Elton John Rocket Man Wembley 1984

[DWarrior4]

I love you Elton

[ti22guy]

from the end of the world to our town, Springfield, MO April 16th 2011

[Snurbify1]

Well, right at this time in the eighties I think he had the best male voice in pop music... I even prefer his voice to Freddie Mercurys.. (at this time)

[torturedej]

The definitive rocket man live-version I dare say.

[stugamiettereynolds]

@torturedej Agree completely! This set the benchmark for all to follow :-)

[GregsynthWizard]

It's funny how he cheats the high notes on this song during his classic era (mid/late 70s), yet he's able to sing them all perfectly fine from 1979-1985. Elton just got better with age (until he lost his chops in late 1986)--although today, he's in better form since the late 90s)!

[Supertgow]

This is the best live version i have ever heard on the internet!!!

[LordChocIce]

I always forget just how good this video is. Fantastic performance

[golfsmoore]

yupp yupp Elton !!!

[rastafarievers]

not bad

[77edster]

By the way, how good a bass player was Dee Murray.....

[NIKONGUY1960]

@77edster

Dee, IMHO, was a mondo player. The whole band was really at the top of their game.

[EltonJohnLyrics]

the best version of Rocket Man! Follow EltonJohnLyrics on Twitter :)

[Lightner445555555555]

I dont care what anyone says I think all of his singing voices have great things to offer.

[Lightner445555555555]

his voice change was probably a blessing in disguise cause it fit perfectly well with some of his later hits.Anyone agree?

[PianoShapedObject]

@Lightner445555555555 I really, really miss the falsetto in "Love LIes Bleeding" but then again if I try to imagine "And The House Fell Down" in that light airy voice he used to have it just sounds weird... : )

[mrgb46]

@Lightner445555555555  Yes,I agree..

[tellyap]

I was at this gig and the helicopter that took those overhead shots was bloody annoying. Also at 6:55 the Too Low For Zero drum machine was triggered by mistake causing a few bum notes by the band. It's been taken out in the mix but isn't it funny the things you remember?

[77edster]

@tellyap You're right, I've got a bootleg on CD and the drum machine does kick in!

[musicfan101ful]

DEE MURRAY!! (Y)

[danieljh]

wow..he still looked and sounded good back then

[bradleywynd]

hows the guitar dude ....awesome... hey..

[jaggass]

his voice was at his peak in the early 80's 1986 being the last year of the 'falsetto'

[Gregsynth]

Actually his falsetto was already damaged in 1986.

[jaggass]

really? i did notice on the live in australia tour is voice was becoming increasing rough

[Gregsynth]

Yeah, if you listen to Elton's performance from the 1986 prince 's trust concert from July 1986, you can hear his voice was starting to get ragged, listen to the leather jackets album (recorded mostly in the summer and fall of 1986), and there's NO FALSETTO on that record, plus you could hear the strain in his voice.

[formulaonemad]

@Gregsynth But if you hear some American 1986 gigs, we have some high notes ;)

[Gregsynth]

Yes we did!

[EtoileLituanienne]

Best Rocket Man version ever!!!! I love it!!!!! Brilliant! I'm speechless!

[intrepidsinger]

This video reminds me of how much I miss Dee Murray. He was one of the best. With him on bass & backing vocals, & now with Guy Babylon on keys, heaven does have one helluva band! As for this song, this performance, Elton, the rest of the band - all are the best. I cannot add anything else to that statement. Thanks Elton, Bernie, Davey, Dee, Nigel, Caleb, Ray, James, Guy, John, Kenny, Roger, Kiki, Gus & the rest for all of the wonderful music & memories. Life is better because of your music.

[IcedT103]

God, I love Elton John... one of the most talented musicians of all time. This performance is amazing... he just puts so much passion into both his singing and piano playing!!

[elton14jp]

really nice version

maybe the best

[ark4259]

timeless....

[gallopingrider]

I remember this concert well.Stood for 12hrs watching brilliant acts like Kool and the gang,Nik Kershaw and his band,Wang chung"Remember them"? The old Radio one dj's presented the show on the day.DLT,Paul Gambuchinni,Annie Nightengale,Gary davies.....To finnish off a perfect day,this guy finnished off his world tour with a totally brilliant concert.Got loads of pictures of the day.:)

[77edster]

@gallopingrider would love to see those photos mate!

[Mhansen86]

to captainnthecowboy..... what you say about this being the best live version of RM is a very relative thing I think. You should give the 1982 Saratoga springs-vers. a listen and then im pretty sure you´ll change your mind.... dont get me wrong....this is fucking awesome, no doubt, im just saying...... this is one of the (if not the most) diversly played songs they do..... Davy Johntone: The most underrated guiatrist around thee days

[77edster]

@Mhansen86 Davey's not underrated by other musicians just because everyone things Elton John does nothing more than write disney tunes they have no idea what great musicians he had around him.

[PeteGeeza86]

Genius! This tune is one of the greatest ever!

[captainnthecowboy]

Well obviously the wife parts in there ,i meant the way he does it with " im so alone etc" I dont know bout you guys but i think this is the best live version of this song.

[Gregsynth]

Agreed. Some of Elton's BEST live performances are from 1984.

[hoobie06]

For sure.. I thought this was when his voice was in it's prime.. love early 80s elton

[MOSKII58]

no way his early 70's voice had a stronger falsetto which he used brilliantly in so many of his classic material from his first 1/2 dozen lps tunes like tiny dancer levon,this tune,croc rock..these tunes don't sound as good now after his operation, if you notice he sings all the cool falsetto parts w/ a straight voice & it takes the flavor out of the song because theres no break from his voice, before he would alternate between the two and it was what made the songs.

[hoobie06]

yeah, good point. i still thought he sounded great in the early 80s when he could still hit those notes. since the mid 80s, it is almost painful to hear him sing rocket man and songs like that where he needs to find that higher range.. still love him, but the early 80s and seventies were my favorite EJ..

[hoobie06]

Levon i s a classic. always has been a favorite of mine. check out EJ singing "imagine" in central park in 1980.. better than lennon in my opinion.. i know that is a strong statement

[Gregsynth]

His voice in the 1980s (before 1986) was much stronger than his 1970s voice. His falsetto in the 70s was a bit higher and lighter, but not as "powerful." 1984 was probably his best year live--no missed notes, great energy, excellent falsetto, etc. Yes, after 1985, his voice took a downturn, but in 1982-1985, his voice was at its absolute best.

[dillonharris]

@Gregsynth totaly agree with u

[Gregsynth]

I just like making observations. lol

[formulaonemad]

@Gregsynth 1980-1986! :D

[Gregsynth]

1979-1986!

[SkuLL17935]

that's funny....because i really prefer his voice now...:)

[locaterobert]

She packed my bags last night pre-flight 0 hours 9 am. I miss the earth so much I miss my wife, it's lonely out in space. Ah the Wife part has always been there in it's original form

[atommo67]

Does anyone know the history behind the added part "I miss my wife...etc)? I've never heard him do that anywhere else. Did Elton improvise that or was it originally intended for the song?

[Gregsynth]

It's an original part of the song.

[captainnthecowboy]

No its not part of the originial, not in the way that he does it. This is actually a very good part of the song, i wish he always slowed it down. Ive seen him a few times and he always gives it a country sound to it now.

[cmusgrave8197]

saw the concert when I was in england,

love the song and concert

[FuckCens0rship]

LUCKY BASTARD XD  no offense :)

[darkred60]

Solo escribiré......Mágico!!!!!

[MyKindOfBlueEyes]

Amazing version. His voice sounded awesome.

[idunnocastro]

does anyone know the setlist for this show?

[Gregsynth]

Best live version of the song.

Better than the studio version.

[PrincesssFantastic]

I Love the RrOoCcKkEeTt Man..

[WayneInSF]

This is my favorite version of this song. Elton's vocals are superb...and Davey's guitar playing is stellar!

Thanks!

[greatnessclyde]

I have doubts about your spelling of doubts.

[nickettino89]

Sorry about my error! :-( It's that I'm not american! I'm italian and sometimes I make errors! lol!

[MSDTS]

LOL!

[AdrianCamus]

He still had the voice at that time...a very touching and lovely song! Sir Elton!

[DuffMc81]

He had the best voice in the mid 1980s.

[nickettino89]

Well...I think that the best voices during the 70's and 80's were Elton John and Freddie Mercury! I have no doughts.

[torturedej]

Can't really argue. Although I tend to prefer his youthful and mature voice from say 1973-78.

[DuffMc81]

@torturedej It's just personal preference at that point. I love his voice on Tumbleweed Connection especially, raw and unkempt. I personally prefer him as a big powerful tenor, which he's displaying well here and on other tracks during those years.

[carlosZ1981]

@DuffMc81 what about George Michael?! both are great....

[Passion4Oldies]

Yes, this is a wonderful version (especially since he still has his falsetto). However, an even more impressive version is the 1987 Rocketman on the "Live With the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra". His rough voice and amazing musicianship prove to create an AMAZING song. The best - no falsetto, so this is quite refreshing! Thanks!

[OmegaBeast]

speaking of his voice.. whats up with the lower pitches toward the 90s and today?

[Passion4Oldies]

Well, the lower pitches are a direct result from his voice surgery in 1986. He has nodules on his vocal chords - from voice neglect. Being a star in the 70s/80s, he fell hard into drugs and alcoholism, along with bolemia. And, when you abuse your body, you abuse your voice. Also, even in this concert, he tends to yell and shout on the lower notes for a more "manly" tone (if you will), and shouting and screaming combined with his extreme drug use resulted in the nodules. When...

[Passion4Oldies]

..they removed the nodules from his chord, they also took some of the chord with them - changing the timbre of his voice into what it is today. Although he doesn't have the higher voice and amazing falsetto anymore, He still has a great voice. The warm, resonant, high baritone voice still commands an audience and collaborates well with his "new sound" that he has been producing. I hope I answered your question!

P4O

[tewest99]

I used to have the concert video. I love this version of Rocket Man. Especially the bass and guitar harmonizing :-)

[mcesar84]

best live version ive heard

[WhisperLady023]

R.O.C.K.E.T.M.A.N

That gives me goosebumps

[Lopgtop]

he's brilliant.

[greatnessclyde]

you're right i have seen almost every classic rock star in concert and even in their best days they couldnt beat the show elton outs on now

[flipponzin24]

I loved his music from 1984 so much. He gave Davey Johnstone such an awesome role on the guitar like in the 70s. The music become an awesome style of rock and roll like in Breaking Hearts!

[unvmygame]

HAHAHA... high or not, who cares? I can't name three or four people who can sing/perform at that level STRAIGHT. That guy performs like a fu**ing alien.

[WhisperLady023]

I can watch it over and over again. I love this look!!! And what a fantastic song! Thanks for the upload, I love this concert!

[Young008]

5 stars cool

[cody6202000]

wow....that scene (at just a little past 8:00) where a fly-by of a packed Wembley was shown...amazing...

[bigmacas]

What a music...And Elton John is a legend people...A true legend...

[torturedej]

The absolute pinnacle of Elton John, when it comes to live performing anyway...absolutely fantastic, I love him so much!

- Martin from Norway

[randyrhoads15]

he is glazed lol look at hes eyes oh elton lol

[eltonjohngirl]

R-O-C-K-E-T-M-A-N

[PrincesssFantastic]

This my favorite Version Of "Rocket Man"

[alamoro]

I saw this Live aid performance on Mtv 1984 ,I vegged out on the sofa all day and watched this great singer, awsome.

[cactus750]

simply put from 1964 to 1984 songs had so much meaning and were the best music ever made....

[beardsleyface]

obviously, you don't know what you're talking about. "did him in"? please. he still has sold out shows everywhere he goes all the time. i think i would call that astounding success.

[joelfan74]

what I mean is vocally, he has lost the ability to execute a falsetto, and his range is not what it used to be. I agree, he still is one of the world's formost artists and showmen, but his vocal ability is just not the same

[animemangalover11]

People, including Elton has different points of views on his..."new" voice. He for one, loves it, while other do not. I do, it just depends on your opinion, range or power in the voice. Either way, the people who aren't damn homophobes love him!!!!

[heffgeff]

he's lucky he can still perform he had surgery on his vocal chords, some doctors said he wouldn't speak again and hes still rockin'

[TheJewinator]

~ This is by far the BEST version of rocket man Ever sung and i think it will always stay that way, His force is more hmm how to put it.. "Charcoal" or Horsey I'm not sure it's just not the same. ~

[joelfan74]

if he had laid off the crack, thats what did him in really, probably smoking it too, if he had laid off it, his voice would've stayed at this level, which is pretty impressive.

[obiwan6885]

He did cocaine, drank, smoked, and was a bulimic...he never did crack. He was long sober before crack was even popular...and it was never a pop star or rocker drug anyways.

[PrincesssFantastic]

uh cocaine is pratically crack

[obiwan6885]

Yes and No Honey...Cocaine is the purest, most basic form, of what's trafficked and consumed. If you take that Cocaine and put mix it with water and baking powder. There is a significant chemical reaction that happens before Cocaine becomes Crack.

[PrincesssFantastic]

LOL! how do you know all that? are you a druggy? lol alright...oh and i'm not your honey...lol

[obiwan6885]

No...I had to do a 5 page paper on drugs, how they're made, and the psychological effect of those drugs on people.

[jtsnowman66]

What are you talking about? His voice is still in wicked shape in 85 for live aid. He didn't lose it until 1986 when he went on tour in Australia. He has his high range here, he hits all the Bb's in the song no problem. The mid 80's were when his voice was at it's best. I agree about the white piano, it never sounded anywhere near as good.

[maxb162]

How can a Steinway grand sound so tinny... the Yamaha setup is so much better to listen to.

[88930P]

bobvilla11: are you kidding? "decent" this was from 1984. Hate to tell ya, his range was fully intact. You must be an amazing arm chair critic..

[torturedej]

yeah, why on earth isn't this whole concert on DVD? i just don't understand it...he harly ever sounded this good live. I'd much rather have this on DVD that say One Night Only from 2000, but that's just my opinion...I just love4 his musicianship, singing and dynamic charisma from the breaking hearts tour of 1984 (the year I was born by the way, in Norway :))

[jaredgetsacookie]

Right before he completely lost the upper range of his voice and got pretty raspy [he had to have emergency surgery on his vocal chords in 1987].

They should put this whole show on DVD.

[godwhyisthistaken]

groovy rocketman great performance indeed

[torturedej]

without a doubt the best and most inspiring version of this classic, great stuff!

[foooo11]

indeed the best video!

[enricopalazzo24]

amen to that, the nighttime concert and the breaking hearts tour are the pinnacle of elton john in my opinon

[jonnybb1]

This is the BEST video of Rocket Man so far!

[bobvilla11]

u cant be serious?

if anything his voice and the piano are in one of the worst stages. He's lost his upper range and has developed a full lower range yet.....

its decent... amazing... but compared to elton standards...... not half as good as he was or will be.

[GregsynthWizard]

@bobvilla11

You must be on the wrong video. This is Elton's prime live voice. Listen to some of those late 1986 versions (Los Angeles, Australia, etc), that's the worst I've heard Elton sing.

[chrismehaffey]

@jonnybb1 no it seems rushed in tempo and cheap