Steve Vai - The Boy From Seattle

[RONPAULFREEDUMB]

Vai dances around like a faggot.

[fronchfries]

@RONPAULFREEDUMB I think it's more like a slow motion backwards walk, but ok--point taken.

[JaySon33883]

This would be so fun to listen to while high

[zZorgZz]

Cobain fans who think this is a tribute to him, piss off. This is for the king, Johnny Allen Hendrix

[deathscythekim729]

Evo in good condition yay!

[freddietz96]

Johnny Allen (“Jimi”) Hendrix, born 1942 Seattle, Washington. God, how you can you commenters miss that—start talking about Kurt Cobain? About 10 people nailed that; the rest were totally lost.

[Stevin13]

4:53 steve vai chors are the best

[ScottNicholasSimpson]

Bravo Mr. Vai! I swear he had a Brian May thing going on there with the use of delay but it's still a great song.

[mamaschristmasbunny]

Sounds like he shot a little bit of Steve Miller (who is from Tacoma not Seattle) into that. I know all the guitarists from hearing a ton of Seattle guitarists, my being from Seattle. The only recognizable chords that I heard; were a little bit of Hendrix's, like a little bit of Lil' Wing and Crosstown Traffic a lil' Voodoo Child, but what was obvious was that little riff he steals off of Fly Like an Eagle that Steve Miller song at about at 3:32. I love Steve VAi.

[EpsilonX]

isn't this a tribute to hendrix?

[zachoon]

@EpsilonX In a way yes. He was sort of playing of Little wing, in how hendrix played the melody in with the hendrix rhythm playing, so yeah.

[mcgaheefamily]

I WENT DOWN AT THE BOTTOM AND FOUND A COUPLE THAT I HAVE NEVER HEARD AND THEY WERE AS GOOD ALMOST AT 100 PER CENT.LOVED PLAYING THEM

[MrBlueSkyMrNight]

I listen to this song at least once a week. In one of my play lists.

LOV E IT!

[feenux09]

can someone tell me if the original audio on the album was taken/recorded from this "live performance" of the dvd?

[rickyjshiznit]

@feenux09 the video is from the alien love secrets "movie". its all of the songs on alien love secrets performed live with audio from the studio versions of the songs. so yea, the audio is what's on the album.

[dawnofascendacy]

steveva vai rapes guitar on this song better yet he makes sweet sweet lovin'

[wisesatyr72]

great song to play on a strat..

[dolkepot]

is psn still down ? c mon sony hurry up...

[lizmorrow27]

I lost my virginity to this song!!!

[fredrums1952]

@lizmorrow27 they do play some of Vai stuff on the weather channel on the local on the 8's

[kpgpwi64]

@fredrums1952 yeah I've heard boston rain melody before haha

[whitelotus808]

if jimi were alive id love to see him and vai play and jam together or do a G3 show with them

[IsleyTribute]

One of my favorites! So many chord inversions throughout, great blues lines, melody, harmony, dynamics, emotion ... just WOW!

[RGK1969]

You don't need lyrics when your Steve Vai baby!!!!!

[mkoprc]

i think jimi would be proud:)

[rascalferret]

who needs lyrics anyway

[BaneOfXistence4]

The chords remind of "Little Wing".

[MrPppaul]

@BaneOfXistence4 it's supposed to. in this song, Steve Vai uses the ''Chords/Melody'' style of playing that Jimi Hendrix often used, like in ''Little Wing''

[djfrank203]

Man u guys are idtios. everyone can write a song, duh. fucking stereotyped bitches, grow up instead of debating behind a screen

[Ua8o]

Steve Vai is a critics dream,thats one of the reasons he gets so many hits/comments on yt.

[pablostillborn]

5 users listen to justin bieber..

[69masterone]

@pablostillborn

No Doubt,Steve Vai Is One Bad Hombre' !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[whitelotus808]

this is really hendrix-y and haha @ paulocbi. lol. i agree steve isnt a songwriter. he used to be but changed as a musician. youd never expect that the same guy who made passion and warfare made flex-able and everything else after that. vai is an okay songwriter/singer but hes a godsend composer and guitar player/innovator. best guitarist and musician IMO.

[scottyboyable]

blimey you two have a proper discussion going on here haha, its like a Vai forum or debate or something lol

[ilowboy1]

Awesome

[Krb68691]

this sounds like weather channel music, but still awesome!

[I0o]

@Krb68691 hahah! yes

[MysticalMuffinDude]

@Krb68691 what about the music you hear in the mall lifts?

[GoldsCovers]

@Krb68691 EXACTLY what i thought!!!!!

[SplitHoof]

@Krb68691 LOL...

[BOOLsheet]

@Krb68691 i didnt realize the people who played music on the weather channel were this musically inclined 

[ginga117]

@Krb68691 U watch too much TV...

[residdent]

@Krb68691 If this was weather channel music I would watch it a lot more.

[TellingYouTwice]

Thanks for posting this, my favorite from the Alien Love Secrets VHS.

[tripfunkmonster]

I met Steve Vai once (briefly) and he seemed very humble and almost embarrassed about the attention he was getting.

[genocideist]

this song is really beautiful!! awesome

[MrElectric2005]

I like that sound



[kinggambitabc]

Nice tribute to Kurt

[kevinisblack1]

@kinggambitabc i love Kurt Cobain, but this is about Jimi Hendrix bro...

[KonkreteXXX]

@kinggambitabc What?! Kurt?! If it would have been a tribute to Kurt, then he would´ve strummed two chords over and over with such a shitty sound that your ears would´ve started bleeding! Oh man...

[PhilosopherOnWeed]

@KonkreteXXX And Vai wouldn't have tunes his guitar properly when this was supposed to be a tribute to Kurt Cobain.

[KonkreteXXX]

@PhilosopherOnWeed Exactly.

[MrPppaul]

@KonkreteXXX You mean Kurt Cobain wasn't good? poor you!

[jersmusicrecordings]

@KonkreteXXX idk but maybe its to that really good guitar player from Seattle you know the black one......... .......-------------------HEND­RIX

[Nardbluzrootz]

@jersmusicrecordings nahhh its Cobain lol becuase Cobain made chords sound like that...

[tipetto]

@KonkreteXXX you need to learn more...the boy from the Seattle is Jimi Hendrix dude

[KonkreteXXX]

@tipetto why the fuck do you reply to my comment...i didnt say he was, did I?

[eraybuykor]

listening him and watching him to play isn't the same thing

[soulplatos]

this is bad ass...tabs?

[Coshnitzke]

fuck you bitches for talking shit about kurt. youre just mad because his fucking music was so damn popular that all the hair metal bands just died.

fuck you, kurt cobain could write a better song than this.

[BledsoeBluvd]

@Coshnitzke Why watch and comment if you don't like? I take it your Nirvana depressathon playlist getting you all angsty and making you want to come whine about someone who can actually play/write music

[goonyougoodthing]

ok anit-kurt fans can just go to hell im sure vai would tell you that himself

[juanchoplazas]

de lo mejor ...excelente!

[KreatorOfDeath1985]

haha i know this is for jimi but if it was for kurt id laugh because he couldnt even play the first 5 seconds of this song before getting depressed and blowing his head off.

[TheRealErob]

im glad nobody thinks this was written for kurt cobain. he doesnt deserve anything this cool...

[richardshapiroII]

dude.

kurt's rad.

this is for jimi, and I doubt steve would do a nirvana tribute,

but kurt's rad....

[petiethepitt]

This song was written as a Jimi Hendrix tribute.

[onethousandflushes]

Yeah, I like it too. After all these years, Steve still caresses that instrument like he was teasing us with a private love affair that never lets him down. It shows in every one of his performances, but that's what makes him a master. The rule is, when Vai plays, people LISTEN.

[tetragramatonadr]

One day I promess I'll write a instrumental song called "the boy from long Island"

A tribute to steve¡¡¡

[4lifeguitar]

I like it

[nick54372]

GOOD TUNE!!

[CecilTheSeaMonster]

It's funny, because when Hendrix himself played this style, he was influenced by Curtis Mayfield, & Peter Green's "Albatross".

[bphatbin]

"The Boy from Seattle" is actually a tribute to Jimi Hendrix written by Vai. He is awesome! Not just as a guitarist but as a human being.

[blitzkrieg414]

Wow! Thanks for the info... cheers!

[PAULOcbi]

@bphatbin yea ,too bad he cant write a hit rockin` tune to save his life.Why is it the self-taught guitarists always come up with the most memorable kick ass riffs and tunes? I think sittin` in guitar school with some guy goin` 'put your fingers here' saps the creativity from the player.

[KonkreteXXX]

@PAULOcbi He CAN. And he did every so often. There was just a little tiny something that was missing to the fuckin´ community...Vocals. I dont like most vocal music, because it kinda sounds...i dunno...hypocritical? xD

[PAULOcbi]

@KonkreteXXX dont tell me about DavidLeeRoths` debut album in which Vai got song credits .He got song credits as part of the contract not because he wrote any rock/pop songs ,wake up and have a coffee.

[KonkreteXXX]

@PAULOcbi WTF, i was talking about songs like juice and shit. Which are on his OWN records. They would make pretty good rock songs...and even if you dont consider them as "radio-friendly" enough, I bet he could write one with ease...I mean, goddamn, he writes music for a whole fuckin´ orchestra!

[PAULOcbi]

@KonkreteXXX well writing orchestral arrangements to solo over is a lot different from the art of rock/pop songwriting. I can arrange a 3-4 note bass line in any mode to solo over too,actually if you take guitar lessons its what most teachers will tell you to do to become familiar with the modes.Sorry but I really cant see what Vai does to be considered songwriting.

[KonkreteXXX]

@PAULOcbi Hahaha, ok. 10 albums. 100 songs. COMPLICATED stuff (not that major-to-minor lady gaga shit). NO songwriting? And actually, you know that the first half of the concert (the holland one) was played without him? (which was the major part of the show) He was writing every single note for every, fuckin´ single instrument, and you want to tell me that he wouldnt be able to write a fuckin pop tune? I mean maybe his rock is a little bit different than yours, but still...just think man

[PAULOcbi]

@KonkreteXXX 10 albums 100 songs and not one rock/pop tune and your calling SteveVai a songweriter now? Give ur head a shake pal.Hes a great guitarist but Vai is no songwriter,all the great rock/pop tunes and licks are written by self-taught guitarists ,its an Art pal ,its called rocknroll songwriting,you gotta have a hook,great lyrics ,a cool riff and a guitar solo.Im sure Vai could supply the guitar solo but guitar school grads dont come up with timeless riffs and hooks and never lyrics.

[KonkreteXXX]

@PAULOcbi Now, I know whats going on^^ You know, if you want to listen to fuckin distasteful pop shit, then dont watch this man´s videos!! How about that? And you´re talkin complete shit...I mean, judging from your pop/rock- attitude, you´ve never been a fan of progressive metal, but...the riffs that the guitarists of bands like dream theater are coming up with are considered epic (maybe not by the masses, but they only want to hear song to clap their hands to anyway)...and all of them got grade

[PAULOcbi]

@KonkreteXXX "I know whats goin on" Did you just come out of ur glue sniffing fog ??.I dont listen or buy any cds with a copyright of later than 1995.The commercialization of rock/pop spurred on by crap like U2 and Nickelback occuring in the late 90`s make it almost impossible to find any good music.Its not "lets make a great rock cd" anymore its "lets write commercial songs so we make more money"

[KonkreteXXX]

@PAULOcbi uh-huh. nice change of sujbect right there.

[PAULOcbi]

@KonkreteXXX I changed the subject `cos myself and evry other rock fan I know agrees Vai is not a songwriter, except you.Theres no need to debate any further `cos its generally accepted that Vai is a great giutarist but cant write a rocker to save his moms` life.Talk about changing the subject your last comment was"you listen to pop crap,and DreamTheater is great" nothing about Vais` songwriting.Run along kid ,if I want comeback I`ll scrape it off ur chin.

[silvano751]

@PAULOcbi bud, as much as I was leaning to your side of this arguement, I really disagree with your statement of steve vai not being a songwriter. First of all, if you are ANY sort of Vai fan, you would know he has several song with lyrics. If you are looking for a Vai song with a good riff and hook, listen to "Juice"! I love that song, and I could also find you more examples if need be. And also, FYI, a ton of Vai's music was released after 1995.

[PAULOcbi]

@silvano751 yea I know of all Vais` orchestra and Zappa-esque compositions,its just they dont really fit into my perspective of what a hardrock/pop genre song is.His stuff is 'extra', and generally for only the musically/guitar inclined with a certain taste for that stuff.Me I play guitar ,am fluent in 6 modes, but still like my hard rock tunes when they are written in the vein of hardrock/pop like Beatles,Stones,Hendrix,LedZep,­Queen,with a hook,great verse lyrics,chorus,bridge,solo, str8 up!

[silvano751]

@PAULOcbi I agree about how it does not fit in to pop, but in my opinion, his music can slide in to hard rock. For example, Whitesnake and David Lee Roth solo, two rock bands he was in, that are both in the category of hard rock. And yeah I play guitar too, in fact I own a Jem 7v, which is the model of guitar he plays in this video. I still and always will count him as a songwriter, but hey, I'm honestly just a Vai-head fanboy. How much do you like his work?

P.S- good choices of music :)

[PAULOcbi]

@silvano751 Just traded my LesPaul 60`s Classic for an AmericanStandard Strat. I can get around better on the Strat so the LesPaul souded great but had to go,lol.Got a martin DC-16 and a Taylor110 for backup for acoustic sets.Ive seen Vai twice at MasseyHall but I wouldnt buy one of his cds.Hes better live. Evryone has their own taste though..

[silvano751]

@PAULOcbi Nice set, I have my Ibanez Jem 7v of course, a Godin Freeway Classic 2nd electric guitar, and a Fender T-bucket 300CE acoustic electric. I wish I could afford a Taylor, but I'm only 15 and buy most of my own gear (I bought all of the guitars listed, but some other things I don't buy). And yeah, Steve is a lot better live, I'm planning on seeing this summer. I have some of his studio CD's, but like you said, everyone has their own taste

[silvano751]

@PAULOcbi and also, another point to prove that he is a great songwriter/composer, he recently wrote a whole 40 minute movement for an orchestra, which he conducted himself, then joined in after the piece.

[KonkreteXXX]

@PAULOcbi his definition of rock is a little bit different than yours, but still...just think about it, he couldnt write a pop tune?! Just because he doesnt want to, doesnt mean he cant! And, oh yeah, I agree with you on that "art of rock" thing...but: ART OF POP? Where´s the art? 3 chords?! Is that art?!

[PAULOcbi]

@KonkreteXXX "3 chords? wheres the art?" That is the art,to make something timeless and unforgettable with just 3 chords,great lyrics,chorus,solo and thats it,str8 up.Like all great rock. Rock`nroll was built on 3 chords that is the beauty of rock ,to make somthing amazing with little to work with is ART pal.

[KonkreteXXX]

@PAULOcbi tastes, i guess.

[chuckrocks69]

@bphatbin yeh you can hear the hendrix influence and obv the title.

stunning track. gives me goosebumps just listening to it. havent listened to this album in ages and came across this vid......sticking it on now !

[TheEarthBlues2]

It's probably a Japanese strat from the 1980's...which are some of the most sought out guitars among collectors and players. They are incredibly well built, much like vintage strats.

[Platinuminary]

This is the studio version.

[BluesJazzClassical]

much better then satch.

[flyingmonkeys88888]

this song is brillant i play it in work all the time

[rofldan]

Yea It definitely does sound like a telecaster

[keem85m]

I wonder how he's getting his guitar to sound like a Telecaster..

[squibble94]

On the recording he used a Japanese Strat. He just used his JEM for the video.

[keem85m]

ahh thanks!

[guitarkirb]

That recording sounds nothing like a Strat or a Tele. It sounds like his JEM with a locking trem that sucks all the mids out and his dimarzio pickups in tapped mode.

[RussianCivilian]

well thats too bad because his JEM don't have a coil tap so HA! It has a modular 5 way, AND it sounds BETTER than any strat or tele ever did (minus David Gilmour's).

[guitarkirb]

The #2 and #4 positions tap the humbuckers to pair with the center single coil on most of his guitars I think. Not totally sure, but those tones are definitely single coil tones.

[RussianCivilian]

that is correct, sir. When the blade is positioned in 2 and 4 the humbuckers second coil is bypassed and the first is joined with the middle pickup. On the new RG prestige lines, if the tone is rolled all the way back, the humbucker is restored but still coupled with the middle. So technically not a coil tap, it would be considered a partial bypass (split).... but im picky about terminology so don't mind me.

[petiethepitt]

Thats standard 5 position toggle wiring configuration on any Ibanez..You can get a super switch and tap the doubles to one single in positions 2 and 4 isolating them from the middle but have never heard of Vai doing that.

[petar1987]

@RussianCivilian no JEM sounds better then a strat.

[RussianCivilian]

if you were paying attention thats what I said.

[petiethepitt]

Thats debatable.I collect Jems,RG's,Fender's and find my Jem77's sound alot more like a Fender than my 7V's.The 77's are basswood with Paf's and the 7v's are Alder n EVOs.But I preffer humbucking p/ups and IMO the 77,777, 80's RG 560 550 sound better than my Fenders as well.There is nothing my Fender can do that my Ibanez's cant.Especially my 87 550's.But its all a matter of taste at the end of the day and I love both.I use my Fenders alot but cant say they are better.

[takijin007]

Bravo Vai!!!! Bestial filling!!

[tetragramatonadr]

Steve Vai > mortals

[Luar23]

Damn! Is this the best quality this video has to offer?.... please upload a better quality one... ^.~

[Luar23]

I want better quality for this video.

[AKMAC82]

it sounds different due to him using a Japanese re-issue copy of a '68 fender strat

[FlippinNoogle]

i love this songg

i want to learn it :)

i dont know why.. but he looks realllyyy good in this video <3

[0ua8]

Whats so good about Seattle?

[HardcoreDancr]

@0ua8 coffee

[jordanctucker]

it's where Jimi Hendrix was born

[TheQueenMalika14]

I miss Seattle sooo much!! Traveling around the country has made me realize this is the best place to be. Emerald city im comin 4 UUUUU!!

[dub1423]

Man, I've always wished that I could have been growing up in Seattle in the late 80's and early 90's to experience the Seattle sound.

Great culture they have.

And it was all spawned by Jimi Hendrix.

[Pauliv]

nice

[soundbitemusic]

Is there some compression on his guitar sound it sounds like it?

[davidsixstrings]

i think it has a lot of

[aquarian444]

I love his work with delay

[guitarman069]

im from seattle...im that boy! thanks mr. vai vai!

[crusaders36]

For those who dont know, this is a dedication to Hendrix, hence the Boy from Seattle. ;)

[RabidCookie]

every time i hear vai play with such taste and restraint my brain opens up to entirely new ideas...

[Simon0]

this i sthe worst song i have ever heard by a long way.

Just kidding. its good. I used to play it on the piano.

[kalapoka666]

you really freaked me out for a second there man!!! i was about to kill you :D

[lucaskarq]

that's no grunge at all..i thought i was about kurt, or layne ...LOL

[pipibulagbingi]

fuck .. i like his music(his style) he looked like my father .. hehe

[toxicity28]

i wish he was my father!

[TheHorrorInside]

I wish he was me : (

[knoxiuz]

@TheHorrorInside isn't it supposed to be I wish I was him instead ? What would he be doing if he was you ?XD lol

[mrmeoff]

One of my favorite Vai tracks!!! SIC!!!

[allanzaya]

he used a strat in his days with zappa. but this sound is a mix of his bridge and middle pickup on a jem.

[squibble94]

no.... He used a "$500 Japanese made Strat" ~Quoted from his website

[magirecords2004]

Nice song about Hendrix .

[LAA9733]

People are under the impression he's in love with himself cause of the way he acts on stage with the fan and the moves he makes and everything, but (while I could see why) if you ever read an interview with him or if you're lucky enough to talk to him, he is really nice. I remember reading the guitar world article he said he doesn't care if someone is strumming a d chord over and over or shredding like crazy, he's happy when he sees anybody playing and enjoying it. Something along those lines.

[guitarist6787]

@LAA9733 yer an he also said that in the music business there are groupies an he never would take advantage of anyone or have anything to do wih degrading woman

[KonkreteXXX]

@guitarist6787 hmm...I would^^

[123nickclark]

@KonkreteXXX so would i

[intrsoul]

@LAA9733 If I was Steve Vai, I'd be in love with myself ;-)

[jeffandmatthardyrule]

@LAA9733 The only impression I ever got from that is that he likes playing guitar A LOT. It's pretty obvious he's enjoying every second of it lol

[ThomasWA86]

@jeffandmatthardyrule was what I thought, as well

[KonkreteXXX]

@LAA9733 I never been under that impression....I just think that he´s a great showman! xD

[Keyboardzrock]

Staggering. So much heart.

[Johaneeeek]

Hello Jimi Hendrix

[ljguitar91]

what an excellent composition

its beautiful

[UpcomingGuitarLegend]

lol the move from 3:49 - 3:51 :)

[youztuber5000]

im from seattle, he must have wrote this song about me.

jk ;)

[vanhalenledzeppelin]

whoa damn never thought of that till now

[lvanhalen]

I feel the same way never really thought of it till now

[wade8443]

the boy from seattle must be jimi.

[lvanhalen]

I also beleive u r right

[neoland9]

godplay ... best guitarist alive ...

[fadetoblack143]

Pure emotion in his vibrato

[OwnedRL]

the song was played on a japanese strat vai paid 20k for (apparently). everything except the middle whammy/delay bit.

[Vinniemoore89]

Are you talking about the original recording?

Because in the video Vai is playing his Ibanez Jem Signature guitar

[OwnedRL]

yeah, the recording is played on a strat. i guess he used a jem in the video to do the middle whammy bit properly.

[ryemic]

as far as I can recall Steve Vai hasn't used a strat in his recordings he usually uses Ibanez for EVERYTHING lol so I would be hugely surprised to see him using a strat

[OwnedRL]

it's on his website somewhere and in some interviews. he describes how he found an actual strat to record this song.

[U2006gmx]

In his early days of recording I´m pretty sure he used his strats from the zappa days

and yeah there are only a few videos when he plays a strat check out steve vai live in bucharest little alligator from his ultra zone tour ! looks kinda weird ;)

[inspectorcal]

quite right my friend,,he used a "super strat" on his flexible lp.

[lk4790]

there is a video for every song on the album? If there is, can anyone who has the video for " kill the guy with the ball-the god eaters" upload it? Its my favorite track from that album!!!!!

[shredmunga]

there is but its live

[QuantumStates]

The title refers to Jimi Hendrix when he was young, hence the style of playing in the song.

[UpcomingGuitarLegend]

...makes me think of the beach for some reason lol

[jereibanez]

for the t-shirt and his movements.....xD

[youngun550]

My favorite guitarist easily

[Hurplepaze]

This has to be a tribute to Jimi right? Hendrix comes from seattle :)

And the song is so hendrixy, if you know what i mean :)