Great video. Glad Jerry didn't try to make BD water it down. Look at Bobby's face. His expression, those eyes, convey genuine emotion and conviction. We could use Bobby's courage and social comments today! Thanks for the post.
@tranurse Bobby Darin - as I see it: In his last years he'd found himself and his real voice - Rhythm and blues, country, american folk dominated in the songs. Socially, politically, humanly sensitive and active was he. And who knows why, but this amazing performance had not been awarded by the audience. His art is current today (again) and not anachronistic - at least for me. That is why I miss so much, and because more and more trouble in the world, and a sensitive IDOL like him is missing!
Bobby wanted to perform this song on the Jackie Gleason Show in 1968. It was a last minute change from Bobby's side and Gleason said no, it was all wrong. Bobby actually walked off the set and no lost was lost between those two. Many found the Bob Darin angle confusing but Bobby stuck to his guns and rode the folk wave for a few years. The fact that he returned to the tux and the old standards is quite remarkable. Searching for some truth.
This is a wonderful song being sung with such emotional passion by Bobby Darin with a message that needed to be told.... Always sung in exceptional Bobby Darin style.... What I love about Bobby is when he had something relevent to say he wrote a song and put it out there using his heart and soulful vocals letting them do his talking.... Bobby was not afraid to speak his mind nor for that matter to act either, when he saw a wrong he just wanted it put right.... Bobby had honour and passion not only in his heart, he carried it like this huge shield, he was incased in it for the world to see, plus he was such a great activists in things that mattered most to him, EQUALITY for all mankind.... Bobby's music has stood the test of time and there is a great wealth of songs that we as a people across the globe can all learn from today.... Bobby had a voice and used it.... In Bobby's own words his song, "A Song Of Freedom" the words say it all, "We the people don't want a war" and never have truer words been spoken... Bobby Darin's music will never go out of style, it is still very much relevant today, politicians across the globe can learn from a young man who had a vision of the future, EQUALITY for all mankind alike no matter colour of skin or race, FREEDOM AND PEACE ! Bobby Darin the greatest entertainer of them all has always touched my soul... This is such a real gem.... Thanks ever so for posting it, have a great day.
@tranurse Thank You for your answer. I've downloaded Brubaker. It's a great film, Redford was great also. And it was a surprise to me, that one of my favourite (Cassavetes) actor, Val Avery's starred in, I like his figure so much! It's important to me, that know more about the background of Darin's songs and lyrics. That's why I've read Michael Starr's book of Bobby Darin's life. All the Best for You - from Hungary:-)
I was fairly young when this song came out, but I understood it, & I knew that was why it wasn't a chart-topper. It hurt me to see that it hurt his career. I so admired his for the strength of his convictions. It is a rare & beautiful thing...
Yes. Quite right. I remember we always watched The Bobby Darin Show (I was 9 at the time) and the last segment was cancelled because they said he had had a "heart attack". After the fact they fabricated the elaborate story of his heart failure and artificial valves etc. They did not even have the decency to bury him (they didn't bury Mozart either) but said he had "donated" his body to "science". Well, Judgement is coming. I can't wait for the Great White Throne.
@JGCherokee I remember this song when it first came out and the story behind it. I had the Lp this was on. It was great and Bobby did a fabulous job with the song and sentiment. BTW, I have a BA in Constitutional Law and Jeffersonian era politics. I watch Glenn Beck and quite frankly - he's been very accurate in his analysis of who is doing what and why.
@tikijane Please, write me more "the story behind it" of the song for me. I live far away from America... every point of view, unfortunately. But I'm impressed by your culture so...
It's still there. It's still awful & run by evil people. One of the worst, if not THE worst in Arkansas. The Arkansas prison system is particularly corrupt & an extremely lucrative business for those running it; & make no mistake. The evil starts at the top! The particular prison, which the movie Brubaker was about is CUMMINS UNIT. I feel certain it is the topic of this song as well. I remember when this song came out. I loved it. I understood what it was about & it was horrifying & sad. Needless to say, it wasn't as popular as it could have been, if "free-world" people cared & were aware of the things that happen to their fellow human beings, who make mistakes. They really need to wake up. This country has more people in prison than any other! It truly is a BUSINESS; and business is GOOD. However, contrary to popular belief, NOT EVERY PRISONER IS GUILTY... RIP Bobby
@balkanigerle there was a prison in arkansas where the jailers were more corrupt than the criminals. prisoners were murdered, starved, worked as slave labor. a man went undercover there as a prisoner, turns out he was the new warden. he had been sent to reform the prison. rent the movie 'brubaker' with robert redford, it will tell the story better than i did.
It's still there. It's still awful & run by evil people. One of the worst, if not THE worst in Arkansas. The Arkansas prison system is particularly corrupt & an extremely lucrative business for those running it; & make no mistake. The evil starts at the top! The particular prison, which the movie Brubaker was about is CUMMINS UNIT. I feel certain it is the topic of this song as well. I remember when this song came out. I loved it. I understood what it was about & it was horrifying & sad. Needless to say, it wasn't as popular as it could have been, if "free-world" people cared & were aware of the things that happen to their fellow human beings, who make mistakes. They really need to wake up. This country has more people in prison than any other! It truly is a BUSINESS; and business is GOOD. However, contrary to popular belief, NOT EVERY PRISONER IS GUILTY... RIP Bobby
