This week you might be perfectly clear about the prompt, or it may have left you in the dark. Hopefully everyone will see the light and choose a fun song this week.
This week we have some general words that are used to describe colors, being Clear/Dark/Light and hopefully everyone will be able to find a song that utilizes one of these prompt words in the title or in the lyrics.
I am not sure exactly why this song popped into my head, but I am glad it did. “Silhouettes” tells the story of a guy who goes to what he thinks is his girlfriend’s house only to see silhouettes cast on the shades of her in romantic embraces with another guy. I will leave you to discover the outcome of the encounter by listening to the song (if you are not already familiar).
The song was inspired in 1957 when Bob Crewe saw the silhouette of a couple embracing on the window shade as he passed riding the train. He collaborated with Frank Slay to turn this image he witnessed into a song. The song was recorded by the doo-wop group The Rays who Crewe and Slay had worked with on 2 prior singles.
Philadelphia disc jockey Hy Lit inadvertently helped promote the song according to this story on Wikipedia:
”The song received a break when popular local disc jockey Hy Lit fell asleep with a stack of newly released records on his record player. “Silhouettes” happened to be the last to play, and so it repeated until he woke up. He began to play the song on his show. It became popular enough that Cameo-Parkway picked it up for national distribution, and it eventually reached number 3 on both the R&B Best Sellers chart and Billboard Top 100 while also hitting the top five on both the sales and airplay charts. It was the group’s only top 40 hit.”
The Diamonds (canada 1957) and Cliff Richard (1990 UK) also recorded the song, but the version most familiar to me (although I remember the original well) is the 1965 recording by Herman’s Hermits. It reached #5 on the charts in the U.S. and #3 on the charts in the UK. According to Songfacts.com, Jimmy Page (guitarist and founder of Led Zeppelin) was with the Yardbirds at the time and played as a session guitarist on this recording.
Silhouettes
Lyrics from LyricsMode.com
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah, hut-hut
Ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah, hut-hut
Took a walk and passed your house
(Late last night)
All the shades were pulled and drawn
(Way down tight)
From within, a dim light cast two silhouettes on the shade
Oh, what a lovely couple they ma-ade
Put his arms around your waist
(Held you tight)
Kisses I could almost taste
(In the night)
Wondered why I’m not the guy whose silhouettes on the shade
I couldn’t hide the tears in my eye-eyes
Silhouettes silhouettes silhouettes
Ty-oh, oh-oh
Silhouettes silhouettes silhouettes,
Ty-oh, oh-oh
Lost control and rang your bell
(I was sore)
Let me in or else I’ll beat
(Down your door)
When two strangers who had been two silhouettes on the shade
Said to my shock you’re on the wrong blo-ock
Rushed down to your house with wings
(On my feet)
Loved you like I never loved
(You my sweet)
Vowed that you and I would be two silhouettes on the shade
All of our days, two silhouettes on the sha-ade
Silhouettes silhouettes silhouettes
Ty-oh, oh-oh
Silhouettes silhouettes silhouettes,
Ty-oh, oh-oh
Two silhouettes on the shade
Silhouettes!
Why not join in on this Sunday blogging ritual. Head over to Jim Adams’ blog to check out the rules and read some of the great responses to the weekly prompt.
I remember all three of these , especially the Herman and the Hermits who were a favourite of mine! 💜💜
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A little walk down memory lane.
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It was lovely
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Great choice. I remember these songs.
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Thanks, Dan. A sweet time in my life.
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I remember the Herman’s Hermits version being in the charts, but I never liked the song that much, to be honest.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I would have been surprised if you had liked it, Pete. Doesn’t seem like your cup of tea.
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Peter Noone and his pals were never a band I liked, Maggie. I never forgave him for covering David Bowie’s ‘Oh You Pretty Things’. 🙂
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They were part of the British Invasion in America so we all loved them.
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Oh yes, I remember this! Good choice 👍☺️
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Thank you.
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I like the story about the Philadelphia DJ falling asleep. I love the harmonies from the RAYS, but it was cool to see Herman’s Hermits doing this. Great song Maggie.
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Thank you, Jim. It is another of the songs of my youth.
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I always liked this one. The way it ends is hilarious…
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John, I love the small vignette songs of my youth.
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Oh, Silhouettes brings back a lot of memories. My favorite version was The Diamonds.
There are so many fine songs that fit this category so I will go with the one that has been around almost as long as I me, You Are My Sunshine. As far as recordings go, it has been recorded by countless artists since 1939. I expect to hear a hip-hop version someday.
As for me, I am partial to Gene Autry’s recording from 1941.
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“You Are My Sunshine” is a family favorite, Don. I think you are right. So many have recorded that one over the years.
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I love all these versions! The first video of The Rays is so cool the way they cast the light with their silhouettes are cast upon the curtains naturally. Wonderful choice today! 🙂
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Thank you, Lisa. The song has such a pattern and style, it seems a song many groups could turn into a hit.
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I would certainly agree with that. 😊
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Silouettes… one of my all time favorites!
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Mine, too!
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