Bee Gees, I Started A joke - A Classical Musician’s First Listen and Reaction

#virginrock #beegees
This song feels tragically humorous, as if it could fit will within some theatrical production.
Here’s the link to the original song:
• THE BEE GEES "I START...
/ @amyscut
/ @littleliesel
_________________________
🎁 Do you want to take a peek at my WISH LIST?
www.amazon.com...
💌 If you want to send me books, music scores, memorabilia, LPs or any other gift, you can use this mailing address, and Thank You!
Amy Shafer
7615 US Hwy 70 South #1010
West Nashville, TN 37221
United States
If you want me to do a First Listen and In-depth Analysis of YOUR song of choice, or if you want an exclusive 1:1 session where I can answer your questions, dig deeper into a topic, or even coach you in your musical experience, such as a music theory, piano, or harp lesson, singing, music reading, etc, follow this link: ko-fi.com/amys...
Patreon: / virginrock
Twitter: / virginrockmusic
Instagram: / virginrockchannel
Facebook: / virginrockchannel
Special thanks to those who are keeping my ko-fi cup supplied:
I’ve formed the habit of publishing all the names of my supporters simply because I appreciate your appreciation of my work, and I want to recognize each one of you personally. But, unfortunately, KZbin allows a limited number of characters for the description, and I cannot fit all names anymore. So, this is my message to each one of my supporters personally:
THANK YOU!
_________________________
Amy Shafer, LRSM, FRSM, RYC, is a classical harpist, pianist, and music teacher, Director of Piano Studies and Assistant Director of Harp Studies for The Harp School, Inc., holds multiple degrees in harp and piano performance and teaching, and is active as a solo and collaborative performer. With nearly two decades of teaching experience, she teaches privately, presents masterclasses and coaching sessions, and has performed and taught in Europe and USA.
_________________________
Credits: Music written and performed by Bee Gees
This video may contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. VirginRock is using this material for educational, critical, research, and commentary purposes in our effort to promote musical literacy and understanding. We believe that this constitutes a “fair use” of the copyrighted material as provided for in Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, which provides allowance for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond “fair use”, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
If your copyrighted material appears on this channel and you disagree with our assessment that it constitutes “fair use”, please contact us.

[@busterandloulou]

Your reaction proves the premise of the song. It’s about a person reflecting upon their life experiences with pain and regret about being judged and misunderstood by the people in their life.

[@HorizonMelt]

Dang. That never occurred to me. This is an insightful point

[@sevendaughters]

but coming from a 19 year old, it also makes it funny and melodramatic

[@JoCrawford-s6j]

Robin's plaintive voice and this wonderful song doesn't make me laugh; it certainly isn't a joke

[@TheWalrusWasPaul23]

One of my favourite BeeGees songs that I keep returning to. Robin‘s voice is just so haunting

[@nickmailer1598]

It amazes me that someone might so profoundly miss the desperately sad and serious lyrical and musical semiotics screaming from this song and just giggle as if it were a trivial scherzo. The heart-wrenching crying crescendo, the lyric that his dying allowed the world to live and so on And Amy laughs at the end of it, as if she has just listened to "Shuddup Your Face" by Joe Dolce. A peculiar shallowness.

[@milosnikolic5140]

Amy is usually spot on with her reactions and is full of empathy but when she started to laugh this became so hard to watch.

[@nickmailer1598]

@@milosnikolic5140 Yes. It was as if she were possessed :-)

[@smillstill]

I've read similar types of reviews from music critics saying it sounded like a song about a bumbling would-be messianic person, and pointing out the line about falling out of bed and hurting their head being comical sounding. It was, unfortunately, misunderstood by a lot of people. The two stories I've heard *from the BeeGees* is that it was about Robin's struggles with depression and that it was also inspired by a movie he had seen about Hitler, for which the lyrics do make sense on the scale of the lyrics (the whole world), which is hardly a laughing matter. Humor could be a person's reflex to not wanting to consider the very dark ideas in the song.

[@nickmailer1598]

@@smillstill What annoys me is that this sort of shallow, superficiality would not be accepted by Amy with regard to any classical piece's analysis. "Haha, Mahler's first Symphony is such a joke. It's just Frere Jaques in the minor key" Again, I certainly don't expect someone to have to LIKE a piece. That is entirely subjective. But I expect someone who claims to have expertise in parsing and engaging with the full breadth and depth of musical possibility to go beyond "heehee, there's some unusual orchestration and the word joke, so I'm going to giggle and that's about it".

[@milosnikolic5140]

@@smillstill Thank you very much for this info, I did not know any of that. You are absolutely right about humour being used as some sort of defence mechanism, but personally I don't think she used it in that way, seems to me that she glanced over the song and delivered her reaction, which saddened me because usually she does much deeper interpretation of songs, or maybe I just imagined it all and she is spot on :D

[@dadaveda]

It is a very serious song, hardly a joke.

[@redadamearth]

It's a ridiculous song. I know exactly what she's talking about. It's *absurdly* melodramatic to the point of being funny.

[@EdWilson-zj7uf]

That's right. Though it's a beautiful melody the strings and ah-ah background vocals make it a little hard to take the song seriously. Plus what can you say about a line like "I fell out of bed, hurting my head, from things that I said"?

[@RoyHales]

@@redadamearth You got a rock you can crawl back under?

[@fromchomleystreet]

Very, VERY serious. SELF-serious, in fact. That’s what makes it amusing.

[@SparkyStevens1967]

​@@redadamearthWow that is the worst misreading of a song ever.

[@splitimage137.]

The Bee Gees have a 1970 song called LONELY DAYS that I fell in love with back then as an 8 year old.

[@robertkramer2271]

Robin's vibrato is just one of the most unique voices. This is considered his signature song.

[@supasoulproductions]

To me this song is about living your life out of synch with the world. Never feeling that you quite fit in. I can relate.

[@pretzel_cat]

I Started A Joke and Don McClean’s Vincent were my go-to teenage angst songs. So…yeah.

[@LillyMarz777]

Me too.

[@tcdknowlton]

It makes me cry. I think in the 60's, exploring all aspects of life, even the depths of sadness, was something open to be a subject of a song. Imagine the feeling of being at odds with everything and everyone in the world.

[@amandathibodeau4996]

I have to say, this is the most out of touch reaction I've ever watched! How can anyone possibly not feel the emotional depth of this song. Not to mention Robin's exquisite performance. Sad...

[@GaryNoone-jz3mq]

I am amazed that you laugh at a song about depression 🫥

[@julian65886]

I always thought the song lyrics were a joke. Hence the title of the song. The cheese words are brilliant only in the context of a joke. The I fell out of bed line is hilarious.

[@lostman65]

i always thought it was about depression as well.

[@alknapp6822]

@@julian65886bingo you are correct! It’s about irony.

[@suekilpatrick4758]

She doesn't know what she's talking about! This is a marvelous song by one of the best singers ever.

[@dubivxler]

bee gees too much heaven

[@ronrago2696]

A very early BeeGees song that struck a chord with me was “I’ve just got to get a message to you”

[@EddieReischl]

I'm with you. Your song, or "Words" or "To Love Somebody" would have been a far better song for Amy to start with, imo.

[@GinMae]

Love that one!

[@bobdore2441]

This is one of the very few songs that can invoke an emotion in me chiefly due to the way Robin sings it. She certainly didn't hear Robin singing it being, apparently, somewhat obsessed with the Beatles.

[@LillyMarz777]

Tells you how out of synch with the world I have always been, I never liked the Beatles.😂

[@earlbeach1013]

I'm not necessarily a profound thinker but I think I get the song, at least in my own way. Too me, its being out of step with the world and karma coming back to get him for his being insensitive to others and treating them badly. He seemingly saying the world is better off without me, I won't be missed and now they can move on. A form of self hate, I can identify with it. "

[@davidkettell5726]

Such a beautiful voice of an Angel.

[@stevenewcomer8837]

I’ve never seen anyone laugh after hearing this song. Usually everyone has tears flowing. Sometimes you say something that you think is funny about someone and laugh then you realize that it was hurtful to that person and it made them cry and you regret what you said. It happens all of the time, to many people at least. I’ve always had a great sense of humor, or at least I thought, and people love that trait in people, but when in the early years of my marriage of 39 years, when out with friends, I tended to say silly jokes usually about my wife and everyone would laugh, except my wife of course. “The joke was on her”. Our laugh was at her expense. It hurt her feelings. I finally realized what I was doing. While I was just trying to be funny to get a laugh. She was most likely crying on the inside. I am crying today because on Friday, 8/16/2024, I buried her at the age of 58 after an unexpected catastrophic stroke which took her away from the people that loved her in the blink of an eye. Hearing this song this morning reminded me of those times and how I wished that I could have them back so that I could say all of the things that I truly LOVED about her to our friends instead of making her the butt of a joke. EVERYTHING that matters to me in life is because of her. And that is no joke. 😢❤💔✝️

[@LillyMarz777]

I am sorry for your loss. I understand the crushing pain, I lost my husband of 40 years 6 years ago. I still cry a little every day. 😢

[@jimholm566]

This is haunting and aching. This is not a funny song.

[@lupcokotevski2907]

The Bee Gees family emigrated to Australia when the were little kids. The were appearing on Australian TV as a trio before their teens.

[@somedude6161]

This is a serious song, and I certainly took it seriously as I certainly felt that way at times. After several decades of life, however, if I were to sing this song now, the meaning would be more like "nobody likes me, everybody hates me, guess I'll go eat some wor-or-orms".

[@tonytjandra4798]

Being longtime fans of the Bee Gees, Chris and Neil ( Pet Shop Boys ) decided to cover their 1968 classic "I Started a Joke" as a tribute to Robin Gibb, who succumbed to cancer in May 2012, and to release it as one of the bonus tracks with their single "Winner" the following August. It's an apt choice for such a tribute: "I Started a Joke" was, in fact, Robin's signature tune, written and sung primarily by him, inspiring a great vocal performance that almost invariably earned him tremendous ovations during the Bee Gees' live shows.

[@j.f.monahan3589]

I was not expecting a laughing reaction to this song!

[@christinewright1346]

What a disappointing review. Not the best Bee Gees song to start with, but still much appreciated among their fans. I don't feel you did it justice. Hope you decide to listen to more. They were very talented and were important over several decades. Not to be easily brushed off , perhaps?

[@nickmailer1598]

I agree. How someone with these musical chops could have the emotive sincerity of the piece pass them by is almost disturbing. How one reacts to music is, of course, largely subjective. Nobody is suggesting one must enjoy a particular work. But one should engage with its art, if one claims to be a serious musicologist.

[@pedro19611969]

My favourite bee gees song what do I know, this mix is typical of 1968 , the orchestra, also this was probably recorded on 4 track hence the stereo mix

[@angelcervantes5464]

Yes, I think one of her biggest issues is she does not research that well on the songs and once she thinks she found something (even if it is a big mistake) she starts filtering all the parts in that way without questioning if perhaps the topic/feeling is different

[@bobbyscott5162]

All the people I have seen listen to this song, not one has laughed about it. I was shocked when you did as it was never meant to be humorous.

[@OrdinaryCritic]

It’s funny

[@proflcr8779]

"Too Much Heaven" is one of the finest vocal performances you'll ever hear in pop music.

[@alanmayer5039]

She’d probably laugh at it.

[@dangox3370]

honestly dunno how anyone can listen to this and think it's a joke

[@rosmeeker1964]

Massachusetts may be a good next BG song.

[@gbsk12]

This is one song Amy gets all wrong. The narrator of the song is at odds with the world. It is not a joke at all. The narrator does not fit into the world and is out of sorts with the world so thus a joke

[@cindileeminks-yi8mz]

You don’t understand the gist of the song not supposed to be funny and they are not like the Beatles at all!

[@jeffin8127]

Amy, I think this is the first song I feel that maybe you missed the point of the song (your thoughts on other songs have been pretty amazing, actually). This song has always been emotional for me, and not funny at all. I've always seen this as 'the world' being a metaphor for a loved one that the singer made a joke about which was hurtful and turned the other person from them. When that person turned their love from the singer, and he realized how cold and callous he'd been (the words I'd said), he 'died' emotionally. I guess maybe the point of the song could be that no matter how funny you think a comment may be, it can be equally or even more hurtful to the person it was directed at. Also, it was the 60's, and British 'pop' music at that time had a lot of orchestral elements in it to add emotion (wistfulness), and some ear candy by using the harp and vibraphone.

[@n.d.m.515]

I agree. However, I interpret it meaning the person says something they don't actual take seriously and yet by the time it gets back to them everyone believes it. Then when he tries to explain himself no one believes.

[@stephensmith1343]

Brothers Gibb = BeeGees😊

[@beegeesbuster1]

That is infact not correct. In 1958 when they had to come up with a name for the band it became BG's because there were so many B & G's around the group, Bill Gates (Not microsoft), Bill Goode, Barbara Gibb (Mother) and Barry Gibb, so that ended up as BG's later changed to Bee Gees. Barry later said that yes it could stand for Brothers Gibb but that is not how it started.

[@KelE-mq8bv]

This is one of my favorite Bee Gees songs. Robin's voice here is absolutely incredible. Robin and Maurice were both stellar vocalists, and I think they were a lot better than Barry.

[@princessmandy1757]

Thank you ... And Robin was so adorable 🥰 the twins are my fave.

[@KelE-mq8bv]

@@princessmandy1757 he was adorable! 🥰

[@neilsergener3821]

"New York Mining Disaster 1941" was the first song I heard from the Bee Gees in 1967. It sounded beatles.

[@drivers99]

Wow I didn’t know The Bee Gees did that song or that they had 60s music of that style before. I only knew of Chumbawamba’s a capella cover of it on one of their albums. I went and listened to both versions and then came back here to reply.

[@neilsergener3821]

@@drivers99 Thanks, I didn't know this band (which I read is a punk band - and I didn't know punk bands could sing melodies!). I listened to it and it's not bad at all. I also listened to the Herman's Hermit version which is closer to the original version; they too were in the air in 1967 with "No Milk Today"

[@willow_wise]

Bee Gees became my favorite band of all time after I dove into thier full catalog. They were quite famous in the 60s, then went to mega stardom in the late 70s during thier disco era, but it is their extensive and diverse catalogue that won me over with decades of brilliant music across many genres. There is something to suit any taste and mood and you will never be bored with the Bee Gees. Try sampling a few different things across the years to get a sense of the variety they have to offer.

[@Nogill0]

I knew a guy in college who had major depression issues. He played this constantly. We became friends and I tried to get him off dead center by introducing him to more upbeat stuff. He'd been blind since birth but I don't know whether that had much to do with it. I read books for him to make some extra money. I read some fantasy and science fiction, which seemed to help a bit. Eventually he got himself together and married a nice partly sighted girl and did well. But it was dicey at first.

[@mojorider8455]

I remember this song, older siblings had the 45, it's definitely of its time! . I liked it but wasn't crazy about the Bee Gees, but over time, I came to appreciate their songwriting craft, even if I didn't particularly like the genre. I also saw the documentary on them and was pretty moved at the end by the surviving brother Barry saying he'd trade it all in just to have his brothers back.

[@fromchomleystreet]

I’ve always thought it was quite a lovely little melody, but I’ve never really listened to it carefully, and having now done so it is impossible for me not to acknowledge that it is indeed absurdly melodramatic, and that “I fell out of bed, hurting my head, from things that I said” is a truly ridiculous lyric.

[@RoyHales]

Give him the benefit of the doubt. All songs have a line or two of trite type wording. Who knows what Robin meant. I pause at that line and just brush right over it. Maybe it means more than we know. Drunk from sadness perhaps.

[@fromchomleystreet]

Sure. But on the other hand, there’s nothing wrong with simply acknowledging that some lyric writing just isn’t particularly good, and it isn’t necessarily expressing some deeper meaning that you’re failing to grasp. It might actually be precisely as silly as it sounds. Some of my favourite songs have very silly, nonsensical or banal lines in the lyrics. It’s not a deal breaker for me. I was really responding to the fans in the comments taking deep umbrage at Amy’s reaction, as if there must be something wrong with her if she finds the song comically melodramatic. It IS comically melodramatic, but that’s not the same thing as saying it’s a “bad song”

[@kathyg1660]

Why are you laughing? This song is the furthest thing from funny that you can get.

[@howardosden3112]

I know, right!? It brings me to the edge of tears every time. 😢

[@nickmailer1598]

Indeed. This was the most peculiar reaction I have ever seen her do. Her missing the musical point so vehemently is kind of shocking. Like seeing someone giggle during a performance of the Lacrimosa from Mozart's Requiem.

[@larrybudsock6507]

​@@nickmailer1598I thought Amy would love this song and am stunned at her reaction. It is definitely in my all time top 10. I can't imagine anyone hearing this at a funeral and not crying.

[@tonytjandra4798]

Everyone should be aware that the Bee Gees are second only to Lennon and McCartney as the most successful songwriting unit in British popular music. - Music historian Paul Gambaccini -

[@princessmandy1757]

I'd say they are better

[@jonathanbraga564]

They were one of the few Australian artists that had success out from Australia mainly in Europe and all America's continent

[@kthor]

Barry's the second most successful songwriter in music history, after Paul McCartney.

[@beegeesbuster1]

@@jonathanbraga564 Only, they are not Australian, they are from Isle of Man, went to Manchester, then Australia approx 1958 and then back to UK in 1967

[@jonathanbraga564]

@@beegeesbuster1 i have watched their documentary but it isn't been said

[@BrianRandall-v8c]

I am kind of surprised that you didn't mention the unique vibrato/tremolo on the lead vocal

[@mayLibertyprevail1a]

I know a lot of people are critical of the laughing reaction, which I suppose is fair enough, but I have to say that I have sometimes had the same reaction to this song myself. I think it's one of those songs where your response to it depends on the mood you are bringing to it. The juxtaposition of dramatic music & vocals with simple lyrics like "I fell out of bed, hurting my head..." can make it feel silly and melodramatic when I'm happy & playful, or melancholic enough to bring me to the brink of tears when I'm feeling blue. I'm guessing Amy must have been in the former mood today!

[@birdofprey2010]

I fell in love with the Bee Gees songs since listening to "I started a joke" in 1960s. I first watched the BGs performed which appeared in a Malaysian TV program back around 1970s (still in B & W).

[@martinconnelly1473]

I had an uncle who was about 5 years older than me who gave me his worn copy of Idea about 1970. This is the only song off the album that I can recall.

[@WayneKitching]

I've always thought that this was a very sad song. This era of the BeeGees always strikes me a sad. Massachusetts is a similar song. In the late 70s their sound was completely different and they were one of the biggest disco bands of the time.

[@VickiHartley]

I think what you are missing is context of music of the time. Unusual voices were common- Bob Dylan, Melanie, Donovan, Leo Sayer. Also lyrics from those same artists were full of imagery which were not meant to be literal. There were some artists who tended toward the comical, but Bee Gees at this period were very young, and very earnest. Watch a video of this song

[@Scuderia_Fan]

Make it the One for All tour version. 😀

[@HorizonMelt]

Yeah. I'm not getting 'funny' at all. Never did from this one

[@mikelistman5263]

I love the early BGs...delicious melancholy!

[@mikelistman5263]

"Holiday" is better, IMHO...

[@mikelistman5263]

Their songs grew considerably more sophisticated...check out "How deep is your love?"

[@RabbiSteve1]

Wow. Maybe a language issue. This is a pretty serious song that deals with depression and feelings of worthlessness. Maybe it is better to laugh at it, I don’t know. I usually like you reactions. Not so much this one. But it is subjective, so we can’t all like the same things.

[@laurencehastings7473]

The BeeGees , the Brothers Gibb. Strong melodies with vocal harmonies. Musical influences were late rock and roll ballads until their rebirth in the disco era. You obviously don't connect with their music but tens of millions did.

[@sevendaughters]

jokes are funny but also jokes are laced with self-negation and indicators of actual traumas. I think the delivery, absolutely without irony, completely over the top, manages to sell both of these qualities really well. I think if you read it as 'just' funny or 'just' sad then I feel sorry that you're flattening a quite complex song. it being funny doesn't make it less profound; laughter is not 'less' than tears.

[@jacquelineweisser3484]

I’m so in love with my Bee Gees! They didn’t do disco but were labeled part of the hated disco era! All their songs are timeless and still apply to everyday lives. So much respect and love for this entire family. Sadly we lost baby brother, Andy to drug addiction. Robin and Maurice are gone now but oldest brother, Barry still lives on creating music and reimagining their classics by singing duets with some of today’s most popular musicians. You’d be missing something very special not to watch their documentary…put together by Barry a few years ago. It’s available on HBO Max. Coming from that we all learned about the new album called Greenfields, referencing a place they used to play as young brothers. It’s magical…I promise you’ll never forget it 😘

[@kthor]

When Andy died, he had been clean for a year. After a bout with alcohol, he died in the UK from myocarditis, when trying to make a comeback at Robin's while working on his new album.

[@josephdrach2276]

The Bee Gees have since said it is about a mistake, I made a mistake doesn't seem to do it, but. somehow I started a joke first. Try listening to the Richie Havens. Version of the song.

[@josephdrach2276]

Sssszzxx

[@terrymckown2441]

Made me cry, always does.

[@gergsar]

you should listen to their whole career, you'll be impressed

[@OldBoiler62]

It's amazing isn't it that someone billed as a classical musician can be so clueless, but welcome to today's younger generation.

[@altair8598]

It's not about a joke, Amy. The title is ironic given the rest of the lyrics.

[@wfemp_4730]

It's about whatever we think it's about, not specifically what you think it's about.

[@samimilad]

The best band ever! Period..

[@RPRohrman]

Must listen to ‘How do You Mend a Broken Heart’.

[@markraven7316]

This song is pure genius. Maybe its an age thing but I do not find this song funny or odd at all, very poignant.

[@pedro19611969]

Me either maybe a generational thing, I thought the orchestration was beautiful at the time , I think Amy is taking the p out of the bee gees

[@ricardo_miguel13]

I am 23 and always took the song and sound serious. I think it depends on the type of person, some can feel the melancholy of a song, others try to find it ridiculous and over the top. Also this was the 60s style, if you aren't used to it, it may feel strange.

[@GeneralLao]

One of the prettiest songs ever written

[@donalds9141]

I Started a Joke really brings me right back in time. A great song! Other BG songs to look up: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart, I've Gotta Get a Message to You, Lonely Days Ty

[@michaelbedford8017]

'New York mining disaster' The song that the record company said 'you can't call a song that!' would be a great follow-up.

[@cherrythatun4668]

I can feel the singer crying out desperately his frustrations in fitting in with the world around him! I guess many of us go through similar frustrations in life :(

[@LizzieRD]

You hit the nail on the head. Every Bee Gees period is completely different. Australian TV from early 60s to UK hits from 67 to 70 then pre-disco 72-76 perhaps , then disco for 4-5 years top, then post disco with writing for other artists. The comeback was around the end of the 80s with You Win Again and For Whom the Bells Toll.

[@georgetattam3475]

Very disapointing. Was expecting a critique from a musical perspective. What I saw was a "Joke".

[@normbittner3762]

I didn't expect your reaction, I guess it proves it's points. I tear up when I hear it. 😢😢

[@GinMae]

Thanks, VR.. I have always loved Robin's voice the best.... he wrote this at 17.. sang it at 18.... oldest brother Barry was the "leader".. of the BG's... I wish you had enjoyed it more...

[@gthewolf7948]

The real joke is this reaction

[@Alan-lv9rw]

It’s a sad song about a sensitive person who was never able to fit in and connect with others.

[@Bassman2353]

I get your reaction, Amy. It's not unlike watching a 17-year-old performing the "To be or not to be" soliloquy in a high school play. Teenagers do have very real emotions, but there is an overwrought sensibility in the performance for such a young person. Not the best first Bee Gees song to start with - they're wonderful.

[@annahorton9226]

These reaction videos are what they are. She’s entitled to her own reaction to a song she’d never heard of. Clearly, she was not familiar with the Bee Gees and did not know the context of this song. To be honest, I didn’t know the context until I read the comments right here. I didn’t know that Robin wrote this from his own experience of hurting someone and then wanting to die because of it. I wish I had known that a long time ago. Hearing This song as a child, I thought the lyrics were kind of silly because they were opposite of what you would expect, “I started a joke that started the whole world crying”. I didn’t understand the deepness of it. I thought they were silly lyrics, but loved the song. Furthermore, as a teenager my sister’s Boyfriend used to do an impression of Robin Gibb holding his hand to his ear and singing this song with his head tilted up like he was singing into a microphone. It was a fun impression. Regardless of me not understanding the significance of the lyrics, listening to the song was always a pleasure, Which is why it’s still frequently played today. Frankly, I enjoyed this reaction video, because I learned what the lyrics meant to Robin Gibb and I do not mind that her reaction was somewhat awkward. Out of context, it is a confusing song that takes many listens to fully appreciate. I like her.

[@nrotoiti5062]

I never taken if as a funny song at all, sadly tragic ,regretfull if anything,Cant wait for 1st of may listening, should be done with movie ,Melody , clip , so charming ,but always thought it was too short

[@JackW467]

I love that movie "Melody" and the Bee Gees soundtrack to it .. and the same Music Video you mention

[@keithlego8057]

Haven't even premiered yet and I gave it a like.lol My absolute favorite BeeGee's song.❤

[@arsnb9m907]

She's smiling and laughing, but I'm dabbing my eyes.

[@captainsatellite2112]

Seems to me to be a song about a contrarian who regrets his attitude and how he treated others. Excellent song. Check our one of their disco songs, Stayin' Alive. They also wrote the Grease theme for Frankie Valli.

[@rocksteadfarm]

I always like New York Mining Disaster, quite an interesting exploration of a tragic event.

[@dp3396]

This became Robin’s signature solo spotlight song for concerts. WORD became Barry’s signature. Please react to Words, then react to the 1989 LIVE performances for a small idea of the talent of 2 of the 4 Gibb brothers individually. Please react to TOO MUCH HEAVEN featuring Barry’s iconic falsetto and a full orchestra.

[@bobpacheco8108]

Magnificent and Expressive Face.

[@tonytjandra4798]

They also had their share of challenges. Born into poverty and singing for tossed coins as kids, the Gibbs (who also had a fourth, younger brother, singer Andy Gibb) experienced humiliating setbacks, suffered battles with substances, fought with each other, and witnessed their biggest success become, for a while, a cultural joke. But they endured. Robin and Maurice Gibb were twins. Barry Gibb is three years older. The trio had a younger brother, singer Andy Gibb, who they announced would become the fourth Bee Gees in 1988.

[@SkiGolfer]

What a great band, so many hits. "Massachusetts" is one of my favorite songs of theirs. Some of their greatest Disco hits can be heard on the 1977 movie soundtrack, "Saturday Night Fever" starring John Travolta. Their repertoire is very diverse, please listen to more songs of theirs, especially ones with Barry singing lead. Love your reactions and analysis, keep them coming!

[@larrygibb404]

What an awesome singer. Miss my cuz.

[@katherinelawrence6545]

I miss him too ❤

[@Tunick1902]

Older people who remember hearing this song as children - came to it wihout sophistication and the extreme novelty of the song isn't apparent to them - because they're listening to it with ears from 50 years ago. The point about the song being an ironic joke is a valid one - from the perspective of a trained musical ear. The plaintiveness of the singing can't be ignored (nor should it be under aprreciated) - but its hyper emotionality doesn't - in fact - jive with the other musical elements. Also, the fact that they were an Australian group - from an era when Australia was still very unique and different - has a lot to do with their sound.

[@5Ring]

It's a "fuck the world" song. for those who were ignored, betrayed and left behind.

[@allanrose3661]

You should hear some of the crap that passes for music now.

[@groover5524]

This is a fantastic song !! Thank you for reacting . 😀

[@Scuderia_Fan]

I am not entirely sure this was the song to pick for your first Bee Gees reaction. But I am glad you did a Bee Gees reaction anyways. I feel the Bee Gees are a band that does deserve to be explored by new audiences. Although this particular song is a difficult one for many. But for fans of the Bee Gees, this one is serious business. But my guess is that most Bee Gees fans probably grew into this song. The beauty of the Bee Gees is that they were very diverse in terms of songs, vocal and lyrically. So the can't be judged on one song only. I would like you to do another song of theirs and see what you make of them then. 😀

[@ianmcmillan2762]

I'm not sure if you've ever reacted to Faith No More, the experimental Funk-Metal-Rap-everything-else band, but they do a brilliant version of this song and Mike Patton (one of the greatest singers of all time - his voice is basically another instrument) leans hard into the camp drama, it leaves the original in the shade

[@FABIO_MARTINSS]

This song reminds me of my early childhood and brings in Robin's voice a feeling of purity, naivety from another era, which no longer exists. Robin has a vulnerability in her voice and a brittle rapid vibrato. The harmonic progression and descending melodic sequence in the backing vocals began a flurry of similar songs later, such as "Easy" by the Commodores, and others 

[@VickiHartley]

Funny? Ok

[@davidschecter5247]

Loved your look when you heard the harp gliss. Priceless!

[@franbacon82]

Great song!!!

[@michaelfrank2266]

First heard the song at 11 years old. Through the ears of a young male. Try hearing no one takes me serious. I'm better off dead. If the song was supposed to be humorous - the joke always escaped me. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to watch your review and think about this song again.

[@KathyS.Bridgeport]

This song is so good, I think I listen to it at least once or twice a month ❤ The BeeGees

[@htim8997]

As others have said, I would not have described the song as "funny." That said, yes. Irony IS a kind of humor, and there is a dark, even bitter humor in the way the contrasting pairs in the lyrics are played off against each other. I think the word I'd use is rueful. It also seems to me that the grand, or at least seemingly grand, swelling music over lyrics that are, at least initially, fairly short, simple, and even mundane can be heard as almost farcical. To make a Classical comparison for a Classical musician, I am put in mind of Pagliacci. Drama performed by clowns. To the other suggestions for future Bee Gees songs, I would add my vote for "Words." You should also listen to at least one of their later songs, such as "How Deep is Your Love." Apart from the Bee Gees, another great song that contrasts elements of the grand and the mundane is "Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell.

[@caseyanne967]

Interesting, I've never thought of this having having any happy vibes. Simple but very powerful lyrics and I love Robin's voice here, it's so emotional. This is their early music and it's very different from what comes later on. I would listen to "Too Much Heaven" next, with it's beautiful harmonies. They have a lot of great songs to explore!

[@paulawynn9779]

She was rather rude, considering they're the Bee Gees and she's unheard of by the rest of us. When she's won Grammys, has sung for the Queen of England, sold out concerts worldwide, AND has platinum records hanging all over her walls, THEN I'll listen to her opinions!

[@jacquelineweisser3484]

“How Can You Mend A Broken Heart” ❤

[@mayLibertyprevail1a]

That would have been a much better choice to start the Bee Gees with! Although I still wouldn't classify any of their music as "rock."

[@gregorybrown3272]

3 words that stand out from this video that tell you everything you need to know about the song : Spiritual. Tragic. Joke.

[@LeeKennison]

This does have a very folk like feel in the beginning. I like it, not having heard it for many years and then only hearing it in passing on the radio or as background music. For me this is very different from their disco era sound in the late 70s which I wasn't into at the time, so I don't know a much about the Bee Gees or how typical this is of the pre-disco career. Yeah, you haven't heard the Supremes yet, also better known as "Diana Ross & the Supremes" when she is with them. They were a very popular 60s/70s R&B pop group, which appealed to a much wider audience than just rock. They are certainly worth hearing sometime since they were such a big part of the 60s/70s music scene. I really enjoyed your reaction.

[@Steelblaidd]

I don't want to be alone, is one of my favorites of their later work.

[@RudieVissenberg]

The second album I bought when I was 15, the first one being Once upon a time n the west, was a compilation by the BeeGees. This song always impressed me a lot. To me Robin's voice expresses so much emotion, including fear and shame. I could relate to the vibe of the song, at 15 my English wasn't good enough to understand the depth of the lyrics. Therefore it is interesting that I felt the emotions without understanding the lyrics. To me those are the really great songs, the music and lyrics are one. About the lyrics, don't we all have had dreams from which we woke up with a headache because of the unpleasant things that happened in them?

[@forwardpeace]

The Bee Gees have a deep catalogue and a wide range of musical styles. All the music is really good. I like your observation that the tune is theatrical over a folk type underpinning (but you also have the orchestra). The surprise lyrics add to the idea of a "joke". The joke is on him, so the theme is reversal. It becomes bittersweet.