Harry Nilsson-"Gotta Get Up" (BBC-1971) (2/7)

Harry's 2nd number from his wonderful BBC television special from 1971. "Gotta Get Up" is the opening number from his smash album from that same year, "Nilsson Schmilsson," and was one of many songs he wrote about starting a new day after a late night, a subject which he apparently knew a lot about.

[@kbrown4ou]

Wow! To have the most angelic voice ever, be good looking, be such a great songwriter, and to also be an absolute master at the piano! God definitely blessed Harry; and Harry definitely blessed us.

[@sugarismagic]

Russian doll on netflix brought me here and this song is stuck in my damn head now

[@msmie2102]

Yup same! Such a good song, though, so I'm not complaining. I finished the entire show today haha

[@KellyVision]

Dito.

[@ShotgunShoes]

indeed! i feel like i listened to this song for 100 tiems already and it doesn't get boring!

[@anamaceiras]

loved the show and the song

[@fernandag0]

YEAH

[@Greengorilla81]

Here in 2024 still lovin Nilsson!

[@David-rm4tc]

This song is stuck in my head and it will for a month.. Hey Where’s Oatmeal? OATMEAL!!!

[@jayvoorhees4495]

He's a Deli cat😼

[@johns1166]

sweet birthday baby!

[@jaeltorres5108]

Pedro Valdiviezo

[@pedrovaldiviezo8287]

@@jaeltorres5108 Jael Torres

[@mirio-jk]

He disappeared in my arms

[@Jonni1027]

For any Harry Nilsson fans I highly recommend the documentary on him called “Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talking About Him)”. Interviewed a bunch of his friends, from Jimmy Webb to Robin Williams to Yoko Ono and also his widow, and his former wife and 7 kids. You can’t stop watching from the first few minutes.

[@whitebirchtarot]

I just finished watching that documentary and it was fabulous! When I saw how long it was at the beginning I didn’t think I would want to watch the whole thing, but I was never bored for a second. One of the best documentaries I’ve ever seen. I’m trying to tell everyone I know.

[@frannieo1707]

Harry's voice does unmentionable things to me.

[@CreamingDreamer]

Do mention

[@maskedmarvyl4774]

Mention a few. I have a thing for the bride of Frankenstein...

[@billlynn3196]

That is before he completely blew out a vocal fold during a screaming contest with John Lennon during the Pussy Cats recording sessions. Previously Harry boasted a vocal range of 3.5 octaves. Tragic and stupid.

[@slimequeensupreme3437]

And Billy Joel?

[@halnwheels]

How many artists could pull this off? His piano arrangement is clear and distinct and his voice, just as wonderful an instrument. Slowed down just a little from the studio version, it's just a joy to listen to. We miss you Harry.

[@alinafcarvalho]

SWEET BIRTHDAY BABY

[@isonlynameleft]

Who else is listening to this in the morning?! 😄

[@Harlock2day]

Thanks Russian Doll for this great track. I couldn’t believe it was Nilsson, all I have heard him sing was the classic “without you”. Now I have to explore his catalogue, one hit might be a fluke but two isn’t, there’s obviously.a talent here I missed out on.

[@richardwhite6610]

He wrote so many hits for so many people , its not funny

[@jdwest34]

The Coconut Song!

[@koDaffi]

The only musician who The Beatles said was their favorite musician. All of his tracks are good.

[@pamcory7992]

Lucky you

[@noelallen1318]

He was an amazing singer songwriter.

[@komma83at37]

Sweet birthday baby !

[@sybiliminalSyntax]

Maxine. Where is the party.

[@valerie1325]

Wtf

[@angrytater2456]

Brilliant beyond words.

[@littlemwansta2895]

I wasn’t expecting him to be such a great vocalist 😍

[@thejamnasium6447]

one of the most underrated voices in the history of popular music

[@scottbulinski5450]

That's his greatest strength

[@wadewatson2751]

He won Grammys in 70' and 73' for best male vocal performance.

[@professorpatpending8731]

nearly fifty years later the song still applies

[@FlaminalLow]

there is soo much harmony in this song. it's really a piece of genius!

[@guitarslim56]

All music has harmony.

[@teethsjuice]

What is the formula for Amonnium sulfide?

[@misteranyone8575]

@@guitarslim56 not if it’s sung straight…Johnny cash etc

[@Rudikai100]

Effortless, sublime, timeless. There will never be another Nilsson!

[@johannwolf1]

What a voice!!!

[@MrSinEon]

Sweet birthday baby!

[@Gbonejohn1974]

Superb voice better than the album version

[@sealteamryx6758]

one of the best voices of all time

[@FLuFFyGiRLNatiON]

I so love this song... I bump it everyday

[@exz0r.ex3]

Great song, Russian doll brought me here, great Netflix series... who knew a show about death would make you feel so full of life

[@spoonful1018]

Never seen Nilsson perform live - such sweet and simple music

[@IanJones942]

Like the others, Russian Doll brought me here ... and now I've gotta go binge the show again.

[@billtimmons4509]

I dedicate this tune to a dear friend who recently went onto the bigger journey that awaits us all, Patricia taught to LIVE everyday as if it was our last, and honestly everyday is our last, we just never know which day that is ? For a person who faced death on a daily basis, she choose to just live that day as if if it would never end, so my Dear Friend, 'Till we meet again' , I don't miss you, you are always in my mind and heart, especially when I wake up and hear your tune... 'Gotta Get Up' !!!!!!

[@MophineChild]

One day you will be reunited possibly. =)

[@TauricornA]

My eyes are watering reading this

[@teethsjuice]

Bill Timmons? Are you still alive? Bill? BILL?!?! He’s convulsing we’re gonna have to shock him These are the results of a thousand electric volts A neck with bolts "Nurse we're losing him, check the pulse!" A kid who refused to respect adults Wore spectacles with taped frames and a freckled nose A corny lookin' white boy, scrawny and always ornery 'Cause I was always sick of brawny bullies pickin' on me And I might snap, one day just like that I decided to strike back and flatten every tire on the bike rack My first day in junior high, this kid said "Just you and I, three o'clock sharp this afternoon you die" I looked at my watch it was one twenty "I already gave you my lunch money what more do you want from me?" He said, "Don't try to run from me, you'll just make it worse" My palms were sweaty, and I started to shake at first Something told me, "Try to fake a stomach ache, it works" I screamed, "Ow! My appendix feel like they could burst! Teacher, teacher, quick I need a naked nurse!" "What's the matter?" "I don't know, my leg, it hurts!" "Leg?! I thought you said it was your tummy?" "Oh, I mean it is, but I also got a bum knee!" "Mr. Mathers, the fun and games are over And just for that stunt, you're gonna get some extra homework" "But don't you want to give me after school detention?" "Nah, that bully wants to beat your ass and I'm a let him" Brain damage, ever since the day I was born Drugs, what they used to say I was on They say I never knew which way I was goin' But everywhere I go they keep playin' my song Brain damage, ever since the day I was born Drugs, what they used to say I was on They say I never knew which way I was goin' But everywhere I go they keep playin' my song Brain damage Way before my baby daughter Hailey I was harassed daily by this fat kid named D'Angelo Bailey An eighth grader who acted obnoxious, 'cause his father boxes So everyday he'd shove me in the lockers One day he came in the bathroom while I was pissin' And had me in the position to beat me into submission He banged my head against the urinal 'til he broke my nose Soaked my clothes in blood, grabbed me and choked my throat I tried to plead and tell him, "We shouldn't beef" But he just wouldn't leave, he kept chokin' me and I couldn't breathe He looked at me and said, "You gonna die honky!" The principal walked in and started helping him stomp me I made them think they beat me to death Holdin' my breath for like five minutes before they finally left Then I got up and ran to the janitor's storage booth Kicked the door hinge loose and ripped out the four inch screws Grabbed some sharp objects, brooms, and foreign tools "This is for every time you took my orange juice Or stole my seat in the lunchroom and drank my chocolate milk Every time you tipped my tray and it dropped and spilt I'm gettin' you back bully! Now once and for good I cocked the broomstick back and swung hard as I could And beat him over the head with it 'til I broke the wood Knocked him down, stood on his chest with one foot Made it home later that same day Started reading the comics, and suddenly everything became gray I couldn't even see what I was trying to read I went deaf, and my left ear started to bleed My mother started screamin', "What are you on, drugs?? Look at you, you're gettin' blood all over my rug!" (Stop!) She beat me over the head with the remote control Opened a hole and my whole brain fell out of my skull I picked it up and screamed, "Look bitch, what have you done?" "Oh my God, I'm sorry son" "Shut up you cunt!" I said, "Fuck it!" took it and stuck it back up in my head Then I sewed it shut and put a couple of screws in my neck Brain damage, ever since the day I was born Drugs, what they used to say I was on They say I never knew which way I was goin' But everywhere I go they keep playin' my song Brain damage, ever since the day I was born Drugs, what they used to say I was on They say I never knew which way I was goin' But everywhere I go they keep playin' my song Brain damage It's brain damage, I got brain damage It's brain damage, It's probably brain damage

[@billtimmons4509]

@@teethsjuice Yes I am by the Grace of God, such a sad last couple of years, Be well and Stay safe 😷🤗

[@CanadianOgre69]

Awesome! Just discovering Mr. Nilsson, much to my chagrin. I have no idea how it took this long, but I'm so impressed. Definitely an influence on Billy Joel, and probably many others.

[@moondogaudiojones1146]

This BBC performance was so brilliant. I hope we see more of Nilsson vids. Thanks!!

[@TheQ-Continuum]

This is refreshing to see a live performance like this. No miming or drum machines here. It just shows that most of today's acts can't perform like this. Harry Nilsson playing a paino and singing live unaccompanied. This is so uncomplicated and so simple !

[@NILSSONDE]

Harry would have been tickled, by your comments, coming from Q who new?

[@KING7CANTONA]

Drum machines are talent too

[@seanmachine]

what blows me away is how the whole song is so delicately harmonized, but then he busts out that chromatic shit right at the end.

[@darthmauldds]

wtf would downvote this, amiright???

[@iadorenewyork1]

He was great at song writing, playing the piano, and, of course, singing with that amazing voice.

[@flossie5432]

i remember watching this at the time and went straight out and bought the record.plus all the others he made... a wonderful singer-songwriter .thanks for posting.

[@CaiophoneBA]

This single...42 years ago today. Harry Lives On.

[@martabaum3698]

Doesn’t get any better than this !!! 🎶🎶🎶 😎 👍.

[@johannwolf1]

The Point was a whole family sing-along road trip in the VW camper bus favorite growing up.

[@PaulaProctor]

My early teens, Harry, you had a great influence upon me. Thank you. I am early 60s now. And I still follow you. Thank you

[@paradigmspodcast]

This man was a musical genius.

[@motocrossrider261]

Sweet Birthday Baby!!

[@Brian-os9qj]

Harry is not well known now, he should be appreciated forever. He is just so good.

[@Racquetballplayer76]

Love this version

[@wyeast7136]

One of a kind talent, tenderness, vulnerability. There's never going to be another Nilsson

[@stephensandberg5037]

Billy Joel must have been a giant Harry Neilson fan...Can you hear the similarities in their styles?...

[@lucyfur104]

billy was himself tho - i enjoyed both but harry makes me swoon lol

[@bluestate69]

I never noticed it before. You can definitely hear the Nilsson influence in Joel's inflection.

[@2degucitas]

For many years I thought this was a Joel song!!

[@Emmatd]

"Don't Ask Me Why" sounds like it could have been off of The Point.

[@bluestate69]

Emmatd I always thought "Don't Ask Me Why" sounded like a Paul McCartney style Beatle's song.

[@williamshrader272]

Good song

[@adamant2393]

Fantastic song. Pretty much like the entire body of Nilsson's work. It's so great to have access to all this via KZbin. Thanks for sharing.

[@kemchobhenchod]

Thank you so much Mr. Schmilsson

[@leyna7078]

Be loved this song since I was 3 im now 10 and my dad has his record that's how I now it my dad has 1k ish records and this is a sone on one of the records thumbs up👍

[@Mel_ilm]

A giant. A true genius. Too good for this world.

[@murph3001]

????? What are you talking about?????

[@notsureiL]

His voice is warm and awesome unique.

[@RayNDeere]

Absolutely a classic way to send someone on. Might use that song as well at my funeral.

[@mandyaromas476]

Loved Harry Nilsson now for 4 years and sad I didn’t discover him sooner.

[@mattieboombatti]

Thursday, what a concept!

[@stephenloflin9984]

I love this guy so much. The 5th Beatle.

[@robitaillefan20]

Great bar song lol . Love harry

[@lockedin60]

If you just stopped at his huge cover "Without You". Then you missed out on the genius and the talent of Harry!

[@moyii]

i cant stop listening to this song after watching russian doll

[@carolynzaremba5469]

He was a terrific singer. Wow, this is great.

[@teresahudson3442]

An artist in the true sense of the word. Definite influence with the Beatles.

[@jameslacey460]

It was McCartney or Lennon -- can't remember which -- who said he was their favorite and the best pop voice ever.

[@wungabunga]

It sounds exactly like a Paul McCartney song. The album title is brilliant!

[@doodoobutter101]

@@jameslacey460 both of them said it!

[@dentalnovember]

The hand slap shutting down the crowd. BOSS!

[@hyeryeong598gim3]

동영상보여주셔서감사합니다 해리닐슨초패왕님 다시 태어나기를 빌겠습니다

[@nuanceso]

Best album ever is Nilsson Sings Newman (as in Randy, another great) - a super album that wraps you in warm, sweet, nostalgic music that makes one yearn for an imagined past. Thanks for the post - always loved him!

[@kevin104z]

Happy b'day Harry!!

[@ftswarbill]

Amazing song.

[@kathleenneville7104]

Loved this man

[@randydewees7338]

This is a jewel.

[@Raiderfn31]

This is just art at its finest.

[@angus47371]

Need more original songs today featuring the piano!

[@HiNinqi]

Prof brought me here! what a great sample. holy cow

[@franward-jones7496]

I had this as the B side of Without You on a 45rmp Vinyl

[@hsin-yuchou8940]

SWEET BIRTHDAY BAAAAAABY!

[@suzyloo21]

When I was 14, I played this just to get up but as I but as I listened during growing up, I realized this kind of Pretty Dirty lyrics LOL omg. 😆

[@lonecrapshooter67]

great version, thanks for posting

[@MrPoppies1976]

Russian Dolls brought me. This is now my alarm

[@artcalderon9451]

Oh my god, mine too HAHAHAHA

[@die_gina]

the last 3 Seconds - hilarious!!! :D :D

[@ishanrox112]

2:40 I've rewatched it so many times. 😂

[@KerriElizabeth98]

The story goes that someone was chatting with George about which of Harry's songs was his favorite. George answered that it was "You're Breakin' My Heart." With that answer, George and others around all broke out into an a-capella version of the song... singing around the grave the famous punchline. It was a moment said to be 'perfectly Harry.' Hopefully you are familiar with the song... if not, you must have a listen.

[@wdchefdave56]

I used to think he was British! Homegrown American... and half of the Beatles loved him. And, Ringo made a movie with him. I used this song as an alarm clock (rigging my stereo that would turn on with a built-in timer.) John Lennon and he had many drunken adventures... and I'm sure that Tommy Smothers remembers. Anyway... nobody did it like Nilsson. If John and Paul are your fans... check out "Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why Is Everybody Talkin' About Him?)". It's good fer ya!

[@subg8858]

Ringo played on harry's early 70s albums too

[@TheGBs1972]

Brilliant

[@marcushaupt1564]

Happy 9th Birthday, Lisa!

[@robertkostanczuk5015]

Such a special talent!

[@Chesterton7]

The best.

[@synthdude]

Very difficult tune to do live - he even did the "tape speeding up" at the of the track! Note to any young vocalists - this was done *without* any pitch correction software. What you see is what you get. How many current "stars" would dare expose their ability this way...

[@MackB2023]

Genius

[@BixRibene]

All the Beatles loved him there is a great quote about George Harrison at Harry's funeral when asked what his favourite Nilsson song was... :)

[@philipw3419]

Me and my brother used to prefer this to the A side. Without you.We were 10 and 12.

[@mellotronage]

I'm no singer, but... This song would take some vocal dexterity.....

[@quinn79]

i love this wee song great :)

[@quinn79]

ha yes

[@OG_Keith]

Leroy Calibo HE IS THE 5TH BEATLE

[@quinn79]

Keith Castillo :)

[@mmeditatio]

Keith Castillo more talented than all of em

[@Madbandit77]

Leroy Calibo I think he was.

[@ProfPedroHenrique]

Sweet Birthay Baby !

[@vannburen]

Fantastic !

[@tossmeacarrot]

I love 'used to do the rock and roll.' Nobody like Harry Nilsson.

[@Quark1217]

I would like to see some of our so called "Musicians" of today perform the way Harry did back then.

[@dracotaurid1]

I made this my wife’s ringtone. God Russian Doll was awesome!

[@robjune14]

The first album I bought in 1972!

[@mortaldilemmas5636]

Super nice.

[@diogomori9624]

I didn't know he was also that good on piano

[@JaCeeMusic]

Luv you, Harry!

[@jamescrue]

God bless him.

[@Poopaloo55]

Damn that's good.

[@drumdude46]

Despite that we clearly know this is 'Harry.....anyone else totally 'hear...Billy Joel here? Man...i do. Not saying 'one borrowed from the other' or anything...in fact, i don't think Joel had quite 'made it' in 1971....that would come just a few short years later, but Man!...do i hear Billy Singing this equally... can't help it. Still... We love Harry. 'Everybody's talkin' at me'. My Fav. What a song!

[@mwells219]

Damn Larry Bird was a good songwriter.

[@stevefleming8742]

Was just thinking he looked like the greatest basketball player of all time yesterday

[@WilliamMignoliTheArchivist]

you mean Nillson Schmilson was a great basketball player too?

[@marksme]

People said he was not very friendly, in fact they said worse, but his talent was special.

[@JamieBarrington]

Please don't hate me older fans, but sweet birthday, baby!!!

[@laurabeane8862]

Sweet. Sweethaven. God. Must love us....

[@OrisLover]

That's cool!