I can't help but cry every time I watch this. He was near death with AID's at a time of horrible stigma and he bravely sang his heart out . That takes true bravery and courage to do . RIP Klaus
if that was his last performance it must have been such a proud moment for him, years of being misunderstood, slowly building his career, to then finally standing in front of thousands who clap at his mere appearance, with a full orchestra waiting for him to perform with them... i think at that moment he was complete
@Morgan Smith You don't need to leave rude comments on two year old comments about an art form you clearly don't understand. You don't have to personally enjoy something for it to be remarkable and worthy of respect.
Some comments I found about this video (From people who knew him): “Land when you read all about him and realise he is singing about death and being “out in the cold” only shortly before dying of AIDS alone and abandoned by friends who were all to frightened to visit him in the hospital, it makes it the more poignant and touching…. Wearing the collar and make up to hide the Kaposi’s sarcoma…. Unforgettable” “For those who don’t know, this is his farewell performance. He was very well aware that he was dying from AIDS, but the audience had no idea that anything was wrong. A performance with that kind of back story is what you’d expect to exist only in a musical about show business. But here, it happened in real life.” “[Nomi’s] gaunt face and sunken eyes reveal the suffering of a dying man. However, at the moment Nomi sings the word “death”, his eyes widen, suddenly infused with vitality and defiance. Through sheer will, Nomi wrestles with the note, refusing to let it defeat him. At the end of this feat, the slight and dignified upward inflection of Nomi’s head indicates to the viewer that he has won.”
Es ist schön, dass über Plattformen wie diese, über die Möglichkeiten des Internets, Künstler wie Klaus Nomi auch posthum noch Beachtung und Fans finden. Mit den Möglichkeiten seiner Zeit, wäre er für viele, auch für jüngere Menschen, unentdeckt geblieben. Ich bin sicher, er würde das hier feiern. (Sorgen wir doch dafür, dass nicht irgendwelche fehlgeleiteten Menschen, dies alles und unsere Zukunft kaputt machen.)
In the early 80's a friend and I made a road trip from Atlanta, GA to Manhattan to see Bauhaus. Unfortunately, Peter Murphy had become ill before the group made it to New York. Fortunately for us Klaus Nomi was appearing at the Mudd Club. One of the most incredible nights of music I've experienced. P. S. When there was a total eclipse here several years ago I was blasting "Total Eclipse" on my front porch while wearing a "chemise Lacoste".
Today is the first time I have heard Klaus Nomi. At first I thought this is strange but as I kept watching and listening I fell in love. What a talent! He did it his way.
I might be the one of those who have heard about him as well.I can feel the sorrow on his face while performing this masterpiece.What a voice and art! Rest in peace Nomi🙏❤
Other performances only highlight Nomi's beautiful voice and uncanny intonation - I mean he is perfectly in tune in this weird and quite atonal piece. Wonderful.
Er war der "Simple Man - I do the best I can". Er hat das beste getan, was er konnte. Vieles der Texte war so biographisch. Wollte einfach in der Gegenwart leben. Hinter dem Klaus Nomi war der Klaus Sperber, der Klassik und Rock liebte, der tollste Gebäcke zauberte und sehr mutig damals schon dazu stand, wie und was er ist. Danke, dass du die Musik, die Mode, die Kunst und vieles mehr unglaublich und unvergessen bis heute inspiriert hast. Die Präsenz von Klaus mit seiner unverwechselbaren professionellen Stimme ist unerreichbar gleichzeitig tiefgehend und gefühlsbeont mit seinem ganz eigenen unvergleichlichen Stil und der Performance. Er füllte den Raum mit Magie.Ich verbeuge mich. Danke, dass du uns bei deinem Abschied teilhaben lässt. Es ist herzzerreissend, bewegend, wunderschön und einzigartig. Was für eine Stärke, Grösse und Vermächtnis. I remember you❤❤❤❤
Only a blind person would not realize how much Klaus Nomi suffered too much on stage while presenting his art. He couldn't even lower his arms, standing tall like the respectable artist he once was. And his counter tenor sounded in excruciating efirmity, he agonized more and more with each note he sang. But even so, Klaus Nomi had the courage and willingness to express his art to everyone, it is a cruel injustice that he was ostracized by pure prejudice about HIV and AIDS. Klaus Nomi should be remembered for his brilliant underground talent, his sharp counter tenor and above all, for his courage and willingness to overcome his unbearable pain to comfort us with his way of being.
A piece of art in every sense. What a unique, beautiful and supremely talented man. Incredible countertenor performance by any standard. One of a kind.
What an amazing performer! He was so far ahead of his time. He would be a superstar on the internet if he were still with us!! I'm sad I never got to see a live show.
Born in 1992, waaay before my time. I came across Klaus on tik tok and wanted to hear more of him. He’s incredible and it breaks my heart that he died alone. What a voice 😮
This song is Nomi’s rendition of a stanza from the third act of the 1691 opera King Arthur… The Cold Song Lyrics What power art thou? Who from below Hast made me rise? Unwillingly and slow From beds of everlasting snow! See'st thou not how stiff And wondrous old? Far unfit to bear the bitter cold... I can scarcely move Or draw my breath I can scarcely move Or draw my breath
No one did this song better Klaus. He left us far, far too soon. Such a sweet man in interviews, and a world-class talent. Imagine the splendor he would have brought to music if alive today.
What Power art thou, Who from below, Hast made me rise, Unwillingly and slow, From beds of everlasting snow! See'st thou not how stiff, And wondrous old, Far unfit to bear the bitter cold. I can scarcely move, Or draw my breath, I can scarcely move, Or draw my breath. Let me, let me, Let me, let me, Freeze again... Let me, let me, Freeze again to death!
Both died of AIDS but the other will be remembered in 2050, for example. Both had done their last shows despite of AIDS complications. Klaus had same courage what Freddie Mercury had singing to the end though both were essentially emaciated and covered in sarcomas. What is so sad that Klaus is an underrated artist despite that he was a potential genius. So sad that many people in Europe never heard about that potential genius. I've read about Klaus Nomi by chance last year. First time I heard his song I want to knew and heard more about him. It was incredible at first sight. He would have had potential to advance on his career, if he have had been lived longer. Might be possible that Klaus Nomi would be a big name like Elvis Presley or Michael Jackson now, in the future and forever. Klaus Nomi had stand out from the average crowd so I believe in his potential if he was still alive.
Merci Henry Purcell, merci Klaus Nomi, merci l'orchestre, pour cette magnifique interprétation, un tel chef d'oeuvre, cette froide chanson dont on frissonne d'émotions avec délice tout du long.
It's almost too much to watch. You can see the disease taking over, the fragility of Klaus and the careful steps he takes, and hear the pain and longing in the performance. AIDS was a mystery disease at the time, and this song so beautifully reflects the feelings and mood of that time (even if it was written centuries before). All in all...breathtaking.
Thank you all my brothers in arms ... I mean, for the love of music. A long time ago, when the Internet was still an implement of communication, and not a tool of the payroll) I placed and processed (at the best at the time quality) this unique song on my channel. I did not even think about more than 100K views. For me, the uniqueness of this song in the fact that the gothic aria of Henry Purcell, with which many mystical facts is connected, was performed by a dying person (about Klaus Nomi I can speak for hours) still trembling when I listen to it . I see your views and likes, and I understand that I'm not alone in this world, for whom music and art are the same tangible reality as for me. You are my brothers, no matter where in the world you live! God bless you all!
Vall I thank you for having posted it! I found this thoughtful blog on this particular performance today and found it to be so sensitive, well written and insightful. klausnomicoldgenius.blogspot.com/
so painful, he suffered but he sang so sincerely and so perfectly..."le chant du cygne", beautiful, but so moving...I'll never forget Klaus Nomi. He has given everything for art. In spite of his sufferings. Using even his sufferings to improve his music. And dignity. A simple man. But with a pure heart in a rotten world. Thank you for your magical presence, Klaus Nomi. RIP. And shine.
Nobody deserves to die of that hideous disease called AIDS. I don't care what your sexuality is or who you spend your time with. Everyone deserves compassion, respect, love, care, and to be treated like a human being. Klaus Nomi deserved all of those as well.
A truly great performer who was gone before the rest of the world could see and hear him and elevate him to his rightful place, sadly missed, we are fortunate to have these short films
I swear he was an angel, he had to be, no one could be so full of beauty and light and just be a mere human. He was breathtaking until the end. R.I.P Klaus 🌹
The part that chokes me up is he died shortly after this. He donned the collar and Elizabethan outfit due to the sores from aids. Read the lyrics, then watch his face starting at the 2:05 marker. Ever the performer, he makes it look like he's getting into it, but in my opinion he knew he was dying and despite doing this song for years, now has special meaning.
it's incredible how a single crack in an otherwise robotic demeanor he had defined the song. the sense of uncertainty of this new disease that's consuming him. Haunting.
LordOcelot I know what you mean. I think this song was a musical replica of his life. Read the lyrics of this song. "Who from below Hast made me rise Unwillingly and slow" "Far unfit to bear the bitter cold I can scarcely move" "Let me, let me, let me Freeze again to death..."
When he performed at this event he was already very sick...a great performer ready to forget all this pain he was going through just to share his passion of music and talent....never forget klaus...he was what is was...but so brigthening....we...the old fans who discovered him in 1980 will always be by his side ..thank you klaus...we still love you
Crazy to think that at that time the had effectively zero treatments to offer, but would still tab tens of thousands of dollars to the terminally dying of medical textbook opportunistic infections.
@@McSwift0421 "The River", can't recall the author, it is about the Congo infection of an anti-polyomelyth vaccin by Koprowsky, who managaed to force more than a milllion of congolese kids and adults as preventions against this disease, that turned out to end up as the HIV virus.
@@McSwift0421 "The River", can't recall the author, it is about the Congo infection of an anti-polyomelyth vaccin by Koprowsky, who managaed to force more than a milllion of congolese kids and adults as preventions against this disease, that turned out to end up as the HIV virus. Unsafe sexual intercourses, doing drugs non carefully, a french-kiss with blood, mosquitoes, 50's starting of the worldwide spread-illness, to the 80's Act-Up struggle about what was going on, the so called "sin" of wearing a f*cking condom for gay males and of cours hetero males who thought at that time that this "spell" transfering to their children, the Reagan years of back to candle type-of political reaction, by poisonting at the LGBTQA+H(teros), while litteraly claiming it was a "fags" disease, while litteraly serving it with his friend Pablo Escobar and their legions, with cocaine, GHB+alcool, and such....Unless it's a taboo i'm not cpabale of deducting the answer to. Maybe Mattew MacConaughey as the answer!...
Having just discovered Klaus Nomi recently and what he was going thru at the time of this performance makes me respect him a whole lot more. You can see he senses his own mortality and realizes he doesn’t have much time left. Beautiful yet tragic. Especially at the end
He was ill. Near to death.gave all he could. And this voice..so full of émotions..was à great singer but most of all à great performer and à wonderful human being. God bless. I was 18 when you left us. Now i'm 53 and you are still in my heart and life. Nobody could replace you. You are the one and the only...love
Klaus Nomi konnte keiner das Wasser reichen. Obwohl er wusste, dass der Tod immer näher rückte, schenkte er uns dieses großartige Lied, das mich in eine andere Welt versetzt. Ruhe in Frieden lieber Klaus.
I simply do not understand why just today discovered this magical creature. I lived through the 80's!!! Impressive artist. Need to find everything!!! Grateful for the share.
Klaus sings Purcell’s strange aria The Cold Song from the English 17th century baroque opera King Arthur. The opera’s composer Purcell died in 1695 from incurable T.B. aged 36, while in 1983 Klaus sadly died succumbing to complications due to Aids, aged 39. Both men were remarkably talented but died so young. Purcell’s Cold Song: What power art thou, who from below Hast made me rise unwillingly and slow From beds of everlasting snow See’st thou not ( how stiff )2) and wondrous old Far unfit to bear the bitter cold, I ( can scarcely move or draw my breath )2) Let me, let me freeze again to death.3)
I'm not familiar enough with the play King Arthur to know the context of this song but to my modern brains, it sounds like a poetic depiction of the condition of clinical depression. It sounds as if a person was waking up momentarily from the stupor of deep depression, only to realise how desperate his situation really is, and now he just wants to fall back into that cold sleep to be unable to feel. Whether my interpretation is correct or not, it is fascinating that this poem originates in the 17th century.
If you pay atention you will see Klaus is making a true effort to hold the vocal register in range. He miss some at the beggining but could end it without any serious mistake. I discover Klaus Nomi less than a month ago. I saw the nomi song and all of his musical videos. Simple man resumes how much he wanted to be taking serious about his art. "Just a simple man with a simple plan, hope you understand". I saw a sweet man in need of love and understanding and like every human beinh, he made mistakes. R.I.P. Klaus.
Einer der Songs von Klaus Nomi den ich vor bestimmt 40 Jahren gehört habe, bei einem Auftritt und der mir wirklich auch heute noch sehr gut gefällt. Absoluter Wahnsinn sein Mezzosopran !!! Chapeau dafür !
J'adore, magnifique interprétation qui nous remue. Que émotion communiquée. Merci Monsieur Klaus Nomi. J'espère que les anges profites de vos talents!!
