John Denver is what this crazy world needs the most of right now. He was pure love, peace, gentleness, down-home beauty and simple human decency. God I miss John Denver.
AMEN !!!!!!!! I LOVE ALL OF JOHN DENVER'S MUSIC !!!!!! I ALWAYS HAVE AND I ALWAYS WILL LOVE HIS MUSIC !!!!!!! I used to drive my sister NUTS when I would play his music up so loudly AND I would sing along with him, too !!!!!! Oh my gosh , how I miss John Denver !!!!!!
Hmmm. I don't want to burst your bubble, but at the end he was an unhappy alcoholic, alleged wife abuser who brought about his own demise by flying when he wasn't legally entitled to, in a plane that had issues he was warned about but chose to ignore. It's a shame fame seems to place such a high price on so many who achieve it. What he gave to the world through song was an absolute treasure though, and I play his music all the time since I was first introduced to it as a child.
Love John Denver, even as a young women Amber could feel the pure love from this song that related to her youth, before we lost our innocence. There are 2 people in this world, either like John Denver or really disliked him especially back in the day. The music industry really tried to make him an outsider and cancel him. In my book if you don’t like John Denver, your not to be trusted-truth!
He was everyone's guilty pleasure back in the day, and we all came out of the John Denver closet around the time we all realized how ridiculous it is to strive to attain someone else's bullcrap standard of cool.
Cool you guys. Look up the writer. For example willy Nelson wrote patsy Clnes crazy .. Black folk instrumentals created 70's music because then we all appreciated what music is. As for John changing sound it's called vocal octave range. Julie Andrew's sound of music holds record at 14 octaves. Listen to her sing folk. Good job. Keep listening. The Beatles said it all.
He's been gone 25 years now, and I still love to hear him sing. I don't think I ever heard him hit a sour note. He was always a positive singer and a conscientious human being.
When I was still little enough to sit on my Daddy's lap he would sing this to me. I got him to sing it for me again the morning of the day he died. This will always be the most beautiful song ever to me.
Oh Christy! I just read your comment and it made me cry! I’m glad you have that beautiful memory of your dad! I’m such a softie! Peace and Blessings to you and your family from Australia,
My father died of cancer 10 years ago this week. I can hardly listen to this song any more as he loved it and I just think of how much he enjoyed life but was taken too soon, just like John Denver.
His voice is just pure magic. So smooth. So mellow. Thus song is guaranteed to drop your blood pressure as you forget about the troubles in the world for a few short minutes.
Another phenominal soft voice you would love is an artist named Dan Fogelberg. He had many hit songs in the very late 70's and 80's. You two would love his voice.
This song is so special to me. I remember in 1974, I was in 2nd grade and Mrs. Zimmerman played this song. She made us close our eyes and listen to the words and the melody. Then we had to write an essay about what we felt and what we thought about while listening. I know it sounds corny, but I remember everything I wrote on my essay. To this day, even though I’m 55 years old, I can tear up just remembering how I felt. This song fills my heart every time I hear it. It’s so beautiful.
I've been having a hard time lately. I am old now and the love of my life died recently so I have been feeling very lost and alone. I found your channel looking for some John Denver to soothe my aching heart. It has been such a joy and blessing to see the reaction of you young people to John Denver's music. You reacted just the way much of the world did when we first heard him 50 years ago. Thank-you for this beautiful gift! May your days be filled every blessing. Thank-you!
"Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Calypso", "Annie's Song", "Fly Away" and "Shanghai Breezes" are all great by John Denver. Just choose one you won't be disappointed by any.
If you love John Denver's high register you might want to check out a great song of his called "Calypso" where he really shows how powerfully he can sing those higher notes. The song itself is a tribute to the boat Calypso which was captained by Jacques Cousteau, an aquatic expert who was as devoted to preserving nature as Denver was.
He "Dutch yoddles" in that one. Slightly different from the Tyrol yoddle. The Dutch yoddle is so ships could hear each other in the fog and in the dark.
Karen was my girl...I loved her music and her very unique voice that no one to this day has ever matched her tone and the runs she did in so many songs that made each one so epic. There are few singers whose untimely deaths just hurt you to your core knowing what great music that was yet to come was lost. Karen and John are still my top two who I still greatly miss. Their songs are timeless to me. Fifty years later their music is still sought after and loved and appreciated. ❤
John Denver was awesome! To bad we lost him so soon! He liked sunshine but I bet he liked rain too! His voice would capture you and take you to the Rocky Mountains where he spent most of his time!
When John Denver died it really hurt.This guy is truly missed.He was such a pleasant and positive influence in his art of singing.Gave us so much joy just listening to him speak and sing.
I never got to see him perform, which is why I was so gladdened to see Chris Collins and the Boulder Canyon Band in 2014. What a perfect tribute artist. Right down to the audience banter. And Denver's mother also likes him.
I agree. This song always gets to me. And it does hurt..I felt so honestly sad the day he died and a bit angry. He was doing what he loved to do, but still.... I think that says it all, because I know I’m not alone in feeling this way.
If you want to continue with the whole nature angle, give "Calypso" a listen. John was active with Jacques Cousteau, who was a pioneer in conservation of the seas. The Calypso was his ship. The song is triumphant and beautiful! Give it a try! As always, loving your continued demonstration to appreciate some of the most beautiful music in the world and bring it to a whole new generation of listeners! Love you guys! ❤
Denver wrote this song on an early spring day in Minnesota when the rain was gently falling. He found himself looking forward to spending more time outdoors and enjoying the sunshine. He said of the song, "On one level it was about the virtues of love. On another, more deeply felt level, it reached for something the whole world could embrace."
He was a national treasure - glad to see his music lives on in young folks. 🙂👍 Perhaps one day you will react to his song, "Annie's Song", if you haven't already. Be well.🌻
I can tell you something good that you never heard of that's a very very good a very good song and an excellent singer in Dave Loggins Dave Dave Loggins the song is called please please
John Denver died tragically in a plane crash, it was one he rebuilt himself and he was piloting at the time. What a great loss. He left us with some of the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard. One of a kind. And a genuinely good human being.
John didn’t built the Long EZ himself. It was 10 years old when he bought it. John died in Oct. 1997. The following is per the NTSB: The data plate indicated a manufacture date of June 1987. The airplane was designed by Rutan Aircraft Factory and was built from the Rutan plans by Adrian D. Davis, Jr. Review of FAA Aircraft Registry records for the airplane revealed that the original builder applied for an airworthiness certificate in the amateur-built, experimental category on May 5, 1987.
@@jackmandu I assumed his home built plane that he bought was not originally built by him, but worked on by him, hence why I said “rebuilt”. But you’re right, the fact is he only bought it the Saturday before his fatal crash. I knew he had a brush with death in a vintage plane only years earlier and didn’t have a valid piloting license at the time due to DWIs he’d incurred while driving drunk. Bit I couldn’t sworn I read somewhere that he’d had this one longer and had worked on it himself. Thanks for the correction!
@@NativeNYerChicHK Saw a documentary about it once that suggested it simply ran out of fuel. He stayed up longer than he was intending. That's what I saw, tragic either way. Man had a great voice.
@@davidcollins9057 yes he ran out of fuel, but there was another tank but the switch for it was behind the seat. As he was unfamiliar with the plane it took him too long to figure out where it was and by then he had gone into a dive and couldn't recover in time
@@NativeNYerChicHK The fuel tank switch toggle switch was behind him and he couldn't reach it without unbuckling and contorting himself to reach it, and they think that contributed to the crash. His mechanic was going to fix it that week, but John couldn't wait to go up. Very sad and tragic.
🌞💚🐶 my little dog sits on my lap every morning outside while I sing this to him! My dad was friends with John Denver, played guitar, and they all used to sing and make beautiful music in Aspen Colorado way back when. As a child I used to think that gave me free reign to sing at the top of my lungs anytime one of his songs came on, I guess I still do even as an adult LOL love John Denver I'm so glad you guys do too💕
@@paulamelnyk986 Yes. John was a big fan of Jacques, and went out on an expedition with him. He wrote the song shortly after as a tribute to him, and his vessel.
So sorry for your loss. I'm sure you being with him when he passed away was an immense source of comfort to him. I hope your memories of him fill you with love, laughs and peace.
@@cpete2976 thank you so much. It did give him great peace in his last moments and I am so thankful I got the chance to offer him some comfort before he passed away. He always liked to hear me sing and music was something we shared while he was alive.
When I was a young man and Heavy metal/rock was all I listened to, I remember hearing John Denver singing and I clearly remember thinking how insipid. What an absolute plonker I was. Now hearing John Denver sing brings me out in goosebumps, if not tears. His voice holds such clarity and beauty. I can't believe I missed out for all those years.
I have reached the age in life where I don't have any issue crying when I hear something beautiful, and this song is on that short list of beautiful reasons to cry, sunshine or not.
This is my favorite John Denver Song. It is almost acapella. He is playing the guitar with almost no accompaniment. A treasure we lost in a plane crash when he was 53.
I was lucky enough to see him in concert in the late 70s. He put on a fantastic show. RIP, John. If you like “getting away from your hectic life and heading into nature” songs, you’ll love “Cool Change” by The Little River Band.
I saw him my second or third semester at New Mexico State University. His show was held in an upstairs ballroom with him and his band on a barely big enough stage tucked into a corner of the room. There were no chairs, so we all sat cross legged on the floor. It was the most intimate concert I’ve ever experienced and his interactions with the audience were priceless. He was born in Roswell, NM and although being a military brat and constantly moving from place to place, he said he always had a soft spot in his heart for New Mexico.
When he started singing…you both closed your eyes and had that peaceful glow on your face as if you both just got carried to a magical place. That’s the power of John Denver.
He was not only a superb performer - he can play a great guitar too - he wrote virtually all his own music, and the world is just a poorer place without him in it.
I've always felt that even though the song is about sunshine, the important thing is that he loves someone very deeply and he wishes he could give her something as beautiful as what he experiences when he sees the sunshine. I never thought of it as a nature song, but a song where he wants to exalt his love (woman).
Wikipedia says otherwise: Denver described how he wrote "Sunshine on My Shoulders": "I wrote the song in Minnesota at the time I call 'late winter, early spring'. It was a dreary day, gray and slushy. The snow was melting and it was too cold to go outside and have fun, but God, you're ready for spring. You want to get outdoors again and you're waiting for that sun to shine, and you remember how sometimes just the sun itself can make you feel good. And in that very melancholy frame of mind I wrote 'Sunshine on My Shoulders'."
He has written over 300 songs. When he wrote & performed Sunshine, you are listening to a beautiful voice that developed into amazing voice as John grew was an artist and performer. Did you know he wrote a symphony?
@@davidschecter5247 I sing "Follow Me", to Jesus everyday. I know that is not who John wrote it for. But, that is my interpretation of the words in the song, in my heart.😀❤
All of his music put you in your "feels", one way or another. my favorite "fun song" by Mr Denver has to be "Grandma's Feather Bed", but I love so much of his music, it would be hard to pick a favorite.
Grandma's feather bed reminds me of family reunions at my grandparents house. All the grandkids in one room. We didn't get much sleep but we had a lot of fun.
This song was the theme song a movie "Sunshine" 1973 of a mother dying of cancer and documenting her life for her daughter. This song brings me to tears win I hear it.
Remember watching the movie "Sunshine " about a young woman that had cancer , her husband that was a singer/musician and her 2 yr old daughter. This song was written along with "Sweet Lady" for it. . Watch the movie , Every time I hear this song I think of the movie and makes me sad.
John Denver has so many great songs... You could randomly pick from "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Annie's Song," or "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" and be swept away by any of them. He did a live album called 'An Evening With John Denver' which was one of the best-selling live albums of all-time and contains many of his biggest hits-- a great place to get to know his music.
When I saw him in concert in the late 70s, he stayed onstage and played and chatted with the audience while he gave his band a break. I'll never forget how genuinely friendly and kind he was. RIP, dear John. Thank you for your beautiful musical memories.
this is how John described writing this song,: "I wrote the song in Minnesota at the time I call 'late winter, early spring'. It was a dreary day, gray and slushy. The snow was melting and it was too cold to go outside and have fun, but God, you're ready for spring. You want to get outdoors again and you're waiting for that sun to shine, and you remember how sometimes just the sun itself can make you feel good. And in that very melancholy frame of mind I wrote 'Sunshine on My Shoulders'."
Gosh this song brought tears to my eyes....growing up in Tulsa Oklahoma living with a mother who was a muscian, singer and song writer and who loved John Denver. I was a preteen in the 70's and remember romping on the river right across from our home on 35th and peoria. My friends and I were the "Wonder Years". I lost my mom to cancer when she was only 42. She should be still here singing , writing and smiling. She would be Im sure reacting and encouraging you two...thanks so much for sharing this. RIP John Denver this world misses, remembers and loves you.
I remember when he died, flying solo in his plane. I thought even though I was younger, what a sad day for all the music that was lost. He was super popular and the radio stations always played his songs.
Hi from South Africa 😊 I live in a little village called Hibberdene on the KwaZulu-Natal coast. I walk for about an hour every day. Yesterday morning was a pretty cloudy start but on my way home the clouds broke for just a moment and sunrays dappled through the trees and I said out loud "Hello Sunshine". And almost instantly this song came into my head. My Mom's nickname for my step-dad was Sunshine. And she was a complete flower child of the 60s. We lost her to cancer in January 2022. But I feel her all around me when I'm in nature. And she absolutely adored music. Jeuce Newton's "The Sweetest Thing" is another song that reminds me so much of her. Thank you guys for the video 💚🌈🎶🌻
One of the greatest singer/songwriters ever. He was so involved in green issues way back in the early 70's. He was called a tree hugger a naturalist and an environmentalist. Today he would be known as a greenie. One of his greatest songs John ever wrote and sang was "The Eagle and the Hawk." If you really want to hear his high octave range, then this is the song.
Totally agree. The Eagle and the Hawk is phenomenal; also Whispering Jessie. No one has ever reacted to either one, and they both deserve tons of attention.
You MUST watch the movie "Sunshine" - 1973 - So beautiful!!! Watching this movie made me fall in love with John Denver. The movie also has "My Sweet Lady"... get the tissue box.
I'd like to add "Back Home Again" and "Poems, Prayers and Promises" to your list of John Denver tracks to check out. He was truly a very special artist that achieved great popular fame in his day but was never taken as seriously by music critics. Time has certainly proven he was one of the all-time greats.
I second both of these suggestions! Especially due to the fact that he mentions "Sunshine" in "Back Home Again". You've hit on two of my very favorite JD songs!
No matter what comes your way in life, just put on some John Denver songs. He will very quickly relax you and make you think of the beauty and simplicity of nature and love. His voice is Angelic.
Saw him in concert in 1979/80, in Copenhagen. So good live. I'll always remember at the end of the concert, when he left the stage but returned for an encore, he said, "That's just a little game I like to play .... run back there and touch the wall, then try to get back on stage before you stop clapping". :) Such a modest man.
John Denver wrote some of the most beautiful songs. For that same sort of vibe, I’d recommend Annie’s Song and Leaving On A Jet Plane. But before you go back there, you need to treat yourself to his more playful side. Thank God I’m A Country Boy will make you smile and tap your toes…..Maybe even clap your hands and stomp you feet.
One of the saddest movies ever, I watched as a kid in 1973 when my mom and brother were gone to a hockey game. It was called “Sunshine” and had this song as a theme. It’s a different experience watching it now, but I have to say, it is one of the most extreme examples of taking a song to another place. (It was a made for TV movie and simply played at night on the TV.) It was a very emotional movie back then.
It didn't matter what genre of music you were into, everybody loved John Denver back then! This is definitely one of his most beautiful songs. If you like this song you might want to consider listening to Mother Nature's Son by the Beatles
My favorite view in all of Nature is sunlight sparkling on the waves. This song always makes me think of it..."Sunshine on the water is so lovely." HIs love of Nature, his gentle and resonating voice...I can't tell you how happy I am that you picked this bright and beautiful song.
I'm so glad you liked this one. For me, this song will always remind me of my mom. She used to sing it to me when I was little, especially because I would sneeze when I looked at the sun. She'd change the words to match. It's an especially important memory for me now that Alzheimers is stealing those memories from her. Thanks for doing this one.
John Denver went into the Colorado Rockies where he composed several great songs. He was taken aback with the beauty and serenity he found there. You can feel it in this song.
My favorite song since the 1st grade. You've just barely scratched the surface of his great catalog. Next up, definitely need to check out his duet with Olivia Newton John, "Fly Away". Some more deep cuts that most people don't suggest: Sweet Surrender, This Old Guitar, Back Home Again, and Rhymes and Reasons.
John Denver was a unique singer/songwriter for a few reasons. For one, Denver was the second person in music history to have written two official state songs-West Virginia’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and Colorado’s “Rocky Mountain High.” In addition to his lyricism, Denver’s soft approach to mainstream folk music set the artist apart from others in his era. Proof of Denver’s charm, “Sunshine on My Shoulders” reached the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1974. Denver collaborated with songwriters Dick Kniss and Mike Taylor for the track, and the result sounds like a warm embrace of the natural world. The lyrics further convey a sense of contentment and love. Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy / Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry / Sunshine on the water looks so lovely / Sunshine almost always makes me high, Denver sings. Despite the song’s overtly joyous feeling, Denver did not initially set out to write a song like “Sunshine on My Shoulders.” When he began writing the track, Denver was enduring a bitingly cold winter in the northern United States. “I was so down I wanted to write a feeling-blue song,” he told Seventeen magazine in 1974, “[but] this is what came out.”
Lol he couldn’t bring himself to write a bummer. He wasn’t a perfect person but I believe he always sought peace and being right with the universe, and every time he considered the world around him he just felt wondrous all over again.
John Denver is what this crazy world needs the most of right now. He was pure love, peace, gentleness, down-home beauty and simple human decency. God I miss John Denver.
Me too dude, me too.
AMEN !!!!!!!! I LOVE ALL OF JOHN DENVER'S MUSIC !!!!!! I ALWAYS HAVE AND I ALWAYS WILL LOVE HIS MUSIC !!!!!!! I used to drive my sister NUTS when I would play his music up so loudly AND I would sing along with him, too !!!!!! Oh my gosh , how I miss John Denver !!!!!!
And he did it all without sounding corny-everybody loves John Denver!
Hmmm. I don't want to burst your bubble, but at the end he was an unhappy alcoholic, alleged wife abuser who brought about his own demise by flying when he wasn't legally entitled to, in a plane that had issues he was warned about but chose to ignore. It's a shame fame seems to place such a high price on so many who achieve it. What he gave to the world through song was an absolute treasure though, and I play his music all the time since I was first introduced to it as a child.
Love John Denver, even as a young women Amber could feel the pure love from this song that related to her youth, before we lost our innocence. There are 2 people in this world, either like John Denver or really disliked him especially back in the day. The music industry really tried to make him an outsider and cancel him. In my book if you don’t like John Denver, your not to be trusted-truth!
Did you know that; John Denver was also an actor? He starred in a great movie called "Oh God". I think you'd love that. 😇
Yesssss!
❤️
Loved John Denver in that movie!
Guess what major role he turned down. The classic movie would have sucked with him as the lead😅
Lol - I was just coming here to say this! They should review it. Very family friendly.
I'm 57 years old and this man still makes me cry......
Have you seen the 1973 movie Sunshine.
As a Zeppelin and Rush fan I hands down say I love John Denver ..This is a beautiful song , he is sorely missed …
With you Greek
I love hard rock and heavy metal but I’ve loved John and his music since I was 13 years old. He is peace and love ❤️
@@bobbibful well said Bobbie 110% with you and thank you for your reply ❤️❤️
He was everyone's guilty pleasure back in the day, and we all came out of the John Denver closet around the time we all realized how ridiculous it is to strive to attain someone else's bullcrap standard of cool.
Cool you guys. Look up the writer. For example willy Nelson wrote patsy Clnes crazy .. Black folk instrumentals created 70's music because then we all appreciated what music is.
As for John changing sound it's called vocal octave range. Julie Andrew's sound of music holds record at 14 octaves. Listen to her sing folk. Good job. Keep listening. The Beatles said it all.
He's been gone 25 years now, and I still love to hear him sing. I don't think I ever heard him hit a sour note. He was always a positive singer and a conscientious human being.
I wonder how he and Kenny Rogers would sound like together. I think it would have been amazing.
I loved the "John Denver Show" he had. It was a variety show and he sang with so many great guests and did funny skits. 😊
When I was still little enough to sit on my Daddy's lap he would sing this to me. I got him to sing it for me again the morning of the day he died. This will always be the most beautiful song ever to me.
Oh Christy! I just read your comment and it made me cry! I’m glad you have that beautiful memory of your dad! I’m such a softie! Peace and Blessings to you and your family from Australia,
@@wendyryder2708 Peace and Blessings to you and yours, from the U.S.
I sang this to my kids. I doubt they remember me singing anything other than Queen though.
What a beautiful memory Christy!❤️❤️❤️❤️😥😥
My father died of cancer 10 years ago this week. I can hardly listen to this song any more as he loved it and I just think of how much he enjoyed life but was taken too soon, just like John Denver.
His voice is just pure magic. So smooth. So mellow. Thus song is guaranteed to drop your blood pressure as you forget about the troubles in the world for a few short minutes.
So true! You forget the world for a few moments.
Another phenominal soft voice you would love is an artist named Dan Fogelberg. He had many hit songs in the very late 70's and 80's. You two would love his voice.
My 17 year old loves John Denver,as do I! We always say that when we are angry or stressed,his music calms our soul❣
I miss him too
You may both appreciate his duet with Olivia Newton John called “Fly Away.”
Absolutely fantastic song!!
A beautiful song
From his 1976 Christmas Special. Absolutely beautiful.
After listening to sunshine my brain went straight to Fly Away. That period of time was gentle.
This song is so special to me. I remember in 1974, I was in 2nd grade and Mrs. Zimmerman played this song. She made us close our eyes and listen to the words and the melody. Then we had to write an essay about what we felt and what we thought about while listening. I know it sounds corny, but I remember everything I wrote on my essay. To this day, even though I’m 55 years old, I can tear up just remembering how I felt. This song fills my heart every time I hear it. It’s so beautiful.
What a gift she gave you!!!😊
Bless Mrs Zimmerman! I had a Miss Bartell play for a and sing us contemporary songs like 'They call the WIND MARIA"
💗
What a beautiful teacher she must have been. What a great thing she did for you.
A beautiful story that would definitely make John smile.....
I've been having a hard time lately. I am old now and the love of my life died recently so I have been feeling very lost and alone. I found your channel looking for some John Denver to soothe my aching heart. It has been such a joy and blessing to see the reaction of you young people to John Denver's music. You reacted just the way much of the world did when we first heard him 50 years ago. Thank-you for this beautiful gift! May your days be filled every blessing. Thank-you!
Sending you prayers and healing thoughts.
So sorry for your loss....Amber & Jay are always a positive note in my day....hopefully you can find some comfort here...
Sorry for your loss. John Denver's voice and song writing was a gift from God.
Sending love and prayers. God bless you.
I know how you feel I lost my husband who I was with since I was 16! 44 years and I cry everyday because I miss him so so much! I feel your pain!
"Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Calypso", "Annie's Song", "Fly Away" and "Shanghai Breezes" are all great by John Denver. Just choose one you won't be disappointed by any.
They've already reacted to Thank God I'm a Country Boy. That's definitely one of my favorite slap-happy John Denver songs!
I second that you need to play Take me home Country Roads....it needs to be next!!
"Senses" is called ANNIES SONG
omg Calypso , talk about a heart swelling life affirming anthem
@@billiondollarbaby3276 Yes, sorry I made a mistake and changed it so they would know the actual title.
If you love John Denver's high register you might want to check out a great song of his called "Calypso" where he really shows how powerfully he can sing those higher notes. The song itself is a tribute to the boat Calypso which was captained by Jacques Cousteau, an aquatic expert who was as devoted to preserving nature as Denver was.
He "Dutch yoddles" in that one. Slightly different from the Tyrol yoddle. The Dutch yoddle is so ships could hear each other in the fog and in the dark.
Oh great song!!
❤️❤️❤️ CALYPSO !! 👍😃❣️😃👍
A true jewel in his treasure of music compositions.
Yes, Calipso; It's such a wonderful song.
John Denver's voice touches my heart much like Karen Carpenter's voice does! Very organic and natural!
So true great Voices You are spot on cheers Michael Australia.
Exactly!
I'll Agree
I agree 100% have always loved both of them I hear their songs every day
Karen was my girl...I loved her music and her very unique voice that no one to this day has ever matched her tone and the runs she did in so many songs that made each one so epic.
There are few singers whose untimely deaths just hurt you to your core knowing what great music that was yet to come was lost.
Karen and John are still my top two who I still greatly miss. Their songs are timeless to me. Fifty years later their music is still sought after and loved and appreciated. ❤
Beautiful....clear....innocent...............country boy...singing...
I miss this beautiful, kind, talented man so very much.
Another phenomenal voice who died before his time...this another classic...his legacy will live on forever...great reaction vid Ty my peeps
John Denver was awesome! To bad we lost him so soon! He liked sunshine but I bet he liked rain too! His voice would capture you and take you to the Rocky Mountains where he spent most of his time!
With the beautiful Karen Carpenter
When John Denver died it really hurt.This guy is truly missed.He was such a pleasant and positive influence in his art of singing.Gave us so much joy just listening to him speak and sing.
I never got to see him perform, which is why I was so gladdened to see Chris Collins and the Boulder Canyon Band in 2014. What a perfect tribute artist. Right down to the audience banter. And Denver's mother also likes him.
I agree. This song always gets to me. And it does hurt..I felt so honestly sad the day he died and a bit angry. He was doing what he loved to do, but still....
I think that says it all, because I know I’m not alone in feeling this way.
Such a tragic loss when he passed away.
Yes, it did hurt. Knowing he went down in the pacific in such a way was a real shock to hear. He was doing what he loved though so there is that.
His death hurt, true.
If you want to continue with the whole nature angle, give "Calypso" a listen. John was active with Jacques Cousteau, who was a pioneer in conservation of the seas. The Calypso was his ship. The song is triumphant and beautiful! Give it a try!
As always, loving your continued demonstration to appreciate some of the most beautiful music in the world and bring it to a whole new generation of listeners! Love you guys! ❤
He was way ahead of his time when it came to saving the environment.
Calypso is one of my favorite John Denver tunes. His melodies are so beautiful.
@@yellawerder3279 For me, it's one of many. 😊
Yes! CALYPSO! RIP Jacques Yves Cousteau (1910-1997), and RIP Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr, aka John Denver, (1943-1997). The world misses you BOTH.
Yes! Calypso! Please do the live version from The Wildlife Concert album/video.
Please listen to Annie’s Song…Calypso….just beautiful…so heartwarming!
John was/is the best of the best. Period.
Denver wrote this song on an early spring day in Minnesota when the rain was gently falling. He found himself looking forward to spending more time outdoors and enjoying the sunshine. He said of the song, "On one level it was about the virtues of love. On another, more deeply felt level, it reached for something the whole world could embrace."
He was a national treasure - glad to see his music lives on in young folks. 🙂👍 Perhaps one day you will react to his song, "Annie's Song", if you haven't already. Be well.🌻
Yep, Annie's Song is my favorite as well.
They did react to that one as well
John Denver all his stuff's good I'll ever bet it's all good if it's John Denver Rocky Mountain High Colorado Country Road taking us home
I can tell you something good that you never heard of that's a very very good a very good song and an excellent singer in Dave Loggins Dave Dave Loggins the song is called please please
💯
John Denver died tragically in a plane crash, it was one he rebuilt himself and he was piloting at the time. What a great loss. He left us with some of the most beautiful music I’ve ever heard. One of a kind. And a genuinely good human being.
John didn’t built the Long EZ himself. It was 10 years old when he bought it. John died in Oct. 1997. The following is per the NTSB:
The data plate indicated a manufacture date of June 1987. The airplane was designed by Rutan Aircraft Factory and was built from the Rutan plans by Adrian D. Davis, Jr. Review of FAA Aircraft Registry records for the airplane revealed that the original builder applied for an airworthiness certificate in the amateur-built, experimental category on May 5, 1987.
@@jackmandu I assumed his home built plane that he bought was not originally built by him, but worked on by him, hence why I said “rebuilt”. But you’re right, the fact is he only bought it the Saturday before his fatal crash. I knew he had a brush with death in a vintage plane only years earlier and didn’t have a valid piloting license at the time due to DWIs he’d incurred while driving drunk. Bit I couldn’t sworn I read somewhere that he’d had this one longer and had worked on it himself. Thanks for the correction!
@@NativeNYerChicHK Saw a documentary about it once that suggested it simply ran out of fuel. He stayed up longer than he was intending. That's what I saw, tragic either way. Man had a great voice.
@@davidcollins9057 yes he ran out of fuel, but there was another tank but the switch for it was behind the seat. As he was unfamiliar with the plane it took him too long to figure out where it was and by then he had gone into a dive and couldn't recover in time
@@NativeNYerChicHK The fuel tank switch toggle switch was behind him and he couldn't reach it without unbuckling and contorting himself to reach it, and they think that contributed to the crash. His mechanic was going to fix it that week, but John couldn't wait to go up.
Very sad and tragic.
When you hear someone your parents age or older wistfully say “ Simpler Times” THIS is what we’re feeling! ☮️💝⭐️💫✨
Indeed!! ❤
One 12 string guitar, a mic and a single spotlight and send everyone else home. It's all he needed.
An extraordinary poet and songwriter and a voice nearly impossible to not love ❤️
So true, such a beautiful,soothing voice - gone too soon!
🌞💚🐶 my little dog sits on my lap every morning outside while I sing this to him! My dad was friends with John Denver, played guitar, and they all used to sing and make beautiful music in Aspen Colorado way back when. As a child I used to think that gave me free reign to sing at the top of my lungs anytime one of his songs came on, I guess I still do even as an adult LOL love John Denver I'm so glad you guys do too💕
What a great memory.❤️
What lovely childhood memories. You were so lucky. It's a shame that we never truly appreciate things like this until 30 years later❤️
I can relate. I had a sweet cat named Sunny Day. I would often sing "You Are My Sunshine" to him.
I always have to sing any time I hear him. My wife made me sing during this reaction.
I'm singing along right now.
The natural high only John Denver can give us. R.I.P John.
No one could bring out emotions of love and peace more than JD, miss the guy.
One of the greatest songwriters of all time
I think that you would love John Denver's "Grandma's Feather Bed"!
It might bring Amber back to her childhood?!?
And the piggy we stole from the shed
I'm still hoping you get to John's hit. "Calypso". That one is my personal favorite 🤠
Yes that’s one of my favorites too!!
@@audracrawford8836 great minds think alike. 😃👍
Wasn't that the name of Jacques Cousteau's boat?
@@paulamelnyk986 Yes. John was a big fan of Jacques, and went out on an expedition with him. He wrote the song shortly after as a tribute to him, and his vessel.
Check out the roof gutter cleaning scene in Mike and Molly...the song is highlighted in a comedic way yet..no disrespect to song or artist.
I cry almost every time I hear him sing - I miss him so much.
This song always brings a tear to my eyes. Sounds as clear and beautiful nearly fifty years later. Thank you John!
💯🎯🥲
Me too. Country Roads also makes me bawl.
EVERY John Denver song is your favorite John Denver song until the next song plays.
You haven’t really heard the power of John Denver’s voice until you hear Boy From The Country and
The Eagle and The Hawk.
Y’all picked a great one, John Denver is just a pure talent , and soul 🌻🌞
This is one of the songs I sang to my late husband the morning he passed away so it always makes me cry. It’s so beautiful. Thanks for doing this one.
That's beautiful
This is a song that I sang to my loved ones as they passed also I feel the same way.
So sorry for your loss. I'm sure you being with him when he passed away was an immense source of comfort to him. I hope your memories of him fill you with love, laughs and peace.
@@cpete2976 thank you so much. It did give him great peace in his last moments and I am so thankful I got the chance to offer him some comfort before he passed away. He always liked to hear me sing and music was something we shared while he was alive.
God bless your husband and you
John Denver is for music what Mr Rogers was for television. Pure goodness.
63 years old now still jammin to John Denver
Love John Denver love Jim Croce love Harry Chapin and many more storytellers I can’t think of right now
When I was a young man and Heavy metal/rock was all I listened to, I remember hearing John Denver singing and I clearly remember thinking how insipid.
What an absolute plonker I was. Now hearing John Denver sing brings me out in goosebumps, if not tears. His voice holds such clarity and beauty. I can't believe I missed out for all those years.
Same here!
Love me some John Denver
I have reached the age in life where I don't have any issue crying when I hear something beautiful, and this song is on that short list of beautiful reasons to cry, sunshine or not.
This is my favorite John Denver Song. It is almost acapella. He is playing the guitar with almost no accompaniment. A treasure we lost in a plane crash when he was 53.
Love the moment Amber wipes away a tear - John Denver's lyrics touch your soul...
I was lucky enough to see him in concert in the late 70s. He put on a fantastic show. RIP, John. If you like “getting away from your hectic life and heading into nature” songs, you’ll love “Cool Change” by The Little River Band.
Yes, they have not done any LRB and they are in for a treat there for sure to open up that new box
yes, you guys HAVE to do little river band
I saw him my second or third semester at New Mexico State University.
His show was held in an upstairs ballroom with him and his band on a barely big enough stage tucked into a corner of the room.
There were no chairs, so we all sat cross legged on the floor.
It was the most intimate concert I’ve ever experienced and his interactions with the audience were priceless. He was born in Roswell, NM and although being a military brat and constantly moving from place to place, he said he always had a soft spot in his heart for New Mexico.
@@roncypert8255 incredible story ron, I wish we could go back to times like that
Cool Change is a must!
When he started singing…you both closed your eyes and had that peaceful glow on your face as if you both just got carried to a magical place. That’s the power of John Denver.
He was not only a superb performer - he can play a great guitar too - he wrote virtually all his own music, and the world is just a poorer place without him in it.
I've always felt that even though the song is about sunshine, the important thing is that he loves someone very deeply and he wishes he could give her something as beautiful as what he experiences when he sees the sunshine. I never thought of it as a nature song, but a song where he wants to exalt his love (woman).
There are very few artists that can take you away to another place! John Denver could always do that
J/Amber, His "Country Roads" is outstanding and next for you!!!!
He was one of a kind
John actually wrote this song about his child.
Wikipedia says otherwise: Denver described how he wrote "Sunshine on My Shoulders": "I wrote the song in Minnesota at the time I call 'late winter, early spring'. It was a dreary day, gray and slushy. The snow was melting and it was too cold to go outside and have fun, but God, you're ready for spring. You want to get outdoors again and you're waiting for that sun to shine, and you remember how sometimes just the sun itself can make you feel good. And in that very melancholy frame of mind I wrote 'Sunshine on My Shoulders'."
He has written over 300 songs. When he wrote & performed Sunshine, you are listening to a beautiful voice that developed into amazing voice as John grew was an artist and performer. Did you know he wrote a symphony?
When I think of John Denver I instantly think about the beauty in nature...He is the voice of nature in my opinion
I lost someone close to me who loved John Denver. I feel him with me every time I have “Sunshine on My Shoulders”
"Like A Sad Song", " Rhymes and Reasons" "Follow Me", and "This Old Guitar" by John Denver should be on your list.😀
The first version of "Follow Me" is the best. The re-recording he did for his first Greatest Hits album wasn't as good.
@@davidschecter5247 I sing "Follow Me", to Jesus everyday. I know that is not who John wrote it for. But, that is my interpretation of the words in the song, in my heart.😀❤
This was my mother's favorite song. She passed away at age 42. I am 60 yrs old now and I cry every time I hear this song. If I had a day....
I was barely 10 years old , listening to this style of music . San Antonio , Texas
He was just a lovely human being. So grateful to have grown up listening to him in the 70’s.
A simple, but super profound song. John's vocal capabilities are insane.
All of his music put you in your "feels", one way or another. my favorite "fun song" by Mr Denver has to be "Grandma's Feather Bed", but I love so much of his music, it would be hard to pick a favorite.
That would great for the kids' reaction!
Grandma's feather bed reminds me of family reunions at my grandparents house. All the grandkids in one room. We didn't get much sleep but we had a lot of fun.
@@ChrisW-17 I can just hear them. "Why can't WE have chickens and pigs in OUR beds?" hehe
I feel the same. 😊
@B Gallagher I will be looking for that.
John Denver was king in the early 70s. He is appreciated around the world as one of the biggest selling artists of all time...
This song was the theme song a movie "Sunshine" 1973 of a mother dying of cancer and documenting her life for her daughter. This song brings me to tears win I hear it.
Remember watching the movie "Sunshine " about a young woman that had cancer , her husband that was a singer/musician and her 2 yr old daughter. This song was written along with "Sweet Lady" for it. . Watch the movie , Every time I hear this song I think of the movie and makes me sad.
John Denver has so many great songs... You could randomly pick from "Take Me Home, Country Roads," "Annie's Song," or "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" and be swept away by any of them. He did a live album called 'An Evening With John Denver' which was one of the best-selling live albums of all-time and contains many of his biggest hits-- a great place to get to know his music.
When I saw him in concert in the late 70s, he stayed onstage and played and chatted with the audience while he gave his band a break. I'll never forget how genuinely friendly and kind he was. RIP, dear John. Thank you for your beautiful musical memories.
Love those tears because I'm sure that's exactly what he wanted to see tears of JOY!
this is how John described writing this song,: "I wrote the song in Minnesota at the time I call 'late winter, early spring'. It was a dreary day, gray and slushy. The snow was melting and it was too cold to go outside and have fun, but God, you're ready for spring. You want to get outdoors again and you're waiting for that sun to shine, and you remember how sometimes just the sun itself can make you feel good. And in that very melancholy frame of mind I wrote 'Sunshine on My Shoulders'."
We call that "Sprinter" here in the Carolinas with our crazy weather
Sometimes we can have all four seasons in a week! 😊
Such a Voice, Gone far to soon.
Some of the first Songs I learned on Guitar.
RIP John Denver
Gosh this song brought tears to my eyes....growing up in Tulsa Oklahoma living with a mother who was a muscian, singer and song writer and who loved John Denver. I was a preteen in the 70's and remember romping on the river right across from our home on 35th and peoria. My friends and I were the "Wonder Years". I lost my mom to cancer when she was only 42. She should be still here singing , writing and smiling. She would be Im sure reacting and encouraging you two...thanks so much for sharing this. RIP John Denver this world misses, remembers and loves you.
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Both of you were so young, I can’t imagine, my condolences! ❤
I remember when he died, flying solo in his plane. I thought even though I was younger, what a sad day for all the music that was lost. He was super popular and the radio stations always played his songs.
Was a few miles away when he crashed didn't see it but saw the coast guard boats looking for the plane
@@dogsense3773 :(
@@dogsense3773😢
Hi from South Africa 😊 I live in a little village called Hibberdene on the KwaZulu-Natal coast. I walk for about an hour every day. Yesterday morning was a pretty cloudy start but on my way home the clouds broke for just a moment and sunrays dappled through the trees and I said out loud "Hello Sunshine". And almost instantly this song came into my head. My Mom's nickname for my step-dad was Sunshine. And she was a complete flower child of the 60s. We lost her to cancer in January 2022. But I feel her all around me when I'm in nature. And she absolutely adored music. Jeuce Newton's "The Sweetest Thing" is another song that reminds me so much of her. Thank you guys for the video 💚🌈🎶🌻
Hello from Georgia, USA
His voice was so angelic, it brings a tear and a smile.
One of the greatest singer/songwriters ever. He was so involved in green issues way back in the early 70's. He was called a tree hugger a naturalist and an environmentalist. Today he would be known as a greenie.
One of his greatest songs John ever wrote and sang was "The Eagle and the Hawk." If you really want to hear his high octave range, then this is the song.
I always put a shout out for The Eagle and the Hawk---I don't think I have seen any Reactors do this great but short song.
Totally agree. The Eagle and the Hawk is phenomenal; also Whispering Jessie. No one has ever reacted to either one, and they both deserve tons of attention.
When Amber mentioned him singing higher this is the song I was going to recommend!
John Denver was an actor too who starred in a movie with George Burns called Oh God. It"s a classic from the '70s, and one you two should watch
You MUST watch the movie "Sunshine" - 1973 - So beautiful!!! Watching this movie made me fall in love with John Denver. The movie also has "My Sweet Lady"... get the tissue box.
'Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy,' in my opinion is the greatest opening line in music.
The crafting of this is impeccable. Just gorgeous.
It’s a short song but I always loved The Eagle and the Hawk……his voice just soars (pun intended)
I'd like to add "Back Home Again" and "Poems, Prayers and Promises" to your list of John Denver tracks to check out. He was truly a very special artist that achieved great popular fame in his day but was never taken as seriously by music critics. Time has certainly proven he was one of the all-time greats.
I second both of these suggestions! Especially due to the fact that he mentions "Sunshine" in "Back Home Again". You've hit on two of my very favorite JD songs!
No matter what comes your way in life, just put on some John Denver songs. He will very quickly relax you and make you think of the beauty and simplicity of nature and love. His voice is Angelic.
Saw him in concert in 1979/80, in Copenhagen. So good live. I'll always remember at the end of the concert, when he left the stage but returned for an encore, he said, "That's just a little game I like to play .... run back there and touch the wall, then try to get back on stage before you stop clapping". :) Such a modest man.
John Denver had a voice. He voided about nature, family, peace, memories, sang with his heart
What a voice !
And his talent really shows when he played his 12 string guitar 🎸.
John Denver wrote some of the most beautiful songs. For that same sort of vibe, I’d recommend Annie’s Song and Leaving On A Jet Plane.
But before you go back there, you need to treat yourself to his more playful side.
Thank God I’m A Country Boy will make you smile and tap your toes…..Maybe even clap your hands and stomp you feet.
John Denver "Annie's song" is by far my FAVORITE ❤️. I honestly think it'll be your favorite of his also, once you hear it.
One of the saddest movies ever, I watched as a kid in 1973 when my mom and brother were gone to a hockey game. It was called “Sunshine” and had this song as a theme. It’s a different experience watching it now, but I have to say, it is one of the most extreme examples of taking a song to another place. (It was a made for TV movie and simply played at night on the TV.) It was a very emotional movie back then.
And a true story
John made his singing seem so effortless and smooth...one of a kind for sure
It didn't matter what genre of music you were into, everybody loved John Denver back then! This is definitely one of his most beautiful songs. If you like this song you might want to consider listening to Mother Nature's Son by the Beatles
A song John covered on his Rocky Mountain High album..
@@curtismartin2866 yes, I've heard his version. I figured I'd introduce them to that side of the Beatles which they might not have heard before.
My favorite view in all of Nature is sunlight sparkling on the waves. This song always makes me think of it..."Sunshine on the water is so lovely." HIs love of Nature, his gentle and resonating voice...I can't tell you how happy I am that you picked this bright and beautiful song.
What is sad is that I can't even picture anybody singing about any of these kind of things today.
So true. We have a creek and a large pond behind our house and sometimes the sun reflects on the water and it looks like diamonds shining ✨.
To me, the ULTIMATE nature and nature lover song by John Denver is “The Eagle and the Hawk”…
everything about the song SOARS!
Yes, when you hear that song it feels like you are soaring at 10,000 ft.
@@chrisoakley5830 Yes! And listening to his song "Calypso" you feel like you are soaring across the sea, borne upon crest of the waves!
@@Sometimes-even-lyrical With that song I always picture a boat ride with dolphins in and out of the water all around.
I'm so glad you liked this one. For me, this song will always remind me of my mom. She used to sing it to me when I was little, especially because I would sneeze when I looked at the sun. She'd change the words to match. It's an especially important memory for me now that Alzheimers is stealing those memories from her. Thanks for doing this one.
My mom sang it with my sister and I as well as Jet Plane.
My condolences
❤
Play the song for her.
John Denver went into the Colorado Rockies where he composed several great songs. He was taken aback with the beauty and serenity he found there. You can feel it in this song.
My favorite song since the 1st grade. You've just barely scratched the surface of his great catalog. Next up, definitely need to check out his duet with Olivia Newton John, "Fly Away". Some more deep cuts that most people don't suggest: Sweet Surrender, This Old Guitar, Back Home Again, and Rhymes and Reasons.
There will never be another like John Denver! Check out "Calypso" and "Fly Away" (featuring Olivia Newton John)!
John Denver was a unique singer/songwriter for a few reasons. For one, Denver was the second person in music history to have written two official state songs-West Virginia’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and Colorado’s “Rocky Mountain High.” In addition to his lyricism, Denver’s soft approach to mainstream folk music set the artist apart from others in his era.
Proof of Denver’s charm, “Sunshine on My Shoulders” reached the number one position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1974. Denver collaborated with songwriters Dick Kniss and Mike Taylor for the track, and the result sounds like a warm embrace of the natural world. The lyrics further convey a sense of contentment and love.
Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy / Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry / Sunshine on the water looks so lovely / Sunshine almost always makes me high, Denver sings.
Despite the song’s overtly joyous feeling, Denver did not initially set out to write a song like “Sunshine on My Shoulders.” When he began writing the track, Denver was enduring a bitingly cold winter in the northern United States. “I was so down I wanted to write a feeling-blue song,” he told Seventeen magazine in 1974, “[but] this is what came out.”
Lol he couldn’t bring himself to write a bummer. He wasn’t a perfect person but I believe he always sought peace and being right with the universe, and every time he considered the world around him he just felt wondrous all over again.
John Denver is the embodiment of your message.
The live version is even better