Several white artists who loved blues adapted it in what is now known as "blue eyed soul". Love songs were more popular, while songs about heartbreak were more faithful to the blues of the time. In England, the love of the blues gave rise to heavier music, with Led Zeppelin and the like.
Just remember this was 55 years ago. Live. No autotone. No fill ins. No distracting dancers. Just plain talent singing a beautiful song. So glad it and he can still be remembered and appreciated!
@@proverbs35-67 Not really. Several decent covers. LeAnne Rhymes is one for sure, but none of them take it to his level of both ease and feeling. Yes, it will lways be his.
Would you believe that they say Bobby had a cold when he sang this; he was nervous because his parents were in the audience and he also had horrible stage fright. Unbelievable control and professionalism. I adore him.
Groups in the late 50's early 60's did a lot of romantic songs. They paid homage to women not tear them down like today's music. Respect to the artists and their audiences.
@@jamesbeaumont1212 That's because women do not respect men, and in fact, hate them. They are trained in misandric feminist ideology in the schools, all the way up through college. Boys have to grow up in this toxic anti-male atmosphere, being taught that they are evil and horrible simply because they are male. The laws are STRONGLY anti-male, if you doubt this just spend a day sitting in family court watching the way men are treated. Respect needs to be mutual, but feminism teaches "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle." Men who understand the current political climate may fear women (justifiably) but they do not respect people that hate them.
Righteous Bros also did solos.This one wa one of Bobby's No one before him or after him will ever do this song like him.It was live no do overs.It was so effortless and sheer perfection. HIS voice was from the heavens. HE OWNED THIS SONG.
A lot of Americans who came home after serving in the US Armed Forces during World War II were looking forward to a world without anger and hate that they experienced during the war. Songwriters of that Postwar Era deeply wanted to write love songs that expressed their feelings for their loved ones. Listeners of that generation identified with those feelings, and bought such records by the millions. Love seems to be an alien concept to most modern songwriters today.
It was an artistic choice for Bobby to do this solo, Bill produced this performance and I believe that Bobby’s parents were in the audience for that. BTW there was NO autotune on this he did it with just his voice.
Actually Bobby used to sing this version of Unchained Melody with his former band The Variations (pre-Righteous Brothers). With his wide vocal range (B2 to E6), competency in beautiful melismas and the ability to execute various colouration and nuances to his vocals, he took this song to a whole new level. His version of this timeless classic is the reason why many of us still listen in awe to this day. :)👍👍👍
@@jakeywilliams Its said he had a vocal range of 5 octaves,I'm presuming that's what you mean with (B2 to E6),I ask because I never learned to read music despite being a singer in my younger years,like over 40 yrs ago in a blues/jazz band,I learned the lyrics first,than listened to the band members play the music through 2 or 3 times,than did my first sing through,later adaptions were made to the music and my voice which was a tenor,but I was only considered 3 octaves,boy am I jealous of Bobby what an amazing voice.
@@robertlavallee591 3 octaves is amazing range to have. 👍👍There are singers that are claimed to have 5 octave range but their higher notes are unmelodic, unusable in music, and just simply a frequency noise. Bobby highest note sung is either E6 or Eb6 in his song 'If I Asked You' and the lowest B2 in 'Show Me Sunshine' both from his Messin in Muscle Shoal album. Awesome album :) Someone on the range planet website has listed Bobby's significant high and low notes sung. therangeplanet.proboards.com/thread/974/bobby-hatfield
I first heard this song while my husband was serving in Vietnam. I was driving home when it came on the car radio and it affected me so much I had to pull off the road and wait to regain my composure before I could continue home.
Beth D the Vietnam War started in November 1955. The Australian Army were there from 1965. - 1975. My husband was a Tunnel Rat with the Royal Australian Engineers when he served there. I don’t know where you got your misinformation from but it is just plain wrong.
@@miniveedub The United States was NOT involved in that war until August 5th 1965. Look it up before you speak about involvement in a Country you know nothing about, mini vee dub. Edit: Where did you get your information? My husband was infantry in the US Marine Corps. Lieutenant, has Agent Orange, PTSD and never ending nightmares. 1968 to 1972. I hope your husband did not suffer the same. Here in the States, people protested that war, there were flower children chanting "Make love, not war" music was against that war. Terrible time to remember. But this is about the Righteous Brothers, especially Bobby Hatfield. I believe we can agree on that. Seriously, look up when the US got involved in that useless war, please.
I'm so glad you are listening to these guys. I was in high school when they came out in 1965 when Bobby sang it live on the Andy Williams show. They flipped a coin to see which one would sing it. He won the coin toss! This is his song!!! RIP Bobby!💞💞💞💞
As a musician and song writer for the last 30 years, I can tell you, you write what you feel, and we all feel love, and heartbreak, most universal feelings we all share
These guys are legends. Bobby Hatfield died in 2003. He was great. Along with Bill Medley made such beautiful music. So happy you appreciate good music.
It was a gentler time!! and imo music shouldn't make you angry and nasty, it should bring us together, not divide us!! but what would I know! i'm an older 67 yr old lady :)
The Righteous Brothers were a duo, but occasionally they would sing solo. I was born two years after this performance, but I always heard it being played at home & on the radio. It's been one of my all time favorite songs since I was a young kid. It is considered to be one of the greatest love songs ever composed. It has been covered many times over by many great artists but Bobby Hatfield's version is probably the most well known & beloved the world over. It was used as the main love theme for the movie GHOST starring Demi Moore, Patrick Swayze, & Whoopi Goldberg (she won the Academy Award for best supporting actress that year). This was definitely Bobby's song as no other can match his performance - so silky smooth & melodic, such a one of a kind ethereal voice that can make anyone swoon - LOL. Keep in mind also that he did this on live TV back in 1965, years before any computer aided autotune or post production editing. My late uncle used to call this "a guaranteed panty dropper" :-)
Hey, thanks for being an intelligent reactor. Thanks for talking about the voices, the music, the message and not talking about hairstyles and outfits they wore. Or, God forbid, trying to sing along with them lol.
I saw this performance on the Andy Williams show when I was a young girl. I'm an old woman now and it's something I've always appreciated. Talent is just so special.
@@tommyfurr3028 That was the studio version, I believe? Not this live version from the Andy Williams Show. There's another clip showing the boys goofing around with Andy, such a treat to hear them speaking and Bobby laughing and dancing. Even Bill manages to crack his face for a smile!
Bobby sang "Unchained Melody" and they used it in the movie "Ghost" with Patrick Swayze in it, then later Bill sang " I Had The Time Of My Life" in the movie "Dirty Dancing with Patrick Swayze in it...... pretty cool huh!!!??
Why did the song writers seem to mostly chose sad love songs? Simple, because love is the most powerful emotion that anyone has. I've been shedding tears over this particular song for over 50 years, and it still twists my heart and brings tears to my eyes, even today.
Me, too. I thought I was the on!y one.My heart swells and I tear up after 60 years. Bobby why did you have to leave us so early? Maybe you were in too much pain with your personal demons? God have mercy on your soul and bring you eternal peace
It's so great to see a a young person like yourself enjoying music from My teenage years. I'm now a73 year old great grandma. If you want to listen to a voice that will give you chills. Listen to Patsy Cline sing "Crazy". A marvelous voice that died way too young.
@@FortWorthFabian Yes, Carl below is correct. That's a truth, they really flipped a coin to see who would get this song as a solo. And the song is from a 50's prison movie about an inmate....wanting her to be waiting....wait for me, wait for me. Believe The Platters did the version for the movie. But this is the best known version, and without argument the BEST version . Bobby owns this song !!
That song was about a prisoner longing to go home, unchained melody. Originally for a movie but covered many times. Boby just does it so well. No they flipped a coin and Bobby won :)
Typically, each "brother" received one solo song each per album. This was Hatfield's solo and it became a big hit, peaking at #4 in the US on Billboard's Top 100. It was also featured in the 1990 movie Ghost. Please check out (You're My) Soul and Inspiration - it features both Hatfield and Medley and spent 3 straight weeks at #1 in the US in 1966.
Unchained Melody was re-released in 1990 and went to number 1 in the UK and stayed there for a few weeks. Remember watching this video on Top of the Pops when it was introduced as Bobby Hatfield of Righteous Brothers back then :)
One reason this song was so popular in the 1960's is because a whole generation of young couples were being separated by the young men being drafted into the Vietnam War. They were literally wondering if their girl back home was still "their's" or not. Unchained Melody was the song of so many couples back then!
I first heard this song in 1965 in the Central Highlands of Vietnam serving with the 1st Air Cav and later with the 1st Brigade of the 10st Airborne. At night in the base camp/s the guys would play this song softly over their radios. It was a song of love in a place of war, total irony. Great song, great artist.
The sketch they did before the the performance was so ' funny' and sweet and then he sang the song to a perfect 10 in my view....its just so so nice to the ears.....!! Tq
I was lucky I grew up with and was lucky too see the Bros live twice. Bobby this night took this song and made it his then,now and forever. No one can come close, what a talent. RIP Bobby
The way love works out IS part of life. You are the first person out of dozens who were not completely blown away by this performance. I will watch more of your reactions.
music is about feelings man. When you're happy you sing, when you're sad music moves you. There are so many love songs because love is the strongest feeling out there.
This song is about a prisoner counting the days to his release. The Righteous Brothers decided that it should be a solo performance. They flipped a coin, and Bobby won the toss.
I can see the appeal of going to concerts that have a lot of showmanship such as dancing and backup dancers, etc. But there's something to be said for singers who can belt out tunes like this without all the extras. The Righteous Brothers, Whitney Houston, and Adele come to mind.
I was born in 1981 so I didn't even get to hear these songs when they first came out obviously, but my parents were born in 1945 and 1947 so they did hear this and a lot of other classic songs firsthand. In the 80's my parents would let my sister and I listen to the oldies station on the radio so I still got to "grow up" with these kinds of songs and I love seeing other people that are my age and younger discovering them and really genuinely enjoying them. Thanks for checking them out dude. :)
Unchained Melody was written for the prison film 'Unchained' (1955). The movie was based on the book titled 'Prisoners Are People' by Kenyon J. Scudder. Alex North (1910-1991) wrote the music and Hy Zaret (1907-2007) wrote the lyrics. The sung was first sung for the film by African American opera singer, Howard University Professor, Broadway and Film Actor Todd Duncan...A true renaissance man... Since 1955 major recording artist from around the world have sung this song in multiple languages making it one of the most recorded songs in history. It wasn't until ten years later in a live epic performance in 1965 on the Andy Williams show. That Bobby Hatfield of the 'Righteous Brothers' sang the version that has become the quintessential version of them all. His version is the one artist from around the world have used, and uses today. The rest as they say is history...
I am 81 and remember quite a few singers doing this but Bobby's tops them all. I was heading to Viet Nam when his version can out. I can feel the loneliness in every word. Bill and Bobby always did one solo on each of there albums and while on tour. They both wanted to do Unchained, so they flipped a coin. The music was written as the theme for the little-known prison film “Unchained” (January 1955), hence the song title. Todd Duncan sang the vocals for the film soundtrack. It has since become a standard and one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, most notably by the Righteous Brothers. The movie “Unchained” is about a man in prison and longing for his wife and children. Hoping his wife will still be there when he gets out. So you can now understand the meaning of the song. The movie was not very good, or so my friends told me. But we were all teenagers so what did we now. Several artists sang it and it made the billboard top 100. But no one can come close to Bobby Hatfield’s version. Bobby’s version hit the top ten chart. And did it again when it was used in the movie “Ghost” It has since become a standard and one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, most notably by Bobby. According to the song's publishing administrator, over 1,500 recordings of "Unchained Melody" have been made by more than 670 artists, in multiple languages.
You should also check out "You're My Soul Inspiration" by The Righteous Brothers. It's on par with the two you reacted to. Also...if you have never heard of The Bee Gees...please check out "Too Much Heaven"! You will be amazed at their harmonies and the Bee Gees are brothers.
Thank you sir for playing this very beautiful song sung by Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brothers. If you get the chance, the opportunity, sould you and could you please play another solo by Bobby Hatfield called "Summertime"1965. I would really appreciate it and would also would appreciate your reaction of his singing ability. Thank you sir. Have a good evening. God bless you. Oh yea incidentally the song that you just finished hearing, "Unchained Melody" was written in 1955 by Mr. Alex North, initially for a movie called "Unchained" which didn't do so well. Over the years this song was sung by over 670 otyer artists including Elvis Presley. It was the most played song in the Twentieth Century. It was around 1965, Mr. Bobby Hatfield covered it and in a movie that came out around 1990, "GHOST" it was played. And by the way, the movie turned out to be a pretty good one too. Starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg. If you get a chance you ought to watch it, you will not regret it. Well anyway, thank you ver much for continuing to play super wonderful songs. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, a Merry Christmas and a Beautiful New Year Amigo. Adios.
For those interested check this out. The note progression is. B4, B sharp, D, D sharp, E, F, F sharp, G, G sharp, A, A sharp, B, C, (octave up) C sharp, D, D sharp, E, F, F sharp, G, G-5 21 notes Precious few vocalists can do that and maintain control while making it look so easy. From the Andy Williams show
I'm a little late to this party, but to answer your question about the love theme... Part of it was the era: the 60's were about "make love not war", and part was just something that's true no matter the era or epoch: YOUTH. When we're young, we're all about getting the girl; but a we age, it becomes apparent that we want to leave a better world for OUR children. (Well, most of us do at the very least).
Love your reactions. Each brother was guaranteed one special song. Try Soul and Inspiration. It is my favorite. Also, look for Desiderata by Les Paul. And anything from John Gary. Especially his Unchained Melody.
They each agreed to do a solo. Bill Medley wanted to sing this song also. So they flipped a coin and Bobby won. True story. And thank God because his celestial soulful yearning love was perfect for Bobby's falsetto voice.
Thank You my Friend I enjoy your insight on music. Bill Medleys #1fan was Elvis Pressely! When Elvis played Last Vegas he went to The Righteous Brothers shows and they hung out together.. I'm a new Subscriber. If you have time listen to a song called""My Pearl by Automatic Man"".
This is based on a film in which a prisoner on a chain gang is wrestling with the choice of finishing his sentence, or attempting to escape to rejoin his family.
I like your commentary... The best part about them aside from their incredible voices at opposite ends of the vocal scale is that they overlap and harmonize together perfectly in the mid-ranges...and each have different timbre and vibrato. They go together like peanut butter and jelly :-)
Like many others mentioned, Bobby was singing solo and Bill had produced the record. In their beginning succes they worked together with Phil Spector. ( famous producer, his production work is called: The Wall of Sound) Well 1 day Phil said I won't producing your next (recordings) anymore. Infact that would have been the end for the RB. But Bill had looked more than enough towards Phil's recording in the studio, so he wanted to try. And it did work as you hear.
I am a 72-year-old woman who grew up on this music, its what I know and love, younger folks today are into other forms of music and that is what they know and understand. I've listened to everything from Rap and Gangster to Opera (well, mostly Pavarotti ) but I always come back to the music that I grew up on, and if I may say so, its words that you can understand and it leaves you feeling good not a hostel or anxious!!
There is no "music" like this today! Hip Hop, Rap, so-called music that tears women down, or uses vulgar language, nothing beautiful or loving. Where did we go wrong, this so-called music reflects what is going on in society, you see it in some of the comments, where certain people can't make a comment without using the S word or referencing the F word! This would not have happened back in 1965! Those of us who remember this beautiful and timeless song by the Righteous Brothers, Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield (not blood brothers) (Bobby solo on this song, Bill arranged and played piano) consider ourselves so fortunate to have experienced this genre of music! This was a live performance, no enhancement, no second chance, Bobby had a cold, and was nervous, as his parents were in the audience, and yet, he gave a "spectacular" performance! Bill medley is still with us, RIP Bobby Hatfield.
On each of their albums, Bobby and Bill would each do a solo showcasing their remarkable individual voices. Bobby was a counter-tenor and Bill was a baritone. Two voices for the ages!
Why all the love song themes in the 50's/60's? It was a simpler time when the ultimate desire of a person's life was to find that one person to give all of your self to, who would reciprocate, and to spend as much time as possible with them. Sometime later I guess we decided a better goal in life was our own private fulfillment that may or may not include another person to share it with.
The longer version of this clip shows that Bill Medley was there (it was a tv variety show), so they had likely performed another song, but this was recorded solo by Bobby, so he sang it alone.
There is a reason for all for so many songs about unrequited love. Most songwriters are sensitive types who never got the girl in high school. But they turned all that frustration into art. They write books. They write poetry. They write songs. Bobby Hatfield who by all accounts was a nice guy, was they guy who got the girl. He lettered in three sports at Anaheim HS in orange county. And received an offer to play professional baseball. But took a flyer on becoming a singer. He had his personal struggles, but by was a faithful husband and good father to his daughters. He was also an excellent golfer.
This was on a live TV show "The Andy Williams Show." Bill was present and they did other songs together on this same hour long show, including a bit with Williams, a somewhat older but gifted singer.
"Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. North wrote the music as a theme for the little-known prison film Unchained (January 1955), hence the song title. Todd Duncan sang the vocals for the film soundtrack. It has since become a standard and one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, most notably by the Righteous Brothers.
Songs of heartbreak are a huge part of songs of love. If you know another subject that has more songs written for it than love, let me know. BTW, the two of them sometimes sang alone.
The songs from this era were based on love this was when most families were married divorce was not even considered most women were at home raising the children and not really in the work force in the late 60’s is when all hell broke lose women went to work because the cost of living kept rising and that’s when the divorce rate went crazy
This song was first recorded in 1952 by by a British DJ and singer named Jimmy Young. It was recorded in one take and he was rushed to hospital immediately after the session because his appendix had burst and he was doubled up with pain.
![HIP HOP Fan Reacts To RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS - Unchained Melody [Live - Best Quality] (1965)](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
