POWERFUL VOICE!! | Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) - Melanie & The Edwin Hawkins Singers (Reaction)

[@TheMerryPup]

RIP beautiful Melanie.

[@36karpatoruski]

Stupendously powerful song, then and now.

[@mrkleen9511]

Melanie had a voice of a Angel

[@danevans5823]

She was a rock of peace in every way.A beautiful young lady with a unique voice and infectious personality that spread her message all over the world to all types of people

[@tonydelapa1911]

I am so pleased you found and gave us your reaction to this version of the song. Between Melanie’s recent death and Black History Month, this was a great choice. Melanie had a beautiful smile, voice, and soul. She left positive comments on a few reactor’s channels who had featured some of her songs. This was terrific! Thank you JM.

[@debjorgo]

The Edwin Hawkins Singers had a hit a year or so earlier with Oh Happy Day, an old gospel hymn.

[@BritIronRebel]

I rode my 1967 Triumph Bonneville motorcycle from Pittsburgh to Woodstock. Three months afterwards, I got drafted and was off to Vietnam. This song brings back deep, deep memories and emontions for me.

[@valoriel4464]

Wow, amazing story. Thx ✌🏻

[@Sanlynnben]

Your comment gave me goosebumps 🙏🏻🩷

[@juliecrane9647]

Thanks for your service. My oldest brother served too. I remember hearing my stoic mom weeping quietly sometimes when she did laundry in our basement and I would run to my room and pray. Glad yall made it home. And sorry your homecoming was not enuough

[@rghilino6734]

The story of Woodstock from Melanie who played the festival. She was amazing.

[@CarolynStewart-v5q]

Rest in peace and power Melanie Safka. I was in The Netherlands, my parents home country the same year she was there on Dutch tv singing this. She's so powerful and with The Edwin Hawkins backing her up I get chills every time. Edwin Hawkins is pounding on the piano making the song so awesome.

[@skyblue9515]

This is mind blowing beautiful, get chills everytime I watch & listen to it. Spreading the word & spirit of peace & unity.

[@bradsense7431]

Dorothy Morrison was with The Edwin Hawkin Singers and sang lead on their hit “Oh Happy Day”. Later she then went out on her own. Her studio recording of “All Gods Children Got Soul” is a mover and worth a reaction.

[@julieb.5860]

i have loved this song for over 50 years. thank you.

[@AliasMark69]

This is digging deep into the bag of great songs from the early 70's. Memories of a bunch of women singing this song at a festival in Laguna Beach California everybody dancing around fire pits in the sand on many assorted drugs and booze. I was 15 years old.

[@simchabaruch7023]

The candles she is singing of were brought by and handed out by The Hog Farm, a commune made famous by Wavy Gravy who was the MC for the show. Making famous the words "What we have in mind is breakfast in bed for 400,000".

[@johnlong9534]

She recently passed away . . . so sad. . . Melanie + Edwin Hawkins Singers = Greatness.

[@HappyBoxer-qv8zs]

The Edwin Hawkins singers-the best voices in the world!!!!

[@AliasMark69]

Like Janis Joplin, mild and mostly timid until they start singing on stage, the inner self comes out.

[@AliasMark69]

Imagine you were just a young kid when groups like the Beatles, Stones, Who, Hendrix, Byrds, Eric Burdon, Beach Boys shook up the entire world with the great music they were creating, then imagine MOTOWN started to hit the airwaves with incredibly beautiful songs, then imagine you are around 10 years older when rock really grew up with Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Yes, Jethro Tull, Kansas, and imagine southern rock started like Eagles, Marshall Tucker, Lynyard Skynyard, Outlaws Allman Bros… then imagine the 90’s came along and digital and it all fell apart into the mess we have today. Gone is the Classic Rock, gone are the R&B Soul songs, gone are the uniquely American Southern Rock bands and all the great music all these groups produced. Those days are gone forever but never forgotten. Reactors like JM are learning one song at a time why we love “OUR” music so much. Not at all hard to imagine that.

[@coinneachmaclellan3121]

You left out the great surf bands of the early '60s...

[@AliasMark69]

Fixed, Thanks@@coinneachmaclellan3121

[@thomastimlin1724]

@@coinneachmaclellan3121 Yes, and I wonder what is meant by "when rock really grew up?" So anything before the Led Zepplin era was childish? That's bull. No Chuck Berry, Elvis, Little Richard etc...= no rock and roll. It's all connected, but because our entire country is musically ignorant they have no clue that without Jazz, [and even folk music and country] no rock and roll, without ragtime, no jazz, without classical...etc etc. Today without Auto tune and computer tricks...real musicians and singers could get studio work like they used to and make a real living...instead of handing it over to the few at the top of the food chain that run the music business now. If it smells, it sells. there are exceptions whether you like their music or not, but not very many...

[@threekidzmom04]

Amen‼

[@janalaine]

I'm so glad you let it play all the way through...your face was so expressive. I get tears every time I watch this...and I love the audience

[@pvank1799]

Thank you, one of my favorite Woodstock era singers.

[@simchabaruch7023]

There are people who think that the hope for peace movement of the 60's was naive, but Melanie gives me hope.

[@AliasMark69]

The Queen Of Psychedelic Rock Grace Slick..... Jefferson Airplane - "Somebody To Love"

[@Crystal_Abbott-jn6xs]

Melanie wrote this and the poem Candles in the Rain after her 1:00 a.m. appearance at Woodstock. Such a wonderful piece. She had an amazing voice. So sad she recently passed away and wasn’t mentioned on the news at all. This video doesn’t have Candles in the Rain. When she was on stage the audience all lit candles and lighters. It was suggested this was the first time it happened at a concert. An amazing talent!

[@pvank1799]

There were several accounts on National news. She was working on a new album of covers when she died per her daughter.

[@Crystal_Abbott-jn6xs]

Thank you. I searched ABC and CBS but couldn’t find anything. I even rewatched the evening broadcasts for the day she passed. I was very disappointed. She was such an amazing voice. I did find other references online but was disappointed with the regular stations.

[@elysehfm8797]

@@Crystal_Abbott-jn6xs, I didn't hear about it until a few days ago.

[@beverlybrown2673]

This was on Dutch TV in 1969, probably the first time those in the audience had ever seen or heard anything like it. A fitting memorial, as she died last month...

[@DenUitvreter]

Who did? The Netherlands already had quite a lively rock scene with Shocking Bleu (Venus) and The Golden Earring as probably it's most famous examples internationally and most big names like Jimi Hendrix had already played there, Melanie also. But TV-audiences for a talk show were a different matter as you can see. But these old people were quite open minded towards the hippies, these people had lived through the war an Nazi occupation so the message of peace and love was well recieved while they were also more friendly than the rather rowdy Dutch youth movement that came earlier in the 60's.

[@CarolynStewart-v5q]

@@DenUitvreter groeten uit Maryland, USA!

[@pilesovinyl]

Edwin Hawkins' Singers were a great Gospel Group and their biggest hit was Oh Happy Day (#4 in 69). Gospel songs don't make the charts on the pop side, but this one not only did but it was a smash. Check it out, you'll love it.

[@randykiel2318]

Still love watching your reaction to Melanie. Incredible performer and singer songwriter!

[@elysehfm8797]

Great reaction to a stupendous performance. RIP, powerhouse.

[@christopherking9338]

Let The Healing Continue......😊❤

[@mythicsin3083]

Melanie taking us all to church…

[@ChefBarb58]

SO GREAT TO HEAR THIS SONG AND ALOT OF PEOPLE REMEMBER THIS BEUTIFUL VOICE. ANOTHER I LIKED AS 12YR. OLD ( I GOT BRAND NEW PAIR ROLLER SKATES) BEUTIFUL VOICE. REST IN PEACE MY LADY✨️✨️✨️

[@threekidzmom04]

Welcome to my high school years!! Oh I so loved her back in the day!! Her voice is pure magic! So beautiful! It was made even more beautiful with the Edwin Hawkins Singers singing with her.

[@RicoCosta317]

Man this was great! I wasn't expecting a live performance from Germany but this amazing. I loved how the older white crowd got into it, clapping and trying to keep time lol and then giving them a standing O at the end. This just shows how universally loved she was by old, young, black, white, it didn't matter. Powerful song, beautiful reaction, just keep on keepin on the Melanie train, brother J! 💯

[@wgsips]

This was a live performance in The Netherlands, 😉,not Germany.. great song and performance!!!!

[@RicoCosta317]

German, Dutch, whatever 😁

[@wgsips]

@@RicoCosta317 Big difference!!!!

[@blitztim6416]

@@wgsipsYa. I seem to remember one invading the other. 😅

[@blitztim6416]

What a beautiful person Melanie was. 😢 I get a kick out of those Dutch people not knowing how to clap in rhythm to the song. 😂

[@lynnieiapichino1121]

☮️💙💙💙🔥🔥😎loved her😍

[@alicedonahue6761]

Took them to church!

[@mikecaetano]

"Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" was a top ten hit in the US for Melanie, aka Melanie Safka, in 1970. Melanie was asked to play the first night of Woodstock after another act refused to play in the rain. She was called back for two encores. Melanie released the number one pop hit "Brand New Key" (aka "The Rollerskate Song") the following year. Some of her other hits include "Beautiful People", "Ruby Tuesday", "Bitter Bad", and "Together Alone" among others. The cover of "Long Long Time" that she released in the nineties is really good. It rivals the Linda Ronstadt original.

[@viking1au]

Folk Rock Spiritual... A classic that stands today,,,RIP Melanie.

[@Malibu1515]

Now you know where Stevie Nicks got her sound. RIP Melanie Safka.

[@charleswillsonpeale5739]

Melanie, RIP babe.

[@threekidzmom04]

What fun they were all having! Even the old dutch people~

[@skygazer858]

What a voice she had.

[@jimmyfortrue3741]

I remember this on the radio when I was a tiny tot.... My mom liked it.

[@LetArtsLive]

It would be beautiful if the whole world was like her Melanie she really loved people

[@jeep146]

The reason Melanie sounds so good is she gave it her all. Something you don't find to often in singers.

[@philipdickey6460]

Love this song, if you listen to the nine minute version, the introduction of her speaking is amazing

[@StevenW1958]

I was a young boy of 10 years old in the Summer of 1969, when Woodstock took place. My family and I spent that summer at a bungalow colony in Loch Sheldrake, NY, in the Catskills mountains of New York State. Loch Sheldrake is about 50 miles from Woodstock, NY, and the Friday of the festival saw the New York State Thruway traffic crawling at a slow pace. My Father was forced to take an alternate route through small towns such as Tuxedo, NY so as not to arrive at the bungalow colony after the start of the Jewish Sabbath. My day camp counselor and others aged 17 and older went to Woodstock that weekend.

[@tonyakeldsen1782]

I have been asking recently for this to be viewed and forgive me as it already has. However we lost her recently so I feel many will be looking back to revisit and share the love

[@franchk8372]

This was such a beautiful time in so many times with so much hope for peace in the world. 🕊🕊☮☮✌✌🌲🌲🌲💙💙💙

[@danielkelleher2419]

Really good review! The audience was quite amusing as they got into the music!

[@Nastyfinger1444]

Loved her voice. Great song.

[@classicrocklady6288]

Great analysis! Loved it! Yes, in my day, peace was foremost. Sad today. Feel like the country is reverting.

[@lizcrawford1249]

Love your show!

[@morbiouslenoir]

Melanie takes you to church.

[@Kicks001]

Great commentary on this beautiful song. Thanks.

[@Sanlynnben]

One of my favorite songs - I used to have the album ❤️🩷❤️. It does feel like church. Love your review. Thank you. 🙏🏻

[@rhondaroberts6021]

Check out Oh Happy Day with Edwin Hawkins Singers featuring Shirley Miller. Phenomenal.

[@jeanniedebartolo5965]

Love your reactions. Peace and love always ❤

[@t.j.payeur5331]

Ah, Melanie..the quintessential hippie chick..I was totally in love with her...

[@nomarzepol5567]

Nice analysis.

[@ianwalker5842]

Great reaction! RIP the brilliant Melanie Safka, 1947-2024.

[@janicemartell1211]

I've seen a few reactions for this song. But you sir are the closest to the meaning and the feeling that Melanie was trying to achieve.

[@BobRollins-z4m]

Another good one, man!

[@deepfriedscotsman2860]

You should listen to a band called Foreigner and there song called (I want to know what love is ) use the official music video

[@somthingbrutal]

there is a great video where she is duetting with Miley Cyrus i think about 10 years back

[@AirDOGGe]

Her best work. RIP dear lady. You brought good feelings to millions. NOTE that this is a lip-sync'd performance to a studio recording, so at times you may see her stop singing yet still hear her voice going on. This is more commonly done than many realize, due to high production expenses if someone messes up and they have to start over and tape it again.

[@ianwalker5842]

No, this was not lip-sync'd, it was live! Watch and listen again...

[@AirDOGGe]

@@ianwalker5842I have watched this video a hundred times, I love it so much. You need to watch again. You will spot moments when she stops singing but you still hear her voice. This is a common thing for the time and even today. TV production costs lots of money and it can get more expensive if there are any issues like a broken guitars string, blown amplifier tube or the singer has temporary voice issues. Using pre-recorded songs is a form of insurance against that happening. In fact, I just watched LAUGH LAUGH by the BEAU BRUMMELS, and there's one guy in the band trying to do backing vocals and play the harmonica at the same time. There's a part where he is playing the harmonica and then leans over to the mic and starts singing, but you still hear the harmonica playing uninterrupted. Search youtube for a video titled "Drummer reacts to "Laugh, Laugh" / "Just a Little" by The Beau Brummels" and watch the guy wearing a guitar and playing harmonica during the verse and then singing during the chorus.

[@AirDOGGe]

@@ianwalker5842I've watched it countless times. The song you are hearing is the original studio recording, and they did record it in a studio and not live on stage. QUOTE " We all marched up to the studio and recorded it in one take. It went on for eight minutes, and I still remember Peter doing that universal hand signal for ‘One more time,’ and we kept going and going, and everybody was getting high off of this song. It was powerful. You live for moments like this. It was an incredible eight-minute record. "

[@ianwalker5842]

@@AirDOGGeSorry, but I guarantee you're mistaken. The quote above is in reference to the studio recording that appeared on 'Candles In The Rain', yes. But this was a live performance on Netherlands TV with some of The Edwin Hawkins Singers who were also touring Europe at that time. If you compare the 8-minute studio recording and this live performance more than you apparently have, then you'll realise they are not the same at all, though this live performance was very similar to what happened in the studio so I can understand how you got this idea.

[@eileencastillo6323]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@PolferiferusII]

Dutch audiences from this time always seem the most buttened-up of listeners, despite music that urges rhythm and movement from all directions 😛 Maybe that has changed since then.

[@voodoochild2968]

Sounds like she could have influenced Cyndi lauper

[@thomastimlin1724]

Never thought of that...but I see what you mean!

[@ianwalker5842]

Cyndi was a Melanie fan, like Stevie Nicks.

[@thomastimlin1724]

The Edwin Hawkins singers previously had a huge hit around 1968 called "Oh Happy Day." Check it out. They were a phenomonal group. Today you don't see this happen where an African American group and a white singer collaberate....Paul Simon did that too...some of us out there wanted to bring the world together...now it's every man, woman and child for themsleves, separatism in music, 80.000 different channels and genres...musically, "you stay in your neighborhood, we'll stay in ours" kind o sh*t." So did the mass media really bring us together or give us the excuse to run and hide to our little corner and build a world of separatism, lies, danger, and "mega-negativity " while the corporate world that owns the internet media and the poltical machines all over the world sit back and laugh at us as they count the profits? Melanie sure would not have wanted it this way...as shown by this amazing musical collaboration some 54 years ago.

[@Mike-rf5tz]

7:05 "Old people", members of "the establishment" can't clap in time. LOL

[@juliecrane9647]

Well i was young when this song hit and im 70 now and still got rhythm 😅. But i get u...this audience is almost comatose. 😂

[@allmusicservices]

You should also hear the studio recording where I think her vocal is even a little stronger and more impressive. IMHO.

[@LetArtsLive]

She died I cried inthe Whole government l i e d my brain got fried and everybody died

[@nsidor1234]

The studio version is much better...

[@johnnylastovica6511]

Wow , I remember “the peace movement “! 16 years old I thought it was for real .🥹. Today all those peace freak’s grand children want to hate the opposition . 60’s motto Peace Love & Microdot 2024 motto Fight Hate & More microdot

[@johnnylastovica6511]

Those days (🥹miss em), to me it really seemed that racism was on it’s way out , peace, we really believed in it !! But , there is to much money to be made , look at who got rich off of keeping and escalate it .