Beale Street is THE street in Memphis. Memphis is the home of Graceland, the old recording studios are now museums, have lunch at BB Kings and then ribs at Marlowes, by way of a pink cadillac ride from the hotel... the history of soul and blues music is a trip back in time.
Marc Cohn's life journey before becoming a successful artist/songwriter. All the names he mentioned in the song are real people he met (with exception of Elvis) during this journey. There is a youtube video where he talks about that journey.
I don't know who dreamed up this "reaction" concept but I'm so glad they did. I really love a newer generation appreciating some great songs that may have been made before they were even born. Great music is timeless, and these reactions prove it. And these folks are open to experiencing it.
I have heard this song hundreds, maybe thousands of times in my lifetime. even as a former radio broadcaster. I LOVE IT. I have never seen the video. If I had, it wasn't memorable. Now I am older. To see the video and your reaction, and attention to details I had not considered before is like hearing it for the first time on a new level. Brilliant! You are my go to channel for reaction videos. - Peace and Thank you for bringing this classic to light all over again.
As a former radio broadcaster what's your opinion on "Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - Who Loves You"? I think those are some sweet harmonies as well together with a voice as if Sylvester Stallone is singing, not to mention the drums percussion and bass line driving the song to the point you can't sit still. It's just one of those old early Disco era feel good songs.
@@LogiForce86 That is a great classic song! I was 11 years old when that song was released. Frankie Valli reminds me of my parents era in college in the 50's. That song was never in rotation at the stations I worked at in the 80's and 90's but that always takes me back to my childhood. Classic harmonies reminiscent of the 70's disco, Saturday Night Fever, Bee Gees kind of vibe when I was wearing silk shirts and puka shell necklace, like my older and much cooler Southern California cousin. That is a very specific sound to a carefree time in my life. As harmonies go that song is great. However my go to music for harmonies is CSN&(sometimes)Y. 'Helplessly Hoping' and 'Teach Your Children', as well as 'Seven Bridges Road' by the Eagles are my favorite harmonies that I did play a lot of.
i have heard this song hundreds of times as well. the piano gets me every time. That switch to the lower octave at the very end just grabs me some kind of way.
I don't have many, but I have a few fond memories of listening to this album while cooking dinner with my father. And how he would stop what he was doing, clap his hand together and yell "MAM I AM TONIGHT!"
I’m right there with ya (i’ll be 47 in May). As I said in an earlier comment, I live near Little Rock in central Arkansas, only 2 1/2 to 3 hrs from Memphis. Every time I go there, I have to play this song as I’m about to cross the bridge over the Mississippi River from Arkansas into downtown Memphis. And of course sing along with it at the top of my lungs!😆
Elvis was the best friend i ever had in my entire life. we met when i was 17 yrs old. I won a radio show contest and the prize was a day with Elvis but our friendship lasted past that one day in time. All the memories of my friend are tucked safe in my heart forever. i saw him a few weeks before he passed we had a short conversation which i will never share again because people are so nasty and comment hurtful heart breaking things they do not know me but they still can't keep their mouths closed about things they know nothing about. I walk past Graceland everyday. Great reaction. love from Memphis Tn.
You were blessed. I've heard that Elvis could be your best friend or your worst enemy. You landed squarely in the "best friend" category and, even tho, I'm a little envious, I am happy that you had that man as a friend.
I was a little girl when Elvis died, we were in Kentucky visiting an old Marine Corp buddy of my dad’s. Their teen daughter ran into the living room and just yelled, “Elvis is dead!”. One of my earliest memories, I can still picture the wallpaper and furniture upholstery, her mom had the ironing board out. We had to drive home to SE OK the next day on I-40, thru Memphis. It was raining so hard, my dad actually pulled over, can’t remember him ever doing that again. As far as you could see in both directions were headlights, bumper to bumper traffic for miles and miles, all the faithful headed to Memphis. Took us hours longer to get home, never seen anything like since, it seems burned in my brain.
A long time ago I worked with a man who worked with Elvis (truck driver) before he became the Elvis we all know.. Hearing stories of the King before he was the King by a man who was down to earth was a real privilege.
YES! Thanks for telling people that. Muriel was apparently a staple at that bar and famous there if no where else. I've heard mark speak of meeting her and how he felt honored and that he literally did tell her "I'm a Christian tonight" (simply meaning he wanted to honor her and be part of her world that night, not some kind of real conversion) even though he is Jewish and he said that line really made her happy so he used it in the song. And I agree---its one of the best in the song!
@@thecityman1910 He went back a year after his original visit and played the song for her (and she enjoyed being mentioned in it). Unfortunately, she passed away before the song was actually released.
@@terminallumbago6465 I had heard him speak of that in an interview! But I didn't know she died b4 the song came out and became a hit. That is a shame. I live in TN and have been to Memphis. My best trip was during college and we played this song 100 times on the way from Knoxville to Memphis! Ended up having one of the few one night stands of my life that night with a girl I met on Beal Street! Ah.....to be young again! Life was so good and carefree. ha
Cohn has an incredible voice. I love listening to him sing. A couple other songs on that album that I really enjoy are Silver Thunderbird and Ghost Train. The lyrics in Ghost Train strike a chord with me. Listen.
The piano sounds like a music box, his voice is so real and full of lived life. I love this song and this was a wonderful and honest reaction- thank you.
@T.Griffin: Funny you should say 'music box', because the way he ended the song feels like a music box that's running on a clockwork spring, & it's winding down.
Sun Records is where Elvis and Jerry Lee and Johnny Cash cut their first records. I got to see it. They still have the original equipment and still record there. Reverand Green is Rev. Al Green. Check out Silver Thunderbird by Marc Cohn.
I love when the gospel comes out towards the end of the song with all the ladies in the background chanting “walking in Memphis” Just beautiful when the song changes to Gospel! Memphis is big in Christianity! Elvis, it’s beautiful and you feel the culture. I’m a Brazilian immigrant sense 1987 in this great nation! I lived all over this beautiful country and I’m happy these young kids are listening to history because this country are a lot! God bless America, God bless Memphis and Elvis! Hahahaha
Great song that I had forgotten about. Thanks for bringing it back into my memory! I also have never been to Memphis, but from the song I gather that Marc went there to see Graceland and Elvis, but he experienced so much more. The good old soul food cooking and country folk singing in little neighborhood bars seemed to mean even more to him because that took up the biggest part of the song.
FYI, Marc won Best New Artist Grammy the year this song came out & notice the SUN Records passing shot......loved it in the 90's & it still blows me away!!
My sister suggested my fiancé and I have True Companion at our wedding. We loved it so much it was played as we walked into our reception. 29 years ago. Great song.
Beale St. is downtown Memphis' entertainment district. If you're thinking of a trip to Memphis you might also like to hear "Calling Elvis" by Dire Straits and "Graceland" by Paul Simon.
Memphis is he home of the blues and Beale street is the house it lives in. Blues basketball and barbq. I got out of jail in 1991 at 4 am and caught the city bus home and told my dad I was going to Dallas. I have only been back to Memphis a couple of times but this song brings back great memories of a city that is a little rough but still such a great place. the good music and culture gives it a soul you can feel.
I have to say how much I love the honest reactions that she provides. Always so heartfelt! Her voice and smile are so soothing and she is a pleasure to watch. What more could you ask for?
Memphis is awesome place. Music everywhere and lot of the places there will literally give you chill bumps because of the musical history that happened there.
First time I ever heard this song it blew me away! Been one of my favorite songs ever since!!! It's now a classic to me. Good job picking out all the great parts.
This was great. One of my all time favorite songs and it’s always cool to see new people find it or getting introduced to it. You gave it an honest review and I love your energy. Beautiful smiles and your positive vibes made me an instant subscriber. Stay golden.
Now you KNOW, Ol' Steve is gonna come running to see a beautiful reactor reactin' to a beautiful song like this one 😉😊 !!! You know how to drag me back. Man, it is ALWAYS a pleasure sharing time with you 🌹 !!!
In the video there is a shot of a small store with the word SUN on it. That is the famous SUN recording studio where Elvis and many others made their first records.
Sometimes you can hear a song a million times, but if it hits you at just the right moment it can really make an impression. I remember a few years ago this song came on the radio as I was working, and for some reason I found myself tearing up. And when he got to the "Ma'-a-aaam, I am tonight..." I was a choking back sobs. I could never tell you why. Maybe I was just emotionally vulnerable at the time.
One -Eye thats so funny you said that .I was just crying listening to it . I've heard it many times over the years always liked it but never cried before !
I can’t believe more people haven’t reacted to this wonderful song, thanks so much! This is kind of silly, but I have a weird little thing I do involving this song: I only live about 2.5-3 hours away, in the Little Rock area. Every single time I go to Memphis, I have to turn on this song as I’m driving across the Mississippi River bridge from Arkansas into downtown Memphis.
This song actually encouraged me to make the "pilgrimage" to Memphis and spend some time down Beale, the home of the Blues. I don't regret it. It was a blast.
When I was 13, my Father received the worn-out hulk of a 1958 Ford Thunderbird. Swore to me that it would one day be restored, and it would be mine to drive to Senior Prom. Well, it never was, and Dad still has it in the backyard to this day. I used to resent that a bit... but then I heard "Silver Thunderbird" by Marc Cohn. That song changed my outlook. Now, I don't begrudge Dad his dream car. Maybe he'll get around to it someday, but it's his dream. I should let him dream as much as he wants, because he won't always be around to do it.
Watch Professor of Rock for a breakdown of the song and how it came about. Awesome Muriel was a school teacher who sang Gospel songs and she said he would be fine and he sang her this song and she said it would be a hit and an inspiration for everyone.
This is one of my favorite songs, the lyrics, the vocal, the music, instruments, the tempo, the story-I understand some of real experiences (I've read), it all speaks to me. Wonderful!
early on Marc sings "I'm as blue as a boy can be". But pretty soon, the song has me dancing with joy. What a song. Beautiful to see your reaction to it. I discovered you because you were linked to Marc Cohn's song. It was my pleasure to meet you today. SUBSCRIBED.
I saw an awesome interview where he gave the background of the song. He talked about writing the song about the people he met and saw there including stepping into the church and meeting Reverend Greene.
Many people think it was a tribute to Elvis. Actually, Marc was experiencing writers block as well as other things going on in his life. So, he went down to Memphis on Beale street (historical blues playing strip) and found inspiration through his experiences there. These experiences included WC Handy (blues legend) as well as Elvis and others like Muriel who was an 85 year old teacher that inspired him when he came in and played and sang many hymns with her at the small byilding called "Hollywood" in Memphis. They sang many songs and she had to whisper to him the lyrics of the hyms. She then whispered to him and said he needed to go home and write what he was meant to write. Lots of great inspiration for this song. It actually made him a big music star after writing this.
Marc Cohn is an excellent signer song writer and play the piano very well. His words are extremely descriptive and send a strong messages. Enjoy his music plenty to listen to.
Really enjoyed this reaction. I was just feeling like listening to the song but this reaction came up high in the results and figured why not. Love watching people getting into new music that I've enjoyed for so long.
This became my favorite karaoke song for a very special reason. A very close friend of mine had an unconventional wedding, and so we technically had the the reception at our favorite karaoke bar. I I got up to sing one of my favorites, and the bride and groom had their first dance to me singing this beautiful song.
![Marc Cohn - Walking in Memphis [REACTION]](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
