Bernard Edwards was already sick with pneumonia before this gig. Nile Rogers said they should cancel the show....but Bernard insisted on going ahead. As you can hear he maintained his taut playing throughout the performance...with one or two gaps when he literally had to be physically supported. He died in his hotel room later that night. Kudos to one of the most legendary bass players ever...R.I.P. Bernard.
This was the last night of his life, in fact: he was discovered in his hotel room by Nile the next morning. Awful to lose him with so much life left to live, but what a way to go out, doing what you love until the very end.
My favorite video of all time. Play this every morning when I get up and it just lifts my spirits. Everybody in this song is just so spot on in doing their respective jobs. The perfect storm in a musical performance. Niles and company great job.
I like this one above all the other renditions. Nile’s chords in the last minute or so are SO kick ass. And Bernard supports the melody so brilliantly. Can’t help but put a smile on a face.
I'm 22 and I'm so angry that I couldn't be in my 20's in that time... Music had it's golden times until 2010. Every kid with a laptop can be a producer now and imo music has lost it's soul after that time. Every instrument is synthesized and you don't have to be a good singer because of all the effects. That makes me angry and sad at the same time...
Yes Bernard passed on this day...Rest in Peace my brother....your contribution to this group will never be forgotten.....your skills have taught me to be a better bass player today.....this is one song that made me work....Thank You💯. Chic will always remain in my heart as one of the best bands I have witnessed in my life....Nile...you are fo nominal in everything you have touched👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽💯🙌🏽
Im a Bass Player, and i cant how mamy times i tell my wife how much i miss Bernard Edwards and his Funky Bass , definitely one of the Greatest of all Time R.I.P BERNARD EDWARDS you ate truly missed.
Chic is one of the 1st reasons why this white guy loves funk and R&B. I was 8 when this came out, and living in an area where I was the only white kid in my area, was influenced early in listening to R&B, funk and rap. This song, and this performance, is the definition of great music, funk & R&B.
In 1996 Nile Rodgers was named Japan Tobacco Superproducer of the Year in Japan, and was invited to perform there with Chic in April of that year. Just before the concert at the Budokan Arena in Tokyo, Edwards fell ill, but despite Rodgers' insistence, refused to cancel the gig. He managed to perform but had to be helped at times. At one point, Edwards blacked out for a few seconds before resuming his playing. Rodgers assumed the absence of bass was a deliberate improvisation and did not learn the truth until after the show. After the concert, Nile went to check on Bernard and asked how he was doing, to which he replied "I'm fine, I just need to rest." This was the last time Nile spoke to Bernard.[3] Edwards retired to his hotel room where he was later found dead by Rodgers.[4] The medical examiner determined the cause of death was pneumonia.[5] Edwards' final performance was issued in 1996 as the album Live at the Budokan.
Edwards, was born in Greenville, North Carolina, and grew up in Brooklyn, New York City, where he met Nile Rodgers in the early 1970s. At the time, Edwards was working at a post office with the mother of Rodgers' girlfriend.[2] The two formed the Big Apple Band (active 1972-1976) and then united with drummer Tony Thompson to eventually form Chic together with singer Norma Jean Wright. With Chic (active 1976-1983), Edwards created era-defining hits such as "Dance, Dance, Dance", "Everybody Dance", "Le Freak", "I Want Your Love" and "Good Times". Edwards also worked with Nile Rodgers to produce and write for other artists, using Chic to perform everything musically and vocally except lead vocals. Those productions with Norma Jean Wright, Sister Sledge, Sheila and B. Devotion, Diana Ross, Johnny Mathis, Debbie Harry and Fonzi Thornton led to more hits such as "Saturday", "He's The Greatest Dancer", "We Are Family", "Spacer", "Upside Down", "I'm Coming Out" and "Backfired". In the song "We Are Family," Kathy Sledge gives Edwards a brief shout-out, singing "Yeah, come on Bernard, play...play your funky bass, boy!". As a lone songwriter/producer, he gave Diana Ross her Top 15 hit, "Telephone" off of her 1985 platinum "Swept Away" album released on RCA and Ross' international label, Capitol-EMI. Edwards released a solo album, "Glad To Be Here" in 1983, and in 1985 he was instrumental in the formation of the supergroup Power Station. The band's first album was produced by Edwards and featured Chic drummer Tony Thompson, and Duran Duran members John and Andy Taylor as well as singer Robert Palmer. Edwards followed this by producing Robert Palmer's hit album Riptide. He continued to produce artists throughout the 1980s and 90s, including Diana Ross, Adam Ant, Rod Stewart, Jody Watley, Grayson Hugh, Air Supply, ABC and Duran Duran. Edwards was the father of multi-platinum record producer Bernard "Focus..." Edwards, Jr. who has produced songs for Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Busta Rhymes, Bishop Lamont, Tony Yayo and more. Edwards teamed up with Nile Rodgers again for the Chic reunion in the early 1990s and released the album Chic-Ism in 1992.
It's amazing how timeless this is. The performance is almost 20 years old, the song almost 40! Sylver owns this song with her raspy and passionate vocals. Good music translates to all demographics and withstands the ever changing music landscape...
What is the lead singers name? Also what is the other girls name? I googled but can't find their names because they look different from the original girls.
It's great that Nile has always kept the memory of Bernard alive. The new single is a tribute to Bernard. Bernard was such a fantastic bass player, very underrated, he made playing look so easy
Everybody thought Bernard used his fingers on bass. See all those picks on the mic stand? He used picks. Every decent engineer/producer prefers the bassist use a pick. It's cleaner, brighter, and the engineers love it because they can add more punch and compression on the final mix. I'm sure Niles expected that too.
In fact, he is known in the bass world, for playing things like the extreme bassline of Everybody Dance, using his hand closed like he is grabbing a pick, but yet he isnt, and you can see it when the camera zooms his right hand. Nothing against a pick, whatever gets your audio right, but in this special case of B. Edwards dont mess it up cause he is like a top class finger player
He died from an unknown kind of pneumonia. He actually had a temperature of 100+ degree celsius before the concert, but he still continued it because he didn't want to disappoint his fans.
Eric I hate to disappoint you but this video was made in 1996 so your "now" is 22 years ago so Jill Jones has aged a bit but still super hot (she did a song at Prince's tribute, one of Prince's women but too spunky for Prince). She was in Purple Rain
No Bernard Edwards Did Not Die The Next Day. He Died In His Hotel Room Approximately Six Hours After This Performance...That's Why This Performance Is R&B History...You Are Witnessing A True Legend Performing Until Death... Chic They Are Truly R&B History...
James Davis Bernard passed later that evening from complications of pneumonia---so sad---he gave till his last---and to think I'll miss a gig because I have a migraine!!!
@@YaleRoth I've had the honor of taking Nile's recording classes at The Center for Media Arts (and also) hanging with him - a couple of times, at clubs in NYC. He is honestly the nicest, most down-to-earth guy ever & the Funkiest guitar player on the planet. Love Nile Rodgers "aka" The Hitmaker !!!
Awesome live performance! The bass and guitar just make this song impossible to sit still for - even for a guy with no rhythm whatsoever! I love every aspect of this song - so hypnotizing.
This for for me is a truly epic picture of humanity, musical brilliance , beauty, liveliness and heroism here in this brilliant performance. And afterwards, due to our human frailty such abject sadness. Bernard's passing after this show, was a blow to the whole world what a sad loss his passing was .
Rather eerie to watch this realizing he had only hours left on this earth. None of us know the time when it will be ours to answer. I've followed CHIC from the start and as a bassist and guitarist, I truly admired what these two created. I used to go out and buy clothes similar to their style cause they were so damn classy!!! Bernard's son, producer Bernard Edwards Jr aka FOCUS, is equally talented in his own right!! Music like this lives on throughout time!!!
Bernard Edwards...He's sadly gone in body, but forever a bright bright spirit, and happily in some of the most beautiful music and best bass playing performances of all times.
The 70's was the best days in American history where black folks & white folks learned to understand and lover each other in a true form of coexistence. Black folks were becoming very PROUD to be called AMERICAN. If you don't believe me just watch this vid and you will see the signs. The was no such thing as White music or Black music as we were all on the same page back then or at least very close to it with this thing called Disco I have to say that I really miss those days now as race relations in America are in the shit-house and its all due to our government. Things are so far out of hand now that I do NOT see this ever being fixed and that's just sad! Outside or foreign influences came in and "pitted" us towards each other just when we had finally healed and made great progress. Hey! Its just NOT good Gov business when everyone is getting along especially when foreign nations now control the greatest success story in history called America!
Wow! you are correct my brother. I graduated high school in 1978 and I can't remember a more harmonious time in my life. All we did was dance, sing and be friends. Race just was not a part of the equation. I hope that you are wrong and that both you an I live to see those times again. I certainly am raising my son to live and see things that way that you and I did.
I see your optimism but White men killed Disco. 75% of white men could not dance and so they hated Disco. Especially the dinosaur classic rock DJ's. And then don't forget Racist MTV for refusing to play the late great Rick James, Cameo, Chic, the BarKays, HeatWave, GQ Donna Summer, and even Earth Wind and Fire and the Commodores.
Wow!! Still get goose bumps hearing this groove. One of my all-time favorite Chic tracks. And hearing (on this performance) auntie Jill (Jones) on the backing vocals just adds to the greatness of this groove.
They actually have a new single coming out March 20th and an album in June. The song had actually been produced by both Bernard and Nile but never released until now.
The performers are performing and moving to the groove, and no more. The women are being women, w/o any nonsense. The guys are playing, w/o any nonsense. And it all sounds good. No over-the-top BS. Rodgers, Edwards (if he were still here), Sharpe, Jones, Hakim could all teach at Berkley's school of music.
Even though I like my rock and blues, there is nothing wrong with this music. It is great! Nile Rodgers is a real genius and I would like to say R.I.P. Bernard.
Words can't explain the 😍 Love I have for this song.... brings tears to my eyes..... Thank you Chic....... Bass outstanding.... (rip) lead 🎸 guitar.... horns, drums vocals -OUTSTANDING! Thank You..... .
The greatest? Sorry, but the greatest funk bassist was James Jamerson. Im sure Bernard would agree. I started playing in 1966 Then switched to bass because an opening came up and filled in. Ive always loved the Motown sound and the bass. So, like Bernie, I got into jazz, learned music theory and composition. Also, like Bernie, my accomplished music skills helped guitar players. Niles would be left in dark the without help from us Good bass players. By the way, Niles is a thief and back stabber. Be wary of that creep. Uses people.
@@leegenixthat’s weird. Literally every single person who’s ever played and/or recorded with him has said the complete opposite. A bright ball of positive energy. I’m going to take their word for it over some random guy’s on a RU-vid comments section.
Saw them early on and they sound awesome love, music composed and performed top notch and the vocals beautiful, crisp and clear. Love anything Nile Rodgers does 💯👍
