FIRST TIME HEARING The Monkees - I'm A Believer REACTION

[@blade3184]

Micky Dolenz is the only surviving Monkee left. I'm actually going to see him in concert on March 23rd.

[@ShadowCorpseReacts]

Hell yeah have fun!

[@DazzleMonroe]

You won't be disappointed

[@blade3184]

@@DazzleMonroe lol I’ve seen him many times. He is great.

[@jessepruit8385]

Circus Boy? Google it!!

[@keithpoynor5334]

Where? I'd like to see that

[@jamesmarshall2817]

"I didn't know Neil Diamond was from the 60s." I feel very old all of a sudden.

[@Tom05181961]

Amen! This 80 year old was shocked this dude doesn't know Neal Diamond is? He is still living and was born 1941. 1941 was a real year after all. I died in the invasion of Sicily on the morning of July 10, 1943, then reincarnated 9 time zones later on the same date in Seymour, Indiana, at 7 PM , war time. There were several battles in WWII where the other side, meaning Heaven, ran out of souls to reincarnate. Life is hard for reincarnations when its a world-wide war.

[@Steve-gx9ot]

So What???!❤😮 Age of 50. 60. 70, 80 90. 100 years old makes no difference until death hits everybody. Important to live in the NOW. You cannot go back and you cannot stop time. I like growing more mature and despise silly teenyboppers and MOST " millennials" You are stupid

[@MyboogerwontSurrender]

68 here and laughing 🤣

[@steveandtammyb]

They may have not been considered a band in the beginning but they finally took over their own music and did concert tours and sold many albums!! I have always loved the Monkees! And they could ALL sing very well.

[@DiZastur]

last train to clarksville will always stick in my head

[@josephdemartino6053]

Drummers who sang lead? Ever heard of Genesis? Phil Collins? The Carpenters?

[@derrickcox7761]

​@@josephdemartino6053Eagles

[@user-ep4oc2tb8y]

A bit of trivia. Mike Nesmith, his mother invented whiteout, and he went on to create music videos and we all know what that led to. I can't remember the details, but you can find in a documentary on him, he was supper talented, he wrote a bit hit for Linda Ronstadt, "Different Drum" and yeah, he was my favorite Monkee!

[@ianz9916]

Elephant Parts was Mike Nesmith's video album that led on to MTV.

[@doplinger1]

Neil Diamond was just one of the incredible song writers that Don Kirschner had at his disposal. And while the Monkees *could* play instruments, they weren't allowed to - the Wrecking Crew did a much better job. But when they went on tour and did live shows they had to be able to play (though you couldn't hear them over all of the screaming girls.

[@simonhawksley817]

Micky Dolenz was a child actor, Davy Jones had acted in the UK soap Coronation Street, Peter Tork and Mike Nesmith were both talented musicians, they all answered an advert for 'zany kids' to act in a comedy show for youth. They were not supposed to actually play music but were such a success that they had to learn for their live concerts.

[@jessepruit8385]

Circus Boy Google it!

[@ianz9916]

Davy Jones was on Broadway as the Artful Dodger in Oliver when he was picked up by Screen Gems. He is actually on the same Ed Sullivan show that saw the first appearance of The Beatles in 1964.

[@sonnyharrelson3897]

I'm 65 years old and I know the Monkees inside and out. Micky is the singer on about half if not a little more of the groups hits, David or Davy is the s hourt British one who also sang about a third the Mike sang about 15%, Peter was a mostly backup singer and played a number of instruments. The group was a TV made band that for a few years did not play their instruments at all because the producers would not allow them, fact is the group ended up suing the producers for the rights to play instruments but the TV show ended some say due to this. But the band put out 2 albums with them playing the instruments but the songs were not as well written so the albums didn't do well. Until the mid 2000's Davy, Micky and Peter kept the band going playing many sold-out concerts and events however Mike only joined them a few times because he was a big dog in the MTV Company and also had his own band. Up till just a Peters death of cancer then 😊

[@DiZastur]

Mike Nesmith actually had a career past the Monkees, he actually made a variety flick in the early days of video called "Elephant Parts" it was kinda funny

[@fantasia0kent]

Neil Diamond not only wrote this song, he also recorded this song as well. Sooooo, if you'd to hear the composer sing his song. You can find studio and concert performances of this song by Neil Diamond.

[@mikematusek4233]

They could all sing, Guitar was Michael Nesmit, Drums Micky Dolance, Keyboard Peter Tork and Tambourine Davy Jones. The "Prefab" Four.

[@lessif]

The monkeys started as a tv show but became one of the best groups of all time. I seem them on their 30th anniversary tour and they were just amazing!

[@randomguy1882]

How could you not have heard any of the Monkees songs before, especially THIS one? After all, their music has been playing out there somewhere since the mid-60's!

[@philiphoy1373]

Neil Diamond not only wrote the song he played accoustic guitar on the track. The band was actually formed for a TV series to be an American version of The Beatles and didn't know each other prior. Although the Monkees band members did play instruments studio musicians were used recording most of the early songs and they only provided the vocals. Mickey Dolenz didn't even know how to play drums when the band was the band was formed for the TV show.

[@thomastimlin1724]

@woolhat1 Nice to know that for the record.

[@jenniferfoster1692]

They were so successful they outsold The Beatles at one point! They have a ton of great songs & many of us grew up watching their tv show, made in mid 60s then on repeats in the 70s. I grew up on that show, all the guys are hilarious, & they played a couple of their songs each episode. Yes, I'm thankful to have been born in the 60s & grew up with so much great music.

[@DiZastur]

um I was born in Canada 22 days before JFK was shot and my family still blames me, but the Monkees were fun

[@lilsuzq32]

Micky Dolenz (the singer/drummer) is the only survivor of the Monkees in 2024 ... Davy, Peter and Michael have all passed. Neil Diamond wrote the song. Don't forget, the Beatles' drummer, Ringo, also sang lead on quite a few songs (Yellow Submarine is one).

[@jayweb51]

The drummer is Micky Dolenz, and his claim to fame before The Monkees, was as a young boy playing Corky from the early tv show Circus Boy. The guy on guitar is Michael Nesmith, on piano is Peter Tork and the fourth member is Davy Jones an English actor and singer. The Monkees was an American pop rock band formed for a tv series called The Monkees in the mid 60's.

[@daughtrofawolf]

The band consisted of Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith, and Peter Tork

[@brucehoffmann2126]

Neil Diamond and other heavy hitting song writers wrote the songs in season one. In season two the members of the band started taking over more and more of the song writing.

[@jenniferfoster1692]

I'm Not Your Stepping Stone, Daydream Believer, Last Train to Clarksville, Valerie etc...many great songs by the Monkees.

[@katherineaubrey6721]

neil diamond has been a singer for at least 50 years, like AC/DC and the rolling stones, all of them are at least 50 years singing

[@xScooterAZx]

Neil Diamond has been around since 1966 releasing Solitary Man,his first single.

[@PeterRobinson-vs2ck]

Donkey in Shrek......best version ever I'm Not Your Stepping Stone, a tunage

[@OldNicksVid]

The recording musicians on this cut were a famous crew of great LA studio people known as The Wrecking Crew. They were equally famous for backing The Beach Boys, early Byrds and the Mamas & Papas on their recordings. (And dozens of other artists.) The secret sauce for many a big pop song of the 60's.

[@thomastimlin1724]

So I'll never understand why the Monkees were criticized for using the Wrecking Crewand other musicians [being forced to] when all these other singers etc were also using them. Mamas and Papas, Sonny and Cher, hundreds of others. What an idiotic campaign against the Monkees all these decades, morons repeating what other snarky morons have said against the Monkees for decades. And screw Smashmouth, and Shrek. This song by the Neill Diamond, and made famous by the Monkees, stands up on it's own merit without them.

[@bobg8378]

@@thomastimlin1724 well I think it's because The Monkees was a TV sitcom and the 4 guys were actors. I had a Monkees album when I was a kid and I liked the music but I always knew they weren't a real band.

[@melissagerber7231]

​@@bobg8378they were a real band,when they toured live,and,played their own instruments. They really were a real band when they played and wrote the songs on Headquarters. That album was #1 for a week,before Sargeant Pepper came out, then went to #2 and ,they both stayed there for 3 months.

[@bobg8378]

@@melissagerber7231 I also liked The Partridge Family when I was a kid. They had a few songs that I think were in the top 100 at least like "I think I love you". And even though David Cassidy and his mom Shirley actually sung, they weren't a real band and the kids couldn't actually play any instruments, they were tv stars.

[@joefaber1381]

Yes, Neil Diamond was a writer before he ventured out on his own.

[@lilsuzq32]

Mickey was also a child actor in the 1950's TV series "Circus Boy"

[@reedp44]

A great 60s band and if you want a treat watch the monkees shows very funny and lots of great music

[@jackhargrove4275]

They Were To Fun ! ✌️💗👍

[@HeavyMetalBluegrass]

Best Monkees tune. (I know they didn't write it (or play it for that matter)) Love it to this day.

[@joefaber1381]

Actually, they did play it live. And very few bands played their songs for the recordings back then. Studio musicians recorded all the music.

[@thomastimlin1724]

@@joefaber1381 Yes, for one how would you have time to do a weekly TV show AND learn to become a performing band , record in the studio , write you own songs? The Monkees stood up to the producers, especially Don the idiot Kirschner, and did it! For those reasons alone the Monkees should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...and stop letting Rolling Stone Magazine and others dictate who gets in for profit...the Rock and Roll Hall of fame is not a national museum but a for profit business who deemed itself the end all and be all of American popular music using musical preference and profit as a measure of greatness rather than regular well thought out standards of practice.

[@ianz9916]

@@thomastimlin1724 Although Mike Nesmith did actually write two songs on their first album and two on their second which, I believe, is more self penned material than The Rolling Stones had on their first two albums.

[@TherealRNOwwfpooh]

This song was later covered by Smash Mouth in the first _Shrek_ film.

[@valerieholmes9211]

Last I knew was Mickie was still singing

[@joejohnston3591]

I was back in time, and it was groovy man!

[@timgann5889]

You should check out the other Monkeeys songs I think you would really enjoy them.

[@finallythere100]

Good reaction, but dark name prob keeps some viewers at distance ..

[@user-dg4ft2uc8d]

Neil Diamond wrote this, he was part oof the Brill building of writers

[@dianeryder5895]

watch the Beatles "A Day in the Life" and you will see The Monkees in the crowd.

[@randyflynn6402]

You forget that Don Henley of the Eagles played drums and sang.

[@DiZastur]

as did Phil Collins in Genesis and oh hey, check the little girl Drumeo rock drummer of 2023, Paulina Villareal-Velez from the 3 sister trio from Monterrey, Mexico who are shaping up to be the best band I will ever see (I'm 60...I've seen a lot of bands, give "The Warning" a listen, you will not regret it)

[@BobSmith-lb9nc]

Neil Diamond wrote lots of songs for individuals and groups before he himself became a star.

[@MrPeterprinciple]

The drummer, Macky Dolenz, is the only surviving member of the Monkees sadly.

[@user-ld5xt3vx5m]

Micky is the last one

[@ShaunComnerley-zi3xr]

Davy Jones and Mickey dolenz were top in their category with this type of music and then we quickly switched into The Partridge family

[@pizzicato8275]

Another band where the drummer is a singer is The Romantics. Power Pop band from the 70s and 80s - "What I Like About You" is a New Wave classic. That song shreds - highly recommended for '1st Time ' Reaction. And in the 60's British Invasion there was Dave Clark, of the Dave Clark Five, as a drummer and lead vocalist. I can barely sing standing still. Props to these guys for drumming and singing As for the Monkees? Give a listen to "Pleasant Valley Sunday"

[@schuberttim]

Sorry, the lead singer of The Dave Clark Five was the organist, Mike Smith. Dave Clark was the leader, and the drummer, but he didn't really sing. He did manage to screw all of the other members by taking all of the copyrights to their self-written songs and the performance rights for their recordings.

[@edwardthorne9875]

Then I saw her face, and she's a retriever.

[@bentighe4811]

A couple more great Monkees tunes are Goin Down and Papa Gene's Blues. They're really different, but both cool and fun.

[@ludwigmalone5239]

Enjoyed your reaction. My saying is "Don't be sad that it's over, or in the past, be glad you had it (or can still hear it)."

[@byroniasmaximus924]

The show was like inviting kids yo run amok. It was awesome.

[@joankisloski6972]

Just Micky is living

[@sweetjunegirl]

Mickey Dolenz the fabulous drummer/singer.

[@jessepruit8385]

Milly Vaninlly or whatever = Monkeys. The Wrecking Crew did almost ALL of the 60's and 70's recording!

[@jessepruit8385]

More trivia? Glenn Cambell is one of the Wrecking Crew that played on the Monkee's. Check out the documentary about the Wrecking Crew and the one about Muscle Shoals studio. If you REAL LOVE music!

[@felixnorman9562]

Bro Neil Diamon wrote all 2:35 McKees songs practically. The Monkees were not really a band. They were put together after hundreds of musicians were picked out from tryouts!

[@imamymay]

Yes Neil Diamond wrote this so maybe you should check out his version as well.

[@lisahaverluk4037]

For the singing drummer😊

[@jayweb51]

Phil Collins, Don Henley, LevonHelm, Karen Carpenter, Ringo Starr, Eddie Van Halen just to name a few drummer/singers.

[@johnlong9534]

Yes, Neil Diamond wrote and performed this song.

[@conniegaylord5206]

The Dave Clark Five best drummer band of the time. Play more Monkees!

[@ianz9916]

Dave Clark was a bit basic as a drummer. A bloody good businessman though, he owns the rights to Ready Steady Go. Mike Smith was an incredible lead singer, so sad how he died.

[@mdmphd]

Interesting that the 'official' clip you used managed to misspell the word Believer in the title - twice. Suddenly, he's just an organ singing "I'm a be-liver" . Glad you liked the original ;> Smash Mouth brought it back and it's a great pop song.

[@ShadowCorpseReacts]

Yeah I noticed that it was mispelled and the only one I could find but I thought it was a fantastic video and song of course. All this new crap on the radio now is horrible

[@mdmphd]

Another great early Neil Diamond song is Cherry, Cherry@@ShadowCorpseReacts This is the original, but Neil hated that half scream about :42 and again around 1:49 kzbin.info/www/bejne/eqKui5KfrLlgq6M It was fine in studio but made the song hard to lip synch to - if you knew the song, you knew he was lip synching. This was done for everyone in the 60s so tv audio had the very best feed, but it was a pain for recording artists. So when it came time to record for a greatest hits and enhanced stereo kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZoLWhYCnist3etk that scream is buried deep in the back. The second yelp is gone completely. Finally, the live version, found on Hot August Nights, is its own animal.

[@lisahaverluk4037]

The band with the staples. Live. The load. You're welcome 😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@markmurphy558]

I just could not take the Monkees seriously when I was younger, even though I loved the TV show. When I listen to them over 50 years later, they sound pretty good, but I still can't get the fact that they were a marketing ploy by suits at a TV network out of my head.

[@Steve-gx9ot]

Dany jones locker us in the bottom of the sea❤❤😮

[@user-ld5xt3vx5m]

Davy is the first then Peter Mike

[@michellerodeghier8071]

More Monkees plerase

[@johnpaulbacon8320]

Wonderful reaction. The Monkees were said to be a " Beattles " wana be group. I have always liked both equally well. Even if you don't do a reaction and haven't heard it yet ; give Day Dream Believer by the Beattlles a listen to,

[@timdyer5903]

Micky Dolenz was an awesome singer.

[@lilsuzq32]

He still is...and also a quantum scientist who visits FermiLab in Aurora IL whenever he can

[@jomiiller6297]

Neil Diamond wrote and recorded the original

[@user-px6gr8xd1v]

Written by Neil diamond

[@tomheglund6994]

The eagles and also the band

[@BenRollinsActor]

Another great lead-singing drummer was Phil Collins.

[@russellg1050]

Karen Carpenter too !!

[@rebeccareasoner3390]

Micky couldn't play the drums so Peter the one playing the organ show him the basics and Mike the one wearing the Hat if it wasn't for him we would have never had MTV back in those days there was no videos you had to watch TV to see singers singing live thank God for MTV

[@thomasripley1548]

Mikt on led guitat peter on bass mikey on drums and davey singer .A made for TV band.......

[@tomatoseed1443]

Peter Tork was my crush. Keyboards, I think.

[@SergePoitras-hj4ip]

Last great drummer/signer....Phil Collins

[@ShaunComnerley-zi3xr]

Amazing drummer / FrontRunner singer would be Phil Collins

[@susanconnolly5510]

We were all played 😮😂

[@user-kq7wp5kl7v]

Come on man play it

[@thomasripley1548]

Ou can see the monkees on there Tv show

[@davekc3am518]

Yes, Neil Diamond wrote many, many songs and is a great performer himself. Today's music has little talent compared to the 60's. Listening to the original lets you hear how many covers destroy the original music.

[@michaelestabrook2018]

check hotel california, of phil collins .

[@basher5107]

“The Monkeys”were originally going to use a real band and several from that era were considered but studio exec’s decided it was better to use actors and writers they could cut smaller deals with. It’s always about the $$$ The so called “Monkeys” Weren’t musicians or a band

[@Boris82much]

I read the Monkees lipsinked to other singers who were the real singers to their songs. And yea, Neil Diamond wrote many songs.

[@MovieVigilante]

Absolute bullshit.

[@BonniBarlow-fn6oj]

They always sang the songs. You may be thinking of Milli Vanilli who committed that "crime" of lip synching to other singers and claiming it was them.

[@melangellatc1718]

Screw Smash Mouth!!! Yes, Neil Diamond wrote a good bit of Monkee's stuff.... DO a wee bit of research before wasting people's time.

[@katherineaubrey6721]

originals are always better,the rest are just bad copies when some cover band tried to do them

[@harrytaylor1589]

Dude do your homework. They didn't play😢

[@MyboogerwontSurrender]

Giggling ☺️

[@douglondoner7360]

do some research

[@donvindicare6517]

They were never a real group it was a tv show. Although a couple of them actually knew how to play instruments they were never a real group.

[@BonniBarlow-fn6oj]

They were a real group. I saw them in concert in Minneapolis in 1970. When they first started touring, Jimi Hendrix was their opening act.

[@donvindicare6517]

@@BonniBarlow-fn6oj What you saw was them and bunch back up singers and back up musicians. They were never good enough to do it on their own. Wrecking crew made most of their hits. As the musicians. But you can belief what you want

[@halldorra]

Daydream beliver

[@leostawicki7283]

SMASHMOUTH DID IT BETTER!

[@thomasripley1548]

Mikt on led guitat peter on bass mikey on drums and davey singer .A made for TV band.......