There is another video of John singing this song at his Last Time concert in 2003. His voice has matured and his performance is even better with age. Worth a look.
You got it in a nutshell. John sure is a passionate singer. He just lives to sing and perform. He always puts 100 percent into every single performance. Anyone would think that singing that way would have blown his voice out. But after 50 years...his voice was still as strong as it ever was. In fact there is a video of him singing the same song in his 50's which is even more amazing. His voice just seemed to get better and better as he got older. Even in his 70's he was still hitting it out of the park and still sang everyone of his songs in the exact same key as he was in his 30's. The man is a musical genius...❤❤❤❤
He's the ultimate entertainer.... That song he was introducing at the end was 'Amazing Grace' which John joins his two backup singers for in an Epic rendition of that beautiful classic.
I am 73 and John has been the singer of my life time, starting in the late 1960s, right up untill he sadly got sick with cancer, he will always be my beautiful golden boy!!!
@user-yw8bb1zw2m oh for God's sake. He chose to stay in Australia but toured overseas many many times! That is no reason for his name to still not appear on the Rollingstone list.
Totally agree Rick. And I think he should take the pole position because of his versatility and ability to sing all those different genres. Most of the other world greats stick to a single genre...but our John just has that ability to crossover like no one else does. ❤❤❤
@@SueNielsen-g9xone of the biggest concerts I've ever seen him do was in Germany. He did tour europe a fair bit back in the 80's. . Not To mention that he toured around the US with the LRB for a few years. But it is true that he chose to live in Australia to keep his famoly together and where we all appreciated him so much. And also true that the US and the rest of the world must have had rocks in their heads to not realise what a powerhouse John was/is. And totally crazy that he is not recognised as one of the world's greats . It's so annoying that unless you lived in the US or the UK, you never cracked a mention in Rolling Stone .
@@SueNielsen-g9x Also, perhaps because the USA music machine didn't know where to pigeon-hole John, as apparently they liked to do, because of the wide versatility of his singing - he sings in over 20 genres!
He is definitely a passionate singer - he absolutely loves it and it shows, and he cares genuinely about the audience being engaged and having an amazing time. I've never seen a performance from him where he wasn't giving it absolutely everything he's got. He's on record a number of times as saying that people pay a significant amount of money to go to concerts (although it was less then than now), and he wants everyone to leave feeling like it was absolutely worth it. These are the reasons we love him so much! The gift of being born with a talent like John's could not have gone to a more deserving or worthy person than John himself. Hope to see you guys do more!
John is always sublime! ❤️ Fun fact: His female backup singer in red, is Venetta Fields. She's an American-born Australian singer and musical theater actress, and vocal coach. She was an Ikette...she sang with Ike & Tina Turner. She moved to Australia in '82 from memory & soon became an Aussie citizen. The other backup singer here is Lyndsay Field...no relation lol.
John is a consummate professional as are his band members and singers who were singing the song just how John wanted it. According to the composer of this song, Steve Prestwich, it is about the trauma of the war of his marriage break-up. The fabulous guitarist is Brett Garsed.
I’m a little confused about that as I thought he was only ever married to Joanne and they didn’t break up until 2011. This was written in 1982. I haven’t seen anything where he says what the song is about. But there is a book by the same name by Australian author Jackie French and I often wonder if he was inspired by this.
You correctly mentioned that his musicians were brilliant but so are his incredible long-term backing singers Lisa Edwards, Lindsay Field and Venetta Fields. Little known fact that Venetta was one of the original 1961 "Ikettes", the backup singers for Ike and Tina Turner. She has also performed with Pink Floyd, Humble Pie, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs, Bob Seger, the Rolling Stones, Bette Midler, Joe Cocker and Bob Dylan. She toured Australia with Boz in 1980 and relocated here in 1982. As well as Farnsey she has also performed with Barnsey of Cold Chisel.
He is not a rock singer. He is a pop singer and without a doubt he is our Greatest Pop Singer and all round performer. Jimmy Barnes is Australia’s greatest rock singer without question.
Someone else may have said this already. Back when Cold Chisel broke up John Farnham was singing with another Australian legend band called The Liittle River Band. Steve Prestwich joined LRB after Cold Chisel. On the next album, No Reins ( one of my favs) , LRB did this track. A few yrs later John went solo again taking the keyboard player and bass player with him. And this track among a few others. Sadly Steve Prestwich has passed away. RIP. Worth listening to Cold Chisels version with both Ian Moss and Jimmy Barnes singing on it. ❤
If you want more backup singers check out his cover of Stevie Wonder’s Loves in Need (Chain Reaction live concert). The band members down instruments and join him a Cappella for a special performance. His band members were some of the best instrumentalists and singers in Australia.
Thank you for your great reaction and appreciation of the amazing talent of our phenomenal Aussie Legend, John Farnham! I agree totally that John is accompanied by the best band of talented musicians as well. Please watch many more of John Farnham's hit songs and live concerts from the last 5 decades. xo
Our wonderful John is amazing, have seen him live many times over the years. 🇦🇺💕 John is in my top 4 singers ever along with; Elvis Robin Gibb & Dan Vasc
Glad you've discovered John Farnham. Absolutely *incredible* voice. Check out some of his other stuff: "You're the Voice," "A Touch of Paradise," and - what is arguably his best - "Age of Reason."
Hard to believe this guy was broke in the late 70s, no one would hire him he was a laughing stock to hip DJs at the time he couldn't shake of his reputation at having been a teen idol in the 60s, but boy, he showed them with an incredible comeback in the late 80s
John Farnham is so good Freddie Mercury considers him one of the best singers of all time and he was invited to be the front man for Queen after Freddie passed. "The Choir is not quite strong enough" yeah thats actually correct. They had to turn him down as his voice is so naturally powerful it would just peak every bit of equipment in the studio. The choir quite literally cannot compete. It's also one of the reasons he holds the mic so far away compared to most singers. In Australia he is simply known as The Voice and with good reason.
Whispering Jack, his breakthrough album (on tape), was the first purchase I ever made with my own money as a kid. It started a lifelong love of his voice..just like everyone else in this country! He would tour even in the rural parts of Australia, and was an all ‘round good bloke. He knows he’s not perfect (except for his voice!). He’s made mistakes…as we all have, but his song Burn For You for his wife…just beautiful. I love that he & Jill have been together for over 50 years. True Australian Legend.
Anything John sings is gold, but as mentioned there’s another version in later years that’s even better, more passion and emotion. John is the greatest male vocalist of all time. And Brett Garsed on guitar is epic, the entire band is the best of the best.
He also knows that amplifiers will overload and clip his voice if he unleashes all of his power at them. lol And if he didn't have mike control, could you imagine the poor dude sitting at a mixing desk trying to follow along on the sliders.
At the end there, he asks his 2 back up singers to come forward......Vanetta Field and Lindsay Fields ( different spelling and not related ). This is for another brilliant video.....Vanetta takes the leed for Amazing Grace.
John singing another Aussie classic from Cold Chisel, talk about 'on the limit'... whew, yoo hoo! Love your RipCurl outfit, very nice - an iconic Aussie surf brand. Some great comments guys, I just subscribed. Cheers from Sydney, AU.
As amazing as this version is, it always bums me out that people have missed out seeing the performance from The Last Time tour. That is hands down in my top 5 vocal performances of all time
In my opinion, this would have to be the best version of this classic John ever performed. I don't know how often I have replayed this this concert and this song in particular. I get goosebumps every time I hear this song by John and his band. Legend!!!!
Gee, watching this version was interesting. His 2003 concert version is, IMO, the best vocal performance he has ever given. The musical backup was also better. If you like the song, try that version (he's 54 years old). Stunning.
Could you please, please, please check out John doing ACDC’s Long Way to the top - one of the best versions as always is Live with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, AND his Live duet with the late Olivia Newton John of his song Please don’t ask me - it is amazing believe me.
There has NEVER been a singer better than Farnsey!
There is another video of John singing this song at his Last Time concert in 2003. His voice has matured and his performance is even better with age. Worth a look.
The superior version and should always be the go to
Totally agree. ALWAYAS AMAZING, but that one really hits
I personally can't go past this version from Whispering Jack tour, my absolute favourite!
Na this version is better in my opinion
Totally agree.
There's a huge difference between singing a song & performing a song - John performs.
You got it in a nutshell. John sure is a passionate singer. He just lives to sing and perform. He always puts 100 percent into every single performance. Anyone would think that singing that way would have blown his voice out. But after 50 years...his voice was still as strong as it ever was. In fact there is a video of him singing the same song in his 50's which is even more amazing. His voice just seemed to get better and better as he got older. Even in his 70's he was still hitting it out of the park and still sang everyone of his songs in the exact same key as he was in his 30's. The man is a musical genius...❤❤❤❤
He's the ultimate entertainer.... That song he was introducing at the end was 'Amazing Grace' which John joins his two backup singers for in an Epic rendition of that beautiful classic.
I am 73 and John has been the singer of my life time, starting in the late 1960s, right up untill he sadly got sick with cancer, he will always be my beautiful golden boy!!!
I feel the same. I only saw him twice. My family tease me - I said he was like an angel.
Our John could sing the phone book and still knock ya socks off😁❤️🇦🇺👍🏼
Absolutely agree with you guys, it’s not just his voice, it’s like he believes every word he sings 👍❤️
When he was older his manager suggested he could drop a tone keywise, but John said ‘where’s the fun in that?’
He is THE G.O.A.T. Love our John so much ❤❤❤
I know I have to stop torturing myself but WHY is he not a household name worldwide? He is top 10 in any language.
I believe he chose not to tour outside ANZ to stay close to his family
@user-yw8bb1zw2m oh for God's sake. He chose to stay in Australia but toured overseas many many times! That is no reason for his name to still not appear on the Rollingstone list.
Totally agree Rick. And I think he should take the pole position because of his versatility and ability to sing all those different genres. Most of the other world greats stick to a single genre...but our John just has that ability to crossover like no one else does. ❤❤❤
@@SueNielsen-g9xone of the biggest concerts I've ever seen him do was in Germany. He did tour europe a fair bit back in the 80's. . Not To mention that he toured around the US with the LRB for a few years. But it is true that he chose to live in Australia to keep his famoly together and where we all appreciated him so much. And also true that the US and the rest of the world must have had rocks in their heads to not realise what a powerhouse John was/is. And totally crazy that he is not recognised as one of the world's greats . It's so annoying that unless you lived in the US or the UK, you never cracked a mention in Rolling Stone .
@@SueNielsen-g9x Also, perhaps because the USA music machine didn't know where to pigeon-hole John, as apparently they liked to do, because of the wide versatility of his singing - he sings in over 20 genres!
He is definitely a passionate singer - he absolutely loves it and it shows, and he cares genuinely about the audience being engaged and having an amazing time. I've never seen a performance from him where he wasn't giving it absolutely everything he's got. He's on record a number of times as saying that people pay a significant amount of money to go to concerts (although it was less then than now), and he wants everyone to leave feeling like it was absolutely worth it. These are the reasons we love him so much!
The gift of being born with a talent like John's could not have gone to a more deserving or worthy person than John himself. Hope to see you guys do more!
Will never get tired of ppl overseas discovering the magic of John Farnham. The man barely ever gives a lacklustre performance ❤
He puts a lot of emotion in his songs, he loves what he does. I'm so proud and happy to be an Australian
John is sublime, he is truly a powerhouse
You need to hear the older version when he was 53 doing this song , out standing try to get a hold of that where he's wearing a suit best version.
Homeboy on the keys with the awesome mullet is David Hirchfelder, who went on to be an Oscar-nominated film composer.
John is always sublime! ❤️
Fun fact: His female backup singer in red, is Venetta Fields. She's an American-born Australian singer and musical theater actress, and vocal coach.
She was an Ikette...she sang with Ike & Tina Turner.
She moved to Australia in '82 from memory & soon became an Aussie citizen. The other backup singer here is Lyndsay Field...no relation lol.
She also did backing vocals on Pink Floyd's Dark side of the moon album
She was touring Australia with blues legend Boz Scaggs and liked it so much that she stayed 😊
@terryallen345 how did I not know that? That's awesome.
Love your reactions to John.Thank you. You guys rock✌️🇦🇺🫶
I like the 2003 version when he was in his fifties. Just as powerful with more emotion. He just kept getting better as he aged.
This song is an Aussie classic. And no-one sings it like John
Jimmy say's hold my beer . The original is streets ahead of this version
Not even close. I like Jimmy, but at the time he was singing this with Cold Chisel, all he did was scream. @@robertperry5832
@@robertperry5832like both versions of a great song, different but equally as good.
have to disagree with you on this one . jimmy catches that deeper raw primal emotion like no other.
John is a consummate professional as are his band members and singers who were singing the song just how John wanted it. According to the composer of this song, Steve Prestwich, it is about the trauma of the war of his marriage break-up. The fabulous guitarist is Brett Garsed.
I’m a little confused about that as I thought he was only ever married to Joanne and they didn’t break up until 2011. This was written in 1982. I haven’t seen anything where he says what the song is about. But there is a book by the same name by Australian author Jackie French and I often wonder if he was inspired by this.
GREAT SONG AND VOICE.👍👍👍
You correctly mentioned that his musicians were brilliant but so are his incredible long-term backing singers Lisa Edwards, Lindsay Field and Venetta Fields. Little known fact that Venetta was one of the original 1961 "Ikettes", the backup singers for Ike and Tina Turner. She has also performed with Pink Floyd, Humble Pie, Barbra Streisand, Neil Diamond, Steely Dan, Boz Scaggs, Bob Seger, the Rolling Stones, Bette Midler, Joe Cocker and Bob Dylan. She toured Australia with Boz in 1980 and relocated here in 1982. As well as Farnsey she has also performed with Barnsey of Cold Chisel.
❤❤John Farnham is Australia's greatest rock singer from 70s to now, emotion and storytelling, and technique is awsome🎉🎉
He is not a rock singer. He is a pop singer and without a doubt he is our Greatest Pop Singer and all round performer. Jimmy Barnes is Australia’s greatest rock singer without question.
What an absolute legend! Everything he touches he turns into pure gold.
Really great reaction and your words of John were perfect! Yes Brett can certainly play guitar!
Hey Suz
@@briangill4000 hiya Brian you get about lol
At 70 he was still singing in the same key
Someone else may have said this already. Back when Cold Chisel broke up John Farnham was singing with another Australian legend band called The Liittle River Band. Steve Prestwich joined LRB after Cold Chisel. On the next album, No Reins ( one of my favs) , LRB did this track. A few yrs later John went solo again taking the keyboard player and bass player with him. And this track among a few others.
Sadly Steve Prestwich has passed away. RIP.
Worth listening to Cold Chisels version with both Ian Moss and Jimmy Barnes singing on it. ❤
Great reaction guys,The next song is amazing grace his back up singers perform with him, really great watch
If you want more backup singers check out his cover of Stevie Wonder’s Loves in Need (Chain Reaction live concert). The band members down instruments and join him a Cappella for a special performance. His band members were some of the best instrumentalists and singers in Australia.
Love that hairstyle, totally suits you.
Have you done John singing opera, Granada, with Anthony Warlow yet? Lots of humour mixed in too
Thank you for your great reaction and appreciation of the amazing talent of our phenomenal Aussie Legend, John Farnham! I agree totally that John is accompanied by the best band of talented musicians as well. Please watch many more of John Farnham's hit songs and live concerts from the last 5 decades. xo
He is also so creative and just a magnificent performer ❤
Love your reactions. Thankyou
Our wonderful John is amazing, have seen him live many times over the years. 🇦🇺💕
John is in my top 4 singers ever along with;
Elvis
Robin Gibb &
Dan Vasc
He is notably older in the 2003 version and is fascinating that his voice is even better!
Great she is wearing a Australian brand
Funny thing is when he sang Help a lott of people thought he was screaming NO his voice has a huge range!
Glad you've discovered John Farnham. Absolutely *incredible* voice.
Check out some of his other stuff: "You're the Voice," "A Touch of Paradise," and - what is arguably his best - "Age of Reason."
John Farnhams signature song is “ Your the Voice”,worth a listen!
Hard to believe this guy was broke in the late 70s, no one would hire him he was a laughing stock to hip DJs at the time he couldn't shake of his reputation at having been a teen idol in the 60s, but boy, he showed them with an incredible comeback in the late 80s
Great reaction to an absolute legend, you have another subscriber!
The Cold Chisel version is great also but this is my favourite version of this song.
Thank you for this. He makes me proud to be another Aussie. No one will ever sound like him. Thanks again best wishes Clare
Also check out Australia’s INXS at Wembley, UK. They will blow your mind. Michael has such charisma and the voice of an angel crossed with sin😀
AMAZING 🤩 Love John!!
RIPCURL - Another great Australian Production ..🇦🇺🤣
Right?! 🤣
I was going to mention that, John Farnham and RipCurl, 70’s Aussie childhood in one
His passion was his audience. He gave us every single drop of his soul every single time h performed. That is why he is loved by all Australians.
Fantastic version of an iconic Aussie song! Who knew Rambo could play guitar so well!
A song for all the heroes in Ukraine
John is one of the Aussie greats. When you bring him together with Jimmy Barns, you get two of Aussie's greatest's screamers and a totally new level.
This is why he is called " The Voice" check out his song Your the Voice.
The next song in this (whispering jack concert) was Amazing grace with his backing singers Vanetta fields leading...awesome..
John Farnham is so good Freddie Mercury considers him one of the best singers of all time and he was invited to be the front man for Queen after Freddie passed.
"The Choir is not quite strong enough" yeah thats actually correct. They had to turn him down as his voice is so naturally powerful it would just peak every bit of equipment in the studio. The choir quite literally cannot compete.
It's also one of the reasons he holds the mic so far away compared to most singers.
In Australia he is simply known as The Voice and with good reason.
So glad to see SA loves our favorite Aussie son. We love u guys too. (go the wallabies)
John’s “choir” is his long time backup singers and also friends
Whispering Jack, his breakthrough album (on tape), was the first purchase I ever made with my own money as a kid. It started a lifelong love of his voice..just like everyone else in this country! He would tour even in the rural parts of Australia, and was an all ‘round good bloke. He knows he’s not perfect (except for his voice!). He’s made mistakes…as we all have, but his song Burn For You for his wife…just beautiful. I love that he & Jill have been together for over 50 years. True Australian Legend.
You guys are fcuking great. Love your work. This was an amazing song. Thanks to whoever requested it.
Goosebumps every time!!! Loved your reactions to this. Love John so much ❤
Anything John sings is gold, but as mentioned there’s another version in later years that’s even better, more passion and emotion. John is the greatest male vocalist of all time. And Brett Garsed on guitar is epic, the entire band is the best of the best.
John is incredible. Probably the best live performer ever.
He also knows that amplifiers will overload and clip his voice if he unleashes all of his power at them. lol
And if he didn't have mike control, could you imagine the poor dude sitting at a mixing desk trying to follow along on the sliders.
Love what your've done with your Hair. ❤ 👀
At the end there, he asks his 2 back up singers to come forward......Vanetta Field and Lindsay Fields ( different spelling and not related ).
This is for another brilliant video.....Vanetta takes the leed for Amazing Grace.
Respect!
John singing another Aussie classic from Cold Chisel, talk about 'on the limit'... whew, yoo hoo! Love your RipCurl outfit, very nice - an iconic Aussie surf brand. Some great comments guys, I just subscribed. Cheers from Sydney, AU.
The Voice , The Talent The Man John Fareham ❤
Please do the 2003 version because his vocals are simply out of this earth on another level!.
Worth your while for such a great song!.👍
I love hearing his version of this.great reaction
As amazing as this version is, it always bums me out that people have missed out seeing the performance from The Last Time tour. That is hands down in my top 5 vocal performances of all time
In my opinion, this would have to be the best version of this classic John ever performed. I don't know how often I have replayed this this concert and this song in particular. I get goosebumps every time I hear this song by John and his band. Legend!!!!
Cold Chisel's drummer, Steve Prestwich, wrote this song as an allegory to the end of his marriage.
All great Australian talent
A lot of Aussie want this as our national anthem.
Oh wow this is fast becoming my favourite JF song. As an Australia who has loved this man and his music for 50 years looking back is a dream.
Increíble!!! Guaoooo
Just brilliant!
Great to see you wearing the great Victorian (Aussie) company Ripcurl top.
gutar brett garsed - all the elements RE TOP rtists
John normally has three back-up singers. Missing from this show is Lisa Edwards.
Lisa wasn’t with him yet at this stage
You should listen to John farnham in concert 2019 Fire fighters relief.
Not bad love the 80's mullet
Shout out to Brett Garsed on the guitar...
Loving your new hair do 🙏
Listen to Johns Audio only version of "Black Dog" cover. it wasn't performed and only used a s a warm up in preparation for his concerts. OUTSTANDING.
Every concert he leaves nothing out there yes? great reaction once again TC
I have the complete CD'S of John Farnham.
AS brilliant as this is, it's not even the best version of this song by our John imo. The one where he is older makes me tear up every time I hear it.
I agree . This arrangement is too much bass / drums . The simpler arrangements tell the songs story much more accurately
Please more of john you 2😮
The next song was "amazing grace". It showcases his back-up singers. Very very good.
I’d love to hear you react to “let me out” by John just for the guitar solo by Brett. I think you would enjoy it. Amazing vocal to 😁
I’m down with upness. 🤘
Hey you guys!!! Have a listen to John Farnham and Jimmy Barnes "When something is wrong." It's totally epic!!!!!
Gee, watching this version was interesting. His 2003 concert version is, IMO, the best vocal performance he has ever given. The musical backup was also better. If you like the song, try that version (he's 54 years old). Stunning.
From the same concern, look up Amazing Grace. You will see the quality of the back up singers. It's brilliant
Could you please, please, please check out John doing ACDC’s Long Way to the top - one of the best versions as always is Live with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, AND his Live duet with the late Olivia Newton John of his song Please don’t ask me - it is amazing believe me.
The legend himself . You should listen to cold chisel do this song live 2003 you will be blown away as well
❤❤❤❤❤❤
You want too hear him singing with venetta feilds and her husband
Venetta Fields and Lindsay Field are not married. If that’s who you’re thinking of.
@julzhunt7790 there you go always thought they were married
Best ever song about divorce.