Neil Young’s 1998 “Expecting To Fly” Performance Was Pure Genius

Neil Young’s lengthy catalog of music spans from generation to generation of songs that will go down in the history. Even in his time as a musician in Buffalo Springfield, Young knew how to write a hit song already, treading the line of both feelings and implicit inspirations.

Apart from being a marvelous musician, he is also a generous person who always gives back to the community. Together with his wife, Pegi, the Youngs founded the Bridge School Benefit, an annual charity concert that started from 1986 until 2016 (except for 1987 and 1988) to raise funds for children with severe physical impairments and those with special hearing and communicating needs.

One of Young’s well-known gems, “Expecting To Fly,” became a part of his setlist during his performance at the Shoreline Amphitheatre back on October 18, 1998. “Expecting to Fly” was written for the album Buffalo Springfield Again, and although it didn’t receive significant praise, it was frequently used in movies and was also covered by a handful of musicians.

Young’s version in the video was more acoustic, rather than the typical psychedelic one. The rawness of Young’s voice was enhanced due to the lack of any other instruments present, giving off a genuine sensation. This proves the idea that Neil Young is truly a genius.

You can watch the video below.