First Time Watching | Steve Vai vs Ralph Macchio Epic Guitar Battle

[@Easy_Skanking]

The saying is that Ralph Macchio and Steve Vai both deserved Oscars for their performances. Ralph deserved one for acting like he could play guitar and Steve deserved one for acting like he could not play guitar. LOL

[@8hockeygoddess]

One part that people seem to forget is at the beginning of the movie his instructor at juilliard tells him that the demands of classical music is exact and his foyer into bluesy music would hinder him. His natural talent and is extreme training for the classical demand allowed him to triumph in the end

[@AntiFed1791]

"Crossroads" 1986 Great movie. From Wikipedia: " inspired by the legend of blues musician Robert Johnson. Starring Ralph Macchio, Joe Seneca and Jami Gertz, the film was written by John Fusco and directed by Walter Hill and features an original score by Ry Cooder featuring classical guitar by William Kanengiser and harmonica by Sonny Terry. Steve Vai appears in the film as the devil's virtuosic guitar player in the climactic guitar duel. " The legendary Robert Johnson has inspired generations of guitarists. Joe Seneca is the standout actor in this film. I absolutely loved his performance.

[@drmike007]

Fun fact: Steve Vai played both sides of the guitar duel while acting as Jack Butler, the devil's guitarist.

[@hopelessromantic131]

Lol, my mom was obsessed with this movie when I was younger. I try to tell people about it and they look at me like I'm nuts. Then I show them this clip... Once Ralph brings out the Paganini he had to learn on classical guitar, it's game over.

[@rosedouglas9586]

I've seen this movie many times. It's kinda the play on "Devil Went Down to Georgia" but with guitars instead of fiddles. You're the best QoFy! Thank you for this little walk down memory lane.

[@lilbit2870]

This was one of my all time favorite movie when I was a kid in the 80's. I love seeing younger people who've never seen it before till recently.

[@davidsleith7222]

great reaction, cheers fun facts: when vai plays, its actually him, when ralph plays its ry cooder. fantastic acting from him, the bit where vai misses notes and stumbles took 12-13 takes as he couldn't screw up. if memory serves vai's arangement in this is called butler's bag. easy_skanking said it perfectly:- The saying is that Ralph Macchio and Steve Vai both deserved Oscars for their performances. Ralph deserved one for acting like he could play guitar and Steve deserved one for acting like he could not play guitar. LOL never a truer word said.

[@alexboggs6416]

I believe the reason Vai's character (Jack Butler) lost this battle is bc the Lightning Boy (Machio) begins the film showing his talent has been earned through dedication and practice. Butler's is hinted at being false bc his presence in Scratche's club. Everyone in there besides Lightning Boy is either damned or demons. If Jack isn't a demon himself he is damned as his talent is the result of a deal he made with the devil. Which is shy he couldn't play Classical music without failure. His deal probably didn't cover other music types from metal

[@willynillylive]

He beat him by playing Paganini

[@alexboggs6416]

@@willynillylive fun fact or r u trying to make a point I'm missing?

[@brotherbrian7778]

This is the final battle between Eugene ( karate kid) and the devil's guitar player, in hell, which looks like a church, overseen by the devil, for the souls of Eugene's mentor Willie Brown (harmonica), and is one of the finest guitar moments on screen. The devil's guitarist is actually Steve Vai, who really is a fantastic guy and and mentor in real life. Go watch the full movie for the full experience. It is full of outstanding blues throughout.

[@theotherdogknees]

Paganini #5. He also apparently sold his soul to the devil, so scratch would have recognised it. Probably why he looked so pissed off.

[@snowflakepillow8697]

@3:27 the kid vs. the adult... Ralph Macchio was so baby faced but actually his birthday was within 4 months of Steve Vai's lol

[@Xcris_crosX]

Scratch (the Devil) in the audience should've known he was in deep💩 when Eugene Martone (Macchio) chose a classical piece by Niccolò Paganini. The movie Crossroads is based on selling your soul to the devil in return for fame or fortune. It's loosely based on real-life bluesman Robert Johnson. The older grinning gentleman is the devil himself there to collect on the deal. The young music school trained guitarist mixes Classical with Metal in the duel to save his own soul and the soul of his old friend. The piece he played was Caprice No 5 written and performed by 1800s violin virtuoso Niccolò Paganini. He played so well at twelve notes per second being described like a man possessed. Niccolò Paganini was believed in his time to have actually made a pact with the devil and was referred to as "The Devil's Violinist".

[@kasparskjoldborg450]

On a late night, already in bed, way back when. This movie started. I didn`t fall asleep to it as intented. I watched it. And it made me feel the blues, rocking. Music was forever changed

[@snowflakepillow8697]

@11:46 "he was playing" haha yeah he was literally playing both sides of the guitar battle so he threw it to himself for movie purposes so everybody won, I feel hahaha

[@mrfashionguy1]

8:20 watching this I remember Ralph Macchio's character was originally a classically trained musician. So this is him releasing his true self. Fucking sick.

[@mrfashionguy1]

I absolutely love the thing you focus on in your reaction.

[@jamesgreenhow108]

Ralph was playing to win back the SOUL of his friend Willie Brown.

[@Fairygrl_TW]

This movie is one of the greatest, best scene in the movie, story line history way back and is amazing tale of the battle for ur soul...altho did hear that Stevie had hard time trying to mess up...Thanx so much, Peace

[@KelliViti]

Steve Vai ( long dark hair ) actually played the classical part as well. ( the one the actor is pretending to play. Then he pretends to mess up the response / copy.

[@flyonthewindshield3653]

no he didn't

[@lilbit2870]

Actually Ry Cooter was the one that played Eugene's part.

[@sethduzan4441]

@@lilbit2870 steve did play the classical piece, but Ry did all the slide/blues

[@christopherwashington7668]

The lesson: Jack sold his soul and took the easy path while the kid did the work and studied. Came in handy at the end.

[@CharlesDavis-k2h]

Ralph went classical on him & if you don't know it, you certainly can't fake it. Hundreds of hours learning that particular piece. I'm not saying Ralph played all of that because Hollywood has dubbing. Classical solos can be jaw-dropping...

[@lilbit2870]

You're officially my favorite reaction to this movie.

[@dianak7368]

Steve Vai played all of it for the movie I heard!

[@brotherbrian7778]

The last part is the "victory lap" to just spike the ball, since the devil tears up the contact for Willie.

[@bobbygalicia5597]

Crossroads is one great movie .. A MUST WATCH MOVIE!!

[@tracitrembly8210]

All the guitar playing is done by Steve Vai who is playing the guy in black.

[@flyonthewindshield3653]

no

[@lilbit2870]

Actually Ry Cooter was the one that played Eugene's part.But Steve trained Ralph on how ro give a convincing mimic that makes you think that Ralph is really playing.

[@petemiller352]

The.black.guy sitting down is the devil and the young kid trying to win to get the soul back for.the old back guy

[@thebull3365]

Nice reaction

[@twich155]

Jonie had a love for the blues but he has trained at arguably the greatest classical music school. Even shred rock guitarist test their metal by learning classical musical peices that were created by some of the most advanced musical composers of all time. The likes of Paganini, Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi and more but possibly the greatest musician of all time, Bach

[@Tijuanabill]

That 5 string chord with 4 strings bent though....it's so hard amg.....

[@lindariley8178]

Steve via play's both parts it's called crossroads and Ralph will Willie soul soul good movie

[@flyonthewindshield3653]

no

[@lilbit2870]

Actually Ry Cooter was the one that played Eugene's part.

[@lilbit2870]

But I think Steve Vai trained Ralph in how he plays. Ralph did a great job at mimicking and thanks to Steve.

[@toddnesbitt3113]

I define the battlefield, old rule.

[@mooncritter721]

Samone Mularoni of DGM makes Steve look like a beginner! Check that band out if you doubt me. Samone is fire out of control!!! This band DGM is so underrated and ignored yet they found me and blew my doors off! I have been playing guitar for 45 plus yrs and can rip it good but Samone is not human! Steve is a legend but Samone goes beyond him by far!

[@davestang5454]

The guitar duel at the end of "Crossroads" is between The Devil's own best guitar player, Jack Butler, and Eugene, betting both Willie Brown's soul and his own that he can beat him. Eugene wins by diverting to his classical guitar training and playing a style of music that Jack is unfamiliar with (it's Pagnini, actually). You really need to see the whole movie, not just some cherry-picked scene.

[@julianamelloholtzguebert3361]

OMG!! so cool this movie I am 42 years and I Watch it in the earlies 90. The dialogue before the guitar battle is Awsome too. I suggest you Watch the movie

[@anthonywilson7681]

they are battling for souls.... they call it "cuttin' heads", in the movie.

[@brotherbrian7778]

The classical is from his training at the beginning of the movie, which he excels at, but has a deep seated live for blues, which his classical instructor doesn't appreciate. Jack Butler loses because he hasn't put in the dedication to classical that Eugene has for all of his formative years. Go watch the movie!!!

[@anaruraukawa4499]

Crossroads brother, u shld watch making pacts with devil simaler to devil went down to Georgia one love bro

[@snowflakepillow8697]

I think this is the best Walter Hill movie.

[@Doinita.]

🎶🤩🎵

[@boblomenz1282]

Ralp Machio is not playing the quitar, he is just an actor.

[@lindariley8178]

Willie got his soul back watch the movie

[@lindariley8178]

Crossroads the 1 and only Willie Brown he gets his soul back

[@hadassah179]

Watch Steve Vai play his own siamese guitars some time. He's got a 2x and a 3x.

[@israellopez8771]

Although the legendary Steve Vai can nearly play everything, he doesn't dapple in classical guitar, at least to my knowledge.

[@fvgc454ss]

He literally played both parts

[@Easy_Skanking]

The classical piece Eugene plays is based on Paganini's 5th Caprice and was played by Steve Vai.

[@mindmagic777]

Apparently they cut a guitar duel scene just as Ralph was walking in. 'Butlers Bag' was the track Steve played as he decapitates another poor soul just when Ralph walks in with his mouth to the floor.

[@lilbit2870]

Huh????

[@mindmagic777]

@@lilbit2870 Steve mentions it in a interview, but essentially lightning boy walks in to see Steve "cutting heads" with another blues guitarist before Eugene battles him. Wish they kept it in the movie. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fHy1eZymjKmWf5o

[@lilbit2870]

@@mindmagic777 Thanks for the info. And here I thought I was the only super fan of this movie. Can't believe I never knew this. Once again thank you for sharing.

[@lilbit2870]

I love the fact that Eugene had to catch up to Steve the entire battle. Steve lead all the way and Eugene brilliantly held his own. Then the 1 time that Eugene got the lead. Steve couldn't hack it. Nothing beats true talent.

[@lindariley8178]

He loss

[@troyfarris5635]

Stop pausing the fucking video so much!!!!!!!!!!😢

[@QofyReacts]

Stop watching the fucking video

[@troyfarris5635]

Dude you pause to much !!!!!!!!😢

[@QofyReacts]

Good observation