First Time Hearing John Denver - Country Roads Reaction - WEST VIRGINIA SHOULD BE PROUD OF THIS ONE! 

When I was young, John Denver much like ABBA , you were not cool if you liked him , but nearly everyone loved him.

Rest In Peace Mr Denver. Thank you for your gift of music

As my brother lay dying, the family softly played all his favorite songs.This song was playing when God took him home.

John is such a legendary artist, with decades of timeless classics. His style is such a relaxing, chill vibe. My personal favorite is "Calypso". 😊

I don’t care where your home is. Everybody can relate to the song when they’re not there. 😢

I'm a Rock Metal guy but John Denver is in a genre all his own. Fantastic musician and song writer.

It breaks my heart to hear him sing, knowing he died so young. 🥹

John Denver has so many timeless, beautiful songs like "You Fill Up My Senses", "Annie''s Song", "Sunshine on My Shoulders", "Thank God I'm a Country Boy" and many others. I also love his song "Calypso" which was written about the research vessel of that name belonging to Jacques Cousteau, the French naval officer, oceanographer, filmmaker and author.

To understand the whole personality of John Denver, the song Thank God I'm A Country Boy needs to be taken in.

You will love Annie's Song by John

One of John's most popular songs. He had so many great hits in the 70's-80's. Some other songs were "Fly Away", "Leaving On A Jet Plane", "Poems, Prayers & Promises", "Annie's Song", "Calypso", "Sunshine On My Shoulders", "Grandma's Feather Bed" etc. Home Free does an awesome version of "Take Me Home, Country Roads".

I wonder what more we would have if he had not been taken from us unexpectedly. His voice is clear and beautiful.

And consider this. He found lovers a of his music and sound while disco was still happening, and heavy metal was taking over....he played in restaurants. Small venues but caught fire amongst all that.

John Denver was a fantastic singer and song writer. He had loads of great songs and sounded just as good live as he does on the studio versions. He was an environmentalist before people knew what that was. He died far too young and the world is a lesser place because of his death.

Let's go Mountaineers! Played at every WVU victory!!

Such a beautiful song voice and an amazing person!! RIP JOHN DENVER!!!

I grew up in the 70s John Denver was sewn into that decade.......his music was everywhere and always welcomed ......

Great John Denver reaction again. If you want a different (yet same) sound from him, with a nature-esque sound, try his song "Calypso". That one focuses on the ocean ... and is a tribute to the wonderful ocean explorer and naturist Jacques Cousteau. The title of the song is the name of Jacques Cousteau's ship.

Love John Denver listening again

John Denver did a concert in 1972 at our small college town…he was so genuine and funny❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥

"Annie's Song" "I'm Sorry" and "Thank God I'm A Country Boy" are three more great ones from this legendary artist's hit filled catalog!

RIP Mr. Denver he made such good music 😎👍

This is the first time I have heard John Denver singing live, man, he can really sing unlike a lot of singers, anyone (apart from me) can sound good when a machine changes the singing to make it sound good, not very many singers or groups sound as good live as they do in recordings

West Virginia boy right here!!!

Denver is a " hidden gem." Love his songs. Our generstion just wanted beautful music and didnt care who was singing and playing or what they were playing. Im afraid these songs would have been lost if produced today. They needed the right generation and we were the last to experience such music while growing. How it made our lives better. Thank you John for rhe music. Thank you for another great reaction.

Yes, John was in a a movie called "Oh God" starring him, and George Burns. A very heartwarming, and cute movie. There was a sequel as well.

Huey Lewis once said that John was an amazing singer and performer and you could wake him up from a dead sleep and he would have perfect pitch.

In Vietnam I had a brother by another mother, Mike, and he was from West Virginia and we called him Hillbilly. Been looking for him over the years and can't find him. This song reminds me of him. Can only find three of us still alive from my old unit. Thanks for doing it.

“Thank God I’m a Country Boy”… so much fun! Very upbeat.

My mom loved John Denver, so, so do I....

This song was a world-wide hit and is co-state song of West Virginia. It is still sing world wide. The most surprising was at a NFL football game in Munich germany when 60,000 football fans sang the whole song even after the game started. John was an environmentalis and activist. Mnay of his songs are about protectin the people and This Earth on which we live

Sunshine on My Shoulders is my favorite of his. RIP John!

John co-wrote this song with Bill Danoff and Taffy Nivert who had a big hit with their band The Starland Vocal Band in 1976 with Afternoon Delight. Bill and Taffy also sang the backing vocals for this song. That female you hear in this song is Taffy. This song came out in 1971.

A great songwriter and folk musician. RIP John.

John has some great tunes. Check out 'Annie's Song' which to me is one of the best love songs ever written. Cheers.

What a pure voice

I grew up listening to John and it breaks my heart to know that he's gone from us now.

One of my favorites, John Denver❤definitely gone too soon.

John Denver had amazing live concerts, his voice was true in concert or studio version. A friend and I saw him live in Austin back in the early 80's.

This great song was released on April 12, 1971 and on NYC Radio’s 77 WABC’s Top 100 of 1971, was the #43 song for 1971.

Thank God Im a Country Boy by John next!!

I've been traveling country roads for almost 66 years, now, and there's nothing better!

such a beautiful voice..

Rip John Denver we miss you!❤

I only saw him live once. Best concert I have ever seen. Pure talent.

My favorite John Denver song is poems and prayers and promises. It is beautiful!

It amazes me that so many people have never heard so much of the great music that was put out during the 50s, 60s and early 70s. I have found several stations like this on RU-vid and am amazed at watching them hear this music for the first time. I grew up during those decades, so I dislike most of the current music. I always return to the classics. Singers today should take a lesson from "the old guys." Love watching newbies' reactions to how good this music is.

I listened to "The Wildlife Concert" every day of high school! John is also my favorite artist! John ends up passing away less than 2 years after the concert and this concert got me to fall in love with John Denver when it was on PBS! My 2 favorite songs from the concert are "Poems, Prayers, and Promises," and "Shanghai Breezes!" But the next song you guys should react to is "This Old Guitar!" John had a tv show back in the day and did "This Old Guitar" with the actual guitar his grandmother had given him and tells a story about it before singing with the guitar alone.

Great song, i had to laugh last night when i head it during a baseball game, it was one of the player’s walk up music. The player is not from West Virginia but he said he just liked the song.

He showed up, by surprise to all, at the church I attended on mothers day to sing ( his mother was a member) a year or so before he died.

I love him. So folksy and wonderful.

Oh man you guys would love two of his up-tempo songs, Thank God I'm a Country Boy which was a massive hit, and then grandma's feather bed which was a minor hit but a fan favorite off the same 8-track.

I would recommend, "Calypso", JD's tribute to Jacques Cousteau's research ship by the same name. There used to be a show called "The Undersea World Of Jacques Cousteau" which explored the seas and life under the sea. Another of my favorite John Denver songs is "Poems, Prayers and Promises".

John Denver was a superstar for decades and we lost him decades too soon due to the plane crash 😢

John was an American treasure. 🙂

This is a great classic on the acoustic with friends and family around the fire... :) one of my favorites...

Song is sung worldwide in bars and taverns and also after every West Virginia University victories. Sunshine On My Shoulders should be next.

I've sang this song in my motorcycle helmet countless times in my cross country journeys on the back roads of America. Calming and feel good. Love it!

This live performance was a good choice. He was a people's performer wanting to let the audience sing the main part as he sang back-up. In my opinion a song is a gift to the people, if the people respond and share it back, you accomplished your mission. I hate most critics who attempt to interpret songs as if their view is the only one which is right. When you give a gift, it is no longer yours. When I hear this song, I change the lyrics, replacing it with Southern Oregon. It fits right in with the beat. I discovered no matter what stress is going on in your life, taking a walk in the woods or a drive in the country relieves the stress so you can resolve whatever problem you have. Living in the city doing that is almost impossible. Maybe that is where our world goes wrong.

His "Grandmas Feather Bed' is a real fun song!

Hi guys, another great reaction. John Denver is one of the most underrated performers. He wrote so many great songs, but Sunshine on my shoulders stands out for me. Catch you on your next reaction.

John's song For You from the Wildlife Concert is a beautiful love song. After being a fan of John Denver for decades, I'm still amazed at how he can put the words and music in your head and heart.

Thanks for this one. I've loved this song since it was released 50 years ago. The acapella group Home Free does a wonderful cover of this song. They slow it down some, making it a ballad. And they end it with a real gospel flair. Definitely worth a listen.

I watched this concert live when it first aired. It was an awesome concert!

ty for this. Both you Phil, and Sam give great feedback. Both my wife and I love John Denver. Its always on our road trip playlist.

I HAAVE BEEN A FAN OF HIS SINCE I WAS KNEEHIGH TO A GRASSHOPPER TY FOR KEEPING HIM UPDATED !!!!!

Your timing could not have been more perfect. I was at the Oktoberfest in Munich today. I was there yesterday. I'm there most days while the O'Fest is going on (I do tours). Might be hard to believe, but this song is an absolute staple at the Oktoberfest. Every band, in every tent (there are 10 major beer tents that can hold up to 10,000 people each), play this song EVERY day. People would riot if it was not played. My customers always want to know why it is so popular. I don't have an answer for that. It is simply a tune everyone expects. Even if they don't speak english, they know the the words to this song and always sing along. There are quite a few other songs that are staples. 'New York, New York' by Frank Sinatra, 'Walking On Sunshine' by Katrina & The Waves, among many others. Pretty bizarre......

Denver has a lovely song with Pavarotti called Perhaps Love.❤️❤️

This song made a resurgence during the war on terrorism. Service members would sing it on chartered flights home.

Great song and artist on many levels, saw him twice in concert in the 70s , what a fun show, thanks

This song has also been a theme song for so many of us servicemen and women who are on their way home after being overseas.

"Thank God I'm A Country Boy" is a rip-roaring hillbilly jam...so fun!

Fond memory: I was in the car with my 6 cousins (no seatbelts back then), my uncle "Thumby" was driving, it was raining, THIS song (though the "Studio version") was on the radio... and one of my cousins was "flicking" the windscreen wipers... and broke it. So he had to keep reaching out the window to make it move. Also, this taking place on a country road in West (By God) Virginia! I must have been like 6 or 7 years old at the time. But because of the bizarre nature of that event.... it sticks in my mind to this very day! Some 50 years later. Sadly, I lost contact with those family members a long time ago, so I have no clue whatever happened to them.

This is truly happy music

26 Years On Never Forgotten RIP John 💔😭

I love John Denver. My favorite by him is ANNIE'S SONG.

Two less-often mentioned songs of his that you would enjoy: Amazon (from the same Wildlife Concert), and A Baby Just Like You when you're in a Christmas mood. Oh, and For You. And you still need to hear Rocky Mountain Suite (Cold Nights in Canada)!

Strangely enough the two John Denver songs you reacted to are official state songs of Colorado and West Virginia. Because of the time when this song came out it always makes me thing of the boys coming home from Vietnam returning back to their homes down the country roads.

The irony of singing about WV during a wildlife benefit

This really put him on the map!

I love the bridge of this song. I remember hiking along the Philmont trail with all of us singing this at the top of our lungs to keep our spirits up when we had run out of water.

I really wish he hadn't had to cancel his alumni visit to our Ft. Worth high school back in the 70's. I would have enjoyed meeting him. He also went to junior high in my birthplace of Tucson, Arizona. Of course John was a lot older than me. He was born the year before my Mom was.

I grew up on John Denver. Loved his music, its just so comforting. It really takes me back.

I like the recorded version. I love the music in the very beginning. I think it makes the song.

This song was used in a three song mash-up tribute for, I believe the 50'th ACM award show. The video is Artists Of Then, Now & Forever - Forever Country - RU-vid.

You guys should check out and maybe potentially react to John Denver and Momma Cass Elliot from the Mamas and the Papas doing a terrific duet of John's classic "Leaving On A Jet Plane" live on the Midnight Special together circa August, 1972. Great chemistry between the two and great harmony between them as well.

Song was inspired by traveling a country road in Maryland. There is also a wonderful reggae version by Toots and the Maytals ("West Jamaica").

Great songwriter. He really was

This is one of those songs that just makes you happy and appreciate life and all its wonders.

I read somewhere that is song might have the most recognized chorus in the world! You could probably go into any location, start playing this, and someone will join in. Personally I think some of his best work both melodically and lyrically is in his deep album tracks, but he is always worth a listen. Keep singing in heaven John!

Thanks, kids! Such a beautiful song.. one of John's most memorable... appreciate your listen & reaction.. (c'mon, didn't you get a little "teardrop in your eye")

John Denver is and icon. You might to check out the cover of this that Home Free does. It is an awesome tribute to John Denver. Love your reactions!

OMG! now that you have heard the original you must listen to Home Frees version. It is stunning and quite a different arrangement.

I was born in WV and you know we love this song! John Denver had never visited WV prior to singing this song, but it was one of his biggest hits.

Was born & raised in WV…I work for a television station that covers West Virginia University athletics. No matter which sport, after every victory the team and the crowd sing Country Roads together. Two weeks ago after we beat our rival Pitt in football, 60,000 people celebrated afterwards by singing. It’s quite a site. I’ve heard it more than 1,000 times.

7th grade 1973 and we had to pick btwn harmonica, autoharp or recorder in Music clsss. I chose harmonica lol...can still play the 1st 13 notes at 61! After 7th I became a Ledhead and still to this day.

Makes me smile ❤

And, yeah, it's the song Mark Strong (Merlin) sang in Kingsmen; Golden Circle.

oh one of my all time favorites !!! ♥♥♥♥

Sunshine on my Shoulders is my favorite