If the song makes you get up and dance, that is most definitely a reaction. Thexsame could be said fir the vast majority of funk. I really like their song "Roam." It is less of a party song.
They were very serious about party music. They were different from anything else out there in 1977-78, so you're not alone in having difficulty catagorizing them. They were new wave, but better. Cindy Wilson could pour her soul into a song, as you'll hear if you react to Give Me Back My Man.
It's that Savannah artistic style. Almost all the groups that come out of Savannah seem to just want to have fun with what they are doing and it translates into everyone feeling good.
Well, I'd say they ARE a serious band. There are many reasons people make music, and for them, music was happiness, music was release, music was for the sake of music. All music doesn't have to have a purpose to mean or move. I think you know that, but if you were to tell them their music wasn't serious, they would probably disagree with you. They worked VERY hard to keep that style going. The song you just played, that album, their first, is stellar. All their music was new wave greatness. You have to remember, it was a new genre of music. The likes of DEVO. If you really want to have a good time, listen on your own to the album Bouncing off the Satellites, 1986. It's a solid album. I understand what you mean, but I don't think you stated it correctly. They were not a joke, they were around for a long time, and serious musicians. Keep up the GREAT work brother man!!! Always love your energy!!!
Other great B-52 songs are"Give me back my man" "Legal Tender" "Song for a future generation" "Summer of Love" "52 Girls" "Private Idaho" "Good Stuff" "Quiche Loraine" "Party out of bounds" "Roam" "Lava" " Strobe light" " Dance this mess around" " Whammy Kiss" All of their songs are Quirky 😁 and Fun
I graduated from high school in 1983. I can't even remember how many awesome pool parties on hot summer nights when we partied out of bounds with the B-52's blaring in the background! Back then, it wasn't a party until the B-52's started rocking the house!
And the facial expressions say everything!! Reminds me of the first time I heard this on the radio & I was wondering what in the world it was. Then it gradually dawns on you how awesome it is. It’s a vibe, a mood, an awesome beat. A wild, sci-fi sounding masterpiece of fun!
This was the first song on their first album. The beginning jam is the same as Peter Gunn (Henry Mancini's composition) and the Morse code at the beginning spells out Planet Claire. This was some of the great Southern New Wave of the late '70s. They are all about fun. Another great band to check out is Southern Culture on the Skids.
@@kurtborchers6178 I think my favorite is Camel Walk. Voodoo Cadillac was another one I liked. The local rock station here was playing their music a bunch in the mid to late 90's
There is an arch here back into mid-century culture. The late 70s B52s delivered an homage to their youth, during the 50/60s fascination to the Cold War, Sci Fi, all the great movies and TV shows that portrayed that. ....that's what I think, any way.
Exactly and I think this is what reactors miss out on when they listen to music from bands or artists who were popular before they were born, because they are not familiar with what was popular in that timeline, so they react with today's mindset with no background knowledge of the band's homage to their youth from that era they grew up in. They came in when the 'New Wave' music was coming in and we enjoyed listening to them, we recently seen them in concert here in Los Angles (Prior to the pandemic) and we were so glad to see them live and they were awesome as ever! We played their first album over and over again! We loved it! I do believe they are serious about their music, and they enjoy it too! 🧡 Peace.
This tune and others like this would feel equally at home being played over things like the Munsters, Green Hornet, Batman and things like that. Such a cool vibe that feels good even today.
There was a TV detective show called "Peter Gunn"- The bass line sounds a lot like that Show's theme. It's got a groove, don't it? NO ONE was doing anything like this when they did it - very original....
The early B52s were weird and trippy, and the lyrics may be on the wacky side, but that music is seriously just cooler than shit, and made by serious musicians. I love how they incorporate older 50s and 60s style into a new wave sound.
When this came out it was SOOO radical. Nothing like it. It wasn't new wave, it wasn't punk but some sort of proto-punk uniqueness. Maybe it's art rock. This was the same time the Talking Heads were doing similar earth shaking, genre bending art. Sure, it was meant to have an element of comical in there, but it was also pretty unique art. Check out the guitarist: playing with only 4 strings...also with some sort of funky tuning. It was cool...while still being almost silly.
I remember hearing them for the first time in the 70s. It was really different from anything else out there. These days, they don't seem so outrageous, but back then, they were truly unique.
Wow this brings back memories. I hear you about them just having fun, but they are very talented. The vocals, guitar, great compilation. I loved a lot of their music.
So glad you gave this a chance. There really is so much more. There’s stuff where Kate and Cindy sing, and Fred doesn’t. “Give Me Back My Man” is a tune that features Cindy Wilson. Cindy’s brother was the guitarist in the William Shatner/Kirk shirt in the last video. Ricky Wilson passed away in late 1985 (AIDS related). The band took a break. That’s why the band has a different makeup in the “Love Shack” video. In 1983 Fred did a great tune called, “Monster”, as Fred Schneider and the Shake Society. Kate Pierson sang and was in the video for “Monster”. The video features Kate, Tina Weymouth (the Talking Heads bass player), the artist Keith Haring, and drag performer Ethyl Eichelberger. It’s a total hoot. 💜
And during the break, the drummer switched to guitar, my guess was so all the original members would be upvfront at the following shows. Or he just really wanted to play guitar.
jill. pretty cool.i recall the song and video like late night on mtv and freds monster song only saw band 98 local amiptheatre great show with the current version of the band at the time the heads b52s shows kind of legendary now suppose may have come to d.c. 9 30 club back then but couldnt go was to far away at school.but led to.david working with band mesopotamia the jangly guitar intro is david old uncut mag.said and tina later on in the video cant recall what year they came to 930 club only show ever attended there was matt sweet same band had seen rva few nights before went up.there for work they rocked must have been 92 or 3
@@johncampbell756 From what I understand, he did it in tribute to Ricky (and if you listen closely, you can hear that he learned to play Ricky's style, which was very unique).
This was college party music back in the day. Great memories. Cindy and Kate had outstanding voices and could harmonize at will. Ricky, the guitarist played some great licks that brought sounds from the 50’s into the 80’s. In my opinion, they deserve a place in the rock hall of fame. As you observed , they always seemed to be having fun and it was contagious.
The B-52s, for the most part, have party-style songs. They became a bit more serious with Ricky Wilson's death from AIDS and his sister Cindy's decision to leave for awhile after his death.
They opened for The Talking Heads in Santa Barbara in the late 70's, and as much as I wanted to see David Byrne and co,, I NEEDED to see these guys! Another friend wanted to go, but neither of us had a license to drive and the rest of our friends hated them....except when Love Shack came out and they were popular. Their loss. Great memories!
Definitely, the greatest react to any song I have ever heard by anyone on youtube ever. You told the real. Just damn dance around the house to it. I been doing it to this band for over 40 years,
We went to a place called Emerald City in NJ every Thursday night. It was formerly the Latin Casino where all the greats like Sinatra played in the 50s and 60s. It became a giant club for new wave and early punk. When they placed Rock Lobster everyone on the dance floor got on the floor when they said down down....The floor was huge. It held over 200 dancers. It was incredible. The B52s were and still are a very serious band Don't be fooled by their videos.
I'm not sure but this might be the club I was trying to remember. I went to the Univ of Pennsylvania in 77/78 and I remember we had to make liquor runs to NJ because the legal age in PA was 21 as opposed to 18 in NJ. We loaded up on grain alcohol. But I remember hanging at a club in NJ, I think in Cherry Hill, and this might be the place. We saw The Pretenders, which makes sense timewise since they had just formed in 78.
Critique! Old rocker here🙋 just having fun😅 sells them a little short. They basically made up their own kind of music💃. Its done at a very high level. The girls are amazing singers. That crazy guitar sound is from a 'Baritone" guitar. It has a longer musical scale length. I remember the first time I saw them. 7th grade, SNL in the late 70s. I personally think the songs them is based on the (Startrek) series. My favorite B52s song is "52 Girls". Amazing vocals. Peace!
We were dancing and enjoying the UFO culture and a little rebellious of the seriousness of life that seemed to suck out all the fun in life. B52's and Devo, were my go to groups when I just needed a little break from school and figuring out my future and trying to figure out why my parents fought all the time.
Devo were borderline prophets when you follow the underlying message and theme they worked through their music and then look at today's world. The name is short for De-evolution. They were saying that an overdependence on technology and corporatism would cause humankind to devolve
There whole deal was music to dance and party to I'm in my 50's and this was a staple back in the day It's all fun it's all good really enjoy your work Love and Respect
Saw them live in '89 at the University of Buffalo @ Alumni Arena - the whole dance floor in front of the stage was just steaming hot from the sweat of everyone grooving and dancing around. You could see the haze in levels and layers across the arena - just a fog of human breath and perspiration. Fred had bottles of some sort of seltzer or something and went through I don't how many - shaking the shit out of them and spraying everyone up front like it was a LeMans victory. Truly incredible experience.
The most important thing in life is the simplicity of fun Your actions while the music was playing says it all my man You were movin and groovin THAT says it all…THAT was your reaction…
It should be both. It should be blasted while you’re cleaning the house, but you reacting to it shows it to a larger crowd so they realize they coulda been cleaning their house and being a little happier about it!
I get what you are saying to a certain extent. They are indeed a party band and their vibe makes you want to dance and have fun, but these guys and the Talking Heads are serious musicians. I mean, come on. Kate is over there overlapping these ethereal vocals while playing the same thing on the keys and simultaneously dropping that baseline. Keep in mind, early Bs had no bassist. Every bassline you hear is coming from Kate while she's doing crazy harmonies and laying down for the most part, the melody of the song. Even when Cindy isn't singing she plays some mean bongos. To see what I mean, please check this live performance out: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-lijGzY4A5gc.html Yes, the lyrics will always be out there with early stuff, but there is stuff you can check out that is less quirky. Roam, Dead Beat Club, Channel Z and the only serious B-52s song I know Ain't it a Shame.
Yup--you have to be a damn good musician to make this silliness sound so good. Deejay Robert Drake uses 'Planet Claire' as his intro for his monthly show Land of the Lost on WXPN.
Exactly what I came in to say. You can focus on the silliness of her vocal line, or watch her left hand dropping that bass line like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Both Kate and Cindy are underrated singers. Jamel, you'll want to listen to "Give Me Back My Man" for a reaction song from the B-52s. Phenomenal, and tells a story we can all relate to.
"Bring Back My Man", is the most serious song of theirs that I can think of. It may be their only somber piece of music. Most of their stuff is fun quirky up beat dance music.
I remember when I heard them when I was a kid. It was a sensation. It was so different than anything we heard before. Only the really cool kids in school knew about them, and they all got the tapes from their cool older siblings. Don't forget this was before social media, so it was a real underground thing. So if you knew about this band, you were in the club.
Haha! Watching your laughter made me laugh too! The B-52’s have to be one of the most creative bands ever. They are so much fun and fun to watch. They were so popular when I was in high school and bring back such fun memories.
B-52's are always a good time. And much loved in the alternative dance clubs. I would classify it as art rock. Not as in artsy fartsy, just good time artty songs. Try Legal Tender or Cake. Great songs!
Pure fun. "No one ever dies there. No one has a head." Come on. Just try to top that. Still makes me smile 40+ years later. Truly unique and wonderful.
The bassline is the Peter Gunn Theme and as an elder millennial it was ever present in The Blues Brothers (1980) when I watched it for the umpteenth time.
R.E.M. and The B-52's are both from Athens, GA, that's why she sang on Shiny Happy People. Peter Buck of R.E.M., Pierson, and Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley all worked at Wuxtry Records downtown, about 1-2 miles from where I'm typing this right now.
Agree with previous posters. Great band, been a fan since the beginning. Here's something some may not know. The keyboard your looking at in this that Kate Pierson is playing is in the Smithsonian. Not a lot of bands can say that.
Oh man, I love the B-52s. I listened to all of the discography not too long ago and now I find that I have a really deep appreciation for their sound. If you want another song from The B52's that I think would actually be great for a reaction, its "A Song For a Future Generation"
Definitely do more B-52s!! For ‘deeper’ songs, you will love CHANNEL Z and Deadbeat Club. They can be deep for sure, but generally are loved for being the best, FUN & Quirky party band ever. I fell in love with them for their quirkiness & danceability, but stayed for the harmonies, the wildness and the honesty. They are ALWAYS full of surprises! 💜💖💫
Saw them live a few years ago at a county fair...... Still fun even in their 60's...... Watching all grey heads bopping in the crowd was an absolute hoot (me included) :-)
Excited to see you dive into this band. They are one of my all time favorites. Their concerts are just pure fun. Dancing the entire time. My favorite is 52 girls! Thank you for all you do!
A reaction video covers all bases: review, critique, and how it hits you. If it makes you dance, then dance. Rock Lobster & Planet Claire both had a pretty rocking beat and was irresistible. That says a lot. Sometimes music is just meant to make you move and feel good. And it takes serious musicians to make this kind of music; it doesn't 'just happen'. I like seeing reactions to the B-52s.
Saw them live twice, many years apart. They played at Heatwave Festival in 1980 along with Dave Edmunds and Nick Lowe, the Pretenders, Talking Heads and Elvis Costello among others. Saw them at Radio City Music Hall in 1990 by themselves. They killed it at both shows.
Even if “they don’t take themselves seriously”… extreme taken- songwriting ability, musicianship… great sound quality- recording, engineering, sound quality… they do sometimes have deep political messages- like some of the songs on cosmic thing
“Private Idaho” , “Rock Lobster” , “Party out of bounds” ....when these songs came on in a club back in the day , everyone went nuts ...which was the point of course.
For the very longest time I had never seen this song performed, always thought it was just the keyboard notes at the beginning. When I saw them play live in San Diego at the Del Mar Fair and Kate singing along, I was blown away! I have always had the highest appreciation for their music but especially their vocal dynamics. Fred's voice, then the ladies, THEN combine them in various ways, unreal!!
They're my favorite band...endless list of songs for you to check out...Dance This Mess Around, Private Idaho, Legal Tender, Give Me Back My Man, Summer of Love...theyre sooooo fun...and live....it's s a nonstop dance party!!!!!!