This is what happens when you are told you only get 4 minutes to play your song and it's a 7 minute song

@scyphe

3 жыл бұрын

Haha, yeah. I can't listen to the original album version, the insane tempo and energy they put in to squeeze the song into those four minutes, this live version is the only version I listen to. The original sound like it's played at a sleepy half speed. 😉

@jeffking4176

2 жыл бұрын

They about doubled the speed of the original song, and managed pull it off extremely well. 😁

@dominicksforza3484

Жыл бұрын

You called it, this is absolutely insane. I love seeing all these kids doing reactions to this, this blows the studio version away.

@mrmanakin9684

Жыл бұрын

Actually the original is nine and a half minutes

Mia's face was priceless!

Knowing exactly what was coming I was anticipating your reaction to Thijs van Leer's 'vocals' amongst other things, such as Jan Akkerman on guitar - amazingly I *still* remember those names from 40 or so years back!

Hey ladies I was like 14 when that music came out and had the exact same reaction you just had 48 years later !! Speechless 😶

I love seeing people react to this song. Yes, folks some of us lived through a time when this song was played on the radio. The 1970s was a very interesting time for rock music!

As soon as I saw that you were reacting to Hocus Pocus,I had to click on.I knew that it would take you by surprise, in a good way. Believe it or not girls,this was actually a hit song on top 40 radio in 1973.The live version you watched is furiously fast and showcased everyone's talent.For 1973,the guitarist Jan Akkerman was way ahead of his time. It almost seems like you girls need to watch it again, to let it all sink in.You made me smile,and even chuckle, while watching this.

No one is ever ready for their first time hearing this.

@michaelkearney2186

3 жыл бұрын

You’re right about that LOL

@edbaranowski1958

3 жыл бұрын

True

@delord1619

2 жыл бұрын

...and you'll never Ever forget it.;P

In 1973 guitarists did nod shred, but Jan Akkerman was darn close! If I remember correctly, he had classical guitar education. He could also play 10-string lute - quite impressive. One of my all time favourite guitarists. And Thijs van Leer is phenomenal, of course.

@OlausPulaus

3 жыл бұрын

However, speaking of great guitarists, check out band Chicago and Terry Kath. For example this: kzread.info/dash/bejne/aal1t9GzZ83Pnco.html . The drums are not ready assembled at the beginning, so Terry begins to strum a rhythm, and wham!

@bearculb7717

2 жыл бұрын

They were not "shredding" in 73 but people like Glen Campbell, Roy Clark, Jerry Reed and Chet Atkins et al were sweep picking at lightning speeds all while entertaining their audience. Real showmen, Like SRV.

Thx! Great fun reaction! I’ve always felt my life would be less rich without ever having heard this incredible piece of music! Serious fun! And I think that’s the point of this song. Serious musicianship done with fun! -Terry, Canoga Park

Mia at 6:35: "He is yodeling. Through a flute!" lmao

You two ladies are starting to become one of my favorite reaction channels! All because of how likable you two are, but also because you have such a great appreciation of music! Keep up the great work!

One of the BEST Bands ever came from the Netherlands....and you reacted to the fastest Version ever made of this Song,which is about 9 Minutes in the Studio Version.....but that was too long for the Live Show,so they played it tripple fast !.....and not to forget,JAN AKKERMAN on Lead Guitar,a true Legend !

"Focus" play this song super fast on the TV show because they had a time limit. They were Great!!! Luv your Reactions. I am a Old Rocker out here in Colton California. 🎸

The Midnight Special was famous for only giving musical guests a limited time to perform. Most artists would perform a shortened version of their songs or only really short songs, but not these guys - Focus decided to play the song at twice the usual speed to fit the whole song in, so that's why it's so crazy fast. Great song choice, and great reaction you guys!.

@delord1619

2 жыл бұрын

and better still, they had the tallent to pull it off!

Woooo 1st Comment...Great reaction ladies I was born in 73 lol...we enjoy watching you so much!! YEEEE!!🌹🌹

@shawnmichael777.

3 жыл бұрын

Dag, I think Extracaliber might have beat you ) : Hope I'm wrong(lol). I got it during the Boston Reaction. Most likes I ever had(lol). YEE!!!

This performance was different than their radio version. Rather than cut the piece (usually about 6-7 minutes) they played it faster to fit it into the TV air-time alotted them. "He's yodelling ...through a flute" 😆😆😆 Yeeee-uh!!

They literally played that song at double speed to fit the allotted time they were given that night on that show (MIDNIGHT SPECIAL). To get a full appreciation you really should hear the original which is slower and more meticulously played. But the definitely earned every bit of that standing ovation at the end.

note: the song i usually kinda like a 6 or 7 minutes song... the programme said they have to shorten it, they got 4 minutes zo break it off werever you want... they just played it incredibly faster to just play the whole song.... just because they could, and cause they're incredibly talented

This is what happens when a TV show tells a rock band that they only have 4 minutes to do an 8 minute hit song. Gotta love it.

@maksphoto78

2 жыл бұрын

Best comment ever!

The way I heard it was that this was originally an 8 minute song. The host of this show told them that they only had 4 minutes to do it. A challenge these talented and high on cocaine musicians eagerly accepted. The result was pure entertainment.

@mjansen754

3 жыл бұрын

Correct, they wanted them to cut the song, what they refused to do. So they speed up the song so it fits in the 4 minutes they got. On guitar is Jan Ackerman one of the best guitarists in the world.

Gladys Knight was the person who introduced them. This is what happens when you're told you have 4 minutes to do a 7 minute song.

Not only was he playing keyboard, flute, yodeling, but he was doing what is known as Scat Singing. Made popular by jazz singers. It is an improv vocals of sounds of made up nonsensical words. You will notice that they are playing real instruments and no atuotune vocals. Real talent. Unlike today's artists. ✌❤🌹

If I were in the audience I would have kept clapping 👏 until they turned out the lights and told me to leave

That was Gladys Knight who introduced them. She is another great singer.

The guitarist was world class Jan Ackerman. One of the best at his craft ever!

@michelelaraia7358

Жыл бұрын

Jan Akkerman

I love International Monday. There are so many great bands from around the world.....old and new. I enjoy watching the two of you react to all the greats. Isn't this song amazing? The first time I heard this, as a child, I didn't know what to think. It certainly was different from everything being played on the radio. I have never heard a vocal range like that before and I probably never will again. That is talent right there. The looks on your faces....PRICELESS! Your dad did great with this one....thank you. Another fantastic reaction video. Mia, thank you for wearing your Led Zeppelin shirt. I have the same one. We are twins...lol! You did a great job at the end of the video with trying to copy the singer. Two thumbs up for you. 👍👍 Love & Blessings! 😘💗

Focus is the ultimate One-Hit-Wonder.

@erict956

3 жыл бұрын

Nah they also had "Sylvia"

@bikerhighmiler8998

3 жыл бұрын

And had quite a run in Europe..I think the audiences were more progressive and accepting over there.they had other songs that showcased their talents..this song was more of a novelty here..

Never heard this before. At the first yodel, i was like what the heck!! But as it went on it became some kind of awesome. Wicked tune. Loved your reaction as always.

Kinda mind-blowing isn't it? Great reaction again ladies! More prog rock please!

Welcome to the late 60’s/ early 70’s ladies. When musicians had to rely on talent and not auto-tuning. 😂😂🎉🎉🥳

A 7 Minute song on the Album converted into an allocated 4 minutes for prime time TV :)

@anonagain

3 жыл бұрын

You notice they sped up faster on every verse to do it. Pretty amazing - it ended up sounding like fast tempo punk rock, way before its time.

" He's Yodelling through a flute!" made me lol.

@martijn80

3 жыл бұрын

Haha made me laugh

This is sick... The flute voice flute voice is incredible and in my 63 years I've never heard or seen anything like this. They're playing so fast because they had only 4 minutes to play a song that's almost 7 minutes long and they KILLED it. We had incredible music from the 60s and 70's.

Great reaction ladies! The man yodeling (and doing many other things) is a very nice man from Holland named Thjis van Leer. He's still performing live (and yodeling) to this day! The guitarist is Jan Akkerman, who is also very active. Jan Akkerman was voted greatest guitar player in the world by Melody Maker Magazine in 1973, the year of this video.

I played this when I was on a road trip with my niece. Her son listen to this song and really got a kick out of it. My niece told me that he kept playing this over and over again when he got home. He was obsessed with this song.

@mickeyhank

3 жыл бұрын

I like that story, thanks for sharing it.

Mia, your look of disbelief and your sister's look of astonishment almost had me falling on the floor with laughter! Looks like you enjoyed it though!

bands like this will never be seen again..now its all factory produced pop and pretty faces....these musicians have real talent

There is a story behind this television version of this song. The original version of "Hokus Pokus" was played by Focus in half speed. To perform the song at "Midnight Special" they only were allowed to do it in about 4 minutes because the producer of the show gave only 4 minutes time to each artist to perform his song. So it is highly impressive how this band performed their song live compressed to 4 minutes! Listen the original: kzread.info/dash/bejne/f4pkqMGRmbWaaLQ.html

@danasfaith5738

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Harry for providing the link! : )

@pickersparadise

10 ай бұрын

I know, that is so mind bending

@pickersparadise

10 ай бұрын

i was 14 watching this show every week religiously !!!

I am so sorry that you girls missed out on The Midnight Special. Decades before there was internet, The Midnight Special was where you saw the greatest bands, rock, disco and R&B. Where I grew up, The Midnight Special came on Saturday nights at 10:30. After SNL premiered, it actually came on at Midnight.

@bearculb7717

2 жыл бұрын

Don Kirshner had good bands late night.

I’m out on this one I’d have to listen to the suggested 7 minutes version as usual your reactions and breakdown are great as I write this I’ve just been blessed truly a moment to keep forever Mia yodelling at the end was priceless 😂😂😂😂😂😂 it’s got to go on your reactions moments it’s gold thanks again Mia thanks again Juliet for all the fun and laughter you bring

Couldn't click fast enough to see you react to this.

@PadreJud

3 жыл бұрын

Exactly.

@timbillings6884

3 жыл бұрын

Yup

That was TOTALLY AWSOME Girls!!! I heard that song a long time ago, but never knew who performed it. You girls find the greatest songs. After all these years, I finally know now who sang that song. Awsome Girls. You are THE BEST⚘⚘❤❤

Grrrr... I hate my age BUT when the had what was called Album Rock Radio OR progressive rock radio this track was on Heavy Rotation in 1973 / Locally for Me 955 PLJ & 1027 New in NYC.... As a 6th grader going into 7th.... all my friends were yodeling.... LOL PLUS the entire album Moving Waves was like New Age/Classical..... Hocus Pocus was the rocker part..... I think they were Dutch.... Wow where did you find that relic?? Great Track PK NYC

In 1973 Akkerman was voted Best Guitarist in the World by readers of the UK magazine Melody Maker.

@jorritwaleveld55

3 жыл бұрын

He also played with great guitarists for example B.B King

Your Dad HAS to have you guys react to "Magicians Birthday" by Uriah Heep on International Monday...some of the best guitar ever!! YEEEE!!🌹🌹

Great reaction gals. I was hoping that you would get around to this song. Keep on smiling.

The point of this song is to HAVE FUN. That's all it is, and of course the unbeleivable talent, including the incomarable Ackerman on Guitar.

The audio version of this song is even more amazing. And 3 minutes longer of course played at normal speed.

This was one of the few performances on The Midnight Special that received a standing ovation.

This show was several years running at this time and was the first and 1 of few standing ovations.

What a great band Focus were. I saw them several times in the 1970s.

One of the funniest reactions ever!! That guitarist was awesome!!! Great stuff!! YEE!!!

Ain't it a gas! Your reaction was similar to my friend's and my reaction when we saw this on The Midnight Special! Great music all around. Love those mini drum solos best!

This video is good and funny but one of these days you need to listen to the studio version of that song, a real gem.

Try Edgar Winters "Frankenstein"

@sandurfen5498

3 жыл бұрын

I been suggesting this song a long time ago and then frankestein by edgar winter..i hope they get this message and listen to edgar winter doing that máster piece

@voysuelto

3 жыл бұрын

Let,s not pressure them😂😂

@voysuelto

3 жыл бұрын

Try fire of Arthur Brown

@timbillings6884

3 жыл бұрын

YES!!!! ⏲️

@sswcustomsewing4276

3 жыл бұрын

@@voysuelto I was actually going to suggest that song. Plus Arthur would absolutely love it.

1969 Rock N Roll at its Best 🎼🎼🎼Master Musicians

The guitarist was Jan Ackerman, who, at the time, was widely regarded as one of the, if not the, best guitarists in the world. The rest of the band were also world-class musicians. You might notice they also slipped a bit of classical/baroque music into the organ sequences. The studio version of this song was almost 7 minutes long, but the show only gave them 4 minutes. Most bands just cut their songs short. Focus opted to play it twice as fast, just because they could.

@michaelbrandt5416

27 күн бұрын

Wish they recorded the faster version. Better than the slow original one.

Early 70s music was so good. Experimental complex and still fun. There are so many great prog bands from back then that were as good as good can be.

Never clicked on a video so fast. Great reaction girls: your faces were a study.... :-)

That was so good! LOL!. it was so cool and fun to watch your faces. Hey, I had the same reaction when I first heard that. I liked all of your comments, they were very insightful ones. They became one of my favorite groups in my teenage years. I have all of their albums and over 10 albums of the guitarist, Jan Akkerman. The guy playing the keyboards, flute, whistle and yodel is named Thijs Van Leer. Thanks for that reaction girls!

Each person in Focus is a superlative artist. There are two aspects of this song. First is that each musician gets his part to play in the song. Yes, some more than others, but we hear the drums, the lead guitar, the bass, the organ, the flute, the vocals, the whistle even. We hear them distinctly. Second is that the musicians and the audience are all having so much fun. And that is so important and what all music should be about both for the musicians creating it and the audience listening to it. Bravo Focus. Genius performance.

It's awesome that the kids love it! There is hope. There's more music to discover than Justin Bieber and Tones and I.

As a Dutchman and a big fan of Focus, this is a very proud moment. Thanks for featuring this band and this song, and thanks for recognizing the talent of the band. You should really listen to Focus’ entire albums. 👍🧡

"He's yodeling through a flute! 🤣🤣🤣

Jan the Man Akkerman on guitar...shredding it before it was invented....

@FAF4567

2 жыл бұрын

Jan Akkerman = genius.

LOL!!! Great reaction!!! This has always been my "Fun Song". Always remember, music is universal and doesn't have to be snooty.

"He could easily win a talentshow" is an understatement to a band that had a great influence on bands like yes and deep purple.

@meintdussel1240

Жыл бұрын

Jan Akkerman (Amsterdam, 24 december 1946) is een Nederlands gitarist en luitist. Hij vormde in de jaren zeventig samen met Thijs van Leer de kern van de Nederlandse progressieve rockgroep Focus en werd in 1973 door lezers van het Engelse muziektijdschrift Melody Maker uitgeroepen tot beste gitarist ter wereld.

This was originally played at a slower pace, but they didn't have much time on tv, so they played it much faster. There are two singles versions of this song, they made a different version for America.

They had to speed up the performance to like twice the tempo to fit into the time-slot of the program and they just said "okay, you get what you ask for". Still pulled it off!

Yet again a great reaction video from Da Gurls ;) First time I heard this son back in the 70´s I had the same reaction as you. I mean it´s fantastic to have the same reaction in spite of time.

Another great reaction...I have always loved this tune since I 1st heard it on the radio many years ago I see this is taken from the old TV show The Midinght Special...another great video from that show is KISS Black Diamond Live promo 1975...I guarantee you will love it! :)

Hi Girls, this was and is a crazy song. It's usually almost 7 minutes long but because they had to speed it up for Midnight Special TV spot the only had, I think, 2 minutes to perform

The radio version is a touch cleaner, and there's more yodeling and it's beautiful, and just rocks. It's totally something other than else man.

I love seeing young people hear some of the wild and crazy stuff I grew up on. I was 14 or 15 when this song came out. It got tons of air play on the radio back then.

This is an 8 minute song. They were told to edit their performance to fit the alotted time. They said no, and decided to play the entire song at double speed.

My dad was a huge fan of Focus back in the seventies, so when I grew up in the eighties this is what I was weaned on. I played the vinyl record of Focus II (the album containing this song) over and over again in my parent's basement, and I never got tired of it. Jan Akkerman is probably one of the greatest guitarists that has ever lived, and you owe it to yourselves to listen to Hocus Pocus as well as Sylvia, another tune of theirs, in the studio version. It's just... Something else!

@timfarrell6968

2 жыл бұрын

Sylvia is such a great groove

These girls are so cute, and had really good comments. When the guitars started to play and then the drums kicked in , I thought to myself, if only someone in the band could yodel! And I was not disappointed.

Hello beautiful girls.Here a little bit of musici history. Jan Akkerman (guitar) and Pierre van der Linden(drums) they played before Focus in the band Brainbox. Brainbox also a rock, progrock, bluesrock and fusion formed in 1969 in Amsterdam. They still performing. Love you all, and keep on going. Greetings and much love Leon.

This song origianallasted for about 7 minutes, but this show only gave them a 4 minutes slot. So they spead it up almost double time to still play the whole song. The guitarist Jan Akkerman was consered the best in the world bach then. The song came to life at a demo session in a castle, Jan Akkerman played riff and the rest added a piece, it was ready done and dusted right then, it was recorded later and became big international hit. Many famous bands have covered this masterpiece. Thijs van Leer was a classical schooled flutist and a true multitallent, btw we genarally seem think yodeling comes from the european Alp mountain regions but it originates from Inda.

@written12

Жыл бұрын

From India, huh? Yodeling, that is.

"I'm speechless." "Me too." 🤣🤣🤣 🤘

LOVED Your reaction! !BIG THUMBS UP from Holland 👍😆 ""Jodeling through a flute 😨"""" 😂😂😂😂😉

That's the first time I seen you guys speechless sense Stairway to Heaven

"It aint much if it aint Dutch" A big thanks from Amsterdam. Nice to see Jan Akkerman on guitar, probably the best we ever had. That is, if you don't count in Eddie Van Halen who was also born here. For most likely the greatest Dutch rock song - and easily one of the best songs to play during nightly Highway journeys - try Radar Love from Golden Earring. Also a band that started in the 60s and came into prominence in the early 70s and even scored top 10 hits in the States. Do it for guitarist George Kooymans who last month was diagnozed with ALS, forcing the band to quit after 56 years. Keep it rocking ladies.

@seorsamaclately4294

3 жыл бұрын

Radar Love, good choice. Greetings from Germany and stay safe.

Yes the 60's and 70's perfect time to experiment and create new styles. Yes ladies full of talent🤣🤣great reaction

Amazing band, that is talent right there.

Great Reaction and I have Subscribed. :) Originally a 7 minute song but only allotted 4 minutes so had to play at almost double speed :)

@danasfaith5738

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you and welcome to our channel

What a great reaction! I’m so glad you liked this piece :)

In my opinion, there isn't enough yodeling in today's music! Great Channel girls!

Even among all the amazing bands of the 70's, Focus was a few giant steps ahead. My high school friends and I were the guys who were really into music, far beyond what was popular at the time. Focus was one of the bands blasting out of our cars' 8-track players while all the other kids in the parking lot were cranking Skynyrd and Nugent. There's lot more great Focus music out there, and unlike most of the bands from that time, they're still together and still on the road (unless there's a pandemic or something). This video clip is famous because 'The Midnight Special' only gave them four minutes to play their seven-minute hit, thinking they'd just cut some of it out. Focus just played the whole song nearly twice as fast, and MADE it fit into four minutes. This was the only performance in the history of 'Midnight Special' to get a standing ovation from the audience, and it was darn well worth it. My only problem with it is that you hardly see any of Jan Akkerman's guitar work - he was one of the best Unrecognized Guitar Heroes ever.

Girls. A great mexican musician just died this weekend! Sax from Maldita Vecindad! Please honor him reacting to Kumbala !! Great song!! We love you!!

It’s so nice to see young people react to this crazy talented band, which by the way, are still touring! (50th year anniversary tour). They are STILL incredible! Thank you ladiez!

Great reaction girls. I'm Dutch and old enough to live this era. So when you tell the Dutch to cut up your song from 7 minutes to 3,5 the Dutch don't cut but just go double speed. And yes, they all are extremely talented musicians.

This is one of those goofy songs we used to listen to on the radio when it came on. It rocked so we always listened to it all the way through. Great reaction guys!

they were told to limit the song to 4 minutes (it's about 8minutes normally) they said heck no , we'll just up the speed..

I was waiting this reaction for a long time ago. Focus is amazing. It's been a long time without watching your videos, girls. You're great, as usual. Keep rockin.

@danasfaith5738

3 жыл бұрын

Hey! welcome back Hold my beer! We had not seen you in a while! We hope all is well! : )

Hi ladies. As for a reaction, your faces say it all. For me, personally, the comment of the day goes for Mia: "He's playing flute and yodelling at the same time?" I am discovering a lot of "new" bands and songs through your channel, and that makes me happy. Keep up the good work. Kind regards and stay safe. 👏😁

I honestly did not think you would get it, but you did. Kudos.

Funny thing is that the original song is way slower, but the only got a limited time to perform it so they just played it way faster .......

Hats off to you two lovely young ladies. You're knowledge AND appreciation is

I always knew that childrens would love it ..