More than 50 years after it was first recorded “I Started A Joke” still makes people stop and listen. In 2001, Robin Gibb stood on stage in New York with his brother Barry and delivered a performance that felt like stepping into a memory. His voice carried the same haunting softness that first made the song unforgettable.
What makes this moment so striking is how Robin sounded both fragile and commanding at the same time. The gentle tone of his voice felt like it could break, yet every note stayed steady. The crowd was quiet, almost holding its breath, as if each person was pulled into his story of sorrow and loneliness.
BEE GEES – I Started A Joke, LIVE Concert 2001, NEW YORK re-mastered to HD 7/15
Fans who heard it could not help but pour out their emotions. One person wrote that Robin’s voice “could melt stone.” Another said, “This song touches the soul like no other.” These reactions show how deeply the performance reached people, even decades after the song’s release. It was not just singing, it was storytelling.
Hearing that version, it is impossible not to think back to another moment when the brothers shared the stage together. Just four years earlier, in 1997, Robin sang “I Started A Joke” during the Bee Gees’ “One Night Only” concert in Las Vegas. This time, Maurice was still there, and the weight of the song felt different.
Bee Gees – I Started A Joke (Live in Las Vegas, 1997 – One Night Only)
The Las Vegas performance carried more power, almost like a declaration. Robin’s voice soared across the arena, and the harmonies from Barry and Maurice gave the song an added fullness. Fans in the audience later said it felt like they were part of history. The moment was less quiet grief and more a shared cry of strength and beauty.
The Bee Gees were never just about disco lights and dance floors. They were about giving pain a melody and giving love a harmony. Few groups could balance sadness and hope the way they did. Their music still speaks to people across generations. Follow the Bee Gees on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. The story of their songs is far from over.