"As a young kid I was absolutely infatuated with Melanie..."
She had a very special relationship with her fans. She was genuinely idolized. It wasn't the largest number of fans — this was back in the early 70s — but they were really devoted. I remember how they made a huge deal out of her birthday.
"I'm glad to see at your tag that she never intended her roller skate song as double entendre. It's nice when some things are genuinely simple."
Thanks for going to the tag and seeing that there. I hate seeing the question of that one metaphor, that she didn't intend (she says), become thing #1 reaction to her death.
You can consider my choice of "Look What They've Done to My Song" as a deliberate message not to treat "Brand New Key" that way.
The roller skate song always harkened me back to my nursery school playground. The genuine way she sung the song exudes innocence and joy unspoiled by the harsh realities of the adult world. I pity anyone who doesn't feel that warmth in the heart.
Before her death, Melanie was working on her 32nd album, a tribute album tentatively titled Second Hand Smoke. The album featured versions of Morrissey’s “Ouija Board Ouija Board,” Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt,” Radiohead’s “Creep,” among others.
I absolutely LOVE Candles in the Rain. Regarding Brand New Key, nice try at plausible deniability Melanie. Read these lyrics and explain the absence of double entendre:
I rode my bicycle past your window last night I roller-skated to your door at daylight It almost seems like you're avoiding me I'm okay alone, but you've got something I need
Well, I've got a brand-new pair of roller skates You've got a brand-new key I think that we should get together And try them on to see I've been looking around a while You've got something for me Oh, I've got a brand-new pair of roller skates You've got a brand-new key
I knew all of her hits, having grown up in those olden days. While cruising the used record bins in the late 70s, I stumbled on a completely forgotten album of hers called "Phonogenic – Not Just Another Pretty Face" and loved it. It was my first and only Melanie album and deserved a bigger audience.
Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) was probably the most powerful song of my youth. I'm not sure why it resonated with me so much. It came out when I was about to enter my teen years. I think it might mark the end of my childhood and the first stirrings of adolescence. I bought the album a few years later when a local FM rock station transitioned to country and sold off their rock collection. I also purchased the Woodstock album and several others that I don't recall. I guess I was fourteen at the time I made the purchase. Maybe eleven when I first heard Lay Down.
Awww, I'm sad to hear this. Melanie was probably the first pop singer I knew by name. I was in grade school when her first big hits made the airwaves. And, like Cher, nobody ever seemed to need a last name for her. They aren't listing the cause, but I hope it was peaceful.
--- I see really beautiful girlishness that is much better than pointing out another sexual metaphor.
Why? Doesn't that make the song a little childish and insipid?
Anyway, I can't buy it.
"I go pretty far..." That California runaway, Manhattan acting student, Geenwich Village club singer, 24-year-old beauty was really talking only about her roller skates?
Yeah, no. Whatever she may have said or left out. Even the breaking of her 27-day fast and ending her vegetarianism by gobbling down a McDonald's meal. Her appetites were starved!
The years went by and I kept getting older. She went to a Grecian urn and remained a pretty young woman singing about her roller skates. I'm sorry to hear about her death. She wasn't supposed to die before me.....Whatever a pretty young girl sings about, she singing about sex. This is especially true of church choir singers.
I have three or four of her albums, have to dig them out for a listen.
She had a pretty active YouTube Channel, mostly clips of her old television performances, with new posts several times a month. Most recent one was only 2 weeks ago. It's good that she got all this stuff out there, to document her career for those who were too young, or perhaps unaware. In this way at least, YouTube is a blessing.
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३० टिप्पण्या:
With Edward Hawkins Singers, 1970
https://youtu.be/IZ52lk9wjZI?si=3_T23Yxzs2gW-Nl5
Vaya con Dios...
I'm glad to see at your tag that she never intended her roller skate song as double entendre. It's nice when some things are genuinely simple.
I loved her voice. That sort of warble.
Listened to candles & key last night and it took me right back.
RIP, Melanie
John Henry
As a young kid I was absolutely infatuated with Melanie. I still own (and played last night) the album I bought when I was 12 years old: Gather Me
Another face and memory of my yute. RIP.
"As a young kid I was absolutely infatuated with Melanie..."
She had a very special relationship with her fans. She was genuinely idolized. It wasn't the largest number of fans — this was back in the early 70s — but they were really devoted. I remember how they made a huge deal out of her birthday.
Roller skate was nice and got lots of air play. Her Lay Lady Lay was good and got no airplay.
"I'm glad to see at your tag that she never intended her roller skate song as double entendre. It's nice when some things are genuinely simple."
Thanks for going to the tag and seeing that there. I hate seeing the question of that one metaphor, that she didn't intend (she says), become thing #1 reaction to her death.
You can consider my choice of "Look What They've Done to My Song" as a deliberate message not to treat "Brand New Key" that way.
I see really beautiful girlishness that is much better than pointing out another sexual metaphor.
The roller skate song always harkened me back to my nursery school playground. The genuine way she sung the song exudes innocence and joy unspoiled by the harsh realities of the adult world. I pity anyone who doesn't feel that warmth in the heart.
The original DIY riot grrrrl who told the record industry to fuck off in '71 and started her own label. An amazing talent.
I was up way too late watching youtube videos. And, she herself interacted with some of the commentors below the videos. How cool is that? RIP.
Before her death, Melanie was working on her 32nd album, a tribute album tentatively titled Second Hand Smoke. The album featured versions of Morrissey’s “Ouija Board Ouija Board,” Nine Inch Nails’ “Hurt,” Radiohead’s “Creep,” among others.
I absolutely LOVE Candles in the Rain. Regarding Brand New Key, nice try at plausible deniability Melanie. Read these lyrics and explain the absence of double entendre:
I rode my bicycle past your window last night
I roller-skated to your door at daylight
It almost seems like you're avoiding me
I'm okay alone, but you've got something I need
Well, I've got a brand-new pair of roller skates
You've got a brand-new key
I think that we should get together
And try them on to see
I've been looking around a while
You've got something for me
Oh, I've got a brand-new pair of roller skates
You've got a brand-new key
I really like this song (Lay Down):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlp3wmE4bbI
“Lay down, lay down… lay it ALL down”
Licky Lundy said...
With Edward Hawkins Singers, 1970
https://youtu.be/IZ52lk9wjZI?si=3_T23Yxzs2gW-Nl5
1/25/24, 4:28 AM
Love it. Still remember the first time I heard it, got a good bit choked up. What the talent...
Joe Bar said...
I really like this song (Lay Down):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlp3wmE4bbI
1/25/24, 8:59 AM
Agreed, a powerful song and style...
She had such a warm and friendly voice. Would have been great to have some milk and cookies in her kitchen.
She did an interesting version of "California Dreamin"
I knew all of her hits, having grown up in those olden days. While cruising the used record bins in the late 70s, I stumbled on a completely forgotten album of hers called "Phonogenic – Not Just Another Pretty Face" and loved it. It was my first and only Melanie album and deserved a bigger audience.
Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) was probably the most powerful song of my youth. I'm not sure why it resonated with me so much. It came out when I was about to enter my teen years. I think it might mark the end of my childhood and the first stirrings of adolescence. I bought the album a few years later when a local FM rock station transitioned to country and sold off their rock collection. I also purchased the Woodstock album and several others that I don't recall. I guess I was fourteen at the time I made the purchase. Maybe eleven when I first heard Lay Down.
RIP
Melanie wrote her transcendent "Lay Down" about--and as a reaction to--the Woodstock festival, where she performed.
Awww, I'm sad to hear this. Melanie was probably the first pop singer I knew by name. I was in grade school when her first big hits made the airwaves.
And, like Cher, nobody ever seemed to need a last name for her.
They aren't listing the cause, but I hope it was peaceful.
--- I see really beautiful girlishness that is much better than pointing out another sexual metaphor.
Why? Doesn't that make the song a little childish and insipid?
Anyway, I can't buy it.
"I go pretty far..." That California runaway, Manhattan acting student, Geenwich Village club singer, 24-year-old beauty was really talking only about her roller skates?
Yeah, no. Whatever she may have said or left out. Even the breaking of her 27-day fast and ending her vegetarianism by gobbling down a McDonald's meal. Her appetites were starved!
The years went by and I kept getting older. She went to a Grecian urn and remained a pretty young woman singing about her roller skates. I'm sorry to hear about her death. She wasn't supposed to die before me.....Whatever a pretty young girl sings about, she singing about sex. This is especially true of church choir singers.
John Denver in drag?
Seriously...isn't she better-known for another hit about roller skates?
My personal favorite:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBIaZ9aTWco
Rest in peace, Melanie, I hope you didn't suffer at the end.
All my early '70s favorites are passing away rapidly. Truly the twilight of the Boomer gods. Anyone read the book by Steven Hyden on this?
https://www.amazon.com/Twilight-Gods-Journey-Classic-Rock/dp/0062657135
I have three or four of her albums, have to dig them out for a listen.
She had a pretty active YouTube Channel, mostly clips of her old television performances, with new posts several times a month. Most recent one was only 2 weeks ago. It's good that she got all this stuff out there, to document her career for those who were too young, or perhaps unaware. In this way at least, YouTube is a blessing.
I always thought that the candles were for illuminating the cake that was left out.
“I don’t eat white flour, white sugar makes you rot.
Oh, white can be beautiful, but mostly it’s not.”
One of the lesser Melanie lyrics that has nonetheless stayed with me all these years.
Good life, Melanie Safka.
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