The King's Singers - Danny Boy

From Byrd To The Beatles

[@timmystips3935]

8 years ago I sang this at my Grandmother's memorial service (she was 100% Irish). It was my proudest moment because I let it flow naturally and was able to get through it without crying...

[@ThatDude774]

Their bass is phenomenal. I like how he keeps the sound warm and just loud enough to round out the sound of the group.

[@jeffreine3444]

Tis a shame 99% of those watching don't realize this is about a father sending his son off to war. Just listen to the sublime words as the father actually says he will be in the grave by the time the son returns. It is so, so sad and is performed with the sensitivity it deserves. Kudos to each singer. The performance is just a masterpiece.

[@xbqchm]

The text has an even deeper meaning: it says that if the son does not return (which was the most probable outcome of going into war as a British soldier back in the days), the father will be there waiting for him, even in his grave... Hence the father talks about himself dying first, but probably both he and the son know well that it's not him who is going to die first...

[@cryptic2610]

xbqchm Its an Irish song. Not British.

[@xbqchm]

@@cryptic2610 Who said it was British?

[@cryptic2610]

@@xbqchm "going into war as a British soldier"

[@xbqchm]

@@cryptic2610 Exactly. I didn't say anything about the song being British.

[@samharris2768]

It's almost unbelievable that this is a live performance. Everything about it is literally flawless

[@curtislacy579]

Flawless performance is quite characteristic of this group.

[@wimleo71]

I had the chance of see them perform in Belgium, 20 years ago... everything, from beginning until the very end was flawless! They are singing almost perfect.. or better: perfect!

[@dahalofreeek]

The UK has a ton of choir boys who have had really good relative pitch and sight singing by the time that they are like 10. It's pretty feasible that you could wrangle an amazing sextet of singers from that population.

[@vetlerradio]

@@dahalofreeek For sure, the choir culture in England must help.

[@russellthompson2445]

@@vetlerradio they’ve had it since Purcell was writing at least. Plus the English basically invented the third....

[@mawithaxdd]

These guys are seriously so good. I wish this kind of music was more appreciated.

[@joshualabajo1474]

It is, and unfortunately, we have it recognised in the mainstream and while still in the genre of a cappella is also labeled as pop.

[@mawithaxdd]

Joshua Labajo Groups like Penatonix or whatever they're called and The King's Singers are not usually liked by the same people. The people that like them wouldn't give this group a second listen.

[@joshualabajo1474]

I will have to agree. I'm not a big fan of Pentatonix. I do like some of their songs, but of course KS is eternal, and this group in particular is just brilliant.

[@ChimeraPearl]

I'm actually a fan of both? so errr

[@browner1873]

the song seems a bit dreary in the vocal department of maybe it is the fact that there is no instrumental melidys (don't know the spelling)

[@DR-rz2eg]

The arrangement, the execution: breathing in unison, the cut offs, the dynamics: crescendo, decrescendo. Absolutely extraordinary again and again and again and again over the last 10+ years for me. As a former voice performance major this is my favorite acapella version of anything ever. Breathtaking, goosebumps, every time.

[@Schafmeister1]

Bass is very very beautiful

[@siegfriedwifling907]

This is not from this World…🙈no words for that Ensemble…Kings Singers forever…❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@WhatKenPlays]

The best line-up of the Kings Singers! Absolutely phenomenal and nobody will be able to replace that BASS!!!!

[@stephanieellis5399]

I know what you're saying, but they said that for previous members, too. It's simply what we're used to. I do feel that I've enjoyed certain voices more than those that came before or after, but the beauty of the KS is that they really are about the whole sound and not the individual: the six individuals become one instrument even when one part is highlighted. It's something that ainfeel is quite unique to the King's Singers. But, as I said I understand your sentiment. I felt the same way for a time.

[@BrannBergenBy]

That may be the most amazing vocal presentation ever made by mankind.

[@blueshiftuk]

This is perhaps the greatest rendition of Danny Boy ever. The solo is incredible, such a fantastic voice. Harmonies - perfect.

[@enossantosbezerra1100]

Danny Boy" Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling From glen to glen, and down the mountain side The summer's gone, and all the roses falling It's you, it's you must go and I must bide. But come ye back when summer's in the meadow Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow [Live version:] And I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so. But when ye come, and all the flow'rs are dying If I am dead, as dead I well may be You'll come and find the place where I am lying And kneel and say an ave there for me. And I shall hear, though soft you tread above me And all my grave will warmer, sweeter be For you will bend and tell me that you love me And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me.

[@phlarrdboi]

beautiful words! someone should set them to music.

[@manguwq]

And over my grave** UwU

[@figjam59]

'Tis, not it's, Ye'll, not you'll

[@ThomasBearsOfficial]

I'm not crying you're crying

[@elliotportner8020]

Beautifully well balanced and delivered perfectly in dense emotional musically complex for an excellant leid

[@creativeself7147]

Look at all those smiles in the crowd as they are cheering after the song. This isn't the kind of cheering that you're usually seeing... each and everyone of them is truly amazed by this performance. Absolutely beautiful!

[@MrDodgerdodson]

Thats probably the best vocal performance by anybody ever. That chord at 2:52! Wow

[@ktang001]

It's a great chord!

[@A44B357C]

2:55. Jazz in the most lovely song

[@gerhard3950]

3:05 am

[@pianoteacher8302]

This chord reads like this (from top to bottom): c#, g#, f#, d, g#, e. It's an E7 witj the 9th and 13th added, quite jazzy indeed ;-) The tune has already modulated to E-major at this point, so it's really the Tonic preparing the Sub-dominant --

[@evensteve284]

Yep. That stopped my world right there. . .

[@lukaschury2796]

that bass was so magical and soothing. I can't believe there indeed is a voice like that. Incredible performance overall

[@DUDEMYDUDE]

yeah true this was incredible but we can’t figure out who sang bass

[@traditionalfolkmusic9709]

@@DUDEMYDUDE stephen connoly, on the very right end

[@debrasimms6821]

I'm listening for the first time to King's Singers on WHAD 90.7 MILWAUKEE and what a treat to hear their Beautiful Voices blend in Harmony. I am sharing this with my Mother & Sister in Michigans Upper Peninsula on this Christmas Eve.My Mom was ALWAYS Singing and "Danny Boy" was one of the songs she sang

[@stellamantikou4978]

This is the best rendition of this song. Calm, respectful, with no over the top voice work. Other singers (women and men alike) try to make their voice sound cool/temporary/skilled while singing it. The Kings Singers (already cool by the way) RESPECT the song and let it shine.

[@SillyChobo]

good comment

[@gungagaolu8869]

I can listen to you guys for days...hours....minutes and seconds and never get bore, God bless and keep you all.

[@Mauriziobarenboim]

This song speaks to me on so many levels. It speaks to me on love, life, death, sadness, and happiness. This is the perfect tempo. Thanks.

[@scrappydoogal804]

Couldn't have put it better. 😊👍

[@mr.c9768]

MR. BEAN was excellent as the Bass.

[@xXBrknBabyy93Xx]

Mr. C we need more Mr.Beans in the world

[@wilsonashton4134]

hahaha they could be twins!

[@annabeltellis8415]

Look at him in the Long Day Closes a year earlier, he has lost so much weight!

[@mihalblchandr370]

Wilson Ashton g

[@kennethnazareth5345]

Mihalblch Andr

[@tommasogolfetto5650]

Stephen Connelly (the bass singer) is just amazing. Especially at the end, "..until you come to me": the COME note is awesome!

[@alejandrobertuola5901]

Penso lo stesso, Tommaso. Sei veneto? Saluti dal'Argentina.

[@JonWasserman]

2:55 is the greatst chord ever!

[@RandomAwesomeism]

Very jazzy

[@MartinKaptein]

E7 (9,13)

[@emilbrandwyne5747]

be quiet! I'm watching two and a half men.

[@pazgabriel]

indeed

[@alejandrobertuola5901]

You are right, Jon!!

[@kyleblake6769]

Left to right is: David Hurley, Robin Tyson, Paul Phoenix, Philip Lawson, Christopher Gabbitas, and Stephen Conolly

[@cordeliagreenidge9644]

there is a balm in Gilead

[@KSfan4ever]

The KS Dream Team

[@danielraymondwalparuliansi5299]

true, KS dream team...

[@julier.1902]

@@danielraymondwalparuliansi5299 My favorite team is Jeremy Jackman, Alistair Hume, Bob Chilcott, Tony Holt , Simon Carrington and Colin Mason. Ahhh.

[@alejandrobertuola5901]

The best formation (for me). Greetings from Argentina.

[@oscargill423]

I've only ever seen this ensemble perform "Masterpiece", so it's quite refreshing to see them perform something so earnestly beautiful and soulful.

[@KarenLynnLHC]

David Hurley and Robin Tyson = harmonic perfection. What a team!

[@OskarforbergSWE]

This is so incredibly beautiful. I cry a little every time I listen to it. Makes me think about the sadness and the joy in my life. Love, loss, loneliness and friendship. My favorite vocal piece (and arrangement) of all. Perfect in every way. Thank you.

[@patsphilosophy303]

Beautifully spoken

[@djohngrant]

my grandmother would sing this to me all the time.☝😢

[@MeowfaceMusic]

Somehow gets better each time.

[@scrappydoogal804]

Wonderful. My grandmother was from Ireland and always used to have a little cry when she heard this song. Then when I got older and read the lyrics I realise that it's such a lovely, sentimental and sad song! Tear-jerker! 😢

[@elenabonaccorso4037]

Chord at 2.54 always gives me goosebumps and tears! They're amazing ❤️

[@dorkswithcameras]

Beautiful music that the world needs right now

[@scotthowrey1]

That was the best rendition of "DANNY BOY' I have ever heard. Brilliantly done!

[@ThatDarlaGirl]

The best part of their singing is the fact they aren't just singing, they are feeling the music.

[@tashazalinski5250]

One of the most beautiful songs ever written. It makes me tear up every time I hear it.

[@kickinrocks101]

perfect pitch. perfect timing. perfect harmony. perfect song.

[@jamesjarvis3328]

That counter-tenor is absolutely brilliant...

[@MAGSTER370]

Heavenly - such excellent singers.

[@DR-rz2eg]

Exquisite. I’ve been a fan of the King’s Singers for almost 40 years. I was a voice performance music major. I’ve sung semi-professionally. Listen for their breath control, how they breathe together through these phrases avoiding the natural tendency to want to rush to breathe again. This is why these guys are the best of the best. This could easily be their signature song that they could use to close all of their live performances. I’ve listened to this particular recording dozens of times over years and years and I still find it totally compelling.

[@ironickiss2004]

This is my favorite version of this song, absolutely beautifully done!

[@fenderul311]

2:52-2:57 - made me shivers...exceptional voices and vocal arrangement

[@ChickWithOpinions]

Ok I actually come here to listen to this like once a day, it makes me feel like all is good in the world :)

[@LittleMissScareAllKy]

Chills! 💚👌 The most beautiful thing I've ever heard!

[@pmowl68]

So Amazing! What amazing arrangement, and what amazing Tenors! Thinking of you, Father Michael Woods from All Saints Homilies God bless us everyone.

[@MadMonk67]

One of the best renditions of this beautiful song I've ever heard. Bravo!

[@AngelWong16]

Omg the bass is soooooo good. :)

[@elliotportner8020]

Unbelievable greatness blend and balance Just so perfect for special Danny Boy

[@egress1977]

Nothing weird, just a person who appreciates good music.

[@A44B357C]

2.55-3.00: pure pure JAZZ in an emotional folk song!! ❤

[@jhill74893]

Simply the best close harmony group ever, and also the best line-up

[@Kokok2345]

We sing this song in choir and it is so quite and soft and beautiful I just love this song so much. This song reminds me of my cousin in the Air Force. Some one you want to come back.. This is what this song means to me.

[@haj1126]

I'm literally melted.

[@liberte5847]

The best ever for Danny Boy. I'm french and my tears are for this version on the Web. Bravo, hats up boys. Remember Danny Boy. Emmanuel

[@hepzebahsu]

Glad they've kept this arrangement over the years - quite lovely.

[@andrea178]

Omg the range on these guys voices. It’s soooooo goooooood

[@anthonyingersoll1982]

I love this particular piece. This would be a good piece for a funeral service in addition to Amazing Grace. I just wished people would appreciate "real" music more.

[@thm149]

I love this song and this, to me, is the finest version I have ever heard thus far. Someone described this song to me as the perfect song of loss. From Canada. Thanks.

[@rafaelunplugged]

man their sound engineers do fantastic. mic'ing it perfectly. they do such a great job creating music.

[@serenaqiang6353]

Subtle and soothing beauty. Love it!

[@christinelambe2239]

Stunningly beautiful.

[@matthijsruhrup8869]

These men are something else! Flawless, impeccable and artistic rendition... Love the Jazz harmony angle!

[@JK-xz6mj]

Sing this at the karaoke to really kill the mood.

[@JosiahAndrewNavarro]

Depends on the pub it's at.

[@JusBidniss]

@@JosiahAndrewNavarro I'm getting a mental picture of a crowded Irish pub, working-class blokes with arms around each others' shoulders, swaying and singing along together, blubbering warm salty tears into their warm salty beers.... Close?

[@JosiahAndrewNavarro]

@@JusBidniss Right on the nose! A big, fat, hairy Irish nose.

[@dostfez]

Hahaha...true nuff...

[@gdjones35]

😂

[@nay716]

This song brought tears to my eyes.

[@yuliayupratiwi6486]

Amazing!

[@wendyscott8425]

Incredible arrangement! I got to sing it once in a sextet. Gorgeous harmonies! Nothing like the King's Singers. :) I've had their CD that included this for years, and some others of theirs. Such an amazing group!

[@enderfan]

Oh my.... I had not realized.... the Kings are BACK! How very wonderful. Simple beauty.

[@joshuamarks1129]

Stunning perfection, live!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@GAR23LOVMUZ]

"Wonderful" Thank you King's Singers. Bravo !!

[@1956lakota]

Beautiful!!!!

[@kyle-silver]

Ooof, that E13 chord at 2:52 hit me right in the feels.

[@timdidit]

Yes - that chord is clearly the high point of the arrangement. I'm not sure it's just an E13, however. It seems there may be some more augmentation to it than that. I'll have to sit down at the organ and see if I can build it out.

[@kyle-silver]

I just fleshed it out, pretty sure it's a solid E13. From bottom to top E, G#, D, F#, G#, C# -- the F# right next to the G# gives the chord a really rich sound, but to the best of my knowledge there aren't any non-diatonic tones (except the D, if you don't count the chord as a secondary dominant)

[@timdidit]

Ah - thanks for that - saves me a bit of time. Do you think one of the component notes is sung at 8va instead of in unison with the rest of the chord? I'm not doubting your analysis, just tossing out a possiblity..

[@kalebean97]

I think the craziest thing about that chord is that the melody note (which should be G# in the top countertenor) isn't even sung, but the chord locks and rings so well that you hear the HARMONIC of that note! Crazy

[@timdidit]

Yes, the first thing that hits you is the fact the note does not "belong" there. I'm still futzing around with this - haven't had time to actually disect it, but it is not JUST a true 13th chord - there is something else going on here.

[@dewsnupd]

Simply incredible!! Thank you Kings!!!,!

[@revanslc]

Absolutely flawless and heavenly! OMG King's Singers, you guys are so awesome... took this favorite song of mine to a higher level.

[@bettyspearns8341]

Love this! The song and the great voices singing it! 💕

[@Aangrox007]

Gave me chills from head to toe -- amazing!

[@m.robertwick5871]

Wonderful.

[@cameragirl90]

i love the kings singers! i met them when i went to Canada in 2007, they are awesome!

[@greatunwashed9116]

Stunning😊

[@fela001]

such an awesome performance :)

[@AOnezie]

Seriously, this is one of if not thee best things I've ever heard. I can't stop listening to this.

[@vitordecastromendes]

Fantastic!

[@irlandealbertassefariasrib6196]

wonderfull!!!!!!

[@zacharylavender1568]

Beautiful...I love the liberties and musicality!

[@austenmurphy3545]

3:27 that final bass note was just phenomenal

[@3USRNAM3]

Incredible.

[@mejeduwho]

That was a real tear jerker that tore at the heart strings.

[@klausmair2807]

Incredible!!!

[@AndrewPavlenkov]

stunning!!!!! bravo!!!!

[@Yorkie-59]

Just beautiful.......

[@anuk58]

Imagine slowly falling asleep to this with a smile on your face and abruptly waking up to the clapping

[@lashlarue7924]

Beautiful.

[@KSfan4ever]

Such exquisite singing, I have this DVD and its a treasure, I think this line-up is the best of them all. I've been a fan since KS started, but the sheer beauty of these particular voices individually and together are the most exquisite. I truly miss hearing the voices of Stephen, Phil and Robin. The replacement guys are just OK. But for me, nothing compares to the line-up of David, Robin, Paul, Phil, Chris and Stephen. And, I think David has the most beautiful countertenor voice on the planet.

[@RavensRequiem]

Great! this brought tears to my eyes

[@grupuletheros]

Brilliant! It sounds amazing!

[@rosapauluccimachado6061]

Melhor formação! Lindo...

[@dan07warrior]

... Beautiful!

[@Smellyann76]

Brilliant rendition. So beautifully sung.

[@malcolmlewis6014]

The King Singer's are the greatest of all harmony groups.

[@Juansitinho]

Beautifull!

[@trentinworks]

AMAZING!!!

[@301250]

Saw them performed when they were in KL, Malaysia....absolutely stunning and glorious harmony, please come back soon.