First Time Hearing The Verve - Bitter Sweet Symphony (Reaction!) 

Walking down the sidewalk encountering people and cars symbolizes the bumps you encounter as you go thru life.

This song really got to me when it came out. Still hits me hard.

Stones manager Allen Klein shortly after its release forced Richard Ashcroft to hand over 100 percent of the royalties from “Bitter Sweet Symphony” to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Finally more than 20 years later Rolling Stones Finally Gave Back ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ Songwriting Credits to the Verves. Great victory, they deserve it, one of the best song of the century..😊😊

You hit the song meaning on the head! If you look up the history of this song, the lyrics come to life. This man was sued so bad that he didn’t make anything off this song, and this song was POPULARRRRRR in the late 90’s and early 2000’s (thanks cruel intentions movie)! The fact that he kept playing this song this song for pretty much free, says A LOT. I’m glad Richard Ashcroft FINALLY got his song back in 2019! Too bad it was 20+ years later and the song has been milked dry! They need to put this song in a new movie or have the tik tok comminity (can’t believe I’m saying this) get ahold of this masterpiece and get everyone listening to this again so Richard and the rest of the verve get their fair share of royalties.

"The Drugs Don’t Work" is a fantastic song of theirs - hits pretty hard but is a must listen.

Shon. Anybody can be a RU-vid music reactor. Very few can rub two brain cells together as they are doing it. Keep doing what you are doing.

He also says “I can’t change” over and over. A true dichotomy, the lyrics throw you off balance. Love it.

Great reaction! I love American reactions to UK music 'cuz it proves how much we are all the same because you probably get our music better then we do, and I'm not even joking when I say that. You make perfect instant music critics to UK music, at least compared to us.

I saw him perform this live a couple years ago in Philadelphia. He sounded great and he was very nice, sticking around to talk to fans after the show.

Brilliant song for sure and your reaction was amazing bro you really caught everything he was saying keep it up bro👍🎼🎶

I love your reaction to this perfectly composed classic. Few bands achieve this type of greatness. This also epitomises a particular time and era of UK music. It makes me happy to see you so happy about this song 😊

Height of 90s brit pop. Love the Verve and Richard Ashcroft. For more great brit pop, check out Blur, Spacehog, Oasis, and my FAVORITE- Pulp. Jarvis Cocker, the singer for Pulp is fascinating. Love his solo work as much as Pulp!

This is the song that plays in my head when I walk into a room knowing I'm better than every other person in that room. To date, the only song that has played in my head when I've walked into a room thus far has been "Loser" by Beck.

Still can't hear this song without thinking of the final scene of Cruel Intentions.

One of the best songs ever written. Love how u just walks down the street and doesn’t give a fuck

Richard Ashcroft was/is the lead singer. Check out his solo work: break the night with colour, this thing called life, check the meaning, actually, pretty much, anything, he is amazing

Richard Ashcroft is a genius. This was such an iconic video from the '90's and The Verve were such a great British band. Incidentally, the lady who rushes out of her car to confront him is actually his wife. Please, rect to 'Lucky Man' it's my favourite, but there are plenty other classic like 'Sonnet' & 'The Drugs Don't Work'. He's a fascinating artist.

VERVE - LUCKY MAN VERVE - LUCKY MAN VERVE - LUCKY MAN VERVE - LUCKY MAN VERVE - LUCKY MAN

Your reactions are always spot on. I’m so impressed how you are able to articulate what the song is trying to tell everyone. Fantastic work

You express yourself SO WELL!! Super insightful. I’ve known this song for years and you caught some stuff I never did.

And now Shon, "The Drugs Don't Work". As The Verve or as Richard Ashcroft. Richard Ashcroft - The Drugs Don't Work (Live on The Chris Evans Breakfast Show with Sky) You'll love it. He dedicated to his father that passed away.

In my teen years this played over and over iäon the radio 😅👍🏻 Lucky man is a nice one by them too ❤️

My kids were preteens when this came out and they played it over and over. The meaning of the lyrics has changed for me over the years (but I'm not getting older or anything, so I'm SURE it has nothing to do with that). 🙂 Great reaction. Still waiting for "Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance, another song from my kids' teen years.

Mannnn this song was everywhere during my first year in college. I still love it. Edit: All these years I’ve been listening to this song and I just now noticed that part at 3:25 that you said was fire. You’re right! Idk how I’ve never heard that before

Your response is both brilliant and profoundly insightful

Bro i had a smile on my face the whole duration due to ur energy spirit nd insight along with the epic artistry they blessed us with....God is everything💯💯🙏🫡👂

Their other otherworldly song is Lucky Man.

Have to listen to their Lucky Man!!

This is definitely on my 420 play list

The verve is fire.

When this came out, this cat was the coolest guy that everyone wanted to be in the so called "English pop"-thingie.

Excellent song and I thoroughly enjoy this video. It was a unique presentation for this song. Good reaction as always.

Another sad tale this is. The song writer had agreed to pay 1/2 the royalties for the use of 5 notes of an old Rolling Stones song but they used more than 5 notes. The band had unknowingly crossed Allen Klein, the pit bull of a former manager for The Rolling Stones who owned the publishing rights to their early catalogue. The Verve had an agreement with the record company Decca to use the sample. But Klein’s company ABKCO held the publishing rights to “The Last Time” and he used them as a crowbar to strip The Verve of everything he could. Klein's lawyers won and Klein took 100 percent of the royalties and forced Mick Jagger and Keith Richards to be credited as the sole songwriters (leading to a Grammy nomination for the pair for “writing” a song they didn’t write). Oldham, who filed a smaller lawsuit, was credited as the performer. For creating a global hit, Ashcroft only ever saw/got $1,000 and credit for the lyrics in the liner notes. Two other great One Hit Wonders.... 'The American Breed - Bend Me, Shape Me' (1967) and 'Barry McGuire - Eve of Destruction' (1965). Cheers.

Classic song and great video. If you haven't done so already, check out Massive Attack - Unfinished Sympathy - great video, along these lines. Actually, they Verve may have taken the idea from Massive Attack - or vice versa!! both brilliant

John Newman - Love me again……check out Northern Soul Dancing as well. It’s featured in this video. However, there are lots of demo video’s of NSD.

timeless classic

I would love to see you react to Bloodywood. They're an Indian Folk Metal band that blends metal, rap and traditional Indian music and it works so perfectly. I guarantee you've never heard anything like it and you will love it. Check out the song "Aaj."

Dude, you rock! Your reactions are the fire!

around 6:40 you got it! Like all of us, even though we keep going around the block, can we change? You really got an instinct to music. Good stuff!

long hot summer by the style council

This is a great little band. I saw them back in the 90's. They were very good. The lead singer is Richard Ashcroft and he also has some solo work. I have one of his albums and it is a favorite. The Rolling Stones sued The Verve over this song, and the Stones won. I'm not sure what the settlement/financial penalty was after all was said and done. However, the band didn't survive long afterward.

This is a great song. They had such talent. I wish they were still around.

Powerful song, Moby - Porcelain is also very good

Love this song ❤

I don't always watch reaction videos. But your videos are great.

The Verve are from the town right next to mine and there's and there's a music venue with their faces (and other bands from the area like Oasis, The Buzzcocks, The Charlatans and Stone roses) painted on the doors.

I reccomend Gipsy Kings -A mi manera

Very well said, you definitely got the message behind it👏🎧🇮🇱

Gotta do "Lucky Man" by them! You'll love it, trust and believe! :) Fantastic reaction as always, Shon 💗

They sampled the ROLLING STONES - almost a one hit wonder - and MICK graciously said later they could keep the royalties.

For some more great British rock, I suggest "Champagne Supernova" by Oasis.

Love this song!

I used to hear this every day on graveyard shift with my homies stocking shelves at the supermarket. Good times and great memories.

The entire album is this good. Highly recommend!

Great tune and review man.

Halestorm - "I Am The Fire"🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

'Can't change'....

Stereophonica are gr8 tooo btw

Great song, and great reaction! Loved it. Check out also "Lucky Man." (The Verve). Much different song but one of my favorites. He's amazing.

Would love to see you react to The Cure, Depeche Mode, Erasure, Duran Duran...

Always liked this song since I first heard it. Recently watched a Larkin Poe acoustic cover on YT and was wowed.

Royal Blood - "Lights Out"🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

If you want hard and deep give the "Toadies" and their song "Possum Kingdom" a listen. Brace yourself...lol

Excellent!

Nope, I am not watching cruel intentions…again😂😂😂😂 This covered by Rockin 1,000 is 🔥🔥🔥🔥

Good reaction!!

Ren did a really cool rap over the music track...check it out

One of my favorites ❤ I believe it's their only hit. At least the only one I've ever heard from them...

The woman who gets out of the car and confronts him on the sidewalk is his wife.

try "send me an angel" by real life

Props for doing this song bro

Try a reaction to the BBC Proms Northern Soul. THE best use of my license fee for YEARS...

Thank you. Please, close to Thanksgiving, PLEASE do Alice’s Restaurant by Arlo Guthrie! This song is a Thanksgiving tradition!

The Verve got sued by The Rolling Stones for using the strings part in the song. They lifted it from the Stone's song The Last Time. It was originally agreed upon to allow The Verve to use 5 notes from the melody in exchange for 50% of the profits from the song. When the song was released they had used more of the melody than agreed upon so a lawsuit was filed and The Stones won.

Check out BOOM Town Rats "I Don't like Mondays!!!"You'll dig it!!!

Check out colorful by them

The NEW Beatles - "Now And Then"🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

I love candy, just like you.

Love seeing your reactions, you really listen and HEAR the music, love it. keep it up! You should do some reactions to Collective Soul, pick a song, they are all really good, but you could start off with "Shine"

You should listen to Ren's remake of this. I belive the guitarist sent him one of his after hearing it

Though this son is so much popular, the album, Urban Hymns, contains really better songs, i can say easy, when you start listening, you just cannot stop... I keep this album so dearly in my special collection.

Sebastian Bach - by your side pls react to this amazing song

Listen to Lucky Man next.

Descent song, but it WILL NOT get you invited to the barbeque! 😁😁😁

I enjoyed your reaction to this song!🙂 Will you react to R.E.M. “Everybody Hurts “

☮️💙💙💙🔥🔥😎

❤❤❤ this song!

Anthem from first listen. Try also the Jay-Z rap mashup ❤ Great reaction to a very powerful song. Thanks

Shon please your reaction - USA For Africa We Are The World

It's kinda funny...they got permission to sample a rolling stones song...when the stones manager saw how successful the song was he was like you sampled too much and won so all the royalties from this song goes to the rolling stones

Hi Shon, please give the Neville Brothers a listen with the track, "Sons and Daughters(Reprise)".It must have (reprise) as part of the title as Sons And Daughters is a different song .

Check out artist Ren's remake of this, same title I think. ✨👍🏼✨

Please, react to any Christina Aguilera' song. And react to Björk's All Is Full Of Love (single version)

Try On Your own as a worthy sequel...

You know you reacted to a Ren remix/take on this track?

It is funny that he is trying to prevent copyrights to a song that got sued millions of dollars for copyright infringements.. lol

By playing this song you are probably costing The Verve some money and it is going into Mick Jagger and Keith Richards pockets.

think you actually understood the basic feeling of the tune.. and didnt take video too literally

This song is what makes me HATE the Rolling Stones. The Verve sampled a Rolling stones song in this song, and it doesnt even sound like the Stones song at all. But the Stones sued them and the Verve didnt make a penny off this song even though it was a big hit. And the Stones were already rich. The couldn't let band that needs money to have a few pennies. 😡

Bro great song. Hope u and family blessed always. With negatives things going around the world, we got to stay TOGETHER & right minds and hearts .. got some songs for U . New hits for u to listen too.. R.E.M ( everybody hurts ) & RATM ( TESTIFY - LIVE ) a extra one .. AVENGED SEVENFOLD (DEAR GOD) 🙏👍🏆✌️🫡