ELO - ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN | REACTION

[@Wilburnator]

The comments mention this version and that version. Don't forget the guy who wrote it, Chuck Berry!

[@rickyprice7597]

Shouldn't exclude Ludwig either, he wrote some of this. ;-)

[@Wilburnator]

@@rickyprice7597 He wrote the intro to this version, but he wrote no part of Chuck's version, lol.

[@debjorgo]

Doesn't hurt to mention the Beatles had a hit with this. It was used in the Superman II movie as well.

[@robertcartier5088]

...after he heard Marty McFly playing it! ;-p

[@ffjsb]

@@Wilburnator Without Ludwig, there's no Chuck's version...

[@davidanderson8469]

Relief from Rap. Thanks Ludwig,Chuck and Jeff.

[@roccaclassico9028]

An homage to Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and Chuck Berry's guitar, Jeff Lynne style! 🔥

[@ffjsb]

Also Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and some Charlie Daniel's style fiddle...

[@ronbrown912]

Jeff Lynne, one of those rare musical geniuses. He was never afraid to experiment.

[@jimmayors2315]

A Chuck Berry cover song, and, a Beethoven cover song, all blended together!

[@squidkid2]

The first rock group to have a string section that wasn't just used for backup! This song was a hit first for the great Chuck Berry and in the early sixties was covered by the Beatles and was a hit for them also. So this song was a hit in the 50's, 60's, and 70's!

[@thepunadude]

NO TALK, SKIP, PAUSE ... IS EXACTLY WHY IM HERE ... GET THAT RAW REACTION ... AFTER!

[@jenniferjacobs228]

Ditto.... others drive me mad with that....

[@danastearns7939]

The whole band is just having a ball playing this tune.

[@kengregory6026]

Along with George Harrison,Tom Petty,Bob Dylan and Roy Orbison,Jeff Lynne was part of The Travelling Wilbury's.....might be worth a look (blimey,just realised only 2 of these guys are still alive)

[@hernanpatrik4908]

The best versión of This song.

[@georgeknox1822]

My fav version of this song ❤❤

[@mariendal1962]

I just love this freaked out mixture of Chuck Berry rock & roll and classic music. Beethoven was also the avant-garde of his time, so I think he would have loved their version

[@debjorgo]

ELO had such a string of hits. This song was the introduction. Then came Showdown, Ma-Ma Belle, Can't Get it Out of My Head, Boy Blue, Evil Woman, Nightrider, Strange Magic, Living Thing, Rockaria (backed with Poker), Do Ya, Telephone Line, Turn to Stone, Mr Blue Sky.... The hits just kept coming. I'd recommend any of these songs. Rockaria is sort of akin to this song. (Poker is a killer 'lost' track.)

[@randyharbaugh7819]

Fire on High was used on many television shows as well, mainly CBS sports

[@SaverioP]

To see the other end of the ELO spectrum you should check out "Fire on High". No lyrics (except the backwards stuff at the very beginning), just straight fire (on high).

[@markharris5107]

I second this - Fire on High is such a fantastic instrumental and the drums are incredible

[@cometogether999]

A great idea!

[@mve5225]

I saw ELO perform this live in 1974. They were wild and crazy onstage. I loved the show!

[@twalrus1]

Imagine how happy Beethoven would be if he was brought into our century. Being able to write for modern instruments like the bass guitar and such.

[@unwindreactions6223]

My favourite band since I was a child. So Serious, Calling America, Don't Bring me Down, Rock 'n Roll is King are my favourites

[@chronomatt6990]

A classic ELO cover recorded in the early 1970s when the band had a “less refined” sound it is traditionally associated with. A shorter edit was an early FM radio hit. It is also Jeff Lynne’s traditional concert encore song. The opening and closing “ELO sounding” bits are from Beethoven’s famous Symphony No. 5th, showing Jeff Lynne’s sense of humor. ELO performed Roll Over during their Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame induction performance as a tribute to Chuck Berry who died a few months earlier.

[@anthonyblakely399]

This is a cover of an old Chuck Berry/Little Richard song........which ELO placed their own spin on....Excellent!!!! ELO are definitely among the gods of Rock n' Roll.

[@bemused9522]

Wow, I had forgotten about this one! Wonderful!

[@Tireshredderjoe]

We must not forget Jeff Lynne’s voice is incredible.

[@dunismith3045]

The great Jeff Lynne can do no wrong.

[@ffjsb]

"Don't bring me Down" and "Xanadu" were probably his worst songs, and that's mostly because they're just pop fluff. But that's hardly selling out with his huge catalog of great music.

[@AW-yj6md]

Like Popnecker mentioned,..this was the first song that turned us onto these guys,..think I saw them on Midnight Special,..then maybe American Bandstand,..and I got that album with this song,..like I said,..things were cheap,..you couldn't buy every album that came out,..but you could get a few in,..I got Hair of the Dog album by Nazareth,..those two drove my mom insane!,..if.it wasn't Roll Over Beethoven, It was Hair of the Dog("now ya'll messin with a sob!,.chorus,..LOUD!,..),..and yess ELO throwing down,..the strings,.I swear when I heard and saw this I couldn't believe how fast they were playing on a violin,..didn't seem possible,..and I'd seen classical performances,..but this,..this was rock and roll,.whole different tempo,..sustained tempo,,..did you catch that whole "Devil Went Down to Georgia " Charlie Daniels bit,..fryin that violin,..and yes they put their stamp on it,..but they totally gave homage to those who came before,..totally birth of rock and roll sound,..mad piano like Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis,..all those "whoooo",..and of course the Chuck Berry guitar riffs,..classic Chuck Berry,..they were a little older than me,..so they grew up just when Chuck Berry did this song,..so you know they probably always wanted to do this song,..the way he did it,..do keep going,..do check out Jeff's War of the Worlds,..it's like a rock opera,.original score and all,..Elisabeth Taylor's ex Richard Burton narrates,..its pretty cool,..but long,..double album,.if you don't have time here,..do it when you can,..Godspeed, Peace ✌

[@martha0436]

Chuck Berry, Roll over Beethoven ..the best

[@mikecaetano]

Chuck Berry's original clocks in at two minutes, twenty-five seconds. The Beatles added twenty more seconds to their version, along with the falsetto "whoos" that finish off a verse and a chorus. Those bits reflect the inspiration they got from Little Richard, whose song "Long Tall Sally" started off side two of their second album, released in 1964. "Roll Over Beethoven" started off side one. One great thing about the shortness of these classic songs is that it doesn't take much time to check them out again. ELO released their version a mere nine years later, stretching the song out to over eight minutes on the album while scoring their first U.S. hit with a four minute thirty second single version. Rearranging the song to include some of Beethoven's actual music was a stroke of genius by Jeff Lynne. It went a long way towards defining ELO's sound for much of the following decade.

[@captainmoretokin2172]

We should remember this song would have never happened without Ludwig Van Beethoven writing his 5th symphony hundreds of years ago. I wonder how many have sat down to listen to the 5th symphony all the way through in this day and age. I have,, many times. Oh and by the way Ludwig wrote his 5th symphony without hearing it. He was deaf. Amazing

[@michaelmorgan5675]

"By the way" your statement is not true! He began writing his 5th symphony in 1804 when he "started" to lose his hearing and finished writing it alongside his 6th symphony in 1808. He was declared as being completely deaf at the age of 40 in 1810. Not meaning to take anything away from this absolute genius just stating the facts.

[@captainmoretokin2172]

@@michaelmorgan5675 . yeah . i know , he had something like 60 % deafness , i think. Maybe 50. i will have to look that one up to verify. thanks

[@paulhansberry8168]

This is the song that introduced me to ELO

[@markthomas2577]

This was a Chuck Berry song from 1956 ... many covers including the Beatles

[@notgivennotgiven7776]

I seen them back in the mid 70's where they opened for Deep Purple, and they were awesome. They had a cello and a violinist and what they did was crazy live. The violinist was dressed in green, even his violin was green. And when they did this, he was running around in a circle, and when they were jamming to this the cello player was playing his cello behind his head. Oh yeah, the band that played before ELO was a band called Elf, and Ritchie Blackmore introduced them. The lead singer was some guy by the name of Ronnie James Dio. Peace

[@dwoehrma]

Theres often one 50s based rocker on an ELO album. he must've grown up listening to his parents 45s like I did. Little Richard was the man!

[@ivansavoie3190]

Saw them in concert November 5th 1973 along with James Montgomery opening for Edgar Winter group. The cellist at one point playing on top of a stack of large speaker cabinets, had to be twenty ft high at least believe during this song

[@p.millard557]

I love ELO's version of Roll over Beethoven because they pay tribute to both Beethoven and Chuck Berry. What a great combination!

[@blitztim6416]

And Chuck got paid. His favorite part. 👍

[@blitztim6416]

Great Chuck Berry tune. Brilliant cover version by ELO.

[@markharris5107]

I highly recommend "Showdown" from On the Third Day - great early song

[@BethHutter]

You need to listen to Rockaria!

[@winslow551]

An all-time classic song that everyone, in every band, played back in the day ... and everyone always loved it!!!

[@larrywalker5374]

The first time I saw Elo they opened for Jeff Beck. It was weird seeing all the string instruments on stage. And they rocked

[@hemustvebeeninspired....5831]

Oh, i forgot....there is a video of Billy Joel putting his band through its paces doing a tune called The Rootbeer Rag

[@thomasklempin542]

1st ELO song I heard as a kid. Loved it, Dad hated it. Lol.☺

[@jenniferjacobs228]

So great to hear this masterpiece again..always loved it. So clever and creative.R.I.P. the great Chuck Berry.....

[@tanisdevelopment]

Another great modern song "co-written" by Beethoven is Billy Joel's "This Night", from his Innocent Man album.

[@brianorzel1873]

Obviously, Chuck Berry did this first, but I love this version, too! How about that? Roll Over Beethoven with some actual Beethoven in the song!

[@sgt.blkdog3840]

I wouldn’t necessarily say the first part was ELO’s spin. That was straight up Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, the way it would sound performed by any orchestra until that amazing transition to the iconic Chuck Berry song.

[@geraldherrmann787]

all of this is great even live

[@wompa70]

I’ve never heard ELO’s version.

[@atdelectricalstvdigitalrep1364]

The 'full' version! Great... much better than the 'radio' edit! Check out 'Twilight' from the album 'Time'.

[@markscutti9682]

“Time” what a great album! Different than all the rest!

[@keymack2477]

Thank you for the great reaction, Chod! To my poor ears this is THE definitive version of the Chuck Berry classic! Don't forget to get to Hi-De-Ho by Blood Sweat and Tears!!

[@RobertSmith-iw2kb]

And thanks for not interrupting this classic tribute t berry. you have real class.❤

[@freckled100]

I love the "heavy" violins!

[@ginahollingsworth5907]

Great cover of Chuck Berry. His is more raw and this is dialed in due to technology of the time. Given a choice...I'd listen to Chuck but wouldn't ignore this one. 🤷‍♀️❤

[@porflepopnecker4376]

This was the first ELO song for a lot of us. So it didn't seem like a change of pace or anything. It was the rest of their music after that which came as a surprise. I like the early, more raw-sounding stuff without the studio orchestra, when there were string players in the group who handled the solos and the sound was more lean and mean. A great example of this and one that I wish you would react to is the "Ocean Breakup" song suite on side one of their album "On The Third Day." This is early ELO at their creative best.

[@avanoosterhout8397]

I picked up on this band when 'A New World Record' came out and it immediately triggered me to dive into their previous work. Up until this day I prefer their first four albums, which doesn't mean I don't love the later work. A personal favourite has always been 'Kuiama'.

[@ericanderson8886]

Nice, some early ELO, El Dorado is a great concept album by this group. Don't know if you even do concept albums.

[@randy8297]

This was our introduction to ELO and really defined their orchestral-rock genre right from the start.

[@3ScotsInk]

Finally!!!! I've been begging reactors to do this one but have only seen one other do it. Jeez. ELO were great-- I saw them live several times, stunning and amazing. But to think you've heard them and never listened to this? No respect. Seriously, thank you!

[@jokabjo1694]

Music to make you happy. Credits to Beethoven, and Chuck Berry, and of course ELO.

[@RobertSmith-iw2kb]

Wild classical version. thanks .😊

[@christopherbrown1248]

Other early ELO singles include 'Ma-Ma-Ma-Belle' and '10538 Overture'

[@cometogether999]

And "In the Hall of the Mountain King."

[@unrulyjulie4382]

Fire on High

[@jokabjo1694]

I like your take on this music. Another subscriber here. 😄

[@mikethemotormouth]

Still gotta do Evil Woman and Fire on High

[@cindyfalstrom7231]

Really Rockin Song. Thanks.

[@stevebuckskinner5482]

This was actually their 1st big hit. Their coming out song if you will.

[@unrulyjulie4382]

10538 Overture was technically their first hit but it may not been as widely known as this one.

[@stephenbrough8132]

@@unrulyjulie4382 I can never remember the number ... I always remember it wrong - 5438 overture or something - Wish they'd called it something else lol! Maybe it would have been a bigger hit if idiots like me hadn't walked into Woolies asking for the 1234 Overture by LEO. (No I didn't really do that) Love your KZbin name BTW. Very memorable - Unlike 10538.

[@unrulyjulie4382]

@@stephenbrough8132 .. how could I forget about 10538 🤦‍♀️, especially since I like it so much more than ROB. A former co-worker used to call me Unruly Julie...I have no idea why 🤪

[@RyanHeafner]

I think The Killer, Jerry Lee Lewis, would be right up your alley

[@suzielynne9421]

Jeff Lynnes singing voice and range of pitch is second too none. 🎤🎶❤️

[@Yooper2024]

Turn it up...!!! That was great...new subscriber here.

[@rogerstarkey5390]

Always needed a sit down after this one!

[@whome1299]

I used to rock this album on the 8-track when I was a kid.

[@danastearns7939]

classical music is great - but always in need of some good R&B and Rock N Roll. Right? ELO- a deep rabbit hole but well worth the time to listen to some great music. My favorite by them is All Over the World (the video flash mob is great)

[@normweldon9852]

There are quite a few live versions of this that are really good.

[@Frankincensedjb123]

ELO is a great band that sometimes goes a little under the radar when 70s greats are mention, but they're not to be ignored. A little homage to 50s rock and the master, Chuck the Legend.

[@hustonbop]

I love ❤️ this!!!

[@w.geoffreyspaulding6588]

Wow...only one I knew by this name before was The Beatles version....and of course the original Chuck Berry....

[@tomasgonzalezmarin6118]

Hi! Please, I recommend you Can't get it out of my Head, El Dorado Overture, Shine a little Love, Confusion, Livin' Thing, Evil Woman, Sweet Talking Woman, Last Train to London, Shangri Lah, Strange Magic, Midnight Blue, Standing in The rain, It's Over, Shodown, Do ya, and Rockaria....and there is more :-)

[@georgesirving5913]

Chuck Berry is the true KING of Rock & Roll. IMHO

[@davidmckenzie420]

In case no one mentioned it...Check out ELO's live "Zoom Tour." This is but one of many classic ELO songs done well after many years and with a retooled band. Jeff Lynne is of course the genius behind it all.

[@richtensail]

elo doing a cvr- its rare!, a live version frm 70s is on utbe, whihc i like seeing all v classic instruemntation mixed wit v rock n roll, aslo i tink jeff did a versiona cple yrs ago live?. jeff wanted 2 do a homage 2 chuck. also try hold on tight n tightrope. cheers frm au.

[@brandonflorida1092]

Written by the immortal rock founder Chuck Berry.

[@caseyhazelman2390]

Nice job!

[@CharCanuck14]

Lots of fluids and rest Chod!

[@caseyhazelman2390]

Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Little RICHARD

[@loupi4bama]

Jeff Lynne is on tour right now! Still out there kickin (_I_)

[@lewisner]

You should also check out "California Man" by the Move , who later split into the ELO and Wizzard.💪

[@joelliebler5690]

A great tribulations tribute to Chuck Berry!🎸👍🏻❤️

[@WooBino.]

ELO was music for guys who didn't get ELP.🙂

[@mattharvey968]

Roll over Beeth oven by Bill&Ted!! 😆

[@hemustvebeeninspired....5831]

i have always listened to the lesser known music.....like Brownsville Station, actually rather popular in the day. Do me a huge favor and introduce folks to the Martian Boogie

[@janster3000]

The Beatles did a cover of this Chuck Berry classic, too. You should check both out to compare. They're rock and roll!

[@jollyrodgers7272]

Yep, a Chuck Berry original. The Beatles covered it nicely, and Jeff did a great job with better technology. Tell Tchaikovsky the news!

[@scottlaughlin9897]

Even better than this is Walter Murphy’s - A fifth of Beethoven! Was on the Saturday night fever soundtrack. You’ll love it!

[@Malibu1515]

I'm commenting to you Wilburn because of something you said 4 MONTHS AGO! You said Take 5 by Dave Brubeck was your favorite or one of your most favorite songs. Then YOU MUST listen too "Gold and Silver" by Quicksilver Messenger Service. It's off their self-titled debut album. I subbed just to tell you this. A Must Listen Too.

[@timbillings6884]

👍👍

[@bethhowton2719]

They took Chuck Berry's song and added ELO to it. Enjoy

[@brandonious7732]

I really want to see you reacted to"shine a little love" by e.l.o. !!!!!

[@bangmon1000]

😊👍

[@RPRohrman]

I think you would like ‘Jungle’.

[@JFinSD2]

I bet old Ludvig did roll over in his grave......then he probably started to to boogie!!!!

[@johnlillis1161]

hey Chod give And You And I a listen it's by YES and will become your favorite YES song

[@ericanderson8886]

As well as America, he was mixed about the Simon and Garfunkle original, but the Yes version is brilliant.

[@zebjohnson5118]

Shout out to Chuck Berry the originator ✌️♥️

[@douglasgonzalez7561]

Hi Chod. Have I got a suggestion for you! I’ve just discovered this song today! Please react to The World is Waiting for the Sunrise by Les Paul & Mary Ford. YOU WONT BE DISAPPOINTED! 😊

[@dizastro5437]

A fifth goes a long way. Maybe not all day?

[@famat161]

But most guitar players of that age grew up playing Johnny B. Goode and other Chuck Berry.

[@666tubedragon666]

Chuck Berry.....period

[@normweldon9852]

Little Richard was great, but this is a Chuck Berry song.