Someone played this at a bar in South Korea while I was in the military. Every single soldier stood and belted out this chorus ... Not a dry eye in the house by the end. Now, one of my favorite songs ever
I’m from WVA and when I was traveling in Europe on a bus in Switzerland, this song was played. I don’t think I’ve ever been more homesick. While I don’t live in WVA anymore, this song takes me back there, with a teardrop in my eye..❤️❤️❤️❤️
Great man, Mr. Denver. When I was in elementary school back in the 80s, my class put together a list of questions for him and sent it off. Rather than sending us back a form letter, or even a correspondence of some sort written by a publicist or an employee, he recorded himself standing in front of his personal plane on a windy day, reading our questions and answering each and every one of them. He sent the VHS tape to my class, and we watched it together in absolute delight. He's held a special place in my heart ever since.
John was such an amazing lyricist. Back in the day, his music was considered a combination of folk, pop, and country. He was really in to nature and was a conservationist. If you want to do more John Denver, you need to check out Rocky Mountain High and Annie's Song for sure!
"Aye Calypso" is one of those soaring lyrical tribute songs - he saaid he set foot on board the Calypso (Jaques Cousteau's research ship) and the chorus wrote itself in 15 minutes.
Yes, he was into nature and was a conservationist, but in a healthy way. He wasn't a nutty environmental EXTREMEST like so many of the other unrealistic lunatics out there.
@@smallblockchevy1022 he actually cared about the environment in a genuine way, as opposed to using the environment as an excuse for getting attention.
I like the way BJ starts with his arms crossed, closed.. then as he gets into it, he opens all the way up😅😅 Seriously need to hear Annie's Song. One of the most beautiful love songs ever.. played at my wedding 38 years ago🥰
Calibso. Great song. About the ocean. Name of a boat that exploded the ocean s of the world. Jacques Cousteau was an explorer and innovator of cleaning up the planet back in the day look it up you really is good song
@@appalachianridgerunners6571 Thank you for the compliment😄. Grassman is what we call Bigfoot in Ohio. You are the first person who has caught that. Have a great weekend!
@@CLTHIKER It sure is. I've lived in South Jersey my entire life but I've visited WV many times over the years and became a diehard WVU fan forty years ago. Our family started camping in the Deep Creek, MD area in the early 80's and almost every year we would drive around to see Blackwater Falls and without fail make the 45 drive into Morgantown to pick up WVU gear and visit Mulan Puskar stadium. There's nothing like driving around that great state during the Fall when the colors are at their peak.
John was country folk genre that includes Jim Croce, Harry Chaplin, Cat Stevens and Carole King. These are legendary poets who put their art to music. Im sure you’ve heard their songs too. John and Jim died in plane crashes, Harry in car crash. Only the good die young. Thankfully, Carole and Cat are still with us. I hope you check them out. It’s a “feel good” genre.
For quite a few years, this was the only "western"/non-Chinese song allowed to be played over the radio in Red China. It was a favorite of the (then) Chinese premier who had heard J.D. perform it live at a concert put on for him during a state visit here back in the 70's.
John Denver sang Folk. That being said, every station played his music, no matter the genre. I learned young from this song to never regret leaving the country...I stayed, and I've never been more grateful.
I came home to WV on leave from the military in 1971 when this song was on the charts. I got to spend 30 days with family after being overseas for 2 years. Hearing this song then broke my heart, especially knowing I had to go back for another year before my enlistment was up. I was raised running those country roads and everything was rapidly changing, experiencing other parts of the world made me miss the country life so much, but I wanted to get back to my new family (those guys I served with) too. This was over 50 years ago, but the memories are still strong.
This song always brings a tear to my eye. As a person who grew up in the country, and now living in the big city, I miss home so much. Hopefully I'll be retiring soon and will move back to the country. There's no better life.
John Denver was into several genres - Folk, Country, and Pop. Great rabbit hole to dive into. Check out these songs by John: "Annie's Song", "Leaving on a Jet Plane", ""Sunshine on my Shoulders", "Rocky Mountain High", and "Fly Away" ( a duet with Olivia Newton John ).
Yes, all of those are great. I particularly like Annie's Song. I really like the interview with Annie after John's death where they play that song. She actually mentions another song as her favorite (not Annie's Song). John Denver was a real all-time great. Gone too soon.
The legacy of John Denver, especially this song, lives on. Check out some youtube videos with West Virginia football fans singing this together at the end of football games. What a songwriter and vocalist John was.
This is the Anthem of West Virginia, John Denver performed this song at halftime of a West Virginia University football game back in 1980 and now we play it after every home football game and all 70,000 fans stay and sing along!
I was going through infantry training at Ft. Jackson during the Viet Nam war when this song came out. On some evenings when we weren't training and this song would play on the radio all of us and especially the guys from West Virginia would get very homesick, especially not knowing what the future held for us. And after all these many years I still get that sad and lonely feeling when I hear this song.
I absolutely love this song. I'm from West Virginia and this song is our anthem. Only those who have been here can really appreciate it and it's magnificence!! 😊🤠
Drove through the Appalachians in W. Virginia one time on the way to Myrtle Beach from Canada. Was both amazed by the beauty but nervous driving on those long uphill and downhill stretches. Had never seen a runaway truck ramp before.
Momma Cass, From the "mommas and the poppas" sang.back up and harmonies on many of Johns songs! They were good friends! their voices seemed perfect with each other the way that the sounds blended perfectly when they sang!!! Just hearing them is like your own little slice of heaven, here on earth!. Just listen!!!......
Not Mama Cass. Taffy Nivert sang back up for John in the early days along with her then husband Bill Danoff. Bill, John and Taffy co-wrote this song. John and Mamma Cass did sing together once, live on TV.
The message of the song is that WHEREVER you grew up, City or Country, traveling HOME when you’ve been away is a nostalgic experience. We traveled many times between upstate New York to Indiana when our daughters were very young, and listened to John Denver all the way! Wonderful memories and times with our 8 Track Tape Player in the car, lol! Everything was so simple back then, it was lovely.
John Denver had such a unique voice, another one gone way too soon. My sister-in-law was from WV and loved this song. I think it is the state song of West Virginia. WV is a beautiful state.
Others have said it, but I'll just echo them. Annie's Song. You have to hear that one. One of the most beautiful songs ever written, sung, and recorded.
Bit of history: CCR's "Up Around the Bend" came out in April 1970." JD's "Country Roads" came out in April 1971. During that year, replacements for casualties at Dak To, Khe Sanh and Tet were finishing their one-year tours in Vietnam and coming home. The news from the World was pretty grim, and a lot of us dreamed of going somewhere quiet and remote and never leaving. These two songs were like anthems.
John Denver was big in the 70s - his songs were simple and nice - took me back to my kids days with mine hillbilly family all the great times spent with them during the summer
I'm a 58 yo Brit and was bought up as a kid on a diet of John Denver and Simon & Garfunkel,musically speaking, by my dear Mum who had all their albums..the one John Denver song that gets me every time is actually him reading a poem called 'The Box'....can't find any reactions to this on yt but def worth a look..
West Virginia mountain mama here. His lyrics to Country Roads, of my state, spot on., John Denver always captured the true picture in all his work. So much talent and hits.
My grandmother would sing this when I went to the grocery store with her when I was a little boy. We would take scenic roads to and from. My fondest memories are of a little French woman with a strong accent singing this to me. She’s 95 now, but sadly, doesn’t remember much anymore. But this song really brings back the grandmother I remember best! Thanks for the reaction and sparking those memories again for me!
@Asia and BJ- John Denver was one of the best to ever do it. Great singer and songwriter. Take me home, Country roads is just one of many of his great songs. Two more of his that I recommend you react to is Leaving on a jetplane and Back Home Again.
Alot of Rock fans loved John....He crossed the line...His stuff was just too Damn good to be denied by even the hardest sternest rockeers...I imagine alot of us tough rockers back in the day secretly going in our room, locking the door and just loving the lift John gave us spiritually...I never locked no doors though...never kept it in the closet...John earned my shout out.
Saw him play in Sydney in 1992. He was mesmerising. A master story-teller. The power of his vocals was incredible and almost every single song seemed to be familiar. It was a magical experience.
He's more of a folk rock/country mix than straight country. Many great songs-Annie's Song is probably his most famous but Leaving on a Jet Plane (there's a great clip out there of him performing it along with Cass Elliott), Calypso, Rocky Mountain High and Sunshine On My Shoulders are all excellent pieces of music as well. Unfortunately he died in his early 50's when the small plane he was piloting crashed into a lake.
Always loved John Denver. He has so many songs you can just sing along with. This used to be a go to to for Karaoke. Can you just imagine a bunch of drunks in a bar singing this song. He has even been in movies. So sad when he died. Great reaction as always!
This song reminds me of home from yesterday. " His other songs "Annie's Song" I'm Sorry " "Thank God I'm A Country Boy "Leaving On A Jet Plane" are worth a listen. Keep up the excellent work.
Begging to differ, JD is a FOLK SINGER, not Country, not Western. I nominate the next song “Calypso”, JDs nod to undersea icon Jaques Cousteau. He got his break when Peter, Paul, and Mary covered his folk song, Leaning On A Jet Plane, in the late ‘60s
he was a folk singer, but he won the ACM for album of the year in 1974. And in 1975 he had the CMA song of the year and was the CMA Entertainer of the Year.
@@ffjsb Except that gender fluidity is not a thing. It's just brainwashing at the hands of the Marxists who run everything. Young people now believe all kinds of horseshit, poor little fuckers...
@@michaelasay8587 he was put into the Country genre but he had a heavy Folk influence. That's where his roots were. He sang in a Folk group. He was in the " new" Country.
@@elevenbucks5682 - We lived in Roswell for 5 years when my Father ran a test facility for Borg Warner in the early 70s. It was very cool. I have wanted to get back there for the last 50 years. Very cool if you live there. It was awesome when we were there. I wish we could have stayed there to be honest. I am a John Denver fan, but I never knew that he was born there. I guess you learn something new every day. Thanks for that.
@@elevenbucks5682 - I completely believe it, I am always seeing things about alien parades and alien themed restaurants there now. That UFO story became big business I guess. My folks tell me that aliens was not even on the radar when we lived there. (at least not little green ones. lol) I was really young, so I honestly don't recall that to be honest with you. My folks recently moved to Deming NM, so I intend to drive there when I go to visit after all of this covid stuff blows over.
@@jimclark1131 I think the ufo story emerged again in 84 ? I had 4 siblings all born in Roswell and I would have been too if we had moved a few months sooner. I lived there when I was young and have great memories. Funny story, there was a business on main street that had an eight foot fiberglass ufo as part of their sign. On a windy day the ufo blew off the sign and they put it behind the biz, a few days later some guys stole it and headed west. A few miles down the highway it flew out of their truck and landed in the ditch and needless to say someone saw it and soon there were dozens of reports that another ufo had landed.
My favorite songewriter. This takes me straight back to the 70s with my tiny record player listening to 45s. He was so incredibly talented in every way. Those harmonies 😍
Got to see him live in the early 80s in what they call the round where he sat in the center of the venue just him and his acoustic guitars I think he had four of them and one was a 12 string and his stage turned around and around so he faced the whole audience again and again as he played and sang it was one of the greatest concerts that I've been to and I've been to a lot of them
My mom and dad were born and grew up there. As back in the hill as you could get. Still today to get where was mom was born, you have get to a little tiny town, then drive 4 miles or so. Middle of nowhere. On top of a mountain. That's where my mom from. A really beautiful place.
Flat out amazing artist. My dad played him all the time growing up. Everytime I hear this, it reminds me of leaving the Metroplex and heading into East Texas with the trees and lakes
Y’all should watch the crowd sing this at a West Virginia University home game, all those voices singing this song together is one of the best traditions in college sports.
I'm born and raised in Los Angeles, even spent much of my 20's up living in Oakland, I have no connection to West Virginia, the South, the country, nothing like that, but I am a whole John Denver fan since I was a little kid. He was more my mom's time growing up but she always admired his pioneering advocacy for environmental and conservation causes which means she taught my little sister and I to admire him for it too. HIs music has stayed timeless, wholesome, but meaningful because you can hear and tell that he means everything he's singing and wanting people to appreciate being a real deal artist with feelings and appreciating what he appreciates.
John Denver wrote beautiful poetry, put them to beautiful music and sung them from his heart to yours. Listen to "Perhaps Love" that he did with Placido Domiques. Their different styles blend perfectly.
Asia I'll bet you heard the song in the movie 'Kingsman: The Secret Service The Golden Circle'. I never considered John a Country artist. To me he was a folk singer. I think he started out with the New Christy Minstrels same as Kenny Rogers. I could be wrong. It's been several years but this song was voted the 17th greatest country song of all time by the Country Music Association. To me this was John's greatest hit. I know it's my favorite . John Denver was a great singer/song writer with an awesome voice. Look up his live performance of Thank God I'm A Country Boy. It's s lot of fun.
This song brings back so many memories. I grew up in a family of migrant workers. We traveled from state to state picking whatever fruit or vegetable was in season. But we always came back home to Louisiana. As we got closer and closer to home, my sister, brother and I would sing this song, replacing West Virginia with Louisiana. We sang until we crossed the Louisiana state line.
Denver is one of only two men to have written and performed two songs that were adopted as the "State Songs" for two different songs. This one for West Virginia, and "Rocky Mountain High" for Colorado The other is Stephen Foster, with "Swanee River" for Florida and "My Old Kentucky Home" for (obviously) Kentucky
I appreciate that you both are open to listening to different genres of music....it shows your maturity and humbleness....much respect to the two of you!...👌👍💥
He’s also an actor back in his day. He was in OH GOD! with George Burns back the late 70’s sadly he passed away in I think a glider accident but his great voice lives on!😎
My husband and I lived in TX while he got his Masters and I was so homesick. This song was a great comfort to me; we did go back home to WV and the song still means a lot to me. 😊❤️❤️
I just checked out the top 40 radio charts for August 1971 when this song peaked at #2... just behind the Bee Gees, with stars like Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Creedence Clearwater Revival... and Donnie Osmond in the Top Ten. We listened to anything back then as long it was good, the genre didn't matter.
I love his voice so much. This song was a standard for long drives in the 70s. We'd belt it out a cappella. The drive from NYC to Vermont meant at least 3 or 4 times through.
Song has depth that not everyone gets. My late father grew up in WV, beautiful but dirt-poor, cruelly devastated by coal mining. Underlying it all is a hard-used mother ("Miner's lady") in a place where the water was polluted yellow from coal mining ("stranger to blue water"). One can try to return, hoping today is not too late.
This song and Rocky Mountain High are synonymous with John Denver. He’s sorely missed. Now you should react to Home Frees version of this classic. You’ll be blown away. They did JD proud.
This one brings back some good childhood memories. John Denver joined my family for an evening meal at our home back in the 80's, introduced through a mutual friend. A peaceful soul who left us too early. The phenomenal a cappella group Home Free created an wonderful cover of this classic.
Love some John Denver, his songs bring back such great memories of summers at our family cabin by the fire singing ❤ Please react to Thank God I'm a country boy & Leaving on a jet plane. Love you guys
If you watch any West Virginia Football games or basketball games they almost always play it somewhere in the middle or at the beginning of them and the entire crowd sings
John Denver was one of those incredible talents who wrote songs that might be considered in the country music genre, and then would turn around and write songs that were very POP or Progressive .the guy has a smooth as silk voice. By the way Asia...you hit the nail right on the head with your feelings on the song.. that's exactly what he was going for . Nothing deep , just soothing , remembering the old homestead etc..
Someone played this at a bar in South Korea while I was in the military. Every single soldier stood and belted out this chorus ... Not a dry eye in the house by the end. Now, one of my favorite songs ever
I’m from WVA and when I was traveling in Europe on a bus in Switzerland, this song was played. I don’t think I’ve ever been more homesick. While I don’t live in WVA anymore, this song takes me back there, with a teardrop in my eye..❤️❤️❤️❤️
Where TDC? Yon Gi Gol
I was a passenger in a tourist bus in Switzerland in 1977 and this song played overhead, I was so homesick, I could have cried. I’m from West Virginia
I was at Camp Hovey from 08 to 09..Cheers
Osan air base ?
I'm actually from West Virginia. I spent 21 years in the Army and deployed overseas 11 times. This song meant everything to me.
Thank you for your service sir
It means everything to all of us.
So im watching this video on my porch down a country road in West Virginia. Lucky to live in these mountains.
Great man, Mr. Denver. When I was in elementary school back in the 80s, my class put together a list of questions for him and sent it off. Rather than sending us back a form letter, or even a correspondence of some sort written by a publicist or an employee, he recorded himself standing in front of his personal plane on a windy day, reading our questions and answering each and every one of them. He sent the VHS tape to my class, and we watched it together in absolute delight. He's held a special place in my heart ever since.
Wow
That's awesome! I can't say I'm surprised as John always came across a kind old soul. Why is it that so many great people leave us far too soon. RIP.
Thanks.. thats awesome
I grew up singing his songs as a kindergarten in school
I remember he was very cool
Such evocative lyrics... "Dark and dusty, painted on the sky, Misty taste of moonshine, teardrop in my eye".
John was such an amazing lyricist. Back in the day, his music was considered a combination of folk, pop, and country. He was really in to nature and was a conservationist. If you want to do more John Denver, you need to check out Rocky Mountain High and Annie's Song for sure!
"Aye Calypso" is one of those soaring lyrical tribute songs - he saaid he set foot on board the Calypso (Jaques Cousteau's research ship) and the chorus wrote itself in 15 minutes.
FYI, the song was mostly written by Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert. Taffy is the female vocalist you hear crushing that harmony.
Yes, he was into nature and was a conservationist, but in a healthy way. He wasn't a nutty environmental EXTREMEST like so many of the other unrealistic lunatics out there.
John didn't write this one. The same guy who wrote this wrote the song Afternoon Delight...you know...skyrockets in flight...
@@smallblockchevy1022 he actually cared about the environment in a genuine way, as opposed to using the environment as an excuse for getting attention.
I like the way BJ starts with his arms crossed, closed.. then as he gets into it, he opens all the way up😅😅 Seriously need to hear Annie's Song. One of the most beautiful love songs ever.. played at my wedding 38 years ago🥰
38 years of marriage? Congratulations!!!! That's fantastic!
Calibso. Great song. About the ocean. Name of a boat that exploded the ocean s of the world. Jacques Cousteau was an explorer and innovator of cleaning up the planet back in the day look it up you really is good song
Noticed that too😊
It's so good that WV adopted it as its official state song.
West Virginia is a beautiful state!!
@@CLTHIKER love your name Grassman, Is your name after Ohio master grassman, like West Virginia Mothman?
@@appalachianridgerunners6571 Thank you for the compliment😄. Grassman is what we call Bigfoot in Ohio. You are the first person who has caught that. Have a great weekend!
@@CLTHIKER It sure is. I've lived in South Jersey my entire life but I've visited WV many times over the years and became a diehard WVU fan forty years ago. Our family started camping in the Deep Creek, MD area in the early 80's and almost every year we would drive around to see Blackwater Falls and without fail make the
45 drive into Morgantown to pick up WVU gear and visit Mulan Puskar stadium. There's nothing like driving around that great state during the Fall when the colors are at their peak.
This song is about being homesick for the place you grew up but haven't been back in a long time.
Great post. Right now I’m thinking of the hills of central Tennessee, a small town in Michigan and in the woods of Minnesota.
John was country folk genre that includes Jim Croce, Harry Chaplin, Cat Stevens and Carole King. These are legendary poets who put their art to music. Im sure you’ve heard their songs too. John and Jim died in plane crashes, Harry in car crash. Only the good die young. Thankfully, Carole and Cat are still with us. I hope you check them out. It’s a “feel good” genre.
Don't forget Don Williams, he was up there with the names you mentioned.
John Denver’s voice is like going home, making you yearn for a simpler time. His songs paint a beautiful picture! He has a number of amazing songs.
For quite a few years, this was the only "western"/non-Chinese song allowed to be played over the radio in Red China. It was a favorite of the (then) Chinese premier who had heard J.D. perform it live at a concert put on for him during a state visit here back in the 70's.
I never knew that.
John Denver sang Folk. That being said, every station played his music, no matter the genre.
I learned young from this song to never regret leaving the country...I stayed, and I've never been more grateful.
John Denver was a great folk singer.
I came home to WV on leave from the military in 1971 when this song was on the charts. I got to spend 30 days with family after being overseas for 2 years. Hearing this song then broke my heart, especially knowing I had to go back for another year before my enlistment was up. I was raised running those country roads and everything was rapidly changing, experiencing other parts of the world made me miss the country life so much, but I wanted to get back to my new family (those guys I served with) too. This was over 50 years ago, but the memories are still strong.
Such a simple song with deep meanings & feelings.
This song always brings a tear to my eye. As a person who grew up in the country, and now living in the big city, I miss home so much. Hopefully I'll be retiring soon and will move back to the country. There's no better life.
When I was a kid I liked this song...now it makes me sick because I know the truth
What big city u in with the disgusting Biden?
@@michaelasay8587 Baltimore
@@mem1701movies Do elaborate...what's the "truth"?
Well, never listen to "Soulshine" then
John Denver was into several genres - Folk, Country, and Pop. Great rabbit hole to dive into. Check out these songs by John:
"Annie's Song", "Leaving on a Jet Plane", ""Sunshine on my Shoulders", "Rocky Mountain High", and "Fly Away" ( a duet with Olivia Newton John ).
Yes, all of those are great. I particularly like Annie's Song. I really like the interview with Annie after John's death where they play that song. She actually mentions another song as her favorite (not Annie's Song). John Denver was a real all-time great. Gone too soon.
The legacy of John Denver, especially this song, lives on. Check out some youtube videos with West Virginia football fans singing this together at the end of football games. What a songwriter and vocalist John was.
After the "12 season opener against Baylor in particular.....it's awesome!!
This is the Anthem of West Virginia, John Denver performed this song at halftime of a West Virginia University football game back in 1980 and now we play it after every home football game and all 70,000 fans stay and sing along!
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOO..........Mountaineers!!!!
They play this song at stadiums and the whole place will sing along. Saw him in concert and this was his finale. I cried through the whole song.
Anyone away from home and homesick can relate to this song.
Singer songwriters, had a quality that just singers don’t have. The music has a level of heart that you can’t find anywhere else.
Love John Denver!!! There are a few of his songs that make me cry!
I was going through infantry training at Ft. Jackson during the Viet Nam war when this song came out. On some evenings when we weren't training and this song would play on the radio all of us and especially the guys from West Virginia would get very homesick, especially not knowing what the future held for us. And after all these many years I still get that sad and lonely feeling when I hear this song.
I absolutely love this song. I'm from West Virginia and this song is our anthem. Only those who have been here can really appreciate it and it's magnificence!! 😊🤠
Drove through the Appalachians in W. Virginia one time on the way to Myrtle Beach from Canada. Was both amazed by the beauty but nervous driving on those long uphill and downhill stretches. Had never seen a runaway truck ramp before.
Momma Cass, From the "mommas and the poppas" sang.back up and harmonies on many of Johns songs! They were good friends! their voices seemed perfect with each other the way that the sounds blended perfectly when they sang!!! Just hearing them is like your own little slice of heaven, here on earth!. Just listen!!!......
Not Mama Cass. Taffy Nivert sang back up for John in the early days along with her then husband Bill Danoff. Bill, John and Taffy co-wrote this song. John and Mamma Cass did sing together once, live on TV.
The message of the song is that WHEREVER you grew up, City or Country, traveling HOME when you’ve been away is a nostalgic experience. We traveled many times between upstate New York to Indiana when our daughters were very young, and listened to John Denver all the way! Wonderful memories and times with our 8 Track Tape Player in the car, lol! Everything was so simple back then, it was lovely.
John Denver had such a unique voice, another one gone way too soon. My sister-in-law was from WV and loved this song. I think it is the state song of West Virginia. WV is a beautiful state.
In the 70s, John Denver was HUGE! I've been traveling those country roads all my life, and never wanted anything else! Great song! RIP, John!
First time I heard this song I was serving in the US ARMY in 1971 and believe me it touched me immensely
Others have said it, but I'll just echo them. Annie's Song. You have to hear that one. One of the most beautiful songs ever written, sung, and recorded.
You will know this song by heart if you're from WV. It's played at sporting events. My daughter played this in HS band and the crowd sang. ❤️
Bit of history: CCR's "Up Around the Bend" came out in April 1970." JD's "Country Roads" came out in April 1971. During that year, replacements for casualties at Dak To, Khe Sanh and Tet were finishing their one-year tours in Vietnam and coming home. The news from the World was pretty grim, and a lot of us dreamed of going somewhere quiet and remote and never leaving. These two songs were like anthems.
John Denver was big in the 70s - his songs were simple and nice - took me back to my kids days with mine hillbilly family all the great times spent with them during the summer
Such a soul soothing song. This will forever have a special place in my heart. I miss John Denver.
I'm a 58 yo Brit and was bought up as a kid on a diet of John Denver and Simon & Garfunkel,musically speaking, by my dear Mum who had all their albums..the one John Denver song that gets me every time is actually him reading a poem called 'The Box'....can't find any reactions to this on yt but def worth a look..
West Virginia mountain mama here. His lyrics to Country Roads, of my state, spot on., John Denver always captured the true picture in all his work. So much talent and hits.
Yes Yes Yes!!!! ❤️ An American classic for fans of ALL music😊 Makes you feel happy, even if you’re from the city.
So true from NYC and always loved this song, made me visualize and feel like I was there traveling out to the country, great driving song.
My grandmother would sing this when I went to the grocery store with her when I was a little boy. We would take scenic roads to and from. My fondest memories are of a little French woman with a strong accent singing this to me. She’s 95 now, but sadly, doesn’t remember much anymore. But this song really brings back the grandmother I remember best! Thanks for the reaction and sparking those memories again for me!
Please do John Denver “Rocky Mountain High”. Pure serenity and one of his biggest hits.
@Asia and BJ- John Denver was one of the best to ever do it. Great singer and songwriter. Take me home, Country roads is just one of many of his great songs. Two more of his that I recommend you react to is Leaving on a jetplane and Back Home Again.
He has so many great songs! Just take a look at his catalogue. He was played on top 40 radio stations.
Alot of Rock fans loved John....He crossed the line...His stuff was just too Damn good to be denied by even the hardest sternest rockeers...I imagine alot of us tough rockers back in the day secretly going in our room, locking the door and just loving the lift John gave us spiritually...I never locked no doors though...never kept it in the closet...John earned my shout out.
I. Frickin. LOVE THIS SONG. The harmonies are amazing - & actually not typical. So beautiful!
Saw him play in Sydney in 1992. He was mesmerising. A master story-teller. The power of his vocals was incredible and almost every single song seemed to be familiar. It was a magical experience.
He's more of a folk rock/country mix than straight country.
Many great songs-Annie's Song is probably his most famous but Leaving on a Jet Plane (there's a great clip out there of him performing it along with Cass Elliott), Calypso, Rocky Mountain High and Sunshine On My Shoulders are all excellent pieces of music as well. Unfortunately he died in his early 50's when the small plane he was piloting crashed into a lake.
Always loved John Denver. He has so many songs you can just sing along with. This used to be a go to to for Karaoke. Can you just imagine a bunch of drunks in a bar singing this song. He has even been in movies. So sad when he died. Great reaction as always!
This song reminds me of home from yesterday. " His other songs "Annie's Song" I'm Sorry " "Thank God I'm A Country Boy "Leaving On A Jet Plane" are worth a listen. Keep up the excellent work.
Begging to differ, JD is a FOLK SINGER, not Country, not Western. I nominate the next song “Calypso”, JDs nod to undersea icon Jaques Cousteau. He got his break when Peter, Paul, and Mary covered his folk song, Leaning On A Jet Plane, in the late ‘60s
I agree but I do think he did have country influences in some of his music.
he was a folk singer, but he won the ACM for album of the year in 1974. And in 1975 he had the CMA song of the year and was the CMA Entertainer of the Year.
@@ffjsb Except that gender fluidity is not a thing. It's just brainwashing at the hands of the Marxists who run everything. Young people now believe all kinds of horseshit, poor little fuckers...
Leaving on a Jet Plane.
@@MatthewC137 get your hate off here, and take @ffjsb with you. Nasty little bigots.
John was more of a Folk singer. He used Folk harmonies as well.
No he's more country
@@michaelasay8587 he was put into the Country genre but he had a heavy Folk influence. That's where his roots were. He sang in a Folk group. He was in the " new" Country.
Only artist to have two of his songs as official state songs. Country Roads for West Virginia, and Rocky Mountain High for Colorado.
He was born in my home town Roswell, New Mexico.
@@elevenbucks5682 - We lived in Roswell for 5 years when my Father ran a test facility for Borg Warner in the early 70s. It was very cool. I have wanted to get back there for the last 50 years.
Very cool if you live there. It was awesome when we were there. I wish we could have stayed there to be honest.
I am a John Denver fan, but I never knew that he was born there. I guess you learn something new every day. Thanks for that.
@@jimclark1131 I have not lived there since 77 but pass thru on the way to Ruidoso 2 or 3 times a year, it has changed a lot since the ufo thing.
@@elevenbucks5682 - I completely believe it, I am always seeing things about alien parades and alien themed restaurants there now.
That UFO story became big business I guess.
My folks tell me that aliens was not even on the radar when we lived there. (at least not little green ones. lol)
I was really young, so I honestly don't recall that to be honest with you.
My folks recently moved to Deming NM, so I intend to drive there when I go to visit after all of this covid stuff blows over.
@@jimclark1131 I think the ufo story emerged again in 84 ? I had 4 siblings all born in Roswell and I would have been too if we had moved a few months sooner. I lived there when I was young and have great memories. Funny story, there was a business on main street that had an eight foot fiberglass ufo as part of their sign. On a windy day the ufo blew off the sign and they put it behind the biz, a few days later some guys stole it and headed west. A few miles down the highway it flew out of their truck and landed in the ditch and needless to say someone saw it and soon there were dozens of reports that another ufo had landed.
My favorite songewriter. This takes me straight back to the 70s with my tiny record player listening to 45s. He was so incredibly talented in every way. Those harmonies 😍
Got to see him live in the early 80s in what they call the round where he sat in the center of the venue just him and his acoustic guitars I think he had four of them and one was a 12 string and his stage turned around and around so he faced the whole audience again and again as he played and sang it was one of the greatest concerts that I've been to and I've been to a lot of them
he's folk, pop-country. Such a loss. He had so much more to give the world. died to young.
John Denver was an amazing artist!!!
My mom and dad were born and grew up there. As back in the hill as you could get. Still today to get where was mom was born, you have get to a little tiny town, then drive 4 miles or so. Middle of nowhere. On top of a mountain. That's where my mom from. A really beautiful place.
Flat out amazing artist. My dad played him all the time growing up. Everytime I hear this, it reminds me of leaving the Metroplex and heading into East Texas with the trees and lakes
It blows me away that the songs I grew up on, Most music reactors never heard of! Man I must be OOOOOOOLDDD! Lol. Love you 2!!!!
Y’all should watch the crowd sing this at a West Virginia University home game, all those voices singing this song together is one of the best traditions in college sports.
Aaawww… I listened to John Denver a lot as a child in the 70s. Makes me smile.
Not a bad actor as well, he was in " Oh God" with George Burns. Not a bad film.
And the Muppets!
I'm born and raised in Los Angeles, even spent much of my 20's up living in Oakland, I have no connection to West Virginia, the South, the country, nothing like that, but I am a whole John Denver fan since I was a little kid. He was more my mom's time growing up but she always admired his pioneering advocacy for environmental and conservation causes which means she taught my little sister and I to admire him for it too. HIs music has stayed timeless, wholesome, but meaningful because you can hear and tell that he means everything he's singing and wanting people to appreciate being a real deal artist with feelings and appreciating what he appreciates.
John Denver wrote beautiful poetry, put them to beautiful
music and sung them from his heart to yours. Listen to "Perhaps Love" that he did with Placido Domiques. Their different styles blend perfectly.
Asia I'll bet you heard the song in the movie 'Kingsman: The Secret Service The Golden Circle'. I never considered John a Country artist. To me he was a folk singer. I think he started out with the New Christy Minstrels same as Kenny Rogers. I could be wrong. It's been several years but this song was voted the 17th greatest country song of all time by the Country Music Association. To me this was John's greatest hit. I know it's my favorite . John Denver was a great singer/song writer with an awesome voice. Look up his live performance of Thank God I'm A Country Boy. It's s lot of fun.
Go to a WVU football game in Morgantown and listen to the whole stadium singing this song it's so amazing
I am weeping. Thinking of my childhood and this song on the radio, and my young-then mother, who died a year ago at 79. I miss her so much.
🌟 His music is original...☮️R.I.P. J.D.
growing up in the country in North Carolina this was essential listening!
and i am black as black can get who understood the goodness i was surrounded with!
This song brings back so many memories. I grew up in a family of migrant workers. We traveled from state to state picking whatever fruit or vegetable was in season. But we always came back home to Louisiana. As we got closer and closer to home, my sister, brother and I would sing this song, replacing West Virginia with Louisiana. We sang until we crossed the Louisiana state line.
This song is a warm hug! Such an amazing talent taken too soon - Love John Denver:)
its also part of the Forever Country song by all of the artist as a mix with i will always love you and the Willie Nelson song
Denver is one of only two men to have written and performed two songs that were adopted as the "State Songs" for two different songs. This one for West Virginia, and "Rocky Mountain High" for Colorado
The other is Stephen Foster, with "Swanee River" for Florida and "My Old Kentucky Home" for (obviously) Kentucky
I appreciate that you both are open to listening to different genres of music....it shows your maturity and humbleness....much respect to the two of you!...👌👍💥
He’s also an actor back in his day. He was in OH GOD! with George Burns back the late 70’s sadly he passed away in I think a glider accident but his great voice lives on!😎
It was a powered aircraft, but it was a light kit plane.
@@dgpatter thanks for the info!
My husband and I lived in TX while he got his Masters and I was so homesick. This song was a great comfort to me; we did go back home to WV and the song still means a lot to me. 😊❤️❤️
I just checked out the top 40 radio charts for August 1971 when this song peaked at #2... just behind the Bee Gees, with stars like Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, Creedence Clearwater Revival... and Donnie Osmond in the Top Ten. We listened to anything back then as long it was good, the genre didn't matter.
Denver is West Virginia’s favorite adopted citizen. We sing it at the end of a home victory at WVU games.
Good stuff
I have found a new appreciation for folk music as I age. I love all the 60's and 70's vibe. So chill.
See also: 2 of his band were half of the Starland Vocal Band! "Afternoon Delight", anyone??!?
I love his voice so much.
This song was a standard for long drives in the 70s. We'd belt it out a cappella. The drive from NYC to Vermont meant at least 3 or 4 times through.
University of West Virginia coming out song. 80k singing the team out on the field.
Aurora Boralis by CW McCall. That's a song for camping
Crossed over to every format of radio stations. This was a monster hit. "Annie's Song" is so sweet! Nice reaction.
They still playing this song after all these years in stadiums and all over the radio:)
For what he did, no one did it better. What a gift. Enjoy the journey!
Song has depth that not everyone gets. My late father grew up in WV, beautiful but dirt-poor, cruelly devastated by coal mining. Underlying it all is a hard-used mother ("Miner's lady") in a place where the water was polluted yellow from coal mining ("stranger to blue water"). One can try to return, hoping today is not too late.
This song and Rocky Mountain High are synonymous with John Denver. He’s sorely missed. Now you should react to Home Frees version of this classic. You’ll be blown away. They did JD proud.
When I traveled through West Virginia about ten years ago, this song constantly ran through my mind. Beautiful place 🎉
“Leavin on a Jet Plane”, John Denver with Mama Cass Elliot. Great song
He didn’t just pause it right before “West Virginia” was sung. 😂
If you've ever been to a wedding in WV, you've heard this song, at least 3 times, and every drunk person (okay, every person) singing along.
And a WVU game
I used to listen to John Denver all the time growing up. Such a soothing voice.
This one brings back some good childhood memories. John Denver joined my family for an evening meal at our home back in the 80's, introduced through a mutual friend. A peaceful soul who left us too early.
The phenomenal a cappella group Home Free created an wonderful cover of this classic.
Love some John Denver, his songs bring back such great memories of summers at our family cabin by the fire singing ❤ Please react to Thank God I'm a country boy & Leaving on a jet plane. Love you guys
If you watch any West Virginia Football games or basketball games they almost always play it somewhere in the middle or at the beginning of them and the entire crowd sings
😃 LETS GO!!!
This song is played at the end of every WVU football and basketball game in Morgantown, West Virginia.
This song is so special to me.
John Denver was one of those incredible talents who wrote songs that might be considered in the country music genre, and then would turn around and write songs that were very POP or Progressive .the guy has a smooth as silk voice. By the way Asia...you hit the nail right on the head with your feelings on the song.. that's exactly what he was going for . Nothing deep , just soothing , remembering the old homestead etc..
Gorgeous state- definitely deserves its own wonderful song.
Just a great song from back in the day...He had a lot of great songs...very talented artist