T. REX - Bang a Gong (Get It On) | FIRST TIME REACTION

[@kimn9802]

One of the greatest pop songs ever written. Irresistible.

[@vanyadolly]

Rock songs.

[@kimn9802]

@@vanyadolly Pop is short for popular. Bolan was considered a pop star back in the day. He had a large teenage female fan base, lots of chart success and high record sales, mostly singles. Pop was a common term to describe music that charted and sold well. Not meant to be a derogatory term.

[@827dusty]

T-Rex was mentioned in the "Mott the Hoople" song "All the Young Dudes."

[@spurstrex]

Yes the David Bowie song written for them

[@jons.105]

A killer party track--and a great addition to a movie whenever it turns up on the soundtrack. Marc Bolan was a huge influence on all the glam rock artists of the early 1970s. I still remember that dark day in 1977 when they announced Bolan's death on the radio in a tragic car accident (his girlfriend was driving). So much "dirty sweet" music left behind for us to cherish. RIP Mr. Bolan! 🎸The Electric Warrior.

[@intothesunset3]

Great choice...love this song💖 A glam rock classic.

[@johnniekight1879]

The background vocals are Howard Kaylan & Mark Voorman of the Turtles AKA Flo & Eddy

[@drexlraw9145]

flo and eddy on backing vocals....the BEST

[@suesmith7968]

YeahMan!! Imagine: you’re in your twenties in the ‘70s. It’s all about sex, drugs and rock and roll. This song nailed it!!!! Another great reaction!! ☮️❤️

[@artbagley1406]

The beat and the bass made this song; great to dance to, precursor to disco where the first few notes or beats got folks to their feed and out on the dance floor! Love the "surreptitious horns" that come through stronger in a few places. Can't pick out the congas, tho.

[@papercup2517]

In the 1950s and 60s, in sedate small British hotels and guest houses, they would bang a gong before dinner, to summon guests to the dining room.... make of that what you will! Through a mutual friend, I actually met Marc's 'dirty-sweet girl' - or the lady who would become Mrs Marc Bolan a few years later. When I met her she was living in a tiny flat somewhere in West London (IIRC) which she shared with one of the guys who managed Pink Floyd in the early days. Although June had a full time secretarial job, she had found herself roped into running errands for the band, which gradually became more time consuming as the work increased and her role evolved. Eventually she delivered an ultimatum - either they paid her for her work or they could carry on without her. They crumbled, and immediately instated her as the band's (properly compensated) personal assistant. She was close to Syd Barrett in particular, while he was still interested in and capable of such relationships. She then met Marc, and their attraction was instant; he took her to meet his mum very soon after, and, they declared their love for each other over tea on the back lawn. Sadly they split before Marc died and he was with another, American lady backing singer when he was killed in the car crash. June herself died unexpectedly in the1990s. From what I've heard, she was very well loved by all who knew her well. RIP June Child Bolan

[@jordimoore2167]

You picked the right song!

[@robsutherland5744]

Your reactions are a lot of fun. Thanks Shawn.

[@happymethehappyone8300]

A MUST HEAR Classic,, Billy Thorpe "Children Of The Sun" 🔥

[@NoBSchannel313]

He has some great music... Jeepster...Buick MacKane....Baby Boomerang... and on and on

[@germankitty]

OMG, this brings up memories -- I was 14 when I started taking ballroom dance lessons (some German kids still do that; it's kind of a thing), and this is the song I learned how to do the foxtrot to! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!

[@ohfour-seven6228]

T. Rex is one of my favorites, so glad you discovered them. Originally they were a psychedelic folk duo but then Marc Bolen discovered the electric guitar and came out with his Electric Warrior album. Bowie was among many influenced by him. He had a car fetish and automotive references show up in many of his songs. Check out: The Slider (jaw droppingly amazing!), Telegram Sam (incredible dance track), Baby Boomerang, Mambo Sun, The Motivator, Jeepster and Rip-Off. So so cool!

[@bryanforis1839]

One of the best rock singers and great music great live band

[@MisterWondrous]

Everybody had a crush on T. Rex, and everybody was crushed by his being crushed in a crash. Little wonder that he was connected to King Crimson and Yes. Long live his memory.

[@jaccilowe3842]

Reference at the end there to Chuck Berry "meanwhile I was still thinking" from Little Queenie, a huge influence on guitarists.

[@wiliamwidlacki7459]

Glam rock at its finest... Mambo sun is one of my personal favorites

[@Mary-xo7ue]

Marc Bolan gone way too soon😢he had great vocals. ❤this song.

[@bobschenkel7921]

If the band is from the 1970's, like T. Rex, and they are saying "Get It On Bang A Gong", they are talking about getting it on, not a T shirt. These guys were what they called Glam Rock. Lead Singer and Guitarist Marc Bolan was very charismatic, and had a great stage presence. Unfortunately, he was involved in a bad car crash, and did not survive. RIP Marc Bolan.

[@dianedavies8291]

Check out Jeepster next. T- Rex lost too soon. Bowie helped his son financially, in private, for many many years, who was quite young when he died. He was killed instantly in an auto accident in London. ✌️♥️🎶

[@andymccracken4046]

I think "bang a gong" is there because it rhymes, just about, with "get it on". Ride a White Swan was their first big hit and one of their best.

[@subwaygoddess1]

This song is 🔥🔥🔥, from the 1st time I heard it back then, til now, still

[@sarablack2547]

Marc bolan's girlfriend (73-77)gloria jones(who sang tainted love later coverd by soft cell)was the driver of the car, a Mini 1275 GT, that crashed near Barnes Common, striking a tree and killing Bolan at 4 a.m. on September 16, 1977, on the way back to Bolan's Richmond property. They were returning from an evening at a restaurant in Mayfair where they had both been drinking wine.he was 29. He had his own show for a short time and would end it by saying keep a little marc in your heart. I hope you do more t-rex.

[@jimmayors2315]

Also, there is a keyboard rake, three times in the song. That is Rick Wakeman (of Yes). Rick (a session player then) got a call from Marc for to add some keys to the song. Rick shows up, and Marc has him rake the keyboards. Rick was surprised that was all Marc wanted. Marc paid him 9 quid (like $25) to do it (good money back then). Rick said, it wasn't worth it, but Marc insisted. Rick say's "it paid my rent for the month". Check out the article "Why Marc Bolan hired Rick Wakeman for T. Rex song ‘Bang a Gong (Get It On)" by Jordan Potter Wed 30 March 2022 15:00, UK

[@eirikasbjrnberg8753]

I used to listen to Metal Guru and Children of the Revolutions in early seventies , On and on . My sisters singles . He was an unique hippie soul, who passed away too early

[@joelliebler5690]

Rick Wakeman was just getting going in his professional career and so like many musicians he struggled to make ends meet until he hooked on with the Strawbs just before joining YES!

[@paulkeahtigh2]

60's and 70's had the best music! Love you reaction 😎

[@thefoss5387]

You mentioned the high harmony. That was sung by the lead singer and his main backup singer of the 60's group, The Turtles. Howard Kaylan and Marc Volman. The other song called Get It On, by Chase, was a completely different composition. Chase, a group that will remind you of early Chicago or Blood Sweat and Tears, in that the brass choir is the featured lead instruments, tragically, lost its main members in a plane crash after 3 albums. Their self titled debut is great album.

[@cindiherriott3259]

Was always such a fun song. Still is! Oh! I see it put an instant smile on your face! 😁

[@kenpatton8761]

There’s a music video of them performing this song on utube. You can see one of the first ‘Glam Bands” do their thing. Cheers

[@revaflowers3115]

There is a remake done by the Power Station(Robert Palmer and the guys from Duran Duran )that is very,very ,very good!That rift and the beat is hard to sit still while it plays.

[@Ou81gi812]

🎉 I remember watching Saturday Night Live, in the mid-80’s, when Robert Palmer and Power Station were the musical guests. Their cover of this song (originally done by T. Rex) is just as good as Van Halen’s cover of “You Really Got Me,” originally done by The Kinks. Those were the days…🎶.

[@jodyjackson5475]

This was IT for me. *Swooooon*❤

[@dionysiacosmos]

Bill Chase was my 2nd cousin, a trumpet player with big bands until he formed Chase, with other musicians from the genre, when Blood, Sweat and Tears broke into pop music. Chase managed one top ten 10 pop hit before most of the band , including Bill, were killed in an airplane accident in 1974. He was my dad's contemporary, not mine, but I did meet him shortly before his death when I was 14. You have probably heard an instrumental version of Get It On, you just don't know it. It has been extremely popular with marching bands in high schools and college, etc. The single is really good. I generally keep my own council about being related to Bill if I know I'm talking to a jazz fan. They tend to breathlessly gush for a while if I do. If you do some BS&T , Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, or Chicago, Get It On will work in the same category, except since he was a virtuoso, Bill's trumpet will probably leave you breathless too.🧓💖💯

[@jeffjohnson9911]

Get it on by Chase was a completely different song from Bang a gong, Get It On by T Rex.

[@dionysiacosmos]

@@jeffjohnson9911 Yes, it was the first song listed when he read the look up out loud. I was clarifying it for him. As he read the song is simply called Get It On on the UK charts.

[@timbriere2325]

The Turtles are the back up singers on this.

[@suesmith7968]

They also played with Zappa!!

[@CosmicVagabondPixie]

YAY!!! one of the best lines "Hubcap Diamond Star Halo" **Swoon**

[@custardflan]

The lyric, "Meanwhile, I was still thinking" is from Chuck Berry's "Little Queenie," which is a classic, as are all Chuck Berry songs and famously covered by the Rolling Stones on its "Get Yer Ya Yas Out" live album at MSG in 1969.

[@PlutoAnn]

Counter Culture Glam Rock, my peeps. They mention T Rex in Mott the Hoople's All the Young Dudes. 🤩🤩🤩

[@strategicplanetxmuzik4384]

.......'bang a gong' means make some noise, as in get loud. It also has sexual undertones. Don't over intellectualize these lyrics . It's all about rock and roll and having fun... 🤠

[@1967PONTIACGTO]

T. Rex is one of the early kings of Glam Rock... for other great Glam Rock songs, try Virginia Plain by Roxy Music, or Personality Crisis by the New York Dolls

[@dow311]

If you watch his video, he has the “IT” factor.

[@stevesuttie2644]

Oh man, I need TV when I got T. Rex All the Young Dudes

[@cricketbat09]

Definitely one of the best rock songs ever to come out of the UK.

[@rghilino6734]

You'll never know what Bolan was talking about but he sure could rock.

[@amierikke6225]

I love seeing Melinials reacting to 60’s 70’s & 80’s rock!

[@jimmayors2315]

T-Rex! Basically, start of GLAM rock. (Slade was another). There is a sexual innuendo here... Bang a Gong. Sort of the same meaning as "Ring My Bell" from Anita Hill. Think about what you learned in your anatomy class... A way to get it on the radio and past the censors

[@dow311]

Love reading the comments, I learn so much, thanks everyone.

[@joelliebler5690]

This was known as Glam Rock as Marc Bolin and the band would wear makeup. David Bowie picked up some of his early styling from Marc Bolin .

[@gpxo11]

man I remember dancing to this in my platform shoes and silk shirts in the early 70s.

[@lorilxn1597]

Always loved this song

[@italoblu]

Duran Duran’s splinter group Power Station covered this and killed it completely.

[@d.vincent6190]

Great song, next check out The Jeepster, from T-Rex.

[@RalphSpoiledsport]

You picked a good one to start with.

[@jollyrodgers7272]

Banging the Gong, some said, was hitting her 'G' spot.

[@BringItMAGA]

Glam rock! With Elton John on the keyboards.

[@alekhidell]

I think “Bang a Gong” was added for American release. In the U.K. this was “Get it On”….that’s it. Marc was the first rock hero I had. A genuine superstar.

[@KevinRCarr]

Oo! Chase! Do Get It On by Chase! It'll most definitely get your heart racing! They were basically a horn section with a guitarist, bassist, keyboardist and drummer and a vocalist. Another band that ended due to a tragic plane crash.

[@jimwilcox2964]

Get It On and Livin' In Heat, two of the charts we did in high school jazz band 73-75 ish. He was a heck of a trumpet player

[@gwensnyder8313]

20th Century Boy

[@Brandi6666]

Marc bolan started the whole androgynous era in rock. eg. bowie, the jagger swagger😊, and more, then came the glam rock bands. Oh and cant forget the ultimate stadium song “rock and roll” by gary glitter❤️🤘

[@konradv7]

In the UK the song was just called Get It On, but Marvin Gaye had a hit with Let’s Get It On in the US at the time, so the name was edited to avoid confusion.

[@markgallemore8856]

Peter, Paul and Mary have a song called I dig rock ‘n’ roll music. In the chorus singing the words, but if I really say it, the radio won’t play it. Unless I lay it between the lines.

[@FredGarnett]

Like Bowie Marc Bolan was in lots of bands in the 60s; they were friends and later shared the same producer Tony Visconti. I always like Desdemona an early psychedelic single by John's Children. In the 70s Bolan perfected the art of having hit singles based on riffs. Check out 20th Century Boy for a riff. He was the biggest artist in the UK in 1972 and Ringo Starr made a movie about him and T.Rex in 1973 called Born To Boogie

[@spurstrex]

It's Get it on world wide only in America changed because of a previous song with the same title to stop confusion. Massive worldwide except America who weren't ready!

[@HiramLoki]

T Rex was frickin' amazing. Marc was hero to all us normal sized people. Anyone over 5' 7" is just freakishly tall.

[@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek]

5'7 is short almost everywhere

[@KimSimful]

I love Jeepster too!

[@827dusty]

Sort of a British version of "Glam-Rock," before it was a thing. Very early 70s genre of pre-punk whatever. It was a huge hit song worldwide. Very naughty, with ultra- sexual connotations.

[@intothesunset3]

Glam rock was early to mid 70's and mainly a British phenomenon (it's sometimes confused with glam/hair metal of the 80's, which was influenced by glam rock but was not the same thing).

[@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek]

Glam rock was a british genre. Not a british version 😂 american glam bands are doing an american version😂

[@Canucklehead557]

The late Robert Palmer did a great cover of this tune.

[@susanfriend-k5m]

He was up there with Bowie and Freddy but died young.

[@Annie-hd3jx]

T Rex I love to Boogie 👍

[@cr16219]

Don't even try to figure out the 60's vernacular. Just go with it and enjoy it.

[@patswanson2870]

In the video I saw on KZbin Elton John is playing the piano.

[@realitybytez]

yeah, i saw that video too, but it's from top of the pops and it was a lip-synch performance. you can see elton banging away on the piano all the way through the song (the camera zooms in on him numerous times), but the only time you can hear a piano is when there are those quick glissandos down the keys, and at that point in the video, elton is still playing two handed chords. in the actual studio recording, rick wakeman of yes played those glissandos.

[@punkydoodle4774]

@@realitybytez, yes. They hired an up-and-coming Elton John to mime piano playing.

[@merlinhotspurs]

You yanks missed him in the early 70’s. He was a genius before Bowie.

[@randy8297]

It's Rock n Roll, it NEVER means putting on a coat!

[@Prone2Thrill]

Power Station with Robert Palmer seems to have been influenced by this sound to me. Top of mind anyway,

[@librarylady13]

[@chitownlee]

Glam Rock

[@KneeJerkReactions13]

I prefer the Power Station and their cover of this song. Good old rock song though.

[@dannymoore6886]

Glam rock at it's best.

[@user-ph9wt3ue7c]

Try Hot Love next.

[@LVVMCMLV]

One of the lesser songs from 1971 but still a good song

[@markmurphy558]

And this is largely a one-hit wonder.

[@doughaviland1729]

Great one hit wonder!😂

[@duckarse11]

From 1970 to 1973, T. Rex encountered a popularity in the UK comparable to that of the Beatles, with a run of eleven top ten singles, four of which reached number one: "Hot Love", "Get It On", "Telegram Sam" and "Metal Guru".

[@sammyd8860]

Hardly !

[@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek]

T rex were a massive band. The second biggest glam rock band behind david bowie. They had MANY hits.

[@kathyjones3940]

I love Mickey Finns backing vocals!!