It is the best Version I ever heard - free from trivial make-up its, brutal, honest - bravissimo Sammy - you still belong to the greatest of all-time

@curtisneilson5829

7 жыл бұрын

Hans-Horst Mueller Paul Robeson

@moss8448

7 жыл бұрын

bravo well said....

@joshbarela7669

6 жыл бұрын

Hans-Horst Mueller I'm particularly fond of Ramey Samuel's version

@arturolopezportillocontrer4902

6 жыл бұрын

Curtiss Nelson; Exactly! Paul Robeson! The best! Also Samuel Ramey!

@quiquibud4

6 жыл бұрын

think paris 85 better but both great

Sammy Davis, Jr. was one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived.

@trishlangford5773

10 ай бұрын

Not one of. THE greatest. Ever.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

@Luigiano

9 ай бұрын

Top 2!!!

Please never remove this, it's pure class

@JoeBrahh

Жыл бұрын

hey, i realise this is literally half a decade old (wow that's scary) but for anyone that stumbles onto this comment I just wanted to say I'll never remove this vid and I have it backed up, so if it ever gets taken down I'll make sure it's uploaded again

They were witnessing a a special moment in entertainment history- it’s like a musical production perfection 🙏

@northstarastrology3954

3 жыл бұрын

Right? I remember seeing him on TV, but really beautiful to reintroduce myself to this great man.

@johnhodgson4588

Жыл бұрын

From what he went through ie Tom Crow, even when he was part of the ," Rat Pack" it's an honour to what's him come through all that. He invented the triple threat, god bless you , Mr Davis

@dovbarleib3256

Жыл бұрын

@@johnhodgson4588 Jim Crow. He went through Jim Crow.

I have watched this at least 100 times over the years and I never get sick of it. He is a gift. His talent is a gift to us! Thankfully we have some awesome videos to cherish

@andreww.8709

2 жыл бұрын

Same here Michele, it is such an accomplished performance.

@pinball1970

2 жыл бұрын

@@andreww.8709 It's simply stunning. So much there to go into but you have to start with the talent.Not many singers, Sinatra included could do what he did. Just brilliant

@hc9082

11 ай бұрын

Truly the very best performance of this song. The talent this man had is on a totally different level. Thankfully we have videos

@masayoshifkui8428

11 ай бұрын

Yes, he is a gift.

@masayoshifkui8428

11 ай бұрын

American has many gifted peoples too.

I’ve watched this at least 100 times and it never gets old. That ending never fails to give me chills. He was one of the greatest entertainers in history!

@Aucht52

7 ай бұрын

Indeed he was. Gone far too soon. 😢

Mr. Davis not only had a beautiful and powerful voice, he could transport you body, soul, and spirit into the depth of his emotion. I was with him there on the banks of the river. This performance brought a tear to my eyes. I miss him very much.

@moss8448

Жыл бұрын

well said

@JamesMena-ym9vf

Жыл бұрын

He also brought me to the banks of that river, he brought all of us bloodlines of the used and abused to that rivers edge. No one brings situations to Life like Sammy!. Rest in peace my brother, you will never be forgotten.

Those lucky, lucky people in the audience witnessing one of the greatest performances in the history of entertainment. Absolutely Wonderful!

@thomaslong8448

2 жыл бұрын

And yet they didn't give him an ovation and it was the last song of the concert...must be a mostly white audience.

@MICHGO1

Жыл бұрын

@@thomaslong8448 BACK THEN PEOPLE WERE MRE REFINED. TODAY PEOPLE ARE SO HYPED UP THAT ALL A PERSON HAS TO DO IS SAY HIS NAME AND THE CHEERS BEGIN.

He should have gotten a standing ovation for that. 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

@propeller89

Жыл бұрын

Well, sure - but there was no need for it, he knew what he just did!

@rivkajazz

Жыл бұрын

@@propeller89 Just watched it again after having left this comment three years ago. Yeah....he deserved a standing ovation.

@Hvnly777

Жыл бұрын

@@propeller89 He literally dropped the mic! BRAVO Sammy!!!

@MrChelseabun

Жыл бұрын

If I'd been there I would have stood up. My soul would have demanded it!!

@rivkajazz

Жыл бұрын

@@MrChelseabun Absolutely.

This is the best version of this song that I've ever heard.

The most "soulful" rendition of "Ol' Man River" ever. The phrasing, dynamics and pauses are classic Sammy Davis, Jr. I love at the end when he changes the lyrics from "skeered of dyin'" to "but ain't afraid of dyin'.'"

@20alphabet

4 жыл бұрын

Just shut up.

@markbeames7852

3 жыл бұрын

The Paul Robson lyrics as original stand. You're wrong. You're not afraid of dying? Oh, okay.

@svalentine4667

3 жыл бұрын

I think the original version makes more sense, but Sammy’s singing is the best I’ve heard of this song

I didn't think any version of this great song could be better than the well-known original sung by Paul Robeson. This is one of the most moving renditions that I've ever heard. Absolutely stunning. Profound respect to Mr. Sammy Davis Jr.

@michaellozito9750

Жыл бұрын

When they make a movie about this great man, as well they should. This has to be the opening song. It captures the pain and greatness of this man. I love him

@walkerrashad948

Жыл бұрын

Come on man I know you're loyal, but, Sammy's version is much better than the original version ! Sammy have a much better singing voice and he put much more emotion into this song I can feel this !!!!

@jeannettelocorriere8599

9 ай бұрын

I agree, Sammy lived through racism in the army then in life when he was singing. There was segregation when he went to Las Vegas and Frank Sinatra stepped in and told the hotel owners he was never going to sing there again if they didn’t let Sammy eat and sleep in the hotel where they were performing. It’s why he can sing this song with such feeling. He was a great singer and tap dancer, I loved him.

This man, Sammy Davis Jr, is on a completely different level to any other born individual.

@darnellmagruder283

4 жыл бұрын

Oh yes Pete, He could sing, dance, play musical instruments, he could do impressions, he could entertain 2 hours straight and you'd swear he just started his set. HE WAS THE MAN!!!!!

@helenjosten8570

4 жыл бұрын

Absolutely ❤️

@markbeames7852

3 жыл бұрын

Bullshit. Listen to Paul Robeson. Additionally - Sinatra didn't change the lyrics like Sammy did.

@timfarmer

3 жыл бұрын

@@markbeames7852 spell his name right if you’re such a fan

@markbeames7852

3 жыл бұрын

@@timfarmer oh my! Did I touch a nerve? LOL

In tears. Sammy Ripped my heart out. Thank you sir.

@20alphabet

4 жыл бұрын

You have no heart?

The last section from 'I ain't afraid of dying' etc... Honestly chills every time.

@thebullybuffalo

7 жыл бұрын

I2CL it supposed to say he is afraid of dying. It goes "I'm tired of livin but I'm sceared of dyin" to express the existential dilemma a slave faced but I think Sammy wanted to express defiance and courage

@Ian2CoryLoveeer

7 жыл бұрын

thebullybuffalo If I'm correct it has been altered throughout the years, especially compared to the original. Frank sang 'feared', Judy sang 'scared' and each one beautiful. I agree, the power and defiance within his interpretation is moving, must be my favourite.

@thebullybuffalo

7 жыл бұрын

I2CL they changed the words but they kept the meaning. Sammy changed the meaning here and sang a message he wanted to share and I think he did so fantasticly. Normally the song is a despairing groan but Sammy made it a defiant shout

@michaellozito9750

Жыл бұрын

I cried

*Sung from the heart & the gut. in his prime: he was among the very greatest.*

@julavaughs1137

4 жыл бұрын

Greetings from Barbados. I concur

@thomaslong8448

2 жыл бұрын

The greatest!

That is the most powerful singing ever. I mean holy shit, if that doesn't give you the chills you're probably dead inside.

One of the greatest artists of our time!! He cannot receive enough tributes.

I wish I had been there in that audience to witness this outstanding performance, they should be on their feet for this Legend

His voice will never be silenced.

This song meant so much to Sammy I saw him perform this at the London Palladium it brought the house down

This version of Ol'Man River is my favourite...

He was soooo Talented. Entertainer Extrodinaire: Singer, Dancer, Actor, Comedian, Impressionist! What could he not do? He played a bitter gunman looking for revenge in a Rifleman episode. Just Incredible!

I particularly like how he ends the greatest ever performance of this song with the most graceful, elegant mic drop you've ever seen.

Such a deep moving rendition of this song , I had to wipe the tears away from my eyes... Sammy knows how to move you !!!!!!!

Powerful and 🙂😉 Wonderful. 💛🧡 Crying a "River" of tears now December 9, 2019. Rest in Paradise Mr. Sammy Davis, Jr.😭

Absolutely mesmerising, simply the best performance I’ve ever seen by Sammy which left me spellbound. Such a big voice came out of his small body. Rest in peace dearest Sammy, I’ll never forget you and will forever love and miss you. 💔

The best there ever was or will be. So much talent in one man. Mr. Entertainment. Was privileged to see him perform many times. Loved this man, SAMMY.

Awwwwwww he was so broken here...you can feel his pain regret and humility

There will never be another singer whose heart and soul can be felt in songs, like Sammy Davis Jr.

How these people didn't give him a standing ovation was absurd.what they witnessed was the greatest rendition ever performed.sammy Davis jr.was without a doubt the greatest singer and entertainer that ever lived.no one can ever come close to his talents.no one.

The Best entertainer in the world. And will be always will be

1st time I have seen this clip..agree..shivers up the spine.

What passion, he gave it everything he could!

This is just pure legendary.

@thomaslucia3059

8 жыл бұрын

Agreed. This isn't just a performance, it's a lengendary expression of personal emotion, historical meaning and a rich and glorious talent.

No computer animated stuff no autotune just the singer with an incredible voice singing in actually telling the story of the song this was an absolute fantastic performance of this song

@laddiemeadows1156

7 жыл бұрын

You're damn right! Pure talent.

@RobinsDynasty

6 жыл бұрын

But its a free country and he did say it so.......there.....

@paulpitt52

6 жыл бұрын

BBBYpsi hear! hear! 👏🏼

I've never hard this before, what a powerful performance in every way.

Wow! He doesn't try to do Robeson. Sammy never could do that version. I love the way he makes this song his own, giving it just as much emotion as the original. That ending, tho. Chills.

@michaelhandy8848

7 жыл бұрын

Oh Man, Sammy can wring emotion out of old shoe leather and it would sound great!

@thomasadkins4024

5 жыл бұрын

so true

@olensoifer9901

5 жыл бұрын

Good version, but I still like Paul Robeson.

@julavaughs1137

4 жыл бұрын

Well said

@messianic_scam

3 жыл бұрын

This is better

There are no words. We are the poorer for losing him much too soon but privileged to witness his legacy. RIP Mr. Davis and thank you.

Never realised how stunning his voice was

he got me right through the heart! I have never heard a voice that meaningful!

this is the most amazing thing ive ever heard

"But I ant afraid of dying" this one line just took me out! My emotions MY EMOTIONS

This is so powerful, I can't stop watching it. Sammy was an awesome talent. May he RIP.

Gosh, I miss Sammy Davis Jr.!! He was So talented, acting, singing and dancing.. along with a comic side too! RIH Sammy!! Singing with the angel's choir..

It gives me goosebumps. What a fantastic interpretation. We almost forget about the slavery and racism and think that people should be friends and together against racism. Great Sammy.

@juliavilcosqui525

9 жыл бұрын

I didn't have you down as an idealist Faycal, but maybe you are just a forward thinker, like this man was...

Sammy Davis Jr., a truly gifted performer, humanitarian, and writer. Back in the late 1960s, he wrote his life story in a book titled, "Yes I Can!" which was a real page turner. I was in high school then, and his book really got me in the heart. His book made you laugh, cry, and question life. Driving around Vegas, I always feel his presence on the marquees and at the Moulin Rouge. He was the star who blazed the way for other Black and minority entertainers. An incredible human being!

@20alphabet

4 жыл бұрын

In the book Ordeal, Linda Lovelace recounts the time Sammy Davis Jr. gave oral sex to her handler Mr. Trainor during a movie.

I want to give Sammy millions and millions of likes. No one like him.

Sometimes it feels like these days never ended. Our people still stand up before the world and speak about man's indignity to man. It's been a long time coming, the event that will finally make others understand that black lives matter too.

This is just amazing, been watching it for over a month now. Magic

Jij en the ol man, voor altijd, geweldig!

I'M 26 YEARS OLD & I LOVE HIM & OLD SCHOOL MUSIC

There will never be anyone else that this man has. RIP Sammy you were irreplaceable. X❤

What a totally stupendous version of an old song! Sammy Davies Jr, the real master. MsG

have listened to this so many times and still gives me shivers up my spine

Yes Sammy Davis Jr. !!!!!!! I, too, want to see all Americans being accepted as equal like all Americans that are declared by the U.S. Constitution. You are a loving and kind gentleman to everyone. Am 78 yrs. old and raised in Hawaii !!!!!! Bless you Sammy Davis forever!!!!! Thanks to you and Joseph Hughes for this iconic posting. Gratefully, Robert S.J. Hu July 4, 2020 .

The Wonderful talent of Sammy Davis Jr, how privileged have we been to witness his gift to the World. Thank you so much Sammy Davis Jr Peace be with you ❤

When I get to heaven, I'm going to look for Sammy Davis Jr. And if he ain't there i'm leaving.

That young folks is real singing entertaining and Musik and not the stuff of today People like Sammy Davis Jr are sadly missed in the todays world

He has the most melodic voice there has ever been.

Magnificent. What a beautiful, powerful voice. This song gets to me every time

Brought me to tears. His and Judy's version give me chills

Spellbinding performance by one the All time Greatest performers... who knew how to hold an audience in the palm of his hand.. Brilliant singer dancer comic impressionist and could act not only on screen but like any great singer , through song.. storytelling...He is irreplaceable!

Absolutely fantastic. What a voice!

JESUS!! I was wondering how he was going to sing this sitting down, especially the climax. He finally does stand up, but that guy had so much power packed into that small body he didn't really need to stand up to draw in a lot of breath. I'm not too crazy how he phrases some of the lyrics, but the final chorus is one of the most powerful, beautiful, tragic things I've ever heard. Chills, indeed.

@17tragicom

5 жыл бұрын

what Bruce said

@markmyers6472

3 жыл бұрын

And just think... he was a 4 pack a day smoker!!!

majestic performance... nobody nobody can sing like Sammy....

@legalboxers

3 жыл бұрын

Paul Robesons version is amazing too

What a voice, what an entertainer! Such power coming from this pint sized man. I respect Mr Davis for daring to fight for and dream that there may come a time when racism would vanish and equality would prevail. This hasn't fully happened, but I appreciate his spirit and the way he always fought for folks like me.

@gingerbread1231

9 жыл бұрын

Well said, Valincia.

@michaeldargan1874

6 жыл бұрын

Great comments. I saw Sammy several times in the Detroit area. Fantastic entertainer for all races. This is the best version of o'le man river, surpasses the original for raw emotion.

@HAPILIPINIM

5 жыл бұрын

bneibilhah.blogspot.com/2019/07/blog-post_7.html

@hanshorstmueller4050

3 жыл бұрын

Sammy always was an icon against in-humanity!!!

Close to tears watching this everytime. The fact I will never be able to experience such talent live like this, like Sinatra, Martin etc. Absolutely wounds me, I'm sure I was born 50 years later than I should have been!

This level of talent is outer worldly, and seems to no longer exists! 😢

Thanks for everything. Mr candy man.

One of the greatest singers of his era....in order for this song to work one must embody it ....Davis did just that and magically so.

C était un grand artiste où que tu sois Sammy merci pour ces bons moments 😘👍

Play it again Sam.. Still watching October 2019

Those 20 , or 30 people at the front didn't realise at the time, but they were witnessing the greatest single performance from any performer EVER! The greatest!!!

astoundingly astounding

the last 44 seconds are just magnificent

Crying. He was so great. I thank God I got to see him twice

The Wham of Sam! Even Old Blue Eyes couldn't top this one.

What a great rendition of this song & love sammy Fantastic 🥰

To those of you watching this in 2069, hello from 2022. This man was an entertainer in the purest sense of the word. Hold on to this music and I am glad you are here to appreciate the greatness of Sammy Davis, Jr.

What a voice

Pound for pound, Sammy was probably the most talented of the Rat Pack.

I always enjoyed listening to Sammy sing when I was a kid. However, I'm blown away at this performance I've never seen before. He's more amazing to me, now that I listen again as an adult. I think this is THE BEST version of the song. I almost cried.

Oh, Lord, you are amazing, Sammy; I just can´t stop being gratefull for your voice

The most powerful performance I've ever seen. I wish I had been there to see it live.

His every performance deserved a Grammy and Tony (or Obie).

Ahhhhhhhh....ain't nobody does it like Sammy!

Bloody well done! This bloke could entertain

Sammy Davis Junior = Legend

Flawless!

Wow that was extraordinary. It's like it's the first time I've really heard that song.

He changes the words, near the end to say his tired of living but NOT afraid of DYING! Great rendition.

life gets weary, i'm tired of living, but i ain't afraid of dying, that river don't say nothing but it sure must know something. Sammy rest in peace you where the greatest, this is my favorite version, great interpretation.

I HAVE WATCHED THIS A THOUSAND TIMES AND EVERY TIME I WATCH IT THIS PERFORMANCE BREAKS MY HEART, IT TAKES MY BREATH AWAY. A MAGICAL PERFORMANCE. ♥️ THE AUDIENCE SHOULD BE ON THEIR FEET.

Outstanding renweringever . Wonder full sound ever from vfrance ever, merci beaucoup from Paris France ever

Wow! I always thought next to Robeson, Sinatra had the stellar version. Until now, Sammy’s version is just fabulous!

@arthurbradford7980

Жыл бұрын

Don't forget about William Warfield.

That ending though. Gives me goosebumps!

If Sammy can’t bring emotion out in you you’re dead inside. Love this man.

pure class

Wow-I was brought here by a commenter in the Sinatra version I watched who said "Sammy does Old Man River better than Frank", and I have to say I agree. This gave me goosebumps. I have heard this song and loved it for decades; yet its full import did not really hit me until this rendition. Heck, I saw a Showboat revival on Broadway a few years back, and this version was far superior.