John Denver On Stage Will Leave Viewers In Admiration Of A Legend

May 18, 2020

John Denver's iconic music has remained a part of our lives, even after the singer passed away too soon in 1997. This memorable performance of his wonderful song Sunshine on My Shoulders is testament to his talent and continued success. Recorded as part of The Wildlife Concert, a TV special from 1995, this live performance is one to come back to repeatedly.

From the second John starts playing the song's opening chords on the guitar, the small audience at the intimate concert begins clapping and cheering. His angelic voice begins singing those heartwarming words: "Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy," and immediately it's impossible not to feel joyful hearing him sing.

The song continues with very little musical accompaniment, allowing John's voice to shine through. At first, it's only him playing the guitar, but soon enough his backing band joins in to add depth to the song. There are some light drums, another guitar, and the oboe—arguably the star instrument in this wonderful song. John and his band are clearly very much in sync, performing his song to perfection.

Footage of the audience shows that they're enjoying themselves greatly too, and even singing along with John's words. When the song is finished they begin clapping loudly and even give him a standing ovation.

Originally released on the album Poems, Prayers & Promises in 1971, Sunshine on My Shoulders was later released as a standalone single in 1973. By early 1974, it hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the US.

According to John Denver's official YouTube page, the musician described how he came to write the beautiful song: "I wrote the song in Minnesota at the time I call 'late winter, early spring'. It was a dreary day, gray and slushy. The snow was melting and it was too cold to go outside and have fun, but God, you're ready for spring. You want to get outdoors again and you're waiting for that sun to shine, and you remember how sometimes just the sun itself can make you feel good. And in that very melancholy frame of mind I wrote Sunshine on My Shoulders."

As well as being an incredible musician, John Denver championed environmental and humanitarian causes, and perhaps that is clear from his description of how such a simple thing as sunshine hitting his shoulders in late winter could make him so happy and compelled to write such a beautiful piece of music.

While his influence lives on through his music, it's also John Denver's kind heart and respect for nature that his fans remember him for. His legacy will no doubt continue on as it already has for decades.

What did you think of this wonderful live performance of John Denver's iconic song Sunshine on My Shoulders? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this on to any friends and family who are fans of John Denver.