I sadly missed but I hope to catch him one day as he is a legend for writing such a fantastic tune!
They're playing in the Epstein Theatre in Liverpool this October. I'll be going for sure!
Such a good tune I so remember it mid seventies, focus pocus fantasticus.
One of the greatest pieces of music ever, Great memories. Genius.
THE GREATEST INSTRUMENTAL OF ALL TIME VAN LEER WAS A GENIUS
Why oh why are there not more instrumentals in popular music?
I have nothing against singers/songwriters but I really enjoy simply listening to music without the distraction of words and/or images(ie. music videos).
I'd love to hear 10-30% instrumental music on the radio.
Especially of this quality!!
Great memories and see they are playing Glasgow this week. If only we had hair we could do some headbanging again
I love the tempo change at 2:37. To me, that is the most beautiful part of the song. Jan Akkerman's volume swells on the Gibson Les Paul blending in with Thijs van Leer's roaring Hammond sound. I love it!
Best piece of 70 s Dutch rock Ever!!!!!
This was the 1970's, those were the days when pop stars knew how to make good music, unlike today.
why do I live in this day n age what a shame. shame on the music industry for not giving us such brilliance as this 😖
I agree
Lol thx man, would love to see original focus play a gig and yea I'll check those songs out thx again.
Hey dont worry its all still out there to listen to. In those days we had not internet - you only shared music, but taping each other's records. Boy was it slow. Much better now that 100 years of great music - and more new every year - is safely backed up digitally. We'll never lose the great now.
just had one of those "what's this?!?! OH it's that song I really like but never knew who it was" moments!
Adam Walker I used to feel the same way when I'd hear the song Games People Play by The Alan Parsons Project on the local classic rock radio station here in my hometown. I'd think to myself, what a kick ass tune. But the DJ's would NEVER mention who played it. It was only recently that I was able to figure out who played it, and now I want to get the album it's featured on.
+Adam Walker I love those :)
+Adam Walker
Des O'Connor is like that for many people.
+Adam Walker old song but so young
dont you dare diss des o conner he is a musical genius.
This brings back memory of decades gone by....great music
Best listened to on a sunlounger looking up at the clouds🎼😍
I love these guys....
Still remember when this was a single in 1973. Thiijs Van Leer, Bert Ruiter, Pierre Van Der Linden and the Dutch master himself, the enigmatic Jan Akkerman, voted best Rock guitarist of 1973 by Guitar Player magazine. I ended up buying the Live at the Rainbow album that year. Hocus Pocus gets all the acclaim, but Sylvia is the shit.
wonderful memories 38 years old and still sounds as good as ever
This song has the best vibes ever.
Thanks irenehj for this.
and their adaptions to Brahms, Bach unique! in a way ahead of time!remember its taken place in the 70ties! incredible! focus forever!
Huge hit when I lived in Holland in the early seventies and listened to Radio Noordsee International and went to clubs in Rotterdam. Nothing but love for the Dutch people who were absolutely wonderful.
I remember listening to this brilliant piece of music at 2 minutes to midnight on radio luxemburg when it went to no. 1 in their chart back in 1973, don't I miss those times!!!
the most underrated song of all times ! ! !
GREAT ! ! !
Nice to see some footage of Jan Akkerman still playing in Focus..I must have been 6 years when i was captured by this tune..Not knowing that it was Focus at first when i heard this on Radio Veronica....I only listened to pirate stations like Radio Caroline, Mi Amigo...
Unforgettable sounds.
I love Sylvia. Gracias por tu mùsica Focus.
Jan Akkerman, I could see him playing Guitar Hero in the ancient theater of the National Hotel in Rio decade of 80. And this day also played Leslie West and Whishbone Ash, good memories
Fantastic tune! The part where Focus slows down "Sylvia" from 2:37 to 2:46 is my favourite part of the song. I just love Jan Akkerman's volume swells and Thijs van Leer's roaring Hammond in that section.
I love this, don't know why but it is strangely comforting.
What a brilliant track
this is just so....GREAT!!
Fantastic - sooooooo good.
gran banda sinfonica con mucho vuelo!! por suerte fue mi primer vinilo en el 75...
You might want to learn how to spell yourself...idiot.
Woahh, I didn't know the song is that old! I really love this song, and thanks to my dad for introducing me to this song!
Over the years I have started quite a few young people on the way with guitar and all without exeption ask what inspired me? I play this and they understand.Thanks focus,led zep,deep purple, sabbath,moody blues for real music.
Das ist so ein geiles Stück-auch nach so langer Zeit...
If you only know 'Sylvia', check out the video of 'Focus 3'. That was their genius at it's epic best.
SYLVIA najväčší hit holándskej skupiny FOCUS, ktorý bol v UK rebríčku 11 týždňov od 27. januara 1973 a obsadil 4.m.Holandskú rockovú skupinu tvorili Jan Akkerman gitara, Thijs Van Leer klavesy, Bert Ruiter basová gitara a Pierre Van Den Linden bicie. Akkerman a Van Den Linden predtým hrali v beatovej skupine Brainbox. Skupina kombinovala progresívnu rockovú hudbu s klasikou a jazzovými inprovizáciami V roku 1973 sa novým hráčom na bicie stal Colin Allen bývalý člen anglickej skupiny Stone The Crows. Po neúspech albumu Motherfocus z roku 1975 sa skupina rozpadla. V UK rebríčku mali v TOP 10 dva albumy. MOVING WAVES bol v rebríčku 34 týždňov od 11. novembra 1972 a obsadil 2.m. a FOCUS 3 bol v ňom 15 týždňov od 2. decembra 1972 a obsadil 6.m..
I remember when this song was used to introduce "12 Star Theater" that came on at about 12 pm down in Palm Beach County Channel. Great instrumental
make that 12 am in the morning!
my fave song of all time. still sounds great 2day. luv the film as well. thanx 4 postin.
seen them in Manchester f***k knows how many years ago Brilliant , then seen them 2 years ago,,,,,,,,still brilliant despite Jan akerman leaving ..got an excellent young lead guitarist
the melody is just perfect! love the song!!!!
Great song . Didn't know this band , what a guitar player
I love to play this on my Les Paul special. Other great Focus songs are 'Hocus Pocus' and 'House of the King'!!