- (React) Today, we brought in our favorite teens
to react to ska music.
- To what?
- (React) Do we know what that is?
- (both) No.
- Oh. - Oh!
- Okay!
- (React) It involves a lot of trumpet
and other brass instruments.
- Wow. - Oh wow.
- Can I play this? - (React) Yeah.
♪ (discordant trumpet music) ♪
- Oh my God, that gave me a headache! (laughs)
♪ (upbeat ska music) ♪
This is exactly what I think of when I think of ska music.
- Yeah, this is very California-like.
- I like their haircuts.
- ♪ But don't sign that ♪ ♪ Paper tonight ♪
♪ She said but it's too late ♪
- And the sunglasses are bomb. - Mm-hmm.
- Why does this remind me of like a GEICO commercial?
- ♪ Then I don't remember ♪ ♪ What I read ♪
- Look at their sideburns!
- The like zoomed in camera, and like the fish eye lens
was so popular! - I love that!
(Jaxon mimics trumpet)
- ♪ Hey Macarena ♪
- That's what that reminded me of.
- (React) So this band is called Reel Big Fish.
- But it makes me so happy,
like, the weirdness of the music videos.
- Me too! - It's like so cool.
- (React) So how does this song make you feel?
- (Angel) Jumpy, like... ♪ Duh duh duh duh ♪
- Yeah, gets me going. - It makes me happy.
- Like, it has caffeine in it. - Yes!
♪ (upbeat music) ♪
- Who is she?
- (React) You don't know? - No.
- (Sofia) I know... - (Angel) Who?
- Who is that?
- Gwen Stefani! - Yeah, Gwen Stefani.
- But what is the group called? I know Gwen.
- Like, I love the instruments in the back.
- She's so pretty.
- ♪ I never thought you could ♪ ♪ Be that way ♪
- And then ♪ Down, bow ♪
- ♪ But you looked like me ♪ ♪ On Sunday ♪
- (Angel) Oh, I love this. - He looks like, what's his face?
In Clueless. - (React) Oh, Paul Rudd.
- (Angel) Oh. - Paul Rudd.
- Ooh, and the drums.
- ♪ Oh, you came in with ♪ ♪ The breeze ♪
- Gwen Stefani.
- (React) Before she went solo,
she was a part of the group called No Doubt.
- No, ugh! I knew that!
- (React) You knew it. - It slipped my brain.
- (Jaxon) Hmm.
- ♪ I gave her all ♪ ♪ That I had to give ♪
♪ I'm gonna make it ♪
- Oh yeah! - (Sofia) This is really scandalous.
- ♪ Bam, bam, bam, bam, bam ♪
- She looks like her name's Cassidy, and she just pisses of her dad
and dates bad boys.
- Now she's happy with her... - She's now happy.
- With her friends.
- It's so fun, like... - Yeah!
It has a Jamaican feel to it. - Woah, I'm feeling it, like...
I'm getting there!
- Someone is chilling on a skateboard
rolling by with like a jukebox on their...
- Yeah. - A boombox, why'd I say jukebox?
- (React) This was Sublime!
The band.
- It's so funny, 'cause like no one knows what Sublime is,
but everyone has the shirt.
- (React) So what do you know about Sublime?
- ♪ I don't practice Santeria ♪ ♪ I ain't got no crystal ball ♪
Do you know that one?
- Yeah, I've heard of that.
- (React) And Sublime was one of the most popular bands
of third-wave ska.
First wave, where was it? Do you remember?
- Jamaica.
♪ (saxophone music) ♪
- Oh.
♪ (upbeat ska music) ♪
- Ah yeah.
- Oh, have the wah, wah, wah.
They got the doohickey. (laughs)
- I remember having to play the triangle is like bands in school.
♪ (trumpet music) ♪
- Oh, I hear the off beat too.
- See, it's just making me wanna vibe, you know?
I'm on a cloud right now, I'm just moving in slow-mo.
♪ (trumpet struggling) ♪
(Angel laughs)
- (React) The first ska music
developed in the '50s and '60s in Jamaica,
and the Skatalites were formed in 1963.
- Jamaica's like the most chill country.
- I personally prefer this. - (gasps) Oh.
- Over lyrics, like I'm a more instrumental person.
- (React) Is this actually called a doohickey?
Like what is that called?
- No, I'm just calling it that 'cause it's funny.
- Oh, I thought that was the name.
- Ska music with the triangle. - (React) With the triangle,
get lit! - On the off beat!
- (React) Second wave?
- (both) England. - (React) Yes.
- ♪ In the middle of our ♪
- Oh!
- I think I've heard it before. - I like this!
- I like the brown vibes. It's olden style.
- I feel like I've heard this song before.
- I love this song, are you kidding me?
- Okay, then I know ska music, I guess.
- This reminds me of the Secret Life Of Pets music.
Just like, the happy vibe it gives.
- ♪ In the middle of our street ♪
♪ Our house ♪ - Ooh, there you go!
- ♪ In the middle of our ♪ ♪ (vocalizes) ♪
- (React) Do you guys know what the off beat is?
- Yeah, I was a band kid. (laughs)
- (React) One and, two and.... - And!
- (React) Three and, four and...
- So it's on the and beats.
- (React) Exactly. - Got it.
- (React) There's always something on that like,
makes your head go like this on the off beat.
And the third wave...
- Here. - (Sofia) U.S.
- (React) In the U.S., yes.
(tires squealing)
- (laughs) See!
- This is like a '90s Nickelodeon show.
- Oh my God! - Oh my God, stop!
- Oh, oh!
I completely forgot about the Aquabats!
♪ (upbeat ska music) ♪
- Okay! - I'm so concerned.
- Ooh! - Woo!
It's like so weird and unique, like you don't see this nowadays.
- You really don't.
- Ooh!
- It's very creative, I will admit, it's extremely creative,
it's just a little too creative.
- They put me in such a good mood for some reason.
- Right? I feel good too.
That was my favorite so far.
- I completely forgot the Aquabats existed!
- (React) Did you like listen to them when you were younger, or like...
- I don't know. I have no clue!
- I don't know what I just watched. I'm trying to process it.
♪ (upbeat ska music) ♪
- Ooh! - Ooh!
- Really makes ya... (snaps fingers)
- I love swing music. I've always loved swing music.
- Ugh, swing dancing's so fun, it's just so cool.
- This reminds me of Princess and the Frog.
Like New Orleans vibes. - Yeah.
- For sure.
It feels like I'm in a movie.
- I was waiting for the vocalist to come, and he delivered.
- So this is ska music?
- (gasps) Wait, I know him!
Wasn't he on like, wedding crashers?
- Vince Vaughn.
- Yes, Vince Vaughn. He's so funny!
- (React) So what elements of ska are you seeing in swing music?
- Off beats.
- Oh, I'd say the trumpets, for sure. - Yeah, the instruments.
- Just the wah, wah.
- ♪ Do do, do do ♪ ♪ Do do, do do ♪
- ♪ Bow, bow, bow, bow, bow, bow ♪ - ♪ Do do, do do ♪
- (React) California pop punk gave way to ska,
ska made it safe for swing, so that's why it's important
to mention the swing revival when talking about ska music.
- They're really swinging. - (React) Really swinging.
♪ (upbeat ska music) ♪
- Ooh, oh wow, yeah.
- Oh, I like that!
- So this was in the '90s? Wow!
- Oh, blue suit! - Ah!
- Bold choice!
- Oh, this is just like, this is jazzy swing, oh man.
- I like the background of this one a lot.
- And he's slaying with the dance moves too.
- I really am like attracted to, not him, but the sound. (laughs)
- ♪ Pipes and chains ♪ ♪ And swinging hands ♪
♪ Who's your daddy ♪ ♪ Yes I am ♪
- Ah! (Paulina laughs)
- (React) He said who's your daddy? - Daddy!
- (group) Yes I am!
- Oh, that beginning just had me, wow.
- Put that in black and white, and like, I wouldn't have been
able to tell you, oh yeah, no, that's from the '90s.
- Yeah!
- I love that. That was my favorite one!
I like the instruments in the back!
- That was a very, like, that's the swingiest swing, you know?
- Yeah, that's like peak swing.
- Oh! - Aw!
- ♪ Baby, baby ♪
- Woah! - I'm loving the khakis!
- I know!
- Back to the '30s. - They were swinging!
- I wanna learn how to dance like that so bad.
Like, it's so fun.
- How come they don't do dancing commercials like that anymore?
- Aww!
- This is like blowing my mind,
'cause when I'm thinking oh, '90s music,
my brain has never thought of swing.
- Oh my God!
- I would definitely buy Gap after this.
- I would love to do something like that.
That was so cute!
- (React) Also that style of dancing is called Lindy Hopping.
- It's so like free, at the same time,
so organized, and like, clean.
- Gap, bring that back, please. - Oh!
♪ (upbeat ska music) ♪
- This is giving like, like an intro to a show.
This is like the opening song.
- I like this. It looks like milk!
- I know this song!
- See what I mean by this reminds me of Zeke and Luther?
- Yeah, yeah.
- This reminds me of Johnny Test.
♪ Ugh, Johnny Test ♪
- I like the simplicity of the video too,
how it's just like white, and they're in navy suits.
- This is a good song.
- (React) The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
wore enormous plaid suits and porcupine hats and pocket watches,
and they had a hype man who was doing a bunch of Lindy Hopping.
- Look up America's Funniest Home Videos Intro.
♪ (upbeat ska music) ♪
- That is ska! That is ska!
- ♪ Dah dah dah, dah dah ♪
- (React) That's ska school excellence!
- Yeah! - There we go!
- ♪ And how you think ♪
♪ Pretend they're not ♪ ♪ The same as you ♪
- I love it when it looks like they filmed it in like an old camera.
- Yeah.
- Punky.
- It's like so cool and fun, it just looks like they're having fun.
- 'Cause it's like ska, metal-ish punk.
- You got this.
- This is just making me wanna be like a teenage dude.
- (React) This band is called Less Than Jake,
and they're from Gainesville, Florida.
- I feel like they just like join Kahoot,
and it gives you like a random name,
and it's like Orange Puppet Lover or something.
And it's just like... - Bro.
- That's how they pick these names.
- I'm sweaty, I don't shower, ska!
- Yeah!
- Like that's kind of who I wanna be right now.
- That's exactly what ska is.
- ♪ Something in the way ♪ ♪ She doesn't hear a word I say ♪
♪ I'm in love ♪ - Oh, I love this.
- We don't have the suits. - Uh-huh.
- We have cooler t-shirts of like bands.
- This is so fun!
- Even some spiky hair too.
Like the hair gel was going for them.
- Where are my brass instruments?
Where's my trumpet, where's my trombone?
Where's my tuba?
- ♪ Wrr wrr ♪ - ♪ Wrr ♪
(both laugh)
- You hear that? ♪ Wow, wow, wow ♪
- ♪ Something in the way ♪ ♪ She looked at me today ♪
- (Lucas) Oh my God.
- Oh, that's weird, that's too weird for me.
- Now that the videos are becoming more recent,
we're losing the ska-ness, just like a little bit more.
Now it's just becoming more punk-rocky.
- Yeah.
- (React) Do you notice instruments that are missing?
- The horns. - Yeah, the brass stuff.
- I don't think you need horns for ska music,
just the off beat guitar.
It's like the... - ♪ Bom bom, bom bom ♪
- (React) Yeah. - ♪ Bom bom, bom bom ♪
- It almost felt like rushed,
and then still, because it's so like, abstract...
- Mm-hmm. - With him, just like, that girl...
- Falling in love with... - And she was like...
(Angel laughs)
Feeling herself.
- Imagine in your microscope,
you see this woman like blowing kisses at you.
- A bacteria!
- You are a molecule.
- Like, why does he fall in love with the booger?
- (React) Squish that. - Bye!
- ♪ Used to sing along ♪
- I love road trips, they're so much fun!
- ♪ Toora, loora ♪ ♪ Toora, loorye, aye ♪
- We all know you're not driving, baby!
- ♪ Our fathers ♪
- ♪ Come on Eileen ♪ - ♪ Oh, I swear well, he means ♪
♪ At this moment, you mean ♪
- ♪ Everything ♪
- Ooh, okay! - Oh!
- That one was more ska than the other one.
All the instruments were on the off beat,
and the female was on the on beat.
- (React) So what song was this?
- Come On Eileen.
- (React) Have you heard this song before?
- No, but what she said. I have now.
- This song will never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever,
not remind me of Perks of Being a Wallflower.
- Never saw it.
- You need to watch it now!
Like get out of here and watch it!
- (React) Have you guys seen like perks of being a wallflower?
- No.
- (React) A lot of ska bands did covers.
Save Ferris, which is this band,
Save Ferris was obviously named after...
- Ferris Bueller's Day Off? - (React) Yes.
- Obviously.
- (React) Why do you think so many ska bands
were formed in southern California?
- A lot of skater culture, a lot of chill vibes.
- Yeah. - Fun in the sun!
- 'Cause we're just cool.
- ♪ About what to do ♪
- Oh my God, I love this!
- The sound quality is just so good.
- ♪ Here I am ♪ ♪ Growing older all the time ♪
- I love his voice!
- ♪ Older all the time ♪
- He's cute, he's hot! Who is that?
- Aw, and they're on Zoom.
- Oh, I get it, 'cause they're all like social distancing.
- This is very COVID.
- ♪ Pretending I'm a Superman ♪
♪ I'm trying to sleep ♪
- This just shows that people are so creative.
- The cool dad that your friends always want you to bring around.
- Ah!
- It's so weird seeing old people do this, like...
- But look, they have skateboards on the wall!
They're certified!
- They're young, yeah.
- See, you can create a music video in quarantine.
- Yes! - Nothing is stopping you!
- You can really think out of the box,
and create anything you put your heart to.
- Such a good song! - It's the song.
- This is the song!
- (React) So that was the band, Goldfinger,
the song is called Superman.
So this song was made famous by being included
in the soundtrack for the game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.
- ♪ So here I am ♪ ♪ Growing older all the time ♪
- (React) It came out in 1996, but they did a revamped version.
What instrument would you, do you think you would play
if you were in a ska band?
(air puffs)
- ♪ First thing you learn ♪
♪ You got to make it in this ♪ ♪ World alone ♪
♪ Black coat, white shoes ♪ ♪ Black hat, Cadillac ♪
♪ Yeah ♪
- I feel like this video's a good representation
of like, a mix between ska and punk.
- Why's he look like Flea? Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers.
- He reminds me of a turtle.
- I did not understand a single thing that he just said.
- I don't know what he just said but hey!
- I did get to see like, the punk coming in.
- ♪ Black coat, white shoes ♪
- I feel like this one is like... - ♪ Yeah, the boy's a time bomb ♪
- You wouldn't expect him to be singing like that.
- (React) Rancid helped revive an interest in punk rock music
in the early '90s in Berkeley,
and then they leaned into the ska of it all.
- This is a really, really good, mixture of the punkness,
but like, still keeping the history of ska.
- Not to diss them or anything, I just feel like they're singing,
and they just don't close their mouth.
- ♪ Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah ♪
- I'm kinda with you, yeah.
- (React) Does ska sound like anything that has come out recently?
- It really does not sound like anything I can think of
that's come out recently.
- (React) What's one word you would use to describe this music?
- Ska!
- (React) So would you listen to ska again?
- Yes! - Yes.
- I would definitely listen to it again.
- Yeah. - Sure!
- If I was on vacation, and it was playing it,
yes, I would listen to it.
- I would!
- I'll listen to ska when I'm feeling it.
- (React) Say it with me. Ska!
- Ska!
- (both) Ska!
- Sk-ska!
- You have to have a sideways hat.
- Go get yourself some Ska-bucks!
- Yeah, man!
- I'm trying to ska!
- I'm ska-ing here, later skaters! (laughs)
- Thanks for watching this episode!
- What do you think of ska?
Let us know in the comments.
- And don't forget to ska-scribe!
- (both) Bye!
- Let's quit this Popsicle stand, baby, woo!