I doubt the song will ever be sung better than it is here. John Raitt is so natural, unaffected, his vulnerability matched by his extraordinary macho baritone voice, we know his character is trying to talk himself out of love. There is dramatic tension achieved by the creators and Mr. Raitt delivers beyond without giving in to it. Nothing more touching than a good man wrestling with love.
God, I wish I was a tenor. I love this song. And, I love John Raitt. I saw him in a Kenley Players production of Camelot. He played Lancelot. I loved his performance. But, for some reason, he didn't feel his performance was up to his standards. So, at the end of the show he came out and addressed the crowd and apologized and asked if he could try to make it up to us by singing a few songs. It was more like 5 or 6 and the audience loved it. He got a standing ovation. In all my years in theatre on or off the stage, I have never seen nor even heard of such a thing. I can tell you though, it was magical. Since then, I was and am a lifelong fan.
Unbelievable voice and interpretation of the song as it was meant to be sung by the composer & lyricist. Unbelievable stage presence & handsome as can be. Had the pleasure of seeing him on Broadway many times. God Bless you and thank you. No other musical performer can come close. .
I love his tone here, and the open space he creates on those vowels. I'm no John Raitt, but I try to imitate it. Everyone else notice this was done in one long take? No room for error
Who-o-oa. This is from "Pajama Game," which I remember from childhood. Just great, great, great. Today's singers may treat it differently, but no matter. John Raitt was incredible.
Didn't anyone else notice? I've been reading Richard Adlers autobiography- at first, Raitt's singing " are you not seeing things too clear, ARE YOU JUST TOO FAR GONE TO HEAR " George Abbott had that lyric put in, NOT the original. And then, he sings back to the recording " ARE YOU TOO MUCH IN LOVE TO HEAR" that's the ORIGINAL lyric- Adler wanted it put back in.
This movie was shown at the Wellington NZ Film Festival some time in the 1990s. Forget exactly when, but before DVDs anyway. The festival programme commented that the only copy they'd been able to locate - worldwide - was a 16mm print with much-faded colour. Even in that state, it blew the audience away, me included. Since then they've either found some better copies, or else the whole thing's been restored from that one half-ruined print. (I have a good DVD of it now.) But it makes you think. This masterpiece - the only John Raitt performance captured on film - came THAT close to being lost for ever.
John Raitt was so frickin' sexy and masculine here. And that voice! Can't believe he only made one movie. I can see him in Westerns which were still being made at the time. But maybe the timing was off. Or Hollywood didn't know what to do with him. Musicals were starting to die out by the early 60s.
This or Rosemary Clooneys version are absolutely the best performances of this masterpiece. Boomers were so lucky to have adults like these as models when we were kids. WE blew a lot of what we should have taken to heart. Millenials study the their generation and show some courage and fortitude. Don't take the eternal teenager path which has just about destroyed the USA!
In my opinion, John Raitt had much greater talent than his daughter Bonnie yet it seems everyone says " John Raitt is Bonnie's father" It should be other way around. He is almost as great a singer as the great Mario Lanza and just as handsome!
I used to think Raitt was a high baritone. But now I believe he was a dramatic tenor. Now there really aren't any dramatic tenor roles in American musical theatre. At least not now or in the mid 1940s, when Raitt created Billy Bigelow.
*Addendum to previous post* So Raitt had this big, powerful and wide-ranging voice, which could easily encompass high baritone and moderate tenorial tessiture. AND he was also big, athletic and handsome. Granted, Raitt wasn't much of an actor. But given his other exceptional assets, significant acting talent wasn't necessary.
Don't entirely agree with the point about his acting ability. IMHO, he was not much of a MOVIE actor - his acting is very stage-y. It probably worked just fine in live theatre. But what a singer! One of the very best ever, stage or screen.
Ronette Pulaski There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to be rude to someone who is attempting to convey genuine information to those who are not aware of it
@@BernardProfitendieu I didn't know that. I, unlike you, appreciate when people put little things in to the video to help those who, in this wide world, might not know as much as you. It's too bad you can't come down from your high horse and just appreciate others effort.
Just different. It's a good thing too. Bonnie Raitt would be laughed off stage in the 60's if she sang like her father. As it is, she is a blues legend and BB King says she's the best living slide guitar player. She did fine with her talents. One of my favorites. She has his soulfulness.
He definitely has a better voice than Bonnie. She doesn't have the range or the clarity that he does. Don't get me wrong, I always loved Bonnie, but she isn't the singer her father was.
I doubt the song will ever be sung better than it is here. John Raitt is so natural, unaffected, his vulnerability matched by his extraordinary macho baritone voice, we know his character is trying to talk himself out of love.
There is dramatic tension achieved by the creators and Mr. Raitt delivers beyond without giving in to it.
Nothing more touching than a good man wrestling with love.
God, I wish I was a tenor. I love this song. And, I love John Raitt. I saw him in a Kenley Players production of Camelot. He played Lancelot. I loved his performance. But, for some reason, he didn't feel his performance was up to his standards. So, at the end of the show he came out and addressed the crowd and apologized and asked if he could try to make it up to us by singing a few songs. It was more like 5 or 6 and the audience loved it. He got a standing ovation. In all my years in theatre on or off the stage, I have never seen nor even heard of such a thing. I can tell you though, it was magical. Since then, I was and am a lifelong fan.
Great story, Thomas. That man had real class.
my mom has a similar story. what a humble and classy guy. they don't make many like him.
Unbelievable voice and interpretation of the song as it was meant to be sung by the composer & lyricist. Unbelievable stage presence & handsome as can be. Had the pleasure of seeing him on Broadway many times. God Bless you and thank you. No other musical performer can come close.
.
A superb performance and a perfect matching with Miss Doris Day. Unforgettable. ..
I love his tone here, and the open space he creates on those vowels. I'm no John Raitt, but I try to imitate it. Everyone else notice this was done in one long take? No room for error
Love this song and the movie . Thank god for dvd not many people sing like this .
Such a beautuful tenor voice! I looked him up and what do ya know? Bonnie Raitt's Dad!
Fantastic performance! Forgot how great he was.
The always fabulous John Raitt, who was seriously under-used in the movies and on stage, too.
I saw the pyjama game when I was 17, I loved this song ever since, John Raitts voice is beautiful
I love John Raitt -One of the best of his generation.
Who-o-oa. This is from "Pajama Game," which I remember from childhood. Just great, great, great. Today's singers may treat it differently, but no matter. John Raitt was incredible.
One of my favorites from this musical.
One if the best musicals of all time! They don't make them like they used to!
Didn't anyone else notice? I've been reading Richard Adlers autobiography- at first, Raitt's singing " are you not seeing things too clear, ARE YOU JUST TOO FAR GONE TO HEAR " George Abbott had that lyric put in, NOT the original. And then, he sings back to the recording " ARE YOU TOO MUCH IN LOVE TO HEAR" that's the ORIGINAL lyric- Adler wanted it put back in.
Great voice, great song! Phone was a much earlier model for1957.
This movie was shown at the Wellington NZ Film Festival some time in the 1990s. Forget exactly when, but before DVDs anyway. The festival programme commented that the only copy they'd been able to locate - worldwide - was a 16mm print with much-faded colour.
Even in that state, it blew the audience away, me included.
Since then they've either found some better copies, or else the whole thing's been restored from that one half-ruined print. (I have a good DVD of it now.) But it makes you think. This masterpiece - the only John Raitt performance captured on film - came THAT close to being lost for ever.
Why was he in one film only? So Beautiful, it's perfect.
Such a wonderful song. Beautiful.
Lucky indeed to have John Raitt do this role of Sid Sarokin on film.
one of the single best performances in cinema.
Unfortunately the album Pajama Game was not preserved. You can hear him on iTunes under the Broadway singing this beautiful song.
so good. what a voice.
Doing a duet with himself... That's pretty awesome.
John Raitt was so frickin' sexy and masculine here. And that voice! Can't believe he only made one movie. I can see him in Westerns which were still being made at the time. But maybe the timing was off. Or Hollywood didn't know what to do with him. Musicals were starting to die out by the early 60s.
This guy is can really sing! He looks good on film! Why was he not in more films??
What a rarity, a manly, masculine tenor.
Just love this song ♥️
He owned that song!
This is charming!
Good pipes on that man.
This or Rosemary Clooneys version are absolutely the best performances of this
masterpiece. Boomers were so lucky to have adults like these as models when
we were kids. WE blew a lot of what we should have taken to heart. Millenials
study the their generation and show some courage and fortitude. Don't take the
eternal teenager path which has just about destroyed the USA!
huh?
@@BernardProfitendieu Somebody's getting a little preachy.
John was big on Broadway but it's a shame he didn't make more films.
I played Sid Sorokin in the musical at my school. Being the lead role is a scary task but goddamn does it feel good.
That was CUTE .... that overvoice on the second chorus. Hee hee!!!!!!
A standout performance from the screen version of 'The Pajama Game.'
In my opinion, John Raitt had much greater talent than his daughter Bonnie yet it seems everyone says " John Raitt is Bonnie's father" It should be other way around. He is almost as great a singer as the great Mario Lanza and just as handsome!
Both wonderful in their own ways. No need to put down one to appreciate the other.
Oh my goodness.
Awesome!
I used to think Raitt was a high baritone. But now I believe he was a dramatic tenor.
Now there really aren't any dramatic tenor roles in American musical theatre. At least not now or in the mid 1940s, when Raitt created Billy Bigelow.
Back when Broadway male stars actually sang. Magnificent.
*Addendum to previous post*
So Raitt had this big, powerful and wide-ranging voice, which could easily encompass high baritone and moderate tenorial tessiture.
AND he was also big, athletic and handsome.
Granted, Raitt wasn't much of an actor. But given his other exceptional assets, significant acting talent wasn't necessary.
Don't entirely agree with the point about his acting ability. IMHO, he was not much of a MOVIE actor - his acting is very stage-y. It probably worked just fine in live theatre. But what a singer! One of the very best ever, stage or screen.
You do realize this is musician/singer Bonnie Raitt's dad, right?
yes, Nancy, there isn't a soul on the planet who doesn't know that ... spare us the news flash
Ronette Pulaski There is absolutely no reason whatsoever to be rude to someone who is attempting to convey genuine information to those who are not aware of it
@@BernardProfitendieu I didn't know that. I, unlike you, appreciate when people put little things in to the video to help those who, in this wide world, might not know as much as you. It's too bad you can't come down from your high horse and just appreciate others effort.
And, you didn't know, Nancy, they really wanted Dean Martin to play the Sid part( THANK YOU, Dean, for NOT doing it ).
I think all the fathers of present day performers are better than their offspring...sorry....John Raitt, Allan Jones, Robert Alda
@romcallis I agree. Allan Jones sings FAR better than his son, Jack Jones.
He did not do it for me. Give me Gordon McCrae or Howard keel
He sounds a little like Dennis Day.
Yes he was Bonny Raitt father and foe me has better singer than his daughter
Just different. It's a good thing too. Bonnie Raitt would be laughed off stage in the 60's if she sang like her father. As it is, she is a blues legend and BB King says she's the best living slide guitar player. She did fine with her talents. One of my favorites. She has his soulfulness.
He definitely has a better voice than Bonnie. She doesn't have the range or the clarity that he does. Don't get me wrong, I always loved Bonnie, but she isn't the singer her father was.
different styles completely ... spare us the apples and oranges, sister
@@BernardProfitendieu Why so salty?