Donald Fagen talks about JOSIE pt 1

Donald Fagen discusses the Steely Dan hit Josie with Warren Bernhardt

[@NikonFstopper]

I named my dog after this song 13 years ago, and to this day Josie is the pride of my neighborhood.

[@IronMan-tk8uc]

Wonderful and hilarious.

[@jswjanjan]

🙂👍

[@finnspringston]

I will rev up my motor scooter

[@cgirl111]

I named my daughter Aja in 1985.

[@pauls064]

I also named my dog after this song .... lol. In 1994

[@LikeWiseLikeYou]

"And um.. well you might ask, 'Well how are these related to the blues?' and uh, well they're not actually." Awesome Fagen moment.

[@Veranek]

Best part of the video.

[@craigezell4261]

LikeWiseLikeYou:Remarkable when you can see all the work & thought that goes into creating a song & then to have it become a smash hit & a classic. All we fans hear & groove to is the finished product.That's the magic of music;so many diverse ideas coming together & jelling into something catchy & cool. It can start off with something like a simple blues variation & suddenly, boom!You got a catchy opening,a theme you can sing & bob your head to & finally a musical story you can hang on to for years.

[@davidwatkins204]

Man, y know, awesome, genius, find some adjectives that are apicable, or, if y cant, don't make no comments at arl. Yd be much more appreciated.

[@ItwasntI]

David Watkins what a little ray of sunshine you are! Sheesh.

[@eraymondscorner7497]

But then he tagged on it and cosmically connected it all... anyway 👌🏽💯😂

[@davebosworth1778]

..."so you put a little.... Gregorian, sort of a swampy, sort of introduction on it,..and you get THIS." Love it!

[@tomtruett1946]

Especially loved the line, “She prays like a Roman with her eyes on fire.” Vivid.

[@stourleykracklite7663]

I always heard it “plays,” which is wrong. But better.

[@sharksport01]

preys.

[@abrarahmed1888]

Cryptic,sardonic, coruscating geniuses.Finely honing the feel and structure of the songs, practicing and practicing until they become second nature and allowing the musicians playing to imbue their own characteristics whilst remaining faithful to the original intent. Once-in-a-lifetime musicians. From the age of 17 they were easily (and still are) my favourite band. At least once a month I have to get my fix my listening to Aja in its entirety

[@klyvemurray]

Eloquently put, Abrar.

[@PhillipLandmeier]

Yes, eloquently indeed -- and someone who knows the word coruscating. I love it. That's exactly what some Steely Dan tunes often are. PEG is an example. It just sparkles and glitters like a star, which I suspect is the effect they were going for. Boy, does it work.

[@stourleykracklite7663]

Damn, if you are writing a music column I need to subscribe.

[@jamesmorse3458]

Coruscating also means critical and scathing which, I think applies to his comment

[@Vejur9000]

Yaaasss....

[@paulcat75]

Clearly Donald fagan is a musical genius nuff said....

[@stgodards]

He's a little more than competent. His knowledge of the history and theory behind this stuff is clearly very advanced. Added to that is the fact that he's able to utilize that knowledge by writing songs like New Frontier and Maxine makes him a genius in my book.

[@michellerjackson5776]

@@stgodards Yes. and YES

[@mcasenl]

@Christopher Crepon, Yeah, and Mozart was a competent music composer, and Einstein was a competent physicist.

[@sharksport01]

they both were/are genius and perfectionists, imo.

[@PhilUKNet]

Fagen was/is the musical genius. Becker, as well as being a great writing partner, guitarist and bass player, gave the lyrics their cynical edge. It was the perfect match, probably never to be repeated again.

[@Nyquistic]

"... we'll put a Gregorian, sort of a swampy introduction on it" This is genius at work (at around 06:25) -- love it!

[@1957PLATO]

This guy is so freaking clever. It’s uncanny. Their music still sounds as fresh as when it was written, 50 years ago.

[@Imhalfamazing]

I know a couple of scales and a few chords, and I watch this like I know what they are saying.

[@michellerjackson5776]

Maaaaan. Sure.

[@michellerjackson5776]

HOWEVER.. I am eternally a fan

[@sharksport01]

you know more than me 😉

[@jsmcguireIII]

the major triads he throws over the minor/modal baseline creates the tensions that he resolves and then resets. this plays with your emotional cortex in ways you don't consciously process

[@klyvemurray]

Oh Yeah !! You're right onto it, santacruzer...Excellent !!

[@PhillipLandmeier]

Yes, that's the whole point of music, and Steely Dan takes this to a level equalled only in a few cases of classical music.

[@kfd308]

Well said

[@eliolopez3107]

Eight thumbs down? Who could give this a thumbs down? Steely Dan is one of the absolute greats of modern music. Fagen and Becker wrote some major gems right up there with The Beatles.

[@johnanderson1330]

any thumbs down must be a mistake. how could you not thumbs up steely dad!

[@eliolopez3107]

Absolutely

[@dell1111111111]

you know who hates Steely Dan? Communists

[@eliolopez3107]

What?! That's one of the dumbest things I've ever heard anyone say.

[@RealisticCookingIRL]

"I heard it was you, talking 'bout a world where all is free, it just couldn't be, and only a fool would say that."

[@bruzmob1]

I was in college when Aja first came out, and it made me fall in love with music all over again.

[@ryanhilton1084]

Fagen is a genius

[@christophersleight1943]

Aja was, is (and I hate it when people do this) for me 1 of the 20 best pieces of work ever done. I had a girlfriend that said, "Aja (song) is such a beautiful love song", she was speechless when I explained it was about China White heroin.......kinda of ruined her love buzz.

[@ItwasntI]

Christopher Sleight well, sigh, that is sort of a love song anyway...

[@jamestcallahanphotographer]

Absolutely incredible to hear how this masterpiece of a Pop/Jazz/Rock/Blues song was created.

[@fivestring65ify]

Fagan is a freaking genius. The way he explained how they arranged Josie is unreal. This is what's missing in todays music.

[@tooomasz]

Nothing's missing in today's music

[@IronMan-tk8uc]

@@tooomasz Are you sure?

[@tooomasz]

yep

[@maolruanaidhh9153]

@@tooomasz not sure about that

[@davecoalwood9487]

@@tooomasz How about lack of being shit?

[@15twoe]

this is what happens when you have someone who is classically trained that just loves and wants to play music! We really need music back in elementary schools again!

[@nuffinman8876]

Fagen wasn't classically trained, he taught himself to play by listening to records

[@drblaney22]

Man you got that right......I lift my glass to that

[@michaelreidperry3256]

Yesir or yesam! We seem to continue the dumbing down and decivilization of our American culture. America needs immigration now more than ever!

[@nuffinman8876]

Michael Reid Perry how is importing a bunch of uneducated people with an average IQ of 80 going to help?

[@michaelreidperry3256]

How do you know they have an IQ of 80? Not many people have their IQ properly tested by a professional. A professional has to do it. Most of them are quite smart, like so many natural born Americans. I'm speaking of attracting a new cultural energy from beyond our borders that continues to make America greater, rather than us stagnating, smelling our own farts.

[@starman714]

Another brilliant post that should lay to waste all the naysayers who think Becker and Fagen were "nothing" without their studio musicians - thanks for sharing!

[@hagakure6410]

Always amazing to watch two musicians converse (verbally and musically) when both are so completely knowledgeable about their instrument, music theory in general, and also music history in the sense of knowing what riffs, chords, modes, etc. come from what sources.

[@nedcronin]

I can watch this again and again.

[@Pim3211]

I have watched this again and again🎉😅

[@JohnnyNowhere]

Man, these guys are talking calculus in my world of addition and subtraction. What a way to set up a groove.

[@strictlynorton]

Passion personified. The talent Becker and Fagen laid on the music world set the bar for future generations. Stunning. Sublime. Soulful all at once. Watch and learn kids. Master at work right here!

[@hoodooskidoo]

I believe this was in 1993. Bernhardt was Steely Dan's musical director for their tour that year.

[@adumbberg]

"Gregorian swampy introduction..." Exactly what it is. That is awesome.

[@apd105]

He said that. OMG he actually said that. Fantastic.

[@PatRClarke]

Absolutely incredible to hear him describing music, describing the "space". I feel like being in the studio with him and everyone else when they were creating like this would have been a religious experience.

[@sibsbubbles]

man a musician can learn a ton from this. very cool applications of jazz and blues so nicely working together on a really sweet lick when compared to the full cut with everyone playing. even better to hear it all explained too.

[@warmswarm]

What I find strange is the fact that they are playing this song in D minor but on the record and live it's in E minor. That means Donald can play this, not so simple song, in two different keys.

[@greensombrero3641]

this is a true artist being kind enough to let us into the process. what amazing sounds paintings they made for the future. wow. sooooooo beautiful........

[@klyvemurray]

Spot on, GS !!

[@pwkpilot]

Fagen is a genius/master-songwriting/piano player. Gosh, I should stop myself now........

[@msstevie1951]

He really is all that and then some....can not even imagine the world without his genius writing skills,not to mention his singing & playing talent! He & the entire band are amazing...You are so right pwkpilot!

[@josstam]

SD was a major factor in my musical development, and my sense of humor as I come to think of it

[@terrymiller111]

Too late--restraining order being printed already.

[@jesham7627]

Fusion approach demonstrated and explained without any nonsense. Thank you.

[@joedynaflow9157]

The thought put into this this song is an example of total creativity.

[@frappehomunculus875]

Fagen/Becker? The best songwriters of the 70's 80's 90's and on.

[@jamesj9998]

frappe homunculus Agree, but would include Todd Rundgren in that list.

[@quickjazz55]

There's a hint of Mike Myers' (Dr. Evil), in some of Don Fagen's mannerism's. It in no way diminishes his musical genius or prowess however. In fact, I find it an enhancement.

[@stourleykracklite7663]

Oh, behave

[@sjenkins8468]

“I want a G triad with some freaking lasers!’

[@Duncan464]

Incredibly enjoyable. Donald and Walter(I know he is not in this vid) are the 2 most important song writers of the last 50 years.Genius's

[@mangda2449]

+Duncan lobley Ever hear of a couple dudes named Lennon & McCartney? How 'bout Page & Plant, Waters & Gilmore, or Jagger & Richards? Calm down superfan.

[@tomthd1]

I concur they were 1 of a couple of great writing duo's of that era. Still one of my favorite bands of all time.

[@skierpage]

Duncan lobley Steely Dan set such a high bar for anyone moving from rock to jazz that few cover their songs and "yacht rock" performers (late Doobie Brothers, Michael Franks, Christopher Cross) aped the smoothness and solos but without the complexity. Other songwriters were far more influential.

[@chrisnealis4270]

Let's not forget about Zappa. "Inca Roads", one of many fusion masterpieces.

[@1881art]

Agreed. The stuff will stand the test of time.

[@robbieclark7828]

The way he just swings his right hand through the air whenever he plays is hilarious to me. It’s like his right arm is drunk but it always connects.

[@joelglanton6531]

I totally started doing that because I thought it looked cool and now more than a decade later I just remembered who I stole it from lol

[@OneOffization]

Yes, those Gregorian swamps! LOL!

[@paulsnively3377]

+Andrey Gaganov Hard to explain without some music theory: he's referring to a kind of mix of chord structure from Gregorian chant (search for that) and "Delta" (Louisiana delta) blues (search for that). He also explicitly refers to "modal" music, which Gregorian chant is an example of, coming, as it did, before Bach basically shoved the "well-tempered scale" (eliminating modes) down the throat of western music. The big takeaway, whether you follow this or not, is that Donald Fagen's music theory background is quite good, and since he's an artist, he knows you have to know the rules before you can break them.

[@philliptemple1587]

Vince V I

[@billymac6961]

I wonder if this is how Justin Bieber writes his music.

[@bridgetclooney3453]

Billy Mac LOL

[@Joes0s]

Lol sure

[@Olegzyan]

can he really write music? i really doubt that!

[@paul-Ess]

With a big crayon

[@user-hk7hz9cn7v]

Such a tired reference

[@jlionz]

A master class in song structure and composition by one of the all time masters/greats/what-have-you, thank you so much for posting this video I learned a lot.

[@christophermiller7532]

5 people hate hats and hooters.

[@phillybri]

Funny thing about me: Love hats, hate hooters.

[@jfkesq]

I've heard the song a thousands times, but every time I hear it sounds like the first time.

[@wonderbars36]

Damn good keyboard player. I love the hidden simplicity in the chord shapes yet how full the jazz of it makes it sound.

[@rprillman81]

Im learning this joint and it sounds so so good when you play it. You just want to play it over and over again.

[@bridgetclooney3453]

That stuff he did initially, I heard Ray Charles so deep. Love how Walter (Becker) being bass player factored in to their genius. Steely Dan will never have an equal, they haven’t since 1973- RIP Walter

[@GingerKC]

What a privilege to interview the LEDGEND DONALD FAGEN!!! ❤ DAMMIT!!! Beautiful Man!!!

[@nv1493]

This is why this music has lasted for generations. It's crafted by musicians. Unlike computer generated sampling and loops from current disposable pop "stars".

[@RaptorGN07]

this tells those people who think that guys like DF are merely unschooled guys who put the gang together and banged away. There are a lot of music sheets and direction involved here.

[@johnjones6601]

Could listen to him all day talk about his craft. A brilliant pair of songwriters were Walter and Donald.

[@kasponya]

So simple sounding yet very complex - brilliant!

[@chrismitchell45]

It’s amazing how much is going on that song with only the piano part. There will never be another Dan.

[@noternunstoned]

Walter and Donald took the essence of blues, soul and jazz-rock and polished it with super tasty inversions and arrangements, then dirtied it up just a little so it doesn't sound mechanical or robotic. Organic with no autotune, no hiding behind effects, no smoke and mirrors.

[@Gump1224]

So glad I found these videos, Fagen is a hero of mine his style is unmistakable, watching him go deep on these tunes is very interesting indeed

[@jerichoe]

This is simply some of the most beautiful musical magic ever experienced in our lives. God bless Don and Walt ~)~

[@Joes0s]

Dude is a blues and jazz genius who learned from music he heard growing up. Becker and he were these out of time masters of their art. They stood out because nobody but them played like that, and they shunned the live scenes for decades. Bohemian hipsters before hipsters were hipsters.

[@billjhyt]

You do realize I am being tongue in cheek. I consider it a great privilege to listen to Walter explain what would otherwise be a mystery to me and business as usual to him/in his mind. Isn't WB and utube grand!?

[@blujazz10000]

The MUSICAL GENIUS himself. Can't wait to see him and the band at Heinz Hall in downtown Pittsburgh October 2018 !!!

[@colleenposadas8415]

Thomas Lee Miller Just saw him/them last night in Seattle! Wow what I didn't know! What a group!

[@communtyhivemind]

because Dm is the saddest of all the keys, of course

[@hugorojas1452]

Love ! thanks for posting!!!

[@mandymason9053]

OMG! Amazing! Learned soooooo much. Thanks Donny!

[@wannamonslo9626]

When he said "we wanted to simplify it because we didn't want too much going on under the vocal Melody."

[@lauraswihart8018]

Their music makes me Happy!😊😊

[@michealodwyer7306]

Fagan's idea of a "primitive blues from the Delta" sounds a lot more advanced than mine..

[@tommyturner6923]

One of my favorite song intros ever.

[@codzydee1870]

looooovvvee steely dan aka donald fagen brilliant song writer love it xox

[@davidhoxit4274]

Love this! Great sound!

[@jcstevegigs]

I could watch this stuff all day. Fascinating

[@egyptianminor]

Donald & Walt are some of my favorite song writers, true masters of the craft. They also use this same device of device of 'illuminating' a minor blues progression by inserting Maj 7/9 chords, on the song 'Don't take me Alive" from "The Royal Scam".

[@Jekylnhyde55]

As Fagen calls it (the Maj 9), the mu major... Love it...

[@j.d.thompson3505]

It's a lot of fun watching this.

[@don4476]

The fella with him....beast. SD tour musical director. Has some skills.

[@denniss1044]

I was so fortunate to experience AJA in high school, and, Man, did we think we were so cool listening to that genius !😎

[@tdstudd1996]

What a freaking genius! So glad my dad showed me this music growing up. I took guitar lessons throughout my entire childhood up until college, and learned a (I thought) decent amount of theory along the way. But watching this makes me understand how little I actually know. Now I produce music electronically which, contrary to popular belief, requires a great deal of not only music theory knowledge (if you want it to sound good), but also synthesis and sound design. This video really inspires me to dig deeper into music theory.

[@steveburt2194]

Listen to Night by night, Haitian divorce and Third world man. Now that is classic fuckin Dan.

[@Jekylnhyde55]

Haitian Divorce, The Caves of Altamira and Dont Take Me Alive... The Royal Scam will always be my favorite SD recording, even though Aja is one of the best recorded and produced records of all time, right there with Dark Side of the Moon...

[@Deliquescentinsight]

Gorgeous changes -described with brilliant perspicacity -swampy Gregorian blues intro-genius...i love it.

[@jordanrioscreations]

Dude knows music. Cool how the basis for some of his songs are different types of blues.

[@microdon2]

Exactly! And those opening chords - holy - DF is an f-ing genius.

[@robertparobechek6580]

Just raw talent..... I love Steely Dan!

[@markdezii]

Love this video. Totally impressed!!

[@oliverkarhunen5275]

He's a genius.

[@DoctorJezz]

Thanks for this :)

[@fatmanpedaling]

my favorite of this series so far is the video of the making of peg

[@paulbyrnesrmt2929]

Dammmn that's some relaxed advanced jazz

[@souljubilant12]

I was waiting for him to say "keep the cymbals splashy and let's take the bass line for a walk".

[@shelleybobelly1]

i love musicians...way envious!

[@jsmcguireIII]

I try so hard to listen to and respect what passes for popular music today and it is REALLY HARD. Most of what I hear sounds like it was created by some kind of algorithm devoid of a human pulse. Go read Never a Dull Moment about 1971. That was a golden age and I was fortunate to be there.

[@davidmmcg]

at 3:54 he misspeaks when he says "G major 9 with no 3rd" when he probably meant to say "C major 9 with no 3rd".

[@johns.8082]

Yeah I caught that too. What a dope!

[@MikeFloutier]

Love it!

[@keithmccabe4040]

That was awesome.

[@christinedavis3310]

Boom! Amazing artist!

[@LP5369GT]

Yeah, just slap a little Gregorian swampy intro on it and you get this....lol, piece of cake. Just one of the most iconic intro's in the history of modern music.

[@chrisjaybecker]

Have you ever notice how Steely Dan's imitators, like Rupert Holmes, Christopher Cross, Ambrosia, etc. became known decades later as Yacht Rock, but not Steely Dan. They're their own genre.

[@glennmathisen2537]

as a self taught musician who likes to nerd out on theory, this makes me salivate!

[@Markgr122]

Fascinating.

[@josielisette6768]

I'm Home Donald lol love this song specially if that's my NAME =)

[@carldavis1407]

Josie p. We're gonna lay down the law and break it 😎

[@arthouston7361]

Speaking as an on air jock who played their tracks during the time when they were not yet "oldies," , I simply enjoyed this group of works like a fine meal, without fully understanding the depth of experience and understanding of the chef for all of the ingredients he was using. This set of vids gives me some of that missing insight, and I now have a much deeper appreciation of what was going on to put this meal together. I now feel like a foodie who wants to learn more about making meals like this myself, or at least have some of that understanding as a yeoman, if not a master.

[@DruDilly]

I just saw a clip about this on IG that brought me to find this video. I just noticed the intro walk up is different in this video than it is on the original recording. They start the half step walk up on the recording on F and on this video, they start it on Eb. It still works to get into the song but it threw me off for a sec.

[@fawltytenor]

The real genius, he takes something familiar and morphs it just a little bit with a different type of vibe and then it sounds like a while new thing. Like Steely Dan. Brilliant.

[@BoozehammerOfGalem]

I don't know why, but it makes people weep instantly.

[@erichaskell]

Can’t help but smile.

[@anthonyglaser929]

that was awesome.

[@craigezell4261]

Notice how Fagen's talking voice is way different from his singing voice.Sometimes with other vocalists,it's the other way around.He is a very knowledgeable musician.

[@MsShannaK]

How can you not love this 🥳😍🥲🥰

[@bradking1067]

Wen Josie comes home...so good...she the pride o'da neighborhood! thanks! God loves you deeply

[@harryhenderson2259]

Donald F Is my All time Favorite All Around Tune Guy ! Along with The Eagles gang !" Complexity ,Versitility Classic, Multitudes of Everythimg & Anythimg blended from past to presemt of knowledge of & in Music thru half a Century ! Gemiuses of their Crafts !"