I Don't Know The Rolling Stones. This Was An Experience! Vocal ANALYSIS of "Sympathy For The Devil"

[@Andy_from_de]

Their song "Paint it Black" is one of the most unique songs ever. Definitely worth checking out

[@daredevildaryl2645]

That's my fave Stones song

[@trelana78]

Paint it Black is just a masterpiece. My favorite song of theirs, far and above.

[@davewade30]

Definitely my favorite also!

[@Tygertyger8008]

Agreed, though I wouldn't turn down "Beast of Burden."

[@Jeroen_K]

+1. Unique and it ages remarkably well.

[@steves1066]

Great! Try "Gimme Shelter" studio version.

[@davidsthubbins176]

Merry Clayton’s vocals! ❤

[@ryp6627]

Great shout

[@pfzt]

Oh yes, it's their masterpiece.

[@ecbenson98]

You should absolutely analyze Gimme Shelter, but please don't ignore the studio version suggestion. There are plenty of great live performances of the song available, but Merry Clayton's "backup" vocals in the studio set the bar for every performance that has followed it. You can't really appreciate any other performance without hearing the studio original

[@ecbenson98]

Also, since this was from The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus movie, you kind of owe it to yourself to watch the Who's performance of "A Quick One" from the same movie

[@mikewoodrow5878]

Mick Jagger would be the first one to say that he is not a trained singer - it is his uniqueness and stage presence that sets him apart, as a frontman. And confidence!

[@doodleBurgers]

I find this with a lot of the legends back then

[@derekjackson1039]

I think he’s one of plants favorite singers

[@jacquesdespadas]

SO much confidence.

[@FABIO_MARTINSS]

John Lennon and Yoko having fun in the audience

[@MrBern91]

Yeah, seeing that sent a shiver thoughout my body... Because I realized that it was Lennon, then also realized that he's been dead for a long time all on the same time.

[@echopeakbicycling85]

Thank you for mentioning this. I thought I was seeing things at the end.

[@LiraeNoir]

Indeed, I was surprised to see Lennon here, and to not see a reaction from his presence.

[@MarcelNL]

I was shocked to see that! :D

[@jonmaxwell7143]

@@LiraeNoirI’m not sure if she would recognize John

[@stephenzepp6536]

I think you may have missed a small, but crucial lyric that informs us of the devil's "position" in this song: he's not threatening us, he's exhibiting disdain for us and our attempts to blame him for everything that "goes wrong". He's basically saying hey---if you're pointing fingers at me, there are 4 fingers pointing back at you: (Whoo-woo, whoo-woo) what's my name, I tell you one time (Whoo-woo, whoo-woo) you're to blame, ooh "You're to blame"--ub every verse he points out that while he was there in the periphery of each of these events, he's not the one that performed the acts. He was around when Jesus doubted God--but he (the devil) didn't cause that. He made sure Pilate washed his hands--but he didn't force Pilate to use the spear. With very few exceptions, he's saying "hey, i was there, and I might have goaded a few humans, but it's y'all that did the dirty".

[@Chiscassippi]

Muses inspire and the devil is a muse for evil.

[@nickmcginley4570]

Yeah but he drove a tank and held a general's rank, and he laid traps for troubadours...

[@alildashoffire758]

Yea

[@DaveBigDawg]

But he made sure pilot sealed his fate

[@ecbenson98]

@@DaveBigDawg Autocorrect must have prevented you from typing Pilate

[@andrewshobbybasement]

I saw them live a few months ago. Mick Jagger still has more energy at 80 than i do at 30.

[@chrishornbostel9831]

A note on the lyrics -- at one point the line in the verse was "Who killed Kennedy...". They recorded this in the first 10 days of June, 1968, and on June 6 in the middle of these sessions, Robert Kennedy was assassinated in California and they changed the lyric and re-recorded it as "Who killed the Kennedys".

[@ricbogart1968]

we all did

[@brheinfeldt]

I never knew that. Thanks for that little bit of history!

[@davedarling4316]

I have read that it was originally "Who killed John Kennedy"--and they kept the syllable count the same.

[@sydhamelin1265]

Wow, thank you for sharing.

[@jaygee5693]

I always thought the line referenced the series of deaths, accidents and assassinations of Kennedy family members, just as a punk band formed in the late 70s called themselves "Dead Kennedys". I just looked it up, and apparently the line was originally "Who killed John Kennedy?"

[@mecha-sheep7674]

"Paint it Black". It's indeed a phenomenal song. There is a reason why so many covers of it have been done. Pure dark pain changed into shining music.

[@aleidadiaz2261]

Can’t believe John Lennon didn’t even phase you, lol! Jagger is so captivating. It’s as if he’s transformed into his spirit animal when he performs. His dancing, hand gestures and jerks while he moves that gloriously enormous mouth and lips around the songs. He’s brilliant.

[@hongfang2348]

Mick Jagger is one of the most charismatic people from the rock era. He is quite famous and that's an understatement.

[@coldwhite4240]

You know, sometimes I watch Elizabeth and she will say something that will make me think: "Oh, come on, you MUST be kidding us" - like when she said she never knew ANYTHING about Mick Jagger before the Maroon 5 song. But then she goes and says something that makes it clear she's genuinely unaware - like saying (in genuine surprise): "His mouth movement is awesome!" 🤣No kidding! He's been famous for decades for his 'rubber lips' and ability to get his mouth around some amazing sounds, as well as those rubber-limbed moves!

[@tricko8000]

Him and Bon Scott are my favorite frontmen 🤘🤘

[@louiscyfer6944]

​@@tricko8000 he is a great frontman, but a terrible singer.

[@garymaidman625]

​@@louiscyfer6944I respectfully disagree. There are enough of their songs that show he is an excellent singer.

[@louiscyfer6944]

@@garymaidman625 i have yet to hear anything from the rolling stones that shows he is an excellent or even a decent singer. he mostly talks. good bass player and drummer, terrible guitarists. the only exception was the short period with mick taylor.

[@Jcruzer70]

At 81 years old, Mick pretty much moves and still sings like this. It's unbelievable and phenomenal as well. 🔥🔥 Wild Horses, Start Me Up, Shattered, Honky Tonk Blues, Satisfaction are all hall of fame tracks.

[@roboparks]

Mick was Lady Gaga before Lady Gaga

[@Jeremy-hx7zj]

I saw a video of the stones performing from this year and I was stunned watching Mick move all loose and fluid like a man in his early 30s

[@TJ-ht3jb]

I'm glad you explained the meaning behind "the charismatic voice". I like the sentiment.

[@metalmark1214]

Next Rolling Stones song - Paint it, Black

[@SuperDman51]

Yes!!

[@pillarhood471]

This is the proper choice

[@CyFr]

Nah let's do The Tea Party - paint it black

[@jondhuse1549]

Angie or Wild Horses would show another contrast...

[@CheekyPseudonym]

I think she'd appreciate the album version of Gimme Shelter more

[@krisfrederick5001]

"...And that's why Keith Richards cannot be killed by conventional weapons. -Del Preston, Wayne's World 2 😂

[@MichaelBerthelsen]

He's basically a lich at this point. He pickled himself into it with all the drugs. He made himself immune to all infections and aging by ingesting so much poison, Death doesn't wanna touch him.🤣

[@ReaperOfSaltyTears]

@@MichaelBerthelsen Having seen him live in 2018, he sure as shit doesn't move like one. After 3 hours of standing up front I was ready to check out and sleep, he was still running around with the energy of a 9yo high on E numbers and sugar. So yeah, definitely not from this realm.

[@stoatystoat174]

Thank you, I've been using the phrase 'can't be killed by conventional weapons' for years now but forgot the source so long ago I wasn't sure if I'd made it up or heard it 😂. Think Mike Myers must have seen Withnail and I before casting him

[@c1ph3rpunk]

@@MichaelBerthelsenhis first clone appeared around 1977, last I heard they’re on clone no 7 of the 47 produced and put on ice. Sadly, Keith passed, ‘75 or so but nobody really knows for sure, MI6 felt his continued intelligence gathering put him in the “national treasure” category and took over in ‘73. By clone no 6 they were able to develop a “super liver” that can process, and remove, drug and alcohol content levels comparable to most European country consumption rates. But even that one is unable to fully cope, they just swap out a new clone every 5-7 years now and push it through an extended cleansing.

[@genedecker3174]

Right?!! I think I heard a long time ago that somebody had once named Keith as the musician least likely to survive his thirties. How amazing that he's still going at 80 years old and counting. And going strong, in fact. Science should really look into this. It seems as though the devil's too afraid of him to let him into hell and God would have too hard a time explaining how he got into heaven, so he just keeps living. Party on Keith!

[@inamorata966]

I recall a literary critic saying of P. G. Wodehouse: "I truly envy the reader who is coming to this great writer's wonderful stories and novels for the first time." Same thing here. At 68 yo, I can't remember when the Stones weren't part of my musical experience, so it must be fantastic to hear this afresh. Super vid!

[@larrywright3132]

“Angie” and “ Wild Horses” are two of my favorites.

[@harvey66616]

These are great options for the slower ballad like songs the Stones did. Added bonus: Elizabeth could do back to back "Angie" analyses, doing both the Stones, and going back to the same EP from Tori Amos that she's already done for one song ("Smells Like Teen Spirit"), which also includes an amazing cover of "Angie".

[@garethhawkins4710]

Memory Motel too

[@IanM-id8or]

Mine too - my two top Rolling Stones songs Not in that order, by the way

[@roboparks]

I wanted Guns and Roses in their prime to Cover Angie . Axl Rose in his Prime would have been a great cover for Angie ,

[@LuisVargas-lt4qf]

Fool to Cry ?

[@Chamomileable]

Mick is pretty famous for all his gyrating and prancing and face-making for the cameras and such. He was really influential in building the idea of a bombastic frontman in rock music.

[@miller-joel]

These days people pay him to keep his shirt on, though.

[@craigplatel813]

But it was going on after James Brown on the T.A.M.I show that made him realize he had to up his game as a stage performer. Look at the difference in his performances from before and after.

[@stevesoutar3405]

@@miller-joel 😃

[@mrwomby5007]

And he’s still doing it today, at age 81.

[@Diecastclassicist]

He got it from James Brown.

[@Redemption7825]

Ive always loved the Stones!! I love hearing this woman validate their talent. I feel lucky to be a part of their era on earth! Mick and Keith meeting at a young age is no accident.

[@abrei]

"After all, it was you and me..." He's reminding us that he never works alone.

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

Or that he doesn’t really exist

[@stevenseul361]

@@HistoritorJimaldus I agree but this song is not about the devil it's about how humans are the evil ones not Satan.

[@annother3350]

@@HistoritorJimaldus The Devil's greatest trick was to convince you he doesnt exist

[@melissas4874]

@@HistoritorJimaldus I think that can also be a point - that we blame evils and devils, but people have choices on how to act.

[@HistoritorJimaldus]

@ yeah that’s a cool quote from a fictional story

[@markhathaway9456]

On the music: The groove gets faster and faster like the beating heart in a scary situation, the chase is on and the Devil is close behind, you feel your heart, you run, you run, but you feel his breath and hear his feet and then < scream > you're caught. But when you stop, you suddenly realize, it was just you all along. The story is horrid, full of violence, pain and death, outrageous awful horrors, and then you realize it was just you, running from your own evil. The Stones are genius and Mick is their leader.

[@michaelbrutvan2272]

I accidentally replied to the wrong comment

[@baseballjustin5]

The devils in the next room...

[@johnswinney7338]

“Oozing charisma”. I love it. Best description of Mick Jagger that I’ve ever heard. ❤

[@Hugh_Jas]

Gimme Shelter should be any vocal nerd's first foray into the Stones. Not for the Stones, but for Merry Clayton, which means STUDIO VERSION ONLY... which I know is difficult for you because there's no video to analyze, but that's how important Merry's contribution to music is.

[@alexconnor9680]

Plus she did it in the middle of the night, while pregnant! Perfect for Elizabeth to analyze now The documentary "20 Feet From Stardom" is a fascinating look at Merry, Darlene Love, and other backup singers of that era

[@mikegoodwin2386]

I LOVE the live version with Lisa Fischer.

[@HabaneroTi]

Imagine her and Clare Tory singing a duet.

[@randybass8842]

@@alexconnor9680 Merry Clayton went home in the early morning hours and realized she had lost her child. I can't listen to that song without thinking of that.

[@starbucksguitarM-jc5oy]

100%.. Mary is s legend...

[@primalengland]

I’ve seen this loads of times, and it’s always great to see John Lennon and Yoko having a blast in the audience.

[@VH-Fan-007]

I’ve never seen this video, so I was shocked to see Lennon - but also thought it was fantastic to see him really getting wrapped up in the music. Must say this is not my favorite iteration of this song, but it is still soooo good.

[@markh4750]

Thanks for confirming. I was 99% sure it was them, and it's awesome to see these bands supporting each other back in the day. 39:32 for those that missed it.

[@nedludd7622]

She didn't notice.

[@florianmanz8040]

@@nedludd7622 I guess she has not had as much exposure to the Beatles (and Yoko), with a career in opera.....

[@Tony_Regime]

as long as no-one gives Yoko a mic 🤣

[@captpicard100]

I’ve always felt “Sympathy for the Devil” is the Stones Stairway to heaven. For me it’s their best ever song.

[@bernhardkloepper7482]

So true

[@jeffbenedetti665]

Jumpin jack

[@jessewolf7649]

Stairway is Zep’s Sympathy.

[@Belleplainer]

The thing about Mick Jagger is that he doesn't have A voice; he has MANY voices. Jagger is one of the few singers who can alter his voice from song to song and it doesn't seem like he's out of his element in any one of them. The Stones are of course known for their hard/blues rock songs, but they've done crossover songs in many different genres and Jagger sounds like he's been singing those styles his whole career. But I would caveat that with the fact that Jagger's voice drastically changed in the 80s, at the latest before the Stones recorded their album "Dirty Work". Jagger's vocals on that album were very harsh and he's never really recovered the smooth sound that he had before then.

[@orvilleredenpiller338]

Been a fan of the Stones most of my life and, while I've noted the songs done all in falsetto and also the comedy-country on "Far Away Eyes", I've never realized just how much this is what I do really love about Jagger.

[@rdrrr]

Love his Nashville voice, "No Expectations ", "Dead Flowers" etc.

[@MooseWombleMole]

Everything about how is sings is not how you'd teach someone to sing but he makes it work, no one else can cover his songs the same as him.

[@itachileesan]

for real when i heard paint it black as a kid, i thought there were 2 singers in that song.

[@garymaidman625]

Just look at the song Emotional Rescue, so very different to this.

[@cmiles97x38]

Emotional Rescue will blow her mind, just how Mick sings that one.

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

And Wild horses...

[@TheJollySims]

So underrated!

[@lindagardenlady]

Oh, yes!!!! I love love that song... "I'm coming to your eeemmmotional reeessscue"!!!! 😂😂❤❤

[@jjmail1971]

Omg yes

[@hotrox2112]

Uncharacteristic Falsetto is on full displays, predating Tattoo You "Miss You"

[@waltersmith8196]

Gimme Shelter with Merry Clayton's backing vocal. She makes the song. Iconic.

[@christophertaylor9100]

Yeah I want to see her react to that bit. Larynx shattering

[@animistchannel]

Okay, a couple notes: One, Mick's note-slides are deliberate, and he has continued to do them the same way for 55 years, for the same reason and to the same effect. Two , the woo-hoos and other falsetto inserts are a callback/inspired by Little Richard, representing a cry of pure unfiltered spirit. The most uninhibitted and deliberate student of Little Richard in this way was probably Prince. When you look at the evolution of rock vocal stylings, they pretty much lead back to Little Richard for the falsetto woops, Jerry Lee Lewis for the register breaks , BB King for the raw strains, Bob Dylan for folksy/magic chanting style (like Stevie Nicks and Dire Straits), Bing Crosby for the swooning romantics (a la INXS, for example), and Aretha Franklin for the emotive high arias (a la Boston). In the total Rolling Stones sound, it may seem like Mick is "leading" the band in various movements, but actually the whole band-vocal-composition vibe is orchestrated by Keith Richards, the main lead guitar and bandleader. Artistically, he may be an arrogant prick to work with, but he knows what he's going for and how to achieve it. Can't argue with results.

[@treetopjones737]

Tangent when the Beatles met Little Richard, Paul wanted to learn how he did the "woo-oo-oooo" thing.

[@jerrycunningham1820]

Didn't know Keith was difficult. Longest lived drug user, yes.

[@TheChristoph68]

Brian Jones was the leader and founder of the Stones and showed keith how to play guitar at the start of the band.

[@randallpetersen9164]

You have to have sympathy for the devil, because everything we blame on him, is actually on us. "Tell you one time - You're to blame!"

[@donaldb1]

Yes. Also, "I shouted out, 'Who killed the Kennedys', when after all, it was you and me!"

[@HabaneroTi]

Well, yeah, of course, just as god is a projection of our imagined best selves, the devil is a projection of our imagined worse ones. We're always projecting ourselves onto things, real and imagined.

[@brenleedee8061]

I am always shocked when someone says they have not heard a band, especially as popular as the Rolling Stones.....and they have a musical background.

[@GTRmike64]

The genius of Jagger's singing is that he sings every note like it physically hurts.

[@shaun374]

Makes it look that way, too. 😂

[@CaptainFirefred]

Mick Jagger dropping truth bombs about human nature, love this song.

[@rickemmet1104]

I just ran into this vid, very nice, Elizabeth. I love the fact that you grew up with Classical music (Opera) and are truly listening to this music for the first time - it provides a prospective nobody else could offer. Mick Jagger, regardless of what people say about his persona, has always been to me a song writer, first and foremost. Listen to the instruments and notice that nobody is doing anything elaborate, all the riffs are very simple. But, you can listen to this as a jam for about half an hour without feeling like they need to change up anything. There were a number of bands of the era that could do this and it always amazed. Yeah, and the lyrics of these songs are pretty fantastic too. I like your take, that is is Vodou Magic!

[@jerryhocutt9139]

“Angie” is a great song from Rolling Stones

[@zebj16]

I have to agree, Mick nails this song, so much emotion in his voice 😢.

[@tejoe13]

"Angie" and "Can't Always Get What You Want" are my two favorite RS songs.

[@Cadinho93]

This is truly an amazing song that points out how humanity uses the devil as a fall guy to excuse our own inhumanity. Also, I had the chance to see The Rolling Stones back in May of this year. 60+ years and they're still excellent. Mick Jagger is also 81 years young, still singing and dancing like he's in his 20s. Definitely recommend you or anyone to see these guys live, especially who haven't had the chance as of yet!

[@metalmark1214]

Agree, with your first sentence. Now more than ever

[@slkinia]

You've got the song quite backwards. Which is not surprising.

[@SubroutineLtd]

@@slkinia No this analysis is correct. He is asking for sympathy because we need to realise that the evil we see in him is in fact from us.

[@coldwhite4240]

Of course, from a Christian perspective, you can also see this as the Devil taunting mankind, while at the same time holding a mirror up to itself. Either way, it's a brilliantly crafted song, and again, as a Christian, I don't consider it an actual "defence" for the Devil, as some fundamentalists thought from just the title "Sympathy for the Devil". Quite the reverse. As Elizabeth pointed out, the song really brings to the fore aggression and a sinister threatening and mocking tone, which again is exactly how one would imagine the character of "The Devil" (whether you believe such a being exists or is simply a literary device).

[@SubroutineLtd]

@@coldwhite4240 fair enough.

[@Giggirl]

Saw them live in 2018, to see Mick Jagger skipping across the stage with his hair flowing in his 70’s was something to behold ❤🎶

[@alstark64]

"They're aren't many people that feel like they inhabit the entire role of a performer" What a line! And Mick Jagger, along with precious few others, created a template and role model for so many lead singers to emulate.

[@martinnewtonholmes]

"The only performance that makes it all the way is the one that achieves madness"

[@Randies0124-df8eq]

It's so fun to watch you react to songs by iconic bands of my youth. Your naivety is refreshing and charming, and of course your analysis superb. It gives me a new appreciation of music we just took for granted. We knew it was good, but I didn't appreciate the nuances. Many future genres of popular music were born in the cauldron of '60s and '70s rock, and if you listen, you hear the roots. Metal, Punk, Grunge, etc. And the '60s, '70s bands, in turn, being influenced by blues, folk and classical. No wonder younger people today still appreciate this music!

[@foof76]

This song, Paint it Black, and Gimme Shelter (studio version) are my favorites of theirs and probably ones that you might have heard in passing because they're so popular.

[@tjroelsma]

Mick being off-pitch almost more than on-pitch is what makes his voice so unique. And this is what used to make singers stand out: you knew immediately who was singing: Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison; all unique voices. Which is something we are missing now autotune rules.

[@MostlyMe-zu4cs]

It being a feature of Blues music - there's all of those singers to look at.

[@craenor]

It surprised me a few years ago to learn just how on-pitch Bob Dylan is, or at least was. Sure, his voice is crazy unique, but dead on pitch in many songs.

[@bfbartholomew]

When is she going to listen to Van Morrison singing Caravan on The Last Waltz?

[@ateamfan42]

"A wrong note played hesitatingly is a wrong note. A wrong note played with conviction is interpretation. "

[@Ph8rus]

Perfect imperfection! Even their studio work doesn't sound like it is "engineered." They just play, baby!

[@rdrrr]

The Stones were so good in large part because they were "loose". The rhythm's got push-and-pull, it all sounds so effortless

[@ronreynolds1610]

@@rdrrr Rock and Roll brings imperfections in the world to a perfect place ..... IMO

[@rdrrr]

​@@ronreynolds1610 All the best rock bands are a little bit loose, IMO. Besides the Stones my favorites are The Sonics, The Stooges, The Replacements. It's kinda like how a pretty face with something unique about it is more attractive to most guys than a generically beautiful Hollywood face. A little "imperfection" makes it human, alive, exciting.

[@Ph8rus]

​@rdrrr It's funny Elizabeth brought up Rush. I've never liked Rush's studio/radio songs. My wife dragged me to a Rush concert many years ago and I was blown away with their live performance. I still don't care for them on radio. It may have been how carefully they recorded. Go figure.

[@joe6096]

I just saw the Rolling Stones live in Cleveland in June 2024..... Mick still brings it at 80 years young now. This song is 56 years old. You just "introduced yourself" to the greatest rock n roll band in the world!!

[@damiku-8866]

I've always considered them the greatest rhythm&blues band in the world. With some strange dips into country music at times. Rock and roll was there but often seemed an afterthought. Definitely a lot of influences and fusions. Favorite Stones song: probably Midnight Rambler, though Gimme Shelter is certainly up there.

[@Elephant2024]

Speaking of Cleveland, there is a great Rolling Stones display at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. A place every music enthusiast should get to.

[@pryzmcat]

You spelled Led Zepplin wrongA:P

[@damiku-8866]

@@pryzmcat Does anyone actually still care about Led Zeppelin anymore? They were overblown and overrated in the 70s and relics by the 80s. I find them painful and embarrassing to listen to now. Physical Grafitti is about the only album I could still listen to without wincing. The Stones are still enjoyable to listen to, at least. I get the impression that LZ fans are guys who carry around a tape measure so that they can whip out that and their manhood at a moment's notice to prove a point that nobody else cares about.

[@joe6096]

@@pryzmcat In their time, yes, but who's still touring? Who just released a new album with a number one hit?

[@ChrisLegner-qp1yh]

Excellent place to start. This is an intimate live look at The Stones during their peak era.

[@edackerman5460]

Of all the Stone's stuff, this might have the most infectious groove. If this doesn't make you want to move, check your pulse, you might be dead.

[@Skeletron7]

Jumpin Jack Flash is up there too

[@edackerman5460]

​@@Skeletron7 Truth

[@13miette]

Shattered, too

[@garymaidman625]

I think an underrated infectious melody/groove is She's A Rainbow.

[@KneeAches]

For my 17 year old Beatles loving self at the time, this was the song that took me from liking the Stones singles to recognizing they were a hell of a band. My favorite Stones LP to this day.

[@Hammer4999]

Your response to his charisma highlights the fact that these super groups and performers from our generation were super for a reason.

[@ChrisSmith-bh2hg]

I always thought that a super group was a group of musicians who got together after they became famous. The Rolling Stones got together before they were famous, and should rather be be referred to as a great band. Having said that, you were lucky to hear the '60's when fresh. I grew up in the '90's, the second best time to hear great original music.

[@Hammer4999]

@@ChrisSmith-bh2hg Your description sounds more like an All Star group to me. Maybe super is the wrong word to describe them, but there were bands that came out that simply changed the entire music scene, and the Stones were certainly one of them. Incidentally, they aren't even close to being one of my favorites, but were undeniably one of the great ones that emerged from our era.

[@ChrisSmith-bh2hg]

@@Hammer4999 You're right. I also used the word "great" to describe them.

[@fr.andygutierrez5356]

“Miss You” has some great vocal variation. It really sounds like he’s having fun singing that one

[@kellyhoward6941]

TY! I've gotten so much grief since it came out; I love it, loved dancing to it, but was always told "it's just disco, it sucks "

[@bystarlite33]

One of my faves!

[@garymaidman625]

​@@kellyhoward6941people think you're craaaaazy?

[@kellyhoward6941]

@garymaidman625 😆😆. especially when I been hauling ass so long & shufflin' on my feet. What's the matter witchoo, boy? 😉

[@garymaidman625]

@@kellyhoward6941 doo doo doo du du doo, doo doo doo du du doo, doo doo doo du du doo, doo du doo doo. (That's probably the most sense I've ever made right there).

[@StephenAllison-gl2ky]

Greatest frontman in rough history, Mick Jagger

[@pz3443]

Elizabeth, for Mick's vocal analysis, check out Ruby Tuesday from 1967.

[@fladder1]

Was thinking the exact same thing!

[@garymaidman625]

You mean for more vocal analysis of Mick, because she is analyzing his voice in this.

[@sombojoe]

I have never heard or seen this version, but oh my God you 1000% picked the perfect one

[@jokermtb]

The Rolling Stones Rock n Roll Circus recording- wasn’t released until years after cuz jagger hated how they sounded. I thought it was pretty good

[@trystandavies2469]

Mick Jagger has one of the most unique voices of all time. You know it's him straight away whatever he's signing

[@GregIsAFan]

It is so fun to hear someone who knows a lot about the formal, mathematical and scientific side of music discover new music and genres and to have them explain some of the reasons we love the songs and performers we do.

[@alfasteve12]

She validates our emotions, and why we've loved this music for 50+ years.

[@Fringedwellr]

1.8 million humans concur!

[@jondhuse1549]

I saw the Stones live earlier this year - at 80 years old, Mick Jagger still has that same energy, voice, and charisma!

[@jmacd8817]

Same. I was shocked at his energy and the overall sound. I'm not that energetic and I'm in my mid 50s

[@rickmeister]

Saw them last year. The "variety" of ages at the concert was amazing...20's, 30's all the way to wheelchairs!!

[@tazabe]

Greatest Rock n Roll band in the world. No debate. Phenomenal. Plus my favorite drummer. RIP Charlie.

[@matteoedwardes2876]

I think they are close with Zeppelin. One day I’ll say the Stones the next it’s Zep.

[@iKvetch558]

JFC...the Stones look SO young in this video...Mick is a frakkin BABY!

[@randywissler9923]

Yes, but at that time Keith Richards was already 465 years old. 😂😂

[@stanlanier7640]

25 years old

[@suzanneemerson2625]

56 years ago in 2024?

[@bobfranzwa3014]

Studio version of "Gimme Shelter"!

[@LarsFunkRoad]

Grand Funk does a version of Gimme Shelter. LIVE. ! Heard it?. Badass !

[@tinagilbert8902]

NOPE... the live is the best!! She will be able to SEE with her eyes what he's doing with his vocals/vocal expressions and then Merry Clayton's vocals and delivery as well is sure to move her. It's stunning. Just saying. Peace and light...💞

[@uzazil]

​@@tinagilbert8902none of the live versions beat the recording, her voice cracking which caused her to have a miscarriage the next day, the wooo from mick in the booth. It's iconic

[@user-vs6hx9ib2o]

Absolutely! Got to do the studio version on that one because of the amazing backup singer, I want to say it was Mary Wilson something like that 20 Feet from Stardom movie. Also, I had heard the story before but she was woken up in the middle of the night while pregnant to come sing 'War children, it's just a shot away' and despite being pregnant and woken up at 3:00 a.m., was one of the most memorable vocals of all time❤ Oops, not Mary Wilson, I knew that didn't sound right, it was Merry Clayton.

[@Scoots1994]

Mick said he was an accountant playing a rock star. Keith Richards is the rock star, so Mick just asks himself what would Keith do. Keith is the model Johnny Depp used for Captain Jack Sparrow.

[@Scoots1994]

@@69rpmrecords Absolutely, Mick's business first approach is THE reason the Stones are one of the most successful bands in history.

[@trystandavies2469]

I think you underestimate how much Mick partied and did all the drugs as much as any of them did for a long time. He realised that he had to become the "responsible" one pretty quickly though if the band were to keep going

[@dudleyvaxxer7241]

@@trystandavies2469 I think if Mick hadn't become the responsible one Bill Wyman would have.... He was the straight one....I don't believe he participated in the drug use.... He was the guy that documented everything.....Bill once said that he loved to stand back during the live performance and watch the rest of the band perform....while being one of the best rock and roll base players...

[@MyLucee]

Love the Stones. Have seen them three times in three different decades. Mick is a fantastic showman and his stamina is off the charts. I would love to hear you break down Gimme Shelter. Merry Clayton’s back ups…will send shivers down your spine

[@christophertaylor9100]

Listening to her singing isolated was jaw dropping, it hits like a sledgehammer

[@skevich1]

The Stones toured this summer. Mick is 81 years old and still has more energy than many young men.

[@josephgrijalva9395]

you always bring me to that moment when i first heard these songs. sometimes it makes me so emotional to see your face as your eyes and ears are being opened up to new sounds and images. we have loved these songs for ages. and you bring us right back to that first experience again. (my first rock album was Exile on Main Street.) thank you.

[@Peace2U689]

Thanks for being so awesome! Would love to hear your reaction to Gimme Shelter (studio version to capture the intriguing story of the backup singer who I believe only sang with them that night for the recording) for your next Rolling Stones video. ❤

[@andrewstableford9781]

I read an article online years ago that the Stones crew woke singer Merry Clayton up in the middle of the night to record Gimme Shelter. When she sings the third “r@pe murder” line her voice cracks and she thought she messed up. The guys loved it and if you listen closely to the album version you can hear Mick and Keith whooping it up in the booth.

[@pmsphoto]

She's called Merry Clayton, is stillalive and also recorded her own version of 'Gimme Shelter' which is absolutely amazing.... :-)

[@anneahlefeld1989]

​ @@andrewstableford9781 She was also having a miscarriage during the recording. I believe she also sang on Sweet Home Alabama.

[@colleen113]

The story behind this video is that the video was supposed to be an hour-long BBC special. The Stones felt like The Who had blown them off the stage, it was 5 am and the audience was exhausted . Mick pulled out all the stops for this performance to get the audience going again! Still, they refused to release it until 1996!

[@skilletpan5674]

I think that's because Mick sounds rather tired etc in the opening. I don't think they thought it was their best performance.

[@domchota]

and Brian Jones is as high as a kite

[@richardyoung3462]

The Stones hadn't done any performances or recordings for almost a year (British tabloids were saying the band was over/done), and Brian would end up dead about the same time the editing of the special was being finished. So, the combination of several things lead to it not being released. If you throw in the fact that The Who had just come off a US tour and were basically in top form, it's easier to see why they didn't want to air it.

[@user-gv4cx7vz8t]

Too much ego, not enough respect for great music at the time, or it would have been released.

[@scottythetrex5197]

I don't know how this idea developed the Stones had a bad set, the Who was better, etc. That's not what I see and hear. The Stones were awesome.

[@TheGodofMustard]

I'm sure someone mentioned this, but this whole concert was filmed over about a 36 hour period, so the band had been up for 36 hours, and were exhausted. No doubt chemicals contributed to this, but Mick came out and pushed the band through this performance. That dude STILL has this kind of energy. It is staggering. And, I don't think anyone knew he had the paint on his chest until he removed his shirt.

[@ginkgobilobatree]

Yeah, not tattoos!

[@irish66]

Interesting.

[@justinblumberg8101]

If E is going to go down The Rolling Stones rabbit hole then I think the next song ought to be "You Can't Always Get What You Want". But I'd also recommend "Citadel" and "Angie" too. These three songs give a sense of what both the Stones and Mick can do.

[@CuriousCrow-mp4cx]

"You Can't Always Get What You Want" is my favourite Rolling Stones track, and "Angie" is not half bad either.

[@theknave69]

@@CuriousCrow-mp4cx I also love "Wild Horses."

[@schandler52]

Hard to believe you’ve never listened to the Rolling Stones. Even my 35-year-old daughter has heard many of their songs- you’re very entertaining.

[@HenryHaven-c3q]

Jagger is a first-class performer , the Rolling Stones are top shelf ! Honky Tonk Blues , Shattered , , Wild Horses , Paint it Black , Give Me Shelter , You Can't always Get what you want , and so many more ! I've seen them 4 times in concert and was always rocked every time !! ❤

[@tristankrohn2942]

"A Quick One While He's Away" by The Who from this same show is a must watch.

[@gregorymccasland2874]

The whoo hoos are so prevalent in the studio version. It’s constantly going in the background through the whole song.

[@IlChatNoir17]

Yeah. No wonder they didn’t do it in the live version. Theyre a real pain to sing and sustain during the entire song (trust me, I’ve tried )!

[@Nelson-ok2jv]

Maryann faithful started that woo woo during recording and it stuck

[@bentindle9036]

Yep, version loses something without the whoos hoos in the background.

[@leftcoaster67]

It sounds like a railcar going to hell.

[@chrisschneiders6734]

Yes, 126 times to be excalt..that's from my memory from over 40 years ago.. can't remember how many times l had to listen to the song to count to 126, would have been alcohol and pot in the mix.

[@recce8619]

Jagger sang a lot as a child, loved to sing. As a young teem he was into blues music, and in a "garage band" covering blues tracks. The first couple of UK hits for the Stones were blues covers; the name of the band is from a Muddy Water's song. Very much part getting blues music popular in the '60s.

[@TYJGB]

So amazing to me that someone with the musical knowledge and experience like Elizabeth, and after all of her music reviews, has never heard a song by the Rolling Stones before. Enjoyed watching her reaction to this song, and there are SO many other great songs from this iconic band.

[@musicadynamica]

It seems a little funky to me that a person who professes such love for music has had so little exposure to all types of music. She called this song contemporary when it actually came out in what 1974? I'm not saying I see through a facade here but I find it odd that someone so in love with music has not been exposed to all of it. I don't care much for rap but I can name most rappers in their style. I don't care much for pop but I expose myself to it to keep up. I don't know, not making any judgments, but a song like Sympathy for the Devil never coming up in your playlist till now? That's a little funky.

[@energythief]

@@musicadynamicaI’m not saying you’re wrong, but I was born in the 70s and I don’t think I’ve ever listened to this song all the way through before. It can happen.

[@sbgsbg9994]

⁠@@musicadynamica1968.

[@andybricks576]

@@musicadynamica I agree, I smell a rat!

[@ethan6840]

I would highly highly highly recommend The Who’s performance from this show “A quick one while he’s away.” They were the first opening act and they had one of the best performances of all time. Many people think they overshadowed even The Rolling Stones with their performance, and their showman ship in that one song is still unmatched by any other act.

[@jhousekey100]

Holeeee shit! I'm a long time Who fan and I've never seen that before. Just magnificent!

[@Turtle1631991]

There's also Jethro Tull being awesome

[@WhizzRichardThompson]

​@@Turtle1631991With Tony Iommi on guitar.

[@ArcaneAnarchy]

The Rock n Roll Circus is the most unhinged performance by not just the Stones, but all musical acts. It's hands down my favorite version of this song, Mick absolutely kills it! And can we just appreciate that shot of Lennon bopping along to it? 😅

[@StephenRBukovinsky]

The Stones shelved this special for like 30 years. Want to know why? Check out The Who A Quick One While He's Away. No one was ever able to match their energy on stage. Almost forgot to mention that this song has 4 different sections and has been referred to the mini opera and led to Tommy and later Quadrophenia!

[@vicmars6655]

It's probably the Who's best performance on film. The vocal harmonies between Pete, Roger, and John are unbelievable. Especially the coda where the three are weaving in and out of each other. And John's falsetto is as steady as his bass is outrageous.

[@chriseckert613]

I'm laughing at all of us old folks who expect everyone to be familiar with music that is over 50 years old. You were one of the first content creators who I discovered on KZbin. You may have had 200k subscribers or so at the time and here you are at 1.8M. Your kindness, knowledge, 'charisma' and consistent work have paid off handsomely. Congrats again on this and to the growing family.

[@billn7183]

Great reaction as always. I can't decide which of my favorites to suggest, so here is most of them Paint it Black Angie Wild Horses You can't always get what you want I can't get no ... satisfaction Gimme shelter Jumpin Jack Flash Brown sugar Start me up Sad Sad Sad Get off of my cloud She's a rainbow Beast of Burden Ruby Tuesday Mothers little helper Miss you I'm sure there's more, but I'll stop there. Enjoy your journey of discovery 🇨🇦

[@nancys4271]

Wow. I’m not even a Stones fan per se but she’s got sooooooo much more to delve into with the Stones’ sound. I’m almost envious of the person that gets to hear some of these classics for the first time. ❤

[@wombatcube]

He's definitely going there. The increasing tempos, the subtle wickedness, the reveal once everyone is synchronized with the frenzy. It's like a dark version of church. It was magickal.

[@utekrause8334]

great comment, i grew up with this druggy atmosphere nothing heavy though.

[@MattBorchert]

The very best of The Rolling Stones is hard for anyone to match. Really defined an era.

[@jackolson8775]

They defined about 3 eras !!😀

[@kenjohnston1257]

The Beatles probably had more great songs but the best of the Stones is better than the best of the Beatles. I don't think the Beatles can touch Sympathy or Gimme Shelter

[@MattBorchert]

@@kenjohnston1257 Yeah almost my exact thought. I think the best of the Stones is better than the best of The Beatles, but clearly The Beatles had a much larger impact on music as a whole.

[@ChicagoJ351]

Mick was the archetype for a rock front man. It represented rebelliousness, freedom, how to keep the crowd entertained, etc… Steven Tyler, axl rose, they all became a thing but mick was the original. He influenced everyone else and set the standard. And you should check out van Morrison. From the same era, a bluesy singer like mick, also highly talented.

[@McLeod2022]

He and Robert Plant OWNED the stage, the mike, the arena. Freddie also.

[@Daveincc]

The amount of pure natural talent that is The Rolling Stones is off the chart. They’re masters that make the really difficult look easy.

[@ronreynolds1610]

..yeah ..I think they just ''do it'' ... throwing out the math calculations and proper music ''laws'' ...IMO...

[@Skeletron7]

'Jumpin Jack Flash' is definitely one of their best songs. Interesting vocals

[@michealsky-g1r]

lol

[@ejtringham]

The session player pianist Nicky Hopkins is a total legend. I mean, so are the Stones, but Hopkins really makes this one for me. There's just been a documentary released about him. And the whole of the concert this clip is taken from - Rock & Roll Circus - is well worth a watch. Gimme Shelter studio version with Merry Clayton going supersonic is my recommended next one to try.

[@RobTaylor-cs3bz]

Oh Elizabeth, you have opened the box to an incredible catalog of songs- over six decades worth, and still counting. The Stones are iconic! If you want a taste of their recent work, check out "Angry", "Whole Wide World", or "Get Close" from the album "Hackney Diamonds". They just received a Grammy nomination for best rock album for this album.

[@bentindle9036]

Mick Jagger is your visiting history professor today.

[@MikeM-uy6qp]

This is a great performance. Jagger's voice in top form. Great druggy atmosphere. Excellent snapshot of the time. As ever, your fresh ears helped me appreciate it more.

[@IgorFioli]

A living legend! We should appreciate that we live at the same point in time as these guys.

[@davidslusher2190]

I'm so happy to finally hear you analyze the Stones. Sympathy, IMHO, is the greatest rock song ever recorded. It was ground breaking, extraordinary work from the band who mad lots of amazing music.

[@goober8798]

Wait till she hears that Merry Clayton bridge in "Gimme Shelter" if she gets to it

[@rdrrr]

I'm only disagreeing with you because it's not called "Sway" Everything the Stones did from 68-72 is fantastic. Impossible to pick the "best", really

[@anthonydobbs1409]

First of all, I love this show how the Opera singer analyzes these rock voices. I love her reactions and facial expressions when hearing these bands for the first time. She is very sweet, genuine and likable. The thing I don't appreciate and makes it hard to watch through are all the advertisements. If I watch a 30 minute video of hers, I will have to watch 6 different advertisements of a minute each with no way to skip. I have never seen any other videos on KZbin with this many advertisements. It makes it extremely hard to follow through an entire video with all of these advertisements.

[@user-vs6hx9ib2o]

I can skip all of them after just 5 Seconds of playing and that's just normal KZbin I don't pay for anything on KZbin.

[@anthonydobbs1409]

Yes, most videos, I'm able to do the same thing. But it was not giving me that choice on these. Thanks for the feedback.

[@user-vs6hx9ib2o]

@@anthonydobbs1409 Hmm, I was able to skip them, but yeah every now & then there are ones I can't. It's especially annoying when it's mid-song, so I get it!

[@martinmclean5985]

She wants to understand Mick's words. That's so cute.

[@zkeletonz001]

This performance is from "The Rolling Stones Rock & Roll Circus." It was meant to be film and featured live performances from a multitude of great bands and performers. It's widely acknowledged that the best performance of the night was by The Who, doing their song "A Quick One (While He's Away)." You really should check it out, Daltry, Townsend and John Entwistle all sing and I think you'll be quite surprised by Entwistle's range.

[@jaygee5693]

Funnily, that's my least favourite Who song.

[@earlchapman8729]

This is one of the Who’s epic performances, so much so that the Rolling Stones kept the lid on that performance for nearly 30 years and killed the rock and roll circus show because their performance was so good……. very much outclassing and out playing the Stones.

[@zkeletonz001]

@@jaygee5693 Well the album version is awful. The live version is like a completely different song.

[@jaygee5693]

@@zkeletonz001 I've heard live versions, and I find that the more extended and theatrical it is, the worse it is. I like almost all of the Who's songs, but not this one.

[@zkeletonz001]

@@jaygee5693 Really? That's surprising. And kind of interesting. Welp, to each their own.

[@PatrickPoet]

it's so fun to see you working through the history of rock and roll--this was before his friend Tina Turner gave him dance lessons, his stage movement changed completely after that

[@iainmorrison6057]

A) listen to "Angie". Hear Nick's voice on a Ballad. B) that "move" is just called "Jagger". There is a Maroon5 song, called "Moves like Jagger". NObody has moves like Mick. He understands performance better than most others on the planet. C) Most performers have a self imposed dual personality. The Mick you see on stage, is not the Mick that goes to the pub, or the corner store. Offstage, he's just a dude. And a cool one, at that. Thanks. This was fun. ✌️💯 B. S. - your eyes got HUGE when he started taking his shirt off. Huge.😅👍

[@kevinL5425]

The song “American Pie” by Don McLean has a line “No angel born in hell could break that Satan’s spell”. This referred to an incident which took place during the Rolling Stones set at the Altamont Free Concert December 6, 1969. A fan pulled a gun on a member of the Hells Angels motorcycle club, which was hired to do security. The fan was stabbed and killed in what courts would determine was self defence. This came to be seen as the official end to the 1960’s peace and love counterculture movement. The Rolling Stones saw the incident, but after a brief stop continued their set, hoping it would help calm the violence. Don used this to symbolize Satan celebrating the loss of innocence of the American 50s and 60s rock music of groups like Buddy Holly. This song, “Sympathy for the Devil” helped inspire Don’s use of Satan in his song. At some point you should definitely review American Pie. The lyrics are an epic summary of major cultural and musical events of the 1960s. Don McLean refuses to help interpret the lyrics, instead letting people come to their own conclusions. It is a fascinating comment on the times.

[@echopeakbicycling85]

Definitely "American Pie." Such an iconic song.

[@otherstar1]

Weren't they actually playing Sympathy for the Devil when the stabbing happened?

[@kevinL5425]

@otherstar1 my understanding is they were playing “Under My Thumb”. They played “Sympathy For The Devil” earlier in the set. A fight did break out during “Sympathy For The Devil” which caused them to interrupt the song snd ask for calm, then they re-started the song. But this was before the stabbing.

[@alanfoxman5291]

The interesting thing also was that the media portrayed Woodstock, which had occurred earlier that year in August as a disaster because of the flood of people and the lack of facilities and drugs and such. In reality, despite all it's issues, Woodstock was really "Three Days of Peace Love and Music". Not wanting to be seen as out of touch, the media then reported Altamonte as this love fest when it was the exact opposite of Woodstock.

[@kevinL5425]

When Don McLean asked what the song meant, he said "It means I don't ever have to work again if I don't want to." :-)

[@Kermit_T_Frog]

I am not at all sure what makes the Stones work, but it is a victory of swagger over musicality.

[@breft3416]

I've seen them many times from their first American tour to now. The musicality is very much there. They chop wood and carry water. Watch the Shine a Light and Live at the Max movies.

[@JedidiahMaya]

The Rolling Stones, one of the greatest, if not the greatest rock band .

[@robertchatterley7245]

I highly recommend "Gimme Shelter. " That song was Keith Richard's baby.

[@bernhardkloepper7482]

True wrote song - felt alone not understood by Mick

[@jreinhardt9466]

I agree. Please analyze Gimme Shelter next. If you read the backstory of how Mary Clayton got involved and what it cost her personally, it’s heartbreaking and really makes you contemplate at what personal cost to the creators and performers art is sometimes made at.

[@EllaSilentDragon]

Iconic song. ❤ Glad you’re getting to know it now. Better late than never. 😊

[@joe6096]

On a side note, not really "voice" related, you need to watch the Stones live performance of Satisfaction in Boston in 1981 when a fan gets past security and runs on stage. Keith takes his guitar off and swings it at the guy mid song, and gets back into the groove like he never stopped. Just shows how these guys are legends.

[@plantgeek]

That is not a tattoo -- it's just a drawing for this performance. Thanks for this reaction! I cracked up at your explanation about the channel name too. :)

[@redatlit]

I think you would love Wild Horses as it’s also a very unique song that showcases Mick’s magical style. Beautiful song.