Melanie

[Guitargeorge]

Just hearing of the death of Melanie in the US. In my opinion, a great singer with a very distinctive voice. Will be sadly missed

[Quicknick]

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/ ... es-aged-76

I don't often consult the Guardian.

[IanMcL]

A day of great sadness for me. I love Melanie's voice and song writing.

Thank you Melanie.

You were one of your Beautiful People.

[Claret Till I Die]

Loved this version

https://youtu.be/9alAuYr2g_8?si=2ndXIoXnXu6yC_EB

[IanMcL]

Loved this version

https://youtu.be/9alAuYr2g_8?si=2ndXIoXnXu6yC_EB

My choice for the best cover of another hit song.

[Claret Till I Die]

My choice for the best cover of another hit song.

There's not many better to be fair

[Carnsmerry12]

Very sad news. Great singer, some great songs. Grew up listening to her and Donavan

[beddie]

Some of us of a certain age will remember the song really well, I’m one of those but funnily enough I didn’t associate her name with the song. Still very sad news.

[Tricky Trevor]

RIP Melanie. Only bought her GHs last year.

[get stuck in tracy]

My choice for the best cover of another hit song.

Yup, defo, just listened to it and felt quite emotional.

[get stuck in tracy]

There's not many better to be fair

Yes defo, takes me back to happy times, similar voice to Buffy St. Marie.

[South West Claret.]

Lots of 60s people dying lately.

[IanMcL]

RIP Melanie. Only bought her GHs last year.

Play her often in my Tesla, in way back from Turf Moor!

[lakedistrictclaret]

Very sad news.
I thought Melanie was brilliant.

[ClaretTony]

Loved this version

https://youtu.be/9alAuYr2g_8?si=2ndXIoXnXu6yC_EB

I wouldn’t often approve of someone covering a Stones song but this really is the exception. The song just lends itself to Melanie’s wonderful voice perfectly.

[Silkyskills1]

Agree wholeheartedly with comments so far. She was very much part of my student days in London in the early 70's. Can I suggest another brilliant track from so many of her recordings and that is 'Nickel Song'. RIP Melanie Safka.

[Buxtonclaret]

R.I.P Melanie.

Still have an original or two.
Left Over Wine being a favourite.
She'd a one-off voice.

[IanMcL]

Getting sadder by the minute.

[JohnMac]

I had a proper crush on Melanie as a spotty teenager!

[IanMcL]

I had a proper crush on Melanie as a spotty teenager!

She was very cute!

[aclaretinstevenage]

My choice for the best cover of another hit song.

Second behind Joe Cocker's Little Help from my Friends for me but a superb version. I Loved listening to her unique voice.

As for Brand New Key - Melanie has acknowledged the possibility of detecting sexual innuendo in the lyrics, but has denied any deeper meaning:

[The song], "Brand New Key", I wrote in about fifteen minutes one night. I thought it was cute; a kind of old thirties tune. I guess a key and a lock have always been Freudian symbols, and pretty obvious ones at that. There was no deep serious expression behind the song, but people read things into it. They made up incredible stories as to what the lyrics said and what the song meant. In some places, it was even banned from the radio. My idea about songs is that once you write them, you have very little say in their life afterward. It's a lot like having a baby. You conceive a song, deliver it, and then give it as good a start as you can. After that, it's on its own. People will take it any way they want to take it. Copied from Wiki.

[Carnsmerry12]

Totally agree, Joe Cockers cover is superb!

[IanMcL]

Second behind Joe Cocker's Little Help from my Friends for me but a superb version. I Loved listening to her unique voice.

As for Brand New Key - Melanie has acknowledged the possibility of detecting sexual innuendo in the lyrics, but has denied any deeper meaning:

[The song], "Brand New Key", I wrote in about fifteen minutes one night. I thought it was cute; a kind of old thirties tune. I guess a key and a lock have always been Freudian symbols, and pretty obvious ones at that. There was no deep serious expression behind the song, but people read things into it. They made up incredible stories as to what the lyrics said and what the song meant. In some places, it was even banned from the radio. My idea about songs is that once you write them, you have very little say in their life afterward. It's a lot like having a baby. You conceive a song, deliver it, and then give it as good a start as you can. After that, it's on its own. People will take it any way they want to take it. Copied from Wiki.

What have they done to my song ma!

[Darnhill Claret]

I love Melanie and have done from when I first saw and heard her. Seen her live 4 times, including at Colne Muni. She'll be up there now sipping a brandy. One of the great singer/songwriters. Loved her music and her sense of humour. For me, a true music icon from Woodstock onwards.

[LaLigaClaret]

Desperately sad news as I was a big fan. I saw her live at a Crystal Palace Bowl event on a bill which included another great, Joe Cocker who was with the Chris Stainton all Stars. I saw her her performance in what can only be described as a monsoon but her voice and presence on that day made it seem that the sun was out. I was extremely fortunate to be in the first row, I was transfixed as was most of the audience that day as she appeared to bare her soul and whilst seemingly looking vulnerable she also came across as a very confident, strong woman. Most if not all the men there loved her enormously.

Some years later I was in Jersey on a long weekend and a woman singer came into the hotel bar and sang some songs and remarkably her voice was almost identical to that of Melanie Safka. I couldn't resist going up to the woman and informing her about her voice being so similar but sadly she didn't know who Melanie was which made me sad and feeling a little deflated.

As a big fan I don't mind admitting that some of her songs were a bit twee, one or two even banal, yet some of them were so hauntingly evocative and emotional. My favourite album was Gather Me and my favourite track was Some Say (I got Devil). There is a passage in that song which whenever I recall it stays in my head over and over again for ages. Of all the things that I have seen, stay written as part of my dreams, stay written in my dreams. It is sang so beautifully and with such heartfelt emotion it often makes me think back on the life that I have lived.

Thank you so very much Melanie Safka

R.I.P eternally.

[Darnhill Claret]

Gather Me was an excellent album. Center Of Your Circle on the album is a heavy orchestral sound so I was amazed at how well she performed it live acoustically.

[IanMcL]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=IZ52lk9wjZI ... -oge_5kk2O

[South West Claret.]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=IZ52lk9wjZI ... -oge_5kk2O

Not seen that before, very good.

[Darnhill Claret]

Don't know how to upload onto here but on YouTube there is a Melanie, 'sky vibes' entitled 26 minutes of bliss.

[IanMcL]

Don't know how to upload onto here but on YouTube there is a Melanie, 'sky vibes' entitled 26 minutes of bliss.

Here, I hope!

https://youtu.be/CDD8ba7AREI?si=HX4H9fTwsMWYsf2o

[claret54]

https://youtube.com/watch?v=IZ52lk9wjZI ... -oge_5kk2O

Great recording. I saw Melanie live at the Isle of Wight. Went there to see The Who. But really liked Melanie singing late in the evening.