trivia: Before they went on, they were told to edit the song. Their response was to play the entire song faster.
@toddstevens133 жыл бұрын
And sadly most are now hooked on this version in comparison to the original almost 7 minute version.
@walterfleury3840Ай бұрын
What this guy said, heard they played it about double speed.
@joshs45943 жыл бұрын
Jan Akkerman is one of the great guitarists of all time. He never seems to get his overdue credit.
@mitchfleming2742 жыл бұрын
Shredding before shredding was a thing
@geraldherrmann7872 жыл бұрын
in my humble opinion, he is up there in the pantheon with the greatest. but like terry kath and rory gallagher, he keeps getting overlooked nowadays.
@stevemurrell61672 жыл бұрын
Agree entirely.
@chopperdeath Жыл бұрын
Agreement.
@williamsmith9026 Жыл бұрын
Sweeping before the broom was invented
@GreatCdn593 жыл бұрын
Through all the chaos .. the drummer was absolutely CRUSHING IT.
@voiceover21913 жыл бұрын
Complexity and technical skill, yes, chaos no
@mitchfleming2742 жыл бұрын
Organized chaos
@bluetopguitar11043 жыл бұрын
Amazing crazy vocals. The guitar player is an early shredder. OMG they are all on their game.
@michaelboggus99933 жыл бұрын
Holy hell they're playing this fast. This song is hard enough at regular speed!
@chrispoel3162 жыл бұрын
they playd this song in a faster tempo because there tour bus was duble parked outside the studio and police was complaining
@r.d.sandman64742 жыл бұрын
@@chrispoel316 Close, heard the show thought it to long, so the show said ‘Whatever, the time is yours, but at the end of the time, we’re going to ads’ Focus found a way
@r.d.sandman64742 жыл бұрын
@@chrispoel316 They just went back, planned & all got their licks in their way. I admire that, the ability to think on the fly, plus this is good too!
@robichj2 жыл бұрын
They were told the song was too long and they had to shorten it. Focus said no we're playing the whole song, we'll just play it faster
@cheryljackson56593 жыл бұрын
Brilliant summation of what we all thought when we first heard this back in the day! Did you recognize the iconic Miss Gladys Knight who introduced Focus in the opening? Also, please check out the Edgar Winter Group's "Frankenstein" for another fantastic musical voyage!
@robertfitterman37773 жыл бұрын
I love reactions to this song and the live version in particular. This was I believe on the Midnight Special and their time slots for performers was 4 minutes. The song Hocus Pocus is about 6 minutes long. So instead of cheapening the song by cutting it short, the band decided to speed it up and miraculously pulled it off.
@cindyshawver99863 жыл бұрын
i prefer the faster version myself !!......i'd be bored with the slow version.....plus this fast version shows off the guitar guy really well !!.......his fingers were flying !!....LOL
@frankseydel94282 жыл бұрын
@@cindyshawver9986 The guitar guy..Jan Akkermann.. he's from Holland so never became really famous overseas..but he's around still.
@lesaber251 Жыл бұрын
@@frankseydel9428 All are from Holland.
@marka.24849 ай бұрын
@@lesaber251: Correction, they are all from the Netherlands, not Holland. Holland represents only 2 out of 12 provinces.
@lesaber2519 ай бұрын
OK. Thank you.@@marka.2484
@RastaSaiyaman3 жыл бұрын
Keyboard player/ Flutist Thijs van Leer (Pronounced "Tice Van Lair") is a classically trained musician, he said that this song came to be when the band was jamming on that guitar riff and just organically let it flow and this song just came out, breaks and all. Focus is regarded among Prog rock as one of the finest bands in the Genre and Van Leer himself as a Grand master.
@michelelaraia73582 жыл бұрын
Thays Fan Lai-air
@inekebaalman3320 Жыл бұрын
Pronounced somewhat like Tice van Lear……
@michelelaraia7358 Жыл бұрын
@@inekebaalman3320 Tays Fun Laih-air
@inekebaalman3320 Жыл бұрын
@@michelelaraia7358 No, like I said, closest is Tice van Lear. I’m Dutch, I know!
@davidvalensi86163 жыл бұрын
Jan Akkerman, one of the best guitar players from that time.
@redskin40403 жыл бұрын
He's one of the greatest of anytime
@Dave_Marks3 жыл бұрын
Still a great guitar player!
@voysuelto3 жыл бұрын
Is a very technical guitarist
@voysuelto3 жыл бұрын
Super technical guitarist
@voysuelto3 жыл бұрын
@Mathew Ross Hendrix was a very virtuosity southpaw was Up there with Rory Gallagher
@Isleofskye3 жыл бұрын
They were given a 4 minute slot for a 7 minute Album song :)
@Gulicktheemu3 жыл бұрын
It’s sounds rushed because they had to fit a song into about 2/3 of the length of the actual song.
@joshuakungames65233 жыл бұрын
which turn out insane
@stephendavis55303 жыл бұрын
Absolutely insane....and a fantastic riff (with complex jazz chords.....I know - I tried to learn it). And how in the name of holy fuck did they manage to play so fast? Amazing!!
@Isleofskye3 жыл бұрын
Only given a 4 minute slot Stephen to cover a 7 minute track :)
@andrewpetik2034 Жыл бұрын
They are TIGHT! EVERY ONE of them brought their 'A game'. Just genius!
@harryschonfeld81753 жыл бұрын
"this is too much" ...the best wa yet to come! Your face throughout the performance was priceless. 😜😬🤪😳😖 Torn between laughter and disbelief. And love for the drummer solos obviously. 😋 This was a breathtaking performance at breakneck speed and the vocal interludes were perfect to spice it up. The singers trademark was to explore the voice as an instrument and he was hilariously funny. The musicians talent unquestionable.
@ORagnar3 жыл бұрын
This is one of the craziest songs ever created. :-)
@Isleofskye3 жыл бұрын
Enjoyed Your Reaction, as always but you could and SHOULD have waited for their deserved ovation from that crowd :)
@voiceover21913 жыл бұрын
I understood it was the only time in the history of The Midnight Special a performing band got a standing ovation.
@Isleofskye3 жыл бұрын
@@voiceover2191 That's Great :)
@walterpanovs3 жыл бұрын
Dutch band who had this one freaky hit that crossed over to the Top Ten in the states. Memorable. The instrumental part has been used in several films, including really well during the chase sequence in the recent "Baby Driver."
@petegabittas3410 Жыл бұрын
Have yourself a hamburger concerto mate
@jemp1965 Жыл бұрын
And the 2014 version of Robocop!!
@nardj.52773 жыл бұрын
Very famous Dutch band in Europe in the sixties. Love your reaction to it.
@RastaSaiyaman3 жыл бұрын
SEVENTIES, they weren't around the sixties.
@aihsjabsuans65693 жыл бұрын
There were many great Dutch bands back then in the 70's...
@fkops27733 жыл бұрын
@@RastaSaiyaman they started as a trio in 1968
@theglanconer64633 жыл бұрын
Best band ever. Greetings from the Netherlands !
@frankseydel9428 Жыл бұрын
Probably my favorite reaction of yours as you had been totally surprised by what's going on. Hocus Pocus reminded us in those days that Rock'n'Roll is about having fun as we sometimes took it too serious. You know rambling abput which group is better than the other and stuff. We were kids then But in those days as today I just love to come back to these crazy dutch guys. Btw., the lead singer is still kicking..
@williamhorton97633 жыл бұрын
ScribeCash needs to cover this song.
@MrKvitbjorn3 жыл бұрын
Hahaha! Embrace the madness girl!:)
@vincenttayelrand3 жыл бұрын
I used to jam with some of these people, but they were already pretty grey by then ;)
@Rob-ji6cr3 жыл бұрын
I knew when you said they look high as a kite 20 seconds in, you would be in for a ride!
@joshs45943 жыл бұрын
You can't be this tight and this precise at this speed if you're high.. Regardless, this is amazing.
@davidferguson30313 жыл бұрын
Your facial expressions were priceless! 😂 ❤️
@Wildpony983 жыл бұрын
This is why they put "Do not ingest'' on your '409' bottle lol
@psongman95363 жыл бұрын
I saw them in Holland when I went to Europe in '72 for the Olympics, one of the best live bands ever. Want a tidbit, they threw dried green peas out on to the stage and stomped all over them while doing a song, can't explain how different they were than other bands, totally novel, a bit like Queen,but did their own thing!
@stevemurrell61673 жыл бұрын
They were high......as kites. You should check more Focus.....truly great band.
@johneshuis12152 жыл бұрын
Not high, classical schooled.
@stevemurrell61672 жыл бұрын
@@johneshuis1215 😅 Nice one.
@bugvswindshield3 жыл бұрын
Q: does this song have lyrics? A: um ya sure
@damon94083 жыл бұрын
Focus was dope. Excellent musicians.
@dannybaldridge35293 жыл бұрын
I have seen 2 other reactions to this, I admit that I wanted to see your reaction when he started yodeling. 😁
@jamesfranklyn53123 жыл бұрын
don't worry...we all had this reaction 47 yrs ago....one of the craziest songs ever made....weird thing was...they're actually good musicians
@LarryEColeman3 жыл бұрын
Your facial expression was priceless. Hahaha.
@richyrich9083 жыл бұрын
Frickin awesome 🤣🤣🤣🤷♂️👌☝️🕺🕺
@jeromedavies24083 жыл бұрын
Classic track. I used to go a biker pub in the east end of London with a heavy rock disco, this used to get all the drunken bikers up dancing around being gnomes or something. Hilarious.
@robertphelps15743 жыл бұрын
Was it called the royal standard Walthamstow
@jeromedavies24083 жыл бұрын
@@robertphelps1574 It was the Ruskin Arms in East Ham, but yes I've been to Royal Standard too.
@robertphelps15743 жыл бұрын
@@jeromedavies2408 I only went to the royal standard a couple of times as I’m was from the south of the river
@byronmitchell37843 жыл бұрын
Lol SCRIBE, BET YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING THAT...LOL
@UnsoberIdiot3 жыл бұрын
"what am I watching" you're watching them play a good song ~40% faster.
@woodstream61373 жыл бұрын
Thre summer and guitarist crushed it. When he started whistling it was so pure it reminded me of Disney until it sped up
@Bobby-eu3hz3 жыл бұрын
They where not high this song is 8 min but this live session is 4 min because of the live feed
@wqnamisanthrope8 ай бұрын
They weren't high - the singer / keyboardist knew what he was about to do, and was gearing himself up. The song started out as a goofy jam while the band was recording the album on which the song first appeared; It caught everybody (including the band themselves) off-guard when it became a hit single, and surprised them even more when it got the to tour America - Where they appeared on TV shows like this, and didn't know beforehand that they were going to be severely limited in the time they were going to be allowed to play. So, they arrive, set up, and are suddenly told "Your almost seven-minute song ? You've got four minutes. Good luck." And the band members decided "Oh, YEAH ? Watch THIS"" and just went for it.
@wouterboswinkel17133 жыл бұрын
There are 2 persons who stand out Thijs van Leer (keyboards etc) and Jan Akkerman who was voted best gitarist of the world 1973 by melody maker. Both are still alive (thijs is from 31-03-1948 and jan is from 24-12-1946). And it was OPRAH who did the introduction (you missed that)
@yampymusic Жыл бұрын
Van der Linden on drums didn't stand out?
@Hi-kq1vi3 жыл бұрын
The best one was on Old Grey Whistle Test where they combined this with Sylvia.
@SIR-DanielHunter3 жыл бұрын
I bought there album in the late 70s not because there music but because the album called "mother focus" but crazy cool band
@jefftribiano1875 Жыл бұрын
The old expression never give them your best so they'll come back for more! Unfortunately this so applies to focus who after coming out with this masterpiece was unable to come close to what we all witnessed in shock many years ago!
@wRAAh3 жыл бұрын
2:23 "What the holy hell bro am I watching" :-) This was a culture shock for me back then -and I'm from the country this originated from.
@3pan14 ай бұрын
Don't you just LOVE people who get it right from the start
@rafehr13783 жыл бұрын
Oh, Howdy- do. When saw you were doing this reaction. Knew you would be amazed. Thinking what the, "F". This tune we used overseas to intimidate locals, even our own troopers too. Do check the Soul, Rock & Roll band from England, Chamber Brothers. "Time Has Come". "Love, Peace & Happiness". Both are long songs, before these 2 tunes. They had big radio hits middle, the late 1960s. Oh yeah, there's "cowbells".
@tonyfromfrance55953 жыл бұрын
You can ring my Bellll ring my bell my bell ding dong ding dong 🔔 🔔, I ADORE YOU MY SCRIBE, the song today is very good. Tony from Paris France
@SirWrecksy3 жыл бұрын
Bought this album, Moving Waves in college cuz I liked this song... wound up always skipping it , the rest of the album is that good These Dutch guys like to goof around but they are serious musicians!
@OUigot3 жыл бұрын
Devin Townsend performs 'Kingdom' for EMGtv ........it'll blow your mind!
@DJGURR3 жыл бұрын
They weren’t high. They had to play an near 8 minute song in 4 mins because they were cut for time
@NatsumiTakanawa3 жыл бұрын
I think they were also definitely high.
@hausf.kartreit11113 жыл бұрын
Them fellers musta come down outa some mountains acrost the pond🔥🤠
@jokevv13 жыл бұрын
Good luck finding mountains in the Netherlands. ;-)
@liys5403 жыл бұрын
jan akkerman on guitar
@daleervin8163 жыл бұрын
you needed a valium after sitting thru a 3 hour concert with these guys.
@jemp1965 Жыл бұрын
Focus what an amazing progressive rock band!!! Maybe the Dutch answer to ELP???
@fvantpadje3 жыл бұрын
After 50 years still strong. It was the first superband in the Netherlands.
@trevorb63 жыл бұрын
It only makes sense if you enter a house of cards filled with mirrors, colorful lights and paper flowers, doves turning into scantly clad, pretty women and a mustachioed fellow in a tuxedo pulling rabbits out of his top hat.
@michaelfletcher96403 жыл бұрын
Though I haven't any evidence, I'm pretty sure this is where the expression, commonly abbreviated: WTF, originated!?! ♥︎U, ScribeCash♡☆◇
@sjoerdmeijer12 жыл бұрын
Jan Akkerman and Thijs van Leer are stil playing,I like the song “Streetwalker”from Jan Akkerman
@rondegroot15082 жыл бұрын
Heroes from my country!
@r.d.sandman64742 жыл бұрын
They had to play it fast as they refused to shorten the song, so the show said, ‘Well, that’s fine, but time allotted is just that, after your time we’re going to commercial either way’. So Focus works it out-did you not notice how quickly they went to commercial when done? Now, that’s timing!
@sn1ckers1003 жыл бұрын
They had to speed up this song to fit into the allotted time. It's almost 2 minutes shorter here.
@kentclark64203 жыл бұрын
If you want to do another fun party song, try 'Surfin Bird', by the Trashmen. The live video will crack anybody up.
@royaljones52373 жыл бұрын
This is the definition of a Drunken Leprechaun Rock Opera!
@danielolson53783 жыл бұрын
Most people who watch this one gets the same reaction like "wt...is that guy doing, what is he gonna pull out next?!" This is the kind of song you either love or hate first time you hear it!!
@johnlongenecker77793 жыл бұрын
"they were high as a kite." Hey. It was the 70's. Of COURSE they were. lmao
@kingmark47863 жыл бұрын
They didn't drink an never used drugs.
@Svenskfrank3 жыл бұрын
Yeah babe,no drugs no alcohol looks impossible but they did not take those.
@voiceover21913 жыл бұрын
No way you can be high and play like this ... uhm ... I think
@spartan22ize2 жыл бұрын
Same expression i had..hilarious...
@bryanhale52543 жыл бұрын
Yeah I think they're from the Netherlands or Denmark go wherever somewhere in that area pretty amazing they're pretty talented nice little gimmick lots of fun hey you got them on the Airways
@raymondbrush64423 жыл бұрын
There's a song called popcorn by hot butter that came out about the same time. Let's just say its original. I always think of that song when I hear this. It's not in the same state much less ballpark as this
@henrijansen42242 жыл бұрын
My favoriet nummers are "Sylvia" and "House of the King"!
@FocusVideoArchive3 жыл бұрын
Since you have reacted to «Hocus Pocus» by Focus, you should also react to this: This is a follow-up video, with fun and interesting stuff about Hocus Pocus and Focus. A MUST WATCH! Hope you’ll watch it. Here is the link, it’s uploaded as «not listed» so it’s not officially on my channel yet. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5eXZHSwbtWDi5o
@keithclark62993 жыл бұрын
Listen to the album track...live versions were played at a much faster tempo to fit the whole song into the live time constraints
@corneliusantonius31083 жыл бұрын
The Netherlands rocks !!!
@johnhouse99833 жыл бұрын
Ten Years After... "mornin' little school girl"
@Isleofskye3 жыл бұрын
I'm Coming Home
@Salguine3 жыл бұрын
Because music needs to have its freaks, too.
@KHaussel3 жыл бұрын
My favorite version of this song! It totally rocks and makes you laugh. Win / Win, right?
@plk55203 жыл бұрын
At 1:07- "They look high as a kite bro!". At 1:57- I believe you're right.
@fredzeppelin39693 жыл бұрын
Backstage before going on: "What drugs should we do tonight?" "Yes."
@TheClonemenot3 жыл бұрын
Crazy but impossible to not like.
@hassenfuttingah2744 Жыл бұрын
Amsterdam is always a cool place.
@snapperutube3 жыл бұрын
that was crazy
@aihsjabsuans65693 жыл бұрын
Listen also this song covered by Iron Maiden, Helloween, Gary Hoey, Merillion...
@xlerb_again_to_music79083 жыл бұрын
what a BLAST! :)
@walterfleury3840Ай бұрын
I feel like this was early tryouts for the old Ricola cough drops commercials.
@Nastyfinger14443 жыл бұрын
This was wild!
@playgroundjustice35873 жыл бұрын
I hear An influence on Jack Black in the movie Pick of Destiny
@allenwatson92733 жыл бұрын
Complete chaos
@OBESPRING19823 жыл бұрын
Did Baby Driver bring you here? Personally, I'm old enough to remember this on the radio in the Spring of 1973.
@InvestedDetailing3 жыл бұрын
Actually if you listen to the song backwards...it still won't make any sense but at least you'll have listened to the song backwards.
@denniswarren3 жыл бұрын
Pure freaking jam shhh
@waltjones403 жыл бұрын
Rock and Roll Yodeling.
@tobordabot3 жыл бұрын
jack the video speed up to 1.25 and it becomes speed or thrash metal
@johnhouse99833 жыл бұрын
Studio versions much better exquisite actually, off the album called Hamburger Concerto
@voiceover21913 жыл бұрын
Completely disagree, after this, the studio version is rather tame, this is 10x better
@johnhouse99833 жыл бұрын
@@voiceover2191 fare enough...... each to his/her own eh..., fan of prog either way ? go google : MAGOG BROMINE CHAMBER and listen to that puppy , long song but listening all the way through to the end is a must and see if you can decipher the closing lyrics with out looking them up...... . Cheers , laters man.
@voiceover21913 жыл бұрын
@@johnhouse9983 Ok, thx, will do
@andystone67773 жыл бұрын
2:33 musta been the moment when the eggs left the chicken :-)
@sst3d2 жыл бұрын
There’s quite a back story to this performance..
@bdogjr77793 жыл бұрын
Yodeling ?《☆》Tight band😎🎱☮🔊✌👍🎸✴
@hansmolders106613 күн бұрын
Yeah
@realbser19563 жыл бұрын
The album version is 6:43. They had to speed it up for TV. Always hated this live version. You lose a lot from the studio one. Focus is a Dutch band and the great Jan Akkerman is the guitarist who later moved into playing jazz fusion.