Have I ever told you how much I appreciate your respect for people who play types of music you may or may not care for being performed by people who may well have retired before you were even born? I feel great respect for you.
Still, I doubt it would work well for a person in normal health with functional lungs to try to use his phrasing. He was careful with phrasing because he had to be.
Bobby Darin was adaptable and slick in every way especially stylistically. One minute he's emoting teenage angst with this song; the next he's challenging Sinatra with a Las Vegas type Mack The Knife; then later he's doing deep folk rock with If I Was A Carpenter. He was extremely talented, played more than one instrument and presented his own tv show. He was also a convincing actor and all this with a serious heart condition. He was a real performer and went out way too soon.
This era of music was so pure. No fancy stuff, just a talented singer performing a sweet song. Excellent musicians that added zest that we didn’t even realize. Thanks Fil.
Bobby Darin had such a smooth, magical voice to match his showmanship and swagger. Really underrated I think, but for those who know...they really know.
You're clearly in the "those who know" category. I just don't think enough people know who he was today. Or even if they know the voice, they haven't seen him perform enough to understand his showmanship and ability to get the crowd moving and excited about the performance.
Heard an interview of Tony Orlando. He said Sammy Davis Jr told him Darin was the one act he would not follow on stage. That’s a massive compliment coming from SD Jr.
I don't remember him being underrated, everybody liked Bobby Darin. During the fifties, everyone wanted his music, and most musicians wanted to be like him. That's not even including his country music! He was New York born and bred, but when he decided he liked country music, he wrote country music hits for other artists, since he himself sounded way to East Harlem to sing country. Then he wrote jazz. And started on a whole folk music career in the early '70s. Bobby Darin is truly missed.
Yes, Fil shows his love and appreciation of the music with his eyes and that little sexy smile - that's one of the things we love about him - he's so sincere!!!!
Fil, you are possibly the greatest cheerleader for the music of the 50's, 60's, and 70's that there is. I'm 77, so you've covered my childhood and how the music shaped our lives. By doing what you do, you put into words the whys and wherefores as to the reasons that music affected us so much. You should've been born in my birth year (1946). The war(s) were over, prosperity was everywhere in the United States and happiness was rampant. I (we) as a generation, were ruled by music and the effects it had on us. I can remember how I used to transport myself to whatever was being said in the lyrics. My youngest son always talks about how he would have loved to have lived in my time. He can see how the technical side of the music took a giant leap in two locations. London (Beatles, The Yardbirds/Led Zep. '63-'71) and San Francisco/Los Angeles (Santana, Jefferson Airplane, The Doors,etc. '66-74) I realize that every generation has had their Champions, but looking back on that time (Jimi Hendrix too) I'm running out of my feeble brain now, so goodnight 😴
Represent! Every generation is worthy of honor, as they have witnessed and experienced a time and place. And as the years go by, we all become the stewards of history 🙂
Oldies from the 50s and 60s are my favorite - they just put me in a good mood 😊. I love how much detail you notice in every performance. I feel like, even if it's an artist I already love, I come away from your analysis with a greater appreciation for what they do.
Love Bobby Darin. He was born in East Harlem NY. Had rheumatic fever as a child and vowed to be a star by the time he was 25. He's 23 on this show. He'd already had hits and won Grammies the year before. He got his name from the half burned out neon sign on a Chinese restaurant that said, "(MAN)DARIN". Great singer and performer with incredible charisma. Died too young. Thanks, Fil. Appreciate your analysis, as usual.
Yeah, he had a weak heart due to the rheumatic fever and wasn’t expected to live long- it was surprising he made it to adulthood. That’s why he was in such a hurry.
Thanks for another great analysis. Bobby Darin started his career as a songwriter for "Connie Francis". He was an American singer, musician & actor. He performed all styles of music such as jazz, pop, rock & roll, folk, swing, & country music. He had many hits from the late 50's-60's such as "Splish Splash", "Mack The Knife", "Beyond The Sea", "Things", "You're The Reason I'm Living", "18 Yellow Roses", "If I Were A Carpenter" etc. Darin married actress Sandra Dee in 1960 whom he met while filming the movie "Come September". Darin suffered from poor health his entire life & died in 1973 at the age of only 37.
And wrote a pop standard: Bill Baikey won’t you please come home. A multi-instrumentalist, band leader, arranger. What a massive talent. At the end, he needed oxygen between performances but he wouldn’t stop performing with his rheumatic heart.
@@danjestic9199 "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey" was published in 1902. I remember when I was a kid seeing several people and bands perform it on Ed Sullivan's show before Bobby Darin recorded it.
Bobby’s minimalistic body language is like a whole other inside joke with the audience where he’s sharing the total gas it is to be him, and we all get to be him every time he gives a little shrug or a single clap, the start of a smile; all of it is on another level than the performance itself. He lets us be him, but as if we were enjoying it with him, we are all super cool, super fun, super natural Bobby Darin. What a consummate natural, totally owning his game. Wow.
Darin kamkes this piece of teenage trash 50s dribble sound good thru his style and professionalism. It's like he's saying 'I got to sing this crappy number, so hang in there and I'll sing something better next time'.
Bobby Darin had the moves without theatrics. It’s really nice of you to showcase his skill. He really knew how to connect with an audience. He seems to instinctively do what I learned in training for public speaking.
It takes a special ability to pull of dramatics without it being corny. Without them it's boring. Get it wrong and it's corny. It has to be just right. Those who are good at it, it's there but you just don't notice it.
I LOVE Bobby Darin. He was a real treasure. My good, old (late) friend, Mike, who fought in WW II, told me 15 years ago how much he liked Bobby Darin and thought he was more talented than Sinatra. Beautiful song, beautiful and smooth voice. Thank you, Fil, for showcasing the wonderful Bobby Darin.
Thanks for the tip on the cameras. It was pretty amusing to pay heed to the tip then catching Bobby Darin find the cameras. I really liked mack the knife. As a side note, Bobby played back up for Linda ronstadt on "long long time"
alittle bit Elvis, a little bit Sinatra, and I never realized how amazing his smooth moves were until you pointed it out...I actually understand in a new way why he was such a STAR...don't these exceptional peformers all turn the song into the telling of a tale??!!! WE are totally engaged in his longing for the "dream lover..."
He was a total entertainer. Smooth, cool, good looking, sang, danced, played many instruments and wrote songs. Sammy Davis Jr. said Bobby was the only performer he would never dare follow.
Bobby was a drummer, so it's always all about the beat. He wrote the song, so it makes it easier for him to concentrate on the performance. He was an awesome Vegas/nightclub performer.
Bobby could play just about any instrument in the orchestra...drums, piano, sax, guitar, etc...add to that his songwriting, his vocal ability, his acting talent...
Great explanation/understanding of Bobby Darin's performance. I liked his "hit songs" as a child then as I got older I discovered/appreciated much more of his music (e.g. "If I Were A Carpenter" and some which have been completely forgotten or overlooked e.g. "Happy" on Motown). I watched Ed Sullivan every week as a child until it was cancelled. It was such a crazy collection of everything jammed into an hour (dancing bear, jugglers, singers, opera, comedy, ...you never knew what mix there would be and some surprises).
OMG. Even though I was a child when he was in this stage, Bobby Darrin might be the sexiest, most adorable and charismatic performer of his entire era!! Every performance is effortless and uncontrived.....I just love him still!!! Yes, Fil, smoooooth is the word - never "slick," just naturally smooooooth. Even the way he stands in his clothes exudes his masculinity, his self-confidence and his cool.
Bobby had a natural ability and raw talent. Something that isn’t seen today. He perfected the art of stagecraft; not only did the people in the live studio audience feel they were experiencing an intimate performance, but the people watching at home did as well. Whether you were in the audience, or watching from home, he made you feel like you were the only one he was performing for. This is legendary!
Sullivan was not an unrehearsed show. So note at about 1:20 "Dream Lover, where are you..." Bobby is facing out to the audience as if briefly searching for Dream Lover and then on the beat he easily swings left to the next camera and locks in there, having found her! The camera settings were probably down to the nanosecond in rehearsal, and Bobby could have his languorous way with them live. Great performance, Bobby. Great analysis, Fil!
Fascinating analysis by Fil to cover such a broad range of topics. I’ve always been enamoured by some of the old guitar riffs that you very rarely hear either from a stylistic or technical point of view. There was also a unique swing and rhythm that a lot of the older guitar players had. TV was still a relatively new medium back then so Bobby’s nuances such as those quick poses and looks into the camera changes were the mark of a really polished performer. I know from my older siblings that he was one of the top pop stars in his day and was definitely considered a cool cat.
It was an incredible analysis! I remember Bobby Darin from way back when i was a little girl and i liked a lot of his songs such as Dream Lover, Splish Slash and more. I do not play a guitar, but i do appreciate what it takes to become a great guitarist like putting in many hours of hard work practicing playing every day. I also appreciate how you break everything down in specific details so non musicians like me can understand. Youre an amazing teacher!
The first thing I noticed when I watched this video a while ago, was how smoothly he found the camera when it changed at "where are you". Impressive. But later, when he makes that spin and lands exactly on the right camera I assumed it must have been rehearsed several times, surely no one has instincts so finely tuned? Amazing how he stays so relaxed when he's under pressure to guess which camera he's going to be on next. So cool and confident and such a polished performer. Thanks so much for the guitar analysis - all these years I had totally missed pretty much everything you pointed out!
April 8th 1960, Odeon Cinema, Oxford Road, Manchester. I went to see Duane Eddy and on the same bill were Bobby Darin, Clyde McPhatter and Emile Ford and the Checkmates.
I can tell from your expression when the video started you smiled. Like everybody who have seen video of Bobby, They are amazed of his talent. That how great he was. He was just amazing.
Our family watched The Ed Sullivan Show faithfully, every Sunday night!! I remember this appearance, but I remember him singing Mack The Knife more than this song bc it was such a hit at the time. I didn’t connect it at the time.. but watching this now I see a lot of Frank Sinatra in how he moves. He definitely wasn’t Elvis-like at all.. and he had a great voice. Neil Sedaka was another singer who was just becoming popular at this time.. and of course The Beatles were just around the corner!! (Music life in rural America was never the same post-Beatles)!! Thanks Fil for another great reaction.. and for a nice little adventure down memory lane for this ‘oldie’!!
I always love Bobby Darin's voice. If he had lived I believe he would give Frank Sinatra some serious competition. His moves remind me of Jackie Wilson. Thank you for taking me back to a time when performers were so talented without all the bells and whstles.
Thank you! My mom and dad saw Bobby Darin live they said he was fantastic. They got his autograph for me. God bless Fil and family! I'm sure your viewers point out what a fine musician you are. Amazing analysis!
Hi Fil, I had as much fun watching you watching Bobby as I did seeing Bobby again. Born in 1948, I grew up with this type of entertainment and watched the Ed Sullivan Show every Sunday night with my family. Bobby was a natural performer and was so talented, yes, and smooth! I feel sorry for the generations who have missed out on music like this. You mentioned Neil Sedaka playing the piano - I loved Neil Sedaka's music so much!!!! Thank you for doing this one!! ♥
Thanks Fil for this fantastic video and analysis of Bobby Darin. He's so cool and smooth yet adorable! From his brilliant interpretation of Kurt Weill's Mack the Knife to Tim Hardin's "If I were a Carpenter" he was the consummate entertainer.
I love how, early in the song, he sings the line, "where are you" right before he finds the right camera. Amazing how "low key" can be so riveting. Great analysis.
I love Bobby Darin! I remember it like it was yesterday, when I was riding home from my Grandma's and I heard on the radio that he had died. I was 10 at the time.
There's a great video of Bobby I think in Vegas in the early '60s where he's just off the charts doing impressions, singing, playing drums all on a whole other level never seen since.
When you called Bobby Darin slick was an excellent choice of words. Sadly, Darin's poor health got the better of him. he left behind an impressive body of work in his short life of 37 years. a side note, John Sebastion one said in an interview if you were asked to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show you knew you hit the big times back then Bobby Darin appear 6 times on The Ed Sullivan Show.
This was such a cool, smooth performance by Bobby Darin. You did a great job Fil pointing out the details of the shoulder shrugs, camera angles and palm muting on the guitar. I always liked his music and Mack the Knife is one of my favorites. 😊🎸🎵
Thanks again for the great description you're right on as usual. I was from that era I just turned 89 years old I think I started watching you when I was younger LOL at 88 so I was probably watching that show at the time unless I was at work at the hospital in my twenties but listen to him on the radio all the time he was one of my favorites he would have been near my age now also
I was a big fan of Bobby Darin throughout his career and this hit song has always been a favorite. Thanks to TH-cam I learned about equally good versions by two of his great contemporaries, Rick Nelson and Dion & The Belmonts, that were not played on radio at the time. In my opinion the version by Dion is the best.
Fil, wow, you really can tell what Bobbie Darrin is doing with catching the camera to be sure he is focusing on the next camera. Great understanding of those looks from one side to the next which we forget what he is doing. Thanks for giving us the preview of camera locations. I learned that a lot of people at Las Vegas, were anxious to help Bobbie Darrin make the most of his talent and they enjoy his singing and how he brings the crowd to him. Everybody wanted to give him a hand which he took good advice from many entertainers from Vegas.
Yes! Slick indeed! Has there ever been anyone slicker, I ask seriously? Smooth, suave, sexy, cool. One needs only to hear him to know and feel that slickness, let alone watching him dominate a stage with such simple class. He was an extraordinary performer performing extraordinary songs. Mack the Knife is top drawer, one of the best songs ever, imho. Splish Splash is dear to me, so much fun. So many, in way too short of a life. Thank you so much for honouring him. ❤️ Fabulous video.
Such a classic song and performance for that time of era. As I was watching what Bobbby would do I was trying to guess what Fil would pick up on lol we almost had the same answers! Enjoyed this classic from an old Ed Sullivan show. Thanks Fil Rock on!
Bobby was a massive talent, born with a heart defect which killed him in his early thirties. But it was George Burns who made Bobby a part of his long running Las Vegas show, making him a star.
I have loved Bobby Darren and all of the crooners, ever since I can remember. They were a bit before my time, but, I was old enough to appreciate my parents love of music. Bobby sang effortlessly.
It's great that you are able to pay attention to detail the camera angles. Something viewers would over look. The head tilt ( of confidence ) he made after knowing the other two cameras were off was if he said.... " I know this camera over here ( head tilt ) has to definitely be on now " was clever and genuine
Yeah, I bet Bobby Darin was the kind of guy everyone was best friends with instantly, he's just got that quality that makes him cool without even trying.
I love his version of Mack The Knife. This song is awesome as well. Thank you for sharing. As always, great analysis. Bobby had rheumatic fever as a child, and it damaged his heart. He died at the young age of 37, a after heart surgery. So sad.
It was well known that Ed's show would rearrange the songs to fit their time schedule. We used to groan about the 45 sec versions. They could do this since there was a full orchestra available. They also rehearsed all week to get the 3 ring circus timing down.
Hi Fil, Loved this analysis! Bobby Darin was a very cool cat in his day! And he had so many great songs and boat loads of talent. It is an art form not only to be able to sing with charisma and style, but to command the stage. Bobby did it all. Thanks for explaining and demonstrating the guitar techniques they were doing, very interesting. Fun analysis to watch and appreciate this talented artist. Great job and thank you! Debbie☮️
Thank you Fil !!! He was super! My father taught guitar until he was 80 and played big band music when he was a young man. Dad was a music snob but always thought Bobby Darin was extremely talented. Such a shame he died so young. RIP. ❤❤❤
I believe Darin was the most versatile entertainer of the 20th century. What he accomplished in his brief 37 years is nothing short of Legendary. Singer of several genres (rock, jazz, blues, R&B, pop standards, big band, swing, country western, folk, funk, soul/gospel) musician, performer, actor, impressionist, songwriter, producer, arranger, entrepreneur, variety tv show host, activist. The man truly did it all, and he did it all so well. One of a kind, Bobby.
Bobby Darin is one of my all time favorite singers. He was suave and sophisticated. Always loved watching him perform. Great analysis of his total performance.
Bobby just oozed star quality!✨ I was just 8 years old when this aired and I felt so drawn to him, it was like magic💖 Since the show was just before my bedtime, I probably dreamed of him that night.💫
And Bobby was holding back here, a beginner restrained in the conservative 50s that was expected from every singer (except for Elvis who blew the doors off, haha!!). But Bobby’s ultra cool style really emerged and developed more strongly and freely through this career…and he became so incredibly professional and polished and genuine and was truly awesome to watch!! There’s some GREAT later videos on TH-cam of live performances that made me respect and fall in love with him!!! He really stood apart from the rest crooners. So ultra cool and so natural.
The person "in the shot" was probably the other cameraman with one of the huge old-time cameras, getting a cue too early; then he moves out again and probably moved back in again when the cameras changed again. It wasn't someone randomly wandering around the stage on the Ed Sullivan Show, during a live performance. I kid you not. Thanks for the content. Keep up the good work. בס'ד
When Fil gets his smile on, you know it's good.
Yes. That's what I say when he smiles.
Have I ever told you how much I appreciate your respect for people who play types of music you may or may not care for being performed by people who may well have retired before you were even born? I feel great respect for you.
Bobby Darin had a great sense of phrasing and you should listen to his other music too. ❤ Kate Australia
Still, I doubt it would work well for a person in normal health with functional lungs to try to use his phrasing.
He was careful with phrasing because he had to be.
JerisEve exactly what I wanted to tell myself to Fil The Wings of Pegasus here
@@johnoneal1234because of health?
Bobby Darin was adaptable and slick in every way especially stylistically. One minute he's emoting teenage angst with this song; the next he's challenging Sinatra with a Las Vegas type Mack The Knife; then later he's doing deep folk rock with If I Was A Carpenter. He was extremely talented, played more than one instrument and presented his own tv show. He was also a convincing actor and all this with a serious heart condition. He was a real performer and went out way too soon.
This era of music was so pure. No fancy stuff, just a talented singer performing a sweet song. Excellent musicians that added zest that we didn’t even realize. Thanks Fil.
Bobby was the real deal. He was a very confident professional good looking performer.
Bobby Darin had such a smooth, magical voice to match his showmanship and swagger. Really underrated I think, but for those who know...they really know.
Underrated? By whom? I was born in '53 and my recollection is that he was *very* popular.
You're clearly in the "those who know" category.
I just don't think enough people know who he was today. Or even if they know the voice, they haven't seen him perform enough to understand his showmanship and ability to get the crowd moving and excited about the performance.
Perhaps it's because he died so young and wasn't around long enough for following generations to really know.
Heard an interview of Tony Orlando. He said Sammy Davis Jr told him Darin was the one act he would not follow on stage. That’s a massive compliment coming from SD Jr.
I don't remember him being underrated, everybody liked Bobby Darin. During the fifties, everyone wanted his music, and most musicians wanted to be like him. That's not even including his country music! He was New York born and bred, but when he decided he liked country music, he wrote country music hits for other artists, since he himself sounded way to East Harlem to sing country. Then he wrote jazz. And started on a whole folk music career in the early '70s. Bobby Darin is truly missed.
Bobby Darin could sing anything.
I remember this performance from my early years. Great and as always I learned something from you.😊
This was a classic and every ,boys, man’s dream to meet one.
And sing it d*mn well.!
I love how you genuinely review all ages and genre of music and with that iconic smile during the high points of the tune, thank you FIL.
YES..THAT SMILE!! ❤
@@roseyc.5846yes That cute Fil smile ✌🏼
I am here for the smile!!
That smile is everything when he's watching a performance he appreciates. ❤
Yes, Fil shows his love and appreciation of the music with his eyes and that little sexy smile - that's one of the things we love about him - he's so sincere!!!!
Had the pleasure of seeing him live at the Copacabana in NYC in the mid 60's. One of the best performers of all times!
Wow, that is incredibly cool. ☺️
That would have been a fabulous experience. I have the live album where he performed there. His voice, the big band must have been incredible.
Fil, you see so much more in the performance than I can see on my own. You really enrich the experience of watching. Many thanks.
Fil, you are possibly the greatest cheerleader for the music of the 50's, 60's, and 70's that there is. I'm 77, so you've covered my childhood and how the music shaped our lives. By doing what you do, you put into words the whys and wherefores as to the reasons that music affected us so much. You should've been born in my birth year (1946). The war(s) were over, prosperity was everywhere in the United States and happiness was rampant. I (we) as a generation, were ruled by music and the effects it had on us. I can remember how I used to transport myself to whatever was being said in the lyrics.
My youngest son always talks about how he would have loved to have lived in my time. He can see how the technical side of the music took a giant leap in two locations. London (Beatles, The Yardbirds/Led Zep. '63-'71) and San Francisco/Los Angeles (Santana, Jefferson Airplane, The Doors,etc.
'66-74)
I realize that every generation has had their Champions, but looking back on that time (Jimi Hendrix too)
I'm running out of my feeble brain now, so goodnight 😴
Represent! Every generation is worthy of honor, as they have witnessed and experienced a time and place. And as the years go by, we all become the stewards of history 🙂
Oldies from the 50s and 60s are my favorite - they just put me in a good mood 😊. I love how much detail you notice in every performance. I feel like, even if it's an artist I already love, I come away from your analysis with a greater appreciation for what they do.
Love Bobby Darin. He was born in East Harlem NY. Had rheumatic fever as a child and vowed to be a star by the time he was 25. He's 23 on this show. He'd already had hits and won Grammies the year before. He got his name from the half burned out neon sign on a Chinese restaurant that said, "(MAN)DARIN". Great singer and performer with incredible charisma. Died too young. Thanks, Fil. Appreciate your analysis, as usual.
Yeah, he had a weak heart due to the rheumatic fever and wasn’t expected to live long- it was surprising he made it to adulthood. That’s why he was in such a hurry.
23, WOW 😳 Amazing
@@ahill4642 He was wonderful in all aspects of his career, especially in the later days when he broadened his repertoire. Fabulous singer.
Thanks for another great analysis. Bobby Darin started his career as a songwriter for "Connie Francis". He was an American singer, musician & actor. He performed all styles of music such as jazz, pop, rock & roll, folk, swing, & country music. He had many hits from the late 50's-60's such as "Splish Splash", "Mack The Knife", "Beyond The Sea", "Things", "You're The Reason I'm Living", "18 Yellow Roses", "If I Were A Carpenter" etc. Darin married actress Sandra Dee in 1960 whom he met while filming the movie "Come September". Darin suffered from poor health his entire life & died in 1973 at the age of only 37.
And wrote a pop standard: Bill Baikey won’t you please come home. A multi-instrumentalist, band leader, arranger. What a massive talent. At the end, he needed oxygen between performances but he wouldn’t stop performing with his rheumatic heart.
@@danjestic9199 "Won't You Come Home Bill Bailey" was published in 1902. I remember when I was a kid seeing several people and bands perform it on Ed Sullivan's show before Bobby Darin recorded it.
Bobby’s minimalistic body language is like a whole other inside joke with the audience where he’s sharing the total gas it is to be him, and we all get to be him every time he gives a little shrug or a single clap, the start of a smile; all of it is on another level than the performance itself. He lets us be him, but as if we were enjoying it with him, we are all super cool, super fun, super natural Bobby Darin. What a consummate natural, totally owning his game. Wow.
Great comment
Darin kamkes this piece of teenage trash 50s dribble sound good thru his style and professionalism. It's like he's saying 'I got to sing this crappy number, so hang in there and I'll sing something better next time'.
I doubt he thought it was teenage trash dribble when he wrote it.
@@sardu55Bobby Darin's Dream Lover hit #1 in the UK and #2 in the USA. 50's trash.
Holy cow you nailed it!!!
He was great❤
No autotune with that guy
Bobby Darin had the moves without theatrics. It’s really nice of you to showcase his skill. He really knew how to connect with an audience. He seems to instinctively do what I learned in training for public speaking.
Interesting! His acting classes and experience surely helped.
It takes a special ability to pull of dramatics without it being corny. Without them it's boring. Get it wrong and it's corny. It has to be just right. Those who are good at it, it's there but you just don't notice it.
I LOVE Bobby Darin. He was a real treasure. My good, old (late) friend, Mike, who fought in WW II, told me 15 years ago how much he liked Bobby Darin and thought he was more talented than Sinatra. Beautiful song, beautiful and smooth voice. Thank you, Fil, for showcasing the wonderful Bobby Darin.
Thanks for the tip on the cameras. It was pretty amusing to pay heed to the tip then catching Bobby Darin find the cameras. I really liked mack the knife. As a side note, Bobby played back up for Linda ronstadt on "long long time"
alittle bit Elvis, a little bit Sinatra, and I never realized how amazing his smooth moves were until you pointed it out...I actually understand in a new way why he was such a STAR...don't these exceptional peformers all turn the song into the telling of a tale??!!! WE are totally engaged in his longing for the "dream lover..."
I was seeing some Sinatra mannerisms in his moves as well, like you say, part of telling the story.
Well said!
Even now I think he is such a cool guy
Ah, my cousin was Bobby's manager in his hey-day! I remember he had a life-sized Bobby in his basement. He also designed Darin's dream car.
He was a total entertainer. Smooth, cool, good looking, sang, danced, played many instruments and wrote songs. Sammy Davis Jr. said Bobby was the only performer he would never dare follow.
He was such a smooth performer. What great times those were. Sullivan had someone like this quality every Sunday. Thanks Ed.
Bobby was a drummer, so it's always all about the beat. He wrote the song, so it makes it easier for him to concentrate on the performance. He was an awesome Vegas/nightclub performer.
Bobby could play just about any instrument in the orchestra...drums, piano, sax, guitar, etc...add to that his songwriting, his vocal ability, his acting talent...
God……send him back !!
He was an incredibly talented man, not only a singer and performer.
Boy, he was smooth, both in voice and movement.
Bobby Darin was good. His performance forces you to focus on exactly what he's doing. He's not bellowing at the roof seams.
20:30 that is why I so love studio players they had to be able to play everything not just their fav kind of music
Bobby had such personality and charm while performing.
Great explanation/understanding of Bobby Darin's performance. I liked his "hit songs" as a child then as I got older I discovered/appreciated much more of his music (e.g. "If I Were A Carpenter" and some which have been completely forgotten or overlooked e.g. "Happy" on Motown). I watched Ed Sullivan every week as a child until it was cancelled. It was such a crazy collection of everything jammed into an hour (dancing bear, jugglers, singers, opera, comedy, ...you never knew what mix there would be and some surprises).
OMG. Even though I was a child when he was in this stage, Bobby Darrin might be the sexiest, most adorable and charismatic performer of his entire era!! Every performance is effortless and uncontrived.....I just love him still!!! Yes, Fil, smoooooth is the word - never "slick," just naturally smooooooth. Even the way he stands in his clothes exudes his masculinity, his self-confidence and his cool.
I remember this song from back in the day when we used to visit an open air swimming pool that had a juke box- this was a popular choice.
Bobby had a natural ability and raw talent. Something that isn’t seen today. He perfected the art of stagecraft; not only did the people in the live studio audience feel they were experiencing an intimate performance, but the people watching at home did as well. Whether you were in the audience, or watching from home, he made you feel like you were the only one he was performing for. This is legendary!
Sullivan was not an unrehearsed show. So note at about 1:20 "Dream Lover, where are you..." Bobby is facing out to the audience as if briefly searching for Dream Lover and then on the beat he easily swings left to the next camera and locks in there, having found her! The camera settings were probably down to the nanosecond in rehearsal, and Bobby could have his languorous way with them live. Great performance, Bobby. Great analysis, Fil!
Fascinating analysis by Fil to cover such a broad range of topics. I’ve always been enamoured by some of the old guitar riffs that you very rarely hear either from a stylistic or technical point of view. There was also a unique swing and rhythm that a lot of the older guitar players had. TV was still a relatively new medium back then so Bobby’s nuances such as those quick poses and looks into the camera changes were the mark of a really polished performer. I know from my older siblings that he was one of the top pop stars in his day and was definitely considered a cool cat.
It was an incredible analysis! I remember Bobby Darin from way back when i was a little girl and i liked a lot of his songs such as Dream Lover, Splish Slash and more. I do not play a guitar, but i do appreciate what it takes to become a great guitarist like putting in many hours of hard work practicing playing every day. I also appreciate how you break everything down in specific details so non musicians like me can understand. Youre an amazing teacher!
I love the live performance. I just wish we had modern tech to catch the performance recording-wise the way a great singer like Bobby deserved.
Fil, you enhance so much my appreciation of every performance you analyze. Just incredible. Thank you.
The first thing I noticed when I watched this video a while ago, was how smoothly he found the camera when it changed at "where are you". Impressive. But later, when he makes that spin and lands exactly on the right camera I assumed it must have been rehearsed several times, surely no one has instincts so finely tuned? Amazing how he stays so relaxed when he's under pressure to guess which camera he's going to be on next. So cool and confident and such a polished performer. Thanks so much for the guitar analysis - all these years I had totally missed pretty much everything you pointed out!
April 8th 1960, Odeon Cinema, Oxford Road, Manchester.
I went to see Duane Eddy and on the same bill were Bobby Darin, Clyde McPhatter and Emile Ford and the Checkmates.
I can tell from your expression when the video started you smiled. Like everybody who have seen video of Bobby, They are amazed of his talent. That how great he was. He was just amazing.
I thought I already loved Bobby Darin! Now I love him even more...thanks!
Bobby was a great artist, if I were a carpenter is over the top, and then there is dream lover, what a cut!
Written by his close friend Tim Hardin.
Bobby was a bit before my time, but he sings a great song, and Fil’s analysis is spot-on as always. Bobby died WAY too soon at age 37.
Our family watched The Ed Sullivan Show faithfully, every Sunday night!! I remember this appearance, but I remember him singing Mack The Knife more than this song bc it was such a hit at the time. I didn’t connect it at the time.. but watching this now I see a lot of Frank Sinatra in how he moves. He definitely wasn’t Elvis-like at all.. and he had a great voice. Neil Sedaka was another singer who was just becoming popular at this time.. and of course The Beatles were just around the corner!! (Music life in rural America was never the same post-Beatles)!! Thanks Fil for another great reaction.. and for a nice little adventure down memory lane for this ‘oldie’!!
I always love Bobby Darin's voice. If he had lived I believe he would give Frank Sinatra some serious competition. His moves remind me of Jackie Wilson. Thank you for taking me back to a time when performers were so talented without all the bells and whstles.
Yes, Jackie Wilson, you are correct. I loved him too.
Thank you! My mom and dad saw Bobby Darin live they said he was fantastic. They got his autograph for me. God bless Fil and family! I'm sure your viewers point out what a fine musician you are. Amazing analysis!
Loved Bobby Darins Music. His career was shortened by his heart condition, but he left us some very good music.
an oldie but a goodie, so much brilliant music came from this era, love it
Hi Fil, I had as much fun watching you watching Bobby as I did seeing Bobby again. Born in 1948, I grew up with this type of entertainment and watched the Ed Sullivan Show every Sunday night with my family. Bobby was a natural performer and was so talented, yes, and smooth! I feel sorry for the generations who have missed out on music like this. You mentioned Neil Sedaka playing the piano - I loved Neil Sedaka's music so much!!!!
Thank you for doing this one!! ♥
yep, ‘48. It’s been great!
Me too! Remember Hit Parade?
Thanks Fil for this fantastic video and analysis of Bobby Darin. He's so cool and smooth yet adorable! From his brilliant interpretation of Kurt Weill's Mack the Knife to Tim Hardin's "If I were a Carpenter" he was the consummate entertainer.
I love how, early in the song, he sings the line, "where are you" right before he finds the right camera. Amazing how "low key" can be so riveting. Great analysis.
Darin is legend.
I love Bobby Darin! I remember it like it was yesterday, when I was riding home from my Grandma's and I heard on the radio that he had died. I was 10 at the time.
Back in the day I had always wanted to see Bobby Darin live. But, as as it happened, I was never able to. Regrettable. The man was truly great.
The guitar playing in this performance is amazing.
There's a great video of Bobby I think in Vegas in the early '60s where he's just off the charts doing impressions, singing, playing drums all on a whole other level never seen since.
Good ole' Ed loving him at the end.
No no cars
He was a great performer. And I love your smile Fil.
You can tell that you enjoy what you are doing 🎉🎉
Thank you 🎉🎉
Phil as always your the man. Great job for a great singer and even greater song. Rock On.
When you called Bobby Darin slick was an excellent choice of words. Sadly, Darin's poor health got the better of him. he left behind an impressive body of work in his short life of 37 years. a side note, John Sebastion one said in an interview if you were asked to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show you knew you hit the big times back then Bobby Darin appear 6 times on The Ed Sullivan Show.
This was such a cool, smooth performance by Bobby Darin. You did a great job Fil pointing out the details of the shoulder shrugs, camera angles and palm muting on the guitar. I always liked his music and Mack the Knife is one of my favorites. 😊🎸🎵
this song brings back a happy memory played this for a pastors daughter so she could get a role in the local talent show
Thanks again for the great description you're right on as usual. I was from that era I just turned 89 years old I think I started watching you when I was younger LOL at 88 so I was probably watching that show at the time unless I was at work at the hospital in my twenties but listen to him on the radio all the time he was one of my favorites he would have been near my age now also
I noticed the camera thing too. He's so smooth it doesn't even faze him. Love it❤
I love the way you joyfully analyze all of the songs sent to you.
I was a big fan of Bobby Darin throughout his career and this hit song has always been a favorite.
Thanks to TH-cam I learned about equally good versions by two of his great contemporaries, Rick Nelson and Dion & The Belmonts, that were not played on radio at the time.
In my opinion the version by Dion is the best.
Fil, wow, you really can tell what Bobbie Darrin is doing with catching the camera to be sure he is focusing on the next camera. Great understanding of those looks from one side to the next which we forget what he is doing. Thanks for giving us the preview of camera locations. I learned that a lot of people at Las Vegas, were anxious to help Bobbie Darrin make the most of his talent and they enjoy his singing and how he brings the crowd to him. Everybody wanted to give him a hand which he took good advice from many entertainers from Vegas.
Yes! Slick indeed! Has there ever been anyone slicker, I ask seriously? Smooth, suave, sexy, cool. One needs only to hear him to know and feel that slickness, let alone watching him dominate a stage with such simple class. He was an extraordinary performer performing extraordinary songs. Mack the Knife is top drawer, one of the best songs ever, imho. Splish Splash is dear to me, so much fun. So many, in way too short of a life. Thank you so much for honouring him. ❤️ Fabulous video.
This song is kind of halfway between his jazzy crooner and rock and roll songs. What a classic.
One of My all Time favorites from one of The First Pop renaissance Men, Bobby could sing, write and play Music,Dance and Act"
Such a classic song and performance for that time of era. As I was watching what Bobbby would do I was trying to guess what Fil would pick up on lol we almost had the same answers! Enjoyed this classic from an old Ed Sullivan show. Thanks Fil Rock on!
Bobby was a massive talent, born with a heart defect which killed him in his early thirties. But it was George Burns who made Bobby a part of his long running Las Vegas show, making him a star.
You brought a tear to my eye, I was 17 then, Wings. Same with All I Have To Do Is Dream - Everly Brothers
I have loved Bobby Darren and all of the crooners, ever since I can remember. They were a bit before my time, but, I was old enough to appreciate my parents love of music. Bobby sang effortlessly.
It's great that you are able to pay attention to detail the camera angles. Something viewers would over look. The head tilt ( of confidence ) he made after knowing the other two cameras were off was if he said.... " I know this camera over here ( head tilt ) has to definitely be on now " was clever and genuine
Bobby was brilliant and timeless - he truly personified what it is to "own the room". He was mesmerizing.
Released the year I was born but this is my favourite record without doubt. Loved it since I first heard it in my teens. Great choice Fil.
Darin knew he was going to die young so he packed a full life into the time he had. And what a life!
Yeah, seems like long ago I read a short article where he and Elvis were talking about they didn't think they would reach 40.
Bobby Darin has been one of my favorite artists for a long time, his rendition of Midnight Special is still one of my fave performances ever
Great choice! Love these classics. Thanks Fil
Yeah, I bet Bobby Darin was the kind of guy everyone was best friends with instantly, he's just got that quality that makes him cool without even trying.
I love his version of Mack The Knife. This song is awesome as well. Thank you for sharing. As always, great analysis. Bobby had rheumatic fever as a child, and it damaged his heart. He died at the young age of 37, a after heart surgery. So sad.
It was well known that Ed's show would rearrange the songs to fit their time schedule. We used to groan about the 45 sec versions. They could do this since there was a full orchestra available. They also rehearsed all week to get the 3 ring circus timing down.
I remember when this was on the radio, and I was young and loved Bobby.
Hi Fil,
Loved this analysis! Bobby Darin was a very cool cat in his day! And he had so many great songs and boat loads of talent. It is an art form not only to be able to sing with charisma and style, but to command the stage. Bobby did it all. Thanks for explaining and demonstrating the guitar techniques they were doing, very interesting. Fun analysis to watch and appreciate this talented artist. Great job and thank you! Debbie☮️
Thank you for the great presentation!
Now this is from my era! Hard to beat the tunes from the 50s. Thanks.
Thank you Fil !!! He was super! My father taught guitar until he was 80 and played big band music when he was a young man. Dad was a music snob but always thought Bobby Darin was extremely talented. Such a shame he died so young. RIP. ❤❤❤
I didn't even notice the person in the background until Fil pointed them out.
@Rebecca Woolfolk... Nothing gets by Fil!
Same! I was too busy watching Bobby and singing along. I adore this song. :)
Arpeggios are a "lost art". Love Bobby! Whenever I'm at a local "Oldies" events (usually classic car shows), I request this tune from the DJ
I believe Darin was the most versatile entertainer of the 20th century. What he accomplished in his brief 37 years is nothing short of Legendary. Singer of several genres (rock, jazz, blues, R&B, pop standards, big band, swing, country western, folk, funk, soul/gospel) musician, performer, actor, impressionist, songwriter, producer, arranger, entrepreneur, variety tv show host, activist. The man truly did it all, and he did it all so well. One of a kind, Bobby.
Bobby Darin is one of my all time favorite singers. He was suave and sophisticated. Always loved watching him perform. Great analysis of his total performance.
Bobby just oozed star quality!✨ I was just 8 years old when this aired and I felt so drawn to him, it was like magic💖 Since the show was just before my bedtime, I probably dreamed of him that night.💫
I was 9 at the time. I have always enjoyed his performances.
Bobby Darin is so smooth - and you’re looking good Fil ❤️
Bobby Darin was a very accomplished musician, he could play, and strum flamingo riffs.
And Bobby was holding back here, a beginner restrained in the conservative 50s that was expected from every singer (except for Elvis who blew the doors off, haha!!). But Bobby’s ultra cool style really emerged and developed more strongly and freely through this career…and he became so incredibly professional and polished and genuine and was truly awesome to watch!!
There’s some GREAT later videos on TH-cam of live performances that made me respect and fall in love with him!!! He really stood apart from the rest crooners. So ultra cool and so natural.
The person "in the shot" was probably the other cameraman with one of the huge old-time cameras, getting a cue too early; then he moves out again and probably moved back in again when the cameras changed again. It wasn't someone randomly wandering around the stage on the Ed Sullivan Show, during a live performance. I kid you not.
Thanks for the content.
Keep up the good work.
בס'ד
I didn't hear it, and maybe I'm wrong, but it's worth noting that Bobby Darin wrote "Dream Lover." The guy was ridiculously talented.