Introduction
In 1997, during a historic performance in Las Vegas, the Bee Gees—Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb—breathed new life into one of their most haunting classics: “I Started A Joke.” Performed live as part of their One Night Only concert at the MGM Grand, the song took on deeper meaning, enriched by decades of personal experience and musical evolution.
This performance wasn’t just a nostalgic reprise—it was a powerful reminder of the timeless beauty and emotional depth that made the Bee Gees legendary.
The Song’s Origins: A Melancholic Masterpiece
Originally released in 1968 on the album Idea, “I Started A Joke” features lead vocals by Robin Gibb and stands as one of the Bee Gees’ most introspective ballads. With its cryptic yet universal lyrics, the song explores themes of isolation, misunderstanding, and existential reflection.
“I started a joke, which started the whole world crying…”
The emotional ambiguity of the song has led to multiple interpretations—from personal guilt to spiritual awakening—and it’s this interpretive flexibility that has helped it endure across generations.
1997: A Performance Steeped in Legacy
The Las Vegas live version of “I Started A Joke” came nearly 30 years after its original release. By this time, the Bee Gees were not only celebrated for their disco-era dominance but also revered for their songwriting genius across pop, soul, and rock.
Performed in a stripped-down, reverent arrangement, Robin’s vocals during this performance are fragile, ethereal, and haunting. The raw sincerity in his voice resonates even more deeply live—especially for longtime fans who understood the song’s personal significance to the Gibb family.
The moment was made even more poignant by the chemistry between the brothers on stage, a reflection of both familial love and professional synergy that few bands could ever replicate.
Why This Performance Still Resonates
In an era of autotune and overproduction, the 1997 Las Vegas rendition of “I Started A Joke” is a rare gift—a live moment filled with authenticity, emotion, and artistry.
The performance serves as:
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A tribute to Robin Gibb’s uniquely expressive voice
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A celebration of the Bee Gees’ storytelling brilliance
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A reminder of music’s ability to comfort, even through sorrow
For many, this version has become the definitive performance of the song.
Legacy: A Song That Refuses to Fade
“I Started A Joke” has been covered by artists like Faith No More and Robbie Williams, and continues to appear in film soundtracks, tribute albums, and memorials. But no version hits quite like the Bee Gees’ 1997 live performance.
It stands as a late-career highlight, blending nostalgia with newfound emotional weight. With the loss of Maurice Gibb in 2003 and Robin in 2012, the performance is now seen through an even more bittersweet lens—a final gift from brothers who gave the world so much beauty.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re discovering the Bee Gees for the first time or revisiting the classics, “I Started A Joke (Live in Las Vegas, 1997)” is a must-watch performance. It encapsulates everything that made the Gibb brothers unforgettable: emotional depth, unmatched harmonies, and a vulnerability that transcends time.
If one song could capture the ache of being misunderstood—and the hope that music can still bring healing—this is it.
Lyrics: I Started A Joke
I started a joke
Which started the whole world crying
But I didn’t see
That the joke was on me, oh noI started to cry
Which started the whole world laughing
Oh, if I’d only seen
That the joke was on meI looked at the skies
Running my hands over my eyes
And I fell out of bed
Hurting my head from things that I’d said‘Til I finally died
Which started the whole world living
Oh, if I’d only seen
That the joke was on meI looked at the skies
Running my hands over my eyes
And I fell out of bed
Hurting my head from things that I’d said‘Til I finally died
Which started the whole world living
Oh, if I’d only seen, oh yeah
That the joke was on meOh no, that the joke was on me, oh
