I would highly recommend the Alchemy Live version of this song. I would call it the greatest live performance of all time, with explosive drum playing and insane guitar playing. Actually, even though I originally thought it would be impossible, I would consider it twice as good as the studio version. You guys would love it!
react to the live alchemy version. This version just pales to the alchemy one. People react to this version by ignorance, this version is like 6 minutes, the live version is huge it takes 12 minutes, so you lose like half the song here and the drums and guitars and even the synths are great.
I'm just going to echo the previous comments about watching/listening to the Alchemy Live version, AMAZING! Just close your eyes and absorb the master of Mark Knopfler in that live version.
The old grey whistle test version is well worth looking at, it was one of the first times they appeared on TV, shortly after the release of sultans of swing. 😉
You should watch recordings of them playing live back when their debut album came out. Sultans of Swing, Down To the Waterline and others all played almost note-for-note exactly like the recordings. It's quite remarkable. Later Knopfler preferred to mix things up and freelance solos to keep things interesting for himself and the audience, but the discipline of those early days show just how masterful he is as a musician.
Not the first time I've said this but...... When I first heard this song, it was like a "I Want to Hold Your Hand" moment for me. I had never heard anything quite like it before and Mark Knopfler's guitar (and voice) were just so smooth. The album was almost instantly in high demand and it took a few days for me to get my hands on it (I had a friend who worked at the record store and he held a copy for me when they got restocked) A verse in the song mentions making a guitar "cry or sing"...... this is exactly what Knopfler does so well. I posted "Lady Writer" on your FB page, another fine song. Also, "Walk of Life". I'm VERY glad you took SoS for a review. Great job!!!
I think there isn't a chorus so that the song keeps with the jazz theme. Not many choruses in jazz, and the guitar riffs and solo take the place of where a chorus would traditionally be. Also, the drumming is phenomenal
A lot of people thought this was a Bob Dylan song with Dylan just singing under a fake name. (Think of Eric Clapton in Derek and the Dominos.) No one had heard of Dire Straits when the album came out.
Watch the documentaries "Guitar Stories 1 to 3" involving John Illsley and Mark Knopfler. Mark talks about the creative process of Sultans of Swing... Yes, he originally wrote it on an acoustic guitar but didn't like what he heard. Then he got the 1961/62 candy red Fender Strat and re-wrote it on that! His finger-picking and the pickups on that Fender are what made the song come alive in the final version.
Yup, great song. They're an easy band to overlook precisely because they are so tasteful and unpretentiously solid but there's not much not to like here. Certainly, Knopfler is one of the all-time great guitarists who stood out from much of the guitar sounds of the time, which included the minimalism of punk/ new wave and the shredding of heavy metal. My faves of theirs are probably Romeo and Juliet and Brothers in Arms but don't overlook Knopfler's soundtrack for Local Hero or at least the Local Hero theme.
When I hear that line about "Guitar George" not wanting to make his guitar cry, I can't help but think it's a nod George Harrison and While My Guitar Gently Weeps (cos George didn't play the lead, he was strictly rhythm on that). But if you want to hear Mark make his guitar cry and sing on this song, check out the live versions, whether it's Live Aid, from the live Alchemy album, or the Live at Wembley Arena (which pple have uploaded on YT)
I would suggest a live version of Brothers in Arms for a different take on their music. nearly all the live versions are better than the studio versions.
🎶🎸✌️☕🚛 Mark Knopfler now like Lindsey Buckingham one of the best fingerstyle rock guitarist who does not use a pic at all. dire Straits was known as adult oriented album Rock back-in-the-day lot of kids really weren't into it but once you hit your late teens and early adulthood and on is who they were geared towards. _I looked at that discord I'm not a gamer and it's not really going to be for me sorry_ I just don't think I can figure all that out. looked at the app but it was just a little too complicated for my old brain
Well strictly speaking it's is truer to say he rarely uses a pick. He does on occasion. One example is on Our Shangri-La. The variety of techniques and variety of guitars combine to make Knopfler's playing so enjoyable. Almost always instantly recognisable, yet so diverse in its sound. Just compare Sultans of Swing to Money for Nothing, or Brothers in Arms to Romeo and Juliet, or Private Investigations to Walk of Life... and that's just from his Dire Straits days!
While you are listening to Dire Straits, you MUST listen to 'Wild West END'. IMHO the best DS song ever! th-cam.com/video/bfVkzBAGUVw/w-d-xo.html with Lyrics th-cam.com/video/KOwJjCcEzT0/w-d-xo.html
Your comments about storytelling are bang on. Everyone can recognise Knopfler's brilliant guitar playing but so many overlook the fact that he's a flat out genius lyricist too. He has a remarkable ability to condense stories about people, places and events into a handful of verses. I recommend checking out his solo work too. If you prefer a tempo similar to Sultans of Swing then you might enjoy songs like What It Is, Boom Like That or Border Reiver. Knopfler's also performed duets with others, such as Sailing to Philadelphia with James Taylor (about the men who mapped the eponymous Mason Dixon Line), Wherever I Go with Ruth Moody and a whole album, All The Road Running, with Emmylou Harris which concludes with a very emotional song Mark wrote after 9-11 called If This Is Goodbye.
The Sultan of Swing album was one jamming piece of music. Excellent lyrics with music a bit different than what playing at the time. Every song on that album was badass. Great reaction guys.
Wow gotta ask what speaker setup u using there? Sounds so rich, the bass is pounding but it still manages to sound so crisp and clear and nothing overpowering
Live version of the drums with this song is slightly different and much better that even that, Sina Drums gives a good rendition of it so you can hear the difference
I thought the only song of theirs that I’d heard of was Money For Nothing, I had NO idea that it was them that did this one. So much better than Money for Nothing. The smooth guitar work reminds me a lot of Eric Clapton and John Mayer.
As is so often the case, the late, great Douglas Adams said it best: '...Mark Knopfler has an extraordinary ability to make a Schecter Custom Stratocaster hoot and sing like angels on a Saturday night, exhausted from being good all week and needing a stiff drink...' Glad to see you guys really digging this one - I bet you were both tempted to break out the ol' Air Guitar at times, yes...? (I know I did...!!!). As for future Dire Straits song reactions, your best bets would probably include the fantastic 'Romeo and Juliet' and/or the song that I think Adams is referring to in the quote above, namely 'Tunnel of Love'...plus the ubiquitous 'Brothers in Arms' and 'Money for Nothing', just to see if the latter at least is better than Shawn remembers - alternatively, you could always try the Weird Al version of it at th-cam.com/video/0WPzFnZkZmI/w-d-xo.html - either way, enjoy, yes? (Some more good ones to cover might include 'Portobello Belle', 'Walk of Life', 'Twistin' by the Pool', 'Heavy Fuel', and 'Calling Elvis' - you kinda need to see the Thunderbirds-inspired video the band made for that last one at th-cam.com/video/BUavFsfbFv8/w-d-xo.html too to fully appreciate it, though...!!!).
Every time this is played in the radio and cuts before the solo in the end of the song I have to yell and scream at the top of my lungs. Luckily I only listen to the radio in my car.
Great song and it sounds even better in a live setting with more interesting dynamics and gorgeous extended guitar solos. Many recommend the Alchemy Live version but my favorite is probably the one in Wembley -85. It features a sublime sounding saxophone being played by Chris White that takes the song to new heights coupled with the ending solo from Mark. If you decide to check out a live version then the one in Wembley is an absolute essential in my book :) Cheers
Great reaction guys! I would love to see you guys react to the jazz fusion/jazz rock band "Mahavishnu Orchestra" and their composition titled "Birds Of Fire", it's amazing. You guys would love the jazz fusion stuff, especially Miles Davis.
@@ReactionsToTheClassics of course!! A genuine "rara avis" in the middle of that anti-system madness, haha!! Oh, and don't forget the disco music, riding the wave in those days. DS appeared in a weird moment for Rock and Roll.
@@ReactionsToTheClassics I've thought about this a bit more: the repeated riffs are the chorus, the first solo is the bridge, and finally that glorious coda. Guitar George may not "wanna make it cry or sing", but Mark Knopfler can certainly do that with his Stratocaster. I'm into grandpa territory (1-1/2 years now) and over the decades, music like this has become hardwired into my synapses. =//=OldDudesStillRock
I'm new to this channel, loving it though. Do you take suggestions because another good bluesy rock track from a british band would be 'Black Coffee' by Humble Pie, performed on 'The old grey whistle test' TV show.
I don't know much about Dire Straits. I wanted to listen to hear what they sound like. I actually like the music. It has an easy rocking tempo. The lead guitar is well played and like you said smooth. I think this is a catchy song. I like the comments by you guys. You gave the song a high rating. I would give this an 8. I am really liking the song reaction videos you are now doing.
I believe you but incredible you didn’t know this classic. Gorgeous. More Dire Straits for sure - Telegraph Road, Brothers in Arms. Btw, I’m sure you system sounds great in the room but, to me, online, the bass is waaay too loud, hurts my ears, and drowns out the other instruments. Just imho but makes it hard to listen to the channel. 🤷🏻♂️
Sorry Bob just the way the sound worked out on this one. Not the norm at all, just depends on the song but we are working on a new setup but in the meantime it is what it is we do the best we can. Thanks for watching
There is a saying about imitation being the greatest form of flattery. Hunt down covers of the song. Pros from all sorts of different genres put there own spin on this song, which is right there in the discussion for the greatest guitar song of all time.
Looooove early dire straits! Agree with everyone else saying to review love over gold or making movies. Knopfler had that ugly/hot vibe, talent counts a lot!
I enjoy you guys a lot!! That said I’m amazed (maybe lucky) that Shawn and I are the same age and he’s never heard many of these songs? Maybe because my parents were 19 & 20 when I came along that I knew all of this when I was a toddler? Still it cool that you and your son are going through this together
Ya I mean as I always say how in the world would ANYONE hear all the old music who was born in 1971 if their family wasn't into music? No streaming music etc listening to current radio so you hear the new music but nothing else and what reason would a teen have to seek anything outside of current music at the time. . I am an authority on 80's music as in know every major song from 82-89 but anything outside of that no exposure. Thanks for watching!
@@ReactionsToTheClassics So your teen years were based around Michael Jackson, Madonna,Prince,Bon Jovi, Whitney Houston, New kids on the block etc? Also I am about the same age as Shawn although in a different country so I can only guess on how it's there but I've learned most of the old hits through the rock radio so it depends on the station you listen if you do because nowadays they play either shitty newer songs or the same classic over and over.
Legend has it that this is based on a real visit to a club by Knopfler, where there really was a horn-playing band playing, who called themselves "The Sultans of Swing"... and they did have an unappreciative audience (and they weren't all that great, either). They have now been immortalized in song, however.
@@ReactionsToTheClassics I'm just sharing my own opinion, not pressing everybody should have the same. ;) Please continue your studies and maybe someday you will understand my point of view. ;) And please listen to this absolutely incredible Alchemy version: th-cam.com/video/8Pa9x9fZBtY/w-d-xo.html Cheers!
We have done tons of their stuff since then and love them just pointing out that it is not authentic to juice up a song and give a 10 to a song on 1st listen. That is not our style as we are 100% honest about what we think BUT their are plenty of channels out there that will give you that over the top reaction if that is what you seek. Peace
@@ReactionsToTheClassics Totally agree with you about that, I believe that songs grow into you or out of except when you really don't like it at all because you would avoid hearing it again, I give it a 7,5 and this song is one of the songs along with many others that I grew up with since 9 years old or so about 2 decades now ( born in '92 so a little older than Shawn). Also I like the comment about the over the top reactions that others do which are fake usually and dumb like American reacts to something not American and they always react to songs that's either too famous to not have heard it at least once ( how can someone not have heard of something like Billie Jean for example, were they living under a rock?) or that's been done by various others like Bohemian rhapsody when the movie came out.
8.5? nah....one of the greatest rock songs of all time is a solid 10! What would rank above this? This is a purely country song with jazz progression (and no chorus like jazz) to a rock beat! The 3 most popular genres in 78' are obvious in this song. Country smooth, jazz twangy driven, with a hell of a rock drum beat! But then it is claw hammered on a Stratocaster? No other guitar or musician since has precisely duplicated this. Knofler made himself famous with this one song otherwise Dire Straights would have never been known! This song is as timeless as a Bach composition.
lol that is all we can do to people like you. It is the FIRST time we ever heard the song. Did you catch that? Do you rate a song a perfect 10 the first time you ever hear it? Do you Harold? IF so you probably need to re-evaluate that. You have years of hearing this and we heard it once. 8.5 is sky high on a 1st listen. Get a grip on reality man and find something better to do with your time then troll us. Peace
I wasn"t intending to be rude in the least but I will remove myself, as I am subscribed enough placws already, sorry I had an opinion in a reaction channel! Nothing wrong with you scoring 8.5 just I score 10! Why so defensivwe and reactive?
I would highly recommend the Alchemy Live version of this song. I would call it the greatest live performance of all time, with explosive drum playing and insane guitar playing. Actually, even though I originally thought it would be impossible, I would consider it twice as good as the studio version. You guys would love it!
For sure going to have to check it out! Thanks for the suggestion and for watching!
react to the live alchemy version. This version just pales to the alchemy one. People react to this version by ignorance, this version is like 6 minutes, the live version is huge it takes 12 minutes, so you lose like half the song here and the drums and guitars and even the synths are great.
I'm just going to echo the previous comments about watching/listening to the Alchemy Live version, AMAZING! Just close your eyes and absorb the master of Mark Knopfler in that live version.
What they said ☝🏻
The old grey whistle test version is well worth looking at, it was one of the first times they appeared on TV, shortly after the release of sultans of swing. 😉
Smoothest song of all time. Everything is just so crisp, so precise. Hitting those pockets like no other
Smooth is a perfect way to describe it. Wished I would have thought of it during the reaction! Thanks for watching!
You should watch recordings of them playing live back when their debut album came out. Sultans of Swing, Down To the Waterline and others all played almost note-for-note exactly like the recordings. It's quite remarkable. Later Knopfler preferred to mix things up and freelance solos to keep things interesting for himself and the audience, but the discipline of those early days show just how masterful he is as a musician.
NO! listen to the whole Album and for ME single handed sailor is the better track.
Single Handed Sailor is on the Communique album... and I love it! Best track on that album for me.
Knopfler is a guitar god imho. His fingerpicking style makes for some of the cleanest and smoothest guitar sounds out there ever.
Agreed Manu! Thanks for watching!
He and Lindsey Buckingham finger pick and, I agree, a very clean, smooth sound.
They had to fade the outro becasue it never ends. He's still playing.
haha maybe so! Thanks!
Saw Them live 1985. Beats Yes, Camel, Genesis, yes, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pink Floyd, Clapton/ Winwood!!!!
Try Live at Alchemy version 10 minutes of pure brilliance!
We will check it out Dave! Thanks for watching!
You guys need to listen to the live version with 150 mill views on youtube. The best live performance of all time.
Really appreciate the suggestion and thanks for watching NittyGrittyRed!
I recommend you guys listen to Skateaway and Tunnel of Love.Tunnel of Love has a Knopfler solo that puts Sultans of Swing to Shame
We will check it out thanks Kevin!
Not the first time I've said this but...... When I first heard this song, it was like a "I Want to Hold Your Hand" moment for me. I had never heard anything quite like it before and Mark Knopfler's guitar (and voice) were just so smooth. The album was almost instantly in high demand and it took a few days for me to get my hands on it (I had a friend who worked at the record store and he held a copy for me when they got restocked) A verse in the song mentions making a guitar "cry or sing"...... this is exactly what Knopfler does so well. I posted "Lady Writer" on your FB page, another fine song. Also, "Walk of Life". I'm VERY glad you took SoS for a review. Great job!!!
Great stuff Don!!!
Ooh yes, Lady Writer (on the TV)!!!
Mr Knopfler has the incredible ability to be a virtuoso without being boring or vain! He plays really well all the while Catchy!!
Exactly !!
Very true, he is fantastic!
You guys probably know this by now, but Mark played on the classic Dylan track Gotta Serve Somebody.
Yes we actually have a review up on that album Slow Train Coming. Thanks Oakhill!
Interesting thing is Mark played on several Dylan albums and even produced one, wich was actualy the "Infidels" album you mention
Ya we actually did a full album review of that album and talked about their relationship more. Great combo for sure. Thanks!
Making Movies would make for a great album reaction. Just sayin'.
Thanks for watching!
I think there isn't a chorus so that the song keeps with the jazz theme. Not many choruses in jazz, and the guitar riffs and solo take the place of where a chorus would traditionally be. Also, the drumming is phenomenal
Thanks for Watching!
You guys should revue the Dire Straits 'Alchemy Live' version of 'Private Investigations''.
Will check it out, thanks!
A lot of people thought this was a Bob Dylan song with Dylan just singing under a fake name. (Think of Eric Clapton in Derek and the Dominos.) No one had heard of Dire Straits when the album came out.
Oh wow that is crazy. Such a great song! Thanks!
Watch the documentaries "Guitar Stories 1 to 3" involving John Illsley and Mark Knopfler. Mark talks about the creative process of Sultans of Swing... Yes, he originally wrote it on an acoustic guitar but didn't like what he heard. Then he got the 1961/62 candy red Fender Strat and re-wrote it on that! His finger-picking and the pickups on that Fender are what made the song come alive in the final version.
Will check it out, appreciate the advice!
A terrific recording by one terrific band! Can’t go wrong with their albums.
Thanks for watching David!
Yup, great song. They're an easy band to overlook precisely because they are so tasteful and unpretentiously solid but there's not much not to like here. Certainly, Knopfler is one of the all-time great guitarists who stood out from much of the guitar sounds of the time, which included the minimalism of punk/ new wave and the shredding of heavy metal. My faves of theirs are probably Romeo and Juliet and Brothers in Arms but don't overlook Knopfler's soundtrack for Local Hero or at least the Local Hero theme.
Will check it out, Thanks as always!
One of the best debut albums of all time.
Thanks for watching GT
When I hear that line about "Guitar George" not wanting to make his guitar cry, I can't help but think it's a nod George Harrison and While My Guitar Gently Weeps (cos George didn't play the lead, he was strictly rhythm on that).
But if you want to hear Mark make his guitar cry and sing on this song, check out the live versions, whether it's Live Aid, from the live Alchemy album, or the Live at Wembley Arena (which pple have uploaded on YT)
Will check it out. Thanks for the suggestions and for watching!
I would suggest a live version of Brothers in Arms for a different take on their music. nearly all the live versions are better than the studio versions.
Thanks for the suggestion and insight Peter and we appreciate you watching!
🎶🎸✌️☕🚛 Mark Knopfler now like Lindsey Buckingham one of the best fingerstyle rock guitarist who does not use a pic at all.
dire Straits was known as adult oriented album Rock back-in-the-day lot of kids really weren't into it but once you hit your late teens and early adulthood and on is who they were geared towards.
_I looked at that discord I'm not a gamer and it's not really going to be for me sorry_ I just don't think I can figure all that out. looked at the app but it was just a little too complicated for my old brain
No prob on the discord Kev totally understand. Didn't know Knopfler didn't use a pic. Thanks as always for the info and the support!
Well strictly speaking it's is truer to say he rarely uses a pick. He does on occasion. One example is on Our Shangri-La. The variety of techniques and variety of guitars combine to make Knopfler's playing so enjoyable. Almost always instantly recognisable, yet so diverse in its sound. Just compare Sultans of Swing to Money for Nothing, or Brothers in Arms to Romeo and Juliet, or Private Investigations to Walk of Life... and that's just from his Dire Straits days!
ALCHEMY LIVE please, it's been a while since you reacted to this, you'll here the difference.
As all the other requests...
Yes did a reaction to a song from Alchemy, so so good. Thanks Jenny!
this whole album is amazing! def would love a reaction if you haven’t already, (about to search) six blade knife is my favorite
We will get to the whole album at some point soon. Thanks for watching!
While you are listening to Dire Straits, you MUST listen to 'Wild West END'. IMHO the best DS song ever! th-cam.com/video/bfVkzBAGUVw/w-d-xo.html with Lyrics th-cam.com/video/KOwJjCcEzT0/w-d-xo.html
Appreciate the links.!
Your comments about storytelling are bang on. Everyone can recognise Knopfler's brilliant guitar playing but so many overlook the fact that he's a flat out genius lyricist too. He has a remarkable ability to condense stories about people, places and events into a handful of verses. I recommend checking out his solo work too. If you prefer a tempo similar to Sultans of Swing then you might enjoy songs like What It Is, Boom Like That or Border Reiver. Knopfler's also performed duets with others, such as Sailing to Philadelphia with James Taylor (about the men who mapped the eponymous Mason Dixon Line), Wherever I Go with Ruth Moody and a whole album, All The Road Running, with Emmylou Harris which concludes with a very emotional song Mark wrote after 9-11 called If This Is Goodbye.
Fantastic suggestions we really appreciate it and thanks for watching!
Enjoyed your interaction and reaction. You’ve not heard nothing yet! Check out the live concert version of SOS. it’s on a different planet !
We have quite a bit of them up now. They were greatness! Thanks John!
The real life Sultans of Swing? Whatever they were originally, Dire Straits became that right at debut album release!
Thanks for watching jouniku!
You look way too young to be his father. You both look like brothers. Anyway great video and an amazing song.
haha really appreciate that Eric!!
Alchemy live Knopfler at his best with killer solos! Check it out you won't be disappointed!
Really appreciate the suggestion and thanks for watching Dave Whitehead!
The Sultan of Swing album was one jamming piece of music. Excellent lyrics with music a bit different than what playing at the time. Every song on that album was badass. Great reaction guys.
Yes it was quite the find for us Ron, listened to it several times since then and like it even more! Thanks for watching!
Wow gotta ask what speaker setup u using there? Sounds so rich, the bass is pounding but it still manages to sound so crisp and clear and nothing overpowering
Actually back then believe it or not it was a soundbar and a subwoofer. We have upgraded since but we made it work haha. Thanks for watching!
If you can hear the Alchemy Live you will see what is a thing of another level
Yes it is awesome!
Exactly!
Live version of the drums with this song is slightly different and much better that even that, Sina Drums gives a good rendition of it so you can hear the difference
Thanks for watching Ryan McGill!
Everytime I listen to this song I get lost in the sound of that music and guitar. Love it
It is great, thanks for watching!
Alchemy live is brilliant. 145m views. Watch Mark do it live.
We need to check it out. Thanks Ted!
Reactions To The Classics can't wait to see your reaction.
Brilliant song, which unfortunately fades out just when the guitar solo gets going
Thanks for watching!
Just a mood pick me up feeling low just pop this song in and instant mood swing
Beauty of music nothing like it Brian!
He should watch the alchemy live version
We did and have a reaction to it up. Thanks!
Highly recommend the Alchemy version.
It is up on the channel. Thanks
Guys to really appreciate this watch it live. Alchemy live 143m views. Wonderful.
We will check it out Ted. Thanks for watching!
I thought the only song of theirs that I’d heard of was Money For Nothing, I had NO idea that it was them that did this one. So much better than Money for Nothing. The smooth guitar work reminds me a lot of Eric Clapton and John Mayer.
Miles better than Money for Nothing Josh for sure!!! Thanks!
As is so often the case, the late, great Douglas Adams said it best:
'...Mark Knopfler has an extraordinary ability to make a Schecter Custom Stratocaster hoot and sing like angels on a Saturday night, exhausted from being good all week and needing a stiff drink...'
Glad to see you guys really digging this one - I bet you were both tempted to break out the ol' Air Guitar at times, yes...? (I know I did...!!!).
As for future Dire Straits song reactions, your best bets would probably include the fantastic 'Romeo and Juliet' and/or the song that I think Adams is referring to in the quote above, namely 'Tunnel of Love'...plus the ubiquitous 'Brothers in Arms' and 'Money for Nothing', just to see if the latter at least is better than Shawn remembers - alternatively, you could always try the Weird Al version of it at th-cam.com/video/0WPzFnZkZmI/w-d-xo.html - either way, enjoy, yes?
(Some more good ones to cover might include 'Portobello Belle', 'Walk of Life', 'Twistin' by the Pool', 'Heavy Fuel', and 'Calling Elvis' - you kinda need to see the Thunderbirds-inspired video the band made for that last one at th-cam.com/video/BUavFsfbFv8/w-d-xo.html too to fully appreciate it, though...!!!).
As always appreciate all the knowledge, info, and support Evan David!
You have to see a complete, live version of it! It really comes to life then.
The Alchemy one is great.
Thanks for watching!
You guys should check out their Alchemy live version. The outro solo is the best.
Have heard from many on here that version is fantastic... will seek in out!
Every time this is played in the radio and cuts before the solo in the end of the song I have to yell and scream at the top of my lungs. Luckily I only listen to the radio in my car.
haha I totally understand that!! Thanks for watching Daniel!
This music has the best guitar solo of all time!
It might be there best song but that is a tough competition!
His guitar playing, without a pick!
Pure Magic!!
So agree! Thanks Mats!
Great song and it sounds even better in a live setting with more interesting dynamics and gorgeous extended guitar solos. Many recommend the Alchemy Live version but my favorite is probably the one in Wembley -85. It features a sublime sounding saxophone being played by Chris White that takes the song to new heights coupled with the ending solo from Mark. If you decide to check out a live version then the one in Wembley is an absolute essential in my book :) Cheers
Thanks for the suggestion we will check it out!!
The guitar plays the chorus.
Thanks for watching!
Guitar George is George Borowski.
Thanks Grim!
Alchemy version is a 10
It is great for sure, we have a reaction up
Great reaction guys! I would love to see you guys react to the jazz fusion/jazz rock band "Mahavishnu Orchestra" and their composition titled "Birds Of Fire", it's amazing. You guys would love the jazz fusion stuff, especially Miles Davis.
Jimmy W Yeah it truly is a masterpiece, their first album "The Inner Mounting Flame" is also mind-blowing as well.
We will check it out. Thanks!
Reactions To The Classics You're welcome!
When they played this Everybody hit the dance floor !!!
I would bet! Thanks for watching Chris!
It’s amazing, it’s imposible not to dance!!!
This is true! You are lucky we fought the urge haha!
@@ReactionsToTheClassics 😂
Bear in mind DS appeared when punk music blasted the charts.
Yes, they were keeping rock alive Paco!
@@ReactionsToTheClassics of course!! A genuine "rara avis" in the middle of that anti-system madness, haha!!
Oh, and don't forget the disco music, riding the wave in those days. DS appeared in a weird moment for Rock and Roll.
oh yes the DISCO!!! so glad DS and a few others pushed through to save us!
Best version was alchemy live
Thanks for watching!
With guitar solos like these, you don't need no stinking chorus.
Yep no one was suggesting you did. Thanks Stephen
@@ReactionsToTheClassics I've thought about this a bit more: the repeated riffs are the chorus, the first solo is the bridge, and finally that glorious coda. Guitar George may not "wanna make it cry or sing", but Mark Knopfler can certainly do that with his Stratocaster. I'm into grandpa territory (1-1/2 years now) and over the decades, music like this has become hardwired into my synapses.
=//=OldDudesStillRock
haha great great stuff! Thanks Stephen!!
How abt reacting to Live version of this Alchemy 1983
We need to at some point, lots of suggestions for that one! Thanks!
I'm new to this channel, loving it though. Do you take suggestions because another good bluesy rock track from a british band would be 'Black Coffee' by Humble Pie, performed on 'The old grey whistle test' TV show.
We will give them a listen. Thanks Danny!
I don't know much about Dire Straits. I wanted to listen to hear what they sound like. I actually like the music. It has an easy rocking tempo. The lead guitar is well played and like you said smooth. I think this is a catchy song. I like the comments by you guys. You gave the song a high rating. I would give this an 8. I am really liking the song reaction videos you are now doing.
Thanks Poet!
I believe you but incredible you didn’t know this classic. Gorgeous. More Dire Straits for sure - Telegraph Road, Brothers in Arms.
Btw, I’m sure you system sounds great in the room but, to me, online, the bass is waaay too loud, hurts my ears, and drowns out the other instruments. Just imho but makes it hard to listen to the channel. 🤷🏻♂️
Sorry Bob just the way the sound worked out on this one. Not the norm at all, just depends on the song but we are working on a new setup but in the meantime it is what it is we do the best we can. Thanks for watching
There is a saying about imitation being the greatest form of flattery. Hunt down covers of the song. Pros from all sorts of different genres put there own spin on this song, which is right there in the discussion for the greatest guitar song of all time.
We will check some out. Thanks Scott!
Please react to Lewis capaldi song before you go and leaving my love behind and don't get me wrong please.
We are actually going to do his whole album very soon after hearing this song! Thanks Meg!
Great reaction. I will subscribe!!! Can't wait to see your library!
Thanks for watching an subbing Jason!
His singing was also compared to J.J Cale, famous for the song "Cocaine" Eric Clapton did a cover on.
Thanks for watching!
C'mon guys Alchemy live version, you don't know what you are missing.
We will check it out Ted but the request was for the studio version. Hence why we did the studio version
This version is boring compared to Alchemy live concert version.
We have that one up as well
Looooove early dire straits! Agree with everyone else saying to review love over gold or making movies. Knopfler had that ugly/hot vibe, talent counts a lot!
haha yes it does! Thanks Anna!
"Sultans of Swing" does have a chorus. It is "sung" by the guitar.
Thanks for watching
Great song! Interesting that the guitar plays the melody and the singing is him just talking really.
Yes it has more complexity to it then one may think on 1st listen. Thanks for watching!
Great reaction guys, subscribed!
Really appreciate the kind words!!!! Thanks for watching William Andrés!
I enjoy you guys a lot!! That said I’m amazed (maybe lucky) that Shawn and I are the same age and he’s never heard many of these songs? Maybe because my parents were 19 & 20 when I came along that I knew all of this when I was a toddler? Still it cool that you and your son are going through this together
Ya I mean as I always say how in the world would ANYONE hear all the old music who was born in 1971 if their family wasn't into music? No streaming music etc listening to current radio so you hear the new music but nothing else and what reason would a teen have to seek anything outside of current music at the time. . I am an authority on 80's music as in know every major song from 82-89 but anything outside of that no exposure. Thanks for watching!
@@ReactionsToTheClassics So your teen years were based around Michael Jackson, Madonna,Prince,Bon Jovi, Whitney Houston, New kids on the block etc? Also I am about the same age as Shawn although in a different country so I can only guess on how it's there but I've learned most of the old hits through the rock radio so it depends on the station you listen if you do because nowadays they play either shitty newer songs or the same classic over and over.
Legend has it that this is based on a real visit to a club by Knopfler, where there really was a horn-playing band playing, who called themselves "The Sultans of Swing"... and they did have an unappreciative audience (and they weren't all that great, either).
They have now been immortalized in song, however.
Yes that is the story that we found as well. Thanks Patrick!
listen to the alchemy live version
We will check it out. Thanks for watching!
Need to listen to live version
We did and the reaction is up. Thanks
Son looks like Sheldon from Big Bang Theory
If only I was as smart as him!
@@ReactionsToTheClassics And weird like him?
my 10/10
Have NEVER given a song a 10/10 on 1st listen if you have more power to you
@@ReactionsToTheClassics I'm just sharing my own opinion, not pressing everybody should have the same. ;)
Please continue your studies and maybe someday you will understand my point of view. ;)
And please listen to this absolutely incredible Alchemy version:
th-cam.com/video/8Pa9x9fZBtY/w-d-xo.html
Cheers!
We have done tons of their stuff since then and love them just pointing out that it is not authentic to juice up a song and give a 10 to a song on 1st listen. That is not our style as we are 100% honest about what we think BUT their are plenty of channels out there that will give you that over the top reaction if that is what you seek. Peace
@@ReactionsToTheClassics Totally agree with you about that, I believe that songs grow into you or out of except when you really don't like it at all because you would avoid hearing it again, I give it a 7,5 and this song is one of the songs along with many others that I grew up with since 9 years old or so about 2 decades now ( born in '92 so a little older than Shawn). Also I like the comment about the over the top reactions that others do which are fake usually and dumb like American reacts to something not American and they always react to songs that's either too famous to not have heard it at least once ( how can someone not have heard of something like Billie Jean for example, were they living under a rock?) or that's been done by various others like Bohemian rhapsody when the movie came out.
8.5? nah....one of the greatest rock songs of all time is a solid 10! What would rank above this? This is a purely country song with jazz progression (and no chorus like jazz) to a rock beat! The 3 most popular genres in 78' are obvious in this song. Country smooth, jazz twangy driven, with a hell of a rock drum beat! But then it is claw hammered on a Stratocaster? No other guitar or musician since has precisely duplicated this. Knofler made himself famous with this one song otherwise Dire Straights would have never been known! This song is as timeless as a Bach composition.
lol that is all we can do to people like you. It is the FIRST time we ever heard the song. Did you catch that? Do you rate a song a perfect 10 the first time you ever hear it? Do you Harold? IF so you probably need to re-evaluate that. You have years of hearing this and we heard it once. 8.5 is sky high on a 1st listen. Get a grip on reality man and find something better to do with your time then troll us. Peace
I wasn"t intending to be rude in the least but I will remove myself, as I am subscribed enough placws already, sorry I had an opinion in a reaction channel! Nothing wrong with you scoring 8.5 just I score 10! Why so defensivwe and reactive?