Sara Bareilles - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (Live Cover) 

Sir Elton John: "I was so blown away by the version of Yellow Brick Road. I've never heard anyone sing one of my songs like that ever. I can't thank you enough, giving your time and blowing my mind with that version. Because when someone sings your songs they usually copy you and she made it her own. That's brilliant--it's a hard song."

Every time I listen to Sara’s version I get chills! Anyone else?

i NEVER get tired of this. Sara is an UNSUNG DIVA - She doesn't behave like one, but her voice is legendary. so pure, and notes so clean. She has never really gotten the credit she deserves. I'm just noticing that I actually commented 8 yrs ago and I'm still in awe of her musical gift.

Love the guy in the background, in the orchestra, just enjoying his front row seat smiling at how good she is.

We are all embodied in that guitarist watching her, gobsmacked, and full of respect for this performance.

I think this is the first time I could understand the lyrics. literally 15 seconds of singing with one breath, unreal She’s the most underrated and unappreciated vocalist in the business.

3:10 here is a perfectly executed single breath 15 second vocal, which has clarity, power and tone and perfect pitch. No wonder Elton John raves about this cover

I can't remember the last time I heard something so exquisitely crafted, sensitively and dynamically performed, so intelligently thought out. Absolutely stunning.

Why is this woman not the biggest thing in music? She outshines every contemporary female singer today.

The guitarist behind her is giving her the sweetest smile.

You only have to look at the smile on the face of the acoustic guitarist behind her (who is not playing in this) to know just how wonderful this is.

This woman - her talent - isn't appreciated enough. Her vocals are... I'm speechless.

She’s the most underrated and unappreciated vocalist in the business.

Ive probably listened to this specific performance more than 100 times. I still cannot find a single note out of place. Sara is a gift.

This is literally one of the best musical performances there ever was. Just beyond amazing. I could watch it over and over. The musician's face behind her throughout, and the little tap of his hand at the end, says it all.

I'm 67 and have heard a lot of music in my time. Including loads of covers that rarely live up to the original. But this is an exception. In my opnion Sara Bareilles has taken this song to a new level. Excellent.

This isn't a mere cover, it's a re-invention of the song. What a beautiful interpretation Sara.

Can you imagine hearing this and NOT giving a standing ovation? This cover is unreal. Probably the best performance I have ever heard & seen, live or otherwise.

Not just the vocal cover but the orchestral arrangement is sublime. The strings are incredible.

3:10 to 3:35 never hear the word "road" sound so beautiful . . . . amazing. I think I am in love.

Her voice is absolutely haunting. She gives me goosebumps

I love the expression of contentment on the guitarist's face behind her. It shows how much these amazing musicians appreciate good music when they hear it.

Am I the only one that can fall in love with someone just from experiencing a performance like this? Her talent tears my heart out of my chest. Even on the 1,000th listening.

Sara Bareilles really is the musician’s musician. Such effortless power in her vocals ❤ ❤❤

What separates Elton John and Sara Bereilles from the rest of us mortals isn't merely their singing and instrumental skills. What really does it is the emotion they pour into their songs. His version is more defiant, her's sounds more anguished. In either case it is someone giving up their dream and going home after finding they cannot or will not thrive in the world they sought.

The standard is set for what a cover of a classic song is capable of sounding like. She's absolutely angelic.

I'm a rather jaded 64 yr old. It takes a lot to move me. So why did this bring me to tears? I had never heard this version.

Her control is astonishing! That 5 bar run makes my heart sing!

Sir Elton John loved this version himself..this is incredible :)

Sara gives a great performance. Any experienced trained musician can explain why this is so good in so many words how she does it with such beautiful expression. Tone quality( knowing when to be subtle with head voice or when to belt using chest voice) precise intonation, appropriately applied dynamic nuance, careful vowel shaping on each syllable, carefully arranged orchestral backup that compliments everything she does vocally without being too much. Everything done with both precision and emotional control. Simple yet exquisitely beautiful yet modestly tasteful attire does not visually distract the listener.

Oh Sara's version is simply exquisitely done❤ sorry Elton, i love you, but this is my new favorite version!

AMAZING. I could listen to this forever. She is incandescent.

I'm speechless. Sara is a musical genius. I love her changes to the song, every change so perfectly placed.

This is how I discovered Sara. Forever changed my life.

Hard to listen to this version without wiping tears. Breathtaking rendition, I am speechless. Thank you.

I could listen to her sing all day everyday and never feel a need for anything else. Her ability to make me smiles is second to only my wife and children.

Maybe spare some kudos for Bernie Taupin, who wrote these words: When are you gonna come down? When are you going to land? I should have stayed on the farm I should have listened to my old man You know you can't hold me forever I didn't sign up with you I'm not a present for your friends to open This boy's too young to be singing, the blues So goodbye yellow brick road Where the dogs of society howl You can't plant me in your penthouse I'm going back to my plough Back to the howling old owl in the woods Hunting the horny back toad Oh I've finally decided my future lies Beyond the yellow brick road What do you think you'll do then? I bet that'll shoot down your plane It'll take you a couple of vodka and tonics To set you on your feet again Maybe you'll get a replacement There's plenty like me to be found Mongrels who ain't got a penny Sniffing for tidbits like you on the ground So goodbye yellow brick road Where the dogs of society howl You can't plant me in your penthouse I'm going back to my plough Back to the howling old owl in the woods Hunting the horny back toad Oh I've finally decided my future lies Beyond the yellow brick road

I was so blown away by her vocal performance that I completely forgot she was also playing the piano for awhile. When I remembered that, it completely blew my mind. I'm a singer and pianist, but this is something else entirely. Incredible.

3:03 - When pure, raw emotion aligns with professional talent. A truly remarkable moment. I'm a professional musician and I love watching/listening to moments like these. At my stage, it takes a truly gifted individual to give me chills. This did it. Thank you, Sara.

Back after 8yrs to listen to this to her sing this song and I still get chills when she hits those high notes.

Besides pure talent, which Sara has in spades, what I love about her is that instead of resting on talent alone, you can see hard she has worked at her craft. Her breath control alone, is astounding. I see people comment all the time about how she should be “bigger” or “more famous” than she is. And she could be, if she wanted to go the pop star route. Clearly she is looking for something more, and she is achieving it. She has integrity not seen often in mainstream music. When it is all said and done I think she will be relevant long after most of today’s “stars” have faded.

I never realised how great a song this is until I heard this version...

i keep coming back to this

Simply the best sound ever made by combining a human voice and an instrument.❤

Her version is extremely intimate... just like all her songs. That long "Ooooh" gives the shivers! 17 seconds long without breathing....!!!

I've literally watched this 50 times. It's so freaking good.

"you cant plant me in your penthouse" gave me frickin chills....love her voice

I've cried on this one a hundred times... every time my life takes a turn for the worse, it brings me back around. elton is the beloved legend but respectfully, sara's version makes my heart begin to be right again. not sure why... just is

Music so good that it brings one to tears. She knocked this out of the park.

Absolutely incredible! Such a stunning interpretation She changes just a few notes and makes it her own. Her pitch, her timing, her control, her delivery - I love it all. She doesn't over-sing, but uses her power when she needs to. I am now a huge Sara B. fan.

This woman is in an inimitable league of her own. She’ll never get the accolades the many commenters say she is shorted- for good reason. She does not need a level of recognition that’s already below her if we’re equating her to pop/commercial standards of notoriety. Her musicality and performance is pure and impeccable and a treasure in a world of carbon-copied personages and stale musicianship.

Your listening to high quality music, know you have exceptional music taste!❤

She is truly a legend and master of her craft. Bow down to the queen. NO ONE ELSE COMES CLOSE TO MS. BAREILLES .

I dare say a flawless performance, and just incredibly moving. I've watched this probably 3 times so far.

Its absolutely NUTTY how talented she is. The fact she can play a piano and sing like that is insaneee

I saw Elton John perform Yellow Brick Road in 1974 at the Cow Palace. Sara Bareilles does the song proud!

Easily one of the best Elton John covers I have ever heard!!

Have I ever lived before this moment? Will life always be divided by time prior to hearing this the first time and everything hence? I'm undone. Beautiful!

I could listen to her do that one phrase a thousand times and never get tired of it

Simply the greatest vocal performance I've ever heard. Astounding.

no words to describe her vocals. my god. the tone, the power. amazing.

It’s also a complete joy to watch the adoration on the guitarist’s face behind her. At the end, he pumps his guitar and if feels like he’s saying ‘ she totally nailed it’ and she did of course.

Greatest octave shift...ever

Sara's just a pure work of art. Elton is smiling, if not, he should be !!

Nobody realizes that Elton is one of, if not the greatest song writers ever to walk this very earth......period!

Some original songs are so good that you think there cannot ever be a better version of that song. This version is so incredible beautiful, it proves me wrong.

She hypnotized me. Outstanding.

i come back to this every hour

I think that's what they call in the industry some "fucking pipes." Absolutely outstanding.

Good lord, this is beautiful. It's like she was born to sing it.

This is simply one of the best performances of all time.

This is an amazing version for this song. Sara bareilles crushed it, my favorite version I have heard!!!

As many have mentioned Angelina Jordan (no kidding and it doesn't surprise me!!!), I've been listening to different simgers' versions of this song. There is a part of me that wonders how one can separate AJ on AGT and Gala, who won Belgiums Got Talent. Then I come here and listen to Sara, and I'm just blown away with this performance. Not only does she have a nice voice (no cackling!!), but this arrangement is just so professional and classy. I really enjoyed this.

It's purely pure. It's just amazing.

One of the most beautiful voices this planet has ever been blessed enough to hear. 🙏🏻

After becoming addicted to this video, I couldn't help but fall in love with her. I'd only heard Love Song, which was terrific (I'm a 40 year pianist, myself) and fun to play, then a few years pass and I sort of stumbled across this about a week ago, and.....WOW! The magical droning of the chord progressions, and Sara's captivating & heartfelt vocals made my hair stand straight up! This talented lady took a song from decades back, and breathed new life into it. I especially loved the ending, when she kind of short cut into the Db, Eb & F to take it home beautifully. I'm in awe. Thank you, Sara!! We want more!!

The arrangement makes it. She starts and finishes with the simplest of chords resisting the temptation to turn into yet another power ballad. She concentrated all the emotion on that beautiful middle section. Stunning.

so glad I stumbled across this version. Sara sang this, beautifully.

The breath control this talented human has.

Sara is just in a class of her own and this rendition of Yellow Brick Road is freeking me out! Beautifully done.

Beautiful rendition of a timeless classic. Sara Bareilles is not only a very gifted songwriter herself, but also a phenomenal singer and performer. Love this.

3:11. Wow - that's something special right there. Just...wow... 🤗

She kills it every time. She can sing anything.

this is the best cover of this song I ever heard! Nice

I have watched this over and over. It's stunning and beautiful. I'm absolutely mesmerized. Thanks for posting this. At the 3:11 mark I was speechless. Sara Bareilles is a singer for the ages. I love it.

Wow! I never saw The Waitress, or anything else by Sara Bareilles. She's got one incredible of lungs on her. BRAVA!

I cried. Her rendition of this song easily pierces through the heart. So much emotions!!!

such an underrated talent

I know now that my husband has an exquisite taste in music. lol He loves Elton's version of this song, keeps playing it every effin' day. I never really understood the song and why he liked it til I heard this version of Sara. 😁💕

Every time I hear this version , I love it more.

Listened to this about 20 times today... she’s amazing!

She conveys emotion yet controlled, ability to start and end a song delicately yet have power (03:12 is beautifully done), to reinterpret the song yet honour it, this is a solo performer at her piano yet complimented by the orchestra. I am as in awe and emotionally uplifted by this as when initially stopped in my tracks a dozen listenings ago. For a slightly different performance, see her solo ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-Ozd2ja7mAgM.html

My favorite song by Elton John... much of the song she matches the quality of the original. The rest of the song she absolutely sends into the stratosphere - omg what a perfect voice.

Goosebumps!!!! She’s the real deal, no lip sink just pure artistic and music talent and work!!!!! ❤️

The man seated next to her with the guitar is adorable. Just smiling throughout the entire song.

And that ladies and gentlemen, is how you cover a song! Outstanding!!

I don´t know how many times I´ve watched this today alone!

This is wonderful. An interpretation as valid as that of Elton’s. There can be no higher praise. Edit, this is superior. Such exquisite vocal control and variety of tone. Her voice is utterly bewitching.

Best cover in the history of covers. I love this performance.

Sara is an angel.