Yes Reaction: Classical Guitarist REACTS to Awaken Jon Anderson & Todmobile

[@JoneRuiz]

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[@mikesisto]

I was 15 years old the first time I heard Yes. I'm now 66. I've heard these songs hundreds of times and I still find them inspirational. It just never gets old and there's nothing better than reacting to someone who is hearing this spiritual music for the first time. It always brings me back to my first time hearing it. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us.

[@eddiecriglington400]

I was 15 too, in 1971. I’m almost 68. Yes are for life. Jon Anderson a genius. 🎶❤️🎶

[@williamfranz9872]

Jon's voice is still great. In 77 they sold out the Garden 6 nights. The third encore was Close to the Edge in its entierty. This was as good as it got.

[@ZealZaddy]

In this song Yes (and here Todmobile) play the entire circle of fifths. This is either the only, or one of very few rock songs that attempt it. Read about the making of Awaken and the depth of classical structure that Yes brought to this. It’s obvious when you see it performed, but it’s also wonderful to know there are bands capable of it.

[@TigerMtnKing]

The best cover of one of the greatest songs ever written by the greatest band (YES) to ever write, produce and play music ever! Jon Anderson and Steve Howe who are credited for writing this song are musical geniuses!🤩

[@edf13]

This version with Todmobile and the Orchestra rivals, and at times surpasses, what experiencing YES performing this live and that's saying something. Of course Jon's vocals are as strong as they were in his prime when they created this masterpiece of what rock music can achieve on a spiritual level. Kudos for letting it move you.

[@aliturralde1961]

When I was a teenager, I had a band that we used to write heavy rock with (around 1978) and I remember one of the guys bought Relayer... We listened to it in the dark, lying on the floor, and when the Soon part (The Gates of Delirium), we opened the window and the light illuminated our faces...we were crying... Keep in mind, this was in Uruguay, where rock news hardly reached, except for a single rock radio program that it was called "Youth Meridian", one hour a day. Months after this, the arrival in our country of the album "Going for the one" was announced. I bought it without having heard anything about it, and we repeated the operation: listening to it in the dark in my room with the guys from the band. When we finished listening to "Awaken", all shocked by what we heard, we came to the conclusion that this was the pinnacle of symphonic rock progression. We weren't wrong, because the 80's arrived and everything was already below this level reached both in composition and execution of the instruments. Steve Howe is one of the most underrated guitarrists in rock history, ranking above many who are supposedly famous. THANK YOU Y E S, for having allowed me to make contact with my inner self when I was very young... Sometimes I feel sorry for all these teenagers who believe that rock began with them...

[@GetzGoth]

It’s amazing to me is that 5 members of Yes have played this on stage without the backing Orchestra and it’s not really that far removed from this performance. Don’t get me wrong, I love the orchestration but I’m just saying the members of Yes can produce an incredibly full sound on their own. Just amazing Musicians. For 35 years I never realized how good they actually were until I began watching their live performances. Thanks for sharing this and as always, cheers!

[@jeffwood32]

You've got that right, every time I've seen them was amazing 👍

[@frankhoulihanfh4972]

^ This. These things.

[@teresakoslosky3053]

I am so glad u saw-this!! It’s the best version of Awaken” of YES ! Honestly most Yes songs can be played by classical musicians…. That is why they r the Goats of prog!!❤❤❤❤

[@eddiecriglington400]

This is one of my favourite ever performances of my favourite Yes Song, ‘Awaken’. Todmobile and their Orchestra did a phenomenal job on here. Jon Anderson was 69 years of age, on this performance in 2013. And we saw him live this year, in July 2023, in London. Performing with the talented young musicians from ‘The Paul Green Rock Academy’, from the US. They performed many ‘Yes Classics’, including the whole of the ‘Close To The Edge’ Album to celebrate its 50 year Anniversary, (2022). Jon sounded as brilliant as ever, aged 78. Jon Anderson is incredible, pure genius. 🎶❤️🎶

[@anthonyblakely399]

I have seen them in concert 5 times...and this is pretty much how the concert is!!!! However, just five members play this song and many of their masterpieces!!! Yes are composed of 5 to 7 extraordinary musicians who are multi-instrumentalists. Jo n Anderson. Steve Howe. Chris Squire are the main songwriters of all their songs. Great reactions and many reactors have cried on this song and many Yes songs...you are not alone!!! Next reaction should be Turn of The Century by Yes...the studio version. Cao

[@susangonsalves9636]

Jon Anderson has not been the singer for Yes since the 2004 tour. He collaborates with a lot of other people these days and continues to tour into his 70s. Here, working with Todmobile and the orchestra/choir, he performs what is a classic Yes song. Love it. To me, it is spiritual also and having seen Yes perform Awaken several times, it is always a special experience. (And yes, Jon A always plays the harp during it).

[@fredwds5178]

Thank you so much for your fantastic reaction to Jon Anderson singing the Yes classic Awaken! Tod Mobile and the orchestra did an amazing performance and deserve great credit filling in for the original Yes maestros. It’s wonderful to see and hear Jon in full glory at 68 years old! Now in his 70’s Jon is still gifted with the voice of heaven; still touring (albeit without the remaining members of Yes) and making remarkable music!

[@TheAmazingSpaghetti]

The concert is on KZbin as a whole, and also divided into individual songs. I highly suggest watching the rest. Jon has an amazing selection of solo stuff, some of it they performed with Jon.

[@ryanr5319]

Thank you so much Jone! Loved the reaction, knew you would enjoy. Orchestra and angel voices, especially Jon. :-) So glad you were able to watch! 68 years old in this recording!

[@davecleggett9371]

Fabulous emotional reaction my man! An honest appreciation of great musicianship, so moving it brings you to tears. I'm pushing 80 and this is the music I grew up with - oft-times emulated, never equalled. Thanks for the video.

[@ri2638]

I saw jon anderson back in 2011 when he opened for America, and it was just himself and an acoustic, but he went wayy over the time because he crushed it and they had to chase him offstage 😊

[@IanHillan]

My all-time favorite piece of music. I absolutely love this performance but I miss the rest of the band. They were firing on all cylinders on the studio recording. I don't know if you've heard that version but you would love it.

[@christopherhuot2826]

JONE, ir you have a chance to see Jon Anderson, take it! PURE MAGIC 😅😊

[@lesimprosdulezardvert1342]

Best version of Awaken, so moving And I realised, there's a big change with the bass in the first part, with something more dynamic and groovy

[@Sergti100]

Вот, умеешь ты преподнести!!! Молодец. Хотя, много пафоса и... столько энергии вложено, что без ответа нильзя, никак. Конечно, БОЛЬШОЙ ПЛЮС!!!!

[@erikmeulenbeld7428]

Yes favorite band from being young boy (11). Still their songs are great. Jon Anderson his singing has two attributes: the lyrics are like a poem, the singing on itself is like another instrument. Like I never tasted in an another band.

[@martinreed5964]

pure genius, but remember, it took 30 musicians a lot of time and effort to sound like 5 original band ,members

[@lesblatnyak5947]

Even though this version of Awaken is in a lower key it does not take away from the beautiful voice of Jon, who turns 80 next yr.

[@paultrouskie1825]

He's incredible. As is the rest of the band, as you well know.

[@harleyw]

Great reaction to this amazing performance!

[@martinellis7156]

Classical guitarist? YES! - essential to listen to "Turn of the Century"..

[@christopherhuot2826]

I love ❤️ to see how touched you get with the music, I'm the same way 😊

[@fenixfp40]

The problem Yes had, was they had one of the best singers, guitarists, bassists and keyboards players, ever to grace the stage, if that’s a problem. 🤔😂. I started listening to them aged 11 and I never tire of their music.

[@scottzappa9314]

That backup singer looks a bit like Greg Allman. Beautiful hair. In addition to every other genre known to man, I think this contains Old English. One of the most atmospheric pieces I've ever heard. Progressive to be sure. As always, unbelievably great. really great. God how beautiful. What makes you think this is jazz, man? I think it defies categorization. If anything its progressive rock, but that' s almost too confining.

[@trendydelquendy]

It's alright isn't it! I never realised that Jon Anderson's name is beautifully Icelandic.

[@neilgoodwin1046]

This song has grabbed me by the heart for over 38 years. Still gets me every time. Thankyou for a great reaction.

[@TrevRockOne]

There is a Yes concert dvd called Yessymphonic where they play with orchestra. Two pieces I especially recommend from that are Ritual and Gates of Delerium.

[@stanleymerritt4722]

Perhaps the descriptive word you were looking for was..."heavenly".

[@martinellis7156]

Turn of the Century please - as a classical guitarist and spiritual empath you have to hear it. Moving beyond my limited abilities of description, ethereal and timeless.

[@bauertime]

I know you will like Turn of the Century. It's on Going for the One.

[@MisterWondrous]

Jon has baraka; a sort of grace and spiritual force, which you recognized and called praying. That baraka, that praying came in handy on 9/11. You see, Yes had played Radio City Music Hall 2 nights before 9/11, with orchestra, and played their longer and better songs, for a prolonged concert. Their last for that year's tour, I think. Anyway, there was so much love going back and forth that I commented on their Yesnet sight about the amount of baraka transmitted that night. And it served as a spiritual food that helped this person, and probably anyone there, and maybe beyond get through, and frankly better than the rest of the country. Rather than fear, there were peace vigils that said "Love does not retaliate." Fear gripped the rest of the country though. New Yorkers are like Londoners; they endure. Do I ever digress! Thanks again for this best version of the beautiful song about how we are all prodigal children, never abandoned.

[@gilsorger6548]

After Mozart's Requiem, this is the best piece of music ever done.

[@fernandotor3266]

Thanks thanks 😢

[@fernandotor3266]

😢 glorious

[@fernandotor3266]

😢😢😢 every time

[@briantowey4121]

One thing that all of these reaction videos get wrong: You wear headphones. This music was made for big woofers. You miss so much of the spectrum with just headphones. And the original recordings are always the ones to review, not the covers.

[@fernandotor3266]

😢

[@godbluffvdgg]

That's not even Yes's guitarist...He's HALF of Steve Howe...If you're going to react to Yes, react to the album, They play it exactly live...This is a terrible performance coming from them; I saw it LIVE and in person...But; with the real band...

[@stevesheroan4131]

This is a great performance, and you are doing nothing but a great job of making fans of Yes (like myself) look like close-minded, musically uneducated buffoons. The entire Todmobile ensemble is fantastic, including the guitar player. Thanks for hanging a black cloud over someone else’s enjoyment. I’m sure you are a blast to hang out with. I doubt I can find many people to verify that though.

[@godbluffvdgg]

@@stevesheroan4131 You must be one of those that likes everything...I bet you even like the rolling Stones...Am I right? I've been A TRUE YES fan since 74...You're type is what has ruined music...You have zero taste or discernment...I was trying to educate.....What I forgot about Prog and music; you'll NEVER know... Just looked at your channel...Pfft, What the hell do you know? You have one video no playlists and you've been on here since 2012? Pathetic...Get some discernment in your life... Do you even know what Prog Is?

[@steve26553]

​Hear Hear. Totally agree. I'm a massive yes fan but this is my favourite live version of Awaken, purely because of the heavenly ambience created by the choir and orchestra.

[@godbluffvdgg]

@@steve26553 As I sais; You basically hate music...

[@steve26553]

​Jon Anderson has said in interviews that Awaken is his personal favourite track from the Yes catalogue. He would not have agreed to this collaboration if he did not think that Todmobile would do it justice. They succeeded in my book. I agree with you that no one can touch Steve Howe but apart from that, everything else is note perfect