Rod McKuen "Jean" on The Ed Sullivan Show

[@berniefleming2766]

SUCH a great poet songwriter human being . Miss you Rod

[@TheFergyme]

RIP Dame Maggie Smith, Miss Jean Brodie.

[@Musician12345]

I found this after his book of poetry ❤️

[@Kw1161]

Thanks for sharing this memory of the brilliant Rod McKuen singing his tribute to Maggie Smith on her Oscar performance. Have a great day!

[@JolienCeusters]

Wonderful ,gives me chils

[@akgypsy54]

Maggie and Rod are singing this together now🥰🎶🌹🌹RIP beautiful people!

[@innfield8836]

Oh God, yes

[@rkmklz7562]

How did this guy wrote beautiful songs like this?....this gives me chills... just the way it sounds.... never again we will have talent like this!!!...i am greatful I was alive doing the time these songs were playing on the radio and heard then everyday!!!...

[@bonniepieterse4362]

He toured South Africa back in 1980 and recorded a song called " There is a lion in the streets of Johannesburg "

[@michaeltuz608]

In my opinion this is a prime example of the worth exceeding the sum total of the parts. The song is an okay melody with pretty basic lyrics, and McKuen is only a barely passable singer. Yet there is an earnestness in the intent, and in Rod's performance, which resulted in one of the all-time great love songs. A masterpiece which defies all odds. Thanks for posting!

[@June_Magoo]

I disagree with your criticism of the song. This is a wonderfully written song sung by the writer. Not everything has to be Emerson Lake & Palmer or Beethoven music which of course I also love. I dont neccesarily agree any of it is simple and even if it was that doesn't make it bad. And sure; he's not Freddy mercury, but he's more like Bob Dylan or Johnny Cash (who had him on his show and sang a duet with him). His voice sounds beautiful honest and human to me.

[@garyfarthing1879]

McKuen wrote it. Then sang it with his own intent. Am part Scots too and know the culture, and a wee bit rough about the edges. Met a fellow who went to high school with him, Rod was an orphan. This song just as poignant as Yeats's "The Golden Apples of the Sun". Same meanings, same sensitivities, different sensibilities. And that makes art.@@June_Magoo

[@chrysrobert5026]

McKuen lost the timbre because of all his clubs singing in the 50s.

[@daveowens271]

I can see your point. It truly is a confluence of factors that make it great. I also think the lyrics carry the song perfectly.

[@frankmartinez3504]

Certainly doesn't move like Michael Jackson. But the critics can put a cork in it. He had more authenticity in his pinkie than you will have in your whole life. RIP Rod and Maggie.

[@peterzang]

Childhood comes rushing

[@richardlott2888]

My mother who was everything to me...bonnie

[@jacquelineandroy5175]

R. I. P., Dame Maggie Smith We ♥️ you sooo very much 😭😭💗😭💞❣️💕😭🤧 GOD bless you 💐 🥰🇯🇲🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🕊️❤️✝️

[@chrisflaherty8991]

Rod McKuen said once that a critic said his voice sounded like he gargled with Dutch Cleanser. Certainly his voice was distinctive and perfectly suited to the songs he wrote.

[@jfjoubertquebec]

Soldiers who want to be heroes...

[@Serinussamurai500]

❤👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@Jameswilliamson405]

Met got a signed photo after a show

[@shyman99]

Rod had the misfortune of his song from the movie, "The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie", being released in the same year as "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head" from Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid. Therefore, the 1969 Academy Award for Best Original Song went to Burt Bacharach/Hal David instead of himself. Should have been a tie as Rod deserved it as much.

[@py.5831]

I agree! But at least this song won the GGs

[@dennymartin18]

Raindrops is a hokey song compared to this passionate romantic love song written by arguably the best, most prolific poet of his generation, Rod Mc Kuen... Nobody wrote about life with more profound insight and sensitivity than Rod, a brilliantly gifted, humble person.

[@shyman99]

@@dennymartin18 - But "Raindrops" is a hokey song that fits the movie perfectly, along with being very melodic and a lot of great hooks. The movie was also huge & the song spent many weeks at #1, so it's easy to understand why the Academy chose the song. Both songs were just so perfect that it is unfair that one of them had to lose that evening. That's why they should have allowed a tie that year.

[@kyleburke8665]

As big a Bacharach/David fan as I am, “Raindrops,” not discounting their consistent genius, was a novelty song. “Jean” is a rich and deeply realized masterpiece.

[@shyman99]

@@kyleburke8665 - I wouldn't call "Raindrops" a novelty song. I would distinguish it by calling it a catchy melodic pop song while "Jean" is a gentle ballad. To music lovers, both types of songs are essential. When they reach perfection in their own genres, as these songs do, both are very deserving of praise and reward.

[@hnc52]

I like Rod's version better than Oliver's hit version.

[@retrofuturistic8]

Both are great, but in different ways. Oliver does it as a showstopper. Mr. McKuen's version is more intimate.

[@jacquelineandroy5175]

Who is Oliver? You've got me curious now 🥰🇯🇲🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🕊️❤️✝️

[@hnc52]

​@@jacquelineandroy5175 Oliver was a singer with a few hits in the late 60s. His version of Jean s on KZbin.

[@jacquelineandroy5175]

@@hnc52 Thank you so very much. I had a peep at him on Google. He's very handsome. I love his version. However Rod McKuen's version is more dreamy. Just like how Val Doonican would sing it💐 🥰🇯🇲🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🕊️❤️✝️

[@vulgarninja9]

Aaron Freeman is a genius.

[@davidjamgochian]

Hot Rod

[@michaelterry1000]

He was only in his 30s here.

[@iVenge]

Yet he looks as if he’s in his 50s.

[@michellelekas211]

NO WAY!!!???

[@truthtriumphant]

He quit school at eleven and ran away from home. He had already been on his own at thirty-six for twenty-five years. I think that’s why he looks and acts beyond his years here.

[@michaelterry1000]

@@truthtriumphant I remember singing this tune on the playground at school. I finally saw the film last year (The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie). The most shocking thing about that film is that the heroine of the story was a fan of Mussolini)

[@truthtriumphant]

@@michaelterry1000 It’s a catchy tune. I have never seen the movie. How did you find it?

[@JosephCampos-g9j]

I wonder who she was in real life

[@SymonsChasel-f7w]

Williams Helen Garcia David Perez Scott

[@SymonsChasel-f7w]

Lopez Margaret Perez Laura Robinson Dorothy

[@SymonsChasel-f7w]

Clark Kenneth Clark Donald Clark Laura

[@jadezee6316]

and here is the guy who fooled everyone....who thought he was a poet of any stature...

[@June_Magoo]

Why do people like you hate on him so much? Not everything has to be overcomplex insane high literary shit. His stuff is often simple from the heart and romantic. What is the big issue? He has written some of the most beautiful poetry I've ever read and a bunch of his albums that I've heard are simply wonderful. Listen to the Warm is a masterpiece. Best poetry album I've ever heard hands down. How come so many ppl hate on him?? What did he do that was so bad besides being the most popular selling poet? Again, there's a place for stuff like his work. Not everything has to be Shakespeare level. I still think he expressed some conditions of the heart that no one has ever expressed.

[@60Cascade]

@@June_Magoo He's not hating on him. He's saying no one knew he was a poet of the stature he was.

[@iamhere3442]

@@June_Magoohis songs speak of the experiences of many people. I first heard his songs in the early 70’s. I related to them then,and…..now.😇

[@michellelekas211]

Is he high?

[@uniquehandel]

Lol. Absolute shite

[@stevecummings-z8t]

You know absolutely nothing Buddy.

[@akgypsy54]

Maggie and Rod are singing this together now🥰🎶🌹🌹RIP beautiful people!