Happy Together - The Turtles | College Students' FIRST TIME REACTION!

[@alanhynd7886]

Fun fact: no one has ever sung this song sober after 9PM at night.

[@alloralou4722]

😂😂😂

[@gidget8717]

🤣👍

[@donnabiddix250]

True!

[@nyrocks5580]

I almost shot my lunch out of my face reading that! LOLOL

[@mikethemotormouth]

Is there a 9pm of the morning? 😄

[@redindenver6666]

The Turtles' lead singer had a beautiful voice ... loved his tone and amazing voice control.

[@razor3683]

Impossible to hear this song and not think of a bright, sunny late-60s day.

[@vinnygi]

And that’s why they called the genre Sunshine Pop

[@MoMoMyPup10]

gonna be a bright, bright, bright, sunshiny day...

[@michaelasay8587]

Razor...if you were alive in the 60s...lol. Oh I was!

[@RossWrock]

...or "Ernest Goes to Camp."

[@paulandresen8452]

Alex, you hit it. It's about a guy trying to approach his one and only, but he can't say what he wants. Instead he "Thinks about it every night" and asks "How is the weather?" That's why it doesn't go into the chorus, his declaration of love, at the end. Instead it's just "So happy together" like he's banging in his head into a wall.

[@DavidTateVA]

Absolutely -- note all of the verbs. He's singing that they WOULD BE happy together, not that they are. IF I should call you up, expend a dime, and you say you belong to me... Paul has the image for the ending (banging his head against the wall in frustration) exactly right.

[@latherslick]

And I always loved the line " how is the weather". A topic used in conversation when nervous or uneasy. It's always the go to phrase to keep a conversation going.

[@glendamott6420]

I was just a kid songs like this just takes me back to my transistor radio and just laying on the lawn looking at the clouds and we would all be singing. Simple days our radios were like cellphones are now .

[@mikeking7710]

It was actually a song about unrequited and imagined love. The tip off is the very first line of the lyric - "Imagine me and you, I do. I think about you day and night, it's only right."

[@Dooklawz]

you're quite right, this is one of those " Oh man how I wish she loved me " songs. Love it, grew up listening to The Turtles. Hard to pick a favorite but another one of theirs I love it " She's My Girl "

[@mikeking7710]

@@Dooklawz after "Happy Together" it's "Elenore" for me.

[@andrewcastillo3110]

Yes sir.

[@SpuzzyLargo]

@Joan In Florida Actually, if you go on KZbin and find videos from the song's composers, as well as histories of the Turtles, you'll find out this is true: imagined, unrequited love.

[@themoviedealers]

Poor Joan, so emotionally invested and denying the truth. It's sad.

[@SavoyBRG]

Good pickup Alex, here's what the song is about: Many listeners thought that the lyrics of "Happy Together" were about a couple in love with each other due to its cheery chorus and the title, but, according to historian James E. Perone, a closer reading in the lyrics ("imagine me and you", "if i should call you") reveals that the love expressed by the narrator is not reciprocated by the other person, with Perone stating that the relationship "is only in dreams, wishes, desires and the mind of the singer".

[@gregsager2062]

Yes. What's more, the follow-up aside that Howard Kaylan tosses out off-handedly after the "Imagine me and you" -- "I do" -- confirms that, yes, this idealized romance of his is all in his head, at least at the point when the song is sung. Plus, as you said, the entire second verse is based upon the first word -- "if" -- and is thus a conditional, rather than already realized.

[@amandafaber9983]

Should’ve read this comment before I posted mine! Fascinating!

[@davidheiser2225]

I'd always thought the line "the only one for me is you, and you for me" was awkward -- it says the same thing twice (both times saying "for me"). It never does say "me for you", so it's definitely a one-way desire.

[@Saan42]

Not to be something, but isn't this obvious? It's right there in the lyrics, as you've pointed out. You'd have to be not actually listening to the lyrics to think it was about an existing couple, as it's all written as someone talking about a potential relationship. I mean the very first word of the song is "imagine".

[@Blackmallowtube]

​@@Saan42 Also the musical tone of the verses sound more like sad longing than anything else while the chorus is rainbow, sugar and unicorns. Finally, the outro music part is "will they be together or not?", until the last note which is tending more toward hopefulness than sorrow, so we kinda guess that they eventually got together but the relationship probably wasn't the expected bliss heard in the chorus.

[@cesarnarro6013]

The Association " Along Comes Mary " is one of my favorites from that time period.

[@nancy9478]

Yes!

[@FutureReferenc]

Don't forget Windy

[@ponymon4283]

@@FutureReferenc And their first #1 hit...Cherish

[@patrickquinn2539]

@@ponymon4283 I was just going to say, Cherish would be the next thing to hear!

[@stpnwlf9]

I loved how when the first chorus hit, you both broke out in spontaneous smiles. This song has been doing that for over 50 years.

[@Joshuadgog]

100 % agree. one of the happiest songs ever.

[@kathybwell]

I saw that too, the magic of this song is still strong.

[@ammie8659]

"Get Together" by the Youngbloods is a great 60s song that has a lot of relevance for today.

[@douglasfrantzen3011]

As far as happy, feel good songs with a great sound go, that one must be at the top.

[@Cheshirecat-nx9zn]

Get Together is a great youngbloods song

[@minkhollow]

After which "Darkness, Darkness" can knock their *socks* off, it's such a different song.

[@CB-gr1uk]

One of the best songs ever made!

[@timjezierski1930]

To me it is a song that exemplifies the late 60's early 70's

[@bobrob2004]

Several good songs from the Tutles. "She'd Rather Be with Me" "Elenore" "You Showed Me" "Let Me Be" And Bob Dylan's cover of "It Ain't Me Babe" I also recommend "Buzzsaw." Such a different sound from them.

[@septictopix4797]

Elenore has the greatest teenage boy pickup line of the 60's... "Gee I think you're swell"

[@MissAstorDancer]

Both are GREAT, FUN pop songs! My fave is "She'd Rather Be with Me".

[@jons.105]

They'll never get to those without support from their polls. Also, "It's not #1 on Spotify!"

[@vickirecord5534]

Another Turtles song I liked was "Your Ma Said You Cried in Your Sleep Last Night". And their cover of Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction"

[@cyndybensema7189]

@@septictopix4797 And it was written because their record contract needed a new song fast and they didn't want to make a good song and it ended up being a great song even with the crazy lyrics. We have their DVD concerning the history of The Turtles. Quite entertaining in itself. :)

[@lynne5322]

The chorus always bursts through like pure sunshine. 🌞

[@DavidB-2268]

In spite of the stalkery lyrics

[@KoroftheSon]

One of the greatest of all time for sure, or at least one of the most recognizable

[@sabrinasjourney]

Orange sunshine that is ;)

[@joeypeterson3324]

Another great 60s song with incredible harmonies is “The Rain, the Park and Other Things” by The Cowsills.

[@gregsager2062]

Andy & Alex really ought to react to "The Rain, the Park, and Other Things". I don't know if they'll like the song or not, but they'll certainly marvel at the intricacy of its arrangement.

[@DG-uh8uv]

That is still one of my favorite songs

[@alycetaylor7138]

yes you guys should hit this one!

[@mykicks]

ABSOLUTELY! Great song. Highly recommended. It sort of encapsulates the entire Summer of Love in 2 1/2 minutes......Creative, fresh ideas, with great harmonies. Unfortunately, the song & The Cowsills inspired and led to "The Partridge Family" TV show. Nothing against the TV show, but originally the show was created around the actual Cowsills family and written for them. But it hit a snag when the TV producers did not want Mrs. Cowsill, the mother of their family, in the band, or the group.They thought it wasn't good TV. The Cowsill family rallied around her, and they were summarily dismissed, and Shirley Jones, David Cassidy and the rest is history. As great as they were, you probably don't need to be that concerned about more than 3 or 4 other Cowsills songs. "Indian Lake" - "C'mon Get Happy," and their version of the theme from HAIR, "Aquarius Let the Sun Shine In". And one other note of interest for you was that sister Susan Cowsill went on to have a hit of her own with Carol King's "It Might As Well Rain Until September". It's hard to say whether Susan's or Carol's is the better version. They're both great. You guys should do some comparison segments, where you could actually play 2 or 3 versions of the same song, compare & discuss them. I think you eluded to something like that with "Proud Mary", and another good one are the 3 or 4 great versions of "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". Sometimes you get two WAY different versions of the same song, such as "Satisfaction" by The Rolling Stones, and by DEVO.

[@oldeskoolnana7543]

I love the Flower Girl was good. I didn't think anyone would remember the Cowsills.🤣🤣✌🌻🌻I was in love,with David Cassidy. Of course I was 11 years old.🤣🤣

[@Vonlang001]

Alex is correct. This is not a song about two people head over heals in love. It is indeed about unrequited love. The key lines to this are "imagine how the world would be..." and "if I should call you up..."

[@karlalbrecht4688]

That, and the whine in his vocal inflection. The guy is looking for a pity f@€k, or trying to attack from the friend zone.

[@thomasg5968]

“How is the weather?” says it inevitably turns into a “small talk, friends” relationship.

[@roseypeach8363]

This song is about a guy who loves a girl but has not yet revealed his love for her. He's uncertain, should he tell her, will she reject him. He's concerned because they were meant to be together but does she know that...

[@MissAstorDancer]

@@thomasg5968 Interesting idea! I always thought they just needed a rhyme. But then, why? The fact that they did not just repeat "happy together" over and over, but instead, deliberately chose to include "how is the weather", has some meaning! Your idea is very interesting, and means you pay attention to details!

[@RicoBurghFan]

I love your take on this. It seems like a happy, bouncy song, but there's a minor key element that makes you wonder if the singer isn't just imagining the whole relationship, and yes the chaotic end just contradicts the feel good vibe. God you got me analyzing this song! You guys are S tier! 💯👍

[@alanarakelian5021]

Try out the Association's "Windy" -- after all, it's "lighter than air" (as the lyrics say). Yet another winner from 1967, hands down the most vibrant, creative year in pop-music history.

[@micheleparker3780]

Now THAT'S a good (I didn't say great) song.

[@paintedjaguar]

Yes, "Windy" for sure, and here are a few others that I think are in the same general neighborhood: The Seekers - "I'll Never Find Another You" & "Georgy Girl" Petula Clark - "I Know A Place" & "Downtown" The Turtles - "Elenore" The Beach Boys - "Don't Worry Baby" The Beatles - "I'll Follow the Sun" The Tremeloes - "Silence Is Golden" & "Here Comes My Baby" Gary Lewis and the Playboys - "You Didn't Have To Be So Nice" The Left Banke - "Walk Away Renee"

[@alanarakelian5021]

@@paintedjaguar Good suggestions. FYI: Your second-to-last one is actually by the Lovin' Spoonful, not Gary Lewis.

[@paintedjaguar]

@@alanarakelian5021 Both bands covered that song, both versions were on the radio a lot. Dealer's choice.

[@oldeskoolnana7543]

I played my 45 out playing Windy. God I'm old.🤦‍♀️✌🌻🌻

[@penguin1924]

I saw the Turtles in concert about 25 years ago. They played after the Mamas and the Papas, who had no original members of the band. When the Turtles came out, one of them said "Who were those people?" The crowd roared with laughter.

[@ivylady13]

You guys looked HAPPY when this song ended. That's how we felt when the Turtles showed up, just a happy song! Oh, and no sarcasm intended!

[@laurateall8847]

Their song "'Eleanor" is just as good---outstanding melody with killer chorus. His voice DOES have a kind of haunting sound--I never thought of it that way before. Thanks for doing this one, guys.

[@darrins601]

"Eleanor" is so great, and lyrically clever: 'Eleanor, gee I think your swell, and you really do me well. You're my pride and joy, etcetera'

[@jml-rj5re]

@@darrins601 The Turtles were told to write another hit like Happy Together so they deliberately stuffed the single with as many cliches as possible as a joke. For spite. The song still works. Really well.

[@allisonreed7682]

This was so amazing. I think it's time for y'all to hear Blood, Sweat, and Tears. Their 1968 song "Spinning Wheel" is the perfect starting point. Have a great weekend!

[@Shadowrider1872]

🌻

[@allisonreed7682]

Hey @@Shadowrider1872! Happy Friday! 🤩

[@johnhughes3214]

Spinning Wheel - Great song. I should have thought of that.

[@colinkaak9874]

“You Made Me So Very Happy.” by Blood, Sweat and Tears.

[@allisonreed7682]

@@johnhughes3214 I think they'll love it!

[@JayCross]

The live version of "Happy Together" with the same vocalists on "Mothers Live Filmore East June 1971" is worth a listen.

[@johnharkness7114]

lol--the very different context makes it a very different version

[@professorg9424]

I was just about to say the same thing. "Here comes my bullet"

[@johnharkness7114]

@@professorg9424 correction--big hit single WITH the BULLET! :D :D

[@steveschmitz2839]

so agree Jay! I need to dive in more on that version of the Mothers

[@missmabelbasset4077]

I really can't stand it....

[@aileenturrietta7553]

"Eve of Destruction" "It Ain't me Babe" "Eleanor" are worth checking out. My older sisters played this all the time, such great memories. Great rating, love rocking the oldies with you!!!

[@rickfortier8664]

Barry Mcguire sang "Eve of Destruction and The Spokesmen sang "The Dawn of Correction" as an answer to it.

[@Magravated]

I had an older sister that I borrowed records from too and of course she had this album.

[@bigb6046]

Also "You Baby"

[@aileenturrietta7553]

@@Magravated 48's with the little plastic ring you had to stick inside that were a pain. Lol

[@DavidB-2268]

@@aileenturrietta7553 45s, not 48s

[@duanevp]

That chorus hits - INSTANT smiles. :) You can't NOT smile listening to this.

[@sherryheim5504]

Flo and Eddie who are in this band also were with Frank Zappa. I love this song and it was uber popular when it was charting. Thank you.

[@kevinmarschall2377]

Ah, Flo and Eddie, now the boys need to listen to "Illegal, immoral and fattening".

[@johnclibbens6803]

And sang it on Zappa’s Live at the Fillmore East album.

[@carlfisher3924]

@@johnclibbens6803 #1 with a bullet

[@johnclibbens6803]

@@carlfisher3924 One of the lines that’s safe to quote…

[@John_Chu]

@@johnclibbens6803 I would suggest the boys play this on the channel but Zappa's estate/record label blocks 99% of all attempts at reactions. It's a shame since Zappa deserves to be heard by today's listeners.

[@brockmiles1606]

Someone else, very popular at the same time but now largely forgotten but worth a listen is Paul Revere and the Raiders, try Kicks. Also BIG rivals of the Beatles during Beatlemania were The Dave Clark Five. Lots of hard driving pop hits.

[@flash1660]

Both great bands try bit’s and pieces live by the Dave Clark 5

[@gailanderson7217]

Kicks is so good!! No one reacts to it; really deserves a listen!

[@azstarbar]

Yes, Kicks!!!!!!!

[@mwflanagan1]

Loved when you guys burst into smiles when they hit the chorus.

[@gregsager2062]

As someone said upthread, this song's chorus has been making people burst into a smile for over a half-century now. It's irresistible.

[@freddymo3339]

Ahh. My childhood. Roller Rinks & Public pools. A.M. rocked back in the mid sixties!

[@gidget8717]

True 😁

[@PK1971PK]

Great old song! If you like the vocal style here that is also kind of typical of the late sixties you should check out The Association. Lots of great hits but this song puts me in mind of "Cherish". The vocals and harmonies were a big influence on Chris Squire and Jon Anderson of Yes. Another good band of the era is The Grass Roots.

[@angelatheriault8855]

Midnight Confessions by the Grass Roots is fantastic!

[@iamfelixthecat7233]

@@angelatheriault8855 Also "Sooner or Later." 😊

[@leetroy3129]

I think a couple of really cool songs you should consider from around that same time would be Along Comes Mary by the Association and Vehicle by the Ides Of March. ✌️❤️

[@bobrob2004]

Yes, they need to check out the Association. "Along Comes Mary," "Windy," ""Never My Love," "Cherish"

[@kevinvirnelson7868]

For sure "vehicle" by the ides of march! Classic rock

[@christinamosley9476]

Yes, the Association: "Require for the Masses," "Windy," and "Along Comes Mary" are great starters to try.

[@dianeg7580]

Omg, Vehicle is so good. Forgotten about that one!

[@CarAnnMat]

Vehicle by Ides of March a song I always enjoy hearing.

[@SandraHof]

I am so glad you two appreciated this song! The smile on Andy’s face while listening to the song was great and Alex’s observation on the tone of the music and how that reflected possibly unrequited love was great.

[@bigskyneal784]

Definitely the singer wants it to be true, but the relationship seems to be all in his head. I love that about this song!

[@angier5775]

That’s what I think it is too 👍🏽

[@mollymortensen4023]

That’s what I’ve heard/think as well. He wants to call her up and say all this stuff but in the end he can’t and just makes small talk instead. “How’s the weather?”

[@Wordsmyth8]

You guys should check out another great ‘60s band from this genre - The Association. They might be, arguably, the best of all. Tremendous songs, beautiful harmonies. You should listen to Along Comes Mary (about pot), Never My Love, Cherish and lots more. From the Turtles, you should listen to You Showed Me next, and then Elenore. They were a good band, but didn’t have too many hits. Another good group of this ilk is the Lovin’ Spoonful. Their best songs are Summer in the City and Do You Believe in Magic?

[@joshjacobs3906]

Agreed!!

[@kevinphinney932]

Agreed. And their "You Didn't Have to Be So Nice,'" "Younger Girl," "Nashville Cats," "Never Goin' Back" and "Darling, Be Home Soon" are all classics of the era as well,

[@scottboswell6406]

The Association perfectly fits into this mold! "Cherish" or "Wendy" amazing vocals.

[@brians933]

Yea, The Association is great. I very strongly recommend "Windy" by them. Another one you'd like is The Fifth Generation's song(s) "Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In".

[@scottboswell6406]

@@brians933 I think they heard 'Aquarius' during their last livestream.

[@grantsager6780]

Love listening to you guys! Seriously you have some if the most intelligent insights to music! Really appreciate it!

[@flubblert]

These guys and Just JP. Best in the business!!

[@Manageode]

It makes the music brand new, watching this show.

[@lambokarabeekian6192]

He’s urging the girl to “imagine” them together. It’s really a plea. Just before the final chord, he asks “how is the weather?” Then it ends, without them being happy together. Alex picked up on the slightly dark undertone to what seems like a simple upbeat song.

[@ScottKornfeld]

That "How is the weather?" line always really bugged me when he could have sung "together forever" or "forever and ever" or many better things but it makes more sense when viewed in this light.

[@lambokarabeekian6192]

@@ScottKornfeld It bugged me too and for years I thought they were just playfully coming up with a nonsense phrase just for the rhyme. They fooled around a lot like that with the lyrics to Eleanor.

[@johnhughes3214]

Next late 60s song that truly represents the times: Undun by The Guess Who. You NEED to hear this song.

[@agemoth]

Oh, YEAH! when Tre Narcisse played it, I was sold and listened to everything they did after that!

[@duneshard]

Yes Undun must be done soon.

[@agemoth]

@@duneshard lol 😂

[@allisonreed7682]

I agree! They absolutely need to hear it!

[@jaredc304]

“You Baby”, “Elenore”, and “She’d Rather Be With Me” are also great songs by the Turtles. 🐢

[@cindynau8068]

Since this eventually tied with Roy Orbison's Pretty Woman, you have to hit this next. You'll never hear the word "mercy" the same way again.

[@GlenMaderos]

Mercy. 😂

[@-Ricky_Spanish-]

I do agree that they would like that one, but for me "Running Scared" is Roy Orbison's best solo song. It's haunting as hell and gets more haunting, before just barely resolving itself. The ending note is one of the finest vocal performances I've ever heard.

[@otisdylan9532]

@@-Ricky_Spanish- "Only the Lonely" is a great one too. It will be good to see them get started on Orbison.

[@-Ricky_Spanish-]

@@otisdylan9532 Good call. Also "Love Hurts", although I prefer the version by Gram Parsons and Emmylou Harris.

[@gregsager2062]

@@-Ricky_Spanish- "Love Hurts" was originally written for, and recorded by, the Everly Brothers. Orbison's version was the B-side of his hit "Running Scared". But for the '70s generation, Parsons and Harris notwithstanding, the definitive version will always be the bluesy, hard-rocking version done by Nazareth, featuring Dan McCafferty's impassioned wail and Manny Charlton's slide guitar solo that uncannily sounds as though the guitar is crying.

[@nancy9478]

The Association's Everything That Touches You is intense, touching, beautiful, grabs the heart and pulls you in.

[@Mark_McC]

I think the song is all about trying to convince yourself that you’re happy. The dead giveaway is the How is the Weather? line. That line always bugged me when I thought of it as a pure love song, but now that I see it differently, I also see that line differently too. It’s admission that what has been said before is simply a platitude.

[@bobrob2004]

I agree. It's in the very first line, "Imagine me and you." The situation is not real.

[@Mark_McC]

@@bobrob2004 Right. A friend will sing one of the verses as ‘Imagine me and you and you and me and me and you and you and me and me and you and you and me and me and you and you and me and me and you and you and meeee!! His point is that it’s a fantasy and that most likely the other person isn’t even aware of this person’s obsession.

[@happymethehappyone8300]

The Raspberries "Go All The Way"

[@timothywills7709]

One of the happiest, pleasant songs ever recorded!

[@fredinaz]

I loved the smiles when the chorus started!

[@johnhughes3214]

Another great late sixties song - "Stormy" by The Classics IV. Has a very similar vibe as "California Dreaming."

[@bobrob2004]

I always felt the Classics IV were a bit underrated. "Stormy," "Spooky," and "Traces" are all elite songs.

[@lindakessler8768]

Oh man, I LOVE Spooky!!!! ❤

[@bobangell1679]

Classics IV became the Atlanta Rhythm Section. Lots of good stuff from them, including a better version of "Stormy" and "Champagne Jam."

[@johnhughes3214]

@@bobangell1679 "Alien" by ARS is one of my favorite all-time songs. It was a hit in the Fall of 1981, during a time when I was really "feeling like an alien" and the song really resonated with me, and still does!

[@mrsrobinson2364]

Andy, you had a smile on your face thru the whole song. 😄 I can see why you gave it an S.

[@davidburton2381]

The drummer never gets mentioned, but he was deceptively good. He's doing things that aren't as easy as they would seem, and with precision.

[@gregsager2062]

The drummer actually gets mentioned quite a bit. That's because the drummer was Johnny Barbata, who was considered one of the top drummers of the 1960s. After he left the Turtles Barbata went on to play with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and with Jefferson Airplane/Starship. People who know about great rock drummers know about Johnny Barbata.

[@sergedechantigny3756]

That's the ''smile song'' for me. So many good memories, still makes me smile at 63 years old. Thanks

[@rosiemac56]

You can still catch this song done live at the "Happy Together" Tour - My husband and I went to see them (Flo & Eddie) and the rest of the tour a couple of years ago - well the fans went crazy when they did this song! It was a fun fun evening outside in the warm San Diego air - and Flo and Eddie are a couple of funny guys! Hope they get to do this song for years to come.

[@debrabeck9630]

Thanks for noting the names Flo and Eddie!

[@kevingdoyle]

The song starts in F#minor and the end resolves in F#major. Can catch you off guard the first time you hear it but the next time you listen to it you'll be waiting for it and love it.

[@williammurray1341]

Also gave us the duo 'The Florescent Leech and Eddy' aka 'Flo and Eddy'. Turtles follow on song "Eleanor".

[@DiscountDeity]

Seriously, I would have been SHOCKED if you hadn't heard this in movies or TV already. It's an absolutely massive song. For more Turtles, check out "Elenore", "It Ain't Me Babe", "or "You Showed Me".

[@annewoodard6803]

I sang this song in High School choir! The harmonies are great, we need this today. 😁❤️

[@sharonm6262]

Junior high chorus for me. So fun to sing!

[@johnharkness7114]

We convinced our HS choir leader to let us do this. We knew it from the otherwise extremely raunchy Frank Zappa album Live at Filmore East. The conductor was just happy because we would usually refuse to sing anything this cheesy (as we saw it at the time) (some of the Turtles joined Zappa's Mothers of Invention)

[@shack8110]

sunny day, not a care in the world, this comes on, you sing at the top of your lungs. One of the best songs ever. Love the trumpet.

[@bruceharris1145]

The Turtles, one of my favorites that captures the sound and feel of the time with a number of pop-bangers. Great harmonies and they played all of it. From upbeat folk tunes in '65 to the California sound a couple years later. Also a great Rock n' Roll story.

[@debrabeck9630]

Yes! I don’t over-analyze them. I just enjoy them.

[@williamfisher8239]

Whenever I hear this song it reminds me a lot of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys in the Pet Sounds recording where they really expanded into that big powerful sound and ty heir harmonies. God Only knows has a similar tone and feel. Hey, we had bands like this back then that were musically inclined with great harmonies whether it was the Association,the turtles, the Nana's and the papas, the Beach Boys, the Loving Spoonful, etc.

[@kelly9876]

watched the "Echo in the Canyon" documentary last night - which talks about how the Byrds, Beach Boys, Buffalo Springfield, The Mamas and the Papas, Beatles, Eric Clayton, Turtles and Crosby Stills and Nash influenced each other, and specifically the impact of Pet Sounds. I can definitely hear Pet Sounds in this. The doc is a good watch

[@taradevine6026]

Thought the exact same thing.

[@philpartynski3125]

They were a great, fun band. “You Told Me” is a unique and beautiful song, and a must listen! Another great reaction, you two! Keep up the good work! 😎🎶❤

[@SandraHof]

A 66 year old sitting here, singing along, remembering every word. Funny…when I was young I heard the lyric "if I should call you up, invest a dime", I thought he was singing "if I should call you up, and waste a dime."😂 Because The Turtles had this quality to their lyrics, it made sense to me.😁

[@flubblert]

Of course it didn't help much that a lot of us were listening to little mono transistor radios when we first heard it. LOL Something they can't even imagine.

[@adambnyc4875]

For me, the Turtles (or Flo and Eddie or any other incarnation of Mark and Howard) were simultaneously both the ultimate pop band AND a goof on the whole genre. (See lyrics to Eleanor -- "You're my pride and joy et cetera.") But always fun and feel good. "Eleanor" or "She'd Rather Be with Me" next. And check KZbin for the ending of Wong Kar Wai's film "Happy Together."

[@izzonj]

And that goofy side is why they sand with Zappa for a couple of years!

[@richardcollette9884]

Flow and Eddie toured with Frank Zappa. Insanely raunchy. Check out Mud Shark Frank Zappa.

[@isthison2875]

Flo is short for the nickname The Florescent Leech btw

[@bigb6046]

So glad you guys are enjoying this genre , we loved it back in the day. Also check out The Grass Roots , Paul Revere and the Raiders and for a cool one hit wonder check out John Fred & His Playboy Band doing "Judy In Disguise" which was kind od a satirical look at the Beatles "Lucy In the Sky".

[@thomasdowling9434]

The live version on Zappa's "Mothers Live at the Fillmore East" is fantastic. The Turtles ( Flo and Eddie) sang in his band for years.

[@richienicosia1986]

My late lifelong friend's band JF Murphy and Salt was on that show!

[@alexjbennett1017]

Maybe the happiest song in rock. "I can't see me" and Andy's smiling. "Loving nobody but you" and Andy's grinning -- for the rest of the chorus. If it's not the happiest, I wanna see Andy react to something happier.

[@briangroboski4751]

Remember the phrase "imagine me and you, I do." "Eleanor" is the best pop song not written by the Beatles from the sixties.

[@rickpaul4216]

"Eleanor" was written to be intentionally bad. It was a parody of pop songs that the record company wanted them to create. But it is a pop masterpiece nonetheless.

[@schrodingerszombie2401]

"If I should call you up, invest a dime . . . " it's unrequited love. "And how is the weather" at the end tells us she's not interested.

[@richardnanian6075]

I'd go with "Waterloo Sunset."

[@mobanewman7139]

When Andy smile the first time he hears the chorus...priceless. Perfect reaction. Happy song!!!!!!!

[@jameskirschling7887]

I was around 9 or 10 when this song came out, I liked it then and I still like it now at 63 year sold. This song is about a guy fantasizing about asking a girl he has a crush on out but he's too nervous to talk to her. The line "how is the weather" is him imagining that that will be his opening line with the girl. Now you guys need to listen to Flo, short for Fluorescent Leech (Mark Volman) and Eddie (Howard Kaplan) who were in The Turtles. Howard is the singer. Listen to anything from Flo and Eddie's album "Illegal, Immoral and Fattening." Flo and Eddie were with Frank Zappa for a while and are on the album "Just Another Band From L.A." another album worth listening to.

[@Mirrorgirl492]

'Illegal, Immoral and Fattening' and 'Moving Targets' are two of my all time favorite albums. Chaotic and harmonious at the same time. Lucky enough to have seen Flo & Eddie and the Turtles in concert twice; so much fun and great music.

[@jenniferrogers2492]

Mark Volman & Howard Kayman recorded after “The Turtles” as “Flo & Eddie”, & joined with Frank Zappa as the “Mothers of Invention”.

[@sjd5750]

Had a Flo & Eddie album, "Moving Targets.".. "The Love You Gave Away" and "Keep It Warm." are great songs!..As funny as these guys were they could really sing, and harmonized so well together...Check out the video they posted on how they got screwed out of money over the years by their managers..Very funny..They have a great sense of humor about it.

[@gregsager2062]

For awhile they took over as the frontmen of the Mothers (they were initially dubbed "the Phlorescent Leech and Eddie" -- "Phlorescent" was eventually shortened to "Flo" -- because Volman and Kaylan were still under contract to Turtles' label White Whale Records), because Zappa was pushed off of the stage of the Rainbow Theatre in London and was seriously injured, including suffering a badly-broken leg, forcing him off of the road and temporarily reducing him to being just the songwriter and creative force of the Mothers. That fateful London show, incidentally, took place during a December 1971 tour of Europe. Several days earlier the band had played the Montreux Casino's arena in Switzerland, only to have "some stupid" in the audience fire a flare gun into the ceiling of the arena during the band's song "King Kong", causing the entire casino to burn down. This, of course, is the incident immortalized in Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water". When the Mothers later played that gig in London in which Zappa was hurt, they had to use rented equipment, as they'd lost all of their own equipment in the Montreux Casino fire. In the BBC live version of "Smoke on the Water", Deep Purple lead vocalist Ian Gillan uncharitably mutters the words, "Break a leg, Frank!" in mid-song. Pretty cruel, considering how badly Zappa was injured in that attack; in fact, he suffered from back pain from it for the rest of his life.

[@joannemoyer5525]

They also sang back up for Marc Bolan and T Rex.

[@Shadowrider1872]

GOOOOOOOD MORNING A&A FAMILY! ☮️💟♾️

[@markpeterson6279]

I’ve heard this song hundreds of times and today was the first time I picked up on maybe a slight “stalker vibe.” It’s not as out and out creepy as “Turn Around, Look At Me” by The Vogues, but the minor chords in “Happy Together” could make you interpret the song as menacing. Both of these songs were very “innocent” in their 60s context, but through the lens of today’s world, could be interpreted completely differently.

[@sopyleecrypt6899]

Good observation 👍

[@tedcole9936]

Totally agree. Never thought anything but positive from the sixties till now, but you & A bring good thoughts to this, and it does sound more and more ‘insistent’ and nearly ‘demanding’ toward the end. Really interesting take. Thanks much!!

[@SpuzzyLargo]

Two of the creepiest stalker songs, but great-sounding, are "Every Breath You Take" by the Police and "Nights on Broadway" by the Bee Gees (this one is really creepy).

[@betseyr.9081]

Nothing but a "crush" song here (same with “Turn Around, Look At Me”), you want to hear a real stalker song then wait a few years and Jim gives it to you with "Riders On The Storm".

[@johnhughes3214]

@@SpuzzyLargo Have you ever heard "From Afar" by Van Halen?

[@valelavidavivir5842]

The Turtles "Battle of the Bands" album has to be one of the earliest and coolest concept albums where the band pretends to be other bands playing different styles. Showed their musical abilities and showed they didn´t take themselves overly seriously... especially the song Eleanor which they wrote because the label wanted another "Happy Together" song. Hilarious that it became a hit with the lyrics it has.

[@MissAstorDancer]

"You're my pride and joy, etc." LOL!

[@gregsager2062]

@@MissAstorDancer "Elenore, gee, I think you're swell" is so deliberately over-the-top nerdy that you can't help but smile when you hear the Turtles sing it.

[@MissAstorDancer]

@@gregsager2062 Absolutely! And the deliberate but obscured references in the lyrics that they were like, OK, you want a hit? Here you go!

[@MrSIRND]

Buzzzzz Saw

[@canarsie56]

And so is Turtle soup

[@danbeatle1]

The two main singers later played with Zappa under the name “The Phloresent Leech and Eddie”. Later shortened to Flo and Eddie. They are still touring, they were in my hometown of Grand Junction, Colorado just last month, still killing it.

[@Kevin-uo7nw]

Totally agree! Besides being part of Zappa’s band, Flo & Eddy have sung backup on many great songs through the years. “Hungry Heart” by Springsteen, for example.

[@scottdehart7716]

They were being sued by the label, so they used the moniker Flourescent Leech and Eddie, based on two of their roadies, in court. The Flourescent Leech wore flamboyant outfits hence his nickname and Eddie was really Dennis but they said he looked more like an Eddie, hysterical.

[@jessicalee7119]

There are SO MANY great songs like this during the mid to late 60's. The Buckinghams, The Grassroots, The Lovin' Spoonful, the list goes on and on and on!

[@murrayspiffy2815]

When the chorus skips the words and goes into vocal harmonies - that's pure 60's gold. S tier for me - and SV Happy Together here on KZbin.

[@joshjacobs3906]

Along Comes Mary by The Association or Hot Town Summer In The City by The Lovin' Spoonful.....excellent, pop songs from that time period that most enjoy. Peace from Pennsylvania ✌

[@bobangell1679]

Just called "Summer in the City." For those looking it up.

[@mmay2669]

There are 2 songs I can remember singing to my kids while getting them ready for bed when they were young, due to the calming effect... Happy Together and Leaving on a Jet Plane. They still remember in to their 30s.

[@thefoss5387]

The Turtles were a fun group that didn't take themselves too seriously. My favorite Turtles album would be great for a full album review, to hear this group, making stylistic parodies, by pretending to be different groups, This album being The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands. The opener being co-written by Harry Nilsson, having their hits Elenore (a FU song that mocked their label, that charted!), and their last big hit, You Showed Me (written by the Byrds). Also on that album is one of my favorite songs, Food, where the lyrics include an actual recipe for their, let's say, special, brownies!

[@raenellefisher8514]

The Turtles were a group put together by music executives. The members themselves were genuine folkies, with serious and real talent.

[@letno3662]

@@raenellefisher8514 That was the Monkees. The Turtles went to high school together and started playing music then.

[@thefoss5387]

@@letno3662 yes...on The Battle of the Bands Album, one of the faux groups was the Crossfires, the Turtles stage name from High School, that song, Surfer Dan, mercilessly mocks the Beach Boys style.

[@letno3662]

@@thefoss5387 Loved that album. Especially loved the made up names of the Bands. One was King Kawanawana Mea and His Royal Macadamia Nuts. I had the privilege of seeing Flo and Eddie right before Kaylan quit touring and Ron Dante took his place.

[@berniemargolis4288]

Fun fact: Turtles was originally spelled "Tyrtles," in homage to the Byrds.

[@RickWaughGuitarist]

Love the smiles when the chorus first hits. Almost impossible to not smile at that point.

[@mc76]

Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan, the lead singers of the Turtles, were featured on Frank Zappa's satirical 1970s albums (as Flo and Eddie.)

[@DianaJG8]

Love this song! Always have!! ❤💯

[@craigbustin1293]

If you're diggin' the "sunshine pop'' sound, the Turtles had several others that are super catchy, such as "She'd Rather Be With Me," "You Baby'' and "You Know What I Mean." ... the Association had several but their best was probably "Never My Love'' or "Cherish'' or "Windy" ... the Monkees' most undervalued record is probably "She." ... Gary Lewis & the Playboys had a string of sunshine pop hits, the best of which might be "This Diamond Ring," "She's Just My Style" and "Count Me In." ... "Sunshine Girl'' by the Parade is a classic one-off ... and one of my personal favorites in the genre is "It Could Be We're in Love'' by the Cryan Shames.

[@spicy321]

All good choices. You are right about "She." Such dark lyrics for a Monkees song.

[@jml-rj5re]

Happy Together sounds light, but there's dark humor in there. It's a guy attempting to pick up or get to the next stage with a girl...at the end you can sense it's not going well for him...

[@denisemay6807]

Agreed. One if my faves. I always felt that it had a sarcastic or fatalistic flavor-like he’s been separated from his soulmate yet dreaming of how it COULD be if fate hadn’t dealt then both a bad hand. This was OUR song back in the day. Love it.

[@fredinaz]

To paraphrase Paul McCartney, there is always a place for Silly Love Songs. Agree that this is just great ear candy with Beatles and Zombies influences. Great reaction!

[@marygoodson4920]

Love Andy's smiles listening to this. This is my childhood! Grew up in L.A. in the 60's...sunny, happy, great!

[@elvismansoncpa]

60's power harmony: The Turtles, Mamas & Papas, and ... The Association. "Cherish" or "Windy" or "Along Comes Mary".

[@kevinriley602]

Great song great band got to listen to Eleanor

[@jenniferjacobs228]

Melbourne, Australia...walking and bopping to work, singing this...late 60's...Happiness, sunshine, no matter what the weather...so lucky....I think you read to much into it..... it just makes me feel happy, no matter what the lyrics are 😄😄😄

[@REDJR22]

Happy Together, but not without some tensions. Knowing how clever Flo & Eddy are, it would not surprise me to have conflicting meanings and certainly the musical innuendo present. Well done guys! My favorite Turtles song is “You Know What I Mean”. I think you’d love the buildup in that song.

[@myownchannel247]

Gotta love the trumpet 🎺

[@DannyD714]

mark volman and howard kaylan of the turtles (aka flo and eddie) did a hilarious live album in the 70s called "illegal,immoral and fattening". their brand of humor hits on all cylinders. totally worth a listen.

[@bobangell1679]

Great record.

[@TheFlowNetwork]

Love the smiles on both your faces every time that chorus comes around.

[@stillstanding8286]

I was about 12 years old when this record came out, and back then I just thought that it was a fun, poppy love song. But over the years of listening to it, I’ve come to believe that this song is about unrequited love. The first line, “Imagine me and you, I do…” always sounded to me like the singer was fantasizing about a relationship with a woman that’s unattainable to him. Maybe it’s the older cynic in me, but that’s what I think.

[@liffick]

One of the greatest songs from the Sixties, no doubt! The musicianship, the vocals, the production are all top-notch!

[@izzywong7027]

Great representation of 60s pop/rock. Have you guys become acquainted with “Heart Full of Soul” by The Yardbirds? Highly recommend you check it out, if you haven’t already.

[@Snuffkinson]

Agree. Heart Full of Soul is a must do!

[@happymethehappyone8300]

Another MUST HEAR Classic,, Vanilla Fudge "You Keep Me Hangin' On"

[@randalllee5400]

Bonner-Gordon (writers) and The Turtles created one of the most AMAZING songs ever in terms of structure. You must listen to "You Know What I Mean." Almost nobody mentions this song but it is absolutely incredible in terms of how the song is put together. Way too complex for AM radio, and yet as catchy as anything you're likely to hear. Turtles were incredibly eclectic and "Happy Together" is easily one of the greatest pop songs of all time.

[@angier5775]

Love that song! My fave Turtles 🐢

[@davidschecter5247]

@@angier5775 Yeah, it's unique. Kind of like a Brian Wilson structure that just unfolds and keeps unfolding until the very end.

[@jeffheck5559]

A feel good happy band. The Turtles always puts me in a good mood.

[@amandafaber9983]

As many times as I’ve heard this song, I have NEVER considered the possibility that it was a lie and perhaps about an obsessive love until I heard Alex’s take on it with him pointing out the haunting elements! 🤯🤯 🤔 ☮️ 💜

[@daseguin]

"Imagine me and you.... I do...."

[@Joshuadgog]

One of the best 60s songs of all time. Has such great production. And yes you have heard this in movies. Many movies. S tier all the way. One of the happiest songs. The chorus pop out like a nice day starting.

[@stanmoor9609]

The original band who written and performed the song and it had been rejected by several labels and producers. They performed it to the Turtles and they weren't keen as it was perceived as loud, disjointed and without any melody or harmony. The Turtles lead singer had later worked on overhauling the vocal and instrumental direction, therefore giving the final product.

[@deelawson4551]

I used to always sing this to my kids when they were babies rocking them to sleep.Always loved this song! Keep On Rockin'

[@creech54]

You should do their album "Battle of the Bands". It includes their hit "Eleanor" and each song is done by a different type of "band". Surf, country, psychedelic, etc.

[@pokeysd3886]

Pop Goes the 60s did a 3 or 4 part series on the history of the Turtles. Interesting.

[@creech54]

@@pokeysd3886 It was 3 parts. Very good, as usual!

[@seekingwisdom8]

In junior high school, it was a song everyone loved. We had so many great songs on the radio in the 60s and 70s

[@JayyeStone]

The Youngbloods' Get Together or a little variation in path would be Ted Nugent's first band The Amboy Dukes' Journey to the Center of the Mind. Every time I hear one of these old tunes, I realize just how fortunate we were to live through the musical times we did. Great analysis and reaction.

[@donlively4334]

Isn't it great to be reminded of this. Growing up and living in the Sixties and Seventies, we invented this $hit. Gawd, what great music we had.

[@RadCenter]

This song will live in your head for the next 50 years.