Bee Gees Perform A Capella Rendition Of Famous Bee Gee Song

Mar 23, 2020 by apost team

Well known for their 1977 hit Stayin’ Alive, the Anglo-Australian group the Bee Gees epitomize the golden age of the disco era. With their sweet harmonies and groovy R&B influences, the group of three brothers Maurice, Barry and Robin also made waves with How Deep is Your Love, which they memorably performed a cappella in a live performance on an English talk show in 1998.

During the 1998 live performance, the brothers forego their guitars, focusing entirely on showing off the song’s upper-register harmonies. Seated casually on the couch, Barry kicks off the performance solo. But Maurice and Robin join in shortly thereafter, hitting the high notes and harmonizing with their older brother. The result is pure ear candy— even the host can’t help himself from joining in when the brothers sing the song’s most memorable lines. “'Cause we're living in a world of fools / Breaking us down when they all should let us be / We belong to you and me.” It’s safe to say that the Bee Gees still had that special something late in their career.

This 1998 performance came more than two decades after How Deep is Your Love hit number one on Billboard’s Hot 100, remaining in first place for three weeks, according to Stereogum. For those who weren’t around in the ‘70s — or those who somehow missed out on the disco era — the Bee Gees first released their warm and sweet ballad not on a conventional album, but as part of Saturday Night Fever’s soundtrack.

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Like the song (and perhaps partly because of it), the movie was a hit, earning $100 million, according to Stereogum. In fact, it was one of John Travolta’s breakout roles, propelling him to future big screen success. But as the same article points out, in some ways the Bee Gees song was more successful than the film itself.

On its own, the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack sold tens of millions of copies, according to Stereogum. The soundtrack’s success later translated into four more Bee Gees number one singles, even including the film’s end-credits track. In other words, Saturday Night Fever meant even more fame and success for the already-celebrated brotherly trio.

Ironically, however, the brothers didn’t even want to work on the film at first, according to Stereogum. Robert Stigwood, the Bee Gees manager, insisted the band get involved, but they reportedly said they were too busy. When they finally did agree to be a part of the film, which they hadn’t seen and knew very little about, they wrote the songs in a flurry during a short stay at a hotel in France. What’s even more surprising is that the Bee Gees did not even originally intend to sing How Deep is Your Love together. But thanks again to Stigwood who pressed the three brothers, they finally agreed.

And for everyone’s sake, thank goodness they did. Were it not for Stigwood’s insistence and a little bit of luck, we might not even have the same shimmering, timeless version of How Deep is Your Love today. And if it’s been a while since you’ve listened to the track, the 1998 a cappella rendition is an excellent reminder of how talented the Bee Gees were.

What do you think of the Bee Gees' a cappella performance? Are you a Bee Gees fan? Let us know what you think, and be sure to pass this story on to your friends and family.