William Shatner "Sings" 'Rocket Man' AI Upscaled to Ultra HD

[@totallyawesomesteph]

This is hands down the coolest thing in the history of doing things. 2023 and still no comparison can come close.

[@tomtomftube]

before memes , before the internet , Shatner was creating Memes

[@FrankCostanza-dr4qd]

Shatner was just messing around when he did this yet it is still an amazing piece of pop culture history. Kudos to the Captain.

[@hashijouzu]

Totally agree. It's actually a transcendent piece of art.

[@Deadeye313]

This why the internet exists: to archive stuff like this for all posterity.

[@donaldalbano6484]

this guy is going to out live us all

[@georgehenderson7783]

Speak for yourself, sir, I plan to live forever. So far so good. 😅 ( I stole the first part of that from William T. Riker talking to Picard at the end of Star Trek Generations )

[@IThinkYouLookLarvely]

Yes, him and Keith Richards 🙂

[@georgehenderson7783]

@@IThinkYouLookLarvely And Mick Jagger 🙂

[@williamcordasco945]

Mr Tambourine Man!!!’nnn

[@KR1736]

Single greatest display of modern art in the last 100 years

[@chrisslooter2825]

100? you forgot a few zeros.

[@名前-v3c]

This song fits Captain Kirk so well and captures all the complexities of the character. He's on a long 5 year mission in deep unexplored space. He's lonely being separated from the crew as he has to act like the captain always. He's not a scientist; he's from Iowa. If you separate the woman who packed his bags from his wife, it fits even better. His wife is deceased and the woman packing his bags was just one his many loves he had to leave behind. He has a son that he didn't raise as he was working. All of this is what makes the original Star Trek show so great. Space exploration is just the backdrop and the show is really about the characters.

[@TheJoeyboots]

Good input!

[@mosriteminioncause7741]

10/13/21...Now he really is THE ROCKETMAN!!!🚀👨‍🚀🚀

[@dee0246]

Ohh now I get why in Futurama, Shatner "raps" slim shady, but he just talks like in this video and Walter Koenig says "How can anyone do a spoken word version of a rap song?" Melllvar says "He found a way" and seeing this it all makes sense now! 🤣

[@user-nr2cs2rq7h]

Funnily enough, Shatner actually returned to music not long after Futurama! Maybe his Slim Shady rendition inspired it😆 His 2004 album "Has Been" is genuinely excellent, and retains the spoken word style but perfects it. He has released albums every few years since then, and his most recent one was released at 90 years old!

[@DigiRangerScott]

It’s also why Zapp’s rendition of Lola is the way it is

[@dsan05]

Man. Shatner always delivers. He definitely delivers something! Often not what you'd expect. Gold.

[@tothestarz]

Happy 91st birthday, Rocket Man!

[@oldcarnocar]

still badass 44 yrs later

[@gabrieltreewolf4618]

Him or you?

[@oldcarnocar]

@@gabrieltreewolf4618 BOTH!

[@robotorch]

Great description as "a moving oil painting" and excellent reference to "The Enemy Within"

[@neilpowell5285]

This man is still so far ahead of his time if you still don't get this humor. Bill Shatner is a genius.

[@adamwatson2914]

Uh huh

[@bobtis]

He is a star in the in every sense of the word. He has earned it

[@Saint-su2se]

So this was bit?

[@brianarbenz1329]

If you say so.

[@klondikebelridge1996]

Except he wasn't going for humor, he is so arrogant.he.tbougjt his interpretation was brilliant. But I prefer his interpretation of Lucy In the Sky with Diamonds.

[@romyarmada2521]

Gunna be honest, if you look past the surface level of this performance, its actually a good interpretation of the song.

[@gabrieltreewolf4618]

It was very good! I been watching him from about that time when I was 8. Him and Elton with Pinball Wizard from Tommy. Pretty funny as well!

[@keats27]

I'm gonna be honest....it's so AWFUL it's funny. =D

[@jasongomez4509]

I can see Animaniacs made fun of his bad singing

[@silviofernandes3217]

É VERDADE

[@theironchoir]

Define “good”

[@Ron71997]

You can't deny that William Shatner is a true artist - this is his interpretation and I somehow believe he made all the arrangements and production on this rendition....who else then Shatner could pull this off.

[@spacewolf9585]

The best thing about this performance is that he perfectly timed it to the length of the cigarette.🤣

[@cattathat]

😂

[@georgehenderson7783]

[@anitaachacoso7553]

That’s not a cigarette

[@georgehenderson7783]

@@anitaachacoso7553 What is it then? A joint? 😅

[@spacewolf9585]

@@anitaachacoso7553 🤣😶‍🌫️🤫

[@gregjones2376]

Every so often I come back and watch this when I need a shot of surreal and utterly ridiculous.

[@tsukishiro70]

If there's anyone with a right to sing this song outside of straight-up NASA astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts, it's Bill Shatner! Well done, big chap!

[@Bondek1996]

Lifelong Shatner fan and one thing I admire is his gumption.

[@ksrmk]

Exactly. Never afraid to put himself out there.

[@seanhully]

This first reached my ears in the 90s as an mp3 file that was shared at music college. I find it funnier without the video for some reason.

[@singlecellorganism13]

This is genius, Shatner is a legend on so many levels. Thanks for the HD, good work.

[@RBC2_]

This is one of the greatest acting performance in history.

[@douglasjohnson4382]

Can you imagine being trapped in space with three Shatners?

[@racs9606]

Even one..!

[@samuelgalvan5096]

That would be illogical.

[@klondikebelridge1996]

That's the 8th circle of hell.

[@brynpookc1127]

I am no kind of expert, but really enjoy watching this version better than the many others I’ve ran across. Thank you!

[@7harrylime]

This is beyond any greatness we’ve ever known.

[@eduardopena5893]

Shatner on the left is where Bryan Cranston got his acting career.

[@TheJoeyboots]

Ha Shatner reads Taupin's lyrics as a poem with the music accompanying. A different perspective. Nice.

[@LordAuthor]

I remember watching this when it first aired. Damn am I getting old!!!! LOL!

[@arbendit4348]

Yeah? Any words of wisdom then old man?

[@jimneikirk275]

Keep living your dreams! 😊

[@kellymckinley7242]

Getting more positive comments in 2022 than it originally did when I saw...it....live in....19...78.

[@vaellyth]

So how was traffic back in the stone age? :D

[@2lefThumbs]

Well, we've all had time to mull it over since then;)

[@charlottecorday8494]

OMG my dad wasn't even born yet

[@NickAcosta-Films]

This video got me blocked by William Shatner on Twitter!

[@Orpheusftw]

Why? You didn't misrepresent him. It's not _your_ fault he _actually did this_ nonsense. It's a legendary clip, anyway. Like it or hate it, you're probably always going to remember it.

[@davidgarris2513]

I've heard that he's quite arrogant so I wouldn't take it as much.

[@brianarbenz1329]

Did he engage a cloaking device on you?

[@larryloco70]

Photon torpedo.

[@edwardpate6128]

Never gets old!

[@ljgould6834]

love this...there's nothing shatner can do i wouldn't love

[@ljgould6834]

i even love when he's teaching de niro and eddie murphy to be a cop and slide over cars, in his tj hooker character...

[@bannjaxx]

I love when druncle Shatner comes in, all messed up - brilliant.

[@mon1aro]

different world, and shatner is just so cool.

[@andyk6796]

Man, that was far out! In fact, as someone who grew up in the 70s, I can say it was out of sight!

[@jesseellyson6543]

I bought his album, Has Been, back in 2004. It was a matter of curiosity, nothing more. I'd heard that he'd done this kind of thing before, but I'd never gotten around to listening to any of it. Imagine my surprise when Has Been turned out to be a masterwork. Every track shines. This rendition of Rocket Man is fantastic, but it is obviously a first attempt. He got better, his pacing became more precise and better timed, his material original works. If you haven't listened to that album yet, do so. Now. Drop everything else and go listen to it.

[@DaveMorgansMartian]

You've done a great service to humanity. Thank you.

[@Gerrys-Channel]

Simultaneously, the worst and greatest thing I have ever seen.

[@Ramonatho]

I'm shocked people weren't laughing from the moment Shatner kicked in, I'm even more shocked people didn't laugh after the synth kicked in.

[@brianarbenz1329]

Some of us were on the floor laughing.

[@kpz1234]

He says “I’m gonna be HIGH” like a mf who has been high as a kite before

[@SpataWorks]

Family Guy brought me here

[@miredaproducciones]

If you look it from a certain distance it looks pretty good. Nice job. Congrats on Bill Shatner blocking you on twitter 😂 what a guy.

[@AcousticKitty]

He told me to shut up on Twitter a few years ago 😆😆 surprised he didn't block me though

[@SayYes2Scorpions]

That's so great that Bernie Taupin was there to see it.

[@frankzappaspussy7362]

i think that Bernie would disagree.. i am assuming that he gave that introduction between gritted teeth..

[@TheRealPOTUSDavidByrd]

His hair looks fantastic in this version 😂

[@ScytheSalinas]

Great restoration, thanks 👍

[@nowhere529]

I love this video, so much.

[@robmclaughjr]

Too pure for human ears

[@fayannasteele2844]

"Look, I promise, this time I won't go third Shatner." *Two Shatners later:* 3:44

[@darylmcintyre3838]

the acid was good in those days

[@frankies9465]

Classic. I give anyone credit who could go up there and do that. Lol. U gotta be a special breed of cat . I like the 3rd Shattner. With the tie loosened , dancing . Haha

[@dlighted8861]

What ya smoking there William? 🤗😁🤗

[@Deanof316.]

This was actually amazing haha Legend! 👏

[@anothergingeronthetheinternet]

Thank you stewie for introducing me to this

[@josephthomas2226]

This is so bad it's good. I must have watched it a dozen times over the years. It's like Plan 9 from Outer Space

[@meccaollielord]

It’s beautiful isn’t it

[@jaystrickland4151]

This was how lounge singers sang in the 1970s.

[@GreatWhiteGT]

A true classic

[@CunoWiederhold]

This is awesome! This year Halloween fell on karaoke night. I dressed as Rocket Man, and my first song? What else, "Rocket Man!"

[@kellyalonzi2917]

I love this man.

[@nancydaleo3359]

oh to be so full of oneself

[@silviofernandes3217]

AINDA BEM 👍

[@edwardpate6128]

So bad it's great!

[@tru3sk1ll]

We'll be fine as long as we can keep it to two Shatners..... 3rd Shatner - "Here's JOOOHNNYYY" Audience - "Fuck, we're screwed"

[@Starscreamf15]

This is actually pretty cool (though it's hard to tell exactly what angle Shatners taken with this performance lol). Of course I was a kid when he did this and honestly never knew of it till today. I've got Nimoys album and grew up on TOS. Pretty cool rendition of this song.

[@piesusan17]

William Shatner es muy macho. 💖

[@ChesterRico]

Looks trippy!

[@jaimeesummer5334]

When the teacher asks you to perform your song as a monologue

[@diegoluciano4764]

Zapp Branigan its that you ?

[@d-dub2012]

Only William Shatner can play a cigarette like that!!

[@lobo2367]

There's nothing humorous about it, it's tragic tale of drugs, status, expectations and the duality of showbusiness. The highs and the lows. Something Shatner had already lived twice over by the late 70's. Shatner does a double-dive into this by adapting a song **about it*, *then** extrapolating that into separate personae. This is an iconic self-referential piece decades ahead of it's time and a rare vulnerable look into Shatners self image.

[@lukesaunders4002]

What a sad look at it ..

[@Duck_Dodgers]

Sounds like trekkies are upset

[@twelvepetaledlotus1721]

No one plays the cigeratte like Shatner.

[@brianarbenz1329]

Gotta admit, the technical work on this was amazing, given the available recording equipment in 1978 (video tape, no digital). The performance, on the other hand....

[@Jeff-sp7bg]

Cameras were nothing new by the late 70s in the late 70s i operated a jvc ch-1800U which was a 3 tube "color" studio camera. The quality on those things rivaled anything even today . Those puppies cost about 60,000$ a pop and that was in 1978 dollars. That would be pushing over 200k today at least. 1978 wasnt that long ago in tge big scheme of things. It seems lije to me last week lol

[@brianarbenz1329]

@@Jeff-sp7bg I was really talking about the difficulty of lining up two video tape images with a live one before there was digital or morphing technology. (Though I agree that 1978 wasn't that long ago. I recall it so well.)

[@55Diddley]

I didn't know William Shatner could look so cool smoking a cig.

[@niamhryan9677]

Ah brilliant. William Shatner is a genius

[@NA-me6sh]

Biggest balls ever.. He doesn't give a sh!t what anyone thinks..

[@FuturamaFiz]

I’ll have what he’s having!

[@thanatos719]

I think his acting version was pretty damn good, actually. SEEING him do it adds a lot.

[@ytmndan]

When the upscaling is so bad you have to set the resolution to 240p just to make the video watchable.

[@lionheartroar3104]

Gotta love his shamelessness.

[@stefs3460]

I've heard a cd compilation of a few of these parodies from William Shatner Love it😂 Not everyone gets this kind of humor. Hearing that made me a fan because I only knew him as Captain Kirk but actually he is actually really smart, funny and a really good actor!

[@WeirdArchives]

Be honest, kids. We all know Shatner was smoking a joint during that performance. That dude was high off his head! Everyone else wished they had some just to ride out this cover. It’s the one act he’ll never get to live down even if somehow he gets an Oscar or a Nobel Peace Prize.

[@arthurhamilton5222]

I remember watching this on my grandparents zenith system 3. 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@marktatum2592]

Beautiful😢

[@KudossMusic]

Tht boi high as hell

[@TheStigification]

Some moments are passable,. some moments look like oil painting animation

[@NickAcosta-Films]

Yep!

[@DaveKovalComedy]

playing your old dos games with the AdvMAME3x scaler be like

[@ivanmyers3170]

he nailed it.

[@neiljones1938]

Classic 👏👏👏👏

[@davidthomspson9771]

Disturbing yet strangely compelling

[@royfr8136]

That felt a lot longer than one cigarette

[@olikane530]

No mirror's but plenty of smoke 😊

[@TTF12707]

What was Captain Kirk thinking of

[@camselle]

I'm a Rocket.... man... 🚬

[@kenmartin5299]

Great great entertainer

[@brianmonarchcomedy]

Great example of a video that can't and should be upscaled w/ 2023 tech. At least on my 4k monitor it looks BADDDD... Haha.

[@Nukle0n]

This is a really hideous upscale. Bernie Taupins eyes are like marbles in a cup of coffee. But it somehow fits this video. Would've really liked to have had an attempt at filtering out that ground loop hum from tho.

[@kelleyfromboston]

Lolol

[@unclecraig5642]

I wanna do this version at karaoke lmao

[@kendallevans4079]

Smoked like that and he's still here at 90 years old?

[@Jeff-sp7bg]

60% of the population smoked then. Heck i remember when u could smoke in hospitals, teachers lounge, restaraunts, planes, everywhere pretty much. Itvwas absolutely awful lol. I think he probably quit but some smokers seem not to have issues although most long term smokers will most likely get a smoking related illness.

[@kendallevans4079]

@@Jeff-sp7bg Agree, Shatner is 90!! Are you kidding me! He beat the odds! At 90 I say smoke, eat shit, do all that stuff people said "don't do"....come on you made it, dude!

[@alexpetrovich85]

History will remember this as more based than cringe.

[@Series7Guy]

Hilarious!!! I love it.

[@generaldisarray]

I'm so glad you put sings in quotes, I really hope you were being sarcastic given he doesn't really "sing" the song...🤣🤣🤣

[@adams3560]

He’s just reading out the lyrics.

[@Unboxingvariadosbrasil]

"O yeah, that's a good stuff". Griffin, Stewie