First Time

[@matthewplowden8610]

I think its worth mentioning that because of TV time limits the show only wanted them to play part of the song. They refused played the whole song at a faster tempo than usual. If you listen to the studio version you will tell the difference.

[@TheWolfHunterZ]

oh interesting thanks for sharing that!

[@GatorScribe726]

Yeah. This live version is just insane and incredibly impressive. The studio version is almost 7 minutes long.

[@stefaniaorlando4047]

But this version Is better, no doubt, brilliant and very funny!

[@timpwhit]

You're right, the live version is much faster (and imo vastly inferior to the studio version sonically) but it isn't the band's fault, as you explained. Definitely a "WTF" song the first time you hear it.

[@michelelaraia7358]

@@GatorScribe726 Pure prog style!

[@alfredchristiansen5482]

Focus was the only group ever to get a standing ovation at The Midnight Special

[@warrensereda4782]

That standing ovation never gets old!

[@davidsimpson5569]

Seeing this band next week! Still goin strong! Same drummer and of course same singer,Hammond Organ,flute,yodelling genius!

[@catman2629]

I’ve seen them live , great fun

[@michelelaraia7358]

6:54

[@Rock_Snob]

But no Jan Akkerman on guitar… He was the virtuoso of the band.

[@scotto.4832]

For years the insane interludes of this song's keyboardist have obscured the atomic bomb style of Jan Akkermann's guitar. Technically he's one of the VERY VERY best Europe has ever produced!

[@realeyesrealizereallies1176]

Jan was Guitar King of the world during his haydays. Especially other guitarist loved his playing.

[@caucasianbulldog6057]

Jan Akkerman was one of your early 1970's guitar monsters. Chord changes played at the speed of light accompanied by scorching guitar solos. One of your original shredders before shredding existed.

[@yampymusic]

And at 6m44s he sweep picks before sweep picking was a thing :-)

[@robertreape]

The drummer here was beating those drums as if they owed him money

[@robertfitterman3777]

The producers for Midnight Special wanted Focus to stick to the 4 minute limit they gave live acts. Focus decided that instead of a shortened version of the song, they nearly doubled the speed to fit the entire thing in. It made for a very entertaining performance and a standing ovation which rarely happened on the show.

[@lukagovorcin3610]

YES THAT WAS THAN,AND NEVER BEFORE AND AFTER, THAT WAS THE BEST FOR SHURE!

[@chopperdeath]

It's like a 9 minute song.

[@TheWhippetmaster]

I say its the beginning of speed metal.

[@realeyesrealizereallies1176]

Many Moons ago, early nineties, I was the drummer in a Dutch death/gore/grind band. Focus is also Dutch. We had this gig where everything went wrong. Strings broke, too much too drink, wrong time schedule, gig was at 02.00 in the morning, drumskins and cymbals smashed to pieces, a singer forgetting his lyrics, each member a different setlist so songs were guaranteed to fail, an unwilling audience ( the gig was held at a very classy discotheque) a hospital radio station interfering through the PA system etc. It was horrible. Anyway, we were messing up on a large scale and this guy walks past the stage, takes a seat at the empty bar, orders a drink or two and watches us screw up big time. Later on we had a chat, he said he had played allover the world, with all the big names, won prices but never had so much fun as during our gig. That guy was guitarplayer Jan Akkerman. We thanked him on our crappy demo..

[@tombarr561]

The good old days when you could be different and just have fun with music! The song originally had a much longer run time. The story goes that the producers of the Midnight Special cut the time available on the show down, but the guys refused to cut out any of the song. Their solution was to just speed up the tempo and cut loose. Greatness!

[@GatorScribe726]

First, you laugh. Then you’re super impressed. “Cut the length of our song? Nah. We’re cramming the whole thing in whatever amount of time you give us.”

[@chriscox8547]

@@GatorScribe726 Yes, I noticed verse two was cut.

[@wimve4719]

51 years ago??? Man I feel old 😀I saw them like 20 times because they were 'from aroud the corner' and played pubs and all kind of venues at that time. One of the best exports The Netherlands has ever had ... And this is only the most commercial song. Everything else is really beautiful and Classicaly inspired. Cheers Focus.

[@djs3484]

This is sick... The flute voice flute voice is incredible and in my 63 years I've never heard or seen anything like this. They're playing so fast because they had only 4 minutes to play a song that's almost 7 minutes long and they KILLED it. We had incredible music from the 60s and 70's.

[@swabia1554]

I still believe it's flute guitar not voice after the second back and forth it sounds sooo much like guitarto nes. especially in the end i feel there are bent notes... and he clearly has the mouth closed. But still impressive musicians.

[@dougca7086]

You have to admit the lyrics are real deep there's a lot of hidden meanings

[@mysticsaxophone4181]

The third verse yodel has some deep occult shit there

[@dougca7086]

@@mysticsaxophone4181 you should hear it played backwards if you think there's hidden meanings

[@var-vrijeacademievoorrecht2977]

We will never know. It is hocus pocus - a wizard speaking.

[@dougca7086]

@@var-vrijeacademievoorrecht2977 you may be right but there's also a bunch of performers from Amsterdam who didn't speak English at that point they did learn it later

[@martinbosma5175]

I fully agree. Bob Dylan, eat your heart out!

[@AudiophileTubes]

My effing God.... WHAT AN ERA the 70's was! So much creativity and originality! Avenues not yet explored! So thrilled to have been there!

[@marcharley6465]

This is equally brilliant and ridiculous

[@joydunn2109]

I Remember they were on Don Kirshner's Rock Concert when I was like 12.

[@jaapblaauw3735]

The man playing keys, flute etc. Thijs van Leer, you might have seen him not, as the young man here , but in his seventies playing flute on the Ayreon show Into the Electric Castle and other tales from 2019.He also played flute on that Ayreon studio album from 1998.

[@mjoezic3198]

Vet!

[@tobytanzer]

Caught this on its original broadcast by pure chance in 1973 when I was 20. Been a fan since. Focus was on my bucket list for decades. I got to see them live 3 times since 2016. I am grateful to have grown up during a time when music was in its golden era. Thijs van Leer is the most approachable fun loving old git around and I got a selfie with him! ❤

[@Gil334]

Another classic. Thanks. Today's hip hop youth have no idea what talent is.

[@richwilliams7787]

I remember when this first appeared (loooong time ago). It remains, to this day, as the most chaotic, maniacal, ....and funnest song of my lifetime. And it still raises eyebrows and smiles today. Hats off to crew of Focus. You will be remembered always. Thanks for sharing this guys.

[@mmcpa]

This is such an amazing song, and the fact they chose to do a sped up full version as opposed to cutting the song short is pure musicianship.

[@raatroc]

They are not just any musicians: Jan Akkerman, the guitarist, was chosen the wold's best guitarist in 1973 by the English magazine Melody Maker, over e.g. Eric Clapton!

[@HollowGolem]

To be fair, Clapton was just taming down old blues licks for white people, while Akkerman was using wild jazz techniques and scales in rock while fusion was still in its infancy.

[@QPO27]

Bassist Bert Ruiter died in 2022 RIP

[@Richardtv1968]

Dutch legends …… Thijs van Leer on keyboard and flute, Jan Akkeman on guitar, Pierre van der Linden on drums and Bert Ruiter on bass! Worth noticing Queens famous guitarist Brian May is a huge Jan Akkerman fan

[@NoLegalPlunder]

We will never see such amazing musicians as we saw in the progressive bands of the early 70s. There were tons of famous and not-so-famous bands back then who were incredibly talented and creative.

[@billc.5861]

Hahaha. First time seeing that year’s ago I was cracking up saying “What the F”. Thanks guys.

[@alastairmcintyre4752]

Lucky enough to see these guys LIVE a couple of times 50 YEARS AGO 😱😱😱 - truly superb , As others have doubtless said this is an object lesson in how to be true to your art - when the shows producers tell you you've got 4 minutes to do a 6 minute ( at least ) song rather than cutting it you decide to play the damn thing in it's entirety at almost double speed - and nail it !

[@samguberman2288]

This has to be up there as one of the best songs and performance for reactions videos So many surprises.

[@Suldog29]

An absolutely mega-talented band. There is little better than seeing the face of someone watching this for the first time. They were great at every style they tackled. This is manic awesomeness, but they were equally adept at classical, jazz, etc.

[@davidehrmann1968]

just the best flute player that ever lived. a classical flutist..also taght ian anderson of jethro tull the art of playing the flute..and..oh by the way..the frontman of focus..

[@paulhayward8459]

Focus were all very talented musicians, and Thjis van Leer, classically trained. In the mid '70s they released an album titled 'Mother Focus',and I still have the original vinyl disc. Of note on this album is a song titled 'Ooh I Need A Bathroom.' 😄😄

[@michelelaraia7358]

Very much appropriate sometimes😄😄😄

[@fredrikjelkefors9336]

😂😂😂😂😂Yeah i have that album mother Focus and Focus 2 and Focus 1

[@geraldherrmann787]

at his time, jan akkerman (the guitarist) was widely listed as #1. shredded before shredding was a thing.

[@yampymusic]

And swept before sweep picking was a thing

[@kylefrandsen2665]

I think we're all ready for The Wolf Hunters to cover this.

[@slithery9291]

The drummer always remins me of Animal.

[@johnooms139]

This Dutch band Focus, which emerged from the band Brainbox, was my favorite band in the 70s with the great drummer Pierre van der Linden! I have been to many performances of this band. Focus still exists with some other musicians, but the way they played in the 70s will never be equaled again!

[@LaraValerioSilva-ve2up]

Genius!Genius!Thank you for posting!

[@joggelweekend]

So happy this was in Baby Driver, super talented musicians with Thjis van Leer and maybe one of the best guitar players ever Jan Akkerman, glad you have chosen this song here. From the original KZbin video: The original song was 6:43 sec long. Midnight Special producers only gave them a 4 and a half minute slot in the programming. Instead of picking another song to perform and not perform their current hit, which they would have had to abbreviate into the single 3:37 version for radio, they greatly sped up the tempo to fit the full version in 4:30 sec time. It was just incredible and they didn't miss a note! True artistry.

[@ingovonderluhe2174]

1973,when a Dutch Band created Speed Metal because they have to play a 7 Minutes Studio Song in 4 Minutes Live!.....Jan Ackerman,one of the Greatest Guitar Players in Music History !

[@paultaylor6029]

One of the first singles I bought when in college some 52 years ago. Still awesome!

[@michelelaraia7358]

1973

[@paultaylor6029]

@@michelelaraia7358 73 in US, July 71 in Europe

[@michelelaraia7358]

@@paultaylor6029 oh, I see. Just watched the reaction.Aqualung also that year.

[@paultaylor6029]

@@michelelaraia7358 It was pretty ground breaking when I was a teenager. Check out Sylvia by Focus as well.

[@michelelaraia7358]

@@paultaylor6029 Very wonderful piece!

[@aaron.0303]

Wow, a standing ovation back in the 70s. That means they REALLY REALLY knocked it out of the park.

[@catman2629]

You would of loved the 70s freedom , happiness , madness all in one , it’s important to remember that the 70s started only 24 years after the bleakness of WW2 , I think people were starting to breath again , and also amplifiers and electric guitars and keyboards were getting better and better.

[@ronaldmccallumjr2407]

As someone else said, this was for a TV broadcast of The Midnight Special. The were asked to shorten the song down. Rather than cut anything out, the sped up the tempo to complete every note within the time limit. As I have said on some of your other reactions, this is entertainers. This is what we are missing in much of todays music.

[@teunio501]

That Gitarist (Jan Akkerman) was chosen as the best gitarist in the world in that period?. Brian May once said in an interview that he really was nervous to meet Jan Akkerman because of the respect he had for him.

[@FUBAR1986]

Such an iconic sound you really need to hear the studio version it’s better…. Especially when played at the proper speed.

[@sandyaw3057]

This was undoubtedly my foray into becoming a certified headbanger! 😂 I was 16 in ‘73 and saw Focus for the first time on The Midnight Special. I guess I had the tv turned up too loud because not only did they hear Thijs yodeling, they heard me scream laughing and shouting “YES” at the top of my lungs! My dad yelled down “JC, What the h*ll was that?!!” 😂 I bought the 45 and listened to it over and over again..after I bought headphones. This old lady is still rocking out and head banging! Thank you for the awesome review of these incredible musicians!

[@bertgroeneveld57]

They indeed got to hear that they only had a few minutes to play the song. They just played it almost triple tempo, right there on the spot. Great performance.

[@Grummash]

As well as being technically accomplished , we have to acknowledge that this is probably the most fun piece in modern music 👏👏👏👏

[@fredjennings5312]

Well, not really that modern.

[@Grummash]

@@fredjennings5312 well it ain’t Beethoven is it?

[@fredjennings5312]

@@Grummash Well, if more recent than Beethoven is your threshold for “modern”, then you don’t know shit. Kind of my point, but thanks for illustrating it.

[@Grummash]

@@fredjennings5312 I might not “know shit”... but I recognise a wanker when I read his comments

[@cosesu8929]

That a major possibly

[@var-vrijeacademievoorrecht2977]

Folks, what did you smoke/drink before recording this video? I want some.

[@buzzbomb67]

They said theyd play it faster, but then, not only did they play it WAY faster, they get faster each time around and ad lib and do extra stuff. They still did a 6:08 version, and the album version from 1971 was 6:45, but much slower. This is the shortened, edited version. The 6:08 version is out there, and many reactors have covered it, including vocal coaches such as TheCharismaticVoice and FairyVoiceMother, all of whom have an absolute field day with this.

[@PhoenixRisen63]

Loved your reaction to this song! It's so easy to listen to this and be SO confused, completely lost, or to deem it "too weird" without really giving it a chance. You appreciated it for exactly what is.....a crazy, intense, trip of a musical masterpiece. Not a lot of bands could pull that off. It sounds chaotic but is actually quite precise! It's still a JAM, after all these years. This song reminds me of an especially upbeat manic episode (in a GOOD way)!!! You earned a new sub!

[@steelers6titles]

More Seventies gold. Band was from the Netherlands; keyboardist, flautist, and vocalist Thijs van Leer wrote the song. Group's guitarist was Jan Akkerman.

[@dianebrown8046]

I'm 64.....saw this on TV When it Came out............The 70's you'd see Great Shit on TV....By Saturday Night Live....Midnight Special....Don Kirshner's Rock Concert && more...LOL..

[@dianebrown8046]

seeing this was Like F#%K Just Drop the Mic & Go home...I'm done...LOL

[@danielolson5378]

This is probably one of the craziest live acts ever recorded live!!

[@SueK51]

Agree; it's right up there with Edgar Winter's 'Frankenstein!'

[@andrewlaw]

This song always makes me laugh. First time I heard it was at work and I remember everyone just staring at the radio in amazement at what was coming out of it. It's nuttier than squirrel shit!

[@elianorti3668]

Thijs van Leer is a masteeeer 🤣🙌❤️

[@zazune56]

Thijs is a classically trained flute player and Jan Ackerman is an amazing guitar player as well. Their Focus 3 double album was way ahead of its time!

[@ralfsomborn7449]

Hello you two, You can't imagine what great music from the 70s you haven't been able to experience yet. There is a cornucopia of music for your reactions

[@diedzjeeoudshoorn7726]

Big, big, big, big fun !!!!! Fantastic musicians

[@robertkaplan7001]

Everybody's on speed 😆

[@henrijansen4224]

You have already named it! Where rock meets the Middle Ages. Hardly anyone reacts to it, but it is one of their best music pieces, namely "Focus - House of the King" with Thijs van Leer on flute. 😜😝😝😝

[@StevanOutdoor]

When you tell the Dutch to cut a songs short they just say f**k that we will just speed it up.

[@geraldherrmann787]

progrock musicianship masterclass

[@wolfmancheyenne]

Great performance of our Dutch band Focus. I really like to especially mention the bassplayer too. Bert Ruiter, important part of the band. He sadly past away last year.

[@andrewpetik2034]

I am saddened to hear about that. He DEFINITELY did his part well!

[@ericmyers5003]

My favorite reaction to this song, by far!✌🎸🤘🙏👍👍❤❤❤😁

[@LeftyConspirator]

Jan Akkerman is probably one of the best guitar players of all time.

[@temet_fin]

It's gotta be the 3rd time I'm watching your reaction to this particular video clip.😮 The clip itself is familiar to me, from my youth, but I just enjoy watching it with you. Like all the other clips any close to my preferred genres . Thank you so much for bringing joy to me and and all your other subscribers.

[@simonlitten]

I first heard Focus back in high school in 1972 - and Hocus Pocus was the number that the music teacher put on. As for that insanely high whistling, only ever heard it from someone using a shepherd's whistle - buggered if I know how Thijs van Leer did that on stage. As an aside, his solo albums are well worth listening to - but they are much more downbeat.

[@joki5346]

I have a lot of Jan Akkerman, who also released wonderful medieval beside his Jazzrock.

[@taylortyler1867]

This was a super sped up version, to fit the time allotted for the TV show . You should check out the studio version. It really rocks hard.

[@faithismespeaks6848]

This masterpiece is when the show asks you if you can fit the song in before the next commercial break, and you pull it off. It's like sensory overload, this guy is totally gifted, it's like a hard rock yodel whistle explosion, usually leaving first time listeners in a state of shock.

[@Sirala6]

You guys are great. Rock and Roll was given to you, too.

[@ratarsed666]

one of my fav songs and groups from the 70's ....

[@nikolausherrmann6801]

70`s Rock is a really deep Hole, full of strange, ecstatic, heavy, progressive and obscure Music to discover. Check out Sweet Smoke-Silly Sally for Example.

[@chadbennett7873]

The Butch Masters. You REALLY need to listen to the extended regular version of this song to hear the brilliance of it. This is everybody's go to video of them because it's such a middle finger to the producers of the show. They play it like the squirrel in "Over The Hedge" - but they were told to only play a very short version. Van Leer and Akkerman are absolutely incredible musicians, and, unfortunately, had a falling out. Sometimes two giants cannot exist in the same place. When he does the "little" voice, I see the little people dancing around Stonehedge in "Spinal Tap." Hahahaha - great review, Guys! Always a fun watch.

[@stewartbonner]

Called 'alternate rock' or 'experimental rock ' or 'progressive rock' back in the day. Popular in northern europe centered around Amsterdam

[@allyhewitt1300]

Dutch people are the best. Focus told - here's 5 mins to stick your 9 min song into, and here, take this bag of speed.

[@jonnno243]

I am glad I shared this with you two. I have heard it a lot before, but you two added so much more due to your comments. And, this time, I have realised who the drummer reminds me of, with his huge talents. Its Thin Lizzy's drummer, Brian Downey. For example, Brians drumming on the studio version of the Bad Reputation single.

[@peterramsay4674]

Hey. Somehow I think all the dogs in his neighborhood end up at his house.

[@danw1955]

Ackerman and Thijs van Leer could probably be crowned as 2 of the best musicians of all time! When you can take a song that runs probably 7 minutes or so on the album, and quick time it into 4 minutes, *and get it right,* they should get some sort of an award!😂 Ol' Oprah Winfrey was looking pretty cute back in the day, huh?🤣

[@sandyaw3057]

@danw1955 I’m sure you were joking..at least I hope you were! 😂 That was Gladys Knight of Gladys Knight and the Pips. If 1955 was your birth year..mine was 1957…I would think you knew this! lol

[@SkullRanger]

Jan Akkerman is such an underrated Guitar player. I was listening to these guys back in the early seventies when I was in the Service & ... while everyone is contributing in Awesome fashion to compliment the Lead singer's Yodeling, give a listen to how intricate & fast his Guitar leads are! Amazing!!!

[@tomroome4118]

Jan's previous band was Brainbox in the late 60s. Some fantastic music.

[@love-vy1ry]

In 1973 Jan Akkerman was voted the best guitarist in the world, by the New Musical Express (english music magazine). So he was not underrated, Brian May from Queen says he was his greatest influence. The problem is that Jan is more a jazz player and like to be in the focus (ironic)

[@ljw5768]

@@love-vy1ry It was a Melody Maker poll.

[@love-vy1ry]

@@ljw5768 Thank you

[@martinking4181]

Jan Akkerman is a stunning guitarist....pays classical lute too......ahhh my!

[@wjl2601]

Jan Akkerman, was acknowledged being the best rockgitarist of the world in those years, by his colleagues and of course music lovers. When you look at his technique you will notice why. A frontrunner at work. Focus came in like a bomb in the populair music scene and disappeared like a rocket soon after.

[@DAHENDO23]

I'm a kid of the 70's this song was so unique weird but so f'in badass!

[@davidbentley145]

Pun intended! The eyes have it! Eye give it aye,aye Captain! Thys man has more talent in one tooth than some people have in their whole head!Ha,ha,ha...2 thumbs up guys...

[@sachaput]

Loved this song back in the day. Amazing to see people only recently discovering it. Recommend the longer version on the album.

[@toddstevens13]

Here we go gang. 1) First and Only Full Audience Standing O in the 9 years of The Midnight Special 2) Seven Minute song played in full in 4:10, they refused to shorten it. 3) Entire College/University Party's shut down and everyone turned on the TV at 1230am Saturday Morning until 2am, because there was no where else to see bands back then, except at concerts.

[@ericlennert6883]

They told them they didn't Have enough time for the whole song so they would have to cut it & they played faster & made it fit '

[@brianrussell6570]

they were told they only had a certain amount of time for they song so they played it at double time

[@dobby1164]

I know this has been a while but they only had a certain amount of time to play the song and they didn't want to cut any of it so they played it faster to get it all in.

[@michaelmartinelli2258]

Picture it, America, Summertime 1973. And playing on the Radio "Hocus Pocus" by Focus. Priceless...

[@fastfreddysstuff1641]

Gary Hoey did a jammin guitar cover of this in the nineties I think, remember it got a lot of airplay on the local rock radio stations, should check it out

[@G-Man5272]

What a great reaction! You guys Rock!!

[@martijn_yt]

Focus wrote this song to break into the American market as a dutch band, hence the 'lyrics' :)

[@michelelaraia7358]

Hosted by GLADYS KNIGHT!

[@jameswiglesworth5004]

the studio version sounds manic, until you hear this, they played the full studio version hear in probably half the time and it is of the scale of manic energy.

[@007chinochef]

Hahaha hahaha!!! That was Nice. I can't believe that you didn't know this. They are crazyyyy!!!! The original song is a little slow. But because of T.V. times they had to do faster. Great reaction!!! Thanks. Greettings from Argentina. Sorry for my English

[@MartinMcMartin]

This always turns people inside out.

[@johncrocker-nh7ey]

In 1971 when this song came out the lead guitarist was considered the greatest guitarist in the world and this is at a time when you had guitarists like Clapton Jimmy Page Jimi Hendrix playing he was the first technical guitarist of his day if you watch him play he plays one finger per fret which allows him to play extremely fast nobody else is doing it at the time this was progressive rock at its best you really need to check out more of their music they weren't a one-hit wonder I'd suggest the song Sylvia but just snatch up an album sit back and enjoy it

[@richardmead5969]

one of the greatest unusual rock songs ever. thanks for the reactions from Colorado

[@melissanelson5073]

I first heard this song when I was about 14 years old. I love this song.

[@pistonburner6448]

I think "intense" is the word everyone is looking for.