Going down a Vocal ANALYSIS rabbit hole with Jefferson Airplane's "White Rabbit" for the first time!

[@TheCharismaticVoice]

We just released merchandise! Check out the full line-up here: thecharismaticmerch.com

[@Cassiel75]

Honestly,, I expected you too be FAR to young...... /- Old fart, says HI!

[@ВежливаяМатрёшка]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3ekhmiJidBqoqs Patrick Lancaster 😳🥺

[@WhatTheExpletive]

Again, about merchandising and your sales over quality of review.. your moppin the bottom of the barrel and takin advantage !!

[@TheDivayenta]

They had a great male lead vocalist in Marty Balin too. “ Today” on the same album is a great one by him.

[@andrewszigeti2174]

The album version is much cleaner and clearer.

[@TheAmbientMage]

I used to work for Jefferson Starship and Paul Kantner (R.I.P.). I had the good fortune of mixing several of their rehearsals and shows. Watching them perform old Airplane tunes and having the opportunity to mix them while doing it is one of the highlights of my musical career. I basically had a private show and I controlled how it sounded. It was amazing. Jefferson Airplane are an absolute classic.

[@36karpatoruski]

Starship NO! Airplane YES!!!!!

[@TheAmbientMage]

@@36karpatoruski I'm not old enough to have worked for Airplane. Most of them retired before I was born. I'm glad to have the opportunity to work with the last working guy from Airplane playing the songs they wrote. It was an awesome experience.

[@KittyGrizGriz]

@@TheAmbientMage amazing story! So lucky you were! I love Red Octopus & Earth albums.

[@surpriseitsus9622]

Amazing

[@williamstreet4304]

@@36karpatoruski Many thumbs up! JA was awesome. But the Starship was no Star Wars.

[@sissydreams7494]

Grace Slick: The voice that launched a thousand trips!

[@alonenjersey]

Only a thousand?😮

[@freedustin]

@@alonenjersey understatement of the millennium.

[@Beluga_Too]

@@alonenjersey Had 2 goodies since you posted this comment!

[@alonenjersey]

@@Beluga_Too I'm guessing there'll be more on the way soon enough. Bye now.

[@Beluga_Too]

@@alonenjersey ok. bye now?

[@lookonthebrightsideoflife5200]

Grace Slick was an outstanding vocalist in her day. Jack Casady is a phenomenal bass player. The entire Surrealistic Pillow album is a gem.

[@Seventh7Art]

She had a pretty face too... You missed that part.

[@ralfkohler3671]

@@Seventh7Art plus she planned to intoxicate President Nixon with acid, secretly. Attempt failed. True story, nevertheless. Look it up. 😉 classy chick. 👍🏻

[@Candyrock87]

I'd say that Surrealistic Pillow, After Bathing at Baxter's and Crown of Creation are peak Jefferson Airplane.

[@stevepowell6503]

If you remember Surrealistic Pillow you weren't there for Surrealistic Pillow. 😀

[@ajschroetlin2196]

Don't forget about Jorma. 😏

[@rexmonarch2]

Back in the day in the Autumn of '69 I went to a Jefferson Airplane concert at the LA Forum. I was tripping on LSD and by some sort of osmosis I filtered through the crowd and ended up right next to the stage right in front of Grace's microphone. Experiencing Grace Slick that close while tripping on LSD was quite the psychedelic experience. My favorite memory was when she was singing "Don't You Want Somebody To Love" she would lean out over the edge of the stage towards me pointing right at me. Wow. My eyes probably looked like flying saucers and she knew I was tripping. She was so beautiful she totally blew my mind.

[@popviz3316]

Gerry, not many could have experienced such a moment. What an amazing experience

[@sissydreams7494]

Grace Slick = The Voice That Launched a Thousand Trips!

[@walter6574]

are you certain that experince was real? lol

[@denisedevoto5703]

She was stunning!

[@mikedo6]

Damn it, Gerry!!! What a moment!! Out of body worthy!

[@Fontsman]

Grace had one of the greatest voices in rock music. A spectacular beauty who even today takes no prisoners.

[@mfactor88]

"Dreams" will always be my favourite of hers. superb

[@Omega13channel]

@@mfactor88”Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac?

[@capricornk9033]

Cool voice but pretty limited.

[@oklahomasupercell]

​@@Omega13channelDreams a Grace Slick solo LP

[@AzaleaLala]

The way she sings this song gives me chills every time. And just her attitude through the whole thing. I love it.

[@BTL6666]

She was stoned :)))))

[@EconAdviser]

She has such breath and vocal control, power, as well as almost certainly carefully designed every part of this number. Also, she was a decade OLDER than any other lead singer in Rock (up there almost with Petula Clark) at the time. Very professional!

[@davecannabis]

@@BTL6666 man, anyone of worth was stoned back then, either stoned or tripping

[@wallyjude3]

@@BTL6666 No, she wasn't and neither were the rest of them.

[@oraculox]

She actually guides you through the looking glass with her voice. And unlike many comments I´m not going to act like drugs don´t exist and we don´t experience with them, so. This song and a few others take me to places without any chemical, any sober day of the week you listen to her voice and this song and you are transported!

[@BillB23]

It's a bolero rhythm. That's part of what makes it as captivating as Ravel's most recognizable opus. Of course, Grace's vocals carry the piece, but the competence of the musicians cannot be overlooked.

[@danielcobbins8861]

There was also a Bolero rhythm in the Ted Nugent song "Stranglehold."

[@sandraclay2181]

Interesting, never picked up on it.

[@caramanico1]

Especially the stuffed that he's using as a bass mute.

[@MikeJaegerLive]

PSychedelics are beyond explaining and music attempted to do this but IF you use them you can see 👀 and hear 👂 what are beyond your own beliefs and then 🤔 consider that forever more.

[@useruser400]

Came here for that comment. Was not disappointed. Bolero was an influence on many rock artists. I’m surprised that she missed that point entirely in this video analysis.

[@Chicagodog-tu1ek]

Grace said in an interview that she couldn't sing lullabies to her children because she could only sing loud, and powerfully.

[@ChromeDestiny]

Lather and Grace's cover of The Byrds' Triad on Crown of Creation are mostly examples of how Grace could sing softly if she really wanted to but near the end of Triad a bit of Grace's power vocal thing still comes through.

[@buckyharris9465]

@@ChromeDestiny -- I'd say Triad is her single most impressive vocal track -- since the instruments are acoustic and the arrangement is simple, her voice and all its nuances are very clearly audible. But that was her heyday. After 1970 she never sounds quite like that again, and my impression is that her heavy indulgence in cocaine & alcohol after the birth of China, her only child, did some serious damage. Grace made the remark about lullabies around that time. But at least she finally gave up menthol cigarettes. . . .

[@ChromeDestiny]

@@buckyharris9465 I hear some vocal fry and strain in her voice by the time of the proper Jefferson Starship band launching in 1974 but there were still some great moments. Her vocals and most of her songs are the few highlights of the '89 Airplane reunion album imo. Especially on Freedom and Now Is The Time her voice still seems to have some of the power of her prime years.

[@tSp289]

Apparently when I was a baby and wouldn't go to sleep my dad used to put on Jefferson airplane, Led Zep, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa etc. on the big speakers and walk me around until I went to sleep. Apparently loud 60s-70s psychedelic rock also works as a lullaby for some kids.

[@oraculox]

But she sung lullabies to adults wich is another kind of difficult! ha

[@phoenixfire83]

I love how her vibrato has an almost operatic quality to it. She’s seriously one of my favorite rock voices.

[@michaelsmeltz2363]

The only complaint I ever had about this amazing song was, indeed, that it was far too short. It’s so good, and creates such a tangible atmosphere, you want it to go on forever. Playing Devil’s Advocate, though, one could argue that it’s brevity is a big reason why it makes such an impact. And I do remember that as a teenager, when the song ended you would immediately start eagerly anticipating the next time you would hear it. And then, when you did hear that unmistakeable bass riff coming over the airwaves, you would shut the hell up and savor the next 2.5 minutes.

[@theghostofthomasjenkins9643]

100%. it leaves you wanting more instead of overstaying it's welcome.

[@mfactor88]

i dont know if you'll like it but the version from the movie "Sucker Punch" extends it a tad :)

[@johnjohn37371]

There was something about having to wait to hear your favorite new song on the radio, or even a video on MTV, that made the song so much better...hitting buttons and hearing anything you want, anytime you want, as many times as you want, is wonderful, but it takes something away...I'm just old, I suppose...

[@bonniebarlow4939]

I had the record and I would play it over and over again - that way I didn't even need the drugs - I was just high on Grace Slick. I sang along I think. No idea what I sounded like.

[@elfcounsul]

2.5 minutes was the sweet spot for top ten radio. Stations wouldn’t play it if it was too long.

[@sourisvoleur4854]

I love her coy little smiles. It's like she knows she's killing it. Her voice is so up front, with so many long, extended notes, and she never falters. Fabulous songwriting, fabulous singing.

[@stillnunya3350]

Her grin to me is acknowledging the ridiculousness of lip synching. It was a TV show performance so they probably didn't have any choice in the situation and I'm sure they were annoyed about it.

[@curtreimer5416]

@@stillnunya3350 I'm pretty sure this is live, at least Grace's vocal is. She totally nails the part just like the record but you can hear a bit of mike distortion on some of the louder notes that make this sound like a live performance, to me (having done a bit of live sound and performance). Also her lips are perfectly synced to every note and phrase which would be extremely hard to do with the way she drags the tempo in her phrasing. It was pretty common on 60s rock TV shows to sing live over pre-recorded backing tracks. I think this is a virtuoso performance of a song she had probably sung dozens of times live by this point.

[@TheAlbertso]

@@stillnunya3350 I assumed the grin was she was stoned. 🙃

[@davorzmaj753]

@@curtreimer5416 Agreed; it's not the studio vocal, for sure. "One pill makes you small" is all on the same pitch here (0:52). On the studio version, it isn't.

[@declinox]

Well I think that is a signature of a good artist - they know going in that they are going to kill it, and are killing it. You can't give your all otherwise. Not to minimize Grace's talent at all, but people respond to confidence as much as technical ability.

[@catherinedean3796]

Grace’s vibrato is simply unmatched. It gives me chills every time

[@davidohlman7236]

Her natural vibrato is unreal...gives me chills!

[@jamesclapp6832]

Her voice seems like its grabbing you and taking you away.

[@annettespradlin4945]

Almost commanding.

[@joeatwood1346]

Concur.

[@fewwiggle]

Yipee!!!! Can't wait -- and, I hope that rabbit hole will include "Somebody to Love", Grace really digs deep down into that one.

[@caprise-music6722]

Word. That has to come next. Or Atleast at some point

[@bigskyneal784]

Since this is such a short song, that would have been a fun "double-feature".

Would love to see Elizabeth do Jefferson Airplanes original version & the Jim Carrey version from Cable Guy!

[@umpdaddy1]

One of her best vocals in that one.

[@ourladyofperpetualskepticism]

Was coming to comment that we *need* “Somebody to Love”! Grace’s vocals are at their best on that track.

[@edwardofgreene]

I like how the whole song is one continuous crescendo. The peak being the last note with no decent bringing it back.

[@txmetalhead82xk]

It is like a train just slowly building up Speed all the way to the end. Unearthly.

[@Pushing_Pixels]

I saw this song referenced in a particularly memorable scene, in a particularly memorable book, years before I ever heard it. Finally hearing it made that scene make complete sense. One long, glorious crescendo.

[@haxan6663]

Jefferson Airplane are one of those bands that never sounds old to me. Absolute classic.

[@alonenjersey]

All the great Rock-N-Roll bands NEVER sound "old."

[@ArcaneWolf9]

"Disorienting" is a great way to describe this song. The phrasing is so playful and odd. Something in the song structure makes it feel really short, yet it actually isn't. So iconic.

[@sbearly]

It's two and a half minutes. That is short, but pretty typical back then. But the first 30 seconds is the band setting that mood - Grace doesn't sing until the 30 second mark. I think that is what makes it seem much shorter.

[@davidcampbell4870]

One of the reasons it's so short, is it has no chorus! It just goes straight through and just builds in intensity from beginning to end. A very unusual structure for a rock song, like a bolero, as someone mentioned. And yes, the vocal doesn't start until well into the song. I always wished there was more to it. I can envision it at five or six minutes.

[@AyliCarper]

Try listening to the original Great Society version which is six minutes or more.

[@howardthrust]

What deserves special note is that not only is this NOT a "lip synch" TV performance of the original studio recording (which was pretty much de rigueur during that time), it ALSO was arguably an IMPROVEMENT...especially with regard to Grace's vocal (not that it was anything like "inferior" to begin with)!! They were a "gutsy" band, with the musical "chops" to back it all up!

[@aguyandaguitar3366]

oddly, while the vocal is live, or at least not the recorded original, if I'm not mistaken, the backing track IS from the record. it is the band that is "faking it" here. But don't get me wrong, Jorma and Jack were, and are, phenomenal musicians. odd that they would agree to do it this way.

[@aguyandaguitar3366]

But I do agree that Grace's vocal here is actually better than the original, if that's possible.

[@nicktecky55]

@@aguyandaguitar3366 I think it was even better in the Great Society version, of course the whole production is a lot simpler, but that lets her voice carry the story. That was over 6 minutes long of course, and the 2'20"(?) of the vocals comes almost as a finale. I'd say pretty much the same for Somebody To Love as well.

[@christheghostwriter]

As someone else noted, the backing tracks are from the studio version. The vocals are live

[@karaamundson3964]

love the staging, too. how could anyone not realize that this song references every drug on the globe? ha ha

[@jimrobinson5628]

I love the way elizabeth is always so excited by music, and her understanding of every nuance is amazing... very intelligent and drop dead beautiful. 😍🥰🥰

[@kwasimoto2008]

AAAAAAAAAMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@dburns916]

I love Elizabeth's enthusiasm. I hope it is not fake. She appears to be totally enarmored by the performance. It is so cool with her facial expressions and bugging out eyes. She is an expert and a fan!

[@bobsteinzig]

Smokin'

[@JamesJoy-yc8vs]

Elizabeth's delight never fails to delight me! Especially when she's reacting to something I never noticed before. Or something I don't have words for, but she does. And now I can appreciate a song even more, because Elizabeth has given a specific explanation to what I always just thought of as "this part is really cool!" but couldn't communicate why.

[@mystic_tacos]

I wish I could get excited about music like she does again... Or at least go back and hear songs I love for the first time again.

[@MalnatiFamily]

I've been listening to and loving this song for 56 years, but the analysis by this young woman is pointing out things that I'd never noticed before. She's great!

[@dfhowes]

Same here, and that's what I really like about Elizabeth. I know next to nothing about music, I just know what I like - but not why I like it. For example, back in 2016 when I discovered what is now my favorite vocalist, Morgan James, Elizabeth explained how Morgan's cover of Aerosmith's 𝐷𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑂𝑛, the techniques she uses, her amazing breath control, how she was surprised and wasn't expecting Morgan to go to her head voice at "that part" of the song - it educated me on what it was that I like so much about Morgan and I can now further appreciate more. And now the same goes with Grace Slick, I now know what she's doing and that makes it all that much better. From now on when I play 𝑊ℎ𝑖𝑡𝑒 𝑅𝑎𝑏𝑏𝑖𝑡 over and over again, I'll be listening and understanding why Grace does this so well! And for those that are curious about the 𝐷𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 𝑂𝑛 video that I was talking about where Elizabeth reacts, here's the link. kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGjdYXqPmreWnpY As soon as Morgan starts singing, Elizabeth says "Her voice is a hug." So very true!

[@veiledrecalcitrance4314]

I always liked the way she blends a phrase then alternates with a kind of staccato phrase, and the power towards the end, just amazing. Everyone I knew liked this song because it was about drugs/acid but I loved Grace’s voice, so powerful and epic

[@dianesparrow1592]

Hooray!!! I am so excited to see this analysis. I don't think Grace Slick ever truly received the recognition she deserved for composing White Rabbit. Grace's voice and the instruments combine into a hauntingly beautiful performance. Thank you Elizabeth for taking us down this rabbit hole. Was just thinking another fun song to react to would be Three Dog Night " Mama Told Me Not To Come", also if you haven't reacted to it, another good song is "Naririnig Mo Ba" by Morissette Amon.

[@ozma7339]

Facts. This is one of the greatest songs ever written. Period.

[@Tom_McMurtry]

She should find Haley Reinhart's version for a listen also I reckon!

[@jimreid9877]

Jefferson airplane white rabbit

[@Mister_Pedantic]

@@Tom_McMurtry Haley gave it a good try but no one does this song like Grace.

[@dianesparrow1592]

@@Tom_McMurtryI love Haley, she is an awesome performer, and she does a decent cover on White Rabbit, but I think Grace has this hands down.

[@wrd777]

One of the few things I remember about Woodstock was Grace Slick singing this. She was like an angel in white - I thought I had died and gone to heaven!

[@nosuchthing8]

Thank you

[@stanleyarnstrong3871]

This militant folk song cane when the Vietnam War's mood and the Antiwar themes were very influential.

[@adairmartin]

The live Woodstock version of this song is simply phenomenal!

[@kelleewolfe2834]

I totally agree!

[@deborahbarry8458]

Thanks for taking me back… how I remember when the album came out!

[@richdiddens4059]

I read an interview with Grace where she said she didn't have that wide a vocal range but had plenty of volume. She also had superb control of tone, resonance, stops, sustains, and vibrato. Did this song even cover a whole octave? She's a prime example of making the most of what you have.

[@dowens3781]

She was being humble - she definitely has a range Just listen to Stranger and Winds Of Change by Jefferson Starship or even Somebody To Love by Jefferson Airplane.

[@rollomaughfling380]

Rich: G2 to slightly over B3 (kind of a blue note) on this song. But she does most of the work using timbre in the middle 6th (C#3 to A3) I'd say. Iconic vocal performance whenever she did it. Plus, she's super-nice (and funny!)

[@ThePrissy11]

@@dowens3781 She was never humble if you’ve met her.

[@dowens3781]

@@ThePrissy11 Maybe not on an overall personal level, but I was talking solely about her vocal abilities.

[@ThePrissy11]

@@dowens3781 She was never consistent live. I can tell you that. Hit or miss.

[@timothygrayson]

Absolute classic. Love Grace Slick's voice. Astounding.

[@def1ghi]

I think you're spot on to notice how vocally stable Grace is in the middle of a song about losing your frame of reference, and she gets stronger and stronger and more and more stable as she belts longer and longer. It's the contradiction that makes this song what it is. Cool observation.

[@dianefeinstein8951]

Elizabeth: Here’s a link to a video of Grace performing “White Rabbit,” live at the legendary Woodstock Music Festival in 1969. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jJ2bappoiNyAnpY The video contains lots of closeups suitable for voice analysis. Grace wrote “White Rabbit” after being inspired by French composer, Maurice Ravel’s 1928 composition, “Boléro.” She was fascinated by the unbroken continuous rising crescendo to fortissimo-possibile (as loud as possible progression) of “Boléro,”and emulated the same structure in “White Rabbit.” -Diane, Vancouver, Canada. SnAL03/22. 04:29 pm

[@victor-charlesscafati]

I agree that this is the definitive live-recording-the context was historic, and Grace just *killed*.

[@stevenmoore9144]

Pulled it up THANKS!!!

[@scottedwards33]

Nice. All these years I thought it was "...what the doorknob said..."

[@EiriUesugiKun]

I was just about to share the same link. Such an epic performance.

[@shona1224]

Agree its brilliant and as its definitely live gives a better sign of her awesome voice.

[@DeeJayObi]

I really hope you would make a vocal ANALYSIS on sadly late Dolores O'Riordan from Cranberries. She had one of the most unique voices probably ever put on a record. And no, it doesn't have to be "Zombie". ;)

[@sahinberg]

Dreams would be the perfect choice

[@scottmcneely1927]

Or Linger.

[@bknsty14]

Ode to My Family or Daffodil Lament

[@bagoquarks]

There is a Cranberries NPR Tiny Desk Concert elsewhere on KZbin.

[@animalyze7120]

Nah Dreams and Linger to me was their signature songs, nothing else like it since and instantly recognizable. Zombie was good but I felt it was more hype than substance, good as it was I still think Dreams is their most well known song however that is my personal opinion. Crans were great regardless very unique and forever etched into our hearts and soul.

[@aguyandaguitar3366]

Grace's vocals here are so absorbing. Hauntingly perfect. I love the way she punctuates her unmistakably signature vibratos with clipped words like "logic". One enhances the other.

[@Bonaventurax]

In the Woodstock live version i find this section even better

[@DAlexander35]

This has to be one of my favorite songs of all time. Absolutely amazing talent. I don’t believe anyone has ever attempted to create anything remotely like it. I also love how grace sustains notes in a somewhat monotone voice.

[@toddmurphy664]

Elizabeth is so much fun to listen to and learn from! Thanks for your enthusiasm as you go over the songs. This song is one of the great ones!

[@RexxSchneider]

It's worth noting that Grace wrote the song (lyrics and music) a year or so _before_ she joined Jefferson Airplane and there are recordings still available of her singing both "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love" with the Great Society, her original band in SF.

[@kevinz8930]

Thanks for sharing. Just listen to the Great Society version. Never heard before awesome!!

[@davidcook482]

If I recall (I have the LP but haven’t played it in 20 yrs) the original Great Society version sounds even more Middle Eastern than the Airplane version, especially the intro.

[@Lizardboy68]

I've heard those they're a little different than the ones everyone knows.

[@richardurwin4432]

The Great Society version is my favourite but the difference is mainly in the instrumental. Once the singing starts it's Grace singing White Rabbit. It's great musically and good historically but there's probably not much to be gained by analysing that instead of this one. But go listen to it; you won't regret it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bn2zdXaaqc-erpI

[@davidcook482]

Thanks for posting the link, Richard. I had to go dig out the album. I had forgotten that “Somebody to Love” was also on it. Great tunes.

[@pbrucpaul]

When "Surrealistic Pillow" came out in February '67, it was a Must have album. I just remember listening to "Somebody to Love" with Rythm guitar player Paul Kantner harmonizing. After her belting out a 9 second hold on a note, that Lead guitar just sent the rest Way beyond the Clouds, Hence....."Far Out" or "Outta Sight"

[@mousiebrown1747]

Groovy! Even Trippy.

[@digibirder]

Grace's triplet-speed vibrato in this song always impressed me. That and how easily she fades it in and out.

[@ValerieChastain]

I sat in the audience around 1979 and was blown away by the power in Grace Slicks voice. It was huge, booming, clear and felt like the chairs were shaking

[@apaperbagoftoast2513]

My grandma had Grace Slick come into the grocery store she worked at in the 70's. Grace waved hello at my grandma, after she was done shopping she went through her register and made small talk. Said Grace was really kind, very rad to talk to. I really hope I can Meet her someday soon.

[@thebeardedseeker5633]

there's a video on youtube where her vocals are isolated, and her vocal control is even more pronounced and just stupendously amazing. ❤️

[@Meezer]

I think is on Wings of Pegasus

[@MikeCohenSF]

Grace is one of my favorite singers. I think she said it was inspired by Ravel's Bolero. She originally wrote it for her first group, the Great Society. The original version is much longer with an extended instrumental intro where you can really hear the middle eastern influence.

[@gepal7914]

Yes, I have that one as I searched for every version of this song.

[@mikeg2306]

The Great Society version doesn't use the Bolero.

[@CathyKeating]

Grace's intense, sustained, chesty alto belt with her unique vibrato. You hear similar strength in Exene Cervenka's voice. In Siouxsie Sioux's voice. In Chrissy Hynde. 4 Non Blondes. Lots of others, really. But strong female rock vocals were practically invented by this woman. Listen and learn, right?

[@fishdaddy35]

I heard her sing this live at a club in LA (Ambassador Hotel’s Cocoanut Grove club) in 1967. The venue was intimate, which added to the magic. It seemed like she was singing directly to me. What a voice!!

[@alonenjersey]

You wouldn't by any chance have took photos of that show still in some photo album?

[@fishdaddy35]

@@alonenjersey No, I didn’t have a camera. Imagine that!

[@alonenjersey]

@@fishdaddy35 I feel your pain good sir. Way back when I sat second row, stage right to watch Mr. B.B. King do his magic @ the Union county Arts Center here in Rahway. And like a shmuck, I didn't bring a camera w/ me.😪

[@fishdaddy35]

@@alonenjersey Yes, right! A camera was something only a few people had, and was bulky to carry and operate. Back in the day I saw the Doors, the Byrds, Janis, Canned Heat, etc., and no photo record! Of course, there are many things I am happy there is no photo record of!!! ;)

[@alonenjersey]

@@fishdaddy35 Good God in Heaven. I thought I had plenty of reason to shed tears.

[@jasonhoward9168]

I Freaking LOVE Grace Slick's voice... Top favorite of my favorite female singers. For me, she's up there with Janice Joplin, Billie Holiday, Mama Cass and Stevie Nicks... The Creme De La Creme, the Epitome of female vocalists... And, Of Course, our favorite, Elizabeth!!! Seriously, Grace Slick!!! Enough said...

[@jasonhoward9168]

In this version, Grace is doing things a little different from the album version.

[@kostaskritsilas2681]

You need to add Jessica/Juanita Hahn from Babe Ruth to that list. Listen first to "The Mexican", and then the other Babe Ruth songs, and you will see why.

[@pilsplease7561]

All of those are great the only modern female singer I really like is Taylor Momsen from The Pretty Reckless she has that raspy deep full female rock voice and its so good.

[@russellmerritt9935]

The stuttering timing of her lyrics are genius. She piles words up then releases then. She is on a different rhythm than the band yet stays in place. A case in point is CCR. No one in the band was especially great, but the combination of the sound, the lyrics, and the timing created one of the best bands of all time. They did stand on extremely strong lyrical content though.

[@williamhiles7404]

Tom Fogarty Is one of the greatest Rythym Guitarists ever. LedHed Steven 🎸 🎹 🎸

[@johnlanham9057]

I got crazy respect for Grace. She doesn’t have Floor Jansen’s range; but her ability to steady focus her vocal power is world class. 💙💙

[@davidmicalizio824]

Grace never needed "range".

[@pineyhill]

I hope that Elizabeth will explore the voice of Annie Haslam.

[@garytorresani8846]

@@pineyhillI hope so too. Annie has an amazing range and sang despite being seriously hearing impaired. Much respect for her. Renaissance was one of the first if the classically oriented bands and one of my favorite bands. Floor Jansen is beyond belief, both with her work with Nightwish and her recent venture into pop with her new album. Her version of Alone, the heart song, is the best.

[@OuroborosChoked]

Grace Slick has an incredible level of vocal strength and control. Even as she's blowing it out, she still has that control to weave in some vibrato, but also reel that vibrato back in after letting just a little bit out. There are a lot of singers who are just all vibrato all the time and it gets tiring to listen to. Like, we get it, you can ululate... good for you. It's much more impressive to know _when_ to do it and not abuse it.

[@josephj7991]

The only bad thing about this song is its so Short? I wish it was Longer! Love it! I love how excited u get listening to "Our" music!

[@hqhq4611]

I always believe that it's better to leave the listener wanting more, rather than the other way around. One of my favorite songs is "Ghosts" by The Jam which is incredibly short but it totally fits with one of the song's main themes of life being short and trying to make the most of it while you can.

[@KenPassey-hd2mc]

I'm a Brit of an age where I had every Airplane album and still do and still do!! A fabulous band !!😂😂😂

[@Sfendo63]

This psychedelic anthem was her own creation performed initialy by her first group "The Great Society" but made universal on "Surealistic Pilow" by JA which is a great album for it's era. Thanks for your reaction on this old gem.

[@alanolson6913]

I grew up in Southern California as a teenager in the’60’s. I was privileged enough to get to see quite a number of bands then. Saw Jefferson Airplane twice, incredible. At the time we didn’t think we were making history, it was just what we did. Grace had an incredible voice and I always found it so beguiling….

[@dieseltu1035]

You weren't privileged, nobody is privileged. You have rights

[@alanolson6913]

@@dieseltu1035 Well, it wasn’t my right to attend those concerts back then, it was a privilege…I cut people’s lawns, washed cars, did chores to earn the $4.50 to buy the ticket to attend. If it was considered a ‘right’ to attend, I would have just walked into the concert hall and thought I had the ‘right’ to be there. It didn’t work like that.

[@warpig4942]

It's not popular enough to get reviewed but the most amazing vocalist in the Jefferson Airplane/Starship family is Mickey Thomas. That guy is unbelievable. Just go listen to the song "Jane", studio or live, he sounds the same either way.

[@dreadpirate88]

I saw him sing the National Anthem at a few SF Giants games in the 80s. He really does have a fantastic voice.

[@darcyslowski3498]

Mikey's vocals on Elvin Bishops "Fooled Around and Fell in Love" are amazing as well.

[@CrochetPalace]

Love him.

[@jamessweet5341]

Mickey Thomas ruined Starship for me.

[@ThePrissy11]

He sucked

[@frankbrozowski8808]

The beginning always reminds me of the Bolero. 😉

[@bamacopeland4372]

Because singer Grace slick and her husband took a little bit of inspiration from that song

[@xiropigado]

Fantastic analysis. I've heard this song a thousand times but after listening to you i am hearing so much more of it. Excellent review.

[@htwrk2]

There is an isolated vocal version of this song on KZbin. Grace’s vocals are amazing all by themselves.

[@HoosierDaddy_]

Grace is one of the best powerhouses out there! She's quite a wild one too! Definitely one of the greatest singers of all time!

[@laurentelesca3921]

I loved the Smother’s Brothers show, it was must see TV. Their musical guests were iconic

[@Kevin15301]

and corporate media killed them.

[@djtomz7158]

“White Rabbit” was a song Grace wrote on her piano for she and her husband’s band “The Great Society” she brought that and “Somebody To Love” to Airplane when her band disbanded the same time Airplane’s female vocalist departed.

[@peterottes6900]

Jorma Kaukonen is absolutely a monster and underrated. His playing is very much to do with this sound as Grace's voice..

[@sidviscous5959]

plus those shades are far out, man . . .

[@MikaTarkela]

I had no idea there was a Finnish member in this band. Sick!

[@peterottes6900]

@@MikaTarkela I really hope you're kidding.. Or I'm very old..

[@alankjosness2093]

Back in the day Guitar Player voted him their least predictable guitarist. He's a favorite. Give the first Hot Tuna album a listen - it's acoustic.

[@MalnatiFamily]

Yes, Jorma was/is an incredible guitar player -- and a decent singer as well.

[@Rosannasfriend]

If I had known you were doing it one of my favorite singers of all time I would’ve come here sooner. You don’t see grace slick getting a whole lot of attention. Thank you for this one.

[@metalmamasue3680]

For some reason it sticks in my head that Grace Slick was talking in an interview one time when they toured with the Doors in Amsterdam, I think. She said people would just offer you drugs and they would politely decline. But not Jim Morrison, she said he took everything anyone gave him, on the spot. 😂

[@markwilliams3068]

I was 10 when this aired on The Smoothers Brothers Show. My Mom walked in at the beginning and when Grace sang "and the ones that Mothers give you do nothing at all" had my Mom walk over to the TV and click it off. She said, go do something else for awhile your not watching these kind of songs on our family TV. The reference to drugs was certainly a big deal in 1967 and the fact this was not censored down was pretty incredible. Great song.....

[@brianfranklinlee8490]

They didn't censor shit back then. Radio Stations did stop playing Comfortably Numb because it made a direct inference to doing a shot of Heroin. So Roger did an interview and said that it was about being sick from diabetes. WTF. When he says that his hands felt like 2 balloon's. That happens to Heroin addict's when all the veins in your Arm's have collapsed and you start doing it in your HAND'S and you miss a lot and your hands swell up like 2 balloon's. I was an H addict for 8 years back then. By the grace and Mercy from God I'm still living. The reason I even mentioned this is Jefferson Airplane was in the late 60s early 70s and 80s with Jefferson Starship. They had to change also. Early 80s was when all this censorship shit started. Diabetes my ass. Oh I'm a former 82nd Airborne Infantry Soldier. I thought I fought for freedom.

[@redcaddiedaddie]

@@brianfranklinlee8490 With respect, I must disagree... I was in college when this aired; I watched on my landlady's TV. If you find any interviews of the Smothers bros, either Tom or Dick, they tell stories of how they had to fight the network for guests like the Airplane & many others. There were a lot of variety shows in that day & censorship of newer bands was rampant. The Smothers Bros., Laugh-In, as well as a few other shows were trying to expand the boundaries of what could be on the tube in the late '60s, but it was reportedly difficult...

[@ghost500e]

@@brianfranklinlee8490 Nice to see a soldier knowing he wasn't fighting for freedom. More like fighting to keep the big warmachine rolling and fill the pockets of those owning the huge military tech companies, making new guns planes ships missiles nukes. It's a trillion dollar factory complex you where fighting for, NOT freedom. I'm so sry you had to go through that, and glad you seem to have found out it was and is a huge lue.

[@alexzanderboo1]

you are a little older than I but I remember it was the Wild West. With Richard Pryor, Cheech and Chong, Jimmy Hendrix and Janis Joplin and others, there was not much censorship then compared to today. There was a lot of angst during the Vietnam War. Mom tried to protect me from it but you know kids. lol.

[@redcaddiedaddie]

@@alexzanderboo1 We've got an 'apples & oranges' thing going on here... the censorship I'm talking about was on network TV. Those performers you've named did push the envelope, but they did it in concerts & performances. Also, if you want to talk about how much censorship is occurring today, let's talk about politicians being interviewed- Bill Barr says 'bullshit' & it's broadcast; same w '45'! Other examples exist as well- Justin Timberlake ripping off Janet Jackson's 'falsie' on the Super Bowl, etc.

[@patmcgroin6916]

I was really impressed with a "vocals isolated" version I found on youtube.

[@АртёмЮрков-ь3в]

ikr, it gives me chills

[@Rayz2cents]

Yes. Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen is using an exotic scale during the intro to White Rabbit. He's riffing on the phrygian modal scale. Also, reproducing live sound on TV in 1967 was a work in progress. Many acts lip synched to the record. Here, I believe Grace Slick is singing live based on her voice being in synch and that her vocal performance sounds live and varies slightly from the studio version. Interestingly, there are no guitar cables visible so the musicians are fake playing along to the recording.

[@tiorimas]

I wish there were more female singers that don't want to sing "sweetly" if that makes sense. The ones that always give me the chills are voices like Grace Slick's or Jenny Haan's, from Babe Ruth.

[@rbilleaud]

How about Maria Brink? Or is that going too far.

[@waynebenedict5785]

I love this song! I was about 15 feet away from the stage when Jefferson Airplane and Grace did this song, it was so powerful! Alice in Wonderland, indeed!

[@sandrak.robbins6305]

Yay! So fun. This song is timeless and has held up really well over time. Thank you. Your analysis was very interesting.

[@robertasirgutz8800]

Her voice on "Volunteers", ( We can be Together", is too beautiful to explain.

[@binslick1000]

The vocals, the bass guitar, and the entire song are phenomenal-a classic gem.

[@dfhowes]

10:10 "This song that's so short. It needs to be much, much, much longer." I've always thought this, too! The saying “Always leave them wanting more” really applies here.

[@primusdude87]

Back in 1988, the band Sanctuary did a brilliant cover of this song on their album Refuge Denied. The band featured Warrel Dane on lead vocals, who would later go on to sing in Nevermore (who in my opinion did the best cover of The Sound Of Silence ever recorded. Check it out!). Sadly, we lost Warrel in 2017.

[@mnowakpoland]

Warrel Dane was an amazing vocalist with fantastic range. If you compare Sanctuary to later Nevermore, you wouldn't even think it's the same vocalist if you were a first time listener.

[@PK--ITA]

Confirm. That was a masterpiece. Like a Sanctuary & Nevermore repertoire.

[@99Narnia]

I love the original and Sanctuary's version too. Refuge Denied is an excellent album, which a certain Mr Dave Mustaine helped produce. Warrel's high pitched "I will dominate the likes of you" is unforgettable.

[@iDEATH]

One of my favourite covers was by Collide. Kind of a goth/techno/industrial version. Late 90s to 2000-ish, I think.

[@Hawk999]

Yes. The Sanctuary cover of ‘White Rabbit’ is really, really, good. Warrel just nails it. But I fear Elizabeth will not ever go and listen to it. That will be her loss, but ours as well.

[@jmcosmos]

01:50 The setup is all Jack and Jorma, who were arguably the best two musicians in the group. (Side note: they are _still_ playing together, nearly 60 years later.) Jack's pumping out a bolero rhythm moving between F sharp and G, while Jorma creates a Moorish-sounding melody in Phrygian mode and Spencer echoes the rhythm on drums. 05:41 "White Rabbit" was very possibly _the_ first song on AM radio with coded but obvious references to drug use. There are accounts which claim that Grace wrote the lyric while coming down from an acid trip (or possibly from peyote; take your pick). However, it isn't a song she wrote while in the Airplane. She brought it with her from her previous band, the Great Society. 06:04 WHAT is she doing to her terminal Ls? It's wildly prominent, since most of the verse rhymes are "all"s. 07:42 The grace notes she throws in on "think she'll know" and "Dormouse said," if you did that on a drum, would be called a flam. 08:04 Grace was always known as a powerful singer, but the most consistent contemporary criticism leveled at her was that her pitch center was uncertain. One record reviewer claimed she would sing half a dozen notes around the one she should be singing in order to avoid the one. ('Course, it could be she was doing it on purpose as vocal ornament.) 08:55 And the speed on her vibrato while she belts! There's a very informative harmonic analysis of the song posted by @12tone at kzbin.info/www/bejne/o6nTaIpsfZKCn8k , where he deep-dives what the music is doing and why.

[@chipdayton9426]

Arguably? No question they were the best!

[@Patrick-857]

That criticism is BS and comes from someone who didn't understand the music.

[@jmcosmos]

@@Patrick-857 Yes, but that's what was being said then. _Rolling Stone_ and _Creem_ and _Village Voice_ and other music reviewers didn't like what she did with her voice, and slagged her for it.

[@chipdayton9426]

@@jmcosmos Well, she certainly wasn't pitch perfect, but that wasn't the point of her vocals.

[@jmcosmos]

@@chipdayton9426 I, personally, never contended it was. I was reporting on what was being said by others fifty years ago.

[@samthemoth]

This song has always fascinated me with how moody it is. It really manages to take you along an interesting ride for how short it is. Thank you for doing this one!

[@countblue]

I believe I cant put enough emphasis on it that your presentation lends a complete new angle to that songs. Thats the second song I am hearing analysed by you and your fascination and engagement is captivating and bewitching. You are spot on with your analysis and that alone is enough for this series. Your character and your fascination shines all over the place. Thank you.

[@opijopionoi1047]

I love watching you react to videos, you can just see how much you love singing and music. Especially this song great choice.

[@damouze]

This song is one of my all-time favorites. Thank you for this analysis. As for the mood, it always sounded boleroesque to me, which is not a coincident if I remember it correctly.

[@larryosman3184]

Jefferson Airplane had two (2) lead singers! Don't miss one of the most beautiful love songs ever, "Today" where Marty Balin shows his chops.

[@jamessweet5341]

I'd recommend "Caroline" from the Dragonfly album as well.

[@bunkie2100]

The Airplane had *four* lead singers. Paul Kantner and Jorma Kaukonnen sang lead on a number of songs.

[@larryosman3184]

@@bunkie2100 you're right, I'm wrong.

[@Bobbyliscious]

I love how she is having so much fun and grinning all the way through the entire song!

[@Jeni-ow1kl]

The late 60’s/early 70’s were ‘mind Blowing’ in general!And this song really nailed the feelings! ‘FEED THE HEAD’✌️👍🌸 So Happy that you enjoyed this true Classic🩵✌️ 13:01

[@beauthestdane]

One of my all time favorite songs. Every time I hear it I wish it were much longer.

[@lifelover515]

I read somewhere in an interview Grace never rated herself as a singer, more of a front woman with the right image and tone. Could be she was just being fashionably modest. A limited range, perhaps one could argue, but as Elizabeth points out, masterful control and steadiness. Along with the haunting Middle Eastern arrangement, Grace's lyrics are especially outstanding. The song might have slipped through the conservative mainstream in the US, but in Australia where I lived at the time radio stations weren't taking any chances with it, and I don't recall ever hearing it though my ears were glued to the transistor in those days. I haven't visited for a while due to a lack of familiarity with much of the material, but I'll try to improve on that and I've remained subscribed and following. Great to see your musically informed and instructive channel is thriving, Elizabeth. I'm still hoping that one day you'll comment on two of the most remarkable talents of our times, Mad Mary James and Rhiannon Giddens.

[@klevesmith]

I was 10 when I saw this performance on the Smother's Brothers show. At 14 I saw them and the Grateful Dead together in Houston. My wife just made the comment this past weekend. "You have hundreds of playlists, and White Rabbit is on every one. Hey, I'm a fan. Surrealistic Pillow is in my top 5 albums I own (500+ vinyl LP's, all originally purchased by me or gifts, from 1965 to present) - "...the Hookah smoking caterpillar" is a dead giveaway. Who I have, sitting on a mushroom, painted within a wall mural (Peter Max-ish) in my home office.

[@bsandey]

The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (where the performance in the video is from) was a very controversial show for it's day. Television back then was very conservative and aimed at an older audience. This was one of the early prime time shows that targeted a younger audience and the "counterculture" (IE: "Hippies"). But they held their own and did very well going against powerhouses of the day like "Bonanza", which was in the same time slot.

[@sean.nathan]

The military snare drums were a nod to the anti-war stance of many of that generation of musicians... If you wanted to follow an Alice in Wonderland rabbithole, Tom Petty's "Don't Come Around Here No More" fits the bill!

[@mikecorcoran6834]

Growing up through the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's +++... I saw all this when it was new. So many great bands, so many!! I love your fresh eyes & ears on things I take for granted. You explain the artists so well.

[@stvbrsn]

When you’ve heard this song so many times… on the radio when it was new, college stoner circles, work playlists, in the background at shops, contemporary “classic rock” stations… You tend to forget what an amazing composition this truly is. It’s so tight musically, while being lyrically and vocally provocative. This is a devastating combination. Then you add the reverb on Grace’s voice and the atmosphere is complete.

[@Werewolf914]

I love Jefferson Airplane so much, Surrealistic Pillow is one album my parents would play all the time when I was a kid. Graces vocals are so unique, and I especially love this song the instrumentals are just different from anything else I've ever heard, I could listen to it all day. 'Somebody To Love' is another classic of theirs.

[@theofficialdiamondlou2418]

The best way to hear this is with her isolated vocal track. Just amazing ....

[@ytubepuppy]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qKq8lYeYe9-HeJo

[@theofficialdiamondlou2418]

@@ytubepuppy THANKYOU

[@BKLYN_TZU]

It's crazy to think they did this amazing song in the '60s and by the '80s they came back with "We Built This City" she still sounds great but the difference in musical production through the years shows the range of an artist from Era to Era.

[@salfordvinny]

I have listened to this song thousands of times over the last forty years. You have breathed new life into it.

[@tonymanero5544]

I can’t take my eyes off of Grace Slick. But her contralto voice, and Ann Wilson’s, are so powerful and unforgettably.

[@donepearce]

on the original vinyl the entire piece is sung crescendo from beginning to end. later digital releases have crushed that into loud unfortunately. But I still remember fondly an interesting all-nighter at the Round House with Jefferson Airplane and the Doors.

[@damouze]

I imagine that would have been one hell of a night...

[@donepearce]

@@damouze It was. The atmosphere was so thick with weed smoke that you didn't actually have the option to not get high.

[@chriso6719]

Halestorm has performed this song. Next time you catch up with Lzzy, you can ask her about it.

[@57WillysCJ]

This is an original Grace Slick song from her time with the band The Great Society made up of not only her husband and brother in law. Darby Slick was moving toward raga influenced psychedelic act. That shows up in the two main songs of the album of which the title comes from Jerry Garcia. That was still the days when the greats mingled and helped one another.

[@Emploon_Yeesly]

The jefferson airplane version is good but I vastly prefer the great society recording. It has so much energy! I wish more people had heard it

[@brianmicheltalgo3443]

One of your best posts (for me). Big Airplane/Grace fan, your analysis was both spot-on and personally touching. Thanks as always for such a great channel!

[@nedludd7622]

I have seen a couple of young commentators ask if this was on the radio at the time. Well, there were two stations in Southern California I listened to because this kind of music. This is from The Smothers Brothers Show which was a popular comedy show on television in 1967. It is one you could check out for the humor and music. You might wonder how that even got on TV at the time.

[@mawishi]

Ahhh I love this songggggg sooo much! So glad you reacted to it! Grace Slick is one of my inspirations for sure 🙌

[@stephenriggs8177]

It's hard to believe that the band that brought us this magnificent song also brought us "We Built This City."

[@marcanglin7127]

This song is great. That other song was written by Martin Page (Kim Carnes, Earth, Wind & Fire, Barbra Streisand), Dennis Lambert (Righteous Brothers, Dusty Springfield, The Commodores, Elaine Page, Dionne Warwick), Peter Wolf (Frank Zappa, The Commodores, Wang Chung) and some guy named Bernie Taupin (ummmm................). Starship sold out and these guys delivered, but, yeah: The song sucks. It's all about the Benjamins.

[@ChromeDestiny]

@@marcanglin7127 Grace got some co-writing credits on the album after the one with We Built This City (Knee Deep in the Hoopla), No Protection and they stand out a lot mixed in with a bunch of songs from outside writers. The ones with contributions from Grace, Babylon and I Don't Know Why sound like 70's Jefferson Starship songs.

[@mfcabrini]

"We Built this City" is tight, light and pop. It has a bad rap I think because it isn't what we expect from Airplane/Starship, but it is an ode to the influence of rock but doesn't limit itself to the typical Airplane format. Different writers, different vibe. See Wings of Pegasus analysis of the song.

[@threecedarshomestead1330]

There's a video of her isolated, just her voice and face with the accompaniment stripped away. It's quite interesting, and you may enjoy it.

[@Andromedust]

Never watched a KZbin video before where the creator brought me joy just watching and listening to her. You're incredible CV.

[@Arquibus]

Always thought Grace was a special singer, something stark and piercing about her voice. If you're interested in a sort of modern take on psychedelic pop rock and general weirdness, you could look at Church of the Cosmic Skull, particularly "Evil in Your Eye". They really took me by surprise with their culty 60s vibe to become one of my favorite modern bands.

[@chriswunsch2672]

You have a unique outlook on songs!! You have me seeing these songs in a different way!! I'm really enjoying your videos!;;

[@jeffdempsey6478]

Soooo young... Her vocals are iconic.

[@becksullivan4796]

The total sound is so unique and her voice so intriguing-the timing. Oh she was one of a kind. So mind blowing.

[@Adam-ww8zd]

I love your reactions to lyrics. Pure joy and excitement.