I don't always listen to Donnie Iris, but when I do, so do the neighbors!

@rpc2112

2 ай бұрын

😂🤣😆👍🏼💯🤙🏼

@williamhannam3870

Ай бұрын

@@rpc2112 Hahahaha! Awesome!

Donnie Iris played my prom. His daughter was a senior. He was at the height of his fame. Incredible.

My favorite lyric was “we both know we’re never gonna make it but when we touch we never have to fake it Leah”

80 years old... fighting cancer.. and up to rock again... a living legend, Donnie iris!!!!

@alansmith7626

21 сағат бұрын

Kick its ass! Prayers!

My mom fell in love with the song Leah by Roy Orbison when she was growing up in 1964. Then she fell in love with this song in 1980. I was born 2 years later, and yup, I’m a Leah ☺️

@user-ts8ss9cj1p

3 ай бұрын

This made me smile haha thank you for sharing :)

@omgleah

16 күн бұрын

Me too! This song is where my parents got my name!

@alansmith7626

21 сағат бұрын

Amazing! Have you heard Leah by Toto? MUST !!!

@alansmith7626

21 сағат бұрын

@@omgleah have you heard Leah by Toto? If not you Must!

Man I forgot how great this song is.

This was the kind of classic rock that made the 80s so special.

@AnthonyL0401

3 ай бұрын

Reminds me of Loverboy too, now that I hear this again

It's such a pleasure to see people "discover" a classic like this. I was 13 when this came out and I got to enjoy it all over again.

YES!!!!!! You finally got to this song!!! I've requested you guys react to this one several times!!! Really glad you enjoyed it, I knew you would!!!!! Love Is Like A Rock should be the next one from him!!! Thank you!!!

@scottvanhille5688

9 ай бұрын

Dragon, I've suggested this multiple times too! This is the only song from him that I've heard. I thought they would really like it. They did two suggestions today!

@Debcatawba

9 ай бұрын

@@scottvanhille5688 Give a listen to Love Is Like A Rock. You’ll be blown away!

@cartercarter645

9 ай бұрын

Wow blast from the past - Love is like a Rock is a banger for sure- it will get your toes tapping’

@rosiebarker6285

9 ай бұрын

LOVE IS LIKE A ROCK is a must!!!!!!!

@kenanthony1202

9 ай бұрын

You guys really need to expand your music interest’s because this absolutely brutal.

Wow, excellent choice!!! Another banger!!! The song stalled at #29 in 1981, but plays more than a lot of #1 hits in today's world.

Once you hear this song you will always remember it.

God I miss the 80s. No better time to be in high school, listening to music like this.

@chadcobb2285

4 ай бұрын

High in high school

I've always loved this song. It's fire! 🔥

At the end. This is the BEST SCREAM in rock and roll!!!

@wayne_twentyfive

9 ай бұрын

It's up there !

@Willie_McBride

8 ай бұрын

I’ve got Roger Daltry on line 1 for you. And Sebastian Bach on line 2…

Donnie comes out there looking like some kind of uber-nerd, just rocks the song away, and then shows off the pipes at the end. The man can wail! Love this song so much.

@TLAS

8 ай бұрын

More like an 80’s version of Buddy Holly.

Donnie Iris’s best song. This one flat out ROCKS!!

One of my all time favorites. Very underrated song.

I'm psyched you guys are listening to Donnie! He's a proud Pittsburgh guy! You're going to love him!!

@lorirobinson511

9 ай бұрын

I forgot to recommend listening to "Love is Like A Rock" by Donnie next. Or "Agnes". Both are fantastic!

@markdraine3571

9 ай бұрын

Righto, Lori. Steel City icon for sure.

@lorirobinson511

9 ай бұрын

@@markdraine3571 absolutely! Now I want to suggest a Clark's song! 😁

@BGNOLA

9 ай бұрын

He sang "The Wrapper" by the Jaggers I think

@RicoCosta317

9 ай бұрын

He's from my hometown, Ellwood City, PA, Lori! Read my comment below.

Being from Pittsburgh, I've seen Donnie a number of times. He's 80 years old and still performing. "Ah! Leah!" is his most well known song, but he has a lot of good ones.

@TheBunabug

9 ай бұрын

Love is Like a Rock immediately comes to mind & is such a fantastic tune!

@dmanwainright2132

8 ай бұрын

Thank you Daniel for the info! He is a Great Dude!

@StaciaAmnaber

7 ай бұрын

Tough World

@t0dd000

6 ай бұрын

I saw him at Nick's Fat City when he recorded that live album in '98. He killed it.

@CodeBleu724

5 ай бұрын

My Girl Do You Compute? Agnes Love Is Like A Rock Sweet Merilee I'm from the Pittsburgh area too. Canonsburg.

An absolute banger!! Enough said!

He's 80yrs old and still performs. This guy's endurance is incredible!

@lunamoon837

9 ай бұрын

And he can still sing like he does at the end!

@censorshipsucks9493

9 ай бұрын

Here's him last year at 79 still hitting the notes. kzread.info/dash/bejne/qIiKrpWTo8uxgMY.html

@robscott9414

9 ай бұрын

You're still talkin 'bout music, right? 🙂

@censorshipsucks9493

9 ай бұрын

@@robscott9414 Um, yeah...sure.

This is an amazing song! It kind of encapsulates the era of the early 80s. Life was good and the music shows it. 🔥

Just saw Donnie at the Bluestone in Columbus, Ohio on 4/6/24. Still rocking at 81 years of age. Excellent show. Lots of energy although he had to sit about every other song. His pipes are still amazing. He hit all those tough notes on "Ah Leah", "Sweet Merilee" and "That's the way love oughta be". I also saw him back in the day in the early 80's. Enjoyable today as he was 40+ years ago. Reply

Feb 28 2024 happy birthday to Donnie Iris, he turns 81 today. This song is still as good as the day it came out in October 1980!!! Happy birthday, you rocking old fart that looks like Howie Mandel and Buddy Holly had a baby!!!

I never remember this song off the top of my head, but every time I hear it, I remember how just excellent it is.

@The80sCat

9 ай бұрын

80's staple. Like that it has a little harder edge. Really hoping for Don Felder's "Heavy Metal".

I’ve been following you for a couple of days and my husband (retired drummer from England) and I are already big fans of yours. Another great choice! Thank you! Memories!! 🎶🎶🎶

@jhood758

9 ай бұрын

They love the ‘70s & 80’. They’re pretty awesome.

A friend of mine was friends with Donnie. Even named his daughter Leah. He passed last year - miss him dearly

I love love LOVE this song! I’ve seen Donny in concert a few times and I was able to meet him once and he was just the nicest guy. I’ve always loved this song. I’m so happy y’all are listening to this gem!

@michaelasay8587

9 ай бұрын

Did he do much music?

"Love is Like a Rock" by Donnie Iris is another SMOKIN rocker! Thanks Jay and Amber!

Jay & Amber, Donnie wrote the #2 hit, "The Rapper", when he was a singer/guitarist with the Jaggerz (1970). Try his "Love Is Like a Rock" next.

@KenRoerden

9 ай бұрын

They will love The Rapper.

@davidteller7681

9 ай бұрын

I still have "The Rapper" on a 45 from when I was a kid

@dragonan5674

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for reminding me of that song! Haven't heard it in ages. I believe Jay and Amber WOULD love it!!!

@johntiggleman4686

9 ай бұрын

I remember "The Rapper." Haven't heard it forever, but that's what KZread is for.

@phila3884

9 ай бұрын

Wow. I thought I knew music trivia, but had no idea this guy aas in the Jaggerz and Wild Cherry. What an eclectic mix of music styles. This song I dug back in the day, but remember it was "in" and then out in a very short amount of time.

Had to name my daughter, Lia - back in '84 - after hearing the beautiful chorus/harmony of Donnie I. on this tight little rocker, Thx for putting it up J&A. Love your vibe.

This song was HUGE in the Summer of 81....

This has become SUCH a 80s cult classic!! Everybody loved this song back in the day--no idea why it didn't do better on the charts. I was a junior/senior in HS then and the timing was perfect for a song like this. And you are right on, Amber--he was of the Elvis Costello-Ric Ocasek (Cars)-David Byrne (Talking Heads) type. So glad you liked this one! ❤

Absolutely love this song!! Thanks for this one!!🤘🔥

One of my ALL-TIME favorite songs! It rocks from start to finish. They don't make them like this ANYMORE!!

Another fun song by Donny is "Love is Like a Rock."

Donnie Iris, born Ierace (same pronunciation), is from Ellwood City, a small West PA town where I also grew up. He's my sister-in-laws cousin and one of the nicest guys I ever met. He played in a band called the Jagggerz in the 70's and they had a #2 hit with The Rapper, which you would love, and he was also part of Wild Cherry, which you mentioned, The album that this from and the song put him on the national map again. You should really react to Agnes from this album also, another banger. Saw him in concert in 1980 and it was one of the best I've seen. Earlier this year he did one for his 80th birthday celebration. A great guy and an amazing singer, so glad you did this!

@lorirobinson511

9 ай бұрын

Great post! If you live anywhere near here you just gotta love him!

@davidbordonaro1631

9 ай бұрын

I'm from New Castle - never met him but have seen him a few times

@dmanwainright2132

8 ай бұрын

Oh man, that is coolness, thank you!!

This is one of the greatest rock n roll songs ever made - glad you finally got to this. The layering in this recording was groundbreaking.

this song is a timeless deep cut. it's SO GOOD. i have never gotten tired of this one.

Finally - I love ‘Ah Leah’ 💕💕💕 “Love is Like a Rock” - another fun Donnie Iris song 🙂

Love is like a Rock was Donnie's other big hit. Killer bass,drums, and vocals.

Very awesome song. Grew up with it and still love it today. Glad y’all reviewed it. ❤️

For the chorus, they stacked Donnie’s vocals 60 some times. If you listen really closely to the harmony part of the chorus, there is an undertone that sounds like a Gregorian chant. Keep Donnie in your prayers, as he is battling cancer. I saw his 80th birthday show, and the guy still has it. Can still scream with the best of them!

Always loved this song and still have a 45rpm single on vinyl! Donnis Iris is what I would imagine actor Eugene Levy would look like if he'd been a rock musician.

@chuckpearson5537

9 ай бұрын

My first thought "that's Eugene Levey's illegitimate son.

DONNIE IRIS ~ "LOVE IS LIKE A ROCK" 😎

And he’s performing this Saturday still at 81 in Pittsburgh!

Donnie was born in my hometown of New Castle, PA. He was raised in Ellwood City, PA which is only a stones throw away. Amazing talent and hell of a guy.

@davea2288

8 ай бұрын

Hey, so was I! And while attending college as a commuter student from NC to CCBC in Monaca every day from '79 to '81, this played on WDVE and other stations and so I had to get the 45. During the time of this single Donnie got profiled on channel 2 Evening Magazine tv show, and besides music, was an autobody shop owner in New Brighton, IIRC. A girl I worked with at one time graduated high school with him and said she remembered that in high school he was always playing guitar in bands.

Absolutely love this track. Always have.

Donnie Iris is a true classic. He is still playing live! As with all of us, he is getting older, but he still sounds incredible. I'd recommend anyone who likes this song to also check out some of his live videos. He can still hit the notes.

@sallyphillips9175

9 ай бұрын

He's 80!

@BryanWicks

9 ай бұрын

The man is 80 and still jamming?! Mad props to him!

@Debcatawba

9 ай бұрын

Donnie Iris opened for Michael Stanley like s gazillion times.

@johnhegarty1761

9 ай бұрын

Speaking of Michael Stanley how about In The Heartland from the Michael Stanley Band.

@Debcatawba

9 ай бұрын

@@johnhegarty1761 Let’s Get The Show On The Road Why Should Love Be This Way Broken Radio In Between The Lines One Good Reason Take The Time Ladies Choice Liars Moon Rosewood Bitters Coming Up For Air Lover Home Tonight Another New Year’s Eve Spanish Nights Working Again Somewhere In The Night Complicated Send Away Underwear Misery Loves Company

One of the VERY BEST SONGS of its era!!!

I'm SO glad that you did this song by Donnie! He's an old friend that I used to do a lot of recording with and I'll tell him that you reacted to his song! He'll be thrilled! Donnie's most famous early band was The Jaggerz with their hit "The Rapper." It's a must listen. Classic track! Donnie has had about 11 or 12 albums and ep's put out as a solo artist, so there is much to pick from if you want to continue reacting to him. My next suggestion for you is the hit "Love Is Like A Rock."

Love love love love love this song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Donnie wasn't in "Wild Cherry" when they did "Play that Funky Music" he joined later on. He has been around in a lot of different things finally having a few hits on his own, this probably his most famous one, hit #29 billboard in 1980

O M Goodness! I always pictured this dude as a hunk with that voice. Crazy to see him in this video. Still bangin' voice, guitar, musicality.

Just flat out a GREAT song !

One of my all-time fave songs! Donnie is 80 yrs. old, & STILL rockin'! Thanks for your reaction.

Never knew the connection between Wild Cherry and Donnie Iris. See, you get educated on this site too. Thanks guys.

I love this guy. This was my college years. The man is a Pittsburgh legend. Agnes, from the same album is under appreciated.

Love Donnie! ❤He’s royalty around Pittsburgh! 👑 He just turned 80 & still rocks da haus! Super nice guy too!

Love is like a rock - even better! Keep up the good work! 🔥🔥🔥

@RhettAnderson

9 ай бұрын

Great song. I love "Do You Compute?" too.

Another Donnie Iris tune is "Love is Like a Rock"

Who knew that voice came out of him! 1980 was my Junior/Senior year in high school!! I LOVED THIS SONG!

Cruising Royalty!! So I'm told... 🙂😃😄 F*cking aye right!! This was the jam!!!

Every voice is him even the background vocals

This song kicks ass!

" That's the Way Love Ought to be." It'll be your favorite song from Donnie Iris...guaranteed!

He just turned 80 and is still rockin'

This is one of those songs that I will NEVER tire of! "You're such a sight - You're lookin' better than a body has a right to" is such an excellent lyric!

If you ever been attracted to someone you knew was bad for you, this song hits hard. This is always in my playlists.

Your reaction at the end cracked me up! Didn't see that coming, did you? Ha. This song is so awesome, a total classic. Love the appreciation for it!

Fun fact - many years ago, back in the day, Donnie performed in concert at Fargo, ND , and opened up the night with "Hello, South Dakota", which started everyone booing (hey it was NORTH Dakota, not South) - concert was good tho. Also back in the day, our band played his other hit "Love Is Like A Rock".

Donny Iris has a fine body of solo work. " Love Is Like A Rock" "Agnes" " I Can't Hear You" " Joking" "Back On The Streets" " Sweet Merilee" "My Girl" " King Cool" ' Tough World" "The High And The The Mighty" " Do You Compute"

@ozarkchief7

8 ай бұрын

I really love Sweet Merilee and Love is like a Rock. Great tunes, for sure!

Thank you for reminding me how FREAKIN AMAZING this song is. Loved it since my teen years, but never knew it was by the lead singer of Wild Cherry 🍒 ❤

@keithrodgers6634

9 ай бұрын

Donnie Iris joined Wild Cherry after Play That Funky Music. He wasn’t on that song

One of the songs that makes me grateful I grew up on this music.

Yea!!!! It was so much fun watching you react to this. As a native and life-long resident of Western PA Donnie is an absolute ICON here. Ah! Leah! is perhaps the greatest singalong rocker of all time (though few can actually hit those notes at the end, lol). I'm old enough that I go all the way back to his time with The Jaggerz and their hit The Rapper. Please do Love Is Like A Rock next.

One of the songs that I never get tired of listening to❤

The best thing about reaction channels is that they help you remember the songs you forgot you liked!

"We both know we're never gonna make it but when we touch we never have to fake it" One of the best lines ever!

He’s still rockin’ at 80 years old too

I've heard this song probably dozens of times as sort of background noise in different places and never payed much attention to it. Now, in my daily Rob Squad therapy, I've listened to it for the first time. Wow! Fabulous song! Thanks so much for the eye opener. You two are the best!

So many great choices lately Rob Squad!! Love watching you two go wild on the screams----reminds me to have Rob Squad check out Prince with the song "Kiss". The 80's was stacked with great music. Seemingly never ending.

Loved that song back in the day. Looking back at it today, I have to say it was even better than I remembered.

First heard this song in the early, EARLY days of MTV (yes, I’m ancient) and I still have this song in my rotation. Banger.

PLEASE go back to them for this MUST HEAR banger,, The Romantics "What I Like About You"

@db-gb5xi

9 ай бұрын

Have they played Talking In Your Sleep?

@happymethehappyone8300

9 ай бұрын

@@db-gb5xi I'm pretty sure they did.

@juliewhite7469

9 ай бұрын

🥰🥰🥰

Another cool song that i never knew the name or artist Thanks ya'll 😊 This is the cool side of the " New Wave era before it went mainstream another cool song from this era is " Precious to me" by Phil Seymour

@chrisoakley5830

9 ай бұрын

Great recommendation, I have the 45 record of that song, thought I was the only one who remembered it. It's a really cool song 🎵

@wayne_twentyfive

9 ай бұрын

"Precious To Me" is brilliant .. One of the best pieces of new wave / pop music ever .. I love the whole album it came on, but it is definitely the standout track ..

Donny wasn't young when he did this and he still plays live in PA. Stays young through music .

The 80s was all about the videos, and making them as unique as possible, MTV music videos, but also lots of great music with so much variety....

Love this song and the arrangment...perfect 80s song

This is a great tune! I think she would love the funky music too!

@BillGraper

9 ай бұрын

She definitely has to hear that white boy play that funky music. LOLzzz.

In the Pittsburgh area, Donnie Iris had achieved, at least when I lived there, superstar status. He was known simply as "The Don". "Love is Like a Rock" was another one of his more famous hits.

He’s from the outskirts of Pittsburgh. He doesn’t live to far from where I used to live. This music brings back so much memories

I remember this on the radio, never knew who it was.

Donnie Iris is 80 years old and still preforming...

Saw Donnie Iris a number of times. His concerts were awesome complete with laser light shows. The pride of Pittsburgh Pa. He has a number of great songs, hope you react to more of his music. Thankyou for listening to him. He never got the credit he deserved.

"Ah! Leah!" is one of the most underrated hits of the 1980s. Though it was a Top 40 hit, it was not a Top 10 hit, peaking only at #29 on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 28, 1981. In spite of that, the song endures, with just under 400,000 Shazams at the time I'm typing this, which is pretty good for a more obscure artist. Donnie Iris also has his name on "The Rapper" by The Jaggerz, which was a #2 hit in 1970 for the band he was part of at the time. He can probably live comfortably off the royalties from "Ah! Leah!" and "The Rapper" alone. It should be noted, however, that Donnie Iris became a member of Wild Cherry after "Play That Funky Music" became a hit, so he's not credited for that song. Musicians like Donnie Iris, David Byrne, Ric Ocasek and the like are what I call "nerd rock," not pejoratively, but affectionately. Rivers Cuomo of Weezer can fit into this subgenre too. Musically, they're the descendants of Buddy Holly. They don't have blatant sex appeal, and they're kind of quirky too, but nonetheless, their rock-and-roll cred is indisputable.

Always loved this song!!! Took me years to find out who sang it... 😊👍 Total Jam!!!

Need more Donnie !!!!!

Donnie Iris in this video is the perfect example of Don't Judge A Book By Its Cover. Haha, I love that he embraces his nerdiness in it. But what a killer voice the man had. Great song.

I named my daughter Aleah because I thought that was the girls name in the song. My Aleah struggled with heroin for most her life and died in her 30s but not after leaving me an awesome grandson who loves his grandpa as much as I loved his mom. She kicked the heroin for her son but addition to alcohol ruined her liver and she passed away during covid and we couldn't go into her room. I have peace because she gave her heart to Jesus as a girl and know she is finally free of her pain forever. I rarely can listen to this song because I tear up, but was happy you guys played it. If I had seen the video (I only heard the song on the radio when we named her, I maybe wouldn't have after seeing Donnie Iris lol, but that lead guitar!

@goggutube

9 ай бұрын

I didn't expect to read a touching story in the comments. Glad to hear she knew Jesus. There is awesome peace knowing your loved one now has eternal joy. I trust that Almighty Lord provided you with a beautiful daughter and a beautiful life, even for a shorter time than desired. And He has provided you lasting memory of Aleah through your grandson. Lol, Donnie is not a looker, but a great rocker. I like the spelling of Aleah too! Jesus Bless!

One of the Greatest songs of all time !

@_MjG_

2 ай бұрын

LOL! Not even considered a HIT by definition. Didn't chart in UK Singles top 75, part of the requirement of being a HIT.