Long live the great Thijs Van Leer, still yodelling after all these years, and thrilled to see the original drummer Pierre Van Der Linden in fine form. When he departed he left almost as big a hole as Jan Akkerman. One of the great progressive bands of the 70s, well worth exploring beyond this celebrated showstopper. Thanks for sharing, Heline. For premium Thijs jazz flute, try Anonymous II from the double album Focus III.

You don't hear a flute and electric guitar duet part too often. :) Only two of the original band left, but still rockin'!

A BRILLIANT song

Best thing ever to come out of the Netherlands. I'll never forget the first time I heard Hocus Pocus ... in a record shop in Reading ... late 1971 ... bought the album (Moving Waves) immediately and still have it today.

Großartig. Und wieviel Spaß Du beim Zuhören hattest, da konnte man die Freude spüren. 😄

The person playing the flute is Thijs van Leer, he has done at least 3 albums of classical pieces look out for a track entitled "Pavane" I think it was on his 1st Introspection album

Heline… great reaction video as always. Also… you have the best smile!

I used to be a regular viewer, but haven't seen you in about 3 years. You look fantastic Heline! You are such an honest person, beautiful smile, talented and lovely in every way. So did you learn microcontrollers? Your microphone sounds great. I hope you are healthy and happy and thanks for all that you do!

Must hear the studio version or older recording.Fantastic song🤘

I love your reaction videos. Focus is always a great group. You are a amazing flute player. Your outfit is very beautiful Heline

@simonwatson5299

29 күн бұрын

She has a beautiful smile too. She's just gorgeous.

i still have their album from the early 70s. i play this tune but it drives my dogs nuts.

They did an excellent version of this on the Old Grey Whistle Test back in about 1973 which is available on KZread

I'll be seeing them July 31 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, opening for Asia, with Martin Turner's Wishbone Ash and Curved Air. that's as far west as the tour goes. We're flying in from the Bay Area.Haven't seen Focus since 73.

Yo di lay de yo di lay de yo bum pum...😄 I agree, more

@michaelfrank2266

Ай бұрын

Keith, I was curious and hit translate to see what kind of gibberish there was. It says "You're the one who's the one who's the bum pum.." Cool that it says something and is spot on too. : D

They played at Brudenell Social Club in Leeds Yorkshire. I was booked to go but ended up in Hospital. I pray they will come again. I was gutted.😢😢

You should look at some other Focus albums, The rest of the Hocus pocus song's album Moving Waves and Focus III are very good. The Hamburger concerto is also very good.

Heline, I looked about to see if there was something better. They never play the song exactly the same as found on the studio yet all of them (including this one) have the same basic elements when done live. I paid attention this time and finally saw the roof over the band. :D

Great video. Always a pleasure listening to that song.

Having been a fan of the band for nearly 50 years (wow) I am delighted that I will be seeing them live in my home town later this year. Flautist/organist/vocalist Thijs van Leer also has a catalogue of solo albums, some classical. When he was temporarily unable to play his flute a few years ago I believe he substituted a melodica. Focus albums Moving Waves and Hamburger Concerto are super, as is their live album "at the Rainbow" - recommended.

@Elias_Veine_Wiig

27 күн бұрын

Yes, correct! In 2003, Thijs had Bell’s Palsy disease, which is a paralysis of half the face. At that time, Thijs used melodica. It lasted entire 2003; january-december, early january 2004 as well.

Awesome! Love your reaction cute lady.

I bumped into Focus once in an hotel in Southampton. It was great to speak a few eords with fellow Dutchman Thijs van Leer. I was so not expecting that.

Marillion made an epic version a couple of years ago. Worth to check it out.

@angharaddenby3389

29 күн бұрын

So did Iron Maiden.

Heline: That is a great venue. If you haven't seen videos from Red Rocks (near Denver Colorado) it also looks like an amazing place. Red Rocks was a Works Projects Administration (WPA) project during the great depression. The video for U2's "Live at Red Rocks" should be a fair representation. (Rain included).

This was great , bud ………..well……..you know………..50 year’s a go 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩💖

I,ve seen them only once in the 90's. So good. ❤🤘

Hey Heline, I just met Michael Mills in person. Pls look out for his song whoa on yt. (I can send the link, if you want me to.) Only 1 min55. And soo funny! Plyaing g, bg, keys and dr. Having a 4 octave voice. Toehider is the "band", you wanna look out for. It's basically him. No flutes involved. So you maybe don't wanna make it a reaction. But pls take a look. He is simply amazing! Greetings from the far north of Germany! His song "how much for that dragon's tooth?" might also be helpful to find him.

I miss Jan. This guitarist Menno is very good but he is not Jan Akkerman. 🙋‍♂😉

Great later version. the original guitarist Jan Akkerman was so under rated and sadly left them and good to see the Thijs van Leer on keyboards and flute and yodelling

That was fun 😁

Heehee! Yep, you definitely need to fear the original album version, it has more flute playing and more "verses"! Loved seeing these guys still pushing this piece of craziness out though!!!!!! 🤪😁

This is the second live performance video I've seen of this song. Neither holds a candle to the original (full length) studio version. One video was performed at double normel tempo to fit a shortened TV time slot. (It was a wild time but not particularly good!) In this one the front man/lead singer couldn't maintain a steady tempo and seemed to have lost his voice in his former high range and didn't even attempt those parts. You needn't do a reaction video of it, but do check it out that studio recording . . it's a high-energy hoot!

Cool band

🤩👍💥💯🎼 Proge - Rokkia, kuus; seitkyt - luvun taitteesta lähtien puhtaimmillaan... 🤘😎💙🎶 ...Many might have already suggested you to check out the "infamous" TV live version from the Midnight Special ´73... A Version Well Worth to Watch(&Hear)

😸👍

🤘🧙‍♂🤘

Look for a video called "Rachel Flowers with Thijs van Leer - Flute Battle - CTTE 2019"

@donaldpetersen3513

21 күн бұрын

@henrymach - Thanks for the tip. I've watched many of Rachel Flower's videos but have not seen her play with Thijs van Leer. :)

Thijs can still pull it off at 76. Menno is a pretty good sub for Jan, though Jan is a legend

You are gorgeous. I wish i were a yonger man. Hey Ho thats the way it goes. Take care. John.

Amazing that they're still rockin, but you don't get the energy they had back in the mid 70's. Seems like it's running 3/4 speed, the high vocals aren't there... Hey, I can't do what could in my 20's either :D

@MikeBarnett1776

Ай бұрын

This is pretty close to the original speed - many have seen the incredibly fast version they did on The Midnight Special, and think that's how it was always done.

@Patryn71

29 күн бұрын

@@MikeBarnett1776 Agreed. This is much more true to the original.

You are so beautiful 🥰

Well, Thijs sound a bit out of air, and it's not Akkerman on guitar, but it sounds great anyway. One of the lovely things about this piece is that there seem to be no performances that are even close to being the same, although it is obviously the same song at the core.

I was a massive fan of Focus in the 1970s but every time I see a "modern" performance it make me quite sad. This band seems to be more of a parody of the early line-ups. They used to craft the tunes and performances so carefully - now it seems it's "all in" with no subtlety

Focus without Jan Akkerman on guitar! That's just wrong.

Why ? This seems to be the most popular song to review right now. Copy trend.

The original is a zillion times better