Dear friend, greetings from Spain. I started watching your videos because I'm an unconditional fan of Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler, and I continue to watch them because of your talent for analysis. I must tell you that I've been a fan of Mark Knopfler since the 80s. I've seen hundreds of interviews, analyses, and listened to/read everything related to his music, and I promise you, I've never seen anyone analyze Mark's guitar style so well. It's impressive how quickly you grasp the essence of his playing and how well you replicate it in real-time reactions to the videos. Undoubtedly, you are an excellent guitarist and musician. My sincere congratulations. By the way, it's fantastic even when you play on top of Mark at the same time. Anyone who wants to hear it without you can watch the original video. Specifically, I loved it when you analyzed "Sultans of Swing" in Alchemy. As I said, congratulations. I've never seen such accurate analysis of the music and technique of, in my opinion, the best of all, Sir Mark Knopfler. Best regards, my friend.

The universal, eternal, immortal greatness of Mark Knopfler ❤ 🖐 from 🇫🇮

It was recorded in Nimes, France. Brothers in Arms from the same concert is unbelievable.

I am glad you took the time to explain your own story and why you haven't heard these artists before. And after telling us that I can really see the fascination and wonder in your reactions. This is maybe why I am subconsciously drawn to your style, keep it going, thanks for putting your unique perspective onto the amazing classics.

Just wow, that mark knopfler, no one like him... Ever

You have no idea how much you just made me smile by mentioning The Alan Parsons Project - still one of my favourite bands more than 40 years after I first heard them 😊

Mark searched all over London to find traditional gut strings instead of nylon, specifically for this song.

I think Mark being left-handed contributes to his unique and gorgeous technique.

Thank you for your reaction and comments to these wonderful performances by DS and MK … you contribute to this experience by explaining the mastership of these performances. When hearing this it goes straight to the heart and your quote from the book was absolutely spot on . Please keep doing these excellent discoveries

You do some of the best analysis I have seen.

I take it you enjoy and can appreciate Mark's guitar work and emotional style.

Great choice of quote to close. As a non native speaker you might not know the expression "to be in dire straits" means to be in a bad or desperate situation. But you got there through the music. Excellent comments.

I got goosebumps from this song. Absolutely amazing...

Thanks for reacting to this wonderful song. MK mentioned that the song was inspired by Raymond Chandler novels (such as the Big Sleep). You can picture in your mind these dark film noir detective movies of the 40s when listening to this song. I really appreciate your commentary and your desire to explore and share knowledge on art and music. I only wish that I could play the Guitar myself. Glad to learn you're from the Czech Republic. Prague is one of my favorite cities, I've been their three times and the Czech people are so nice.

Thank you for this its always been a favorite of mine.

It's the matter of age. I am Czech. I know Dire Straits, I know Stevie Wonder and many other west songs. Since 80's. I used to listen austrian radio Ö3 in the era of socialism and my friends and neighbours listen to west music too and watched austrian TV ORF.. And czechoslovak state radio Hvězda played about about 2 west songs in an hour. But I remember my sister back then told me that she just recorded (to a cassette) from Hvězda new song by Falco - Sound of musik (1986) and I was suprised the version was different from the single version of the song I recorded from the austrian radio.. And there were special night programs in CS radios where music like Dire Straits were played. Not many, but not all was forbiden.. Yes it was harder to get to good music from West part of the world..

That was f***ing insane. This band is soooo amazing live!

Thsnks cor the quote. This is whst mskes this b a nd so special. They transcend rock and raise it to a higher art form.

A 67 ans j’adore toujours autant Mark et Dire straits depuis 1978 date de leur premier album. Chaque morceau de DS raconte une histoire et la musique vient comme un plus pour rendre toute cette beauté magnifiée.....bref Mark aura marqué son passage de façon magistrale et pour très longtemps.

If you ask me, Dire Straits were at their peak in the 90's. This back and forth between the sax and the guitar is just great. They also incorporated it into the version of "Sultans of Swing" from that time.

my fav straits song, i love the mysterious atmosphere of this

Zdravím z Prahy a mám radost, že někdo ze středu Evropy je do téhle kapely taky nadšený:) Dire Straits mě fascinují neuvěřitelnou pestrostí svého repertoáru a samozřejmě svou schopností studiovou verzi převést během koncertu v něco neopakovatelného. Doporučuji k poslechu live verzi Ride Across the River - Sydney 1986, zase je to něco úplně jiného, takové reggae bílého muže, ovšem v podání Marka... Co dodat:) Ať se daří a díky za videa!!

Thank you for another great reaction of my favorite band.

Love this song. Very dark and mysterious. Knopfler is a very versatile artist. Among the best songwriters too.

Still loving your Dire Straits journey. Keep em coming. 🤟😁

Some do not realize the depth of thought which has gone into many of the songs written by MK. Pl with it's almost classical learning towards Spanish guitar playing throughout, could be an Inquisition maybe??? The Spanish Inquisition??? Very clever if this is a hidden meaning. But MK is such a great gift to the music industry. IMO.

Thank you for this video of the guitar genius that is Mark Knopfler doing his thing. Just magic.

Just beautiful

Lovely observations and notes, great reaction. :), your interest in DS/MK makes me think back to 1982/83, when at 10/11 I was introduced to them for the first time... You can contrast MK's facial expressions here with about 8 years earlier with the SOS Alchemy time... He had made up his mind this was it, he was done with big bands and arenas.

Great stuff here. I know the Dire Straits many years and saw one concert of the 'On the night' Tour 1992. This particular concert shown in the Video was in France in Niems. The location was Arènes de Nîmes. I saw the concert in Rotterdam and this was mindblowing! So thank you for your analyses, that makes me see the playing of Mark Knopfler in a different point of view.

I think you will find the differences in the improvisations between this and the Alchemy versions quite intriguing - the same song, but also very different it's amazing!

“Private Investigations” has long been my favorite Knopfler tune and constantly in my rotation. A song about personal introspection with mood to fit. This concert rendition is very different, yet very much the same as the studio version. So glad you took it on to critique. Simple and complex at the same time.

Like me, Mark is self-taught. His teacher was a million times better than mine though! 😂

I'd love to hear your spanish guitar interpretation in it's entirety.

The guitar he is playing here is known as a Gibson Chet Atkins CE, it is the same guitar he play's "So far away" the calypso version the final OZ, Australia which you honestly have to watch and I think you will love it.

salut . this concert is recorded yn the arenas of nimes in france . i was there 😀

Oh I forgot, You and Your Friend from "On the Night 1993" concert. Thank you.

BRILLIANT REACTION BROTHER, LOVE YOUR GUITAR PLAYING, GIL FROM ISRAEL

I've been a fan of Dire straits a long time now, in fact since the 80's, I know people are requesting live performances because they are good and whatnot, no disrespect, but for the first listen i would always recommend the studio version. This is for people that are already acquainted with the song.

No words 💔 😢 it takes me back to the time that I grew up in South Africa ❤❤❤

Had to give you a thumbs up at the first seconds. I´m Austrian, which Czech roots - of course a lot of Czechs came to Vienna in Monarchy. But I grew up with Dire Straits - and a big spoiler. This song used to end in a big "Thank you" - followed with "Sultans of Swings"...

Funny thing , I have listened Dire strait since MTV europe started, with their song Money for nothing in -87 . And never heard this song before.

You should listen to a song he wrote for this album but then gave it away to Tina turner. “Private dancer” it matches the album

Hi there, I’m watching all your excellent reactions to Dire Straits & Mark Knopfler, and wonder if you have checked any of Mark’s brilliant Solo repertoire with his longstanding highly accomplished Solo band. If not perhaps you might like to give this poignant song a whirl ‘Mark Knopfler - Hill Farmer’s Blues - Cordoba 2010’. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/ht9phqeVvq2qooU.htmlsi=1X9kwqJxpIULQlH1 Mark is sitting in a special chair for this concert as he was recovering from a back injury. In my understanding Mark’s insightful lyrics concern a time in 2001 when cattle farms in County Durham, England were hit by an epidemic of foot & mouth disease, resulting in 6 million cattle having to be slaughtered. The farmer Mark is voicing had borne this plight himself on his own farm, at the same time discovering his wife had been unfaithful to him, hence he’s a man in emotional pain, and the lyrics & Mark’s crying guitar speak for themselves. Tow Law is a town in County Durham. I find this song to be both stunningly beautiful and heart-wrenching. I❤MK

Wow, is THAT the sound of the early 1990s!

Love over gold (the album which has both the Telegraph Road & Private Investigation songs) is hands down my #1 favorite album with each of the songs just outstanding on their own, not to mention the new direction the band took with the addition of the brilliant Alan Clark. (My favorite DS song is a toss up between Brothers in Arms & Where do you think you'r going, but Love over gold, the song itself is probably my #4 favorite, just behind Romeo & Juliet (alchemy version). Going home (alchemy version) will be my life-send-off song, but while many of the same musicians, it's a MK song, not DS).

Thanks. I hope you have begun reading lyrics prior to hearing the songs. Keep up the good work, and please do not hesitate to play your guitars.

Mark Knofler`s style of picking comes directly from early country blues guitarists like Blind Willie McTell, Mississippi John Hurt etc. The style is characterised by a syncopated bass line that alternates between the 6th and 4th strings of the guitar ( sometimes includes the 5th string) these strings are played with the thumb. The fingers play the treble strings of the guitar against this steady bass line. Each finger is given a string to play unlike in classical music where each finger is given a note to play so ,to give an example ,if the same note was to be played in succession in blues the same finger would play that note but in classical music two different fingers would be allocated the job. The genius of Mark`s playing was to transfer the skill and techniques he had learnt from early country blues music into ideas of rock . Because Mark had mastered these esoteric skills it made it very difficult for others to replicate his technique thus giving him that characteristic sound . A friend of mine once said “The best music is that which can be directly traced back to its ethnic roots” this I believe is an excellent example of that premise.

Another wonderful Dire Straits performance and summary. I believe you would appreciate Cutting Crew live in 2007 at Rockpalast with (I just) 'Died in your arms'. An excellent live track that mirrors electric guitar against acoustic guitar. It's also an ear worm.

you're also pretty young, Dire straits was huge in the 80s

Very interesting!

I never knew what I was expoecting when I brought Love over Gold home on vinyl back in '82. Private Investigations gave me goosebumps then, and still does. It is my ALL time favourite Dire Straits song, and Telegraph Road on the same album is my second favourite song. I dont think Dire Straits ever beat this album, and I am in awe at how quickly you picked up on the song structure. I hope you listen to the rest of the album now. Klobouk dolů před tebou (apologies if Google messed that up!) :) By the way, my Dad said I had been conned into buying an album with just 5 tracks on it - until I played Private Investigations and Telegraph Road to him :)

Has always loved Dire Straits. I want to suggest something to you. You don't have to do a reaction to this but check out the guitar playing and piana playing of Alejandro Aranda during his American Idol journey a few years ago. Speaking of unique!! Greetings from South Africa

You can check more Mark clasicf on So far away from live Sydney 86 called calypso version. Or Neck and Neck album with Chet Atkins. Btw spanish? What i have on mind - Music from movie Altamira by Mark with Antonio Banderas ;)

Really enjoying this, a lovely song that rarely gets an in depth look at. Might I suggest a look at Roy Clark, Allan Holdsworth or some Jerry Reed.

Брат! Удовольствие от профессиональной реакции!

You should react to Wishbone Ash, the first rock band to feature twin lead guitar, playing harmonies, and no keyboard. Their first album was 1970, and have to-date 26 studio albums. They are still touring with one original member Andy Powell. Argus released in 1972 is considered their best, with Sometime World, The King Will Come and Warrior as stand out tracks.

I see you've become a big fan of Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler by now. This concert was recorded in the arena of Nimes, in the South of France, in 1992 if I'm not mistaken.

I wrote a tone poem in high school and used Private Investigations for inspiration. Was pretty funny because my teacher was a massive Dire Straits fan and got it right away lol. Was one of my better ones, if a bit derivative.

You will also love "Calling Elvis" aned "Romeo and Juliet" from the same concert, I'm sure of it. Phil Palmer is the second guitarist here, he also played with Eric Clapton and Tina Turner, and BTW: Mark also wrote the song "Private dancer" which was recorded by Tina Turner, all of Dire Straits played on it except Mark, the solo was played by Jeff Beck instead, but Mark never liked that solo.

Check out david gilmour high hopes live in gadansk. Similar vibe with the use of nylon string guitar

I love the cultural context. Now you know pink Floyd and Fire straits.

If you haven't already, please take a look at Classical Gas. Played by the composer, Mason Williams. There are many versions on You Tube - see what you think!

Nice reaction and you’re right, he had some Alan Parsons close notes

This song really sold the whole idea of the CD to me. Love Over Gold was one of the first albums available on CD, and this track in particular showed off just how great its signal-to-noise ratio was - those deep black silences and sudden distortion-free sparkling peaks were very impressive having grown up with vinyl or tape. While this is a great performance I really think the CD version is better in some ways -- here those deep silences are filled with crowd noise. Also, on the record, Mark puts a lot more effort into his Philip Marlowe impression. Here, not so much! This version is best appreciated knowing the recorded version, IMO.

even if u dont know all the songs " we " know, u' re a real nice guy 🙂

how do you describe the spanish guitar? nylon strings ? is that all? obviously very beautiful but it sounds slightly different to the regular country guitar

He learned to finger pick through playing folk music 👍🏻

In the roman arenas, in Nîmes

Would love it if you were to react to So far Away / Final Oz. You won’t be dissapointed.

Hi Sir, please review another's DS song, You and Your Friend, beautifully played by Mark Knopfler. Thank you.

You should listen to the album which this song is on,its very atmospheric much more so than the live version...............................

Maybe now you want to try reacting to So Far Away, OZ Tour New Zeeland, they call it the Calypso Version. It is totally different from the original version and my favorite (Spoiler: played on acoustic guitar). You might also like this here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/obR7qdKHssnXnJ8.html Mark brought together 60 artists to re-record one of his iconic songs. Artists such as David Gilmor, Joe Walsh, Ringo Star, Pete Townshed, Joe Bonamassa among others. It is worth it.

Try Paco de Lucia once Mark said about him :” the day I known Paco I understood I don’t know how to play guitar”

Have you heard Tina Turner's Private Dancer? It's a Dire Straits song but with Jeff Beck instead of Mark, it was going to be on this album but it made no sense with Mark singing it.

Oh my lord... How far have we deviated from musical perfection these days. I guess once you have reached the top, you can only go down...

Unlike other reaction videos, your reactions are unique and quite informative since you pick up the notes and subtleties from the guitar playing, love it man !! Czech Republic huh, been to Prague once, very hot chicks :)

Check "Dire Straits - Lady Writter" also :)

Philip John Palmer is the other guitarist.

Mark Knopfler è riuscito a rendere popolare musica di " nicchia ". Un genio assoluto !

Fantastic review. Who recommended this version? Knopfler’s guitar is too quiet in the mix.

Knopfler should be locked up playing the acoustic like that at a rock concert, seriously there can be nobody better 😮

If you like Mark mayby you shoult check Chris Rea. Song nothing to fear from YT live montreux 1997 . Gretat slide playing on stratocaster.❤

Thumb and finger, that’s all he 👍uses

The other finger picking legend is Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac. Listen to "Big Love" from "the Dance".

The one from the Alchemy Tour in 1983 is better in my opinion. This is good, but the arrangement on the Alchemy version in 83 is better, because it’s less ‘cluttered’. It’s really cut back compared to this performance and the dichotomy between acoustic and electric guitar is much more defined. Mark really does a LOT more in that version, while actually playing less, if that makes sense. It’s a masterpiece. Like all his compositions, arrangements and of course, his inimitable playing. I encourage you to try and find the Alchemy version, or evenm the original studio recording, which is also impressive, although not as good as live, imho.

Do "Romeo And Juliet" from the same show. You won't be sorry.

Please react to one of the coolest female vocalists in the world. Diana Ankudinova - Queen of Goosebumps - Diana received such a title for her extraordinary unique voice. Diana's best performances - Derniere Danse, Wicked Game, Can't Help Falling in Love, California Dreamin', Sweet Dreams, Human Each of these speeches garnered over a thousand reactions. Diana is in the TOP 3 world vocalists in terms of the number of reactions (about 20 thousand reactions).

Although you probably know him as a guitar teacher, I think it would be interesting for you to make a video about Paco de Lucia, as he will surely be a discovery for many of your followers. I leave you as a main choice one of his best known songs Entre dos aguas, and as a second course I would recommend the Mediterranean Sundance with Al Di Meola and John McLaughlin... kzfaq.info/get/bejne/aNWpm8-SyZyYXac.html - kzfaq.info/get/bejne/d6qnmdyp1djNcYE.html

If you're interested, I transcribed this song some time ago. Just for fun and study :) kzfaq.info/get/bejne/nL-nd8yV273NYHU.html

People screaming in the front row of stuff like this have always confused me. I’d be standing there with my eyes wide open in anticipation, not wanting to miss anything. Why would you scream over the little details?! Idk, maybe that’s just me.

I think the version on Alchemy Live is better than this one - a little bit faster, gives imo. a better flow. Alchemy live is (imo) also their best performance of Sultans of Swing and Telegraph Road - and many others... This Album is pure perfectrion.

Learn from the master.

No live or even video version has the unique character and atmosphere of the original album version. It's just my opinion. Many people disagree with this, but I don't care.

Same finger style as Bruce Cockburn.

This was a mess, listen the original studio version, that one was pretty cool. ( that one is much simplier and clean ) If you are interested in fingerstyle covers, then the one by Yoni Schlesinger is the best by far,

When you can, check out Springsteen’s live version of “The Ghost of Tom Joad” with Tom Morello … you don’t have to make a reaction video on it but do yourself a favor and just watch the performance.

No need to explain why you are unfamiliar with western bands that were around during the communist era, I would have thought the reason was obvious. I’m sure those from the west (I’m guessing mostly Americans) who are critical also couldn’t name a single Czech band!

The Alchemy version is way better !

This concert version is vevry, very poor