first time hearing San Francisco - Scott McKenzie | Reaction!!

[@rosmeeker1964]

Wouldn't it be grand if the USA got back to some of this vibe?

[@Jen-in-Texas]

Yes!

[@annirvin6555]

If the world got back to it.

[@TheDirge69]

Not gunna happen ..world is doomed …

[@jordimoore2167]

Yes, and I live right here at the Bay!

[@james3744]

Do some reading about the violence and depraved shit that went down in the 60s and 70s in San Francisco involving the 'peace loving' hippies. As the saying goes "...punks are good people pretending to be bad, while hippies are bad people pretending to be good"

[@pixxz4737]

Polo is becoming one of us boomer hippy rockers 😊

[@u4riahsc]

Yes he is.

[@harleygal420]

Hope so. It's good for the soul.

[@steveullrich7737]

This song celebrates the summer of love in San Francisco from 1967 and the burgeoning counterculture and the promise flower power. A time when the younger generation had hopes for a better peaceful world. Such a beautiful song.

[@36karpatoruski]

The visuals this song evokes for those of us that lived through this era as we came of age, is incredible.

[@terrycunningham8118]

If you were lucky enough to hear this song at that time, you'll understand the tremendous pull it evoked among some people and the growing feeling that you were part of something much bigger and that something had a home.

[@tchampagne1494]

Yes, this 70-year-old woman pines for the days when this song came out, San Francisco at that time had an aura of hope and a dynamic atmosphere. I went there often for concerts and protests, I wouldn't call myself a hippy at the time, but by today's definition I was indeed a hippy. Yes, I wore flowers in my hair, beads around my neck, and a leather vest with long tassels to my knees, with bells jangling on the ends. I had long blond hair parted down the middle with a headband. It was an amazing time to be alive as we marched for civil rights, human rights, women's rights and gay rights and paramount to that was to stop the war in Vietnam. Over 50,000 young American men died in that senseless war. It was a time of love and upheaval. Protests against the establishment, police brutality, the killing of leaders, shaking the foundations of our times. All the while we had this fantastic music to escape into, to express our politics and our humor. It was a complicated time of exploration; I miss it dearly.

[@wendycrawford1792]

50,000. I did not know that figure. I’m Canadian and 69 and remember so clearly the climate of those times and that exquisite song. ❤️

[@Brightangel55]

I embroidered flowers all over my jeans. Sweet times

[@judywalton9381]

Same age , different place. When Marine dad got orders to Vietnam in '68, Mom moved us from FL to Southern CA to be near our grandparents during his deployment. Total cognitive dissonance between what we saw on the news and what we heard on the radio not only about Vietnam but civil, women's and economic rights. I'm so reminded now of the young folks worldwide protesting against unjust exercise of power against helpless civilian peoples by authoritarian and fascist governments. Very loosely expressed, the difference is that our generation understood where power lay and how to apply pressure against government policies they opposed. Again, very generally in IRL, social media coverage of marches and protests doesn't seem to translate to actual policy change b/c political infrastructure is wholly controlled by global big-money cabals working for the benefit of oligarchs and fascist. Not that I have an opinion or anything. 😠

[@tchampagne1494]

@@judywalton9381 I am in absolute agreement with you. I worry about the nefarious sources of news whose failure to support our democracy will be a severe challenge this election. The fascists seem to have the upper hand, it is deeply disturbing because we depend on an informed electorate and the youth of today do not understand the threat nor their power to effect change. The billionaires are winning so far.

[@Chicago_Cabbie]

It is an anthem --- of the late 60 s, and the whole "We can make the world a better place." mentality which was what was goin' on in the 60s and in the Hippie movement.

[@davidaldridge5716]

It’s cliche these days to say something is a “vibe” but this truly is. It was before my time but ever since I was young I felt like this song captured a certain feel….guess I’m just using my imagination but it seems like it embodies a 60’s vibe more than any song I can think of and I’m familiar with alot of 60’s music

[@96tears600]

Love love this song of my generation

[@terpreynolds]

I currently live there. It isn't what it used to be but it's definitely not what the media portrays.

[@neilcox7879]

Hi Polo, this song is from the late 60’s hippy generation, the “summer of love”, ban the bomb and anti Vietnam War era. It’s also very much like the flavour of the Mummas and the Poppers. This was the era of hope for peace and love. And if you look hard around the world on some of the the big old tall buildings in large cities, you can see the the high tide mark where this era washed into and was then washed away later by the era of “greed is good”. And so the dreams and hopes all faded away and we are, where we are today. Peace brother, was the slogan of the day back then. And to you my friend…. Peace. Cheers, Neil.

[@wendycrawford1792]

I remember when it came out. Loved it then. Still love it. It’s so beautiful…….. what a time

[@loramoore2714]

Sweet Memory for me…thank you…born inOakland CA in the 50’s this was my anthem to Love…and we were gentle until we weren’t…Nixon, Vietnam,war on drugs was merely to jail the hippies and Black Panthers….♥️🌀

[@73foue73]

Beautiful song for great past times, long gone.

[@kmorse6487]

From the peace and love era in the 60's

[@dtrapp8958]

the make love... not war! era

[@MatthewC137]

@@dtrapp8958 Now it's the opposite. Those old hippies all want war now and tolerate no one but their own.

[@gaildevaney6074]

And then there's San Franciscan Nights by Eric Burden & The Animals

[@johndorney3269]

@gaildevaney: great song

[@ninochkalove]

love that song!

[@uniquenamegoeshere2263]

This is of the era of the Mamas and The Papas “California Dreaming.” Very evocative of a time when the US was embroiled in the Vietnam war, and the era of the mid to late 1960s. Incredible time.

[@donpardo2510]

It's the unofficial anthem of The Monterey Pop Festival, written by John Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas.

[@johnclegg6079]

The vibe I get from this song, reminds me of San francisco nights by Eric Burton animals. Pretty mellow. Thanks for all the cool music!

[@thekingcobra63]

Born in SF, raised in the outskirts, was a great place in the 70s and 80s to be. Now the once great city has decayed in so many ways it is sad to see and hard to witness.

[@lorrainegarbutt5269]

This was so much more than just hippies. It was a very brief time in history when an entire generation, world wide, was trying to change the world of war and violence to one of peace and love. It was an almost tangible feeling in the air. Sadly, drugs and politics changed everything and the movement fell apart. But what an amazing summer and what an incredible experience.

[@wendymcinnis5937]

Aw, if only the message of the hippy era lived on! Love and peace for everyone. All we get is war and hate

[@jeanfoster8979]

I was a teenager in the 60s and loved this song and still do, it was an awesome time

[@ellenfields-sischka7441]

This song breaks my heart every time I hear it. My sister died when I was 16 (60+ years ago) and she was 21. The song reminds my so much of her. This and "On the Dock of the Bay" by Otis Redding. 😢 I often wonder what she would have become in life, had she lived...

[@kevinwaters5872]

Another one hit wonder that will live forever. An anthem of its time , that touches every one who listens to it.

[@joshmccoy1522]

Polo, in 1968, that *was* the national anthem of San Francisco! I always loved McKenzie's voice, so pure and clean.

[@rhondarocca9855]

Always loved this song and reminds me of my dad, who was a Bay Area hippie in the 60’s. San Francisco is still wonderful and beautiful! I hope you visit one day to see for yourself ✌️

[@tameniai]

This was one of my mother's favorite songs. Thank you for sharing it with me.

[@stangovers7441]

I'll take 20% hippie! No wonder you're well-liked. You're a peaceful dude. You would have fit in during the late 60's. There is a great documentary of The Monterey Pop Festival. It is something to see. Peace, brother!

[@TheMerryPup]

This song had a nostalgic feeling the day it was released. Another beautifully crafted song from John Phillips brilliantly sung by Scott McKenzie.

[@phylliswurm9473]

It is a beautiful song and it Was a beautiful city.

[@im2bz2bcn]

I was only 6;when this song came out. It was played on all the stations and extremel popular. We lived in the suburbs of across the bay so went to SF often. We went to height ashbury. I remember it well all of us girls hanging out the windows of the family station wagon taking it all in, especially my older teenage sister. My dad calling them all “ dirty hippies” and they were everywhere and all the guys with the long hair and the colorful clothes. The girls were beautiful I thought with the leather vests, beads, hair bands, colorful sunglasses, and the jeans with all kinds of patches in them. Everyone was mingling like they were family and it was like they came from all over the country to be a part of the “movement” and they were, creating history more than they could know.

[@Jen-in-Texas]

I’m from across the bay too - El Cerrito. Where are you from?

[@albaPhenom]

I have to believe that almost everyone over a certain age has heard this song, it's been used in too many movies and TV shows to have missed it.

[@revaflowers3115]

In the 60s,suddenly everyone was moving into Frisco and the Haight-Asbury was over run with Flower Children. Suddenly I wasn't allowed to catch a ride to The City alone anymore.Literally, I went everywhere on the bus transit system back in the day, I was about 12 years old when this came out,but my parents got very paranoid at that time.

[@shemanic1]

This beautiful song is an anthem to the Summer of Love, which believe it or not, caught some of us here in the U.K. The tunes (+) were part of a Big change in my views & life.

[@ninochkalove]

I lived in the Haight for many years. At the time there were some great record stores, used clothing stores and an over all beautiful vibe. There were also some great places to hear music and of course the old Victorian music house, filled with couches instead of seats, and serving "Hippie" popcorn- with nutritional yeast :) I loved living there.

[@Jude_196]

I think you are gonna LIKE THIS ONE!!! :) LOVE THIS ONE!! THANKS, POLO!!! :)

[@Noelle0026]

The nostalgia of this song is do so strong!

[@norahdenovan8658]

Oh my,I was 9 yrs old when this came out& absolutely loved it, I sang it at home, & everywhere else. I’d dress up& perform. Happy days 😌❤

[@dubbleplusgood]

Brilliant song and it was also used in an episode of the 80s TV show Miami Vice. Bad ass for sure, longtime favorite of mine.

[@josephwhirlwind6086]

Boy reliving my childhood , I was about 8 years old when this song came out , loved it !

[@pamelafowler3881]

Beautiful song. Ive loved it since the first time I heard it.....over 30 years ago in my 20s

[@helenvanhecke1327]

Nearly 60 years ago for me. Beautiful memories!❤️

[@djolivierastro]

This just brings tears so beautiful

[@AB-C1]

Always loved this song since i heard it when i was a kid in 80s.. A time BEFORE they DESTROYED the western world. Great reaction video! 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@johnnydeagal4400]

Who’s they?

[@ButtonPhonics]

​@@johnnydeagal4400 Corporations who bought out the whole media, Pharmaceutical and Food industry ,Big Tech, Banks, unelected Elitists who think they know better than you ..WHO WEF but hey, most people actually watch the TV here in Australia and elsewhere and think they are telling you anything...they are not telling you 1% Peace to all

[@MrYossarianuk]

The eighties was the start of the end of the western world . Right wing greed destroyed the welfare state and permanently broke society , at least in the UK and USA

[@MaryFaili-xz4lx]

I love, love, love Scott McKenzie. He had one of the most beautiful voices of the 1960s. I wore this album out and had to replace it 3 times. I would listen to that whole album over, and over, for hours. I still get on Scott McKenzie kicks and listen to the dvd I made of this album, when that technology came along. Find yourself a copy of this album and listen to the whole thing. Thanks for this great reaction!

[@ChrisKrolak]

This song is as close to San Francisco you want to be these days. You can also watch old video footage from back in the 60s. When I want to escape the insanity of today, music is my main vehicle to take me back to my youth. I was 10 when this song came out.

[@liannehoward4602]

I was 9 and this song was everywhere. What a beautiful memory. You are truly hitting some gems Polo. Well done, rock on! ✌️

[@classicrocklady6288]

Awwwww...the 70's. A much more gentle, harmonious time. Miss those days so much! Sad that we are going backwards 😢

[@sukie584]

60s. ‘67 to be exact.

[@classicrocklady6288]

@@sukie584 sorry...I was close. Lol Thanks for the correction! Don't mean to give bad information. Just loved the entire ergreat using! music!

[@SchoonerSailr]

My ship was home-ported across the bay while I served in the Navy in the early 70's It was my favorite places to visit.

[@rodneymacomber6337]

I was hitch hiking around the country in the 70s this song brings me back instantly thanks

[@Jen-in-Texas]

Thank you SO much for reacting to this. This is definitely the San Francisco of old. I lived across the bay and my mom and I would go over there when I was young in the early 70’s. We’d also celebrate my birthdays there - mom, dad and I. The memories for me are amazing. This song touches me so much. Another one just as special is “I left my heart in San Francisco” by Tony Bennett.

[@nicholasthomas3635]

Blue Cheer: Summertime Blues is one of the O.G. hard rock outta 'frisco area back when. Dig deep from that time frame. The Animals also went there & wrote their own song for that town : San Franciscan Nights, is a gem of historical folk in this timeline.

[@zennenn]

Sam Francisco is beautiful and one of my favorite cities I've ever been to, and I've traveled a bit. There's just something about it. ❤

[@UFOS4]

I was in San Francisco when it was a magical place and this song was a always a nice tribute to those times. Also, consider Eric Burton & The Animals “San Francisco Nights” , it’s even better.

[@MrGmonkeywillruleyou]

San Francisco is amazing. I live near there

[@LukesBioBug]

Also, there's a song from Eric Burdon & the Animals, San Franciscan Nights that is pretty awesome too!

[@williamwoodward280]

Thanks for the amazing memories! You can’t understand the 60s without this song! God bless from South Africa

[@Linda-w8d]

Gee, Polo, I was 15 when this song came out. I lived on a farm and envied the teenagers who were known to older people as "hippies," with their long, flowing skirts, wild hat, braids, and flowers, not to mention their vehicles which depicted painted flowers all over them. What a time in history to remember. Thank you for this.

[@chrispowell8043]

Such a beautiful song

[@annetteanderson1933]

❤❤❤everybody's head space was chill and wanting peace. We got high with our friends and grooved to the music òf the last real generation. The last generation before technology and media began Thinking for us. Even creativity is being lost to tech.

[@Peggi109]

🌻This song reminds me of high school in late 60s. The song says, "Summertime will be a love-in there". A love-in is a peaceful public gathering focused on meditation, love, music, sex and/or use of recreational drugs.✌Hi from NYC.

[@LukesBioBug]

In my opinion, this is the ultimate song that represents the TRUE hippie era!

[@TerriKnight-x3s]

I’ve been reliving my youth through your channel. Thank you

[@pollynicklas5220]

I was a little too young (under 10) yo have been a part of the hippy scene. I wish I would have been older so I could have gone to Woodstock!

[@garyjohnson7133]

So many memories for this old man good times back then.

[@Josephine-sm2db]

Wow, that goes way, way, way back!!!! at least 2 generations.

[@777petew]

Good that. Captivated me in 1967 when I was nine.

[@mackymintle7806]

0:45 omg… 😂😂😂😂 had to pause, almost shot ice coffee out my nose.😂😂😂

[@kathyjaissle6791]

Such a very very beautiful song. So nostalgic for me!!! It was at the coming of age time in my life, becoming aware of what was happening in the world. The height of the hippie movement. Just love this song so much. It actually brings a lump to my throat.

[@joecarcione6636]

Greetings from San Francisco! It's much better here than what you see in the media....in fact, I think it's the best city in the country, and the Haight/Asbury is still worth a good visit!!

[@susanfrancois1821]

This era was great, nice music and lyrics tell a story.

[@253spkelly253]

The animals also sing a song about San Francisco, I think it’s just called San Francisco and it’s also a wonderful song

[@leonardsfriend5821]

That song was “Monterey” about that music festival.

[@leonardsfriend5821]

Oh sorry, yes, you are correct, I forgot that one, San Francisco Nights.

[@sitkoh]

I love this song so much.

[@Wordsmyth8]

The Summer of Love.

[@mickymcl8359]

A 60s classic which defined the era before all the greed corruption and me, me, me attitude emerged. People in the 60s thumbed lifts to concerts, to the local pub or wherever and they shared and they cared. A different vibe to today.

[@Boatzilla2]

Really, a period piece. I was born in the city in 1963. I visited a few times the late '90s. Stayed in The Haight. Many of those loving people had long since turned into nasty, druggy runaways doing aggressive pan-handling. The magic was gone, but it was still a cool place to hang out, thanks to the remaining hippies and all the funky shops (comics, cafes, record stores, head shops, etc.). Last time I stayed there with my teenage daughter in around 2018, I had to be on guard and I would have felt a lot more comfortable in NYC. Great reaction. Thanks so much.

[@JohnLennon99791]

Hi Polo. I love that you are 20% Hippie ✌❤

[@Sonia-tf4og]

Crecí escuchando esta canción 🥰🥰🥰

[@victoriagrove5344]

I have been moved by this song from the beginning. It feels like 1967 when it felt like we were going in the right direction to create peace and love. Anyway, this song stands out as theee song for that period! The days of Monterrey Pop, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, The Mamas and the Papas. Actually, the Mamas and Papas knew this guy and sang with him. It was customary for these guys to work together, casually. It wasn’t all about big money. Dang! Thanks for taking me back there. ❤

[@suezeeq5542]

That is not a good explanation of who Scott McKenzie is. He was part of the group Mama's and the Papa's. It wasn't about the money only.

[@richschuster1097]

20% of me is hippie; well stated; I think I’m right there with you. Great song!

[@pixxz4737]

Hey 96 tears ! Great song😊

[@Rick-q4p]

Even the original Star Trek TV show did an episode with hippies.

[@skyqueen1148]

My beautiful San Francisco. 🌼 ✌

[@TheDivayenta]

Polo- you have an official standing invitation to California from your fans here. Mi casa su casa!

[@LoisChisholm]

Hippie Music, my favorite. If I had been born a few years earlier, I would have been one of those people with flowers in their hair in San Francisco.

[@dougww1ectebow]

Quite a merry jog here. This was a favorite of mine when it came out. And yes, SF was was much more beautiful then.

[@Rabessey]

That song was groovy

[@SharonCollins-x1f]

Ahhhhhhhh....The 60's Peace ✌️ Brother ❤

[@Ryoufriggingserious]

You can certainly feel the 60s in this song.

[@annirvin6555]

Flower Power. Miss those days

[@mountainmike1819]

You mentioned that this is damn near an anthem for SF. There is actually a rap version of this called SF Anthem by San Quinn. Check it out for your own listing pleasure. I think you'll like it.

[@debbiewisenbaker6509]

I love this song

[@CyberJunk101]

What is that cool looking spinning thing ? It’s cool looking 😎

[@Sonia-tf4og]

Try "Whats the difference" Scott MacKenzie 😉

[@mattgb23]

Nice song by Scott McKenzie but you gotta hear Zeppelin rock this out with the Dazed and Confused/San Francisco track on The Song Remains the Same album. 24 minutes of mind blowing musical magick. Best live rock song ever recorded. Period. Doubt this hard core Led Head? I was a senior in high school when SRS dropped in 76 and saw LZ play this @ MSG in NYC, June of 77. Left side of stage 2nd tier. Great seats!! Mind boggling show Go ahead, watch and listen... if you dare

[@orinolsgaard1755]

Those faces in are the sisters, brothers and friends of thousands to be killed in Vietnam. Many of the guys who went to San Francisco that year were killed in Vietnam too. We all knew the song well.

[@germankitty]

San Francisco is gorgeous -- much prefer it over Los Angeles. 🙂 And yes, the lyrics are ironic today, but back in 1968 (if memory serves), SF was the nexus to what was known as the "Summer of Love" and the Hippie movement. Even after 60 years, it's still one of my favorite songs of all time. Thanks for bringing back the memory!

[@leddygee1896]

If you're really wealthy you can stay at the 4 Seasons. But honestly, You'd be trapped there because you don't want to be wandering too far from your hotel. I grew up in California at the time this song came out. My family and I went there many times. San Francisco was a paradise back then...

[@3gcraftsman]

Far Out!!! ✌️

[@hixiegirl]

Stoned that whole summer.

[@JIMBEARRI]

I wasn't in San Francisco back then either, but this is a prime example of the music from the 1967 "Summer of Love" when the Hippie cult was at the height of its popularity. The Hippie attitude pervaded the entire country, but not to as great a degree as in San Francisco. Another good example is the Broadway musical "Hair". You might want to check that out. Whatever else came out of that era, "San Francisco" is definitely a beautiful song.