FIRST TIME HEARING Yes- "Awaken" (Reaction) 

This masterpiece perfectly sums up what YES is at its best.

Awaken is one of the greatest musical achievements of the 20th century. It's a testament to the collective genius of Yes. What a wonderful review!

Again I’m back in my bedroom , it’s YES, nothing to say, masterpieces ❤

An indescribable journey of love and light up to the heavens... Thanks so much for watching!! ☁☁😇☁☁

Jon Anderson in 2013 was invited by the Icelandic orchestra Todmobile to perform Awaken live. If you find it on RU-vid, it's the best audio experience you'll ever hear of this tune. And it's visually great too.

Having grown up on Classical Music, I found that YES was the ultimate modern music group of my lifetime. Awaken is a true musical masterpiece.

I remember buying Yes´ "Going for the One" and Genesis´ "Wind and Wuthering" the same day in 1977 when i was 14 years old. Boy, did these albums impregnate my brain.

There's one song from this album, "Turn of the Century". You should react to it. And Paralles too.

"Workings of Man crying out from the fire set aflame, by his blindness to see, that the warmth of his being, is promised for his seeing his reaching so clearly" I remember being skeptical that YES could produce another Grand Masterpiece, after consuming everything by them up to the release of this album. Once again Yes blew me away.😂😂

THE GREATEST LAST MASTERPIECE of YES's AMAZING CREATIONS and of modern music in general!

Finally, someone remarks on Steve’s guitar work and solo in particular on this track. And to think he played that solo on a Rickenbacker electric 12 string!

in the summer of '77 i was "awakened" to progressive rock,first by pink floyd's animals, then by yes' going for the one album. side 2 became the favorite of myself and the girl who lived across the street from me. we would get high in her bedroom and play side 2 over and over all summer. in the 90s i got to see yes in a special performance including all past and present members of the band. the encore was,of course, awaken. so this song will always hold a special place in my heart.

YES❗️AWAKEN ❗️MASTERPIECE❗️The greatest band on this or any other planet❗️My second family for 55 years. 214 shows. Enjoy the journey❗️😎

Truly amazing spiritual music. The musicianship is OUTSTANDING!!!! So glad they made tons of music. : )

The section beginning "Workings of man" is a true circle of fifths in 3/8, which continues almost to the end of the song.

It doesn't matter how many times I hear this, it always, always takes me somewhere almost overwhelming. My children know to play this at my funeral.

Saw Yes in Ft Worth Tx when this album came out. I was working at the airport where they came in and got to meet them and their staff. Nice people and they invited us to have lunch on the plane. I was already a Yes fan and this song, for me, is my favorite. Great guys on and off the stage. A great musical memory!! Thanks Brandon for another great selection!!!!

This is arguably their highest creation, and it is certainly right up there with CTTE and GOD, as well as Tales and And. Jon w/Todmobile & Iceland Orchestra is equally sublime, if not, alas, more sublime, ethereal, elysian, supernal, heavenly. And on that version it ends in Heaven with the choir of angels, not back on earth with guitar. Your commentary was wise beyond your years. We are all spiritual prodigal sons and daughters.

Rick has previously said that this is his favorite song from Yes

I have no religion, but this song takes you to heaven every time since 1977

Music just for yourself to feel one with the universe...Going for the one. In my opinion, the greatest last theme of Yes

Seen them in concert 23 times. Whenever Rick plays the Church Organ, the floor would always rumble.

You should react to the live version of Awaken by Jon Anderson the the icelandic band Todmobile, backed by full orchestra and choir. It’s the greatest musical performance of any genre ever.

One of their best. One of any’s best 🌺

No words just stunned silence every time………and i must have heard it 1000 times.

This is a Masterpiece from the Great YES 💫❤️☝️ thanks for the reaction bro 💫☝️

Great reaction to an amazing song!!!

Amazing Jon still sings these songs so well at almost 79 years old next month.

Their ultimate song.

I LOVE IT.. a new "YES" convert.. Right on, brother. I am blessed to have seen this original band over 17 times over the last 40+ years. I've watched A LOT of reaction videos with this generation never have been exposed to the Prog music of the 70s. Every one of you that do reaction videos.. ALL have reacted with amazement to this song and Close to the Edge. Even a rapper, said, it was the most incredible music he's ever heard.. they all say it.. Dive into Prog, you'll be hooked, it's the ultimate musical genre.. for the intellectual and feeling and spiritual people as well.

The song begins for me at 7:45. But the part that has all the hairs on my arms standing up with shivers running down my spine is when Rick Wakemen plays the organ at 18:10 in you video. Then at 18:45 I loose it and it always moves me to tears when that deep booming organ sounds out! Awe-inspiring!

...Like the time I ran away Turned around and you were standing close to me Like the time I ran away Turned around and you were standing close to me 🙏❤🌹 Chris & Alan 🌹❤🙏

Jon, Chris, Steve, Rick, and Alan were the perfect five to get together to produce this gem. I wonder if they knew when they were rehearsing this piece that it would become epic because the Going for the One album is filled with great material.

Your Background setting of the skies with clouds is aproppiate for this Heavenly music...."Awaken." Great reaction!

Oh! "Wonderous stories too.

Great reaction to this beloved Yes song. This song was the encore at a show at the Riverport venue in St. Louis County during the early 90s. Yes made this song last for at least 22 minutes (I looked at my watch when I realized they were actually playing "Awaken" - because I KNEW it was gonna be epic). Yes sent me zooming through the galaxy - it was absolutely glorious. I noticed a giant spider hanging on a long thread of silk from the metal sunshade, gently swaying in the night breeze suspended about 20 feet above the crowd while this song was being performed. Just magical. Oh... the "opening act" for this show was a recording of Igor Stravinsky's glorious "Firebird Suite," followed by Yes tearing into "Siberian Khatru." The best concert I've been to.

I am in awe of how much of this work you digested in a single sitting of audio. It took me years and actually seeing it performed to gather it all in. Great reaction. One thing that I missed on this for years was Steve How's subtle steel guitar work. That instrument could have easily overwhelmed the rest of the arrangement, but Steve reigned it in perfectly.

Oh my word, you’ve just popped up with this. My Favourite Yes Song. I’m on it now, to see how you feel about it, Brandon. Genius. ‘Epic Masterpiece’. Goosebumps all the way. Nothing can beat this original Studio Recording, for me. But here’s a couple of special Live versions of ‘Awaken’, for your own personal pleasure. So you can see the Masters at work. First, Yes at the ‘Montreux Jazz Festival’, 2003. The 5 from this original Studio recording, Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman and Alan White. A magical performance. Genius! ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nDXccU0xgNo.html And here’s another phenomenal extra special Live performance of ‘Awaken’, from 2013. It’s Jon Anderson performing with the Icelandic Rock/Pop Band, ‘Todmobile’. You won’t regret watching this, it’s absolutely sensational. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-d_Va3e_52TE.html Expected you to love it Brandon. Incidentally, Jon plays Harp on this stunning track. Also from this Album, I believe ‘Turn of the Century’ will give you chills too. And for a beautiful short song, ‘Wondrous Stories’. Just my own feelings as always. And as you said Brandon, Awaken is Heavenly, Indeed. 🎶❤️🎶

You would read about upcoming albums in the newspapers and had to wait until they hit the stores. I did a lot of that with Yes. Saw their 'Going for the One' tour in 1977 or 78 when they were on their revolving stage. It was great.

Absolutely my all-time favorite Yes song. Now you know why. Love your channel.

I love Close To The Edge but when this came out it became my favorite Yes track. I used to take a copy with me to music stores to test speakers. It has everything. Doug Helvering pointed out a unique aspect of the tune in that there are a couple sections where they travel through the entire chromatic circle of fifths. It is absolutely amazing from beginning to end.

Came for the piano intro, stayed for Chris Squire(RIP) on bass

For me their best track. From controversially their best album.

I believe this is their greatest accomplishment. Wonderful music.

Yes, thx 🙏🏼✌️

No other human beings can do this. Like this.

I saw them play this live in 1991. My first time hearing it. Been my favorite piece from any genre ever since. Perfection.

For me one of their best pieces of art !

Great commentary! Nobody does it better than YES, the greatest band in the history of music, anywhere!🤩

So glad you've experienced this masterpiece of masterpieces. My personal favourite piece of any artist of any genre & I'm sure many prog fans would feel the same. I must have listened to it including the magnificent live versions over 1000 times since first falling in love with it 46 years ago. If I could take one piece of music from this life through eternity with me it would be Awaken. Along with Close to the edge & The gates of delirium it sits atop the holy trinity of Yes classic epics. Jon once commented that in Awaken he realised the pinnacle of his life's work with Yes. Amen to that! Cheers

Absolutely my favourite Yes song and I had the honor of seeing them perform it live.

Thanks!

I knew you'd love this one! Yes has so much more in store. The album Going for the one is great start to finish.

My favorite tune of all time.

I knew you would love this, everyone does. My favourite piece of music from my life of music. So glad I shared my time on this world when Yes were at their peak. I saw this show in London, 20 ft in front of Chris Squire..... 🙏🎼🎵🎶🖖

I have a special love for musical compositions that start out quiet and simple, with one or two instruments or a cappella, with a subsequent gradual build up of sounds...not necessarily volume...sounds, whether that be added instruments, complexity, or even tempo. There is a Latin term I happened upon long ago, festina lente, that is related to this in concept, but it isn't just about tempo or loudness. Another example of what I mean is my favorite Genesis song, Carpet Crawlers.

Yes may be the ultimate band of musicians.

It was Jon Anderson I believe who said "Awaken" is their finest work. I have to agree. Such a transcendent emotional composition. The second time that modulating chord sequence enters near the end, spiraling upward with growing intensity, it is just too beautiful. Chokes me up. I've heard Yes perform this song live twice with Chris Squire using a specific multineck bass just for this tune. Sublime music.

First saw Yes in 1972 when they played the Yes album in a college in London and have seen them live many times since. Awaken is an epic and for me even beats CTTE as their best song. Love your reactions Brandon.

It speaks for itself… life is all the better for this. Thanks.

As someone posted elsewhere on RU-vid, Awaken is not a song, it's an experience.

Your level of presence is most appreciated Brandon - these are not necessarily easy pieces to react to. You honour these artists in a unique way. You also provide the opportunity to some who may have kept on walking, to sit down and sip from the experience a while. Yes, Kate Bush and Pat Metheny Group - they all get me naturally high. They transport the listener on the proverbial persian carpet, to spiritual heights and welcomed depths. Thank you!!

I first encountered YES's work in 1970 with the release of "Fragile". I own almost all of their albums. I re-listen to them regularly as an addiction to creative genius and sublime complexity. Impossible to be satisfied, the discovery is infinite. A bottomless pit. More than fifty years later, the magic still works. For me, that they could conceive such compositions will remain a real mystery... and "Awaken" is, like so many of their compositions, one of these enigmas, one of these miracles. Thanks.

Absolute masterpiece. The soundscapes they created are so surreal. Probably my second favorite of the "big 3" (after "Gates of Delirium"), but all three (including CTTE) are masterpieces in their own rights. What a return for Rick Wakeman, following his absence on "Relayer," huh?

A masterpiece, one of many, by this amazing band. I was lucky to see them live during the Union tour with almost all members present. Both Tony Kay and Rick Wakeman on keyboards . And off course a fantastic live performance of Awaken.

This blew my mind in the headphones 😊🇬🇧🤘 Also Don’t Kill The Whale

I saw Yes in Kansas City in the round when they toured this album. I went to a lot of Yes concerts, but I drove a long way to the one in Kansas City with the main purpose of seeing “Awaken” performed live. I was not disappointed.

This has been my “centering” music for almost three decades. High vibration, yet HERE we can be. The holy is most holy in the mundane. We don’t need cults or gods or ideologies. We can be, and ARE, in the now. The holy is in the love of the partner that waited for you to turn back, and without needing an apology, and said “YES”!

I'm pretty sure this plays on loop in Heaven.

bought this LP when i was 12 years old... still one of the best LPs ever made

Somehow this song gets better with age.

Nice touch with the sky and clouds, it really fits this song.. KUDOs, mate... This song is one of the greatest epic prog pieces.. (Close to the Edge is known as the one of first major progressive rock epic piece, and has set the standard for the epic songs/albums you hear today and ever since. Long live PROG

Excellent reaction to an excellent song; a spiritual journey indeed 😇

Hi. Loving your reactions and comments on these amazing bands and musicians. Enjoying your first time listens, reactions to Yes, Genesis, Jethro Tull etc.....This is a remarkable, beautiful and incredible song. I love all music but my favorite genre has always been progressive rock. Been a big fan of Genesis and Yes since 1978 when I first bought Going for the one by Yes and And ten there were three by Genesis. Exploring these rabbit holes is wonderful.... Gerald

7:41 Love this part! This is maybe my 5th or 6th favorite Yes album (due to my love and respect for The Yes Album, Fragile, Close to the Edge, and Relayer) but it isn't by any means a bad one, and this is a great song with one of Jon Anderson's most moving vocal performances.

"Awaken" is more than just a song; it is a religious experience! I could listen to this masterpiece 10 million times and never tire of it. That was Jon Anderson playing the harp. Alan White plays tuned percussion during that long ethereal section. And Rick Wakeman's church organ was recorded over a phone line, if you can believe it. That's how clear the phone lines in Switzerland were in 1977. It must have been an early version of fiber optics. "Awaken" is the pinnacle of Yes music. It is the favorite song of theirs by both the fans and Jon Anderson. He called the track their first true masterwork and I am inclined to agree with him. Great reaction, Brandon. And I look forward to more Yes reactions in the near future. Have a great one! 😃

Perfect backdrop. 😂

Excellent review my friend - fun to re-listen and relive thru your reaction 😘

Great reaction to this masterpiece. In 1978 I took this album to an electronics shop to shop for speakers. Several store employees became Yes fans that day. I still have my JBL bookcase speakers. After all these years I have not yet heard any piece of music impress me more.

Thanks for reviewing this magical song. I haven’t heard this as often as I need to. But upon my first listen to, I was hooked. It’s a very inspirational piece that definitely rates up there with the Gates of Delirium and Close to the Edge as one greatest of the lesser known Yes songs. And it was particularly special, as was the album “ Going for the One “ , marking Wakemen’s return to the band after soloing for a few years prior to. “ Parallels “ is another winner from the same album, a must hear. I’m happy you discovered this remarkable gem.

Greetings! First time viewer here. I enjoyed your reaction to Awaken and truly appreciate your interpretation of the lyrics. While Jon Anderson's Olias of Sunhillow is my favorite album of all time, side 2 of Going For The One, consisting of the tracks Wonderous Stories and Awaken is my favorite album side ever. Besides the majesty of the music, for me it is the theme of the lyrics of the two songs which tie them together. I have heard that Steve Howe considers them one complete track, but only from another commenter on RU-vid, so I have no idea how true that is. In Wondrous Stories, we are with a spiritual acolyte on his journey with his spiritual guide, be it a Priest, Rabbi, Guru/Master, Pastor, etc. His teacher feels the seeker has progressed well, but the acolyte isn't quite ready to continue his journey on his own, and retreats to be back in the welcoming warmth of his spiritual community and his teacher's guidance. Not a bad thing in the least, and something to celebrate. In Awaken, the seeker has progressed further, and is ready to enter Nirvana/inner bliss on their own. I feel the mystical ethereal section is the seeker getting ever closer and the majestic organ crescendo is him attaining the glory of Nirvana for himself. Then, as the opening verse is repeated, the seeker is coming back to the mundane world and as Anderson sings: Like the time I run away And turned around And you were standing close to me (2×) Finds his spiritual guide and community still there to support him on his journey and welcome him home. That final guitar lick by Steve Howe completes the journey back home and brings it to closure. It is my one main complaint of the Jon Anderson and Toddmobile live performance of Awaken; that final guitar lick is missing. I'm so glad you enjoyed this.

Happy weekend my friend! What a masterpiece! I had the pleasure to see this live back in ‘91 during the Union tour. That was an amazing tour(I saw it twice)! To imagine both Steve Howe and Trevor Rabin 25:49 on guitars, both Alan White and Bill Bruford on drums, both Rick Wakeman and Tony Kaye on keyboards, Chris Squire on bass and of course Jon Anderson on vocals. This piece just transports you into another plane. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s choice. Are we going to see ATTWT back, or another surprise??

Hi Brandon. Loved the epic run in towards the end but I'm still not a convert. I'm still 'In the cage' with all my Genesis masterpieces. I escaped yesterday and re-discovered Pulp- 'Common people', An Aussi band Easybeats- 'Friday on my mind', (very 60's), and I'm also still hoping you'll air John Miles- 'Music' (at the proms). All classics but totally different genres. Thanks.

Off my favourite album by YES. I remember it coming out in triple gatefold thinking what a change in LP artform from previous LPs and in many ways the music changed too. For the better if that was possible. Try Turn of the Century if you don’t think you can hear better than Awaken!

Check out the Todmobile version with Jon Anderson singing live in Iceland (I suppose)

Try Parallels next.

Top tier Yes! Love it so much. Keep on progging in the free world! 😅

Great work Brandon. Thank god we have you on RU-vid to pull all these gems off the shelf one more time 🤓 One of my favourite Yes tunes. I bought the Yes Live at Montreaux DVD several years ago (from Asda supermarket of all places) and there's an excellent version on there too 😁

A wise man once said that Genesis had more highs than Yes but they could never get as high as them!

My brother you started to do the same bands over and over againt but there are so much in 70s yet to be discovered. Listen to Tubular Bells pt.1 by Mike Oldfield, you will be glad that I recomended it, peace!

The whole album is perfect. Listen to the rest of it. Jon Anderson has a lot of amazing solo stuff, FYI.

That was great, but if you want to see John 40 years later doing it with a four orchestra with Todd Mobile, it is fantastic. Even better than this. I think you should do it now while it's fresh in your mind. It is fantastic. It'll take you farther than you ever wanted to go. Check it out. Todd Mobile with John Anderson and full orchestra choir and band

That's a good background for this heavenly song. This was about heaven and a higher power. Another masterpiece, "The Gates of Delirium" is about war. There rest of the Going for the One album is also good. "Onward" a short one which sort of goes with "Awaken" and "Turn of the Century" are some very good ones.

Looking back I thought classical music was just boring, and I sure the new generation with the must have instant programmed boom gratification will simply miss the point. If you have passion and look to the past with respect, and build from there, Yes this is what can happen, timeless music. Thanks again for a heart felt review.

Please do LIGHT OF DAY - LITTLE RIVER BAND

Your Music Mirrors Your Mind Song suggestion: Tubular Bells Band/Artist: Mike Oldfield Album: Tubular Bells I hope you would be enthusiastic by this masterpiece

Yeah, it’s overwhelmingly good. Watch out for the harp part in the middle played by Jon Anderson. Next up, Gates? I’d be interested in how you rank this, CTTE, and Gates of Delirium ❤❤❤

If anything could pack the cosmos into our human meat suits, THIS would be it! One of my very favorite things done by any band ever. It is a masterwork.

My law partner did the divorce for his best friend, who was a bit of a philanderer whose unfaithfulness eventually destroyed the marriage. The wife was a bit loony, but very kind and sweet. The Judgment provided for generous alimony unless the wife, who had been a mother and a housewife for decades, could become and remain employed. The day after the Judge signed the Judgment of Divorce, my partner hired the ex-wife as a receptionist/secretary so his good friend would never have to pay a penny of alimony. She remained employed with us until the ravages of old age ruined her physical ability to get out of bed and make it to the office. So, we had a dodgy, kind, sweet, and elderly woman working in the office for years and years. I am sure she had never heard anything by Yes in all of her long lifetime. But she liked to play soft rock on the radio while she worked up in the lobby of the office, and I'd catch her sometimes softly singing along to some of the hits, or humming along to the melody. So, when Yes came to town on The Ladder tour, I bought her a ticket and took her to the concert. It was the first rock concert she had ever attended. It was "festival seating", meaning the main floor was standing only. She walked with a cane, but we found a good spot for her, up near the stage, with a retaining wall for her to lean upon. Yes didn't play "Awaken" that night, but they did play a nice selection of their classic songs as well as most of The Ladder. I glanced over at her midway through the concert. She had tears streaming down her face, ruining her make-up. "It's music from Heaven, music of the angels", she explained. She was, of course, correct.

Brandon, after you're done reacting to the Genesis, Yes, and Led Zeppelin discography back to 1980, you're going to realize why I call these 3 MEGA bands, like alien bands.