John Denver on The Today Show, 15 June 1995 - Annie's Song

[jds8108]

Well, I guess he didn';t get to do a new song on the next Today Show (but O Holy Night was fantastic)...but wouldn't it have been nice had he also had the chance to perform some of his newer songs....! He had some amazing new ones...  Eagles and Horses; Whispering Jesse, The Gift Your Are; and Yellowstone, Coming Home to name a few.

[michaeldonegan]

@jds8108 Thank you for your comment.

I just couldn't agree more! He should have been allowed to sing his new songs. But, as he often said so himself, the networks were only interested in the classics from the 1970s.

[puck57]

@jds8108 JD had a major stumbling block and that was no recording contract!! To get airplay you need the record co pushing your songs and JD didn't for about the last doxen yrs of his life. What you, I and JD thought were great songs record execs apparently didn't & that's the bottom line. JD was CLOSE to getting a contract when he crashed- songs like "Yellowstone" surely would have been on the next cd. We'll never know just how marketable the new stuff would have been- unfortuantely,.

[LazyBadgerHC715]

am i right about this or am i wrong some one please answer my post because i was just curious if i was right!!

[LazyBadgerHC715]

so to put your two answers together JD had very nearsighted vision because of his lazy eye and he forgot to take off his reading glasses for this video of Annies song and he never had laser surgery and always wore contacts after 1982 am I right or wrong please correct this if it isn't right!!

[Hannahorse715]

why does jd have glasses on here this is 1995 and I thought he didn't wear them after 1982 when he swiched to contacts e

[michaeldonegan]

Perhaps he had a problem in his eyes caused by contacts. He sometimes had to stop using them.

[Hannahorse715]

@michaeldonegan well i heard that jd did have laser surgery for his eyes don't recall where I heard that don't know if it's infact true

[michaeldonegan]

I never heard that, but it is possible!

[Earthlinked]

Probably simply forgot that he had them on - those are reading glasses!!!

Denver DID NOT have eye laser surgery - I have the exact same problem that he did - it is called "lazy eye" - and the muscles that make each eye focus - are not strong enough to do the job! The only cure is glasses/contacts - they work very well. Still he hated his glasses as much as I do mine!

Laser surgery is ONLY when the cornea is too loose and burning it with a laser shrinks it - making it re-focus correctly!!

[Hannahorse715]

how did u find that out about he has lazy eye

[Earthlinked]

Many. many, many years ago - back in the early 1970's - I was in the music business and knew someone - that knew him - that knew about his eye problems!!! And as it turns out - I have the same problem - but unfortunately - NOT the same voice!!!!!;-)) And this was verified by his computer guy - that I have been emailing for a few years!!!!!!!!

[JOHNDfan1]

Thank-you very much for posting Michael! :) I Love JD always will!

[michaeldonegan]

Thank you too!

[davesnouffer]

It's true what is stated in the post just below. What's really tragic is that much of John's BEST work was done in the late 80's and into the 90's. Can anyone say that, for example, "Whispering Jesse" is not one of the best songs John ever wrote and performed. The lyrics alone, are so beautiful and meaningful. That's why you, Michael, do John's legacy such a grand service....allowing so many people around the world to share in ALL his music!

[michaeldonegan]

Thank you for your kind comments. They are really appreciated.

[gusmacgregormusic]

Is there any more of the interview... It seems like he was frustrated wit the radio stations for not playing the new songs... I don't blame him.

Thanks for posting

[michaeldonegan]

It has been some time since I last looked at the source video. I will check again. If I find anything I will post it.

[DreamlandExpress2007]

Hi Michael!

It seems like when I'm here in Calfornia surfing YouTube at night is when you in Ireland are posting JD videos! Great timing!

I love this video! Thanks so much for posting it. Annie's Song was the first JD song that drew me into becoming a fan! :-)

[michaeldonegan]

Great Timing! You are very perceptive! I work nights over here and I'm usually getting home from work with the Irish dawn chorus - so I keep your American hours! That's why I seem to be on YouTube at the same time as you.

I also got into JD through Annie's Song. I had never heard of him, but I knew of Jet Plane, Country Roads and Sunshine. Then one evening he and a few other guys appeared on UK TV's Top of the Pops playing Annie's Song. He was so different! I was hooked straight away!