Sha Na Na/ Johnny Contardo - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

[MegaSajs]

Beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[crow672008]

Great group with so much talent 

[MichaelDiPrima]

how many members of sh na na members are dead

[ahdowns]

@MichaelDiPrima HI, Vinnie, Chico, and Dan are gone. I saw Sha Na Na about a week ago and Jocko, Scott and Donnie are still performing with the group with 4 other guys.

[cynthia6637]

I DO HAVE TO SAY, THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST PLATTERS'S SONG EVER!

AND THIS GUY JOHNNEY CONTARNO, DID A FANTASTIC JOB ON THIS SONG!!

NOW!

IS THERE ANYTHING HE CAN'T SANG!!

WELL SO FOR I HAVEN'T FOUND IT!

HE IS STILL GREAT FROM SHA-NA NA, TO NOW, SINGING WITH THE EARTH ANGELS!

[TheRacerbrown]

What a great voice, Johnny!

[Jgarcia68]

Justin Bieber sings exactly like Johnny Contarno.......... NOT !!!!

[Eddieb715]

Love him!

[RequiemOfSolitude]

I feel stupid. I know I'm only 18 but, the only reason I know Sha Na Na is because I was in the musical Grease and I looked up their version of those magic changes... geez, I was really missing out on something great.

[saxier1]

I gotta stop listening to this stuff..it's depressing because no one does it this good any more, in fact music (ie with a tune, beat, words, etc) has ceased to be..who would have thought 50 years ago that music would come to the sorry state it is now?

[lilibetp]

@saxier1 Two words:  Josh Groban.

[auntbecky]

@lilibetp im not sure how to take this but i love Josh, Johnny and Sha na na. There is room for all in this world. Even Justin.

[hidoll22]

Smooth voice he has

[Tonithenightowl]

I never tire of Johnny doing this song.The platters were great but Johnny did it justice and then some

[shortandstylish]

Effortless and fantastic!

[Tonithenightowl]

@shortandstylish His voice is amazing. Best tenor in the biz. I love the platters, their lead is beyond compare until you hear Johnny.

[Medina29able]

All is well in my world when I listen to Johnny.

[cherylsnyder6969]

AAAHHH!!!!! Beautiful voice and Johnny does this song proud! Thanks, Johnny!

[Tonithenightowl]

Hi Johnny, just stopped in for my fix. Had to hear that high note lol. You all know Johnny doesn't look backwards, however how can one ignore this kind of performance? As he would say, my voice sounded so young. Well now his voice is more mature but with the same quality.

[Shiftkitty]

@Tonithenightowl There's a problem with "never looking back". How do you appreciate where you are if you try to dismiss where you've been? After all, it's how you got to where you are. Dwelling on it is one thing, but how about a tip of the hat to it?

[Tonithenightowl]

@Shiftkitty Oh he talks about his time with SNN as a very good one, but it had it's drawbacks too when it came to his solo career. He was breaking out of a box and that's not an easy thing to do. I don't think he blames anyone, just that he doesn't look backwards as to what was as much as what can be. He's still billed as formerly of SNN so yes, SNN was his catalyst and he knows it.

[Shiftkitty]

@Tonithenightowl Ah, okay. That's the problem with certain phrases around us history buffs! :)

[Tonithenightowl]

@Shiftkitty I know what you mean, it was my wording without further explanation, sorry about that lol

[cherd1971]

SO BEAUTIFUL

[Monsternutt]

This is AWESOME!

[Tonithenightowl]

Someone just kill me. No one can sound this great. Yet Contardo does. What a voice !!!!!!!!!!!! For all us Johnny fans, be still my beating heart.

[Medina29able]

Fantastic voice. I could watch Johnny and all the gang each and every day. So sick of all the crap on the radio these days. MM

[cherylsnyder6969]

@Medina29able Me too! Where's the petition to bring back Sha-Na-Na?? How about the petition for DVD's of the show??? I'll sign!

[TheCelestial108]

@cherylsnyder6969 me too! love them!!

[AGibsonJ]

He is off the charts .... brilliant!!!

[Wolfsky9]

Johnny, what a voice you had, & the guys were simply awesome.  This is singing, Ladies & Gents! Wolfsky9

[cherylsnyder6969]

Look at the chick in the audience that Johnny is singing to-could she be a little more BORING?????? I WOULD REACT SO DIFFERENTLY!!!!

[cherylsnyder6969]

Johnny has a beautiful voice! I dig Sha-Na-Na!!!

[Tonithenightowl]

This voice never ceases to amaze me. You can listen over and over again. A bit of heaven on earth. God only gives this to a few.

[Tonithenightowl]

Good thing it wasn't me in the audience. I would have never been so cool. But hey it was a family show. They would have had to bleep me or cut me out of the finished product. Johnny has that effect. lol

[cherylsnyder6969]

@Tonithenightowl I would have at least had "some kind" of reaction if Johnny were singing to me! Such a beautiful voice! Gotta love the outfit too!

[Tonithenightowl]

@cherylsnyder6969 He would have to run and far lol He's amazing. And such a nice person to boot.

[maryanne151]

I love the audience reaction about 10 seconds in when they realize what he is about to sing. This is one of the greatest songs of the 50s and Johnny does it to perfection.

[drsburns1]

darn very good.....just not into chest hair

[Tonithenightowl]

Just heard the Platters doing this and Johnny does this man justice and then some. They are both tenors and they are both off the charts fantastic.

[spiritofshiloh]

@Tonithenightowl ...another favorite:)

[Tonithenightowl]

@spiritofshiloh It's nuts when someone can cover a song like this to this degree of perfection. The man is phenomenal. Not a wonder he can give voice lessons. Don't know how much he had to be taught that wasn't already there naturally. He said he knew at 6 yrs old that he wanted to be a singer. He's probably Caruso reincarnated lol. This kind of talent one is born with.

[novusmundi]

This is version is th eclosest to the Platters' version. He is almost as good as Tony Williams. I never thought that I would ever say that. WOW! That was one hell of a performance.

[WhereEaglesDareWWII]

I always loved Sha na na.... and millions still do !!!

[4spddana]

Nice outfit Johnny

[SoCALI360]

Amazing voice.  I cannot say the same about his outfit.

[Tonithenightowl]

I needed a lift tonight and Johnny does that. Talk about God given talent.

[Tonithenightowl]

Good thing he didnt sing this to me or they would have had to carry me out comatose. What a voice. What style. Only the great Johnny Contardo.

[akiddlydivy2]

Close your eyes and listen...beautiful!

[mikeletz]

Johnny Contardo could sure sing a song the way it was meant to be!

[Tonithenightowl]

I put Johnny in the same ranks as Pitney,Orbison,and Jay Black. What a voice. He is among the greats. Thanks Johnny.

[rangatang0624]

Was hard to beat Johnnys voice in his prime...awesome voice..always a pleasure to listen to him sing.

[TheitaniofRome]

@rangatang0624 check out some newer stuff here.. he hasnt really lost it which i could believe

[sergi3691]

Estupenda versión

[SenorZorrozzz]

This guy was so under rated. He had a supurb voice.

[belltocher]

Wow i'd say that cover definatly got it covered.

[BigDutch100]

johnny Contardo has his own web site.

Bowser split from the group and they use to tour but slowly losing the band members! foosmom put alot of tv episodes on youtube

[Paulgr]

I want this show on DVD so bad. If people can upload Sha Na Na on YouTube and if enough people enjoy it,they should consider the DVD :( this stinks :(

[ThisOldCubGal]

Does anyone have the tv show versions of: Sandy, You Cant Sit Down, Peppermint Twist, Only You and Dream Lover? How about the Artifcial Flowers skit? If so, Please post soon!!! Thank you!!!

[OldTimerGoGetter]

The beauty (and sadly, their lack of real acceptance) is in the fact that they were so great, so professional...and they went the "funny" way.

You can't be fun nor funny if you can't really do the job, you know?

But people look down on you if you appear to be not-so-serious.

Damn, they had something! They had a real something and they were fun AND funny about it...that's why Sha Na Na is so beautiful.

[TheMerchantOfDeath37]

I saw them in concert in Toronto the might Elvis died in 1977. They were fucking awesome! Funny, talented, and a rock-and-roll show like none other. 3 hours of solid gold.

[Jigaboo123456]

@TheMerchantOfDeath37 Did they mention Elvis' passing at the concert?

[TheMerchantOfDeath37]

No, they didn't. It was kinda in the rumour stage at that point. It was in the late afternoon when we heard about Elvis.

[redenchilada]

They were so talented. I never thought they got the credit they deserved.

[tisisjk]

@OldTimerGoGetter And so we must ask ourselves, what happened? Where did they go? I am 17 and I love this group!! And I like their covers better than the originals. Why did they leave?

[cincyredsgirl]

@tisisjk Your 17!! You have great parents!! Like me!! I"m 32 (older than you) but I credit my liking them to my parents. I don't know why they left :-( Not enough people like us in the world I guess :-)

[tisisjk]

@cincyredsgirl And surprisingly enough, the auditorium I work at has had a huge demand for Sha Na Na, but the director doesn't ask them to come only because Bowser isn't in the group any more. And others have died. So the Real Sha Na Na won't be there! But yeah, my dad kept telling me how he would warm up his college basketball team by playing a vinyl on the phonograph and have the team warm up before a game to Sha Na Na! I finally looked them up and have listened ever since!

[siamyuth]

Here is my pray!!! Dear all sha na na fans in usa, do you love them? if so why won't you ask them for a reunion consert as many did? Please please please and please, a sha na na thai fan.

Bangkok Thailand.

[Dancernurse1]

Does anyone know where Johnny went? We need a campaign to get the group back together, or at least find Johnny. I prefer his "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" to the Platters version. WOW!!! Have loved this man forever.

[65wendym]

**sigh** can't help myself.... LOVE everything about this man!!!

[jlgkl23]

A wonderful showman and singer !!

[chica1yeye]

his voice is just amazing!!

[tripleplaykid]

for the life of me i cant figure out why this guy never pursued a professional music carer he would have certainly been one of the top voiced of his era

[SkippyWalls]

I absolutely agree! What a beautiful clear voice!!

[tuppy20]

and, when you consider so many that have had success and don't/will never have an ounce of his talent. it makes you wonder what goes on in the minds of the record execs, managers, etc. i think we were robbed of Johnny's talent all of these years.

[juancitobaila]

very good

[65wendym]

Johnny gives EVERYONE a run for the money with that voice! There's just something in the tone of his voice..... plus, he's not exactly hard on the eyes! LOL

[tuppy20]

You said it!! Johnny's got it all!!

[SkippyWalls]

Well, he's got me, thats for sure!!!

[tripleplaykid]

this guy gives tony williams a run for the money with his performance of this one - outstanding

[scorzeny45]

general wainwrights favorite song by the platters.

[SkippyWalls]

OMG you're right!!! I try never to blink while watching Johnny for obvious reasons. THAT FACE!!!!

[idiotidioteque]

he never blinks lol

[SkippyWalls]

I agree. I ADORE Sha Na Na but Johnny could have and should have had a tremendous solo career with that voice, stage presence and good looks!!

[DoctorIvanSFN]

Thanks for posting this! Johnny Contardo was one of the most under appreciated singers ever. A tremendous presence and voice. Perhaps his association with Sha Na Na hurt him more than it helped him.

Don't get me wrong - I loved Sha Na Na - but Contardo's talent completely eclipsed the concept of the act.

[tarasoleil]

Thanks to youtube in part, such a talent gets to be showcased again.

His voice was on TV around 1975-83, not the best time for appreciating his timeless talent.

[oscargoya]

Great version. Thanks for the memories from my teens.

[tuppy20]

Thank You Faerydancer, I haven't seen these clips since they were on TV. I loved Johnny so much and since finding these clips and can't stop watching them. Do you have him singing "Tell Laura I Love Her" from the show? I found the concert clip but remember him singing it on the TV show. He's just the best!!!!

[ROGER459]

They Asked ME How I knew... My "Career" ...was THROUGH?

I told them President OBAMA'S Economic Stimulus PACKAGE... went to the WRONG People! Thanks, RR

[SkippyWalls]

And sing it beautifully!!!

[olivej1914]

See kids, that's how you sing a song.

[dv573]

@olivej1914 ---Absolutely! -- That is talent, not rhymin a few words about killing someone! Bravo!

[kyldy]

@olivej1914 you got that right. that is a love song! not about nasty stuff either!

[kyldy]

@olivej1914 exactly!

[msdemme2]

IF you love SNN as I do you can go to their official website and under LINKS at the bottom is a link to Sha Na Na Fan Pages by Cheryl and then on her site there is a link saying "HELP GET THE SHA NA NA VARIETY SHOW ON DVD!"

I wrote my letter... PLEASE WRITE YOURS ☺

[msdemme2]

The BEST group ever. Johnny, Santini, Donny, Scott, Chico, Jocko, Lennie, Denny, oh and their skits were just so hillarious. Made me laugh out loud.♥ What I wouldn't give to be the one he's singing to *sighs*

[kangadillo]

Absolutely beautiful!

[angeleyes11966]

I believe he could sing anything. I remember them when I was younger, but never really listened to them, but now I could listen all the time. he has a beautiful voice and very easy on the eyes:)

[SkippyWalls]

Amazing voice. I listen to all his songs with Sha Na Na everyday. Especially Those Magic Changes.

[RutgersJRS]

His voice is amazing. It's unbelievable how well he sounds just like the original recordings of many of the songs he sings.

[Genkimark]

Johhny is a great vocalist....and he looks like what would happen if Freddy Mercury and Billy Crystal had a son, lol!

[hollyawoods]

Dang! I have to give this guy props. He sounds damn good. I watched them as a kid, but didn't appreciate the voice he has. He kills this song!

[iknowthesecretdoyou]

along with Freddy Mercury, one of my fav voices of all time

[Soul4Sure]

LOL@Miketodd67

[miketodd67]

I loved him in City Slickers.

[kangadillo]

That was Billy Crystal!!!!

[bhaschets]

Great voice...not too many men can hit those notes in pitch...nice blush too! What color was that?

[stomuyamashta]

Very good rendition of the song, still find Tony Williams one, the best. But Johnny... nobody will ever sing "Those magic changes" like you did.

[ROGER459]

Song Words for 2008!

"They Asked me how I knew My Career was Through!"

Answer: My career was sent Off Shore! Someone is now doing my 45k job for... a bowl of Rice!

No Laughing Matter! Thanks, RR

[cabritorsss]

As long as we keep taxing business, companies and corporations,more and more--- more and more jobs are going to be lost here. People have to understand that corporations have to answer to the stock holders (us) as well as compete with rice burners, slave labor and liberals promising higher taxes for the "rich" and morbenefits for the welfare class. Want to pay less taxes? Quit being productive and go on welfare. Let's see where the dollars will come from then....

[bikibitr]

Boy, did you hit the nail on the head. Just wait 'til all those big, awful corporations that give you a paycheck start paying more taxes. You'll be without a paycheck because your wages will be paying those extra taxes. LOL! All you Obama butt kissers will be the first to go I hope! You should suffer the consequences of your stupidity.

[cabritorsss]

Thanx...

[viewingut]

He doesn't strain a bit.

[holybulz27]

Oh really!!! Thanks for telling us!

[OwAPaperCut]

saw them live a thousand years ago. Contardo was the obviously the strongest singer and the most likely to have had a successful solo career had he been born in a different era.

[doonejune]

Is he still singing???

[angelsavage73]

Yes, he is. If you look at the related videos, check out cocoa12; she is Johnny's manager and has more recent videos of him. He is older with a few more pounds on him, but he is still very handsome and his voice has really not changed much. The falsetto is not where it used to be but his tone quality is still there; he's been a vocal coach in recent years so his voice is in very good shape.

[doonejune]

thank you angelsavage for the info.!!

[angelsavage73]

You're so welcome.

[djangoman2008]

Thank you for this great one!!! I never appreciated these guys as much as I do now - thanks to you - Dj

[bikeboytim]

This is very good, but it's not the Platters.

Anyway shanana are a great band and did many good songs.

[sangria4]

Please. Johnny could nail all those high notes and be sexy at the same time. Love you, Johnny!

[oldphoque]

I don`t want to beat up on Johnny but he did not nail the highs on this song. The dude is freakin awesom though.

[raves023]

I see many shanana video clips on youtube. I know that the Shaha tv series are not available on dvd. So does anyone know if shanana clips like this one are on dvd? and what the name of that dvd is?

Thanks!!

[phantomangel21]

ditto bikibitr *sigh*

soooo incredibly sexy!!!

[angelsavage73]

Holy cow! I've been going through these videos but this one...my goodness. Oh, to have been the girl he was singing to. I don't know how she stayed so calm. Like bikibitr said "Sigh!"

[QQStephenQQ]

Sha Na Na was the best mimic group ever.  I agree that Johnny was the best of them and he always sang the most difficult parts.

[carmen19632001]

and he was from the city of champions.boston mass.

[bronzemen34]

The best singer by far in the group......his voice was magic when i was young and he still kiks ass today just hearing him.......long live johnny

[GmMstr]

wow, this guy sounds almost like the singer from the platters. great rendition.

[Katzi]

:snif:

 Sooooo beautiful!!!

[bikibitr]

::sigh::

[Genkimark]

Johnny had a voice as golden as those suits, lol! Best singer Sha Na Na ever had...

[david640]

what happened to him, does he still perform?

[lorjokr]

He didn't perform for around 20 years, but he's back at it again. I got to meet him in June, and hope I'll get to see him again soon.