Classical Composer Reacts to Hocus Pocus (Focus) | The Daily Doug (Episode 253) 

Doug doing a bong rip to Focus is one the greatest things i've ever seen... if he had done this in the church.... *EXPLODE*

Yayyy! Thijs is my dad and his band Focus is CURRENTLY touring in the UK. Yes. Still rocking at 73! Thank you Dough for this fantastic and highly entertaining review. I'll forward it to Thijs right away, sure he'll enjoy it!

When this tune first came out, everyone was "WHAT THE HELL????" And then "Play it again! That's cool as hell!"

This song was originally done as a warm up for their performances and the audience loved it so much the demand became huge for them to put it on their album, so they did.

A classical composer who says y’all and rips the bong to a banger, fucking subbed!

"I can't believe this exists"... The perfect reaction. They are an incredible band and this track brings back so many memories. You can't hear this and not smile.

The three guitar runs are the cleanest, most imaginative and technically perfect in the history of music. Jan was voted "Greatest Living Guitarist" by Melody Maker Magazine in 1972

So... within the first minute or so we got an explosive minor-key RnR, a drum solo, a yodelling section and A5 soprano singing.... wtf this is amazing!

Apparently, legend has it that, for the live version, the band were only given a limited time slot which wasn't enough enough to do the whole song at the original tempo. So, being unwilling to play a shortened version, they just played it as fast as they could to fit it onto the time available.

I love it. Taking a bong hit on this song is needed to fully engage. And honestly this song is exactly what music is all about. Self expression and having fun.

For those of us who grew up with this music, it is fun to watch Doug react to this music 40 - 50 years later. This particular clip is priceless! Bravo.

Hope it’s live version, from ‘73, as the manic pace and facial expressions of lead singer add to my enjoyment of the song. But studio version is solid as well 🙂

This was a massive hit back in the day. Sylvia was another big hit, with brilliant guitar work by Jan, House of the King the B side. Both worth a listen.

I gotta say - this is the best Daily Doug by far! Even though I'm not a musician I always love the professional commentary on scales, what notes, etc. I like how you appreciate all forms of music as do I. Here's to many more Daily Dougs!

Being American, we will forgive you not to know this amazing band from the early 70´s. The guitar player is actually one of the best from these times, as well as the flute player. But I enjoy your surprises to the crazy stuff that is going on in this song. Welcome to Focus.

Thijs van Leer once said in an interview that "Hocus Pocus" emerged from unplanned jamming. Actually Jan Akkerman had setup his gear, while the other were still busy. He just played something and came up with this rif. Then the other members joined in and so the song came into existence... It became a huge hit back then.

Jan is a superb guitarist

Doug, they are still playing live. I saw them in a small music venue in Leeds October 2019. Brilliant. They did a 15 minute version of Hocus Pocus with extended drum and guitar solos. The yodelling is still great although understandably the high notes are left to lead guitar!!

I prefer the live version of this tune on The Midnight Special; it's significantly faster and more maniacal, but every bit as tight. Plus, I'm old enough to remember seeing that episode of The Midnight Special on it's first airing date, and it was my first exposure to Focus ever. Later that December, The Midnight Special also gave me my first time hearing/seeing Genesis; one of the tunes they did was "Watcher Of The Skies", and I was a Genesis fan from then on. You should sometime do one of your videos on "Watcher of the Skies"...a great progressive rock tune. By the way, the unique vocalizing at about 6 minutes on your Focus "Hocus Pocus" video is an example of "eefing"...yep, it's an actual vocalization technique, that dates back to rural Tennessee about 100 years ago. All the best to you!

Doug, I've been watching your channel for a little while now and the fact you are jamming to this song, and doing bong rips, makes me an even bigger fan. What a good time this was watching this video.

Focus is so much more than this novelty hit. Listen to Eruption from Moving Waves. It is steeped in classical references and the musicianship is astonishing.

“I think he’s upset with the person who sold him his shirt.” PRICELESS!

Jan was shredding long before the term had been invented. Truly an amazing guitarist in every way. Goes from performing classical lute concertos to blues,rock or jazz.

“I can’t believe this exists” could be the slogan for Focus 😂

I love your reactions to this classic Doug. When you took a hit from the bong I nearly fell over, I think that's exactly what I did 35 years ago when I first heard this!

"Eruption" from this album is a masterpiece!

Jan’s lead guitar playing just blew me away when I started playing guitar. Saw this on TV and watched Jan play guitar. His hands moved up and down the neck like a spider. Never have I seen a guitar played like that. Never get tired of this song.

Focus Live at the Rainbow is one of the greatest live albums ever.

Much of the music you're hearing for the first time, Mr. H., is what I grew up with. Completely delightful to hear your reactions and analysis.

This was such a wonderul era of musical creativity. I'm always finding hidden gems of songs and artists that the early 70s has squirrelled away.

If you watch the live version he yodels, plays the flute, whistles, chokes, stutters, stammers and encourages hamsters to sing along.

A great example of making a song just for the fun and creativity of it… thanks as always for the great reactions!

Doug, thank you a thousand times over for featuring this band. They very rarely get the credit they so richly deserve. I think if you listen to all of the album Moving Waves, you'll here moments of grand creativity. Very beautiful.

Jan Akkerman was just on a different level with his playing, he is unbelievable

I think this is one of my favorite reactions of this channel, and there are plenty that I've watched so far. Your laughter from this song's randomness and that surprise bong you pulled out mid-way, SO FREAKIN AWESOME. Love your videos Doug! You make me wanna hang out with you lol

when I saw their performance, then in the last part, I immediately fell in love with what creativity and talent this eccentric is.

Never get tired of seeing reactions to what I call the "drunk and high yodeling leprechaun rock opera"..... especially when it's a reaction by someone as musically knowledgeable as Doug. Glad you enjoyed. Glad you watched the live version of Focus playing the song so you can see the facial expressions of the singer.... priceless.

He goes even higher with the vocals in the live version 😳😳😳👍

So here's my Focus story. Saw them live at a local college gymnasium around 1971-72 (hardwood floors, omg). One thing that can't be appreciated from the album was the IMMENSE VOLUME that they played at. Jan Akkerman with a gorgeous black Les Paul Fretless Wonder running through 2 Marshall stacks cranked to 11. I think Hocus Pocus was the encore and it was played at ear-splitting levels. What fun!!!

When this would come on the radio when I was a kid, which was quite frequent, I would jump around like crazy and play air guitar to this and of course sing the yodel. This was on the radio many times a day during the early to mid-70s. ☺ still love it

I knew the fast version would blow you away as it even speeds up after the flute solo. The musicianship is astounding. My brother introduced this to me when I was 11 & I'm still entertained by it.

I grew up in the 70s and this was such a part of my life. Your dad is an amazing man and one of my hero’s

On April 7, 1973 I saw Focus at Winterland in S. F., as the 2nd of two opening bands for Yes's 'Close To The Edge" tour...the opening band was Poco. Looking back, it now seems like an unbelievable lineup. But at the time it was one of many great concert lineups at Winterland arranged/produced by Bill Graham. Needless to say most everyone in the audience had been "timing" their hallucinogens to be peaking when Yes arrived on stage...And just as Focus was coming on, so were we. Nothing quite prepares one for the joyful and mind blowing experience we had that evening! I'll never forget it. BTW - These concerts, in the early '70s, happened during my "experimental" college years, well before I met my lovely wife Sandy. Peace and Love to all!

I remember listening to this when it came out. It grows on you the more you hear it. Just rifs, solos and yodeling. 😂

This is one of my favorite "classic" rock tracks of all times

The music is great. I've known it for 45 years. But the best thing is your joy at this unusual piece of "old" music.

Nicko's first Maiden lead vocal :) Hope he gets suitably paid :) Check out " House of the King " by Focus. It was used as a TV theme in the UK, fits perfectly :)

The highlights in my mind: "My pants aren't tight enough to hit that note" "Pretty weird so far" oh. Just wait my friend. "I can't believe this exists" and "how did I not know about it" - my reaction back when I happened upon it 😂

The best version of "Hocus Pocus" is from the "Live at the Rainbow" album. It's BREATHTAKING! (LITERALLY so, as at one point Thijs van Leer yodels for almost A FULL MINUTE, and don't ask me how he breathed!) But seriously, that's not the best of Focus. The very best is "Hamburger Concerto" (it's about actual hamburger patties, with "movements" titled "Rare" and "Well Done", and the cover is the name of the record in the form of a diner neon sign). AMAZING musicianship! No yodelling, but Thijs does redefine the meaning of "vocalese" in several sections, and Jan Akkerman is at his best (and that's saying a lot when it comes to a guitar legend like him!). You should also check their solo albums, especially Jan Akkerman's ever-changing moods over the years. Thijs is also a renowned classical flutist and I suggest you have a listen to "Introspection 3", for example.

I've been going down the rabbit hole on this channel, and I really needed this laugh today. Thanks Doug!

This band was one of the best in the Progressive era. Nothing else like it at the time, and some real musicianship (which was also lacking at that time).

Also, the physical stamina required for that live performance is unreal. Top work by all. I agree the album tempo works far better, but I love the live version so much.

Can't believe a guy with a grey beard has never heard of this amazing band!

I remeber hearing this on the Dutch and Belgian radio stations back when I was a kid in the early '70s... boy, does that bring back memories!

The live version on Midnight Special in double time is beyond amazing. He takes out his dentures to whistle!

Yes, this song is one of a kind, amazing players and Thijs's singing skills are off the charts. For a second reaction, try the whole B side of the moving waves album.

You NEED to dive into Focus. They were one of the prog pioneers… the rawness of the recordings is also a beautiful thing as well

Doug, I love how you just ENJOY the music, no matter what it is, which was what my generation was all about.

“I can’t believe this exists.” Is the perfect description of this song.

Focus is an amazing band! 1000 people have reacted to this song. It’s their Circus number. But They have so much more. Fabolous musicians! Check out first 5 tracks off the next album Focus 3, or their Magnus opus Hamburger Concerto! And that’s just a start.

This was played constantly on the radio and was a huge hit back in the day. I miss the Midnight Special. I fondly remember staying up late on Friday nights waiting to see my favourite bands play. Have you heard Warren Zevon's Werewolves of London? It's a great Halloween song. I loved your reaction!

So many FANTASTIC tracks from this band. From the Hamburger Concerto to Sylvia, they were fabulous. I saw them at least three times and they were great. Anyone remember Fanfare for Europe?

A friend turned me on to Focus in 71 and loved it, all these years later, still great! The Orig. is the Best, still. Cheers!

An insanely talented band performing a song that seems to elicit joy in every sane sentient being who hears it.

Fun fact - Eefing, one of the vocal techniques used in Focus' Hocus Pocus, is an Appalachian vocal technique similar to beatboxing, but it's about 100 years older :)

Ding dong Dougie on the bong. I Really appreciated your reaction to Hocus Pokus Focus - got me laughing all the way and yet informative. Brilliant stuff :) Been a fan of theirs since it was released. Please consider Deep Purple in concert with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

This song is a good way to allow each person of the band to show off their skills

Shown the midnight special to my wife the other night. She was cracking up. She never heard it before, I remember it from my youth. Loved all kinds of music, but crazy stuff like this, Frankenstein, are just high energy moving songs.

Focus.... the only band as far as I know that made a song about the universal, timeless, crippling human condition of Needing A Bathroom.... 🙏🏾

I believe the flute sound is achieved by the player vocalising the notes he's playing on the flute. Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull is one of many exponents of this type of playing.

This takes me back to my misspent youth back in the 70's and into the 80's. You always knew when this song was played on the stereo at a party that the party was getting good. I like the cover by Helloween and by Iron Maiden. It was sad that they had to speed it up for "The Midnight Special" but they had to fit the time constraints of the show. The fortunate thing about being on The Midnight Special was that it got them exposure to people that might not have heard them. THat show was so good because so many people got to see groups and artist that they liked and those that they didn't know, and got to see them perform live. No lipsync back then.

The live version was a successful attempt of cramming 6 minutes of music into 4.5 minutes (the time they got to perform on that show). With THAT performance, they made their signature tune stand out even more. Brilliance!

I remember finding this Focus album in my parents old LP collection and still I'm wondering how this came to be. Awesome stuff

Maidens version is awesome, I love how Nicko sings something of his own in the parts where the yodle is on the original version! And the solos are awesome, as always.

Jan was an incredible lead guitarist, and a mighty shredder! Thijs was a brilliant flautist and has a great vocal range. I think this was quite a big hit back in the day.

Brings back memories of my school years. Another track they are famous for was entitled "Sylvia".

I’ve watched so many of your vids but this unique opening got my subscription.

Jan Akkerman, back then, said Peter Banks (original guitarist for Yes) was one of few guitarists for which he had massive respect. Peter went from Yes to form "Flash" and whoa, what a guitar player. Please check out "Lifetime" from Flash's second album: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-AfV-M_J1wkQ.html

Hi Doug! Just some info: Keyboarder and singer Thijs (pronounced tice) van Leer is also an acclaimed church musician (look up some of his works!) and guitarist Jan Akkerman was voted Best Guitarist in the World by readers of the UK magazine Melody Maker in 1973, apart from many other awards.

Used to listen to this on my brother's vintage headphones on his Phillips hifi circa 1970s was about 10. Blew my mind

This track takes me back I was 9 years old. Shocking era. Creative genius in this band.

You should give Focus a more in depth look - especially "House Of The King", "Sylvia", "Round Goes The Gossip" and the album "Focus III"

It would be great if Doug analyses and reacts for the Focus tune 'moving waves' - the title track of the album that Hocus Pocus comes from. It is only piano and vocals, but is a magnificent european classical piece worth listening to.

This is probably the best review I have ever seen or heard from Doug - my hats off to you!

Hi Doug, relistening to this after a year. Thijs van Leer would be great to interview on your channel, you being a classical composer. He was taught piano by his mother from age three, later his father encouraged him to study the flute. As a kid of 8 years he wrote a song that was later recorded with Focus (Moving Waves), he recorded flute albums with his own music and Bach music with the classical orchestra led by Rogier van Otterloo in the seventies (Introspection), and performed a few years ago in one of the Ayreon live shows. Focus (with Thijs van Leer and drummer Pierre van der Linden) still gives concerts.

I remember reading at the time when Focus were in the charts (I think it was at the time of what I believe were the annual Melody Maker (then a leading UK music weekly newspaper) awards, when Jan was voted best guitarist of the year) that Eric Clapton had allegedly said that he felt that Jan Akkerman was a better guitarist than he was. Personally, I think that Clapton's contributions to music (Layla, all of the 461 album, Cream, his Beatles backing stint, etc.) are way more important than his technical skills and besides, Eric's voice and his songwriting, combined with his inspirational impact on the 60s blues revival and spurring of worldwide obsession with bluesy electric guitar: the Clapton musical legacy is there for posterity. But yeah, hearing and watching what Jan's fingers could do was and still is just as timelessly mesmerising as Thys Van Leer's maniacal vocal virtuosity.

From what I read, they had to get out of the live performance really fast because of some parking/traffic violation if they didn't. They do some other songs so the whole thing is a continuous piece really.

Hey Doug! Thanx for playing on of my faves from my misspent youth! I have had the great pleasure of seeing and meeting Focus several times on Cruise To The Edge.They always put on a great show and Thijs was always playing something with or for someone. Lots of fun!

I know you are doing a critique of the song but next time you listen Doug, check out how Jan is just setting the frets on fire with his guitar work ... amazing!

I like how you can find always the correct notes. Always.

Ahaha, "herbal friend" This song is best enjoyed after a few tokes, I agree.

you really should plug The Aristocrats

Fantastic Dutch Jan Akkerman is a legend Thijs is some kind of eccentric genius The live version from US TV where they doubled the speed to fit in the slot, was unbelievable - ah, you got to it... Iron Maiden version just nonsense. It shows Akkermans ability.

I was first introduced to this song when I was 12 in 2000. One of my great joys became showing it to friends. Now RU-vid has extended that joy.

I was 10 when this song came out. I heard it on the radio and it definitely was instrumental in how my taste in music developed going forward.

You should do “emalaith” by virgin Steele! Truly underrated metal band

How about a reaction at the song 'Halloween' with the band Helloween at Halloween. 😀

Your best reaction to a song that i've seen. and the rip on the bong....EPIC

Saw Focus around 1973 in Los Angeles. Opened for Steely Dan and the main act, Black Oak Arkansas. All three bands blew the place up! Those were the days of cheap tickets, three bands and wonderful music.

Please tell me he’s doing the studio recording🙏🏻