🎵 Elton John - Crocodile Rock REACTION

[@001Astroboy]

my fondest memory of this song took place in 1994. I was 17, working at a gas station, and an old VW beetle pulls up for service. The windows were fogged up, and i will never forget the moment the driver rolled his window down, and massive clouds of second hand smoke came billowing out, to the cranked up tune of crocodile rock while a pair of old hippie grandparents asked for a fill up and offered me a toke. They taught me a valuable lesson that day, in that you are never too old to have fun, and good memories last a life time. I will always remember that moment.

[@keithjones7390]

There was no stopping Elton in the early 70's, releasing hit after hit, with the help of Bernie Taupin of course! 😉 His contribution to popular music is immense.

[@deraldbolin]

Elton John has said that this song was paying homage to all the 50 and 60's rock that he loved.

[@aaronarnold7653]

8th grade trip....Peace

[@thewednesdaywolves7555]

maybe it's a homage to Bill Haleys "See you later, alligator" 😉

[@robertcartwright4374]

@@thewednesdaywolves7555 Sharp!

[@sourisvoleur4854]

And it's so well done. You can hear the 1950s in this song.

[@RandomPau]

Yes, this one and Bennie and the Jets!

[@robertjones705]

The fun rock of the 50’s and 60’s and high school dances and sock hops

[@surlechapeau]

Brad & Lex, you'll love his "Philadelphia Freedom" and "Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me!!!

[@robertcartwright4374]

"The boring period of rock" referenced in this tune was the period when Elvis was in the army and the first wave of rockers (Chuck Berry, Little Richard, etc.) had gone quiet and apart from surf music a kind of corporate, ersatz, definitely-not-authentic-or-rebellious spirit reigned. The British Invasion ended this boring period. Something similar happened in the mid-70s, ended by Punk and New Wave. Or at least that's how it looked to me (I'm an old fart).

[@GaemerJosh]

As an Elvis fan this was very interesting to know.

[@bgallagher8129]

Or as we used to say," PUKE" rock

[@AlBarzUK]

Me too. 👴🏼

[@franklopez2803]

When the record companies were trying again to control the industry. Then along came The Beatles.

[@timpwhit]

That's the same period of time Don McLean referred to when we wrote "American Pie." As most people who know the song are aware, McLean refers to the deaths of the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly in the same plane crash as "the day the music died." Of course, that single event wasn't the only (or even the major) factor in ushering in rock's "boring" period, but it served as enough of a cultural milestone for him to write a song about it lol.

[@joes2514]

The song was a throwback to the 50's bops. Not bad for a foreigner. LOL

[@christikirk7265]

Elton John is a true Gem! Glitz, Glam, and sheer pure talent.

[@1970sthrowback]

I can remember listening to this 1972, battery powered radio on reading my Marvel comics by candlelight due to the power cuts we had in the UK. '72 to '75 was a great time for music here when you were a kid

[@SG-js2qn]

In the 70s people were already nostalgic for 50s rock. Several hits with throwback style. Rock can take about anything as an input, including the old style rock.

[@kryten09]

Lol the normal 20 year or so cycle of culture. We're still doing it right now.

[@neshobanakni]

Dave Edmunds, "I Hear You Knockin',' and the Stray Cats.

[@censoredoneveryplatform2663]

Makes sense. In the very beginning of this song you can hear the I VI IV V progression, C A F G, common to 50s rock/doo wop

[@williamweiss6128]

Elton John was huge in the 70's. Loved that era. So good. He was bad ass.

[@pauljansen1137]

Great song...please..."Yellow Brick Road" next....you guys will love that one!

[@joerichards2658]

Every time he gets to the "La La La" part, I always picture the Muppets.

[@that70slifetimetravel]

Elton John: Dominator of the charts in the 70s and much of the 80s! 😃

[@jangle4246]

In this song Elton John pays tribute to the first phase of rock music, often said to have ended with the famous plane crash of 1959 that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper., but he seems also to include the doo-wop period that extended into the first half of the 60s.

[@rodb9275]

This song means so much to me. My mom used to love to embarrass me in public by singing that La la la part out loud around strangers. I was mortified. Of course now that I'm older, I look back at it fondly.

[@electriclee1701]

Yeah it's about the early days of rock when schools held sock hops in the gym etc. However I think he's talking about a dance club in the song but same general era of rock. Can I just do an info dump? A hop is a rock n roll dance party, a sock hop is in your socks because you can't wear dress shoes ( also just known as shoes, sneakers or tennis shoes were not all occasion footwear) on the gym floor. Also, a button down shirt is not a shirt with buttons down the front. That's just shirt. A button down shirt is a shirt that tips of the collar button down to the front of a shirt. When you listen to music from the fifties sixties and seventies it's beneficial to understand the society that they functioned in or was influenced by. I've got to go now, there's some kids on my lawn😄

[@joesmith8725]

Good conversation, yall. Elton was talking about nostalgia for older fun, early rock 'n roll, doo wop. As mention (poodle skirt, soda pop vibes of the '50s, early '60s). Elton went back to the fun rock song roots in this song. This song was 1972. Around the time when a a lot of rock was becoming less fun, more serious (prog rock, political/war protests rock, commercial rock, etc). Song was a vintage to 50s/early '60s early rock n roll, fun stuff.

[@davidsimon9303]

This is all about early rock n roll. A lot of the sounds in this song were there. His nostalgia

[@jayjayjase9796]

Inspired by Eagle Rock by Daddy Cool which he heard when touring Australia in the early 70s

[@Cissy777]

LOVE Sir Elton John ❤❤

[@randyhodges8782]

A throwback to the 50's.

[@dawnpatrol700]

Hall & Oates totally borrowed the guitar riff for their song " diddy doo woo I hear the voices". Kind of a song about nostalgia too

[@daddyguerrero]

Rock went dormant during the early 60’s. It went from being hard and erect to flaccid and dull. Rock evoked something that was dangerous and somewhat threatening. But then it went through this period when the parents were accepting of teen idols like Ricky Nelson and Fabian. Bobby Vinton was the rage. And then came the Beatles and the British Invasion. That put the kibosh on things until went through the storyteller years of the early 70’s.

[@TheOtherCaleb]

Interesting wording in the beginning lol

[@r.plante2916]

In the 1970s there was a big '50s nostalgia wave: American Graffiti, Happy Days, Grease, Sha Na Na...

[@dlmullins9054]

I personally think when Rock was young, he is referring to the late fifties with Elvis and so many early Rock bands. It was all about dancing new dances. I remember my sisters having sock hops where they and their friends would take off their shoes and danced in sock feet. This was around 1960 and i was a small eight year old, but i truly loved getting on the dance floor and dancing with 15-16 year old '😇😇😇older women'. lol

[@esmeraldapooner751]

You guys got this one right he is talking about old school rock. But his song is for a family get to getter party. I think because families like to talk about the past.

[@HockeyFan102]

I love lex she’s so energetic and she’s always smiling!

[@bradsullivan2495]

The deaths of Buddy Holly, Richie Havens and the Big Booper in a plane crash in February 1959 was noted in "American Pie" as "the day the music died." For the next five years, most of the rock music was softer. Then, the Beatles arrived in America.

[@cathybrookeburt2616]

Love watching Lex enjoy this old music. Too cute, girl.

[@wesdog8975]

Should watch Elton's performance of this song on The Muppet Show when he was the guest host.

[@russwalker3119]

we did a dance called the Crocodile to "Taking Care of Business" by Bachman-Turner Overdrive, part of the dance involved rolling around on the floor...best done on carpeted floors at a house party

[@saxon840]

I loved this song as a kid. There’s something about the “Laaaaaa” section of the song that makes me think of the Muppet Show.

[@robertpearson8798]

I seem to remember him singing it on the Muppet Show.

[@beedeegee9374]

@@robertpearson8798 He did!

[@njmccormackgmail]

Muppet crocodiles did the chorus

[@davidcollins897]

You just knew Lex was gonna like the La La La part - and she didn't disappoint!!

[@liquidfreeways_]

Lex every time you smile I smile LOL

[@Tampahop]

This seems to be an ode to 50s rock. It's done in very much a 50s rock style. He mentions that she left him for some foreign guys. I think that was The Beatles who ushered in a different phase of rock and roll with the British invasion.

[@peterversionone]

Props to the girl wearing a Led-Zeppelin shirt. Can’t go wrong with their songs

[@Tbass-yy8uc]

Elton John's version of the who's pinball wizard for the movie Tommy is fantastic. Elton John was a perfect fit for the movie with his eccentric way he dressed at the time. Check out the clip from the film with the who backing him.. anyone who is not seen it it's well worth it

[@Herewearenowentertainus]

🎯🎯🎯

[@KH6DAN]

Elton's interpretation of the nostalgia fad of the mid 70's.

[@brettkenschaft4239]

This song always reminds me of Elton performing it on The Muppet Show! The muppet crocodiles did the lalalalala parts!

[@dannyworten5876]

Its just reminiscing about how great the days were when they rocked out to a fictitious song and dance of his younger years

[@quixote6942]

"The rock done died"... It's kinda talking about how the style of rock changes over time. When I was Young, my Parents weren't into the "Current" Rock, like Disco and Funk. TODAY, I can't really get into "Todays Music"... But I still Remember the "Greatest time of my life"... the 70's to the Early 90's. THAT was my "Crocodile Rock".

[@ivylasangrienta6093]

Yeah, today's music is hot garbage, can't get into 99% of it at all.

[@mgordon1100]

We're they old? My dad was 30 when I was born in 67. He loved Elvis, Blood Sweat & Tears, Neil Diamond, The Disco phase, Billy Joel.... just to name a few. Any thing that was done by a Jew, because he was proud. I guess my dad was hip. I didn't know it.

[@mgordon1100]

@@ivylasangrienta6093 Any of the popular music after 2,000. That crap gave a new appreciation for the 80's pop that I hated so much in the 80's.

[@dt1064]

50's had a lot of "dowop" stuff then it settled into "bubble gum" music, early 60's, was basically safe type music, then the Psychedelic music hit in the mid to late 60's. Elton is probably talking about that 50's period of music. Lalalala verse is part of the dowop Era I think he misses. Me, I think rock came alive in the late 60's to mid 70's. Disco is what killed it for me.

[@mikecaetano]

In the U.S. the seventies were also a time of nostalgia for the late fifties, from songs like "American Pie" (1971) celebrating Buddy Holly et al., to John Lennon dropping his legendary 1975 album Rock 'n' Roll, to movies like American Graffiti (1973), The Last Picture Show (1971), and Grease (1978), to television series like Happy Days (1974-1984) and Laverne & Shirley (1976-1983).

[@alaingaudart3432]

This song came out in 1973 when I was about 10. Remember how fun it was as a kid then hearing this and staying out of trouble or probably getting into it. Fun times

[@jillwanlin9558]

Yeh me too Alain. I was 10 also and I remember the first time I heard it listening on my first transistor radio. Great memories 😊🎶

[@alanmusicman3385]

The song is about musical nostalgia pure and simple. In this case it was rock and roll, but ask anyone over 25 when was the best period for music and there's a better than even chance they will name a period when they themseves were between 13-17 years old. This song (from 1972) is essentially celebrating that nostalgia for a lost youth which then would have been back at the peak years for rock and roll (1956-1962 roughly). But all that stuff aside it is a hugely enjoyable and fun song - so let's not get too serious about it - Arggghhh too late :-)

[@krazycatz]

I would be left out of the music nostalgia phase. When I was between 13 to 17 I listen to the top pop stations when I was out with my friends. At home I liked to listen to big band swing, classical, opera, along with a wide range of different types of music from around the world. When my friends learned about my unusual music taste, they stopped hanging out with me. No loss for me as they were not real friends. Later I did meet other people who were interested in swing, opera, or classical music. One woman I had worked with was a trained opera singer. She left the office we worked at when she landed a position as third soprano for the Milan Opera House. I don’t know what happened to her after she left for Italy.

[@alanmusicman3385]

@@krazycatz Good for you - I have always believed that anyone who only likes one narrow genre of music is not only missing out but is not really a true music lover as too often they are simply using music as a lifestyle accessory. True music lovers like lots of different kinds of music. Sounds to me like that's you! For some reason I don't "get" Opera, though I can readily appreciate the skills involved - but I do find something to like in most other kinds of music from Folk to Country to Classical to Pop to Hip-Hop to Rock to Jazz to Soul/R&B, Disco, Techno, Rap and so on - good music is good music!

[@floorticket]

Trolls in chat were insisting this was not rock music.

[@joesmith8725]

@david Ryder Yes, those nirds, genre gatekeiepers don't know about great piano rock like Elton John, Billy Joel, Ben Folds, Alicia Keys, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bruce Hornsby, etc

[@kenrock8692]

he is referring to the 50's then going into the early 60's rock was kinda dead until the British invasion. Beatles, Rolling stones, etc.

[@maritamcnichol8849]

This song came out in 1973. I was in 6th grade. Played at all the parties.

[@sergebrunet4218]

Hi ! Classic single hit from the 70s ! it rocks ! was in all jukeboxes and rock radio stations ! blasting the charts ! Sir Elton John is the greatest ! have a nice day !

[@dompellegrini5520]

If I were you two, I would listen to ALL of Elton John's early music. He and Bernie Taupin we're an amazing combination that made the most amazing music.....

[@s.mcpherson6354]

Rock was the last genre to start before commercialism took over music. The subsequent genres, like punk, rap, grunge and even EDM existed either as statements against commercialism, or they ignored it completely in favour of creating a subculture that used things like raves to spread sounds and ideas. That gives rock a unique place. The rebellion had just started and it was taken over by those who wanted only to profit from it. Profit's okay. But not at all costs.

[@tinalschmidt-banks3415]

My sister loved this song and every time I hear this reminds me of her.

[@TempeLane11552]

Funeral For a Friend/Loves Lies Bleeding is a classic

[@xxorionobitxx3992]

Brad and Lex should react to that such a beautifully epic MASTERPIECE!!!

[@conureron3792]

Yes! True masterpiece

[@josephohare8702]

You just can't keep still listening to this kind of music!!!

[@debjorgo]

Rock was pretty much good the whole time. There were some people who couldn't hang along the way. I think Beatle fans did okay because the Beatles did all types of music. Rock 'n' Roll, Folk (Art) Rock, Sixties Pop, Psychedelia, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal.... The even had songs that could be considered Alt or Grunge. Elton kind of took the crown around the time Crocodile Rock came out.

[@minnasirvio3184]

Rock and rool never dying..bring me back

[@sourisvoleur4854]

Rock in the US went into something of a doldrum in the very late 50s / very early 60s. Elvis went into the Army, Buddy Holly died, Jerry Lee Lewis tanked his career by marrying his 13 year old cousin, and then the Payola scandal led to radio stations being afraid, or at least overcautious, of playing rock and roll. A lot of teenage Frank Sinatras filled the gap with soft sounds, and electric guitars were a rarity. Then came the pounding drums of surf rock (which took a while to leave its California home and spread across the US), into which broke the Beatles, playing old-school rock and R&B back to the American audience who had done without it for several years. With them came innumerable British singers and bands, and rock was fun again. . Surf rock is an area you guys might find interesting -- for instance "Wipeout" by the Surfaris or "Misirlou" by Dick Dale.

[@johnandrews3151]

Elton John/I've Seen That Movie Too from the 1973 double album called Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.

[@jamessomers8808]

I think he's referring to the end of the 50s rock era. The 60s were pretty revolutionary.

[@MP-od1zz]

The first clue of the time period of music he references is when he mentions “when other kids were rocking around the clock”. Rock Around the Clock was a hit in the mid to late 50’s by Bill Haley and Comets. This song came out in the early 70’s. Again, nice job guys, keep up the great work!

[@jrepka01]

Like Don McLean's "American Pie," this song harks back to the early years of rock when one of its key components was that you could dance to it. As the genre evolved through the mid-60s and into the 70s musicians were making more artistic music that often left "danceability" behind. Think of the Beatles output in the early 60s v the late 60s. Dance music never completely left, but it was no longer the core of rock and roll. But these songs also lament lost youth for the generation that, as teenagers, were dancing at sock-hops to Buddy Holly. It happens to every generation.

[@dani-bl5hi]

El grandísimo tío de las gafas infinitas 😍😍😍

[@wgb_jd]

He's talking about the mid-50s. When he says "while the other kids were rockin round the clock," he's talking about what many consider the first rock'n'roll hit song, Rock Around the Clock by Bill Haley and the Comets.

[@charlessalzman4377]

Bill Haley and the Comits had a huge hit with Rock Around the Clock. It was all the rage. But they also had a song named See Ya Later Alligator (Aftet Awhile Crocodile) I always took the lyrics where he mentions what other kids were doing to mean they were following this big trend while he and Suzie were still rocking but they were digging less popular music. There are a lot of groups whose biggest songs aren't thier best songs. And if you start listening to stuff that may not be charting you can find some amazing gems.

[@danieltrickey9285]

Even Elton remembers when rock and roll was really fun and not serious or heavy.

[@mypl510]

This to me is the song version of the movie "American Graffiti" that takes place in 1962 time frame.

[@VidiotSavante]

Once again, Lex is on the money! This song is reminiscing about the 1950s when Soda-Pop Rock was popular and "Rock Around the Clock" was a big hit for Bill Haley & His Comets kzbin.info/www/bejne/kJjHppmwjdudp9k (which was also used as the theme song for TV show "Happy Days").

[@outlostexplorer7592]

John and Taupin were the best writing duo of thier time. Anyword Taupin put down Elton could see the music jumping off the page.

[@dani-bl5hi]

Me encanta esa chica tan alegre y feliz; un saludo chicos desde España 🇪🇸

[@palmirasanchez]

Gotta love Elton John!!!

[@jbrlvegasram9815]

We all thought the 79's were boring at the time, but later realized how great they were. So many genres began in that decade.

[@tvgator1]

Lex got it right AGAIN, Elton John is trying to inject the old 1950s style in that song

[@jamiesweitzer8469]

He was young (12-20) in the late 50"s & early 60s

[@stevenmotchan2048]

In the early days of rock many of the songs had a particular dance to go with it. In the dance hall days a new song would come out and everybody would learn the accompanying dance in a couple of days.

[@johncrawford4302]

Worked his show yesterday and today at Metlife Stadium he was great last night

[@Bee-28]

I remember being just a small kid when this came out, my older cousin had the single, and I was absolutely enamoured with this song. I thought it was the best thing since sliced bread!

[@BgbadWulof]

If everybody was Rockin Around the Clock at the time. That was 1954.

[@surferles589]

What amazes me is that within the year of releasing Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player (which included this song), he released Goodbye Yellowbrick Road (a double album masterpiece) - definitely riding a high

[@maruka1716]

Early rock 'n' roll was definitely dance music. By the 70s, rock had gone in a lot of different directions. Some were dance music, and some definitely not.

[@paulrogers4483]

Gotta get you two to check out "Funeral For A Friend/Love Lies Bleeding" kzbin.info/www/bejne/iHbJfIGYg9OXsNE It's truly Elton's masterpiece. Hope you guys get to it someday.

[@patticrichton1135]

I was there at the start of rock and roll! I am 75 now, and glad I was born when I was so I could experience the evolution of rock music.

[@lorrainemiller688]

Sock hop, baby! Dancing fools!

[@richb313]

A tribute to early rock and roll of the 50's and 60's before everything was commercialized that Elton also loved.

[@victorcowboywest]

This song was inspired by John's discovery of leading Australian band Daddy Cool and hit single "Eagle Rock" Telling the story of guy in the 50's and 60's who frequented a restaurant where patrons loved to an obscure dance called the "Crocodile Rock" this unknown dance vanished into history without a trace. Hope you two realize that Sir Elton Hercules John CH CBE is from Pinner, Middlesex, England.

[@tomaroni6670]

The next song on this 8-track was "Saturday Night's alright for a Fight"

[@TheFairyintheFishBowl]

You guys HAVE to listen to “ I Guess That’s Why They Call It The Blues” - the words and everything are just wonderful! ❤️

[@byronmitchell3784]

ELTON JOHN, "CROCODILE ROCK". This came out in the 70'S. The lyrics I always thought somewhat paid omage to 1950's and early 60'S Do Wop era. That would of been those remembering when rock was young.

[@chrissiegle1065]

I always thought this was a silly song... They even had Elton on sesame Street singing this... not serious elton rock like Alice... Funeral for a friend/ love lies bleeding... Great reaction.

[@CB-gr1uk]

This is one of my favorites by him! Great tune!

[@dbrinson1691]

The day the music died...Buddy Holly, Big Bopper, Richy Valens... that's what American Pie song is about ...

[@rhondamcbath6279]

I've always loved this song, it takes me back to the age of around 9 yrs old the year was 1969; it was cold and snowing where we lived in Gervais, Ore. My mom, along with myself, and two younger brothers sat in her room upstairs around this little table & chairs and she would play the card game, (HEARTS 💕💕💕💕) with us young kids. This song would come on the small transistor radio and we all loved the vibe of this song and all four of us would grab each other's hands, (mom included) and danced around, jumping up and down acting silly, laughing and having the time of our lives ❤️. Thanks for taking me back to a time of love and togetherness with my beautiful family 💛💛💛

[@AlBarzUK]

Nice!

[@sgt.blkdog3840]

Yeah I’m pretty sure you didn’t hear this in 69…. Came out in 73

[@AlBarzUK]

@@sgt.blkdog3840 ...er... '72, as a pre-release from the album. But who's counting? 🙂

[@patriciamunro493]

1970s was great time to grow up

[@angelado3]

Love Elton John !

[@gregmoore3952]

Talk about misheard lyrics! I've been singing this wrong since it came out!😂😂😂

[@scottlaughlin9897]

Reference to Bill Haley and the Comets… while the other kids were Rockin’ around the clock, we were hoppin’ and boppin’ to the Crocodile Rock.

[@morussell4033]

Sir Elton is going to tour here in Australia 🇭🇲 for the very last time. What an amazing entertainer and awesome songs Sir Elton has written. whom is going to be missed by his many many fans 💖💯

[@narlycat]

RnR took off in 1955 or 56. But by 1958, Elvis got drafted into the army, Little Richard got religion, only Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly was still around. And pop music was taken over by squares like Frankie Avalon and Fabian. Processed fake RnR. Buddy Holly died in 1959 and in 1960 Elvis left army and tried to be a more tame, smooth, and respectable entertainer.

[@stubbzzz]

nice Bjork shirt, Brad! 😉👌

[@catspaw3815]

as usual, Lex is dead-on with her analysis