He was really a major talent. And he is so good looking that I slap myself to remind me he is a dude!! No, seriously he really is striking in looks, and a great songwriter. Fuckin Pancreatic cancer is a mother$^%&*. Dead at 53. Damn all cancer. It is so silent that by the time you feel even a bit off, it is already stage 4 and you pass within six months. Patrick Swayze, Michael Landon, and many more have been brought down by it. 2023 and it really has not changed much at all. I used to be a very heavy drinker ( I put it down about 12 yrs. ago) and alcoholics tend to be hit with it. My fingers are crossed
@@DustyTailUnfortunately just being introduced now. I was alive then but was busy playing the Stones, The Who, etc. This cat Benjamin Orr rocks. He's like ok, back the fuck up, let me grab this audience for 3: 45.
As a gifted, great vocalist, Ben would have stood out more than he did if the Cars hadn't been so loaded with talent: an brilliant songwriter (Ric), a dazzling lead guitarist (Elliot); an innovative, creative synthesizer guy (Greg), and a powerful but melodic drummer (Dave).
@@gib59er56man, my thoughts exactly about Ben! I'm as straight as a cup of water, but Ben has a look about him. My mean wife, who doesn't like anyone (other than someone like Depp 🙄) agrees on Ben. He'd have probably preferred to grab a beer, talk music, and generally hang out with me over her! 😂
If you’re a Cars fan or even just a casual rock fan then this video in my opinion is literally like a Rosetta Stone type archival piece of history that must be preserved at all cost. If you think that is a little over the top then you aren’t from the 80’s. Every time I watch this I am more blown away than the last time. They are so on point here. Benjamin Orr, may he rest in Peace, was such a great singer. Long live the Cars 🎸🚘🤘🏻🐐
Our gang that grew up together back in the day would sing their songs like them. Even though none of us could sing a note. These guys are the lunch pin of our youth. To be 16 and hearing these guys for the first time one more time.
Yeah. Think it exemplified them at their rawest of all the videos I've seen. Each and all playing and singing their hearts out. Agree with other comment that keyboard sounds are overly quiet
they ended up using it, and in the studio went crazy with unnatural effect to fake you out. One can clearly hear the weak stuff here too. It is a VERY easy song, other than that lead vocal. He is great. But out of tune also... and would not fly next to most live bands of today.
@@morbidmanmusicThe imperfections of the human voice is what brings the emotional quality of the human voice that we, as humans, have been attracted to since time began. Autotune and pitch correction and all other attempts to perfect the human voice are a fool’s errand. And the robotic effect is off putting.
What the Cars did was brilliant and yet so simple. After playing clubs in Boston and building a fan base, the Cars knew which original songs the fans liked and were the most popular. They took all of their most popular songs and put them on their first album.
Yep, for sure. Thanks to TH-cam, I now realize a lot of other people think that. Their debut album "Cars" was like a greatest hits album, with one great song after another on that first album. At least 5 or 6 radio (stereo) friendly songs became top 20 hits. Phenomenal album, would still hold up today, if it was released in 2022.
Ben was an excellent vocal stylist. He did so many great twists and turns and tricks with his voice and made every song he sang better. Life is unfair.
@@57highland You got that right. Not only did his fans lose, this guy toured, spent many hours in a recording studio. That is rarely fun. Granted he wasn't digging ditches his whole life but my point is, he earned enough money to live quite well for a long, long life and was snuffed by a undefeated killer. Sucks for all of us.
Could Benjamin Orr have been any more beautiful? I cant even think of another word. He was absolutely beautiful! And that distinct voice of his. So sad he passed so young.
Hey Stella, I’m a very straight man, but I completely agree with your sentiment of Benjamin. Damn, he was one good looking man, talented singer, not to mention great bass player. Another one taken too soon.
@@wickedcoolname399 he played with the Modern Lovers, too. If you don’t know them, check them out. It’s my opinion that Ric was influenced by Jonathan Richman (of the Modern Lovers). Roadrunner, roadrunner!
Elliot was ranked top guitarist I think two years running in Guitar World or Guitar Player in the early '80s. Guitarists know how good he is. The solo In Shake It Up is one of the most succinct, to the point and clever solos from that time period. A friend of mine who's been playing guitar for over 50 years often says Elliot Easton can say more in eight bars than most other guitarists can on an entire album.
Elliot’s playing at the end of this song is great! Very talented musician. Benjamin’s bass playing is a perfect complement to Elliot’s skill. The smile the two of them share at 4:06 is priceless.
They didn't sell that bad !!! And 2 million visits here, that's more than all the Saga video clips in a livespan of more than "10 000 days" achieved together. Now THAT is what I would call "sadly most underrated"....
Who ever underrated The Cars? They were like Beatles level success for their time. Granted few bands have the longevity of the Beatles there are those who say the Beatles were underrated. It seems the interpretation of what "underrated" means is totally misunderstood by some. I mean if anyone can say the most successful band in the history of the universe was underrated it can be applied to literally any other band and have the same lack of meaning.
I'm 41 and embarrassed to admit that I only recently learned about the brilliance of Ben Orr. What a frontman, what a voice, what a musician. Ben, you are missed.
My story is similar but i was 58 when i started noticing Ben.. frikkin heard this song nearly a thousand times by 1982.. My friend Dan Richart ( RIP) used to play this first Cars album all the time in his galaxie 500 or whatever the hell that big boat he drove.. he had house speakers in back seat.. lol.. what frikkn fun we used to have.. Famn
Sometimes I just need to watch Ben Orr live and then I'm good to go about my day. The most stunning and talented man ,yet so humble. The Cars, like the Beatles were a blessing to the world. So grateful to have existed the same time they did.
I’m in a Cars “tribute” band based in Boston. We’re called Panorama. All the guys in the band are life long Cars mega-fans, but it was in the process of dissecting the music that we all developed a new appreciation for just how amazingly inventive The Cars were at crafting their parts. The songs might seem deceptively simple to the casual listener but I promise you... every part is so thought out and finely tuned. Everything fits together like a puzzle. It makes re-creating this wonderful music such a joy.
That is so interesting. Me... just listening to the music and not really giving much thought to them creating the entire piece, lyrics and music.... Definitely gives me a different perspective. And thanks, now I actually listen for everything! I appreciate your insight. I suppose that's why you're the rock musician and not me. 😊 Best wishes to you, may your band find huge success. 🇨🇦 Luv from Canada Nicole
it was about orr at first ocasek was in his shadow until he died. ocasek was the only one that wanted to keep the name going so the record co gave him the deal. orr was the cars sound ocasek just tried to emulate it for the fans to keep the audience and make that money.
@@dooberto ive never liked ric. i was a kid when this band came out. i didn't pay much attention. orr just sounds better and has a unique style that hes defined. ric is pretty sterile and generic and he has a character about his voice that i don't like. its a personal thing.
at :34 something gets thrown at Ben. Ric sees it and keeps checking for Ben's reaction. Ben's pissed and sings the whole song in a subtle state of rage that somehow makes the whole performance really wonderful...it's Ben Orr at his righteous best!
@@cleawox Another true statement, for some time I didn't have Ben's first solo album & found a cassette of it & ripped it to my computer, what a singer & player.
@@gib59er56- Too professional to be high during a show. After a show, it was time to "try on hats." I think that Benjamin's shining eyes and the top lid of his left eye (right eye to anyone facing him) hung lower than the right eye, is what makes him look high.
@@ellab8897 Could be. But being a guitarist since 1979, I have seen pro`s (music was, unfortionately not ever my main support financialy) and I would be high in the studio and stage at times. Maybe I would have fared better if I was more in control or focused.) But the man is high imho.
@@gib59er56- I have seen several comments, not a whole lot of them, but definitely aside from yours, to the effect that Benjamin looks high, or was high during a video taped performance. For me, this is a case of, "I read it on the internet." I do know it doesn't make it true, band policy was, sober for shows; get high afterwards. It could be that Benjamin was high during a show, anyway. Which I agree makes it all the more amazing how great his singing and bass playing was.
@@ellab8897 Ella you could be right and even if he was high; what is the big deal about it? He was a charasmatic, talented musician and there is NOTHING anyone can say to change that. I am a guitarist of 40+ years and I like the Cars alot. On the other hand I had drug and booze problems in my early 20`s and I can spot an addict, or a person who is high every time. It really is the sad truth. Maybe if those drinking and drugging problems cost me and bands I was in to refuse to sign us up with a record deal.Now there are no record contracts, the industry has collapsed. Thank you for your comment, and Cheers!
Seriously, always LOVED The Cars; but never thought about/realized how badass Benjamin Orr was as a bass player and vocalist. Pretty chill guy for such a powerhouse. Severly underrated.
I agree 150%. Underrated on bass and as a frontman in general in my opinion. Total charisma too man, smooth as glass. I don't put alotta stock into the RRHOF, but when they inducted the Cars, they got it right 4sure. Thanks 4the post, it made my day.
I watch music videos on YT just to read the comments and see how far down I have to scroll before I see the dreaded "u" word. Got twice in this string of comments. Jackpot!
@@rickc463- Then you might not know what provoked him to mouth that. A, probably jealous, guy lobbed his drink at the stage and it landed very close to Benjamin. No mistaking the intended target. Understandably, that ticked off Benjamin. As soon as he could, he backed off the mic and mouthed the threat. He then seamlessly continued the song. Pure professionalism.
It's hard to put into words just how awesome this song is and how undeniable Ben Orr's charisma was. The Cars were passionately original and their musicianship was outstanding.
0:38 the glance Ben gives to Ric after someone threw something at him, followed by the "I'm gonna get you" is just great. This crowd didn't understand what they were witnessing.
How is it even remotely possible this was 40 YEARS AGO!! This still sounds as cutting edge fresh today as it did the first time I heard it in '78.............
Yeah. I was born in '91 and I was so surprised at how current they sounded to me. Some weeks ago I listeded to their first album for the first time ever. I'm loving the second one too. They simply rock.
There's a lot of great bands of that era. Played some old Thin Lizzy stuff the other day and couldn't believe it was 40+ years old. Better than anything out today.
Yeah - RIGHT, how can it be....I keep asking myself the same thing , especially these days, where has 41 yrs gone since I graduated high school...GaHHHHH, just unfuckinBelievable!!!!!
@@debrawillard3034 Oh yes! One of my favorite lyrics .. " Your eyes of porcelain of blue"..To this day, if I see an "Orangey sky".. I think of this GREAT lyric RIH💕🦋😎
Benjamin died exactly 21 years ago, today. We still can't believe it. But we are still glad that we can continue to hear his great music. Rest in peace our gorgeous Benjamin.
When Ben was singing, you couldn't take your eyes off him. Hell, you couldn't take your eyes off him when he was on stage, full stop! What a babe magnet he was.
@@julenepegher6999 Hi Julene, mesmerized is right! He was cool, collected and so in command of himself. The way he stared that guy down in the audience....whew!! Ben was one in a million.
Ben was never lazy with the music. He was a great singer and he sang the same way every time. He seemed like a pretty low key guy in person. RIP Ben Orr.
I don’t think he actually sang the same way every time, in fact he changed it up live so people could tell he wasn’t lip syncing. I get what you mean though, he was a a amazing singer.
HELL YEAH !! The music blew me away in 1978 when I was 16 and it still does now that I am 56. It was way different that ANYTHING that was out there. On my 8 track player....
Hell Yeah Same 1978, These Cars Are Talented,flawless,40, years ago , and Still watching them. The Videos are as good as it gets. Welcome Finally To ROCK&ROLL Hall Of Fame.. Any Band that Played with Ben, He nailed it. My Rock God.
Same here. I was 19 in 1979, and I played the hell out of this album. Vinyl and cassette for the car. I'm just now realizing that Benjamin Orr sang lead on so many of their songs. Always thought Ric Ocasek sang lead on most of the songs.
I was 14 when Heartbeat city came out. Great album, but their first 2 are the BEST. All my favorite songs were sung by Ben on those first too. Great memories! RIP Ben and Ric
Graduation H.S. band of graduation party played quite a bit of The Cars. Very good musically. They didn't match Ric's attitude or Ben's. But I didn't know that at the time.
Man, I knew Ben sang some of the songs but I never knew which ones exactly. But I never knew he was this damn good of a singer live! I love Rick and the whole band but Ben kills this, such an incredibly excellent band, RIP Ben and Rick, the Cars are legends.
It took me a long time to realize the difference between Ben and Ric's voice. To me, they sound so much alike but when you really listen you can hear how much more smooth Ben was. Such a gift of a band.
I also didn’t know that he sang which songs. I think he is mesmerizing and oh so talented. I rocked the bass. I was a teen in the 80s and I wish that I had been more aware of the talent before me. I had no idea. I love the fact that I can watch all of these videos on TH-cam.
I heard that the a$$hole who threw his drink onto the stage was actually escorted out during the song. The only thing better than a Benny leer is a Benny smile.
I never realized how HOT Benjamin Orr was 🔥 We’re losing legends as the years go by, but their music lives on in us forever. I hope he’s still Shaking it up wherever he is. Thank you Mr. Orr for sharing your wonderful gift with all of us; The Cars would not have been The Cars had it not been for you! 😍🙏🏼 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🎸
Ben Orr was fantastic. RIP Ben. You ARE VERY MISSED!!
Written by Ric Ocasek but totally owned by Ben Orr on this night
Elliot Easton us the greatest hook writer of his era
No bad for a lefty
It's 2024 and they still sound fresh.
"If it was a good song, I sang it. If it was a great song, Ben sang it." - Ric Ocasek
Just proves what great guys they were, not to many leaders of a band would EVER admit to that, Miss them dearly !
Absolutely, great comment.
Rick was a dick to Ben at times. What you talking about. That’s why Ben left the band
@@Don0311 everybody leaves bands. it's just a broken alibi.
@@Don0311 Ego. Ate Rick up and rurnt the band.
Love the fun lil moment with Ben and Eliot at the end. 😂
Same here! I always stop this at 4:06,4:07, instead of the very end, 4:09.
4:06 is a clearer shot, but they're smiling wider at 4:07.
Ben Orr was a rockstar oozing with talent and charisma. He owned the stage.
He was really a major talent. And he is so good looking that I slap myself to remind me he is a dude!! No, seriously he really is striking in looks, and a great songwriter. Fuckin Pancreatic cancer is a mother$^%&*. Dead at 53. Damn all cancer. It is so silent that by the time you feel even a bit off, it is already stage 4 and you pass within six months. Patrick Swayze, Michael Landon, and many more have been brought down by it. 2023 and it really has not changed much at all. I used to be a very heavy drinker ( I put it down about 12 yrs. ago) and alcoholics tend to be hit with it. My fingers are crossed
Coolest friggin rock n roll singer ever!! ❤
@@DustyTailUnfortunately just being introduced now. I was alive then but was busy playing the Stones, The Who, etc. This cat Benjamin Orr rocks. He's like ok, back the fuck up, let me grab this audience for 3: 45.
As a gifted, great vocalist, Ben would have stood out more than he did if the Cars hadn't been so loaded with talent: an brilliant songwriter (Ric), a dazzling lead guitarist (Elliot); an innovative, creative synthesizer guy (Greg), and a powerful but melodic drummer (Dave).
@@gib59er56man, my thoughts exactly about Ben! I'm as straight as a cup of water, but Ben has a look about him. My mean wife, who doesn't like anyone (other than someone like Depp 🙄) agrees on Ben. He'd have probably preferred to grab a beer, talk music, and generally hang out with me over her! 😂
If you’re a Cars fan or even just a casual rock fan then this video in my opinion is literally like a Rosetta Stone type archival piece of history that must be preserved at all cost. If you think that is a little over the top then you aren’t from the 80’s. Every time I watch this I am more blown away than the last time. They are so on point here. Benjamin Orr, may he rest in Peace, was such a great singer. Long live the Cars 🎸🚘🤘🏻🐐
The first time I her them I was like oh wow what a Band
Our gang that grew up together back in the day would sing their songs like them. Even though none of us could sing a note. These guys are the lunch pin of our youth. To be 16 and hearing these guys for the first time one more time.
It is a great piece of history. The sound could have been better, especially the keyboards.
@@chuckoaks6756lynch pin
Yeah. Think it exemplified them at their rawest of all the videos I've seen. Each and all playing and singing their hearts out. Agree with other comment that keyboard sounds are overly quiet
Completely live. No backing tracks. No pitch correction. Just pure talent and a great song.
This is a well rehearsed band playing at peak intensity.
they ended up using it, and in the studio went crazy with unnatural effect to fake you out. One can clearly hear the weak stuff here too. It is a VERY easy song, other than that lead vocal. He is great. But out of tune also... and would not fly next to most live bands of today.
@@morbidmanmusicThe imperfections of the human voice is what brings the emotional quality of the human voice that we, as humans, have been attracted to since time began. Autotune and pitch correction and all other attempts to perfect the human voice are a fool’s errand. And the robotic effect is off putting.
@@morbidmanmusicThis is not about today 🤔 All time favorite band. Jethro Tull and Hall and Oates are good too....
Dude, I don't even think there's any reverb on the vox. This is REAL TALENT.
Let’s face it, The Cars debut album IS perfection
No argument here. Probably one of the greatest debut album in rock history.
@@artlover4668 the greatest debut album IMO. Probably my favorite album that doesn’t have The Beatles on it
Indeed it is sir
What the Cars did was brilliant and yet so simple. After playing clubs in Boston and building a fan base, the Cars knew which original songs the fans liked and were the most popular. They took all of their most popular songs and put them on their first album.
Yep, for sure. Thanks to TH-cam, I now realize a lot of other people think that. Their debut album "Cars" was like a greatest hits album, with one great song after another on that first album. At least 5 or 6 radio (stereo) friendly songs became top 20 hits. Phenomenal album, would still hold up today, if it was released in 2022.
There are no words to adequately explain just how good this band really was. Ben was a flawless singer. The band was way ahead of its time. Just wow!!
Ben was an excellent vocal stylist. He did so many great twists and turns and tricks with his voice and made every song he sang better.
Life is unfair.
@@57highland You got that right. Not only did his fans lose, this guy toured, spent many hours in a recording studio. That is rarely fun. Granted he wasn't digging ditches his whole life but my point is, he earned enough money to live quite well for a long, long life and was snuffed by a undefeated killer. Sucks for all of us.
Could Benjamin Orr have been any more beautiful? I cant even think of another word. He was absolutely beautiful! And that distinct voice of his. So sad he passed so young.
So many women share your sentiment. I hear variations of what you wrote on every message board featuring The Cars.
If I was gay I would do him in a second
Benjamin was absolutely beautiful ° face, body and soul 🥰🥰🥰 those eyes lordy lordy let me dream of Benjamin Orr 😁
Hey Stella, I’m a very straight man, but I completely agree with your sentiment of Benjamin. Damn, he was one good looking man, talented singer, not to mention great bass player. Another one taken too soon.
He was, absolutely. Even so, I believe Ric as the main frontman was a smart business decision.Especially for The Cars in the 80’s.
How about some love for the drummer. That was rock solid playing.
❤.. love Ell
Absolutely!
He rocked it for sure
Absolutely 👍 🥁
@@wickedcoolname399 he played with the Modern Lovers, too. If you don’t know them, check them out. It’s my opinion that Ric was influenced by Jonathan Richman (of the Modern Lovers). Roadrunner, roadrunner!
The more I watch these old Cars live videos, the more I know you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone.
The moonlight aint so great
Very true
Joni Mitchell said that long ago in " Big Yellow Taxi"
@@mizzury54And it's still just as true.today as it was when Joni sang it. Some things are just timeless.
Cinderella (1989)
Elliot Easton is sooo under rated. He's such a fun guitarist. Not too showy but his solos are always impressive and super creative
Elliot was ranked top guitarist I think two years running in Guitar World or Guitar Player in the early '80s. Guitarists know how good he is. The solo In Shake It Up is one of the most succinct, to the point and clever solos from that time period. A friend of mine who's been playing guitar for over 50 years often says Elliot Easton can say more in eight bars than most other guitarists can on an entire album.
Nailed it
Couldn’t agree more and you can really see just a tip of the iceberg of his talent at the end of this song. I’m going to watch it again right now 😊
Elliot’s playing at the end of this song is great! Very talented musician. Benjamin’s bass playing is a perfect complement to Elliot’s skill. The smile the two of them share at 4:06 is priceless.
His solos match the song perfectly
Ben could just stand on the corner with a yoyo and still look like a rock star!
Wow he's collide that
Ben.. ❤️ love miss u
Don't mind me if I drool a little but can he please stand there with nothing on while holding that yoyo?
lol. Nice
Had cocaine eyes! But definitely good looking cat
One of the sadly most underrated rock bands ever.....they were bloody fantastic
They didn't sell that bad !!! And 2 million visits here, that's more than all the Saga video clips in a livespan of more than "10 000 days" achieved together. Now THAT is what I would call "sadly most underrated"....
Don’t know where you were the were very famous in Texas where I grew up
Who ever underrated The Cars? They were like Beatles level success for their time. Granted few bands have the longevity of the Beatles there are those who say the Beatles were underrated. It seems the interpretation of what "underrated" means is totally misunderstood by some. I mean if anyone can say the most successful band in the history of the universe was underrated it can be applied to literally any other band and have the same lack of meaning.
what are you talking about? the cars were MTV superstars for years. they had 5 platinum albums in a row in the US
Underrated?... perhaps in your planet buddy boy.
I'm 41 and embarrassed to admit that I only recently learned about the brilliance of Ben Orr. What a frontman, what a voice, what a musician. Ben, you are missed.
evrbody thougt it was ocassick
Ben was amazing. So was Ric!
I'm 51 and have been a hardcore fan since 1978. Love everything about The Cars. 😎
My story is similar but i was 58 when i started noticing Ben.. frikkin heard this song nearly a thousand times by 1982.. My friend Dan Richart ( RIP) used to play this first Cars album all the time in his galaxie 500 or whatever the hell that big boat he drove.. he had house speakers in back seat.. lol.. what frikkn fun we used to have.. Famn
Me too. Awesome old school Rock band
Same....i never knew he sang.
Who wouldn't kill to head down to a club tonight and see a band like this?
Some idiot in the audience of this show
Kill? No.
But I'd do anything legal. 😉
Those are WORDS!
Ben Orr is totally rocking this song. What a voice!
Man I never realized just how great Ben Orr was live. Singing is near perfection
Benjamin Orr's voice and phrasing was just perfection. He always had this really cool, early 70s glam rock look, too. Legend
Sometimes I just need to watch Ben Orr live and then I'm good to go about my day. The most stunning and talented man ,yet so humble. The Cars, like the Beatles were a blessing to the world. So grateful to have existed the same time they did.
I’m in a Cars “tribute” band based in Boston. We’re called Panorama. All the guys in the band are life long Cars mega-fans, but it was in the process of dissecting the music that we all developed a new appreciation for just how amazingly inventive The Cars were at crafting their parts. The songs might seem deceptively simple to the casual listener but I promise you... every part is so thought out and finely tuned. Everything fits together like a puzzle. It makes re-creating this wonderful music such a joy.
That is so interesting. Me... just listening to the music and not really giving much thought to them creating the entire piece, lyrics and music.... Definitely gives me a different perspective. And thanks, now I actually listen for everything! I appreciate your insight. I suppose that's why you're the rock musician and not me. 😊 Best wishes to you, may your band find huge success.
🇨🇦 Luv from Canada
Nicole
I agree !!Hope u guys can come up to NH. This next year !!
Yeah... kinda helps to have a keyboard player who went to Berklee. Just sayin....
I thought they were cutting edge . Moving in Stereo was a great tune. One of the few groups I didn’t catch live. They really had a lot of radio play
Rick Beato just broke down “just what I needed” on his page. It’s wild how dense this “simple” song is.
Benjamin could've been a movie star if he wanted. The camera adores him.
It certainly does. What a missed opportunity - sigh!
He never seemed that self absorbed he had a lot of image problems with himself
Very few bands can claim a flawless album. Let alone a debut. This is one of those bands.
the knack.
Well a few come to mind, Boston, Montrose, Van Halen, but nonetheless a great debut album.
Chicago transit authority
Murmer
Led Zeppelin
Why do I find and appreciate artists after they are gone? Benjamin Orr is flawless. God made the perfect lead singer in Orr.
When I was a kid and this band was popular it was all about Ric O'Casek, but Benjamin Orr is clearly the star.
it was about orr at first ocasek was in his shadow until he died. ocasek was the only one that wanted to keep the name going so the record co gave him the deal. orr was the cars sound ocasek just tried to emulate it for the fans to keep the audience and make that money.
@@truescotsman4103 So are you aware that Ocasek wrote all the songs?
Agreed. He had so much personality , great front man...and can play the bass
(Is also very handsome, I have a little man crush :))
@@truescotsman4103 ric always sang more songs than ben, even at this concert. thats a fact. its my opinion they both sound great but nothing alike
@@dooberto ive never liked ric. i was a kid when this band came out. i didn't pay much attention. orr just sounds better and has a unique style that hes defined. ric is pretty sterile and generic and he has a character about his voice that i don't like. its a personal thing.
at :34 something gets thrown at Ben. Ric sees it and keeps checking for Ben's reaction.
Ben's pissed and sings the whole song in a subtle state of rage that somehow makes the whole performance really wonderful...it's Ben Orr at his righteous best!
I had to go back and look at that again. I noticed the first time that he backed off the mic and mouthed something to somebody out there.
@@dmax3270 yes Ben mouths something like - I'm going to get you? or something like that
I got the impression Ric was thinking "Oh, crap. Am I going to have to tackle Ben?"
He said I'm going to get you.
I didn't notice this and now I can see that he's pissed
So f’ing good. Elliot Easton is criminally underrated.
This song is still as fresh as it was when it came out 40 years ago.
Still sad Ben is gone into the spirit world.
His voice was the guiding light of all their besttunes.
Ben Orr...clearly one of the all time best rock voices!
Ben is killing the vocal on this one. The best.
Ric said something humorous to the effect that he gave the real vocals to Ben. Ben is a handy guy to have in your band.
@@cleawox Another true statement, for some time I didn't have Ben's first solo album & found a cassette of it & ripped it to my computer, what a singer & player.
Whoa !! How nice is this video!!!!!!!
Ben killed it on everything he played and sang on!
I agree!
hot hot hotter than any other rock star
Benjamin Orr was the Coolest!
How is it even possible that Ben sings better live than on the records? An absolute unicorn of a man.
He was damn amazing! He is so friggin high here , that I am shocked he can even remember his lyrics!. THAT is a pro.
@@gib59er56- Too professional to be high during a show. After a show, it was time to "try on hats."
I think that Benjamin's shining eyes and the top lid of his left eye (right eye to anyone facing him) hung lower than the right eye, is what makes him look high.
@@ellab8897 Could be. But being a guitarist since 1979, I have seen pro`s (music was, unfortionately not ever my main support financialy) and I would be high in the studio and stage at times. Maybe I would have fared better if I was more in control or focused.) But the man is high imho.
@@gib59er56- I have seen several comments, not a whole lot of them, but definitely aside from yours, to the effect that Benjamin looks high, or was high during a video taped performance. For me, this is a case of, "I read it on the internet." I do know it doesn't make it true, band policy was, sober for shows; get high afterwards. It could be that Benjamin was high during a show, anyway. Which I agree makes it all the more amazing how great his singing and bass playing was.
@@ellab8897 Ella you could be right and even if he was high; what is the big deal about it? He was a charasmatic, talented musician and there is NOTHING anyone can say to change that. I am a guitarist of 40+ years and I like the Cars alot. On the other hand I had drug and booze problems in my early 20`s and I can spot an addict, or a person who is high every time. It really is the sad truth. Maybe if those drinking and drugging problems cost me and bands I was in to refuse to sign us up with a record deal.Now there are no record contracts, the industry has collapsed. Thank you for your comment, and Cheers!
Beautiful, beautiful man.
The camera loved him
That’s what real talent looks like. No auto tune or tapes, real music.
THANK YOU!!!!!
Friggin incredible! Super tight
these guys were and are the real deal, true artists
Amen. Thank you.
Very well said! They were extremely talented.
BEN ORR was just amazing
AGREE.
I hate that we have to say WAS! Taken far too soon!
SUPREME
@@MOOSEHEADstadia2024 proof, proof, I need proof, man!
Yea, amazingly hot.
True talent right here. Pure performance.
Man Ben was something else man!!!
This band was insanely good. Ben was a great singer. Elliot was an awesome guitarist. The whole band just clicked so well together.
Elliott grew up in school with Brian Setzer of the Stray Cats - interesting how they both made it in 2 very different vands
don't want money, fame or fortune; all I want is to go back to the 80's
1978
Seriously, always LOVED The Cars; but never thought about/realized how badass Benjamin Orr was as a bass player and vocalist. Pretty chill guy for such a powerhouse. Severly underrated.
I agree 150%. Underrated on bass and as a frontman in general in my opinion. Total charisma too man, smooth as glass. I don't put alotta stock into the RRHOF, but when they inducted the Cars, they got it right 4sure. Thanks 4the post, it made my day.
Another Cleveland- born rocker.
I watch music videos on YT just to read the comments and see how far down I have to scroll before I see the dreaded "u" word. Got twice in this string of comments. Jackpot!
@@satinwhip , you are SO above it. Sorry society is so predictable that it consumes your time confirming it. Good use of time (for a loser).
@Sepher Agon U know...
0:45 best part 😊 “I’m gonna get you”
Thanks for sharing. I always wondered what he was saying.
@@rickc463- Then you might not know what provoked him to mouth that. A, probably jealous, guy lobbed his drink at the stage and it landed very close to Benjamin. No mistaking the intended target. Understandably, that ticked off Benjamin. As soon as he could, he backed off the mic and mouthed the threat. He then seamlessly continued the song. Pure professionalism.
My absolute favorite Cars song.
It's hard to put into words just how awesome this song is and how undeniable Ben Orr's charisma was. The Cars were passionately original and their musicianship was outstanding.
I fully agree.
I fully Love all it
I graduated HS in 78. I honestly didn't appreciate this group enough at the time. Beast of a period for music.
I was 12 in 78..16 thru 19 I gotta full dose of the cars. Amazing band !!
Ben could sing in tune even under water. R.I.P.
Can't look away from beautiful Ben, fantastic voice and that stare.....
jdance I know so true
Loved hom then love him now❤how great for you tube thank you our time machine.
I'm a happy married, straight man... but damn Ben was a stunning man
Bro...
Little bit of the Chris walken in him
Cameron Diaz’s brother by another mother.
You forgot to say no homo first
Most definitely👍
0:38 the glance Ben gives to Ric after someone threw something at him, followed by the "I'm gonna get you" is just great. This crowd didn't understand what they were witnessing.
The undisputed King of the sideways glance, while planted assuredly, floating on his band's unmatchable power. Very rare charisma.
The girl from the Bangles is the queen
How is it even remotely possible this was 40 YEARS AGO!! This still sounds as cutting edge fresh today as it did the first time I heard it in '78.............
It's so good that it's entered the realm of "timeless" music.
Yeah. I was born in '91 and I was so surprised at how current they sounded to me. Some weeks ago I listeded to their first album for the first time ever. I'm loving the second one too.
They simply rock.
There's a lot of great bands of that era. Played some old Thin Lizzy stuff the other day and couldn't believe it was 40+ years old. Better than anything out today.
Yeah - RIGHT, how can it be....I keep asking myself the same thing , especially these days, where has 41 yrs gone since I graduated high school...GaHHHHH, just unfuckinBelievable!!!!!
¡Pues si Esteban!
¡Estás ruco y no hay medicina pa´eso!
Absolutely one of the most underrated musisans
Now Ric is gone too, so very sad. Long live The Cars !
bye bye ric!! you and ben have an orangey sky!!
Ricky Buchanan...Bye, Bye 👋🏽 love 🙋🏽♀️💕
Ben & Ric take care of each other🚙🚗🚙🚗
@@debrawillard3034 Oh yes! One of my favorite lyrics .. " Your eyes of porcelain of blue"..To this day, if I see an "Orangey sky"..
I think of this GREAT lyric RIH💕🦋😎
I'm so sad. I have just recently began to appreciate The Cars. Then Ric follows Benjamin. I hope they're rocking out wherever they are. RIP Ric...
@@luradungan7368 I have been a fan of The Cars since the early 1980s! Don't worry, Ric and Ben are surely rocking together up there!
Again stepping back when not singing to let Elliott take center stage. What a class act Ben was.
Ben had a fantastic voice.....and was so CUTE!
I wonder if the crowd had any idea they were looking at legends that night.
wow...how his eyes pierce the audience when he sings,,,u feel like he is singing to you personally
Dont get better than this ❤
Benjamin died exactly 21 years ago, today. We still can't believe it. But we are still glad that we can continue to hear his great music. Rest in peace our gorgeous Benjamin.
When Ben was singing, you couldn't take your eyes off him. Hell, you couldn't take your eyes off him when he was on stage, full stop! What a babe magnet he was.
Yes, indeed. He was something special.
@@MrAlbatros2 For sure!
@@carolebarker2195 hi Carole, yep I’m mesmerized each time.
@@julenepegher6999 Hi Julene, mesmerized is right! He was cool, collected and so in command of himself. The way he stared that guy down in the audience....whew!! Ben was one in a million.
I would love that stare 😍
Love the respect ocasic had for Ben
Benjamin Orr WOW!!!What else can you say?
Love how cool he is about that drink being chucked at him - brilliant even when he’s angry ❤️💫🎸🔥
🥰🥰🥰🥰 the CARS were my Beatles 🥰🥰🥰🥰
Ben Orr classic voice and what a beautiful man
Who is still listening in 2024.. RIP BEN ORR, AND RICK TOO. ❤🎶🎸
65and still listening!
72 years old and still listening to The Cars.🎶🤩♥️
Always ❤
Elliot Easton had some of the COOLEST and TASTIEST guitar solos EVER!!
ABSOLUTELY!!! I totally agree but not easy to play!!!
"My Best Friends Girlfriend"..
this should be shouted through a megaphone.........
He sure is, I would put Mike Campbell of Tom Petty's Heartbreakers & GE Smith, into that category.
Man, you said it. He was awesome.
Frickin awesome RIP man
Love the Cars and Benny 11 letters!!!!!
Makes me want to build a time machine.
Can't help but grin real big when watching Orr and Easton dualing at the end with smiles on their faces.
Benjamin Orr had the perfect vocals... Rest in peace...
Ben was never lazy with the music. He was a great singer and he sang the same way every time. He seemed like a pretty low key guy in person. RIP Ben Orr.
Hell of a bass player too.
Most under-rated rock star ever!
I don’t think he actually sang the same way every time, in fact he changed it up live so people could tell he wasn’t lip syncing. I get what you mean though, he was a a amazing singer.
@@randombotdude2083 You're right, but will say his professionalism was always spot-on. Excellent bassist.
@@Fretless99 people don’t realize how hard it is to sing and play bass. Some say it’s harder than playing guitar and singing.
Cool how Ben smiles at Elliot Easton near the end. EE was nine years younger than the other guys in the band.😅
i was 10 yrs old when this album came out. i remember mowing lawns to get the money to buy it...i still have the vinyl.
Ben Orr is still the most gorgeous man I have ever seen. Talented and a great voice!! I miss him so...
You never saw me Tina 😂❤😮
Those guys kicked ass! Way under appreciated.
Benjamin Orr was incredible. I love him. RIP
Most overlooked drummer in 80s rock, kills it and never gets a closeup!!!!
David Robinson, ya he did some cool stuff. He totally stopped playing drums after the cars broke up in 1988.
Dave Robinson is very good. Surprisingly, he and the rest of the band had no egos and they let their musicianship and talent speak for themselves.
...and the only guy originally from the area!
Perfect timing in every song. It's what stood out to me from their first song on.
Seriously! The guy had some of the most tastiest drum fills!
Ben is just the perfect rock star... bassist, awesome singer, and looks like a rock-star god!
Rest In Peace my polish brothers
HELL YEAH !! The music blew me away in 1978 when I was 16 and it still does now that I am 56. It was way different that ANYTHING that was out there. On my 8 track player....
I had this album on vinyl. The Cars were my jam in high school. Still love them.
The Cars were always playing when I skated at the Kona skate park in Jacksonville Fl. the summer I was there in the 80's. So tight as a live act.
How they write this music is beyond me.
Damn straight
Hell Yeah Same 1978, These Cars Are Talented,flawless,40, years ago , and Still watching them. The Videos are as good as it gets. Welcome Finally To ROCK&ROLL Hall Of Fame.. Any Band that Played with Ben, He nailed it. My Rock God.
That was Awesome! 👏🏽 It’s an Orangy Skyyyy. Alwayyyys it’s Some other Guyyyy. It’s Just a Broken Lullabyyyy! 😉🤟🏽
I was listening to The Cars in ‘79 and still listening to them in 2019. Love this group!
Same here. I was 19 in 1979, and I played the hell out of this album. Vinyl and cassette for the car. I'm just now realizing that Benjamin Orr sang lead on so many of their songs. Always thought Ric Ocasek sang lead on most of the songs.
Same here . I was 13 in 1979 , first year of jr high . The Cars were all the rage . Great times .
I was 14 when Heartbeat city came out. Great album, but their first 2 are the BEST. All my favorite songs were sung by Ben on those first too. Great memories! RIP Ben and Ric
Graduation H.S. band of graduation party played quite a bit of The Cars. Very good musically. They didn't match Ric's attitude or Ben's. But I didn't know that at the time.
John Cook Timeless music.
The whole band just full of talent: Greg, David, Elliott, Ric and Benjamin. Love them all.
exactly.
Me too. I've always loved the Cars. This song never gets old.
СОГЛАСНО НА ВСЕ 1000%!🖐🖐👌🇸🇮🇸🇮🇸🇮
Their best song IMO. The cusp of new wave music.
"Benny eleven-letters". Definitely a one of a kind performer!
11 letters...😅🤣😂
Yeah, he had a very long last name.
RIP BROTHER.
Man, I knew Ben sang some of the songs but I never knew which ones exactly. But I never knew he was this damn good of a singer live! I love Rick and the whole band but Ben kills this, such an incredibly excellent band, RIP Ben and Rick, the Cars are legends.
Orr was a great singer. I think some people are just born with certain talents.
It took me a long time to realize the difference between Ben and Ric's voice. To me, they sound so much alike but when you really listen you can hear how much more smooth Ben was. Such a gift of a band.
Hah, I could always tell the difference. Mr. Melodic vs. Mr. Hiccup. Loved them both.
I also grew up not realizing the bass player sang half the songs.
I also didn’t know that he sang which songs. I think he is mesmerizing and oh so talented. I rocked the bass. I was a teen in the 80s and I wish that I had been more aware of the talent before me. I had no idea. I love the fact that I can watch all of these videos on TH-cam.
The only way that could have sounded more like the record is if it was the record, which is exactly what the fans want to hear, great job.
I love how Ben and Elliot smiled at each other at the end.
I heard that the a$$hole who threw his drink onto the stage was actually escorted out during the song. The only thing better than a Benny leer is a Benny smile.
I agree. Priceless!
I never realized how HOT Benjamin Orr was 🔥 We’re losing legends as the years go by, but their music lives on in us forever. I hope he’s still Shaking it up wherever he is. Thank you Mr. Orr for sharing your wonderful gift with all of us; The Cars would not have been The Cars had it not been for you! 😍🙏🏼 🤘🏼🤘🏼🤘🏼🎸
БРАВО!!!!👏👏👌👌🖐🖐🇸🇮🇸🇮2023г
Benjamin Orr, master of the sexy sideways glance @ 3:05💋
Ben Orr was more than amazing, he was almost in-human. Beautiful to the extreme. We all want to be with you again! RIP Ben.
Ben Orr looked like a rock n roll version of a young Rutger Hauer. One a great musician, the other a great actor. Rest in Peace to them both.
Best 80's radio band there is
Ben has that rock n roll voice and hair going on!