"Hocus Pocus" is a song by the Dutch rock band Focus, written by keyboardist, flutist, and vocalist Thijs van Leer and guitarist Jan Akkerman. It was recorded and released in 1971 as the opening track of their second studio album Moving Waves.[5] An edited version was released as a single (with "Janis" as the B-side) on the Imperial, Polydor and Blue Horizon labels in Europe in 1971, but failed to chart outside of the Netherlands(NL#09).
A faster re-recording of the song (titled "Hocus Pocus 2" or "Hocus Pocus II" in some markets) was released in Europe in 1972. Buoyed by a live performance on The Old Grey Whistle Test in December 1972 and a subsequent barnstorming British club tour,[5] this version rose to No. 20 on the UK charts in late January 1973.[6] "Hocus Pocus" was also released as a single on the Sire Records label in the United States and Canada in 1973. It peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 the weeks of June 2 and 9 in the US and No. 18 in Canada during the spring and summer of that year.[7][8]
The song was given new life when it became the musical signature of the NikeWrite the Future advertising campaign, shown during the 2010 FIFA World Cup.[5] That year the single re-entered the UK charts at No. 57 and on the Dutch charts at No. 48.
In 1999 the song was covered by German Heavy Metal band "Helloween" and released on their Metal Jukebox album.
"Hocus Pocus" takes the form of a rondo, consisting of alternation between a powerful rock chord riff with short drum solos and then varied solo "verses" (in the original all performed by Thijs van Leer) which include yodeling, eefing, organ playing, accordion, scat singing, flute riffs, and whistling. The single version is significantly edited from the album version. "Hocus Pocus 2" is a slightly faster version with some funk elements and rhythms added. It was released as a single in its own right in Europe and was the B-side to the North American release of "Hocus Pocus". When performing live, Focus would play "Hocus Pocus" even faster.[9]
^. Billboard. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 14 May 2019.
^Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 29, 1973
External linksEdit
Hocus Pocus tabulature on Guitartab
October 20, 2023
hocus, pocus, song, hocus, pocus, song, dutch, rock, band, focus, written, keyboardist, flutist, vocalist, thijs, leer, guitarist, akkerman, recorded, released, 1971, opening, track, their, second, studio, album, moving, waves, edited, version, released, singl. Hocus Pocus is a song by the Dutch rock band Focus written by keyboardist flutist and vocalist Thijs van Leer and guitarist Jan Akkerman It was recorded and released in 1971 as the opening track of their second studio album Moving Waves 5 An edited version was released as a single with Janis as the B side on the Imperial Polydor and Blue Horizon labels in Europe in 1971 but failed to chart outside of the Netherlands NL 09 Hocus Pocus Single by Focusfrom the album Focus IIB side Janis ReleasedJuly 1971 Europe 1 February 1973 US Canada Recorded1971 re recorded 1972GenreProgressive rock 2 3 hard rock 4 heavy metalLength6 42 album version 3 18 single edit 3 25 re recording Hocus Pocus 2 Hocus Pocus II LabelImperial Records NL Polydor DE UK Blue Horizon UK Sire Records US CA Songwriter s Thijs van Leer Jan AkkermanProducer s Mike VernonA faster re recording of the song titled Hocus Pocus 2 or Hocus Pocus II in some markets was released in Europe in 1972 Buoyed by a live performance on The Old Grey Whistle Test in December 1972 and a subsequent barnstorming British club tour 5 this version rose to No 20 on the UK charts in late January 1973 6 Hocus Pocus was also released as a single on the Sire Records label in the United States and Canada in 1973 It peaked at No 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 the weeks of June 2 and 9 in the US and No 18 in Canada during the spring and summer of that year 7 8 The song was given new life when it became the musical signature of the Nike Write the Future advertising campaign shown during the 2010 FIFA World Cup 5 That year the single re entered the UK charts at No 57 and on the Dutch charts at No 48 In 1999 the song was covered by German Heavy Metal band Helloween and released on their Metal Jukebox album Contents 1 Description 2 Chart performance 2 1 Weekly charts 2 2 Year end charts 3 References 4 External linksDescription Edit Hocus Pocus takes the form of a rondo consisting of alternation between a powerful rock chord riff with short drum solos and then varied solo verses in the original all performed by Thijs van Leer which include yodeling eefing organ playing accordion scat singing flute riffs and whistling The single version is significantly edited from the album version Hocus Pocus 2 is a slightly faster version with some funk elements and rhythms added It was released as a single in its own right in Europe and was the B side to the North American release of Hocus Pocus When performing live Focus would play Hocus Pocus even faster 9 Chart performance EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 1973 PeakpositionAustralia Kent Music Report 10 15Canadian Singles Chart 11 18Dutch Singles Chart 12 9UK Singles Chart 13 20U S Billboard Hot 100 14 9U S Cash Box Top 100 15 4Chart 2010 PeakpositionDutch Singles Chart 12 48UK Singles Chart 16 57 Year end charts Edit Chart 1973 RankAustralia 10 143Canada 17 152U S Billboard Hot 100 18 69U S Cash Box 19 58References Edit Focus singles de la Rosa Manzanares 12 February 2018 Strange Hits Focus Hocus Pocus The Young Folks Retrieved 2 August 2021 Reed Ryan 28 July 2021 Top 50 Progressive Rock Songs Ultimate Classic Rock Retrieved 2 August 2021 Todd Frank 24 May 2018 Todd s Baby Boomer Trivia Volume 21 My Central Jersey Retrieved 2 August 2021 a b c The Story of Focus Exceptional Hit Hocus Pocus Bandonthewall org November 2018 Archived from the original on 22 October 2019 Hocus Pocus Singles Officialcharts com Retrieved 22 October 2019 The Hot 100 Week of June 2 1973 Billboard Retrieved 26 December 2020 The Hot 100 Week of June 9 1973 Billboard Retrieved 26 December 2020 Knight Gladys host 5 October 1973 The Midnight Special Season 2 Episode 4 a b Kent David 1993 Australian Chart Book 1970 1992 St Ives N S W Australian Chart Book ISBN 0 646 11917 6 RPM100 Singles RPM Retrieved 8 May 2018 a b Dutch Music Charts Dutchcharts nl Retrieved 8 May 2018 Focus Chart Performance Officialcharts com Retrieved 22 October 2019 Focus Chart History Hot 100 Billboard com 2019 Archived from the original on 31 May 2019 Cash Box Top 100 Singles June 16 1973 Hocus Pocus Chart Performance Acharts co Retrieved 8 May 2018 Canada Library and Archives July 13 2017 Image RPM Weekly Library and Archives Canada Billboard Top 100 1973 Billboard Archived from the original on 25 November 2010 Retrieved 14 May 2019 Cash Box Year End Charts Top 100 Pop Singles December 29 1973External links EditHocus Pocus tabulature on Guitartab Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hocus Pocus song amp oldid 1177783568, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
