What was my childhood obsession, turned into a guilty pleasure in my young adult years, has turned back into an obsession as an old man. Bee Gees were there when it all began for me as a child from 1975 to 1980 and remains to this day. They are #3 in a list of the most consistent loves of my musical lifetime; only bested by 70s Elton John and all things Beatles.
Holy hell... did *I* write that? I was born in '61 with two older brothers, so I know the "Beatles" part very well, taking cues from my oldest brother in the 60s, and next oldest brother in the 70s with Sir Elton. My parents bought me a cheap plastic turntable, and a day never went by without "borrowing" my brothers' albums and playing them until the grooves wore out, in between school and basketball and baseball practice, of course. (I was a jock) The Bee Gees were always a favorite, but they were "background" music artists to me, since The Beatles and Elton were a little more prolific, and basically rammed into my ears by my brothers. That all changed when I got into junior high school, and the Bee Gees came out with "Jive Talking" and "Nights on Broadway", which is STILL my favorite, along with "Run to Me". When I was about to graduate high school and "Saturday Night Fever" came out, they EXPLODED and became even a bigger part of my musical life. Lately, I can't get enough. I find myself watching every video I can of The Brothers Gibb, even downloading concerts that seem to take days. Such an uplifting AND sad story, The Bee Gees. I am intrigued, almost to an obsession now. Their "story" has bumped them up to my favorite band. Sorry, Sir Elton and Sir Paul! I didn't NEED the "Professor of Rock" to tell me the story of The Bee Gees, but boy, do I ever appreciate it! It's always great to know you share the same feelings, and yes, obsessions as someone else. Thank you! And thank you too, JT, for expressing your love and obsession with the Bee Gees. Sometimes, I wonder if what I'm doing is healthy, then, I see posts like yours, and I feel that I am perfectly normal, even though my only obsessions to date, have been sports and computers, which ARE normal obsessions. ;-) Peace. Fiver: 5) Spicks and Specks 4) How Can You Mend a Broken Heart 3) Love So Right 2) Run to Me 1) Nights on Broadway
I love the. Beegees so much...i have grown old with them as they are my contemporaries..we belong to the same generation and had followef their careers...too bad. Robin.and. maurice died so early but their legacy goes on.....i have never seen a band as terrific as they were !
I agree. I loved them as a kid in 70's a early 80's. I hated the fact that they were so successful a lot of America just got jealous and began the ban of them. It was cool to know they could still feed the haters with songs like Islands In The Stream and Chain Reaction. I rediscovered them when I got me a job in the first all CD in my state in 1987. Some guys from Europe came in and asked for ESP the latest Bee Gees album. I'd never heard of it. I went home to research it and told the buyer. He ordered it for the store. I got it and heard You Win Again and yelled they're back! Although it didn't chart well here You Win Again made impact. When One came one that was it! I learned fully about the early 60's and 70's songs like How Can You Mend A Broken Heart. I remember the song but I only knew the Al Green version.
Elton John for me is higher on my list simply because it just seemed I literally don't know of a time when Elton John was never on the radio! I don't think there's not a minute when an Elton John song isn't being played on the planet!
By far my favorite Bee Gees tune is also one of their most complex, one that they struggled to sing in concert because of the multi-layered harmonies and the intensity of the falsettos. "Fanny (Be Tender With My Love)" is pure musical genius.
You've done a good job Professor. I've been a Bee Gees fan for nearly 30 years and I am also a fan of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd... The problem of other RU-vid rock critics is that they tend to avoid mentioning the Bee Gees just because they consider Bee Gees a disco group, which to me is sheer ignorant. The Bee Gees played a huge part in rock history and deserve to be up there with the Beatles. There will never be another group like the Bee Gees.
Robin was always a little showman when they were kids. He would ham it up for the camera and displayed a true talent for the stage. To me, Robin had the most beautiful voice of all the brothers who sang too.
After the Beatles- As far as having a multitude of different , great written and recorded mainstream pop-rock songs/ hits- They are right there with Elton, ABBA , The Beach Boys and Billy Joel. 😀✌️
I hope Barry Gibb sees this. The recognition has not always been there for The Bee Gees. It’s nice to hear someone born in the decades after the Saturday Night Fever phenomenon recognize their talent and contributions to the world of music!
Still listening to the Bee Gees in 2020 and always will. The Bee Gees have always been outstanding vocalists, performers, songwriters and human beings. Their music will live on forever!
Robin caught my attention too. He DID have charisma, he just wasn't a pretty boy like Barry. To me, Robin was the most witty, eccentric, intelligent and interesting.
Mad respect for this profile of the Bee Gees. There aren't appropriate words to describe how amazing and iconic their songs are. Four of the greatest humans to ever walk the Earth (can't leave Andy out).
What sucks is that the BeeGees didn’t win an Academy Award for their soundtrack and best song. It would be nice if they gave one to Barry Gibb asap! He’s the last of the BeeGees alive and I think it would be an honor he’d appreciate on behalf of the brothers.☮️❤️
These guys were so talented, it's almost criminal. From that early folk-pop material to the disco classics and everything in between, their melodies and harmonies are almost unparalleled. That kind of prolific songwriting is right there with the absolute historically elite.
My experience with them is amazing. Like I've said before I was fortunate to see them in 1979. What a show to see. Now for my 5. Although I love the early BeeGees, my top five come much later. #5 For whom the bell tolls, #4 Man in the Middle #3 She keeps on coming #2 This is just where I came in, and #1 Alone.
I LOVE the Bee Gees! I've been a HUGE fan since I was 16 years old going back to 1996. At my private school, I found the album, Saturday Night Fever and the first song I heard was "How Deep Is Your Love" and instantly fell in love with that jam. Hearing that song initially started my interest in the band and from that moment on, I became a huge fan. For as long as I live and beyond, I will always love the Bee Gees. No lie, they are one of the biggest and best successful groups in music history. Damn, they were such incredible singer-songwriters of their time. It's difficult to pick out the top five faves because I love every song that they've written. I can say that my all-time favorite jam is "How Deep Is Your Love". I'm so glad that they are being recognized again and their music is being acknowledged thanks to Barry Gibb and his new album that's coming out and their new documentary. This is a long time coming, I've been waiting for new things to happen for Barry Gibb and I'm so thankful that he's still performing, creating great music and continuing to keep the Bee Gees' legacy alive. I will always love them! Thank you! ❤️
Thank you for giving some love to Barry's vocal performance on "The Way It Was;" one of the greatest overlooked Bee Gees tracks from their immense catalogue.
Another honorable mention I'll add is "More Than a Woman". Would love to hear more about the songs they wrote and were recorded and became hits for someone else. What a legacy!
Being a 90s kid I didn't know too much about the Bee Gees, just knew their Saturday Night Fever material and always loved them during line dancing classes haha. It wasn't until Robin's death in 2012 when I started to read more and more about their contributions to music, that was when I started to realize how ingrained their music was to my life. There have been so many covers of their songs I grew up listening to like Love You Inside and Out by Feist, Emotions by Destiny's Child, Words by Boyzone etc. I never thought they all belong to the Bee Gees! After I went to look into their 60's catalogue, it was astonishing to realize that they had all this wonderful material, and could genre hop over to R&B seamlessly. Just incredible artists, will never see another group like them ever again unfortunately.
Discovered them a few years ago and they blew me away, quickly rising to my favorite artists. Their knack for structure, melody and lyrics is really something we rarely see in modern music today.
I loved their late ‘60s baroque Beatlesque pop best of all. “Holiday,” “I Started a Joke,” and “New York Mining Disaster” rival anything from the Beatles’ Revolver era. Robin was a stunning vocalist. Great, great talent. I never got their disco era, but I can appreciate it now. It was like a cross between British Invasion pop and soul-R&B. Very original.
ahhh “How Deep is your Love” in 77 I was 10 years old and living in New Orleans. Every Saturday night I would beg my mother to drop me off at Sonny’s Roller Rink in Marrero LA (west bank of New Orleans) When that song would come on whole we were skating our hearts out the lights would go off and the disco ball would start spinning everyone would slow down and look for a girl to hold hands with and skate because the DJ would say “couples only, couples only” lol i always found a girl to hold hands with. That song got me a lot of sweaty hands and my very first kiss from Jennifer Segal. She moved away at the end of the summer and i’ve been looking for her since 1977. Good times! Thanks, professor!
My favorite song and my favorite line from that song- “ You’re the reason For my laughter and my sorrow Blow out the candle I will burn again tomorrow No man on earth can stand Between my love and I And no matter how you hurt me I will love you til I die” - Love You Inside and Out. Bee Gees
@John Whitaker, The Bee Gees was my 1st concert at the Chicago Stadium in July of 1979, Andy was with them, Bonus☺️, later that summer, I saw Andy Gibb with The Alessia Brothers, love that clip with Andy & his brothers, Fantastic Concert. Rest In Peace Andy, Maurice and Robin🕊️✌️
They had a complete career even before the disco era. They started having hits in the United States in 1967 a full decade before the disco hits started
@@michaelrochester48 For sure. That was very interesting to learn more about their songs prior to the '70s, and how successful they were prior to the transition to disco.
They did disco for 3-years out of a 40-year career. LOL They did schmalty ballads non-stop, even though the other genres :disco, and even trance came and went, yet no one calls them that band that makes the schmaltzy love songs LOL.
@@matthewlemire I remember listening to many Bee Gees 1960s songs before the disco era, though I was not born during their first hits. They basically had three notable periods: The earliest, "skiffle" period the Professor mentioned, the mid-60s to early 70s period, and the disco era. They could adapt very well to new sounds, at least up until the 1980s.
Their music was the sound track of my childhood. Barry’s voice has always sounded like home to me. Love them all. Andy was my first crush. ♥️. Genetic gold.
OMG...the Bee Gee's are simply the best ever! I still get goosebumps every time I hear them & I:m Barry:s age. They are timeless. One Devine Spirit from heaven in three bodies to create their "magical harmony" !
LOVE this group! We all talk about how awesome Barry and Robin's singing is... let's not forget Maurice (Man in the Middle for example) - his vocals are outstanding as well. --- I also love little brother Andy. The 4 brothers are forever in my heart and playlists. ♥ I was born in '72, grew up with these guys. I remember dancing like Travolta to the Bee Gees back then. I had a kiddie crush on Barry and Andy - still do! 😉
I had to contemplate my top five... Can't do it! So many amazing songs. 1. Run To Me 2. Lonely Days 3. And The Sun Will Shine 4. I Can't See Nobody 5. Road To Alaska Tragedy, In The Morning, First Of May, and Three Kisses Of Love are top contenders. Thanks for highlighting these amazing guys!!!
Professor, I liked your analysis. My 5er would have three different ones - Fanny Be Tender as my number one, nights on Broadway, Tragedy, and then I could go with any of your choices or Too much heaven. Lonely Days. Love so right. They were amazing and had so many great great songs. Much less the songs they gave to others.
I can't choose just five BeeGees songs! I love them all! I recall the first time I heard "Jive Talkin'." I was a senior in high school, riding the bus to school. My little transistor radio could hardly be heard over the hub bub of excited kids, but I turned the volume all the way up! Everybody stopped talking and listened to thr music, then they were on their feet, dancing! We were all dancing and singing along with thr song as our driver pulled into the schoolyard. We didn't stop dancing and singing until the song ended, then we all boogied into the school building. What a memory! Thanks, Professor!
#1- Fanny (Be Tender with My Love), my absolute favorite Bee Gees song, melts the heart like molten lava. All the rest in no particular order; Nights on Broadway - Spirits Having Flown - I Can't See Nobody (Live in Melbourne 1974) - To Love Somebody (Live in Melbourne 1974). But I absolutely have to add; Wind of Change, live from their 1979 Spirits tour, and Too Much Heaven live in front of an orchestra 1979, unbelievable harmonic majesty, and absolute ethereal masterpiece the likes of which we may never see again... I could go on and on though; Songbird - Baby as You Turn Away - More Than a Woman - Love You Inside and Out - Love so Right. It's actually impossible to limit their best songs to just five. Loved your review of their amazing work. Barry said it was like the songs were in the air and they just tuned into their frequencies when they wrote them down, like they were already written in the heavens. Some artists are like channels for divine expression and I believe the Bee Gees were among the very pinnacle of them.
You touched on this, but the thing I think separates the Bee Gees from other acts was their generosity amidst their success. They wrote, produced and help record and promote songs for other artists such as Yvonne Elliman and Samantha Sang. When the world was clamoring for more of the Brothers Gibb, they were willing to share some of that success with others.
Don’t forget that More Than A Woman was given to Tavares for the SNF soundtrack and the Bee Gees’ version was included, but not released as a single. Also, Barry preferred to have falsetto icon Frankie Valli sing Grease.
It helped that Maurice and Samantha were a thing at the time. That song sounds like a freaking Bee Gees song. Their work with Barb Streisand and Dolly Parton/Kenny Rogers, now that was a step outside. A lot of people don't that they wrote "Grease" (The title song to the soundtrack for the movie) as well as one of Olivia Newton John's early ballad hits "Come On Over" which peaked @ #2 on the US Country charts in 1976 before she went mainstream with Physical and her work with ELO.
"Jive Talkin'" has been my signature song for strutting downtown since the '70's... I've liked the Brothers Gibb ever since grammar school in the late 70's after meeting my 2nd girlfriend, the new student who was nuts for the Bee Gees, all to the angry consternation of my 1st girlfriend who had only been away for the weekend! ...a hard lesson learned about what the heart wants, accompanied to "Tragedy" ; ) "How Can You Mend A Broken Heart" is a phenomenal marriage of music (duende!) and amazing lyrics that taps into to the blues of life... Al Green's version is one of my favorite songs ever. Another great BG's cover is Nina Simone's of "To Love Somebody". Makes you want to fall in love regardless of the inevitable 'broken heart' to follow. Another great segment, Prof! Thank you! But, no shout out to Andy Gibb? "Shadow Dancing", written by all four brothers, with Barry on additional vocals, is as smooth as silk.
The Bee Gees 80s gems are also worthy of mention. The ones that stand out to me are: "The Woman In You" from the Staying Alive soundtrack (1983), "You Win Again" from the E.S.P. album (1987) It was a comeback for the group (outside of the U.S.) because it went to No. 1 in the UK, Germany, Austria, Ireland, and Switzerland, and "One," the group's U.S. comeback hit in 1989, which peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard chart. They had another minor hit in the U.S. in the '90s in 1997 with "Alone" from the Still Waters album.
A review of The Bee Gees shows what an incredible depth and breadth they had to their music and career...the melodies to the fast beat disco, and topping the charts from both ends of the spectrum. Among my first memories of The Bee Gees was playing pinball at the arcade as a kid in the early ‘80s and “How Deep is Your Love” starting to play on the arcade radio system. That song has such a pleasant sounding intro...every time I hear it these days it immediately takes me back to that moment at the arcade when life was about as perfect as it would ever be...
Thank for truly honoring them; there was a period where they were associated with only Disco and dismissed because of it. But things turn around. The 70s are being honored and the Bee Gees are now truly appreciated for the geniuses they were. It's tragic that Barry is the only brother left to see this. Thank you for your tribute ❣️
They lived in Redcliffe, Queensland, Australia, at the same time as I was living there! Went to their last concert at the State Theatre in Sydney before they left to try their luck overseas.
I went to the same school they did. Humpybong. It was reported that one of the brothers even set it partly on fire. Side note also, my father (guitarist) worked with the Bee Gees drummer back in the day..:) Small world...
The Bee Gees man.. so glad you're recognizing the pure unmatched talent these brothers had. They wrote absolutely all of their own songs, along with numerous for other artists! Their harmonies were devine.. like three voices melting into one!
One of my all time favorite groups. The songs take me right back to the 70’s and lots of good memories. Back then I wouldn’t have said they were one of my faves, but I find as I grow older that I keep going back to their music. It’s both soothing and upbeat at the same time. Thanks for the highlight and history on some of my favorite songs!
That wonderful lead vocal by Barry on the original recording is actually a blend of Barry and Robin. Their voices sometimes fit together so well they sound like one.
The Bee Gees are phenomenal. My top group of all timea. Barry Gibb wrote eight number one songs in one year. Incredible. 1- Nights on Broadway 2- You win Again 3- Fanny 4- Wind if Change 5- Paying the price of love
Being born in 71 some of earliest happiest memories are The Bee Gees everywhere..I can remember radio stations having Bee Gees free days or weekends they were so popular
Professor you’re incorrect there. Colin Peterson was not recruited to replace Robin. He was already a member of the band. In 1967 the Bee Gees were actually five members. Vince Maloney and Colin Peterson were both official members of the band.
There was a guy by the name Peter Mason who was recruited to replace Robin but he was not included in the last minutes in favor of Robin's coming back.
@@chivienhuynh2132 Um hum! From what I gather it was Barry's idea to recruit Peter as a replacement for Robin after Robin had walked off in '69. But their manager, Robert Stigwood wouldn't hear of it!!😉
On of my earliest music memories was going to the laundromat with my mom and grandmother when I was around 5 or 6. There was a jukebox there and everytime we went I had to get a quarter and play my favorite song, "Staying Alive", while I danced around the laundromat. I've loved the Bee Gees ever since.
Those harmonies. They always sounded the best together, and when Andy sang with them. I agree with you a fiver is so hard but I'd have to add Too Much Heaven, For Whom the Bell Tolls and Alone in there. Can we make it a Tenner? Lol
From what I’ve seen, there were a lot of interviews done with those who worked with them. Colin Peterson, Blue Weaver, Galluten, Richardson, etc have been mentioned. They show how they made the drum loop for Stayin Alive. (Credited to “Barnard Lupe”) Highly recommend the Albumism articles by Grant Walters, for great detail on the recording of some of their albums, especially Bee Gees’ 1st, Spirits Having Flown and Streisand’s Guilty. There’s also a VERY detailed book called Bee Gees The Day-By-Day Story, 1945-1972 By Andrew Sandoval. Sandoval is a music historian and was involved in restoring and reissuing the Bee Gees’ early catalog of music.
So grateful to have been part of this era of genius musicians and songwriters. These beloved talented brothers made the world a better place back then, gratefully now, and probably forever....
I enjoyed their 1960s vintage tunes. But then I was a kid back then. By the time the seventies came along I was into the Moody Blues. Well done little history clip.
My parents owned The Bee Gees greatest hits album. It was the first album I remember that had 3 sides to it. Man I loved them and I was in love with Barry. He was so sexy ❤️ I STILL listen to The Bee Gees!
I thought i was so fed up of these guys but i was so wrong. I clicked on the video n had a blast. Professor, you are fantastic! What a stroll down memory lane! Everyone loved these guys n i was so glad you mentioned Andy Gibb. Great show!
The Bee Gees were and will always be the best band in the seventies and eighties Their lyrics and melodies were well blended together that made music 🎼 magic 🪄
I liked "Tragedy" and "Too Much Heaven" off Spirits Having Flown, "Night Fever", "More Than a Woman", "Staying Alive", and "HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE" the first slow song I danced to with a girl at my Grade Five combined classes dance in march 1981
Thanks for this review for the very underrated BeeGees; I still have my original Saturday Night Fever album from 1977. Nights on Broadway, Fanny be Tender, To Love Somebody, Melody Fair, and Night Fever are my favorites. ☺️
I grew up in the 1970s and the Bee Gees were my favorite group. I bought all of their records and still have them today. Great salute and tribute, professor.
"Edge of the Universe", "Tragedy", "Love You Inside Out", "Nights on Broadway", "Jive Talkin'"...those are my 5 favorites, but there were so many great songs.
I grew up with all these songs in the 70s, many I didn't even realize they were the Bee Gees that made these songs. One thing that happened for me 2002 was with birth of my son. As I changed his diaper I noticed that he was making noises that sounded like "I I I I" which was the rhythm to staying alive. I swear we had not played the song for him. So at the end of his little rhythm I would say back to him, "Staying alive, Staying alive" well two weeks of this went by and the next thing I knew he was doing the "I I I I and mumbling the staying alive" part on his own. Its what you do while your diaper is being changed. Cracks me up to this day.
My favorite thing about Professor of Rock is that he gives us permission to celebrate all kinds of music. The Bee Gees are many people's guilty pleasure. And this tribute spells out details that most of us didn't know. Bravo to the brothers Gibb. And Bravo to Professor of Rock!
If my Father was still here, I think he would agree with you!! In 1998 he had quintuple bypass surgery. He was about three months post recovery. He fast walked to his favorite Bee Gees songs every night.( Especially, to "Jive Talkin!") We had their albums from the 1970's on 8-track. We listened in the Parents 1978 brown, orange pin striped Ford 4-door LTD with fake leather vinyl seats.The kind of seats that make you sweat and two layers of your epidermis peel off! We also had a 8-track in our Concord camper. I had a portable Orange 8-track player that needed 6 " D" battteries or electrical cord to play. Definitely great memories with my Big Daddy ❤Hank🤗.
*The mistake people have made for **_literally decades_** was branding the Bee Gees as a Disco Band.* They were *_not a disco band_* ...rather, they were *_an amazing pop rock band who also made disco-friendly songs!_* I was a teenager in the 70s to early 80s, and I was decidedly a rock and metal fan...guys like me made fun of disco as teenagers! But the Bee Gees...their talent was SO incredible, that even I loved much of their music...even the disco songs. Songs like Night Fever...Staying Alive...it is _impossible_ to get that song out of your head once it has played *(thanks Professor...I know what's going to be repeating over and over again in my head all day today now!)* *As for the song "Lonely Days"...absolutely brilliant!* Incredible hook and amazing pop rock sound! I mean...let's get serious... If we could borrow Marty's DeLorean and go back to 1970, just days before the song was about to be released, and we had taken a tape player and played it for young people, telling them that it was a new Beatles song, I am convinced that 90% of the people would have believed it! And why not? It absolutely sounds *_Beatlesque!_* An amazing song from an amazing band!
Dave Grohl called their music Rock you can dance to. The number of artists and celebrities who LOVE the Bee Gees is staggering. Brian Wilson has called them his favorite band.
The scene you want to do with a Bee Gees track actually happened. Robert Stigwood sent out unlabeled records of New York Mining Disaster in 1967 to DJ's across America only telling them this was from the best up and coming act from England. Upon receiving the records and listening to them, many believed it was a publicity stunt for a new Beatles song. Stigwood was Brian Epstein's business partner after all.
@@Pink_Freud_Obscured_By_Crowds Indeed...the BeeGees were not deserving of those who lumped them together with _flavor of the week_ bands...they were VERY TALENTED and deserved much better!
The Bee Gee's (Brothers Gibbs) turned out to be a soundtrack to the years of my youth. I remember moving with my family from Seattle Washington area to the Boston Massachusetts are in 1965 and shortly after the move hearing a song on the radio about Massachusetts! Although Rock was more our thing growing up in the 70's I can look back now and see the Bee Gee influence on our lives. Especially when I see my self dressed the same as John Travolta in Saturday Night Fever in my 1977 High School class picture with the bell bottom pants big wide lapel shirt and platform shoes. There was always a Bee Gee's song on the radio back then
