Kansas - Song For America (LIVE 2009) | REACTION

[@MDElam]

As I've said in other places, Kansas is proof that Americans can make progressive rock as good as any European band. This is one of their great long compositions, and I'm so happy you reacted to this!

[@GeriatricHippo]

You also have Styx and more recently Kamelot and Symphony X. If you include Canada and go with North America you get three Progressive titans added to the list - Rush,Triumph and Saga. I'm glad he went with Song for America, I think its there most forgotten masterpiece and I have always loved this performance of it, it was made to be played live with a full orchestra.

[@truckrboat]

Robbie Stenihardt was the original violinist for Kansas. An incredible performer, singer and stage presence in addition to amazing on the violin. David Ragsdale is who is playing violin so effortlessly in this version

[@johngoddard7970]

Steinhardt was bad ass

[@dconley1964]

I've seen Kansas 4 times. Every time was on a military base where I was stationed throughout my career in the Navy. They do a lot of free shows for the military. They never lost their good mid-west values.

[@josephcarino5829]

Watch an earlier video with Robby. He was THE BOSS

[@guidosarducci]

And yes, Kansas is truly this good live. I was privileged to see basically the same concert in 2010 in Shippensburg, PA right before Steve Walsh left the band. They were absolutely outstanding! Love the band, the song, and your reaction. Rock on.

[@rayhutchinson640]

Oh, that was beautiful!!!

[@stevenewcomer8837]

Their song The Wall is another amazing song.

[@joelhodge7914]

Welcome to Kansas. Been listeng simce '75. Glad the music wont die.

[@wickedmirage]

My brother brought this 8-track home when I was 6 and he never saw it again. I loved this album and Song for America is brilliant.

[@Hawkrvo]

This was shortly before Steve Walsh left. Damn he was great !

[@wolfhound1452]

This was amazing. Never really listened much to Kansas before. Another band from my youth that I am learning about with you. Thank you. I love your reactions.

[@scottzappa9314]

You missed out, brother.

[@wolfhound1452]

@@scottzappa9314 sure did. But I am rediscovering some great stuff here

[@scottzappa9314]

Yeah right on.@@wolfhound1452

[@richcates2249]

CLEAR,CRISP,KANSAS,

[@daveking9393]

I have to admit I do not ever recall listening to or watching that version of this song and I'm really, really glad you shared it with us. Thank you so much for all you do. Keep up the great work!

[@stevenewcomer8837]

Steve Walsh used to do head stands ON his piano during concerts.

[@cjrub33]

It's so cool that you're digging in to some of the deep cuts of Kansas.

[@jamielandis4308]

Kansas is dynamic. “People of The South Wind,” “Leaving By My Backdoor,” and (imo, one of the most heartbreaking songs ever written) “Nobody’s Home,” and “Closet Chronicles,” to name a few. Prog/70’s pop royalty. An overlooked song from the late 80’s/early 90’s is “Inside of Me.”

[@jeffhoyt5661]

Welcome to the deepdive world of Kansas! If you ever get the chance to see them live you owe it to yourself.

[@knojustenuftobedangerous2442]

One of my top 10 favs of all time. The lyrics are hard hitting. Thanks for your thoughtful reaction.

[@CuzKatieSaysSo]

We just saw Kansas in Milwaukee at our acoustically perfect and beautiful 100+ year old Riverside Theater this last Fall for their 50th Anniversary tour, and as always, they did not disappoint. 🌹🎻 Robbie 🎻🌹 is dearly missed, but Joe Deninzon played beautifully in his stead. Song For America wafted through the souls of the crowd like ethereal satin. ❤

[@katesjanice]

It was Kerry Livgren who made Kansas great. A fabulous composer, orchestrator, lyricist, and multi-instrumentalist. Never took a music lesson and can’t read or write musical notation. He wrote this song in his head as they flew to California to record this album. Kerry is a musical genius!!

[@katesjanice]

I’m the world’s biggest wheathead. May I suggest The Pinnacle, Icarus, Journey from Mariabronn, Belexes, The Wall, Miracles out of Nowhere, Hopelessly Human…….for starters!

[@iznone]

Bro you just faced the Masters.

[@goosebump801]

That was gorgeous! I’d never heard that track before - thank you, Robert! @SalvoG, this reminded me of the album Divinities: Twelve Dances With God, by Ian Anderson (as in Jethro Tull.) It’s instrumental, with lots of flute as well as some violin IIRC. It will float you away to another plane…💜💐

[@AmyW-qo4se]

They need to play this around 4th of July ! Was great!

[@TedSmith-d6y]

Haven't heard this song appreciate you putting it on.

[@edwardwilliams8238]

Seen them several times over the decades. As a musician, I am always moved by their performance. ✌️❤️🎶🎵

[@markp6062]

And now you know why we fans ADORE them!

[@alanmcewen8456]

Thank you SO much for doing a great Kansas Reaction. I love Dust in the wind and Carry on, but those two tunes have been overplayed, and little attention is ever given to their other great works! May I suggest a few other Kansas greats? Miracles Out of Nowhere, Portrait (He Knew), and The Wall.

[@scottzappa9314]

That's the case for all the great bands on FM, sadly.

[@rogueleader4181]

Portrait! Yes!

[@raymondregis6219]

My favorite Kansas song. Lucky to see them play it in 2004.

[@rickdoerfer8620]

Steve Walsh is an American treasure. I am a born and raised Kansan and I firmly believe Walsh is one of the best American rock voices, The first five Kansas albums collectively should cement their election to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

[@Augirl78]

God, I love Kansas!

[@bookhouseboy280]

Kansas is an American counterpart to such European groups as Yes and King Crimson, constructing understated pastiches of rock and the classics ... the arrangements are beautiful. Robbie Steinhardt's fluid violin belies the rarity of the instrument in a rock context, and the other players are both stately and precise. "Song for America" realizes the group's more ambitious ideals, with hauntingly pretty instrumental passages and a sharp sense of organization and dynamics. The lengthy, finely tailored title cut exemplifies the entire genre well. - Excerpts from The Rolling Stone Record Guide

[@jaxeejess831]

@SalvoG... have EVERYTHING Kansas ever released. So glad young folks as yourself can truly appreciate the complexity of this piece & their work, that they always pulled off flawlessly. STEINHARDT, the original violinist... you would have been blown away by him as well, if not more so! I thank God for these gentlemen... they are gifts from God... thank you Jesus!!! And thank their parents for having 'em!!! 😅😅😅

[@donnadubyak6504]

Icarus, borne on wings of steel off the Masque album

[@richcates2249]

I agree 100 percent.......

[@LilHoss]

I was there that night, it was awesome, the whole DVD was dope!!

[@firefalcoln]

Kansas’ songs from 1974-1980 are sooooooo good. That’s the period of time with the original lineup. It’s hard for me to think of any that I don’t enjoy. The first 5 albums in particular are terrific top to bottom. If I had to pick one song from each album to recommend they’d be: (in order) Journey from Mariabronn, Lamplight Symphony, The Pinnacle, Miracles out of Nowhere, Dust in the Wind, A Glimpse of Home, and No One Together. I think that’s a good mix of their talents too.

[@alanmcewen8456]

I was lucky enough to see them on at least five or six occasions. So of course I got to see Robbie Steinhart playing the violin. I can never remember this guy‘s name, but the replacement that they had for him did a fantastic job and making Robbie’s parts his own. it is without a doubt the best I have ever seen them in this video. Of course, being backed by an orchestra is asset., But of course, the band performance on its own would, of course always be just as good perhaps not as grand.

[@jodij6280]

Thank you, Robert! I've been waiting for this. 😁

[@iznone]

The greatest song of Kansas!

[@johngoddard7970]

Walsh is probably one of the best singers with the best intonation ive ever heard. and ive been singing all my life

[@CuzKatieSaysSo]

Hard to believe that just last July I saw their 50th Anniversary concert in Milwaukee. They may not have all their original members anymore (🌹🎻RIP Robbie ~ you are missed 🎻🌹) however, they have lost none of their musical integrity. Joe Deninzon is an accomplished and excellent violinist who truly feels the music. It was a superb show, it's just hard to believe another 15 years have flown by. But then, all Is Dust in the Wind 🌬

[@robertkern9911]

Thought youd like it. Hard to believe they sound like that live on their 35th anniversary Hey if you feel guilty you can always give me that free Strawbs request :) The usual fantastic reaction

[@starrhelton4316]

At one point, songs did not get radio air play unless they were 3- 3.5 minutes long. They pretty much maxed out completely at 4 minutes. So many bands would cut the instrumental sections to get radio air play because they drove record sales.

[@TerryKrysinski]

Were you listening to AM radio? Most rock stations in the 70's had NO issue playing longer songs. They even played the full In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida way back then,which was likely the logest rock track of the times. T

[@tkelly5422]

A masterpiece. What else can be said?

[@TerryKrysinski]

SAlvo-- this is a cool version,but-- the studio version is tighter and has a few more extended parts. Not Robbie on violin here..he had left the band by this time. This was David Ragsdale. You really need to dive into their first 7 albums,bro. And I mean--every track. They were (and still are) a tremendous band and are still impeccable live with only 2 original mambers still involved ( Phil Ehart on drums and Rich Williams on guitar). Dive in,bro--you will be AMAZED! :-) T

[@irmaoksanen6830]

Beautiful. I hear snippets from the LP Leftoverture.

[@DeniseDavila-yq8qu]

We would love if you listened to The Wall and gave us your reaction!! I love that song!! 😊❤

[@richsalm7474]

Next up have a listen to Magnum Opus. Insanely good musicianship!

[@kathywright5465]

The Wall and Icurus-Born on wings of Steel are great. You need to react to those.

[@ronaldcardinali2809]

Salvo ! , please 🙏 do next from them, the other banger song "Point of no return" , you will love it !!

[@richcates2249]

Hey man you need to listen to the whole Masque album.....KansasForever......

[@kansas1mjs483]

Number one argument of illegitimacy of rock n roll hall of fame. Have never been even nominated.

[@scottzappa9314]

LOVE this one, oh man but live... Never seen it. Unbelievable. I've seen them twice, once in an arena in Dayton Ohio, much later in a bar in Cleveland, believe it or not, around 1995. NO, you cannot compress this song into 3 minutes. The violin sound also reminds me of Jean Luc Ponty. It's true, he's like buttah, but not the original violinist as has been pointed out. Not even sure who it is. It was different, more original line ups that I saw. At the bar, Steve Walsh was doing handstands on the keyboard.

[@TerryKrysinski]

Violinist: David Ragsdale

[@catherinemartz5229]

Original violinist Robby Steinhart

[@scottzappa9314]

yes I'm aware but thank you.@@catherinemartz5229

[@scottzappa9314]

Thank you@@TerryKrysinski

[@aliceosako792]

I am hoping that you'll react to "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" for Thanksgiving Day. I'm also hoping you'll react to "Alpine Skiing" by Pansy Division, but that might get you in trouble ;-)

[@yactabay]

To appreciate this song you need to listen to the original album version. The nuances get lost in some of these live situations. Those of us who have heard the studio version hundreds of times can catch those nuances in the live shows because we know what’s coming.

[@michaelbaucom4019]

If you listen to the 3 minute version after you've heard the long version , you'll find the 3 minute version utter crap. As a longtime Kansas fan, Kansas is always better live. The addition of the orchestra substitutes for synths/organ found on the original studio version(and some live versions), give the original its due. Also, on the original(and earlier live versions), you'll hear Steve Walsh at his vocal best This is the song that changed my musical life. I bought SFA for the album cover! Once I heard SFA, and I was no longer interested in top 40/pop/basic rock. I needed rock with just a bit more, and got into progressive rock(AKA prog rock) as my first/favorite musical genre. And Kansas is still my favorite artist

[@Moreno-v8l]

incredible song.

[@rafaa151]

You looks better with mustache.

[@dannyabaldo3191]

are you seeing my comments i have no smart phone4, man my email is public on my page only way good old email keep up the good work happy holidays

[@dannyabaldo3191]

Meanwhile, Livgren had also become increasingly dissatisfied with the band's musical direction (at least in part due to his newfound faith), and he would leave the band himself shortly after Drastic Measures was released. the singer songwriter said they are going to far, due to the last album, fire burnning a tad hellish interesting story on YT on all this great vid, what do you pull up and read from?

[@garysteinert8040]

Have you done Skillet yet? Kansas was Christian rock before it had a name.

[@johngoddard7970]

But they wouldnt have had a band at all without Kerry LIvgren

[@creambob1]

And Kansas is STILL not in the Rock and Roll Hall of fane

[@leddygee1896]

Not a fan of the orchestra version of this song. It's very distracting, and honestly, not needed. i would urge you to listen to the original song on the album. then you'll understand what I mean...

[@TerryKrysinski]

Agreed. T

[@catherinemartz5229]

Plus, it had Steve's vocals before his voice aged

[@edyates79]

The Album version is better. Much cleaner and sharper and Robby on the Violin. Much better imo.

[@piewagn]

Robbie Steinhardt passed away July of 2021. I've had the pleasure of seeing them in every size venue you could imagine countless times. Managed to get on their tour bus for autographs in the late 90's . Ragsdale does a good job in Robbie's place but just doesn't have the same stage presence. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy Ragsdale as well, but there was just something about that giant stage presence of Robbie and that hair... 😁

[@CuzKatieSaysSo]

Ragsdale left for his own band. Joe Deninzon plays violin now, I just saw them in July, and he is an excellent and accomplished violinist who truly feels the music. However, 🌹🎻 Robbie will Always be missed 🎻🌹