Rappers React To Focus "Hocus Pocus"!!!

[@toddstevens13]

THE FIRST AND ONLY FULL AUDIENCE STANDING OVATION ON THE 9 YEARS OF THE MIDNIGHT SPECIAL.

[@mmcpa]

This is an amazing performance. Anyone who says this is a "worst song" doesn't know sh*t about music. The shredding by Jan, a hugely underrated guitarist, the drumming fills, the bass, the vocals, all payed faster than the normal song to perfection is sweet.

[@paulrietveld7949]

Underestimated? When Rolling Stone Magazine chooses him as " best gitarist in the world" ???😂

[@rolandgustafsson5655]

Agree 👍all these musicians is very skilled musicians and the guitarist was actually called the best guitarist in the world🎸🎶🎶😮

[@erikmulder2574]

Underrated, Jan was choosen as the wold’s best guitarist in 1973

[@Ant_Bar]

That song is technically mind blowing.

[@FocusVideoArchive]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5eXZHSwbtWDi5o

[@bluesfortheredsun]

jan akkerman is god!

[@paulsullivan1650]

This song technically blows!

[@jimirayo]

Yep. A well deserved standing ovation and a very rare one for The Midnight Special show.

[@fizgig2016]

Wow, this is one of the most amazing 70s songs ever! Plus they were doing a 7 minute song in 4 minutes - it KICKED ASS!

[@jeroenheijmans1445]

Yes that’s why its so fast

[@raymondreessens2077]

This band is from the Netherlands (Amsterdam), the lead guitarist is Jan Akkerman, in 1973 Akkerman was voted Best Guitarist in the World by readers of the UK magazine Melody Maker. Greetings from the Netherlands! Raymon

[@agegroot5666]

Big shame he isn't in Rolling stone's 100 best guitarists.

[@Orielzolrak]

@@agegroot5666 I don`t to read the Rolling Stone to know Ian Akerman is a monster, listen the guitar he is brilliant.

[@agegroot5666]

@@Orielzolrak _It's a disadvantage if you come from a small country and from a non-English speaking country and he wasn't in a major band for a long time....he's simply overlooked or forgotten.

[@Orielzolrak]

@@agegroot5666 see this group from argentina, see the crowd, best regardas kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6Wrf52NmauFi7c

[@agegroot5666]

@@Orielzolrak That's a crowd having a great time, hope to seen it again in the near future. At the moment it isn't possible in the Netherlands and it will sure be the same in Argentina. We are now in the second covid19 wave in a lockdown.

[@rexracer4660]

Yes you were trolled this is a classic. Here's the back story for you that is an 8-10 minute song they were told all you have is 5 minutes so cut it down, they said no we'll just play faster. CLUTCH "Careful with that mic..", Binge and Purge, Spacegrass, Puscifer Momma Sed, Sour Grapes, Tekka, Drunk with Power, Humbling River, TOMA,

[@truellaksala]

Puscifer !!!!

[@cindyshawver9986]

personally, i like the fast version better !!.....LOL

[@AronOutdoors]

And withoutt lots of BS editing too.

[@robertfitterman3777]

This song is actually a masterpiece and also makes everyone smile. You dudes were trolled for sure.

[@secondchance6603]

The woman that introduced them was none other than Gladys Knight and the band Focus were incredibly talented.

[@drinkbeetlejuice]

The musicianship on display here is absolutely incredible.

[@alfredchristiansen5482]

This is the only song to get a standing ovation on the Saturday Night Special

[@colleenmonfross4283]

This song totally exemplifies why that period of time was the greatest time for music with all of the experimentation that was going on and when real instruments were played and people actually sang, not a computer.

[@davidelizabeth4933]

The song and performance was a 10 out of 10. EPIC!!! No joke. 🤯

[@John_Lyle]

11 out of 10 At least.

[@HvdHaghen]

@@John_Lyle Yes...... 11 out of 10. Hocus pocus arithmetic.

[@FlipperWolf]

The song is technically and vocally insane. I don't get it, it's an awesome song, it's way wayyy far from a bad song, I honestly think it's a little masterpiece, so well, to each their own... EDIT: Ok I should watch the whole videos and not just the intro before commenting :v This is indeed a classic and you were trolled :p Also the vocal technic he's using is called yodeling and comes from Central Alps in Europe.

[@willwozniak2826]

try listening to the studio version to get the REAL FEEL of the song....Its played slower that this rushed live performance.

[@FlipperWolf]

@@willwozniak2826 but I love this rushed live performance!

[@michelelaraia7358]

Germany

[@hagabur2891]

This song is awesome! Plus they had 4 minutes on TV to play a 7 minute song so they cranked it up a bit.

[@GingerNinjaPlus]

The normal song is slower and they had to fit 7 minutes into 5 for the tv appearance and they didn't want to cut any of the song so they just went double speed hahahah

[@Ozzpot]

I'm glad they did. Since I heard this performance I can't listen to the studio recording any more, way too slow!

[@katsee8699]

I didn't know that - what an ingenious idea! :D

[@cindyshawver9986]

@@Ozzpot i agree !!......r u from Albion NY ???.....if so, so am i !!.....LOL

[@Ozzpot]

@@cindyshawver9986 No, Albion as in the ancient and poetic name for the island of Great Britain. There's also an Albion in New Zealand I think, because one guy was convinced I was from there too! And one guy thought I was obsessed with the game "Fable". It's more ambiguous a word than I realized!

[@Kgio-2112]

No. They always played it faster in concert. Lot of bands amp it up cause of adrenaline

[@HelgeKS]

Jan Akkerman, the world’s greatest living guitarist hands down

[@AP-gb3eh]

Rather than cut the songs time for tv they just sped up. Brilliant 👏👏👏👏👏

[@black4pienus]

The singer may sound silly, but this band is super talented. Thijs van Leer (singer) and Tim Akkerman (guitar) are big names in The Netherlands. And the fact that they didn't want to make the song shorter for the tv show and just played it double speed is just fucking epic! You gotta respect that. lol

[@dantolino1093]

Jan, not Tim.

[@black4pienus]

@@dantolino1093 Haha You're right. Tim Akkerman is another artist.

[@dantolino1093]

🙂@@black4pienus

[@kieskop4684]

But Tim is the son of Jan Akkerman@@black4pienus

[@Mabinogion]

Agreed!! Instead of shortening the piece like so many bands did, they played it at double speed. Compare the original recording - it's brilliant!!

[@andrewpetik2034]

The song (not a reaction) had been in my KZbin feed for months and I kept passing by it.... But I finally watched it and OH MY GOD!! THE CREATIVITY IS OFF THE CHARTS!! They are Dutch? Holland I'm thinking, not sure... But you see how they pulled from ALL of their influences. Their Dutch heritage, the yodeling. They are all classically trained, the composition is incredible to me. Rock and Roll, obviously. And a little bit of Scatman Crothers. This is FANTASTIC!

[@torbjornlidin656]

this is geniuses at work

[@Leftylobber]

This is the funniest best song ever written. Takes some immense talent to do the nutty shit this guy did in this song

[@j_muller]

According to Wikipedia: "In 1973 Akkerman was voted Best Guitarist in the World by readers of the UK magazine Melody Maker. " ahead of Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Gary Moore, Robin Trower etc. etc. Not bad for a wee Dutch lad. Great band. Good fun.

[@autohmae]

I've seen him play live, it was great.

[@TexasVeteranPatriot]

This is a classic! We WAITED for DAYS to hear this on the radio and when it did we went nuts! Check the original, this one was high speed due to necessity...

[@crabuki1273]

The lady that introduced them was Gladys Knight, btw. ATL represent, now.

[@stevevalkos6308]

wow she was so pretty - and she still looks great

[@Isleofskye]

I don't know what it is about Gladys Knight but she does give me The Pips...

[@crabuki1273]

@@Isleofskye In case you actually wanted an explanation, the sign behind them has eastatlantarecords.com on it. Gladys Knight, the Empress of Soul, who introduced Focus in this clip, is from Atlanta and well known in the city. Probably a generational thing (said the old man).

[@Isleofskye]

It was kind of you to take the time and trouble to give this 66-year-old Londoner from England an answer but it was just my English Sense Of HumoUr as I was making the reference to Gladys Knight and The Pips but Thanks anyway, my friend!

[@maxs.3224]

They sang this song because they’re from the Netherlands and didn’t have any English songs so they chose a song with no words to play on American TV. It was also a huge global hit at the time.

[@rmustikka6111]

That song is so good. When ever I feel bad, I just listen this and I'm good again.

[@autohmae]

Nothing bad about them ! Just different. And performing a song faster than intended. I've been to a live performance of Jan Akkerman (guitarist) and he was amazing.

[@OP-1000]

THIS WAS AMAZING! Who the hell called it a bad song? Did you listen to that guitar?

[@Georgeth-kb6rg]

I dont think so :(

[@utekrause8334]

Guitarist Jan Akkerman, BADASS

[@marty6945]

@@Georgeth-kb6rg And who knows what you're actually thinking when you obviously don't even know it yourself ?

[@cl8onj388]

He didn't have a broken tooth. If you look at the early part of the video, he clearly has all his teeth. He's holding his tongue in a weird way in order to whistle so it just LOOKS like his tooth is missing. Anyway, every reaction I've ever seen to this song is the same. They all end up smiling from ear to ear or laughing. I'd say mission accomplished. BTW, that guitarist is insanely good.

[@BakerStudiosIndy]

As a rock drummer and session musician growing up in this era, I can safely say that this song deserves anthem status. Half a century later, it's still a hoot.

[@ButchShelton]

Rumor it was the first standing ovation on the Midnight special.

[@polmus]

One of the greatest songs ever made. No kidding, the talentship in this song from everyone involved, including (and maybe especially) the singer is outstanding! Imagine having to whistle live and do it at that level, and the jodling. It's incredible! Fun and moving performance!

[@cspaikido]

You're underestimating the talent of all the members of this group including the keyboardist.

[@StevanOutdoor]

When an American tv shows tells a Dutch band to cut up a 7 minutes songs into 4 minutes, they say f it we will just speed it up and do the entire song in under 4 minutes. You just don't tell the Dutch what to do. They are GREAT.

[@christopherjunkins]

um, I'd say that ALL took serious talent. Including the whole vocal and whistling bit, and flute.

[@aryanson]

also took some serious coke...

[@r-tunes8652]

Anyone who doesn't consider this a flawless crystaline masterpiece of scintillating perfection and one of the best pieces of music ever created, looses any right to ever be allowed to judge or pass any opinion on any music ever again as clearly they are lacking in any musical discernment whatsoever and their opinion is automatically invalid and moot One of the great pieces of music and one of the best performances ever, Thijs Van Leer on keys, vox and flute, is a genius, as in Jan Akkerman on guitar

[@jaapblaauw3735]

This song made it into the US charts in the top 10...some artists also tried to cover this song, most of them, if not all of them failed..

[@TrueMetalBrother]

Helloween did a nice work btw

[@infantrycord]

Helloween's cover was really well done.

[@fizgig2016]

It was on the radio on the regular when I was in high school. The studio version, which is longer and slower but awesome as hell - this, well, atm, it's everything.

[@fairalways]

DUDES! YOU JUST DISCOVERED HOCUS POCUS! WELCOME TO THE 70'S! TOOK LONG ENOUGH!

[@TheShamusOfSlots]

This video has been covered by so many people for reactions -- you get credit for being one of the first! I get to see FOCUS on July 4th, 2024 at Fallsview Casino as they are opening for ASIA in Niagara Falls Canada. The band is still going 55 years later. You were on this one early guys! Take care.

[@andyturner3056]

Introduction by Gladys Knight. 1973. They were told to fit a 7 minute song into a 4 minute TV slot. They refused and decided to speed the tempo up. Whoever decided to call this a bad song obviously doesn't appreciate excellent musicians.

[@bucketheadistheman]

Not too bad? In 1973, Jan Akkerman was voted best guitarist alive. They were only given 4 minutes to play a 7 minute song. They played it double-time. A world-class performance.

[@MrRukiddin]

More talent then EVERY rapper/hip hop artist combined!!!!!

[@caporalmoutarde]

yesss

[@davidohalloran1311]

This has to be the best, most honest and natural reaction to a band ever. Whenever I need a laugh, this is my go to video on this channel.

[@michelelaraia7358]

The whole time actually

[@geoffreyfletcher9426]

That is the absolute greatest performance of all times (whether you like the music or not)!!!

[@SueK51]

The host is Gladys Knight from Gladys Knight and the Pips ('Midnight Train to Georgia') Amazing singer! Guys, you got punked. Hocus Pocus is a classic and Focus is still out there today. This song is originally 6 minutes, 42 seconds long. The Midnight Special put a time limit on the length of songs. Rather than skip a lot of it, Focus just played it fast. Very fast. It's supposed to make you laugh!

[@gloryn4394]

Whoever said it was the worst was an idiot. They are shredding, amazing musicians.

[@_Reynolds_]

Anyone said this song is bad, has absolutely no idea how much work, passion and knowledge are behind it from all members of the band.

[@joannaburchell7131]

Absolutely Priceless.

[@johnlongenecker7779]

I was 12 in 1973 when I first heard this song and I was blown away with the studio version of Hocus Pocus. Absolutely loved it.

[@brianpoole7581]

The music on that song is great! The gutars and drums were killing it! A all time great!

[@Hollywood6IX]

Ikr, such amazing talent

[@markymarc7833]

When your musicianship is this good, you can be as eccentric as you like and everyone else can go to hell. 😂

[@Ryouski]

Is it weird I actually found it somewhat catchy? LOL! (First time hearing this song) I can't believe I haven't heard this before. Great reaction!

[@Hollywood6IX]

so did we 😂😂😂

[@sidarthur8706]

well you've got ears

[@seraph1690]

I heard the song once, took me 13 years to actually know its name

[@liefde1911]

They were excellent musicians. All of them. Trash? Absolutely not. I saw them playing live. Incredibly good!

[@sirsancti5504]

Also: the original song is 6:30 minutes.. The TV show gave them 4 and they refused to edit/change, so they went fast-tempo on it. First (and some say only) stand ovation in the show. This song, band and each one of the musicians are awesome.

[@aharon59]

The lady who introduced them was Gladys Knight of Gladys Knight and the Pips and there was nobody on the planet who hadn`t heard this song in 1973 but this show had a 4 minute time limit and they had an 8 minute song so that`s what led to probably one of the most epic performances of all time. Anybody who thinks this is rubbish have neither a sense of humor or musical taste.... plus, try to sing along... that shit is hard to do. One of the all time greatest rock performances ever captured on film 🤘

[@Silveradoman61]

Ha Ha Hey guys im 60 years old and I remember when this came out in 1973 it was funny then and even funnier now .

[@erwindegroot8760]

You can't be that bad when you're from the Netherlands and asked for an American tv-show. And the guitar player Jan Akkerman was voted to best guitar player in the world. This kind of music was populair during the Progrock period.

[@cindysimpson1046]

I'm 66...guys, this is a classic. Again as always, you had to be in the time for it. Can't appreciate it if you weren't there.

[@Randaddy25]

I like how rap is considered good music, but not an actual band playing actual instruments. 😂😂😂

[@johnlong9534]

When they first got to the show, they were told that they only had 4 minutes to play a 6 minute song. They were told to cut part of the song out. They refused and played it twice as fast as it was originally recorded to get it all in.

[@nolaserv]

Glad you guys recognized their standing ovation. Well deserved huh? I probably won't be able to tell you anything more than anyone else had already with their comments. I will say that I was back there in high school when it first aired on radio in the early 70's and had the same basic reaction yall did. Funny how some things never change. Gladys Knight formerly with the Pips introduced them and I'm sure she had heard of them at the time as she knew everyone else too. She goes back a looong way.

[@Suldog29]

The first reaction when Thijs Van Leer starts singing is almost always the same - eyes widen, then jaw drops, then big smiles and laughter. This brings immense JOY to almost everyone who hears it. It is absolutely magical. A mega-talented band.They were great at every style. This is manic awesomeness, but they were equally good at classical, jazz, etc. Enjoyed this a lot. Thank you!

[@LeftyConspirator]

My dad was a huge fan of these guys in the seventies, so I grew up on this stuff. Takes me right back!

[@edanielgreen]

I LOVED this song when I first heard it upon entering high school in '72! One of the first 45 rpm records I ever bought, along with Frankenstein by the Edgar Winter Group! I purchased some of their later albums: some really good stuff. Just sayin'. 🤗

[@yvobroekhoven972]

I met Thijs van Leer (the singer, amongs other instruments) a couple of times. Nice bloke :)

[@celecat7383]

I love this song. I hope it makes the rounds of all the react channels. 😁

[@TelesPlayMetal]

This song has been covered by so many bands, the best cover ever was by Gary Hoey, it was his biggest hit from the mid 90’s in Southern California. The guitar player was basically the Eddie Van Halen of the time and recently had a signature Gibson made even all these years later.

[@torepedersen3109]

This song fucking owns, that's just the objective truth.

[@Isleofskye]

They were given a 4 minute slot for a 7 minute album track :) That was GLADYS KNIGHT of Gladys Knight and The Pips :)

[@IH8YH]

one of the greatest prog rock bands of all time!!!!! this is legendary and fucking amazing.

[@davidmattson3390]

This is one of the most amazing song I have ever heard

[@ericoh123]

This came out in the early 1970's. I was 13. This was, to this jr high rock band guitarist - revolutionary. Like Jimi Hendrix would have been to a '50's be-bop crowd, mind-blowing new. It was completely unfamiliar to the ear. And magnificent. And crazy all the same.

[@pza1971]

the lady who introduced them is Gladys Knight from Gladys Knight and the Pips

[@NoLegalPlunder]

They were ridiculously talented. There were so many amazing bands back then who, were not only technically amazing, but who knew how to make songs that were fun. Music was turned on it’s head from the mid 60s to the mid 70s.

[@EverendeverGroup]

I'd forgotten about this gem of a jam. Thanks, guys, it just became the top slot of my playlist.

[@fvantpadje]

They were actualy the first superband of Netherland. Jan Akkerman on the guitar was one of the best guitar player of the world, the singer Thijs van Leer was a clasical fluitplayer also know as one of the best on the world.

[@donaldkennedy9573]

Van Leer is still with the band.

[@stofopdenaald132]

This is an awesome song by great musicians, nothing bad about it

[@gerarwhyxD]

I knew this song from the movie "Babydriver" and i loved it. PD: For the tool tuestay please react to Jambi, Right in Two or Vicarious, always with lyrics. You are awesome my dudes.

[@123pilpil]

Grew up with this song in the 70s..never fails to raise a smile. They still tour.

[@christopherperkins1733]

I think people hating on this just don't appreciate the absolute madness of this song. It's not trying to be good in a traditional sense, or at least it's trying to bait you into thinking it will be and then just jumps into something weirder. It's more interesting than almost anything else I've listened too and that's good enough for me to be about it.

[@eviljesus84]

Funny thing about this, is that the frenetic pace was because the producers told Focus they had to cut their 6:42 song in half due to time constraints, and the band said 'nah, we'll just play it twice as fast'... and they did😅

[@hrothgar64]

An incredible performance. The song was 6 minutes plus, but the producers if the TV programme said they had 4 minutes, so they just played it at speed. Jan Akkerman (shredding and sweep picking years before the metal guitarists were doing it) is an amazing guitar player and Thijs Van Leer (keyboards/yodelling) still tours as part of Focus.

[@geraldherrmann787]

not bad? this is a music-masterclass.

[@jonlaye2537]

"You have 4 minutes to perform" "But our song is 6 minutes long, I guess we'll play it quick "

[@cartoonsfromthe80ties]

your guy's don't get it. these guys are incredibly talented. those guys are really fantastic. Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it's bad. they are all fantastic musicians.

[@13uomini]

In truth it would last 6 minutes but, for television needs, it has been compressed in 4 minutes! Jan Akkermann was considered in this period, the best World's guitarrist!

[@windmill10]

Gladdys Knight knew who Focus was. Trust me.

[@davidornberg]

This band takes the singing style Scat to a hole new level! ;-)

[@sidarthur8706]

scat hole

[@NotBenCoultry]

I seriously can't get enough of people reacting to this dude's singing face hahahahaha

[@cybergrail]

I love this song! Thank you for reviewing this.

[@seandaugherty6359]

great song of the 70's guys. It's meant to be funny. But good reaction

[@heathcliff8624]

Hilarious reaction. "What was the hook?" LOL That was funny AF. I laughed my coffee right outta my face.

[@tweimer123]

Damn this shits dope af

[@Straydogger]

So fast ... So good ..... So funny!

[@billmilligan7272]

"What is he on?" Fire. He's absolutely on fire.

[@frankie-3598]

Can you imagine going through life never hearing this?

[@Fuldigor1980]

Hey guys! What a awesome reaction. I laughed so hard I almost fell off my chair! 🤣

[@kimberlysaffles9332]

Jesus Christ that was funny as hell! Y’all are going to be laughing about that for DAYS! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@treeoflife6386]

You have to know & truly love classical rock music, then you appreciate Focus playing Hocus Pocus🎶🎸🎹🎵🥁🫶

[@mustang8812822]

Don't forget that's live,,,,great vocal performance and hard to duplicate.