That was our wedding song in 1982. Sadly, now she is in a home with Alzheimer's. She does not remember me, but when I play Annies Song on the cell phone, tears come to her eyes, then suddenly sites up hugging me. Maybe for only a short while she remembers me. That's the power of music in, Annies Song to us. We saw him in concert 3 times. Thanks to Jonh Denver for the song and Wings of Pegasus for reviewing it.

@pamelaulrich3928

8 ай бұрын

@billybob1151- My heart breaks for you both. You must have a lot of beautiful memories of your life together.

@billybob1151

8 ай бұрын

Thank you. Indeed, I have many fond memories of our life together.

@karenbork706

8 ай бұрын

Your comment brought tears to my eyes.

@AloisiaSedai

8 ай бұрын

❤️

@ahill4642

8 ай бұрын

😌 that is beyond beautiful. ❤️

During the 80s, I lived in Colorado, and was John Denver's acupuncturist. Still have the magazine article to prove it. I also treated some of his band members (which he graciously paid for), and John's Mother. He would bring his gold lear jet down to Colorado Springs, and have treatments from me. This man was larger than life, and he lit up any room he walked into. We became friends, and I will always treasure my time with John Denver.

@johnwilliams1223

8 ай бұрын

Cool story! 😉 Would’ve loved to have met him.

@barbarabrundage4625

8 ай бұрын

Did you know Mike Taylor then too?

@helenjohnson7583

8 ай бұрын

Bless you for your service as an acupuncture practitioner! We had a good acupuncturist in Boulder in the early 1980’s and the work is life-changing. Your patients were fortunate to have you!

@zenawarrior7442

8 ай бұрын

He lived in Aspen I think. CO wasn't ruined then by traffic, crazy potheads, expensive rent. He was amazing, what a treat 👐

@HappyOne3

8 ай бұрын

Fortunate!

There is no such thing as a bad performance from John Denver. He is truly missed.

@jasoncdebussy

8 ай бұрын

I'm mostly into rock music but ... John Denver was supremely talented. I love him!

@suzettebavier4412

8 ай бұрын

@@jasoncdebussy Same❣️

@wildelizabeth

7 ай бұрын

❤😢❤❤❤

@billbally4419

7 ай бұрын

Besides his last flight . I think he was drunk too

@sharonsouter357

7 ай бұрын

The autopsy ruled out alcohol and drugs when he died.

I think ANNIE'S SONG IS ONE OF THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SONGS EVER WRITTEN.❤️❤️❤️

@juliac8689

8 ай бұрын

I agree! ❤😊

@paulinecarter2963

8 ай бұрын

My son had this song for his dance at his wedding with his bride 💕

@llamasugar5478

8 ай бұрын

Absolutely! 🥰

@yvonnesanders4308

7 ай бұрын

Am I misremembering? Didn't he write this after cheating on his wife?

@louiserawle8999

7 ай бұрын

@@yvonnesanders4308 NO!! What a petty thing you are!!!

The last time I saw John in concert, it was just him alone with his guitar. No background vocals, band, or anything - just him. He sounded incredible.

@johnthemachine

8 ай бұрын

Some of his last shows in 97 were done that way, there are recordings on youtube, by far his best live performances.

@sheelfjohnson

8 ай бұрын

You're so lucky.

@ckp2ator389

8 ай бұрын

I saw him early in his career live, 1972 or 1973, similar, I don't remember a backup band, just him and a guitar. He was terrific. Friendly and good vibe with audience.

@maureendrozda9960

8 ай бұрын

That's When He Was @ His Best!!

@piscesempress1978

8 ай бұрын

My mom saw him in the 70's and he was accoustic and just him. She said it was one of the best concerts she ever attended. Just him and a guitar. Beautiful.

Can we just give a quick nod to Phil and his stellar, unique, straightforward analysis of this performance? His dissection is easy to follow, even for most of us that don't really fully understand all of the aspects of music, musicianship, song structure, etc. Especially liked how Phil touched on the chord changes, playing them for us and then he rehashed the 3/4 time, so we could easily grasp how John had done it originally. Good stuff for those of us that only give about 1% of our attention to how the songs are put together and 99% to how they make us feel.

@lebe220

8 ай бұрын

Fil really has a brilliant knowledge of music

@thatsrich944

8 ай бұрын

Well, composing great music is 99% of how it makes you feel and 1% putting it together, so it's very similar.

@trishz9571

8 ай бұрын

Yes. Fabulous analogy I can look at music clearer.

@martinpowell5147

8 ай бұрын

No

@terrirobertson7821

8 ай бұрын

Fil is master class in music. I don't think anyone compares. You can tell how much he loves music too. I usually zone out listening to people...But not with Fil.

I went to see John Denver, at the Montreal Forum. It was a hockey rink that held 25,000 for games. He stood there with an acoustic guitar, sang one song after another, no computers, no flashing lights, no half naked 'dancers'. 25,000 people sat and listened. Pure music.

People don't realize how extremely gifted John Denver was. He was genius and genuine as they come.

@draco4540

8 ай бұрын

i enjoy listening to john denver. i heard a story years ago (i don't know how true it is), that john denver's dad didn't want john to into music as a career thinking that john wouldn't make money at it or make it "big". needless to say, i'm glad that became a singer. i, also, enjoyed the movie that he was in "oh god" with george burns.

@joejoejoejoejoejoe4391

7 ай бұрын

I'm mostly into heavy metal, but talent is talent.

@fretfix1

7 ай бұрын

Yes. WE. Do.

@Historian212

6 ай бұрын

Yeah, people do.

@carly-jaymetcalfe6401

6 ай бұрын

I'll never forget where I was when I heard it on the radio that his plane had crashed. Devastating.

Fil, back in about 1980 or so (I think I was about 15, maybe younger), my mom and sister dragged me to a John Denver show. I was at my most narrow-minded musically. My taste and opinions were SUPER narrow when it came to music. But for some reason I went and hated the idea that I was going. He played in a 15,000 seat arena. He played in the round, with no backing band or singers. Just him, a guitar and a mic, in the round. From around the 3rd or 4th chord of song one he owned the room. Yeah, the arena seemed to shrink to a room, if you know what I mean. His whole thing was COMPLETETLY FABULOUS. I changed that night. I kid you not. And the breadth of my willingness to explore listening to different things has kept stretching from then on. He was a stupendous talent. And sir, thanks for your good work. Peace.

@helenjohnson7583

8 ай бұрын

⭐️

@TheVoxbox13

8 ай бұрын

👍

@lilamuzik3385

7 ай бұрын

I love love this comment . Good for you.

@gnpahdc

7 ай бұрын

:)@@lilamuzik3385

@nanceb4him

7 ай бұрын

Wow, what a wonderful testimony. I wish I was there, and I totally believe it. The night (you can read my other post if you'd like) I truly gave him a chance, he wasn't "my type" , I fell in love with his voice, talent and humility. I don't think he will every have the respect vocally or musically he deserved.

No one has ever done it better than John Denver. The sound of his voice makes me smile as much today as it did when I first heard Take Me Home Country Roads on radio so many years ago. I rarely share the experience of listening to John with those around me. He is the type of artist that can take a person to special place while listening to his voice and hearing him tell you a story as only he can. When he passed I not only mourned the loss of the person but also for the loss of any future entertainment and education and of course his stories. We miss you John. Thank you Fil for helping in bringing a smile to my face.

@briankocheraabcdt4628

8 ай бұрын

See my comment about Singer-Songwriter Lara Fabian singing "Country Roads".

@Sonia-xyz

8 ай бұрын

I have the same ecperience. ❤️‍🔥

@ivannovotny4552

8 ай бұрын

Beautifully said.

@Mark-bw1wx

8 ай бұрын

I think he was the most successful perhaps of any musician at evoking the grandeur and divinity of the mountain ranges that he loved so much. He seemed to be more at home in the rarified atmosphere of that world or in an aircraft, free of the bonds of pettiness down here. Soaring with the eagles now perhaps....finally.

@peterbee88

8 ай бұрын

It’s awful

One of the most underrated recording artists in human history. Constantly dismissed and denigrated by the gatekeepers of "cool," when he was actually way cooler and more subversive than all of them combined. Dude was not afraid to rip the John Birch Society and the Klan as part of the Mitchell Trio bak in the 1960s, and attacking the Vietnam War before any artist not named Phil Ochs did. He defied his label to testify against the PMRC, and got booted for it. He was fighting climate change fifty years before it was cool. He stayed true to who he was from birth to death. He never caved to the critics; he never went Chris Gaines on us; he never quit; he never sold out; he never stopped trying to make the world a better place with his music and his activism. And he died as he lived: giving zero fucks about what the establishment thought he should be doing. Total badass.

I love how Fil just really appreciates and enjoys such a wide range of performers...he will grin widely every time he is pleased. I love his enjoyment as much as the performance.

@phoebelim5040

8 ай бұрын

Yes, I really love seeing Fil's obvious enjoyment of these performances.

@randyrudd5594

8 ай бұрын

Fil is so immensely talented in his own right- he so joyously conveys his knowledge and talent with us. His evaluations are AS entertaining and enlightening as the subjects. Great musician and kind individual.

@louiserawle8999

8 ай бұрын

Me too!

@kathleen109

7 ай бұрын

Yes! I love his smile when he appreciates something. He doesn't try to hide it.

@umarae27

7 ай бұрын

Same here!!

At about 1 min, when Fil hits that instant bright smile for a moment, you know he absolutely loves and admires who he's watching.

@caridee4782

8 ай бұрын

Fil has a great smile!

@e-spy

8 ай бұрын

yeah, I look for that too.

@TheVoxbox13

8 ай бұрын

👍 New to the channel, but that caught my eye, too.

Two things I find interesting. 1. The way John finished his notes extremely cleanly. & 2. the way that his larynx was free enough to give vibrato when he's humming or singing Nnn. John was the absolute master of making the complex appear both simple and laid back.

@elizabethpowers7540

8 ай бұрын

I think there is a tendency to want to think that's just a natural phenomenon, and to an extent it is, but I've heard him talk about how he worked on it and asked for tips from quality singers like Placido Domingo. It's that thing they say about how the people who are best at anything put in the work to make it seem effortless.

John was a friend of mine. He was a magnificent singer/songwriter. His songs lift my heart, over and over again. I very much enjoy your channel. Your smile is effervescent; thank you for always having a ready smile. Your whole mannerism; the way you talk, your voice, your laugh- you’re such a bright spot in this dark world. Thank you for showing us, and reminding us….

@AndyUK-Corrival

5 ай бұрын

Wow what an amazing friend to have, I never tire of his music. Wish I could have seen him live. Andy UK

After I sustained a brain injury from a car accident, I wasn't able to listen to music for a couple of years. John Denver was one of the artists that started my reintroduction to music. His voice to me is pure and calming. I love the little imperfections that retain the humanity and emotions of a song. I love that his music can make me smile and cry at the same time, it is cathartic. I don't quite understand the reasoning behind eliminating this from music. It seems to me that this strive for perfection is actually removing what made the song perfect in the first place. Artists should have the freedom to create music as they feel it. Another artist with a pure voice is Burton Cummings. I have seen him perform, just him and his piano and it was beautiful.

I had forgotten how beautiful and rich his voice was and how beautiful his songs were. Like visiting an old friend. Thank you, Fil!

@johnbjorkman4144

8 ай бұрын

John Denver - "The best friend a song ever had."

Over the years I have seen 100+ concerts. I saw John a few decades back and it remains my favorite one. He was perfect….everyone in the audience knew every word and everyone sang along. There were teens….and folks in their 70s and everyone joined in. A great talent lost….

@sarahdee374

8 ай бұрын

I agree, loved the man and his music. Such a gift he gave us during his life and the legacy of beauty he left behind.

@peggymaihafer6097

8 ай бұрын

Wow - that sounds wonderful! Lucky you!!

@MostlyBuicks

8 ай бұрын

People singing along is the bane for those who paid money to listen to the performer.

@Gort-Marvin0Martian

8 ай бұрын

@@MostlyBuicksWhy would you feel the need to be negative at the feelings of their encounter with the man. Almost every audience sings along. Maybe you should just always stay home!

@gogi682

8 ай бұрын

This was a song played at a funeral I went to. How lovely. I loved him in the '70's!@@MostlyBuicks

The sound of John Denver's voice, at any stage of his career is so incredible. RIP

My friend Ali got to sing with John. She was at a small tavern in Northern California overlooking the Pacific Ocean. She sang a few songs then John Denver walked in. They ended up singing a few of John’s songs together. Ali was thrilled. Ali had a wonderful voice and sang to me several times. I’m 2001 the World Trade Centers were destroyed so Ali flew from California to NY to help. She worked on the ‘pile’ for weeks. Later she developed a lung condition that sadly affected her beautiful voice. She has been battling the effects of breathing in what eventually was learned to be very dangerous particles from the ruins of the WTC. I still love her voice but she can’t hit all the notes she used to sing. She’s such a great friend.

They don’t make music like this anymore. So real, so pure and true.

@genghis_connie

8 ай бұрын

There really are musicians bringing things back to natural. I don’t know your style, but at least live, The Staves, Courtney Barnett, Julian Baker and boygenius are all in a new folk mixed genre. Father John Misty, as well (live). It’s sad that there are so few.

@peterbee88

8 ай бұрын

That’s a definite result 👍

@shankrl1

8 ай бұрын

yes they do, you're just stuck in the past

@genghis_connie

8 ай бұрын

@@shankrl1 Why so rude? Does that make you feel big? How utterly pointless and juvenile. Offer some suggestions, say something meaningful, or hush yourself.

@carollamontagne6710

8 ай бұрын

@@shankrl1 It would seem gone are the days when one could express their opionion without someone making a nasty remark or insult. I pity you.

I feel as if I haven't heard an unfiltered singing voice in the past 20 years. This is not the voice he had as a young man but the slight hesitations and occasional strained notes sound real and the timbre of John's voice is just as appealing as it ever was.

@FionaEm

8 ай бұрын

I think he sounds more authentic here; more folksy than country twang.

@trekkiejunk

8 ай бұрын

A lot of singers today do not use pitch correction. You just have to look outside the pop/rock/hip-hop genre. Most jazz artists, for instance do not use it. Harry Connick Jr even puts a disclaimer on his albums stating "no pitch correction."

@trekkiejunk

8 ай бұрын

@@dancingcandle3872 -- Agreed, i always prefer his later voice to his younger voice. He sounds experienced here, whereas his early 70's voice sounded too naïve.

@dathorndike4908

7 ай бұрын

His older voice had a more developed depth and richness that his younger voice

@grasshoffers

3 ай бұрын

@@trekkiejunkahhh! I was hoping to hear this was going to be done. Thanks for sharing that. I have seen Him in concert once and he played, sang and performed about 3 hours and cut up with the audience.

Many folks, back in the day, tended to judge John Denver's music to be what I refer to as "candy jar" quality. Sweet, sentimental, but lacking the depth of "real artistry". I am extremely grateful that someone of your stature has brought Mr. Denver to the attention of today's audience. He had a distinct vocal style and his pitch accuracy during live performance was astounding. If a male voice can be called pristine, then his was exactly that. Thanks, Fil, for your astute observations.

@AloisiaSedai

8 ай бұрын

As I said in my comment, I didn’t like his music at first for those very reasons, but hearing his voice live changed everything for me.

@imchuckbass4757

7 ай бұрын

My dad was a rock dude who also had a taste for weird stuff, but he had a soft spot for John Denver. He hated 99% of the music my mom liked (maybe out of spite, who knows), but he was down with Denver!

@louiserawle8999

7 ай бұрын

I think Country Road is beautiful,simple but beautiful,some times simple things are the best.

@debrakiddoo318

7 ай бұрын

I was one of those too cool to see JD but a friend insisted I go o a concert in Phoenix and it was one of the most beautiful experiences. Fan for life after that. Rip.

@diannespalding6542

6 ай бұрын

He also did some songs that were anything but shallow. Listen to some of the songs he recorded after visiting Alaska. Very deep and emotional. You don’t see that unless you listen to his entire body of work.

No auto-tune available, no cheats. Just an incredibly talented singer and guitarist. His song writing in the earlier years produced some incredibly long-lived songs.

That “ Deutschendorf “ guy was an amazing talent.

@maureendrozda9960

8 ай бұрын

He Was Never From Denver, But - Yes! He Was! I Just Wished He Would Have Learned How To Read A Gas Gauge! John (Born Henry) Struggled With Depression....Maybe? He Was Ready To Go?? He Still Left Us Too Young!😥

@TheDivayenta

8 ай бұрын

@@maureendrozda9960wasn’t he in a glider? It went down in my neck of the woods.

@maureendrozda9960

8 ай бұрын

@@TheDivayenta I Don't Believe It Was A Glider - I Could Find No Specifics That It Was & I Remember Them Talking About A Fuel Issue The Day He Died. It Was An "Ameture Built Experimental Light Aircraft" That He Is Said To Have Had Three "Touch & Go" Landings In - Then "Disappeared To The West" Over The Water Off Monterey Bay In Mid Afternoon & Was Found Crashed In The Rocks In 30 Feet Of Water....

@TheKatdawg65

8 ай бұрын

​@@TheDivayentaexperimental light plane.

My first date back in the mid 70's was a John Denver concert. No warm-up group, no backup singers, just John and his guitar.

@mardyroux8136

7 ай бұрын

Great first date! I adore John Denver, and saw him in concert in the late 1970s. He had a backing band but the concert was over three hours long. In the middle, JD sent the band off-stage for a break and for an hour it was him and his guitar. A refreshed backing band returned for the last part, but Denver himself never took a break. He totally gave himself to his audience for that extended period of time. I never saw a better concert.

He was a friend of mine. Complicated fellow but salt of the earth. I would pick him up at the airport when he came to visit family. RIP old friend. Thank you Fil. ❤

@ShowdogTiger

5 ай бұрын

I get what you're saying, brilliant artist and a cheater husband. Kind of like Jussi Bjorling. Even Pavarotti called him God and he was a dreadful alcoholic. Sometimes we really cannot throw babies out with the bathwater. You should write a book about your experiences with Mr. Denver. I would buy it.

@orionswitness

5 ай бұрын

We are all as human beings lost and bewildered . John Denver created some beautiful songs .

@kristinwright6632

4 ай бұрын

My all time favorite artist. His songs soothed my heart and inspired my life. Yes, I did learn he was complicated. Even when he wrote this I understand he was trying to save his marriage with Annie. I think he loved her dearly despite his many liaisons. But as I learned also, we are all complicated including me. I miss his work. I was devastated when he died. But then it seemed to me that he died in a way he would have wanted. Soaring, not wasting away. You are free to correct me.

@susanmacdonald4288

17 күн бұрын

You're lucky to have known him.

@JohnMartin-dn9ez

9 күн бұрын

@@kristinwright6632 when I got word that day my feeling was the same beyond the grief. Went out doing what he loved.

One of the most perfect vocal performances we will ever hear. Something truly life enhancing about John Denver's crystal clear voice. Some people are born to sing. Some are great tellers of songs. John Denver was both.

John is an American treasure. , such a wonderful performer, a real musician, and composer. I had the privilege of seeing John in concert, fabulous show . As a young teen I wrote to John never expecting to hear back from him, but several months later I received a signed photograph and a short note that I stiil have, as you can imagine I was over the moon. Did he write the note? I don't know for sure, but my 13 year old heart believed it to be true.

@lucindakubitz8193

8 ай бұрын

I wished I'd done that. My local library had yellow pages from many cities. I actually found his parent's address and phone number in the city they lived it. But never had the nerve to write the fan letter. Still one of m6 favorite singers many years later.

@rebapuck5061

8 ай бұрын

Lucinda, you should have. Back in the 60's I got a pen pal from Liverpool by writing to Ringo Starr's mother and asking if she had teen neighbors.

John was the Van Gogh of the 20th century. It is heartbreaking we lost him too soon.

@moemcgovern7345

8 ай бұрын

So true

I saw him live a couple of times in 1982, when he was doing a one-man show, just him and his guitar. His voice was so powerful, it was like all the air in the theatre was electric, and even for a few seconds after each song finished, it felt as if the air was vibrating. I'd never heard anything like it.

@robertcarpenter9836

7 ай бұрын

Like you had to catch your breath after listening to the beautiful enormity of his singing of the song. Never will there be a singer/musician of his caliber.

@Andijt

5 ай бұрын

He played at my college in the early 70s. We were in a ballroom in the student center. He sat on a stool, played his guitar, and sang and we sat on the floor around him.

What I love, besides John and his music, is the face of Phil while he's listening to John. He almost becomes angelic listening to John. Beautiful feel, thank you Phil 💕

@deb52811

5 ай бұрын

Ditto from me. This is the first video I've watched of Phil's channel and I could see his pure enjoyment and joy in listening to John and then speaking about his observations.

@AbbyV1820

5 ай бұрын

Phil's reaction shines. But that's what John's voice does. It just draws you in.

This song is almost 50! (Released in 1974). It sounds as beautiful and fresh now as it did then. Good choice Fil!

Back in the day I thought he was just some wimpy folk singer. I've never been more wrong. I appreciate him more every year that goes by... I really wish I would have figured it out earlier. Most recently I saw the duet with Mama Cass and let me tell you they are two National Treasures. RIP

@sketchley80

Ай бұрын

Not to worry. Celebrate and honour JD now!❤

Possibly the most gorgeous love song ever written, it can only be sung by John.

I saw John Denver in concert three times. I had to drag my friends to go with me because they couldn’t believe I liked him so much. When the concerts were over, then they finally got it. It was his music, his poetry and it was him.

I grew up on John Denver. He was my first crush. Experimental aircraft enthusiasts agree that his accident was completely preventable. Rocky Mountain High is the official song of Colorado. I love how he always takes inspiration from nature. He would be horrified if he were alive today.

Singers that hit notes slightly flat and then slide in, and can hit them spot on, can hit a perfect wave on a vibrato, or speed it up or slow it down as they desire, can slide between tones smoothly, or can keep them perfect, can keep the voice clear as a bell or dirty with various shades, but most of all know when to use which technique for which part of the emotions being presented based on the music and the lyrics and the moment in time with the audience; those are the best vocalist in my estimation and the machine just can't do that. Auto-Tune is a mechanical estimation of art. Why some people think it's Superior to the actual reality of human art, I'll never understand.

@napamoonlight9997

22 күн бұрын

Auto tune is the dumbing down of music. It is a premeditated obliteration of true vocal talent. Free the voice Make natural talent your choice again

I'm a headbanger but my mom loved him. I don't remember him singing so wonderfully. Maybe it's bc I'm older but I'm sad I didn't appreciate him.

Fil, what I really appreciate is watching your face as you start artist's recordings. You really show appreciation for their abilities. Thank you for what you do .

@susangarman9561

6 ай бұрын

When an artist can evoke such responses with their music, their work is pure gold.❤️❤️❤️

John Denver was such a well-rounded artist. He came from an era where talent was absolutely necessary in order to succeed at what he did. His musicianship and his vocal abilities, along with the rest of the musicians on stage, is absolutely amazing here. Equally as amazing is the live mix of this whole performance. That would be unheard of today. In fact, nobody today would have been able to pull this off without the standard post-production. As always, great upload! 👍

I grew up in the Texas Panhandle in a smallish town just outside of Lubbock. I was in high school in the 1960’s and there was a coffe house in the bottom of an old abandoned grain elevator in Lubbock called “The Granary”. They had live entertainment on weekends and from time to time a young Texas Tech University student named John Deutschendorf would play there. He was really good! 😂😂

This song always reminds me of riding on a boat in rolling seas, where you are gently rising and falling with the swell of the waves. It evokes a constant sense of motion, soothing and comforting, climbing and crashing in a consistent and calming pattern.

@frankishsid2692

8 ай бұрын

@jasonbroom7147 Excellent analysis

I've seen and heard hundreds of singers in concert over the years. I was lucky enough to see John Denver in a large arena, and his performance was like no other. No synthesizers, pyrotechnics, just pure John Denver. The clarity of his voice was outstanding and so unique. Beyond compare.

I am so glad you mentioned the flute in this one; it is an instrument that I REALLY miss in music that was present a lot in the 1970s, and provides a huge wave of haunting nostalgia. His vocal expression makes this an authentically beautiful song.

@mroboe1032

8 ай бұрын

I agree with you about the flute. While I can't see the band clearly and I'm not sure when this was recorded, I believe the flutist is Jim Horn...an absolute giant of the flute and saxophone, with recording credits for days. I was privileged to tour with John in the mid 70's. It was my 1st big time tour and I remember his artistry every day.

When I think of John Denver, the line “Thank God I’m a country boy” comes to mind! He was popular during the 70s…the decade of the singer-songwriters!

@helenjohnson7583

8 ай бұрын

Yes. I thought it was a standard that would never end.

@moemcgovern7345

8 ай бұрын

Don't forget Karen Carpenter.

In spite of the vocal “imperfections”, this is a perfect performance. It’s tough enough to sing and play guitar, and it’s even tougher to play a 12 string guitar with all the chord changes and right hand rhythm nuances by John. In spite of all his success, he is a very much underrated singer, performer and songwriter. A true talent in every sense of the word. Rest in Peace, John.

John was a performer in every sense. He invited you inside his zone to be part of the concert. There will never be another. I saw him for $2.00 at Carroll College when he was just starting out.

This has to be one of the most beautiful songs ever written. I bet you'd sound lovely covering it 😊. Beautiful analysis, Fil!

No auto tune, pitch correction, mechanical enhancement, just the angelic voice given by the heavens.

John was literally magic. He is, or was, a true bard. His voice was as pure as freshly fallen snow.

@trekkiejunk

8 ай бұрын

Literally? I love JD, but i beg to differ on his ability to actually commune with supernatural forces.

This was unexpected. Last night, after the LS, my daughter and I were talking about John Denver, and ended up listening to, and singing along with, a lot of his songs. So, this video came as a timely and unexpected surprise. The thing that I love so much about his music is its honesty and sincerity, probably because so much of it is autobiographical. When he sang a song, it sounded "true", you believed what he was saying. It felt very intimate, like he was sharing very private parts of his life with us. And it was always beautiful.❤ Thank you so much for this analysis.😊

John Denver was the very first famous musician I ever saw in concert when I was 12 years old. Since then, I have probably been to at least 100 major concerts - several Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame members, and I swear to you he was still the best. I always say he never gets enough credit for the quality of his voice, but also he had incredible endurance. When I saw him, he went almost 4 hours (I remember this because my dad commented on how he was going to be late the next morning) and he gave his band a break about half way through, but he never stopped. He just picked up his guitar and sang and played all by himself for a few songs and sounded just as great at the end of the show as at the beginning - that's the kind of endurance I've only seen matched once - by Bruce Springstein.

From a young age, John had control over his voice. He sang with passion and it was felt by anyone listeningg. Just a gift that keeps on giving.

I saw John live many times in the 80s & 90s. His voice improved hugely in the 1980s after his duet with Placido Domingo. His producer Milt Okun said he learnt a lot from Domingo. His concerts were almost akin to a religious experience. Even in a crowd of 10k he sounded like he was singing to you alone. There was a communal, folksy warmth as we sang all the songs together. It felt like how the world could be if we put all our political & religious differences aside……There hasn’t really been anyone like him since his passing. I miss him.

Ahhh… the old ladies like me are giving a sigh right now and dreaming of a waltz with our prairie skirts swirling

Dan Fogelberg is just wonderful too. I saw him in concert with just his piano and guitar. Beautiful

@helenjohnson7583

8 ай бұрын

I liked him! Is he still performing?

@barbsink-krusenstjerna2320

8 ай бұрын

​@@helenjohnson7583Dan has also passed away ,sadly. Miss him also.

@kristinaanderson1047

8 ай бұрын

Glenn Campbell too.

@lisachauvin

8 ай бұрын

Dan Fogelberg by himself was the best concert I’ve ever been to ❤

@elizabethlatorre5360

2 ай бұрын

Agree

I was 9 when I heard this song the first time in 1974. I'm nearing 60 and still gets so overwhelmed with emotions listening to the magic voice of John that I still cries hearing him. Remember the day I heard he had died in an accident like it was yesterday. He was so very special. Looking at the world of today, I come to think of what Ringo Starr said about what happened to the hippie era: "We certainly blew it".

@ggfelix9029

3 күн бұрын

Every time I have flown in or out of that little airport, I think of him. That mountain range holds the fog close to it. It's a tricky blindspot, in fog, even with instruments. We lost a real star.

I saw John Denver in concert in about 1976 and it was an incredible experience-and now I understand why. Very subtle things-his vibrato, the echoing flute, the slightly flat or sharp notes-the ‘liveness’ of the whole thing-allowed his full expression to flow through. I’m also reminded how beautiful his voice was, the warmth, the fullness of the sound. Thank you for this review of one of my family’s favorite artists.

My late mum absolutely loved John Denver, and I discovered him through her. His voice is so rich and full and smooth, it always makes me think of real caramel, the kind made with butter and cream. This song is one of my favourites, just as it was one of my mums. He was amazing, and he was gone far too soon.

A friend of mine used to work the concerts at the old Herheypark Arena . He got to see many, many bands and vocalists. He always said that John Denver had the most powerful voice he had ever heard.

There are no words to describe John Denver as a musician and song writer he was just legendary

This is Magnificent!!!! Just look how an amazing, REAL voice like John's is graphed all over the place, with all those spectacular NUANCES, WARMTH, Variances, etc', etc., that make a real human voice!! Right after this Show, I actually met, and then dated John, for a time, right up to the time we lost him.

Not a lot of songs in 3/4 time these days, beautiful.

@helenjohnson7583

8 ай бұрын

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼/👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

I'm a beginner on guitar. And so, of coursr, have tried some Denver tunes. I quickly realized that even his simple tunes are not easy to sing. At all. He was legend.

Fil's smile at the end of the performance says it all.

This song makes me cry every single time. It's a masterful exercise in evoking emotion.

Those were the times when singers sang on their own and showed off their great voices.

@micheladonofrio2285

8 ай бұрын

Glad to see that the troller has been taken down.

You should hear John Denver and Cass Elliot sing a duet on Leaving on A Jet Plane.

@mandarinlearner

8 ай бұрын

Saw another reactor do this song and comment was heartbreaking " there's too much love in this song for it to be popular now"

John Denver was the ultimate bard of the 20th century and an amazing musician. He was tremendously gifted and is tremendously missed. I saw his show at the Grand Ole Opry House, five minutes from my home as a child in 1976. It was one of the most memorable performances I've ever seen by anyone, and I've seen a lot of them, from The Jackson 5 to Ozzy Osbourne, from The Police to Public Enemy, from George Carlin to Iron Maiden, from Sting to the Temptations, from Dolly Parton to The Beastie Boys touring with Run DMC, from many Hee Haw tapings to Craig Ferguson, and from Elvis Presley in Las Vegas shortly after the John Denver show to Spamalot on Broadway. 😉😎

John was the most generous performer in concert..always encouraged us to sing with him. Other big names told the audience to be quiet..they were not there to hear us. ❤

As an aging rocker this song was a 'guilty pleasure' during the mid/late 70s.

Hearing his voice again warms my heart and takes me back to fond memories. Annie's song is so beautiful. Thank you, Fil for your ananlysis of this very talented John Denver who died too young.

He was the soundtrack to my adolescence. I was so in love with him. I used to make believe he was singing Annie’s Song to me. 😅 When he started getting really popular he was dismissed as being too much of a lightweight or too saccharine. People really didn’t appreciate his wide range of talent, his voice and musicianship. Very underrated in his lifetime. I would recommend you buy his Christmas album, his version of Ave Maria is breathtaking, his range on that is amazing . I love Christmas for Cowboys and Aspenglow, all on that album.

@TheCelestialhealer

7 ай бұрын

Thank you for the recommendation🙏

I love the imperfection of an amazing live performance!

@ntavares540

7 ай бұрын

I am so tired of generic singing that is created by correcting the pitch of people's voices. The so called 'imperfections' make it so much more appealing to me. John's voice is true beauty here.

John was such a treasure. He provided so much of the soundtrack to my adolescence and teenage years. I had all of his albums. Every time I hear his voice it makes me happy and nostalgic. I’m so glad no one has tried to edit this magnificent performance. The whole concert was amazing. “I’m Sorry” honestly is the most heartbreaking breakup song ever. His guitar work on that combined with the pain in his voice 😢

@A.Briggs628

8 ай бұрын

I love that song, ‘I’m Sorry’ You’re right. The lyrics are heart-crushing!

Saw John in concert several times, always so much fun, and that pure clear voice was so special and very moving.

@peggymaihafer6097

8 ай бұрын

Lucky you! I never got to see him in concert. I sure wish I had.

What a wonderful love song. Any normal, loving woman could drown in those words ❤️

@russbear31

8 ай бұрын

You know the story... John Denver claimed he wrote this song after an argument with his wife, Annie. It was his way of saying, "I'm sorry." 😊

John Denver brought joy into this world with his iconic, unforgettable, gorgeous melodies. What a talent sorely missed. 💔💝

I was never a big fan of John's , until...he was live on the old Phil Donahue show...and he had a bad cold...but still performed live on the show...much respect from that point on...

There will never be another John Denver. His voice, playing, and performance were always very deep, tender, honest, heart-tugging, and timeless. I can not even listen without crying and breaking much of the time. He was a very compassionate and humanitarian person. He lived in Aspen, Colorado, my home state, where I have always lived, and John will be deeply missed.

John Denver in concert was one of the biggest musical wows of my life. Ditto Glen Campbell.

crazy to think how great his voice was despite smoking unfiltered cigarettes and i still can't believe he is gone , years ago i saw James Taylor at a college gym and i was lucky to be sitting front row right in front of him and he was so good that it was to good and i swore he was lip-syncing and i was looking for a record player or tape deck and i turned to this girl sitting next to me and said , i am a musician but no one is this good i think somehow he is lip syncing and she turned to me with a huge smile and said , yeah it's crazy but my husband is that good , it was Carley Simon , my generation sure produced some crazy great talent but there are some young musicians i see on youtube that are crazy talented and i wish my generation would stop bashing the young talent that is out there

@scattysafari7742

8 ай бұрын

John didn't smoke tobacco. He did smoke weed though.

@piscesempress1978

8 ай бұрын

What is your generation, There are some decent singers out there, most of them however suck. Sorry to say.

Every time I hear this song, it's with a bit of sadness over how love can be so intense and beautiful but not lasting, and of course that John Denver left us way too soon. Great singer and songwriter, and a unique voice, unlike anyone else's.

It gives me chills to listen to John do this song. It feels like something other worldly. Like a gift to feed the soul from a higher being.

This is one of my all time favorite songs. No one sang like John. I grew up watching his tv performances/specials. It was always a special family event to watch him perform. No one will ever be like him.

It's one of the most beautiful love songs ever. Maybe the best

I think John's concert in Australia in 1994 was his best performance. From his vocals to his guitar playing was exceptional. John's ability to vocalize on the guitar is phenomenal, especially when he plays Rocky Mountain on the 12 string. Another well done video Fil !

There will absolutely never be another John Denver

His voice is simple angelic. What a beautiful man too.

Such a great talent, sadly missed.

Such a beautiful romantic song. John was such a treasure! Thank you, Fil, for your detailed and heartfelt analysis.

When I was a teenager in the 70's I listened to his music, some friends of mine made fun of it because they were into harder rock genres. I didn't care I continued to listen. Obviously I could recognize true talent much better than them. I still listen to his music going to bed almost every night. He was a true master and I feel one of the top ten singers of all time.

John Denver’s beautiful, pitch-perfect voice was one of the fabulous memories of my twenties. Such a wonderful entertainer who, very sadly, left us too soon.

An instant like 👍 for John Denver. Loved him and his songs. ❤

Amazing. They don’t call it easy listening for nothing 👍🏼

@moemcgovern7345

8 ай бұрын

John was singing this to the woman he loved. I don't know a woman, who wouldn't Love this.

Fil, when I was a young kid, I had the privilege of seeing John Denver live. It was actually my first concert. As I recall, he WAS very good but what impressed me most was that when the audience was being rude to the opening act, John walked on stage and scolded them. Silence and lots of guilty looks on the faces of many of the adults. HA!

@judydenver5362

5 ай бұрын

...and John would also, at virtually every performance, ask the audience to basically be silent, and "not sing along with the verses". Something that drives me crazy, today, as now people are so rude, loudly singing along -at concerts!!! who wants to hear them sing along?? NO BODY!!! I go to a concert to hear the performer, in utter silence from the audience, really listen to the performer and every nuance and warmth in their true voice, and the delicacies and intricacies of the instrumentation and arrangement, and how it makes me feel, how it takes me away to someplace, and being with someone I so deeply admire. AUDIENCES- BE SILENT!!!!

John's music helped me conquer episodes of depression during my teen and young adult years. So grateful his music is showcased here.

@smilinmoo

4 ай бұрын

Same here. Especially during my senior year.

A VERY seemingly underrated, songwriter/singer/musician & environmental / social activist.

John Denver always gives me a natural High