I got to see him sing this at The Garden. He played it to a video. I was at this concert. I cried. I just lost my husband of 43 years on 10/20. I just now realized he's gone forever. 😢😢
This song is something so special. I remember this 45 inch vinyl and it was my favorite until this day and I’m 54 years old. I still love this song so much. This is a brilliant song.
"...and how it all looks strange, it's funny how one insect can damage so much grain", I won't mention the name of that insect, he deserves no recognition or attention. Thank's to Bernie for the wonderful lyrics, thank's to Elton for the beautiful tune and thank's to John for all the fabulous music, idea's and social issues you tried to illuminate. Your fingerprints in this world are missed. A solemn "Bravo", Harri.
"I won't mention the name" -- thank you for that... I am in complete agreement with you here. To a great extent, these people do these horrendous acts for the fame (or rather, infamy). Whenever we talk publicly about them -- and this includes making biopics about them -- we are playing into that desire of theirs. I don't even think their names should be made public, except to the family of the victims, because they don't deserve to be remembered. Their actions, of course, will always be remembered -- but what the perpetrators of such acts deserve is to be completely forgotten in the annals of history.
I was lucky enough to be there that night. I cried the rest of the concert. I was a John girl since 1963 when I was 5. I was devastated & still am. It was the year I was married. Cried for days.😪😪RIP JOHN MY LOVE ✌🌻🌻
1. When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy.’ They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life. ~John Lennon 2. Peace is not something you wish for; It’s something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away. ~John Lennon 3. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create. ~John Lennon 4. When you do something beautiful and nobody noticed, do not be sad. For the sun, every morning is a beautiful spectacle and yet most of the audience still sleeps. ~John Lennon 5. All you need is love. - John Lennon
@@oldeskoolnana7543 No he's not! You will absolutely and unconditionally be together again..young, vibrant and alive in our true home! There is a very ancient saying that comes from the great mystics of the old ages that goes something like this: We are taught in life that "We are physical beings experiencing a spiritual life" But this is incorrect, for in actuality "We are spiritual beings experiencing a physical life" For this is the only way for us spirit beings to grow, incarnating again and again into the physical domain, and in between we go home for a glorious and much needed break and reunion with our immense loving family.. Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ben Yosef) taught us that! 🍀
It was very emotional & painful to hear this on the radio, or to watch the video on tv, when this first came out. Fitting tribute. If you haven't listened to it yet, you should follow this up with Queen's Lennon tribute, 'Love Is Real'.
This was very emotional. The death of John Lennon still saddens me. It was so senseless and John’s death affected millions of people. You could feel the love Elton had for his friend. Thank you Harri.
I was 12 when Lennon was killed. My mom fed us the Beatles. It was devastating. Having this song come out a year or so after from Elton, who was also rife on our turntable, brougbt great assuagement
My Mother Dorothy Jean Tandle…“Dotty” worked at RIC in early 1964. She did the work on the Beatles guitars. Ten years later…..In the 1974, I worked for “Fender Musical Instruments” in Fullerton California. I made two Fender Rhodes Electric Pianos for John Lennon/Apple Studios. The one used on “Walls and Bridges” “Well if they’re gonna send one, send two cause I’d like one as well” John Lennon ordering a Fender Rhodes Electric Piano at the Apple studios. (Elton John recorded “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” with the same piano) My mother and myself are the only mother/son that both built an instrument for John Lennon. My mother made guitars for many famous Rockers, including the red guitar that was smashed by Peter Townsend of the WHO and is in the Rock HOF. Chris Squire, Roger Waters, Paul McCartney (left-handed 1964 4001S FG Rickenbacker bass) , John Entwistle, George Harrison’s 12 String. Roger McGuinn 12 string and many others. I have built pianos for “You name it” just about everyone IE: “Pink Floyd” on “Dark Side Of The Moon” It is our little contribution to Classic Rock. I’m very proud of that fact.
This was such an emotional song for me, not only did I mourn for John Lennon, my grandfather died soon after, he had a small garden, was a master musician and his name was John, I was 16, this song would make me sob.. listening today brought me right back there..
My father loved the Beatles, and certainly John Lennon . We’d light a candle every year to honor him. I lost my dad to cancer in 2019 this song hits home now that I’m lighting two candles
If you haven't already guessed, the "Empty Garden" he is singing about refers to Madison Square Garden. I read somewhere that he and Lennon were planning to do a concert there together sometime in 1981, but tragically, John Lennon was murdered before it could happen.
I think there's more to the story of the '74 concert. Something about John and Yoko having been separated for awhile and Elton arranged for them to meet backstage after the concert. They reconciled that night and apparently that is when Sean was conceived which is why Elton is his Godfather. I'm iffy on all the details but i think that's the gist of it.
Yeah, that is what Sean said, but it is mathematically impossible (Nov 28 1974 - Oct 9 1975). 11 mos pregnancy? Yes, they reconciled that night, but Sean was not conceived until much later.
First of all, great reaction video! If you haven't checked it out already, the concert he mentions where Elton John performs with John Lennon in 1974 is on the CD Here and There. They perform 3 songs together and right when he introduces John Lennon to come on stage, you can hear a big change in the crowd, the Beatlemania scream. And when they finish, the audience takes a while to calm down before Elton continues the next song. Also, in addition to this performance of Empty Garden, the most emotional version I've seen is of Elton performing it on his first Saturday Night Live appearance in April 1982. It just has a different feel than any other version I've heard, obviously being in New York. Maybe try to check that one out too.
I was watching Monday Night Football when Howard Cosell broke the news of John's assassination. THIS song came out (as far as I can remember) before any other tribute to John (beatle mates and all) I like this version you watched a lot - but for me the best version is still the ACTUAL recording. One main reason is because it was before Elton had voice issue's and it is one of the last times you can hear Elton at full strength giving all he has .. and Elton is one of my all time favorite singers .. seen him live several times and he is just awesome. His emotion on this particular song has not wavered through in all these years and I think its clear that John was not just a friend to him but someone he loved and cherished.
"Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" is a song composed by English musician Elton John and Bernie Taupin and originally performed by Elton John. The song first appeared on Elton John's 1982 album Jump Up!, and was released as the album's second single in the UK, and as the lead single in the US. The song is a tribute to John Lennon, who had been murdered 15 months earlier
Transported back in time, this made me weep again! Heart breaking, remembering when John Lennon was murdered, Dec 8, 1980. I was 18 and had been raised on the Beatles and their individual careers thanks to a very gifted and talented older brother. What made it even more tragic, was he was just coming out of parenthood retirement and we were left with a last album that IMHO was not his best. 😭 We were all so SHOCKED!!! The only other time I was that shocked was when Diana, Princess of Wales died.
That's where I heard it too, and I immediately started shaking and burst into tears, I was up all night crying, and cried off and on for weeks. I was married and had 3 small children at the time. My husband (who was born and raised in Liverpool) took our 3 young sons to the SILENT VIGIL on Dec 14, 1980, in Detroit. It was the most moving and emotional event I have ever attended. It was a very cold but sunny day. When the time came for the 10 minutes of silence that Yoko wanted the world to observe at the same time (adjusting for the various time changes in each country, etc), in America it was 2 pm and it was so eerie and so quiet, and suddenly we could hear John's "IMAGINE" playing somewhere...we could just barely hear it. It made me shiver, and not from the cold. At the end of the 10 minutes of silence, someone SHOUTED. "HE LIVES" and the whole crowd started singing. My husband FINALLY broke down and cried at that point, he hadn't until that moment. Our youngest son who was still 2 years old that day (he would turn 3 in January 1981) didn't tell me until he entered his 40s that the SILENT VIGIL was his first memory. I can't even remember much of anything that vividly when I was that age! My son said that he remembered all the people, that it was cold, and that he remembered it was the first time he had seen his Dad cry. He knew it was for John Lennon, cos his mom (me) is a die hard Beatles fan. My sons heard Beatles and their solo music since the day they were born. Just thinking back on that night and the day of the Silent Vigil, breaks back so many vivid memories of that horrible time. For me, it was the second time I had experienced that horror as I was 16 when President Kennedy was assasinated, and have vivid memories of THAT day and everything that happened in the week that followed. But John's murder affected me like I had lost a member of my family. RIP John, wish you were still with us, but thankfully we will ALWAYS have your music and your "presence" on films.
@@patticrichton1135 Thank you for sharing those painful memories. Sometimes the worst can happen. I'm happy we still have Ringo and Paul but I sure miss John and George. Those were special times and very special music and people...Here's to us survivors😊
He’s such a professional- how he can hold himself together when he does these emotional tributes to his friends- I’d be a blubbering mess! Have you seen his tribute to Princess Diana at her funeral? Candle in the Wind rewritten for her just days before the funeral. They were also very close friends and you can see the tears in his eyes when he sings but he holds it together!
I get emotional when I hear Elton perform this dong. I was on the dance floor in a Boston disco when the dj stopped the music and announced John's death.
Be happy !!! Smile my friends !!! John is not dead, he's only sleeping !!! Living People ! Don't be selfish !!! Dead men are alive and they can dance.... Away from here, that"s all folks !!!
I think this was from his 60th birthday concert, 2007, something like that. The song was recorded in 1981, released on the album Jump Up! in 1982. Shamefully it only got to 51 in the UK charts, maybe they thought he was actually singing about gardening. Jump Up! is a really fun album in my opinion. There are a couple of duff songs but some real gems and some serious ones like 'Empty Garden'. Why not listen to the last track on the record, 'All Quiet On The Western Front': All quiet on the Western Front, nobody saw A youth asleep in the foreign soil, planted by the war Feel the pulse of human blood pouring forth See the stems of Europe bend under force Eerily relevant again today. One in the eye for those who dismiss anything Elton did after 1975.
This song came out not very long after Lennon's death. There were a number of songs... Julian Lennon's Much Too Late For Goodbye, George Harrison's All Those Years Ago and this one, which is my favourite, though all of those were good and also Harrison did "When We Was Fab." If you have never checked out Julian Lennon's songs, be ready to shiver at the similiarity in his voice to his late father's. I recommend, "Too Late For Goodbye," "Salt Water," "Someday," He's done quite a few songs and has quite the story too.
"After Lennon's death, John was concerned that a tribute song to the late Beatle would be "clumsy" - until he saw Taupin's lyrics." When he repeatedly calls for John to come out and play....it sounds like a child calling for his friend because he can't accept he is gone. Its heartbreaking. As a child of that era that both Elton and John grew up in I recall how we children would do exactly that. Knock on the door and ask if Johnny or whomever can come out and play when the adults answered the door. It was a common thing that I dont think happens much these days. For me it makes it even more relatable.
The tune sounds like Elton is crying. I’ll never forget on that day my alarm clock to get up for high school went off very early for some reason and the first words that came out of it were “John Lennon is dead.” And I bolted up in bed. It was the weirdest thing. Thx Hari 💗
I remember hearing the news on a Monday night while I was bowling in a league and I was so shocked by what had happened. I am sure most music fans of that era remember where they were when hearing about this tragedy.
Same here. My musical god was stolen away, and I'll remember when I found out - exactly where I was and what I was doing - like it was this morning.. forever.
two other great tributes are george harrison "all those years ago" & - McCartney's "here today " both great songs .....harrisons is celebratory ,whilst the other is wistful
IMO this is Elton's best song ever. For John Lennon's murder, this was the best. The next best tribute to John Lennon was George Harrison's "All Those Years Ago" which had Ringo Star on drums and Paul McCartney/Wings on backing vocals. Elton has lost a lot of friends in his lifetime.
I’m so happy to finally see someone react to this song! I’ve suggested it to several reactors and have been patiently waiting for a reaction. Thank you 😊 BTW, this song was released in the Spring of 1982, about a year and a half after Lennon was killed. I believe he’s only sung it less than a handful of times in public because of the deep pain it brings him to reflect on John’s death.
Wow, Cant believe its been over 3 1/2 years since we saw the 1st stop on this tour in Allentown PA. Gonna see him again in Philly. What a great show! Have a great time!
BTW-Julian Lennon has released a live recording of himself singing "Imagine" that is currently available on UA-cam for anyone here that may be interested in that.
... for you are human. I am human too as are many billions of our species throughout the world. Share the love, share the pain, and never forget that we have a duty to share the concepts. "All you need is love, war is over. Imagine all the people Livin' life in peace."
So this particular performance was from 2007 - Elton 60 -- Live at Madison Square Garden. I'm not sure where you got the 1982 in your description. Lennon died in 1980. Very moving performance and nice reaction.
@@CharleneRoozRE I am sure it was. I remember coming across it on Elton's album .it was early 80s and most probably 1982. This was before it was a single. It deeply affected ne, coming to it unprepared
SO THIS WAS ELTON'S 60TH BIRTHDAY HARRI, HIS 60TH TIME PLAYING AT MSG ( MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ) , 2007 GREAT GREAT ROCK CONCERT, YEAH AWESOME! 😊YEAH HE WAS VERYYYY DISTRAUGHT AND PAINED 🙃 BY HIS GREAT FRIENDS HIDEOUS, SENSELESS, ATROCIOUS MURDER🙃
I got to see him sing this at The Garden. He played it to a video. I was at this concert. I cried. I just lost my husband of 43 years on 10/20. I just now realized he's gone forever. 😢😢
John Lennon and Elton were very close, and the world remains gutted at the mindless slaying of this iconic genius.
Agree. So tragic.
Great reaction Harri, so emotional. Elton belting out the lyrics at the end "Hey Hey Johnny
" My God.
I've seen Elton twice in concert and he sounds remarkable live
Harri, I am so glad you reacted to this!! Underrated Elton John tribute song. Absolutely brilliant.
This song is something so special. I remember this 45 inch vinyl and it was my favorite until this day and I’m 54 years old. I still love this song so much. This is a brilliant song.
I remember when this song first came out... LOVED IT then and love it now! (Goosebumps!) Thanks Harri!
Very emotional and you can see Elton almost crying at the end!
"...and how it all looks strange, it's funny how one insect can damage so much grain", I won't mention the name of that insect, he deserves no recognition or attention. Thank's to Bernie for the wonderful lyrics, thank's to Elton for the beautiful tune and thank's to John for all the fabulous music, idea's and social issues you tried to illuminate. Your fingerprints in this world are missed. A solemn "Bravo", Harri.
Well said, thank you.
beautifully said Robin F. Yes and the grain that was damaged was John's family, friends, fellow musicians, and his fans all over the world.
"I won't mention the name" -- thank you for that... I am in complete agreement with you here. To a great extent, these people do these horrendous acts for the fame (or rather, infamy). Whenever we talk publicly about them -- and this includes making biopics about them -- we are playing into that desire of theirs. I don't even think their names should be made public, except to the family of the victims, because they don't deserve to be remembered. Their actions, of course, will always be remembered -- but what the perpetrators of such acts deserve is to be completely forgotten in the annals of history.
I was lucky enough to be there that night. I cried the rest of the concert. I was a John girl since 1963 when I was 5. I was devastated & still am. It was the year I was married. Cried for days.😪😪RIP JOHN MY LOVE ✌🌻🌻
"Hey, hey Johnny..."
😭
Senseless and painful.
Bless you John Lennon!! We r still rockin you!!
Ty Harri you are hitting them tonight!! ❤👍🏽
“Hey, hey, Johnny… can you come out to play?” gets me every time I hear it.
Jaq, yep, that's when I teared up...and do every time.
Does the same to me. It just brings it all back as if it just happened. I will NEVER forget that night, the night, never.
I am still greatly affected. A great gardener of truth such as Lennon cannot be replaced.
At the end, Elton really lets out so much emotion. Anger. Frustration. Shock. Amazing.
I saw him perform this at Madison Square Garden. Lucky me. 🙏✌🌻🌻 RIP SWEET JOHN 🙏✌🌻🌻
1. When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy.’ They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.
~John Lennon
2. Peace is not something you wish for; It’s something you make, something you do, something you are, and something you give away.
~John Lennon
3. If we cannot love ourselves, we cannot fully open to our ability to love others or our potential to create.
~John Lennon
4. When you do something beautiful and nobody noticed, do not be sad. For the sun, every morning is a beautiful spectacle and yet most of the audience still sleeps.
~John Lennon
5. All you need is love. - John Lennon
Elton John is a legend ☆
Yes. so emotional!!!
The best song EVER about John Lennon!
I Miss John ♥️
Superb performance from Elton and his band. Paul's Here today also very emotional.
So Elton is my #1 Artist! My Favorite of all time! This particular song and this performance makes me cry everytime! RIP JOHNIE 😭
Same here
Me too. He was murdered the year I was married. I just lost my husband of 43 years on 10/20. Listening to this it's hit me. He's gone forever.😢
@@oldeskoolnana7543 No he's not! You will absolutely and unconditionally be together again..young, vibrant and alive in our true home!
There is a very ancient saying that comes from the great mystics of the old ages that goes something like this: We are taught in life that "We are physical beings experiencing a spiritual life" But this is incorrect, for in actuality "We are spiritual beings experiencing a physical life"
For this is the only way for us spirit beings to grow, incarnating again and again into the physical domain, and in between we go home for a glorious and much needed break and reunion with our immense loving family.. Jesus Christ (Yeshua Ben Yosef) taught us that! 🍀
Words cant explain how i feel when hearing this song.
It was very emotional & painful to hear this on the radio, or to watch the video on tv, when this first came out. Fitting tribute. If you haven't listened to it yet, you should follow this up with Queen's Lennon tribute, 'Love Is Real'.
When he knocks and no one answers gets me every time.
This was very emotional. The death of John Lennon still saddens me. It was so senseless and John’s death affected millions of people. You could feel the love Elton had for his friend. Thank you Harri.
I was 12 when Lennon was killed. My mom fed us the Beatles. It was devastating. Having this song come out a year or so after from Elton, who was also rife on our turntable, brougbt great assuagement
My Mother Dorothy Jean Tandle…“Dotty” worked at RIC in early 1964. She did the work on the Beatles guitars. Ten years later…..In the 1974, I worked for “Fender Musical Instruments” in Fullerton California.
I made two Fender Rhodes Electric Pianos for John Lennon/Apple Studios.
The one used on “Walls and Bridges”
“Well if they’re gonna send one, send two cause I’d like one as well”
John Lennon ordering a Fender Rhodes Electric Piano at the Apple studios.
(Elton John recorded “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds” with the same piano)
My mother and myself are the only mother/son that both built an instrument for John Lennon.
My mother made guitars for many famous Rockers, including the red guitar that was smashed by Peter Townsend of the WHO and is in the Rock HOF. Chris Squire, Roger Waters, Paul McCartney (left-handed 1964 4001S FG Rickenbacker bass) , John Entwistle, George Harrison’s 12 String. Roger McGuinn 12 string and many others.
I have built pianos for “You name it”
just about everyone IE: “Pink Floyd” on “Dark Side Of The Moon”
It is our little contribution to Classic Rock.
I’m very proud of that fact.
great bit of rock history there. bravo.
Wonderful story.❤ Thanks for sharing
Wow. I'm blown away. ❤❤
This was such an emotional song for me, not only did I mourn for John Lennon, my grandfather died soon after, he had a small garden, was a master musician and his name was John, I was 16, this song would make me sob.. listening today brought me right back there..
My father loved the Beatles, and certainly John Lennon . We’d light a candle every year to honor him. I lost my dad to cancer in 2019 this song hits home now that I’m lighting two candles
If you haven't already guessed, the "Empty Garden" he is singing about refers to Madison Square Garden. I read somewhere that he and Lennon were planning to do a concert there together sometime in 1981, but tragically, John Lennon was murdered before it could happen.
I think there's more to the story of the '74 concert. Something about John and Yoko having been separated for awhile and Elton arranged for them to meet backstage after the concert. They reconciled that night and apparently that is when Sean was conceived which is why Elton is his Godfather. I'm iffy on all the details but i think that's the gist of it.
Yeah, that is what Sean said, but it is mathematically impossible (Nov 28 1974 - Oct 9 1975). 11 mos pregnancy? Yes, they reconciled that night, but Sean was not conceived until much later.
George Harrison’s tribute “All Those Years Ago” the Official Video is very touching
Omy goodness thank u!!!!!!!
It's one of those songs u need to listen to twice.
Thank you so much for sharing this sweet tribute to John Lennon. R. I. P. 12+8-80
What a great tribute to John Lennon.So sad.
This was from EJ's 60th birthday bash at MSG which was the 60th time he played there. This song just busts me up. Thanx Harri. Keep 'em coming.
Beautiful, brilliant, touching.
Thank u Elton. Masterpiece
"Empty Garden" was written in October 1981, released in May '82, about 18 months after John died.
First of all, great reaction video! If you haven't checked it out already, the concert he mentions where Elton John performs with John Lennon in 1974 is on the CD Here and There. They perform 3 songs together and right when he introduces John Lennon to come on stage, you can hear a big change in the crowd, the Beatlemania scream. And when they finish, the audience takes a while to calm down before Elton continues the next song.
Also, in addition to this performance of Empty Garden, the most emotional version I've seen is of Elton performing it on his first Saturday Night Live appearance in April 1982. It just has a different feel than any other version I've heard, obviously being in New York. Maybe try to check that one out too.
A beautiful tribute to our fallen hero. Take care Hari, RNB
I was watching Monday Night Football when Howard Cosell broke the news of John's assassination. THIS song came out (as far as I can remember) before any other tribute to John (beatle mates and all) I like this version you watched a lot - but for me the best version is still the ACTUAL recording. One main reason is because it was before Elton had voice issue's and it is one of the last times you can hear Elton at full strength giving all he has .. and Elton is one of my all time favorite singers .. seen him live several times and he is just awesome. His emotion on this particular song has not wavered through in all these years and I think its clear that John was not just a friend to him but someone he loved and cherished.
I was watching Monday night football too
Very nice description on the song and its context both the public and Elton personally. Good job!
This was a big hit in 1982? It was on the radio a lot. It hits me so much harder now than it did when I was a kid. 💔
Beautiful, Harri.
This still choaks me up! RIP John. Thank you, Elton for such a beautiful tribute.
Harri you are an excellent reactor. NO B.S. Love your red room ♡
😢😢😢 Elton does great tribute songs.
That's cuz he's lost too many friends, left behind to continue their legacy.❤💔
nice reaction! I love the studio version, one of my favorite Elton John songs.
"Empty Garden (Hey Hey Johnny)" is a song composed by English musician Elton John and Bernie Taupin and originally performed by Elton John. The song first appeared on Elton John's 1982 album Jump Up!, and was released as the album's second single in the UK, and as the lead single in the US. The song is a tribute to John Lennon, who had been murdered 15 months earlier
Bernie Taupin did not write the lyrics
Incredible song. Tears in eyes. I still feel it. One of the worst nights long ago yestarreday
Hello handsome I love your reactions and comments this was beautiful and emotional 💗
Transported back in time, this made me weep again! Heart breaking, remembering when John Lennon was murdered, Dec 8, 1980. I was 18 and had been raised on the Beatles and their individual careers thanks to a very gifted and talented older brother. What made it even more tragic, was he was just coming out of parenthood retirement and we were left with a last album that IMHO was not his best. 😭 We were all so SHOCKED!!! The only other time I was that shocked was when Diana, Princess of Wales died.
I'll never forget that day....I heard the news from Howard Cosell on Monday Night Football 1980...I cried many tears
That's where I heard it too, and I immediately started shaking and burst into tears, I was up all night crying, and cried off and on for weeks. I was married and had 3 small children at the time. My husband (who was born and raised in Liverpool) took our 3 young sons to the SILENT VIGIL on Dec 14, 1980, in Detroit. It was the most moving and emotional event I have ever attended. It was a very cold but sunny day. When the time came for the 10 minutes of silence that Yoko wanted the world to observe at the same time (adjusting for the various time changes in each country, etc), in America it was 2 pm and it was so eerie and so quiet, and suddenly we could hear John's "IMAGINE" playing somewhere...we could just barely hear it. It made me shiver, and not from the cold. At the end of the 10 minutes of silence, someone SHOUTED. "HE LIVES" and the whole crowd started singing. My husband FINALLY broke down and cried at that point, he hadn't until that moment. Our youngest son who was still 2 years old that day (he would turn 3 in January 1981) didn't tell me until he entered his 40s that the SILENT VIGIL was his first memory. I can't even remember much of anything that vividly when I was that age! My son said that he remembered all the people, that it was cold, and that he remembered it was the first time he had seen his Dad cry. He knew it was for John Lennon, cos his mom (me) is a die hard Beatles fan. My sons heard Beatles and their solo music since the day they were born. Just thinking back on that night and the day of the Silent Vigil, breaks back so many vivid memories of that horrible time. For me, it was the second time I had experienced that horror as I was 16 when President Kennedy was assasinated, and have vivid memories of THAT day and everything that happened in the week that followed. But John's murder affected me like I had lost a member of my family. RIP John, wish you were still with us, but thankfully we will ALWAYS have your music and your "presence" on films.
@@patticrichton1135 Thank you for sharing those painful memories. Sometimes the worst can happen. I'm happy we still have Ringo and Paul but I sure miss John and George. Those were special times and very special music and people...Here's to us survivors😊
Thanks for reacting to this amazing song.
Such a great song and tribute. . .
Lennon forever 💔☮
He’s such a professional- how he can hold himself together when he does these emotional tributes to his friends- I’d be a blubbering mess! Have you seen his tribute to Princess Diana at her funeral? Candle in the Wind rewritten for her just days before the funeral. They were also very close friends and you can see the tears in his eyes when he sings but he holds it together!
Exactly. I could see that h was barely holding it together, but he sang it like a boss.
Crazy good for John love you
Elton and John Lennon did "I Saw Her Standing There" at the concert he was referring to. You should react to that.
I get emotional when I hear Elton perform this dong. I was on the dance floor in a Boston disco when the dj stopped the music and announced John's death.
Be happy !!! Smile my friends !!! John is not dead, he's only sleeping !!! Living People ! Don't be selfish !!! Dead men are alive and they can dance.... Away from here, that"s all folks !!!
Truth!!! Tell it!
I think this was from his 60th birthday concert, 2007, something like that. The song was recorded in 1981, released on the album Jump Up! in 1982. Shamefully it only got to 51 in the UK charts, maybe they thought he was actually singing about gardening.
Jump Up! is a really fun album in my opinion. There are a couple of duff songs but some real gems and some serious ones like 'Empty Garden'. Why not listen to the last track on the record, 'All Quiet On The Western Front':
All quiet on the Western Front, nobody saw
A youth asleep in the foreign soil, planted by the war
Feel the pulse of human blood pouring forth
See the stems of Europe bend under force
Eerily relevant again today. One in the eye for those who dismiss anything Elton did after 1975.
This song came out not very long after Lennon's death. There were a number of songs... Julian Lennon's Much Too Late For Goodbye, George Harrison's All Those Years Ago and this one, which is my favourite, though all of those were good and also Harrison did "When We Was Fab." If you have never checked out Julian Lennon's songs, be ready to shiver at the similiarity in his voice to his late father's. I recommend, "Too Late For Goodbye," "Salt Water," "Someday," He's done quite a few songs and has quite the story too.
YES PLEASE, HARRI, REACT to JULIAN LENNON"S songs that HAZEL MAY LEBRUN listed above.
If I heard Valotte and didn’t know better I would swear it’s John singing
This song forget it I’m gone😢
"After Lennon's death, John was concerned that a tribute song to the late Beatle would be "clumsy" - until he saw Taupin's lyrics."
When he repeatedly calls for John to come out and play....it sounds like a child calling for his friend because he can't accept he is gone. Its heartbreaking. As a child of that era that both Elton and John grew up in I recall how we children would do exactly that. Knock on the door and ask if Johnny or whomever can come out and play when the adults answered the door. It was a common thing that I dont think happens much these days. For me it makes it even more relatable.
Well done Harri!
The tune sounds like Elton is crying. I’ll never forget on that day my alarm clock to get up for high school went off very early for some reason and the first words that came out of it were “John Lennon is dead.”
And I bolted up in bed. It was the weirdest thing. Thx Hari 💗
You can't forget where you got the news
I Found Out About It in The "Exact Same Way"--As You Just Described. Just Devastating! 💔💔
I'm going to see Elton again in November! I can't wait!
I remember hearing the news on a Monday night while I was bowling in a league and I was so shocked by what had happened. I am sure most music fans of that era remember where they were when hearing about this tragedy.
We were watching Monday night football, Howard Cosselle broke the news
I have not recovered from John Lennon’s senseless murder. Never will. 🌺✌️
Debbie Chang, I feel exactly the same as you.
Same here. My musical god was stolen away, and I'll remember when I found out - exactly where I was and what I was doing - like it was this morning.. forever.
two other great tributes are george harrison "all those years ago" & -
McCartney's "here today " both great songs .....harrisons is celebratory ,whilst the other is wistful
This version is good. Studio version is amazing
IMO this is Elton's best song ever. For John Lennon's murder, this was the best. The next best tribute to John Lennon was George Harrison's "All Those Years Ago" which had Ringo Star on drums and Paul McCartney/Wings on backing vocals. Elton has lost a lot of friends in his lifetime.
4 years later, myy sister and her family were killed by a drunk driver. this song stayed with me because my garden is empty without my sister
Sorry for your tragic loss Beth ❤
Hi Harri 121. Great song
I’m so happy to finally see someone react to this song! I’ve suggested it to several reactors and have been patiently waiting for a reaction. Thank you 😊
BTW, this song was released in the Spring of 1982, about a year and a half after Lennon was killed. I believe he’s only sung it less than a handful of times in public because of the deep pain it brings him to reflect on John’s death.
Yay! This is one of my favorite EJ songs! I`m going to go see him in 2 weeks and I can`t wait..I`ve had the tickets since 2020..Keep On Rockin'
Wow, Cant believe its been over 3 1/2 years since we saw the 1st stop on this tour in Allentown PA. Gonna see him again in Philly. What a great show! Have a great time!
If you watch the music video of this song it depicts the brownstone door of Lennons NY residence, where he was murdered just outside his home
😢😢😢❤🎉🎉🎉🎉
BTW-Julian Lennon has released a live recording of himself singing "Imagine" that is currently available on UA-cam for anyone here that may be interested in that.
IT'S ON THE 82 ALBUM ( JUMP UP ) 😊 IF YOU WANT TO CHECK OUT THE STUDIO VERSION HARRI 😊
Why do my eyes start to leak whenever i hear this song?
... for you are human. I am human too as are many billions of our species throughout the world. Share the love, share the pain, and never forget that we have a duty to share the concepts. "All you need is love, war is over. Imagine all the people Livin' life in peace."
The lyrics alone are deep, and then eltons powerful soulful voice just makes a tearjerker
SO HE AND BERNIE DID THIS SONG FOR THE 82 ALBUM HARRI ( JUMP UP ) 😊 AS A TRIBUTE TO HIS GREAT FRIENDS MURDER 🙃 2 YEARS BEFORE ( 8 DEC 80 ) 🙃
So this particular performance was from 2007 - Elton 60 -- Live at Madison Square Garden. I'm not sure where you got the 1982 in your description. Lennon died in 1980. Very moving performance and nice reaction.
The song was originally released in '82
@@danmacalka6472 Thanks. I thought that was the explanation
I think the 1982 comes from when he wrote the song for John Lennon.
@@CharleneRoozRE I am sure it was. I remember coming across it on Elton's album .it was early 80s and most probably 1982. This was before it was a single. It deeply affected ne, coming to it unprepared
I liked George Harrison’s tribute, ‘all those years ago’
Shoulda lustened to an older live version of it, he hit the higher notes a little better.
Better than Candle In the Wind. 💔
Elton John : Mozart Billy joel : Beethoven
Elton is Sean Lennon's Godfather.
SO THIS WAS ELTON'S 60TH BIRTHDAY HARRI, HIS 60TH TIME PLAYING AT MSG ( MADISON SQUARE GARDEN ) , 2007 GREAT GREAT ROCK CONCERT, YEAH AWESOME! 😊YEAH HE WAS VERYYYY DISTRAUGHT AND PAINED 🙃 BY HIS GREAT FRIENDS HIDEOUS, SENSELESS, ATROCIOUS MURDER🙃
I think the song was released in 1985. Assuming that, John would have been dead five years.