Dear friend, greetings from Spain. I started watching your videos because I'm an unconditional fan of Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler, and I continue to watch them because of your talent for analysis. I must tell you that I've been a fan of Mark Knopfler since the 80s. I've seen hundreds of interviews, analyses, and listened to/read everything related to his music, and I promise you, I've never seen anyone analyze Mark's guitar style so well. It's impressive how quickly you grasp the essence of his playing and how well you replicate it in real-time reactions to the videos. Undoubtedly, you are an excellent guitarist and musician. My sincere congratulations. By the way, it's fantastic even when you play on top of Mark at the same time. Anyone who wants to hear it without you can watch the original video. Specifically, I loved it when you analyzed "Sultans of Swing" in Alchemy. As I said, congratulations. I've never seen such accurate analysis of the music and technique of, in my opinion, the best of all, Sir Mark Knopfler. Best regards, my friend.
Oh, thank you so much for taking time and writing this. There are many critical voices in my head and I often skim over the positive comments and focus on the negative and how to improve - human nature, I guess. Your comment however, I really stopped to appreciate the compliments and let it resonate, thank you for the dose of motivation! 🙏🔥🎸
I completely agree. Anyone who wants to see or listen to the song uninterrupted is free to watch the original video. This is a reaction video. Commenting and pausing should be expected. And playing along, exploring the music, style etc..is great.@@FaanaMusic
Absolutamente de acuerdo con mi compatriota, es un placer ver su trabajo, comentarios y reacciones. Me siento muy identificado con su sensibilidad musical. Un abrazo desde España, con una música que ha sido y es la banda sonora de mi vida, y que me enseño a amar otras y otros maravilloso músicos.
No denying it's great, but I prefer other versions of Sultans of Swing. I find the Alchemy one too ... lachyrmose, bespoke-nostalgic, purposefully sad. I can't find the version I meant to suggest, but this very basic one, to me, is less ... laden. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-6Ejga4kJUts.html
I am glad you took the time to explain your own story and why you haven't heard these artists before. And after telling us that I can really see the fascination and wonder in your reactions. This is maybe why I am subconsciously drawn to your style, keep it going, thanks for putting your unique perspective onto the amazing classics.
@@CarinTibellAhlin Yes, they are not just a reaction from someone with no musical experience, they are analyses from a serious musician who not only knows what he is talking about but also from a fresh perspective.
Maybe now you want to try reacting to So Far Away, OZ Tour New Zeeland, they call it the Calypso Version. It is totally different from the original version and my favorite (Spoiler: played on acoustic guitar). You might also like this here: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-kNKvoVMcslk.html Mark brought together 60 artists to re-record one of his iconic songs. Artists such as David Gilmor, Joe Walsh, Ringo Star, Pete Townshed, Joe Bonamassa among others. It is worth it.
Hi there, I’m watching all your excellent reactions to Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler, and wonder if you have checked any of Mark’s brilliant Solo repertoire with his longstanding highly accomplished Solo band. If not perhaps you might like to give this poignant song a whirl ‘Mark Knopfler - Hill Farmer’s Blues - Cordoba 2010’. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Py9SDdYGFrQ.htmlsi=1X9kwqJxpIULQlH1 Mark is sitting in a special chair for this concert as he was recovering from a back injury. In my understanding Mark’s insightful lyrics concern a time in 2001 when cattle farms in County Durham, England were hit by an epidemic of foot & mouth disease, resulting in 6 million cattle having to be slaughtered. The farmer Mark is voicing had borne this plight himself on his own farm, at the same time discovering his wife had been unfaithful to him, hence he’s a man in emotional pain, and the lyrics & Mark’s crying guitar speak for themselves. Tow Law is a town in County Durham. I find this song to be both stunningly beautiful and heart-wrenching. I❤MK
People screaming in the front row of stuff like this have always confused me. I’d be standing there with my eyes wide open in anticipation, not wanting to miss anything. Why would you scream over the little details?! Idk, maybe that’s just me.
Maybe they're feeling the music so deeply already that they just can't help but make noise as an expression of their emotions.. I'm not sure, I usually dance and beat my chest rhythmically when I'm really into it.
You have no idea how much you just made me smile by mentioning The Alan Parsons Project - still one of my favourite bands more than 40 years after I first heard them 😊
Great choice of quote to close. As a non native speaker you might not know the expression "to be in dire straits" means to be in a bad or desperate situation. But you got there through the music. Excellent comments.
Yes, it does indeed; you are very much to the point. In human kinetics very often the arms and legs that are considered "bad" tend to follow the motion of the body, excactly because it is difficult for them to perform autonomous movements (hence: "bad"). This is why, for example, you may write using the right hand (if you are "right-handed"), but you will unconsiously put strength to your left arm if you want to push something hard. Or use your "bad" left arm to keep the beat if you are a drummer. Knopfler being left-handed uses the "bad" right hand to pick the strings in contrast to almost all the guitar players we know. But, apart from "picking" the strings with the fingers, he also gives tempo using the rest of his strong, "bad" right arm as a semi-drum following a standard rythm. Up and down, up and down, dum pam dumapam dum pam dumapam.. This is the essence of his playing, adding standard rythm with the arm to the strings finger picking at the same time. The magic is there, at the "bad" right arm
Thank you for your reaction and comments to these wonderful performances by DS and MK … you contribute to this experience by explaining the mastership of these performances. When hearing this it goes straight to the heart and your quote from the book was absolutely spot on . Please keep doing these excellent discoveries
Thank you! 🙏 Comments like yours make me realize that what I do makes some sense. It's so cool to be able to connect with people from all around the world and share our love for great music! ❤️
It's the matter of age. I am Czech. I know Dire Straits, I know Stevie Wonder and many other west songs. Since 80's. I used to listen austrian radio Ö3 in the era of socialism and my friends and neighbours listen to west music too and watched austrian TV ORF.. And czechoslovak state radio Hvězda played about about 2 west songs in an hour. But I remember my sister back then told me that she just recorded (to a cassette) from Hvězda new song by Falco - Sound of musik (1986) and I was suprised the version was different from the single version of the song I recorded from the austrian radio.. And there were special night programs in CS radios where music like Dire Straits were played. Not many, but not all was forbiden.. Yes it was harder to get to good music from West part of the world..
My late husband would put on headphones, close his eyes and lose himself in this track, there would tears rolling down his cheeks it moved him so much.
The version of ‘Private Investigations’ fromm Alchemy is better. This one, the mix sounds like mush:all the instruments are overlapping all the other instruments, leaving no room for clarity. (I also happen to be a mix engineer by profession.) belief it is the band’s enormous bloated nest that were partially responsible for its downfall. By 1988/1990 they were, like, an 8-piece band or something ridiculous like that. At that point, it ain’t rock & roll anymore.
I attended this tour in Canada, it was my first concert. Memorable and transformative experience. But the best performance of this song is Live at Wembley Stadium: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xmLNKATlwJw.html
I think you will find the differences in the improvisations between this and the Alchemy versions quite intriguing - the same song, but also very different it's amazing!
I never knew what I was expoecting when I brought Love over Gold home on vinyl back in '82. Private Investigations gave me goosebumps then, and still does. It is my ALL time favourite Dire Straits song, and Telegraph Road on the same album is my second favourite song. I dont think Dire Straits ever beat this album, and I am in awe at how quickly you picked up on the song structure. I hope you listen to the rest of the album now. Klobouk dolů před tebou (apologies if Google messed that up!) :) By the way, my Dad said I had been conned into buying an album with just 5 tracks on it - until I played Private Investigations and Telegraph Road to him :)
A 67 ans j’adore toujours autant Mark et Dire straits depuis 1978 date de leur premier album. Chaque morceau de DS raconte une histoire et la musique vient comme un plus pour rendre toute cette beauté magnifiée.....bref Mark aura marqué son passage de façon magistrale et pour très longtemps.
Thanks for reacting to this wonderful song. MK mentioned that the song was inspired by Raymond Chandler novels (such as the Big Sleep). You can picture in your mind these dark film noir detective movies of the 40s when listening to this song. I really appreciate your commentary and your desire to explore and share knowledge on art and music. I only wish that I could play the Guitar myself. Glad to learn you're from the Czech Republic. Prague is one of my favorite cities, I've been their three times and the Czech people are so nice.
If you ask me, Dire Straits were at their peak in the 90's. This back and forth between the sax and the guitar is just great. They also incorporated it into the version of "Sultans of Swing" from that time.
Sorry, sadly, not at all. The band split up in 1992 after the tour. Reason was: It was too big and too much for Mark. "On every street" didn´t had the charm of "Brothers in Arms" and this stadia-tour didn´t had the charm of the arena-tour in 1986/7 - Bass-Player John Illsley always was in Mark´s ear for a reuinon, but he just didn´t want to do world tours in big stadia anymore. For me their peak was "Brothers in arms"-Album and tour in 1985/86. Don´t get me wrong. I was at shows of both tours - and miss them until today.
Some do not realize the depth of thought which has gone into many of the songs written by MK. Pl with it's almost classical learning towards Spanish guitar playing throughout, could be an Inquisition maybe??? The Spanish Inquisition??? Very clever if this is a hidden meaning. But MK is such a great gift to the music industry. IMO.
The guitar he is playing here is known as a Gibson Chet Atkins CE, it is the same guitar he play's "So far away" the calypso version the final OZ, Australia which you honestly have to watch and I think you will love it.
Hi, the guitar here is his Ramirez that was made in 1990, if you look carefully you can see its a full depth guitar, the chet atkins model was half the thickness, and was used on the alchemy concert and the brothers in arms tour, check out live at Wembley 85, it's a lovely different version with more guitar work, he sold both guitars in the Christine's sale, crazy I miss him playing nylon guitar, take care guys
@@grahamedney2432 Actually you would be correct on this one, My mistake as the 2 are somewhat difficult to tell apart other than the thickness of them.
Love over gold (the album which has both the Telegraph Road & Private Investigation songs) is hands down my #1 favorite album with each of the songs just outstanding on their own, not to mention the new direction the band took with the addition of the brilliant Alan Clark. (My favorite DS song is a toss up between Brothers in Arms & Where do you think you'r going, but Love over gold, the song itself is probably my #4 favorite, just behind Romeo & Juliet (alchemy version). Going home (alchemy version) will be my life-send-off song, but while many of the same musicians, it's a MK song, not DS).
This song really sold the whole idea of the CD to me. Love Over Gold was one of the first albums available on CD, and this track in particular showed off just how great its signal-to-noise ratio was - those deep black silences and sudden distortion-free sparkling peaks were very impressive having grown up with vinyl or tape. While this is a great performance I really think the CD version is better in some ways -- here those deep silences are filled with crowd noise. Also, on the record, Mark puts a lot more effort into his Philip Marlowe impression. Here, not so much! This version is best appreciated knowing the recorded version, IMO.
Please react to one of the coolest female vocalists in the world. Diana Ankudinova - Queen of Goosebumps - Diana received such a title for her extraordinary unique voice. Diana's best performances - Derniere Danse, Wicked Game, Can't Help Falling in Love, California Dreamin', Sweet Dreams, Human Each of these speeches garnered over a thousand reactions. Diana is in the TOP 3 world vocalists in terms of the number of reactions (about 20 thousand reactions).
The coolest performance that will shock you and give you the biggest goosebumps! ru-vid.com/group/PLQJJG9TMmSOB4YXRUgdxA-H-Fo_sjB3kZ Protection of the video-image about partial blocking for some countries is preferable.
Yr interruption at 8.30 minutes was a total and completely stupid thing you made in yr life. We c can never, never, never stop a music seconds before the best of the best piano and guitar section of all times...
Zdravím z Prahy a mám radost, že někdo ze středu Evropy je do téhle kapely taky nadšený:) Dire Straits mě fascinují neuvěřitelnou pestrostí svého repertoáru a samozřejmě svou schopností studiovou verzi převést během koncertu v něco neopakovatelného. Doporučuji k poslechu live verzi Ride Across the River - Sydney 1986, zase je to něco úplně jiného, takové reggae bílého muže, ovšem v podání Marka... Co dodat:) Ať se daří a díky za videa!!
No need to explain why you are unfamiliar with western bands that were around during the communist era, I would have thought the reason was obvious. I’m sure those from the west (I’m guessing mostly Americans) who are critical also couldn’t name a single Czech band!
how do you describe the spanish guitar? nylon strings ? is that all? obviously very beautiful but it sounds slightly different to the regular country guitar
Nylon strings and usually wider neck. The headstock is also different, tuning pegs usually point in a different direction and strings are wired differently. You can then further distinguish between classical and more flamenco nylon string guitars, but that's way more subtle.
I've always loved the way Mark Knopfler paint's a picture and creates an atmosphere with music and the way he sings. This is a perfect example, I get a mental picture of a single street lamp on a foggy night, a lone man leaning on the post,full-length trench coat, collar up ,smoking hat lowered,watching . When the song goes into the heat beat sound it's action time, excitement, danger for the detective/watcher. It's just brilliant storytelling with perfect music and Mark's sing is right on for target for the atmosphere.
Has always loved Dire Straits. I want to suggest something to you. You don't have to do a reaction to this but check out the guitar playing and piana playing of Alejandro Aranda during his American Idol journey a few years ago. Speaking of unique!! Greetings from South Africa
If you haven't already, please take a look at Classical Gas. Played by the composer, Mason Williams. There are many versions on You Tube - see what you think!
You will also love "Calling Elvis" aned "Romeo and Juliet" from the same concert, I'm sure of it. Phil Palmer is the second guitarist here, he also played with Eric Clapton and Tina Turner, and BTW: Mark also wrote the song "Private dancer" which was recorded by Tina Turner, all of Dire Straits played on it except Mark, the solo was played by Jeff Beck instead, but Mark never liked that solo.
I think they were getting too big for their trousers at this point. IMO, Dire Straits were never better when they were a 4-piece pub band. My favourite concert? Live on Rockpalast, 1979. However, this tune, ‘Telegraph Road’, ‘Brothers In Arms’, and ‘On Every Street’ are notable exceptions, IMO. You said that Mark has his own unique style-this is true. However, it’s not difficult to trace the roots of his style; he wears his influences on his sleeve. Chet Atkins and J.J. Cale come especially to mind; in fact, Mark and Chet made a great little record together, called *Neck and Neck*. It’s on RU-vid and Spotify, if you want to check it out. As a fellow guitarist, I think you’ll enjoy it for the riffs alone, but it’s also just two master guitarists clearly enjoying themselves. It is a fun album-light-hearted and filled with a joy for music that is palpable. On the subject of post-Dire Straits Mark Knopfler records, I love every lastvobe of them; however, I f I had to pick two favourites, I think they’d be *Sailing To Philadelphia * and *Get Lucky*. Mark was born in Scotland, and in his solo albums,you can hear much more of the influence of Scottish folk music on his tunes. Two of my favourites are ‘Border Reiver’ and ‘What It Is’. Check them out on your own, at least, even if don’t put them on your channel you’ll be glad you did. Mark’s talent for beautiful, compelling, melodies with a distinctly blue-collar feel didn’t vanish when Dire Straits disbanded.
Had to give you a thumbs up at the first seconds. I´m Austrian, which Czech roots - of course a lot of Czechs came to Vienna in Monarchy. But I grew up with Dire Straits - and a big spoiler. This song used to end in a big "Thank you" - followed with "Sultans of Swings"...
I've been a fan of Dire straits a long time now, in fact since the 80's, I know people are requesting live performances because they are good and whatnot, no disrespect, but for the first listen i would always recommend the studio version. This is for people that are already acquainted with the song.
Lovely observations and notes, great reaction. :), your interest in DS/MK makes me think back to 1982/83, when at 10/11 I was introduced to them for the first time... You can contrast MK's facial expressions here with about 8 years earlier with the SOS Alchemy time... He had made up his mind this was it, he was done with big bands and arenas.
The one from the Alchemy Tour in 1983 is better in my opinion. This is good, but the arrangement on the Alchemy version in 83 is better, because it’s less ‘cluttered’. It’s really cut back compared to this performance and the dichotomy between acoustic and electric guitar is much more defined. Mark really does a LOT more in that version, while actually playing less, if that makes sense. It’s a masterpiece. Like all his compositions, arrangements and of course, his inimitable playing. I encourage you to try and find the Alchemy version, or evenm the original studio recording, which is also impressive, although not as good as live, imho.
If you're interested, I transcribed this song some time ago. Just for fun and study :) ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-fYwDidvWi0A.html
Unlike other reaction videos, your reactions are unique and quite informative since you pick up the notes and subtleties from the guitar playing, love it man !! Czech Republic huh, been to Prague once, very hot chicks :)
@@FaanaMusic Hi there, have a question, the small Spanish licks you were playing, I'm guessing you know the Spanish style as well. Would you be able to teach me online ? I know you are a teacher, so want to find out if you can take classes for me, will pay. Play a little guitar, but not good at all but always loved the Spanish guitar style and tone. I live in the US, so please let me know if there's a website you have that I can sign up for Thanks !!
No live or even video version has the unique character and atmosphere of the original album version. It's just my opinion. Many people disagree with this, but I don't care.
Well said, people today don't realise how hard it was in the eastern block to hear music from the west. I was serving her majesty in 1980 so i was well aware of the truth behind the curtain. Great reaction
Have you heard Tina Turner's Private Dancer? It's a Dire Straits song but with Jeff Beck instead of Mark, it was going to be on this album but it made no sense with Mark singing it.
Another wonderful Dire Straits performance and summary. I believe you would appreciate Cutting Crew live in 2007 at Rockpalast with (I just) 'Died in your arms'. An excellent live track that mirrors electric guitar against acoustic guitar. It's also an ear worm.
This was a mess, listen the original studio version, that one was pretty cool. ( that one is much simplier and clean ) If you are interested in fingerstyle covers, then the one by Yoni Schlesinger is the best by far,
No, im not a fan, but i like this song, i know this album from the vinyl record, it was amongst the first audiophile recordings i heared, so it made a big impression. I dont like the improvised solos of the live performance at all, the original is well planned and superior.
@@RideAcrossTheRiverSure, and there are some people like Gary Moore, or Elizabeth Ziman who are actually have better live performances than studio recordings, but this live performance was far from perfect, and it is not the best starting point to "introduce" a band or a song if there are better versions. But im not here to putting blame to anyone, just pointed out that there are options.
Great stuff here. I know the Dire Straits many years and saw one concert of the 'On the night' Tour 1992. This particular concert shown in the Video was in France in Niems. The location was Arènes de Nîmes. I saw the concert in Rotterdam and this was mindblowing! So thank you for your analyses, that makes me see the playing of Mark Knopfler in a different point of view.
You should react to Wishbone Ash, the first rock band to feature twin lead guitar, playing harmonies, and no keyboard. Their first album was 1970, and have to-date 26 studio albums. They are still touring with one original member Andy Powell. Argus released in 1972 is considered their best, with Sometime World, The King Will Come and Warrior as stand out tracks.
You can check more Mark clasicf on So far away from live Sydney 86 called calypso version. Or Neck and Neck album with Chet Atkins. Btw spanish? What i have on mind - Music from movie Altamira by Mark with Antonio Banderas ;)
Although you probably know him as a guitar teacher, I think it would be interesting for you to make a video about Paco de Lucia, as he will surely be a discovery for many of your followers. I leave you as a main choice one of his best known songs Entre dos aguas, and as a second course I would recommend the Mediterranean Sundance with Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2oyhlad64-s.html - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-ADwfyxpriAM.html
Mark Knofler`s style of picking comes directly from early country blues guitarists like Blind Willie McTell, Mississippi John Hurt etc. The style is characterised by a syncopated bass line that alternates between the 6th and 4th strings of the guitar ( sometimes includes the 5th string) these strings are played with the thumb. The fingers play the treble strings of the guitar against this steady bass line. Each finger is given a string to play unlike in classical music where each finger is given a note to play so ,to give an example ,if the same note was to be played in succession in blues the same finger would play that note but in classical music two different fingers would be allocated the job. The genius of Mark`s playing was to transfer the skill and techniques he had learnt from early country blues music into ideas of rock . Because Mark had mastered these esoteric skills it made it very difficult for others to replicate his technique thus giving him that characteristic sound . A friend of mine once said “The best music is that which can be directly traced back to its ethnic roots” this I believe is an excellent example of that premise.
“Private Investigations” has long been my favorite Knopfler tune and constantly in my rotation. A song about personal introspection with mood to fit. This concert rendition is very different, yet very much the same as the studio version. So glad you took it on to critique. Simple and complex at the same time.
I wrote a tone poem in high school and used Private Investigations for inspiration. Was pretty funny because my teacher was a massive Dire Straits fan and got it right away lol. Was one of my better ones, if a bit derivative.
I see you've become a big fan of Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler by now. This concert was recorded in the arena of Nimes, in the South of France, in 1992 if I'm not mistaken.