Todd Rundgren - Parallel Lines

[deltanine100]

True star, unique. Knebworth '76 with accompaniment of aeroplanes.

[samsmumable]

'sniff'' - the mark of a songwriting genius is the ability to move the soul.  what a peach of a song xx

[sidbolero]

Todd Rundgren has written more wonderful songs than anyone else I know. Genius is the only word.

[samsmumable]

where does thisvid come from? is it available as a DVD/bootleg, or what?

[Milan276]

A true Artist and a Star!!!! He and Utopia did one hell of a show at the Akron Civic November 2011 Thank God He and the Band are still touring.

[jllxmusic]

GORGEOUS and Beautiful melancholy...

Todd...we miss your GREATNESS...give up the electronic crap and give us this stuff again!

Genius!

[greasemonkey1228]

when the instrumentalists applaud the singer at the end of the song you know they are as impressed as you are.

[bry3921]

what does the desperate longing feel like; the unrequited love? now you know

[jflinn210]

Several songs on "Nearly Human" are written about Todd's relationship with Liv Tyler, daughter of Todd's then-girl, Bebe Buell. Liv was raised thinking Todd was her father; when she was 11, in 1988, she realized, and was told, that her father was in fact, Steven Tyler. Some of the "Nearly Human" songtrack are about Todd's "family life" in 1988 -- "I have visualized so thoroughly

That when I think of me I think of we".

[NipplesMagee]

Bitter tears run down my cheeks as I type this. My first time hearing this masterpiece and I've loved Todd since 1978. His genius works often provoke me to tears as he beautifully writes, sings, etc. the very same things inside my heart, past and present. I am SO PROUD of Todd Rundgren!!!!

[elarain1]

This song has always felt mournful to me, despite it's upbeat (studio) tempo...I'm so glad to hear a song that reflects the somber mood. Beautiful....just beautiful.

[JeansGlobalVillage]

A truly beautiful version of a truly beautiful song!

[69javman]

I love this version of the song too, but the dude on the piano?? At the end- Yeah! Bring it home.

[newsy8]

He is so beautiful!

[criguit]

oh my God

[don56texas]

@criguit you sound like you just discovered The Wizard . We've all had that moment.....

[criguit]

@don56texas :-) ah ah ah , I am an almost gray kid , but didn't know this song , a treasure . Thanks my friend .



[jflinn210]

"So I send you the gift of empathy, if you'd once in your life acknowledge me; I have visualized so thoroughly that when I think of 'me' I think of 'we'." Art.

[elarain1]

@jflinn210 Always my favorite line.

[lired70]

Genius, simply magnificent!!

[svenghoulieil]

love this version!

[rabbitntigger]

ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL...SAD AND VERY MOVING...THANX TODD

[levenshon]

Youtube bring back Wailing wall.

[cinemodS]

Thank you Todd for all the times you provided me with inspiration when I couldn't find it in myself.

[TheMuse58]

Fantastic song!!! Moved me to tears!!!

[mgurski8]

GOOD GOD! Why doesn't he play this in concert? SOOOO GORGEOUS!!! Sing it Todd!

[newsy8]

@mgurski8

I KNOW! We saw him and I wanted to hear him sing this SO BAD!

I think it's one of his most beautiful and honest songs. So brilliant.

[bry3921]

I want my Night Music back

[ruracinme50]

This song and "For the Want of a Nail" are my fav's.  I guess I am a "Toddy"- saw him with Joe Jackson in D.C. about 3 years ago. It wasn't an appreciative audience- there was one rude girl screaming. I would like to see him again, in a quieter venue. He's given us some great tunes and will always be the pioneer "techno wizard"!

[newsy8]

@ruracinme50

Wherever Todd is performing,there is always "rude girls screaming"!

LOL

[levenshon]

Todd was god at this time.....

[rabbitntigger]

terrific performance of a really beautifully worded song, my heart is right there with the tears that i feel...the entire nearly human work is absolutely soul searching material...

[rogue0ikon]

The man truly is a wizard! Can't understand why only a select few can realize his genius..

[Pookie4435]

There are enough of us that we are called "Toddy's " on Myspace...He is so great,aye..I have seen him over the last 40 years..so many times,met him and Utopia God, we had fun....

[CarlAnthonyTV]

It's a song about knowing when to give in .. give up. One of the hardest things to do. I love the song , it's deep feeling. But.. I don't agree that anything is ever completely hopelessly over ..

That said this song and so many Todd songs are so brilliant and the lyrics so meaningful. Yeah, I wish more people would $buy$ music of this quality so the piles of shallow pointless trash would stop be shoved down the public throat and into the public eye. Sorry 'bout the rant. Long Live Todd!!!

[SugarBear0199]

Todd is the most awesome entertainer on the planet! Thanks for posting:)

[Bass5el]

This rendition never fails to bring tears of joy to my eyes. Wow.

[carolloveskiwis]

Great version of this incredible song. Love the lyrics. It's Todd Rundgren. Enough said. Thanks for posting.

[ElRegrs]

This guy is great. I'm a relatively new fan, but so far I've heard around 25-30 of his songs, and so far, I haven't been disappointed. :)

[wygakyl]

I agree that this is better than any version of this I've heard. In fact, it may be the definitive performance of this time period. It is intimate, moving, and the emotional slowed-down tempo before the last chorus reminds me of his Laura Nyro influence.

[alandhopewell]

Better than the studio version; the slower tempo gives depth to the song.

[pinetar]

Wow, what a great performance, great to be able to hear it. I hope that somehow or other, some day there can be a society where this sort of music is more widely heard and appreicated.

[pinetar]

And the most important thing, that more music of this quality is composed...

[orangeviolins]

Truly inspired and awed ...and once again enthralled by this man's genius.

[pinkensteve]

People, pay attention. This is truly songwriting genius.

[krumfm62]

@pinkensteve

you got that right. true genius

[theBadloves]

The song is so brilliant that even that piano player's hair can't over shadow it!

[chyrd]

Wow... even better than the original version...

[RMoribayashi]

From the series Night Music, broadcast on October 29, 1989.

[marci147]

Absolutely amazing. Todd is Godd

[LVEMEDO]

WOW

[dlpine71]

thanks, jeanette - LVEMEDO - for sharing with me! great post, rundgrenfan!! five stars!!

david

[molly1481]

Yes Jeanette WOW !!!Thanks for sending and  posting Rundgrendfan !!

[HELTERFUCKINGSKELTER]

Thanks for the share LVEMEDO.

[stephystills]

Great!!!!!!

[drumc65]

The best voice i've never heard

[JayneWhitman]

A wizard a true star - always and will always be a fan

[artrock101]

Outstanding!

[mickal24]

I have to say... i was incredibly touched by this heartfelt performance. Absolutely beautiful. Thank you Todd.

[theBadloves]

That piano player's ridiculous mullet is really distracting me from enjoying this beautiful song!

[rickhorvath]

I'm still looking for the version from The Letterman Show - him with just piano accompaniment.

[happylongs]

beautiful. He had a nice way of putting lyrics together. Sweet.

[optine]

Magnifique.

[LittleRoni47]

This is breathtaking... I love this man. Todd has written the soundtrack of my life since the first time I saw him at age 12. Hard to believe that was almost 35 years ago. What a beautiful version of a timeless song... Thank you so much for sharing.

[Dalman03]

Tranen in mijn ogen, als ik denk aan mijn verboken liefdes, bij deze tekst...

[breatheasy9]

This man's soul is one of a kind, with a voice to match, such a rare, rare musical talent. The beauty of who he is comes through his music again and again... what a gift you are to us.

[EVHisgodyoumuppet]

This the most impactful song i have heard for about 2 years now.

Can't believe it, incredible

[GP4T]

Wish all the Night Music shows would make it to dvd someday soon.

This is a great example of why.

[ziggy577]

God-this song is beautiful.

[onlinefreedomclub]

That's why we need the poets and singers and songwriters to say the words that go round and round in us - rarely expressed.

[breatheasy9]

Great comment onlinefreedomclub, great comment...

[onlinefreedomclub]

Thanks!!

[kandyman1028]

Takes my breath away...

[larrymiltonmusic]

As good of an interpretation as it gets .... of as good of a song as it gets!!

[victotronics]

Great song and great live performance. Also a refreshing change on the original.

[bungalowmo]

I have been a Todd fan since 1973, seen him a gazillion times...but this clip tops pretty much any recording, both audio & video, that I have ever seen or heard. A treat for the senses.

Absolutely amazing.

[saranac2009]

Todd carried on from where the Beatles and Brian Wilson left off. If there ever was a true genius in rock music, he be the one!

[breatheasy9]

I'm glad Todd is alive and has been the incredible musician he is during my lifetime. My ears really appreciate him. Some musicians are so beautiful, they become part of the soundtrack of a generation.

[Bass5el]

Oh, this is "tears in my eyes" stuff... what a voice and such a stunning arrangement.

[klimtklavier]

I wish I could play this for the one that got away (or was just on another level all the time)... love and loss and sweet memories.

[celticph]

awesomely brilliant!!!!

[Vyllyn101]

The man always manages to say the stuff I have always known inside, and have failed to say...Thank God for Todd

[newsy8]

@Vyllyn101

What a sweet way to say it.. I know exactly what you mean.

He's the poet of our time IMO.

and he's been ahead of his time for a long time.

Hope we can catch up in time.

[cmunik8r]

god, you SAID it Kahaki

[kahaki]

timeless. genius.

[Teri702]

rundgrenfan, you post stellar quality videos...thanks for this one :-)

[baybo272]

absolutely stellar -- Todd at his best.

[wexvex]

Make my lifetime wish come true - play this one in Dublin, Ireland for us, Todd!!!

[PistolPete1965]

Thanks rundgrenfan! Todd, Michelle and Taj Mahal performed a Gilbert and Sullivan tune on Sanborn's show..."Gallant Captain's Daughter" or something like that. If you have it could you post it? I've got it somewhere on VCR if not. Thanks again.

[misterjoecool]

This would make one killer duet.

ADG

[girlonabicycle]

Todd has the most beautiful, emotion-filled voice...no one can sing todd except todd. 40 years of loving todd...i could hear no other voice and it would be fine with me.

[DominusOminous]

Some peeps are going to say I'm crazy, but I'd love to see them do a Todd night on American Idol. It would be great to see David Cook pick a Todd song, or to see David Archileta sing Parallel Lines.

[ellisrose]

None of the contestants sing well enough to perform his songs, however, he is a great producer, so it might be interesting. It would be great to see him on the program.

[DominusOminous]

You are right, ellisrose, I must admit. Further, there would be the issue of the contestants not knowing the material well enough to pick the right song. I can just imagine someone attempting Onomatopoeia and what Simon would say about that. Still... it might be fun.

[hypno59]

Why isn't one of the best voices of the last thirty years recognized?

[hypno59]

Why isn't one of the best voices of the last thirty years recognized?

[tisisils]

I love this song and he sings with alot of emotion.

[rawcoyote]

I think andy42x is goofy.

[andy42x]

I'm a huge Todd fan, but I wish he didn't make those goofy hand/arm gestures while singing... it's distracting.

[rawcoyote]

What goofy? I think you must be goofy. How can you be so critical AND if that is distracting you, you cant be very much into the music. Todd fan? I think not.

[andy42x]

I saw Todd at Westbury Music Fair 2x, and he did the hand gestures then too -- it drove me bonkers. And I am goofy.

[andy42x]

The more i think of it, he didn't do it in the bigger venues (jones beach w/hall&oates) - just the more intimate settings.

[VenusGrnys]

Beautiful version of this song. Brings tears to my eyes. Makes me think of someone very special to me.

Thank you.........

[CHARLESCBJR]

Such a beautiful rendition of such a great song. This definitely deserves air play.

[katnie08204]

so hot ...

[DominusOminous]

One of my favorite Todd works.

[db0956]

surely one of the finest vocalists EVER!

[toddrunt]

Unbelievably Beautiful!!!

[forestdweller958]

Nearly Human was an absolute masterpiece.

[katnie08204]

Saw Todd about a month ago and I was less than ten feet away from him for two hours - I'm still dizzy ! That's probably as close as I'll get unless I can get enough money to rent his Hawaii house !

[nonnikat]

This man has so much soul and feeling.

Wouldn't it be an honor to know him.

[CruiserMel]

Thanks mucho for posting this video. I think I remember this one, but I'm not sure what show this came from. What a talent!

[guise277]

i believe it's from what i requested back on 1-5. it's from david sanborn's jazz show.  pretty awesome!

[rockwello]

i converted 2 of my friends to todd with this clip

i always think of doug, now, however, when i see this, as he loves the piano player!:p

[BasinatArgenteuil]

This is almost....out of this world.

crazy about this version...a fine version, indeed.

[izzatluv]

wasn't his voice so lovely during this era?

thank you!

[echobink]

You're so right.

[putte2006]

thanks for putting this back :)

[mezzatopia1]

Nice video. Thanks RundgrenFan ;-)

[MGM12]

Looks like an exhausting song to sing.

[Greenlight73]

Todd was just especially sweaty in the '80s.

[thekidwhocameback]

It's always a pleasure to see your video treasures. What a lovely rendition.

btw, we enjoyed your comment :)