Focus - Hocus Pocus (REACTION) with my wife

[@aldobelli8300]

Their guitarist was considered one of the best rock and roll guitarist in the world at that time. Focus was one of the only bands to appear on The Midnight Special to receive a standing ovation.

[@zeffie100]

Jan Akkerman is still playing, better then ever before !

[@IanDarley]

They say that the line between genius and madness is very fine, this walks right along that line like a tightrope walker and it's amazing.

[@okiejohn3925]

And it dips it's toe on either side of that line 🤣

[@andrewpetik2034]

​@@okiejohn3925 Yep....pretty much. In my opinion, leaning more towards genius!

[@mauijttewaal]

There is no line, just a question of appreciation....

[@RobertHearton]

It's a seven minute song originally, but the TV show would only give them four minutes. The result is sublime! ❤️

[@jeannettesimpson9778]

Everything speeded up. So funny.

[@markschattefor6997]

Yes , they asked them to skip a part of the song so it would fit in the timeframe that they had. They didn't want to skip anything, their solution was to play it so fast that it would fit in the time that was given. Talking about professionals with real skills. ;-) This is the album version; kzbin.info/www/bejne/g4eTd5KOnrdnbrM 0

[@Guitar_Fella]

Yes, they essentially condensed a 7 minutes "song" into a 4 minute EXTRAVAGANZA!

[@mauijttewaal]

SPEED!

[@dirangaming4880]

This isn’t really true. The video here is a cut version of the performance. The full performance is available on KZbin and a bit over 6 minutes.

[@3generboiler]

This is my favorite song to watch in reaction videos.. the shock, the laughter, the fun!! This song is just freakin amazingly cool. Talk about comfortable in their own skin .. Andrei, you get it brother 😎 😅

[@aristideskoukos5192]

one of the coolest songs in the history of music, period!

[@pietkeizer5279]

In 1972 I saw the band for the first time in Holland. Is was a great performance . Last year, after 50 !!! years I saw Focus again. Thijs van Leer ( organist and flute) is still playing, also the drummer Pierre van der Linden. And still they were great with two fantastic guitarist players, Menno Gootjes and Udo Pannekeet. Gitarist Jan Akkerman is also still playing but not in Focus. Bassgitarist Bert Ruiter unfortunately passed away last year. In september they are playing near my hometown in The Netherlands…I am there😊

[@exigo421]

Hello Guys, Keith from Brisbane Australia, I had the pleasure of seeing Focus live in 1974, they were great. Thijs van Leer, the vocalist, keyboardist and flautist is a genius and was well ahead of his time.

[@herrymunasri]

Loved them since 1974...till now...

[@alastairmcintyre4752]

So glad Andre gets it ! Focus were an instrumental band - Thijs's vocal gymnastics are really just another instrument ( like his flute ) . He still plays today ( he's best known as a flautist ) and Arjen Lucassen ( Ayreon ) is a massive fan of Focus and has featured Thijs , who he holds in VERY high regard in his production " Into the Electric Castle " from Amazing Flight

[@keefsmiff]

Your husband was absolutely correct the keyboard player is a genius and played on the mad comedy character 😊

[@markferrett700]

I laughed when I first heard this as kid,but then soon realised just what a classic it is ,with the most amazing musicianship to be able to play it....Great reaction again 🤟👍👍

[@matweb8195]

Pure gold. Constant smiles. Good times.

[@RenRabbitHole]

My wife and I got to spend some time with Thijs a few years ago on a prog cruise. He's a really nice guy, very funny, and extremely musically talented. They don't play this song quite as fast these days, but it's still a banger, and Thijs is as crazy as ever 😁 Thanks to you both for another great reaction!!!

[@kenslater7354]

Hi guys. Ken from the Late Night Live crew on Cruise to the Edge. Thijs, what a guy!

[@RenRabbitHole]

@@kenslater7354 Hi Ken! We really enjoyed the Late Night Live sessions, and Prog on the Ranch! We didn't go the first year (when they didn't book the full ship), but went on the next 4 cruises. We were lucky enough to catch the impromptu session with Thijs and Rachel Flowers in the Schooner Lounge. He's such a nice guy!

[@jenniferworley7115]

I was so excited to see this come on your channel. I'm sure someone will explain about the speed they had to play this at. The joy on Andrei's face was priceless. Dominika, your beautiful look of complete confusion was adorable. This band is so musically amazing. I found myself just waiting for the drum solo to see what the vocalist would do next. I don't think I would add to my playlist but I will watch the video anytime I see someone reacting to it. It just makes me happy. The whistling was so perfectly pitched and so fast. Just makes me smile to see how free they all were.😁😁😁 Peace my dear friends✌

[@DianaRussia531]

Everyone has the same reaction to this song...astonishment, big happy face and some bizarre but totally worthy admiration. Amazing moment in musical TV history!

[@fixzeichner5592]

Focus were an instrumental band. Guitarist Jan Akkerman was one of the best guitarists of the 70's and keyboarder Tijs van Leer was a true vocal genius. Also a multi-instrumentalist. In the seventies there were so many different rock bands with totally different styles. It was rock's most creative time.

[@L0wki]

Amen Sir. Best decade for Rock. So much unique Artists. So much great Bands.

[@pn1457]

To fully appreciate the standing ovation at the Midnight Special is that everyone was high and most usually didn’t or couldn’t stand up after a performance but they did for this song.

[@Isleofskye]

All their songs were not like that but they were given just a 3 or 4-minute slot for a 7-minute song. The first standing ovation in the history of "Midnight Special".Jan Akkerman was considered one of The World's greatest guitarists and The Yodelling Guy is a Professor of Music and still playing over 50 years later. Their song "Love Remembered" is in My Top 20 of all time since I bought my first records in London, in 1960. If you close your eyes then they transport you to the middle of the desert:)

[@tomlaw17]

Knowing the studio version, this is straight up madness and I love it!

[@debnbhuy]

So pleased you " get it " Andrei !! Love this group and this amazing version !!

[@historyhunter3332]

What you wanted to say is, that he had a special performance. But the beauty of it is, that it puts a smile on your face and he is very talented

[@derekdamms7380]

Dutch band from Holland. BRILLIANT

[@ingeborgsvensson4896]

I went to high school in the Netherlands when this was a hit and to me this was just regular pop music, as a young naive girl I assumed there would be similar pop music around the world. I only later found out how unique and brilliant these guys actually were, they were way ahead of their time. Someone described it as 'organized chaos' and that is exactly what it is, they want to convey a feeling using music & sound and they are having fun at the same time. Jan Akkerman was voted world's best guitarist in the UK that same year and produce a few solo albums and Thijs van Leer (vocals/organ/flute) had a long career playing the flute. I still have 2 of his albums, mostly classical, on vinyl. For me the best song Focus ever made was called 'Sylvia', you can find it here on KZbin. That song gives me a feeling of nostalgia, end of my childhood, first time falling in love etc. Nice to see your reactions, thanks!

[@Suldog29]

So good to see someone reacting to this for the first time. An absolutely mega-talented band.They were great at every style they tackled. This is manic awesomeness, but they were equally adept at classical, jazz, etc. Thanks!

[@schout33]

Thijs van Leer, my musical hero for so many years now and still going strong.

[@kimcutts6153]

🇬🇧 This performance on midnight special was the one & only time a band/performer got a standing ovation! And well deserved it was too. The drummer 🥁 impresses me, idk why, i just think hes wonderful. But they are all master musicians, there's no doubt about that. Im with you Andrei, i think hes a genius. 🪈🎸❤

[@robertpettersen3577]

You both reacted exactly as suppossed! Now film yourself blasting the record version in your car, cruising the summernights!! Headbanging!!!🤪🤟🤘🤘🤘

[@lindablair-rk9vr]

Its great to see the surprise on your face. I have loved this since I was a child, I am 61. Good to see these old songs hold up. Back then, the only way we saw what the bands looked like was to see them on Wolfman Jack's Midnight Special or Dick Clark's American Bandstand. Great Reaction! God Bless!🐢

[@pauld6222]

What a fun song. They probably didn't realize it then, but getting introduced by Gladys Knight had to be quite an honor for them.

[@taniaPBear]

That was so much fun, seeing your two different reactions, this had Dominika scratching her head, Literally! 😄 'Prog Rock' was a time in music where bands were trying to do something no one ever heard before, these guys, and a few others, took it to another level. So much fun you guys, thanks. ❤

[@robertmills8640]

A song to put a smile on your face😅😅😅😅

[@pn1457]

The " WHAT do you mean you don't know" comment gets me every time no matter how much I watch this reaction. ❤

[@gerrydantone6834]

Andrei has the right idea; this is meant to be absolutely crazy and amusing and also impossible for normal humans to duplicate.

[@Eitner100]

Thijs van Leer has a classical training. Jan Akkerman was voted the best guitar player of his time. Imagine this was played and recorded over half a century ago! They sold millions of records worldwide and were recognised a unique band with a sound no one had ever attempted. The public were not allowed to stand up, but they did for the first time in this show.

[@andrewpetik2034]

The song (not a reaction) had been in my KZbin feed for months and I kept passing by it.... But I finally watched it and OH MY GOD!! THE CREATIVITY IS OFF THE CHARTS!! You can see that they pulled from all of their influences. They are Dutch (Holland) I am not sure... if so, the yodeling They are all classically trained, the composition. Rock and Roll, obviously. And a bit of Scatman Crothers. Andrei, Dominika.... I appreciate your reaction! My situation is exactly like you two! I love Thijs' energy and creativity. My wife is like 'what is wrong with you (me) ?!?

[@alastairmcintyre4752]

Saw them live for the first time about 3 months before this show in 1973 - it cost the princely sum of 80p ( that shows my age ! 😱 ) Dutch prog rock band - underrated , as most Dutch bands have been over the years . Superb musicians - Jan Akkerman was guitarist of the year in 1973 and Thijs Van Leer is something else ! This song is actually a slower song than you hear here - but the time slot in the show was around half the time that it takes to play so to keep their musically integrity ( and I suspect also to show off a bit ) they decided rather than play part of it they would just play the whole damn thing at twice the normal speed 🤣

[@bl0tt44]

regardless of what people think about this song, it invariably brings a smile and is one of the most memorable tracks of all time. love it!

[@muppeteer]

If you listen to the studio version, you will realise just how fantastic this live performance is....The studio audience had and did

[@AnneBiebrich]

Supposedly they were just clowning around during a practice session and this was the result! They had so much fun with it they kept it and released it !

[@MrMoggyman]

Genius is often like this. When it is so unexpected it takes a little time to sink in, but then you realise....GENIUS! When you are so talented, just how much fun can you have with your band? Focus is the answer. To understand this kind of song listen to Booker T and The MG's, Green Onions. Then you will understand that you do not have to have words in a song to create special magical music. It is not about words, it is about how the music makes you feel.

[@theolamp5312]

In this song Focus took a chance at walking off the plank into another world. If you listen to their other music, you realize that they are all excellent Jazz/Rock/Classical musicians. Listen to the Moving Waves album all the way through.,

[@andyturner3056]

Focus are Prog Rock legends IMO. This was actually 73 and introduced by Gladys Knight. Longer track speeded up to get the track into the short time slot they were given because they refused to cut the track short. In doing so they demonstrated what amazing musicians they are. They still perform, and I only just missed a concert in the Princess Pavilions in Falmouth in the UK at the end of last month. Great reaction 👌

[@007chinochef]

Hahaha. Your faces!!! This is a seven minutes song, but for this TV show they gave them just four minutes. So, they had to speed it. Genious. Greettings from Argentina

[@jonno55]

Nice reaction. A more than 6 minute song and they decided to do it in four! Grandiose and hilarious at the same time. I have seen them several times in my younger years in the 70s (Dutch bloke seeing top Dutch band). All top musicians!

[@alejandrobaccamoncada5197]

Me encanta verlos, me inspiran mucha pureza en su relacion. Me gusta ver las dos reacciones a esta cancion que escucho desde 1972, cuando tenia doce años . Ahora con casi 63 me hace vibrar como cuando era niño. Tarde mas de 40 años en poder conseguir el audio, hasta que aparecieron las app para bajar musica hace como 10 años. Desde entonces he bajado mas de 5,000 canciones. Los he visto varias veces y me hacen mucha gracia cuando no se ponen de acuerdo. En realidad somos diferentes y no necesariamente tenemos al 100% el gusto musical y todo lo demas. Seguire viendo su canal. Soy de Costa Rica !Pura Vida!

[@erikmulder2574]

Thijs van Leer is a classically trained flutist. He uses his voice as an instrument in Hocus Pocus. The guitarist is Jan Akkerman, in the 70’s he was being regarded as best guitarist in the world with Eric Clapton on second. And Yes, the drummer of this all Dutch band is amazing as well. If you would like to see more, try their songs Sylvia or House of the king.

[@westtxmutt]

Hocus Pocus the singer created Magic for us to enjoy

[@johnlong9534]

My first time viewing your channel and I love you guys . . . . new subscriber. They are playing the song twice as fast as normal because it was on television. They also had the fastest guitar player in the world.

[@mar10dg]

Hahaha, the initial confusion is hilarious! The original studioversion of this was released when I was a 9 or 10 year old Dutch boy and it blew my little mind! Along with all the other amazing music of the time. 😄 And I think I understand your reservations Dominika, but... there is no meaning or message to this song. As I remember it, the story went that this was just a nameless little tune they played to warm up before rehearsals, recordings and liveshows, and I'm guessing during soundchecks. And so the audience got to hear it and started begging for a recording. Don't know if it is true but that's what I remember. And yeah, they're all classicly trained musicians and masters at their craft. Came across your channel only recently and I enjoy it very much. Thank you!

[@johnclibbens6803]

The studio version is much slower - they were only given a short slot on the show, so instead of cutting the song they played at double speed…

[@johncameron4968]

Andre’ got it in one when he said “Genius”. All the members of the band were at the top of their game. If nothing else, it creates a talking point. Great reaction, and it’s good to laugh eh

[@aretelivingarts]

The song was written during a band rehearsal. The drum played a roll. The bass player played a lick. And the keyboard responded by yodeling.

[@BrendonChase_2015]

"Hocus Pocus, lyrics are gone!" LOL 😂you are so funny together in this one! I'm dead sure Andrei will have a lovely day and Dominika will have a "very interesting" Thijs van Leer imitator on her hands for the rest of the weekend, whistling, yodelling and what not to his heart's content, haha! Fun fact: guitar genius Jan Akkerman happens to be the father of Tim Akkerman, the only one in Beste Zangers 2019 who really knew Floor. Cheers!

[@erickvermeulen9734]

Guitarist Jan Akkerman still performs regularly, he also plays the lute. Before Focus, he was in the Dutch band Brainbox. Organ player and flutist Thijs van Leer still performs occasionally with Focus (with again drummer Pierre van der Linden, and some younger talented musicians). In 2019 he played flute at the four Ayreon Live concerts. In the seventies, Thijs van Leer recorded a few albums (Introspection) with classical oriented music, with orchestra, including work by J.S. Bach and Fauré, and two newly arranged pieces from Focus, titled Focus I and Focus II. Focus had also hits with the songs Sylvia and House of the King. Dominica, do not try to find the lyrics.. there are none.

[@tomroome4118]

I love Brainbox, cool stuff. I especially like their version of Scarborough Fair.

[@stevoplex]

I had so much fun watching with you 😊.

[@brucefelger4015]

One of if not the only standing ovations ever on this program

[@SnowEfaust]

Listened to this dozens of times and now I realize why it's called hocus pocus....it's because this song is pure magic!!!

[@keithier1958]

Lol!! Was crazy back then and still crazy now. I lived at that time. Lol!!

[@Distant394]

Your right it’s brilliant 👍👍

[@andreaswandrey9004]

I was really happy when I saw that you made "Focus" with Hocus Pocus. Your facial expressions were exactly what I expected. Unfortunately, when I heard the song for the first time about 40 years ago, I didn't have a mirror in front of me. I think I reacted in the same way as Andrei. Keep it up.😜

[@briankelberlau2033]

At least one of you has great taste and recognizes vocal genius!

[@wernervannuffel2608]

For all interested people in Focus see also : Rogier van Otterloo, Thijs Van Leer Introspection I, II and III... Jan Akkerman and his lute and the LP Tabernakel : all gems! And what forms their classical music education-basics and give us an indepth view of what they are able to compose and perform.... All this music-making and -playing qualities forms the solid fundament to give born to the band Focus as a mix between the Dutch middle ages, renaissance music and (symphonic) prog rock in the 70'-80'-90'ies and until today... With that Low Countries progrock flute-approach this resembles Jethro Tull's progrock charateristics which is more (Gaelic § Celtic) mythical song-based...

[@richardcole3800]

Cherish the moments of madness in music its fantastic

[@stephenroberts8964]

Such a fun reaction 😂 I think all of your comments are valid 😊👍

[@SnowEfaust]

Best reaction I've seen to this song....

[@DIRK-PITT]

Wonderful song,funny but spicial 😊good to seen your back

[@WonderMommaOG]

You guys ARE funny... and a pleasure to watch. Loving your channel quite a bit and hoping to use one of your reactions in a future compilation!

[@kimzwolinski9919]

Hi @wondermommaog I have watched all of your compilations and the ones you did of this song are my favorite 😊❤ It’s so fun to see most people after the initial shock really loving it. I’m looking forward to the next one you do 😁

[@quentinmichel7581]

With an Instrumental band you never have to worry about translating the lyrics.

[@L0wki]

the get the Band agree with the vocals is easy. Focus is a Progband without any lyrics. :) Some unique kind of music! Every Musician is a Master of his Art and Thijs kills it with his Vocals.

[@pietervanbrakel]

Yessssssss, this is art!!

[@groundhog5923]

The song as played on the radio is pretty cool in it's own right. The vocals are more professional and it is normal speed. Saw this for the first time recently and have watched about 20 reaction videos. It is a hell of a performance, both musically and for the laughs.

[@Drinckx2]

He - Thijs van Leer - is a genius - well spotted André - and the band is off the charts talented, guitarist Jan Akkerman especially.

[@narisarasgroove2625]

Laughed out loud when you said "Oh my God that sounds like us".

[@staceypeters1585]

Love your reactions and the debate! You sound like my wife and I in every conversation we have!😂😂😂

[@SnowEfaust]

That's some serious fun!!!

[@mauricedemandt8845]

I grew up with this song , with a dad playing guitar and base he was a fan of Jan Akkerman a great guitar player

[@michaelsargeant4993]

Focus are awesome and still performing . They are a melodic rock band with magnificent musicians . This is a one off and very entertaining but nothing like their other stuff. Try Focus 2 ,or Sylvia .

[@Me-myself-b3g]

This is one SERIOUS jam session!

[@jonnno243]

Gotta love this. For another outrageous performance, please witness Blue Man Group performing I Feel Love, with Venus Hum and their lead vocalist Annette Strean

[@bevklayman4158]

Watching you two react is ALMOST as fun as watching the band. Their wizardry does leave you confused, and euphoric. You get it. Your wife needs to get out of her head and just flow with it! But you do argue very sweetly. :-))

[@geraldherrmann787]

musicianship-masterclass with a satirical twist. watch again, haha 🙃

[@mmcpa]

A brilliant song, period.

[@CardiacCat]

Hocus Pocus, you need to Focus! LOL. Guys always like this song. It's odd, quirky, jamming, and strangely satisfying.

[@madelineshockley5906]

That was soooo fun, thanks Folks

[@LaraValerioSilva-ve2up]

Genius! Genius!

[@muchomacho7300]

That was glorious!!!!!

[@mixell2021]

very funny reaction... brilliant

[@crazyfingers19]

You ARE funny. Love your reactions.

[@wernervannuffel2608]

It's four times waiting what the magician will do the next time... Four times all the music-band members build-up to that unique stage-performance high spot and everytime you wonder what the clown will do next... The bass, the guitar and the drum build up to that next surprising HOCUS POCUS... voice act! When you FOCUS on this, you get it! That's what happening here🤣 A story told without lyrics but with voice-sounds and very expressive facial mad manners...

[@827dusty]

I remember this from the early 70s when I was a sophomore in High school. I think this Band was Swedish or something. Crazy and funny as this song was, those guys are top shelf musicians.

[@nicholasrobertson3452]

Brilliance 😊

[@EricvonDorp191]

Nice reaction, Greetzzz from the Netherlands.

[@sanneke5104]

They had another hit here in the netherlands called Sylvia a little less crazy, but they are great musisians

[@SnowEfaust]

❤❤❤

[@jeffking4176]

Thijs Van Leer age 75,[ Keboardist, etc.], Jan Akkerman age 76, are still rocking, [though Akkerman has his own band]. There are videos of “Focus “with Thijs Van Leer, in concert 2023. 📻🙂

[@marcusfranconium3392]

Fun part is this was created during a sponanious jam sesion back in the 60s . the vocalist didnt have any instrumetns so he made sounds . they liked and created a 7 minute song out of it , when they went on this night show it was years later and they where told to cut the sont to 4 minutes they where less than amuzed , as this was already a fast song they refusded and double timed it . At the end you can see the guitar players already unpluging his guitar to go home. 4 minutes is 4 minutes .

[@NickBR57]

Double speed for the tv slot! Thijs van Leer and Jan Akkerman are incredible - and just show a small part of what the Dutch produce as musicians. How do rhey do it? I dont know. I've definitely lived through the best era of non-classical music. Andreij, my ringtone is Marco's second entry (the rising gliss) in Song Of Myself. Just so I can hear it several times a day

[@jansteenstra4510]

When Focus (Dutch band) was asked to play a song, they have four minutes. The song they choose was too long, they said, choose another. No way, said Focus, we play this, but faster than normal. On KZbin is an explanation of the Thijs van Leer (flute, piano, etc) how this song was made.

[@BrianTurney-g3g]

Bro, your so right!!!!

[@kenslater7354]

It was a british top ten hit single!