Expanding my guitar knowledge. Jimi Hendrix ANALYSIS of "Hey Joe"

Reading through the lyrics and noting that this song is about domestic violence has me worried to dive into the deep end, but I loved the last Jimi Hendrix analysis so much - and trust this community to pick the best music for me, that we're going to dig in deep!
Join professional opera singer Elizabeth Zharoff, as she listens to Jimi Hendrix performing "Hey Joe" for the first time.
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Performed by The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Words and Music by Billy Roberts
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I definitely recommend watching the original video without interruptions. Here's the link: • Video
Show Jimi Hendrix some love: / @jimihendrix
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Elizabeth Zharoff is an international opera singer and voice coach, with 3 degrees in voice, opera, and music production. She's performed in 18 languages throughout major venues in Europe, America, and Asia. Currently based somewhere between Los Angeles and Tucson, Arizona, Elizabeth spends her days researching voice, singing, teaching, writing music, and recording TONS. She also plays Diablo and Dungeons & Dragons.
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We have a sister channel: THE SINGING HOLE. Join us there to examine how ordinary creatures create extraordinary sounds. / @thesinginghole
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Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
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#jimihendrix #Reaction #TheCharismaticVoice
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[@rexrogers1859]

Jimi was first and foremost a guitar virtuoso who said he wanted to recreate every sound in the universe. He is missed dearly.

[@Uphold-your-Rights]

Imagine a world where Jimi played another 40-50 years. He broke thru barriers in his short life.

[@giuliogrifi7739]

@@Uphold-your-Rights He had just begun discovering classical music !

[@jonhambach]

​@@Uphold-your-Rights crazy to think about. Even crazier his career was only 4 years long 🤯

[@bierdlll]

The beauty of Jimi's guitar work is in the sound textures and tones spontaneously created for every note, and between notes. It's alive, soulful and utterly beautiful.

[@hulkhatepunybanner]

*To me, Jimi Hendrix is the greatest Rock guitarist that ever lived.* And a pretty good Blues guitarist.

[@tulyar57]

I wouldn't get hung up on the message. It's a blues song about anger, shame and revenge through senseless violence. There's no guarantee Joe ever makes it to Mexico just as there is no evidence that his girlfriend was ever unfaithful. The song was even covered by artists such as Patti Smith. Ultimately, it is just an emotive vehicle for Jimi's extraordinary talents.

[@davef6673]

Right!

[@MrElapid]

It's a vignette of what could possibly happen in a man's life. A masterful song.

[@greenchile-is8du]

it sounded like Ms Manners was reviewing a David lynch film

[@RandyWinn42]

@@greenchile-is8du discounting a woman's complaint about misogyny is not something a good man should do.

[@barbtroje3441]

@@RandyWinn42 First I am a woman . Second it is not a discount

[@BigTexan59]

Hey Elizabeth, for a ballad, check out "Wind Cry's Mary" As for the message of the song, it's really ANTI domestic violence. The lyrics point out Joe's hypocracy that his woman wasn't free enough to do what SHE wants, but no hangman is going to put a rope around HIM, cause he has to be free.

[@saucylad]

That or Castles Made of Sand

[@thamojster]

@@saucylad my favorite hendrix song

[@rocky8758]

Don’t forget Little Wing.

[@kalter_wind]

Guess Joe was a sovereign citizen, then.

[@fd1]

On the money on all counts. Not really necessary to tell us that domestic violence is not OK. We All know that.

[@dancrowley488]

This is from the Monterey Pop Festival in June of ‘67. It was Jimi’s return to America. He walked on the stage a rumor. He walked off the stage a legend.

[@saturnsabyss]

Well said!!!

[@daverobinson6110]

Rumor>Legend, very profound and exactly what happened

[@WendyDarling1974]

Elizabeth, if you want to get a dose of the caliber of performers and voices of the same era, watch the entire Monterey Pop concert, it’s a movie.

[@otherstar1]

Jimi played right after the Greateful Dead (who played right after The Who) and he was followed by The Mamas and the Papas. Jimi was pulling out all the stops to make sure he was remembered....and it worked!!!!

[@AlizeeDefan]

As did Janis

[@plainflavour]

Jimi was a gentle character. I think here he was engaging with human tragedy not entirely different to how opera does, but more gritty.

[@KeithMilner]

Yeah, I see it as a narrative, a story telling, maybe even a critique. Not an endorsement.

[@jimmylavoie4152]

I see what you mean, he is my hero as a guitar player, but he was known for this kind of behavior as well.

[@wade8240]

@@jimmylavoie4152 Careful there. Are you sure about that? His former girlfriend Kathy Etchingham, has written a book (Through Gypsy Eyes) and given many interviews which disproves those claims ☮

[@JRoss-zxzx]

True. Jimi's roots are in the Blues, and this is the sort of thing they sang about.

[@JohnBricksmith2048]

You realize that Billy Roberts wrote "Hey Joe?" And there are some who claim it was Dino Velenti. Dylan's performance made the song popular and Jimi took it to a place no one was capable of at the time.

[@vinanddex]

Little Wing is a great ballad with fantastic guitar (as usual). I've been listening to Jimi for 50 years and he never gets old. People have made careers trying to copy him.

[@Bekka_Noyb]

ooh I 2nd Little Wing!

[@pete_lind]

I think, Jimi Hendrix - The Wind Cries Mary- TV Appearance , Stockholm 1967, Jimi, drummer and bass player on stage, nothing fancy.

[@ritareesedass]

I was absolutely going to suggest Little Wing 🤘🤘

[@stuw4055]

Little Wing is awesome, but not much lyrics for us to hear Jimmy’s bluesy tones.

[@t.a.landry5727]

@@stuw4055 That's ok... Jimi is known & appreciated for more than just his "bluesy tones" by so very many of his fans!💜

[@rbilleaud]

For anyone who doubts Hendrix's talent and abilities, he was playing in London just days after The Beatles "Sgt. Pepper" album was released. He knew the Beatles were going to be in the audience for his show, so he brought the album with him to the auditorium and played it backstage for his band just a few hours before show time and told them they were going to play Sgt. Pepper THAT NIGHT in front of the Beatles. And he did. Legendary. The Beatles were blown away that anyone would attempt that.

[@superjoltman]

^^^yes! Amazing story and performance, please do this one as well too!!!

[@greezythumb]

Paul said he shed a couple tears and that Jimi actually not only played it but he mastered it. I believe Paul said he asked them first if it would be ok. Jimi was a real respectful and humble guy. Mutual respect between both camps as it should be. The era of real musicians. It wasn't just art to those guys from that era. It was life to them.

[@zkeletonz001]

Jimi was so great that Noel Redding (bass) and Mitch Mitchell (drums) are both far too often overlooked and underappreciated.

[@walstib1989]

i think it was actually the same day Peppers was released. Artist of his caliber always get an early copy before mass release.

[@markldavis1]

I never new that, thanks

[@shannonherb2048]

He plays a right handed guitar left handed, used the feedback, and was high. I just love y'all's reactions to high rock artists.

[@jeffrey.a.hanson]

90% of her guitar questions can be attributed to ‘was high’. Lol

[@ks5553]

She's shocked that he was chewing gum, imagine if she knew it had probably 6 hits of acid in it lmao

[@shannonherb2048]

Lol.

[@moottori_paa]

but strings was like left handed. so thati is no big deal.

[@eudymaverickmentor]

@@moottori_paa Yes, that is true. However, the fact that he could play it left hand strung either way as well as playing right handed IS a big deal.

[@morganhale3434]

The messaging of Hey Joe is a sad story of the demise of a man. He was hung by the neck until dead for killing his woman. Also, Hendrix's vocals are on the back beat or down beat because the lead is the guitar, the engine is the rhythm section of the bass, drums, and rhythm guitar (Hendrix as well as the lead guitar which only Jimi can do,) and the vocals are an accompanying piece which tells the story. An awesome arrangement which presages Hard Rock by 5 years.

[@trismegistus7638]

It's like a stripped-down Murder Ballad, similar to In The Pines (Where Did You Sleep Last Night?). It's a very common theme in blues.

[@kevinsmith4429]

​@@trismegistus7638I am a 70 yr. old bluesman from the Chi. I wrote tons of papers on this very subject. I moved to Chicago & went to De Paul just to be close to ground zero for that groove. All the greatest were still young - playing at a million dives . BB KING,ALBERT KING,HOWLIN WOLF. No better place to do research than drunk in a bar on Wells st at 3:30 in the morning with like 10 other people watching Buddy Guy. A lot of early blues songs dealt with the shoot your old ladies down but surprising amount of women shooting their men,Saw Big Mama Thornton do a song once about killing her old man AND his girl.

[@trismegistus7638]

@@kevinsmith4429 Thank you for sharing. I am a 35 year old headbanger from Oregon. I love hearing stories of music scenes from my forerunners. I'm not religious in any traditional way, but these figures like those you listed are the closest I get to religious reverence. The jam sesh is my church and my eucharist is a Gibson SG.

[@torpedience]

My American mother used to sing a version of "Poor Boy" from when I was 4 or 5. That was about a man getting hanged for shooting someone. I think Hey Joe is a blues about the desperation of African American life, that included violence and punishment. It's not pretty. I don't think it's either for or against violence, it's just a powerful piece of musical storytelling. I have no reason to believe Jimi supported violence against women, but he was no political campaigner against it either. I doubt if he'd choose this song now. I loved it and learnt the walking bassline from a book in 1980, but could never commit to performing it with those words. Jimi didn't think he could sing and sort of swallowed his voice. The guitar did most of the storytelling and I think here it's telling us about incredible pain and flight. The showmanship came from the blues tradition. Others were showing off with their guitar playing, but Jimi took it to 23:38 rock and to this day is one of a very small number of black rockers. You should see him set light to his guitar and detune it while playing. The distortion is warm and valvey. There's a deep tone, and his rhythm drives the whole song, bouncing off bass and those scattered drums. Most of his imitators went up the neck, squealing and trilling and just stayed there. I have no time for that whole genre. Too many notes that don't say anything. Sorry, van Halen but you did not move me. Talking of which, I think Jimi did do some string tapping, for the harmonics, so maybe in this clip he messed up or we just couldn't hear it. Just came from your Frampton video and there's a link there about the interplay between guitar and voice going back and forwards. In the Frampton video you show how he is silently singing along with his open mouth while soloing and eventually fuses mouth and guitar together. To me this creates a surreal, alien lifeform effect which takes the mere technique to a different level. David Byrne is also surreal a

[@mightybean7840]

I have found that many blues songs have a common theme where a man has just found out the woman he loves has been cheating on him behind his back. At which point his heart is torn to shreds, and he loses his mind. This is not the first blues song where a man kills his old lady. But there has never been a murder case that has ever used the Jimi Hendrix defense of hearing this song, then went out and killed their cheating woman. It's just a great blues song being played by a very talented musician. So, chill out people. 😂

[@100john4]

I think when you get into blues and look at the history of blues, it can be telling a story, not messaging. If you tell a story about something, it does not mean you condone it, and it is often a cautionary tale.

[@JulioLeonFandinho]

these kind of stories are very common in many folk traditions, not only the blues, the jealous guy killing his wife/gf and all the variations imaginable

[@solidground4157]

Very well put, sir. That's what it is. And Jimi played guitar as part of his singing, that guitar sounds is part of the storytelling, much harsher than all versions done before.

[@100john4]

@@JulioLeonFandinho I have only dipped my toe into folk, but I think of The Kingston Trio and their version of the song Tom Dooley, which describes an actual murder in 1866 and the hanging as a result.

[@100john4]

@@solidground4157 You could, rightfully, argue that Jimi sang as an excuse to tell stories with his guitar. I believe he was always a guitarist first, much like the one he influenced, SRV.

[@TheNationOfTexas]

@@100john4 Solid analysis. Both of them sang because they realized they had to.

[@nicholasbennett3169]

He was definitely not an advocate for domestic violence. He was a pioneer that came out of an era that did not allow adult topics in music. You would have to understand the timing of the piece and his musicianship that would have been a huge breath of fresh air at the time. He's telling a story a drama if you will that no one had done before. The vibe of the music tells that feeling a sad crime of passion and sorrow. If all you can produce are happy bubblegum stories about rainbows, that would leave alot of expression on the table that would go untold.

[@ofsinope]

Jimi did not even write Hey Joe...

[@keepkalm]

I think he is chewing on a tab of acid. I wasn't there or anything, but it's possible that it isn't bubble gum.

[@michaelgallagher3640]

​@@keepkalm...You've obviously never done acid, if he was chewing on that much he'd be trippin balls.

[@scotmark]

@@michaelgallagher3640 ..and probably even playing his guitar the right way up at times. 😸

[@Tensen01]

@@keepkalm Tabs of acid were little paper stamps soaked in acid that you let sit on your tongue to dissolve, you did not chew them.

[@memphismick7010]

Elizabeth, Hey Joe was a standard song to cover in the mid-60s. Tons of bands recorded it. Ps. yes, he used his teeth. He was an amazing front man, entertainer. I used to watch this concert on DVD to amp me up before a gig.

[@Never_heart]

I think the blues influence is what gives extra depth to this song. It's not glorification of domestic assualt, it's the casual relatable tragedy of it. The tradegy that is unspoken but is definitely present under the surface that we know is there, but again we don't say it we just feel it. The hypocrisy of Joe, the self servicing logic of killing her and getting away free, but she for something far less terrible had to die in Joe's eyes.

[@MarcosElMalo2]

I agree. The “unfaithful lover” and “revenge on an unfaithful lover” are two big tropes in Blues music. “Ain’t nobodies business” is one of my favorite delta tunes. A more modern favorite is “I put a spell on you”. I particularly like the Nina Simone cover. I think that that would be a great subject for analysis.

[@kinokind293]

I always assumed that the song was essentially a blues version of an Appalachian "murder ballad", and was just telling a story with a dark moral.

[@phantomechelon3628]

Indeed. A lot of early blues songs were rooted in hard times and tragedy, usually for reasons beyond the person's control, but sometimes just because they were driven to do bad things. Hence why blues is the music of pain...although it can be uplifting too.

[@johnlemon874]

Well there is a reason all these old rock guitar players could play the blues. That’s the roots

That IS a Blues. It is not Blues "influenced".

[@williamhamilton6643]

Other people played the guitar, Jimi WAS the guitar. He was self taught, learned to play left-handed, in case you didn't notice, and was so far ahead of other musicians he did things like play with his chin/mouth, or behind his back just to keep it interesting and have a little fun. He was a guitar player who sang, not a singer who played guitar. He never liked the way his voice sounded but I've always thought it was perfect for the type of music he played. I had a GF in 1967 that loaned me her copy of the Jimi Hendrix Experience and I was never the same (musically) since. The electric guitar was invented for someone like him to come along and show the world how it was done. The music just poured out of him in a seemingly effortless manner. I cried when I heard he had passed, I was so angry that drugs had taken another musical genius from us, and continue to do so. I'm sure others on this board felt the same way. As an aside, this is an old blues song that predates Jimi covering it. And while it was never my favorite song of his, everything he recorded was special.

[@sullisen]

Left handed but on a standard guitar tuned/strung(?) for right handed play even, unless I'm misremembering? So he had the high E string at the top then B G etc

[@joefeld3697]

No. He played right handed guitars but they were tuned (low to high) just like a left handed would have been strung and tuned. Albert King is the main one who played an upside down right handed guitar. He played a standard strung right hander , left handed.@@sullisen

[@kelvinmeneely3116]

@@joefeld3697 if you watch the video closely...(his right hand) .. the guitar is not restrung, he just played it upsidedown.

[@andrzejdziadul6022]

​@@kelvinmeneely3116I must be missing something. He definitely plays a restrung guitar left handed here, standard tuning half step down ie Eb etc. But the point is, he could play both left and right handed with equal virtuosity. People forget the size of his hands ( jazz guitarist Tal Farlow also had massive hands) , playing lead and rhythm at the same time, control of feedback, and pure musicianship of the guy. Sadly missed.

[@WordAte]

That is exactly right. Jimi was indistinguishable from his guitar. He is it. It is him.

[@robertjackson9326]

It's called The Blues; it's about reality, not some idealized world in which such things do not happen. Incidentally, Jimi came from R&B, where such things as playing behind your head (or with your teeth) were standard showmanship.

[@HareDeLune]

I agree. Both Blues and Folk music do not shy away from presenting the ugly parts of life. Sometimes in all their gruesome detail. Such songs, far from glorifying these acts, present them with a stark neutrality to serve as cautionary tales to the listener.

[@nightwishlover8913]

That is, of course, proper "Rhythm and blues" not the standardised rubbish that goes by the name of R&B these days.

[@robertjackson9326]

@HareDeLune Yes. Where is the honest expression of yesterday?

[@greezythumb]

​@nightwishlover8913 AMEN TO THAT 🙏🏾

[@TheNationOfTexas]

Absolutely. There’s no glorifying domestic violence here; it’s simply a story. Side note: you’re not from Texas, are you? @Rob Jackson

[@cdecent]

There doesn't need to be a message. It's a story. He makes it compelling.

[@jameson32]

Yeah, I'm literally angry at her offended attitude and I'm a progressive. It's an old folk song and a display of art.

[@daveguitarnowski4402]

@@jameson32 Yeah, it basically comes from the old "murder ballad" tradition of folk music.

[@cdecent]

@@jameson32 Don't be angry.

[@kaufybeans]

Old Blues guitarists were playing behind their backs in the 1920s. It took the Blues and Folk revival of the 60s to bring some of this showmanship back. Jimi was a pioneer for many reasons. He didn’t invent all these moves, but he modernized and popularized them. Legend.

[@quiteloud]

I believe there's a quote from Jimi, when he related how he picked this up in bars in the South - "If you didn't do that stuff, you'd get shot."

[@iagmusicandflying]

Funny thing is playing with your teeth or behind your back isn't that much more difficult than just playing normally, but it sure looks showy! I could never play with my teeth, personally, though, not because I couldn't do it, but because the sensation squicked me out too much to do it much.

[@rowanb4395]

@@iagmusicandflying Yeah its evokes that same feeling as someone running their fingernails down a blackboard haha

[@richardcampbell2261]

There is a story that Jimi met guitarist Drake Levin of Paul Revere & The Raiders before Jimi became famous. Jimi came up to Drake after he had finished the set and said he was wowed by Drake's playing the guitar behind his head.

[@MrDMF567]

Jimi’s talent is jaw-dropping every single time. Just mind blowing. Then. Now. Forever.

[@tbo72787]

With the amount of horrible things that happen in operas, I would think you of all people would understand that a person singing about a thing does not a ringing endorsement make. That said, love your videos 😊

[@donnadavid1972]

Well Said. why the commentary on "Domestic Abuse" I have really enjoyed her reactions, somehow I feel like she should stick with Opera so she can point out all the Atrocities.😔

[@michaelcunningham3933]

As Peter Benchley famously said, "Opera is where a guy gets stabbed in the back and instead of dying, he sings."

[@Trisket]

It's the same people who complain about other violent fictional characters, say Tony Soprano. But love fictional characters who are monsters in franchises they like, such as Darth Vader, who blew up an entire planet of sentient life as an interrogation tactic on his daughter. There is no thought or reasoning behind it, pure emotion.

[@MikeBarnett1776]

@@donnadavid1972 I, for one, enjoy pretty much everything Elizabeth has to say - even if I don't always agree. The fun here, for me, is seeing someone new to the genre fall in love with songs I first fell in love with almost half a century ago. We actually played Hey Joe in practices, but not in gigs, because we played a lot of high schools, and it was on the "no way are you playing that" list at pretty much all of them.

[@spruce381]

Only Prnce, Ren and Bowie had/have this creative ability. Agree with the others about story and person - Carmen - all opera is tragedy.

[@magnumcipher4971]

Props to Mitch Mitchell, the man responsible for drums on this track. He did more with the simplest of drum kits than most could do with all the kit in the world.

[@Cadinho93]

"If Jimi Hendrix isn't your favorite guitar player, he's your favorite guitar player's favorite guitar player." Singing, chewing gun, playing with his teeth, playing behind his neck all while being charismatic and incredible at everything he did. Jimi Hendrix was light years ahead of his time and he changed music forever. He came here from somewhere else, gave us his tremendous gifts and then went home.

[@tomasnorden8332]

I just say Stevie Ray Vaughan. Sry i dont like Jimi

[@specialsause949]

​@@tomasnorden8332I've tried listening to SRV but I find it bland, boring, and generally soulless.

[@tubehepa]

Yup, he seems to tell that to us in Third Stone from the Sun (with Mitch's wonderfull, partly jazzy drumming).

[@rbffbvs]

And I still miss him.

[@florisdejong4661]

Many musicians are great craftsman, some are great artists, but very few are magicians. RIP Jimi.

[@friki-tiki]

one might call him a "musgician" ... maybe

[@VictorHernandezVH1]

SRV picked up that baton from Hendrix. Two tragic losses.

[@metalmark1214]

Elizabeth watching Jimi playing guitar with his teeth and playing guitar behind his head. Oh, on top of that, he's chewing gum and singing. Elizabeth getting the Jimi Hendrix experience.

[@thundernels]

Johnny Cash often chews gum whilst singing and I really wish he didn’t.

[@carbonclaw7280]

Jimi Hendrix and Yngwie Malmsteen are the only guitarists I know of to play with their teeth. Malmsteen does it in his live performance of Black Star. It's a 10minute video can be found on youtube.

[@smillstill]

@@carbonclaw7280Also, Jeff Healy.

[@stevenmeyer9674]

Playing with your teeth or behind your back doesn't make you a good player. It is no more than being a showman.

[@thundernels]

@@stevenmeyer9674 But, if one plays behind one’s head, it often is indicative of mastery of the instrument. I mean, he’s not up there just strumming chords. There is a showmanship element to a performance. I went to a classical guitar concert not long ago. Dude was top notch. Played everything perfect. Solid player. The audience was yawning at 30 minutes. I guess I’m saying there needs to be a balance of proficiency and showmanship or at least not devalue one over the other.

[@danielproctor9939]

Little Wing (studio) is the ultimate Hendrix love song. To give a simile here, Jimi is like an abstract artist. Beyond impressionism, cubism, surrealism (etc.), Jimi took sound and bent it, blurred it, distorted it and turn it inside out. Abstract sound. Jimi was a gifted abstract artist. Don't get hung up on the "message" or, the showmanship (he was a master there too). The visceral shrieks, screaming and wailing of the guitar at the end contrast the somber first part, of the dialogue (and heavy use of the 5th and 6th strings) in the lyrics at the beginning of the song. Art is meant to provoke us and as Jimi said about his Star Spangled Banner, "I thought it was beautiful." Which is why he wrote the book on rock guitar.

[@Cherr1]

The song subject is a pretty standard kind of blues story: "my woman done me wrong" kind of thing. There's a long tradition of folk songs that have the same kinds of subjects. None of them are endorsing violence, just acknowledging its existence. "Hey, Joe" was a standard at the time Jimi recorded it--every young band played it, including mine.

[@EbonyPope]

Was thinking exactly that. Too many snowflakes are quickly offended. Would have thought with so much violence in Operas she would be used to it.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

To paraphrase the comedian Bill Burr, there ARE situations where some domestic violence is justified. The example he gives is if you come home and find your wife has drowned two of your kids. Are you supposed to let her drown the third one? Or do you try and stop her? - (shrug) I'm just saying that absolute statements like "Never do X" or "Always do Y" are not always the right thing.

[@Chris-sv8ty]

Also, the tune has really sad/tragic undertones... not really endorsing I would say more like just telling a story.

[@sagittated]

"None of them are endorsing violence" may be a stretch. It was fairly common for people in many eras to treat "infidelity" as a legitimate reason to murder someone.

[@johnstencel666]

@@sagittated some still do as one sick individual above did.

[@sledman6163]

Hendrix playing lead and rhythm together; at the same time, was and is incredible

[@jameson32]

That's a very underemphasized thing. The rhythm guitar is incredible in this song, and the leads just sort of bubble up out of it.

[@ThomasG.Standard-nu5tj]

Word not that many people know that . He plays at the olimpic auditorium in England 1st song is Sargent peppers 2nd song. foxy lady 3rd song wild thing . the last song it shows how good he really is he tunes his guitar in the middle of the song he plays under his legs and behind his back and kinda mess up I had a tape of this before youtube was even around but when I found this on KZbin and I watched it a few times I noticed these thing

[@ThomasG.Standard-nu5tj]

Oh the Beatles Eric Clapton the who were there

[@grrg1963]

T-Bone Walker played his guitar behind his head. A definite inspiration for Jimi. Jimi was just one those multitalented people who could sing lead, crank out soulful licks, and chew gum at the same time without missing a beat.

[@1dkappe]

T-Bone played behind his head, with his teeth, did the duck walk and the splits, and invented the electric guitar solo. T-Bone was the man.

[@richardabernethy9013]

I love T-Bone, but party tricks like this went back much further - to the days of the medicine shows for sure, but probably a lot further back than that.

[@1dkappe]

@@richardabernethy9013 You’re most likely right, there’s just no written or photographic evidence of it. Such a shame.

[@ThisissoStupid1234]

He came to sing lead, crank out soulful licks, and chew gum. . . . and he's all out of gum!

[@summercoat]

@@ThisissoStupid1234 He lives.

[@SlavJerry]

one thing that I love about jimi hendrix is that he's not just a great guitarist, he's also a great showman

[@stevenmeyer9674]

There are also some "unusual" stories in Opera . May I suggest watching a KZbin performance by this terrific opera singer named Elizabeth Zharoff, I believe. Subject matter was about her being kidnapped by a man and being imprisoned by him until she submitted to his wishes. Wonderful performance by the way

[@tomland9293]

LOL

[@czwirner]

LMAO!!!!! Thats awesome!!

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Damn. I don’t condone that! 😏

[@TheNationOfTexas]

Ha! Nice. Personally I was wondering why she kept bringing up the domestic violence aspect, but never once mentioned how terrible it is to cheat on your lover…

[@bp6942]

Honestly, she is probably just trying to cover herself and stay out of drama. Went a little far on it.

[@thdryvr]

It's the blues. He is re-telling a story, witch is why sometimes it almost sounds like a conversation. I think Jimi loved that groove and that's what inspired his playing.

[@mrgmusicclass]

It is a conversation. It was written that way. An unnamed person is asking questions and Joe is answering.

[@danieleldon7195]

I totally agree. Also, the song is powerful because of the rolling rhythm structure with the poweful guitar playing on top of it. The song would still be amazing if it had no lyrics.

[@arthur9924]

There are so many myths and legends about Hendrix that it's hard to catch the truth. The story goes that he became tired of the on stage theatrics and replaying hits such as "Hey Joe" all the time, but his management essentially forced him to continue. One of his heroes (and mine) was Buddy Guy, who was also playing behind his head etc from way back in the 50s. The funny thing is that Buddy and Jimi were both nervous about their singing and being on stage. Buddy started off turning his back to the audience because he was so shy! Regarding the lyrics, I'm not sure how familiar you are with blues music. This type of dark subject matter is quite commonplace, and isn't necessarily a justification of the behaviour.

[@bguzewi0]

I never knew that about Buddy Guy, him originally turning his back to the audience. I know that Jim Morrison used to sing facing the band instead of the audience when The Doors were first starting out. Clearly Jim overcame his shyness eventually, probably because he was hammered most of the time.

[@thomasmacdiarmid8251]

"This type of dark subject matter is quite commonplace, and isn't necessarily a justification of the behaviour." In the dialogue with "Joe," Jimi says "that ain't too cool." He made it clear that this was not good behavior, and really the song shows that Joe has to run for Mexico to evade punishment. In this regard you could compare it to Stave Miller Band's Take the Money and Run - it's telling the story, but it is showing what a crapstorm you raise when you do stupid.

[@evilfantasy69]

I have thought many of the songs Jimi Hendrix and SRV had lyrics just because they had to have lyrics. I think they would have been perfectly fine just playing mostly instrumentals but radio stations don't really play instrumental songs and it also gives audiences something to respond to. The lyrics were kind of like a bridge between the guitar parts.

[@jennielee3977]

@@thomasmacdiarmid8251, I believe that what was called "not cool" was messing around with another man, not killing your old lady. You've got it backward.

[@rickbailey-ty8bq]

It really wasn't the management wanting him to play his old stuff, it was audiences. In live recordings, between songs, you'll hear people in the audience shouting for certain songs. And he really did hate having to play the old stuff. At the isle of wight, after people yelling for foxey lady, as he turns away from the mic, you can see him mouth the F word.

[@GrnEyez64]

Loved this bit... Elizabeth: "I hope I get surprised by something soon." (everyone who knows Hendrix grins at screen) 30 seconds later: Jimi flips guitar up and starts playing with his tongue and teeth Elizabeth: "Is he...is he playing with...his teeth???" (level five brain lock, complete with incredulous squinting and open mouth, achieved). Everyone who knows Hendrix chuckling and nodding. Welcome to Jimi Hendrix!!!

[@jcoldal6033]

Thank you for your reaction to this epic music artist who showed the world that you can play the guitar in a different way. I was at Jimmy Hendrix's first concert in Copenhagen in 1967, and was literally blown away by his and the band's performance and musical ability.

[@bert0522]

JIMI. Jim

[@andymeek]

Hopefully not literally 😂

[@RaginCajun77346]

He was playing with his teeth. He was an incredible talent. Also note the tuning pods are on the bottom of the headstock. They did not make left handed guitars so he played the guitar upside down and reversed the strings. The cutaway at the junction of the neck and body was on the wrong side and he still made it work.

[@gregfromguam]

Picking with your teeth is an old blues trick from the barrelhouse days. SRV playing his guitar from behind is another one. These guys were true bluesmen at the core.

[@kkjhn41]

@@gregfromguam T Bone Walker was known for playing behind his head.

[@jeakir4943]

left handed guitars existed but were custom orders, mostly from gibson or rickenbacker... he even had a lefty flying v, I think the flipped strats were from his early days when they walked in between gigs in the UK country side.

[@olivermcbride6652]

You could get left handed guitars but the first guitar Jimi got was right handed and after that he just preferred to play them because he could control the volume and tone easier, plus, and the big plus is, the guitar is easier to tune upside down while you are playing.

[@richardharding8438]

Not only were left handed guitars a thing but Eric Clapton had bought Jimi one, unfortunately he never got the opportunity to give it to him 😢

[@jcool6466]

Jimi was way ahead of his time, he could not read or write music. He played what he felt from his soul. which is why his music is still loved and cherished today.

[@Dreyno]

The majority of guitarists don’t read or write music. Traditional written notation isn’t actually that suited to guitar unless you’re working with something like an orchestra. The same note in the same octave appears in multiple places on the neck and regular notation doesn’t account for that. It also doesn’t have ways to indicate many of the techniques used by guitarists. Some people learn it for working in musicals etc. or just on a point of principle.

[@Kansika]

@@Dreyno That's a pretty big assumption. True, many guitarists don't but that's not much of an advantage to them. Obviously Hendrix had a natural ear and feel for the stuff he did, complex rhythmics and modal harmonies. Imagining you're the next Hendrix won't take you far, though. I have never seen a musician who didn't benefit from learning to understand and apply basic theory and to read notes to even some extent. The locations of octaves or any other intervals isn't really the thing. Notation is as useful of a tool for a brass player, percussionist as for a guitarist. None of them are really suited for the "piano notation" where there's just up or down. A guitarist often has to learn many different fingerings and positions on the fretboard and ultimately create his own for a certain part where as a pianist or trombonist often have just one. Bowed string instruments are just the same except many of them don't even have frets, i.e. exact pitched tones.

[@Dreyno]

@@Kansika It’s not an “assumption”. There’s been polls and studies to show that a sizeable majority don’t read traditional musical notation. Also, reading notation to learn theory is not the same as reading music to play from it. Theory exists without notation but even if you use it to explain theory, that doesn’t mean you will be able to play actual music from it. It’s theory, after all. Your point about fingerings is the thing. The way guitar playing has developed is extremely loose without as many formally “correct” techniques that other instruments have. Classical guitar has those structured, proper techniques. Most other forms do not. As such, it is up to the player to either transcribe it as he chooses or learn by watching. Musical notation is not normally used or even available. Your silly comment about imagining you’re the next Hendrix I will treat with the contempt it deserves.

[@Kansika]

@@Dreyno First of all I was wasn't referring to you personally at all though I can understand it might have sounded that way. Generally over-estimating oneself is a hindrance to development in any endeavour in life. I don't see musical notation and theory being any different from any language with grammar, syntax, alphabet and vocabulary. Sure you can learn to talk without it but only in a hood are people proud of being illiterate. Though I've played for +30 years, took some classical lessons to begin with at 13-14 (because I only had a nylon string), I really had to learn theory and notation when I worked as a music substitute teacher some 15 years ago. There were talented kids playing various instruments and I had to be able to communicate musical ideas with them without relying on my guitar or any other audible information, eg. write down parts for trumpets and other brass. Best thing ever and it took my own playing to an other level. A friend of mine can race thru Pantera tabs quite fluently but he doesn't know how an A major relates to a C# minor chord. Could we say there are guitar players and then there are musicians who play guitar?

[@Dreyno]

@@Kansika Which is why I said it’s useful for working with an orchestra etc. It’s the common language. But you don’t need to read it to understand theory. The relationship between notes, scales, chords, modes etc. exists whether we write them down or not. The “grammar” of music isn’t dependent on notation. I never said it’s not useful. I didn’t say people shouldn’t learn it. But the fact is, for most guitarists purposes, it’s not necessary for them to be able to play to a very high standard. It has specific uses that most guitarists won’t need. You could never be an orchestra violinist without knowing how to read musical notation. It has nothing to do with frets or lack thereof. That is how the instrument is taught, that is how music is disseminated and that is what a performance is played from. For most guitarists, that is simply not the case.

[@juno4494]

Though he might have been doing a Jimi'esque flair move (around 4:00) with that arm swipe motion, he was probably wiping off sweat on the neck (because that wetness inhibits being able to slide up and down the neck). By the way, he used a left-handed guitar strung backwards because each post on a pickup is wound to "pick up" the vibration span of certain stings. For example, low E has a wider vibration span than does high E, so the posts are wound differently (to focus on the prime sound band within the span). Jimi liked stringing it backwards to turn the winding theory around and to feed into what was his own unique sound. I don't think I explained that very well, but there it is....

[@philrodriguez1948]

Thanks for this! The subject matter; it's the blues, stories that aren't drenched in positive stuff.

[@dsgp7835]

The little notes underneath the melody Jimi is playing is absolutely incredible. It takes a sharp ear and intentional listening to hear it, but the experience is what makes the man the best to ever strap on a guitar.

[@dancarter482]

Hammer-ons and pull-offs using his little finger mostly. People take for granted that he's laying down perfect rhythm, dropping in perfect lead breaks _AND_ punctuating the whole thing with trills and fills all in harmony!

[@uscanman]

Thanks for reviewing another Hendrix song. Regarding the theme of the song (murder), it's fundamentally the same theme as Taylor Swift's "No Body, No Crime" (and for that matter Norah Jones' "Miriam"). The songs are telling a story. They aren't advocating for, or approving of, what's occurring in the story. They convey emotion. Some, like Rod Stewart's "Scarred and Scared" convey remorse. Others, such as The Chick's "Goodbye Earl", are celebratory. Yet, I don't think the Chicks are actually advocating for poisoning abusive people and hiding the bodies. "Hey Joe" is no different. It's a blues song (played by a legendary blues artist), and blues songs can be pretty gritty and real (it's part of the genre).

[@jefferywarburton2116]

It isn't far apart at all from cocaine blues Johnny Cash or Bring me my shotgun Lightning Hopkins.

[@csmelen]

Well said my friend.

[@TEDodd]

Would she react the same to "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia?"

[@lifetimes2983]

Elizabeth is clearly a serious musician with a musical soul for exploration. At 70 yrs of age I am so fortunate to have lived through the music explosion of the 60's and throughout the 70'. Many great players and songwriter and but Oh Hendrix.....was and is the soul of it all. Unmatched to this day in his depth. Elizabeth has now heard the fierceness Hendrix could Deliver. Now it is hoped she will equally explore the masterful delicacy of Hendrix guitar work in songs like Angel,Wind Cries Mary and Little Wing which will prepare you to climb to the top of the mountain and listen to Machine Gun

[@mikerea1561]

Whats being communicated is witnessing tragedy unfold as a bystander. There were no winners in this story.

[@robertlear2712]

What really impresses me about this performance is he is as relaxed and stress free playing in front of thousands of people as you and I would would be having a cup of coffee at a cafe.

[@ritareesedass]

I can only imagine how hard of a time Jimi would have had listening to someone breakdown his vocals bc he was very shy about his singing. But I've always thought his vocals suited his playing perfectly. As for a ballad, Little Wing is one of my favs and always gives me the feels. Just a beautiful song 🤘💕

[@SonicImmersion_]

"Little Wing" - Thumbs up to that. Beautiful song.

[@scapito]

Yes! They touch on this in the book Electric Gypsy. He did not like his singing voice, but he made it work with his music.

[@edhagebeuk7096]

Or Angel. A great ballad. For me. Little Wing is great, just as Red House but more a bluestrack.

[@dougmarmion8872]

Agreed, beautiful pieces of music! Some other ballads of his would be “The wind cries Mary” and “May this be love”

[@pinkstarphoenix6182]

Jimi wrote and performed ballads so beautifully. It seems to surprise and even shock those who fixate on his rock antics like playing with his teeth or behind his head. Little Wing is my favorite of his ballads, but The Wind Cries Mary is very touching, also

[@richardsoane6192]

From a guitarists perspective he does this : you see Jimi focus on the fretboard and finger the starting position he wants so there is no uncertainty once he flips the guitar over. From there while it can be a bit difficult you keep the solo where possible within say 5 fretts or so to avoid loosing your position. Once he solo is done look for a point where there is a pause in the song so you have time to flip the guitar back and be in time to resume.

[@likelemmyidabasest3882]

'All Along the Watchtower' is a better profile of his vocal range with more sustain etc, obv some killer live versions. You have sent me down a Jimi rabbit-hole for the day, cheers!

[@Nerple]

I’ll be in that rabbit hole with you now watching this as soon as I woke up!

[@Scott-mg1zj]

Not only the guitar but the drummer Mitch Mitchell is incredible

[@edwardmunoz7853]

The Experience 💯🔥

[@hadoken95]

Yea it's kind of a shame that Hendrix's fame overshadows him. People don't talk about Mitch Mitchell enough, even in the drumming circles. Not saying Hendrix isn't deserving it's just...it's too bad we only seem to focus on one person in a group sometimes.

[@angelocrocilla]

3°GIORNO CONSECUTIVO WWWOOOOOOOOOWWW ELIZABETH CARISSIMA GRAZIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE INFINITIVAMENTE🤗🤗🤗 CIAO MY FRIEND SWEET SWEET SWEET, A VENERDÌ. TVB😊😊😊😊 ❤🤎👼🏽💙💥🗽⚡⚡⚡🗽💥☝

[@tubehepa]

When Stewart Copeland was asked who were the greatest drummers he's seen live, his answer was: Buddy Rich (I seem to recall), and Mitch Mitchell! -- Terveisiä Suomesta (greetings from Suomi/Finland), the Land of Käärijä (wrapper).

[@rbffbvs]

Noel Redding on bass was amazing as well.

[@esalehtismaki]

Yes, playing with his teeth was one of Jimi's stage tricks. Jimi was a guitarist, who also did the singing, probably for practical reasons, but I think his singing style suits his music well. This song just describes the situation very simply. It's just two people passing by and talking for a second. It's up to you how you feel, what meaning you see. That is how song lyrics often work. They don't give you a message, they give you a mood. Jimi expresses the mood with his guitar much more than with his singing. This is probably closest to ballad of what he did. His ow song too. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kIbVgY2jjKeVhrM

[@tubehepa]

Moi, osaatko sanoa mistä johtuu että tuubi joskus poistaa linkkejä sisältävät viestit välittömästi?? Saapa nähdä käykö nyt niin kun laitan linkin Like a Rolling Stone'iin, jossa tulee hyvin esille Jimin "hihakikka": (the sleeve "gimmick" at about 40 seconds): kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHLWhIFuhs5raK8si=v7VMOaq6JNbWDyBI

[@baronbristow8764]

Castles made of sand - or - the wind cries Mary. Both beautiful

[@davidzimmerli489]

He's playing with his teeth, plucking the strings. I saw Jimi twice in concert, and there was no one like him. More than a musician, Jimi was a magician, creating sounds that nobody else could. He died much too young....

[@DavidB-2268]

He has the distortion, reverb, and delay turned up so high that he's actually playing with his fingers. It's why you can see him still doing the fingerwork.

[@davidzimmerli489]

@@DavidB-2268 Of course he had to use his fingers to change notes, but he's plucking the strings with his TEETH. I've seen him do it in many videos. He's not the first guitarist to do this .....

[@bawbagindustries]

Back in 1995, I had the honour of my life to play and sing this particular song with Noel Redding himself on bass and Mick Avory on drums in a small pub in Gothenburg, Sweden. In all my long musical career as a guitarist, I will never be able to top that moment.

[@juanbisceglia8322]

Any chance you upload it??

[@tropicsalt.]

That would be surreal.

[@MarvinCZ]

@@juanbisceglia8322 Small pub in '95? I doubt there is any recording.

[@fumademikenke3343]

Wow bro amazing honour

[@biglawngnome]

My favourite Hendrix track HAS to be Bold As Love. He did things with amps and feedback and distortion on that track that i swear has never been topped or even closely copied. That end solo with the space and lazer sounding outtro is chefs kiss and i swesr there is nothing like it that has ever been made since. The man is Legend🎉

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Those two leads at the end of Bold As Love is at the top of things everyone should hear.

[@SeanEnginetechnology]

For real-- Orange is young and full of daring, but very unsteady the first go round.. Totally got me as a young kid learning to play guitar.. *and orange has been my favorite color since I can remember.. *I use to go to church with juma sultan who played congas with Jimi at the Woodstock concert.. Super great guy, and very honored to call him a friend and brother..

[@charlesmyers8150]

Imagine what a sensation Hendrix created in the 60's with his performances and albums. There was NOTHING like it. He took sounds from the guitar never heard before and stunned people as if by magic. He truly was the coolest person alive at the time, the #1 performer in the world. He was the rock stars rockstar. Still miles beyond the imitators of today in guitar playing.

[@johnhoslett6732]

Like many blues songs, it’s not a message. It’s just a story, a murder ballad, like a novel. It’s not pro anything or anti anything. It was a top 40 hit in the 60s when I was in high school before Jimi did it. Jimi’s version is the definitive one because, well because Jimi is uniquely Jimi.

[@Pph6404]

Thanks for reviewing this. To rock fans Jimi Hendrix is sacred ground. I would note that not every song must have a message. Sometimes songs are meant to tell stories, whether happy or tragic and we figure out what our own message is,

[@rickbailey-ty8bq]

But one thing isn't unique, the tempo. Everyone played this song much faster, except for Tim rose. Jimi liked that version, and played it that way.

[@jvoodoochild2755]

I don’t believe there is no redeeming hidden message, even for a Blues song. Like many things, society accepted many things 55 years ago that are considered abhorrent today

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

@@jvoodoochild2755Hopefully you’re against any movie or book or tv show you watch that has murder in it as well. It’s a story🤦‍♂️

[@jvoodoochild2755]

@@goldenageofdinosaurs7192 there are stories that contain murder and stories that "celebrate" murder by having the PROtagonist perform it. I view both. I am not against them, nor this song. I don't view every reaction on this channel, only the songs that I know and love. My reply was sharing my opinion that there is no hidden condemnation of domestic violence present, just that it was written, performed, and sold during a time where society had different views on issues Thanks for the reply

[@raoulduke8382]

Regarding the chewing gum, Jimi chewed gum often while playing live to combat “cotton mouth” from smoking weed. You hardly ever see beverages on stage back then. Fun fact: This (Monterey Pop Festival) is one of the very few times that Hendrix played a concert while tripping on LSD. (Which makes what happens at the ending of his set even more dramatic and epic).

[@jimmydean1689]

Yes, Jimi had "cotton mouth" and also would have had "blown" pupils but not from smoking weed. He's high on speed!

[@raoulduke8382]

@@neaonnebt8035 Yes but not at Monterey. I would refer you to the Isle of Wight performance, when Jimi took the stage extremely jet lagged and is clearly grinding the holy hell out of his jaw.

[@sm1tty031]

he was into the methydrine. documented@@jimmydean1689

[@KennyRansom-l5k]

RE: "Cotton Mouth" . You would get it also from the LSD of the era . (personal experience)

[@mikebozik]

I have always reguarded this song as...in the tradition/spirit of the early American blues. It is a simple retelling of a story, as history is passed down orally. Yes, it contains violence but also moral ambiguity. (As do many popular movies and books.) In the context of the times and Jimi's personality, I'm sure that this is not endorseing anything bad. It does leave room for the listener to make up their own judgement. It's not a lyric that makes you necessarily laugh or cry, but it does make you think.😊 Keep up the great work, really love the technical factoids!😊😊😊😊

[@kelvinmeneely3116]

"If 6 were 9" is a great song.

[@glenngalloway6191]

Two things: 1) Jimi said that the inspiration for his playing was the sound of the air rushing past him when he did his jumps as an airborne soldier. 2) When we walk about 'messaging' it is important to note the difference between telling a story and advocating something. The song is a parable about how powerful emotions (in this case betrayal) can push people into dark places, and the acknowledgement that while retaliation/revenge is not a moral impulse, it is a very human one.

[@boolsson4639]

Jimi was one of the composers that saw music in colors. He used to tell Mitch and Noel "I need this more green or red". They didn't undertand him at all. But Jimi always said that he was painting with his music. I've heard of other composers that also saw music in colors.

[@ks5553]

It's called synesthesia if you're interested. Sometimes it turns people into numbers too lol.

[@calebleland8390]

I mean, a few hits of acid will make you see music in colors 🤣🤣

[@zehelsumi1845]

​@@calebleland8390😂😂

[@NBizn]

@@ks5553 The sound-color form of synesthesia is called chromesthesia. I only know this because it is the title of one of my favorite Black Angels songs. 😊

[@tj3423]

Not every song is trying to push some specific message on to the listener.. Sometimes lyrics are just a haunting story that sets an atmosphere. I always say the guitar playing as the main event and the lyrics secondary in this song. But blues music usual comes from a place of sadness or struggle, it's about channelling those emotions into music, not about sending a message.

[@johnloving9401]

Well said. With so many things that art has to contend with, a 21st century "woke" prism adds nothing. I mean hate is bad, duh, racism is bad, duh, domestic violence is bad, duh...

[@emilyadams3228]

Yeah, just because leftists are always pushing a message, they think everyone else is. No, sweetie, sane people don't do that. They have the sense to know that they're not the police, and everyone isn't five.

[@lfdab34]

He was a paratrooper in Vietnam in the airborne.He brought a guitar and a radio, when he was drafted.His middle name is Marshall,the same name of his amps.

[@c128stuff]

Some songs performed by Hendrix you may want to listen to - Angel - Red House - Little Wing - The WInd Cries Marry - Castles Made Of Sand - Axis: Bold As Love His guitar was like an extension to his body, and he could make it do what he wanted.

[@akilahcopeland559]

Little Wing and The Wind Cries Mary ABSOLUTELY.

[@elliotgreen987]

Thank you for including Castles Made of Sand! It's his most underated song in my opinion

[@sdzielinski]

I always believed Night Bird was his best song. Highly recommended.

[@elliotgreen987]

@@sdzielinski Love that one too! And Catfish Blues shouldn't be overlooked either

[@c128stuff]

@@sdzielinski not sure about 'best song', but it is certainly a good one which belongs in that short list I gave 🙂

[@jokermtb]

It’s a story song, in the style and tradition of a sad tale with no happy ending. Lots of blues songs are like that, and it’s designed to illicit uncomfortable feelings that never resolve - that’s the blues. The subject matter could be anything too

[@cactustactics]

I feel like there's a bit of a disconnect here, because the song itself is a kinda typical blues song about bad stuff going down, but Jimi's version is really melodic and playful (and has a light, major tonality to it in my mind). The recorded version also has him shouting "I shot her!" in a pretty raw and emotional way before the solo, whereas here he's more having fun and enjoying the performance and the music. So it loses some of the gravity and darkness of the story in that sense - I can totally see someone who's never heard the song before being turned off by the vibe, I probably would be if I heard a new song with that kind of subject matter that didn't feel like it was making some kind of point

[@marcelqueiroz8613]

Yeah Man!!

[@1dkappe]

It’s a cover.

[@1dkappe]

It’s a cover.

[@morrisalanisette9067]

yea even tho shes going overboard there is somethnig weird about this song. but that's all, just weird. but keep in mind that this song was jimi's first hit, he prob never cared about the lyrics, he never liked performing it, and basically it was just an excuse for him to take a popular song and cover it to get notoriety. that's the nuance of this song, he's known for it but it's really just him at his lowest level showing what he can do with guitar before he became more established. if anything there the message to this song may be a slight hippie apathy, connected to the war and all that at the time. Where the hippies are basically having all this fun despite all the violence and suffering in the world. Him performing this like a maniac does have a tinge of nihilism to it, and does reflect the time. so i think there is maybe some deep meaning there. but in general its just a song for jimi to showcase his talent using a tune that people already know

[@joshgauthier6201]

He is the greatest guitarist to ever live. He’s like I’ll just play the solo with my teeth and behind my back no problem. He had such a short career think he passed before the age of 40. Imagine if he had another 10 years.

[@warrickbell1072]

Listening to Hendrix is an amazing musical experience. But watching him play is a whole other phenomenon. The sounds coming out of the guitar often don't seem to directly relate to how he's touching the instrument -- his connection to it is such an organic thing. The man imagined the sounds he wanted to create and then willed them into existence, somehow bypassing normal physics and real-world dimensions. It's always a deeply satisfying thing to see.

[@gr0tbagz]

You really need to see his live performance of the Star Spangled Banner at Woodstock in 69, no singing but will give you a deeper undeunderstanding of why he is regarded as such an progressive and innovative guitar player, turning a national anthem into an anti-war protest by using his guitar to replicate the sound of dive bombers and machine gun fire, truly amazing

[@Alicatt1]

I concur, was just about to post that too, Jimi: Axis Bold as Love

[@johnmcdowall3888]

My intro to Jimi was Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" (when I was in middle school) & I've been hooked since. "Wind Cries Mary" is also amazing. Worst part is only 3 albums, w/ a few loose songs added... he died way to early.

[@Justin-rm2dn]

"BOLD AS LOVE" is a must listen to song by Jimi Hendrix! One of my favorites!

[@budsurtees4224]

This isn't really about "domestic violence". It's a bluesy song, and as you know, the blues are happy songs about sad things. The blues are about all kinds of heartaches and sorrows, and thank heaven they are - we can't all be singing madrigals or hosannas. Jimi was a paradigm shift in the art of playing the electric guitar. Nobody before or after him has quite played the guitar like him. It was his playing and his sound that made other musicians possible later on. He didn't play incredibly fast and clean guitar riffs, he didn't shred - he just made the guitar cry and sing and create new sounds. At 9:50 you can hear the guitar howl - it's even more prominent on the original studio version. He was entirely self taught, so he learned to play by ear and basically that was about creating or replicating a certain "sound".

[@seanj3667]

I would argue that SRV can channel Jimi like no one else every could. That said, Jimi did it first and without Jimi, there would have been no SRV.

[@joel2421]

Bruh, it’s 100% about domestic violence. Trying to rationalize it away with a patronizing take on what the blues is or is trying to do isn’t a great look. If you spend even a millisecond thinking about the cultural context when this song appeared it’s pretty obvious. Sometimes people make “good” songs about doing bad things, it happens.

[@EricT3769]

More like murder than domestic violence.

[@seanj3667]

@@joel2421 Exactly. the Violent Femmes' "Country Death Song." Good tune, but it's not about a good person doing good things.

[@jss27560]

@@joel2421 What’s interesting is there’s a version of the song by Cher so I’m not sure she was in favor of domestic abuse.

[@stlmopoet]

When I listen to this, I focus on the fact that Joe has destroyed his life in the process of destroying her life. It's anger run amok to no good end. And I think Jimi conveys this in the music. FWIW.

[@randywissler9923]

The whole band really was a supergroup. Jimi òf course, Noel Redding on bass and the beast himself, Mitch Mitchell on drums!!!

[@hermanbernard4537]

I totally agree....the whole group were masters on there instruments......Amazing

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

Mitch was an absolute animal!

[@christopherdeguilio6375]

Mitch was a monster behind the kit

[@kasgraham6348]

Noel Redding from Folkestone, Kent :)

[@dougjohnstone4503]

Agreed

[@awandererfromys1680]

Jimi was such a groundbreaking guitarist that his voice is often overlooked. He didn't like his own voice and was quite shy about it, but he had such a warm and sensitive tone and colour imho. Check out _Red House,_ _Little Wing_ and _Castles Made Of Sand_ for a slower, bluesier sound.

[@waynesmith7410]

Great selections, love Castles Made of Sand

[@GorillaMansoon]

A great ballad by Jimi is a song called “Angel”. He wrote it about his mother who passed away. It’s a beautiful song with a great melody.

[@barbarino2000]

100%. Gorgeous song.

[@FreddieM-p8r]

second "Angel"

[@messiahcomplex7003]

I was also going to recommend that one...but I thought I would see if someone beat me to the punch since I didn't get to it earlier.

[@FreddieM-p8r]

"Drifting" as well.

[@basking_in_it]

My favorite Jimi song. Love it so much.

[@zyntolaz]

What's even more amazing (beyond the fact that he was self-taught) is that Jimi played his guitar upside-down and backwards. He was left-handed, and used right-handed guitars, and created amazing music. Gone too soon RIP.

[@davescurry69]

He played a right hand guitar upside down but it's not backwards. He restrung it to suit his left-handedness. That is, bottom E string at the top.

[@jonda2282]

@@davescurry69 This!

[@MnBicycleCommuter]

@@davescurry69I can think of two guitar masters who didn’t re-string their guitars when playing left handed: the great Albert King who was an influence on Hendrix. And Doyle Bramhall II. Hendrix heavily influenced him. Doyle has been a sideman for Clapton for almost two decades and co-frontman for the Arc Angels with Double Trouble (SRV’s band).

[@jonathanroberts8981]

Dick Dale also played lefty with a guitar strung righty.

[@5after4am]

As well as Eric Gales , Little Jimmy King , the great Otis Rush@@jonathanroberts8981

[@sodapop1850]

There's also a live black and white version recorded in England where he plays part of the solo with his tongue!

[@GraemeCampbellMusic]

A lot of Jimi's showmanship came from his formative years playing R&B on the Chitlin' Circuit with people like Little Richard and Curtis Knight. Vocally, I'd read that he hated his own voice (or wasn't confident with it), but he really shines on the ballads like Wind Cries Mary or Little Wing.

[@jameswoodside5933]

Elizabeth I had the honor of seeing Jimi live twice. Including his last performance in the US before his death. You must understand that Jimi is the king and his guitar was his slave. He commanded and his Strat preformed his budding. I was truly blessed to have lived in that era.

[@CraigHollabaugh]

Twice? Awesome!

[@hollygolightly7475]

Who is she and who is she to be critiquing Jimi Hendrix????? That’s the question

[@pmcclaren1]

Hey man; same here. Saw him in '69 & '70 in Memphis. 1st concert, 10,000 attended; 2nd concert (in an 11,300 capacity venue) only 2000 showed up (9300 empty seats); misunderstood to the end. Plus, what he did that no one else could; He could CONTROL the Feedback turning it into music. Only other MIND that compares to the "Far out" sounds in his brain would be Roger Waters (writer of Pink Floyd music)--

[@pmcclaren1]

Addendum: Jimi was made by his CREATOR with the longest "THUMB " ever. He could wrap around guitar neck & bend strings to places no one else could reach!!

[@normanleroy1874]

Mitch Mitchell on drums is so amazing.

[@WordAte]

I love that you are trying to understand a genius who is high out of his mind, exploring the edges of music, being the coolest cat who ever took a stage. Jimi was. Why. Jimi.

[@astmabulle]

Not all lyrics are from your perspective nor a perspective you can understand or condone. And that is ok.

[@Uphold-your-Rights]

Let's not forget the great Mitch Mitchell on the drums. He is the reason I play the drums. He carries such a good groove. He is only second to Jeff Porcaro for me.

[@-R.Gray-]

When Chas Chandler, formerly of The Animals, saw Jimi playing in a N.Y.C. bar, took him to England, and formed a group around him, they needed some material that everyone knew or could learn easily while original songs were being written. It did become one of the songs in his set where he could show off his unusual techniques, but thematically it didn't fit in with the rest of his original material. For ground breaking guitar, check out "Are You Experienced", with its backwards guitar, "Castles Made of Sand", with its unusual chords, or "Still Raining, Still Dreaming", with his wah wah playing. On his short instrumental "Villanova Junction" from Woodstock, his playing the melody in octaves shows his awareness of jazz players like Wes Montgomery. Probably the best example of his soloing is the live "Machine Gun" from New Years Eve (1969/70) at the Fillmore East. There is a black and white VCR recording of it on Vimeo.

[@briangriffin5524]

The New Year's Eve concert was at the Fillmore East in NYC.

[@hopsonkim4952]

Machine Gun has the best single note in guitar history

[@-R.Gray-]

@@hopsonkim4952 That note at the beginning of the solo is the one that Joe Satriani said made him want to play guitar.

[@RFranklinCarter]

I'll make a few obvious points. (1) "Hey Joe" doesn't have any deep meaning. It's just a simple story. (2) I'm a bit surprised that Elizabeth commented repeatedly about domestic violence. Hendrix was just singing a song; he wasn't condoning domestic violence. Has Elizabeth never performed in an opera that portrayed violence (however stylized) in the story? I think she must have. She's a sophisticated woman: I think she knows the difference between real life and art. (3) This recording came from Hendrix's performance at the Monterey Pop Festival in California in 1967. Elizabeth should track down the end of the show, when Hendrix burned his guitar on stage. He made sure his act was tough to follow!

[@gaius_enceladus]

@RFranklinCarter - "Elizabeth should track down the end of the show, when Hendrix burned his guitar on stage." Heh - nooooo, don't tell her that! She'll be going on about "guitar rights" for months! :)

[@emilyadams3228]

​@@gaius_enceladusYeah and the guitar didn't give zir consent! And neither did the lighter fluid! And did you see what he did to that amp? He was totally an amp molester!

[@lukebaker4693]

For Ballad analysis, 'Little wing' as others have suggested, or 'Castles Made of Sand'. Both are fantastic.

[@JasonSchneiderMediaCanada]

Elizabeth, I've written a new book about the history of "Hey Joe" that will hopefully be published later this year. There are more facets to it than you can imagine, and I think it will answer every question you have about the song. I will gladly give you a heads up when it will be coming out.

[@dudaz_music]

I think the song is very subtle in how explores the troubles we go through by ourselves. The bystander seems to know Joe by name but merely as passerby’s and not deep friends given how short the interactions are in the dialogue. The crassness and unsurprised reaction of the bystander saying “where you going with that gun in your hand” shows the hopelessness of the environment and with all the bad in the world we can’t solve all the issues around us, we just become bystanders. It then climaxes at the end with a sad but frantic sounding solo meant to convey the emotions of the killer leaving his entire life behind, and the whole situation itself. It comes through better on the record version

[@iepiphanyl5372]

So to clarify Elizabeth, Jimi chewed gum on stage a lot because he had a lot of stage fright and actually hated singing live in front of an audience and actually hated the way he sounded singing, to alleviate his anxiety he chewed gum. This eventually became a habit for Jimi and you can even spot in some of his studio albums the audio of him chewing gum while singing, specifically on the track "If 6 was 9" on the album "Axis: Bold As Love" which I highly recommend to listen to

[@jonathanloux7863]

I think this is a song that is all emotion. He doesn't tell us the message but the brute force says it all. And yes, Wind Cries Mary is powerful.

[@tsmartin]

I never look at this song as condoning violence. It was just telling a story.

[@deedoublejay]

This may be my favourite Hendrix song. I don't see a message so much as a reporting of a conversation (but with awesome feeling). I think "Little Wing" and "Angel" are two of his most melodic performances, if that's what you're looking for.

[@brucefelger4015]

It has been said that Jimi slept with his guitar, got up in the morning with his guitar on, and well that was his day. It's how you get this good...

[@bigupbebop4706]

This set is so important as its Jimis American debut. He had to nail the songs and performance especially as he had to follow The Who on stage. This set him up for the rest of his sadly short carreer. He was basically coming home and changing the music world at the same time. Amazing talent!

[@dennisfox8673]

I’m not sure if this version strictly counts as a murder ballad, but it certainly grew from that tradition. It’s always struck me as an odd subject to define a genre, but I think that’s its purpose-to be unsettling by flatly describing horrible events and to foster self reflection. It’s not a subject that I seek out, but I’ve never got the vibe that any of the artists are condoning the events they describe.

[@RickReasonnz]

Much like in the vein of Leadbelly and other folk singers. I'm sure there's a sociological reason for such to be sung about; they never seem to be interested in condoning or judging the action but merely seek to tell the story that it happened, and lets the audience decide what they feel about it. Hell, it could be a hangover from an oral tradition to tell the news.

[@CoryFalde175]

"Hopefully I'm surprised by something soon" Jimi immediately starts eating his guitar

[@ashleymammano1]

😂😂😂😂

[@sosapilot]

Buddy guy did a lot of guitar playing tricks like playing behind his back, and I think he was an inspiration for Jimi in some ways. It's worth checking him out, he's a real living legend!

[@antiherocrm]

My jaw still drops watching Jimi play ...50 plus years later!

[@PBuffdaddy00]

Hendrix was like nobody else on the guitar. The man was absolutely incredible. I wish I could have seen him play live. That would have been an absolutely magical experience.

[@zkeletonz001]

I recommend giving the studio version of this song a listen. I think you can get a better feel for the intent behind the song in that version. "The Wind Cries Mary" is want you want to listen to if you want to hear Jimi singing more of ballad.

[@sandramcguire826]

I love the quality the backup vocalists gave to this song, made it feel more chilling and tragic. Makes me tear up.

[@dancarter482]

_Hear My Train a-comin._ while picking rhythm and lead on a 12 string - perched on a stool live on camera is quite something - even though the stupid camera is up his nose most of the time!!

[@zkeletonz001]

@@sandramcguire826 Right, the back up singers add a different dimension to the song you don't get here.

[@geraldlake8978]

You are witnessing greatness. Lay back and let it happen!

[@robfriesen2341]

In my opinion the point of the song is to simply state what did (and still does) happen. Now it is up to the listener to take the next step. That next step is to start the social conversation on what needs to change. Documenting an event does not necessarily mean advocating for the event. Knowing how gentle his reputation was, I cannot imagine Hendrix advocating for zero change. But i do think the point was to leave the story in our laps to do something with it.

[@dorn0531]

I agree. Songs should tell a story not pass judgement. The audience can take what they want from it.

[@johnloving9401]

I pray that my take away from any song worth listening to will never be anything more than to desire to hear it again.

[@jonwhitehead5426]

It's a blues song. It's a murder ballad. It's funky and grimy. It's a story, not a message. So, I agree.