Elton John - Benny and the Jets - Central Park

[Ktelrecord]

I was there.

[claudiop72]

O show do Elton John foi tão ruim no Rock in Rio, que precisei recorrer às lembranças do show no Central Park...bons tempos onde ele impressionava vestindo-se de Pato Donald!

[leonardo22210]

@claudiop72 Cara n e que foi ruim... Elton john e um classico uma, lenda viva...

O problema tava com aquele povinho la q so gritava pela vaca da rihana...

alem do mas o dono do rockinrio falou mal dele... se o culpado foi o propio dono do rockinrio, o senhor roberto medina q colocou elton john num dia pessimo... porque ele nao colocou no dia do steve wonder seria um arraso, o melhor dia

[userboy6]

i don't care what anyone says, he was just this cute, chubby kid who was exremely talented, the exact opposite of the tall skinny ugly people on other stages making noise not music like EJ did

[conorox]

hes doin big rips of head cheese

[conorox]

hes doin big rips of head cheese

[kclarke94]

Felt my knees give out when he hit the keys

[Bentom86]

More than 30 yrs later, & it's still his GREATEST live version of "Bennie" to date!! All of these comments that Elton must've been coked up. Not exactly a new revelation, and while I wish that it wasn't true, he's always admitted it...but really, who cares?? It would be nice if people just focused on this magnificent job he does here instead of the negative garbage. An excellent show-stopper & a phenomenal show that afternoon in the Park.

[PianoShapedObject]

@Bentom86 Especially when the reasoning for him being all coked up for a performance is based on him being "full of energy". He was already as hyper on stage as a little kid who ate too much candy BEFORE he started using.

[darksidejedi6]

damn...I was 7 yrs old when this concert was performed.....and have been a fan ever since!!!!

[mariacri22]

Elton...I simply love you!!!

[israelpereirarj]

Amazing song!!!!!!

[ramones1164]

elton is such a talented person!

[ssrocks49]

The guy rocks that's all that matters

[shortyb102938]

luvvvvvvvvv this song!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[TheGMan516]

this is the best benny and the jets ever caught on film its sad so many people dont like his music just because hes gay i dont think its right either but that does not take away his talent

[plopyer10]

Faggot

[RazrHack]

@plopyer10 And proud of it. After all, he's made millions off of it while you laze your fat ass off in your mother's basement. Go fuck yourself, troll.

[musictomyears8]

@plopyer10 Better being faggot than stupid

[ramones1164]

@plopyer10 you should not disclose your own sexual orientation online.....

[MegaMacTV]

I suppose it's the facial expressions, but it looks like Moe Howard is doing Bennie & The Jets serious justice!

[bbwapriljean]

i love the facial expressions 

[dannysmokes73]

how are there 4 people who dislike sir elton?what kind of creatures are you? please think of something awful and die from that.

[DuaLeaD]

His playing is great, but that particular piano he's on sounds like shit....Very thin and tin-cany

[poffy8888]

@DuaLeaD cheq out the live at Wembley version piana.....shits on this one.

[ninelivecat]

@DuaLeaD The Piano is set up for Rock n Roll like Jerry Lee Lewis

[technocrash09]

@ninelivecat ..............and IMHO, this performance makes The Big Bopper look like a punk. Elton owned him on the 88s in these days, hands down! Even tho' EJ prolly appreciated JLL's work, I think he out did him on the piano. Thoughts?

peace

[StarWF2]

If anyone has anything bad to say about Elton I show them these performances. Those long before I was born.

Always changes their minds and sometimes turns them into fans.

He killed it here.

[jordind14]

I hear a "Teen Girl Squad" voice used at 2:48. lol

[pdbordelon]

Wish this concert was available in high def dvd

[TheDanification]

6:18 wow, best part

[eljavio]

why did all the cool good concerts occured during the 60's to the 80s? arggh... no good musicians this days !!! im pissed...

[dude33ism]

I must need contact lenses or something but he looks ALOT like young Jim Carry.

[Rocketman2396]

this song just isnt the same anymore cuz he can't sing high at the end XD that is like my favorite part of the whole song.

[weirdguy75]

@Rocketman2396 I agree but he often compensates his lack of range by adding extra piano bits which make it all the more awsome.

[deeway1963]

One of the best songs ever recorded!

[reginaldk6522]

This performance is the definition of cocaine. Elton has so much energy and confidence. Absolutely amazing!! He never ceases to blow my mind.

[weirdguy75]

@reginaldk6522 I'm guessing he was high here but maybe he didn't snort as much as in other shows he did in the following years.

[Meemaah100]

@reginaldk6522 YOUR DEFINITION OF COCAINE IS IRRELEVANT.... but even worse: you are enormously mislead....................if this performance equals cocaine then why aren't there thousands of performances of equal excellence being repeated everywhere where cocaine is sold?

Would you call the musical genius of Miles Davis quite simply: 'the definition of heroin"?

[garystaley]

@reginaldk6522 neither does cocaine

[Auragirl86]

damn. EJ makes me wish I didn't quit piano as a kid.

[ninelivecat]

@Auragirl86 Yeah but how many great pianists make it, not many.

[Auragirl86]

@ninelivecat "Making it" is irrelevant. The piano is an amazing instrument and just to know how to play it at an advanced skill level would be enough for me!!!

[copeland20]

That one girl was completely off-time with her air piano skills!

[esiotrot17]

elton john did cocaine???

[phunkidruma]

@esiotrot17 ej did everythang under the sun and survived!!!!!!!!! rockhard in a funkyplace:)

[mizofan]

Elton's new album The Union, with Leon Russell, is superb!

[bichonfrise2121]

The man is a genius!!! Elton is a live legend!!!!! How many people could actually draw crowdslike this to Central Park. I know people that drove hours to be there... Only artists like Elton John can pull this up. I love you Elton!!!

[pdbordelon]

1980 seems like a long lost wonderful dream...Elton was so wonderful!

[EltonJohnLyrics]

Elton John rules! Follow EltonJohnLyrics on Twitter :)

[dronken]

goosebumbs tme when he drops back into the bennie melody after the piano solo yeeehhaaaaw

[crackernumber2]

LOL elton cant feel his face!!!!!! i know the feeling look at his eyes hes fucked and i love it... you gotta hand it 2 these older rock stars they could handle there shit on still go on stage and blow us away... i think this is one of eltons best version of this song.... hes having a blast

[JimMLINY]

Fathead, whose the dude sitting on the little blue jug on the pan!!

[Hummel901546156]

Best composer, best piano player, best singer

[ilililhy]

This is a COOL SONG!!

[jwinn008]

i lovee this song

[PianoShapedObject]

Nobody has "Harmony" up from this concert, do they? Or am I just not seeing it? Seems like every song there is footage of is posted but that one.

[hornyml]

Absolutely incredible how he takes the song apart on 5:20 and disassembles and

reassembles and abstracts the tune and purifies it any damn way he wants

definitely a musical genius!

[Vampires360]

Awwwwwwz to much fucking screaming -.-

[deph008]

Eargasm

[PianoShapedObject]

@deph008 LOL, good one!

[sonicblue59]

utterly insane. wow.

[ViniciusFiocco]

THE FUCK PIANO MAN

I THINk THE BEST THAT I'VE SEEN

[aztecan1]

I LOVE THAT THAT PIANO TOO.!!!

[SarahOhs]

It's amazing how much music has changed. I was born in 1986, but I would gladly add 20 years to my life if I could grow up and experience this era in which music was real.

Very, very few could ever compare to Elton John. <3

[ElvisLivesUpstairs]

I think I have played this video on youtube about 200 times since it was uploaded. It never ever gets old.

[AbovePerfect]

God that has so much passion in it... Who can't feel it?

[mauriceslf]

Man I don't give a fuk how gay he is Elton is still the man when it comes to this shit

[zthetha]

This guy is a freak - no one should have so much talent!

[PawtucketPatriot66]

I've been watching all these Central Park concert videos and I must say Elton John was at his peak here. His band was tight, his playing was incredible and voice strong. Wish I could of seen this concert in person

[WintersWar]

look at the arrow on his right elbow, now we know where microsoft got the idea for the arrow cursor. XD

[ilovecappuccino1]

@WintersWar lol yeah!

[johnozed]

I was there, it was my 18th birthday 9.12.80. Great gift indeed! Nice that Dee & Nigel were back in the fold!

[josmar451]

Montez le son

[crzyazn]

8:49 when all the instruments drop back in after his solo!!! :DD

[LinkBulletBill]

8:15 to 8:45

Wow! Even all of the performance was awesome! That was my favorite part of the performance!

[rhiannonschmitt]

Is that an electric piano?

Love the "meow mix" motif (this guy probably wrote it prior to the cat food jingle) at 8:05!

[oldschoolmama1959]

benny and the jets the elton is like a song book learn the groove he was and still bad. rock on elton.

[slimbrotherluv]

like the man said about Ray Charles ''''smack or no smack , he's brilliant" and the same thing about Elton...congrats to both of them for overcoming their addictions and resuming the remainder of their careers and sharing their talents.....

[tinkerbell1138]

he played... the hell out of that piano......that's my favorite song ....

[dragoon414]

6:19 -6:21 =D

[00RSZEX]

What an artist and musician. this happened a year before I was born. I hate that I was born after so much happened to revolutionize American music. These days this generation of musicians aren't anywhere near as original and talented as cats like EJ....

[earthworshiper]

Wow he just took my favorite song of his and made it my favorite song ever.Awesome performaance

[paulpeyre]

See, this is why live shows are awesome. I love when artists decide to jam out for shit and giggles.

[xpto1320]

2:19 Dee Murray RIP

[lasherza]

magnificent!! music at its finest , love it

[cocheese805]

ahhhh the look @7:33 is pure elton

[pdbordelon]

Just wonderful!!!

[Conqueror441]

simply awesome; nough said. :)

[appolofish]

Thanks for posting this, it is great. I was at the show. Probably the best I've ever seen.

[JudasReis]

Thanks for uploading this clip. this piano solo is pure genius. I have the cassette tape from the broadcast that had to be recorded sitting on our T.V set. Hearing this again in this Quality has made me smile.Thank you again. Happy valentines day

[artman102]

Killer vocals!!

Probably the song that messed up his vocal cords.

[ilovefredful]

ahhhh thats just weird

[weirdguy75]

oy not to sound harsh but i bet he regreted doin the falsetto after that concert

[guitarsandvideogames]

owen wilson on the bass

[pdbordelon]

Just wonderful! When this concert video first aired on HBO (1981?) my sister and I decided we would watch it every time it aired....sometimes waking up at 4:00am to watch! Theres something magical about concerts at central park in the late 70s-early 80s. - see Simon and Garfunkel for reference. Thanks for posting this.

[bobd427]

Yes-Piano sounds awesome!! I believe it's a Yamaha.

[Kludinfurder]

No it's actually a Steinway D. Durring the mid 80's he played on a Roland synth and switched to a Yamaha DCFII in 93.

[SuperBrandone]

he is so coked up. ha!

[THRILLAKILLA187]

@SuperBrandone so he performed flossless!

[MoveOnDotOrgg]

@SuperBrandone: no, you're just a dope.

[undertakerbesteva]

am i the only person here that loves the sound of that piano?!

[aztecan1]

@undertakerbesteva I LOVE THAT PIANO TOO

[Pianoman0488]

@undertakerbesteva I think there are a few others. :D

[ViniciusFiocco]

@undertakerbesteva

I don't think so...

[weirdguy75]

his voice was certainly changing at that point

[RKLuffy88]

Yes, but Elton is great as always, regardless of his changing voice.

[CrimsonandCream2006]

500 thousand people ? thats more people that live in Indiana lol .... dont think there was that many

[undertakerbesteva]

but there was he said it in an interview

[joseph956]

lol @ 3:30, nice air piano

[skippydmb]

There is also some nice air piano at 5:32. Notice how the guy in the white shirt easily makes the transition from air piano to clapping to shaking his sh*t, back to air piano and then finishes it with just a touch of air guitar. simply amaing!

[johnozed]

I was there 9.12.80. Great show. Good to see Dee and Nigel with him again. A Wonderful birthday!

[Gregsynth]

What are talking about? This is 1980--Elton didn't lose his falsetto until 1986.

[andrea92p]

his now-voice is for me better than the older...

[eirilllol]

OMG ! hah, awesome piano solo!!!

[panksuzmuzhu]

5:34 - 5:44

[Arthur5041975]

Around the 0:35 mark, it seems like something offstage is irritating him. Anyone know?

[panksuzmuzhu]

A technical problem, perhaps?

[aricias]

im not quite sure, he messes up after that though, and quickly recovers, I hadn't noticed it untill then.

[dobbo996]

The band did so well to stay with him.

[bkorsay]

sweet outfit great song

[TruthUnderFire]

I was there. One of the best times of my life.I was 14.

[ElvisLivesUpstairs]

Great

[Mo19010100]

an manchen stellen klingt er echt wie pumukkel

[undertakerbesteva]

does anyone know what kind of mic he has?

[TheMuffin93]

He was pretty decent-looking. Now he looks like Joan Rivers.

[ymmijv3]

hahah lol u do it too

[ymmijv3]

whoes a lucky bastard and the age advertsing thing idk i got bored

[ymmijv3]

i love elton john he is the shiz and im only 14

[DaSpaz94]

I'm 14 too.. I don't see the point in the age advertisement, really....

[woleyman]

Agree with DaSpaz94... Age advertising is just foolish, and i dont see no point in it . If you are 96 years old or 9 years old and love Elton John, then, whats the difference ? Congrats on beeing 14 and enjoying good music by the way.

Great concert ! wish i could have been there. but im only 15 * Age Advertising FTW*

[minns2008]

love his outfit

[artboy55]

a mad genius on coke.

[greeniem]

he's so coked up lmao

[haizeknyc]

i love this song. i just knew it in the movie 27 dresses ^^

[redsoxfan0428]

2:41  he dosen't look like he has any cares in the world !

[211123436]

Thats cocaine for ya

[Ringo521]

This video proved to me that Elton John is not only an amazing songwriter but also an AMAZING pianist.

[HardyGirl204]

how did you not know that already?

lol just kidding

[stewiegriffin31094]

yea come on elton is god that was evident around the time when he made Take Me to the Pilot

[Bishoto]

coke was a hell of a drug

[NBA2012]

i love this song

[id3ntidycrisis]

I wish I grew up in the 70's sometimes.. im jelous

[nycpillowtalk]

i was there!  what an amazing day!

[rplace59]

I was at this concert, stage left, right in front of the piano. I was 21 at the time. I'm 50 now. It's as great as I remember it! Thanks for the memories......

[Faunym]

that looks like stage right o.o but anywho thats AMAZING

[DaSpaz94]

You are a LUCKY bastard....

[punkisdead1234]

hmm i thought he looked a little like dan akroyd

[themightyimp08]

8:54 - 8:59

He looks like Jim Carey!

[albanite955]

this song's a whole party in itself

[Greekpeople1]

fantastic :)

[alexandshady]

he looks like a hole different person without his glasses

[ThePlague94]

Yeah, that and the way his voice changed from the 70s to the 80s makes him almost totally unrecognizable. If I hadn't been told he was Elton John, I'd think he was a totally different person.

[BeatleLane927]

I know, lol, he looks like Loyd Christmas from Dumb and Dumber

[DaSpaz94]

Haha, no one else on stage seems sure what to do while Elton's doing that extended piano solo.

[TheMuffin93]

What does he throw into the crowd at 4:40?

[themightyimp08]

a FRISBEE that was thrown onto the stage..

[seganor]

do I hear anyone singing like this nowadays?

[tracklist666]

unfortunately...no.

[thecommenter4]

when he dies many people will also die but thats not for another 50 years at least

[Percussiongurl]

man this is a bad brotha..and i love this song..did u hear those licks at like 5:30...woooow

[WWEfanRJ]

I get to see ELton John and Billy Joel in a few weeks I cant wait

[CarnivalNights]

It's going to be one of the darkest days of the century when Sir Elton John passes...fucking epic song. Absolute classic.

[siscoduk]

dedicated to MARK,DONALD,LARRY,DIANNE,ROSSI­E,LARRY SR,LYDIA,ROBERT,,,,,,,MIA.....­..S

[FreakinZigZag]

QUE ORGASMO ME DA AL 8:33!!!!!! ME MOJO CON TANTO BLANCO !!! AAAHHHHH!!!!! Siiiiiii!!!!

[mysticalwind72]

So much power in one performance. The piano solo never ceases to blow my mind away. The greatest piece of music played live in my opinion of any concert I have ever seen. Totally..Amazing...Words can not do it justice. It is simply that incredible.

[savage565]

This song is bangin

[RDG484]

In the original version of this song there is no electric guitar. The guitar is used here and makes this version soooo much better in my opinion.  Plus the backing vocals by Dee and Nigel really put the icing on the cake, also absent on the original.