Bobby McFerrin does Wizard of Oz

[@Tobey2k4]

As silly and comical as this seems....the amount of musicianship involved is phenomenal. Just his vocal range makes him a god among men, let alone how he outlines the harmonies when the audience is singing... Truly a living legend.

[@emanx222]

Tobey2k4 exactly!!!!!

[@metalbob3335]

A talented man at the front of brutality of the futility of progress all the while fighting the progression of the mediocre.

[@mspickleh]

Bobby McFerrin used to go to my church and play peek-a-boo with me! He is soooooooooooooooo awesome!

[@q.7628]

You lie?!!

[@cat_the_nerdymama]

That's so cool!!!!!

[@Mathuews1]

I normally don't believe this kind of comment but knowing Mr Mcferrin, it sounds likely

[@IfILovedYou7]

Now this is real singing! Having previously heard Bobby McFerrin in San Francisco with his acappella group Voice-estra in late '80s I had a privilege of being in a audience at the National Concert Hall in Dublin a few years ago when he did a concert - he had the whole audience singing with him - obviously all followers and set to sing with him. It was fantastic and I even managed to get on to the stage to sing in a group with him. Is there anyone else out there who could do all this - I haven't heard of them! Thank goodness we have great video record of these events. A wonderful man with woderful musical abilities which he wants to share.

[@tubinit2007]

Bobby McFerrin should be put in CHARGE of Musical Education for all American public schools. We'd all enjoy a much more musical society if we had this man figuring out how kids should learn.

[@LittlebitofDixie]

I think he could bring world peace through his musical techniques.

[@emanx222]

What a performer!!!! He literally embodies everything he sang and fully involved the audience, it was like being at home with family!

[@nickya11]

I was in the 2nd row at the Riverside Theatre in Milwaukee, WI and he preformed this. What an AMAZING Performer!!! He did the whole Wizard of OZ!! It was funny and a sight to behold.... I am very glad I was able to see it in person.

[@dvon21]

As well as his intonation, phrasing, bass voice, musicality, vocal arrangements and showmanship.

[@MorbidBliss22]

This man literally IS music.

[@criimsonrose]

I've never seen anyone command an audience as awesome as Bobby McFerrin! Huge range!

[@KrystalHarwood-z1b]

check out his spiritual not verbal work with just vocalization singing. awestruck

[@brass76]

his music is great for all ages and hope he lives on all the way for many kids to hear

[@b.lemonpeel5604]

I saw him do this live at Carnegie Hall in NY back around '85. Breathtaking!

[@done1675]

I saw him do this at Carnegie Hall as well, in March/April 1987, with Stanley Jordan and Michel Petrucciani on the bill. Magnificent.

[@thelipstickfemme]

Great songs from the Wizard of Oz. Love how he captured the entire movie in a few minutes. Brilliant.

[@johnbutler4235]

Bobby is a GREAT PERFORMER and I’m very grateful for all of the videos ❤️🎶🙏🏻

[@gafferoo]

It's amazing how he can always make an audience participate at they level they do!

[@eagle3530]

Bobby Mcferrin is a true individual and a true artist and one of the best performance out there. He's my hero of music. Whoever dislike him does not know the true music of vocalist. His attitude is what make Bobby Mcferrin a aspiring social organization

[@monkgroupie]

I saw this many many years ago, when it first aired on PBS. I never forgot it. It is brilliant on so many levels: the humor, his ability to capture precisely those little gestures and silly images from the movie which *everyone* knows. His uncanny ability to unite every one in the audience through the common memories... Thank you for putting this online!

[@MarisaTurnerMusic]

Excellent....amazing artist....Genius indeed.....not the clown at all....you see the audience transported to each moment in the story.....it takes a great gift to bring to life what this man has in this piece...God continue to smile on Bobby McFerrin, that he may continue to bless the world!

[@mspickleh]

It took my whole class to do just the acting and singing parts. He can do that *and* sound effects! :D

[@timmycury]

Bobby McFerrin is one of my biggest inspiration in life. Love him and his art! Truly amazing!

[@JoshDone]

I saw him perform this at carnegie hall in early 1986. It just blew me away.

[@johnbutler4235]

He is AWESOME and LOVE To Hear more

[@miguelmf]

It's amazing the ranges his voice have... Incredible!

[@johnbutler4235]

Bobby is PURE CLASS and the more I see of him, the MORE I LIKE 🎶❤️🎶

[@Elixear]

J'ai eu le bonheur infini de chanter avec lui sur une grande scène parisienne il y a 15 ans, et il avait cette même énergie d'enfant, cette façon unique de vous faire sortir de vous et d'en extraire le plus juste, le plus beau, le meilleur. Je ne savais plus quoi dire pour le remercier après ça. C'était extraordinaire et jamais je n'oublierai ce jour au cours duquel j'ai emmagasiné au contact de cet homme de l'amour pour des années.

[@eirintowne]

I've got to share this with my 8th-graders, who have just studied "The Wizard of Oz" and the way all kinds of other cultural expressions refer to it. Bobby McFerrin is a true master of three instruments: his voice, the microphone and last, but not least: the audience!

[@AlexReynard]

I can see why he later became a conductor. He's a natural at it.

[@ahminus]

Wow. Thank fucking god for people with VHS tapes and KZbin. That is pure magic.

[@hjbrandt2]

How I wish I could have seen this live…!

[@johnbutler4235]

He NEEDS To Be In The HALL Of FAME ❤️🎶 ASAP

[@genracer8866]

I love It When He Gets the Crowd Involved😎👍✌💙💜🧡💖💗

[@Neceros]

I love how everyone knows what Wizard of Oz is.

[@sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401]

So do I...we were just remarking about how naturally the audience responded to his cues..even in the odd Flying Monkeys parts

[@Elixear]

Mais le plus fou, ça reste quand même la parfaite justesse des sons, le rendu des voix, on se croit vraiment dans le film et la puissance des souvenirs s'en trouve décuplée, c'est fabuleux. Il sait qu'il va émouvoir énormément les gens en faisant ça, et c'est pour ça qu'il le fait. Cet homme est une boule d'amour pur envers son prochain. Il aura passé le plus clair de son existence à distribuer des tonnes d'amour, juste comme ça, simplement en chantant. Puisse-t-il demeurer à jamais dans l'esprit des hommes car son action est exemplaire. Merci infiniment d'être un être humain, Bobby.

[@RickH-s7m]

I remember watching this as a kid when it happened! I can watch this now and laugh aloud with tears streaming down! I am so happy this is here!

[@mrbones102]

Heard this on the radio in the mid 90's. Loved him ever since!

[@hernanmoyaar]

I'm crying and loughing all at the same time, can't believe it, just wonderful!!!

[@celia7494]

RIDICULOUSLY huge range. absolutely amazing.

[@cyoobist]

I love this fella, he has the best job ever. He gets paid to have fun and he doesn't even have to know the words hahaha! :D

[@RMalone81491]

in the mid 90s i saw a wizard of oz show there were actors playing the parts but bobby did all the voices it was awesome

[@susandrn]

OMG... I haven't seen anything that entertaining in a long time! That man is amazing! I would have loved to have been in the audience!

[@Elixear]

Vous pouvez toujours le voir sur scène en 2024. Et il est toujours aussi incroyable.

[@wingdairu]

@maakheru001 That, and he's still at it. He's been asked why he hasn't retired, and he simply answered, "I'm having too much fun."

[@wesleyking2212]

What kind of energy a guy must have to do this & still be standing!!??

[@Elixear]

L'énergie de l'amour. Elle est infinie. Pas besoin de recharger.

[@lauramuse910]

I watched this on PBS when it originally aired. Magnificent

[@cyberk25]

wow. he has such an amazing range

[@Bipbip24]

oh my god this is one of the greatest things ever!

[@JasonStoutCR]

I remember watching this live.... very cool

[@AstridPerellon]

I love when he waves the lion´s tail away when his marching toward the Evil Witch castle. Even that detail! He´s got it all!

[@colinbarnette0]

Thanks so much for both recording and uploading this gem!

[@jtpangburn]

wow. his falsetto is amazing

[@tejaswoman]

Got to see this in 1987 at UNT in Denton, Texas, all thanks to getting lost on the way home and pulling in the KNTU-FM station only to learn that my musical idol was going to be in concert that night. Dragged my brother there and never regretted it! (Also got to see him at UNC-CH in the late '90s.)

[@sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401]

That's where we first saw him too !

[@sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401]

UNC-Ch

[@Sarsington]

this man is an acapella MACHINE!

[@Arnica_Burdock]

When I was a kid, I saw "The Wizard of Oz on Ice" for which Bobby McFerrin did all of the vocals except for Dorothy's part. That was my introduction to both this genius musician and the Wizard of Oz.

[@smorgensterin4990]

The fact that he is able to run so much while doing all this amazing vocal work is what impresses me the most.

[@DessineMoiUnPiano]

I remember, I watched this so many times a few years ago Just amazing! And amazing how much the crowd knows the songs and sang them with him! Love it

[@genracer8866]

I love When He does Over the Rainbow Humming😎👍✌💙💜💖💗

[@lotusdfrique6843]

jeez, my heart just cracked open a little.

[@sarahhearn-vonfoerster7401]

Can't help it, can you!

[@pifibbi]

so much memories...

[@Syntexz]

The entire orchestra is like, "What the fuck are we even doing here...?"

[@creatureofvenice]

lmfaaoooooo I thought the same he is just jumping about among them

[@stephenmagnotta8462]

I heard this incredible performer on Prairie Home Companion years ago. He is simply Wonderful!!

[@hEyBaNaGiRl]

Rockin those glasses

[@GiovanniNicotera]

2:39! amazing!

[@vampirealdys]

WOW! I love the Wizard of Oz, and this was done in a funny manner, but not in a derisive, patronizing way. GREAT VID! Thanks for sharing!

[@Duhaloto]

What a pleasure!Long live Boby McFerrin! I saw him last week in Sofia!Happy me!

[@susannaricamo4647]

Fantastic!!!

[@VABkWrm]

I saw him do this live at The Spoletto Festival in 1984 or 85. Amazing!

[@youkaisayaka]

Holy shit, huge pitch range

[@Francophone974]

Merci d'avoir publié ça, c'est tout simplement génial!

[@KrystalHarwood-z1b]

heard him recently just doing vocalization singing without words on soundscapes beautiful

[@Hoick]

The internet wins again! marvellous!

[@gballve11]

That`s it mate! Thanks a million!! I found the link on the NPR shop, and it specifically mentions the "riotous performance" by McFerrin singing the Wizard of Oz.

[@taran616]

The first time I saw hime do this was on a show called "For Our Children-The Concert for Pediatric AIDS"..was in the mid to late 80's, and was just as awesome then as it is now.

[@maakheru001]

@bingradabwesend clowns are some of the most intellectual people, their pride goes beyond how they may appear, for example the court jester is the only man in the castle who can insult the king and not be decapitated. He has so much power.

[@johnbutler4235]

Is there any new NEWS about Bobby about what he is doing ? I like him more every day

[@debralittleton5323]

Absolutely amazing 👏

[@AC3DG]

If you're looking for an original video of him doing this, he does it as part of a Prairie Home Companion / Garrison Keillior Home DVD series I found on Netflix. It's a series of a couple discs, I can't remember which one it's on though.

[@odas42]

I used to have this on video. It was part of a Prarie Home Companion special for PBS.

[@dedin1968]

The Wizard of Oz was performed on A Prairie Home Companion. The program was also carried on The Disney Channel and later broadcast on PBS. Video can be found on the collection highlights from PHC called A Prairie Home Collection, which features 3 PBS specials. You can get it by calling 1-800-998-8173. The item number is PH611746

[@heavenlyguitar5913]

This man was given a whole train load of talent when he was born!

[@Major2219]

Just Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder who will be next to fill his shoes if he just so happens to pass away?

[@ednardogoes117]

Artista. Se garante! Grande potência musical.

[@poorsonwelles]

The augmented sharp he springs out of nowhere at 1:20 is so damn good, and he knows it too

[@mjedge808]

I saw him do this live once, it was so fun!

[@SandySalmansohn]

You can really hear the chords in the song the way he "sings" it. I've often told people that if you think you can't hear an octave, just sing the first 2 notes to this song.

[@theonetheonlyJr]

@Aplustradomus the world really couldnt handle them on stage together...that's real music!!!!

[@BatoBFlex]

Bobby is Genious!!! But I wonder,how he always have so talented audience like this...:)))

[@bonehead1170]

When I see a show and the performer is making the big bucks, I'll be damned if he's putting me to work.

[@logangsterd8424]

My German teacher showed us this in class. Alittle Weird. Thanks Frau Owsely

[@SimpleJars]

• When did he do that? • He did the same thing on the Concert of Walt Disney's For Our Children. • He sounded great doing 'Over the Rainbow'! (It's actually cool that the audience we're singing along.) • He sounded funny, saying 'Follow the yellow brick road' on 3:57 (he sounded funny when he said it on 'For Our Children' Concert, too.) • He sounded great, saying the Wizard's quote on 6:17. • He sounded great, doing the guard's chant on 6:42, too. • He really did great, sounding like the witch on 7:17-7:23-7:26

[@andrealyman6747]

The best!!!!!Genius extraordinaire!

[@CptnObvious21]

This is fan-flippin-tastic!

[@FfejTball]

Bobby for president!

[@delerak]

So young. Yet still so talented.

[@helen06121]

Indeed Joe Gester, this also made me laugh out loud :))) Memories... Fantastic.

[@JoshFreilich]

Nice harmonies from the audience!!

[@saxman1919]

F'ing genius!!!! I love this man. I hate that for most of the world he's the Don't worry be happy guy. Those people have no idea.

[@johnbutler4235]

None better and when will he be in the HALL Of FAME

[@gilgamess]

It's simply incredible how he gets that "audience sing-a-long" effect. I have not seen that since "Willie The Operatic Whale".

[@bigbear8832]

Bobby is masterful

[@DoubleDReviews]

He is soooo funny and talented!!!!!!!!

[@Aplustradomus]

Oh God,could you only imagine them 2 together..I would probably pass out!

[@jazzpianopracticechannel5108]

beautiful..

[@BigB_ec]

Wish he would come back to Boston for another show.