Elton is the GOAT. As much as I love Nigel’s drumming on the recorded song, this live rendition with Elton belting it out from his heart, just him and his piano, is phenomenal.
Find me another artist who after 30 years, throat surgery, crazy touring 3 hour shows, can break down his music and do solo shows, and not only pull it off, but recreate his songs, and still amaze us. I love billy joel also. I have searched relentlessly to find a solo show, I couldn't find one. People love to compare them. I give the nod to elton. I've seen enough billy, he doesn't feel comfortable playing his songs solo. They are both legendary artists Billy is a BMW. In your face, great piano has all the skills.a little more bullish. Elton.is a Mercedes. A little more plush, can rock out, He comes out on top for me.
It's amazing how LOUD Elton plays. I first saw his band live in 1978, and I've been a fan ever since…not a huge fan of much after CapFan, but whatever. Between Bernie, Elton, and the original band members, they were so great! 👽✌️
I find it ironic how he ditched falsetto for a handfull of songs to make them easier to sing and in this one he does falsetto instead of belting higher notes. I think he is just aftaid of losing his voice like he did in 1986 so he avoids vocal stress as much as possible but he is probably still capable of hitting all those original notes with proper vocal training. Excellent performance tho I love his 90's voice it sounds powerful
Yeah id imagine the fallsetto is a bit more difficult to hit. Aging, he smoked tons of weed, surgery etc and i agree his 80s-90s voice is in my opinion his best. 1977-79 had a beautiful sound as well!
Levon wears his war wound like a crown He calls his child Jesus 'Cause he likes the name And he sends him to the finest school in town Levon, Levon likes his money He makes a lot, they say Spends his days counting In a garage by the motorway He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas Day When the New York Times said, "God is dead And the war's begun" Oh, Alvin Tostig has a son today And he shall be Levon And he shall be a good man And he shall be Levon In tradition with the family plan And he shall be Levon And he shall be a good man He shall be Levon Levon sells cartoon balloons in town His family business thrives Jesus blows up balloons all day Sits on the porch swing watching them fly And Jesus, he wants to go to Venus Leave Levon far behind Take a balloon and go sailing While Levon, Levon slowly dies He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas Day When the New York Times said, "God is dead And the war's begun" Oh, Alvin Tostig has a son today And he shall be Levon And he shall be a good man And he shall be Levon In tradition with the family plan, woo And he shall be Levon And he shall be a good man He shall be Levon And he shall be Levon And he shall be a good man And he shall be Levon In tradition with the family plan, woo And he shall be Levon And he shall be a good man He shall be Levon
Why is Elton making this classic song sound like a church hymn as well as throwing in some late night lounge vocal tones? His original version is still the best. This "cover" is fine and if I had heard this performance first I'd have a different opinion.
Many of Elton’s songs have a gospel sound to them. Elton was once asked by Dick Cavett what his secret was to writing hit songs, Elton replied “Write a hymn, write a hit”
If you saw the whole show, Rosie was overcome with emotion that Elton did her show. She said he was always her favorite since she was very young and was pinching herself that Elton would do her show. He did it for her because she “begged” him. It was a big deal that day and she dedicated the whole show to him.
damn man, his voice was even shit here too, i didn't think his voice fell apart until after 2000 for some reason. he was a great singer in the 70s though
@@jdenino6022 yeah he sounded better in diana's funeral than he does here, but still, even in that, his voice was still crap compared to what it was in his youth. I did read in google that he had throat surgery in 1986 and that's the reason for the vocal change
This is one of the best musicians and singer that I ever see! Thank you Elton for such bless talent!
Just a piano and a mic, mind you. Literally a legend.
Beautiful ❤
Elton is the GOAT. As much as I love Nigel’s drumming on the recorded song, this live rendition with Elton belting it out from his heart, just him and his piano, is phenomenal.
in the studio recording of "Levon" (27.02.1971) it's actually Barry Morgan playing drums.
Wowww. This has got to be the best performance I’ve seen from this time period.
This performance of Levon is really special. His piano skills are incredible and he is in good voice here! 🏆
Holy crap. Just him and a piano. Glorious.
So he played a song not on cd cause it was her favourite. Class act.
9 likes, you must be kidding. this rocks. He shall be reborn!
Now 55 likes~ Don't worry. The true classics are really hard for mediocre people to know, not to mention to understand.
that was the best performance of that song I’ve ever seen
He doesn't just sing a song...he SINGS a song..wow!❤️ (and that iconic piano playing!)
He's the best!
Elton is just pounding away at those beautiful chords. With the crisp sound of that Yamaha.
Super great. Sober Elton with excellent piano playing!
The man is such a showman
One of the absolute best solo performances of this magnificent song.
Agree
Great performance.
Find me another artist who after 30 years, throat surgery, crazy touring 3 hour shows, can break down his music and do solo shows, and not only pull it off, but recreate his songs, and still amaze us.
I love billy joel also. I have searched relentlessly to find a solo show, I couldn't find one. People love to compare them.
I give the nod to elton. I've seen enough billy, he doesn't feel comfortable playing his songs solo.
They are both legendary artists
Billy is a BMW. In your face, great piano has all the skills.a little more bullish.
Elton.is a Mercedes. A little more plush, can rock out,
He comes out on top for me.
@@kevinfranklin2633 billy Joel and Elton John use to tour together
Best performance of Levon ever.
I've seen Elton during this time period and I saw him the other night at Madison square garden his voice is much better now
R u kidding?
@@michaelroccia2108 no
Flawless
Stunning performance
Plays it so beautifully ❤️
Beautiful songs of Elton John l love so much conglatulation!
👏👏👏👏👏👏👏🎶Sir EJ...
Speechless on this end..😳
fantastic
Captain
This is very cool from one of my favorite artists of all time with one of my favorite songs of all time
Powerful voice 👍👍👍
There was a time where you actually had to have talent to be a musician this is proof of that
so true...today's so called musicians are full of shit
Genius
It's amazing how LOUD Elton plays. I first saw his band live in 1978, and I've been a fan ever since…not a huge fan of much after CapFan, but whatever. Between Bernie, Elton, and the original band members, they were so great! 👽✌️
Simplesmente Elton JOHN
If Nate Foy lives in California, then I don't have to see this song on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" on Nov. 15, 1996.
Wow!
No way he can sing like this in 2022 because this is fabulous and Levon is a difficult tune to sing
🎹🎹🎹❤👍
5:07
I find it ironic how he ditched falsetto for a handfull of songs to make them easier to sing and in this one he does falsetto instead of belting higher notes. I think he is just aftaid of losing his voice like he did in 1986 so he avoids vocal stress as much as possible but he is probably still capable of hitting all those original notes with proper vocal training. Excellent performance tho I love his 90's voice it sounds powerful
Yeah id imagine the fallsetto is a bit more difficult to hit. Aging, he smoked tons of weed, surgery etc and i agree his 80s-90s voice is in my opinion his best. 1977-79 had a beautiful sound as well!
Levon wears his war wound like a crown
He calls his child Jesus
'Cause he likes the name
And he sends him to the finest school in town
Levon, Levon likes his money
He makes a lot, they say
Spends his days counting
In a garage by the motorway
He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas Day
When the New York Times said, "God is dead
And the war's begun"
Oh, Alvin Tostig has a son today
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
In tradition with the family plan
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
He shall be Levon
Levon sells cartoon balloons in town
His family business thrives
Jesus blows up balloons all day
Sits on the porch swing watching them fly
And Jesus, he wants to go to Venus
Leave Levon far behind
Take a balloon and go sailing
While Levon, Levon slowly dies
He was born a pauper to a pawn on a Christmas Day
When the New York Times said, "God is dead
And the war's begun"
Oh, Alvin Tostig has a son today
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
In tradition with the family plan, woo
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
He shall be Levon
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
And he shall be Levon
In tradition with the family plan, woo
And he shall be Levon
And he shall be a good man
He shall be Levon
Why is Elton making this classic song sound like a church hymn as well as throwing in some late night lounge vocal tones? His original version is still the best. This "cover" is fine and if I had heard this performance first I'd have a different opinion.
Many of Elton’s songs have a gospel sound to them. Elton was once asked by Dick Cavett what his secret was to writing hit songs, Elton replied “Write a hymn, write a hit”
Somehow Rosie doesn’t seem appreciative enough!
If you saw the whole show, Rosie was overcome with emotion that Elton did her show. She said he was always her favorite since she was very young and was pinching herself that Elton would do her show. He did it for her because she “begged” him. It was a big deal that day and she dedicated the whole show to him.
damn man, his voice was even shit here too, i didn't think his voice fell apart until after 2000 for some reason. he was a great singer in the 70s though
Huh?, are you mental?
This is 1000000% better than the 70s. The depth is so much better than high whiny notes
??? What are you talking about his voice here is actually really good considering all he’s gone through
Yet he sang Candle In The Wind for Princess Diana flawlessly around the same time (in 1997).
@@jdenino6022 yeah he sounded better in diana's funeral than he does here, but still, even in that, his voice was still crap compared to what it was in his youth. I did read in google that he had throat surgery in 1986 and that's the reason for the vocal change
Horrible introduction by Rosie
3:17