Almost 30 years later and the best middle finger to the music industry ever done. He's singing about how watered down the industry and talent has gotten than he doesn't even have to provide content. Just something catchy and the masses will eat it up. Can't wait till Friday seeing them again at Charlestown WV and a blue travler show is always mind blowing

@indef2def

Жыл бұрын

And with the most cliched chord progression in all of music, Pachelbel's Canon in D. Maybe also a bit of a dig at the sincerity of weddings?

@richardb6260

Жыл бұрын

Only Billy Joel's The Entertainer comes close.

@SDRube14

Жыл бұрын

@@indef2def Just more of a testament to how great Canon in D is as a composition.

@crazytrain639-cg8uh

Жыл бұрын

I dont think its the industry he is flipping off. Pretty sure he is mocking us for being so easily led.

@JaiSinVern

Жыл бұрын

@@crazytrain639-cg8uh no he took a shot at the industry because of the way they tried to market them and change them

BJ , you're more right than you know. This song is genius. The music is Pachelbel's Canon in D major which has been used in dozens of pop songs and in about every third wedding ever (if you listen to the original, you'll know it). Apparently, it is like hypnotic to the human ear. So you're right cause what he's saying in the lyrics is "I can say blah blah blah and you'll still eat this song up, cause THE HOOK. Love the show!

@lipby

2 жыл бұрын

Every five years or so, some pop band makes a fortune on Pachelbel's Canon. Asia and BJ should react to it.

@nathanlindahl8336

2 жыл бұрын

I’ve loved this song since it came out when I was like 8 years old and I’ve never realized that it’s Pachelbels Canon! That’s so cool thanks for the info!

@bryansproles2879

2 жыл бұрын

There's an old video still on KZread called "Pachelbel Rant", where comedian Rob Paravonian hates on Canon in D, because it's used in so many songs. This is a vid they should also react to :) Canon in D, by the way, IS actually my favorite ever classical piece of music, but the rant is still funny :) Pachelbel Rant: kzread.info/dash/bejne/fJiszbiKqZq3fLA.html

@fagingreen8002

2 жыл бұрын

@@bryansproles2879 I know.... Too funny, and agree for the reaction.

@kitsunelee007

2 жыл бұрын

As a classical harpist I cannot overstate how much I hate Pachelbel's Canon in D major! This is due to how many times I've had to play it and that damnable coda!!!!!! My fingers have bled over this singluar work. However I must agree that so many songs not just heavily borrow from it but seem to tranform the orginal to whatever the time period is. If I didn't have to play it so much I would give it higher praise. Seriously ppl find another song to request especially at weddings!!!!!!

The lead singer of Blue Traveler has got to be the best harmonica player I have ever heard. I have never heard a person use a harmonica like he does and it really takes the place of a lead guitar solo.

@pleutron

2 жыл бұрын

yea he reminds me of Charlie Daniels with the fiddle.

@Tijuanabill

2 жыл бұрын

Never heard anyone who even COULD play just one note from a harmonica at a time, let alone like the way he does.

@toriboy25

2 жыл бұрын

I watched a video of him recently and he said something like "I'm arguably one the best players in the world, thank God there is no such thing as the best, but I am pretty damn good" LOL

@st0n3p0ny

2 жыл бұрын

Kind of funny because I thought he died. He was 500lbs and I thought "Oh, this is sad, another tragic loss, he's going to die"... Then he showed up on some late night show, minus 300 pounds, doing one of their songs and I thought "Oh my god, they're so lucky they found someone who can sing like him and play the harmonica like him". Had no idea it was the same guy.

@jeffniznick9280

Жыл бұрын

@@st0n3p0ny I know I’m late but he had gastric bypass surgery. At one point he was so heavy, he never left the stool he sat on, and it started affecting his vocals.

they teach this song in music theory classes, its so genius. and John Popper is definitely one of the best, if not the best, living harmonica player

@agentsculder2451

2 жыл бұрын

It's basically him or Stevie Wonder.

@versatilejams

Жыл бұрын

true that!

@quattovallor71

Жыл бұрын

Like Stevie, he may be one of the best song writers. Good thing he could sing and make a harmonica sound like an angel.

@michaelwardle7633

Жыл бұрын

“Today’s lesson: listen to Pachelbel’s Canon in D and then just repeat it.”

@aeloria

Жыл бұрын

@@michaelwardle7633 Only if you want the easiest shortcut of all time to writing a catchy song. Otherwise come up with your own progression and never win a Grammy. 🤠

This song is genius!!! Basically he's saying it doesn't matter what I sing about or what I say... as long as it has a good hook and its catchy.... you'll be back to listen again. Go and just read the lyrics and you'll get a good understanding. BTW the lead singer is the harmonica player! Great content as always! Love you guys!

@peterhineinlegen4672

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah it's the singer, and he's the Stevie Ray Vaughan of harmonica.

@doobernow

2 жыл бұрын

Yep this is one of the smartest songs I've ever heard!

@puddleofaids6343

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed.

@TheNeonParadox

2 жыл бұрын

And they were right. This song was all over the radio for like two years. I still hear it a lot on adult alternative and indy rock stations.

@graysonstephen7621

2 жыл бұрын

I sang this song a few times before I realized what he was saying. I’m not the sharpest bulb in the lighthouse

BJ you hit it on the money... he is saying a song could be meaningless... but the hook will get you listening over and over,

Believe it or not, this was Blues Travelers highest charting single. Its like they knew what they were talking about.

@jimlahey3919

Ай бұрын

I don’t believe it, because it’s false. Run Around was their top single. By far. It peaked in the top 10 and won them a Grammy. Hook didn’t break the top 20 in the US

John Popper( lead vocals/ harmonica goat) is an amazing artist, he has jammed as a guest with many artist. His vocals are amazing, but his harmonica playing is out of this world. He does a cover with The Dave Mathews Band of Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower, where he covers Jimi's guitar solo with the harmonica. WOW, just WOW.

@jeffcocco7123

2 жыл бұрын

I saw him play with a band called Frogwings in 1999 at Toads Place in New Haven CT. It was John Popper of Blues Traveler, Derek Trucks when he was 19 the lead guitarist from his Jazz Band at the time Otiel Burrige from The Allman Brothers Band as well as Butch Trucks and Carlos Quinones from the Allman Brothers Band. They put on an awesome show.

@dragon-ed1hz

2 жыл бұрын

Popper has been called the "Hendrix of the Harmonica."

John Popper is one of the most underrated singers from the 90's.....not to mention his harp skills.

John Popper, the vocalist and harmonica player is a master! The solo in this song is my favorite of all time!!!

Dude played the harmonica like a lead guitarist. insane.

John Popper is iconic for his homemade vest that held his many harmonicas.

@MikeB128

5 ай бұрын

Originally it wasn't a homemade vest, it was a surplus M1923 cartridge belt that he wore as a bandolier. Way cooler than his later actual custom made vests. The guy's a fucking savage on the harp and vocals.

He sings like he plays the harmonica with similar runs and vibrato… I’ve loved this band since high school makes me feel a since of euphoria like no other band

John Popper is the lead singer, and is just crazy talented with his vocals. He's also the one playing harmonica. More awesomeness to check out from Blues Traveller: Run-Around, But Anyway, and The Mountains Win Again.

@Annonymous0283745

2 жыл бұрын

More likes for this comment please. Excellent suggestions.

@doobernow

2 жыл бұрын

Their cameo on Roseanne was so good!!

@travishouser5290

2 жыл бұрын

One of their older ones, "Mountain Cry" is one of my absolute favorites.

@versatilejams

Жыл бұрын

Dude is a Stevie Wonder-level lyricist, vocalist and arguably as good or better harmonica player. I don’t say that lightly, check my profile if you don’t believe me.

@versatilejams

Жыл бұрын

@@travishouser5290 And Sweet Pain, Crystal Flame, Slow Change, Hook, But Anyway, Support Your Local Emperor, and probably a dozen more. They have a lot of favorites to choose from.

This song is pure brilliance and a middle finger to the music industry.

"Run around" is another good Blues Traveller song.

Funny song, very clever. Ironic the concept hadn’t been made earlier. Blues Traveler is great in concert

This hook has been bringing me back for years and years

Hopper proves his point again 30 years later by having KZreadrs review the song and end up loving it! It’s f’ing so brilliant!

Welcome to Blues Traveler!! Loved this reaction. If y'all want more BT then check out "Run-Around", "Carolina Blues" and "The Mountains Win Again"

@charissakington606

2 жыл бұрын

Yes!!

Asia's new hair is magnificent!!

" It doesn't matter what I say, so long as I sing with inflection ". Thanks, Love it.

Nice Love Blues Traveler! Got to love the harmonica solo. Run-Around is another popular song of theirs..worth checking out

The first time I heard Blues Traveler was 11/1/94 on the Letterman show. I was shocked at John Popper, and his harmonica. The song was “Runaround “. Give it a listen.

I'm sitting here watching Asia working it out because she knows the song is much more than what she's hearing at face value and his awesome voice and their harmonies. This song has a lot to say and it's freaking genius. I'm glad you guys finally did this one.

This was the first real parody of the four chord Pachebelian song… and it was a HUGE hit. Proud of you two for picking up what was being put down. It doesn’t mean that you can’t still groove to it. The hook brings you back to a heartfelt melody, and it ain’t no lie. Tons of pop songs are built on this foundation.

He’s got a cool vibrato; they’re great in concert

@MikeB128

5 ай бұрын

Yes they are. Amazing musicians. The bass player fucking shreds if you listen closely.

Nailed it, BJ. One could not have explained the meaning of the song better. And by the way, it's the singer (John Popper) who is playing the harmonica. And it's written all over Asia's face, this probably just became one of her favorite songs.

Such a great, clever song! They are definitely underrated overall!

Super happy to see Blues Traveler getting some love. They're awesome!

John Popper is amazing. Their live shows are amazing. Great suggestion❤️

The idea behind this song is absolutely brilliant. And true I might add. I was a big fan of this band when their debut album came out. John Popper is to the harmonica what Eddie VH is to the guitar and his vocals are top notch too. Just a fun eclectic group to listen to.

Great song and reaction guys. "Runaround" and "But Anyway" are two more of my favorites by Blues Traveler

@charissakington606

2 жыл бұрын

Agree!

@targhee159

Жыл бұрын

Heard “But Anyway” back in 1991 and became an instant fan. Great tune!

I love Blues traveler!!! I have all of their albums. 👌 I’ve seen them 3 times and they are totally amazing live!!👍 John Popper is sings a mile a minute and then he’s blowing amazement out of his harmonica!!! Crazy amount of energy, creativity and precision!!!👌🎶👍🎼✌️😁

Every time I hear this song I get teary because of it's sheer brilliance. I really appreciated Asia loving it and smiling through the whole thing.

@rogerhuggettjr.7675

5 ай бұрын

Me too

John Popper is an amazing harmonica player with an amazing voice. It's a fun fact the whole song is about how it doesn't really matter what he's singing about because you'll like his voice and his singing. "It doesn't matter what I say, as long as I sing with inflection...".

"This is how you write a song. This is a just a performance. This is how a song works, how music moves you. Come along for the ride, and I'll get paid, because I understand the power of a song's hook." - this song by a crazy skilled and talented musician

Such a cool sound. They were incredibly good in concert.

The new hair looks great Asia. You two rock. Loved this song and had no idea what he was really saying until now. Love it even more.

I've spent so many evenings just before bed watching your reactions to some of my favorite songs! Ya'll add joy and positivity to the world and I just want to say thank you for being here!

Someone hundreds of years ago invented the harmonica just for this man. That's destiny. He killed it

Great respect for Blues Travelers. The lead singer almost died performing because that's how hardcore he is. I think it was more than once that he had to get rushed to the hospital after a concert

The singer is John Popper, hes an amazing blues singer and a fabulous harmonica player, their live shows and videos are also AMAZING....PEACE.

I love the slow realization of the meaning of the song. It's always great...

The brilliance of the song is that the hook is him describing the hook. Dude made a song about how to write a song.

John Popper would wear a vest on stage with 16 or so little pockets down the front full of harmonica’s and whip them out like a Jedi master. His signing voice reflects his playing. Just awesome!

Try and listen to “The Gunfighter”. Some of the greatest lyrics ever written. John Popper is awesome. (Harmonica and Vocals)

John popper is not of this world !! His singing and harmonica playing are EPIC !!!

Another 90's hit. Love that song.

These guys were my first ever concert: HORDE Tour '96. I got to see Blues Traveler, Dave Matthews Band, Rusted Root, and Lenny Kravitz.

That is exactly what he's singing about. He's saying he could sing about anything he wants and the words don't even matter it's the hook that brings you back.

Thank you! Loved the reaction! His voice is amazing.

@unclefido6484

2 жыл бұрын

Great request Kimberly! I'm sure Bobby was smiling down at us!

So happy to find you listening to this band. John Popper is so freaking talented. I was lucky enough to meet him on vacation. He was playing the piano and singing while I sat next to him. Just a fantastic memory. ❤

Popper is probably the most iconic and best harmonica player alive. Nobody plays/played it like he did back in the day. He has a custom microphone stand that has multiple mics on it for different sounds to play through as well as a jacket with multiple different harmonica pockets so he can pull them out at any time depending on the key he needs to play in. He struggled a lot with drugs/alcohol and weight issues at a younger age that caused some problems, but is doing a lot better now and they still make music. This album came out in 1994 IIRC and still remains my favorite album of theirs since I first heard it in 1998.

I met John Popper once. I told him, “I play harmonica too. Not as good as you, but I play.” He said, “It’s like anything in life. Sometimes you suck, and sometimes you blow.” That was the perfect answer coming from him.

One of the best songs ever. This song is brilliant and John Popper is sheer talent

Great band. for the singer to be able to sing and play Harmonica so good and go from one to the other so quickly is just amazing. Love this band

John Popper is A BEAST!!! -- A world class harmonica player (and the lead vocalist of Blues Traveler)

This song is really one of a kind. The group and lead singer were fantastic.

You should listen to Carolina Blues. Another brilliant Blues Traveler song. They really are one of those bands not many people are familiar with but once you hear a song you learn to love it.

I love seeing people experience this as new. Johnson voice and harmonica playing is legit!!

John Pooper is an incredible poet as well as a singer, guitarist and brilliant harmonica player ❤️

The Lead Singer,, John Popper Is Also The One Playing That Mean Nasty Harmonica.

I saw them live..and it was amazing and energetic!! They also did the National Anthem all Harmonica..it was awesome!

Blues Traveler is my favorite band and has been since the 90’s John Popper is the lead singer and played the harmonica like nobodies business.

the lead singer also does the harmonica in his songs. dude was 1 of a kind

EXACTLY Usually when you get a song stuck in your head it’s the hook

Watch him live. John Popper on harmonica is a slice of heaven on Earth.

It was himself playing the harmonica the lead singer, as far as the best harmonica player in the world? it wasToots Thielemans ............ Born: Apr 29, 1922 · Brussels, Belgium Died: Aug 22, 2016 · Brussels, Belgium ............Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans, known professionally as Toots Thielemans, was a Belgian jazz musician. He was known for his harmonica playing, as well as his guitar, whistling skills, and composing. According to jazz historian Ted Gioia, his most important contribution was in "championing the humble harmonica", which Thielemans made into a "legitimate voice in jazz". He eventually became the "preeminent" jazz harmonica player.

Some of the best harp playing ever! 🎶❤️

He’s the best harmonica player I have ever heard!!!!

This song is so good at proving it's point. I must have heard this song a dozen times when it came out and thought it was just a beautiful song before I got its subversive meaning.

It is truly awesome that Blues Traveler is bashing the music industry while making a hit song and most people have no clue what it's about!

Most musicians put on the dig and pony show the industry wants. Sell out for the buck. Not for the passion. I love this f-u to the industry. Brilliant writing!!!!

Blues Traveller is a great, fun band. I always felt like he was kind of making fun of the music industry itself. "Run Around" is one of their radio hits.

@scapito

2 жыл бұрын

Yes, it's definitely a jab at the industry, and so is Runaround (video included).

The lyric video actually got some important words wrong that made the meaning of the song much clearer, so it’s extra impressive that BJ picked up on the meaning.

@747Cone

2 жыл бұрын

Which ones in particular where wrong?

Mr. Popper singing with "Inflection", he is also the Harmonica player, he even went to college for Harmonica.

John Popper literally wears a vest that's kinda like an ammo vest, but it has harmonicas in it instead of clips. This song brings me back to the 90's and my teenage years, and H.O.R.D.E (horizons of rock developing everywhere) fest(s).

Blues Traveler "Run-Around",, "But Anyway" & "The Mountains Win Again"

Asia's face when Popper's harmonica goes off and the last staccato verse: fantastic wonderful realization.

love how she was feelin the solo harmonica!

I was lucky enough to be in the right time and place a few years ago and see these gentlemen live when I was already a fan and seeing John Popper sing and play that harmonica in person is one of the best experiences of my life.

There is alot to unpack. The Hook is applied to love, money, society and so much more referenced in this song. Don't forget about the rest of the band. Popper is so good but his band is also amazing.

I just saw them live in Cancun at Hootiefest 10 days ago!

I got to see these guys way back in the day with The Barenaked ladies. 2 Headliners in 1 show. It was Amazing. These guys put on one hell of a show. If you have never listened to Barenaked ladies... give them a try as well. Very good band and tons of fun!

Captain Hook still bringing me back years later.

Oh yes the hook willl alays bring us back upon that you can rely.... Gods the beauty of seeing another person hearing the wonderful music I grew up with.

For me as a metal fan, the part that gets stuck in my head is the riff.

BJ's evaluation was spot on I felt like he was speaking what I was thinking. Cool af guys thanks.

I like to post a link to this song every election season because it's not just about music in particular, it's about 'cult of personality' in general. The Hook is also very important in story writing - as a matter of fact, it is the keystone that makes story writing work, but in writing, practically every paragraph has to start with its own "hook". That's why some books keep you up all night reading because you can't put them down. And then there are the books that put you to sleep as soon as you crack them open - those writers were more interested in telling the story than they were in you wanting to read it.

The Mountains Win Again is another amazing Blues Traveler song!!!

My buddy and I would jam this song in high school back in the mid 90's. He passed in 99, so when I hear this song it immediately takes me back.

The lead singers name is John Popper and he is the one who is also playing the harmonica one of the best in the world

One of the most clever songs written, so good.

Great request Kim! BJ that was impressive how quick you got it!

@AsiaandBJ

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Cali!! Thanks for watching with us!! Always showing us major love!! ❤️❤️ -Asia

This song played at the end of every single Lifetime Move Network teen angst movie of the 90s ❤️🤣 I know because I watched all of them. 🤣🤣

The music video tells the story about the hook and how it plays into the MK Ultra aspect of entertainment. When you see the video, it opens up the narrative and tells the story. I miss the 90's music scene because of this aspect.

This was the jam in the mid 90's, EPIC!!!!!

Watching her slowly pay more attention tonthe lyrics was so fun.

watching the two of you watch the same video and glean two perspectives is awesome, two of the many things that can b gathered from this song you have already gotten 1. the music industry pushes low I.Q. music 2. John Popper is a vocal GENUS!!!!!!!!!!