Rhythm of Life - Sammy Davis Jr.

[@shirleypena4133]

In the entire history of cinema, this is easily one of the GREATEST musical numbers ever performed, largely due to the truly phenomenal performance of the legendary Sammy Davis Jr., in addition to the sterling choreography created by the late, great Bob Fosse. It's impossible to overstate just how incredibly talented and versatile Sammy was; no performer today comes anywhere near him. He's truly mesmerizing!! RIP to one of the GREATEST artists who ever graced this earth, Sammy Davis Jr. 🥰👍

[@mariedewitt5033]

Reminds me so much of Fosse's War number from Pippin

[@KPate-y5z]

For some reason the track is not available on Spotify by Sammy Davis Jr.

[@theweirdgiraffe4323]

wish there was an interview of Sammy discussing the making of this scene....and yes, it's totally awesome, beautiful and full of life. One of a kind

[@carol1938ann]

Had to share a wonderful Sammy memory. Sammy was famous but not yet connected with the Vegas groups. We knew him from TV with incredible singing and dancing. He was coming to Cleveland in a bitter cold winter like the one we are having. All the roads were blocked with snow. Planes were grounded. We slowly filled the downtown Palace Theater and waited and hoped he would make it. He showed up 2 hours late, having hired a train to bring him here. He put on an incredible show. He sang and danced and played the drums and joked and talked with us and never left the stage for an evening this 80 year old woman will never forget. There was no one like him.

[@leslie6049]

Carol Lara .. wow thank you for sharing that! It gave me chills! Ooh if I could habe seen Sammy perform I would have waiting also!

[@ThatTimeIFell]

Such a great performer. It seems that everyone who saw him live, was left with an amazing and lasting impression of him. I was told stories when buying a cd of his, by someone who'd seen him live in London in the sixties. They spoke about it like it was yesterday, with exactly the same passion as you. Being a child of the seventies, I never had the opportunity to see him perform live (I discovered him too late), but I did get a proposal to one of his songs (which was accepted).

[@ScrittiSparkle]

oh what a story to tell for future ears,so great

[@lauramacgillefhinnein5106]

Oh you lucky people. Your patience paid off. The man was star 🌟 personified & obviously wasn't going to let you all down.

[@holyspacemonkey]

Thank you for sharing that memory!!

[@sherman4970]

Does anyone else find this so very mesmerising?? There is just something about it,,it’s awesome!!!!!

[@lindawilson5487]

I agree🤗

[@OofusTwillip]

It has a baroque structure of interwoven melodies and rhythms, like Bach's works or Handel's Messiah.

[@tomshea8382]

@@OofusTwillip Cy Coleman was the business, man.

[@simonjones7727]

Yes, it is stunning. Like the title sequence of "Charade" (Henry Mancini and Saul Bass on top form), here you have Coleman and Fields on top form, Bob Fosse on top form, Sammy Davis Junior and Shirley MacLaine also all on top form. Aren't the costumes by Edith Head? That is quite a talented crew!

[@jonsampiro]

The crucifixion imagery at 1:00 and again at 3:20 is amazing. I wonder if it raised any eyebrows at the time.

[@petejones879]

The coolest cat in Hollywood and one hell of an entertainer. Great singer dancer and film star. The man had it all

[@jacquelinerookes2247]

Next year ,he will be celebrating 100 years old,miss you😢

[@elizabethmurphy9384]

He had so many styles in this song, pop rock soul, patter, fugue, gospel, scatting, all completely comfortable for him. I hope he and Fosse had fun putting this together. It was great to see him supported by great photography and choreography.

[@paulasuniverse5029]

💯

[@MikeThomasFaria]

Fun? Maybe. But generally they worked their asses off! And it pays!

[@RvrGrl80]

One of the best songs ever put on film. EVER.

[@haltownsend620]

Definitely!!

[@salukitrader]

Our 8th grade choir in the conservative American Midwest sang this in 1977 and our choir director almost lost his job!

[@rogermwilcox]

@@salukitrader : I sang this at least twice in Junior High and High School choirs in the 1970s. The choral version had "cleaned up" lyrics, with the whole "let's start a cult and get everyone hooked" aspect scrubbed out.

[@amybrannen8023]

No argument here!😄

[@annarlen667]

Totally agree.

[@DavidFMayerPhD]

I was once privileged to see Sammy Davis, Jr, IN PERSON at an outdoor venue at night. Some 10,000 people were spread out on a grassy park. When he came out on stage, there was UTTER SILENCE. Not even a whisper could be heard. The audience was so spellbound that it was incredible. He was truly World's Greatest Entertainer.

[@ericabatts4467]

I never knew this song was from a movie. We sing this in chorus back in middle school... in 1997

[@DeidreL9]

I don’t know if anyone knows how popular he was in Australia. There was no one like him, he was the consummate performer and could he ever sing. Thank you Sammy!❤️

[@nolaformentin1982]

I used to love watching him on the Perth Telethons. Watching him sing Mr Bojangles live on TV was a treat

[@BobbyTheBoxer]

I can remember being a young boy in Australia in the 1960's and my parents telling me that Sammy Davis Jr was the "greatest entertainer in the world."

[@andrewthornhill7042]

@Deidre L Yes, Sammy seemed to be forever out here, appearing on all the top TV shows like Mike Walsh and Don Lane.

[@jacquelinerookes2247]

He is very popular in Malaysia

[@kittyglitter5376]

Why, oh why, was this movie considered a “flop”! I absolutely adore this movie!

[@OofusTwillip]

It had a downbeat ending, like the stage version. That ending was later replaced with a happy ending, because American audiences demand happy endings. The same thing happened to the movie version of "Little Shop of Horrors". Preview audiences forced them to do a happy ending.

[@simonjones7727]

By the time it came out fashions were changing. Musicals of any kind seemed old hat, Flower Power and hippies had been done to death in the media and the coyness about Charity's true "profession" seemed fake. However, as almost everyone who saw the movie in the generations that followed on its many TV re-runs realised it is a masterpiece, as is the stage show it is based on. Great music, great lyrics, great perforrmances, great costumes and perhaps some of the best choreography of all time in anything. In an odd way too its "fantasy" version of the 60s has over time displaced the reality. How to put this: actual 60s drop outs did not go around in Edith Head and Pucci (unless they were perhaps The Beatles or Donovan). I suspect centuries from now people will still be watching this in awe.

[@aharon59]

I didn`t know it was considered a flop. I was a huge, though very young, fan of both Shirley and Sammy and for me seeing this movie on television for the first time is one of those treasured memories of childhood, as far away from a flop as you can possibly get. It may not have made money but it remains a wonderful slice of musical genius in my eyes.

[@liduck52]

Because it didn't do well at the box office.

[@trainman42dude]

Because the mainstream Hollywood 'critics' called it one for not doing well at the box office. I learned early on that if critics didn't like a movie, I would definitely love it!! Sweet Charity is a fine example of that. It is a wonderful movie!!!

[@janebuchanan3684]

Best song in the whole film.

[@tessasparrow5881]

Definitely, but the whole film is pretty special. I love it.

[@Arabesque42]

I think Hey Big Spender is as equally as good!

[@simonjones7727]

Something Better Than This, Big Spender, If They Could See Me Now, Where Am I Going?, I'm A Brass Band, I Love To Cry At Weddings, Rhythm of Life. Sweet Charity is a masterpiece, no? Good book, too. The failure of the movie is harder and harder to understand. So many sequences are not just good but like the Best Thing Ever. I remember watching it as a child when it would be re-run on British TV. Mesmerized by it then and now. Love it!

[@corey57255]

He’s so completely in charge of the music. Absolutely perfect rhythm, diction, movement, etc

[@davefk]

How the people of those generations had true talent. Blows me away.

[@karenbullock1448]

I can't stop watching this - it's the grooviest thing I've ever heard or seen!

[@careful...Icarus]

My brother was a porter/waiter at a Hyatt in the late 70s. Sammy was staying there as he had a stretch at the Latin Casino. He came in with sooo many bags. My brother went up as Mr. Davis had a few requests. Turns out most of the bags were pots and pans,a couple burners etc. Sammy was about to cook for his crew and needed a few spices and some onions from the kitchen. He was singing and holding court as he cooked. He gave my brother a $50 dollar bill tip which in like 1978 was a lotta dough for a 18 year old, and signed a picture for him which Sammy had one of his guys get for him. It says " Thanks,Carl for the spice of life". And he got a bowl of that stew and rice to boot. Just an all around class act human and a mean cook too. Sorely missed even now. My brother Carl and Mr. Sammy Davis Jr.

[@aeropilot4419]

I consider him one of the greatest entertainers that ever lived, he’s certainly a favorite of mine

[@marystele1197]

Absolutely Fantastic performance given by all. TIMESLESS WOW!!! !' I'm blown awa. and so grateful we can watch this timeless masterpieces on KZbin. Thank You 💖💖💖 Grate

[@PeterG1975]

This song and the choreography are timeless. Heartening for anyone struggling with life’s vissisitudes.

[@jillgooner]

I always play that incredible peice of musical history when im fed up. Its uplifting and never fails to raise my mood😀

[@hugohackenbush3524]

I'm well into my 60s now and from London, England. Whenever Sammy came over to perform at the Palladium for the Royal Variety Performance I'd be glued to our old b&w 22" screen tv (we thought it was big!) I absolutely loved watching Sammy dance and sing, tell jokes, goof around with the audience (never crude, never swore) and he was funnier than most stand-ups. I also really enjoyed his films, from Robin and the Seven Hoods to Oceans Eleven et al. Sammy could do it all and with style. R.I.P Sammy x 🙏🏻🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧

[@gypsytricia]

I just have to keep replaying this every few days to feel right with the world. Sammy is so sorely missed. 😢🥰🎶🎵🎶👏🏼💗

[@BramblebeeMcCartney]

PERFECT! Just Perfection !!!

[@jillgooner]

that man was rythm through and through. His body movement was incredible one minute he sounded like a soul singer and then at the end like a tenor. no one could touch him a far as being and all round entertainer. what a genius. I watch this on a regular basis and it never fails to make me smile. The choreography is so clever its hillarious but very clever at the same time. I love the use of the hands and fingers. The greatest performer of all time,

[@maa-ess9589]

Bob Fosse choreography...genius

[@RBS_]

...an AMAZING display of counterculture satire, impeccable choreography, intricate editing / filming, and LEGENDS as far as the eye can SEE (Ben Vereen, Shirley MacClaine, & Sammy Davis Jr.)!! ..Sammy wasn't a 'technical' Dancer, but showed here he can adapt, AND put his own style on it, making him hipper than HELL, when this was filmed in 1968 / 1969! ....sock it TO them, "Big Daddy"!!! (2:57)

[@lisalaunius7389]

OMG that is Ben Vereen. I missed that.

[@Mia7189]

Guy with the crazy 'fro behind Sammy - Ben Vereen. SO glad that this exists. I'm in my early 60's and I grew up watching this talented man on every TV show from Hollywood Palace to Charlies' Angels and beyond. My parents took me to see him in 'Stop the World, I want to get off'. It's a bit bothersome that may younger people are not aware of this man and his talent.

[@nubianqueen9675]

He was also in Roots

[@rebeccaconklin1679]

He also does the splits in the nightclub scene early in the picture.

[@Starisborne]

The way he says fly with the bass of his chest voice gives me goosebumps

[@nancyfoote2647]

Utterly mezmorizing

[@OofusTwillip]

One of the three tambourine-players behind him is the great Ben Vereen, who would later star as the Lead Player in the Broadway musical, "Pippin", directed & chorrographed by Bob Fosse.

[@Carlos-im2jp]

Seeing this, I realize what a fabulous performer Sammy was

[@bew3016]

Our middle school choir teacher made us sing this song every year, and I literally just found out it’s from this movie.

[@lesmartinsings]

The greatest entertainer that ever lived they called him, and weren't wrong. I read now that soon Paramount will be working on a biopic of the great mans life. And ardent fan Lionel Ritchie will be involved amongst others with production. Not before time and thanks !

[@pam0626]

Les Martin Happy to year this. I worry about these iconic performers like Sammy and Sinatra will be forgotten. Millennials have no idea who they are...

[@davidcraig75]

At the time, Sammy was fighting cancer , sick , tired , pilled up , to his testament he was a entertainer , professional, Broadway icon . He did this in one take , unable to do things he could do before his sickness , he shorten moves , tighten gestures and relied on his stellar cast to make this perfect , LONG LIVE SAMMY , YOU ARE MISSED,

[@deneenjeffries2768]

David Craig he didn’t get cancer until the late 80s wasn’t this movie made in 1969. Now he did suffer some other illnesses during his career, but he had no cancer then

[@kahetel13]

Beautiful testimony :) !

[@patrogers1369]

@@kahetel13 Sammy is the best , it just shows you when life gives a lemon , you do the impossible . Sammy is looking down ,and realizes he has 2 great friends . Thanks for the reply . David

[@snoovian7951]

Deneen Jeffries While that’s still sad to know, I’m glad he didn’t have cancer when filming this. All I have is a stye right now, but I’m still dreading dance class,

[@Richard44077]

Way too many camera angles to do in one take. This was shot in multiple takes in multiple angles and edited to make a beautiful scene.

[@gwynnielsen5081]

I would agree that Sammy was the "world's greatest entertainer." It is interesting how you don't hear the word "entertainer" used that much anymore.

[@dublv3230]

Never been a fan of musicals, Sammy just changed my mind!

[@neilchuckbarnard857]

The coolest cat there ever was... Sammy!!! 🥰

[@MarkHyde]

The vibrant energy from experienced talent - this clip never fails to satisfy - Davis Jr was indeed one of the greatest superstar entertainers out there.

[@vincejelineo748]

SO well put...

[@kovuphoenix9666]

Thought this song was a fever dream. I sung this for three years in primary school for choir

[@mariadelpilarcambrabrown4176]

Such a perfect, perfect meld of song and choreography but also such a prescient depiction of what is involved in belonging to a cult (it goes from flying to swimming and then to crawling) I can hardly think of a better sequence.

[@Melissajamesbristow123]

I member watching this with my dad when I was about 6 or 7. ☺ This is a nice memory! 😂😍😘

[@jeanr6948]

Saw this in 1969 aged 16 and it stayed with me for over 50 years and now I have KZbin - I am over the mean - stunning choreography and film art!

[@rebeccaconklin1679]

I grew up in theater, so I knew quite a number of good performers as people. Watching this performance, I realize Sammy Davis, Jr., is one I would really have liked to know personally.

[@Mumscup]

Perfect song including Short education on cults . Amazing.

[@RedBud315]

I guarantee that no one can watch a Sammy Davis Jr video without a huge smile on their face. Being related to the Mastin family I am fortunate enough to be a Golden Key holder to his gravesite at Forest Lawn. To me Sammy is the original one name act before Elvis, Liberace, Cher, etc.

[@tessasparrow5881]

Oh, how I love Sammy Davis Jr. What an incredibly talented man. His voice is beyond awesome, and he could dance and... oh, just wonderful. I've loved him all my life.

[@DavidWilson-ix9rn]

I have 13 of sammy's L.Ps no one to leave them to. Plus just about every book on him.

[@retrothingz]

Like Sinatra, Sammy had the most superb diction. I remember when I saw him here in Melbourne, Australia around the late 1970s. The stadium show was produced as a TV special for the Nine network and it's here on YT. I was only a teenager and it was my first experience of seeing one of the old school stars like Sammy. I walked out of the venue utterly stunned. I had never seen a performance like it . His power, energy and sheer professionalism was breath taking. Later, I saw Frank who was just as spellbinding on a different way.

[@iamtheassassinofjoy]

Thank you so much for sharing this - forever my favorite rendition of this song, the various revival versions never compare. Sammy was definitely one of a kind.

[@carol1938ann]

Wow. I am singing this in a chorus version and listened to several choral versions that were good, but when I got to Sammy, he nailed it! Thank you very much for sharing this!

[@alayna286]

I sang this for chorus back in middle school...there was a lot of changing up the lyrics to make it appropriate for 11-13 year olds to sing in front of their parents 🤣🤣🤣

[@mounir8772]

@@alayna286 vrije school?🤣

[@j.michaelboland8414]

Sweet Charity! If My Friends Could See Me Now watching Sammy sing The Rhythm of Life.

[@scopex2749]

Strange how a song pop into ones head after many years - I was just stood making a sandwich snapping my fingers and this awesome song that I have not heard in an eternity came to mind - then thanks to a search on You Tube here it is THE INCREDIBLE SAMMY DAVIS JR! I was a child of the 60's and heard this many times on the radio - free love and peace and all that (we could use some of that AND SAMMY in 2020! I loved his 'Mr Bojangles' which always makes my face wet................THANK YOU SAMMY! GROOVY DADDY -O

[@janicejones8598]

Fantastic musical piece, amazing choreography, great song, so hip, and Sammy Davis Junior is just wonderful. A talented and sexy man xx

[@ScottWFieldsVO]

Love this clip!! I'm 61, have been a fan of Sammy's since the early 70's.

[@henrywyman2710]

A one off.we will never see a star like this again

[@tessasparrow5881]

In my opinion, he outshone all his contemporaries.

[@kazkazzie3906]

So true.

[@kazkazzie3906]

@@tessasparrow5881 he was a triple threat. Singer, Dancer, Actor......Wow!

[@merce10554]

An out of the ballpark, spectacular performer. Nothing and no one like him. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@thevizkid]

I've never seen this before!

[@TimSimms7]

Check out “Big Spender” from the same film. Bob Fosse was a genius, pure and simple. Enjoy!

[@neiljones8917]

This was one of the songs I had on my wedding night.....pure class!!!

[@YungChillunerr69]

I remember watching this in 6th grade for music class. This was my favorite scene, for most obvious reasons, and i remembered it ever since then.

[@pelawkeith1568]

Excellent song excellent film x

[@johngalvin3124]

We don't have the talent to comment on a man this gifted....

[@phantasmalphasmidzoo8280]

We had to sing this in primary school

[@murjanipeterson9825]

Fosse was the $#!+ Can’t nobody argue with that Love me some fosse He was genius in everything he did

[@proinloin]

May Bob Fosse rest in peace for all eternity. The choreographer among choreographers

[@SaraTheMoose]

We sang this in choir in intermediate school. I never knew this was the real lyrics 🤣

[@SkaterSammo]

Came here to have the same realisation!

[@zebra2615]

What a great song and SDJ just nails it. Oh and sock it to me taken from Laugh In which had just come on the air.

[@SaraTheMoose]

@@Bibiana862 they changed the lyrics to be more child friendly. Including taking our parts about leaving your common law wife.

[@boojay111]

the best ever Sammy D and the whole scene is a gem

[@blackrice24]

He nailed this amazing! This is my first time seeing this, I wanna see the whole movie.

[@aharon59]

I first saw this movie on television somewhere in the mid 70`s and I`m not sure if I`ve ever seen it since but this song and this performance stuck in my head , for some reason I remembered it being very colorful but that the colors were green orange and red. One thing I got right in my memory was what a great performance Sammy gave and how very entertaining it is to watch. Time has actually improved it.

[@amberdeal4997]

What a treat! Thank you !

[@micheleoreilly]

"The rhythm of life of is a powerful beat!" ❤️

[@msebulke]

"crawl to daddy" ^^ Super choreo and music Greetings from Germany..........

[@winebox]

I don't know what it is but when he tip toes into that garage pit-it's just delightful.

[@EvaDoran1]

Sammy ! What of the few MEGASTARS we have ever had on this earth. Phenomenal talent. Forgive us for all the racism you had to face through your career. They weren’t fit to lick your boots.

[@sibellamillward1807]

Ahhh what an amazing video! I’m in a musical theatre dance for this song and it matches the envy perfect

[@jeanvocalist]

Sammy Davis is beautiful.I miss him so much. He always gave 1000 per cent in all his performance. Thanks for creating this official channel for Sammy!

[@KennethTookesII]

Love me some Sammy Davis Jr; which this performance is everything! I definitely see that R&B singer Brandy’s video “Baby Mama” pays homage to this!!!

[@britishtomlad3679]

Im doing sweet charity on college and im playing the role of daddy, now seeing what I have to do im dreading this 🤣🤣

[@池田由美子-h7o]

If I could write a song like this once in my life...

[@freya8133]

We used to "sing" this (with slightly modified lyrics) in chorus class. We were horrible!! But this is fantastic!

[@sharonsumari6027]

Taehyung omggg, I am really blessed, thank you sm for recomendate this incredible artist

[@stefannikola]

As an atheist, this may be as close to the divine as I’ll ever get.

[@pam0626]

Can you imagine Sammy Davis, Jr. & Prince sharing a stage?

[@majaturner9066]

That would be too amazing... Bet they are both singing for the seraphim. 💜

[@aeropilot4419]

@@majaturner9066 Oh my God, what a concept

[@hiridavidfeign]

We didn't deserve Sammy. He was a gift.

[@TheTirado2]

We had to sing this in jr high chorus class, hard song to learn but well worth it once everyone was in sync! Sammy would hve been proud daddy O!

[@wolfie854]

Wonderful performance.

[@catsangels10]

Fabulous song, gets me moving every time !

[@paul16451]

If more churches operated like this one with lead singers like Sammy, I'm sure a LOT more people would attend!

[@jaustengirl441]

It’s a cult.

[@grimerabrown9554]

This is absoloutly gorgeous. I stumbled into it because we sing this song in choir and I loved it from the first time I heard it.

[@peknive8331]

Same but we were dancing to it in jazz class during summer

[@wc6220]

Surely Sammy was the best overall American entertainer of all time?? 10/10. 💕💕💕💕

[@johnnieveight4925]

I remember watching this as a youngster, it’s still as good now as I remember it, need to find the full movie.

[@pollyfoofoo8703]

Still epic, after all these years

[@daveculver9299]

Grew up on this, The best music, Sammy Davis was a one off, The Best ever

[@wgrady222]

I loved Sammy Davis jnr, love this i remember 1960s well. Hippy power🥰

[@EdgiB0Do]

They had me singing this in Primary School. Man that was a good school!

[@sig13]

Seat ateca?

[@marioa.g.8610]

Yes

[@martinforbes6570]

Guinness!

[@smusaful]

What a showman!

[@archangelrevelations9532]

Sammy Davis Jr. Is killin it. Hit the floor and crawl to daddy. Crawl, crawl, crawl to daddy. Sink or dive. Swim to daddy. DADDY? Daddy. Ooooo. Daddy.

[@RaspberryHugs]

Tbf that hit differently in 1969

[@TigerTigz.]

Nice song and performance.

[@adambrocklehurst4211]

Well that cheered me up.

[@Shindai]

As someone who's only heard this song performed by Welsh choirs... wow. Damn, I love this song a lot

[@soniaellington8056]

I love this so much! Sammy Davis Jr was fantastic in this performance. I always play this to cheer me up!

[@stevengriffin7873]

Thanks to the joy of being able to watch this masterpiece Sammy Davis Jr is fantastic and always will be.

[@petite-cherieboylan-knight6624]

This was a fav of mine as a wee kid... got to love Sam Davis Jr indeed!

[@DavidFMayerPhD]

Sammy Davis Junior was TRULY the World's Greatest Entertainer.

[@vinodhanselvarajalu5083]

Thank you Strictly for introducing me to this amazing song and performance. Pure magic!

[@annjanewillia5676]

I will always remember Sammy Davis Jr love him xx