When performing live, Focus would play ' Hocus Pocus' even faster. 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'. ' Hocus Pocus 2' is a slightly faster version with some funk elements and rhythms added. The single version is significantly edited from the album version. ' 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, organ playing, accordion, scat singing, flute riffs, and whistling. 'Hocus Pocus' has been covered by the Vandals, on their debut LP, When in Rome Do as The Vandals, in 1984 by Helloween on their album Metal Jukebox in 1999 and by Iron Maiden for the European version of their DVD single ' Different World' in 2006. In 2017, the song was used in the film Baby Driver. That year the single re-entered the UK charts at No. 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. 18 in Canada during the spring and summer of that year. 9 on the Billboard Hot 100 the weeks of June 2 and 9 in the US and No.

'Hocus Pocus' was also released as a single on the Sire Records label in the United States and Canada in 1973. 20 on the UK charts in late January 1973. Buoyed by a live performance on The Old Grey Whistle Test in May and December 1972 and a subsequent barnstorming British club tour, this version rose to No. 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.Ī faster re-recording of the song (titled ' Hocus Pocus 2' or ' Hocus Pocus II' in some markets) was released in Europe in 1972. It was recorded and released in 1971 as the opening track of their second studio album Moving Waves. ' Hocus Pocus' is a song by the Dutch rock band Focus, written by keyboardist, flautist and vocalist Thijs van Leer and guitarist Jan Akkerman.

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