HEARTFELT MOMENT: When Barry Gibb Reunited On-Screen With Late Brother Robin for an Emotional Duet of “I Started a Joke”
It remains one of the most moving moments in modern music history — the night Barry Gibb stood on stage and, through the power of technology and memory, reunited with his late brother Robin Gibb for a soul-stirring performance of the Bee Gees’ classic “I Started a Joke.”
The emotional duet took place during “The Bee Gees: One Night Only” tribute concert, years after Robin’s passing, when Barry’s voice joined a projected recording of Robin’s — blending the living and the lost in a breathtaking harmony that silenced the crowd. As Robin’s image appeared on the big screen, singing the haunting opening lines, Barry stepped forward under the spotlight, his eyes glistening with emotion. When he softly joined in, the room was filled with both grief and gratitude — the sound of two brothers once again in perfect unison, if only for a few minutes.
The song itself, “I Started a Joke,” written in 1968, has always carried a deep melancholy. It tells of isolation, regret, and the search for meaning — themes that gained profound new weight in this posthumous duet. For Barry, the performance was not just a tribute, but a conversation across time — a way of saying goodbye while keeping the harmony alive.
Audience members described the atmosphere as “spiritual,” with many visibly moved to tears. “You could feel Maurice there too,” one fan recalled, referencing the third Gibb brother who passed away in 2003. “It wasn’t just a performance — it was a reunion.”
Barry himself later reflected on the experience, saying, “When I looked up and saw Robin singing, it was like he was right there beside me again. It broke my heart — but it also healed something inside me.”
That moment became an enduring symbol of love, loss, and the unbreakable bond of family, reminding the world why the Bee Gees’ music continues to resonate decades later.
Through that duet, Barry and Robin gave their fans — and perhaps themselves — one final gift: proof that while life may fade, music keeps the soul alive forever.