Describing his music as Folk is perfect. I'm glad to see a new generation discover what I grew up with. I was in HS when this man was popular. He was a treasure!
"Shadows from the starlight are softer than a lullaby". No one can write these kinds of lyrics anymore. John could make you see and feel things. Sit back with you eyes closed and listen again.
To me, John Denver, James Taylor, Carole King, Dan Fogelberg, Harry Chapin and many others were the “70s”, some of the best music ever! John Denver has so many great albums! You should take a deep dive! I got to see him in concert in 1977 and it was great!
John was an American folk icon! Not only was he the 38th best- selling music artist of all, he was a leading advocate for environmental causes in the 70s and also portrayed that love of the wilderness and country through his music. He was a huge fan of flying, too. Which caused him an early demise in 1997, as he crashed in his small experimental plane. He was admired all around the world. His song 'The Wings that Fly Us Home' is my favorite, as it's very soulful, prophetic, and in fact played at his funeral.
There was a group called the Parents Music Resource Council that went after Metal & Rock artists, calling them before Congress to talk about labeling music withmaturw themes. John Denver was an outspoken advocate for free expression for artists. You can probably find his testimony to Congress online.
John Denver was one of our heroes in the 1970's. We were fighting in VietNam, a country that we could barely find on the map. Our boyfriends, uncles, and husbands were dying there weekly by the 100's. John Denver and Simon and Garfunkel were our "safe place" to retreat to at night and get away from all the horror we were experiencing. Some people stopped playing this song because Congress thought he was contributing to "drugs" when he talked about getting "high." He testified before Congress about the song, stating it was the "high" of being in the mountains and touching nature......Congress dropped it after that.
Gordon Lightfoot is a good comparison. Both have roots in folk. I saw John Denver in 1986 at the first Farm Aid concert in Champaign, Illinois. He was the only artist that got EVERYONE turned around in the stadium to pay attention & watch the stage. He appealed to all generations. I had "Annies Song" played at my 1984 wedding & hope you can react to that one! P.S.: John Denver is one of the reasons you cant say the BeeGees dominated the 70s as you speculated in the latest BeeGees reactions. You had John Denver, Stevie Wonder, Chicago, Elton John, the Eagles, the Grateful Dead, Lynard Skynard, Crosby, Nash Still & Young, the Carpenters, Earth Wind & Fire, the Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Genesis. & it goes on & on. So the BeeGees dominated Disco for a few years, but not the 70s. The reason they are not as touted as the Beatles is what Barry Gibb has himself said: the Beatles changed popular music and popular culture in such a huge way.🎉
If I remember correctly, he got inspiration for this song while camping with friends in the mountains, watching the Perseid Meteor Shower. And, yes, they were high. The line about losing a friend but keeping the memory is about a friend of his who borrowed his motorcycle and ended up dying in a crash. "He climbed cathedral mountains and saw silver clouds below" is just one of the great lines in this song. You won't find many "artists" today who can write songs like this anymore. His song, "Annie's Song" was written in 10 minutes on a ski lift and is one of the most beautiful love songs ever written. His song, that he co-wrote, "Country Roads" was selected along with Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" and Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again", were selected to be combined in "Forever Country: Artists of Then, Now, and Forever" to honor the CMT awards 50th anniversary. That video is a must watch.
John was definitely a folk singer. And in fact he did have the perfect pitch you mentioned. Those of us who enjoyed his music were devastated when he died in that plane crash. Thanks for reacting to his music. I think you would love Take Me Home, Country Roads.
I love how intently and purposely you listen to the songs you choose, and how open you are to hearing such a wide range of artists…It’s just really fun for me to “re”discover songs with you. And you saying John Denver’s songwriting reminds you of Gordon Lightfoot is very high praise indeed for sure, and rightly so!❤
John Denver's songs will forever be some of my favorites. He was an extraordinary singer, lyricist and guitar player. If you get a chance, look up his TV specials. It was the most wholesome show with some great musical guests.
Perhaps because I am an artist and a writer with literally zero musical talent, I am more caught up in the poetry of the lyrics. "He was born in the summer of his 27th year; coming home to a place he'd never been before" What I wouldn't give to be able to write a novel that says so much, so concisely.
Oh yeah, John Denver is a legend! I had all his albums and his picture in my locker at school. Gifted, talented, humble, and all his songs are amazing to feel. Perfect pitch, so easy on the ears, and his acoustic... all perfect ❤ Thank you for recognizing he's not country!! He's folk, pop, even bluegrass. Hey for those energy surges you get, search RUclips for energy clearing guided meditations, grounding meditations, reprogramming while you sleep audios. ❤ Thanks for an awesome reaction!! Love it! Oh and check out The Eagle and the Hawk, and every song from the album An Evening Wiith John Denver. He was perfect live too!
John was an alumni at the high school I attended in 10 & 11th grade in Ft. Worth. He was suppised to come and speak to the choir and drama classes one of those years but had a scheduling conflict. John Denver was pretty much played on every radio station in the 70's no matter what genre of music they typically played. You could turn on a country station, an oldies (50's & 60's) station or a heavy metal station and not be surprised to hear one of his songs playing.
One of the great voices and a great communicator through his lyrics. Have to admit that I am sometimes a bit shocked when such an amazing American artist is not known to everyone.
John Denver was a great singer-songwriter & actor. He had so many hits in the 70's-80's. Some of his signature songs were "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Sunshine On My Shoulders", "Annie's Song", "Calypso", "Thank God I'm A Country Boy", "Poems, Prayers & Promises" etc. John appeared in several films & television specials during the 70's-80's including the 1977 hit "Oh, God!" in which he starred alongside George Burns.
Great comments... his acoustic playing is as good as you will hear. John Denver musicianship is at the very highest level. There is a duet on youtube with John Denver and Johnny Cash and you can see Johnny Cash's admiration for John Denver's natural innate feel for every note and string. Exceptional talent and a man of great soulful beauty. None better than Mr Denver at this in taking your soul to a beautiful serene place
John did several appearances on Sesame Street. All his music is totally "family friendly." Which is a reason John was invited on to SS. He had little songs about letters, numbers, and nature that guest kids would sing along with... sometimes. Small kids being small kids. John was hard for us teens to label back then also. A number of his 'Country-crossover' stuff we label as "Rock-A-Billy'. Several artist or albums fit in that eclectic grouping. A voice, a writer, and a soul gone too soon. I often listen to some JD. Any time I feel the need for a "feel good" pick me up!
John is also doing the harmonies in the background. One talented and driven man. His paternal grandfather arrived in USA when he was about 18 ish, from Russia. They were part of the German migration to Russia.
John Denver's real name was Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. . He was a German of Russian decent. Born in New Mexico, his father was a United States Army Air Forces pilot stationed at Roswell Army Air Field.
You must watch "For You" live performance from the Wildlife Concert. Most AMAZING performance ever... BTW... You just fell down the John Denver rabbit hole lol *Keep in mind, this was live and NO AUTO TUNE
When I was younger, I didn’t appreciate him, and I’ve come to realize I was wrong in my estimation of the singing and music! He also has a more powerful voice in some of his songs than you would expect
John Denver was one of the first celebrity environmentalists. He cared so much for nature. Personally, I think he's single handedly responsible for people moving to Colorado. His song "Calypso" was a salute to Jacques Cousteau and his ship Calypso which traveled the oceans of the world. His TV show is here on RUclips "The Undersea World Of Jacques Cousteau". John Denver was a folk singer. This song came out 2 years after my parents moved from Colorado to Baltimore. I missed it. Then Colorado got crowded, probably the reason I now live in Montana. His song "Wild Montana Skies" is one of my favorites.
Man, you've GOT to hear his huge huge hit Take Me Home Country Roads. There was a long time there where all anybody had to do was start singing a couple bars from that and everybody would join in. I actually got to spend part of an evening with him around a campfire when he was the surprise guest at the end of a Boy Scout camping experience in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. It was so awesome and he was so nice, and he played his acoustic guitar and sang and we would all sing along with him, and I can still see the the light from the campfire flickering in his glasses as he played and sang.
Yes!!! ❤ I grew up in Northern California listening to John Denver in my Dad’s truck - 🛻 All of us singing with his 8 track tape. Circa 1977. Great memories. So glad you shared this and liked it as much as we did/do. Annie’s Song and Calypso are my favorites. He was on the Muppets Show…a ton, too…and on Sonny and Cher’s show, Laugh-In, etc. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. Yes on the Gordon Lightfoot comparison. You have a keen ear! Hello from a San Jose, CA girl living in gold country. (Sonora, CA)
Literally you can get the essential John Denver greatest hits and pick one of the 2 cds or both and all 36 songs are fire and you wouldn’t regret it. Or go whole hog he’s got hundreds of songs
I second the nomination for the songs others have recommended. But it would be great if you could do the live versions from the Wildlife Concert, to see him and get the full impression of what a lovely man he is, as well as musician.
I was a fan of Denver's from day 1. Saw him live in the early 70s. I do think he innocently and earnestly meant for the 'everyone is high.....' to be left open for interpretation. Don't doubt for a minute he'd experienced all the possible meanings, separately and simultanously. This song has made me think about moving to Colorado (and I'm from the Pacific Northwest!) for the past 50 years. This is a love song to his adopted home.
One of the best known singer songwriter of all time. American to the corp. AN ARMY brat that traveled with his military family all over. So many great all time tunes including zthe Eagle and The Hawk and Looking For Space, to go along with the others that you read about!
John Denver got his start as a folk singer. When the leader of the popular folk group The Chad Mitchell Trio dropped out, John took his place, and they recorded as The Mitchell Trio. Just for fun, you should watch the clip of them singing "Your Friendly Liberal Neighborhood KKK" back in 1966.
Country Roads is a song I expect you will say "I've heard this!" because the chorus is massively famous it gets played at football games all the time. It's a masterpiece; sentimental, evocative, emotional. Sunshine on my Shoulders is just pure beauty and emotion. Annie's Song is literally the most romantic song written the past 60 years -- he had a fight with his wife and stalked out and returned hours later with that song for her. You're right his speaking voice was a lot like his singing voice. He came across as a deep, caring human.
Let me just say that if you get a chance to go camping out in the back woods and mountains of Colorado you should do it. And yes, sitting around the campfire getting high with your friends out in the mountains is pretty great.
JOHN WAS MY FAVORITE OF ALL TIME- TO GET THE BEST ENJOYMENT OF JOHN - HEAR HIS "WILDLIFE CONCERT A LIVE PROFORMANCE - JUST GREAT AND FULL OF HIS HITS FROM THE BEGINNING TO END!
He was as perfect in concert as on his records. Great artist live and he added humor and great feeling to shows. Huge loss. I think I would categorize him as folk/country. Or maybe just his own kind of music.
I think auto pilot happens to us all at times. I love John Denver. That music is from my era and I love this song! I grew up in the New Mexico Rocky Mountains and spent half my life there, and now I've spent the other half of my life in the Alberta Rockies in Canada. I love the Rocky Mountains. John Denver moved to Colorado and fell in love with the Rocky Mountains and hence the song. He loved the nature and freedom of living in those mountains away from the big cities. It's worth watching his biographical documentary here on YT. Thanks for another great reaction video!
His style is more Folk /Rock / Adult contemporary/ Pop/ maybe some Country too. Basically his own style. Great songs Take Me Home Country Road is another Great Song.
❤ I love this! John Denver was awesome For the love of all that is wholesome and good in the world, please, PLEASE, react to "Grandma's Feather Bed"....on The Muppet Show!!
John Denver had the gift of taking you with him when he sang. 'He lost his friend but kept the memory '. A friend asked to borrow his motorcycle for a ride in the mountains, crashed and died. But John kept the memory of his friend. Annie's Song is the best love song ever written, in my opinion, and was the song I walked down the aisle to in 1975. ❤
Colorado has the highest average altitude of any of the states and we have the most mountains over 14,000 feet as well. Hence Rocky Mountain High. Oh and the altitude can impact you by making you drunk faster.
My favorite song by John is Thank God I'm A Country Boy from 1975 because it's fast and great and it's the only fast song by him that I've heard. Another song by him that's good is Take Me Home Country Road that became the official state song for West Virginia. He had a big hit called Annie's Song that was about his wife but I don't like that one much because it's real slow.
I was given the album, "Rocky Mountain High" by my grandparents on my 7th or 8th birthday. Before then, I didn't listen to music. I could care less about it. Along comes John Denver, and I wore that record plumb out. I still kick myself in the butt for not seeing him in concert. I think that many people don't really know how to classify him. His style is uniquely John Denver. IF you want to watch an exposition on playing a 12 string, watch him do "Bells or Rhymney" in concert, in the UK
He's got a song called star wood and Aspen. So now, when you tell me that now I know why cause he lived there. Some. People think his music is in hip-hop. That's just. What it is.
In answer to queries about John Denver's ethnicity and descent, John, real name Henry John Deutschendorf, was the son of a United States Air Force pilot from Oklahoma. The family was of a German background, though with a twist. The Deutschendorf family migrated to the United States, but not from Germany. In fact they were Volga Germans from Russia who had lived along the River Volga for centuries Being the first born son of an airforce officer, John's childhood was one of perpetual movement from base to base all over the southern states, and even once to Japan. He was always trying to make new friendships in one school after another, only to move on and start the whole process all over agan. He therefore had a lonely childhood and had great difficulty in establishing lasting friendships. Being something of a loner he would find himself more at home in nature, exploring forests and mountains, and from that he developed a love for environmental causes that stayed with him for the rest of his life. Everything changed for John when he was about 12 years old when his maternal grandmother presented him with her life-long possession of a 1912 Gibson F hole guitar. John took music lessons and began to compose songs and one day he took his precious guitar to school, and lo and behold that opened doors for him as kids who previously ignored him were fascinated by his ability to sing and play guitar. Rocky Mountain High is a largely autobiographical song full of references to events that shaped his life. It opens with John saying how he found Colorado when he was 27 years old and immediately fell in love with the place and determined that he wanted to live there for the rest of his life. Another line tell of the time that he and some friends were camping in the Rockies at the time of the Perseid meteor shower, they saw fire in the sky. Rocky Mountain High is now a state song for Colorado and Take Me Home, Country Roads is the same for West Virginia, which makes John the only artist from the twentieth century to be honoured with two state songs, and only the second artist in history to be so honoured. Only Steven Foster in the 19th century shares that honour.
Actually, while he may have explained away the drug reference, he definitely enjoyed his pot now and then. "Rocky Mountain High" doesn't mean high on drugs... but "everybody's high" absolutely does. IMHO. As a non-pot smoking John Denver fanatic and lover of the Rocky Mountains, I love the song and that line. Love your reaction. I'm subscribing.
As a senior in high school in 1979, it wasnt "cool" to like John Denver, i didnt care i played his songs at all my parties, got made fun of, i'll bet all my friends from then are still listening to his songs :)
Dang. I just time travelled back to 9th grade! the very first music album (not CD, but vinyl) that I purchased with money that I earned myself, was a John Denver album.
My very first album was John Denver's Greatest Hits. He had such a unique, pure voice. Yes, he is harmonizing with himself on this one. Listen to "Leaving on a Jet Plane" with Cass Elliott from the Mamas and the Papas. He sounds pretty much the same in his live performances as he did on his recordings.
When you get completely away from people and the city and go by yourself or with your soul mate. And you can stand before God and all that he has created.. who needs drugs? It wasn't about our friend Mary Jane. But she is nice to take along.
Another great John Denver videos is Calypso which was developed from the environmentalist Jacque Cousteau's wildlife videos taken during Cousteau's Calypso expeditions.
A Rocky Mountain high has nothing to do with drugs. It's the rush of pure joy you feel just from getting in touch with nature.
Also,altitude sickness.
Yeah, and friends ‘round the campfire and everybody getting high.
LOL - Yeah drugs and John Denver just doesn't compute!
@@Raggmopp-xl7yfHe was actually busted for possession of hashish a couple of times.
I think he intended a double entendre.
“He was born in the summer of his 27th year… coming home to a place he’d never been before”
Lyrical GOLD.
Describing his music as Folk is perfect. I'm glad to see a new generation discover what I grew up with. I was in HS when this man was popular. He was a treasure!
If all John Denver ever did were the first few bars of Country Roads and Rocky Mountain High he would still be a legend.
Remember "Grandma's Feather Bed"? So sweet, fun & innocent!
"Shadows from the starlight are softer than a lullaby". No one can write these kinds of lyrics anymore. John could make you see and feel things. Sit back with you eyes closed and listen again.
To me, John Denver, James Taylor, Carole King, Dan Fogelberg, Harry Chapin and many others were the “70s”, some of the best music ever! John Denver has so many great albums! You should take a deep dive! I got to see him in concert in 1977 and it was great!
John was an American folk icon! Not only was he the 38th best- selling music artist of all, he was a leading advocate for environmental causes in the 70s and also portrayed that love of the wilderness and country through his music. He was a huge fan of flying, too. Which caused him an early demise in 1997, as he crashed in his small experimental plane. He was admired all around the world. His song 'The Wings that Fly Us Home' is my favorite, as it's very soulful, prophetic, and in fact played at his funeral.
If nature had a singing career. It would be John Denver. ❤
Someone once asked what genre his music was, and the answer was merely John Denver music…a genre of it’s own ❤️
Everything he sang was positive. Great times I grew up in. Miss them days
One of the greatest lines of all time in a song, IMHO, "Talk to God and listen to the casual reply".
There was a group called the Parents Music Resource Council that went after Metal & Rock artists, calling them before Congress to talk about labeling music withmaturw themes. John Denver was an outspoken advocate for free expression for artists. You can probably find his testimony to Congress online.
God Bless you, John Denver. For every single note of every single song.
John Denver was one of our heroes in the 1970's. We were fighting in VietNam, a country that we could barely find on the map. Our boyfriends, uncles, and husbands were dying there weekly by the 100's. John Denver and Simon and Garfunkel were our "safe place" to retreat to at night and get away from all the horror we were experiencing. Some people stopped playing this song because Congress thought he was contributing to "drugs" when he talked about getting "high." He testified before Congress about the song, stating it was the "high" of being in the mountains and touching nature......Congress dropped it after that.
Gordon Lightfoot is a good comparison. Both have roots in folk. I saw John Denver in 1986 at the first Farm Aid concert in Champaign, Illinois. He was the only artist that got EVERYONE turned around in the stadium to pay attention & watch the stage. He appealed to all generations. I had "Annies Song" played at my 1984 wedding & hope you can react to that one!
P.S.: John Denver is one of the reasons you cant say the BeeGees dominated the 70s as you speculated in the latest BeeGees reactions. You had John Denver, Stevie Wonder, Chicago, Elton John, the Eagles, the Grateful Dead, Lynard Skynard, Crosby, Nash Still & Young, the Carpenters, Earth Wind & Fire, the Doobie Brothers, Steely Dan, Genesis. & it goes on & on. So the BeeGees dominated Disco for a few years, but not the 70s. The reason they are not as touted as the Beatles is what Barry Gibb has himself said: the Beatles changed popular music and popular culture in such a huge way.🎉
If I remember correctly, he got inspiration for this song while camping with friends in the mountains, watching the Perseid Meteor Shower. And, yes, they were high. The line about losing a friend but keeping the memory is about a friend of his who borrowed his motorcycle and ended up dying in a crash. "He climbed cathedral mountains and saw silver clouds below" is just one of the great lines in this song. You won't find many "artists" today who can write songs like this anymore. His song, "Annie's Song" was written in 10 minutes on a ski lift and is one of the most beautiful love songs ever written. His song, that he co-wrote, "Country Roads" was selected along with Dolly Parton's "I Will Always Love You" and Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again", were selected to be combined in "Forever Country: Artists of Then, Now, and Forever" to honor the CMT awards 50th anniversary. That video is a must watch.
John was definitely a folk singer. And in fact he did have the perfect pitch you mentioned. Those of us who enjoyed his music were devastated when he died in that plane crash. Thanks for reacting to his music. I think you would love Take Me Home, Country Roads.
I love how intently and purposely you listen to the songs you choose, and how open you are to hearing such a wide range of artists…It’s just really fun for me to “re”discover songs with you.
And you saying John Denver’s songwriting reminds you of Gordon Lightfoot is very high praise indeed for sure, and rightly so!❤
"Talk to God and listen to the casual reply". Just awesome.
This is Colorado's national anthem.....they play it at every football game in Colorado !
John Denver's songs will forever be some of my favorites. He was an extraordinary singer, lyricist and guitar player.
If you get a chance, look up his TV specials. It was the most wholesome show with some great musical guests.
Perhaps because I am an artist and a writer with literally zero musical talent, I am more caught up in the poetry of the lyrics. "He was born in the summer of his 27th year; coming home to a place he'd never been before" What I wouldn't give to be able to write a novel that says so much, so concisely.
Oh yeah, John Denver is a legend! I had all his albums and his picture in my locker at school. Gifted, talented, humble, and all his songs are amazing to feel. Perfect pitch, so easy on the ears, and his acoustic... all perfect ❤ Thank you for recognizing he's not country!! He's folk, pop, even bluegrass. Hey for those energy surges you get, search RUclips for energy clearing guided meditations, grounding meditations, reprogramming while you sleep audios. ❤ Thanks for an awesome reaction!! Love it! Oh and check out The Eagle and the Hawk, and every song from the album An Evening Wiith John Denver. He was perfect live too!
For a true celebration of the mountains that John Denver loved, listen to "The Eagle and The Hawk." You will feel the wind.
Be all that you can be, not what you are
I love that song!💖💖💖
The Eagle and the Hawk, one of my Favorites by John Denver!
Was my mom's favorite singer, why i know his music
John was an alumni at the high school I attended in 10 & 11th grade in Ft. Worth. He was suppised to come and speak to the choir and drama classes one of those years but had a scheduling conflict.
John Denver was pretty much played on every radio station in the 70's no matter what genre of music they typically played. You could turn on a country station, an oldies (50's & 60's) station or a heavy metal station and not be surprised to hear one of his songs playing.
John Denver was born in New Mexico, when his father was stationed here while in the Military.
One of the great voices and a great communicator through his lyrics. Have to admit that I am sometimes a bit shocked when such an amazing American artist is not known to everyone.
Folk, Pop, and country were his genres. He crossed over.
John Denver was a great singer-songwriter & actor. He had so many hits in the 70's-80's. Some of his signature songs were "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Sunshine On My Shoulders", "Annie's Song", "Calypso", "Thank God I'm A Country Boy", "Poems, Prayers & Promises" etc. John appeared in several films & television specials during the 70's-80's including the 1977 hit "Oh, God!" in which he starred alongside George Burns.
I'm an old progressive rock/jazz fusion snob, but this is my favorite song ever. Thanks for playing this.
Great comments... his acoustic playing is as good as you will hear. John Denver musicianship is at the very highest level. There is a duet on youtube with John Denver and Johnny Cash and you can see Johnny Cash's admiration for John Denver's natural innate feel for every note and string. Exceptional talent and a man of great soulful beauty. None better than Mr Denver at this in taking your soul to a beautiful serene place
You heard it right away-strong guitarist, pitch perfect voice.
John did several appearances on Sesame Street. All his music is totally "family friendly." Which is a reason John was invited on to SS.
He had little songs about letters, numbers, and nature that guest kids would sing along with... sometimes. Small kids being small kids.
John was hard for us teens to label back then also. A number of his 'Country-crossover' stuff we label as "Rock-A-Billy'. Several artist or albums fit in that eclectic grouping.
A voice, a writer, and a soul gone too soon. I often listen to some JD. Any time I feel the need for a "feel good" pick me up!
John is also doing the harmonies in the background. One talented and driven man. His paternal grandfather arrived in USA when he was about 18 ish, from Russia. They were part of the German migration to Russia.
His "Annie's Song" is one of the most beautiful romantic songs. I hope you listen to it.
"Annie's Song" and "Take Me Home" are my suggestions.
SUNSHINE ON MY SHOULDERS!!❤❤❤
Folk rock. Easy listening. Soft rock.
John's genre was.. Excellence!
One of my favorite videos is John Denver’s with the Muppets. grandmas’s feather bed. Lighthearted and fun side of his personality.
John Denver's real name was Henry John Deutschendorf Jr. . He was a German of Russian decent. Born in New Mexico, his father was a United States Army Air Forces pilot stationed at Roswell Army Air Field.
Oh no = Roswell is where aliens stop for gas❤
You need to react to Take Me Home Country Roads and Sunshine on My Shoulders!
It's been said that his voice was a song's best friend!
Check out John D with Mama Cass---"leaving on a jet plane" live version is awesome, the other of my favorite is "Annies song" he wrote for his wife...
Yes indeed been years getting the tape out now thanks!
Republicans they haven't changed 🙄 this was 30 plus years ago ffs and we are still dealing with theyre shit.
It wasn't the fcc it was republican politicians
Was indeed him singing backups in part at least.
*A legend from my youth. Annie's Song is truly one of the most beautiful love songs from the era. Please check it out.*
You must watch "For You" live performance from the Wildlife Concert. Most AMAZING performance ever...
BTW... You just fell down the John Denver rabbit hole lol
*Keep in mind, this was live and NO AUTO TUNE
When I was younger, I didn’t appreciate him, and I’ve come to realize I was wrong in my estimation of the singing and music! He also has a more powerful voice in some of his songs than you would expect
John Denver was one of the first celebrity environmentalists. He cared so much for nature. Personally, I think he's single handedly responsible for people moving to Colorado. His song "Calypso" was a salute to Jacques Cousteau and his ship Calypso which traveled the oceans of the world. His TV show is here on RUclips "The Undersea World Of Jacques Cousteau". John Denver was a folk singer. This song came out 2 years after my parents moved from Colorado to Baltimore. I missed it. Then Colorado got crowded, probably the reason I now live in Montana. His song "Wild Montana Skies" is one of my favorites.
"Calypso" yes indeed! Such a fantastic song!!
Mr. Denver had great apriciation for Gods creatures and creation.
Man, you've GOT to hear his huge huge hit Take Me Home Country Roads. There was a long time there where all anybody had to do was start singing a couple bars from that and everybody would join in.
I actually got to spend part of an evening with him around a campfire when he was the surprise guest at the end of a Boy Scout camping experience in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. It was so awesome and he was so nice, and he played his acoustic guitar and sang and we would all sing along with him, and I can still see the the light from the campfire flickering in his glasses as he played and sang.
His music is so PURE, just like the stories he tells.
This is an artist worth the rabbit hole. He is an American treasure and the world agrees. And do watch the movie Oh God.
Yes!!! ❤ I grew up in Northern California listening to John Denver in my Dad’s truck - 🛻
All of us singing with his 8 track tape. Circa 1977. Great memories. So glad you shared this and liked it as much as we did/do. Annie’s Song and Calypso are my favorites. He was on the Muppets Show…a ton, too…and on Sonny and Cher’s show, Laugh-In, etc. Thanks for the walk down memory lane. Yes on the Gordon Lightfoot comparison. You have a keen ear! Hello from a San Jose, CA girl living in gold country. (Sonora, CA)
Literally you can get the essential John Denver greatest hits and pick one of the 2 cds or both and all 36 songs are fire and you wouldn’t regret it. Or go whole hog he’s got hundreds of songs
I heard this song a thousand times. Never really played attention to it.
Finally one time I sat down and actually *listened* to it.
OMG
🤯
He has a comforting voice!
I second the nomination for the songs others have recommended. But it would be great if you could do the live versions from the Wildlife Concert, to see him and get the full impression of what a lovely man he is, as well as musician.
My fave John Denver song! dbl ♥ Neat fact - Denver actually has 2 state songs (Colorado & West Virginia) 🤔
I was a fan of Denver's from day 1. Saw him live in the early 70s. I do think he innocently and earnestly meant for the 'everyone is high.....' to be left open for interpretation. Don't doubt for a minute he'd experienced all the possible meanings, separately and simultanously. This song has made me think about moving to Colorado (and I'm from the Pacific Northwest!) for the past 50 years. This is a love song to his adopted home.
Favorite John Denver songs….Hey It’s Good To Be Back Home Again, Country Roads, plus many more.
One of the best known singer songwriter of all time. American to the corp. AN ARMY brat that traveled with his military family all over. So many great all time tunes including zthe Eagle and The Hawk and Looking For Space, to go along with the others that you read about!
John was the troubador of my generation! 💖
John Denver got his start as a folk singer. When the leader of the popular folk group The Chad Mitchell Trio dropped out, John took his place, and they recorded as The Mitchell Trio. Just for fun, you should watch the clip of them singing "Your Friendly Liberal Neighborhood KKK" back in 1966.
Back then this was a brave attack against the racists ruclips.net/video/J3TcUA5jE6o/видео.htmlsi=v3gzlamjQHGlbYM7
Everyone has those funks…luckily they go away for most people.
He had a beautiful voice. It is folk but he did country folk too.
John Denver was of German heratige. Miss him a ton. Love your reactions.❤
Country Roads is a song I expect you will say "I've heard this!" because the chorus is massively famous it gets played at football games all the time. It's a masterpiece; sentimental, evocative, emotional. Sunshine on my Shoulders is just pure beauty and emotion. Annie's Song is literally the most romantic song written the past 60 years -- he had a fight with his wife and stalked out and returned hours later with that song for her. You're right his speaking voice was a lot like his singing voice. He came across as a deep, caring human.
Let me just say that if you get a chance to go camping out in the back woods and mountains of Colorado you should do it.
And yes, sitting around the campfire getting high with your friends out in the mountains is pretty great.
JOHN WAS MY FAVORITE OF ALL TIME- TO GET THE BEST ENJOYMENT OF JOHN - HEAR HIS "WILDLIFE CONCERT A LIVE PROFORMANCE - JUST GREAT AND FULL OF HIS HITS FROM THE BEGINNING TO END!
He was as perfect in concert as on his records. Great artist live and he added humor and great feeling to shows. Huge loss.
I think I would categorize him as folk/country. Or maybe just his own kind of music.
I think auto pilot happens to us all at times. I love John Denver. That music is from my era and I love this song! I grew up in the New Mexico Rocky Mountains and spent half my life there, and now I've spent the other half of my life in the Alberta Rockies in Canada. I love the Rocky Mountains. John Denver moved to Colorado and fell in love with the Rocky Mountains and hence the song. He loved the nature and freedom of living in those mountains away from the big cities. It's worth watching his biographical documentary here on YT. Thanks for another great reaction video!
As a young adult driving in the car, you have to turn up the volume up a notched and close the window. 😍
His style is more Folk /Rock / Adult contemporary/ Pop/ maybe some Country too. Basically his own style. Great songs Take Me Home Country Road is another Great Song.
Please listen to more John Denver. There are no bad songs by John Denver. "Take Me Home, Country Roads" should be your next one.
❤ I love this! John Denver was awesome
For the love of all that is wholesome and good in the world, please, PLEASE, react to "Grandma's Feather Bed"....on The Muppet Show!!
It's one of the very first LP record albums I owned and his music featured in my 1982 wedding
John Denver had the gift of taking you with him when he sang. 'He lost his friend but kept the memory '. A friend asked to borrow his motorcycle for a ride in the mountains, crashed and died. But John kept the memory of his friend.
Annie's Song is the best love song ever written, in my opinion, and was the song I walked down the aisle to in 1975. ❤
Colorado has the highest average altitude of any of the states and we have the most mountains over 14,000 feet as well. Hence Rocky Mountain High. Oh and the altitude can impact you by making you drunk faster.
He has a wonderful catalogue. Calypso, Thank God I’m a Country Boy, Leaving On a Jet Plane, Annie’s Song, and many more
My dad's truck had an 8-track in it and I think the only cartridge he had was a John Denver greatest hits album 😂
My favorite song by John is Thank God I'm A Country Boy from 1975 because it's fast and great and it's the only fast song by him that I've heard. Another song by him that's good is Take Me Home Country Road that became the official state song for West Virginia. He had a big hit called Annie's Song that was about his wife but I don't like that one much because it's real slow.
You read off a list of his most popular songs. You can listen to any of them and you'll be happy. My favorite is Annie's Song.
He explores the boundry tween folk and country with a dollop of pop music .had more to give but sadly taken early.
I was given the album, "Rocky Mountain High" by my grandparents on my 7th or 8th birthday. Before then, I didn't listen to music. I could care less about it. Along comes John Denver, and I wore that record plumb out. I still kick myself in the butt for not seeing him in concert. I think that many people don't really know how to classify him. His style is uniquely John Denver.
IF you want to watch an exposition on playing a 12 string, watch him do "Bells or Rhymney" in concert, in the UK
He was a test pilot for small planes. John and Mamma Cass did a song or two together. They are up on YT to react to.
When I feel checked out, it usually means I need to spend some quiet time checking in with myself. Take care of yourself.
He's got a song called star wood and Aspen. So now, when you tell me that now I know why cause he lived there. Some.
People think his music is in hip-hop. That's just.
What it is.
John plays a 12 string guitar quite often on his songs 💙👵🏼✌🏼
You definitely need to go down the Denver rabbit hole! I suggest "Annie's Song", "Sunshine on my Shoulders" or ""Take me home Country Roads" next.
In answer to queries about John Denver's ethnicity and descent, John, real name Henry John Deutschendorf, was the son of a United States Air Force pilot from Oklahoma. The family was of a German background, though with a twist. The Deutschendorf family migrated to the United States, but not from Germany. In fact they were Volga Germans from Russia who had lived along the River Volga for centuries
Being the first born son of an airforce officer, John's childhood was one of perpetual movement from base to base all over the southern states, and even once to Japan. He was always trying to make new friendships in one school after another, only to move on and start the whole process all over agan. He therefore had a lonely childhood and had great difficulty in establishing lasting friendships. Being something of a loner he would find himself more at home in nature, exploring forests and mountains, and from that he developed a love for environmental causes that stayed with him for the rest of his life.
Everything changed for John when he was about 12 years old when his maternal grandmother presented him with her life-long possession of a 1912 Gibson F hole guitar. John took music lessons and began to compose songs and one day he took his precious guitar to school, and lo and behold that opened doors for him as kids who previously ignored him were fascinated by his ability to sing and play guitar.
Rocky Mountain High is a largely autobiographical song full of references to events that shaped his life. It opens with John saying how he found Colorado when he was 27 years old and immediately fell in love with the place and determined that he wanted to live there for the rest of his life. Another line tell of the time that he and some friends were camping in the Rockies at the time of the Perseid meteor shower, they saw fire in the sky.
Rocky Mountain High is now a state song for Colorado and Take Me Home, Country Roads is the same for West Virginia, which makes John the only artist from the twentieth century to be honoured with two state songs, and only the second artist in history to be so honoured. Only Steven Foster in the 19th century shares that honour.
Actually, while he may have explained away the drug reference, he definitely enjoyed his pot now and then. "Rocky Mountain High" doesn't mean high on drugs... but "everybody's high" absolutely does. IMHO. As a non-pot smoking John Denver fanatic and lover of the Rocky Mountains, I love the song and that line. Love your reaction. I'm subscribing.
As a senior in high school in 1979, it wasnt "cool" to like John Denver, i didnt care i played his songs at all my parties, got made fun of, i'll bet all my friends from then are still listening to his songs :)
Btw 12 string acoustic guitar
Dang. I just time travelled back to 9th grade! the very first music album (not CD, but vinyl) that I purchased with money that I earned myself, was a John Denver album.
Great reaction. Other wonderful songs are : The Eagle and The Hawk ; Poems , Prayers , Promises are a few of thet others.
"Annie's Song" is a beautiful, haunting love song to his then wife.
We could use more music like his now. Thank God I'm A Country Boy is one of my top 10 favorites of his.
My very first album was John Denver's Greatest Hits. He had such a unique, pure voice. Yes, he is harmonizing with himself on this one. Listen to "Leaving on a Jet Plane" with Cass Elliott from the Mamas and the Papas. He sounds pretty much the same in his live performances as he did on his recordings.
It was crazy to have to explain, but Nixon was President after all and he hated cannabis.
When you get completely away from people and the city and go by yourself or with your soul mate. And you can stand before God and all that he has created.. who needs drugs? It wasn't about our friend Mary Jane. But she is nice to take along.
Another great John Denver videos is Calypso which was developed from the environmentalist Jacque Cousteau's wildlife videos taken during Cousteau's Calypso expeditions.