Jonathan Richman - The Bus Song & Roberto the Trainer (with Julia Sweeney) [May 1994]

[Stereo] Mr. Richman again appears on this late night USTV program, performing a couple of numbers. He is assisted by SNL alum, Julia Sweeney, on the second song, making this the second time they have performed such a duet on this show.

[@sh230968]

Everybody on the planet must watch this video. Makes you forget about everything for a few minutes.

[@jakoblancaster1099]

spot on

[@Semiautodidact]

Jonathan does not get enough appreciation for his guitar playing, it's the best

[@jamiethomas6701]

HE MIGHT GET MORE APPRECIATION FOR HIS GUITAR, IF HE STOPPED SINGING, IF YOU CAN CALL IT THAT.

[@rubtub1464]

Jamie Thomas roasted...

[@rubberchix]

@@jamiethomas6701 fool

[@herbalbert]

Yeah dude, NO STRAP! But for real I've always thought the same, he's a great guitar player

[@pyrrho314]

well yeah but my appreciation is worth like 1000 others so it adds up. American Working Class Hero.

[@landowalker5479]

Jonathan Richman is so filled with goodness and humanity, I almost always end up crying when listening to his performances.

[@salarycats]

Yeah. And I sleep fine

[@samblonde8608]

"im the same size in Holland"

[@keesvandenbos2016]

I attended his show on May 5th, 1994 in Haarlem, The Netherlands (aka Holland). Liberation festival in the Haarlemmerhout Park, because WW2 ended that day in The Netherlands, 1945...

[@sh230968]

​@@keesvandenbos2016 Did you observe any size enlargement or any discernable bloating or was he actually the same size in Holland?

[@keesvandenbos2016]

@@sh230968 Well this was 29 years ago so who knows......anything was possible in these days

[@mj.l]

Jonathan is the greatest.

[@humboldtgift9462]

Saw JR live about 7 years before this clip was filmed. Great show at a wonderful but not-so-packed venue in Austin, and I was standing at the front. After the last song, as the crowd was clapping, JR took a few steps toward the front of the stage...then casually jumped off. He landed right in front of me, and looked at me quizzically with tilted head, the way a dog looks when confused. I just said, "Hey Jonathan, excellent set," and shook his hand. He thanked me in his boyish, good-natured way. The encounter did make me wonder how much of his persona is a stage act, but nonetheless, it was a great moment in concert-going for me.

[@thebutcher60606]

That just made me smile.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

I've seen him many times but the first time I saw him in my hometown he played a nightclub on a Saturday night the week after valentines and he was about three songs in to a modest size crowd for that sized venue when hordes of clubbers poured in Glammed up to the max expecting there to be DJs as per usual and heavy acid house dance music! This performance, that you've uploaded here, reminds me of that because there was disbelief, shouts & yells but our Jojo just kept on doing what he does and about halfway through the set everyone and I mean EVERYONE was absolutely loving it; dancing in the aisles; singing along to the choruses and at the end they were begging him for encore after encore 😂

[@Lambert1386]

Absolutely wonderful.

[@vintagevhsarchive]

May 17, 1994 Thanks!

[@MozzStk]

How is every song so good? How did I never know of him until recently? I can see why some of his stuff is considered proto-punk: his songs are short, immediately catchy and often written about silly topics.

[@nickbigd]

Check out his stuff with Modern Lovers and then the proto punk really makes sense

[@herbalbert]

Jonathan needs to be back on Conan as soon as possible

[@jayare5483]

I can't wait to see him at Beach Goth next month.... Whoop whoop!!!

[@randusapplecorn7277]

JAY ARE ME EITHR

[@felipejaranda7332]

I’m 18 and thank god i know who Jonathan Richman is he’s my fucking idol

[@mikelord9860]

I think he woulda fit in quite nicely in the 50s - goofy yet wholesome. I wonder if he still lives life without a cellphone.

[@SuperSmiley1981]

I don’t think Jonathan appreciated that Julia told Conan about the song! (6:38)😂😂 I love him 😂

[@gilwood7530]

GENIUS

[@mattgilbert7347]

I dream of a Conan with Jonathan and Norm MacDonald. Did that ever happen?

[@mikesmith-pj7xz]

And Norm Macdonald 😎

[@snakefinger812]

I sure hope Julia didn’t think of herself as fat. She’s a babe !

[@theunrealtimemm]

We can only assume that Julietta is not Miss Sweeney, since she's not remotely fat.

[@olimauricestromberg93]

Sent down by God

[@AnthonyMonaghan]

Just make sure it's not Bus 1170 Jonathan.

[@paulmarsh9544]

He looks very small next to Julia

[@StevieZero]

Talks like Yogi Bear

[@knotwilg3596]

Jonathan knows the secret of performance: keep character and overcome the initial awkwardness until the crowd decides to fall in love with it.

[@averyadrian1534]

What a beautiful person… The world needs more people like him

[@sike1917]

The way he fucking wins the crowd over. The absolute master.

[@therajgreek420]

What a performance! Amazing how he interacts with the crowd. Even something simple like when they all start to cheer after the minor bit and he extends the song and changes the key and does a nice change in the chord progression to finish it...!!! It's the simple things eh

[@gregschroeder5723]

I concur. People say great performers play the crowds first, then their instruments. This is a perfect example. He starts out slow and tentative, to match the tone of the audience, then as they loosen up and get energize, he matches them. It makes for a very uplifting experience for everyone.

[@rubberchix]

@@gregschroeder5723 that's one thing to do at an open Mic. mad bastard was on telly hahaha. he's the best

[@BrianKishreviews]

i guess i knew so little about jonathan....i assumed that he was a distant character but he's essentially ready to go as a kid entertainer. after this and modern lovers 88", i have newfound respect!

[@nancymattice2886]

Wat back in 86 I drove my almost 3 year old from Albany NY to Hoboken NJ to see Jonathan play a a kids show at the Knitting Factory. Mind you, my son was already a fan from songs such as Double Chicolate Malted, Nature’s Mosquito and I’m a Little Airplane. Anyway , Jonathan was so great with the kids. He sat in the floor with them like any kids musician at a local library. He even crawled around on the floor with them while singing “ I’m a little dinosaur.”

[@avvvqvvv99]

@@nancymattice2886 that's awesome

[@stephensavioli5930]

Harpo Marx lives on

[@gambarunner]

I was thinking the same thing!

[@jakeyboy261992]

i think this guy must have had an influence on how flight of the conchords make there songs

[@genez429]

Yes! There is a synergy! Conan said that just while I was thinking.. when Jonathan Richman is around Conan, he takes on a very relaxed and happy way about him. Both are good natured, and both have a very loving mischievousness about them. They are like family.

[@pyrrho314]

the most lovable pre-punk musician ever! an american treasure!

[@sh230968]

Best lyrics in the song about the trainer. So funny and enjoyable. I don't mind when he tells me I am fat. Written by a highly intelligent person.

[@patrick4662]

I freaking loved that song

[@aileenduncan1317]

Can't decide if this is shite or brilliant but it made me smile and look for more JR.

[@smoggyboy6365]

if ya smiled it ain't shit n did its job

[@BobbyGeneric145]

Its brilliant in that it is catchy, takes massive talent to create, is completely authentic with no equal, and the Velvet Underground saw enough in him as a teen to bring him into their circle.

[@olimauricestromberg93]

no pretention all authentic, it's brilliant

[@sh230968]

He is really intelligent at sticking to the style he has made his hallmark. He knows the art of entertaining people. He is talented, original, and genuinely funny. If he amuses me, which he consistently does, why would I ask the question you did. He qualifies for brilliance.

[@ScottDanielson-fc1ur]

This guy is talking he might as well be a rapper he can't sing to save himself. Well perhaps this whole thing is a comedy act

[@panther105]

Such a sweet soul.....

[@binkymagnus]

this sparks joy.

[@sh230968]

Keep singing Jonathan. We are not going anywhere. Listening to you is a lot of fun.

[@rickrick2137]

I wish jr was my dad.

[@charlescross1500]

amazing

[@stay.mellow.]

GREAT SUPER AWESOME

[@oldnatty61]

If you take the bus be real careful in bus stop bathrooms.

[@petarjovicic3311]

I come back every year for this

[@lawrencescott2824]

Kiss me on the Bus, weelll, Don't you cuss

[@lawrencescott2824]

Roberto Duran Duran

[@dianecristina3319]

Greyhound Memories!

[@manualboyca]

I LOVE This!

[@eddieburrelli]

Brilliant.

[@vt1476]

Julia’s laugh is infectious and Jonathan is charm embodied. So happy I caught this performance. And just get hold and that young Conan. C l a s s i c.

[@PBDCooper]

The quality of the songs and his ability to be an entertainer ... Jonathan Richman it is!!!

[@lawrencescott2824]

Hootenanny with JR,Salt Lake City, Reno hear we come. ..Conan ya Lugnarian

[@festivitycat]

I need some way of channeling his confidence

[@Freddy-Da-Freeloadah]

@6:51 Roberto The Trainer. IMHO

[@patrick4662]

they should record that roberto song

[@supersumenko]

man's a genious..

[@CookieZ3353]

Americana front porch storytelling still alive and well. Cute duet with Julia, RIP.

RIP ? Every one in this video are still alive. At least some member of the band.

[@mayflower2370]

Interesting character...

[@ultzisakhain]

2 Bostonians...

[@bingbongtoysKY]

🤘❤️‍🔥🤘

[@abrahamkennedy652]

Think this was influenced by Johnny Cash?

[@miss_jess]

Yah I get that vibe too

[@miss_jess]

I mean it's from his country album (Jonathan Richman Goes Country) so maybe he consciously emulated Cash

[@sh230968]

Two opposite characters. There you have the adorable Jonathan and a totally detestable Conan. One is brimming with humility and genuineness but the other is full of me-ism and is a hollow showoff.

[@maissinp]

Whats the FUSS!

[@grimlyfiendish5579]

damn and i thought Bob Dylan was annoying,ugly,and weird. This dude has him beat.

[@felixcharles9773]

Imagine calling yourself GrimlyFiendish and thinking you have the right to judge anyone lmao

[@thepuppethead1188]

pfft could you imagine being this much of a pretentious asshole?

[@jimbailey5681]

Go cruise the bathroom

[@sh230968]

If there is anything like a Nobel prize for entertaining people, please give it to Jonathan. He is sweet and easy. Pretty much the opposite of Bob Dylan. Actually, Jonathan is of higher stature IMHO.

[@bfunderb5899]

is this a joke?

[@perraccca]

Clever dude.