John Denver 10 12 97

[stevations]

15 years ago we lost John Denver

 

[landtuna]

John Denver was perhaps the only musician in my lifetime that I liked everything he did. Even the Muppets appearances were great (and I am way old to be watching them).

He died way too soon but at least he died doing what he loved.

 

[oldies76]

Take Me Home Country Roads
Rocky Mountain High
Sunshine On My Shoulders
Annie's Song
Back Home Again
Sweet Surrender
Thank God I'm A Country Boy
I'm Sorry
Calypso
Fly Away

Many of his biggest hits from the 1971-1975 time period, and yet we rarely if ever hear these classics today..... :'(

 

[firepoint525]

John Denver unfortunately became the punch-line of many jokes after his career faded beginning in the late '70s. And unlike some of the others of his day, he never staged a successful comeback.

I still recall that it took his death to get Princess Diana off the cover of People magazine. She had been the cover story every week since her death!

 

[landtuna]

John Denver unfortunately became the punch-line of many jokes after his career faded beginning in the late '70s. And unlike some of the others of his day, he never staged a successful comeback.

I don't know what constitutes a comeback in your world but I attended three Denver concerts in the decade before he died (one just a few years prior) and every seat was filled in the ASU activity center - something in excess of 14,000 seats in concert format.

 

[firepoint525]

John Denver unfortunately became the punch-line of many jokes after his career faded beginning in the late '70s. And unlike some of the others of his day, he never staged a successful comeback.

I don't know what constitutes a comeback in your world

Having hits. He had a minor hit in the early '80s with "Shanghai Breezes," but he never returned to his former glory. Take nothing away from him, he was talented, but filling an arena is not the same as continuing to have hits. Many performers whose hitmaking days are over can continue to fill arenas for quite a few years afterwards.

 

[landtuna]

John Denver unfortunately became the punch-line of many jokes after his career faded beginning in the late '70s. And unlike some of the others of his day, he never staged a successful comeback.

I don't know what constitutes a comeback in your world

Having hits. He had a minor hit in the early '80s with "Shanghai Breezes," but he never returned to his former glory. Take nothing away from him, he was talented, but filling an arena is not the same as continuing to have hits. Many performers whose hitmaking days are over can continue to fill arenas for quite a few years afterwards.

That is true but also not having current hits does not a failure make. Denver had a large following in the years after his songs left radio. Those were the days when pop music radio played real music instead of the pap and crap we get now.

 

[firepoint525]

John Denver unfortunately became the punch-line of many jokes after his career faded beginning in the late '70s. And unlike some of the others of his day, he never staged a successful comeback.

I don't know what constitutes a comeback in your world

Having hits. He had a minor hit in the early '80s with "Shanghai Breezes," but he never returned to his former glory. Take nothing away from him, he was talented, but filling an arena is not the same as continuing to have hits. Many performers whose hitmaking days are over can continue to fill arenas for quite a few years afterwards.

That is true but also not having current hits does not a failure make. Denver had a large following in the years after his songs left radio. Those were the days when pop music radio played real music instead of the pap and crap we get now.

Got to see Barry Manilow this summer at the Bridgestone Arena here in Nashville, and while I am not sure if it was a sellout, he definitely filled the place up. And he, too, has not had a hit in many years.

 

[landtuna]

Got to see Barry Manilow this summer at the Bridgestone Arena here in Nashville, and while I am not sure if it was a sellout, he definitely filled the place up. And he, too, has not had a hit in many years.

I think Manilow is my generation's Sinatra (minus the bobby sox thingie). Could be Elton John if he weren't so.....strange. Sure makes good music though.

 

[radiobum]

Got to see Barry Manilow this summer at the Bridgestone Arena here in Nashville, and while I am not sure if it was a sellout, he definitely filled the place up. And he, too, has not had a hit in many years.

I think Manilow is my generation's Sinatra (minus the bobby sox thingie). Could be Elton John if he weren't so.....strange. Sure makes good music though.

MINUS THE INCREDIBLE VOICE

 

[landtuna]

MINUS THE INCREDIBLE VOICE

I've always thought Sinatra was a much better actor than a singer. Still think so. There were lots of singers with equal or better voices than his in the 40's and 50's but he was the "Elvis" of his day.

 

[willdav713]

Got to see Barry Manilow this summer at the Bridgestone Arena here in Nashville, and while I am not sure if it was a sellout, he definitely filled the place up. And he, too, has not had a hit in many years.

I think Manilow is my generation's Sinatra (minus the bobby sox thingie). Could be Elton John if he weren't so.....strange. Sure makes good music though.

Phil Collins was my generation's Sinatra. Would have been Micheal Jackson if he weren't so.....strange. Also makes for good music.

 

[landtuna]

Phil Collins was my generation's Sinatra.

Phil Collins is definitely talented but he didn't have the charisma that Sinatra did. Of course, Frankie began singing to teen girls. Competition was also tougher in Collins' day. Big Bands were the rage in the 40's and Sinatra was a vocalist with one of the most popular.

Would have been Micheal Jackson if he weren't so.....strange. Also makes for good music.

I disagree with this. MJ was strictly a pop singer and dancer and depended upon his back-stage musicians and choreography to sell. While Sinatra had bands behind him early in his career he also did a lot of stuff with only minimal accompaniment. MJ never did.

And while I think Sinatra was a better actor than singer I also think MJ was a better dancer than singer although he really only originated the moonwalk as most everything else was copied (including the Nazi goosestep and the Soviet formal guard march).

 

[hornet61]

Frank Sinatra - Widely considered to be one of the best vocalists of all time is Frank Sinatra. He enjoyed a 60 year long career that lasted from 1935 to 1995.......consistently rated #1 on most polls, not all polls. a consensus favorite.

 

[landtuna]

Frank Sinatra - Widely considered to be one of the best vocalists of all time is Frank Sinatra. He enjoyed a 60 year long career that lasted from 1935 to 1995.......consistently rated #1 on most polls, not all polls. a consensus favorite.

And that means absolutely nothing to the individual listener.

 

[unitron]

Nobody is any generation's Sinatra.

There was only one of him and he was it.

I'm not particularly a fan, but I recognize his talent and uniqueness.

 

[stevations]

Barry Manilow had a hit in England last year with Everythings Gonna Be Alright on his 15 Minutes titled CD. I heard him perform this on Hoda and Kathie Lee and it sounded good.

 

[jfrancispastirchak]

But getting back to John Denver...

Interesting, nobody has posted a word about his acting. Though not a terribly versatile screen performer, he did have a talent for introspective delivery. You could see the real J.D., warts and all, just by studying whatever character he was playing.

He made several TV movies. The standout for me was his portrayal of a minerals firm exectutive in Christmas Gift. As a recently widowed father, the firm dispatches him to Georgetown, CO. His assignment is to pressure the small town's hierarchy to basically sell their little village to his company, whose mining intentions would virtually strip it to bare dirt. The town resists, inspiring Denver's character to see the light and switch sides and ultimately thwart the mining project. Excuse me while I reach for a hanky...

 

[jfrancispastirchak]

Got to see Barry Manilow this summer at the Bridgestone Arena here in Nashville, and while I am not sure if it was a sellout, he definitely filled the place up. And he, too, has not had a hit in many years.

Phil Collins was my generation's Sinatra.

I never could get excited about a singer with no lips.

 

[unitron]

But getting back to John Denver...

Interesting, nobody has posted a word about his acting. Though not a terribly versatile screen performer, he did have a talent for introspective delivery. You could see the real J.D., warts and all, just by studying whatever character he was playing.

He made several TV movies. The standout for me was his portrayal of a minerals firm exectutive in Christmas Gift. As a recently widowed father, the firm dispatches him to Georgetown, CO. His assignment is to pressure the small town's hierarchy to basically sell their little village to his company, whose mining intentions would virtually strip it to bare dirt. The town resists, inspiring Denver's character to see the light and switch sides and ultimately thwart the mining project. Excuse me while I reach for a hanky...

Doing comedy, he held his own against both the Muppets and George Burns. Not too shabby.

He could easily have been the dad in the right tv sitcom.