Focus - Hocus Pocus | REACTION

This Was Very Unexpected 😅
Here’s the video link • Focus - Hocus Pocus Li...

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

The band was instructed to shorten the song for the time slot but they just sped up the tempo and fit the entire song in - simply mad genius.

[@PongGod]

I guess that explains why it seemed he was singing much faster than I remember it!

[@0zoneTherapyW0rks]

No. That's how fast it was.

[@bradleymcconnell470]

This band is goals!!! 30 seconds in and I'm dying laughing. Thank you so much.

[@maxmaidment96]

@@0zoneTherapyW0rks The studio version is def slower. I'm sure it has more yodel verses too, instead of alternating between yodel, flute, yodel, whistle etc. I heard the studio version a few times before seeing it live and was always confused why it was faster but now I know.

[@sidneycoakley1524]

Max Maidment it doesn’t though. This version is incredible.

[@dbuck5350]

Jamel - "I was not expecting this!" Hey, none of us were expecting this when the song came out in the early 70s either!

[@MrTureson]

Guess the acid was better back then ;)

[@susanhotz8691]

lmao

[@Jo_Kuiper]

@@MrTureson It was, speaking from experience.

[@steve-ph9yg]

Eirik Blodyx It was but you would never listen to This while tripping.

[@FordPrefict42]

Hocus Pocus was recorded in 1971, the same year I was born. Great year!

[@BushcraftingBogan]

Kid: Grandpa, what were the 70s like? Me: Watch this Kid: was it really like that??? Me: Yeah. But sometimes it got weird too.

[@livedandletdie]

Pretty much sums it up.

[@derekbowbrick6233]

As a boomer I approve of this message. Thank-you for the laugh.

[@deannacrownover3]

I think this is the most accurate thing I've heard in 10 years!

[@nolaserv]

Good weird though.

[@loriwishman1866]

😂😂😂😂👍

[@blktauna]

The drummer is a beast! I love these guys and I'm glad you saw it. Great fun and excellent musicianship.

[@edgriffith952]

Once you stop laughing you have to admit it's still a kick ass song.

[@750count]

Yes it is

[@Whately80]

To say the least!

[@morfeophantasm7435]

oh HELL yes it is !!! ❤

[@urbangrouse]

Oh yeah!

[@alphacrusis2632]

Yeah - Jan Akkerman was shredding even before shredding was a thing!

[@ardie554]

Focus.. from the Netherlands.. makes me proud to be Dutch.

[@Military450Veteran]

COOL. 😎 👍 LOL. 😝 😂

[@Whately80]

You can be proud about Ekseption too ;)

[@charllubbers7585]

Don't forget Earth & Fire and Sandy Coast

[@sassymessmess9110]

I only know Golden Earring, Shocking Blue, Focus and Mouth and Macneal.

[@stoneblue1795]

Makes me hungry for wooden shoes.

[@mikeschmelzer9733]

This is a really fast version of this song. The guitarist, Jan Ackerman, is incredible. This was 1973, no one had ever heard of shredding on the guitars, and yet...there it is in it's purist form, without all of the distortion and echo effects. He just plugs his Les Paul into an amp and goes crazy. One of the greatest GUITARISTS you never heard of. They were a instrumental group mostly , from Holland. The rest of their music is not like this song, but Hocus Pocus got them noticed. The drummer is great too, an old style jazz drummer playing rock. Very talented band.

[@timwhitnell7145]

I haven't laughed this hard in a long time. Just seeing Jamel's eyes go super wide during the yodeling. I knew he had to walk off the screen for this one. It is a catchy back tune. Whether someone likes all of it or not, you won't ever, ever forget it - and you will show many others.

[@Kylora2112]

Focus: "Our song is 7 minutes long." Midnight Special: "You got 5." Focus: "Hold our cocaine."

[@flucazade]

please there was no coke left to hold

[@markwalding8205]

More like....get more cocaine..

[@bethmerryfield7186]

Haaaa!!!! That's awesome.

[@tago69mago]

Did seem a tad fast lol!

[@Military450Veteran]

👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎

[@josephdolman]

This is crazy the original studio version is nearly 8 minutes long they were given a 5 minute slot so they just played twice as fast.

[@HollowGolem]

So much energy in this one. I can't listen to the studio version anymore. This is THE definitive version, for me.

[@Lwize]

I'm gonna rewatch the video at a slower speed. 0.75 speed works well.

[@jazzpunk]

@@Lwize Popping a 'lude was no help. ;-O

[@mentaldk329]

Focus. Prog band from Nederlands.

[@eruantien9932]

@@HollowGolem Agreed with that. And Thijs psyching himself up at the start... so funny.

[@rogerfroud300]

Brilliant musicians, and a wonderful antedote to some of the other bands of the time who took themselves way too seriously.

[@halweiss8671]

Seems serious to me.

[@deborabump1618]

@@halweiss8671 yes, but they completely abandoned what was "normal" at that time-as diverse as it was, even..and took it several steps further. or farther. whatever...you know what i mean. this vocalist....unlike anybody else at the time. very daring and adventurous!

[@frankgross135]

You can't imagine how cool this song was in the 70s. Going to High School and hearing this in the halls, on the radio (full version!) It was epic!

[@Bill-wp8ej]

I'm right there with you I do remember walking The Halls of high school I was in high school from 74 to 78 and I remember specifically when this song came out

[@kevinnobody3052]

And Jamal's brain explodes as he walks off the set. 🤪 This song is from back in the 70's when I was in high school. Now you know what's wrong with most of us. 🤪

[@j.c.a2872]

if your school was anything like mine, the operative word was "high"

[@92548dannyt]

I was a 17 year old sailor in 73.

[@sonyablade1534]

Graduated in 1979. Seems like 100 years ago. LOL

[@0zoneTherapyW0rks]

@@sonyablade1534 Best year ever. EVERYTHING was new! Rap, hiphop, punk, new wave just getting started... then you had excellent art rock like Yes, Rush, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd... The video decade (80's) killed great music and signed eye candy bands instead.

[@sonyablade1534]

@@0zoneTherapyW0rks my kids comment that I grew up in the best decade lol

[@sjcsiba]

The guitar player, Jan Akkerman, was crowned best guitar player of the world in 1973 by Melody Maker.

[@gafas_]

And rightfully so.

[@radioethiopiate9327]

The sweep he busts out at 5:41 in this vid is a resounding "fuck you" to every guitar player ever.

[@ChipEstrada]

Damn, he almost as good as Terry Kath... Almost.

[@markabboud8564]

leeuwin1962 Them and Shocking Blue

[@markabboud8564]

leeuwin1962 I spent almost 2 weeks in Den Hague! I have friends there, and went on tour around most of Europe for 6 months, it was amazing....especially since I’m a history nerd.

[@LambentLark]

Mister was not prepared for what just happened. No one warned him he was literally going on a musical roller coaster. I was hanging on for dear life next to him. WeeHaw! That was fun!

[@savyjett]

Exact same!

[@austinmorrison6953]

Warned? How do you even warn someone about THIS? Why would you warn someone about this god tier yodeling?

[@GrayGoosePNW]

I’ve never seen him have to leave the room 😂

[@caporalmoutarde]

i think he listen to much commercial rap song..

[@rk3689]

Midnight Special: We need you to do an 8 minute song in 4 minutes. Focus: OK.

[@donreid6399]

Yup! Being able to speed the tempo up to double-time...amazing!

[@Triton_Secure]

yeah... I know the original well... this was painful.

[@nopenothappening2242]

"better do a couple extra lines then" *snorfffff*

[@TigerRogersOfficial]

As soon as this popped up in my feed, my first thought was "Man, he's gonna have a field day with this one"

[@dorisbutler7106]

Me too! I HAD to see what would happen!

[@reallymysterious4393]

Me too !!!! Can anyone else imagine Andy Kaufman have played the part of the singer in a cover version ???

[@randiD123]

@@reallymysterious4393 totally who I thought if when I saw the guy!

[@andrewsauve4051]

When I saw Hocus Pocus I had to watch. I giggled my ass off the whole time at your reaction

[@andrewsauve4051]

@@reallymysterious4393 got that right brother. Stay safe from Canada

[@mrgone658]

I would've paid real money if they'd panned over to Gladys just to see the expression her face. Just for a second.

[@jackieblue787]

YES !!!

[@ext93]

She was a baddie

[@Scottie_S]

I would have loved to have seen that too. However, I would liked to have seen Gladys in any way, shape or style. I was crushed on her pretty bad.

[@TheFunkadelicFan]

This is just the reaction I expected. The look on Jamel's face when the vocals started!

[@sharonkaylor9987]

Any kudos at all to Jan Akkerman? One of the finest guitarists, ever!

[@HisDivineShadow007]

He was voted the best guitarist in the world (at least from the European perspective) over Clapton, Hendrix ad all the rest.

[@sharonkaylor9987]

@@HisDivineShadow007 Had no idea! Can't say I'm surprised.

[@Boxyde]

Jan Akkerman in 1966 playing virtuoso on this piece: m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4C4pWmjZs6irpY

[@amyslingsby6947]

How could anyone warn you about THIS?! When I saw it on the feed, I knew my day was about to improve.

[@racebiketuner]

Yup. Saw the title and couldn't wait to see your reaction.

[@Triton_Secure]

nup... this was the peak of anyone's day!! It's all down-hill from here.

[@richarddexter7641]

Jamel: "I can't stop laughing, man!" Us: "Neither can we!"

[@valkyrie1066]

I think this was the 45 i bought as a child. My parents realized my tastes were changing. First album I bought was Alice Cooper Biilion Dollar Babies. Puberty was changing their sweet little girl...lol. Again, NEVER SAW THE VIDEO! Thank you Jamel! Yodeling caught me by surprise as well, but it occurred to me that NO ONE could duplicate that range. Seems silly, but he hit (almost) every note! Go ahead, TRY and sing that part! LOL It feels like they are just having a good time, not like a tightly produced song. Very freeform and freeing! He was doing about the same as a vocal "guitar solo".

[@Boxyde]

This is a live version so no tight production indeed. If you want to hear the studio version and original mix (which had its Dutch premiere in 1971): m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHjEh4h3pamJq7s.

[@51Lorie]

Jamel, this has to be my all time favorite reaction from you! I've gone back to this several times and I laugh just as hard each time! These guys were genius! And you, Jamel, are just plain awesome! Love ya, man!

[@lcozzarelli]

You must do “Frankenstein” by the Edgar Winter Group! It was meant as a drum exercise, but it has one of the baddest guitar licks in rock and roll history!

[@39thala]

That would be Rick Derringer on guitar. [Hang On Sloopy (from his McCoys days), Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo, (Another example of his hot guitar licks!)] By the way, I had that Edgar Winter LP that I bought new back in the early eighties "They Only Come Out at Night", GREAT album!! Held on to it for years in mint condition and finally sold it a fews years back.

[@garethedwards9129]

I second that!

[@professionalvampire1]

Came here to say this!

[@Drax514]

This absolutely needs to happen!!

[@lourenzi8820]

@@garethedwards9129 Yes! Tobacco Road too!

[@HenricoNar]

Crazy Dutchies ! ;-) Jan Akkerman is a legend !

[@vibefrequencyable]

My favorite guitarist...i am the one that requested that version of the tune...

[@netrioter]

Pass the Dutchie on the left hand side

[@clos5700]

Agreed

[@tyeggstaff7987]

I was there Friday night back in 1973 when this aired. Friday nights were the best times if my life. 12 years old , the radio station aleats broadcast the show so it was in stereo and my dad had surround sound. We called it quadraphonic.

[@Richardtv1968]

Dutch legends with a Musician Masterclass ……. First standing ovation at the Midnight Special!!!! They had to shorten their song because there was a small timeslot they got, they refused to shorten it so they sped things up! Thijs van Leer on keyboard and flute, Pierre van der Linden on drums, Bert Ruiter on bass and the best guitarplayer ever, according to Brian May of Queen, Jan Akkerman ……. These are fantastically skilled musicians ….. and yes, Gladys Knight without the Pips

[@jeanniegiaquinto2316]

Hats off to whomever sent Jamel this video....how could this one have slipped by for so long?Perfect.

[@garycoker1990]

yw i know i sent it but i'm probably not the only one.

[@RedbadvanRijn-ft3vv]

Thanks.

[@phreddieboy5774]

@@garycoker1990 Make sure you do your REACTION when he "finds you"... lol

[@criselver4244]

It's always well cool watching someone's face when they hear "Hocus Pocus" by Focus for the first time. Nice stuff Jamal, I really dig your reactions . . . you've got a great desire to give anything a go which we should all have. Top geezer Jamal!!!

[@jipfluffy2143]

Best reaction. I watch a lot of these reaction videos but I’ve never seen anybody just take out their headphones or walk away for a second just to get their s**t together after hearing some yodeling! Priceless!

[@annelihod]

I was soooo excited to see what your reaction would be and you did not let me down. Lmao when you walked off. This performance is NUTS in the best way.

[@TheGwydion777]

Thijs van Leer, the guy on the keyboard, I've had the honor of meeting twice when he played at our local festival. Very nice man.

[@johnmyers9777]

Ya are a lucky man ? Us owld lads can mind this band b'cos they were the sort of lads that hooked ya in with their sheer enthusiasm and madness that a hell of a lot of us grew up with ! Special days with special bands that were everywhere and anywhere ! Swedish these lads I'm sure 🤓

[@123marijn321]

John, they’re Dutch!

[@TheGwydion777]

@@johnmyers9777 Focus is a Dutch band, don't be too sure.

[@iamnumfive]

Thijs van Leer was a very talented vocalist, musician, and front man.

[@flakedwheelie]

Wind Lady He still is. Check out the song ‘Amazing Flight’ by Ayreon, Thijs enters the stage at 5:38.

[@kevn99]

I laughed my ass off watching you watch this crazy song. The whistling topped it off. Peace.

[@TheKitchenerLeslie]

Have you seen the St. Sanders version? 100 times funnier!

[@briane173]

Love it! Love you brother Jamal! You express what everybody thinks when they first hear these guys.

[@caspervanelli6502]

"I will find you..." 😂🤣 but the guitarist is Jan Akkerman, one of the best :-) Try 'Sylvia', basically a Jan Akkerman solo.

[@lisarainbow9703]

I have to strongly second this suggestion..

[@KingCthe5]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpDbqWhmi8-GhJY

[@georgeprime2249]

Sylvia ! Yes. I was trying to remember the title.

[@BasherBrookes]

Yes Sylvia is much better in my opinion

[@banja9172]

Don't forget Jan Akkerman on guitar! He is just insane!

[@j.c.a2872]

yeah right, the guy could shred !!!!

[@stevenaustin8274]

@@j.c.a2872 jan can do anything jazz classical rock shredding

[@kaybee4143]

I don't want to see the comment "He was so under-rated." He got plenty of recognition back in the mid 70s.

[@joeday4293]

Put some respect on his funny Dutch name.

[@RDreamer]

@@kaybee4143 He was not underrated in his day, but I don't think most people today remember how great he was.

[@tjmooremusic]

Saw them in SF when I was a teenager. I'm 62 years old now. Back in the day We would pay $5.00 And see 5 bands. These guys were one of the " warm up bands " I forget who was headlining that night but Focus definitely was memorable.

[@eddiehawkins7049]

I don't think that is far off what I paid for a half day gig which included Beefheart, Floyd , Roy Harper and many others at Knebworth in the UK. Even if you take into account what we got paid in those days, live music was much better vfm.

[@roderickmackay1040]

@@eddiehawkins7049 '74 I think, Floyd played Dark Side, some of Wish You Were Here and Echos as an encore. Floyd delayed as the power was fluctuating and throwing the synths out of tune.

[@nolaserv]

Really, I remember those ticket prices and no fee's for Ticketmaster. Had bought them in record stores. And the starting bands were great too. All of the shows were general admission. There was a place called the Warehouse in New Orleans. If you sat in the middle of the speakers on the floor, you could get high for free. LOL! Of course those days are over for me.

[@phoenixmichaels]

@tjmooremusic No doubt. I saw Montrose, ELO, and Deep Purple in '72 for $2.50.

[@473mec]

The song is most often referred to as Hocus Pocus by Focus. The band is Dutch and the members are classically trained musicians. The album that this song is from is called Moving Waves, and is excellent. The album includes one long piece with several movements as one would expect from a classical composer. The music is a melding of classical styles with modern instruments. Almost everyone that knows this song thinks of the band as a bit goofy, which is to be expected unless you are familiar with the rest of their songs and talents.

[@8fran08]

My brother, I know and remember this song from my younger days but your reaction especially on the first yodle, I haven't laughed with someone that hard in a while. Awesome bra!! 😂😂🤣

[@damirhlobik6488]

"i will find you"

[@lowrider4266]

Oh my Jamel...this was better than i imagined. Haven't laughed or cried that hard and long for awhile. Your face when he started was priceless. And then you walked off and we could hear you laughing which had us laughing harder. I was wiping away tears with you bro. Rolling when you got in the camera saying you was gonna find whoever it was. Hell I'd proudly claim that one if it was me. Just friggin priceless. Thanks.

[@Judith_Remkes]

Same here! Nearly peed myself laughing!

[@Susudio-nc8ml]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@paull7687]

This goes on your Mount Rushmore of reactions. You had me literally laughing out loud!

[@danielbriedis6030]

Believe that it was me who suggested this song .And your reaction was priceless.Thank You for doing these reviews brother.

[@juliemcclellan6978]

MY BRAIN HURT WHY YOU USE LOT OF WARDS

[@Rocknroll73]

Gladys Knight must have been thinking 3 minutes into the song "what the hell did I just introduce?". I've watched this video numerous times previously - it never gets old.

[@pamr4040]

I haven't heard this song in decades, but when he started yodeling, it all came back to me...lol!! I'm pretty sure I watched this whenever it originally aired, but really appreciate it now that I'm older and have a lot more admiration for various types of music and musicality. He rocked everything from the yodel/keyboards/vocals/whistle/flute!!! lol 🧡

[@barbararobbins441]

This band Focus are all GENIUSES! SUCH ABSOLUTE TALENT ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@wolf762x51]

And then, there was Yodel Metal. My man walked off the screen lol. Jamel, this is the first time I've seen you so surprised and confused you couldn't hold it together. Weird Al got you close, but this is priceless.

[@rbffbvs]

Made me laugh out loud!

[@jeffcobb2734]

I am laughing out loud. Jamal drops the headphones and walks off set.

[@docbearmb]

Surprised but after a while Jamel sure seemed to be enjoying it. It’s not something you’d want a heavy dose of but it’s still a lot of fun for 6 minutes.

[@reallymysterious4393]

How do you think Jamel would react to Pink Floyd - Several species of small furry animals gathered together in a cave and grooving with a pict ?

[@Muellm4n]

man that 'oh of recognition at 1:36 and then the look of 'wtf is going on' just perfect xD

[@dawnjohnson6330]

I have to come here every day for my laugh.😂

[@katsujinkin60]

I saw these guys at Philharmonic Hall, Lincoln Center (where I worked my way through college) in 73 or 74. They were Hollands answer to Jethro Tull. When the shows started I could take any empty seat in the house. SWEET! I saw so many incredible shows of every imaginable genre!

[@chrisformby3039]

When I saw the thumbnail I burst out laughing, knowing what was coming.👍

[@39thala]

Can you imagine this singer and Ian Anderson on stage together with all that energy?

[@lowrider4266]

He did remind me of Ian, especially when ge pulled out the flute.

[@tripphines432]

I think it would have been the most epic Eye-Bugging showdown of all time.

[@sdgakatbk]

I like the comparisons as I think Thijs van Leer and Ian Anderson are both excellent flutists. I like Focus very much but Hocus Pocus is different from their other songs which are very good.

[@theplanetruth]

2:00- your face and walk away. Bro. I’m 😂. What a start to my day!! Get that healing on!!!

[@davidmcintyre6444]

Music uplifts! Sometimes words have no meaning. Brightened my day and I bought the album in 1973! Thank you.

[@RaggedLands]

Focus: "This song is 16 minutes long" Midnight Special: "You got 6" Focus: "OK we'll do it in 5"

[@s.l.s.l.1405]

Lmao

[@dmschneider8487]

Punk speed

[@SiriusJMoonlight]

I THOUGHT that was faster than normal!

[@beaucarr9612]

Bingo! You nailed it, Krampus!

[@wolfpat]

Cocaine is a powerful drug.

[@amitychief3061]

Love to see the look on peoples faces when they hear that yodel for the first time! You have to admit, it is entertaining as hell.

[@redplanet9162]

That's why I suggested it 😆

[@doktabob328]

Loved your reaction my friend. I heard them live in ‘73. Unbe fugginlievable ! There was more than just yodelling. Jan Ackerman played a glorious Indian raga solo on electric guitar. I am a lover of Indian classical music, and I can tell you, he nailed it. There was something about the 70s. Oh yeah, that’s right, Ousley and Kemp sprinkled the globe with quality spice. It wasn’t all flared pants and cock rock. It was the Golden Age of Music. What the media ‘remembers’ is a tiny slice - the slice the corporations bought. There was SO much more going on than anyone who wasn’t there will ever know. I love your videos man. Have a listen to ‘Can’t Stand Your Funk’ by John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra. That will totally blow your already expanded mind. Peace out.

[@joniroxanne96]

The Dutch sure weren't messing around: First these guys, then Van freaking Halen?! 😃 🙌🏼 Come on, man! 😄

[@medmar76]

Jamel, this is one of those One-Of-A-Kind songs! Nothing like it before, or since!

[@djangodunn5968]

Thank goodness

[@toddstevens13]

The ONLY Full Standing Ovation in the History of The Midnight Special, for an 8 minute song played in less then 5 minutes.

[@Noah-jb9om]

@@andrewedwards8238 sry you cant like good music

[@JonahJojoTheMan]

That song was one of the best things I heard in this Pandemic. I managed to laugh a lot without guilt. Focus Hocus Pocus.

[@threwthelookingglass7194]

.... are you jojo from Tucson?.

[@JonahJojoTheMan]

@@threwthelookingglass7194 No, Man. I'm from Brazil.

[@threwthelookingglass7194]

@@JonahJojoTheMan ... ohhh ok. thought ya .. were family.. hahaha. got a cousin.. hhaha

[@JonahJojoTheMan]

@@threwthelookingglass7194 No problem friend, in a way we are all related. But I have cousins ​​in New Jersey and Tampa.

[@ghstdnsr]

The best thing about this iconic song shows you music can just be fun and brighten your day even for a few minutes.

[@puffyjo]

I am crying I am laughing so damn hard , this video is worth a Million Bucks !!

[@Vampyre82]

I've never seen this version and I thought I had seen every Midnight Special there was. I. Am. CRYING.

[@cherrymcgregor535]

Have you seen the very stoned Dr Hook one?

[@Vampyre82]

@@cherrymcgregor535 No, I'll check it out though!

[@maureenwagg5305]

I love his reactions. This one was the best yet. lmao

[@cherrymcgregor535]

Vampyre82 kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKHbg6N9nNp6fas

[@charliemac64]

This is, by far, one of the most bizarre tunes ever recorded. The fact that there is a recording of them doing it live is absolutely astounding. People have a love/hate relationship with this tune. Absolutely craziness. I love it.

[@backspace4203]

I actually saw them perform this live.

[@JustMe-vk4fn]

Didn't they write and record this song in some strangely short period of time?

[@inthedream9127]

If you want Bizarre, listen to The Un-Merry go round by Allan Holdsworth

[@jazzpunk]

Charted at #9 in the US back in its day.

[@FredFukkinBear]

@@backspace4203 Ditto!! I'd never heard of it up to that point either. I've even forgotten the band they opened for but I never forgot their performance of this song.

[@totz_the_plaid9625]

One of the most badass riffs ever... In one of the most awesomely weird jams ever! This live version is about double both the length and speed of the studio version! (Well, more like 1.5× as long, but still.) EDIT: Nevermind about the length... I thought from the screenshot that this was the 9 minute version.

[@maggiea8488]

Lmao, crying.. forgot how insanely funny this is.

[@jamelakajamal]

👍🏾🤣

[@bonniewilson7034]

Same here!! 😂😂

[@ksjoyjespeace]

And Musically brilliant too !!!

[@Metalpug79]

You know he wasn’t prepared when he does the “stop video, headphone removed, and walk off screen” reaction lmao

[@davidwiser3883]

The brother yodeling has one hell of a vocal range.

[@gwenndolynnmecklenburg6457]

Thijs van Leer (pronounced: /tɛis vɑn leːr/; born 31 March 1948) is a Dutch musician, singer, songwriter, composer and producer, best known as the founding member of the rock band Focus as its primary vocalist, keyboardist, and flautist. Born and raised in Amsterdam among a musical family, van Leer took up the piano and flute as a child and pursued them at university and music academies.

[@rickmts]

I love watching people’s reactions upon listening and seeing this for the first time! You did not disappoint, my friend

[@geoffreyjackson3309]

It really makes you appreciate the variety and experimentation in music between the 1960s and 1980s. The artistic talent was off the charts. So happy that I was around to experience most of it.

[@sselt]

I saw Focus in concert in 74. Holy sh#t! But the thing I remember most is Jan Akkerman. One of the top three guitarists I've ever seen in person.

[@DougFM]

See kids, this is from a time when people actually played instruments and had talent.

[@thezestyman9159]

Yikes

[@DonnyDealer]

Not to mentions drugs were a lot better back in the 70’s..

[@Varinz]

For those about to yodel-ey yodel-ey yodel-ey yodel-ey yodel-ey whoop-apa, we salute you!

[@steveakam]

Your face when the yodeling started... priceless.

[@alesiabradley5399]

U R right priceless 😍

[@bobcarney3895]

Amen!!!

[@ryancampbell2192]

He was like - What we got here? What the hell was that?

[@Keleigh3000]

I love this performance so much. Producer: "I'm sorry, you can't do your 10 minute song, there's only six minutes left in the show." Focus: "Hold my beer."

[@jackieblue787]

I didn't know that.....OMG...hahahahah. whoohoo

[@hankbannister]

How can someone not know this? I heard it nearly 50 years ago for the first time, and since then million times again. Maria Callas on best bolivian powder!

[@KC-ro7zp]

First standing ovation by a Midnight Special audience , or so i have heard. They deserved it and definatley out of the 70's. Enjoyed your video!

[@KillerNetDog]

ROFL, these guys always reminded me of Edgar Winter's Frankenstein.. The 70's were a wild music ride.. I miss it.

[@sansabark]

TX Rider when novelty songs hit the top 40.

[@joejackson4202]

Everyone: Yodeling is so un-cool and will never have a place in pop music. Thijs van Leer: .....hold my beer.

[@am1604]

and my acid... and my inhibitions

[@damienburroughs2119]

Weird Al: ..Hold my accordion….wait...never mind i'm gonna need that...

[@andrewcoble6533]

@manny_ nuff I'm trying to tease out any sense of irony to your silliness in this comment. Are you meaning to imply that all rap is crap? I will even go as far as saying that a lot of rap that had success in 'pop music' isn't total crap.

[@andrewcoble6533]

@manny_ nuff kzbin.info/www/bejne/eoGmp2tviqtpqtE Just a taste of an old local sound that beats down everything you just said solidly. I still can't tell if you are trolling. That rap is crap thing has been flipped on its head for decades now. I had some of those sentiments when I was a teenager obsessed with rock and metal. There is room for nuance. Gems in every genre. Im pushin 40 now, and i even understand why T-swift isn't total garbage. Embrace the irony and I tell ya, music only gets more enjoyable. Even death metal still tickles my fancy after these admissions.

[@andrewcoble6533]

@manny_ nuff Classic prog is my favorite genre. Pink Floyd is my favorite band of all time, yet by some miracle I manage to see talent in some hip hop and rap. Lord knows how. Jive talk? Hmmm.

[@arthurkornblum9771]

What you just heard was absolute genius!!! There is no other way to put it!!! I would consider it their 'signature song.' You need to hear the complete version!! 'Focus' changed the whole dynamic of music, and "Hocus Pocus" is it's best example!!!

[@SteveJonesPookieMan]

I want to spend all day watching people listening to Hocus Pocus by Focus for the first time because it never gets old.

[@m.r.3694]

This made my day thank you so much Jamel! It was me who requested this after having seen Ian Anderson play his flute in your Jethro Tull video.. Remember I told you you would not regret it! ;) Much love to all of you

[@asmodeo111]

Mat R, sing another one to Jamal react next

[@sandeeschaeffer3300]

Yodeling, scatting, flute-playing, and whistling. There, top that!

[@rblauson]

That’s one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a LONG LONG time. I literally laughed for 5 mins straight.

[@dalerockwell2226]

In the history of music there has never been anything like this, before or since. I knew the song, but watching you hear it for the first time has me in tears! LMAO!!! :D

[@sergevereecke680]

And if turned crazy than there is no other way than "Napoleon XIV : They coming to take me away."

[@therealmbassy]

these lyrics changed my life.

[@JPDillon]

The juxtaposition of the bucolic "Yodel-lady" with the chaotic "BOMB BOMB!" is ... wow.

[@itsme-un6bs]

these LYRICS ?? kek...

[@Aethyrs]

@@itsme-un6bs kek, makes me to remember wow, the orc word...?

[@neonsuntan]

Your expression at the first yodel, was priceless and gave me a huge laugh. Love your videos

[@tinaburkhalter6111]

Makes me so happy watchin you get surprised , i know you were suprised ! Love this ! Love you ! 😍😍

[@illuminateyourlife3401]

"I'm tryin to see if I've heard this?" 😳..............😂😂😂😂

[@realbser1956]

If you do it again, do the studio version. The pace is slower and you can really “FOCUS” on the great musicianship of the band. Your reaction was LOL 😂😂

[@agresticumbra]

Not with his brothers. They NEED to see the live version. LOL

[@TheOriginalAverageJane]

It's been so long since I last heard that song, I'd forgotten what it was like. This video of your reaction gave me the biggest laugh I've had in weeks!

[@nordicbeauty373]

I lost it too around 2:10 .....and Jamal walked off for a couple seconds ....OMG 😂😂🤣🤣

[@OUigot]

1:55 I haven't laughed that hard in a long time.....but I stuck through the video and came to the conclusion these guys are actually very talented musicians. I'm now curious to see what else they got.

[@stephenowens8398]

In the house of the king is another good one, but not as crazy as this, sadly!

[@lisarainbow9703]

Moving Waves album... You'll thank me later, I'm guessing.

[@evas.9400]

Hamburger Concerto

[@jlcutright0723]

Best reaction yet :-D !!! I laughed so hard when you stood up and walked off camera! As for Hocus Pocus by Focus, my brother brought that 45 into the house when I was still in single digits. I got hold of it, though, and played the hell out of it on my denim-covered, portable record player! This was fun.... thank you!

[@harryschonfeld8175]

This version was a 45 played on 78. 🤣

[@KennethStCyr-dv6cm]

Dude...its a classic. Also...they was drugs in the 70's.

[@tednugent8501]

Hell, I've got abuncha drugs out in my shop right now. U know? Just incase this whole "virus thing" gets wacky. I aint gettin robbed because im nappin man.😉

[@jimmymac4559]

So you like your thrash with a side of yodeling?

[@tednugent8501]

@@jimmymac4559 And illicit drugs, yes. Yes I do.

[@timpwhit]

@@jimmymac4559 You mean throdeling?

[@jhamptonjr]

Drugs? I don't remember having any drugs back in the 1970s. Oh, did you say drugs? Oh yeah we had drugs! 😁

[@loydjenkins2241]

1973. I started eighth grade. And never heard of this! How!?! Apparently the 70s were wilder than I remember. Thanks for sharing. 😅

[@patschamps]

Jamel. I've been watching your reaction videos everyday for about the last 3 weeks. This is by far, your best. I laughed my ass off when you just walked away. Thank you for making my day, everyday!

[@robertrosello1964]

I knew you would NOT know, this is yodeling rock. This is a classic

[@nettiemac]

Jamel becomes Liam Neeson “I will hunt you down and I will find you.”

[@agresticumbra]

Jamel Neeson IS Brian Mills. 😂

[@reallymysterious4393]

But Jamel says it so much better :)

[@larry-om9tg]

It's awesome and this is the 3rd time I've watch it just to see others reaction,the two voice coaches and you were all greatly impressed.

[@elizabethlucas8778]

I just loved the look on your face when he started yodeling, "Priceless!"