There are many songs in Elton's back catalogue that are under rated and weren't necessarily hits on the radio. Because this concert was Elton's last show that he performed in Australia that year, it was both televised and simulcasted on radio stations there nationwide. A live album was later released worldwide. On that album before third or forth track (I can't remember specifically which one) Elton talked about how he had to go back in his earlier catalogue and re-learn the lyrics to many of his songs during rehearsals in Brisbane because, by then, he hadn't sung many of them live in over a decade at the time.
Live In Australia is beyond brilliant - even with this issues with his voice and it wasn't his best time in his life, but every song with the orchestra is beyond words. This is one of my top 5 Elton John songs and I am struggling to find a better live version than this
That's my favourite live rendition of Madman. With the orchestra it's simply devastating, it has such an enorumous note of authority. I read in Elton's book, that the first time, when He heard the orchestra playing in Madman, His head almost fell off, it was so powerful. And Elton clearly still really enjoyed it, even though that was the last night of the tour and He (presumably) had already done the song 27 times. Listening to that performance, one can imagine, how strongly it must have sounded in the Sydney Entertainment Centre. I remember putting this concert on one night, while playing the bass guitar along. And when Madman came, I turned the lights off, playing in almost pitch darkness. And at the part, when the orchestra quietens down, with that eerie high part, I looked out the window. It was a foggy night, with full moon. That was a really blood chilling experience.
@@1sdburns Don't worry about that! ;) I'm an enormous Elton fan and apart from Victim of Love and The Diving Board, I bought every studio album in his catalog. (Yes, even Leather Jackets :) )
@@matekozma1039 The Diving Board is a good album. Obviously not his absolute best, but it’s good. VOL is unlistenable to me. I only can listen to Born Bad on that album. I personally think that Elton released some good tracks in the 80’s, but again that is just my opinion. This is one of his best live performances, imho.
@@barbiebelardinelli1885 Yes, I like it too. I never had any problem with that album. Actually, it took more time for some of Elton's more successful albums to convince me! I remember the first time, I listened to a song from LJ. It was Slow Rivers. And I thought: "Well, if it is Elton's worst album, He's got one more shot, because I love that song" Even if it is not His best record, Leather Jackets is unjustly criticized. And the problem was that Elton didn't really tour that album. He played Paris on the european and american leg in 1986. And Heartache, and Slow Rivers in Australia, but that's all. So Leather Jackets sort of sank. There are some songs on that album, which would have definitely sounded great live.
I was at this concert in the Sydney Entertainment Centre 1986.His voice was starting to struggle and from memory he went straight for an operation after the final concert but still to this day it was one of the best shows I have ever seen!!
That's correct. At the end of the song at 6:43 in the video, you will notice Elton had a big glass of water he was drinking on throughout the show. In later interviews, Elton discussed the 1986 tour of Australia and wished that he hadn't had to do it at the time since he had started having issues with his voice by that leg of the tour. At the time, he was under contractual obligations with promoters to do the shows there and couldn't just walk away from them. If he had, he would've wound up owing a lot of money back to these promoters. After the tour was over with, Elton headed straight to Dr. Stephen Zeitels, director at the Massachusetts General Hospital Voice Center in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Laser surgery was performed to remove polyps from Elton's vocal cords. Elton had to spend over a year not speaking afterwards recovering from the procedure. Dr. Zeitels has since become famous for saving the vocal cords of many artists, including Adele's who had the same procedure done back in September of 2011 after she did the Live of Royal Albert Hall gig. She later discussed it in this interview with CBS. www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/adele-returns-to-stage-after-laser-surgery-fixes-vocal-cords/
This is definately one of his best if not thee best he's written, it's just a shame he wasn't able to write more of these alternative, surreal tunes. I felt he came close with several tracks on Yellow Brick Road
I actually like this different vocal version of the song and he did so well to perform considering the trouble with his voice during this. He has a way of inflecting vocals that bring a feel to a song like no one else can, his phrasing too is brilliant
I love this album. When it came out I was 12 and although I knew Elton really well, it was the deep cuts he sang at this show that made me a big fan (particularly "Sixty Years On" and "I Need You to Turn To"). This performance is incredible. Easily one of my favorite Elton John songs ever.
I jammed to this tune on a Delta flight last week: ATL-DFW. I added this song and a few others to the inflight playlist and I was chilling. I specifically cranked up the volume to full for this song. So wonderful!
This tube is so epic and gorgeous in every way, think it's my fave EJ song. Love this performance of it with the lush orchestration, what a great gig! Just finished listening to his excellent, funny and insightful memoir and the performance seems even more incredible given his throat issues. Can't wait to see him perform the O2 next year here's hoping he performs this again (*also please don't spoil it for me if you know whether he does or not, want setlist to be a surprise*). Thnaks for uploading!
Para mi este concierto en especial es único e irrepetible la obra cumbre de un genio de la música que brilla en una noche inolvidable pese a que su voz pasaba por uno de los momentos más complicados.No me cansaré de seguirlo escuchando hasta mis últimos días.......
From EJ's book "Me," page 196, "We miked up every instrument in the orchestra individually, which no one had ever done before either, and the effect was astonishing: When the strings came in on 'Madman Across the Water", it took the top of your head off." Except on this YT video. Nevertheless, what must it have been like 'in person'? In other news, my JBL Flip-5 is on the fritz, so I am hearing-impaired ATM.
From Elton's website: EJ.com: Just before Take Me To The Pilot on the final night, Elton turns to you and says, “Hi Fred.” Fred Mandel: Yeah, that was just a thing we used to do every once in a while. It’s just our sense of humor, kind of dry but also absurd. I mean, you have a giant orchestra, an extremely formal situation, hundreds of musicians onstage and thousands in the audience and you just say “hi” into the microphone like we’re performing at the local high school doing a sock hop.
Nodules, vocal scarring and vocal edema brought on by excessive pot smoking. Elton once equipped about smoking forty spliffs a day, that surgery restored his voice to the condition it was before the nodules formed as it was already scarred by April of '86 where it had shifted into a lower and darker tone. The surgery essentially saved and restored his voice.
My mom caused me to appreciate the very best music and this is the way to bring her back to life, R. I. P. ❤
Anybody of "sound mind" knows Elton John is a Genius & one hell of a musician
No song like this one will ever exist again and i grew up with his music, what a time to be alive! ❤
What an underrated song，what an underrated live
There are many songs in Elton's back catalogue that are under rated and weren't necessarily hits on the radio. Because this concert was Elton's last show that he performed in Australia that year, it was both televised and simulcasted on radio stations there nationwide. A live album was later released worldwide. On that album before third or forth track (I can't remember specifically which one) Elton talked about how he had to go back in his earlier catalogue and re-learn the lyrics to many of his songs during rehearsals in Brisbane because, by then, he hadn't sung many of them live in over a decade at the time.
Thanks to my mom I got to appreciate him, she loved this song, too! To only call this a song doesn't bring it justice but RIP, mom. ❤
Live In Australia is beyond brilliant - even with this issues with his voice and it wasn't his best time in his life, but every song with the orchestra is beyond words. This is one of my top 5 Elton John songs and I am struggling to find a better live version than this
This version of Madman is absolute perfection.
In his own class, with talent you can't duplicate! ❤
Thank you Elton great music.
The person who disliked this is the actual madman across the water.
More like a moron the violin is GREAT what a fantastic performance !!!
Not worthy of the high title.
Well I guess since no has disliked it yet, we'll just never know who the actual Madman Across The Water really is, will we?
That's my favourite live rendition of Madman.
With the orchestra it's simply devastating, it has such an enorumous note of authority.
I read in Elton's book, that the first time, when He heard the orchestra playing in Madman, His head almost fell off, it was so powerful.
And Elton clearly still really enjoyed it, even though that was the last night of the tour and He (presumably) had already done the song 27 times.
Listening to that performance, one can imagine, how strongly it must have sounded in the Sydney Entertainment Centre.
I remember putting this concert on one night, while playing the bass guitar along. And when Madman came, I turned the lights off, playing in almost pitch darkness. And at the part, when the orchestra quietens down, with that eerie high part, I looked out the window. It was a foggy night, with full moon.
That was a really blood chilling experience.
The whole album is amazing. Get it if you can. The only thing better was live and I was very very lucky
@@1sdburns Don't worry about that! ;) I'm an enormous Elton fan and apart from Victim of Love and The Diving Board, I bought every studio album in his catalog. (Yes, even Leather Jackets :) )
@@matekozma1039 The Diving Board is a good album. Obviously not his absolute best, but it’s good. VOL is unlistenable to me. I only can listen to Born Bad on that album. I personally think that Elton released some good tracks in the 80’s, but again that is just my opinion. This is one of his best live performances, imho.
@@matekozma1039 leather jackets is good
@@barbiebelardinelli1885 Yes, I like it too. I never had any problem with that album. Actually, it took more time for some of Elton's more successful albums to convince me! I remember the first time, I listened to a song from LJ. It was Slow Rivers. And I thought: "Well, if it is Elton's worst album, He's got one more shot, because I love that song" Even if it is not His best record, Leather Jackets is unjustly criticized. And the problem was that Elton didn't really tour that album. He played Paris on the european and american leg in 1986. And Heartache, and Slow Rivers in Australia, but that's all. So Leather Jackets sort of sank. There are some songs on that album, which would have definitely sounded great live.
I was at this concert in the Sydney Entertainment Centre 1986.His voice was starting to struggle and from memory he went straight for an operation after the final concert but still to this day it was one of the best shows I have ever seen!!
How lucky are you! I've listened to this concert at least 500 times since Jan 1987.
That's correct. At the end of the song at 6:43 in the video, you will notice Elton had a big glass of water he was drinking on throughout the show. In later interviews, Elton discussed the 1986 tour of Australia and wished that he hadn't had to do it at the time since he had started having issues with his voice by that leg of the tour. At the time, he was under contractual obligations with promoters to do the shows there and couldn't just walk away from them. If he had, he would've wound up owing a lot of money back to these promoters. After the tour was over with, Elton headed straight to Dr. Stephen Zeitels, director at the Massachusetts General Hospital Voice Center in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Laser surgery was performed to remove polyps from Elton's vocal cords. Elton had to spend over a year not speaking afterwards recovering from the procedure. Dr. Zeitels has since become famous for saving the vocal cords of many artists, including Adele's who had the same procedure done back in September of 2011 after she did the Live of Royal Albert Hall gig. She later discussed it in this interview with CBS. www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/adele-returns-to-stage-after-laser-surgery-fixes-vocal-cords/
I think a strong argument could be made that this is EJ's heaviest song ever. It's gorgeously dark and brooding and bitter. Fucking love it.
I saw this in Melbourne, a great show. Percussionist was an extra good showman.
GREAT SHOW! You are the best Elton John! 👌♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
This is definately one of his best if not thee best he's written, it's just a shame he wasn't able to write more of these alternative, surreal tunes. I felt he came close with several tracks on Yellow Brick Road
This is my favorite versions of this song(Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.)
I can’t get enough of Elton John!❤❤
PRECIOUS, GENIUS. Love you. Elton John's unique ♥️
This is an extremely difficult piece of music to perform live.... Beautiful job.❤
I actually like this different vocal version of the song and he did so well to perform considering the trouble with his voice during this. He has a way of inflecting vocals that bring a feel to a song like no one else can, his phrasing too is brilliant
It has a different and nicer style of voice, i actually like more this style than the other ones 😍.
I love this album. When it came out I was 12 and although I knew Elton really well, it was the deep cuts he sang at this show that made me a big fan (particularly "Sixty Years On" and "I Need You to Turn To"). This performance is incredible. Easily one of my favorite Elton John songs ever.
I had it on casset my favorite love the symphony
I love Elton but loved him more with Bernie.
I jammed to this tune on a Delta flight last week: ATL-DFW. I added this song and a few others to the inflight playlist and I was chilling. I specifically cranked up the volume to full for this song. So wonderful!
This is my favorite version of this song.
i just wanted to let everyone know that every time i hear this i cry a lil bit
she looks amazing!!
He IS music!
Sir Elton John, a compassionate soul, as well❤
Genius.❤️🎵
Best version❤
Got you are such a great artist, and showman
Acho linda essa versão. O solo de 🎹 piano é um show a parte.
Rip mom, and i thank 🙏 forever more
I knew they must have done this, with the Symphony Orchestra!
Omg. Beautiful!
Who else could sing this
@@rickmatuszak6832 No one I can think of.
This tube is so epic and gorgeous in every way, think it's my fave EJ song. Love this performance of it with the lush orchestration, what a great gig! Just finished listening to his excellent, funny and insightful memoir and the performance seems even more incredible given his throat issues. Can't wait to see him perform the O2 next year here's hoping he performs this again (*also please don't spoil it for me if you know whether he does or not, want setlist to be a surprise*). Thnaks for uploading!
I grew up with classical music, too!
This is a great album.
el mejor concierto de Elton John !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No mistaking this.
My favorite
Para mi este concierto en especial es único e irrepetible la obra cumbre de un genio de la música que brilla en una noche inolvidable pese a que su voz pasaba por uno de los momentos más complicados.No me cansaré de seguirlo escuchando hasta mis últimos días.......
My favorite.
From EJ's book "Me," page 196, "We miked up every instrument in the orchestra individually, which no one had ever done before either, and the effect was astonishing: When the strings came in on 'Madman Across the Water", it took the top of your head off."
Except on this YT video. Nevertheless, what must it have been like 'in person'?
In other news, my JBL Flip-5 is on the fritz, so I am hearing-impaired ATM.
Geez, this is good...
Obrigado Elton John , por essa obra de arte. I love this song same.
Wow❤❤❤
Genius
Since I‘m a kid, I always wondered what he says at the beginning.... „Hi Fred“? „Alfred“? On the CD, he says it just before Take me to the pilot
I'm guessing it's Fred Mandel, who is listed on the album credits as playing keyboards & synthesizers
From Elton's website:
EJ.com: Just before Take Me To The Pilot on the final night, Elton turns to you and says, “Hi Fred.”
Fred Mandel: Yeah, that was just a thing we used to do every once in a while. It’s just our sense of humor, kind of dry but also absurd. I mean, you have a giant orchestra, an extremely formal situation, hundreds of musicians onstage and thousands in the audience and you just say “hi” into the microphone like we’re performing at the local high school doing a sock hop.
this sounds sooo 80-ish!
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
❤
Fuck this is bad ass what is he 39 here??,
Is the nightmare black or are the windows painted....
vocal nods definitely hurting his voice, holy fuck he nailed it. the booze and blow probably helped
Nodules, vocal scarring and vocal edema brought on by excessive pot smoking. Elton once equipped about smoking forty spliffs a day, that surgery restored his voice to the condition it was before the nodules formed as it was already scarred by April of '86 where it had shifted into a lower and darker tone. The surgery essentially saved and restored his voice.
Not the best version because of his voice...just before his throat surgery. But the song is a masterpiece
I think the raspiness actually makes it have more oomph in the song. I like it.
His voice may have been blown out but I think it sounds awesome...especially when he belts out I’m Still Standing!
I think the raspiness added to the performance...
This is my favorite Elton performance. I could listen to the whole thing every day
It sounds like they were only calling a disturbed person crazy.
His vocal condition here really did wonders for the intensity of this song.. One Horse Town not so much though 😂
😊
이건무슨 노래지?멎있다
살 떨립니다,
You are way too young to know this, Damon
I wonder if he or someone ended up in the mental ward... A lot went on with him. I was a fan when I was 12 and I should have kept that scrap book!
trump ;)
Keep America Great 2020!
🤪