Blind Guardian - The Bard Song and Valhalla 2.0 

If you pass Wacken grounds and if you listen carefully, you can still here them singing

Metalheads are in my opinion the most open minded listeners. I listen to metal (mostly power, melodic death, symphonic etc) my whole life, but I have in my phone Dimash, Mozart or even Eminem... honestly I don't know many people listening to radio music or rap etc to have this diversity. btw... another great reaction as always, sorry I can't listen/watch every single one from you. maybe you could try Demons And Wizards - Diabolic (this guy singing with Iced Earth music, you can see his vocals truly there)

Hansi will always be among best metal singers of all time. Hands down. And that crowd gives me chills.

What you say: "He looks like a Dad". Funny Part: He IS a DAD with a Boy. Greetings fron Krefeld (Blind Guardians Hometown) His Nickname in our Neighborhood ist "Teacher". while he looks like a Teacher

I love power metal as a whole , BG are one of them

I'd love to see a reaction video of BG back in the Nightfall or earlier days when Hansi was still playing bass while fronting the band. Can we get a reaction video of Born in a Mourning Hall??

If you like interaction with the audience you should try out Sabaton - I livstid i krig live in Gothenburg. It´s a ballad aswell and gives me chills everytime!

The Bard's Song is more than a mere song or melody; It's a Power Metal hymn.

"He looks like a dad" I mean, he is. He's been doing this for like, 40 years. These guys are the Grandfathers of metal (but especially Power Metal)

In 2015 when they played in in NYC they didn't have time to play Valhalla, so as the stage was being cleared the audience began to sing it. Every single word, even as security kept inching us closer and closer to the door, the audience sang.

Hansi is such a great singer, but honestly, this video doesn't highlight that at all. There are so many songs that are more interesting and showcase his voice better than valhalla. The energy in this performance is insane, though, no argument there

The "ethos" is the community. The "ethos" is a feeling of brotherhood, connection. We may squabble, like brothers, about which subgenre of metal is "best" - but as brothers we tend to lookout for one another and support each other in enjoying metal as a whole. Those huge festivals full of rugged "scary" long haired, beardy tattoed types are the safest mass event venues I've ever been at. For a better idea of the incredible range and abilities of Mr. Hansi Kursch, please take a look at Demons & Wizards "Heaven Denies" or basically anything off Blind Guardian's "Nightfall In Middle-Earth". My favourite off that one is "Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill)". It's all Tolkien inspired, mostly Silmarillion.

In my experience, the metal audience is the most relaxed of all. Yes, there are walls of death, pogo-pits/mosh-pits, yes they scream and drink beer, but there is no aggression. They come for the music, atmosphere and beer. There will always be exceptions, but I have been to many concerts, a lot of them on my own 'cause most of my friends don't like metal, and have never encountered trouble, aggression or harassment. If somebody falls down, twenty hands to help him/her up, pat on the shoulder and move on. I wish the audiences of all genres were like them.

when your fanbase is so devoted they pay to sing your songs at you :D

"It's hard to review a singer when he lets the audience sing the entire song" THAT JUST MEANS MORE BLIND GUARDIAN RECTIONS! WOOOOOOO!

"He looks like a dad", yep, that's Hansi

"The extended version" Actually the crowd kept singing, and they never really stopped, there is a longer version of valhalla alone where they just keep going and going.. If you want to get more gose bumps like this. Listen to "Sabaton - En livstid i krig live at Gothenburg" (a life time of war but with the swedish lyrics), there is a cc to english in the video it self. I cry for two reasons when I watch and listen to it.

Metal is like whiskey. Some prefer it neat, but you can also find folks who are willing to mix it with just about anything.

My grandma (and I'm 45...) always asks me and my kids to sing "The Bard's Song" at the Christmas table...

I was at that concert, it was awesome. After the show we kept standing there and singing the Valhalla-part for 15 minutes, until the next band started playing.

As a citizen of Krefeld i had the chance to experience the Bards Song on a concert with round about 40 People in Krefeld. It was such an amazing experience. I was like 3 meters away from the Band all of the people just singing their lungs out. It was one of the most beautiful concerts i have ever been to.

Sitting here at home, crying my eyes out because I miss live-music.

I love what you notice about metal... basically it's not about being dressed like Darth Vader and steal candies from kids. It's about the music, the stories in the songs and behind them, a way to escape in your worst times and how you can feel close with someone else that you know that he/she likes metal, even if you don't know him/her. The best way to know what I'm talking about is being in a metal concert or festival. A little recommendation for everyone, not just Ken: If you enjoy watching crowds going insane and being EXTREMELY passionate you should check "Best Crowd Ever - El mejor público del mundo". Maybe then you will come here and thanks me :)

Blind Guardian is the literal bard of "epic stories".

If you ever do more Blind Guardian, please consider checking out “Mirror Mirror“ from their Imaginations Through the Looking Glass concert. Amazing version of an amazing song, and Hansi shows off some more of his range. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-bYdd4fMtW_A.html

The Bard's Song is an event in itself during Blind Guardian's live shows. If they'd ever dare not to sing it... :P It's basically the crowd's song where every single one sings along. It's very cool.

Ken, metal has a progressive ethos. It was created to push the boundaries, not only of the socially acceptable but above all of what is musically possible.

Love The Bard's Song. He never has to sing it himself here in Germany. Some time ago I translated the German parts for someone, in case you wanna know what he said: At the beginning: "Wacken, we'll be happy to take this with us. I would also like to let you scream longer, unfortunately we have little time left. We want to spend that with music, of course. I think most of you will know what's next. Has been legendary here time and time again. I have a feeling you will top this today." Between the songs, after the YOU ARE FUCKING CRAZY: "Wacken, I hardly dare to say: YOUR ARE EVEN HOTTER/COOLER THAN USUAL! We had a great time up here, we always enjoyed coming to Wacken. At some point it's time to move on. The time has come now. I'll see you somewhere." LET'S GET CRAZY FOR A LAST TIME! ... At the end of Valhalla, before the crowd takes over: "Looks great, sounds great. I think Magnus (Marcus - the guitarist) has worked enough, we can now bring Frederik (the drummer) into play. For that, YOU SHOULD SING A LITTLE LOUDER!" - worked like a charm 😁 And during the singing of the crowd he screams: some word I don’t understand, no matter how hard I try 🤔.. "give me everything" .. "mega" .. "the last three" .. again something I can’t hear properly .. "sing/knock us off the stage"

Outside of classical music, metal is where you will find real music. Played with real instruments, sung with real voices. Real musicians.

Can I just put in a praise for you Ken, and 99% of all other Vocal coaches on youtube? Thank you for allowing us metal fans to come to someone that does not ridicule or deride our genre that we so dearly love. In real life we often have to keep it to ourselves depending on who we're with, not wanting to hear the dismissive responses or experiencing the weird looks that we get (not because it makes us feel bad about ourselves, but because it's simply annoying). You can appreciate the techniques, rhythms and melodies, and it feels just *great* to see someone not intimate with the genre smiling at the vocals and instruments.

"He looks like a dad!" no shit, he has been doing this for 30 years! xD Also I got chills when I hear THAT MANY PEOPLE singing one of the songs that I adore from a cherished Metal band

Metal is passion. If lyrics don`t make you feel anything or you`re not passionate about the music then all the dark cloths and stuff is just fashion.

Hansi was also one of the singers of Ayreon: The day that the world breaks down!

And now he needs to check out the god of metal himself Ronnie James Dio. Good introductory songs for him are Heaven and Hell by Black Sabbath, Stargazer by Rainbow or Holy Diver by Dio. He's probably one of the best metal vocalists that ever lived.

You ask about Metal's ethos: Metal is modern romantic music. A pre-postmodern ideal of beauty and strength + an embrace of death and painful elements like dance macabre / paradise lost. Good Metal from Blind Guardian to Burzum can be explained through this idea.

Hansi is a seasoned vocalist who sings in many different genres. Blind Guardian concerts are some of the best I've ever been to 🤟🤟🤟

In my thoughts and in my dream, they're always in my mind. These thoughts of Hobbits, Dwarves and Men, and Elves just close your eyes. You can see them too. I can't not cry listening to this song.

We've done it. He's a metalhead now.

to describe the ethos of metal: yes its more than big bears, tattoos, moshpits, alchohol and skull themes. the fact that Metal became mainstream, and then vanished off of mainstream ( to be honest, for quite some time ago), and still to this day is big, strong, vibrant and alive, speaks to its capability to survive. Metal music toches on some very hard and often difficult topics, that other music genres wouldnt touch with a ten foot pole. Metal music is pure energy in its rawest form. and I would argue that the genre as a whole, attracts a certain type of person. if you go to a different type of festival / concert, country, pop or take your pic, people are most likely to be there to get drunk. where as at a metal festival / concert people are the mainly for the music. Metal doesnt need mainstream backup to stay strong and healty. we the community do that on our own, wich also speaks to the whole "F*** the world", mentality often found within metal. the world might be screwed, but at least we have eachother. the metal community is one of the friendliest to get into, believe it or not. its like an international huge family, more like a sister / brotherhood, stronger than flesh and blood. Metal is not just the music, its a lifestyle. so to sum it all down into one ethos: friendly, strong, worldwide, brotherhood, intellectuals, and best part, we're all united. I have my deepest conversations with other metalheads, if im beeing honest. metalheads arent afraid of having those. flesh and blood makes you related, but the Metal chain is forever.

To me metal is the musically encapsulated dichotomy of struggling in this chaotic world as an imperfect human while holding a poetic idealistic vision of what we could be and the struggle when trying/failing to reach it. The human experience of being an imperfect being trying for perfection.

i HIGHLY suggest watching Demons and Wizards( super group of blind guardian and iced earth) playing Fiddler on the Green at Wacken if you want a REAL taste of hansi. while these are 2 great songs, they dont truly showcase how talented hansi really is

One of my best concert memories was to stand in that crowd singing along with the others and feeling that fantastic atmosphere. That says a lot considering that this type of metal is not usually my favorite (tend to favor black/death/thrash metal). Still gives me goosebumps to listen and think back at that experience. :)

The Bard Song is like.. the Anthem to all Blind Guardian fans. It's the one song they perform at every concert and it's the one song that seems to unify the entire stadium. Blind Guardian has been my favorite band since I was young, and I finally got to see them live a few years ago.. and I was part of one of these crowds. (In America of course) and it's such an amazing experience to be a part of.. and seeing Hansi smile as we all sing for him. I'll never forget it. ♥️ If you do want to listen to the Bard Song (non-live) and without the crowd, I recommend this one: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-n63UbX5kzAc.html

Back in time, before the Internet, I often wondered if Blind Guardian had in fact two singers. So yes, the shifts in tone did not go unnoticed.

Ayreon - The Day That the World Breaks Down. It's a must for you. So many singers and different voices to react to. 😊

I always get the chills when the fans are getting into the song like in this performance and ..... I had a laught seeing you enjoying it too 👍.. If you want more Hansi Kürsch (Blind Guardian) along with 10 other singers in just one song, then I hope you can find the time to react to this TOP LINEUP OF MANY MUSICAL INTRUMENTS/SINGERS: The Source is the 9th studio album from *AYREON* , a progressive metal/rock opera project by Dutch musician Arjen (Ahr-Yun) Anthony Lucassen, released on April 28, 2017. *_The Day That The World Breaks Down_* is a song that features all 11 (quite well known) main guest singers (you’ll be surprised) and is taken from that album. Arjen himself is telling (in subtitles) who the singers are and which instruments are used and by which standards. Btw. This creative original clip is 13 min. long and I think you won’t regret it !! Official (Arjen’s) clip: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-oFuMKdrzPqU.html

They've got a song called Lord of the Rings where the crowd sings canon at one point. I shit you not. It's the greatest thing being in that crowd.

When Hansi ist talking in the beginning he said somethin like " We take "Wacken" if we can.We would love to let you scream a bit longer, but we dont have time for that. We want to use this time for music. I think most of you know what comes next. It was legendary here sometimes befor, and i think you will put a crown to this one , lets sing the Bard Song in the forest" Im sorry english isn't my first language, but i think you get it :)

The people of Wacken Village are awesome themself. Every year they put their heart & soul in it , to make their Guests wellcome!

Helloween...please..... Pumpkin united.!!!

I love the diversity of music you react to on this channel. I've found a lot of new artists to listen to here, been a fan of yours for a month or so now. Love your videos and can't wait to see what you put up next

As a vocal coach & a musician I have two bands I'd really love for you to check out, & they're completely different. Cradle of Filth - Red Roses for the Devil's Whore because it shows how much range Dani Filth has in his vocals & the talent of the band. The other band is X-Japan - pretty much any song really, but Kurenai is a favorite because if the sheer talent of the band & the intensity of the how they play. Please check out these songs, I don't think you'll be dis-pleased.

Someone said that Hansi looks like a window salesman, or an insurance seller. 😁 The ethos is the community, it's us against the world. In that crowd you have everything from fans of 80's hairbands to fans of the darkest death metal, and more. But we're one.

Watch this band do Nightfall live. Better showcase of Hansi imo

Behind every metal head is a guy or gal who at least at some point played dungeons and dragons. Bards and lutes are metal heads secret love

you desperately need to listen to "The Fiddler on the Green" by Demons & Wizards. vocalist is the same as here, but the guitarist is from Iced Earth, and it's a bit darker themed.

Wacken Open Air itself is a complete different experience then anything you can imagine. Imagine the village of Wacken grow in 1-2 days from 2000 to 80.000 people which coming to go for the Open Air concert. And the very first concert each year is given by the the Wacken Firefighters which is basically a German traditional orchestra. Which means, you got like thousands of Metallheads in front of an orchestra and those guys going nuts on that performance. The local supermarket switches from normal grocery store to a Festival store where you can only basic necessity and they earn in 3 days 2 times the amount of what they would earn in 1 year. Even the entire village is kind of integrated into the whole thing. Local kids earn money by transport grocery from the supermarket to the festival ground. Or renting out rooms etc...

Damn, it must be so unbelievably great to stand there in the crowd and sing The Bard's Song with all of them together! Definitely a biiiiig task on my bucket list!

As a little bit of context, The Bard's Song is like the Blind Guardian National Anthem, that's why the audience is so into it.

Blind Guardian are almost permanent residents at Wacken. They have been there in 1992 (as on of the first big bands playing there), 1998, 2002, 2007, 2011, 2016, yes and the digital version of 2020. And it is great to see their progress from speed metal to power metal. The Lord of the Rings and other fantasy novels are one of their main subjects. They even performed in the soundtrack of the videogame to The Dwarves novel: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-F5X7MXfLxEg.html There you can see the full capability of Hansi's singing.

Try listen to the "valhalla" cover of "Heaven shall burn". It is a german metalcore band. But in the album version Hansi (the leadsinger) is actually a guest singer supporting the deep crowls/screams of HSB's singer. That version is neither better than worse the original, but a great example how different even metal can sound.

You should react to Heilung. Krigsgaldr live, In Maidjan live, or Norupo are good places to start

You should have listened to Demons and Wizard, Fiddler on the Green. Epic song!

7:13 André Olbrich: Lead Guitar, Marcus Siepen: Rhythm Guitar Frederik Ehmke: Drums Hans Kürsch: Vocals & Audiance....

Hansi's instrument is the crowd.

I got Into Metal, because it was easy for me to Connect to it. because of Depressions and shit. And I can't speak for all, but many people listen to it because it represents strength in a cruel world.

I see it! They didnt show the best part of valhalla. We always start singing it again and again even when the band is already gone.. 15 to 20 minutes

u need to know, that theres no end in Valhalla, BG goes off stage, but the crowd sings multiple hours ;)

Can you please react to Rammstein „Deutschland“ the Official Video, it is incredibly well made and shows many parts of the german history and to their live performance of „Du Hast“ in Paris as well as the live performance of „Mein Teil“ in my opinion these are their best live performances

This is basically the national hymn for heavy metal fans 😊

What a genuine and pleasant reaction video! Even though I've now seen this Wacken video countless times, I laughed with you and shed tears almost as if I was listening to it for the very first time. Your overwhelming experience just jumped over to me. As a Blind Guardian listener and fan (I must have sung along this band's songs a lot as a teenager in the 90s), I appreciate all reactions to this video which has a very special place in my heart. Your reaction is truly special due to the joy you expressed. Thank you so much :) I will subscribe to your channel and can't wait to see more of your analysis, opinions and songs. PS: videos like yours a) make me miss the german metal festivals, but b) bring the metal festivals' joy to my room for a few minutes.

In this song the lead changes his voice that much because this song features Kai Hansen, the God of power metal on the album

Try 'Fear of the dark' Iron Maiden- Rock in Rio- have a look at the crowd there!

Hello and thank you for your videos. :) May I suggest another delicacy from the extreme metal area? A not unknown band from Norway. Named: Dimmu Borgier, namely the "Forces of the northern night" series either the concert in Oslo (53 musicians from the Norwegian radio orchestra and 30 members of the Schola Cantorum), or the one from Wacken Open Air, Germany (with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra) both great performances. The following songs would be the "best": Mourning Palace; Dimmu Borgir; Progenies Of The Great Apocalypse; Gateways; The Serpentine Offering. And then to come back down the instrumental Fear And Wonder. All the best, greetings from Germany

Once you have seen Blid Guardian live (which luckily i have) you entered a different realm of chills

"He looks like a dad" haha, German dad, completely.

My two cents on the ethos - metal is music of extreme emotion, no in-betweens. If the song is about aggressive feelings let everyone - guitars, bass, vocals, drums - roar at their loudest; if it's soft and gentle, let the instruments be down to a whisper, and, motherf@cker if the audience knows the song, give 'em the spotlight \m/

Please react to ne obliviscaris live. They're epic

RU-vid works in weird ways sometimes. Did they know you were going to release this right now? I've been re-recommended reactions to this song all evening, and just as I'm about to close down, this one shows up as well. :) Gotta love Blind Guardian and their Bard's song, but it truly is a bit difficult to react to Hansi's voice when the crowd tend to steal the show every time. Also, you're not the first to comment that he "looks like a dad" (or "a teacher at your local high-school"). Not quite the style you'd expect for a heavy metal singer, ofc, but it just goes to show that he's mature enough to cut his hair and stop wearing tight leather pants once he reached an age where it didn't really look that cool anymore. Great reaction as always! There's plenty I could recommend from this band, but seeing that you haven't reacted to "Ayreon - When the World Breaks down" yet, I think you should take your time to enjoy that first, since Hansi does make an appearance there as well (along with many other great singers that you could check up individually later on - the ones you didn't know already, that is.)

Then imagine there are probably between 50.000 and 80.000 people standing there (if i'm not mistaken) and they come there for all sorts of bands not necessarily this band. AND THEY KNOW AND CAN SING THE SONG. Goosebumps!

The reason he is changing his voice is because on the original recording that part was done by a guest singer, Kai Hansen (Helloween and Gamma Ray). So he sings Kai Hansen's part in a different voice.

Blind Guardian...one of the first Power Metal Bands and one of the Best! Especially in Germany. Hansi is an amazing singer and i will never forget the feeling to be in this Crowd...but another Year, notin this Video. Heavy Metal in General is not just the Music, its a lifestyle and Community. In Origin it came from Rock and Punk Influences and Included Rebellion against Mainstream. Its about freedom, tolerance and Brotherhood. On Wacken you can play Techno or folk music and no one wilm harm you (most people are too drunk xD). „Gangsta Rap“ on the other handcould be a problem:) There re some dogmatic subscenes like Nazi Black Metal which are not really liked by the rest of the Metal Community. At Wacken for example you have people from Brazil, Japan, Africa to Europe, all being equal in the Metal Brotherhood:) And that is Metal!

Helloween eagle fly free pleasseee!!!! You will trip when you hear the singer inwanna see the look on your face

You'll love Attila Dorn *POWERWOLF - Lupus dei* at masters of rock 2015 A german band with a romanian vocalist and a czech audience singing in latin

Blind Guardian is one of the bands every Metal/Rock Artists knows. They have so many amazing songs

"It must be hot there" You have no idea! That song was at around midnight, if not a bit later, during summer so it's pretty warm anyway. Add over 60,000 people in that crowd... Yeah you won't be cold at all :D

Thank you for your reaction. I am very happy you enjoyed it

If you’d like an interesting rock/metal band to look into ghost would be a good one as the singer plays a character and changes his voice without any help with each version of the character. Not to mention all done behind a mask. He is from Grammis 2016 or even one of their acoustic versions of dance macabre

I WAS THERE THAT YEAR!!! Right in the crowd, it was freaking AWESOME!!!! \../ My first Wacken, what a great memory, I love to rewatch it. I also don't speak German, so had no idea what Hansi was saying.

I've been there, it was unbelievable. Half the people continued singing "Valhalla" for an hour. even on the campingground :D

Blind Guardian's Hansi has a very peculiar (but awesome) voice, and an excellent range. Check out the song _The Eldar_ from the album "Nightfall in Middle-Earth" to hear what he's capable of! You need to understand that BG are basically very much influenced by Queen, as weird as it sounds. Guitar harmonies, operatic sounds, layered vocals, theatrics, if you listen to vertain songs the influence becomes quite obvious. And Hansi often sings several "roles" in a song, as if it was an operetta.

"he looks like a dad" XD ... i would take him as dad any time :D Hansi is just such a nice grounded dude :D (met him while on wacken some years back ) =)

Watching this makes me miss the festival season so much. Please god, let this pandemic end before summer so I can go see them this august.

the metal scene is one of the few that still have a feeling for the man in all his states of mind, friendship, anger, fear, love and hope. The level of education is above that of the other scenes. Many really smart minds sometimes . In the fan base are so many really nice and open-minded people who look from the outside, on the average people, rather eerie. For a metal fan, these "normal" people like them describe society and themselves are rather scary and creepy, since these in life are more about things that have to do with selfishness, money-making, success, racism, conservatism or religious madness. The music of metal is multi-layered and often musically superior than the mainstream . The artists virtuosos of their instruments . Of course, as with all people and interest groups, there are those that have a negative impact on the public image. Would be a miracle if not. But by and large, the metal scene is the most honest and humane of all musical communities. But that's only my opinion after 35 years on the fringes of this scene.

Still looking for a coach reacting to their Sacred Worlds, it's such a great song

Every live version of Valhalla is the extended version, because the crowd always refuses to stop haha

By now this might be the single-most famous live performance of Blind Guardian and Wacken in general. This song is basically known by every Metalfan. period. doesn't matter if you like Blind Guardian or not. You know it.

Bard's song is a hymn.

I was there \m/ \m/ .. it was frigging awesome

Guardian is the band that helps the audience when they are singing.