Grateful Dead - Touch Of Grey (Part 2! Discussion/Final Thoughts!!)
Added 2019-03-16 06:22:47 +0000 UTCComments
Ok...no Grateful Dead has not been heard on this channel. Touch of Grey, to me, is still good and I listen to it when it flows through. Now, they are so massively talented and don't judge them at all until you listen to some other songs and albums. They won't have to be forced upon you. You either will like them or you won't, but they are one of the most famous bands to ever exist, so respect to Jerry and the crew!
Hilly
2024-03-29 08:37:21 +0000 UTCThis was the most commercial choice possible with the least flavor or musicianship. Literally throw a dart at anything from Europe '72 and it would've been better example for R&G of why people love The Dead.
Christina P
2022-10-27 03:35:54 +0000 UTCplease get back to the Grateful Dead some day. Easy Wind. Truckin', Ripple, Shakedown Street. Estimated Profit. thanks
Tim Flim
2022-03-14 20:06:09 +0000 UTCThe Dead are one of if not the most diverse bands (sound wise) ever. Touch of Grey is literally the one of their absolute worst songs and the only reason it won the poll is because it's the only one most non dead fans have heard of. Branch away from the poppy sounding 80s tunes and go older and they are much better. Shakedown Street - is pure funk China Cat Sunflower - is almost jazz infusion Friend of the devil - is tongue in cheek country Brown Eyed Women - is story telling Fire on the Mountain - is reggae New Speedway Boogie - Blues Estimated Prophet - is a fucking masterpiece
Joshua
2021-10-26 20:07:34 +0000 UTCI could actually see both of you becoming deadheads if you gave them a chance!
Tim Flim
2021-05-29 02:08:24 +0000 UTCPlease give Grateful Dead another chance. Truckin' from the Europe '72 album, or anything from that album really
Tim Flim
2021-05-29 02:03:33 +0000 UTC"Reading Rainbow" is a thousand times cooler when it's performed by The Doors (by way of Jimmy Fallon) – https://youtu.be/GvZfNMIbMP8
Mikaby
2021-03-01 06:51:23 +0000 UTCI knew this would win the poll, but it is not really representative of them in any way shape or form. It is them doing a passable, admittedly charming 80s pop song. Their live stuff is their essence and is why we care about them. Check out the live version of Morning Dew from Cornell 1977. Absolutely transcedant
Brian Williams
2021-01-15 05:27:12 +0000 UTCI can understand why some Deadheads might not be happy about this choice, but it was the first Dead song I heard and it got me into the rest of their catalog. It was a good choice. They have a lot of more interesting songs like Candyman, Estimated Prophet, Casey Jones, Eyes of the World, Help on the Way, Shakedown Street. Hope you give them some other chances.
Josh in SF
2021-01-15 01:39:25 +0000 UTCThis is the perfect Grateful Dead song to start off with even if it was in the 80's but Ripple is my favorite.
Blue Bear
2021-01-10 04:01:50 +0000 UTCThe Music Never Stopped or Shakedown Street is the funk party.
amazonshark
2020-09-20 17:25:20 +0000 UTCThis is not a good pick to do. It’s from the 80’s when they were old men.
Matthew
2020-07-31 20:03:02 +0000 UTCTouch of Grey would NOT have been my choice here. I would've run with The Music Never Stopped, Easy Wind, Ripple, Eyes of the World, Estimated Prophet...hell even Casey Jones or Truckin'. POSSIBLY Terrapin Station...the live stuff, while where the magic is, ain't for everyone.
Jim Hurley
2019-11-23 06:13:33 +0000 UTCSo I know I’m very late to this discussion but I always looked at this song as depressing. As happy as the music is, the lyrics themselves are very dark describing the drug addicted state of just staying inside away from the light. I think the line ‘every silver lining has a touch of grey’ meaning no matter how good things are going it’s not perfect and can get worse.
Thomas Mahoney
2019-09-30 13:28:02 +0000 UTCBeth Orton – Stars All Seem To Weep
Fluffy McFluffavic Meowski O'Fluffadopolus
2019-09-26 21:51:19 +0000 UTCI hope they're ready for it!! LOL
Fluffy McFluffavic Meowski O'Fluffadopolus
2019-09-26 21:49:33 +0000 UTCmore Grateful Dead please, Ripple, Truckin', Easy Wind. Please/Thanks.
Tim Flim
2019-09-25 11:34:07 +0000 UTCReading Rainbow. HAHAHA
Dave Graham
2019-03-30 14:54:09 +0000 UTCWould you do Sammy Hagar please.
Carl V Hunt
2019-03-29 08:40:34 +0000 UTCDAMAGE, INC! METALLICA! PLEASE!
Janie Powell
2019-03-20 22:05:45 +0000 UTCBob Dylan - Hurricane (please and thanks)♪♥♫
Tim Flim
2019-03-20 11:37:14 +0000 UTCCould they get around the copyright issue using archive? Too many recordings there to choose from though, some of questionable quality as well.
Tim Flim
2019-03-20 11:36:31 +0000 UTCYeah, this song is amazing
Mateusz Pytka
2019-03-19 15:50:02 +0000 UTCGamma Ray - Armageddon!!! Time for some power metal again 🤘🤘🤘
Magnus Andreasen
2019-03-19 09:53:59 +0000 UTCGrateful Dead- if you weren’t weeded out or shroomed up, twirling around... you can’t properly catch the full effect of the Grateful Dead. For me- probably the right song to introduce you to- perhaps Truckin’ which I believe Ryan said finished 2nd in votes. But overall, the Dead is set for a very specific audience. Good reaction.
Big Dave
2019-03-18 20:33:49 +0000 UTCGeorge's analysis was spot on.
Shawn Dixon
2019-03-18 07:53:03 +0000 UTCYou would have latched onto Easy Wind. Give it a try on round two of GD if you want some blues.
Michael Coupland
2019-03-18 02:20:59 +0000 UTCCheck your DM!
Lost In Vegas
2019-03-18 01:03:20 +0000 UTCThe Grateful Dead had a practice of allowing the music community to record their concerts and bootleg them. For a band that was all about live performance, this was a really great idea. Now there's a huge archive of those recordings on archive.org, spanning four decades: <a href="https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://archive.org/details/GratefulDead</a> I would suggest using one of these recordings for your next review.
Max Eliaser
2019-03-17 20:15:19 +0000 UTCRyan and George took pains to sympathize with people who got annoyed at the song choice during the discussion, so I think they understand that there could be more to The Grateful Dead than this song.
Max Eliaser
2019-03-17 20:12:47 +0000 UTCHope yall give them a 2nd chance that is their commercial song listen to shakedown street of France and you wont think basic.
Angelo Fuchs
2019-03-17 19:09:36 +0000 UTCanyone know how they are avoiding copyright? part one they play most of the song... isn't that risking getting strikes, which lead to a channel being terminated?
Summit Bird
2019-03-17 03:52:15 +0000 UTCIf you want Pour Some Sugar on Me to win, by all means, have a poll.
Frank Marinucci
2019-03-16 22:29:45 +0000 UTCIt's true, some will say you need drugs to enjoy the music, then there are others who say the music is the drug. ♥ If you get confused, just listen to the music play.
Tim Flim
2019-03-16 22:11:49 +0000 UTCThere wasn't a problem, except their vids keep getting demonetized for copyright by original artist's record companies. There's fair use but You Tube just errs on side of owners all the time. So Ryan and George get millions of views for the artists while turning people on to their music, and get zero out of it. They won't even do revenue sharing most of the time, just nothing. So putting it in a 2nd video is basically a workaround. There's no music in the 2nd vid with which the record companies can claim copyright, and thus George and Ryan can get a little pay for their efforts when we watch their reaction in the 2nd video. I like the old way better too, and I think your criticisms are fair. But I'm coming around, and I think it will continue to improve as they go. As they said themselves..it is live Beta, so I'm just enjoying the ride and really good content.
Mike Rea
2019-03-16 20:36:09 +0000 UTCI’m assuming that this song won the pole because it is one of their more accessible, radio friendly songs that everyone recognizes. It makes me sad that China Cat Sunflower was the lowest vote because I think it is one of the best examples of their fusion of psychedelia, folk, and bluegrass into jam band perfection. The combo of China Cat Sunflower into I Know Your Rider off of their Europe ‘72 album would have been a treat to watch because the Grateful Dead are the quintessential jam band and a song that featured more instrumental parts and less generic verse/chorus structure would have shown more of what the Grateful Dead are really about. Hopefully this song still got you guys interested in them so we can see more reactions and analysis of their songs in the future.
Josh Waterhouse
2019-03-16 20:35:41 +0000 UTCTry "The Other One" By Grateful Dead. Or really any song from their live set lists in the 1960's or 70's if you REALLY wanna know about the Dead.
Kevin Koch
2019-03-16 18:22:00 +0000 UTCI would love to see reactions to Jane's Addiction, Stone Temple Pilots and Radiohead
Ode_to_now
2019-03-16 17:38:26 +0000 UTCYou guys NEED to do something from the new rivers of nihil album "where owls know my name". It's easily the best metal album of thr year and an incredible piece of music. Id recommend the song "subtle change" but honestly you can't go wrong with any song in that album.
Ryan Hanson
2019-03-16 17:32:54 +0000 UTCMighty Mighty Bosstones!
Tim Flim
2019-03-16 17:21:33 +0000 UTCMy Morning Jacket - Steam Engine
Keith Morrissey
2019-03-16 17:15:36 +0000 UTCMy favorite is Althea, but that song is pretty long and slow so I'm not sure it would make for a good reaction video.
Tyler Miller
2019-03-16 16:37:21 +0000 UTCThis isn't one of my favorite Grateful Dead songs, they've got a bunch of others I like more, but it was on my morning playlist that I'd listen to while going to work.
Tyler Miller
2019-03-16 16:36:43 +0000 UTCGreat message in the song, but I wasn’t feeling the song as a whole.
Christopher Jones
2019-03-16 16:34:43 +0000 UTCFriend of the Devil is really good.
Tyler Miller
2019-03-16 16:32:07 +0000 UTCMikasa by Veil of Maya!!!
Jake 'Outrage'
2019-03-16 16:30:16 +0000 UTCsome alternative rock and alternative pop would be nice. Janes Addiction , Keane, White Stripes, PJ Harvey, Aurora, Stone Temple Pilots, Peter Gabriel, Seal, Blonde Redhead, Muse, U2, Beach House, Curve, Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, etc. Also, stay away from the polls, do a little research instead and pick from that. Polls aren't working - it's just a popularity contest, and we all know popular does not equal best.
Portis
2019-03-16 15:38:07 +0000 UTCDig the 2 part format. Still have not seen any ska or reggae yet, slightly stoopid:2am And streetlight manifesto: everything went numb
Daryl Bruce
2019-03-16 15:35:33 +0000 UTCI'm sure it's just a coincidence, but last night was Phil Lesh's (bassist) 79th birthday! Happy birthday Phil! He's still playing shows, so are Bobby, Mick and Billy. Started in 1965 and haven't stopped. Pretty impressive.
Tim Flim
2019-03-16 15:20:50 +0000 UTCThis song came out in 1982, Jerry went into the diabetic coma in 1986.
Tim Flim
2019-03-16 15:19:14 +0000 UTCAnd yet, any Dead Head loves Jerry, so we can never hate on this song. You're picking up on stuff, as always. Jerry went into a diabetic coma after years of heavy drug use, leading to heroin. This song was written a year later when he came back to the band and they got out on the road again. So yeah, "went through some shit"!
Joanna Corwin
2019-03-16 15:14:33 +0000 UTCI'll give you guys props for trying to keep it positive and stretching what probably would have been a 4 minute critique video into 9. Lol.
Dave P
2019-03-16 15:11:15 +0000 UTCExactly. Very basic & a bit corny. And from a band who has so much depth - musically & lyrically - this is a total outlier. Totally NOT representative of the Dead.
Joanna Corwin
2019-03-16 15:10:51 +0000 UTCAnother great reaction guys. Whitesnake - Still of the Night. An INCREDIBLE song! Trust me you guys will love it.
Daniel Lindsey
2019-03-16 15:01:31 +0000 UTCI still think you should check out "Ghost". I refer you to my community post on patreon that had about 11 suggestions for songs. I'll copy it and repost. 👍
Renee King
2019-03-16 14:43:07 +0000 UTCMy sentiments exactly. It would not be on my playlist either. I don't care if I ever hear the song again. Just my opinion. Great video guys!
Renee King
2019-03-16 14:40:47 +0000 UTCMusically, it's different from their other hits. It's much more poppy. This came out in the 80s and it's pretty much their last hit. By this time they were a bit older so the "Touch of Grey" is about aging. Basically the song is what you guys figured, hopeful and uplifting, but I think it's a bit more hippie than that. It's more like, "Chill out, smoke a bowl, it's all good. Sure, we're getting older but who cares, life is good."
Ben Richardson
2019-03-16 14:39:35 +0000 UTCI'm not a Deadhead but I grew up in the Bay Area, where they're from. Pretty much all my friends were Deadheads. They'd go to the shows, do all the drugs, the whole bit. I grew up listening to the Dead just by hanging out. I voted in the poll for several songs, including this one. I did so without regret because I have never met a Deadhead, then or now, who had a problem with this song. It may not be their favorite but nobody ever complained about it. Hell, I've heard Deadheads jam on acoustics and have singalongs to this song. Anyone who says Deadheads don't like this song is not being honest.
Ben Richardson
2019-03-16 14:34:19 +0000 UTCHmmmm, I'm intrigued you guys thought it was a positive song. It kind of made me sad. As I get older (ugh), I don't want to be saying I'll get by. I felt like the guy singing was defeated. I want to be saying I'll conquer, not I'll get by. I'm probably totally off on my interpretation (I don't listen to the Dead), so I was happy to hear your take. You guys are doing a great job- so insightful and entertaining. Keep it up! By the way, I listened to Adrenaline Rush by Twista- do that one, I need help! Rewind - i went and read the lyrics to Touch of Grey. I guess it could be uplifting
debbie costello
2019-03-16 14:29:18 +0000 UTCHaha. Jello does so many great quotables. One of my favorites, that I identify with, was about metalheads: "Not even a gym teacher could get that many people to dress the same."
Ben Richardson
2019-03-16 14:24:12 +0000 UTCProbably should do Joan Jett vs. Tommy James and the Shondells instead.
Eric Wincentsen
2019-03-16 13:30:38 +0000 UTCI've always have a hard time with The Dead, the high votes on the poll are the usual songs I listen too, but they are a live band and it's one if those you need to be there things, unfortunately by the time I started exploring music Jerry had already passed. Recorded concerts rarely do anything for me because it doesn't have the same feel to me. Unless we get a time machine and a big bag of weed we probably will never appreciate them as much as the Dead Heads. Thanks for what you do guys.
Jeremy Smith
2019-03-16 13:13:21 +0000 UTCI just checked this out and wanted to share it. Joan Jett vs. Prince - Crimson and Clover
Mike Savage
2019-03-16 13:12:10 +0000 UTCWAY off topic, but can we get a Def Leppard poll?
Mike Savage
2019-03-16 11:31:52 +0000 UTCI'll give you guys props in that, this is the first time that I've listened to the song in it's entirety. I don't hate it, it's hard to hate on this song, but I don't have any love for it. I always thought I will get by was code for, I will get high? I dunno why, stoner band? Lot's of drugs are used during their live shows. You can pretty much like just about anything chill when you're trippin balls. Still, not my shit though. Sounds like something that would be playing on the PA of a grocery store. "I will, get by,....." "attention Safeway shoppers, be sure to check aisle number six for club member savings on Tide Pods...." "do-do-do-do, I weeeeall geht by-hi-hi..." oh, and clean them laptops y'all, cause damn.
Frank Marinucci
2019-03-16 11:29:50 +0000 UTCTry some more southern rock....I recommend the obscure band Black Oak Arkansas - "When the Electricy Came to Arkansas".
Rheannon Graves
2019-03-16 11:27:32 +0000 UTCThe instinct that this is the Big Pimpin' of their song catalog is spot on. It's not a bad song, but the cheesiness of the 80s that crept into their musicianship brings it down a level for me compared to their other work. If you give them another chance, I'd recommend Friend Of The Devil from the bluegrass/country period they went through in the 60s. On slightly different note, I'd love to hear you do a reaction to Paranoid Android by Radiohead. IMHO, it's the pinnacle of 90's alternative rock. It also features some great transitions throughout the song.
Bryna
2019-03-16 11:20:34 +0000 UTCThey were old grey headed men at this point. How about doing Steppenwolf's Monster one of these days.
John Gandy
2019-03-16 10:27:13 +0000 UTCThe thing with the Dead, for me at least, is that they're not a band I listen to individual songs by, like a lot of fans I listen to complete shows. So, the mood and style of one song is only one part of a larger whole. Which is why it's so hard to pick one song to suggest as a starting point. This song works well at the right place in a show, between pieces with different moods, but on its own it's pretty lightweight.
Steve Cook
2019-03-16 10:24:34 +0000 UTC👆this has serious merit.
Double D
2019-03-16 09:53:45 +0000 UTCI never had a problem w the original review format. Why other were bitching, I never understood. What I notice now is that you talk less about individual solos, changes, lyrics, instruments, etc. I liked when you did that, in real time. There are songs that I like some pieces of, and not so much other pieces (ie Dead Embryonic Cells... LOVE the slower groove, not so much the faster blast beat) and it was interesting to see how your reactions to the bits and pieces lined up with my own. Now the analysis is more general feel and overall vibe. ...don’t know what you got, till it’s gone. But keep up the good work, I’m sure there will be improvements ahead, and the new rig does sound great!
Double D
2019-03-16 09:47:48 +0000 UTC. . . that of which I am (unfortunately) both 😅
NappyHead
2019-03-16 09:27:25 +0000 UTCWell, ya know Jello Biafra once said "Tool fans are even more obnoxious than Grateful Dead fans." Lol
NappyHead
2019-03-16 09:25:33 +0000 UTCI was wrong. Wrong, wrong, wrong! I voted for “Touch of Grey”, precisely because I because I thought it would be a good start point for you guys, even knowing the depth of their catalog. But here it backfired, miserably. In the end, I now think you guys have matured to the point you could have heard the soul in other songs. I hear what you are saying about a good introductory song, and have voted w that in mind before, but in this case it captures so little of their musicianship or their style, especially vs live, that I have wasted the opportunity. I apologize to my fellow Deadheads. I hope you 2nd chance them someday and bite off something big and live like “Scarlet Begonias -> Fire on the Mountain” 5/8/1977
Double D
2019-03-16 09:24:15 +0000 UTC👆👆👆YES!... YES! I’ve been holding onto Phish w Jay-Z on 99 problems -> big pimpin for SO LONG! Waiting for the chance to bait the guys... in the hopes they would do Phish (another song obviously), and then they bring up Jay in the GD discussion! Check it out on the side guys, you’ll love it!
Double D
2019-03-16 09:08:22 +0000 UTCOr, maybe you let people upvote any song they like in a poll (as it is now), but you also give one downvote. Use the downvote to determine which songs are massively polarizing, and avoid them as first reaction songs.
Genius Simpleton
2019-03-16 08:08:12 +0000 UTCHere's the thing. Their three songs that get radio play on classic rock stations were the top 3 vote getters. Look at the negative reaction to Touch of Grey in the comments. I agree you don't want to 'Jesus Christ Pose' a band's initial reaction. That said, the nicest thing actual dead fans were saying about 'Touch of Grey' was basically "it's not *that* bad. It is the least nuanced song, musically, I ever heard them play. It's so NOT representative of what they do. Okay, what's done is done. But, like many, i'm arguing that a poll with a band many listeners will only know a couple songs will skew the results toward something that is least representative. Don't cater to the purists, but don't let the less commercial bands get pigeon-holed into "that one song." I don't know you solve that across the board, but I think the poll idea is hurting what you do. I think it was more interesting when you just read comments. Maybe start a topic instead of a poll, and take both fans and those who just know a song or two into account.
Genius Simpleton
2019-03-16 08:04:13 +0000 UTCI can hear great playing in the song. Is catchy, but not more than decent to my taste. Still holding out for North Mississippi Allstars - Long Haired Doney. Guitar and drum dream. Blues combining tradition and bringing the music forward integrating influences from rock and hip hop and more. I promise you will like it. So glad to have you guys back. :-D
Stefan Lien
2019-03-16 07:59:28 +0000 UTCI, for one, liked it... hope you guys do more psychedelic rock and more Grateful Dead reactions in the future!
Pietyr Ayday
2019-03-16 07:52:42 +0000 UTCThis song was written 22 years into the Dead's career. Their lead guitarist Jerry Garcia had recently overcome a 10+ year heroin addiction, that he would later relapse into, and most of the band was already in their 40's. It was a really positive time for a band that had recently struggled through some dark years.
Ode_to_now
2019-03-16 07:50:26 +0000 UTCI could not agree more with this.
Ode_to_now
2019-03-16 07:41:13 +0000 UTC100% get what you guys are saying about Twista. It’s like Metropolis Pt. 1 by Dream Theater. There you have a song that Dream Theater Fans love but anyone with any sense would NEVER think to play it for someone who hadn’t heard the band before, especially for someone who isn’t a big fan of metal or progressive music in the first place. But that’s what happens when people want to hear their favorite song without considering the listener. That’s why I want to bring up Nightwish. Lost in Vegas hasn’t reacted to symphonic metal yet, and Nightwish is probably the most well-known band of the genre, other than perhaps Trans-Siberian Orchestra. There are many excellent songs by Nightwish, and Ghost Love Score is way up there. But it is basically Metropolis Pt. 1. On the other hand, if you were to do a poll for Nightwish, Dark Chest of Wonders would win without a doubt, and although that is not my favorite song by them (not by a long shot; I usually skip it), it is an excellent introduction to the band. In the same vein, my recommendation for Epica is The Cosmic Algorithm. It’s not my favorite song, but it is one of their best and it is the song that I play for people who have never listened to symphonic metal before. Most Epica fans would say that Kingdom of Heaven is their best song, and for good reason, because it probably is. But it isn’t for the uninitiated, so to speak. I hope you get to the symphonic metal subgenre soon, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if you went with Nightwish first. I just hope whichever song you choose doesn’t turn you off and you give Epica a go. And who knows? Maybe you love Nightwish and hate Epica (though I highly doubt it). Regardless, Lost in Vegas is by far the best reaction channel on YouTube and I’m happy you guys are out there being honest for all us freethinkers!
Justin Vaughan
2019-03-16 07:33:18 +0000 UTC"Ball and Chain" by Social Distortion, please.
Dead Mail Tales
2019-03-16 07:04:14 +0000 UTCThe song is not bad, but not nearly their best. It works best live when it's sandwiched in between darker and more complex tunes.
Mark Forman
2019-03-16 06:55:54 +0000 UTCThere's a reason us deadheads were asking you to avoid this song. They have so many better songs. Love you guys, but please give the Dead another chance and go with something from earlier in their career. Thanks again for what you do. They have a plethora of better material. Check out their version of Hard To Handle when you do your Vs. podcast and see how they stack up to Otis Redding.
Tim Flim
2019-03-16 06:45:40 +0000 UTCspeaking of Jay-Z Big Pimpin' have you seen this version with Jay Z performing with the rock band from Vermont, Phish <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om2EQ7YXork" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om2EQ7YXork</a>
Tim Flim
2019-03-16 06:39:55 +0000 UTC
