John Denver on The John Denver Show (BBC), 1973 - Port of Amsterdam

[ruantengyi]

Denver would have been 68 this year if it wasnt for what happened in 1997

[jinofthethunder]

@ruantengyi you mean his death?

[Yannick8164]

the Original is the best - Amsterdam by Jacques Brel, his passion will give you chills

[moominpic]

@DISPENSER4HIRE I think the song is on an old John Denver live in London album

[paulstaines310567]

This is awful beyond words- I couldn't even watch it all. If you must have a translation then Bowie's is the only one worth the effort.

[michaeldonegan]

@paulstaines310567 Well, everyone has an opinion! I have heard Bowie's version and I was totally unmoved by it. Yes, just an opinion, but it's mine!

[moominpic]

@michaeldonegan and the other opinion is one i don't agree with. This is a great version.

[michaeldonegan]

@moominpic Indeed it is! John's was probably the first English language interpretation of this song. He was singing it as early as 1968.

[signeponge]

@michaeldonegan : Scott Walker recorded a version in 1967.

[cbmdg8551976]

@paulstaines310567 my friend you miss the point of this entirely. Given Denver's career and his catalog this is a bold move on his part. I only found out he recorded this when checking the Bowie version. Apparently he was covering this song long before Ziggy. There is nothing awful about it, it is quite good. No one will approach the original, not even Bowie but this is a worthy version. Actually is refreshing to see Denver was expanding his ear. Far cry (not a knock) from his own work.

[michaeldonegan]

@DISPENSER4HIRE My pleasure. You are always welcome.

[sbbinahee]

One of Denvers best!!

[khatpandwa]

Nice Singing

[PURPLEBEATTIE1]

My god I forgot how much I love this version.Fabulous song from a great man

[revelusionista]

Americanised beyond all levels of acceptibility - terrible - if not Brel himself rather check out the versions of Ute Lemper or the Dresden Dolls - Bowie if you must as well - at least got balls Its about sailors and prostitutes and drinking and the sea and sex - sounds as if he is singing it to the kindergarten.

[michaeldonegan]

@revelusionista Everyone has an opinion!

[signeponge]

@revelusionista : The only English version that can slightly compete with the amazing original is Scott Walker's one from 1967.

[illmsg77]

soooo amazing THIS SONG IS ETERNAL

[illmsg77]

soooo amazing

[BackHandOfJustice]

Great song!!!



[pinball1970]

I love bowie but his version of this is nothing

The French bloke just shouts it

did he write it?

great song but like Dylan I would rather hear it from some other than him

Denver had power to burn and great range

listen to the eagle and the Hawk

only a short song but amazing

[michaeldonegan]

@pinball1970 Yes, Amsterdam was written by Brel. Milt Okun introduced Amsterdam and other Brel songs to JD as early as1968.

[stevielish]

sung 2 years before bowie this was purely inspirational ,bowie was woeful and should never be allowed to ever utter the words port of amstredam, brel is and always will be the fore runner for this iconic song but john gives a close and moving comparison .just watch him he rocks

[michaeldonegan]

@stevielish John recorded Amsterdam for his 1970 album Take Me To Tomorrow, his second RCA release, though he had been singing Amsterdam for at least a year before that.

[townofdylan]

I never knew that John Denver covered this before Bowie! This is exciting cause I always knew the Denver and something down deep inside that was not shown much. He was amazing!

[grimTales1]

Great song. I'm learning how to sing this song for a recital.

[pinball1970]

@grimTales1

If you struggle with higher notes play in Em rather than with the capo on second fret (F#m)

I still struggle in Em but I do not have a particularly good voice

Eagle and the hawk is even harder but a bit shorter

Good luck with the recital

[grimTales1]

Hi,

Thank you. :)

I'll just be singing along, someone else will be playing guitar, I feel I'm just learning how to sing but don't think I have a very good voice :D Breath control isnt easy to get right, I have a mild stammer.

[banjgoboy24]

@grimTales1 Good luck, you wont need it just the sense, smell and feeling. The rest is up to you. If ypu do it...... do it good. A.

[pinball1970]

what a voice

great vid thanks

[illmsg77]

Oh my god this is AWESOME!!!

[deruble]

I saw John Denver (who was a tremendous showman in concert) perform this very un-Denver-esque song in Minneapolis in the early '70s. Completely blew me away and remains the most-memorable moment of a wonderful concert -- and it also turned me on to Jacques Brel.

[bettywhitedog]

I was hoping someone would put this back on. I put it in my playlist but it can't play it anymore. Thanks.

[michaeldonegan]

My pleasure!

[rickya2005]

what a song. my father played this to me 30 years ago. it still stirs emotions. thanks for getting on here

[dsfincannon]

Wow.

[jukka1956]

Better than Bowie. Who is Bowie?

[ilcolonello]

Thanks for this...Awesome - in its own way as good as Bowie's gut-ripping interpretation of Brel's masterpiece.

[michaeldonegan]

Thank you for your comment.