OUR FIRST REACTION to Gil Scott-Heron - Gun | COUPLE REACTION (BMC Request)

[@CaryOn11]

Finally someone reacted to GSH! Gil is often referred to as the godfather of rap. He was simply brilliant. His style of rap though was to rap against a jazz or blues or smoky jazz beat. His lyrics are genius. He always had an social, political or moral viewpoint message unlike much of today's popular music. sorry but much of the popular rap and hip hop lyrics sound like they were copied from a bathroom wall in gas station to me compared Gil's writing. His partner Brian Jackson brought incredible musicianship and arrangement capabilities to the mix. Another comment mentioned Home is Where The Hatred Is and I would second that recommendation. It is one of the earliest best songs about heroin addiction. His most well known song is "The Bottle." This time the topic is alcoholism. At one time Gil was apparently somewhat anti drugs however he did not heed his own warnings and slipped into crack addiction. Such a damn shame. His spoken word songs like "H2O Gate Blues" "Pardon Our Analysis" and "The Bicentennial Blues' are really good. They were extremely relevant to their time but I think they hold up well. You may have to research to get some of his references or just ask some older like me! Other musical songs that would be good to react to are "Winter In America" " Lady Day and John Coltrane" "When You Are Who Are" "We Almost Lost Detroit"" " Angola, Louisiana" and so many more. Thanks so much for reacting to GSH! Let's hope it helps to reintroduce him to a new generation. In addition GSH & Brian Jackson and the Midnight Band were a force to reckoned with live. I was fortunate enough to see them a few times and was at the July 2nd 1976 show at Paul's Mall in Boston that became part of the "It's Your World" live album. That release has a 12 minute version of "Home Is Where The Hatred Is" that is outstanding but I would recommend you start with the studio version first. RIP Gil! Gone but not forgotten.

[@markspooner1224]

What a great choice! He was a special artist. I was lucky enough to see him live only a few years before he died. Trivia: his father once played football for (Glasgow) Celtic and was nicknamed 'The Black Arrow'.

[@supasoulproductions]

'Winter In America', 'The Revolution Will Not Be Televised', 'Home Is Where the Hate Is', 'The Bottle', 'Johannesburg'... Gil has a huge catalog of insightful socially conscious music, much of which has both spoken word poetry and singing. Deep and powerful lyrics are a trademark of his. Ohh, and Tower of Power is also a top fave of mine, try the title track from their recent album Soul Side of Town.

[@sethleon2158]

Great and underappreciated artist, who had a hard life. 'Winter in America', ''The Bottle', 'Home is where the Heartbreak is', 'Johannesburg'... lots more.

[@kevinlakeman5043]

Hatred, but yeah, he was brilliant. Jackson was great as well.

[@richardmcintosh5989]

Gil was a very clued up guy and raged against the machine beautifuly and eloquenty.

[@supasoulproductions]

Great way to put it!

[@brewstergallery]

The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, Winter In America, Pieces of a Man, We Almost Lost Detroit, Home Is Where the Hatred Is, once you start with the genius of Gil Scott Heron you've got so much to hear. Thanks for all your videos !!

[@michelemichele3375]

Thanks so much, NicknLex, for your great reaction. And grateful to fans of GSH. Long-time collaborator, Brian Jackson, remarked that they tried to use music to “market consciousness & awareness” the same way music is used to market fries 🍟. We need poets to help us deal, because like he sang, “This is a violent civilization.” And the rate of gun violence is on the rise, every time you turn on the news. Gil wasn’t afraid to address issues in his music, but Brian Jackson recalled that GSH taught that the best writing is sometimes about “not saying what you are saying.” Some of his spoken word pieces used only percussion to accompany him. But he had a rich singing voice too, and a natural talent playing & composing. Thanks 🤪

[@NicknLex]

This was absolutely amazing to listen to honestly. His voice was so amazing and yes, the lyrics SO POWERFUL they gave me chills while listening (have listened to it 4-5 times since the reaction and did it every time)! THANK YOU FOR THIS and for all the others!! Can't wait for more Michele Requests!! :) - Lex

[@michelemichele3375]

@@NicknLex Good luck with your test tomorrow! I know you’ll do well. Then, I have a couple questions of my own to improve my contribution to this channel. No worries but hopefully we can email after you Ace your test. 😍

[@rikconverse8726]

"The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" was his most famous song. Also "Lady Day & John Coltrane" and "Pieces of a Man" are superb. Gil (not Jil) was a revolutionary (in every sense of the word) poet, musician, activist, writer!) Primarily a keyboardist or vocalist. Started with The Last Poets. Also (Have you heard the word,) Johannesburg! ; Whitey on the Moon; Angola, Louisianna; No Knock; Prayer for Everybody the soulful Pieces of a Man - all must listen songs! I first hear "Televised" the day the Elton John, Elton John album was release - the record store played one side of Elton's album and then put "Televised" on followed by Funkadelic's "Maggot Brain - my mind was blown and "psychedelisized" that day! Also - Oscar Brown, Jr.'s " Sin & Soul" album is a must hear at some point.

[@carlomercorio1250]

Living Colour's The Cult of Personality will blow you away

[@stefanblue660]

Sharp, deep, critical lyrics with a smoothe, funky, sophisticated, elegant sound, and that voice. Angola, Louisiana was a great song for the dancefloor in our Indie Club Disco in a small town in Germany in the early 80s,where you could listen to any kind of music with great soundsystem.

[@wondercovers8593]

Gil Scott Heron sonsgs were always played in my radio program here in Italy some years ago and this song was often played. There are many other songs by Gil that are wonderful. The bottle, The train from Washington, Legend in his own mind, and so on!

[@johnhoerl7326]

Next up on Gil’s playlist should be Home is Where the Hatred Is. Totally funky (with a rhythm section of Ron Carter and Bernard Purdie, how could it not be?), but a raw and heartbreaking look at the devastation of addiction

[@PianoDentist]

yes great tune and painful but real lyrics. Also, Winter In America, Delta man, we almost lost Detroit, did you hear what they say?, Peace go with you brother... all good tunes.

[@cometogether999]

The Revolution will not be Televised! The Revolution will be live. I appreciate your diverse approach to your reactions.

[@anenglishlife7210]

I saw Gil Scott heron at the Carousel Club in Manchester England in 1984. He was phenomenal. A boyfriend played me his stuff when I started University in 1983... very 😎 cool indeed. A political poet of his day... he had a lot to say about President Ronald Reagan!!

[@papacarl2002]

Whoa - not expecting funky Gil-Scott - Awesome! Played his Revolution Will Not Be Televised last year for my sons... if you wanna get down on more funk Mr. George Clinton’s band Funkadelic will hook you up. I really dig the P-Funk Allstar’s “One Nation Under a Groove” on Live at the Beverly... in an entirely different vein is Funkadelic’s “Maggot Brain” - incredibly emotional and transfixing 9 minutes of Eddie Hazel’s guitar.

[@michelemichele3375]

“Make my funk the P-Funk. I wants to get funked up!” 🤪

[@jamespaivapaiva4460]

Time to get 'funked' up!Gil was an urban poet.Try P-Funk,Mr. George Clinton. 1, Give Up The Funk(Tear The Roof Off The Sucker).2,Maggotbrain.3,One Nation Under Groove. To quote Mr. Clinton "Free your mind and your ass will follow!" Peace.

[@michelemichele3375]

🔥🤪

[@bytor2112dirkyt]

Loved it!The dunk, the blues, the social commentary slow-rap. I could listen to him more. Thanks, Michelle, Lex & Nick!

[@giampaolobraga4487]

I liked your reaction very much. Gil is a great artist, you could react to several of his songs, so funky and jazz, you could react for example to "A legend on his own mind", "The train to Washington", "Pieces of a man" and others, he has made such wonderful songs. There are his "spoken word" songs that are fantastic, such as "B movie". A big hug from Italy!

[@cometogether999]

I just listened to another Gil Scott-Heron gem. It's called "The Bottle." As you may expect, it's very gritty, but the underlying groove is so infectious.

[@claudiaaraya7064]

Hi Nick and lex, so happy you reacted to gil scott-heron. He was a very big influence to many conscious hip hop and soul jazz artists. If I may make further reaction suggestions, Shuggie Otis-Inspiration Information, Roy Ayers-Everybody Loves the Sunshine, Cymade-Bra, or The Stranglers-Golden Brown.

[@pamelaabbey6009]

You've got to hear 'Whitey on the Moon', short and to the point.

[@gtjohns220]

Richard Branson taking his shuttle to outer space made me think of the this song and how it's still relevant now.

[@laurasibley8892]

Never heard this track before. but boy...are those lyrics prescient!

[@violao206]

Great Gil Scott Heron tune! He was one of the first concerts I saw as a young teen. My mom took me to see him in a doubleheader concert with Jazz flutist Hubert Laws. Go check out Gil Scott Heron's impactful and very political tunes "Whitey's On The Moon" and "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised". Gil's political sounds are profound for us people of color. Out of fashion? LOL! Young women are now wearing high-waisted wide-legged mom jeans just like the ones I grew up with during the late '70s and early '80s. Don't worry kids, your time will come too. I hope that you guys live long enough to see the wheel turn for yourselves. When it happens, it's a real trip.

[@tednemtzow2796]

The Langston Hughes of the Baby Boomer generation!

[@gregpusczek4473]

Sounds a lot like a funky Lou Rawls

[@Akgn_]

Just two ppl vibing. Rate it

[@MonsterSound.Bradley]

Groovin' 😎👍 btw, in case you didn't know, the "Saturday night special" is about the cheaper .38 caliber guns. 🍁

[@sprinterproductionshd3061]

The Guitarist was Ed Brady he was really amazing

[@tyronedavis9584]

The klan 😮😮 Girl Scott Herron is another masterpiece of Gil Scott Herron

[@cheesesteak59]

Gil Scott Heron - America's master storyteller. It's a shame that he was so under the radar.

[@tomfabozzi5353]

What a serious artist. If you want to do more of him, The Revolution will not be televised, The Bottle, Winter in America, Message to the Messengers, Work for Peace, Johannesburg, We almost Lost Detroit. Saw him twice. So many great songs, such charisma. By such a troubled life

[@tomfabozzi5353]

Also, Lady Day and John Coltrane is a great song

[@carlossantiago9955]

If you get a chance and you’ve haven’t heard it…listen to "The Bottle".

[@integraleric]

Very tasty, funky music.

[@emanueldominguez1516]

Reaccionen a la renga el revelde... El final donde partí.... Cuando estés acá. Y muchos más tiene

[@kevinlakeman5043]

Not sure why this song out of all of Scott-Heron & Jackson's songs were picked. I would definitely choose several other of his songs before this one. "The Bottle", "Lady Day and John Coltrane", "Pieces of A Man", "Free Will", "Winter In America", "H2Ogate Blues". for starters.

[@kevinlakeman5043]

a hard 'G', not soft. like 'gun' not 'gyroscope'.

[@rudolfbecker4313]

Erster ! :-) gerade gesehen … nice Music .. real relaxed … I'm also Kind of moving on my chair

[@armandopina8529]

He got a latin vibe Do "The Bottle" by same artist

[@afrolanticanjurisprudence8849]

as wonderful as this is, gun is probably his 13th best song.

[@wuffkornfeld6367]

Oh what a wonderful song !! I know the song "bottle" from him, also a great number ..... but would like to recommend another beautiful song, from another wonderful musician: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hHiqg5xoeKp5q5o

[@francostella2242]

Hey react at 2 minutos, the song is call ya no sos igual from argentina

[@zimbalistdavis923]

This song should be listened to by the NRA

[@zimbalistdavis923]

It's Gil Scott-Heron with a g not j Gil not Jill