Elton John perfoms Benny and The Jets on Soul Train

[yugenro]

Funkin' KEWL song! The only thing live about this take is the lead vocal, but it's a nice lead vocal-- he jamz on it!

[ralphyization]

Soul Train wasn't just for the "hood"! I live in Northern Ontario, and we were able to get this show!! I used to feel SO inferior, in the dancing "department"!! haha!! BUT it was STILL a cool show, in MY books!! WAY cooler than American Bandstand !

[uzipolo]

this was when the early performers were performing live the last footage of soul train when i saw someone perform live was d.nice which is a shame elton was also one of the white performers that was gracious enough to be on soul train the first was gino vanelli others were david bowie micheal mc donald boz scaggs herb alpert(A&M Records) hall and oats just to name a few the show was taped 3/17/75 season4 epi35 show #141 when thios song came out everyone thought elton john was black

[Thug9030]

Elton John definitely have soul??? I'm only 22 what do I know about this :-)

[cosmicammity98]

Electric boobs? O.o

[ClarionCoder51]

@cosmicammity98 Boots, not boobs.

[kittykittyfangfang]

Wait, what? At 3:19 Elton John takes his hands off the piano... but the piano doesn't stop playing...

[pzqlak]

@kittykittyfangfang pianos are only for nonprofessionals , where have you been?

[Mozes316]

@kittykittyfangfang lol Sure did.

[waldenhouse]

@kittykittyfangfang backing tracks are brilliant. You can get them anywhere!!

[IRISHxNINJA34]

The only white guy on soul train

[yimpka2]

Looks a lil' light in the loafers.

[manuelsoma1989]

whos waching this in 2040 thumbs up

[Sixsomeable]

Nothing screams soul train more then afro samurai doing the robot.

[etheridge1123]

I love this song!!!!

[151berserk]

Aha so much swag lol have loved this song since a kid. Was born in 89 grew up on classics, the end is hilarious hes giggin and it reminds me as if will ferrel was drunk and just grabbed the mic singing lol

[amberfierce]

MARY J BLIGE DID A SONG TO THIS BEAT

[joeymon222]

nigga isnt even playin the piano at the end....

[magicianboy101]

see-through piano!!! :O DEAR GOD!

[ureatowel15]

who's watching this in the past thumbs up and give me your timemachines

[steelsoundbass]

WHO ELSE SEES THE HUGE GUY IN THE ORANGE SUIT BEHIND ELTON? WTF?

[hotcarmel1182]

@steelsoundbass LOL! I think hes on something..

[LucidDreeaaming]

@hotcarmel1182

Yeah he's on something alright..he's on a solid $250MILLION!! he may appear a little eccentric but the man is talented you have to give him that

[Dakdizzy]

who's watching this in 2020 thumbs up

[texas9ish]

any one else notice how tall that guy is in the kinda orange suit behind elton

[explosionpants17]

leprechaun swag

[bookiejx]

this is my song

[BrettyBossPants]

This is one great singer, he was so good back in his day, and even though his voice has changed, he's still amazing. Long live Elton.

[dbzgamer15]

Whos watching this because of the pepsi commercial, thumbs up

[maplecritter]

@dbzgamer15 derp

[MrJbsolo]

Am I the only one that just keeps cumin back to watch just one more time lol. # toomuchswagg

[SuperItrollyou]

@MrJbsolo #thisisn'ttwitter

[leneyboo]

That is pure swag right there. From the audience, to the dancers, to his super-cool leprechaun costumes. 

[xxleandraxx1]

B-B BENNIE AND THE JETS!

[bookiejx]

love it

[utubechloe]

He is cute in this video and a great singer!

[somo84]

Music won't be the same when Sir Elton passes

[paulypavillion]

@finney5000 Look'n at Soul Train Vh1 right now..They're showing 40yrs of the show...Gino Vannelli was the 1st white performer on Soul Train!

[LMmccallL57]

@paulypavillion Yes, I thought it was Gino or David Bowie. I couldn't recall which of the two for sure, even after seeing the TV special several months ago.

[therealtreeguy65]

Just one of the great tunes of all times is all it is.

[Dabu641]

what a rad outfit. "artists" these days man...minaj, lady gaga...people who think have all these cutting edge styles on stage.... they wish they had style like elton.

[TristanMon100]

Thumbs up if you're watching this in 1975

[511Garcia]

Elton John is funny looking but man can this guy play, write, and sing

[mnljh711986]

he must have performed this song some time around St. Patricks Day

[TheDaydreamers101]

lol

[24CAIN]

Elton John ripped it up! Hell of a performance

[dwightfc]

Elton John might be white but he sounds very black to me

[Lipsaresealed101]

who doesn't care what year people are watching this in thumbs up

[marcusapalmer024]

Yes sir!..

[SavvyMarket]

I remember watching this performance. Brings back a good childhood memory. Thank you Elton John and Don Cornelius. RIP D.C.

[mshockey73]

love this :))

[TurmItUpLouder]

He stole the show :P

[harwicke]

Was Elton the 1st white performer on Soul Train?

[musclenigga09]

@harwicke Was Elton the first white performer on Soul Train? Naw, Michael Jackson beat him. LOL (couldn't resist)

[adventuretime1999]

back when music took talent.....

[chassweetc]

Like on of the best live performances in LIFE....AWESOMNESS

[acsmooth110]

One of my favorite performances off of Soul Train along with with many other. RIP in peace Don. You will be missed but not forgotten.

Alan

[GMAW56]

This was my "gangs" theme song when I was in highschool, Don Cornelius and Elton John had alot to do with easing the social prejudices during that time. RIP trailblazer.

[XxBlueRosexX100x]

rest in peace to the host of soul train :( died this morning :(

[XxBlueRosexX100x]

love it!

[rocketpwr19]

My fave RIP DC

[johnsel2006]

zo goed wastie dus...

[twigagawizard]

He was so hot and I love this song...

[MichaelMathews1]

I remember watching this as a kid and to think today the black commentator for the show passed away.

[MURPHNSPUD]

To appear on this show - was a MAJOR honour 4 many a white 'artiste'

I died laughing how Paul Gambacini on BBC Radio 1 pointing out how many

'White' artists on billboards 'Black Chart' there were one week, Lisa Stansfield

Phil Collins, Sheena Easton & many more + our lovely Reg all had 'Black hits'

which to our British Ears [well mine] KUDOS - YES

but some how seemed WRONG

all this racial 'colouring' of bleedin' Pop Records

Sad news

I'm sure Jake Shears has this as ''A FAVOURITE'' XX

[irishbug14]

He seems really nervous at the beginning, but he sure gets back to form as he goes along. I love Soul Train! RIP Don.

[MrKyleCorn]

3:19

Elton John doesn't need a piano. That's for nonprofessionals.

[schclum]

MrSophwa thumbs up whore top comment chaser. Fuck off

[tangerinespeed0]

Thank you so much for posting this! My entire family was watching the day this aired. My older sibs were a few years out of high school and they were all over this.

[finney5000]

Unreal,,,have not seen it since it was live---HUGE DEAL, as he was the 1st White performer on Soul Train

[rtelston]

@finney5000 I heard Elton John was the second; Gino Vannelli was the first.

[okaythenbob]

@finney5000 Love Elton but he wasn't the first. Gino Vannelli was look him up.

[MikeChuk21]

@finney5000 and one of the few not to lip sync.

[CornishCockney]

@finney5000 i may be wrong,but didnt r dean taylor beat elton to that honour ? or maybe even the average white band ? EJ always said the biggest single influence on him was motown

[notaroundme]

outstanding!

[aarongil88]

wow, he ACTUALLY does the high pitched, being strangled voice himself LoL sweet..

[bobthefreak09]

He looks like a Pimped out Joker

[XxNoiseBombxX]

sure is an awfully lot of honkies in here...

[bigbranstar]

whos waching this in 2012 thumbs up



[sends2aaron]

@bigbranstar Who gives a shit?

[Mr3whiteboys]

@bigbranstar im actually watching this in 9583 because ima mother fucking time wizard...

[ubidubi04]

0:45 guy behind elton doing the robot

[riceboi1983]

how much acid was this motherfucker on?

[dcthegreatest24]

@riceboi1983 apperantly it was a big thing to drop microdot and trip out on this shit back in the day, so I've heard from many sources....whole album is the shiz though, grew up with my parents listening to it, both ex hippies mind you....lol

[daisyplayer]

this is my shit!!!!!!!!!!!

[modelverb]

what a fantastic vocal. Prefer it to the record. I always like an ad he did for radio luxembourg. "And you can tell everybody, this station is great, i'm taking bout the one and only, 208".

Set to 'your song' and better than the original!! ;o) dunno why...

[TEACHYOUTEEWHY]

EQUALITY!! UNITY!! That's what I'm talking about.

[Imperator114]

A mohair suit yo

[Scotmonsta]

I was wondering why I was getting so many responds on that comment haha!

[flamingotrigger44]

a shoe-in for the riddler right here

[MrSophwa]

Im 13 and when I listin to music like this I think of all the bad techno we have today. I wish we had elton and the Beatles and the rolling stones and things like that, not lmfao and the blacked eyed peas who only do techno or weird things like that. And I'm just 13

[Kephazard]

@MrSophwa Not going to argue that today's music is great, but I would like to say that it is not Techno. If you want to bash an entire genre of music, please know what your talking about.

[normandyangel]

i want his glasses

[karenZmusic]

haley reinhart is amazing singing this too!

[mattwolfgang1]

there is a few times here when his hands are no where near the piano and its still playing what is going on there

[GORILLATECHNOLOGIES]

these sounds make you realise how much shit in the world people really take on that has no universal value what so ever, why cant we all just love and respect each other for who we really are and stop the hating and judging and just deal with a person the way they deal with you .......when would you humans realise that your ideologies are just that your ideologies and dose not necessary have to apply to every one else around you

[BobbyD167]

he looks like a leprochaun !

[11673norley]

3:45

guy in corner doing robot xD

[HoboJones10]

@withforte he's not lip syncing. Listen to the studio version and compare. He does have a backingtrack on the chorus though.

[superviewer]

nice sing-back version without the so-called handclaps and audience of the original

[worstkindoffriend]

Thus, I will name my kid Bennie/ Benny

[kristoscan]

jeezus his vox is killer live back then. amazing soulful tenor.

[towelboi123]

She's got electric boobs, and low high shoes!

[ipiphani]

This is hysterical. Classic! I don't know how the dancers felt about this song (just proves that black folk can dance to anything), but they got with Elton on "Philadephia Freedom", especially at the end (check the video)!

[lennox5150]

23 people think good music is lil wayne

[TANOTOLLI]

GRAN TEMA DE 1975.-

[ScrewdUpClickSUC]

@subdubz you prolly still wouldnt get any pussy bro

[jtagen1]

He looks like a leprechaun! :)

[funlover2283]

All the people of color are like ummm boring beat.....but hey it is a great song.

[PullandSealable]

Look at his eyes lol

[pbamonopoly]

I wanna sample this for my new hit

[codyexposito]

At Martin...how can u upgrade that? Real classic shit lol

[pricelesswoman]

soul train wasn't always lip synced. in the beginning everything was live!

[101NICHELE]

i really dont see how u can dance to this song

[scottybroker]

EJ was having way too much fun. He got paid too.

[martin84125]

1975 Robot Man ! Wow, he shud have put it under  copyright Heheh.

Not a lot of upgrades made in the last 35 years that i can see.

[pjds1989]

1:13 The man in the bottom left corner is doing the 1970s version of the DTown Boogie

[Aerodita]

totally digging the guy doing the robot at 1:00



[Pinhalokevin]

Ahahaha look at the guy doing the robot!!!!!

[Vargo0071]

Was it St. Patrick's day or something?

[NimrodTheWise]

@Vargo0071

it wasnt st patricks day, it was just the 70's. easily confused though

[GMAW56]

@Vargo0071 no it was Elton John

[ASHBOOGIE2286]

This is sooooo 1 of my favorite elton john songs...next to rocket man

[herbolich1]

my favorite song ever!

[cookiemonsterderp]

go to 3:14 & watch until he lifts both his hands & tilts his hat, but the piano is still playing., #faker

[DrBeatlesfan420]

@cookiemonsterderp thats fuckin hilarious. i never noticed that

[TheMrlunar]

horrible.......



[Mamba24seveN]

Was that a see-thru tetris piece piano. NICE!

[seagull20072008]

Benny and the Jets...sssssssssss lol

[jbman58]

Make me wanna travel back in time~ This is where KATT WILLIAMS got his style from! Elton Rocks!

[hitman9299]

guy in orange is like 7 foot 6????

[purplejanie1]

Hey kids shake it loose together!!!

[naruto29180]

I'm not going to lie i'm a guy and 27 dresses brought me here.

[FortressCraft]

ba ba ba benny and the jetssss

[erisos2]

leprecan 

[mz16]

I love his performance here :)

[purplejanie1]

I LOVE BENNIE AND THE JETS!!!!!

[purplejanie1]

IL

[djzhid]

see 1.09  left GOOD DANCE HAHAHAH xD

[Scotmonsta]

Lmao at 3:20 who tf is playing the piano?!

[bohemianhare]

@Scotmonsta Haha, nice catch. Must be playing it with his toes.

Realistically, I suppose it must be "piano synching," as the piano rhythm is exactly the same as I recall it being in another version of this song on youtube, but the vocals are a little different.

[respectmypretty]

@Scotmonsta lmao i was wondering the same thing

[withforte]

@Scotmonsta Soul Train was always lip-synched and never live. Watch David Bowie's performance, he noticeably fucks up.

[Tremblay343]

@Scotmonsta There's any entire band playing backstage. There are actually two piano's playing throughout the entire song.

[RonnieFriend]

I love the comment "entire band playing backstage"! :-) Actually the music we hear is a back-track, the same recording from the original on "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road". Elton's vocal (and smile!) is live, though. Great Performance!

[MoyenneAbril]

@Scotmonsta His big dick!

[MoyenneAbril]

@Scotmonsta or maybe the band from soul train has a someone following along on his keyboard.

[normandyangel]

@Scotmonsta it was 70s they didnt perform live like they do now..its all recorded

[flamingotrigger44]

@Scotmonsta elton is so good he can control what a piano does with his mind, thats the only reasonable explination for that,

[bobthefreak09]

@Scotmonsta Sir Elton was also a Magician on top of being a Musician... lol..

[DjSpinto]

u kno i read it in a mag a ha ziiiine

[DjSpinto]

thank you

[purplejanie1]

@TheLukeFilms He is still alive! What the heck? Who told you he died?!?!?! ;D

[purplejanie1]

@TheSonsofHorusx Yeah, he is.....He is married to a guy, and rented a surrogate to have his baby

[burf69]

I didn't realize that Elton John is so talented at the piano that he can play them without touching the keyboard. Serious, check out 3:15

[TheSonsofHorusx]

hes not gay

[egurzi]

this elton john benny jets video is property of soul train holdings? what does that mean?

[sethadamlee]

Who the hell is Haley Reinhart?

[subdubz]

the guy with the big afro is awesome, i wish i could be him for a day in 1975

[fcbtim]

@subdubz they all have big afro's!

[jhi1947]

I didn't realize that macacas liked that type of music.

[19832006]

That piano is mean! Wow!