When my mom died, in 1999, I went into a depression for a couple of months. My first ‘dipping my toes back into the pool of humanity’ was a YES concert at the old Hollywood House Of Blues. When YES played Awaken, it somehow made everything ok. I was reduced to tears during the song, by the last flourishes of the song, I was ok. Somehow. Awaken allowed me to go forward from the loss. It was amazing, I’ll never forget that. ❤

Awaken is one of the most amazing songs I have ever experienced. Truly a transcendental experience. It reached me deep inside when I was 17 and it does now at 63. On behalf of my Yes fan friends, thanks for doing this!

CTTE is not only Yes's best piece, but my favorite all-time.

Ever since I heard it for the first time , it brings me tears.

Awaken marked the end of a fantastic run of albums and music thriughout the 70s.After GFTO,Yes changed direction in the 80s and,for me,were never the same again.Those final lines:'Like the time I ran away....'suggesting a guiding spiritual presence that offers reassurance have stayed with me throughout my life.

"...Like the time I ran away Turned around and you were standing close to me Like the time I ran away Turned around and you were standing close to me" 🙏 ❤ 🌹 Chris and Alan🌹 ❤ 🙏

Awaken is truly one of their greatest musical masterpieces.Blessed to have seen it performed live with the Going for the One lineup. I will never forget it. 😊

GFTO is a very overlooked album IMHO, for me their best album along with Tales, Awaken is truly a masterpiece

Oh My! this version is freaking fabulous!...love your interpretation and comments too! wonderful!

I'm and such a lucky man to have seen this concert in 1977 the Venue was at the time Aladdin's Theater in Las Vegas Nv. Just an amazing experience I have been a YES fan since 73 and will always be one. Great song analysis Thank you.

Wow! A superb analysis of Awaken. Not only one of Yes' finest compositions, but IMO one of the greatest prog rock compositions of all time. I love the Todmobile performance ( I have a video of the full concert and it is great). I think the choir and orchestra augment both the sound and the musical performance perfectly to bring out its full potential - it is my favourite live recording of the piece. Ironically perhaps, it also demonstrates that any other member of Yes can be (and has been) replaced with an equally talented musician without losing the essence of the band, but Jon Anderson is unique. Jon is now performing the piece live with the Band Geeks. The performances seem to be excellent, but so far I have only been able to find audience recordings. Hopefully a live DVD will be released after the tour.

I consider this song to be a masterpiece, yes has made alot of works that are great so the best is up to an opinion.

Thanks for this, Awaken and GFTO are my faves of all time and always will be, no one has ever done anything to come close. I remember being at the Royal Albert Hall in London both nights in 2000 when they played Awaken and on the huge crescendo near the end confetti was released over the audience, it was magic.

YES❗️The greatest band on this or any other planet❗️Awaken is just one of their several masterpieces. My favorite band and have been following them forever. 214 shows, but not many since the passing of Chris and Alan. I miss you my brothers. You are now jamming on The Ultimate Stage. 🎸🎸🎸🥁🥁🥁⚘️⚘️⚘️🕊🕊🕊😎

Isn't the final testament for a song, apart from its longevity, that it is still beautiful when covered by other musicians? The Todmobile cover, albeit with Jon on lead vocal, is a brilliant example. Thank you for presentation and analysis. And what else could we expect from Wakeman's intro considering his improvised intro to Cat Stevens Morning has Broken.

Without a doubt in my mind, Awaken is the best Yes song!

Phenomenal live version of their very best track next to Close To The Edge 🙌🏻🙌🏻

I share the same opinion: "Awaken" is Yes's greatest song. The version in the video is wonderful and I've watched it many times before today. The moment at 24:23 in this video, where the pinnacle is reached, always sends shivers down my spine. Thank you, Yak, for your musical analysis. It's very interesting how the chords progress through the circle of fifths in certain sections.

This was a treat! Thank you! Bill Martin has also a great interpretation, he highlights some of the gnostic imagery in the lyrics.

GFTO was my first concert ever, still love the album. their last truly great one in my opinion, only five songs but all some of their best. Awaken, the masterpiece of the record.

Fantastic!

the Gates of Delirium has my vote !

Thais the best live version of Awaken ever, the whole concert is magnificent, Jon’s voice is amazing and still is, his version of this on the recent tour with the band Geeks is also brilliant.

Great analysis and interesting facts about this amazing song. Bravo Yak. Because I’m a huge fan of prog bands who included grand orchestra (like Renaissance) and choir to their musical arrangements, this version of Awaken is my personal favourite.

I thought it might be Awaken.👍 Todmobile version is fabulous, especially the lead guitar and choir, along with Jon's vocal, which is just stellar.

Awaken is indeed THE BEST Yes track imo. They were at the pinnacle of their career. Never reached that level again... Thanks for the review..

“Like the time I ran away, turned around and You were standing close to me.” I think he is speaking of God Himself here. We are continually running away from God in pursuit of other things, but He remains there beside us always ready to accept us back. Our awakening is the realization that God is with us always. There can be “no doubt, no doubt” that He exists and is there. I always gave Close to the Edge such very high regard, but Awaken is the most uplifting work they have done, and they have done many such beautiful songs. It is so inspirational, simply beautiful.

Thanks Tom, I agree! Nice place you've got here! Best to you~

Thank you for this. I

Close to the Edge may possibly be my favorite album of all time, but Awaken is quite possibly my favorite track. Oddly enough, my brother and I feel that the Todmobile version may be the best version. Despite a change to the intro and key change, it has a quality that just hits me to the core. Wonderful stuff.

The album cover seems to mirror the line "Workings of man." I used to call this album 'Going for the Bum.'😂

Heard YES live in 1977 in Oslo, and Awaken was the abolute highlight of the consert!

Good video. Awaken is in my top 5 Yes songs. Yes performed it in 2003 with an orchestra at Montreux - a wonderful version which is available on YT.

AWAKEN IS pure BLISS and YES at their BEST as well as the GREATEST LAST song of their CAREER but that DOESN'T diminish ALL the OTHER MASTEPIECES that are JUST AS INCREDIBLE. Personally the entire CLOSE TO THE EDGE is as AMAZING, TALES especially THE REVEALING SCIENCE of GOD, THE REMEMBERING & RITUAL plus the entire UNFORGETTABLE GATE of DELIRIUM are ALL what made YES the Greatest Modern Group of my 60 + Lifetime!!!!

Tom, I absolutely LOVE your channel ! BRILLIANT WORK !!! I have "Yes Complete Deluxe Edition" book in front of me published by Warner Bros. All albums until Drama. I purchased the book back in the 1990s. On page 343 the transcription of "Awaken" starts. It goes for 20 pages of printed 2-hand piano reduction !! It has complete piano intro, all melodies with lyrics, reduced (but accurate) instrumental parts with correct time signatures, 3/4 circle of 5ths entire part, reduced 3/4 E-minor section (but containing all essential information - the rest one can easily loop and transcribe), then "Master Of Images..." entire section followed by "Bachian" cathedral organ solo transcription insert (Rick in Switzerland), back to circle of 5ths, and finally to E Major ending with a guitar downward riff-cadenza. This transcription reflects a1977 album, but it could serve as a perfect tool for an arranger to write all orchestral parts. I grew up listening to "Awaken" at least once a week as a kid. By 1983 while still in high school (in addition to majoring in piano performance and composition) I was into jazz and prog music. Eddie Jobson, Rick Wakeman, Keith Emerson, Tony Banks, then Jan Hammer, Chick Corea, Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, Pat Metheny/Lyle Mays - all were (and still are) my heroes. I could place "Awaken" on the same shelf with Mahler 8th Symphony, or even with some of the Classic film scores etc. Another great composition on this album is "Turn Of The Century" - beautifully recorded, impeccable, etheral. This composition "Awaken" is absolutely timeless and it will remain a Classic forever. Thanks Tom for in-depth analysis and wonderful narration.

Awaken is good, but, for me, Yes's greatest song was "Heart of the Sunrise".

Awaken is ny single favorite piece of music. Ever.

Amazing video and commentary on an amazing song, one of my all time favorites. I do Love the live version in this video, but with one caveat. I believe the original crescendo with Wakeman on organ has never been matched for pure power and intensity. Other than that, this live performance is truly outstanding! Thank you for referencing the Singer Trilogy as well. I have to seek out a copy and read it, now that I know of it. As a writer myself, I’ve always envisioned Awaken as a part of its soundtrack for a book I wrote with a similar theme. One could always dream. Right?

Yeah The triple neck has a guitar at the top because as I read, three basses caused so much tension that it bent the necks and couldn't be tuned.

Moraz was awesome would have loved to hear more with him

Honestly, I got ready to pass this up as so many reaction videos are cringe worthy at best. The great thing is that this one is not. It was quite good. With a name like The Yak, I didn't know what to expect. I'll watch a few more videos over time and might very well subscribe to the channel. Well done!

I also noticed that the Todmobile live version is a half step lower. I think the reason is simple: Jon Anderson, though a great singer at age 70, found the tessitura too high for his voice. You get older, your voice changes, though Anderson's has been remarkably consistent, his high register still intact. Nor is this the only time Yes did this: The stratospheric "Going for the One" is put down a whole step from the studio version on "Keys to Ascension 2"; the last section of "Turn of the Century" is also down a whole step on the same album (clumsily done, I might add). Every single live version of CTTE also has the final section down a whole step, going all the way back to YesSongs. Yet every cover version I've seen of the song, including the Band Geeks, goes back to the studio version. This is something I've never understood.

It's "Close to the Edge" for me. But Awaken is definitely one of their epic pieces. Need to have Yes playing it. Very disappointing.

"Awaken ... greatest single work ever recorded by the progressive rock band Yes." Can be shortened: "Awaken ... greatest single work ever recorded."

4:30 There is a tiny clip of Wakeman at a church organ at the GFTO sessions but not sure whether it's that organ. It was on the Yes Years VHS video.

Think I blew two sets of speakers in my youth listening to this song. 🤪

1:08 Mellotron. Shows pic of Tony Banks with Prophet-10 and Synclavier.😊 Great video though.

When I first heard Punk Rock, at the age of 21, I thought that it was utter shite, and I haven't changed my mind 46 years later. The best song in my opinion is Close to the Edge. Awaken (the second part which begins with Ricks quiet and gentle keys and Jon Anderson's harp), is a close second. That climactic moment, beginning 12mins 18 secs and climaxing with that deep Vevy church organ at 12mins 54 seconds sends shivers down my spine.

No wonder orchestral renditions of many Yes pieces work well. It was not called for nothing symphonic rock. (it evolved into prog.rock) This kind of music was murdered by punk and its DJ´s. But its like vocal jazz of the 50ties and sixties, quality will bounce back. JS Bach was in the first decades after he passed only known by scholars. Jazzrock was demolished by Disco. Soul and Funk by Rap. (with HipHop inbetween)

Awaken

A very nice video. Congrats! I only wish this kind of analysis would have been made for my own favorite Yes song, which is "Heart of the sunrise"..

Absolutely phenomenal song in every respect, as very capably and interestingly explained in the video. FWIW, I grew up on a diet of heavy metal and punk, but very soon gravitated heavily towards prog when I realised just how superb the musicianship was. Though I do still like a few punk songs even now, none of them quite come close to matching the incredible power of tracks such as Awaken. Awesome.

Thank you for your perfect diction. I'm french, and I can understand every single word you say ! By the way, I agree with you about how wonderful "Awaken" is ...

I wish you would have just let us listen to it instead of talking throughout. I'm glad this is available to listen to.

Your analysis and explanation with circle of fifths and time signatures is great. Subscribed

There is video of Rick playing the organ at St. Martin's Church (with Jon on Harp) Yes - Going For The One Sessions 1976 - Part 2: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/g7hjfNWVtbGofp8.html - Enjoy!

Everyone is searching to awaken. There are 2 spiritual realities in this world. The external evil we are trying to escape and Jesus the one you find when you seek him in your heart.

I think "Relayer" was the peak of Yes' progressive creativity. "Going For The One" and everything after that was, to me, a step back to a more familiar footing (Yes' progression giving way to treading water, as it were) with stodgy (compared to Patrick Moraz) Rick Wakeman -- who disliked the magnificent "Tales From Topographic Oceans" -- still thinking cathedral organ on a rock album was a big innovation and with a single that literally proclaimed Yes' new pop chart ambitions with "Going For The One." As for "Awaken", I find its bombast interesting but ultimately forgettable, and certainly nowhere close to their greatest song.

Those few notes on the guitar at the end give 10% of the song. Every time you listen to the song you want to hear that part the guitar. Without it the song is not complete...

Credit where credit is due, one guy with the Yamaha guitar, to cover Steve’s parts, a whole orchestra and choir to cover Wakeman.

Great start!😂

I bought this album new on release. I've never played it. I haven't got round to playing in through the out door by zep either.

Nice review of Awaken!

Jon calls Awaken "The Song Of Songs" (a sly nod to Soloman) and this is truly the version where Jon is most invested in the vocals...strong, mature, yet etherial. The original recording is fantastic (no narration...sorry Vox, I know why you're here but this is a 'mental flow' song).

An amazing performance of an amazing track - though for me, the standout tracks from the album are the title track and Turn of the Century.

Super 🎉🎉🎉🎉

Think I'm crazy if you want ... I believe it is actually The Remembering .

To Be Over

The 'many chord changes' are called the Circle of 5ths, which is apropos for the essence of Awaken. Doug Helvering explains this in his first listen: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/lcp9hNN_tZfbd40.html

Pardon me, but it should have been Mike Pinder's photo shown when the Mellotron was mentioned.

The Singer

hmm. In the middle section (which I'm hearing as mostly 6/8, as the eighth-note pulse remains consistent), I hear *every* major chord: E A/C# D/A G C/E F/C Bb Eb/G Ab/Eb Db F#/A# B/F# then back to E. The chords run the circle, the bassline outlines three major chords (fifth to third to root) a minor third apart e c# a, g e c, bb g eb, db/c# a# f#. (Also, a note: I find the ducking *really* distracting. I'd rather you just talk over the music and keep it at the same level.)

Great vid... Where can I get that Yes GFTT T-Shirt ??? !

Great song but not the best YES in my opinion. Close to the edge.....can't touch it.

The greatest song ever though the word song does not do it justice.

Great song, no question. But every Yes fan agrees their greatest track is Close To The Edge. It's perfection from start to finish.

Sorry mate, @ 6:36, as soon as you said that you rejected the 2003 remix, and then decided to feature members other then Howe, Squire, Wakeman and White, I bailed out.

Really hate being one of the sheep in anyone's herd, but I have to agree. Awaken is their best song and possibly the best prog song ever written. The studio version is a masterpiece, but so is the live version on Keys. Not including the closing guitar riff in the live version you featured is an abomination. You asked, "how could that version that we just heard be improved upon?" That's easy to answer.... listen to (or watch) the version from Keys and see how just 5 musicians (instead of the 30) pull it off, including the proper ending. That's the obvious answer. Also, punk may have hated prog, but some prog liked punk. Nick Mason produced The Damned's Music for Pleasure album in 1977. I loved the Pretty Vacant start to this video.

Technically, I think you're right. As I think of it, I what I hold against this song is the album that it was on. I just didn't enjoy the title track that much, and "Parallels" sounded like an overblown ditty. "Turn of the Century" was every bit as inspired, while "Wondrous Stories" just fit. Tormoto was a real let down. The sound of that entire album was out of balance, like treble knob broke off, or something. A lot of the songs were really good, but weren't arranged well, and some things were just too cute to hear without cringing. About the only thing that was absolutely well done was that long introduction to "The Silent Wings of Freedom." I'm told a good producer could have saved the album.

That guitar player rips! It might be a good idea to have the commentary be on a scroll rather than spoken over the music. Great job on the musical terminology.

sound chaser 😇😇

sous-titres (subtitles) please!!

RSOG

One detail : the 2003 CD version of "Going for the one" is not a new mix, but only a (great) remaster. It's because the original multi-tapes are lost ...

Definitivamente hacer un análisis de esta excelente pieza musical, sobre una interpretación en la cual solo esta Jon Anderson, se me hace una verdadera irreverencia al resto de los músicos, Alan White, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman where is ?

Punk what crap, YES IS BEST!!!