"Don't Sleep in the Subway" an international smash hit single released back in 1967 is one of Petula's finest as was her the 1966 "Sign of the Times". Petula was among many British female recording artists that invaded and flooded America with their chart-topping hits during the 1960's. 💋👠🎤🎸🎹🥁🔉☮📻🎧
Petula was a child star singing and acting long before "Downtown" in Britain, movies , radio, TV. Both adults and kids loved her in America. This was way before the suburban Malls lol.
Doo-Wop is small vocal ensemble singing, where the voices take the place of instruments. It was popular especially in the late 50s and very early 60s. This song is from the British Invasion of the mid-60s.
Petula has had an astonishing career. It started way before this in 1942 when as a 9 year old she had gone to a BBC radio studio as part of a programme for children sending messages to troops abroad. There was an air raid and to calm the studio audience this child sang live on radio for the first time. 500 wartime radio performances followed. She became a child star touring Britain, but then moved across the channel singing in French and German. This song by the British songwriter Tony Hatch, inspired by a trip to New York, gave her global fame and broke the US market, she became part of The British Invasion following the Beatles in 1964. Her career both in recording and musical theatre continued, and still continues, her last release was in December called "I'm still Here" at the age of 91.
On Tubi yesterday for the first time I watched a film from 1945 titled: I Know Where I’m Going. It starred Wendy Hiller. When the credits rolled at the end I saw that the part of the precocious young girl was played by Petula Clark. She more than held her own with all of the adult heavy hitters from the London stage and British films.
Doo wop was mostly late 50s and very early 60s. This is mid sixties. Also, doo wop has a very distinctive sound where nonsensical words (e.g. doo wop) are sung prominently.
This was a number 1 hit in the US in 1964. Petula Clark was already a huge star in the UK when this song came out. She had charting records in the U K for 10 years before Down Town.
I've always liked this song. I remember liking it as a kid, even though the song was 20 years old already. Other songs of hers off the top of my head are Don't Sleep in the Subway, I Know a Place, My Love, and Sign of the Times. BTW--The way you were looking at her--she is still alive and only 91.
I was eight years old in 1967 when my father took me to a taping of the Ed Sullivan Show at the World's Fair in Montreal (Expo 67), and Petula Clark was one of the guests. She sang this song. I also saw her come back to Montreal 37 years later, and she was just as great. Wonderful singer. My other favorite is Don't Sleep in the Subway.
The very first time I heard this song, I was 10 years old, and I was sitting in the car with my Dad LITERALLY “DOWNTOWN” on Broad Street where all the business establishments were! It came on the car radio while we were waiting for my Mom to come out of J. C. Penney’s store. I “fell in love” with Petula’s voice and the song. Not long after, I saw this actual performance on what was called a “variety show” back then, and I “fell in love” with Petula also! Lol! 😁
Petula Clark was a huge star in Britain during this time, and had three or four big hits in the U.S. She was on U.S. TV pretty frequently, and then as hard rock became dominant in the charts, she drifted off the scene in the late sixties or early seventies. Like a lot of pop stars from her era, because this style was not popular anymore with young people.
This song always played when my Mom would take us school shopping in downtown Indianapolis, I was very young the first time I heard it. This song and Dusty Springfield's "Wishin' and Hopin'."
Bossa nova was the dance rhythm mentioned this song. Other way to use city services is in the song "Don't Sleep in the Subway". Other city life songs: "You Belong in the City" Glenn Frey "Steppin' Out" Joe Jackson "Beautiful Noise" Neil Diamond Your human jukebox at your service.
When you listen to this song, you get drawn in, and you can't get out. It's because of the Bossa Nova Beat underneath her singing. It's not Do-Wop. It's called Bossa Nova. It's a Latin Beat. It's the low notes on the piano doing a rhythm along with the bass and drums. Gets me every time!
Wow, you are about to get even before my time! I barely remember this one from later, not from when it first came out. I've always liked it, though. Great reaction!
If you want a stark example of the differences in the world of 1964 and today ‘Downtown’ is a good one. This song is an upbeat portrayal of downtown as an oasis of entertainment. A place to escape the doldrums with friends. Imagine a song entitled ‘Downtown’ written today.
Interesting tidbit: I believe that I heard that Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin), as a session musician at that time, played guitar on this song, not that you can hear the guitar on the song.
No, this is not “doo wop.” (Jeez. If you think this sounds like doo-wop, you don’t know what doo-wop is. Try listening to a song like “Earth Angel” by the Penguins or “At the Hop” by Danny and the Juniors for a hint of doo-wop.) It’s pure 60s pop. Petula Clark was the biggest female vocalist to come over as part of the British invasion. ”Downtown” was her first big hit (1965) here in America. Her follow up was a song called “I Know A Place,” and there were several more that were excellent. Like “Don’t Sleep In the Subway,” “A Sign of the Times,’ and “My Love” to name a few. “Downtown” was one of the top five songs of 1965. Oh, and she’s not blonde. Pet Clark is a redhead. The sum of your musical knowledge can fit into a thimble…with room left over for a Buick.
@@elizabethfranco1284 -- I have shown remarkable restraint up until now to keep from saying what I really think of him. To put it nicely, he is neither as intelligent or as entertaining as his smug and annoying laugh would lead us to believe that he thinks he is. I'm still waiting for the first sign of any insightful observations or worthwhile commentary to come out of this reaction channel. Only smugness and self-amusement. I guess the only reason I watch is because I must enjoy watching train wrecks more than I realized I do.
@@elizabethfranco1284 -- He only knows what he knows. And as I mentioned in my comment, you could take everything he knows about music and fit it all into a thimble, with enough room left over to fit a Buick or a Rolls-Royce. There's not much going on between those ears.
Man this song was part of me growing up...as a teen ,this was unbelievable .........and with regards to the Michael comment...............well, who do think was sampling who ?........................was he born yet ?
1964 - The year of the Beatles. They won 2 grammies for New Artist & vocal group - Hard Day's Night. This song amazingly won "Best Rock n Roll" song. The Record of the Year was Girl From Ipanema (jazz) and Song of the Year was "Hello Dolly" - Louie Armstrong. This was a long ago era. Pop/RocknRoll/R&B had not come to dominate yet.
"On Broadway" George Benson ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-EAIp7yFk0tk.html Some of the comments you made on Petula Clark's brought this song to my memory. I'm not sure why? But you might like the feel of song as well. This is a concert version, which is a little more decked out than the studio version. And might not have the do-whap sound of this song. But has some instrumentation techniques that might give you the same feeling as do-whap.
This is the third time I have seen you try to connect music with Michael Jackson. The Jackson Five didn't start until the late 60s/early 70s. MJ was huge, but give it a rest already.
@@rebeccalipps23 I see I’m not the only one! I couldn’t take it anymore so I didn’t finish. It’s really sad when the reaction is so bad it causes you to stop listening to Petula Clark.
Not doo wop. I'm so over reactors trying to find mj in everything. She is in movie called finnian's rainbow with fred Astaire and Tommy steele. You need to check tommy steele he has a long career as a singer(rock n roll) While Elvis was doing his thing tommy and cliff Richard were doing the same in the UK. Tommy was so popular yhat he made some films as did Elvis.
Do a Deep Dive into the “British Invasion” music genre. Her contemporaries like Lulu; Herman’s Hermits; Gerry and The Pacemakers; Gene Pitney; Bobby Goldsboro.(Pitney and Goldsboro are American not part of the BI); Dusty Springfield. Dude, no way DoWop.
In the song Petula says listening to the beat of the gentle Bossa Nova. So it did have a bit of that beat also.... From a 80s organ with many beats... this song did have a bit of that bossa nova beat gently.
