"Fire On High" by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO) | Reaction

In this video, The Adventures of TNT reacts to "Fire On High" by Electric Light Orchestra | Reaction "Fire On High" by Electric Light Orchestra | Reaction "Fire On High" by Electric Light Orchestra | Reaction "Fire On High" by Electric Light Orchestra | Reaction "Fire On High" by Electric Light Orchestra | Reaction
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"Fire On High" by Electric Light Orchestra | Reaction "Fire On High" by Electric Light Orchestra | Reaction "Fire On High" by Electric Light Orchestra | Reaction "Fire On High" by Electric Light Orchestra | Reaction

[@robertfitterman3777]

The backwards voice near the beginning was drummer Bev Bevan saying: "The music is reversible, but time is not. Turn back! Turn back! Very underappreciated drummer and one of my all-time favorites.

[@m.e.ellingtonthebritauthor9872]

Fun fact, Jeff lynne wrote this to troll the evangelists in America who said the previous album, Eldorado was "The Devils Music." The backward recording is Bev Bevan saying, "Music is reversible, time is not." I'm paraphrasing a little on that. Anyway, once again, he's a genius.

[@markfhales]

For those who remember, CBS Sports Spectacular intro music

[@ffjsb]

The orchestration of the intro is just amazing. It's probably harder to orchestrate chaos than to write a normal symphonic movement. And the power in this song, just incredible. Epic is probably the best word to describe this song.

[@jimtatro6550]

My extremely religious grandmother thought I was listening to the devil’s soundtrack when she heard the beginning of this song. R.I.P. Grandma, you were awesome.👍

[@TheAdventuresofTNT]

Lol

[@alanfeldstein9761]

Maybe you were.

[@AI_Surfer]

The album 'Face The Music' came out in 1975. ELO were not a Pop Hit machine at this stage of their career, although 'Evil Woman' and 'Strange Magic' started to change that.

[@pegalouise570]

Interpret this music as you wish but the truth is it is a symphonic masterpiece by Jeff Lynne.

[@BertonMelch]

ELO is AMAZING!!!!

[@avanoosterhout8397]

In 1976, 13yr old me was given the album 'A New World Record'. I loved it and it triggered me to find out what this band had done before. So, I got my hands on the previous album 'Face The Music'. As soon as I heard this opening track, I was sold. It kick-started a lifelong love for ELO/Jeff Lynne's work.

[@insufferablethrashelitist9305]

Dude, thank you for solving this ancient mystery for me. Heard this on the radio back in the 90's and was stunned, but had idea who it was and was never able to find out. Until now.

[@Krzyszczynski]

On this track they still seem to be closer to Roy Wood's original "vision" for ELO than to the more commercial sound gradually adopted by Jeff.

[@bradsullivan2495]

Another classic instrumental: "Classical Gas" by Mason Williams from 1968.

[@michaelhoward142]

I was mesmerized by this song as a teenager and used to listen to it over and over again on "repeat" -- not easy to do listening to vinyl. Yeah, I'm old. ;)

[@Mike-lz2ef]

Bought the album back in the day for "Evil Woman"..then stumbled across this masterpiece

[@mattshaw6180]

Oh, the voice is a backwards-played recording of Lynne saying, "The music is reversible, but time.....turn back...turn back!"

[@poluxsaurus1454]

I've heard it's Bev who says it. Whenever a deep voice was required Bev was the guy.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

*"The music is reversible, but time isn't. Turn back. Turn back. Turn back. Turn back."*

[@chronomatt6990]

@@poluxsaurus1454 It is Bev who says it.

[@MadMax-pu1kj]

There is no need to be weirded-out with this wonderful story. Lynne is simply retelling an old story in his own brilliant and unique way. In 1667, John Milton wrote 'Paradise Lost' and mirrored the Biblical story of man's fall and redemption. The concept is that we have all begun in our own hell, hoping to be redeemed to heaven, happiness, bliss, El Dorado, or, dare I say, our own Xanadu. In 'Fire on High', as with Milton, the Bible, and John Travolta dancing in 'Satan's Alley' in the movie, Stayin' Alive', we start in Hell. From the very beginning of the song [time stamp 0:01], we get tension with the synthesizer-violins and the backward-masking giving us the illusion of a demonic language (it's not, by the way, it is simply the words, "The music is reversible, but time is not... turn back... turn back..." recorded backwards). We hear doors slamming, running footsteps, and other haunted-house staples but, interestingly, at [time stamp] 1:01, off in the distance, we hear "The Hallelujah Chorus" being sung by angels! There is hope! There is a way out! But that hope is snuffed out with atonal and asymmetrical violins [1:21] that try to overshadow Hope. At [1:30], a triumphant drum-beat begins followed by joy and hope mixed with confusion [1:34] of the lost; can I truly get out? Is there hope?. But the cadence continues and the confusion fades away. At [2:00] the Way Out appears and you, the Lost, begin walking out of your personal Hell... slowly at first but with more and more confidence. At [2:43], the guitar ushers in Happiness to the traveler for the first time, giving you permission to smile. At [2:56], the drums then give us permission to dance and at [3:15], the violins proclaim 'Fire on High!' just before the Angel Choir actually says it. At [3:28], the violins of confusion that we heard earlier are transformed into violins of confidence and strength while still telling you that something Big is about to happen. The listener must now enter their own personal Heaven with the 'Walk of the Redeemed' that begins at [3:51]. Choirs of Angels line your path, the cadence is set, and you must walk this final path. Finally, after a lifetime in Hell, we have made our way here and [4:22] tells us that we have arrived with guitars, drums, dancing, satisfaction, and happiness as we repeat our anthem of salvation... "Fire on High!, Fire on High!

[@V0ID_X5]

That was incredibly written! Thanks so much! You are a music genius... I appreciate this song so much more now!

[@squonk86]

Best tune from ELO and especially Jeff Lynne,nothing beats this and the volume has to be cranked

[@unrulyjulie4382]

Bev Bevan kills his drum kit on this one! So good 👍

[@terryconnelly484]

so many reports about giant sunspots headed this way recently ironically

[@MarcusVinicius-we2pg]

Pure Prog rock.

[@Eurynomea]

It’s called back asking...speaking forward Bevan is saying “turn back” eluding to time. Hard to believe this was a B side track for Livin Thing.

[@rosem2896]

You have to try …..MaMaMa Bell …. One of my favorites♥️👍🏼

[@PMed]

Hadn’t listened to this in years. I forgot how good it is. Thanks for sharing

[@realbser1956]

Bev Bevan on drums, just great. He deserves some love. Also, Mik Kaminski on violin. Can you hear this as a precursor to bands like Nightwish? ELO was way ahead of their time T. A classic track that still gets heavy airplay on classic rock stations, for those of us that still listen to FM radio. Thanks for exploring this one. 🔥

[@ffjsb]

Bev drums like a freight engine flying down the tracks at high speed. Just incredible power, but still intricate.

[@williammanns9927]

And the awesome Hugh McDowell on cello... real string players... great stuff

[@markgriffin45]

The nightwish link is a good one. They also have a talented composer at the helm but add symphony to metal instead. Lots of similarities.

[@robertbryant414]

If you have this on vinyl ( I do) , you can play it backwards and the lyrics are as clear as daylight. Someone has already posted what the backward lyrics actually say. It was super cool during the 1970's.

[@Deetroiter]

Still one of the most bad ass songs I’ve ever heard…”THE MUSIC IS REVERSABLE…” if you play the song backwards it says this along with some other words. Basically, ELO got caught up as Devil worshippers , etc…so this was them taking the piss at those calling them devil music. Pretty much says music plays backwards, turn back, and that time is precious. Saying stop wasting time over the backwards devil music bs. Hell of an opening track for an album!

[@chrisearl5970]

The best thing ELO ever did. This is genius!

[@unclefuggly7149]

The drums are incredible

[@markbishopmusic]

The backwards part of the intro: Music is reversible, but time is not. Turn back, turn back...

[@robynhurley5119]

Bought this cassette in 1976 when i first heard it with my allowance !

[@colinprescott8861]

Now you should react to From the end of the world from the time album. Its a classic

[@markmcnew8420]

Wow I haven't heard this song in years I would have never remembered it but I'm not seeing this thing on KZbin

[@jennyrichardson3611]

I love this song!

[@daledodson1279]

This song blew my teenage mind back in the 70’s 😂

[@melodiebarnett4417]

Listen to Time front to back!

[@AWKnuden]

This is another one of my favorit melodys from ELO. If you have never heard “Tightrope” you realy need to do so.

[@mattshaw6180]

CBS used the guitar riff as the theme tune for "Wide World of Sports" for years. And when I saw ELO in 1978, the played the heck outta this!

[@bradsullivan2495]

"Sports Spectacular"

[@artcordova6399]

Theme from CBS Sports Final in Los Angeles area, hosted by Jim Hill in the 70's and 80's. Sunday nights at 11:30pm.

[@damanfromtn]

I thought they used it at the beginning of their NFL football coverage on Sundays (the part where the guitar is strumming away and drums come in). I loved when they had that. Maybe 1 year?

[@williammanns9927]

@@bradsullivan2495 Exactly... Wide World of Sports was on ABC

[@FredPena-rd5cf]

Try Showdown, T.

[@franceshaas8255]

A song about the sun and its might. Something we never think about. Liked very much. We are very dependent on this fire on high.

[@Reviresco2]

Opera like in the beginning. Great guitar rifts. Sweet song.

[@Pahoe77]

Ah a backwards beginning, hide the kids😂

[@davemac146]

Had all of ELO's albums. This used to be the theme for, I believe, CBS Sports in the 70s. The backwards masking at the begining says "The music is reversible, but time is not. Tum back. Turn back."

[@AttorneyBCollins]

Evil Woman, Mr. Blue Sky, the flash mob video of All Over the World. The last chorus lines are actually words. "Fiiirrrree oooonnn hiiiiiiiiggghhh".

[@squeeelsbeals2200]

I should go with 'Tightrope' next but honestly, you're really at the start of a huge journey...just like this song. 'Do Ya', 'Evil Woman', 'So Fine', 'Shangri La', 'Strange Magic', 'Telphone Line', Sweet Talkin' Woman', 'Showdown', 'Livin' Thing', ' Last Train to London'....this is just the start. Enjoy!

[@MichaelMcDaniel-hi7mo]

Wide World of Sports if you need em

[@raymondbrush6442]

Finally someone reacted to this thankyou. For me this tune is eargasmic

[@rowdyron4111]

The album version contains an opening with a backwards message; in reverse, a masked heavy voice (that of ELO drummer Bev Bevan) says, "The music is reversible, but time is not. Turn back! Turn back! Turn back! Turn back!". Ostensibly, this was Jeff Lynne's shot at backmasking hysteria, after satanic allegations were made against their song "Eldorado" by fundamentalist Christianity members. Snippets of Messiah by Handel can be heard during the album opening as well.

[@gold98gtp]

Didn't you listen to this? It HAS the baackward message

[@michaelkoszowski3716]

Kcabnrut. ...kcabnrut . 😂

[@TheSkeetergirl]

This was a slow starter. It took me quite a while to recognize it.

[@reedcoles1215]

I really enjoy this track from face the music the album is kinda like a seqaul to eldrado where both of them mention dreams I good song by jeff lynne/ELO would be when a was a boy a sweet cool song

[@haloeffect44]

If you want views on this you should put ELO on the ttle of this and description

[@greendoor49]

great choice.

[@RG-zosobo]

I remember CBS Sports used to use the latter half of the song during highlight clips back in the day.

[@chronomatt6990]

If you watch sports or hot to stadium games, you’ve portions of this song. Still popular to play decades later.

[@bobdelp2023]

THE 2 BIGGGG HITS FROM THIS ALBUM ( FACE THE MUSIC ) WERE : EVIL WOMAN & STRANGE MAGIC 😊

[@conniekat3424]

I LOVE Strange Magic

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Yo T, thanks for hitting ELO again. They rock! Next from ELO try their 1976 hit, *Livin' Thing".* Use the studio version.

[@alanfeldstein9761]

This is as good as ELO gets.

[@bradensmith8682]

This and Twilight are my fave ELO tracks

[@drewg5637]

CBS Sports used to use this song in their intro and exit back in the late 70's.

[@ceciliarueda4871]

In the final a chorus Say: ".. fireee onn highhh'

[@DavidSmith-pg1ob]

The backwards words in the song say (iirc): "Turn back. Turn back. Turn back. The music is reversible, but time is not!"

[@DavidSmith-pg1ob]

Also. I think the guitar part at the end used to be played for the intro of "The Wide World of Sports" back in the 70's (when they used to show that poor downhill ski-er crashing).

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

@@DavidSmith-pg1ob Nope, it was used for their rival show, CBS Sports Spectacular. Also, you go the order wrong on the backwards message. It goes: *"The music is reversible, but time isn't. Turn back. Turn back. Turn back. Turn back."*

[@DavidSmith-pg1ob]

@@Cosmo-Kramer Yep, I was doing it by sentence, not the total phrase. You are correct.

[@lindehughes2011]

They are fantastic 😍 You should listen to SHOWDOWN

[@TheComedyScone]

great commentary!....new Sub here

[@clarkschiferl6797]

I would recommend Tightrope as well followed by Turn to Stone. For a musical adventure, you could try Concerto for a Rainy Day which is a suite of 4 songs from the Out of the Blue album which ends with Mr Blue Sky.

[@bobdelp2023]

SO COOL, THIS IS A TRIP T, THIS IS THE OPENING TRACK OFF MY FAVORITE E.L.O. ALBUM ( FACE THE MUSIC ) AND AFTER THIS IT GOES RIGHT INTO : EVIL WOMAN 😊😊😊JUST SO SO GOOD AND THE CREATIONS BY ( JEFF LYNNE ) INSANELY GOOD! ENJOYYYYYYY MY FRIEND

[@TheAdventuresofTNT]

That’s cool cause I just did evil woman an it got blocked

[@michaelrocker9000]

@@TheAdventuresofTNT A good friend of mine sang back up on Evil Woman. While ELO recorded this in the UK she and 2 other women did it in a studio in NYC. Look up Marge Raymond. She has worked with many other bands.

[@jackkeen8862]

try, turn to stone or living thing and again thank you i enjoy your journey

[@Milius47]

I had a great acid trip on this album...

[@michaelrocker9000]

Jeff Lynn is great. His other group The Move had a big hit from "Do You". Love me some ELO.

[@gold98gtp]

And the Travelling Wilburys

[@unrulyjulie4382]

Do Ya

[@conniekat3424]

Nooooo...this one brings back a weird memory I'd rather forget! LOL

[@TheAdventuresofTNT]

Lol, what!!!?? Now I need to know!

[@conniekat3424]

@@TheAdventuresofTNT LOL...all I remember is waking up with this tune stuck in my head & a sucker stuck in my hair! 🤣🤣

[@Eurynomea]

Love Bev Bevan in this track!

[@biglyyuge6012]

Absolutely, good take

[@xJRx77]

T if you liked this one checkout an ELO song called Rockairia! You'll love it! Another song but has lyrics that isn't heard to often is Rock and roll is king!

[@gold98gtp]

I was a teen when this came out.

[@strettoasino9006]

The sound of Bev Beven being filled with the spirit of Hal Blain.

[@salvadoracevedo3812]

Great melody 💙 👏

[@franceshaas8255]

Please listen to Boy Blue and The Green Wood from El Dorado Album. You won't be disappointed.

[@anthonybyrge8074]

Interesting song! Same here t I was listening inventively as well. I love instrumental songs. Fun journey to be on this morning.

[@conniekat3424]

T was listening 'intently'...not sure what kinda listening that is you were doing...never heard of inventive listening

[@davidjarvie9546]

T you have to listen to more ELO they were I mean are a great band Jeff Lynne is a great producer and all their albums are hot property. 👍🎶🎵🎶👍

[@davidjarvie9546]

Listen to "the mission of the sacred heart"

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

@@davidjarvie9546 Great song, but that's not its title. It's called, *"Mission (A World Record)".*

[@jonthomson8392]

👍👍👍👍👍

[@ccsportsfan7886]

excellent

[@D1Gr8hansGraf]

This was the played at the opening of ABC Wide World of Sports back in the day. “The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.”

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Nope, it was the opening of their rival network copycat show, "CBS Sports Spectacular".

[@chronomatt6990]

The vocal reversal is a joke from ELO’s genius leader Jeff Lynne. In 1974, Christian fundamentalist groups accused ELO, LED Zeppelin and a couple of other bands of placing backward satanic lyrics in their music to influence listeners’ minds. It made international news, which probably ended up selling more records for the bands - the “Streisand Effect.” Jeff was offended, of course, as he’s admitted to be a mainstream Christian type of guy. So, a year later when recording the Face The Music album, he purposely placed the obviously reversed “Time is reversible, but time is not. Turn back. Turn back. Turn back.” to tweak the fundamentalists. It’s spoken by deep voiced drummer Bev Bevan. As for Fire On High’s meaning, Jeff is hesitant to say. He likes for people to have their own interpretation. But, demonic, it is not.

[@nickskelton1780]

The backwards voice is Drummer Bev Bevan he is actually saying "the music is reversable,time is not! Turn back turn back turn back"

[@zuko9675]

Yooo.. Glad you're looking in to this band they've got Alot of classix such as - stranger on a quiet street, telephone line, strange magic, rockaria etc.. Upto you man whatever song you review, just glad you're doing E.L.O 👍

[@terryconnelly484]

Spinng the record backwards used to be a big deal in 70s and you could hear people talking... Paul is a dead man is a famous example from the Beatles

[@flash1660]

Good song you might try Tightrope it is spectacular!

[@bradleyrogers8073]

Please react to: Meatloaf - For Crying Out Loud Mary Chapin Carpenter - I Feel Lucky

[@48mastadon]

"The music is reversible but time isn't." That 's what is being said backwards at the beginning.

[@Cosmo-Kramer]

Actually, it's, *"The music is reversible, but time isn't. Turn back. Turn back. Turn back. Turn back."*

[@strettoasino9006]

Great lyrics

[@tylerhackner9731]

Love them

[@onedominant]

I'm old enough to remember the evangelical churches' attack on music that I witnessed unfold in real time. I remember the news clips of elected legislators seeking to ban the music of many artists/groups, and I remember classmates (and my brother) pulling out their vinyl records and manually spinning them backwards on their turntables - all curious. It was a weird time, no less so these many years later. But I grew up on music like this. Musically, it was an exploratory age with few, if any, limits. In comparison, today's music seems fairly monotonous, predictable, and rather... boring. Dear modern artists, please rediscover the spice rack. Please.