Nick Drake - River Man | Reaction!

It's always a great treat to react to Nick Drake. A hauntingly beautiful track with a great string section too!
Thanks for watching!
linktr.ee/insi...

[@sarahdlp524]

He wrote this aged 19 years old and it was arranged by his fellow Cambridge student Robert Kirby. He fired the professionals and brought this student in, the studio engineers and producer couldn't believe how well these two worked together.

[@rgsimon]

Not accurate, Sara. Arrangements for this song were made by Harry Robinson. The rest of the songs in the album were indeed arranged by Kirby, but not River man.

[@wendellwiggins3776]

This fell upon me as a teen in the early 70's like a heavy dose of sad yet hauntingly deep moving melancholic heaven & with the added nostalgia it activates even deeper emotions today. tears tears tears... It is one of my most cherished heartfelt songs out of dozens by this underappreciated genius

[@chune4383]

Lol you old

[@sdsdsdsdsd-hl5rk]

real

[@wellenstrom]

As bitter as it is, depression has never sounded as beautiful and sublime as it does with Nick Drake. The beautiful side of pain.

[@InsignificantNick]

Totally agree.

[@garethgriffiths1674]

I was a student at the time Nick Drake was active, and I never heard of him: only picking up on his music in the 90s. But the strange thing is, at that time we were all listening to someone with many similarities to Nick's music, John Martyn, especially his album Solid Air.

[@rubbersole79]

Nick recorded with the popular British group "Fairport Convention" (Richard and Linda Thompson) Their son Teddy Thompson did a concert honoring Nick. His rendition of "Riverman" is totally mesmerizing. A must see for any Nick fan.

[@markhughes9092]

I've got that concert on DVD it's brilliant especially Lisa Hannigan it was filmed at the Barbican theatre London

[@davidthom7127]

I haven't read all the comments, so I don't know if people have discussed who the Riverman was/is. In my opinion he's singing about Charon who ferried people across the river Styx to the underworld.

[@JoseHernandez-vz1ch]

Such a beautiful song, I never get tired of it.

[@galvinklatt5273]

The strings on this are exceptional. Just dripping with melancholy.

[@e.nowbodhi144]

more than a few people think this is the most beautiful song of all time, by anybody next up for you should be Nick's friend John Martyn

[@thoru4367]

This atmosphere

[@danielc7773]

It blows my mind that Nick Drake was largely unheard of until decades after his death. But posthumous fame is better than obscurity, of course. It's amazing the breadth of musicians that cite Drake as an influence. That was a thoughtful reaction, it takes you back to hearing him for the first time. Which I guess is the appeal of reaction channels. Get well soon.

[@penelopegreene]

It's been a long slow groundswell, but things as changed, like winter to spring in one of Drake's haunting songs.

[@tatethompson1234]

Well he refused to play live, refused most interviews, didn’t push music for AirPlay, etc.

[@ohkneeme]

River Man is the legendary guide on the River Styx who carries souls who have just entered the underworld into Hades (hell) . It's pretty eerie coming from Nick Drake when you know that he did, in fact, kill himself, and you consider that this song may have been written during a time of rumination about where his own soul would go after death.

[@markhughes9092]

It was never confirmed that he killed himself some say it was an accidental overdose

[@richardhodgson6711]

Nick's death was never ruled as a suicide, or otherwise, the only one who knows for sure is Nick himself, and he took that secret to his grave. It certainly does make this song even more haunting than it already is though

[@stevebell8552]

Beautiful song ❤

[@todd8372]

Nick Drake finally achieved critical acclaim when his song 'Pink Moon' was used in a VW commercial circa 2000. And again when 'Northern Sky' was highlighted in the 2001 movie 'Serendipity' with Kate Beckinsale and a bunch of other people whom I didn't even notice.

[@mercurymachines4311]

I'll never forget the first time I heard this song as a young teen. It totally blew me away, I'd never heard anything like it at that point in my life.

[@ezclappoggers]

yeah I mean I'm 21 and it blew me away, brought me to tears which is the only music that will for me so far.

[@fiveleavesleft6521]

I always think this song sounds like Nick trying to communicate a secret he'd discovered that nobody else was aware of. He definitely had some kind of insight. I'm still sad he never got to develop his incredible talent further.

[@tonybarruk2]

What a song, one of my favourites of all time, thanks for the thoughtful reaction...

[@martinquarton184]

Its one of his most admired songs.

[@bobr6]

she lost the pain is such a great lyric

[@dominicaaaaa5547]

Nice reaction man love this song it makes me feel sad

[@markhughes9092]

The song slightly relates to the River Cam and the river men sailing the punts similar to a gondola I've told my family that this song is to be played at my funeral

[@lornai7171]

Beautiful song. I think he's autumnal music though. V Cambridge. Look up pics of Cambridge- it seems to infuse his music like Iceland does to much of Bjork's 🌿🍁🍁

[@penelopegreene]

InsignificantNick meets QuiteSignificantNick. XD

[@JesseNewhart]

When he was coming up with titles for this album he submitted a series of ideas. The producer chose the title five leaves left and Nick laughed and said so be it. He released five albums and then died unexpectedly. There were Five leaves left... Indeed.

[@todd8372]

I believe he committed suicide.

[@JesseNewhart]

@@todd8372 it's debatable if I remember correctly. Something about medication possibly being mixed up inadvertently.

[@MisterWondrous]

Have you yet done "one of these things first"? Please do. You'll love. In Siddhartha, the riverman is there to carry you to the other side, at the end of your life. "O Nodire" is a beautiful, healing song that accompanies it in the great film, "Siddhartha". Hope you get fully well soon. Heeeeeeeeal!

[@penelopegreene]

Yes, Herman Hesse.

[@kenhewitt7357]

Robyn hitchcock does a brilliant live cover of the song, Robyn also does a lot of great stuff himself, especially live check out glass Hotel by him, you won't be disappointed.

[@skaboy-ro1gm]

Northern Sky next please

[@TheoZoffrok]

Seconded! One of the most gorgeous love songs ever written.

[@theGiantworm86]

the River man is death.

[@Caroline-ko9pv]

React to Fruit Tree!! I love this song!

[@anthonybeckwith1882]

How about listening to beautiful child by ruffus wainwright it’s a great song

[@JasonUmbrellabird]

How does a channel like this get so many subscribers?

[@InsignificantNick]

Because I'm a neat fella with neat subs who watch me listen to neat music.

[@JasonUmbrellabird]

@@InsignificantNick Stupid concept.