The trickery/artistry on this one runs deeper than many people realize. The chord progression is taken directly from Pachobel's Canon in D. He rolls up & tells us he is just here to schmooze us, but we're going to love it. He isn't wrong.
That one bar was actually a TRIPLE entendre! "No matter how much Peter loved her, what made the Pan refuse to grow, was that the Hook brings you back". So, it was a Peter Pan reference AND the two meanings you said!
This song is a satire of pop music in general. Yeah, he is basically saying the lyrics aren't important as all you need is a musical "hook" to get listeners to listen and buy.
Blue Traveler is an amazing band. John Popper ( Lead vocals and Harmonica ) is a beast, and has jammed with many artists and has a great solo career. You should Google John Popper for more great music.
I understand that he's talking about how some artists don't ever care about the lyrics, the public is only interested in the "Hook" of the song. The shallowness of some people who only listened to the music instead of the lyrics. Another great some from them is "Run Around".
John Popper is a master harmonicist. This bands music often has messages & parodies within. They are all musical geniuses, as well. Thank you for taking your time & hearing what he was singing. =)
“Suck it in, suck it in, suck it in Like you’re Rin Tin Tin or Anne Boleyn.” A classic line! It’s right up there with Bob Dylan’s, “Don’t want to be a bum, You better chew gum, The pump don’t work cause the vandals took the handles”
Ya I remember seeing these guys in concert. The singer (I think its John Popper) used to wear a whole harmonica vest...must have carried like 50 harmonicas in it.
He lowered his voice in this video while he was singing to the children on purpose. If you watch the Howard stern live version he did not lower his voice.
Yooo! You did Hook! This is amazing! Looking forward to seeing this! Just finished it! It was awesome man! Glad to see that you got the point of the song. It was a bit unfortunate that this particular video wasn’t exactly the best example of the song but that is MY fault! Hope you enjoyed the harmonica as much as I enjoyed watching your reaction 💪🏼.
I remember this dude was the first person that I didn't know who made me cry as a kid. The interview went over how he didn't appear in his music videos cause he thought people wouldn't wanna listen to an obese lead singer.
Great ears Shon! That's EXACTLY what he was saying!! lol ... This was fun... but for the record.. he is playing/singing this song too fast. The original is a bit slower! You should check out studio version! Oh.. You should also check out his song "Run Around"
Dude i love you. I came across your reaction and i loved how you got the double entandre, or the fact that the whole song is a troll on how people do not really listen to what is being said, instead they listen to the hook. Awesome reaction!!!!
The studio version would have been a better reaction. On the album, the song sounds clear, and his voice is amazing. I get that reactors want to see the live versions, but those versions are not the way we heard these songs growing up, and I think most people want to see reactors react to the same music we heard, not some performance, that may or may not capture a great feel. There were lots of live albums throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, but they usually paled in comparison to what the producers and bands did in the studio. Studios were trying to squeeze out some more money, they were not trying to give the people who missed the concert a thrill. When it came to great concerts, you really had to be there. Frampton Comes Alive, and that killer Phil Collins performance of In the Air Tonight, from The 2004 tour, are possible exceptions. Anyway, I'm glad you got the point of the song. It's just not a good version of it.
You're in a tough spot. Anything you add to the wall behind you now will stand out. You can't keep it white unless you're waiting for that RU-vid plaque. I hope you get it, good luck!
It's Wendy LOL Peter Pan and Wendy and Captain Hook. Check out Dave Matthews Band's What Would You Say (w/ John Popper) Popper does a 2.5 minute harmonica solo.
Alanis Morissette plays harmonica on Hand In My Pocket and in Head Over Feet. I know you've reacted to some of her stuff but there are great harmonica solos on those songs.
A studio version would be even more distinguishable for you, but you got it. For a song where every riff is an incredible HOOK, check out Kansas "Carry On My Wayward Son".
The point kinda is he doesn't think it should all be about the hook and i don't think it should either. Th hook is often the shallowest part of the song...thats why its all you need these days hence the irony in the song. Its a fucking masterpiece.
I suggest a smoky, hot, slow, groove by, The Eagles, “I Can’t Tell You Why”. The video of them in the studio. I think it’s an official version with great audio.
Shon, if you enjoy the harmonic, you have to listen to "Whammer Jammer" by J. Geiles band. Pretty sure you've never heard anything like it. Also "Runaway" live by Bonnie Raitt. Crazy harmonica playing.
I think he is also criticizing the industry and audiences who don't pay attention to the quality or meaning of lyrics when artists are actually trying to say something. John Popper wrote some heartfelt songs and got very little credit. This song, which is only about how shallow many songs are, was one of Blues Traveler's first popular hits. It just proved his point that he could write a hook, sing with inflection while saying nothing, and it would be a bigger hit than all of the more thoughtful songs they'd written before. To longtime fans and intelligent new fans, this was almost an inside joke. But to a lot of new fans, they didn't ever figure out that this was a song pointing out the mindlessness of the industry and many music listeners.
People really dont hear the words of songs. If they did they would know a lot more of whats going on in the world. Hes saying as long as the Hook is good, dont matter what he says. most people dont hear lyrics anyway, or try to understand them.
Yea. If people wanted to know stuff they’d improve their reading comprehension. But, in 2023 40% of high school students can’t pass a reading comprehension test.
