Bonkers & Brilliant! | Focus | 'Hocus Pocus' | Live '73 | First time Reaction/Review

[@DrewAUM]

Their song is 7 mins long. The show told them they had 5 mins to play. Instead of cutting the song, they sped up the tempo to fit. One of those “hold my beer” moments. Truly brilliant.

[@mrmanakin9684]

9 and a half minutes*

[@AngelusNielson]

@@mrmanakin9684 And made the song better IMO.

[@mjr2451]

So that explains the singer’s facial quirks before he starts singing: he was grimacing in time to the new tempo.

[@AngelusNielson]

@@mjr2451 I think he was just trying to psyche himself up because he knew it was going to be very difficult to sing/play.

[@DerEchteBold]

@@mrmanakin9684 That is not true, the album version is 6.42 And what they played on Midnight Special was actually 6 mins long, this video shows what was edited down for broadcast, so it wasn't really that much faster, it just sounds like it. Here's the unedited version of this performance: kzbin.info/www/bejne/farbhKmQhMesa5Y

[@SuperDutchjohn]

Trust me, not ONE note was played wrong by Jan Akkerman (guitar), saw him play live a few times, even TODAY he is brilliant, saw him finish a guitar-solo with a broken string in his hand, unbelievable, and at that time (1973) he was the best guitar-player on the planet, one of the best in history of all times if you ask me!

[@larryfroot]

Well observed, well said.

[@mrwomby5007]

The lady at the start is Gladys Knight (without the Pips). The band had to play the song about 25% faster than usual because the time slot they were given was shorter than the normal length of the tune.

[@treintje1001]

And they refused to shorten it, so that’s why they decided to squeeze the whole song in the four minutes they were given.

[@mauijttewaal]

More like 50% faster;)

[@MrFrikkenfrakken]

Went from about a 7 minute tune to 4 minutes.

[@snowdenwyatt6276]

Based on another video from the BBCs "Old Grey Whistle Test" in 1972, the four minute version is one they often used on TV programs. I kind of doubt it was due to the time slot length on the OGWT. Truth is there are so many different versions of this track (even before it became a hit). It was originally released on an album about two years before it became a hit based off a single release that was different from the album cut. I suspect the band loved to tinker around with it and play a different version on every tour.

[@lucguenette7534]

with out the Pips,well said.

[@marka.2484]

This band is from my home country, the Netherlands. Always loved them. Some funny details about this particular video. The guitar player, Jan Akkerman, is trying to confuse (or even fuck up) the keyboard player Thijs van Leer (and vocalist as well as a flutist), by leaving out or adding some counts of the bars in the beginning. If you listen well, the intro is not simply 4 bars, although in the original version it was. You can see on the face of Thijs van Leer, he's thinking: "What the hell is Jan doing?". But it didn't get him off track. So cool

[@fixzeichner5592]

In the seventies and eighties a lot of good and interesting music came from Holland, such as Shocking Blue, Livin Blues, Golden Earring or Focus. Jan Akkermann is an excellent rock and jazz guitarist. In 1973, Akkerman was voted the world's best guitarist by the British magazine Melody Melody Maker

[@kamilfingr371]

Also Ekseption was great band.

[@herbertkampkuiper6960]

Don't forget Brainbox

[@L0wki]

Today they have great Bands like the Staat or Jungle by Night.

[@Bobkork]

Jan Akkermann (guitar) is quite the god, drummer is even more godlike (from jazz, if you observe his left drum stick handling), and Thijs van Leer is pretty much a genius without borders of any kind. Art, in other words. Liked yer reaction

[@dennisparkin690]

Art. Well said...in one word

[@bevohw]

In 1978 when I was stil a cop We recieved a call from him He had to perform in our city but was lost So we helped him to get on time for the concert He was a remarkle man I was already a fan from Focus so after the concert he invited us and gave us free tickets for there new concert as VIP's haha Something you will never forget., Great reaction again from you Greetings from an Old Dutchman

[@TheVirtualWatcher]

Oh! How I loved the 70's ...

[@jcm50jcm50]

Me too such great times

[@theoderich1168]

Well everybody had fun that night - and even today, generations later, when you see him whistling, you have to laugh

[@kennyloggins465]

Thiijs Van Leer (vocals) and Pierre Van Der Linden (drums) still play live as Focus today. And they are still amazing. Sadly the bass player Bert Ruiters died this year :(

[@rickmeadows555]

That’s how you cram a 7 minute song into the 4 minutes you’re allowed because you won’t cut anything out of it. Thanks for appreciating the energy they brought.

[@DerEchteBold]

They actually played a 6 min version, this was edited for TV I guess, the unedited performance is on YT as well. It's 6.05 even without the introduction by Gladys Knight.

[@LeighStark-bd9gr]

When the guitars started, then the drums kicked in OMG! I started to think if only one of these guys could yodel.

[@s.b.907]

Or play the flute. 😂

[@andymcf83]

I've watched so many reaction videos to this song this evening and no one was ready when the yodelling hit. Haha!

[@SueK51]

First ever Standing O on the Midnight Special. So well deserved!

[@lucguenette7534]

yes, well deserved.

[@agegroot5666]

Lucky people to be there, must have been an unforgetable experience.

[@businessbuzz2]

@@agegroot5666 If I can when I get to Heaven, I'm gonna head on to that taping

[@mikenielsen7008]

I grew up watching Midnight Special and it was the only band I saw getting a standing ovation.

[@Bluelagoonstudios]

The crazy singer (Thijs Van Leer) has a classical background and loved to experiment with sounds. He still does Focus and classical songs till this day. A true phenomenon. The hole band was so tight, timing this piece. In the 70s when I heard this the first time, I skipped school and went to buy the album, which I still have.

[@MrBonners]

Really like the drum work, unique riffs.

[@highpath4776]

one of the later play out versions from the live shows the drums solo and follow the guitar riff style as well, very musical

[@woodnoname5015]

Pierre van der Linden. still gong strong , over 70 now. Focus still playing: alive and Kickin, though without Jan Akkerman

[@Keleigh3000]

"Do it again and they'll think you did it on purpose." Prog rock in a nutshell lol!

[@UnrealXistenz]

I'm subscribed to quite a few reaction channels. I rarely click on videos of songs I don't know. And I've seen so many channels react to this song yet never clicked on any of them. But I really enjoy your vibe and overall style so I clicked.. and holy sh**! I just fell in love with this performance! Mad skills, pure insanity, hilarious vocal work.. PERFECTION! Guess I'm gonna spend the night watching all the other reactions I ignored in the last few years.. 😂

[@ThomFoolery1]

Wow, thank you, that means a lot! Glad you enjoyed it. I also just went down a rabbit hole of watching reactions to this haha

[@footofjuniper8212]

I clicked on it because he looked interesting. I've watched a ton of reaction videos, several for this performance, and this one was quite enjoyable.

[@samguberman2288]

It's such a crazy fantastic song and performance and full of surprises, welcome to the madness.

[@HannibalFan52]

'Hocus Pocus' was released while I was in college, and I still have my original 45 rpm copy. I've never been into 'metal', but I really love this. It proves that today's grandparents were cooler than most people realize.

[@Suldog29]

I never get tired of seeing someone watching this for the first time and seeing the face they make when Thisj Van Leer's voice enters the song. Brilliant band all-around, with Jan Akkerman just blazing on guitar, Pierre Van Der Linden with the super drum fills, and Bert Ruiter holding it all down on bass. Thanks!

[@jeffleonhardt7173]

Thijs van Leer is quite the unique musician! :-)

[@JudyGurl]

KID: mommy, how was speed metal born? MOM: Well you see, this one time, Focus was given only 3 minutes to play Hocus Pocus on the Midnight Special....

[@cameroncurrie7208]

I was 10 in 1970 living in Montreal i had 3 older brothers playing Woodstock bands non stop by the end of the decade I had seen 48 live concerts. I was blessed.

[@wjl2601]

In the early seventies Focus was blowing away the international pop-establishment for a few years. They toured with the Who, Clapton and so on. When the iconic Gladys Knight is introducing them you can sense they were hot in the USA. Pitty Jan Akkerman the guitarist who was considered one of the best and most innovative rock guitarists at the time was allergic for the limelight and had quite enough of Thijs van Leers jodeling so he left the group after a short but hefty period. One of the best prog bands in those years.

[@agegroot5666]

Wasn't jodeling all the time....not on my Focus records. Thijs and Jan are like fire and ice still they sticked together for 5 years creating great songs.

[@wjl2601]

@@agegroot5666 No your right, was just using the suggestion that Akkerman himself was mentioning a few times in interviews. Though i think it's probably closer to the real reasons than we think: musical isseus.

[@agegroot5666]

@@wjl2601_ Did see a Dutch tv-program where he was asked which person he never wanted to see again, within a second he said he never ever wanted to see Thijs van Leer again and why? because Thijs van Leer was bullied him by calling him a blue-collar workers musician because of Jan Akkermans familybackground and he did that all the time!!! So the bullying must have Lasted 4/5 years!....why didn't he.. a very very talented gitarist with a strong mind break up with such a bully? The very talented Jan Akkerman didn't need the band. Never heard Thijs van Leer talking disrespectfull about Jan Akkerman, he always calls him an exellent guitarist, on the other hand Jan Akkerman always talks about that yodler, as we know Thijs van Leer has many talents and calling him that yodler is a bit disrespectful, he's downgrading Thijs van Leers other talents. Jan Akkerman was and is a great guitarist, one of the best ever but it looks like he's a person with a difficult personality. During the last 1,5 year in Focus he did show up occasionally for the necessary rehearsals, fed up by his behaviour he was kicked out of the band by Thijs van Leer, that might be the real reason for his animosity toward Thijs van Leer. Thijs and Jan playing together? zero chance! Despite the constant bullying the two created many great songs during those years.

[@wjl2601]

@@agegroot5666 Yes, I think that Thijs is the smarter one.

[@CF71960]

I remember requesting radio stations to play this song back in the day. It was awesome then, and it still is!

[@1110Zappa]

Standing ovation from the audience says it all. Nuff said

[@taylortyler1867]

Every time I start thinking I wish I was younger, I think back to the good times and great music we had in the 70s & 80s, and wouldn't trade places w/ anyone from _THIS_ era.

[@harryschonfeld8175]

09:35 Hey, the kettle is piping, get out and take it off the stove! 🤣

[@araaaraa9765]

It was '73 and pop songs were 3 minutes and a little bit long. The original song was 7 minutes and the band had to severely speed up and improvise to be allowed on air. This makes it so amazing. It was improvising/prog at its best best

[@EricvonDorp191]

Born 1968 I was there! Crazy time loved it! still a good time but 2021, I am now in this period! As a Dutch, This is the most extreme Dutch I have ever seen! Love it so much! Sometimes like the Muppet Show! but that was later!

[@THESALMON8TR]

I F*CKING LOVE THIS performance!!! One of the most fun and entertaining things I've seen in years!!!!!!🤣🤣👍👍👍😁😁

[@JoeBur]

YES, this is one of the best songs EVER!

[@Kotic1959]

This song was played alot on the radio at the time we all knew it. Crazy rockin fun song!!!!!

[@wouterboswinkel1713]

most undervalued song ever

[@nightwishlover8913]

Focus were pretty up there when it comes to Prog - their first 3 albums particularly were great. Aaaah! Takes me back! And Jan Akkerman on guitar shredding like a boss! In the 70s no less!

[@ThomFoolery1]

Yeah, those solos sounded ahead of the time.

[@mauijttewaal]

Didn't he invent the 'tapping'?

[@black4pienus]

Hell yeah! Always great to see people's first reaction to this one. Lol!

[@gonzaloreyes8782]

Tremendous musician tremendous band👍

[@ianwebb3496]

Yes, it absolutely does make sense. Well put.

[@neebinmakwah349]

He's performing facial exercises for jumping from body to head vocals😎

[@EricvonDorp191]

7.40 Not many see what comes from The Netherlands, we are too small, but we inspire others who show off with what we thought just like this music! Because Focus made a statement! And I know their music from their time! 53 years old and know Focus very well!

[@WendyvanToor]

You are the best how you reacted to this clip. Hahaha awesome

[@VerMaarte]

No smoking ..Thijs van leer was timing because they had a limited time-slot for the program and they had to play the song way faster

[@mennobults6464]

Watched it once more. Just to see/hear your reaction again.😊😂🤣

[@threerecurring]

Excellent thoughts, eloquently put!

[@RaniMeister]

Jan Ackerman is one of THE BEST guitar players in THE Fing world. Of course he can do tricks on his instrument!!

[@jurrione]

Wow! Your "Ah" from the ah haa haa part was bang on. That was great.

[@jamesthompson8659]

Saw it live around then. Crazy and fun!

[@mickthemerciless9694]

It's so fast! And you know that they can go faster. Brilliant.

[@agegroot5666]

Lucky people to be there.

[@herbertkampkuiper6960]

I like your reaction..so full of suprise and pure🙂

[@Greish-esquire]

This takes me back to my childhood ! :) Thank you ! I use't drive my Parents up the wall with this one, LOUD! I always yodelled along . I got quite good :) It is a dam sight faster than the record version ....

[@ThomFoolery1]

Haha I can imagine it 😂

[@tskend8502]

Dare anyone to not smile and bob their heads!!

[@antonytye3484]

The genre is new and it's called, Thrash Prog 😁

[@ElectronicSin]

Fun fact: the original song is like 6:40 minutes and the played it incredibly fast during this show. Like "listen guys, you get 4 minutes." "Sure, no problem!" 😂

[@DerEchteBold]

They actually played for 6 mins, it's also on YT, this version that everybody uses was done in editing for the TV broadcast.

[@maureenwagg5305]

Every time. Reactions are awesome for this song. He was definitely was preparing for the yodel. Definitely aced it. The band was trying to do this song extra fast for the show because they had a time limit. lol It's epic.

[@domjohnson8723]

They weren't trying. They were doing.

[@donreid6399]

These guys were SO awesome!

[@jessemarchesseault8959]

The studio version of this song is 6 1/2 minutes. Due to time restrictions they fit it into 5 minutes for this show. They included every verse of music and every vocal

[@jonno55]

And again Thomas, a nice reaction. Seen them a few times in my young years, early and middle 70s. Were top of the bill in The Netherlands. Did this song in normal speed, of course. It's about 6 min 40 sec. Keyboardplayer/Singer/flutist Thijs van Leer also performed with Ayreon.

[@ThomFoolery1]

Cheers John! Wow, that's awesome. I can definitely imagine him in the Ayreon universe.

[@mandje2002]

@@ThomFoolery1 he is not in Ayreon Universe but in The Electric Castle and other tales

[@chrissturkenboom6080]

@@mandje2002 yes, he's very good a legend.

[@SnowEfaust]

Really good reaction!!!

[@spazimdam]

Too right mate!! It was a joy to watch you experiencing this band doing this song. Incredible, fun performance this.

[@jjanssen431]

Jan Akkerman was considered on of the best guitarplayers in the world. many artists copied his guitarplaying.

[@mikegallagher2732]

JAN was sweep picking WAAAYYYYYYYYY before anyone ... UNFUCKINGBELIEVEABLE

[@Harmonic14]

@@mikegallagher2732 Sweep picking was done long, long before the 70s. Even then, Ritchie Blackmore was doing it, too. lol

[@dennisparkin690]

That dude was doing some nasty shit to those poor little upper frets.

[@michaelryan5450]

Everytime I hear this song, I laugh at the guy yodeling, get the record and speed it up you'll be in the floor 😂

[@buzzbomb67]

They said theyd play it faster, but then, not only did they play it WAY faster, they get faster each time around and ad lib and do extra stuff. They still did a 6:08 version, and the album version from 1971 was 6:45, but much slower. This is the shortened, edited version. The 6:08 version is out there, and many reactors have covered it, including vocal coaches such as TheCharismaticVoice and FairyVoiceMother, all of whom have an absolute field day with this.

[@toomdog]

“This has been built up a lot.” It cannot be built up enough

[@dsds-hs7mo]

your reactions are always excellent and very natural and respectful for the artists. Glad to see you've discovered this prog band. I used to listen them in my young years. They have other very good songs you can explore. Regards

[@ThomFoolery1]

Thank you kindly! 😊

[@NickBR57]

The Dutch are ridiculously good: Thijs, Jan, Floor... I see so many young people watching to music of my era and never having heard of the bands or the songs. It always amazes me but I guess if all you listen to is hip hop and vapid pop, its no surprise. But for someone more adventurous like you, it's more of a surprise.

[@ThomFoolery1]

I'm surprised too! I listen to a bit of PF, Rush, King Krimson etc. But I somehow missed these guys.

[@RonniePeterson]

Those of us who got to enjoy all the great bands of the 70's, and there were so many, at the time are indeed fortunate. Musicians shined everywhere. Bands of today on a similar level do exist but are few and far between in comparison.

[@NickBR57]

@@RonniePeterson That is so true, sadly.

[@gottagowork]

Thijs - the crazy dude - was also part of the live Ayreon "Electric Castle and Other Tales" production/concert. Unfortunately mostly doubling the violin part, so never really stood out. So he's still playing and having some fun. Others correct me if I'm remember wrong, haven't watched it in a while. Tried looking but couldn't spot anything obvious.

[@grungegrumpy3585]

Totally loved this first time reaction and your dissection of what you experienced. You're totally making sense Thomas!

[@andrewpetik2034]

When this song was on my KZbin feed, Thijs Van Leer's expression in the thumbnail scared me away from listening to it. I keep putting it off. I finally watched the video and Thijs' incredible energy, his technical skill, his vocal range and, yes, his facial expressions won me over! What a talented genius!

[@douglasmarkussen8529]

From what I've heard, he's still going strong and performing.

[@euanodonnell8692]

Yaaaassss!!!!!!!!! I grew up listening to this!! Focus are amazing! I've been incredbly lucky enough to meet thijs van leer & pierre van der linden 🤙🏻 You MUST listen to the likes of Sylvia, Cathedrale de notredame etc 🎸🥳🖤

[@yambo59]

Im 63 and I still think we had the most amazing time in music history, SO much more real talent than today with all the electronic aids beat boxes and other BS -- You either had the raw talent or you didnt and it seemed like the talent was endless back then, the radio was full of great music that sold millions of albums.

[@Crystl22]

If you had heard this you would remember it. lol I loved this in the 70's & it's a performance you never forget. I'm in my 60's & the 70's were the BEST!

[@rolandmertens1604]

Hahaha, by seeing the thumbnail I already started to grin 🤪😅 Haven't heard that one for a long time now, but you can still hear this song on Dutch radio ever so often though. Thanks for this one bud, nice choice! But I'm going 'Northward' for a while now!😉

[@ThomFoolery1]

Cheers buddy! Safe travels 😄

[@donnak7974]

Love your reaction

[@brian96597]

"Outside substances..." Er... yeaaah. Especially watching him at the very beginning of the song. :)

[@rhondanighman]

They did double speed on this nearly 7 min song to fit the 4 min time limit ..bad ass

[@bazkeen]

Welcome to the world of Hocus Pocus 🤣🤣 These guys are wild 🤣🤣What ya gotta do when you haven't got a lot of time 🤣🤣🤣

[@ThomFoolery1]

I love that they could've cut out a section or 2 but probably thought 'Nah, let's just take another hit and play crazy fast' 🤣

[@bazkeen]

@@ThomFoolery1 These guys were bonkers 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mauijttewaal]

SPEED

[@mauijttewaal]

O yeah that was awesome! Thanks so much for doing this one:-) All the others already mentioned the other things I had wanted to write;)

[@ThomFoolery1]

Thank you for suggesting it! It's great fun 😃

[@Salguine]

The bonkers is what makes it great.

[@brucewehner9677]

Heard of this band early on. Their album moving waves is really good. They also have several other albums. Great group

[@DanielGarcia-sh8gk]

Your reaction is GREAT, you really enjoyed it!🍻

[@WarrenCromartie2]

My first memory of this song was when I was about 6 years old, at a kids birthday party. The birthday boys older teenage brother put this on for us to 'dance' to, and the living room pretty much got trashed, as the parents watched on in horror. Fast forward 10 years or so, I heard the song again on a late night BBC radio rock show, and the memories came flooding back. Always loved this song. Great band. The studio version was always the best though, IMO. IIRC, this was quite a big hit in the US.

[@martinking4181]

try some of Jan Akkerman's solo stuff....from a superb lute player to stunning jazz guitar. Legend!

[@yambo59]

Before this there was only the normal speed studio version from the pink colored Focus album, but the shows producer told them they only had five minutes but it was a seven minute song, so they just played it much faster to fit the time given.

[@soldatwitt6400]

Live exceptionnel de focus !!!!

[@mijmijrm]

being bonkers requires prodigious amounts of talent!

[@pirobot668beta]

At around 8:40, Jan is playing the guitar with 'sweep strumming'...very advanced technique for a 'novelty song'.

[@groovstationxl-ul9gm]

Made in Holland ,my country ,thee also have a breathtaking ballade ‘Lydia’really time stops..got to gearresteerd it,regards

[@Ranman1]

Hocus pocus by Focus, broke my autofocus! Brilliant. The drummer is just cavemaning those drums like its nothing!

[@flashpeter625]

The song is fantastic in the studio version too, with some of the best solo guitar I have ever heard, by Jan Akkerman. It has 6 and half minutes. Here they play the whole song in 4 minutes, because they had to fit the "normal song length" for the TV, but did not want to cut the song. This raises some questions. E.g., what even is a song? Genres? And who even cares?

[@orangeguppie6897]

Whahahahahahaha😂😂 how lucky are we to have Floor Jansen with Nightwish 😂😂 i was 14 in 1973 but i must have blocked it😂😂. What a positive reaction Thomas, see you, bye.

[@maartjewaterman1193]

I think that the band and their music were light yeas ahead of their time.

[@bjhellstream]

This was a big hit at the time. Loved it.

[@jackknife8317]

Brother i would love to see you reacting to some Genesis classics!

[@kenslater7354]

This was a top 20 hit single in the UK. I bought it and the album.

[@davidfranciscodasilva9559]

Focus!Genius!The drummer is genius!The player guittar is Genius.the best of the world im 1973!Vocalist is genius!

[@klausschneider1045]

The Lady announcing was Gladys Knight - perhaps someone still knows her from "Gladis Knight & the Pips", an American R&B/soul/funk family music group from Atlanta (GA), and, well, a musician celebrity, too. Keyboarder/flutist and vocalist Thijs van Leer and Jan Akkerman are classical trained and graduated musicians, especially Thijs did also some records with classic or classic styled music in his early years. In terms of classic music, even "Hocus Pocus" is sort of a "Rondo". And what an incredible singer he was - that Phrygian scale he sang after yodeling reached from an a up to another a !!

[@maartenvos379]

Focus i heard from it but till a couple of years ago never heard of this song ....after floor janse and ayreon( the crazy guy on lsd here thijs van leer played some flute a couple of years ago on one of the ayreon concerts) thats how i know that guy from the 70 s as he was one of the best flutists around Thijs van leer still performs and he is well in his 70's! The guitarist at that time was one of the greatest ( like eric clapton) his name is jan akkerman! I was fortunate to see him in early nineties here in hilversum at the tagrijn with the jan akkerman band I agree with you this is a crazy song but also brilliant( deservingly standing ovation)

[@Theodupreez]

Thijs van Leer, the singer etc is still performing at age 73. Here he is with Ayreon on the flute in Amazing Flight live. You can see him from 5:38 with the flute. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGasmqele72Wbac

[@toddstevens13]

He and Pierre, are now out on Focus's 50th Anniversary Tour, and album. Go see them, if you can, still magical. Miss Jan, but hey have seen him several times over the decades.