| December 31, 2017 | |||||||||
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Lyrics: Random yodeling, whistling, and seizures |
As 2017 draws to a close, I feel as though Dances with Bass Radio has been missing a certain something: Dutch prog rock. Here at the DWB home offices, we’re big fans of yodeling, and it is our belief that far too few rock songs employ this vocal talent. We had to go all the way to The Netherlands to get it. Hocus Pocus by Pocus (I love saying that) is one of the most interestingly bizarre pieces of music ever produced, and though it might sound strange, unless you’re broken in some fundamental way, you will find yourself grooving to its musical mastery. Hocus Pocus reached number 10 on the Dutch charts in 1971 but didn’t make it to America until 1973, when it reached number 9 on the U.S. Billboard charts. Vocalist Thijs van Leer is a world treasure. It’s hard to tell whether he actually intends to make the noises he’s making or whether those noises are part of some medical condition requiring straitjackets and Thorazine when he’s offstage. In either case, the result is pure magic. And lest you think Focus is a one-trick pony, I urge you to check out the rest of their catalog. Focus is (they still tour today) a musical tour de force. 2017 has been a bizarre year on a variety of fronts, so I felt that we should end it with a deliciously bizarre song. I hope you will stay tuned into 2018 as we continue featuring hardly known bands, deep cuts from established artists, and mainstream hits. The playlists here at Dances with Bass Radio are deep, and we like to share. Happy New Year. Peace. Video: Here is a positively amazing live version of Hocus Pocus performed in 1973 on The Midnight Special:
And is here is the studio version:
If you have some time to spare, listen to Hamburger Concerto, an amazing—and long—musical masterpiece:
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