James Taylor - Wichita Lineman - Raleigh Obama Rally

[wa2436]

too bad it's at something obama sponsored

[nadair2112]

One of my favorite singers sing one of my favorite songs. Who can ask for more?

[AnonymousEconomist]

I love Taylor's music; I have quite a few of his cds. But, I've never read any of his books on monetary and fiscal policy.

[GoldZahava]

Forte something or other, watch James live in concert on other videos. His audience has tons of young people, not just we old farts. Sheesh. Hope you make it to where we are!

[posthastey]

Mr. Capo himself

[mrh1027]

Say whatever you will about his politics, but that is a fantastic rendition of the Jimmy Webb classic. I thought no one could come close to Glen Campbell, and Glen's version is still my favorite, but I give JT props for his version. People need to set aside politics in music and recognize talented musicians for whom they are. JT's a Democrat. Glen Campbell's a Republican. So what? I'm just glad they shared their talents with us for all these years.

[AnonymousEconomist]

Evidently, Taylor has made himself a target by promoting an extreme Leftwing agenda. He has every right to do so. But, I also have the right to point out that he is not an educated person, and, therefore, people who like his music, for example, should be on guard about accepting every opinion of his in uncritical fashion. Unfortunately, too many Boomers accepted uncritically too much propaganda from entertainers in the 60's, and now were a nation of airheads. I do still enjoy his music.

[GoldZahava]

@AnonymousEconomist: Betcha he's a whole lot brighter than you are. He's still able to draw a crowd and tell me: What do you draw?

[AnonymousEconomist]

@GoldZahava. I said he was not an educated person, I didn't say he was not smart. The guy might very well be a genius, but that still doesn't mean he has the intellectual background to be an authority on issues of current concern. I also draw a crowd, although a very different crowd and much smaller.

[stradaveriusfiddle]

There are maybe a handful of musicians on this planet, that can do justice to this Jimmy Webb song as well as J.T. does here.

[gjipstra1]

This is a great rendition. I like Freddie Fenders rendition on Loungapooluza the best of all however.

[bodichair]

For gods sake are all you conservatives brain dead. This should not be an anomaly . James Taylor , The Beatles, and just about ever other worth while musician who came out of the 60's and 70's are liberal. If you did not hear that in his music for that last forty years you were not listing and your not listing now!

[captbanjo1]

James Taylor is a gifted performer and writer. But this all reminds me of when Joan Baez had her Martin guitar worked on by the Martin factory. Years later, when they opened it up to work on it again, it turned out that one of the repairmen had written, "Too bad you're a communist" inside of it.

[fortehlulz9999]

The day I stopped being a fan of this liberal halfwit. When all the bong hitting baby boomers are gone, he will be a musical footnote - at best.

[GoldZahava]

@fortehlulz9999 : When we're gone, what's left? You idiots that have zero values and terrible role models? Your music stinks. James Taylor is a NATIONAL TREASURE. This song is a timeless piece sung by a man who has a very great voice......his politics notwithstanding. I form my own opinions in important matters and don't follow musicians' ideologies. You punk. Get offa my lawn.

[Jeffery269]

For countrycorndog and all the other political haters. It is such a shame that your politics have become so divisive that you can no longer appreciate and respect the sublime musical talents of James Taylor. What have you given to this country that could compare to the musical gifts this man has given? When did it become okay to be so disagreeable about our right to disagree with different points of view?

[fortehlulz9999]

@Jeffery269 He opened this can of worms by supporting one candidate over another. You argument is utter horseshit.

[quirpco]

Love that "checking the watch" bit @ 3:07...yep, he's still on the line! LOL

[countrycorndog]

What sucks is I have loved JT's work all of my life, but as a person, i just lost all respect for him seeing that he supports Barack. What a waste of a good choice. :thumbsdown:

[DrHogfan]

obumma...Lord help us. Do these liberals actually think the United States would be a so much better place if it was a socialist nation.

[cyndyloub]

This is the first time seeing this video, and I have to agree with annthebold! It was my birthday too and absolutely adore this man's talent. His songs have gotten me through much of my life especially the past 15 or so years. Love how he can hold that note for so long! I will see him and Carole King in a few weeks. Cannot explain how excited I am to be in the 6th row to see them both!

[theMacvarish]

If I was American, I'd make this man a national treasure.

[DRpokeme]

@theMacvarish I think he is already..?

[Phineas1996]

The song induces Ataraxia.

[SierraJude]

JT seems like a really nice guy... kinda wish I was one of his friends. Have been listening to his music since the early 70's..... When I think Tanglewood... I think James Taylor. Saw him in San Diego when OJ was on his freeway run...(was it '93?) JT commented about that and whatever was going on in sports that day...Ahhh, memories...

[ljgsuper]

perhaps the greatest and one of the wealthiest singer- songwriters of all time. do you think he wrote off the time that he spent campaigning for the great fraud as a tax expense?

[jimmyb1982]

James Taylor, This man is great, and rises above all American Political infighting, you people with agendas, leave him be, he is here for the rest of us, JT, a great in a world of pygmies, this man is class, Carole King, Carly Simon, and your trying to screw him ? Get a life !

[daviemcf]

The greatest singer/songwriter ever,but even better,what a fantastic guitarist!!

God bless you Jimmy boy!! 5,000,000*

[daviemcf]

.....and comedian!!!!!!!!

[velvetunderpants44]

You're completely right! Apologies for being so reactionary!

[GoldZahava]

@jimmyb1982 He has a real love for beautiful Jewish women: Both King and Simon are Jews. Shalom Jimmy, I'm one too.

[worotan]

Hey, pretty cool, JT. x

[slowuncle]

What a brilliant artist. James is a national treasure whose music will still be here when these reactionary commenters and their Fox News puppeteers are mercifully forgotten. The Obama-haters will have to find another state with which to secede: N Carolina belongs to JT!!

[mousepd]

How in God's name is hating FOX News fans (such as myself) any different than hating Obama? Hate is hate. Music is music. I love JT's version of this song. Period. I love JT, period. JT will never lose his popularity because he doesn't appear on TV five days a week.Obama is losing his popularity because we're getting burnt out on hearing him talk. Obama needs to quit campaigning,stay in the Oval office and do his job.

[holajim]

James is the best and his heart was good. He just doesn't follow the NWO and at the time didn't realize both parties are mere puppets for the world's RICH who would never soil their hands working in an Oval office. When you are in THAT club, nothing is denied you that money can't buy be it a woman, a girl, an organ or the murder of millions to sell more arms or fuel your industries.

The jigs up. They gotta move on us soon.

[rbheiss]

Damn, I love James Taylor... but supporting Obama will only make the lineman pay more in taxes because he has a dangerous job. Like occasionally eating a fatty ice cream cone or smoking or climbing a pole to fix stuff!  Great song but the insanity has got to STOP in this country!!!! Smoke another bowl James.... but keep singing the good songs.

Rolland B. Heiss

[darkestbfrdawn2016]

Beautiful, beautiful! but I can't believe he supported that foreigner.

[velvetunderpants44]

Using the same logic that you use by calling Obama foreigner, everyone in the U.S. who isn't 100% native American is a foreigner. You're living in the land of the free. The brave. The land of opportunity. The land made of, and by immigrants.

You don't like that, or the democratic process, maybe you should move somewhere where your xenophobic views will blend in better. Like China?

[LarcheOsborne]

I think Dark is one of those strange "Birther" people who somehow believe Obama was born in Kenya.

[jthaw]

And the birther campaign continues...

[squonk61]

As good as the original by Glen.... Sorry to hear he's an Obama supporter but doesn't take anything away from him as a performer, to be expected I guess.

[fabmic]

A man of such deep and sensitive feelings could NEVER support people like McCain or Bush (and he openly opposed him more than once)...

[dannybrigg]

its james taylor man.. so its cool..yes..ha

[Buanand]

What a shame he's not seen through the 2-party political system yet. Republicrats, demopublicans, all the same.

[bardinbooger72]

Of course, Glen Campbell's version will always be #1, but there's certainly nothing wrong with others doing, and just ask the songwriters, they love for others to record their songs. Great job JT.

[jarlexel]

Why does he have to steel someone hit

song,cant he make his own hits?

Oh wait, hes backing obama

all makes perfect sence now

[hatgirl09]

Dear Jarlexel,

a) It's not called stealing ("ea", btw). It's called cover version.

b) If you'd brush up on your music history, you'd know JT has had hits aplenty. If he covers songs, it simply means he finds them poignant or beautiful - or in this case, both.

[fireandrain1]

Interesting... Not too ofton you se J.T. taking flack..

Oh wait..

Republican alert !

It all makes perfect senSe now.

[fabmic]

jarlexel,

yes he actually has never done a single song by himself.

Try to look him up on wikipedia then come back ok...?

And please try to spell at least your own language correctly...

Lastly, I can't find a link between "steeling" songs and backing Obama, that's a VERY low-level, poor thought, sorry for that.

[lowbassfan]

James is probably the only other singer on earth besides Glen that could do this song and pull it off. Whose voice is better than James Taylors? Their are others as good, but none better.....

[Buanand]

I totally agree!

[rickspsringfield]

I come from the old school and this was such a Glen Campbell song and James does it so well, just as well as Glenn....

[paulybear2008]

what can you say other than genius!!! what a beautiful song,sung by a great artist!! i saw him in Glasgow a few years back and he's even better than i imagined he would be,thanks so much for posting this,makes me smile everytime i hear it =)

[carolerory]

great voice and songs.. boring in concert.

Not a put down.. I'm a JT fan to.

[tommyrock69]

I would have lost my mind seeing this in person.

JT.  My beloved NC. The evergreens behind him. The ole NC humor! One of my favorite songs ever.

[garvinzoom]

Awesome!!

[robbourassaguitarist]

J.T. does this great. I love this version.

[MarkDunn]

Thank you for posting this. Wonderful.

[exxonerated]

When I heard this remake come wafting up the hill at the Mann Music Center this past summer it brought tears to my eyes...tears of nostalgia..tears of reaction to musical synchronicity and genius. And now it is up for a Grammy..what a great thing. What a treasure we have in James.

[rayyza1]

JT has the best voice...Jimmy Webb wrote it...but Johnny A's instrumental is the best version ever...no question!!

[annthebold]

Simply stunning. James Taylor has a voice a voice of pure liquid gold and this song is haunting as it reaches the echoes of memories.

It's too perfect that my favorite singer is singing my fav song for my fav presidential candidate on my bday no less.

Rock on, JT. We love you.

Go Obama.

[calafsdream]

wow! great day for you! ;-)

[annthebold]

Simply stunning. James Taylor has a voice of liquid gold and this song is beyond amazing. It's too perfect my favorite singer is singing my fav song for my fav presidential candidate on my birthday.

Rock on, JT. We love you.

Go Obama.

[tobytri]

nice seat dad.

[skyiscrying53]

This is a very nice song

[terp1960]

Me To :) Beautiful N.Carolina day and a Great tune/concert to boot :)

Thanks for Posting.

[Doddlady]

I was here today! Thanks for putting this up! Beautiful day with JT...Go Obama Go!!