That's not how it was, the original is 6.40 or something like that and they played it in 6 minutes, that was still too long so it got heavily edited to this version here but the actual 6 minutes they played are available nowadays, the unedited version got finally released a year ago or so.
Focus was a band formed in 1969 in Amsterdam. The guitarist Jan Akkerman also played 1968 in the band "Brainbox" with the blues singer Kazimierz Lux with his super voice !!
Also, the video was cut (as is most of Heart’s « Stairway to Heaven » live every reactor watched). There is a « long » version with the missing verses (but it is still faster than the studio version for the reason you just told) :)
@@tonic8945the slow version is great, yet I prefer the faster version. It is sad that there are no slower version reaction videos. I think I saw one last time I did the rounds 😂
They are a Dutch group. The song is normally 6:35 minutes. But they only got about 3 minutes of play time. And they just played the entire song so fast that is would fit. Jan Akkerman is the gitarist. The guy on the organ is Thijs van Leer.
This is a myth. They played the song for 6 mins. But quicker then the recording. You can find the complete performance on midnight special channel. For tv broadcast they cut the song down to 4 min to fit the time slot.
@@NinoMit87 That's right, the Midnight Special channel. Several reactors reacted already to the complete version of this clip. My favourite: The Fairy Voice Mother. Vocal coach and flute player herself. Her reaction to this always cheers me up! 🙂
Focus was a Dutch progressive rock band founded in 1969. The 'singer' is Thijs van Leer. The 'lady' is Gladys Knight (aka "The Empress of Soul") of Gladys Knight & The Pips, best known for songs like "Midnight Train to Georgia" and "If I Were Your Woman". She's a 10-time Grammy winner. You should react to some of her songs. The Pips were her all-male backup singers, dancing behind her in live and TV performances. If you want 'weird', check out the Bonzo Dog Band. -"Jollity Farm" -"Tubas in the Moonlight" -"I'm Bored" -"Death Cab for Cutie" (this song was released in 1967, 30 years before a band in Washington state took the title as their band name) -"Laughing Blues" (This one's a lot of fun!) Or Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band. Try "Woe-Is-Uh-Me-Bop" from his album "Lick My Deals Off, Baby" (1970) There's a reason the last 5 years of the 1960s produced such musical creativity. And this isn't even the really weird stuff.
@@bertalach I've been a fan of Vivian Stanshall, Neil Innes, and the Bonzo Dog Band since about 1968. They have a considerable song catalogue, so naming a representative sample is difficult to keep from being long and overwhelming. "Hunting Tigers", "The Intro and The Outro", "The Sound of Music", "The Equestrian Statue", ""Jazz Delicious Hot Disgusting Cold", etc. It's just so hard to know when to stop.
Since you liked this, you should check out Frankenstein from Edgar Winters Group th-cam.com/video/P8f-Qb-bwlU/w-d-xo.html Also Check out Tobacco Road Live from Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter th-cam.com/video/af0rV6dli_o/w-d-xo.html. You will love both of these songs/videos!!
Jan Akkerman [ the guitarist] also had some albums out where he played complex Bach lute pieces on the guitar. That's why he can play that fast fluid stuff, more than just the usual arpeggios. Thijs Van Leer [ organ, flute & vocal] is still going, still fronting the band. He doesn't hit quite the same high notes nowadays. During one of my university stints, one of my course-mates was a heavy metal guitarist, who also used to play Back lute & organ pieces for practice, because they contain very complex progressions & structures.
Pierre Van Der Linden is the drummer, and he and the keyboardist/vocalist are together still and released their 50th year album titled obviously FOCUS 50.
One of my favourite drummers, Pierre Van Der Linden. Saw Focus play live about 5 weeks ago and he and Thijs Van Leer, the yodeller(!) are still in the band - and what a guitarist Jan Akkerman was.
The WHOLE band is killing it! The drummer is bananas! Keyboard/whistler/Flutist is Absurdly talented. Jan on guitar id THE MOST UNDERRATED GUITARIST OF THE CLASSIC ROCK ERA.
Back then, people knew that this guy was the greatest. In 1973 Akkerman was voted Best Guitarist in the World by readers of the UK magazine Melody Maker.
In 1973 when this song/album came out I was the first person in my fraternity house to buy this album. When I played Hocus Pocus all my frat brothers gathered around my room to listen. Everybody was shocked, yet there was lots of laughter! What an unusual song by Focus!
My buddies and I did a lot of hallucinogens back in the day. We listened to this many times. Your interpretation is the wildest thing ive ever heard about this song! Thats impressive.
Programs like "Midnight Special" and "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" were transformational for my friends and I. We were 14, 15, and 16 years old, gathering in my basement to watch these incredible acts. This is why I am so grateful to have grown up in that decade.
Last month I attended a Focus concert in The Netherlands, where the band was founded. After fifty (!) years still touring the globe. Vocalist Thijs van Leer (75 years old) and drummer Pierre van der Linden (76 years old) of the original line-up, performed just as powerful as they did in the seventies, including the astonishing jodeling parts! Former Focus guitarist Jan Akkerman was in 1973 voted 'best guitar player of the word' by the British music magazine Melody Maker. Todays line-up: Thijs van Leer: organ/flute/vocals, Pierre van der Linden: Drums, Menno Gootjes: guitar, Udo Pannekeet: Bass.
They were the only band on Midnight Special to ever get a standing ovation. It seemed fast because it is an 8 1/2 minute song and they were told they only had 5 minutes to play. They sped it up instead of cutting out any of the song. Listen to the album version. It's awesome.
They were in a big time limit because it was TV and they only had 3 minutes or something to do the number. So instead of cutting it short, they played it fast. It's excellent.
You are watching masters in their field. Ahead of their time and they were asked to shorten the song for time limits and they said no, we will just speed it up. Listen to the studio version and you will see. Listen to other tracks on the album "Moving Waves" They were incredible
Good Reaction,My Friend. I saw them in South East London in 1972 and the lead/organist is still performing over 50 years later. Other songs by Focus are totally different like "Sylvia" and "Love Remembered" ENJOY:)
Thijs van Leer, there at the keyboards doing the vocals, is a Dutch icon. I have had the pleasure to meet him thrice. I volunteer for the Netherlands' biggest free music festival, Big Rivers. Last time I met him was last year and was still performing under the name of Focus, although he's about the only original member left. Wonderful man. Really down to earth.
In the 9 years of Midnight Special, this was the only Full Audience Standing Ovation. Ratings were through the roof for this as it was the only way to see Live Bands except in concert. University and High School students, shut everything down Early Saturday Morning at 1230am until 2am, there were dozens of us watching, and lights were on in every house with 15-30 years old across the country.
I bought Moving Waves when it first was released and have watched dozens of TH-cam videos of this performance. The reactions always make me laugh. For me, it's one of the great live performances ever.
Brother, I have watched a LOT of reactions to this epic performance, but this just might be my favorite!! 😂😂 Your bewilderment was pure gold! You made my day! 😂
I saw Focus perform this at the Sundown, Edmonton, London in 1973, when I was 19, pressed up against the stage, having the time of my life.... memories are made of this....
Keep the grind going BP. If you feel like you are burning out, always take a break & come back fresh. Love your daily videos for years now and only want what's best for you.
Fast forward 51 years & I saw the current line up of Focus live at a venue near me in the UK the other week. This took me right back to my teenage years when this band first became famous. A great night out & the founder member of the band, Thijs van Leer on keys (now in his '70's), has still got it. I don't think he can do the whistling or high pitch notes these days but he still plays the flute in one hand while playing the keyboard with the other. The other band members are all very accomplished & were given their own slots to shine on the night. The very essence of a progressive rock band.
Thijs Van Leer is STILL PERFORMING at 76 years old. I remember when this [ and their other huge hit “Sylvia “ were on the Rock radio stations [ well, one, anyway. KSHE-95, St.Louis was at that time , listed as “Album Rock”.]📻🙂
First saw them live at the beginning of '73 and again a few months after this performance in May '74 ! This " one off " version of the song was played at approx double the speed it was normally played due to time constraints from the producers of this show . The band weren't prepared to do a shortened version so decided " what the hell we'll just speed it up " - and this was the result . Thijs van Leer the guy on keys , flute and vocals is still active ( as are the band with a changed lineup ) . Jan Ackerman ( guitar ) was voted the world's best guitarist in 1973 . Off to see them live again in November - 50 years after the last time ! 😱😱😱
Close Encounters of the Third Kind. LOL I love watching the reactions to this performance. They had to speed it up because they didn't have enough time to do the song at the normal tempo , not enough air time, so it felt even more frenetic than usual. That is what was so great about music in the 60' s and 70's, the variety, the experimentation, the talent!
Jan Akkerman was one of the early GOATs for shredding way before it was common. He influenced several guitarist especially in Europe. They had to do this song at a faster tempo to fit it in before the end of the show. That drummer is next level on this.
i first heard this song playing at an Apocalyptica concert in 2008 lol my brother and i were extremely confused but my dad was like "oh, it's hocus pocus by focus!"
Once heard, never forgotten. It's always fun to watch someone reacting to this for the first time. Incredible, very left-field, Dutch band. And they were all possessed - brilliant musicians. Thijs (pronounced TYCE) van Leer on organ and lead yodel, Jan Akkerman on lead guitar, Pierre van der Linden on drums, and Bert Ruiter on bass. According to legend, they sped the song up to fit it into the time slot they were given, so it was even more frenetic than the album version. PS - "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" :)
Loved your reaction- thanks. This is a Dutch Progressive Rock band. The guitar player, Jan Akkerman, was considered to be one of the top guitarist during that time period. The front man is Thijs Van Leer and is still touring a lot on cruise ships. If you are looking for some information on them, check out the comment to this on Jayvee TV reaction channel (heart warming story about Thijs Van Leer's family and upbringing that is amazing). Thijs and his daughter do leave comments on reactions to this once in a while.
When my grandkids asked me what was music like in my day. I sit them down had have them watch this video. And say. "Well pretty much like this....BUT sometimes THINGS ALSO GOT WEIRD too" The band had a 6min 30 second song. They were told to drop some of parts od the song to get down to 5 minutes. In typical 1970s fashion the band said "Here hold the coke mirror, were doing the whole song in 5 minutes...{sssnnniiiffff}"
He wasn't twitching so much as warming up. By the way your expression was priceless. Have you listened to Black Coffee by Humble Pie yet? I think you'd love it.
Every time I see someone react to this song it makes me laugh because I know it’s not what the reactor was thinking. This was a version that was done in double time because the show wanted them to shorten the song and they refused so they just sped it up.
Wow! This song was crazy. I have been watching your reactions for over a year now and this is the first song you've done that I hadn't already heard. In fact I never even heard of the group. Without this channel I probably never would have either. Thanks.
MAD mad guitar work But the drummer was freaking FIRE!!! Then crazy ass vocals...this song was the whole package. Back in high-school I had it for that drummer!!
I recently saw an interview with the lead vocalist a few months ago. According to him, he was in the studio messing around on the keyboard when the Drummer joined in; he was doing vocal warm-ups. Before they knew it, they turned it into a song. If you pay attention to it, he's yodeling in tune with the notes he is playing. This was his vocal warm-ups to get ready to record or do a show put to music. 🎶🎤👍❤️🎶
Back in the late 1970's I was working as the stage manager for a Toronto (Canada) band called ZON. Very progressive at first, this song was one of their staples of their live show. It usually ended the night. The lead singer was the yodeller and the keyboard player would do the really high stuff. Their version deviated slightly (the singer did one of the vocal breaks as Donald Duck) but there was no mistaking what it was. Always got us a standing ovation. ZON went on to do 3 albums. An incredible live band.
A short time ago you mentioned that you thought you had reached the end of the internet, then stumbled upon a gem. Believe it or not, you've just gotten started. The "Classic Rock" genre alone has around 5000 songs that have received significant radio air time over the years, not to mention songs that never made it to radio for one reason or another but were concert favorites. Then there are other genres. One song you can't miss from the "Psychedelic Soul" genre is "Time Has Come Today" by The Chambers Brothers, especially if you like cowbells.
I'm dying! 😂 I LOVE your enthusiasm and authenticity! I've never seen this either, and it was pretty dope! I didn't lose my mind like YOU with all your "Close Encounters Of The THIRD Kind" connections...but I get it! 😁
THIS PERFORMANCE is PHENOMENAL!!! I remember this song on the radio - and, it's really TWICE as long - and, I believe....towards the end - the drummer actually is checking out the clock, as they were only allowed HALF the time of the song on the show....and, rather than cut it short - they played it at double-time!! AMAZING!!! They were SO CREATIVE!!! THANKS for THIS ONE, BP!!! :) HUGS!!
My friend the summer before his Junior spent about 10 hours a day learning every song on Focus live and Jeff Beck's Blow by Blow every song to perfection. That is how I found out about this band. Great musicians and Jan such a brilliant guitarist. Everyone in the band is technically amazing. Drummer killing it!
Great reaction to a great group. I'm a lot older than you--I was around when this first came out. And I can tell you, you will never hear anything like this again. They are unique and head-explodingly talented. And the movie you were referring to is called "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."
The midnight special was a very formula driven show. Bands came on to play live in front of a national audience. But all songs had to be a specific length and no longer. So most bands cut out verses or a chorus to meet the time limit. Focus said no, they just played the song in double or triple time to play the whole song. It is actually an incredible performance. You need to now go listen to the album version for the difference between the two
@retroreactions.... bravo for your reaction and your curiosity. They often only get attention for one Hocus Pocus song and people stop at that without knowing the hidden gems. I encourage you to continue your discovery of this fantastic group which is one of the groups, if not the most versatile group that I know. Try the moving wave album which is different and the Focus 3 album which is even more different. There is a sublime version of Strasbourg Cathedral live from this group. Good luck and good listening.🙏
In the words of Monty Python.."and now, for something completely different." I was 22 in 1973 and well into music and this is the first time I that that I've ever heard this.
@davidlittlejohn6636 that's true,theirs probably many one hit numbers I never heard of. It's just that one is so unique if you here it once you never forget it.
I couldn't wait to see your reaction to this one! And, it was everything I hoped. Shock, awe, and wonder. Good one! (This tune is NOT to be taken seriously -- it's simply a hoot.)
For another oddball band, I go for "They Might Be Giants." They're a duo that have been putting out music since 1981, and well, when it comes to weird, they've always been there. With songs like "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)," "Particle Man," "I Palindrome I," "She was a (Hotel Detective)," "Put your hand inside the Puppet Head," and many, many other strange tunes. They're still around and making new music.
Saw them in concert on their first UK tour in the very early 70's. Superb band. I bought all their subsequent albums and those by individual members of the band.
Since you enjoyed this, now you should check out Johnny Winter's Frankenstein, video. You'll love that, too Much love from Maine and keep doin what ya do ❤
Thijs van Leer had a TV show in which he interviewed and improvised with Dutch rock artists. One of his guests was Jan Akkerman and as I remember it that led to the formation of Focus.
Only standing ovation in the history of the Midnight Special. Awesomeness!! BTW the lady who introduced Focus is Gladys Knight.
That is the only band to get a standing ovation on that show ever. And they deserve it.
Focus says, ""But it's a six minute song!!" Midnight Special says," Sorry but we can only give you three..." Focus says, "Hold my beer"......
That's not how it was, the original is 6.40 or something like that and they played it in 6 minutes, that was still too long so it got heavily edited to this version here but the actual 6 minutes they played are available nowadays, the unedited version got finally released a year ago or so.
Amazing that it wasn't an audience just for Focus, but they gave the band a standing ovation.
Focus was a band formed in 1969 in Amsterdam.
The guitarist Jan Akkerman also played 1968 in the band "Brainbox" with the blues singer Kazimierz Lux with his super voice !!
Focus was one of the only performances to get a standing ovation on the Midnight Special.
this song was much slower but they only gave the band a certain amount of time. instead of drop any of the song.... they just sped it up!!
‘Yeah, so you have four minutes, shorten the song, guys’. ‘Hold our beers, will you?’
Also, the video was cut (as is most of Heart’s « Stairway to Heaven » live every reactor watched). There is a « long » version with the missing verses (but it is still faster than the studio version for the reason you just told) :)
This is a great song ruined by being played too fast, I wish there was a copy of the original at the correct pace.
@@tonic8945the slow version is great, yet I prefer the faster version. It is sad that there are no slower version reaction videos. I think I saw one last time I did the rounds 😂
@@annebokma4637 the daily doug did slower and several covers
They are a Dutch group. The song is normally 6:35 minutes. But they only got about 3 minutes of play time. And they just played the entire song so fast that is would fit.
Jan Akkerman is the gitarist. The guy on the organ is Thijs van Leer.
This is a myth. They played the song for 6 mins. But quicker then the recording. You can find the complete performance on midnight special channel.
For tv broadcast they cut the song down to 4 min to fit the time slot.
@@NinoMit87 It might be a myth, but they definitely play it at about 1.5x the speed of the original.
@@NinoMit87 That's right, the Midnight Special channel. Several reactors reacted already to the complete version of this clip. My favourite: The Fairy Voice Mother. Vocal coach and flute player herself. Her reaction to this always cheers me up! 🙂
Close encounters of the third kind
@VictorPM1550
Hang on, I'm getting my flute!
FYI - "That lady" is Gladys Knight
He didn't regonize her without her Pips.
i always tought its young oprah xD
Yup! Without her Pips! LOL
....the beautiful Gladys Knight....let's stick to the facts!😅😊
I bet she was a pip.
When it comes to this performance I now hardly ever look at the video itself, just watch the stunned faces of the reactors. Yours did not disappoint!
A classic! Only standing ovation at midnight special show ever! I saw it in high school, reacted just like you! Peace from Northern Michigan!
That's why the 60's and 70's was so great for music. You never know what you're going to see/hear...
Whether it's music, comedy, or drama, the only real rule is "move the crowd". This song is wacky, but it's also groovy and it gets you moving.
Time to hit Frankenstein by Edgar Winter if you're not finished with blowing your mind.
Yes- but the album cut (not radio edited version) is so much better than any live version.
@@kurtkish6970 He has to see the performance video from 1973.
The legendary Jan Akkerman on guitar
as a guitar player, I can say that Jan Ackerman has been my hero since I had to learn this song for my band when we did it............ So great
What year was he voted Best Guitarist in the world? 71? 72?
@@ericwagner1824 1973 by „Melody Maker“
You should now listen to "Hocus Pocus" at normal speed and when you're at it have a listen to their other big hit "Sylvia".
Of the two recorded tracks I prefer Sylvia but this live performance is just so batshit crazy I can't look past it .
or House of Kings
Focus was a Dutch progressive rock band founded in 1969. The 'singer' is Thijs van Leer.
The 'lady' is Gladys Knight (aka "The Empress of Soul") of Gladys Knight & The Pips, best known for songs like "Midnight Train to Georgia" and "If I Were Your Woman". She's a 10-time Grammy winner. You should react to some of her songs. The Pips were her all-male backup singers, dancing behind her in live and TV performances.
If you want 'weird', check out the Bonzo Dog Band.
-"Jollity Farm"
-"Tubas in the Moonlight"
-"I'm Bored"
-"Death Cab for Cutie" (this song was released in 1967, 30 years before a band in Washington state took the title as their band name)
-"Laughing Blues" (This one's a lot of fun!)
Or Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band.
Try "Woe-Is-Uh-Me-Bop" from his album "Lick My Deals Off, Baby" (1970)
There's a reason the last 5 years of the 1960s produced such musical creativity.
And this isn't even the really weird stuff.
Remarkable call on the Bonzo’s one of my all time favourites!
Canyons of your mind for the Bonzos!
Oh and Beefheart and Zappa. Have you been looking at my record collection?
@@bertalach I'm old and have eclectic tastes. They include The Residents, Harry Partch, Bjork, The Shaggs, and Wildman Fisher.
@@bertalach I've been a fan of Vivian Stanshall, Neil Innes, and the Bonzo Dog Band since about 1968. They have a considerable song catalogue, so naming a representative sample is difficult to keep from being long and overwhelming.
"Hunting Tigers", "The Intro and The Outro", "The Sound of Music", "The Equestrian Statue", ""Jazz Delicious Hot Disgusting Cold", etc. It's just so hard to know when to stop.
This is what we grew up on. Boomers can die happy.
Yeah I forgot about Midnight Special till this Watch Shindig and Hullabaloo till you could stay awake long enough for Midnight
@@Spo-Dee-O-Dee I loved The Archies....... and The Monkeys
@@Spo-Dee-O-Dee Bread was an awesome group.
I just love every time a new person gets plugged into the sheer joy of listening to this.
Focus play this 250 meters from my home,in the Netherlands,
Great times.
Watching to see BP have his mind blown.
Since you liked this, you should check out Frankenstein from Edgar Winters Group th-cam.com/video/P8f-Qb-bwlU/w-d-xo.html Also Check out Tobacco Road Live from Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter th-cam.com/video/af0rV6dli_o/w-d-xo.html. You will love both of these songs/videos!!
Jan Akkerman [ the guitarist] also had some albums out where he played complex Bach lute pieces on the guitar. That's why he can play that fast fluid stuff, more than just the usual arpeggios. Thijs Van Leer [ organ, flute & vocal] is still going, still fronting the band. He doesn't hit quite the same high notes nowadays.
During one of my university stints, one of my course-mates was a heavy metal guitarist, who also used to play Back lute & organ pieces for practice, because they contain very complex progressions & structures.
The drummer is 🔥
Pierre Van Der Linden is the drummer, and he and the keyboardist/vocalist are together still and released their 50th year album titled obviously FOCUS 50.
🇬🇧 My thoughts exactly. The Drummer 🥁 is on 🔥.
One of my favourite drummers, Pierre Van Der Linden. Saw Focus play live about 5 weeks ago and he and Thijs Van Leer, the yodeller(!) are still in the band - and what a guitarist Jan Akkerman was.
Play this for almost anyone under 30 and it blows their minds.
The WHOLE band is killing it!
The drummer is bananas!
Keyboard/whistler/Flutist is Absurdly talented.
Jan on guitar id THE MOST UNDERRATED GUITARIST OF THE CLASSIC ROCK ERA.
Back then, people knew that this guy was the greatest. In 1973 Akkerman was voted Best Guitarist in the World by readers of the UK magazine Melody Maker.
Priceless reaction!! You made my day happier!
Close Encounters of the Third Kind, 1977, Richard Dreyfuss. Fantastic flick
This means something!
the movie used a lot of biblical reffernces
The movie taught us it was ok to play with our mashed potatoes
In 1973 when this song/album came out I was the first person in my fraternity house to buy this album. When I played Hocus Pocus all my frat brothers gathered around my room to listen. Everybody was shocked, yet there was lots of laughter! What an unusual song by Focus!
My buddies and I did a lot of hallucinogens back in the day. We listened to this many times.
Your interpretation is the wildest thing ive ever heard about this song!
Thats impressive.
Complete insanity 😂😂 BTW “that lady” was Gladys Knight 😊❤️🔥✌🏻🫶🏻
It's ALWAYS entertaining the 1st time someone sees this and has NO IDEA what's coming........LOL
The more I see this performance, the more I have come to believe this is the greatest live show in history!
I agree, best live performance ever
Programs like "Midnight Special" and "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert" were transformational for my friends and I. We were 14, 15, and 16 years old, gathering in my basement to watch these incredible acts. This is why I am so grateful to have grown up in that decade.
Loving what you dig up in your archaeological journey. 60s 70s 80s was a great time to be alive.
THAT is a bunch of amazingly talented musicians turning it up to 11.
Last month I attended a Focus concert in The Netherlands, where the band was founded. After fifty (!) years still touring the globe. Vocalist Thijs van Leer (75 years old) and drummer Pierre van der Linden (76 years old) of the original line-up, performed just as powerful as they did in the seventies, including the astonishing jodeling parts! Former Focus guitarist Jan Akkerman was in 1973 voted 'best guitar player of the word' by the British music magazine Melody Maker. Todays line-up: Thijs van Leer: organ/flute/vocals, Pierre van der Linden: Drums, Menno Gootjes: guitar, Udo Pannekeet: Bass.
They were the only band on Midnight Special to ever get a standing ovation. It seemed fast because it is an 8 1/2 minute song and they were told they only had 5 minutes to play. They sped it up instead of cutting out any of the song. Listen to the album version. It's awesome.
They were in a big time limit because it was TV and they only had 3 minutes or something to do the number. So instead of cutting it short, they played it fast. It's excellent.
You are watching masters in their field. Ahead of their time and they were asked to shorten the song for time limits and they said no, we will just speed it up. Listen to the studio version and you will see. Listen to other tracks on the album "Moving Waves" They were incredible
LOL..I had completely forgotten about that song. It was out there and absolutely outside the known realm but they knew their instruments.
Good Reaction,My Friend.
I saw them in South East London in 1972 and the lead/organist is still performing over 50 years later.
Other songs by Focus are totally different like "Sylvia" and "Love Remembered" ENJOY:)
Thijs van Leer, there at the keyboards doing the vocals, is a Dutch icon. I have had the pleasure to meet him thrice. I volunteer for the Netherlands' biggest free music festival, Big Rivers. Last time I met him was last year and was still performing under the name of Focus, although he's about the only original member left. Wonderful man. Really down to earth.
One of the greatest prog rock songs of all time!
When I saw you'd reacted to this I knew I would love it. You have to show Don 😁
I do agree! 👍
When he started yodelling, I loved the expression on your face. 🙄
In the 9 years of Midnight Special, this was the only Full Audience Standing Ovation. Ratings were through the roof for this as it was the only way to see Live Bands except in concert. University and High School students, shut everything down Early Saturday Morning at 1230am until 2am, there were dozens of us watching, and lights were on in every house with 15-30 years old across the country.
The Dutch music scene at that time was incredible. Focus was not the only one.
I bought Moving Waves when it first was released and have watched dozens of TH-cam videos of this performance. The reactions always make me laugh. For me, it's one of the great live performances ever.
Brother, I have watched a LOT of reactions to this epic performance, but this just might be my favorite!! 😂😂 Your bewilderment was pure gold! You made my day! 😂
I saw Focus perform this at the Sundown, Edmonton, London in 1973, when I was 19, pressed up against the stage, having the time of my life.... memories are made of this....
Keep the grind going BP. If you feel like you are burning out, always take a break & come back fresh. Love your daily videos for years now and only want what's best for you.
Ahh the most beautiful oddball song out there. This was a mini performance of the song. There's another video out there that is longer and wilder
"Fire" by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown is another great one lol 🤪❤🤙
@@mikejohnson-dl7vt I was waiting for someone else to suggest this. Crazy video
By "mini performance" I'm assuming you mean "an edited version of the longer video".
@@module79l28 no. Just a short televised performance. No editing. The live performance video is longer
Fast forward 51 years & I saw the current line up of Focus live at a venue near me in the UK the other week. This took me right back to my teenage years when this band first became famous. A great night out & the founder member of the band, Thijs van Leer on keys (now in his '70's), has still got it. I don't think he can do the whistling or high pitch notes these days but he still plays the flute in one hand while playing the keyboard with the other. The other band members are all very accomplished & were given their own slots to shine on the night. The very essence of a progressive rock band.
Thijs Van Leer is STILL PERFORMING at 76 years old.
I remember when this [ and their other huge hit “Sylvia “ were on the Rock radio stations [ well, one, anyway. KSHE-95, St.Louis was at that time , listed as “Album Rock”.]📻🙂
Hi from the UK . People are so fascinated with Thijs the singer , they overlook Jan Ackermann ....guitar genius . Great reaction .
They had 5 minutes to play an 8 1/2 minute song....everything was almost double time!
6 minute and 42 seconds song....where'd ya get 8 and a half minutes from?
Wow, anything went in the 70s. It was great. 😊
First saw them live at the beginning of '73 and again a few months after this performance in May '74 !
This " one off " version of the song was played at approx double the speed it was normally played due to time constraints from the producers of this show . The band weren't prepared to do a shortened version so decided " what the hell we'll just speed it up " - and this was the result .
Thijs van Leer the guy on keys , flute and vocals is still active ( as are the band with a changed lineup ) . Jan Ackerman ( guitar ) was voted the world's best guitarist in 1973 .
Off to see them live again in November - 50 years after the last time ! 😱😱😱
Welcome to the 70's, my man. I remember when this song came out, and I LOVED it!!!!
The band is MADLY Talented each and every one of them. Then they went Talentedly MAD together without losing one ounce of their talent.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind. LOL I love watching the reactions to this performance. They had to speed it up because they didn't have enough time to do the song at the normal tempo , not enough air time, so it felt even more frenetic than usual. That is what was so great about music in the 60' s and 70's, the variety, the experimentation, the talent!
Jan Akkerman was one of the early GOATs for shredding way before it was common. He influenced several guitarist especially in Europe. They had to do this song at a faster tempo to fit it in before the end of the show. That drummer is next level on this.
i love showing this video to people because it's ALWAYS a LOT in the BEST way, and the reactions are almost always like yours
i first heard this song playing at an Apocalyptica concert in 2008 lol my brother and i were extremely confused but my dad was like "oh, it's hocus pocus by focus!"
Once heard, never forgotten. It's always fun to watch someone reacting to this for the first time. Incredible, very left-field, Dutch band. And they were all possessed - brilliant musicians. Thijs (pronounced TYCE) van Leer on organ and lead yodel, Jan Akkerman on lead guitar, Pierre van der Linden on drums, and Bert Ruiter on bass. According to legend, they sped the song up to fit it into the time slot they were given, so it was even more frenetic than the album version. PS - "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" :)
Loved your reaction- thanks. This is a Dutch Progressive Rock band. The guitar player, Jan Akkerman, was considered to be one of the top guitarist during that time period. The front man is Thijs Van Leer and is still touring a lot on cruise ships. If you are looking for some information on them, check out the comment to this on Jayvee TV reaction channel (heart warming story about Thijs Van Leer's family and upbringing that is amazing). Thijs and his daughter do leave comments on reactions to this once in a while.
When my grandkids asked me what was music like in my day. I sit them down had have them watch this video. And say. "Well pretty much like this....BUT sometimes THINGS ALSO GOT WEIRD too"
The band had a 6min 30 second song. They were told to drop some of parts od the song to get down to 5 minutes. In typical 1970s fashion the band said "Here hold the coke mirror, were doing the whole song in 5 minutes...{sssnnniiiffff}"
He wasn't twitching so much as warming up. By the way your expression was priceless. Have you listened to Black Coffee by Humble Pie yet? I think you'd love it.
Every time I see someone react to this song it makes me laugh because I know it’s not what the reactor was thinking. This was a version that was done in double time because the show wanted them to shorten the song and they refused so they just sped it up.
Jan Akkerman was proclaimed the best guitarist in the world by an English music magazine.
Wow! This song was crazy.
I have been watching your reactions for over a year now and this is the first song you've done that I hadn't already heard. In fact I never even heard of the group. Without this channel I probably never would have either.
Thanks.
Greatest reaction yet. Know you know how free and great everything was then
MAD mad guitar work But the drummer was freaking FIRE!!! Then crazy ass vocals...this song was the whole package. Back in high-school I had it for that drummer!!
I recently saw an interview with the lead vocalist a few months ago. According to him, he was in the studio messing around on the keyboard when the Drummer joined in; he was doing vocal warm-ups. Before they knew it, they turned it into a song. If you pay attention to it, he's yodeling in tune with the notes he is playing. This was his vocal warm-ups to get ready to record or do a show put to music. 🎶🎤👍❤️🎶
Back in the late 1970's I was working as the stage manager for a Toronto (Canada) band called ZON. Very progressive at first, this song was one of their staples of their live show. It usually ended the night. The lead singer was the yodeller and the keyboard player would do the really high stuff. Their version deviated slightly (the singer did one of the vocal breaks as Donald Duck) but there was no mistaking what it was. Always got us a standing ovation. ZON went on to do 3 albums. An incredible live band.
Again I say, this is real music and why we baby boomers don't get rap and today's music in general.
Exactamundo!
Can stuff today be called music ?
@@ElunedLaine It's certainly not what I call music!
@@Lily_The_Pink972 Some of it is absolutely music but it is also very different from what came before sometimes.
@@ekramer2478 Whatever it is, I don't like it!
Your facial expressions were priceless! Much like everyone who hears this for the first time.
Haven't heard this for decades and it actually does sound like he's speaking light language. way before it was a thing. 😁
A short time ago you mentioned that you thought you had reached the end of the internet, then stumbled upon a gem. Believe it or not, you've just gotten started. The "Classic Rock" genre alone has around 5000 songs that have received significant radio air time over the years, not to mention songs that never made it to radio for one reason or another but were concert favorites. Then there are other genres. One song you can't miss from the "Psychedelic Soul" genre is "Time Has Come Today" by The Chambers Brothers, especially if you like cowbells.
I'm dying! 😂 I LOVE your enthusiasm and authenticity! I've never seen this either, and it was pretty dope! I didn't lose my mind like YOU with all your "Close Encounters Of The THIRD Kind" connections...but I get it! 😁
I had forgotten about this song. Hysterical to watch all the reaction videos coming out.
THIS PERFORMANCE is PHENOMENAL!!! I remember this song on the radio - and, it's really TWICE as long - and, I believe....towards the end - the drummer actually is checking out the clock, as they were only allowed HALF the time of the song on the show....and, rather than cut it short - they played it at double-time!! AMAZING!!! They were SO CREATIVE!!! THANKS for THIS ONE, BP!!! :) HUGS!!
My friend the summer before his Junior spent about 10 hours a day learning every song on Focus live and Jeff Beck's Blow by Blow every song to perfection. That is how I found out about this band. Great musicians and Jan such a brilliant guitarist. Everyone in the band is technically amazing. Drummer killing it!
I believe it was the only time an artist received a standing ovation on the Midnight Special
Great reaction to a great group. I'm a lot older than you--I was around when this first came out. And I can tell you, you will never hear anything like this again. They are unique and head-explodingly talented.
And the movie you were referring to is called "Close Encounters of the Third Kind."
I was in high school when this came out. Knew what was coming so watching your reaction was beyond priceless. Laughing tears of joy made my weekend!
The midnight special was a very formula driven show. Bands came on to play live in front of a national audience. But all songs had to be a specific length and no longer. So most bands cut out verses or a chorus to meet the time limit. Focus said no, they just played the song in double or triple time to play the whole song. It is actually an incredible performance. You need to now go listen to the album version for the difference between the two
@retroreactions.... bravo for your reaction and your curiosity. They often only get attention for one Hocus Pocus song and people stop at that without knowing the hidden gems. I encourage you to continue your discovery of this fantastic group which is one of the groups, if not the most versatile group that I know. Try the moving wave album which is different and the Focus 3 album which is even more different. There is a sublime version of Strasbourg Cathedral live from this group. Good luck and good listening.🙏
This is what we did back in the 70ties.😊 Focus is one of the super-bands of that time.
In the words of Monty Python.."and now, for something completely different." I was 22 in 1973 and well into music and this is the first time I that that I've ever heard this.
You weren't that far into music. It was very popular. And I was 14 they were playing it on am radio
There was so much music a person just couldn't hear all of it...
@davidlittlejohn6636 that's true,theirs probably many one hit numbers I never heard of. It's just that one is so unique if you here it once you never forget it.
My man is best whistler I’ve ever heard…. Played the hell out of that flute as well
Awesome reaction… thoroughly enjoyed it…
man I just waited until you reach this song...awesome reaction!
BEST REACTION VIDEO EVER!!!
I couldn't wait to see your reaction to this one! And, it was everything I hoped. Shock, awe, and wonder. Good one! (This tune is NOT to be taken seriously -- it's simply a hoot.)
For another oddball band, I go for "They Might Be Giants." They're a duo that have been putting out music since 1981, and well, when it comes to weird, they've always been there. With songs like "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)," "Particle Man," "I Palindrome I," "She was a (Hotel Detective)," "Put your hand inside the Puppet Head," and many, many other strange tunes. They're still around and making new music.
Saw them in concert on their first UK tour in the very early 70's. Superb band. I bought all their subsequent albums and those by individual members of the band.
My Dad saw them at The Queens Hotel in Westcliff England in 72, i was brought up on music like this. Amazing stuff
The 70’s were awesome as far as music.
Since you enjoyed this, now you should check out Johnny Winter's Frankenstein, video. You'll love that, too
Much love from Maine and keep doin what ya do ❤
BP I was waiting for the look on your face. lol
Good old 70’s hard rock. Dust - From a Dry Camel, Painter - Going Down The Road, Yesterday’s Children - Sailing and so much more!
Thijs van Leer had a TV show in which he interviewed and improvised with Dutch rock artists. One of his guests was Jan Akkerman and as I remember it that led to the formation of Focus.