British guitarist analyses Benny Mardones performing 'Into the Night' LIVE! 

TIME STAMPS - 0:38 Performance 3:07 Analysis 4:17 Lyrics! 6:05 Vocal Break Down (Part 1) 10:08 Backing Vocals 12:29 Performance (Part 2) 14:46 Analysis Resumption 14:46 Vocal Break Down (Part 2) 15:54 Range 17:41 Guitar 21:55 Small Solo

I'll defend this song, man and performance til I die. He's already publicly stated what inspired the song, and he's the good guy here. Yes, the official video is cringey by today's standards, but I was a tween when this came on the air, and as a young girl it totally resonated with my heart. Let's be clear, he says IF he could, and he would wait until the end of time for her. Nowhere does it suggest he is going to harm anyone. People need to understand that just because someone writes, speaks or sings something doesn't mean they are advocating anything. This performance is absolutely flawless. All of the musicians are top notch. If people want to clutch their pearls and freak out over the subject matter, that's up to them. It's a great song, and have you heard what pop music is singing about today? (WAP I'm looking side eye at you).

ONE OF THE GREATEST SONGS OF ALL TIME

I want to give this performance a Million likes. No one compares in vocal range.

One of the best rock vocals I’ve ever heard. Beautiful voice.

One of the great voices to ever sing into a mic!

This song has the pop music history distinction of being a THREE time one-hit-wonder...on the Billboard charts in 1980, 1989 and 2019! Benny passed away last year from complications of Parkinson's disease. Rest in peace.

His control is amazing. It allows him to express an incredible amount of emotion.

Benny was my neighbor for a short time when he was staying with his mom in Syracuse. Only really met him once. Seemed like a nice guy. Pretty soft spoken. His mom was a sweetheart. We were loud and rowdy, but she didn't seem to mind. RIP Benny.

I can't comprehend how he was just a one hit wonderful. This song charting 3 times is a testament to his immense vocal talent. R.I.P. Mr. Mardones

I always loved this song. I was 16 when I met my one and only. He was 26. We were happily and faithfully married for 40 years. He passed 10/29/18. Miss you baby. He asked my dad for his blessing and he got it.

I met Benny several years ago when he was living in Playa Del Rey. I was a big fan and had played his song the second time around in the late 80's when I was a DJ working at a radio station in Toledo, OH. He was the nicest man, a very gentle person. I'm sad to hear of his passing.

What a beautiful & pure voice. One of the best ever. Man I hear this song now & it gives me shivers. He was an awesome talent. May he rest in peace. The Lord has another great one in His choir to praise Him. 🙏

This guy was talented. His live performances were great. Fantastic voice. 😎

A beautiful song sung by a beautiful voice. RIP Benny!

The emotion is what I feel From this song from Benny. The voice control and the range is stellar and one can feel this song in your heart ♥️ rest in peace Benny

This song is a beautifully composed and performed masterpiece. Period.

I fell in love with this song as soon as I heard it back in the '80's .

one of the all time best live performances ever.

Please Never remove this video. I come back to hear Bennys mesmerizing voice almost daily. He was a special man with such a hypnotically appealing voice and should of had much more exposure. Thank you.

Jesus! That vocal control!!! I literally got goosebumps from 13:30 onward

I like how Benny just lays it all out there in the end. He gives you everything he’s got.

Benny released this song in 1980, I was 17 and in love with this gorgeous song and that beautiful man. Thank you for featuring this one-of-a-kind songs. Love your voice and your channel. ❤

Oh my gosh, I’ve never heard this performance. This song can freeze women in their tracks, I’ve seen it! A whole room going silent, mesmerised. It’s such a loss that he’s gone, but what a legacy. It’s a perfect love song. Yes there’s age problems with the lyrics, but the funny thing is it really got to all us girls at that time. We ALL had crushes on older guys, brother’s friends, teachers etc. lt was just such a fantasy. Secrets: l was madly in love with my biology teacher. He and l could have gone into territory we shouldn’t, but he was an English gentleman and he just didn’t. He met up with my mother many years later and asked if he could court me…yes, that’s word he used…but at that stage, l’d moved on to other things so it never happened. But these are real situations and l loved Benny’s honesty. It’s not PC nowadays, but it’s an honest exploration of complicated emotions. Texture is a great word for his voice too! It’s very emotive. Thank you for doing this Fil! I’ve missed a lot of your posts through looking after my mother, it’s beautiful to have this today❤️❤️❤️

He has that unique X factor to his voice , much like Steve Perry .

RIP Benny .. WE REMEMBER YOU

He was a great human being. R.I.P. Benny❤. Originally from Savage Maryland

It really impresses me that Benny sounds as great LIVE as he sounded on the recorded version of the song. It's all perfect.

His range was amazing

Heavens! His voice is beyond incredible!

One of my all time favorites.

One night I binged watched a lot of his videos and songs. I was totally amazed how awesome his voice and music was. I bought his Never Run Never Hide album. The song American Bandstand was about Dick Clark. He was a great singer and is truly missed. The last video he did was the audience singing Into the Night to him because he couldn’t sing anymore.

Thank you for showing this incredible performance by Benny 😘🛼🛼

I'm crying! Fil, you are always on spot! When I first heard this, I was a victim of horrid child abuse, and I dreamed of someone rescuing me, like 'taking me into the night and showing me love'. The backstory of this masterpiece speaks to me! Beautiful arrangement, Benny was SO talented! Interesting that a man could understand what I (whom, of course he didn't know) could write and arrange, and sing SO soulfully, and perfectly. Crying again.

Unmatchable. Springsteen wishes he could've _ever_ sung this well, with this much control. And yeah, Eb-5 is his highest note there, but you _know_ he'd have served up the F-5 if he could've! Rest in peace Benny, and thanks for leaving us so much of yourself in just one song. Good one Fil, and props to you for being able to sing it well too.

Hell yeah! I've been waiting for this one. RIP Benny. Fellow US sailor.

There is a great interview with Benny by the Professor of Rock. He details the inspiration of this song and how it came to be. It’s not what you may think! Love the analysis you provided!

Whenever this used to come on the radio, I'd have to stop whatever I was doing and listen. To me, the song was sad to be so in love and not be able to show the person. Of course there was the subject matter, but I tried to not let that bother me. His voice was so intense, urgent and pleading that it brought a tear to my eye. I recently watched an interview with Benny and 'The Professor of Rock'. He was such a lovely man and was suffering from Parkinson's. He had been very disappointed that he hadn't gotten the recognition that he deserved from the powers that be. He brought a lot of enjoyment to the world with his powerful and beautiful voice. RIP Benny. We love you! ❤

After I saw he passed away I looked up to see what he looked like. Even though I knew the song I always thought it was an older man singing never thought it was this hot guy. He was never on MTV. I’m so obsessed now with watching his videos and listening to his songs. I bought his DVD of his life story on eBay.

If you have ever heard him talk about the song. Its About the abandonment of his sixteen year old neighbor girl. He gave all the kids jobs so they had money. He had been working with a friend all night the girl comes to get his dog to walk him. The friend was like woo man. He replies she is just 16, lever her alone. The line " its like having it all and watching it fall apart". He is talking about how the girls father now had money and he walked out on his wife and kids. The song is about this girl, her brother and sister and having love who doesn't leave

I wish Benny could read these comments. He was truly a master of his craft. The music industry is strange in that the best don't always rise to the top. Clearly, Benny is on a completely different level than many artists who have had great success.

Absolutely the same like the recording, Benny a true Master !

I have always loved the chord patterns in this song. It's also one of the most emotionally charged vocals I have ever heard. I recognized these things when I first heard the song on the radio in July of 1980 after just graduated high school. I've loved the tune ever since. Takes me back as well! Thanks for all your work, Fil!

I've always loved Benny and specifically this song. I am not ashamed to say I sing this song in the shower frequently lol. The video really made the song seem creepier than it was. Benny helped out the the kids who lived next door to him by paying them to walk his dog, and one day while he and Robert Tepper were sitting around writing the song the teenage girl came in to get the dog and Tepper was like "who is that girl" and Benny said "she's only 16, leave her alone" and bam they had the opening verse. By all accounts Benny really was a great guy.

Benny would have loved this video! Great explanation of this incredible performance 👏

He was Amazing with soooo much SOUL IN HIS VOICE!

Such a great heart felt song and proof why he earned the name Benny the voice Mardones

Awesome!! 😎❤️ Love this song..Vocals!!!..RIP Benny You were one of the greats

Absolutely Loved Benny and this song. Julio Iglesias jr has redone this song with Benny but changed it up a bit. He also changed the 16 years old lyric. So sad how he passed from Parkinson's disease. Rest in heavenly peace Benny Mardones. Thank you for your beautiful voice.

Benny was absolutely dedicated and very emotional artist. RIP

Omg I've been WAITING FOR THIS!

"Into the Night" de Benny Mardones es una de las canciones mas bellas que existen y Benny la cantó extraordinariamente. Gracias Benny, que goces de la gloria de Dios siempre.

This video gives me the chills every time!!! It never ever gets old. Benny absolutely amazing voice! No one has ever even got close

Yessir, Brother did you break this song down . BIG TIME!! Yep !this song was a hit 2 or 3 times & if Benny was alive & released it again it definitely would be again R.I.P. Benny

Benny was the God of Syracuse, NY. Great song. Great vocal.

I've always loved the vibe of this song. Pretty impressive.

This was a song I kind of worshipped as a child and teen. Then I didn’t hear it for more than 25 years - until one day it came on the radio in the car. I had totally forgotten it, and when it came on, the whole world fell away. It made my day, hearing it again. Thank you so much for this video and for confirming what I had always assumed was my irrational love of the song. Turns out it wasn’t irrational after all. I’d love to hear you tackle another song dear to me from my adolescence: “Believe in Love” by Scorpions. It gets no attention on RU-vid, and it may be my favorite rock ballad ever.

I was 16 years old in 1980 and I still have my 45 of this song and I use to be able to nail it. Thank you for your insights, Fil, another blast from the past analyzed and appreciated!

Benny was an amazing man and should be remembered. For those who don't know about this song, they should read up on Benny. The 16 year old was living in the same apartment building and her and her mother were having hard times because her father had left them and Benny helped out where he could. He paid her to walk his dog. One day she came in her school dress to walk the dog early and Benny and his friend in the band had been up. His friend made some comment after she had taken the dog out and Benny said she's just 16 years old, leave her alone. That is where they song originated from.

Beautiful song. Beautiful backstory. Beautiful soul. RIP Benny, you made a big difference

Insightful vid, Fil! Benny was a music industry veteran long before his "Into the Night" breakout...another "overnight sensation" that took decades to emerge! Plus, he was eventually beset by unfortunate record company "marriages" that kept him from more consistent success. After his '64 high school graduation, he served in the Navy in the Vietnam War. Following discharge, he moved to NYC, and wrote songs for Brenda Lee and Chubby Checker. Eventual producer and executive, Tommy Mottola, himself a New York-based recording artist (as T.D. Valentine on Columbia Records) in the mid-to-late '60s, met Benny, and suggested he move from songwriter (Benny recorded his own demos for publishers and A&R reps) to recording artist himself, impressed as he was with his singing. Mottola, by the way, would end up being "Mr. Mariah Carey" from '93-'97! In 1977, Mardones met Richie Havens, who was impressed with the singer enough to offer him the opening act spot on his upcoming tour. During the tour, Benny caught the attention of producer Andrew Loog Oldham (mid-'60s manager/producer for the Rolling Stones) and Private Stock Records president, Larry Utall. Benny's debut LP, "Thank God For Girls" (produced by Oldham) was released in 1978 on Private Stock Records. The ink was barely dry on Benny's contract with Private Stock before the label folded, which all but doomed the album to minimal airplay and sales. It's a record worth looking for (or downloading, or looking for YT vids), as it featured Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson, and Humble Pie drummer, Jerry Shirley, as well as Bee Gees cover, "I Started a Joke," and an Alessi Brothers (A&M artists for 4 LPs in the late '70s) tune, "All For a Reason." "Never Run, Never Hide" (on which "Into the Night" made its appearance) was released on Polydor Records. While not exactly a death knell, Polydor was no Columbia or Warner Bros. Illustrating Polydor's weak promo and sales team at the time, the album got no higher than #65 on the album charts, despite the single topping off at #11. Nevertheless, record industry trade pub, Billboard, proclaimed the album as "recalling Bob Seger at his best." By the way, Benny co-wrote "Into the Night" with Robert Tepper, who, a few years later, wrote the "Rocky IV" and "Cobra" film soundtrack mainstay hit, "No Easy Way Out."

This song is so powerful, it’s been giving me goosebumps for years! I just love to watch and listen to your appreciation of music…especially the songs that are so meaningful to me! I know this was two years ago, but thanks Fil 😊

Rip Benny Mardones we always Love you my friend no more Parkinson illnesses no more emotional pain Benny rest in peace 🥀 💔

I love the song. The trash comments from those who read evil from the song should drop off. RIP Benny.

I had the opportunity to see Benny live . He was a great showman. The whole band was awesome. Mighta Been Love, Shes so French, Shiela C, and American Bandstand were all great Benny songs. R.I.p Benny

On a side note, you have a beautiful voice and I enjoy watching you sing 🎤 and play your guitars. The joy that emanates from your body & Soul whilst listening to songs is beautifully palpable. Love your appreciation for music and the sweet smile you show us when you are truly feeling the joy it brings you. Thank you Fil, I appreciate you.

Always loved this song. His vocals are effortless, with a great band and backing vocals behind him. The subject is more common than you would expect; "Young Girl",, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap; Rod Stewart's Tonight's the Night," my virgin child.." and Joan Jett singing..He was just 17.." Thank you for this memory- filled demonstration and analysis.

Such an incredible voice. I was in high school when this was released and immediately loved it. I always sang along and never thought of anything untoward about the lyrics. I wonder what people today would think of Abba's 'When I kissed the teacher'? Now I could completely understand this song not being released today. So sad that Benny died so young from Parkinson's disease.

Benny's voice is a rare breed. A+. The background vocals darn good. Very Eagles like.

It's always awesome to see someone knock a performance out of the park.

I swear my niece had this song permanently looped on her tape recorder when she was young! I had always imagined this tall, middle-aged,balding crooner,so when he stepped out on stage boy was I shocked! Tremendous strong voice though.

Yes . dramatic impact of his whispering first words but there is something else very romantic about his singing them. I love this song like so many others.

Absolutely one of the greatest live performances by a vocalist ever...

Love Benny. His songs are like him telling you about his life. Believable.

Awesome vocal. Great review. I was driving late one night and heard an unplugged version from Benny. At that point I knew his voice was real and he could duplicate all that gravel and range at will. I regret he never had more hits of equal play time. I will always recall this song and those crazy notes after the Rachmaninov chords

Very few bands/performers can produce a studio sound live. I've only experienced that a couple times at concerts over the years. What an amazing performance. Spot on as usual sir.

Ashamed to admit I never heard this song or the artist. I had to pause the video and hop over to iTunes and listened to this album. Bought three songs. Great compositions from this great period of rock. Thanks for sharing!

Props to you Fil for choosing an older, marginal hit to highlight all it's finer points which we wouldn't otherwise be savvy to. Quite a performance indeed.

The emotion is just beyond!!! It brought tears!!! Just pure incredible!!!! I could watch it again and again

We had a thing called “slow dance” that you kind of don’t see these days. This song certainly made some high school dance memories. Nice singing btw.

Thankyou for your video! Back then rock singers had great voices. Bless you for remembering Benny ❤Your voice is amazing too ❤

_Professor of Rock_ has an interview with the late Benny Mardones in which he talks about the background of the song. Anyway, the vocals are fantastic and he has some resemblance to Steve Perry. You don't hear new artists sing like that anymore on tbe radio. The band is pretty damn awesome too. Top notch musicianship indeed.

This was one of the premier examples of the "Brown-eyed Soul" movement in music, which was popular at the time, blending Latino influences with black soul music. It makes for such a hypnotic sound if you pay really close attention to it, listening to it carefully. Pretty cool. Thank you Benny Ruben Armando Mardones.

This song gave me chills whenever I caught it on the radio. I was 8 years old when it came out. It wasn’t til later when the lyrics became problematic to me. But then I listened to his explanation regarding the meaning behind the song and again loved it. Idk whose idea it was for the video but for real that was a mistake. 🤢 But his voice was phenomenal. And I believe his intentions were pure.

I wish that Benny received much more recognition than he did. I heard him explain this song in an interview before he passed. It came from a very special place. The 16 old girl was real. She was abandoned by her dad, along with her 2 siblings. Benny did what he could to help her. Good Man!!! RIP Benny.

This song is a masterpiece. Thank you, Fil.

I appreciate Benny's explanation of the whole "16 years old, leave her alone" part. Robert Tepper, the co-writer backed up Benny's claim, and even though I'm not a fan of Robert and don't care for him as a person after meeting him, I have to give Benny the benefit of the doubt and trust he is telling the truth. I was 12 in 1980 and it never hit me the same way about the 16 year old thing. The song is such a major part of my life. I learned to play drums to it, learned to sing to it, learned to write stories/lyrics/poems to it. It's an important song in my life, so yeah it's easy for me to give Benny that benefit of doubt and believe him, because I'd hate to think it was more sinister than I wanted it to be. The explanation, if you've never heard/seen it, is it was Robert that was eyeing that 16 year girl, Benny's apartment neighbor and dog-walker/assistant, and it was Benny that told Robert that she was 16 years old and to leave her alone, especially since Benny was helping her and her family during a hard time in their life. Again, giving Benny the beneift of the doubt helps give a less sinister background behind it all and makes it as innocent as I remembered it at the age of 12.

Great analysis of and fantastic song and vocalist!

What a voice...the passion!!!!

You chose one of my favourite songs of all time. Thank you!

Thank you Fil for sharing. Have to admit that i didn't know this song...but because of you (and your awesome analysis) i do now.

I recall Benny being interviewed and said the first lyric was from his writing session with another person when a neighbor whose family was having a financial tough time and gave this person a job to walk his dog came to his apartment. The idea for the lyric came from that occasion.

Thank you for highlighting the talent this song truly takes! It truly IS one of the greatest songs ever ❤

What a great older song. Brings back memories. Fil, you sound like you could do a stand up job covering that tune!

As a gigging singer, this truly is virtuoso level Rock singing. He exhibits such a level of vocal prowess. His tone quality, dynamics, oh man, are so amazing!

I absolutely love this song! The back story is not what we have come to think. Thanks for the analysis! I'm not a musician but a singer in my domain.......and a huge music appreciater

This song has always given me chills, thanks for exploring it!

Professor of Rock did a great interview with Benny regarding this song. It’s the best interview PoR did and a must watch. You’ll have a much better view of this song meaning

This guy was amazing, really. His vocals just floor me. And Fil, I love it when you sing your examples. You're an amazing singer, as well!

I love that you did this analysis.. Benny’s looks when he was young and this song & that voice make me & most women weak in the knees. Swooooooon!! He was such a nice guy as well. Greatest male voice. Love you Benny, soar with the angels. Hope you’re singing on the other side! 🤍🕊🎵🤍🕊🎵