First listen to MELANIE - Look What They've Done to my Song, Ma (REACTION)

[@stevekuckuk2483]

Melanie, performed late night and in the rain at Woodstock, she soon after wrote arguably the greatest of all songs written specifically about that concert . . . "We were so close, there was no room . . . We bled inside each others wounds . . . We all had caught the same disease . . . And we all sang the songs of peace" Her live recording done in the Netherlands in 1970 including the Edwin Hawkins group backing her up gives special energy to this anthem as most live performances do . . .

[@RandyHall324]

(Lay Down - Candles in the Rain)

[@MissAstorDancer]

Steve, still brings me to tears, her lyrics!

[@hallson2917]

R.I.P Melanie

[@thancrow]

She was a unique talent. She is gone, but her music lives on.

[@Hartlor_Tayley]

Melanie sang so evocatively with pure emotion. Maybe check out her song “Lay it Down (Candles in the Rain) with Hawkins singers. I think there’s a live video version in B/W from European TV around this time 70- 71. Great reaction. Yeah she is Amazing. Thansk

[@tomst.antoine7742]

Yes there is a video on KZbin.

[@bobangell1679]

"Lay Down..."

[@shellyfox863]

Melanie is still sounding great. She is magic and wrote so many great songs. Many have been recorded by other artists. Her fans tend to be lifelong fans. I feel that she is the greatest underrated artist of my generation.

[@wfj50]

At last, someone has discovered the beautiful and talented Melanie! She has so many great songs. Thank you, Daniel.

[@jackvelten7004]

She is such a nice person. Had the privilege to meet her and her husband, rest in peace,. She recorded in a small town in New York, about 45 minutes from the city. She is such a down to earth person.

[@TangSongs]

Amazing Melanie! Loved her since I was 14 and my friends thought I was out of my mind. Never lost my love for her. Look at her later recordings! She’s special,

[@79mib]

Yes! I love Melanie’s catalogue. She can really walk the line between silly joy and obvious pain. 👍 Candles in the Rain is her best for my money.

[@dagmar.6954]

Great song! I remember Melanie's songs growing up in the 70's. She had lots of hits such as "Brand New Key", "Ruby Tuesday", "Ring The Living Bell", "The Nickel Song", "Bitter Bad", "Together Alone", "Will You Love Me Tomorrow", "Beautiful People" etc. "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)" was inspired by her experience of performing at the 1969 Woodstock music festival.

[@rosmeeker1964]

Loved those songs. And...Alexander Beetle.

[@MCJSA]

Ruby Tuesday was always my favorite. She was my favorite singer in the 70s.

[@timebandito4278]

Love love love love LOVE Ruby Tuesday.....who can put a name on you?

[@MCJSA]

@@timebandito4278 Yes, it's a strange and haunting song. I think there are many layers of meaning in it but it really does speak directly to that generation, to the social dislocation, alienation, and loss that so many experienced. And, her voice and presence are perfect for that song.

[@littleolme4521]

She wrote this song in response to controversy about her previous song Brand New Key. Evidently some thought it was suggestive. This is the story I heard decades ago.

[@tomst.antoine7742]

Yes Daniel, Melanie does read and comment on her official page. I have seen her comment on another reaction video as well.

[@daveking9393]

I really enjoyed it and your reaction. You do this so well. Thanks for sharing.

[@personalcheeses8073]

More talented than she was ever given credit for

[@donthomasdunigan7004]

I love Melanie, always have. I saw her twice, in 1974 and 1975. I was just a young teen, but I guess I had a crush. I brought a dozen roses to put on the stage for her. I wasn't the only one. She had lots of fans. Peace.

[@tomst.antoine7742]

Keep going on more Melanie....You will not be disappointed....

[@davemadman7093]

Awesome reaction to Melanie Daniel. Great singer from the past. Lol I certainly remember this song.

[@tomst.antoine7742]

She is still singing today....

[@davemadman7093]

@@tomst.antoine7742 another singer Janis Ian same setup.

[@tomst.antoine7742]

@@davemadman7093 Yes, Societies Child, and At Seventeen, are both great...

[@charlesharris2749]

There's a version of this song on YT that is a duet by Miley Cyrus and Melanie. who still has pretty strong pipes! Thanks for playing this. What you've got to hear is Lay It Down with her and the Edwin Hawkins singers. A song she wrote about Woodstock... We were so close, there was no room We bled inside each others wounds We all had caught the same disease And we all sang the songs of peace

[@Yosef1952]

Such a distinctive voice. The lyrics are darker than I remember them having been. Melanie always had a whimsical vibe, but I can see that it wasn't the sum of her nature. Interesting number that I hadn't heard in many years. I can see it touched something deep in Daniel's heart.

[@le7669]

She's so good ♥️ melanie

[@EE-te8zo]

One of my favorites is her cover of Dylan’s Mr Tambourine Man - spectacular!

[@garyarnett1220]

As mentioned her bigger hits Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) with the Edwin Hawkins singers is beautiful, and Brand New Key is quirky and fun. Holding my breath for the next visit to Schmilsson.

[@jackthecat5497]

Yep I reckon Lay Down is her Stairway to Heaven. So good.

[@JackieApril]

Truly wasn't expecting that! Wow, I learned something new..

[@cherylreichardt]

Was a song I learned as a little one and I'd entertain my mom. It has that stage appeal vibe and her voice is marvelous. I love the part about finding a good book to hide in! The French is sweet.

[@flomalheur7467]

Thank you for listening to this song. I may be more of the "prog grandpa", but this is one of my favorite songs. And it's nice to see that this song can still touch young people today.

[@texasfall6644]

Phenomenal, right? The studio version is magnificent, as well.

[@Gregory......]

Very Sad and Beautiful song 👍

[@michaellomax2]

Oh love Melanie. Check out her version of the Rolling Stones' Ruby Tuesday. It's awesome.

[@wolke9270]

Definitely. So different to the original, both beautiful. I couldn't tell which version is better. Daniel could listen to the songs side by side...

[@michaellomax2]

@@wolke9270 yes, both are good but I do favour Melanie more.

[@Capitaomac1]

I was born in 1970, and this single, with Beautiful People as B side, was one of the first pieces of music i ever heard, along with Jethro Tull's Aqualung and some Janis Joplin. I still have the original records, bought by my mother and older brother in Angola, where i was born. Beautiful People and her version of Ruby Tuesday are the songs i like the most from Melanie. Amazing voice.

[@tomst.antoine7742]

Yes, Beautiful People and Ruby Tuesday are among her best....

[@CharlesDunkley]

I grew up to Melanie's music. My dad had her first few albums when they came out. She's my first musical crush and my personal favorite female performer. If I'm making a list of Best she's not at the top, but favorite, she is. Great songwriter as well. Her first few albums are just fantastic. I think those albums rivaled my Beatles albums for most listened to on my turntable when I was a kid. These are her albums I never tire of listening to: Born to Be (1968) Melanie aka Affectionately Melanie (1969) Gather Me (1971) There isn't a single song on those 3 albums I don't love. Her other albums have some fantastic songs as well. But those 3 albums in particular are part of me as a person.

[@MissAstorDancer]

I only know "Gather Me" as an album, but it's a work of art in every way you could want! Melanie truly epitomized the true spirit of the mindset of the Hippie era!! There are not a whole lot who fit that description!

[@mcolford]

Daniel, you are such an impressive and sensitive young man. I love listening to your thoughts and reactions; just beautiful. So, I will echo some sentiments from below. You have GOT to listen to Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) with the Hawkins Singers. There is a live performance out there that is out of this world. It's so amazing. Other great songs include The Good Book, and her cover of the Rolling Stones' Ruby Tuesday. Brand New Key is her biggest hit, but it's a bit of a novelty song... still fun though!

[@bobangell1679]

I really love "Brand New Key." Don't think I've heard it since the 70s. Almost forgot about her. She did play Woodstock...

[@andrewclayton4181]

Melanie's songs are often meaningful. She has written some belteers. She has also covered some others, adding a poignancy which the originals lacked. - Ruby Tuesday. - Carolina in my mind. Her husky tones can melt you heart. She is still performing. The French bit says Ils sont changer ma chanson ( they are changing my song) Cest le sole chose j'ai prefer ( it's the only thing I like) Est ce que n'est pas bon ma ( isn't that no good ma) Ils sont changer ma chanson. Love melanie's stuff. Have a search to see if you can find some more..... Beautiful people. or I don't eat animals. or Psychotherapy - leftover Wine. A lot of great stuff in her catalogue.

[@MissAstorDancer]

Oh, those are cool suggestions!👍

[@billshine401]

Good for you for picking up on the emotion in such a simple song.

[@mikephalen3162]

Didn't expect Melanie. Good job.

[@didierchapelot5671]

You discover the incredible emotional potential of this great and so underrated woman. So glad you include her in your "first listens" and contribute to make her work known to young generations. Funny since I'm French and this song was a modest hit in France, mainly because of its small part in French ("Ils ont changé ma chanson, c'est la seule chose que je sais faire et ce n'est pas bon" meaning "They changed my song, it's the only thing that I do it right and that's no good"), although the sentence doesn't really make sense but who care. The way she can shout and whisper in the same song is really stunning

[@johnclibbens6803]

I love Melanie - she has a unique voice.

[@gabrieleflannery6504]

Melanie was always wonderful, a true voice of the 70's and beyond. I think people forget what a beautifully powerful voice she had. Ironic that it was covered. Nice review Daniel thanks again. 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@sinenominecc]

Well, that's the unplugged version. The one we heard on the radio that was a hit is this one: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3jTqXSnpKqdi6s

[@boscobeans]

One of many songs from the past that were so special along with the artists that wrote and performed them. Melanie was a megaphone of so many emotions. I still think of candles in the rain when I hear her music. Beautiful.

[@darrylludwig4556]

This is what we listened to before the industry brought in manufactured "talent" that was auto tuned and more about presentation than content and real artists. Its OK to be jealous. Melanie Safka will always be a Queen of music history.

[@timlynch5710]

"Ils ont changé ma chanson Ma". J'aime ça.

[@micheleparker3780]

God, I totally forgot about this song!! Haven't heard it since, of course, the '70's. Wow.

[@markbishopmusic]

She was a women pioneer in the music business. In short time, she had her own label and controlled her own career. Lay Down (about her Woodstock experience) Nickel Song Beautiful People Brand New Key All the above great tunes! Tuning My Guitar was a straight up "screw you" to the business. Johnny Carson loved her, had her on several times!

[@andrewmatthews1083]

Candles in the Rain

[@DawnSuttonfabfour]

Used to cry every time, and I was just a kid. But I got it. Heart achingly beautiful. It is Dylanesque.

[@donnabruhn6907]

My favorite Melanie song is a protest song Lay Down Candles

[@sinenominecc]

"Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" here is the radio edit that was the hit we heard in our cars. The full version is well worth hearing also. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4fKmZJ-pp19rrs

[@richardcork6918]

Melanie has one of the most powerful and emotional voices in music. Hard hitting and vulnerable at the same time. Candles in the Rain is an all time classic album, especially the title track which is about Woodstock, where she performed. But my favourite track is Leftover Wine (studio version) which still gives me chills and goosebumps even after all these years.

[@tomst.antoine7742]

Yes, Great Album...Also,check out her 1969 self titled album, "Melanie", and the 1976 album, "Photograph".

[@franchk8372]

Love Melanie. 💖💖

[@TarBabyJim]

Check out "Leftover wine". Melanie wrote some great songs and is still going strong at 75 years old.

[@bob_garrard]

One of my favorites of hers.

[@thebrysmith3]

Daniel. If this one prompted chills and tears, make sure you have a comfy sweater and and plenty of tissues handy when you listen to Lay Down (Candles in The Rain). Oh and intense? Yes, it is.

[@jameswalls4172]

I’m going to suggest Brand New Key.I think the lyrics are very clever,and she sings like an angel

[@Earcandy73]

Melanie Safka is from New Jersey where I live. Her mother had a card store in the Monmouth Mall. She is a wonderful woman. I named my first car after her. The New Seekers recorded a cover of this and some of her other songs including “The Nickel Song”

[@danielmurphy4429]

Hi Daniel, Melanie was a true beautiful ‘hippie soul’ whom put out tremendous, thought provoking music. I see many of your faithful have encouraged you to react to Candles in the Rain, accompanied by the Edwin Hawkins singers. I think you’d be wise to take their advice, it is truly powerful. Another excellent reaction btw - keep ‘‘em coming!

[@valerievanwinkle6453]

There's a Chance Peace Will Come is my favorite by Melanie. We used to sometimes call buying a lottery or raffle ticket buying chances. The chorus of the song goes, " there's a chance peace will come in your life, please buy one."

[@ronaldalagia9211]

i was in love with melanie in the 70's. just look at her, she was the poster child for a hippie girl. although she said she wasn't a hippie, she was just weird. check out her cover of james taylor's "CAROLINA IN MY MIND". my favorite song by her. ruby tuesday is good also.

[@MissAstorDancer]

Oh, WOW, Daniel! PLEASE, more Melanie! I know you will get lots of suggestions, but here are my personal favorites. They are all from her stunning album, "Gather Me". Fair warning though.....she can damn sure bring a person to tears! Little Bit of Me Steppin' Ring the Living Bell Some Say I Got Devil Baby Day and my absolute FAVORITE Melanie song (an adaptation to an old hymn): What Wondrous Love Extremely moving song from a (to me, at least) iconic album! Very special album to me. And I totally believe you will really be pretty surprised and amazed by her, no matter which album or song you pick to listen to by her! Blessings for a great day, and thanks for this cool surprise experiencing Melanie!

[@darcysalas3042]

I enjoy the and don't put yourself down .

[@joelliebler5690]

I was maybe 11 or 12 when I listened to this song and album that my brother had! Melanie new how to touch you!

[@robertburke5354]

Congrats on discovering Melanie, Daniel. She is a treasure. May I suggest that you listen to the whole album Candles in the Rain (1970). It's a masterpiece IMO.

[@maxrnb01]

You need to checkout Melanie’s “Candles in the Rain”

[@johnandrews3151]

Melanie/Candles In The Rain - Lay Down STUDIO ALBUM VERSION. There is a live version of this song but you should hear the studio version first. Both versions features the Edwin Hawkins Singers but the live version does not include Candles In The Rain.

[@erikahlander3489]

The first four albums I bought back in 71/72 was 1. Melanie (after hearing "Tuning my guitar" in radio), 2. Jethro Tull, 3. Ekseption, and 4. Frank Zappa!

[@belovedabstract3568]

i saw Melanie and Tom Rush at Harvard Stadium , it was a great show .... you really should check out Tom Rush ... Child's Song is a good one to start with , but that whole album is outstanding

[@robertburke5354]

A little hippie chick, sitting on a stool, playing an acoustic guitar, and hitting it out of the park.

[@joyceharkin3641]

"I wish I could find a good book to live in" kills me every time.

[@nationaltrails9585]

Interesting career this one, song went to #14? Many cover versions, the one I recall was by Andy Williams wife, Claudine Longet. Another Melanie song would go to #1, Brand New Key, regarding a McDonald's experience. Brings to mind some other songs from around that time, Richard Harris (Dumbledore), MacArthur Park (1968) and Peggy Lee's, Is That All (1969). Both did well and one got a Grammy.

[@TheFireMonkey]

I'm sure you would love a lot of her work, I first heard her when I bought her album Garher Me (1972, I think - at least it was close to then since it was right around the end of high school for me) she had another song about the music industry called I'm going to be a farmer - it has a beautiful line, "I built and climbed a mountain but it wasn't there" which she did was about how when you had a hit, everyone was your friend and you were on top of the world and then everyone went away until your next hit and it was like each success was gone as soon a someone else had a hit.

[@paulhagger3895]

The album this comes from, Candles In The Rain, is well worth a listen.

[@MichaelYoder1961]

She has a few great songs - Lay Down, Brand New Key, Beautiful People... and yes it's in French

[@MisterWondrous]

People were so much better at making their mouths move in ways contrary to what you would expect, back then. She could even do it in two languages, thus qualifying her for "beautiful people" status and a place at Woodstock.

[@markmurphy558]

If I had one word to describe Melanie, it would be authentic. She had a bare bones approach to music that allowed her basic human decency to shine on stage. She was one of a kind back in the day. The blood suckers running the record companies were never able to steal the soul out of her music because it was just her and her guitar.

[@neildonley9626]

I don't know if she is actively recording or performing at this moment, but she has had a long career past the peak of the late 60s and early 70s. Some of her later CDs are quite good.

[@tomst.antoine7742]

Yes, she is still performing ...Check her web site..

[@turnerdan53]

I have read that after she left her record label they actively tried to destroy her career. When she would bring out a new album they would release one with old rejected music at the same time so if some one bought the wrong one it would ruin her reputation.

[@ronrago2696]

Check her on Lay Down Lay Down (Candles in the Rain) It is an amazing performance, one of a kind!

[@ancientmuse7297]

I'm crying...

[@barbarabisson2551]

I remember hearing her bewail her first song: "Brand New Key". It was a simple song about her first crush, and they turned the meaning inti something sordid at that time. Could that be what she was referring to? Her first innocent song became jaded

[@Yaktahbay]

Nope.

[@dougca7086]

If you haven't react to Melanie live at Woodstock she conned her away into Woodstock when she was an unknown but she became well known after she sang also react to Brand New Key

[@Yaktahbay]

Yes, it's quite likely that Melanie herself Liked that KZbin comment. Hopefully she'll find your reaction eventually. And another vote for Lay Down (Candles In The Rain).

[@sharonm6262]

Such a great song. In 1971 I was a good bit younger than you are now so it took me a bit to "get" the lyrics but then it hit like a freight train. Kafka-esque is not a bad description, really.

[@bendancar]

I never had made this connection before, and it has been years since I even thought about Melanie (thank you!), but there is a lot of Melanie in First Aid Kit. If you are not familiar with FAK, they are duo of Swedish sisters that sing folk-country rock in Simon and Garfunkel-like harmonies. They are good songwriters, too. Check out First Aid Kit: Try "Rebel Heart," "Emmylou" (about Emmylou Harris and Gram Parsons), or "It's a Shame." FAK have worked with Jack White and Conor Obrest -- not too shabby! Check them out.

[@bendancar]

BTW, you may have visited him, but I don't recall it. You MUST dig into Gram Parsons. Please... and you're welcome.

[@BeckyOTC]

You, young man, are an old soul

[@JerisEve]

What a voice she has. I have loved this woman for so many years that if I said how long, it would date us both. She sings with such heart always, and every song touches your heart. Her version of Ruby Tuesday is IMO far better than the Rolling Stones original. Her biggest hits were Lay Down, about her experience of singing at Woodstock when she was extremely young, and Brand New Key, which is full of double entendre. She denies this, but listen to it and see for yourself.

[@jinglebe11rainbow37]

Nice!

[@laurakennedy9250]

Melanie was my favorite artist for many years when I was very young. Very few of her songs were played on the radio but she had many die-hard fans. I think her best songs by far were the ones that most people didn't know, the ones you could only hear on her records. The more popular songs, like this one, were not my favorites. The real gems were on her albums, but people won't recommend them because they only know the ones that were heard on the radio. I'm sorry I can't finish this video but it bothers me that you won't understand what a great singing voice Melanie has from this particular performance or song. That's a shame.

[@MissAstorDancer]

Hang in there! I think Daniel will look deeper into her!

[@timebandito4278]

I remember when I was young they used this song in a commercial..."Look what they've done to my oatmeal." Kinda sad

[@bobangell1679]

In French, "They changed my song." The number of syllables fit...

[@er5406]

You need to listen to Lay Down by Melanie Afka next. Since this song affected you this much bring the kleenex for Lay Down. By the way all the other songs being mentioned are well and worth the listen. Hippie culture rules.

[@MissAstorDancer]

It's "Safka". But you are correct about Melanie having a sure-fire way to bring the listeners to tears! Love her so much!

[@jameswalls4172]

Peter,Paul and Mary were a wildly successful folk trio during the sixties,doing songs handpicked for them by the label,some by Dylan.When Warner was putting the group together,Mary Travers was invited on a trip to a tropical island by some friends.She declined because the label didn't want her tanned.They wanted her hair blonde,with a pale girl next door complexion.

[@MCJSA]

That's French. It's the refrain, same as in English. I loved the French bit. I studied French in HS and thought it was really cool. No one ever sang pop in any language but English.

[@jeffmartin1026]

People ask why todays music sucks and you summed it up at the end: I've never heard anything like this on the radio. As the song says, it's about the corporations pushing/changing music that sells. At least back in the early days (even with all of its grooming/pushing) corporations were open to different types of music.

[@FlamingGong]

Do "the light from deep darkness" from Eloy !!

[@Lunal73]

Hi guys, I recommend you to react to the song “Tank park salut” by Billy Bragg. It’s so deep and so beautiful, a real gemstone. Even it’s about a father I’m dedicating it to my mother who passed away July the 06th, 2022. This pain is killing me. Sleep well mom. 💔🌹🥺😭 Lu

[@MissAstorDancer]

Thank you so much for the recommendation for Billy! I just watched a live performance of that song, and I just lost it! Billy is right up Daniels alley, as well! Billy seems like an excellent example of the genre! I've lit a candle and sent up a prayer for you! I completely understand. When I lost my Mom, there was a terrible period of nearly 3 months, when I truly thought I would lose my mind with grief. That was 22 years ago, and I still cry for her, and think of her many times a day. Blessings!

[@starman2337]

You may have reacted to Roy Clark's guitar playing, but give his cover of "Yesterday When I Was Young" a listen for its lyrics.

[@JamesRea2]

Along the same line try Radio, Radio by Elvis Costello. Totally different but the same idea.

[@faithnyou1732]

Melanie was great! I think you would really enjoy "Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)", probably Melanie's greatest song, at least for me, anyway. Great reaction choice and analysis, Daniel! 💙✌ Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) - kzbin.info/www/bejne/g5LMhWuddrmtrsU

[@MCJSA]

The predatory practices of the music industry are truly outrageous. They were in the 70s and it's gotten progressively worse since then.

[@Katehowe3010]

What plans have you got for the completion of Talk Talk's "The Colour Of Spring" album? Only two tracks left, although they need to be played together, as "Chameleon Day" leads straight into the final track. Looking forward to this so you can move on to the sheer genius of their final two classics!

[@DiconDissectionalReactions]

Oh, thanks for letting me know they need to be played together, I would have done them separately. Likely very soon.

[@Katehowe3010]

@@DiconDissectionalReactions Many thanks.

[@daveking9393]

@@DiconDissectionalReactions yes they should be together for sure.

[@rodbutler9864]

You fell in love for a litte while there dude, can't say i blame you.

[@brandonflorida1092]

I was going to say that it might be the only song you've ever reacted to from the top 40 in the 1960s, but checking I see that it was 1970 and didn't make the American charts. Probably that honor goes to "A Hard Day's Night."