Steely Dan - Show Biz Kids | REACTION

[@kimwilliams5195]

Even at 67 I still cannot resist dancing to this song. Thanks Jamal!

[@bananabob2185]

Steely Dan is the epitome of intelligent insight and clever, cryptic stories, but sometimes you don't HAVE to figure them out. Just shut your eyes and listen to every instrument and voice in the song. Showbiz Kids is certainly one of those songs...One of the best EVER. 😎

[@moxman222]

Thanks, Jamel...my favorite Steely Dan song, glad it's finally getting some love from the reaction channels.

[@egadgo]

Lost Wages is a play on Las Vegas because you go to Las Vegas to lose your wages.

[@gregallan2842]

I always thought it was "Lot's wages" but looking around I find... "The repeated refrain sung by the female backing singers says, "You go to Lost Wages, Lost Wages," sung to sound vaguely like "Las Vegas." It was inspired by a joke from comedian Lenny Bruce, who was a major influence on the band's lyrical outlook. "

[@MilosDaddy]

Exactly!

[@robzamites3441]

@@gregallan2842 I always thought it was "Life's wages" - go figure :)

[@eileenhenryselby-smith9762]

Lost Wages was an early name for Las Vegas in the fifties

[@amandamcnamara1617]

Jamel, this.

[@craighiebert3384]

"Lost Wages" has always been a nickname for Vegas

[@elgonwilliams7624]

For me and the people I hung out with during college in the 70's, every new Steely Dan album release was an event.

[@janicesanders9981]

Every single song of Steely Dan is so different. Love their writing and story telling. This is truly a jam!!! Your face Jamal....had me screaming....

[@JCGErvin]

It’s fun to watch someone realize just how good their music is. Really enjoying. Tons of other Steely Dan songs to go, too 😁

[@cactaceous]

My favorite Steely Dan song. I was fortunate enough to see the Dan live 4 times. The very last time I saw them play the Beacon, October 2016, they finally played it live. My wife was pregnant at the moment so we like to say all three of us were there. The next year, looking forward to another October Beacon residency, Walter died.

[@RandyHall324]

As soon as I saw the thumbnail, I started smiling. You can't go wrong with Steely Dan, and I've seen enough of your Dan reactions to know you were gonna love it. I'm an amateur songwriter, and Steely Dan songs are worth serious study. Usually they write using really funky jazz chords that would almost never be in a pop and/or rock context, but this song is amazing because it starts off on a riff from a single chord (Dminor7), and never changes chords - an entire song with only one chord - and somehow it's awesome! I've looked through a lot of the other comments on which Steely Dan songs to react to next - they're all great (seriously)...just depends on what you're in the mood for. Try "Daddy don't Live in that New York City no More" for something funky or "The Caves of Altamira" for something a bit more melodic. But like I said, you can't go wrong. Enjoy!

[@MrDstyle09]

JAMAL, MAN THIS SONG WAS SO FUNKY MAN! I've never heard that one before Thanks for bringing us another "shoulder dancing song! I've never danced so much in my life! "🕺🕺🕺🕺🎶🎶🎶🗣"Whoooooooo! Great job once again Jamal!👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@dancingnature]

I got the 4 CD set as a free promotion about 20 years(! )ago, . Fell in love with Steely Dan even though had I liked a lot of their hit records

[@neilmartin99]

One chord throughout the entire song. Only Steely Dan could pull that off.

[@jml-rj5re]

Aminor7th They usually have 15-30 chords!

[@brandall101]

Hey now... John Lennon might have something to say about that (Tomorrow Never Knows).

[@justanotherrandomcrit8115]

@@brandall101 and Paul McCartney (Helen Wheels)

[@IrishKack]

I never appreciated Steely Dan in their heyday. But in the last 20 years I have a newfound love for them. And this; this is one of their greatest songs. Love it! Love you Jamal. I love hearing all the greats for the first time through someone else’s reaction. Peace out. ✌️

[@BigC.]

All Steely Dan musicians and back up singers are typically best in class. They change from album to album.

[@hoopsmccann639]

usually the lineup changes from song to song within an album, but "showbiz kids" is from countdown to ecstasy, the lone exception, which features the same lineup for every song on the album.

[@michaelwise4986]

At the time of release, I was pleasantly surprised to hear Valerie Simpson and Patti Austin as background vocals on the Gaucho album...two of the best R&B artist of their era. I consider Gaucho to be one of the best recording quality albums I’ve ever heard

[@joannestazio4495]

Bernard Purdie “Purdie shuffle” Look for his KZbin video about playing for/with Steely Dan.🎶

[@craigbrowning9448]

Many "Wrecking Crew" members playing supporting roles. You find some redundancies of background personnel on Steely Dan and Henry Mancini albums. The two big standouts are Victor Feldman and Plas Johnson.

[@norseman523]

Listen to the lyrics again. It’s obvious that Steely Dan traveled to the future and met the Kardashians. “Making movies about themselves you know they don’t give.......”

[@chipdamutt108]

Right on Norseman, and I could give a laundry list of other brats who fit the description.

[@debspeelman]

I immediately thought of Paris Hilton!

[@mavislee55]

This song and My Old School is what got me into Steely Dan!

[@smatty1]

Jamel, you bring so much joy! Thanks for connecting to the divine with us! This is really what it's all about! Universal, archetypal, eternal!

[@adolfoblando1455]

This is a hard rock song for steely Dan. The guitar was amazing. Great lyrics. Love, steely Dan, 67 years old and still listen to them every day.

[@michaelmorrow8198]

THIS HERE!! Been waiting for this. Among the Dan-heads, this is on par with Amazing Grace: mandatory, timeless, and the key to heaven. You Go To Lost Wages Love your work 6'5"!

[@psilocybin303]

These guys are master recorders. Recording vocals and instruments in various rooms in a studio and/or house then recording layers of sounds captured then splicing it all together to make their sound. This one of many approaches to make they sound.

[@brianslota4861]

First time i heard this song is when it came out...Instantly fell in love with it! Couldn't Believe it was Steeley Dan.

[@davidmcdonald11]

Correct me if I am wrong, I thought I read somewhere that Steely Dan started as a studio band and used many different band players/singers each song, but all songs came out with that same tone and recognizable sound. That was the incredible thing about them. Look at the people who played with them over the years. Incredible!

[@stefanblue660]

One of the most outrageous guitar work .

[@chrisdarkly]

Rick Derringer playing slide guitar.

[@osvaldoruiz3826]

That explains it 👌

[@-davidolivares]

chrisdarkly Very tasty

[@greggnissly3865]

Thanks. I thought so.

[@robzamites3441]

Rick is a grossly underrated guitar player. Period.

[@stevemundy4511]

Australian Rick derringer...

[@davidcohen4536]

This is a great song......their arrangements are very sophisticated.....one of their best songs

[@karenscales5077]

I found this track by mistake a few years ago. Well, I just happen to be on KZbin. This is one of the few that I somehow missed. I am a huge Steely Dan Fan. Another Steely Dan Banger.

[@lukethompson5191]

King Of The World, Time Out Of Mind

[@brucekish7576]

Time Out of Mind ... featuring Double M.

[@roundtownKen]

Time out of mind is one of their slickest, funky melodies that needs the volume turnt. Mike McDonald hits the high notes.

[@ObscureStuff420]

King of the World is great, underrated SD song

[@rolandknosch6213]

Luke Thompson yes, king on the world 👍

[@doozerace]

Really, the Dan got too many great songs to miss....

[@qseep]

Steely Dan - one of of my favorite bands! "King of the World" is my favorite song of theirs.

[@janishaldeman3339]

I can think of no other band with a catalog as fast as Steely Dan's that I still listen to all these years later.

[@michaelmiller6709]

Right after the lyrics, "They got the Steely Dan t-shirts," Derringer plays a riff from Reelin' In The Years. So good.

[@jaredwatson76]

Notice when he sings “...they got the Steely Dan t-shirts” they do a quick ‘Reelin’ in the Years’ guitar riff ... jab at the popular success of their own hit from a year or so earlier?

[@jeffreyes6236]

This is one of my favorite Steely Dan songs! The line that is being repeated over and over is "Life's wages".

[@whoiskcwhat]

Gold Teeth!

[@murraywestenskow2896]

*Showbiz Kids* - Steely Dan ---- This was my quest for the last month. Thanks Jamel...

[@die2tri448]

There will never be anything like "The Dan" again. Thank you VERY much for keeping them alive and relevant. And thanks for keeping alive all the music that I (and many of your commenters) grew up listening over and over again.

[@taragreenetarotastro]

The best,timeless listened to this since it first came out. Love Steely Dan.

[@jimvortex]

Love the way you do this ...steely dan is like one of the best bands ever 🥰

[@coastalgrasslander4511]

check out Steely Dan in four decades from now. I first heard them as a child in the seventies and love their music. four decades later, I still find aspects to enjoy.

[@wwall57]

The song that got me into Steely Dan, been a fan ever since!

[@cliffordlowerre1381]

Classic example of how the Dan inject humor into their music. Got to love the Dan! One of the greatest of all time. Great duo with so many different, great artists over the years.

[@uofmhockey]

Steely Dan Pearl of the Quarter is one of my favorites.

[@martynridley3671]

...and probably one of the only 'love songs' they've ever done!

[@hoopsmccann639]

@@martynridley3671 pearl of the quarter is my second favorite steely dan song, after aja, and slightly ahead of glamour profession.

[@andrewbrooks6882]

At the end of the song you hear the child calling for its mother, that has been left in the car or in the parking lot

[@jordanlandis9799]

You gotta hit 'King of the World'. The energy is lit!

[@jackiegerspachhas4237]

Steely Dan is absolutely incredible!!!!!!!

[@luisalonsoecheverria]

"Lost Wages" is a euphemism for Las Vegas.

[@herbiesnerd]

Dysphemism

[@Marcus538]

Cockney rhyming slang. Steely Dan used great session musicians & singers Bernard Purdie, worlds most recorded drummer , Laney bass player ,

[@exDrBob1]

The repeated refrain sung by the female backing singers says, "You go to Lost Wages, Lost Wages," sung to sound vaguely like "Las Vegas." It was inspired by a joke from comedian Lenny Bruce, who was a major influence on the band's lyrical outlook. Lenny evidently had a running joke of using the phrase Lost Wages for Las Vegas. Cute joke

[@SteveClarkeSongs]

I bought a Steely Dan t-shirt on the last UK tour. (mainly because of this lyric). It's the "Aja" album cover :)

[@brucegrossman3531]

I've got one which is a mashup of the Sonic Youth Goo album with Donald and Walter as the people.

[@lantose]

Good for you guys! I just turned 65 and it’s about time I bought mine!

[@kevint9125]

Green Earrings, Any Major Dude, Your Gold Teeth, Sign In Stranger. and so many more.

[@rightbraincreative]

Steely Dan ; East St. Louis toodle oo.. you'll love it.

[@coltondacoolkid5242]

Indeed✨

[@rightbraincreative]

@Nathan Logan thx

[@netzahuacoyotl]

@Nathan Logan A cover of an Ellington classic.

[@Lance37a]

@Nathan Logan a note for note cover at least that's what I've heard.

[@nettiemac]

YES! Criminally underrated!!

[@RYANDEOROCK]

'Brooklyn (Owes The Charmer Under Me)' 'The Caves Of Altamira' 'Daddy Dont Live In That New York City No More'

[@franklassek3132]

Great tunes for Jamel to do.

[@titus2120]

I’m looking at and reading these comments ant it’s striking me that this is the stuff I was writing about the Don when I was in college. It’s so good to know that the insights I had when this stuff came out is and was real. Thank you, Steely Dan. The world has learned to appreciate the Dan.

[@lindadee2053]

Steely Dan made so many great, great tunes that it's virtually impossible to choose one, but I think Show Biz Kids is my favorite. The first few times I heard it on the car radio (without the benefit of printed lyrics), I was singing "While the car roof was leakin' with da shade on the right." Once I actually saw the words, they made a little more sense, but it still took me a while to get the gist of the whole song. But even without the words, the catchy melody, the instrumentation, the relentless beat and the sounds of the voices alone make this an utterly fantastic tune. In any event, I've loved SD from the very beginning. I think the first SD song I recall hearing was Dirty Work, which has always stuck with me since then along with "Do It Again".

[@jamespuleo3269]

In the 1970's it was always a treat when one of those forbidden words got past the FCC and onto the air~~~ (usually buried in the third verse...)

[@gerardorojasvargas5392]

You need to listen to Time Out of Mind by Steely Dan

[@cheerdiver]

Fagen Shanghai Confidential

[@rogerhahn9606]

Ya, that track is about things that most people don't know about. Smooth MF groove and that is what most people hear. WAY more to the lyrics.

[@pokerface8242]

This has always been one of my favorite Steely Dan songs. Another great one you should check out is Pretzel Logic.

[@ritab5153]

there is LITERALLY not a bad song by this band. i grew up w their music and have seen them twice. G.O.A.T. in mho.

[@skippermullet69]

How in the world have you not reacted to Green Earrings yet is beyond me. It's one of Steely Dan's funkier tunes.

[@chadpollet7452]

Maybe the funkiest!

[@michaelwise4986]

Especially the Alive In America version!

[@HyzersGR]

Chad Pollet Night By Night is the funkiest hands down

[@chadpollet7452]

@@HyzersGR forgot about that one. You may be right! But funk is subjective.

[@pdexBigTeacher]

Chris Hammac Yup; Green Earrings is a straight jam.

[@RayVision3D]

background vocals: Sherlie Matthews, Myrna Matthews, Patricia Hall, Royce Jones, James Rolleston Slide guitar: Rick Derringer (who made Hulk Hogan's theme song I am a Real American and Rock-n-Roll Hoochie Coo) Only the best get to play with Steely Dan.

[@seanhanning1700]

Lost Wages is a nickname for Las Vegas. Check out Bad Sneakers and Time Out of Mind!

[@exDrBob1]

The repeated refrain sung by the female backing singers says, "You go to Lost Wages, Lost Wages," sung to sound vaguely like "Las Vegas." It was inspired by a joke from comedian Lenny Bruce, who was a major influence on the band's lyrical outlook. Lenny evidently had a running joke of using the phrase Lost Wages for Las Vegas. Cute joke

[@sigurbjorn]

Thank you Jamel, I was waiting for this one. Hope you will keep on reacting to more Steely Dan songs because they are all great.

[@MrJoe19761976]

That is a masterpiece, my brother. Las Vegas sometimes gets called Lost Wages.

[@bombasticbushkin4985]

Steely Dan is an excellent band from New York. Great talent, a unique sound, great lyrics, excellent instrumentals. Kind of jazz-fusion, R & B, soft rock extravaganza. Love ya Jamel, check out the song that propelled them to stardom, "Reelin' in the Years" on the Can't Buy a Thrill album, early 70s.

[@ladyjustice3092]

💕Deacon Blues is another gr8 one!

[@jamelakajamal]

👍🏾kzbin.info/aero/PLAY_hpVvjQqBd693oOaXTfY1Xh_LuPd2i

[@ladyjustice3092]

@@jamelakajamal Thank you👍❤🙂

[@floorticket]

You've done a lot of Steely Dan, but I don't think you've done "Bodhisattva"

[@chadpollet7452]

No, he hasn't yet. That needs to be rectified post haste.

[@sinenominecc]

Yes, still waiting for that one. Danny Diaz and Skunk Baxter battling guitars.

[@chadpollet7452]

@@sinenominecc also Dias and Fagan trading guitar and organ licks. Doesn't get much better!

[@sinenominecc]

@@chadpollet7452 It's a real show off peace, and they show PLENTY.

[@norsketilbakeblikk3717]

And he hasn’t done GAUCHO!

[@thediscombobulationzonecov6972]

The best thing about steely dan is the diversity of their music. Each song doesn’t sound like the next song with a change of lyrics. You have a lot of songs to react to just with steely dan! Thx

[@arjay8tch510]

This song puts a smile on my face every time I hear it. Good song to listen to while driving into Las Vegas. Might even save a few bucks for funks sake!😎

[@debbiechang5781]

Steely Dan always hits the spot. Thank you Jamel.

[@rtl4x4]

They're not making fun of people who lose money -- they're reminding us about the people who live in a world where they can just party and spend money and go clubbing all the time and not have to worry about getting to bed on time to go to work. For those of us in the "real world" with jobs, that other world is like another planet.

[@jamespuleo3269]

"Show Business kids, makin' movies of themselves, you know they don't give a f^ck about anybody else"~~~~~ And that was *before* utube, facebook, twitter, or "reality" TV .....

[@i.marchand4655]

@@jamespuleo3269 Yup, I find that line to be the key, not only to this song, but to Hollyweird in general.

[@GlennHamblin]

As much as I know about Becker & Fagen all of it had a reason. The backup singers were carefully hand picked. Steely Dan is awesome brotha, thanks for sharing your reaction!

[@deirdremacnamara9885]

My first time hearing this song. Brilliant. Lost wages love it. 🤣👏

[@carolh1954]

Always thrilled to watch you listen to the Dan.

[@davidmaholchic6146]

Another great Steely Dan song keep them coming love you

[@joannahuett3626]

Steely Dan is one of the greatest bands of all time. Definitely get to know them. Lots of funky stuff.

[@imjustsomeguy72]

Need to listen to the live versions of this song from recent years, they funk it up so hard.

[@williamhestilow4021]

Finally, you are at my favorite Steely Dan Song! Thanks, Jamal!

[@grimrepoer2003]

Jamel you made me laugh. at the end when you hear someone yelling you looked confused , like what was that. When I was a young kid I used to listen to this with my headphones on. The first time I heard that I swore my grandmother was yelling for me> I even went to look for her. She has long ago passed away, but every time I hear this song I think of her. Thanks for the memories Jamel

[@sinenominecc]

😄

[@UnoHoo1]

He is such a naturally likable guy, isn’t he?

[@sisterdebmac]

It's about the spoiled brat children of music and movie stars.

[@jaysonbiggs8979]

Correct.

[@bevo1776]

Every time I hear this tune, I think of that punk Charlie Sheen.

[@43cjd]

I actually think it is about the music and movie stars themselves, not their children.

[@43cjd]

I think it is about the the musicians and movie stars themselves

[@justiceforall6412]

I love watching these younger people reacting the same way we did when this song first came out.

[@SpeTznaZz96]

Would love to see Steely Dan Gaucho

[@astrosjer822]

The opening is “going to lost wages” an old nickname for Las Vegas

[@peterfox9465]

hey man, I love your Steely Dan reactions. Could you do The Royal Scam off the album titled the same thing? I think you'd be blown away

[@beachgirl4583]

I’ve got Caves of Altamira playing right now... cueing up to Don’t Take Me Alive.

[@doozerace]

@@beachgirl4583 a great song off of a legendary album full of great songs...

[@raymonddenvir9078]

Loved your reaction Jamel...damn! Love Steely Dan

[@randykelley2376]

my favorite SD song. I live in Las Vegas, also known as Lost Wages

[@MarshallLoveday]

One of my favorite Steely Dan songs....

[@andyinoregon]

Session guitarist on this 1973 song, Rick Derringer (nee Zehringer), was my first rock concert in the fall of 1965, when his band The McCoys ("Hang On Sloopy") played at the Van Wert, Ohio county fairgrounds. Rick was born in Fort Recovery, Ohio just 40 miles south of Van Wert. Coincidentally, "Reelin' In the Years" session guitarist Elliott Randall was a guitar teacher in 1965 at Lima, Ohio's Custom Percussion music store, just 30 miles southeast of Van Wert. Don't know if they ever met up.

[@andyinoregon]

@Bornaking I was just 14 in 1965 and I knew even then I was hearing a guitar prodigy.

[@Reapwhatsown]

Hey Jamal. So cool you getting into Steely Dan. Not surprised you're diggin it man. My favorite band. I grew up in the 70s and 80s so it was all o et radio And of course I boughtall their albums. So, as far as singers go, they always hired the best musicians period. All the records have the greatest players in the business. Wayne Shorter himself played with them! So many good drummers. Chuck Rainey on bass for several records. Enjoy man! Yeah, it's really as good as it gets

[@jaysonbiggs8979]

Coup de grace. French expression. Means the crowning achievement.

[@robertfitterman3777]

A Steely Dan song that often gets neglected would be: "Here in the Western World". Haven't seen too many requesting it, but it is one of their best songs. I think it is only available on greatest or best of compilations.

[@-davidolivares]

Robert Fitterman I did not realize that, I bought Citizen for my sis and later for me. Very cool song, totally could’ve gone on Aja.

[@jeremyadams1521]

Rap with your cane 🎶

[@robertfitterman3777]

@@-davidolivares I had (think I still have it) it on my Steely Dan's Greatest hits LP. It is the only place I can recall the song being on.I have every one of their studio albums except for the very last one.

[@-davidolivares]

Jeremy Adams Yeeah...

[@joycedavies1841]

The Dan are my music gods.

[@crazydale1000]

The guitar playing all through this song is fire.

[@mrsteve3527]

WOW...I am impressed you covered this song. I love this song... He was specifically talking about the kids of stars that don't give a f*** about anyone but themselves.

[@seabrook1976]

Steely Dan writing a song with the word "fuck" in 1973 and no one said a peep about it is a testament to their greatness.

[@janereading8490]

I had tickets to see Steely Dan in June in Phoenix with Steve Winwood. Rescheduled to June 2021. Dang. Hey..speaking of Steve Winwood...check out his catalog...he was in Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith, Traffic and solo. Amazing musician.

[@largemouthhunter5014]

One of very few bands that had all bangers , not one band song in their catalog. Very rare talent

[@Dornie51]

Showbiz Kids Backup Vocals: Sherlie Matthews (born 1934, Los Angeles, California, United States - is an American singer, songwriter and record producer, best known as a backing vocalist for pop, R&B and rock groups from the mid-1960s to the present time), Myrna Matthews, Patricia Hall, Royce Jones (born December 15, 1954) is a Grammy-winning American musician best known for his work as a touring vocalist with the bands Steely Dan (in 1973 and 1974) and Ambrosia (joined 1978). In the studio, Jones contributed vocals to David Pack's Anywhere You Go, Odyssey's self-titled release, Steely Dan's Countdown to Ecstasy, Bruzer's Round 1 and Stephan Cohn's self-titled release. In the summer of 2007, Jones joined a coverband called Screamin Lehman Band. The group's official site says they cover the songs of "Boz Scaggs, The Cars, Steely Dan, Stevie Winwood, and Elvin Bishop". Royce Jones is now in The Royce Jones band, also formally a member of eight piece horn band called "Stonebridge". He also worked with The Platters. Royce was the lead singer of Odyssey (Motown), and James Rolleston. [Compliments of Wikipedia] 😁

[@dannyhamm961]

Carolyn Leonhart is a jazz singer and headed Steely Dan's backup singers for years.

[@2bteachable2]

"Show Biz Kids" is one of my favorite Steely Dan songs. My top is still "Caves of Altamira."

[@richardsanjose3692]

I was told by the coke dealer Becker and I shared that caves of altira was written or inspired by the coffee table in the dealers house where everyone sat around doing coke and blaming about nothing for hours. Don't know if it's on spot or he was just blaming.Sqiggy used to hang out there and I'd see him drive up in his 911,Maria Muldaur,.and Others. We were all trapped and poisoned by our own govt. that knew it's addictive nature and just didn't care about the people of this country as they still don't and as Bush said he was going to Afghanistan to destroy the poppy fields and then we never heard another word but from guys coming back who said they often guarded poppy fields which means the opiate problem is likely not the Sackler families fault but the govt for an addicted people are people not paying attention to the hand in their pocket.

[@gratefuldude7828]

Gawd ....that really is funky! I'd honestly forgotten how cool this song is! ✌🌍🎵

[@mrradio2187]

Living in Las Vegas in 1973 this song got the most airplay!!

[@jennystewartplaylist]

I LOVE this! I have exact same reaction when I hear "Showbiz Kids." I almost have to stop it three times and say out loud, "No way - how awesome was that part?" Jamel, I just subscribed to you and looking forward to other reactions.

[@BBartelotti]

The “coup de grâce,” pronounced /kōō di ‘grä/ , is an action or event that serves as the culmination of a bad or a deteriorating situation. It also is used as the final shot to insure a victim’s death, by a hit man (for example) or from a dictator’s ‘enforcer.”

[@-R.Gray-]

The slide guitar was played by Rick Derringer, who you saw playing with the Edgar Winter band a while ago on "Frankenstein".