Elton John performs Philadelphia Freedom

[3bhui]

Freedom was an optimistic word of joy in the U.S. back then, as opposed to a word used to replace 'French' in French fries to try to stick it to France or an excuse to invade, overthrow, and occupy other countries.

[Rome012]

his voice is too powerful for that mic

[UT0013]

This video makes me so happy!!!

[jowabro]

I like how the crowd sort of joins in for the last second as the record fades out. They would never allow the record to fade out now, and leave Elton singing a cappella, basically. I get the feeling he always gave a little extra on Soul Train in order to justify being invited on. And having an all black audience around him was probably a little intimidating. Probably blew his mind.

[SHAQD008]

Songs banging

[JEDI7ACEN]

Elton's oufit is STRAIGHT PIMPIN! So badazz, he could have drove up in a Eldorado made of plexiglass just like his piano!

[AcridPeter]

Elton with his shitty American accent. The cunt comes from Watford.

[jrmetmoi]

I think this is still his best song ever.

[ChampCarforlife]

Back in the 70's Elton John used full up the Arena with a lot of black audience.

[jrmetmoi]

I love the lady in the shiny silver dress

[petesmalls08]

Now, that was a fuckin' song. Way better than all those whack-ass b-side tracks Don Cornelius would have those dancers dancin' to while tryin' to fake a good time.

[default99telecom]

sad to have a lame ass toyoda commercial preceding this great tune.

[MusicalBookworm12]

I just want to jump into the screen and take his hat. Because 1: It's his, and 2: Its simply an awesome hat and I would totally wear it. While I'm at it, I would probably take his glasses to. :D. love ya Elton!!!

Anyway, of course, this is an amazing performance. He did fantastic. You know, he's actually the first white musician to perform on Soul Train.

[HannahHypnotize96]

I was singingthis ALL DAY. Haha, I love Elton John!

[001GenLee]

God, this NEVER gets old! So awesome! Elton, U ROCK!

[grxengine]

I remember being starstruck as a little boy seeing this. Truly starstuck. I saw him singingin those glasses coat and hat and that mic stand wss bouncing cuz everybody was dancing like it was a real party. I am african american and had seen Elton many times on The Midnight Special, but him on Soul Train and tearing it up like this. special to me.

[kikananihanai]

@grxengine I hear you. This is a great moment in our cultural history.

[benreynoldo]

doesnt get better

[kipperfeast]

Wow. This is the only live vocal performance I've ever seen on Soul Train. I didn't know they ever did that, just like American Bandstand. I also didn't know that he was gay back then.

Sort of gives a different meaning to "knee-high to a man" now...

[jrmetmoi]

@kipperfeast ha ha haaaaaaaaaaaaaaa XD

[snidelywhiplash]

Elton. Is. WORKING.



[bcbp14]

siick hat.

[johnozed]

nice live vocals. Elton at his peak. 

[MFIORE7511]

And the Flyers win the cup and parade down Broad Street for the second year in a row with this song highlighting the year !

[brightchance]

Very generous of you to share these awesome videos!!!! Love Sir Elton!!!!!

[ozzinc]

boy did this dude have style and a voice

[RonnieFriend]

One of my most favorite performances by Elton! He is obviously so chuffed at being on Soul Train! He's having a Great Time! He was the first white artist to appear on Soul Train! The music & backing vocals is pre-recorded (from the original single), but Elton is singing live and giving it his all! (It's even Elton himself doing the backing vocals.)

[philandjoelle]

If there was ever proof that Elton's music reached the whole world, this is is.

[cybers51]

this song took me knee high to a man:)

[sndrdmngz95]

I CAN REMEMBER THIS SONG WHEN I WAS IN THE 8TH GRADE AND NOW IM A GRANDMOTHER, BUT I STILL REMEMBER ALL THE WORDS AND I CAN STILL DANCE TO IT. . . . LOVE HIM!

[MrSaxman19]

Awesome song. Born and raised in Philly and wouldn't want to live anywhere else.

[feldwebel999]

Really clear singing - I can understand the lyrics even better than the record!

[janmarbol]

look! they're doing the Bump!

[joevs21001]

OUTSTANDING live performance by Elton when he was no doubt in his absolute PRIME!

[trevthebaker]

when music was great!

[oldcrabbutyoungathea]

I may be old 65 years but I still like rock and this is my favorite Elton John song

[phillygrl69]

@oldcrabbutyoungathea You AINT OLD! God BLess!!!!

[2jeremyable]

hip-hop

[busterbone]

back when he could nail those high notes, like Steve Winwood that also has hairpiece and has to sing in a lower range nowadays.

[ENEMENCIO123VISION]

THE SOUUUUUUUUL TRAAAAAAAAIN !!!

[Bancroft98]

this is why he has the right to "come down" on lip syncers like Madonna....

[rivermoonrise]

I wish I had a time machine and could travel back to this moment and dance to this song with all those people. What a great time to be alive.

[Steven458565]

Thats one bad white boy

[SuperMiwok]

@Steven458565 What white boy? i don't see any white boy in this video. hahaha JK

[ralphyization]

I LOVE, love , love it! NEver been to Philadelphia, but, we have a hockey player there! Claude Giroux, He' s doing Northern Ontario Proud!

[fleischpudding]

are those crips or bloods?

[19832006]

This is live yall!

[papakilatube]

At 5:00 watch as Elton briefly emerges from his white Englishman's skin and becomes an honorary Black American.

[bentleyspotter]

is that the background dance the dougie?

[awesomeologyism]

LAdies and Gentleman, this: is class.

[JEDI7ACEN]

There's more soul in this clip, than there is in the last few episodes of Soul Train I've seen lately.

[andmaketherain]

Blue eyed soul...

[michaeljluh]

music has always been good at bringing people together

[44Blackjax]

Ya gotta love 2:01 to 2:03 where Elton looks around and sees everyone enjoying themselves.

[PumaDown]

@44Blackjax Yeah...I liked that too!

[TVboy76]

One person is doing life in Philladelphia.

[DanielBowden1975]

Soul Train, Elton is rockin' on it

[guspioklein]

esse cara era locao vei

[Neojorgito6]

BEst song ever!!!! :D

[creedens]

@60's dude....man i wanna cry at the quality we hear tyhese daze...man!Shine the lite won't ya shine the liiittteee.

[98pup100]

146 people did like it that's the main thing. The dislike must have been a typo!

[hotathlete2]

I was in high school when this song came out. I remember the brothas walking around the courtyard with their boomboxes playing this song loud. I never understood the soulful appeal of this song. I happen to like this song too.

[GregDConnelly24]

3:09, top right of screen...... sick robot dance moves bro!

[63saruman]

Who could ever dislike this?

[Amisbro]

@63saruman

someone that doesn't appreciate Sir Elton's music sadly

[Rocketman2396]

awww hell yeah.

[LaurenHeartsMusic14]

i want a clear piano...

[tylerjl101]

im from philadelphia



[billiejoepunkidol]

elton john is the king of music

[SouthpawGuitarman]

I Lovel love love ya yes I do!

[05pricej]

I know the piano normally isn't too prominent in this song.. but can you hear anything at all? I'm honestly struggling to pick out a piano at all, even the electric sound he normally uses for this song. I can occasionally hear the odd chord or two, but I think the balance could have been better

[MikeChuk21]

@05pricej If you listen close, you'll notice it's him basically singing over the record. I don't think anything's miked but his voice. It was the norm on Soul Train (and American Bandstand) for the performers to lip sync. There's a clip of Benny and the Jets from Soul Train elsewhere on the site where the piano is miked -- click on that and here the difference.

[twitards247]

Wow, he is not even lip synching, Elton did it with class!

[LllDawnlll]

"I love , love Elton John"

Yes I do!

[pgs5719]

Back then black people in soul train danced no matter who the singer is but today hardly any young people dance to rock and roll/pop music due to condescending/disgusting rap chatter that glorifies gang violence, sexual perversion and stupidity in dress/attire/attitudes.

[amenahbrown]

@Hunkola this really made me lol, i am black but it was kinda funny...you sound like my daughter...i call her my white daughter...its a shame i know but my reason is b/c she's in m.g. and a.p. classes, never late for anything and she works at a non profit book store on south street in Philly...its a stereotype and yes i know there are many blacks that are well accomplished...but she's my shining star

[Hunkola]

@amenahbrown ---- It's a sad state of affairs when the black community looks down on a kid who gets good grades, works a job, and is always on time. That isn't called "acting white" --- it's called being a responsible and motivated kid. Race has nothing to do with that --- it's just the content of her character.

[scottslovegun]

I love earlier Elton John albums!his back up band is awesome to.

[fossy111]

Love this song.

Reminds me of Tales of the city

[abdul8096]

i love love love u philadelphia freedom this song means so much to me loved the back then elton but he ran off with bennie and the jest and got lost love the soul train dancers who probably pretended to like the song until they really did see tht it had a great beat ahh wow

[GnarlyNutSack]

Excellent upload! I love this performance, so much energy!

[richartrod]

Elton is singing live, into a live mic, to the tape or record of "Philadelphia Freedom". You can hear the voice from the record occasionally. Around 1975 or so Don Cornelius would occasionally have bands and singers perform live, and it sounds fantastic. However, he returned to all lip-sync performances because it might have gotten too expensive for ST's budget.

[rlipil]

very very kool

[IslandofInspiration]

I loove, loove, loove this, yes I do! <3

[HotrodGirl86]

I luv this song!!

[bassinbill42]

Everybody is jammin to the beat!!!!!!! go Elton Go!

[edtooker]

Shine on the light!

[Kenebutch]

Play that Funky music white boy, HA!

[southport97]

The Queen of England Knighted Elton John as a fairy.

[millertas]

They all look like they are having a gay time.

[radiodj1520]

I Believe This Was A Video Clip From The 141th Edition Of "Soul Train" On May 17, 1975.

[onepoet63]

awesome!

[mickleem]

great live vocals..fantastic

[Andrewawesome123]

i want this kind of piano :D

[RJA10001]

@Andrewawesome123 i want the million dollar piano.

[60sdude]

The world is full of sarrow! Its like i would like the good feeling like this back! Thumbs up if thow agrees..

[HEARTHEANGELSVOICES]

@60sdude - THE WORLD IS FULL OF SARROW? W.T.F. IS THAT? AND WHERE CAN I GET SOME? I GAVE YOU A THUMBS DOWN BECAUSE THOW DOES NOT AGREE. 60SDUDE - THE 60'S ARE OVER. GOT TO GIVE UP THEM DRUGS DUDE.

[dogloverNV]

@60sdude Thou speaketh the truth! :)

[Valdeci200991]

Muito Bom!!! Eu acho que sou o primeiro brasileiro a ver esse vídeo, já que colocado hoje em exibição. Bons tempos aqueles no início dos anos 70.Só Elton John que mudou, ele ficou muito melhor com o tempo!!!!!Valeu!!!!