So I Just Heard Beastie Boys - Sabotage (First Reaction!!)

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[@vcstaff]

Their live performance of Sabotage on Letterman is phenomenal. So much energy and attitude - by the entire band.

[@chrisgarner4872]

That performance made me understand them, and I became a fan

[@BOLDASAUR]

MTV MUSIC AWARDS TOO!

[@bethannprather1462]

I agree. And it was the groups "FUCK YOU!" to all the critics that trashed them in the beginning

[@artis1969]

If you know the story of Elvis Costello being banned from Saturday Night Live long ago, you might wanna check out the Beasties/Costello performance. This band was a cut above everyone else in their time.

[@susiejo143]

Ya I remember that, they're friggin awesome I me

[@LIBREPUB]

“I’m Buddy Rich when I fly off the handle” may be one of the best lines ever.

[@gavtoye9605]

Agreed

[@thumpyloudfoot864]

Well yeah... I mean, if "Dog's love me 'cuz I'm crazy sniffable" from The Move didn't exist... LOL

[@stephenroby8498]

When the Beastie Boys released "Sabotage" as the first single off Ill Communication in early 1994, the song became a defining track of the '90s. Much of this is thanks to Spike Jonze's music video, which acted as a parody of '70s cop shows, and gave the song its iconic middle-finger attitude. It's maintained that anti-authority feeling ever since. Fans have speculated that it's an anti-religious song or, possibly, anti-paparazzi, because at that time the band had gotten into tiffs with photographers. But, 24 years later, in a story from the audiobook of their new memoir, the Beastie Boys finally reveal that "Sabotage" is actually about an annoying sound engineer. When Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz yells, "I can't stand it / I know you planned it," he's directing his frustration at their friend and producer Mario Caldato Jr., who was pushing the Beastie Boys to actually finish a track. As the story goes, the group was being indecisive about completing songs on their fourth studio album. “We were totally indecisive about what, when, why and how to complete songs. Mario was getting frustrated,” actor Tim Meadows narrates in the audiobook. “That’s a really calm way of saying that he would blow a fuse and get pissed off at us and scream that we just needed to finish something, anything, a song. He would push awful instrumental tracks we made just to have something moving toward completion.” At one point they considered including a scratched Queen Latifah sample as the hook but Horovitz landed on his "I can't stand it" scream directed at Caldato. “I decided it would be funny to write a song about how Mario was holding us all down, how he was trying to mess it all up, sabotaging our great works of art,” he says.It might not be about cops or religion or annoying photographers, but even if it is directed at their buddy in the studio, the anti-authority message still holds up.

[@michaelmcconnell7302]

You're a legend for typing that all out for the 3 of us that will read it ❤

[@Niko3387Y]

Haha hilarious and not surprising by them

[@jonathandufern7421]

Yeah this song was on constant 24/7 blast on MTV for a few years. it blew up like crazy. I was a rocker and still cranked my TV every time this song came on. such a great Beasties single.

[@michaelmcconnell7302]

@@jonathandufern7421 Beavis and butthead LOVED it 😁

[@RRaquello]

I think you're reading too much into it. I'm about the same age as these guys and grew up at the same time (in the same city) watching the same TV shows, and it looks like 1970's kids just having a lot of fun years later with what they grew up with. When I was a teenager, me and some kids used to make films like this video with a Super 8 movie camera, just copying and at the same time making fun of the shows we liked. Of course we didn't have any money to do it up real like these guys, but we did the best we could with what we had. It's the kind of thing you got with kids who grew up reading MAD magazine.

[@pablozee6359]

You mentioned that the Beastie Boys are real MCs, but if you continue down the rabbit hole, you’ll find they’re also real musicians. They have an impressive amount of super chill instrumental tracks in their catalog that you would probably never guess was them if you didn’t know.

[@jasonremy1627]

They won a Grammy for an instrument album.

[@peterworth9403]

"Body Movin'" is chill as hell.

[@arwiviv]

Im a gigantic fan, and they are legitimately good musicians...but they are also master samplers as well.

[@jamespalma3311]

Years ago, a friend busted out a mix CD of funky instrumental music (I was just getting into funk bands at the time) and then he said enjoy some Beastie Boys! It. Rocked. Sadly, I only heard it once!

[@midboii]

​@@jasonremy1627The Mix Up?

[@TheDivayenta]

Three MC’s and One Deejay is my favorite- hip hop in its purest form! I love that they play their own Instruments as well. This is such a take-off on 70’s cop shows!

[@martykerker9464]

This always reminds me of " Streets of San Francisco".

[@jackbing499]

yup. we be gettn down with no d-lay

[@archangelgabriel5316]

So good.

[@believeinjesus8300]

Agreed

[@ripvanwinkle2002]

DJ*

[@johndavis9449]

I came to realize Beastie Boys were legendary when I was playing their music in my car as I was waiting in line for an oil change, and a mechanic in the bay was mouthing the lyrics he was hearing and throwing down moves. I smiled and put my sunglasses on.

[@brenttuttle7268]

The entire Paul's Boutique album is straight fire 🔥

[@richardhood3717]

At one time Paul's was considered to be unmake-able now. Sampling was coming into its own in Hip Hop so they went all out and Sampled EVERYONE. There is so many different tracks on that album that it would be insane the amount of royalties that the boys would have had to pay just to make it a few years later.

[@Dr_Bombay]

came here to recommend something off Paul's Boutique, but i can't pick just one track. the entire thing is just a masterpiece.

[@commentingisdangerous7530]

this song is from ill communication...

[@DJFalkoHannover]

„Three Mcs and one DJ“ is a MUST of the Beastie Boys!

[@tammyparsons5656]

Yay!🎉 love the Beastie Boys ❤ the entire licensed to Ill album was my life growing up.

[@woolybear]

The whole Ill Communication album from '94 is fantastic! From Sure Shot to Root Down, from Sabotage to Get it Together and some instrumentals in there. Very varied and powerful stuff!

[@jamiemacdonald436]

Three MC's and One DJ has to be next! IMO of course.

[@juggy-ik7qy]

This

[@batsackleman8169]

+1

[@TheOperz0]

YUP! must

[@hatleyhoward7193]

This would be the correct opinion.

[@BlackRoseImmortal]

You have got to check out Beastie Boys "Root Down" where they talk about growing up listening to old school rap battles on the streets of NY and the song "So Whatcha Want"

[@jamesholliman3314]

They are so talented. And I think being white/Jewish in that field at the time, they knew their their humor was the best way to kick the door open. It worked flawlessly. So good. Deep down they are a frustrated punk band. And almost certainly perfectionists. I have been listening to them for more than 30 years and still don't have a favorite of the 3. They're all so good at their roles.

[@Choronzon-]

A song that many overlook is Looking Down The Barrel of a Gun, such a hard and funky track. Interesting fact, Anthrax covered the song in 93 and totally killed it too.

[@Christopher-Baltimore]

Pass The Mic has an insane beat. So unique. Amazing track.

[@KennethSorling]

I wasn't a fan when they first came out, primarily because I wasn't into hip-hop or rap. But these days I recognize how iconic they were, and I freakin' love their stuff.

[@HellenKillerProject]

LL Cool J says Beastie Boys helped launch his career. Always nice to have friends ...

[@benhinds2971]

What I love is that they play their own instruments. Find the album , "The In Sound From Way Out" . Its all instrumentals and the instrumental tracks from songs. SOOOOOOOO Funky.

[@mikedidyk8233]

They are huge funk fans. I remember in an interview (I think on the Daily Show), MCA (I think) was asked what his favorite record store find was. He said a rare album from The Meters.

[@benhinds2971]

@@mikedidyk8233 Its kind of like The Meters were purposely laying down base tracks for other musicians to use. I mean the early stuff. Instrumentals. I guess you could say the same thing for some of the Beastie's stuff. In 3's is like the funkiest instrumental track on earth.

[@robforrest2069]

Beastie Boys are a blast!! I've seen them twice live, they're a riot! Some other songs you should check out from them are: Shake Your Rump, Hey Ladies, Time To Get Ill, Get It Together, Pass The Mic, The New Style, Root Down to name a few... And of course, their original hits that made them famous: Fight For Your Right & No Sleep Till Brooklyn.

[@redangel169]

No sleep til Brooklyn was always our 3am headibg home from being out song.

[@paulb808]

Your life has now changed if this was actually the first time you heard Sabotage. Beastie Boys are simply the best. Check out the music videos for "Looking Down The Barrel of a Gun" or "Shadrach", just incredible music from their best album Paul's Boutique!

[@VinzClorthokeymasterofGozer]

Paul Revere and High Plains Drifter, please.

[@thedrogo3953]

1,000 thumbs up for Shadrach!!!

[@sea-ferring]

Everything Spike Jonze does is amazing. Not only were Beastie Boys groundbreaking and original, they had the gift of surrounding themselves with massively talented people.

[@paulb808]

or massively talented people wanted to be associated with them!

[@jf2p712]

I was 8yrs old when this song came out. I heard my older brothers listening to it. This was some wild shiz back in the day 🤘lol. Great vid!

[@lindasalaki9404]

Love the Beastie boys ❤ yes more.

[@eggstu]

I grew up on Beastie Boys. They have some really good music. "Shake your rump" is a classic

[@ryanrothadventures2472]

I still remember seeing this music video for the first time on MTV back in 94 and I was instantly hooked

[@Golf4-65]

When I saw this video for the first time in 1994 I laughed so hard at, “Nathan Wind as Cochese” and “Fred Kelly as Bunny” . 30 years later this is still a Classic.

[@CatherineBriseboisCatWoods]

Exactly! The music is fun, funny, high energy and not pretencious. They always have fun quirky videos. They sprinkled other genres or styles of music in their songs. I also like So What'cha Want, Root down, Sure Shot, Body Movin.

[@1adlr1]

Beastie Boys - Triple Trouble. Great video, pretty sure the title is a play on "Double Trouble", an old school duo from NYC that was featured in the movie Wild Style

[@Jasper0o0]

I’ve loved this song from the beginning, & I’ve found that every time I hear this song while driving, it’s impossible to go the speed limit. 😁

[@boojiboy2275]

LOL 😂😂😂

[@DanHintz]

you nailed it. what really motivated them was making each other laugh. they were endlessly trying to crack each other up. their sense of humor and desire to have fun with it is what is a key component of their charm, as we all would love to be in a band like that.

[@famijher]

This was my favorite video by them. How can you argue with the Beastie Boys dressed as cops from a 70's TV show? For your next one, I'd go for either "Three MC's and One DJ" or the ever classic, "Paul Revere."

[@tas2583]

The beasties were unmatched as live musicians. I was fortunate enough to see them twice, once in '92 and again in '94. Both shows were a mind-blowing mix of hip hop, funk, disco, groovy smooth lounge, interspersed with raw punk numbers. Pure non-stop energy and good vibes.

[@mikedidyk8233]

I saw them once at the Tibetan Freedom Concert in New York City in 97. That was one of the craziest and energetic shows I've ever been to.

[@kmalazane]

Saw them in 94 at one of their few uk shows. Mind blowing. Punk hip hop rock and jazz all fused perfectly. One of the best live performances I ever saw

[@dtanya5619]

I changed my mind when you last asked which of there songs should be up for a reaction - 'Gratitude', ...and that's right ✅

[@jameshutchinson568]

Sabotage is my favorite Beastie Boys song. Classic video, one of the greatest!! So Whatcha Want is another really good Beastie Boys song.

[@tresadrienne8724]

Oh man the Beastie Boys rabbit hole... it goes deep for me. It's a fun ride. Going back to Fight for Your Right on the jukebox at a Pizza Hut, Brass Monkey at the skating rink and then listening to the album Check Your Head (So Whatcha Want) non-stop in high school with my older brother... It was a game changer. Also there's some great stuff on Paul's Boutique. Shadrach, Egg Man, Shake Your Rump. The Negotiation Limerick File on Hello Nasty. These guys never disappoint. You're right, they're always having fun but they're also great musicians and lyricists.

[@troubleondemand7703]

Another vote for Three MC’s and One Deejay. Pure, unfiltered, old school hip-hop. From there, there's a bunch of different directions you can go, but I suggest So What'Cha Want, my current fave track of theirs.

[@danrumble74]

Dooooood! I can't even imagine seeing this video slash hearing the song for the first time in 2023 😎✌️

[@quikspecv4d]

Dope! Love these guys

[@ETBrenner]

I've always loved how they crammed every last damn cliche from those old cop TV shows into this video - the tacky fashions, the ugly cars, the hokey action, the corny character and actor names, everything - and perfectly synced to the music down to the donut stop during the mid-song pause. Endlessly funny.

[@chucku00]

In the 90's, the French TV channel M6 named this video "BOF (Bande Originale de Film - Movie soundtrack) Sabotage" because they thought this was snippets of a full movie, even if the video is a very obvious spoof of US cops movies. Please check out Urban Dance Squad "Fastlane" and "Demagogue", they're somewhat the Dutch missing link between Beastie Boys and Rage Against The Machine.

[@Daeis138]

Beastie Boys are credited for getting LL Cool J signed. True emcees with a love of music and culture, from starting out as punks to hip hop. Root Down and three emcees and one dj are two iconic tracks.

[@tetleyT]

Super sick. They're geniuses, pure and simple. Worth exploring their oeuvre of instrumentals. So groovy. Also, Gratitude.

[@optimistinmyprime]

I looove 3 mc’s and 1 dj - I’d vote for that one next if you haven’t seen it yet.

[@stephensivik2337]

Beastie Boys - Sure Shot, is my favorite song by them.

[@michaelmcconnell7302]

This is hands down the greatest music video ever made.

[@ToneeRhianRose]

There's really only 4 songs I can think of offhand that I liked of theirs. Sabotage, (You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party), No Sleep Till Brooklyn, & Intergalactic. There might be others, but these are the only 1s I recognize by title. Such a shame both Adam Yauch (MCA) & John Berry are gone now.

[@billbennett5253]

New fan of your videos and loving all of it so far!

[@syx3s]

i had a camp councilor when i was like ten (would make sense, born 84) that woke us up every morning with this song cranked in the cabin.

[@soundrevolver886]

Saw them live at Santa Barbara County bowl in 94. Paul's Boutique is their best album imo

[@Gymbo-Baggins]

3 MC's and also Root down. With the video. Funny and on point musically

[@user-sr2nc9ge1d]

I love your reactions. You're so sincere & open. I also love your very soothing voice, which is like the cherry on top of your reactions. It's been an absolute pleasure watching you react to some of my favorite bands, like; TOOL, AIC, Beastie Boys, Pink Floyd & amazing singers like Elton John & Dolly Parton. What a blessing your channel is amongst a sea of low vibe channels out there. Much gratitude & many blessings sent your way.

[@kcrr2w]

Spike Lee produced/directed video - my fav memories from this year. Hitchhiking up the canyon with snowboard and driver put this tape in...blew my mind!!

[@zippymacadoo6336]

Ahhhhh. My favorite song ❤ Keep going!

[@EchoesDaBear]

Great reaction Polo!! This was fire when it came out (especially the video), and it's fire now!! I was 16 when this came out, was a pretty big Beasties fan already, and this just catapulted them higher. Was a 'regular' viewer of MuchMusic (Canadian MTV), and LOVED this video. Indeed, seems like they can really poke fun at themselves, don't take themselves too seriously (not like some rappers) - but they're so tight on their sound, rapping, lyrics & production. Nothing but the best from them. Cheers.

[@user-iy2tg8ci8b]

So young here it was the same time the MTVRaps show started in the 90s .. reminds me of GRANDMASTER FLASH AND THE FURIOUS FIVE. ... MESSAGE IS A GOOD SONG really love their style .. sad one of them has passed away from cancer

[@mikemodlin]

Excellent review of an absolute classic. One of my favorites by them I feel like everyone would like is “Root Down”.

[@MiniLemmy]

The video really made this song for me - can’t hear it without thinking of this hilarious video!!

[@LithMorganica]

Soon as I saw this video on MTV back in 94 I got on my bicycle and rode the 5 miles to the mall and bought the CD.

[@susiejo143]

Love these crazy guys!!

[@archangelgabriel5316]

3 MCees and One DJ. Intergalactic. Paul Revere. Peace

[@Sithman1776]

That song is very nostalgic of my adolescent years for me. Love it! Great reaction!

[@rchuckins]

You are, without question, an elite KZbin reactor! Love your takes and selections.

[@colleenmartin2954]

Wow! This song takes me back in such a good way!!! 😊

[@jodimarsh708]

I’ve been saying that for years now, Beastie Boys are TIMELESS ❤

[@leepopham-lithgow5104]

I love this song even more now than when it originally came out in 1994. Great video Polo

[@johnrogan9729]

HUGE Beasties fan. Been jamming with them since Licensed to Ill in '86.

[@garryiglesias4074]

I'm a huge fan of the BB's, they were one of the bests. I discovered them with this track in my teens, never let'em down ever since.

[@janetta5153]

I have been booming the beasties since the 80's and their first album .. this is my favorite beasties tune!!! The requested of this one ROCKS!

[@TheJoshuaPimentel]

I’ve listened to this song a zillion times and today I realized that one of the instruments they used was a doggy’s squeaky toy.

[@plankroadgarage2464]

Underrated Video and jamm!!! They cut up some great stuff just with a grocery store background. Groove on this is one of my favorites!

[@jackspade5317]

Sabotage is one of my favorite songs of all time! Looking down the Barrel of a Gun and Gratitude are two of my other favorite Beastie Boys jams

[@leftcoaster67]

Best spoof of 70's cop shows. I love the fact they chow down on a donut. :)

[@j.n.jacksonjr.170]

Hey Polo, you must be psychic, I heard Sabotage yesterday on the radio and thought , man Polo should react to this , one of my favorite Beastie Boys songs! Very original arrangement and delivery ! Cool watching you enjoy it! Yeah that opening hooks ya and pulls you in!

[@brenz990]

You have a great channel. You are correct, this song is tight and still appeals today. I loved this song when it came out. You know you have a good song if your Grateful Dead loving hippie roommate also likes it. Keep up the discovery of all these old tune!

[@WendyDarling1974]

One of my favorite videos of all time.

[@chrisfrench9257]

3 MC's and 1 DJ

[@helmedon]

Dig your channel bro. Love seeing some older folks (I'm 49) who missed the Beastie Boys finally discover them. By the way, they play their instruments as well on tracks like this. They started out as a hard core punk act and did the rap thing as a goof. Turns out a producer heard their goofin and saw gold.

[@Markhypnosis1]

I first heard this on the first of the new Star Trek films from 2007, and loved it. Then I found the live version on Letterman and was blown away. It's so raw and powerful. Would love to see a reaction of that live version.

[@jeffreydavid6794]

This is my favorite song by them. It's so much fun.

[@flenz4574]

Kerry King of Slayer plays guitar on You’ve got to fight for your right to party… Bless Rick Rubin and his ability to recognize next level talent

[@mneugent7658]

And they played all of those instruments.

[@andrewpeterson3190]

I remember seeing this video on MTV when I was like 12. Core memory.

[@user-jl7ty1ni4o]

Love it!!

[@Prone2Thrill]

Saw them live at Santa Monica bowl small outdoor venue and they killed it every track! Hiphop DX does a great breakdown video of why they are possibly the greatest hip hop band ever. Worthy watch for sure covering their punk roots to hip hop as a white group when not many black artists were doing well.

[@fredericlatreille]

I love "Get it together" featuring Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest ... what a great song! ...

[@kainiska]

I remember watching this video as a kid on mtv. Made me like the beastie boys. Greetings from Finland 🤘

[@turnsufficient4971]

This is when they wanted to prove that they were real musicians and decided to play real instruments on a record. They did this on Saturday Night Live and it was crazy. *My bad, it wasn't SNL, performed this song on David Letterman in 1994. Same energy Earlier, in their career, they sampled some Led Zeppelin songs, bc they were big fans of LZ. Great reaction Polo !

[@user-yn1sf9mq3z]

i don't know if i buy all that. they started out as a punk rock band in the early 80's, so they didn't need to prove they were real musicians, as all they had to do to prove they were musicians was pull out the early 80's music.

[@markb.7091]

One of the greatest videos and songs!

[@majormogli3772]

this reminds me of my highschool time (or in germany: gymnasium)... incredible song, which i still listen to today!

[@yenza123]

Dude, thank you. They are merciless.

[@claireculp576]

I am 63 and love me some Beastie Boys to get going in the morning!

[@laurakali6522]

I really love the throwback to 70’s cop shows like Mannix, Starsky and Hutch and the like.

[@timjenkins4065]

And there is a video of it 😁🍻

[@as7326]

Hell yeah! Get It Together is a gem!!

[@helmedon]

They do a great version of this live on Letterman I think it is. They play the instruments live.

[@lauribaldwin4262]

Yes , it's a great performance. Best ever

[@Reesispiecis]

Sabotage was the first song I ever heard of them and loved it. MTV playing their video all the time.

[@davidbackhaus3296]

NIce! being a rock dude for the most part, the thing that got me caught on to the BB back in the day is that even through they were great MC's, they also played their own instruments ( Check Your Head and Ill Communication era) and seemed to write songs in a similar way to a punk rock band. I thought that was a very cool original blend! They are legends!

[@user-rm5vl8gf7k]

Songs to check out: Shadrach, Hold it Now (Hit It), Paul Revere, 3 MCs and 1 DJ

[@jonathanbarb5516]

Please do ALL the BB songs! I love watching you "get them" they are so fun!

[@daddynitro199]

Intergalactic is precise, and fun as hell. Solid reaction, man!