Barbara Quinton: I agree with you 100%, but M.M. seems to elicit only 2 types of response. Love or hate, and I can't understand how you couldn't like a butter smooth voice like McDonalds. Everyone I ever spoke to about him was either in one camp or another...no one was lukewarm about him.
“What a fool believes, no wise man has the power to reason away”. He’s just saying that a fool will always believe his delusions, no matter what wiser men say to convince him otherwise. The fool will chase his lost love into oblivion
I think it’s saying that no matter how wise you are, you will always be blinded by love. You will never see the truth of the relationship because your love blinds you. Even wise men will become fools when blinded by love.
"What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away, what seems to be, is always better than nothin', than nothin' at all." My favourite Doobie brothers song. They're a very diverse band, as you probably know now.
@@TJ347 Honestly, I could see it either way. Your correction is a comparison between what a wise man and a fool can do, while the OP's version is saying that not even a wise man can reason with a fool. Both make lots of sense.
To this day i still can't understand how he's capable of reaching those high notes with that deep, rich, masculine voice, Michael McDonald is amazing, one of my favorites EVER 💖
you should also check out his wife... really good singer ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-E8X7liJB6go.html Learn to Love Again = from Night of the Comet the movie = Amy Holland and Chris Farren
I'm 51 and it took me decades to realize what was truly said and each time I listen I get more. There's never been a moment that I've heard the song and didn't enjoy it. You hear a combination of blues, rock, and pop melded into a masterpiece of manual instruments, electrical instruments, and vocals. To me, I feel a bittersweetness that encapsulates folly of life when love overrides reason in the face of love breaking up. Others see the folly, yet the man is caught in the web of delusion that the love is still going to come back to him.
"a fool believes the wise man has the power" Jamel, at 77 I've heard a lot of music and still enjoy a new voice. Each generation has it's great music. Keep listening and never stop. I enjoy the surprise on your face when you hear something you've never heard before. Take care.
When Michael McDonald came along he brought a whole new style to the Doobie Brothers music. I like his music as much as I like the early Doobie Brothers he just fit perfect with that band
Which (for whatever reason) too many I run into want either the old Doobies or the McDoobies. I love them both, with the McDoobies winning by a hair, for I'm more R&B than Pop. But both are excellent and "Old Blackwater" is straightup Country and excellent.
Paul Davis " Cool Night" Kenny Loggins "Heart to Heart" and Christopher Cross "Ride Like the Wind" Other "yacht" rock greats you might like. One of my all-time favs! Thanks for this reaction.
Goosebumps! Emotions run deep with this masterpiece. Michael McDonalds voice is one of a kind and when mixed with this song goes to new levels of inspiration.
The best = your serious facial expression as you said, “you see, this is why this is important to be doing this.” And THAT, brother, is why you have 234K subscribers.
So lovely seeing someone watching so enjoyable the music I love. “What a fool believes, he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away” and “ What seems to be is always better than nothing” means “ There’s no point trying to reason with a deluded fool. He sees what he wants to see and you’ll never convince him that he is wrong. But maybe he is happier with his delusion. For a lonely fool, a fantasy love maybe better than no love at all” love this song.
Agreed. I was looking for someone to explain this. I'd only remove the first comma: “What a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away.” Also, I imagine a scene where the former lovers are meeting somewhere publicly, and she has decided to leave, therefore he "rises to her apology," that is, he gets up as she makes her excuse to bail. This is what the song indicates where a reasonable observer sees that he is "watching her go," meaning that she is going away from him forever. It is a beautiful song about his love and hope and the self-delusion to sustain that in the face of what otherwise is the crushing reality of her lost love. He can't even realize that he never made her think twice. She clearly saw that it was over. Nothing he could say or do could convince her to reconsider. Once she made the decision, she made an excuse to leave, which he accepted as if it were true, as if she had an important engagement elsewhere, as if this was just a normal thing and he would see her again. It's so hard to acknowledge the truth in such a devastating circumstance.
Hilda Brown I was thinking of that one too. Everyone’s heard Hey Nineteen as background music, but many don’t realize how devious and cheeky a song it is. Would love to a reaction that that one.
Soul and funk are my favorite musical genres and there's so much soul in this song. Like you've said, music transcends race, creed, culture and background. It's all love.
I can't say this enough I am so absolutely thrilled that the younger generation especially the black community has gotten into the Vault of the 70s music... so much talent so much gifting it'll never be created again but I'm glad you all are resurrecting it
I'm in the UK and white, i just love your reaction to these white guys with soul, there's loads of us out here, thanks for spreading the sounds of some of my favourite bands, not forgetting Bob, Stevie, Marvin, Sam , Aretha, Whitney , too many to list here .
Thanks for the mention. "On My Own". Michael did a TON of background vocals too. Christopher Cross "Ride Like The Wind". You'll probably recognize it. Have an great evening.
I'd be honored if some Ambrosia & Jamal fans would take a listen to my acoustic piano & vocal performances of YOU'RE THE ONLY WOMAN and WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES by Michael McDonald on my YT channel in tribute to the masters of late 70s/early 80s groove. Live acoustic with no autotune. Peace & stays safe.
I always understood it to be without the comma, but it's even more interesting, and true, with it. Our beliefs color the "reality" we (think) we see. Thanks!
Emotionally packed Feel-good Music; Sent directly from the past, with Love, to all the next Gens. Thanks soooo much for appreciating Classic Rock 'n Roll as we did. 💖🤗😍 Rock On! Classic GOLD . . . is timeless.
My mom played this while she was cleaning the house (always seemed to be on the light FM station she found). Always makes me think about being a little kid and hearing this on sick days or holidays. Thanks!
Yep. I threw that out last night after seeing how wound up J. got over Mike McDonald. Mike isn't singing on that one, but it's far and away their greatest tune ever.
This is absolutely one of my favorite songs of all time. The chord progressions, the groove - THE SONG! As a kid, I had no idea what the song was about, but if it came on at a skating rink, we were GROOVING!!! HOW in the WORLD did I miss the actual song penned on top of the music? "As he rises to her apology, anybody else would surely know...he's watching her go. But what a fool believes he sees, no wise man has the power to reason away." - WOOOW!!! Such an incredibly powerful and sad song written over a dance groove threw me for a loop as an adult when I finally listened to the lyrics! McDonald's and Loggins KILLED the writing on this record! The music breathes and pulses without any of the instrumentation fighting for sonic space - I mean...I could write a novel about the greatness of this song! As a fellow musician and songwriter, everything about the song is pure ear candy!
A completely fictional story is that Skunk Baxter was on the verge of firing McDonald from the band, but McDonald saved his job by penning this song. Search “Yacht Rock HD episode 1” here on RU-vid.
Actually, they are singing; "No wise man has the power." This is one of history's all-time greatest broken heart songs. It talks of a man that meets and ex he is still in love with. Yet, she has moved on and no matter what he says she isn't interested in giving him another chance. But, her love for her is so great, he can't see the truth. Truly a classic worth putting in a time capsule and opening in the next million years.
Almost. They had a brief encounter that was special to him and meaningless to her. In her mind they were never together and to him she is the one that got away.
Ace Degenerate Strange. I saw an interview with MM where he explained that they were casual acquaintances and he felt that there was more. If you analyze the first verse “ He came from somewhere back in her long ago The sentimental fool don't see Trying hard to recreate What had yet to be created once in her life.” “Somewhere” implying she does not even place him initially and in his mind they had a thing but in her’s “it never really was.” I inferred them to be at a bar or table and her apologizing (blowing him off and getting up to leave) as he rises politely to not realizing “anybody else would surely know he’s watching her go.”
I had a coworker that was addicted to these guys,he got tickets for their farewell tour and it was all he talked about. I can understand why, they were great.
Jamel- I love hearing all these tunes, from my past, for the first time again through you. I'm a 54yo bald chubby white guy from Pittsburgh but let me tell you, If we ever meet I'm gonna ask for for a big hug!. Love you man, rock on with your positive energy!!
The whole genre of Adult Oriented Rock, or “Yacht Rock” as it is known by the cognoscenti, has soooo much good music! The Doobie Brothers, 10CC, Boz Skaggs, Christopher Cross, Little River Band....even The Eagles and America could be considered prototype-Yacht.
The tremendous hooks and irresistible vibe of this song are akin to the sheer euphoria felt by a fat kid turned loose in a candy store...pure joy and sweetness. Feel the goodness.
The Doobie Brothers were my 1st concert in May 1979 along with Boston and Poco. I was 13 and my Mom let me skip school to go with 3 of my other friends to a General Admission concert and the no-linger- existing Miami Baseball Stadium. Your energy is so positive and if I’m ever in the west coast and I see you.... I’m going to scream and then run straight at you and give you the biggest hug ever!
Sweet Freedom is SO good and the music video for it is amazing. "You are the magic, you're right where I want to be!" The way he sings that chorus is just magical. So thankful I was able to see him live several years ago in a very small venue where you could walk right up to the stage, incredible memory.
@@vdubthefoxx6808 Yeah it's weirdly hard to find that song in downloadable form. I think it might be on Spotify. The best I can do is this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_8Xfib2nboo.html Absolutely love that music video it's one of my favorites!
Wow! I'm not the only one who remembers that show or that episode. Loved Rerun, Dwayne, and Roger . . . plus lil sis and Shirley from the diner. I know I'm forgetting some people.
Get off the school bus, run inside catch You Can't do that on Television, turn the channel to watch Whats Happening, then MTV the rest of the afternoon till the parents get home. Then it's out the door until you get hungry or it gets dark. Typical early 80 preteen afternoon.
Back in 1979 I was 15 years old , those lovely days with family in Valparaiso, Chile. Great hit broadcast on Recreo Radio at that time, since then , simply love this wonderful song...greetings
Here's the lyrics, Jamel. He came from somewhere back in her long ago The sentimental fool don't see Tryin' hard to recreate What had yet to be created once in her life She musters a smile For his nostalgic tale Never coming near what he wanted to say Only to realize It never really was She had a place in his life He never made her think twice As he rises to her apology Anybody else would surely know He's watching her go But what a fool believes he sees No wise man has the power to reason away What seems to be Is always better than nothing And nothing at all keeps sending him... Somewhere back in her long ago Where he can still believe there's a place in her life Someday, somewhere, she will return She had a place in his life He never made her think twice As he rises to her apology Anybody else would surely know He's watching her go But what a fool believes he sees No wise man has the power to reason away What seems to be Is always better than nothing There's nothing at all But what a fool believes he sees...
Doobie brothers are exactly what America really is!! Any man any race with soul!!! Skin color is a mirage. We need to be united again under one American flag. God bless everyone
Three Dog Night (the 1975 live stage version of Eli's Coming, man their voices!!) America (Horse with No Name) Christopher Cross (Ride Like the Wind, Sailing) just saying...
I SOOO LOVE your commentaries.. you CRACK ME UP, Jamel_AKA_Jamal!! I love to hear your perspective in hearing most of these songs first time! I grew up with these songs. You said you were born in 1980?? I am 11 years older than you and heard songs like this Doobie Bros song part of my childhood on the radio all the time. I know what you mean, though, about lyrics... whenever I didn't know lyrics, I had nothing left but to "hum" along until I found them out. Was harder back then to find lyrics since RU-vid didn't exist though!! Thank you for starting this channel!! I subscribed a few weeks ago and love it!!!
"It's so catchy" Damn straight. This song's more catchy than the coronavirus! LOL (We can all come back and look at these comments, years from now, and reminisce: "We were there! We lived it!")
I loved your reaction. Thank you! I love music, all kinds. I believe, like you, in learning about the lyrics, the artists. Earlier this year I studied Marvin Gaye. He passed when I was in college. I loved his music - we all did. But I wanted to listen to everything he did. Learn about his life. I listened and read for hours. He deserved it. His music deserved it.
@xllxRUDE_DOGGxllx yes! That's what i always got from that line too. I'm sure that's how they meant people to interpret it when they wrote it as well. Great 70s classic.
Doobie Brothers guest appearance on What's Happening. They do a concert at the high school and Re-Run gets busted for recording the show with his portable cassette recorder because it falls out of his pants as he dances to the music. But it wasn't his idea to do it, some local strongarms pressured him to do it. Hey, hey, hey.
Nothing But the Truth-Blue-Eyed-Soul Brother from another mother. Jamal, truly, sincerely, this is one of my all time, overwhelming favorite songs. Michael is so gifted and full of soulful delivery. No one else like him. Thank you1 It's about time you discovered Michel McDonald and the doobie Brothers>
Ambrosia is another white man band that many thought were black. they had "Holding onto yesterday","You're the only woman" "Biggest part of me", and "How much I feel"
I remember thirty years ago explaining to a friend from work how I'd fallen in love and couldn't tell her how I felt, and that she left and I thought I was dying (he'd asked earlier what was wrong so I suggested going for a drink). Just as I was telling this to him, the stereo system in the bar we were in started playing this song over the speakers. Totally random and totally appropriate. I'll never forget that moment.
"Black Water"!! If you're going to dig on the Doobie Brothers, you MUST react to their greatest hit! Song makes me think of paddling through the bayou on a lazy day.
I’m 24 soon to be 25 and have been raised on music like this my whole life. I recently went through a breakup that tore my heart apart and this song essentially saved my life. The lyrics are somewhat of a masterpiece.
I so enjoy watching you brother. Music brings us all together and I can feel the music in you just like I feel it. ICE-T said it best, ‘ I don’t care what kind of music you like, I want you to make the best damn music in my studio’.
Happy belated B'day Michael. His b'day was yesterday. Met him on my B'day at Hard Rock 4yrs ago. Voice is ONE of a kind. Best song!!! Listen to the words.
Love it, "Soul has no color." Check out Tears for Fears' "Bad Man's Song" two white guys team up with Oleta Adams who has an amazing voice, and you get this infusion of gospel/rock....
WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES LYRICS [Verse 1] He came from somewhere back in her long ago The sentimental fool don't see Tryin' hard to recreate What had yet to be created once in her life She musters a smile for his nostalgic tale Never coming near what he wanted to say Only to realize it never really was [Pre-Chorus] She had a place in his life He never made her think twice As he rises to her apology Anybody else would surely know He's watching her go [Chorus] But what a fool believes, he sees No wise man has the power to reason away What seems to be Is always better than nothing Than nothing at all [Verse 2] Keeps sending him somewhere back in her long ago Where he can still believe there's a place in her life Someday, somewhere She will return [Pre-Chorus] She had a place in his life He never made her think twice As he rises to her apology Anybody else would surely know He's watching her go [Chorus] But what a fool believes, he sees No wise man has the power to reason away What seems to be Is always better than nothing Than nothing at all But what a fool believes, he sees No wise man has the power to reason away What seems to be Is always better than nothing Than nothing at all SHARE THE LYRICS “WHAT A FOOL BELIEVES” TRACK INFO Produced ByTed Templeman Written ByMichael McDonald & Kenny Loggins Release DateDecember 1978
Thank you so very much. I have loved this song for years and now know I have been singing the wrong words, the right ones are so much better! Again thank you very much
