The Hook Brings You Back: A Real-Time Analysis of Blues Traveler's "Hook" | ElisaRockDoc

Blues Traveler's "Hook" is one of my favorite songs about songwriting. It breaks the fourth wall and provides commentary on what it means to be a popular artist. Listen along and let me know if you found something new in this tune!
✨THANKS FOR WATCHING! ✨
See you on Twitter 👉 / elisarockdoc
...Or Instagram! 👉 / elisarockdoc
Support the music and videos via Patreon 👉 / elisarockdoc
...Or Bandcamp! 👉 www.crimsonrock...
🎨 CHANNEL ART: www.jacksongee...

[@erikmchatton]

This song is a middle finger inside a trojan horse. One of the greatest songs ever written because it proved its premise and Popper succeeded in doing exactly what he set out to do. Incredible piece of art.

[@BigKeithDog]

He's kind of an asshole for this song... It's so good though.

[@michaellueneburg2261]

The fact that it made it to #23 on the Billboard top 100 charts is absolutely the best! Proof positive this is one of the best pieces of art songs ever written!

[@IanFay]

I was today years old when I learned about the Peter Pan pun in this song. I am now changed, forever.

[@ElisaRockDoc]

Ian Fay Thank you! I was hoping folks would discover something new! ☺️

[@MikeB12800]

Peter could grow up, be with Wendy, and leave Neverland, but “Hook” keeps bringing Peter back to the chase between them, so Peter never grows, same as the listeners. They stay childlike, amused by a catchy chorus, instead of growing and learning.

[@robinjohnston24]

Awww crap. 25 years I’ve loved this song and it’s taken this to illustrate the Hook (upper case H) reference. Apparently yes, I really am this stupid!!! How did I miss this for like a generation??? 🤣🤣🤣

[@fredroman1994]

Well first things first, I have analysed this song over 20 times in the last 10 years and i've always wondered if someone other then me geeked out this hard to this song, cuz it's just such a fucking great lyric malabarism that i've always wanted to talk to someone about it but never really got the chance. It's currently 4:40 am I am taking bong hits and stumbled upon this gem AND LAUGHED MY ASS OFF AT THE PUN CUZ I NEVER FUCKING GOT IT LUL. thank you so much for this Elisa, and good night from Brazil. hahaha

[@Mostly_Peaceful_Irish]

Finally someone who gets this song. Based!

[@Mr._Anderpson]

I always loved this song, still do. He tells you he is just here to schmooze you but you're gonna love it. He is correct.

[@AHappyBachelor]

Girl you got it. Canon in D. John Popper clowned the entire Music, Inc. industry 20 years before the normies finally caught on. You got it 👍🏼

[@jimlahey3919]

“To confuse the issue I’ll refer... to familiar heroes, from long ago. No matter how much Peter loved her. What made the Pan refuse to grow, was that the Hook brings you back”. Such an incredible line with so many layers. I still get chills when I hear it for the 8,000th time. Expert level creativity, vocals, and musicianship from Popper and the band.

[@shamoon2214]

Brilliant!

[@jimlahey3919]

This song is a masterpiece. It’s the Come On Eileen of the 90’s. A groove and vibe that just brings instant happiness. The lyrics, the vocals, the melody. All outstanding. If this song doesn’t instantly make you smile and bob your head, seek professional help.

[@yp4506]

INCREDIBLE analysis. I don't think I stopped laughing the entire video.

[@michaellueneburg2261]

Oh my God! Can't believe it took me this long to find this reaction! Thank you!!! "The suck it in suck it in suck it in" for the narrow waists of a german Shepard and Ann Boleyn kills me every time!

[@poisonduckee]

This is by far the best explanation of the song. Criminally underrated, someone should be arrested!

[@sagenev]

this is one of the best things I've seen on YT

[@ronnierockit4468]

I listened to this song like six times yesterday, excited for this.

[@anthonyweinersnose2583]

Bro same. Fucking algorithm. I forgot about them. They were so cool.

[@petermurray7562]

This is the best troll song, that everyone misses. Love that you broke it down as that

[@Mynoah16]

This really does bring me back

[@anthonyweinersnose2583]

The hook brings you back? Normie. Me too.

[@christopherf7393]

This KZbin video brings me back. I ain't telling you no lies.

[@michellejames2447]

I'm kind of searching for the "Rin Tin Tin or Ann Boleyn" to mean something and then of course I realize that it would just be so perfect for him to have me chasing my own tail.

[@Mostly_Peaceful_Irish]

If you figure it out, let me know. I know it had a meaning.

[@chadrat39]

I can't even tell you how iconic this was as a kid, the radio have stop whatever you're doing moments and this song was a top stop if I heard it. I ain't telllllllin youuuu noooo liiiieeeeeeeees! Ahhh ooooooooo!

[@seansmith4880]

That was incredible!!! Well done

[@Seawiz21]

Painfully underrated; the channel and Blues Traveler.

[@bronsonguidry1744]

I love what you did here! Nothing short of brilliant. I loved this song when I was a teenager... never once gave any thought to it's meaning. I actually understood it... finally, not too long ago... and I feel a little dumb for that. But it is what it is... I got hooked, but I love that I did because the realization has enlightened me just a bit more. Now if you could help me understand Snuff, by Slipknot, that would be great. I try so hard to understand that song and feel like it's right in my face. I dunno, maybe I'm fortunate to not relate to it. Anywayz, thanks for this, it was just as awesome as the song itself.

[@WayneFielder]

Blues Traveler is simply amazing. John pulls no punches in his lyrics and his musicians, who have changed slightly over the years, are\have always been exceptional. SO GLAD I see something in 2020 critiquing his work and UNDERSTANDING the lyric. My 53 yo self somehow feels vindicated for doing things I'm not at all proud of today...in 1993. Good on ya.

[@doozey365]

I have to echo one of those other comments. This is one of the best thing ive seen on YT. Why hadnt i run across you sooner. Such a cool analysis of a song, in real time, without any pausing.

[@jimlahey3919]

How do you only have 500 subs? This was a great video, perfectly dissecting a song we all love, verse for verse. It’s an entertaining concept, and your quality is on par with the reaction folks who have hundreds of thousands of subs. I was totally expecting to see 650k subs when I looked under your channel name

[@Altman1953]

Perfect... absolutely PERFECT. Good job.

[@chrishowell199]

That was really good. I almost left in the beginning until I realised how intelligent and observant you are. Thank you!

[@tiacalhoun3841]

This song is so clever, John’s vocals and harmonica playing is just incredible

[@sthnwatch]

Guns & Roses did something similiar on Appetite for destruction with It's So Easy, a rock song about living life as a rock star, when everything so easy. It's a really arrogant song written by a guy who could be described as a walking definition for arrogance. Blues Traveler's piece, Hook, isn't arrogant by any means. It's really witty, and sorta/kinda like a precocious and captivating 12yo child telling a room full of adults about the facts of life and being totally right to the point where the kid is even informing some of the adults about information they missed during their development. It doesn't happen very often, but here it is in Blues Traveler's rare professional work. That harmonica is something else! Totally epic expression!

[@quickbane1]

*applause* never watched your stuff before, but I will now! great narration

[@dennism424]

I get the impression that the song isn't just about the song itself, but really how master manipulators of the emotions (especially politicians) are able to exploit how vulnerable we are to having our strings pulled in favor of the emotions vs logic.

[@thebackyardbear]

Agreed. I've always grouped this song with Cult of Personality as having similar "warnings"

[@alfredprufrock6567]

The micro follows the macro. He is just talking about music in general, but there is a world in a grain of sand. We literally feel things due through a serious of chemical messengers that hook into each other. There is a hook for everything, from politics, to music, dining, banking, etc. On that you can rely.

[@jjsolano4355]

Wow !!! Thank you very much for clarity it.. love this song…

[@S.Carton_Esq.]

I love your creative analysis of the song. On that you can rely😊

[@Mymloch]

That was beautiful... thank you!

[@detroitpolak9904]

My confession shall draw you near…I totally fell for it at age 20.

[@bentoenjes6553]

I love this lady’s voice.

[@italianpoboy8874]

This is great! Still an awesome song and a timeless classic for us 40 something's that got to enjoy such great music in the 90's.

[@Danielson1818]

I've broken down this song in my head a bit over the years, but this is easily the most complete breakdown I've heard of it. It's kinda funny how layered it is for a "joke song". The hilarious part is I already deciphered most of the stuff talked about, but I never even considered the simple 4 chord pop rhythm the song is using. All the fancy harmonica playing has distracted me over the years, I suppose. That really is extra.

[@Wallyworld30]

I was a Senior in Highscool when this came out and I bought the CD and feel in love with this entire album. Hook was a little diddie with anti corporate sell out message. Love John Popper. I had CD's of Blues Traveler that had just 20 minute jame sessions. One of the greatest live performers in the world.

[@stevendhall81]

The 4 chords are Pachelbel's Canon.

[@philthemovieguy81]

This is the best analysis video of one of my favorite songs. Hands down. Well done!

[@jamesvaldez502]

Love the shirt!

[@t.h.1982]

OMG. This is so smart! Well done.

[@kindalikechicken2299]

That was fun. Thanks for the take.

[@marcomacciola9639]

This was fun!!! Very Cool

[@PrivatePyle9999]

Wow. One of my favorite songs, the irony and honesty are priceless, but I loved the commentary as well. Like listening to spoken word with a great soundtrack.

[@unclelarry3207]

Great video! Thanks so much.

[@puddleofaids6343]

Well done, well done.👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@tomcanham9218]

This song makes me grin, and you nailed it.

[@urgoslav5107]

Many years later, this is one of the greatest expressions of music in the industry, made by a band that was only decently successful to major expectations, that turned around to go back to it's roots after pumping out a few famous bangers.

[@matthewkitchens5796]

You are a amazing ma'am ,super sharp . I'll be watching your content from here on . I had no idea about this song. T.y.

[@robertwilson4335]

You were spot on!

[@kalle80se]

That, was BRILLIANT👌🏻

[@Monkeyflop]

The depth you went into is amazing. Was this really take 1?

[@ElisaRockDoc]

Yes! I had recorded a whole other kind of video dissecting the song that was more on the classic KZbin video essay, but I got frustrated with it and just riffed this instead.

[@Doc6mm]

@@ElisaRockDoc Your breakdown was excellent

[@LarryRaNelson]

Fake

[@TheAjunge]

That tshirt you're wearing is amazing.

[@nassifsamuel55]

Perfectly stated, cool and insightful explanation 👍

[@DominickValenti]

This is so fn good

[@canadaeast8358]

Such a great band

[@Superficialgallery]

love this - LOVE

[@weswing04]

I love this, it is so perfect!

[@GaryYeakle-qk9so]

Ah the “and many more” at the end! I missed that little reference! Wow.

[@johnhenderson7584]

This is great! I love it.

[@whoisjohngault3270]

As a passive listener back in the day, I LOVED this song! I had no idea that Popper was singing this for people just like me. Only the “HEART” was bringing me back - that’s what I thought I was hearing and I just ran with that. Now, in 2024 I’m just learning that the “HOOK” was bringing me back (just like he said it would and I couldn’t even get the words right! Heart/Hook). I was duped - but I’m loving it and I appreciate the song and BT even more! It’s BRILLIANT!

[@jasonricci]

brilliant.

[@flddoc2]

Stellar.

[@Spike11388]

Def a good 90s rock song 🤘

[@anthonyweinersnose2583]

I've been obsessed with this song for the last 4 days. Now I'm obsessed with you. Good luck. Good video.

[@folkblues4u]

Wow! Really great in-time analysis! Really enjoyed your breakdown! Thank you 😊

[@donaldcase4716]

Instant subbed. Loved this!!! Popper is a master.

[@TheEuphoricism]

E you're brilliant

[@djathome6764]

Enjoyed your analysis!

[@ryanflake3481]

This was brilliant.

[@trevorpullen3199]

This is fantastic

[@joebluhm]

This is awesome.

[@MrMitchamania]

This is absolutely amazing, and I’m looking forward to watching you other stuff. Well done! 👏

[@johntaggart6724]

Absolutely love your breakdown, and especially how you’ve packaged it. Truly a joy to spend these 5 minutes with you

[@WayneFielder]

@4:32 in and I'm like F-ME! What amazing KZbin Performance right here! Is there such a thing as a KZbin Grammy for Analytical Assessment of a Song?? THIS should be in the running if there is!

[@mysinisterfist]

I’m a year late but…that was awesome only thing I felt was maybe a’mis the harmonica solo was almost a mockery of itself.

[@kdl0]

One of my first cds, and I'm embarrassed to say that I never thought about the words! /hooked

[@b_lajoie]

That was amazing!!

[@jackallen12]

I don't comment on videos for the but you rock.

[@chitowndj72]

This is one of those rare KZbin videos that you wish you could click the thumbs up on all night and have it count. Instant sub Elisa!!

[@staysurvived6400]

That's what I love about this song. It was the best troll ever. And we ALL fell for it. And even once you figure it out. You still love it

[@ryanmckenna3503]

That was pretty perfect

[@bradleylawrence658]

Brilliant

[@johnritenour]

Bravo.

[@runshouse]

That was dope!

[@TheSaintedOne]

As silly as it may be, "As much as Peter loved her.. what made the Pan refuse to grow was the Hook brings you back" makes me a little emotional. I'm a grown man, ffs.

[@JamesOKeefe-US]

This was frickin brilliant... Awesome!! 👍 Subscribed but how does this channel not have more subs. Here's to it blowing up! 👍 🤘 🤘

[@davidparente945]

Love you for this. ;)

[@trevorpullen3199]

I love how the whole Peter Pan line has nothing to do with anything and is just another way to fit the word "hook" into the song. It's like an over the top clever lyric, but just stupid at the same time, and is meant to be a stupid lyric.

[@wheelz8240]

Except it has everything to do with the song...The Hook was what kept Peter Pan from Wendy and growing up and falling in love....etc. etc.

[@WayneFielder]

John Popper...the Signature Harmonica player of our modern century...no doubt...

[@indef2def]

Amazing! A few other things: (1) One of the greatest examples of irony, where saying that you don't need to say anything profound is one of the most profound things to say. (2) It's not just the "inflection" or musical hook: the rhymes and other phonetic patterns in the lyrics are top-notch. I'm a poetry snob, and wouldn't care about this song if it had the same music but obnoxiously bad poetics. Like Milton's crazy Christianity or Eminem's dysfunctional social views, the beauty of masterful wordsmithing brings me back. :D (3) Holy shit, the musical references to the sixteenth note part of Pachelbel in the harmonica solo! I'm catching more right now than I ever have before.

[@thomaspearce8271]

Genius

[@Ewong251]

I love to geek out about this song because of the fact it's a catchy, fun song about how easy it is to make one, and kind of insulting the audience by repeating that he just has to have a good enough hook that it will make you come back for it. And he succeeded. Just so delightfully meta, while also proving his point

[@walkingdrunk]

This is awesome. Looking forward to more song analysis.

[@FreeRangeHuman1]

this was some 5D chess real time breakdown stuf going on. Should have 1.5 million views. How did i miss that peter pan reference all those years??? Must have been caught up by the hook!

[@vernonhuffman2311]

I've got one that's going to blow your gourd. The Rin Tin Tin lyric is in reference to the German Shepherd having a small waist and Anne Boleyn having a small waist because of her corset's that she was always in :) "Suck it in, suck it in, suck it in like your Rin Tin Tin or Anne Boleyn." JP was a fucking genius. Did you ever figure this one out?

[@corralescoyote]

Best music reactio I ve seen

[@tomcanham9218]

Next up: Pet Shop Boys' "Opportunities / Let's Make Lots of Money"

[@michaelcardno9859]

Awesome vid, great analysis! Subbed