FIRST TIME REACTION TO ALIEN ANT FARM "SMOOTH CRIMINAL"

[@kdailey4315]

They recorded this without ever wanting to release it. Their management got it to MJ and he loved it and insisted they release it. This video is an homage to MJ as a show of love and respect.

[@FUBAR1986]

They actually spoke with Michael, and he gave him his blessing. And of course they paid homage to so many of Michael’s songs… I love this version as always, peace, love, joy, and hope to you and yours

[@65cj55]

That actually never happened.

[@toniturk5556]

​@65cj55 actually they sent michael this video before they released it and he gave then the ok to do it. All you gotta do is do some research and you'll see

[@65cj55]

@@toniturk5556 I seen them interviewed, that never happened, when asked about what he would think, they answered they don't care.

[@dsgitz]

@@65cj55 kzbin.info/www/bejne/mHndpYGsrKZqo8U an interview from Michael about this.

[@kdailey4315]

@@65cj55 Can you link that? I would like to see it. That goes against everything I've read about this cover and how it came to be.

[@monkeymix413]

One of the ALL TIME best covers.

[@Ronatorf]

The drummer has on one white glove on, just one of many Easter eggs in video respecting MJ

[@goatzee69420]

also when the lead singer sits with "Bubbles", he's sitting in a giant sequin glove

[@Jenny-x1w8v]

also filmed in front of MJ"s childhood home.

[@chrisbeaty309]

I actually like this version better than the original

[@keithaguilar9790]

Same

[@Jaspertine]

I prefer the original, but they're both pretty great.

[@jesses5463]

Smooth Criminal is my favorite Michael Jackson song, but I'd place this cover above most of Michael Jackson's other songs.

[@Jaspertine]

@@finderkeeperrrs Not gonna lie, the dumbness is part of why I like it. If it took itself seriously, it'd be insufferable. See Chris Cornell's cover of Billie Jean. (No disrespect to Cornell, RIP, Soundgarden was my jam in high school, but that cover is awful)

[@denisegardner1417]

Yay! You caught bubbles and he was sitting in a silver glove chair. I love this rock cover!

[@RWilson9705]

The covered this song so well and made it their own that I always forget it’s a cover til the second chorus! 😂

[@seandobson6221]

The Easter eggs of MJ all throughout to pay homage to the King of Pop. Me personally I like this one better because I’m a metal head. Even MJ gave his blessing on this cover.

[@LemmyGibbler]

Man I forgot how much fun this video was. My high school band covered this. Like me and my buddies not the marching band lol

[@tommyc6066]

Yes, Bubbles. You are the first reactor to catch that the drummer was wearing the white glove. Well done, sir.

[@jacqueline4514]

One of the BEST covers ever done, and can watch the video ALL DAY 🔥

[@ChristIan-cl7ik]

There is literally almost 20 references. The lean, the drummer's glove, the werewolf lady, the sidewalk lights, the kid's mask, the Asian fans, the thriller dance, the steam vent, that movie MJ was in where the car explodes, the glove chair, bubbles, and the last few I caught might be a stretch, but the gut at the end with the lizard eye, his back tat was maybe of Elizabeth Taylor, who Michael went to the Grammys with, and the lifting up of his pants to show white socks. That's off top. I did not know that that kid I'd dancing in front of MJ's childhood home.

[@jedislap8726]

Yes that was a Liz Taylor tattoo and the guy wearing it is Flea from Red Hot Chilli Peppers.

[@laudanum669]

Also @4:44 is a reference to the pyrotechnics accident that set Jackson's hair on fire during the making of a Pepsi in 1984.

[@joanne.robert5576]

The car exploding wasn’t that a reference to the video with Maculky Culkin 🤔🤔

[@monkeymix413]

@@jedislap8726 I do not believe that is Flea.

[@jedislap8726]

@@monkeymix413 It is. Google is your friend.

[@scottmasin741]

The bassist hitting the high points is insane.

[@lachellerivera5624]

I'm glad someone else noticed!😊

[@Thatgirl1973]

This is arguably one of the best covers ever made! They did him proud!

[@cozenw3236]

The kid, wearing the yellow shirt, is dancing in front of the house MJ grew up in.

[@rowanmayfair9249]

I wish! LoL I'm not sure where it was, but definitely not the Gary, IN home. I've been past it, and it looks nothing like that one. I saw someone actually go through all the houses/places in the video and what it looked like in the time period filmed. I know it's on here somewhere, but it's been a bit.

[@mainey1512]

The people sitting behind him are also dressed in black and white. So many good easter eggs in that video!

[@rowanmayfair9249]

@@mainey1512 I never noticed that one. Thanks!

[@elbruces]

This is pretty clearly filmed in Cali. YT commenters need to stop making up their own "fun facts."

[@NathanMalnaa]

This song is what originally got me into Alien Ant Farm, so good

[@blazinbuc99]

Possibly the best band name of all time

[@shontapl]

Ditto

[@angelinabrown3142]

This is one of the best covers of ANY song I've ever heard and the video slays.

[@drsus0]

only time Mike ever blessed anyone with letting them do a cover. he heard it and said "Yeah, that's fire, you guys go ahead". word is that they even shot the video before approval so he could see it was a full tribute

[@jeanine6328]

He did give his bedding to Weird Al to do parodies of two of his songs. He even helped to get the videos just right.

[@robertmaxwell1016]

​@@jeanine6328I believe they also used some of the props and set pieces from the original videos

[@mikewilder6390]

You don't need permission to cover someone's song.

[@jeanine6328]

@@mikewilder6390 Pretty sure you pretty much do due to copyright.

[@ThatGirlLib]

@@mikewilder6390I thought if it was a karaoke bar, or a performance at a fair or something fine. But if you’re recording and using the music whether you change the lyrics or not you need permission to sell it and make money off it? 🤔

[@jyesucevitz]

3:41 took me years to realize the shiny silver chair was shaped like Michael's glove.

[@Trudon]

23 years later I only now noticed that

[@taylormade2133]

his chair with bubbles is also MJ's Shiny Glove!!!!! Love this cover!!!!!

[@philipmcinturff404]

This song is almost constant Easter eggs for MJ. Great reaction!!

[@KHZ1986]

the bassist for aaf was friends with mjs drummer and got mj to listen to the song and he approved them himself to do the cover... fun fact..

[@IcyTorment]

Bubbles was also a power up in the Michael Jackson's Moonwalker arcade game. Whenever Michael finds Bubbles, he gets power armor and can fire energy weapons, IIRC.

[@darkmotherproduction]

And all the easter eggs from MJ's videos is awesome!!!!

[@Dropla]

Thriller, the girl in the wolf mask, jumping in the pool~ remember? Michael was that wolf! lol also at the end, the guy with the eyes, was exactly how thriller ended. Michael turned around with his arm around the girl and his eyes were like that.

[@whiphid437Official]

Legendary cover song from a legendary time period and of course MJ himself bringing it to life first.

[@windiramsey4425]

Fun fact… that little boy danced for MJ

[@brianfournierjr7438]

Michael loved this cover, And gave them his blessing!

[@El-ingobernable]

The house the kid in dancing in front of is Michael Jackson's childhood home.

[@jeffjones6221]

I didn't realize there were palms in Gary Indiana 😊

[@nickknight5543]

MJ gave his approval.

[@sampik2003]

This song came out when I was a kid, before I heard the MJ version first. So I kinda prefer this version for it, haha! Definately one of the best cover of all time!

[@crawlingcrabs8306]

Your reactions are always so genuine. Keep doing your thing, brother!

[@skorpio156]

Love this version!!! 200% greatness 🙌 Total tribute to the King of Pop🎉 Tons of Easter eggs

[@skeemeastwood9075]

One of my fav videos. Lil man got sick moves.

[@leahartlee29]

Yes that was a bubbles reference, got it right away! So many Easter eggs to Michael! I have always loved this version, it's is just different than Michael's but also good! MJ did it best but OF COURSE it's his song! They, like me, are DEFINITELY HUGE Michel Jackson fans. And I love that!!

[@iHaveTheDocuments]

They did an incredible job with this song no matter what

[@srmello101]

It’s crazy that this one of my favorite videos for so many years and besides the Billie Jean reference, you really woke me up about so many of them lol

[@thomaswelnicke9852]

Endless amount of easter eggs tributed to michael. The kid dancing was in front of the house that michael grew up in. Wearing a mask like Michael did. Singer polling, his pants up representing how michael always had his pants a little short when he danced. The Jack at the singer was wearing was blue. But the exact same jacket that michael was wearing in black when he sang this song. I've been rocking a rolling since the seventies in high school. The song is the best cover of any Song i've ever heard. I added this to my playlist. The first time I heard it in two thousand. And it's still on my playlist. Also a great tribute to Michael. Every time I see this video I see a new easter egg tribute to mike. The one white glove, the drummers wearing, is my newest one.

[@travisyarbrough4033]

The bass player was connected to Michael's drummer Sugarfoot Moffett ( He has his own drum channel ). Michael used to do this in a rock format because he was bored with the original and wanted to speed up the end of the sets. Michael saw this and loved it. He died soon after.

[@greenrobot5]

This song is from 2001, MJ passed away in 2009

[@IhaveAutism515]

Mj said this was one of the best covers he’s ever heard and seen. He especially loved the kid dancing. They also got permission

[@tehserval]

Another fun fact I didn’t see in the comments. The dancing kid wasn’t an actor. He lived in the neighborhood and just showed up on set. He could dance but wouldn’t get his parents to release him to be in the video. So they improvised and put a mask on him and let him dance. The mask just turned into another Easter egg.

[@WarPoodle-pc5wu]

I love when some love is shown to the drummers and bassists in bands ❤❤❤ they are my favorites even tho I have no musical talent myself and the rhythm of an actual jar of mayonnaise 😅.

[@michaelwhitesides4225]

I’ve never seen one of your videos before but the commentary and the vibes…. Immediately subscribed. Keep it up 🙏🙏

[@TheAussieLeo]

The film clip to "These days" was when they gatecrashed the BET Awards :)

[@66slyder]

If you don't know already this cover is fucking iconic!!!

[@robbmars1686]

I LOVE that Big homie Felt it, and regonized that they where true to their roots as a band, and true to and paid homage to MJ. What an awesome video ❤

[@RickSmith-tb8xr]

Michael him sel fapproved of this Cover

[@SKEC212]

You didn't notice that he was sitting in a chair that looks like a shiny glove. Micheal used to walk around with one glove on. It had silver sparkles on it.

[@grudge6648]

One of the references a lot of people miss is the chair he’s sitting in is a giant gloved hand

[@DarkAngel1985Mike]

Love this since I’m named after MJ and this cover came when I was in high school

[@Bobby-b4w]

My favorite cover of a classic song. Thank you for catching all the MJ Easter eggs. A lot of other reaction videos say they know MJ but miss some. Especially Bubbles.

[@cindysimpson1046]

All due respect to Michael! It shows you that music moves on in the best of ways. They both are my jams!

[@westonlong]

The video is so packed with references

[@denaedorx3274]

I actually had this conversation with my 16 year old daughter LAST WEEK and then I found this video evaluating the same issues. I asserted it was better, she dissented. I remember when the original was released and also this cover. I will die on the hill of saying that this cover took it to a next and better level. I enjoy your videos, man. New sub for you!

[@WelcometotheShow501]

Alan ant farm- these days. Should check thst video out it's amazing. They filmed it interrupting the bet awards lol

[@tylerdurden1255]

First time rection to JayTDeion......10/10, loved it dude. Your reactions are priceless and you actually know some shit about drum and bass at the least. I'll be back for sure.

[@THESALMON8TR]

Saw these guys play this live at the big day out festival in Melbourne 20 odd years ago! They KILLED it!🥰👍One of the best days of days EVER!!!!!🤯🤣👍

[@scottmasin741]

The bassist hitting the high notes

[@davidward9737]

This is a deep song. MJ knew how to bring us together. Moonwalker was the best thing.

[@Inked-Smash]

So my musician friend had me make a playlist for our road trip and I put Michael Jackson’s version of this song on said playlist, and he was like wait lyrics are changed? and any information we looked up didn’t give us any knowledge of why they changed anything. I then was like wait there’s the alien farm cover so if we’re convinced that lyrics have been changed guarantee they didn’t change it on the cover so I played that song and we found out that in fact they had change the lyrics of Michael Jackson song, and did not go as far as to make alien Farm have to abide. So listen to both to understand industry control

[@tpatt525_Tiff_]

Stopped this video 2/3 of the way through to rewatch from the beginning! Love your reaction!

[@mitchellthomas368]

Smoke alarm check ✔️ 😆 🤣 😂

[@Oxdeadface]

It's your channel, do your thing!

[@jaddy11mash]

Love you’re work ❤Legend much love ❤

[@genericallyawesome8894]

I love your positive attitude!!! I'm only 31 seconds into the video, but I subscribed!! 😊

[@KA-dm9lm]

My man, I love your energy and message man. Great content. Keep pushing!

[@Joe-bm4wx]

I say this every time I see a reaction to this song, but growing up I legit never knew this was a cover. I always thought AAF made this song. It wasn’t until my mid 20s that I learned this was a Michael Jackson song.

[@Rj-ov7zd]

Fun fact he kid was an extra and was sick but they loved his moves and MJ too say they put him in video. And MJ gave them his approval best cover

[@MadDad303]

MJ was like: "Who's the tiny dancer?"

[@charlesdennison9702]

Godsmack Drum Battle

[@416TreasureHunters]

He's sitting in a giant rhinestone glove, like MJs single glove

[@SwingVoter-hz6nn]

Man, I forgot about these guys. I just got done running through ZZ Top’s catalog. You ever try them? I’d probably start with La Grange or El Diablo. Billy Gibbons is the man, beardless Frank Beard kills on the drums and God Bless our dearly departed Dusty Hill, long may he rock the pearly gates.

[@jeffb1013]

Damn forgot about this banger

[@CoreyWickramasekera]

Great TRIBUTE to "THE KING OF POP"

[@mrshifter8220]

Gotta Love It......dude and I'm 72 years old!!

[@matthewcubbon1264]

If you like drums, 2 videos that will blow you away... Tool - Pneuma (drum cam video) & Phil Collins - In The Air Tonight (live)

[@kevinunderwood4104]

The one easter egg I never caught until now is the drummer with the glove on his right hand!

[@thankyoujesus2918]

Yesssss! 😃I love your reactions!! 🎉Please do an Adam Ant video 🙏❤

[@shontapl]

I actually love this version of smooth criminal.

[@rowanmayfair9249]

Ok, here we go. All references if you're watching original video with time stamps. 0:12 Kid dancing like Michael Jackson, using a mask that he usually wore. 0:30 The lean he did in Smooth Criminal with Gravity Boots. 0:34 Japanese girls. In Asia, girls lost their collective shit over him. 0:52 The wolf in video of Thriller. 1:20 One of the more iconic moves from MJ, also hard left turn but King Of The Hill? 1:38 Silver glove chair, and Bubbles, his pet chimpanzee. 1:48 Sidewalks glowing a la Billy Jean video. 2:12 Car windows blowing out with lead singer doing the iconic crotch grab. In background there's a flag of MJ. 2:19 The thriller iconic zombie move. Two guys wearing a silver glove. 2:23 Another thing that MJ usually did in his shows. Smoke and wind coming from under him. 2:37 Sidewalk glowing again, and the screen splitting like in Billy Jean clip. (My personal fave is the mailbox) 3:12 Pulling up pants to look like MJ's iconic socks, they were white because your eye naturally go to light and away from dark. He wanted his feet to be highlighted. 3:16 Jesus F'ing Christ, this kid can dance... 3:28 Elizabeth Taylor tattoo, someone that was very close to him. 3:30 The end of Thriller video. Misc: Drummers sticks, one is silver. Also white glove. If I missed any, let me know?

[@kennymonty8206]

That was awesome!

[@robertdice7786]

Love the enthusiasm!

[@alexg4462]

The original lean was done with metal studs in the floor in the original Jackson video.

[@willburton6622]

Great reaction and awesome messages - thanks!

[@carlsanders2766]

The more you watch this, the more MJ references you catch

[@MaRoach7]

You should react to Chris Cornell sing a phenomenal cover of Billie Jean. You really feel the lyrics

[@RApollos107]

This music video was one giant Michael Jackson easter egg factory. Arguably one of the best cover songs of all time.

[@desertchurro]

You need to do "These Days" when they raid the BET Awards lol !!

[@johngardner4096]

A) Your channel, your rules! You stop, you comment, you replay - no one can tell you no! B) I am glad that their tribute moved you as well. They could have easily done this badly, and they did not.

[@johngardner4096]

C) Subscribed!

[@BigBass-xf5yi]

They actually did a pretty solid job with this remake. A daring risk. This isnt an easy task

[@aking8134]

Thanks for reacting! I grew up on MJ, and it feels sacrilegious to say but I like this version better😂 This is what covers should be, full support of the artists and straight homage❤

[@williamwilson9283]

❤️❤️❤️

[@MrKimmie129]

Yes, Bubbles.

[@conkyvsricki4710]

for sure a bubbles reference especially while sitting on a rhinestone glove chair. if you ever have the chance look up eddy murphy doing an impression of micheal jackson about bubbles.

[@sslerlin]

If you like drums, the "System of a Down" drummer is epic. An absolute animal

[@jessicalilley5239]

Love this reaction!!

[@mysticauroraoc413]

I am convinced pop songs sound 10x better as rock songs I can prove it

[@gagirl0499]

Hot damn!!Thank you, you got the references! Love it!!

[@KingofNeutrality]

Took long enough, but yes, Bubbles reference. GREAT reaction!

[@marcstov]

Easily one of the best covers