Where do you get the idea of his girl being mad at him? Because there's nothing in the song about it. He asks (twice), “Are you still mine?”, because he hasn't seen her for so long (he was in prison). He knows that “time can do so much”, and he worries about their long-distance relationship.
In 1954, Alex North was contracted to compose the score for the prison film Unchained (released in 1955). North had a melody he had written in the 1930s and composed and recorded the score when he was asked to write a song based upon the movie's theme. North asked Hy Zaret to write the lyrics. After first refusing, Zaret and North together wrote "Unchained Melody. Zaret refused the producer's request to include the word "unchained" in his lyrics. The song eventually became known as the "Unchained Melody" even though the song does not actually include the word "unchained". Instead, Zaret chose to focus on someone who pines for a lover he has not seen in a "long, lonely time". The film centered on a man who contemplates either escaping from prison to live life on the run or completing his sentence and returning to his wife and family
The song contains no inference that the man's girlfriend is mad at him and he's trying to reconcile. It is about a couple who have been separated for a long time. The man is saying that his prolonged absence hasn't lessened his feelings for her, and he wonders if she also still feels the same way.
the song is not about a guy asking if his girl is still mad at him. it is about a man who has been gone from home for a very long time (he was in prison) and he is expressing the long and lonely span of time he was away and he is asking if she waits for him still. "are you still mine..." Men who have been in prison or in the military and were gone from their families for a long time can all relate very closely to this song. Imagine if you can how it would feel to come back and to have your wife - your woman rush to your arms and wrap herself around you and to welcome you back into her heart and into her life. That is what this song is about
I remember when first hearing him sing "...and time goes by so slowly" I was thinking, "no, it really seems to go by pretty fast as an adult; but when I found out it was being sung by someone who is serving time, I could easily understand why he would feel like time was going by very slowly.
I played this for my wife of 43 years during her home hospice of Terminal, Inoperable, Pancreatic, Liver, Lung , Cancer, she passed in my arms as promised. She's waiting for me. I'll be coming home. Thanks Bobby RIP.
Live performance. No auto tunes. I grew up with this music. Nobody did this song better than Bobby Hatfield. RIP Bobby. This video is 58 years old so it's pretty good, actually.
@@MaddyReactions 1965 is when color TV 1st came in and it was expensive to produce. The color in the video could have been enhanced if it wasn't from a heavy handed makeup artist trying to show color so they didn't look washed out. Check out both brothers singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" on the Ed Sullivan TV show, which also was in color, and they don't have an abundance of "Florida Tans" but perform this show tune live amazingly. With the incredible vocals of the Righteous Brothers even listening to one of their records is off the charts. Records are a solo by Bobby singing "Ebbtide" and a hot blues song with the baritone Bill Medley singing lead in "I Want To Make Love To You".
Mandy need to do some research before commenting and the fact that you brought up his make up shows how superficial you are. You need to grow up and do something else besides worrying about other peoples looks..
@@MaddyReactions here are the facts of the song: "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 prison film Unchained (1955),
@@MaddyReactionsthat is correct! Listen to it again and think about a man doing time in prison. The only hope he has is that the woman he loves will wait for him. She is everything to him and he belongs with her (the ocean). And dreams of returning like the water in a river returning to the sea.
@@garymcfetridge7883 what are you talkin about? This song was written about a movie called unchained. The movie was about a man that had been sent to prison for a lengthy time.
The song was made for a movie called "Unchained". It was about a guy in prison. Hence the name of the song "Unchained Melody". It is the most recorded song in history. Recorded over 1500 times by over 700 artists. You can look up that fact. This is the most well-known version of it. And Bobby Hatfield absolutely KILLED IT! His counter-tenor voice was perfect for this song! He said he wanted to perform this song to perfection for his mom, who was in the audience at the time! I THINK HE DID HER PROUD!👍👍❤❤
Watch closely right at the end. He starts to flash a little smile just as the video ends. He knew he had nailed it. His version of that song was used in the 1990 movie "Ghost", and hit the charts big for the second time.
The Andy Williams Show certainly had a stellar orchestra to back up ANY of its singing guests. A wonderful performance by that group as well as by Mr. H!
I must have been 11 when they tore up the Ed Sullivan show. The tv was black and white. Okay I’m old. But I remember those good days when music of the 60’s and 70’s was KING!❤
@davidw5629 Not to countless vocalists and music critics. I've watched opera singer reactions to this video and they are stunned at his 3 octave range, dynamic range, pitch, and breath control. There's a reason this song is the most covered song of the last century and that there are probably hundreds of reaction videos to it.
The charming,handsome and talented Bobby who gave us a soulful and unprecidented delivery in every single performance. This performance was actually better than the studio cut which charted twice. Absolute perfection and blue eyed soul stamped all over it from the lyrics to the nearly yodeling effect. Bobby sung his vowels like they were a musical instrument. RIP Bobby Lee Hatfield you are missed.
Almost yodeling effect?? i am from germany and would like to ask if you know what yodeling sounds like. Bobbys vocals don't even come close to yodeling. This is something very special and not every one like it as all.
@sylviabuck3369: you apparently missed or didn't understand the words 'nearly' and 'effect' I used in that sentence. Either way it is not your place to call someone out or correct their statement. I find it to be a form of harassment. Newsflash: people do not care what your opinion is or will be when they make their own known.
Hello! First, as a 66 year old man I so happy that young people like yourself still appreciates this music. This song was written in 1955 for a prison movie called "Unchained", hence the name of the song. Its being sung by a man in prison to his woman. He is telling here how much he misses her and that he hopes that she will still be there for him when he gets released.
I agree, it’s refreshing to hear younger people praise these older songs. I’ve just turned 69 and this song brings me to tears! There’s just a quality in his voice that is unparalleled!
It's amazing how different songs were then than they are now. I wish I grew up in that era, instead of the songs about hoes, money, drugs, asses, etc..
Not during Viet Nam, I was blessed to turn 18 in Dec. just months after the war ended. Much love to those that served and live with such memories, wishing you Peace as well.@@leewhite6425
You miss the point. For one thing, this is one of the greatest love songs ever made. He didn't write it. His partner hated the song and thought it would be a flop. His partner regretted that decision. The smoothness of his voice and the span of octaves that he reached while performing this number along with the emotion he put in to it are what contributed to its success. He truly was a magnificent singer, as was his partner. His makeup? Who cares? No one. This was also in the 60's and the sound was not electronically filled in like most of today's music. He was a true artist. Unfortunately, his life had a rather tragic ending.
You are sooo wrong.There was a joke told by Bill Medley during the introduction on the Andy Williams Show(she didn't bother to play that part) it was a joke folks,a joke! The truth is they both wanted to sing and Bobby won the coin toss. Plus they had a pact that on every album they would take turns doing a solo. I can't believe I've heard 5 or 6 people who can't tell a joke when they SEE it. However we are in perfect agreement on the great Bobby Hatfield and his incredible talent.
I was in the Army during the Vietnam War. This song was picked up a second time by the troops in the Nam. I can’t tell you how many times every day I heard this being played there. Try to picture it. This song worked PERFECTLY for troops away at war. So powerful.
PURE RAW TALENT. i WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. GREAT TIME TO LIVE IN . I was in a harmony quartette at North Carroll high school( ist tenor. ) So I appreciate his range. All their songs were great!
This first appeared in the 1955 movie Unchained, starring the former football player Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch. The movie takes place in a prison, and the song was written for the movie to reflect the mood of the prisoners as they wait for time to pass. Alex North wrote the music, Hy Zaret wrote the lyrics, and a singer named Todd Duncan sang the version in the movie. Duncan went on to become a popular vocal instructor. When the movie came out, an orchestral version by Les Baxter was released along with a version by Al Hibbler. Baxter's version hit #1 in the US; Hibbler's went to #3. The Righteous Brothers' version came out ten years later, and then was released again for the 1990 film, "Ghost." It was a top fifteen hit both times.
@@MaddyReactions Lol the Movie is a short one and more like a D movie. But The song was wrote and never named so they just called it Unchained Melody. He was getting ready to be released after years in prison so he was asking her is she still his.
Hard to believe from watching this that Bobby threw up before these performances from stage fright. Sadly Bobby died from cocaine abuse but he always managed to pull himself together to perform for us
The song is actually him in prison, begging his girl to stay faithful. "Time can do so much [bad!]." The first lonely river is her going out to sea (another man). Second lonely river is him saying "Wait for me."
The Incomparable Counter Tenor voice of the late great Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brothers. No one has sung this song better then when Bobby Hatfield sang this song (Live) 58 years ago in (1965) on the Andy Williams Show. This performance by Bobby Hatfield and the NBC Studio Orchestra has become the quintessential version of "Unchained Melody" of them all. This version has been used by every recording artist ever since. This performance has gone done as the greatest live television performance ever. Rest in Peace Bobby Hatfield for you are truly missed. Note: "Unchained Melody" was composed as the music score for a (1955) Prison Movie titled "Unchained." The music was composed by multi-award-winning composer Alex North with Lyrics by Hy Zaret (1955). The song has been performed and sung by close to one thousand artist and orchestras for the past 68 years. One of the most beautiful melodies ever written. The lyrics by Hy Zaret had to do with a family man wrongfully imprison in a Minimum-Security Prison with no Cells, no Bars and no Chains. The loneliness of missing his wife and child gets to be unbearable when (Time) is all he has. That is the fate of prisoners who have loved ones on the outside...Will they still be there waiting for them when they are released from prison.
This song "Unchained Melody" was written in 1955 by Mr. Alex North and Lyrics by Mr. Hy Zaret for a prison movie called, "Chained". It was about a man who missed his girlfriend so much he was thinking about escaping cause the love that he had for her was unbearable and he was wondering that if he finished his sentence would she wait for her. The original singer was sung by The First Black American Opera Singer, Mr. Todd Duncan. As time went on well over six hundred and something artists have sang this song including Elvis Presley and even Linda Ronstadt. "Unchained Melody" was the Most played song in America in the Twenth Century and throughout the UK. What you have just watched was a Mr. Bobby Hatfield of The Righteous Brothers singing it in 1965 on a TV show called, "The Andy Williams Show. Later in 1990 they came out with a movie called "Ghost " starring Patrick Swaytz and Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg. In the movie they played Mr. Bobby Hatfield's version of it since it was the very best version everywhere. And Maddy it was a pretty show as well..If you happen to have the time you ought to check it out. I promise you that you will not be disappointed. The trouble with today's so-called music is that they don't write or sing beautiful romantic love songs anymore unless of course it is one from yesteryear. But anyway Mamacita once again I😢 sincerely thank you so veryucj bignfor playing it, Have a Blessed day, Adios.
In my mind it is about a boy waiting in Vietnam for his active duty to end so he can come home! Since that usually lasted 3 years back then, it is possible that your girl couldn't wait that long for you and she might find another man. The song is about holding on to the hope that your girl will still be there waiting for you when you get home!
Most people know this song, in the Righteous Brothers version mainly from being the soundtrack of the 1990 movie "Ghost" starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg.
OH MY GOD! You think singers ever needed teleprompters??? LOL! OMG you are dumb! And yes, teleprompters existed in 1965. But no, no singer in history has needed a teleprompter to sing (well, except karaoke singers). As stunning as the vocal performance was, your comment was even more stunning.
My first time watching one of your reactions, Maddy, and I must say, I got almost as much enjoyment watching your eyes, seeing you become the latest young woman to fall in love with Bobby Hatfield, as I did hearing him sing this peerless song better than anyone else has. Keep at it, Maddy... new subscriber, and a fan.
In addition, Maddy doesn't say, "I thought there were brothers. Where's the other brother?" I've seen a lot of first-time reactors to this song wondering what happened to the other guy. As we music veterans all know, Bill Medley yielded to Bobby on this song and let him go solo on it. There is even an intro on other videos in which Andy Williams talks to Bob and Bill and Bill jokes that he goes into the corner and kicks himself for not having taken the song.
I hope we give this young woman a break. She was born decades after Bobby sang this anthem so she was mistaken. But, folks are correct. “Unchained Melody” was written in 1955 for the film, “Unchained.” It is about an incarcerated man who longs for his wife and wonders if she will still be there for him after he is released. The film was a bit of a flop but the theme song most certainly was not. RIP, Bobby. I heard this special when I was 22, almost 60 years ago. She could improve her remarks if she hadn’t been distracted by his makeup and coral jacket (this was a Valentine Day special hence the jacket color) and instead expressed her appreciation for his amazing talent. No auto tune, no gyrating, no gimmicks, flashing lights. He stood and delivered with his God given talent!
Literally hundreds of great singers have covered Unchained Melody, but this is widely considered the definitive performance. Bobby Hatfield owns this song.
Bobby Hatfield reportedly had no formal voice training. That was his natural voice (before auto-tuning). The song was about a man in prison longing for his mate to wait for him. As far I know it didn't refer to any specific girl.
it was an era of romance and romantic music....the young people today know nothing of romance...you can tell by how they respond and are blown away by these songs...and as I think you mentioned, you could hear the lyrics, every word...you danced check to cheek with your girl and those lyrics were you lyrics to her...and there were songs for the broken heart....ROY ORBISON was the master of those songs. Bring up some some songs from his BLACK AND WHITE NIGHT album. was all star cast. Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Tom Wait...singing back up was Jackson Brown, JD Souders and on the platform singing harmony was Bonnie Rait, K.D Lang, and Jennifer Warrens. and listen to Linda Ronstadt,...no just one song, she sang about 6 genres .It was a great time to be alive...
Bobby was not just a tenor...he was a countertenor!!! He could match a female mezzo soprano in the range department!!! Truly, one of the very finest male vocalists from those wonderful 60s!!! Effortless, never straining....perfect vibrato and control!!
@Onthebrink5 Are you really that clueless?? You obviously don't know jack about singing.🙄🤣 Bobby Hatfield was one of the very finest singers from a time full of great ones!!! Here's a trained opera singer and vocal coach analyzing his performance. She does it justice...getting deep into vocal technical analysis. She likens Bobby's falsetto to that of a countertenor...which is equivalent in range to that of a female mezzo soprano. Her words should make you ashamed of your "uninformed" comment. I'm trying to be nice. ua-cam.com/video/nyXfCq1ix3g/v-deo.html&ab_channel=TheCharismaticVoice "We people" remember when music was wonderful...unlike today. We miss it...that plain and simple.
@Onthebrink5 🙄🙄🙄🙄 🤣 Your comment is beyond laughable. Bobby Hatfield is one of the very finest singers from the 60s. Today's "music" is an absolute joke compared to this. That's why "we people" love this and other songs like it. But....I wouldn't expect someone like you to have any knowledge about real music and singers.
@Onthebrink5 Really sad that you lack appreciation for one of the finest male vocalists of all time. Read the comments on this page...it speaks to a simple truth: "We people" care because all the wonderful music of this era is gone. Today's music SUCKS!!! Ca Va??
@Onthebrink5 You must have viewed my channel on UA-cam. That is a tiny representation of the music I cover. There is still some decent music today...but it's not mainstream as it once was. I find myself listening to classical and smooth jazz these days...and of course...my Old School R&B. Most would agree with my views about music today. As a music historian, I have done focus group studies on it. Pop music has become total trash....a result of Dumbed Down America. Yes, I live in another era...and I have plenty of company. That you don't agree with me??? I couldn't care less.
The song was the theme song for the 1956 movie "Unchained". The movie was about a prisoner who was battling with himself about whether to escape or serve the remainder of his time. The song was sung in the movie with a guitar. This song has been covered by nearly 1000 artist, but Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brother on this redition owned it. This on stage performance was on the Andy Williams Show in 1965. It has been #1 one the charts 3 times. It was in the movie Ghost. That was not makeup it was a Tan. His parents were in the audience that night.
I just knew it - Bobby Hatfield slays another beautiful woman with this iconic rendition. And actually, it is a song from a prison movie where the protagonist is pleading with his girl to still be there for him when he is released.
I don't know where you get that idea. She was dismissive of it all. Did she have one positive thing to say? I totally missed it if she did. Oh right she did say she liked the color of his suit. Brilliant.
I can only imagine how this song affected our guys in Vietnam and the girls they were whisked away from back home. I was 9 when this was recorded. It was also, the song my wife walked down the aisle to. Yeah, it's been an influential part of my life. Great reaction to a wonderful song by a gorgeous lady.
The great Bobby Hatfield!! ... I was 12 years old in 1965: whenever I hear this it brings tears to my eyes! He was a amazing singer So happy to be watching this. 🙏😃
I always thought the context was a young soldier who had been drafted and shipped to Vietnam wondering if his girl had waited for him to return (not some Joe asking his girl if he was still mad at him). I guess prison time works, too.
I admire how you reply to those who leave comments. They have many very good songs as a Duo. You lost that Loving Feeling Soul and Inspiration Just once in my life and The Nightime is the Right Time and more
Written for the prison movie "Unchained" in the 1950s, it originally questioned whether his girlfriend still loved him while he was doing time. In the 1960s, when Bobby Hatfield (half the Righteous Brothers) sang it, it became a love letter home from every soldier in the jungles of Vietnam. So, not questioning if she was mad at him, but was the time apart too much for their relationship to last.
Not at all about being mad at someone. It's about being separated from the one you love for a long time, and Bobby was often singing to soldiers leaving for Vietnam, and their wives and sweethearts back home. The song had been around for ten years before Bobby recorded it, but his version was the biggest hit.
@@MaddyReactions yep! And he’s saying “are you still mine” not “are you still mad” lol I can see where you were hearing that though, I’ve misheard lyrics quite a few times and think to myself this song makes 0 sense until I figure out the actual words 😂
"UNCHAINED MELODY". From what I have read, this soul-wrenching song was originally written as a letter by a man who was spending a "long and lonely time" in prison. It was later made into a song and sung by many singers but was made quite famous by Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brothers in the 1960's. The prisoner, writing to someone he deeply loved, expressing to her that "I hunger for your touch", wanting to know "are you still mine" and how much "I need your love", wanting her to "wait for me" as I would someday be "coming home". A very touching and heart-felt song. Hope this helps put it in deeper perspective.
Los Angeles California, it was originally written as a song for a movie called “unchained” but the way Bobby Hatfield rendition will never be sung with the style of the Righteous Brothers.
Back then because of the relatively poor picture quality on television they would have to lay the makeup on pretty thick so that you could make out their faces. With the modern ability to enhance the picture quality you can see the makeup and it looks overdone.
Funny because people apply so much make-up now you can't see their real faces. Make-up is used to apply a mask rather than enhancing " your, " face. lol
Thank you for that explanation. I know it seems to be taboo to write negative reactions to UA-cam videos. This was one that I had to really hold myself back. You did a much better job than me. Thank you
I am sure some one already mentioned it but the song is from a movie in the 1950's where a man is being released from prison and he is asking if his wife was still there for him, is she still his!
Live, one take. Years before autotune. I first heard this when it was first a hit back in 1965 (yep, I'm THAT old) and I loved it then and I love it now. Great reaction as always Maddy.
@@amb6899 Her looks had nothing to do with her reaction, and my comment. I have seen literally hundreds of people reacting to this track and everyone sees it differently. Her obvious joy when Bobby hits that high note was worth it. Merely my opinon.
“Great reaction??”. You’re joking, right? All she noticed was his makeup…. and how he apparently “made this song” for a girl that was mad at him!! Ok…🤣
This was originally from a movie in 1955 about a man in prison, then recorded in around 1960 by (I think) the Platters, then In 1965 by Bobby Hatfield from The Righteous Brothers.
@@MaddyReactions Yes sweet Maddy please do the Dec. 1964 version in black and white. That's the best one. It was the most played song on radio of the 20th century. It will have you asking again, did he get his lover back with this song?
He might not have needed too much makeup. His mom was from Sweden, he lived in California so he probably opened the curtains that morning to see if it was sunny and he tanned before he turned around and went back to bed. Thank you so much for digging back in time to react to one of my teenage heartthrobs. The Righteous Brothers were so talented.
Bill Medley was only 25 the night he performed this live on the Andy Williams Show, 1965. I was seven and saw this performance. Back then there was no cable TV. You got four networks, ABC, CBS, NBC and your local PBS and that was it. Watching TV was a family event and variety shows like this were huge. You had this show and the biggest show of all The End Sullivan Show on Sunday nights. Sullivan was so important to popular music. He was older but introduced The Beatles to America in February, 1964 and 73 million tuned in for that which still may be a record for the largest audience for a TV show now, 59 years later. He gave us The Rolling Stones, The Doors, and so so many bands and solo artist from America and the UK. It's a who's who of popular music from the sixties. Also pretty much every black soul artist from that time. I remember seeing The Jackson 5 for the first time in 1969 with their performance of "I Want You Back". So many great soul artists like Diana Road And The Supremes, The Four Topps, Marvin Gaye, The Spinners, The Fifth Dimension and just so many others. I saw it all from The Beatles and everyone else from A to Z. Great time to be a kid back then. Only a woman would pick out too much make up on him. Hilarious! I enjoyed that one. Peace ❤
@@dougsusie2319 If you noticed, I originally wrote "That's Bobby Hatfield, Bill." I know I thought "not Bill." Guess sometimes there is a disconnect between the brain and fingers. It happens to all of us.😎
@@Aurora-tp3dy Wait till you get to be my age. Several weeks ago my neighbor and I walked downtown to a really good Italian restaurant. I brought like half a pizza home and the next day I couldn't find it. Tore the kitchen apart and even checked freezer in basement. My blood pressure was definitely up, like I was ramped up. The next day I was about to turn my oven on and it dawned on me. Did I check the oven yesterday? I open the door and there sat a pizza box with half a pizza in it. I'm still sketched out as to why would I come home and put a pizza box in the oven? Good thing I checked and didn't turn the oven on, that could have not turned out very well. Several days ago it was hot as hell here and wasn't cooking. I put a frozen dinner in the microwave for 5 minutes. I opened the door to stir potatoes and there was no dinner. I put it in the fridge. That's a little concerning, I'm 65, if I make it to 75 or 85 what the hell is that gonna look like? Wait about 30 years young lady, you're in for a treat. When that guy corrected me I had to go back and check. I know all day, everyday that's Bobby Hatfield. I haven't a clue young lady were my brain was at. Definitely a brain fart moment. Here's a song for you, Bob Dylan from his 1965 iconic Lp "Bringing It All Back Home" the song is "It's Alright Ma ( I'm Only Bleeding) there's a live version video from 65 and it's great but the technology for sound wasn't real good back then. The studio Lp version is the one you would want. Dylan's a legend, would love too see your reaction. John Lennon + Paul McCartney + George Harrison + Ringo Starr = The Beatles + Bob Dylan = The two all time GOAT'S of popular music and it ain't even close! Peace
Robert Lee Hatfield (August 10, 1940 - November 5, 2003) -Bobby Hatfield, who had a higher countertenor voice to Bill Medley’s -William Thomas Medley (born September 19, 1940)-baritone, sang lead on this track. It was his idea to record it, since Medley and Hatfield were each allowed to choose a song to sing as a solo vocalist on their albums. As Medley tells it, Hatfield knew the song well, and was a big fan of the Roy Hamilton and Al Hibbler versions of the song. In 2003, Hatfield died of a heart attack at age 63. *The Righteous Brothers version was a huge hit, but it was recorded with far more modest expectations. Phil Spector considered it album filler and released it as a B-side. The single had "Unchained Melody," with no producer credit on the label, as the flip to Gerry Goffin and Carole King's "Hung on You," but many DJs preferred "Unchained Melody" and played that one instead. This infuriated Spector, who subsequently left no doubt as to which side of a Philles single was the A-side. * The famous climax of this song where Bobby Hatfield sings the high "I need your love" line wasn't how the song was written. In an interview with Bill Medley, he explained that Hatfield did two takes of the song, then left. He would often reconsider his performance and come back later to change it, and that's what he did on this track, returning to ask Medley if he could make an edit. This was no easy task, since with a maximum of four tracks to work with, you had to record over part of the original take, but Medley accommodated and Hatfield delivered that soaring vocal line. Said Medley: "I punched that in and he left. He said, 'No, I can do it better.' And I said, 'No, you can't.' [Laughs] And I think it's a big part of that song." * This was released on Philles Records, Phil Spector's label. Spector, known for his "Wall Of Sound" technique, did not produce this - Bill Medley did. In a 2007 statement to the Forgotten Hits newsletter, Medley said: "You have to remember that I was producing our stuff before Phil Spector... I mean I produced 'Little Latin Lupe Lu,' 'My Babe' and all that stuff. Then when we went with Phil, Phil asked me if I would produce the albums because it was too time consuming for him to produce the entire albums. So he was going to do the singles and I would do the album. And so that's how that happened and that's how I produced 'Unchained Melody,' which Phil Spector apparently now takes credit for. He can have the credit. And I'm not a producer. I know how to produce. But it's obviously not a Spector production. 'Unchained Melody' was never intended to be the single... it was produced to be on the album. It was put on the B side of a Phil Spector single 'Hung On You' and the minute it was released 'Unchained Melody' just went through the roof."
HEY FOLKS? I'm late to the party, but do note she loved the song so much she cried. Cut her some slack for bringing back and appreciating memories. ❤️❤️❤️ PS: and she's gorgeous. 😊
Couldn’t be more wrong about the origins of the song and what it meant in 1965. It was the height of the Vietnam War and people were leaving without wanting to and knowing they might not come back. The context in 1955 when composed has already been commented on.
If you enjoyed this performance, you'll like "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" and "Soul and Inspiration." Both Righteous Brothers sing in those. They're not related, BTW. This is my second video of yours; I have a hunch there will be more.
Listen….. I love that song! My parents used to listen to it on Saturdays…. But this woman’s face is electric! I’ve never seen such an immaculate woman! God bless her! I’m enamored
This is live. No auto tune or gimmicks, pure voice. Only one of the 2 are singing in this one. Check out their othrs. Their music is called Blue Eyed Soul. They hav so much soul. The Blue eyed Soul name came because they both have Blue eyes and they have soulful songs. Check out " Soul & Inspiration " & others, you'll love them. They are the originals. And this song has been covered over 600 times by artist.
This song is the soundtrack for the film Ghost. It's a very well-known film here in Brazil. I highly recommend you watch it, this film is a work of art. The song is about the loss of your love, about how much you miss it and how much you hope to find that love on the other side of life. Here the music is more related to this film.
Actually Daniel it is from a 1955 movie called Unchained. While it was part of the Ghost soundtrack, it really has nothing to do with the movies story.
This song was written as part of the score of a prison movie. The singer is the prisoner longing for the love of his girl, and asking whether she will still be there for him when he is released.
You really should watch the entire show. This is from The Andy Williams Show. Also, Bobby said this was the first time he sang (professionally) in front of his mother and he was really nervous.. She was a huge Andy Williams fan and Bobby got her tickets to be in the audience.
At night sometimes in Nam this would be heard comin' from one of the hootches... we were far from home and wanted to know if our girl was still our girl. He's lettin' her know how important she is to him... nothin' to do with forgiveness. It was originally from a prison movie, but I know my generation adopted it. (It was a 'Ladies Choice' at our teen dances and Man, would the girls hold you tight).
The song was originally in a movie about being locked up in prison. The character who sang this was wondering if she would still be waiting for him when he got out. Also, he was sick for a few days prior to this performance, but his mom was in the live audience, and she had never heard him sing on stage before.
Please forgive me for saying so - and I assure you that I do not mean it in any untoward fashion , but rather as a genuine observation , you are a very lovely young Lady
This film clip is from The Andy Williams Show's 1965 Valentines Day Special; a longer and "restored" version of this show the other other, Bill Medley dressed identically to Bobby Hatfield, Andy Williams is wearing a pink pullover and whit pants. Unchained Melody IS Bobby's song; many sang it before him and still more afterwards, but no one has come close to equaling his amazing vocal talents. I we had seen the longer version, Andy Williams, an extremely accomplished vocalist along the lines of Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole, Dean Martin, was talking with them, it was mostly scripted, and Bobby was the key respondant; he appeared to be out of breath, huffing & puffing like he had just done a lap around the parking lot. Actually, he was suffering from an upper respiratory infection, a had cold or bronchitis. On top of his ailment, he suffered from chronic, intense stage fright, to the point of losing his lunch, rather violently, before going on stage. If that wasn't enough, his mother was in the audience watching her 25-year-old son performing live for the very first time and he was terribly worried about disappointing her. I think it's safe to say that absolutely no one was disappointed with his performance on that Valentines Day. Re: the longer clip. Bill and Bobby had an agreement that they would each have one solo song on all of their albums. They both wanted to do Unchained very, very much and neither of them would give in. Finally, they decided to let the toss of a coin make the decision; I think the coin got it right. Thanks for the great reaction!
Great reaction Maddy! This song has been covered by many singers, but this version is by far the best cover. He sounded amazing...one take before a live audience, no autotune, and he killed it! The performance was live on the TV show The Andy Williams show so that's why the makeup.
Actually, this song was in a movie. The guy was in jail, counting the days, missing her and agonizing over whether she'd be there for him when he got out. Content, not fluff
Thanks, Maddy - Bobby Hatfield was extraordinary - hitting those notes, that breath control... no straining or screaming... also, word is that he was nervous b/c his MOM was in the audience for this LIVE performance.. (I'm sure she was proud...) - appreciate your reaction! (p.s. - "Unchained Melody" - he was in prison.. get it???.. also, the make-up was standard stage make-up for a live TV show... yes, kind of "ken-doll" but that's the last thing I would have noticed... oh, the goofy salmon-colored suit, etc.. but damn.. hearing that voice, it's hard for me care that he looks like a dork..
Thanks!
🩷🩷🩷
Where do you get the idea of his girl being mad at him? Because there's nothing in the song about it. He asks (twice), “Are you still mine?”, because he hasn't seen her for so long (he was in prison). He knows that “time can do so much”, and he worries about their long-distance relationship.
In 1954, Alex North was contracted to compose the score for the prison film Unchained (released in 1955). North had a melody he had written in the 1930s and composed and recorded the score when he was asked to write a song based upon the movie's theme. North asked Hy Zaret to write the lyrics. After first refusing, Zaret and North together wrote "Unchained Melody. Zaret refused the producer's request to include the word "unchained" in his lyrics. The song eventually became known as the "Unchained Melody" even though the song does not actually include the word "unchained". Instead, Zaret chose to focus on someone who pines for a lover he has not seen in a "long, lonely time". The film centered on a man who contemplates either escaping from prison to live life on the run or completing his sentence and returning to his wife and family
The song contains no inference that the man's girlfriend is mad at him and he's trying to reconcile. It is about a couple who have been separated for a long time. The man is saying that his prolonged absence hasn't lessened his feelings for her, and he wonders if she also still feels the same way.
the song is not about a guy asking if his girl is still mad at him. it is about a man who has been gone from home for a very long time (he was in prison) and he is expressing the long and lonely span of time he was away and he is asking if she waits for him still. "are you still mine..."
Men who have been in prison or in the military and were gone from their families for a long time can all relate very closely to this song. Imagine if you can how it would feel to come back and to have your wife - your woman rush to your arms and wrap herself around you and to welcome you back into her heart and into her life. That is what this song is about
Good explanation. It should be noted that the movie was called "Unchained", hence the name "Unchained Melody" as it was written for that movie.
He's even begging her not to stray on him (lonely hearts/wait for me) and lamenting that "time can do so much" bad things.
During the Vietnam War many American women cried themselves to sleep listening to this song, longing for their men to come home safe.
I remember when first hearing him sing "...and time goes by so slowly" I was thinking, "no, it really seems to go by pretty fast as an adult; but when I found out it was being sung by someone who is serving time, I could easily understand why he would feel like time was going by very slowly.
@@danieldickson8591 Yah, and then they dumped them, and when we came home we were devastated.
I played this for my wife of 43 years during her home hospice of Terminal, Inoperable, Pancreatic, Liver, Lung , Cancer, she passed in my arms as promised. She's waiting for me. I'll be coming home. Thanks Bobby RIP.
This song must have special place in your heart as well then wow sorry for your loss.
You and me both, Brother. I can't listen to this without tearing up. I tell her, "This is for you, Babe."
You’re a good man Joseph
Gosh, that was so sad. Bless you. True. Love.
Live performance. No auto tunes. I grew up with this music. Nobody did this song better than Bobby Hatfield. RIP Bobby. This video is 58 years old so it's pretty good, actually.
So lovely!
@@MaddyReactions 1965 is when color TV 1st came in and it was expensive to produce. The color in the video could have been enhanced if it wasn't from a heavy handed makeup artist trying to show color so they didn't look washed out. Check out both brothers singing "You'll Never Walk Alone" on the Ed Sullivan TV show, which also was in color, and they don't have an abundance of "Florida Tans" but perform this show tune live amazingly. With the incredible vocals of the Righteous Brothers even listening to one of their records is off the charts. Records are a solo by Bobby singing "Ebbtide" and a hot blues song with the baritone Bill Medley singing lead in "I Want To Make Love To You".
The audio fidelity is incredible. I am so thankful for Bobby and this live cut of the song I grew up with.
Cocaine is a hellova drug
@@pharamathews5152 Hello, we watched this on a black &white television.
Nearly 60 yrs later and Bobby still captivates the Lady's ...a legend whos missed
💖
Apparently it didn't captivate her...she was concerned with his make up
@@smokeypantstwo8264 I know. Worst reaction ever....
Mandy need to do some research before commenting and the fact that you brought up his make up shows how superficial you are. You need to grow up and do something else besides worrying about other peoples looks..
This song is about a man serving time in prison and hopes to reunite with his love once released.
Oh no way????
@@MaddyReactions here are the facts of the song:
"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 prison film Unchained (1955),
@@MaddyReactionsthat is correct! Listen to it again and think about a man doing time in prison. The only hope he has is that the woman he loves will wait for him. She is everything to him and he belongs with her (the ocean). And dreams of returning like the water in a river returning to the sea.
I heard he only got weekend detention for a traffic matter. She must be one hellva gal if he misses her that much over 2 nights. Yeah baby!!
@@garymcfetridge7883 what are you talkin about? This song was written about a movie called unchained. The movie was about a man that had been sent to prison for a lengthy time.
The fact that this song is so old and still popular is amazing. It's truly beautiful❤❤❤
Agreed!!
and for Maddy.......... it's are you still mine????? not are you still mad...... lol......priceless
The song was made for a movie called "Unchained". It was about a guy in prison. Hence the name of the song "Unchained Melody". It is the most recorded song in history. Recorded over 1500 times by over 700 artists. You can look up that fact. This is the most well-known version of it. And Bobby Hatfield absolutely KILLED IT! His counter-tenor voice was perfect for this song! He said he wanted to perform this song to perfection for his mom, who was in the audience at the time! I THINK HE DID HER PROUD!👍👍❤❤
So cool
Good explanation of the song's history! It was 10 years old when Bobby did this iconic cover.
☺️
@@rcinsley There were several popular versions in the mid 1950s. Mt favorite was Roy Hamilton. I was 12 or 13 the first time I heard it. I'm 81 now.
Watch closely right at the end. He starts to flash a little smile just as the video ends. He knew he had nailed it. His version of that song was used in the 1990 movie "Ghost", and hit the charts big for the second time.
This has to be one of the greatest live performances of all time. Awesome
So good!!
Without a doubt
Agree! i was just going to comment the same thing!
The Andy Williams Show certainly had a stellar orchestra to back up ANY of its singing guests. A wonderful performance by that group as well as by Mr. H!
Well my God IS AWESOME, that was an excellent performance though!.
She didn’t have a clue what the song is about
Cut her some slack, she takes my breath away...lol
Are you still mad at me 😆
I know.idiot
Music is subjective and that is her interpretation, there is nothing wrong with that.
@@NightOwlTX No, the word is "mine", not "mad."
I must have been 11 when they tore up the Ed Sullivan show. The tv was black and white. Okay I’m old. But I remember those good days when music of the 60’s and 70’s was KING!❤
Absolutely the best live performance of any song in the history of music!
💖
That's a bit of a reach, larry.
@davidw5629 Not to countless vocalists and music critics. I've watched opera singer reactions to this video and they are stunned at his 3 octave range, dynamic range, pitch, and breath control. There's a reason this song is the most covered song of the last century and that there are probably hundreds of reaction videos to it.
@@WhizzingFish12 Bobby's vocal range was over four octaves.
The charming,handsome and talented Bobby who gave us a soulful and unprecidented delivery in every single performance. This performance was actually better than the studio cut which charted twice. Absolute perfection and blue eyed soul stamped all over it from the lyrics to the nearly yodeling effect. Bobby sung his vowels like they were a musical instrument. RIP Bobby Lee Hatfield you are missed.
So true!!
Almost yodeling effect??
i am from germany and would like to ask if you know what yodeling sounds like. Bobbys vocals don't even come close to yodeling. This is something very special and not every one like it as all.
@@sylviabuck3369 you don't have to agree but you also don't have to dispute another person's comment
@@lindalandry2519 i didn' want to make you angry but i was horrified to see bobbys voice in connection with yodeling. Stay well
@sylviabuck3369: you apparently missed or didn't understand the words 'nearly' and 'effect' I used in that sentence. Either way it is not your place to call someone out or correct their statement. I find it to be a form of harassment. Newsflash: people do not care what your opinion is or will be when they make their own known.
Hello! First, as a 66 year old man I so happy that young people like yourself still appreciates this music. This song was written in 1955 for a prison movie called "Unchained", hence the name of the song. Its being sung by a man in prison to his woman. He is telling here how much he misses her and that he hopes that she will still be there for him when he gets released.
So sweet 🤍
I agree, it’s refreshing to hear younger people praise these older songs. I’ve just turned 69 and this song brings me to tears! There’s just a quality in his voice that is unparalleled!
This is easily one of the greatest love songs of all time. It’s incredible how timeless it is.
Definitely
AGREE 100%at 67 this was TALENT. Not like today. Then you either could sing or you stayed home. No auto tune to hide behind.
Maddy, Some 55+ years later this is still considered by many to be the best "live" performance ever.
I won't argue .
A great performance
It's amazing how different songs were then than they are now. I wish I grew up in that era, instead of the songs about hoes, money, drugs, asses, etc..
Right! Lol
I feel sorry my teenage kids. The new music today doesn’t hold a candle…
It was a good time to be in your twenties .
Not during Viet Nam, I was blessed to turn 18 in Dec. just months after the war ended. Much love to those that served and live with such memories, wishing you Peace as well.@@leewhite6425
Amen! I agree.
You miss the point. For one thing, this is one of the greatest love songs ever made. He didn't write it. His partner hated the song and thought it would be a flop. His partner regretted that decision. The smoothness of his voice and the span of octaves that he reached while performing this number along with the emotion he put in to it are what contributed to its success. He truly was a magnificent singer, as was his partner. His makeup? Who cares? No one. This was also in the 60's and the sound was not electronically filled in like most of today's music. He was a true artist. Unfortunately, his life had a rather tragic ending.
You are sooo wrong.There was a joke told by Bill Medley during the introduction on the Andy Williams Show(she didn't bother to play that part) it was a joke folks,a joke! The truth is they both wanted to sing and Bobby won the coin toss. Plus they had a pact that on every album they would take turns doing a solo. I can't believe I've heard 5 or 6 people who can't tell a joke when they SEE it. However we are in perfect agreement on the great Bobby Hatfield and his incredible talent.
I was in the Army during the Vietnam War. This song was picked up a second time by the troops in the Nam. I can’t tell you how many times every day I heard this being played there. Try to picture it. This song worked PERFECTLY for troops away at war. So powerful.
One of the finest male voices in modern music. Thanks for your reaction.
Definitely!
Live music, no auto -tune, the story goes he was very nervous and his parents were in the audience that night. One of my Dad’s favourite songs ❤❤❤
Oh wow! What a story! 🤗
He also had a bit of a cold
PURE RAW TALENT. i WAS IN HIGH SCHOOL. GREAT TIME TO LIVE IN . I was in a harmony quartette at North Carroll high school( ist tenor. ) So I appreciate his range. All their songs were great!
This first appeared in the 1955 movie Unchained, starring the former football player Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch. The movie takes place in a prison, and the song was written for the movie to reflect the mood of the prisoners as they wait for time to pass.
Alex North wrote the music, Hy Zaret wrote the lyrics, and a singer named Todd Duncan sang the version in the movie. Duncan went on to become a popular vocal instructor.
When the movie came out, an orchestral version by Les Baxter was released along with a version by Al Hibbler. Baxter's version hit #1 in the US; Hibbler's went to #3. The Righteous Brothers' version came out ten years later, and then was released again for the 1990 film, "Ghost." It was a top fifteen hit both times.
Oh wow!! How amazing! I’ll need to check out the movie!
@@MaddyReactions Lol the Movie is a short one and more like a D movie. But The song was wrote and never named so they just called it Unchained Melody. He was getting ready to be released after years in prison so he was asking her is she still his.
@@larrybutler8948 I'm hoping she meant "Ghost".
Actually the song was so popular that 3 separate acts released versions in 1955 - all 3 charted very well.
Hard to believe from watching this that Bobby threw up before these performances from stage fright. Sadly Bobby died from cocaine abuse but he always managed to pull himself together to perform for us
NO- he's a prisoner about to be released... and wants to know.. if she's still there.. She wasn't MAD at him--he was in PRISON...
The song is actually him in prison, begging his girl to stay faithful. "Time can do so much [bad!]." The first lonely river is her going out to sea (another man). Second lonely river is him saying "Wait for me."
The Incomparable Counter Tenor voice of the late great Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brothers. No one has sung this song better then when Bobby Hatfield sang this song (Live) 58 years ago in (1965) on the Andy Williams Show. This performance by Bobby Hatfield and the NBC Studio Orchestra has become the quintessential version of "Unchained Melody" of them all. This version has been used by every recording artist ever since. This performance has gone done as the greatest live television performance ever. Rest in Peace Bobby Hatfield for you are truly missed.
Note: "Unchained Melody" was composed as the music score for a (1955) Prison Movie titled "Unchained." The music was composed by multi-award-winning composer Alex North with Lyrics by Hy Zaret (1955).
The song has been performed and sung by close to one thousand artist and orchestras for the past 68 years. One of the most beautiful melodies ever written.
The lyrics by Hy Zaret had to do with a family man wrongfully imprison in a Minimum-Security Prison with no Cells, no Bars and no Chains. The loneliness of missing his wife and child gets to be unbearable when (Time) is all he has. That is the fate of prisoners who have loved ones on the outside...Will they still be there waiting for them when they are released from prison.
So true
This song "Unchained Melody" was written in 1955 by Mr. Alex North and Lyrics by Mr. Hy Zaret for a prison movie called, "Chained". It was about a man who missed his girlfriend so much he was thinking about escaping cause the love that he had for her was unbearable and he was wondering that if he finished his sentence would she wait for her. The original singer was sung by The First Black American Opera Singer, Mr. Todd Duncan. As time went on well over six hundred and something artists have sang this song including Elvis Presley and even Linda Ronstadt. "Unchained Melody" was the Most played song in America in the Twenth Century and throughout the UK. What you have just watched was a Mr. Bobby Hatfield of The Righteous Brothers singing it in 1965 on a TV show called, "The Andy Williams Show. Later in 1990 they came out with a movie called "Ghost " starring Patrick Swaytz and Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg. In the movie they played Mr. Bobby Hatfield's version of it since it was the very best version everywhere. And Maddy it was a pretty show as well..If you happen to have the time you ought to check it out. I promise you that you will not be disappointed. The trouble with today's so-called music is that they don't write or sing beautiful romantic love songs anymore unless of course it is one from yesteryear. But anyway Mamacita once again I😢 sincerely thank you so veryucj bignfor playing it,
Have a Blessed day, Adios.
no one is mad at him. it's a song from a man who is doing time in prison asking if his girl is still his
🤍
I always thought it was about a guy aaking if his girl was still going to let him get his dick wet.
Women always assume the wrong things.
Just because your man is in and out of jail....
Liar
The song was the theme for a 1955 prison movie "Unchained." The guy was serving time in prison, wondering if his wife was still in love with him
In my mind it is about a boy waiting in Vietnam for his active duty to end so he can come home!
Since that usually lasted 3 years back then, it is possible that your girl couldn't wait that long for you and she might find another man. The song is about holding on to the hope that your girl will still be there waiting for you when you get home!
Totally! Spot on!
Most people know this song, in the Righteous Brothers version mainly from being the soundtrack of the 1990 movie "Ghost" starring Patrick Swayze, Demi Moore and Whoopi Goldberg.
Keep in mind that at this time there was no teleprompter and he had to memorize the whole song and sing it from memory. Incredible!!!
So good!!
Before the teleprompter they had a guy holding up cue cards. In fact some shows still use cue cards, plus memorizing a song is not that hard to do.
OH MY GOD! You think singers ever needed teleprompters??? LOL! OMG you are dumb! And yes, teleprompters existed in 1965. But no, no singer in history has needed a teleprompter to sing (well, except karaoke singers).
As stunning as the vocal performance was, your comment was even more stunning.
My first time watching one of your reactions, Maddy, and I must say, I got almost as much enjoyment watching your eyes, seeing you become the latest young woman to fall in love with Bobby Hatfield, as I did hearing him sing this peerless song better than anyone else has. Keep at it, Maddy... new subscriber, and a fan.
Thanks so much 💖💖💖
In addition, Maddy doesn't say, "I thought there were brothers. Where's the other brother?" I've seen a lot of first-time reactors to this song wondering what happened to the other guy. As we music veterans all know, Bill Medley yielded to Bobby on this song and let him go solo on it. There is even an intro on other videos in which Andy Williams talks to Bob and Bill and Bill jokes that he goes into the corner and kicks himself for not having taken the song.
You are quite the comedian😅
You are quite the comedian.
I hope we give this young woman a break. She was born decades after Bobby sang this anthem so she was mistaken. But, folks are correct. “Unchained Melody” was written in 1955 for the film, “Unchained.” It is about an incarcerated man who longs for his wife and wonders if she will still be there for him after he is released. The film was a bit of a flop but the theme song most certainly was not. RIP, Bobby. I heard this special when I was 22, almost 60 years ago. She could improve her remarks if she hadn’t been distracted by his makeup and coral jacket (this was a Valentine Day special hence the jacket color) and instead expressed her appreciation for his amazing talent. No auto tune, no gyrating, no gimmicks, flashing lights. He stood and delivered with his God given talent!
The song goes back to the late 40s .about a prisoner writing to the one he loves.
Oh wow!
He recorded this song right before I left for Vietnam, and was listened to in the rear areas a lot. Especially after “Dear John” letters.
Wow, thanks for your service
Literally hundreds of great singers have covered Unchained Melody, but this is widely considered the definitive performance. Bobby Hatfield owns this song.
Bobby Hatfield reportedly had no formal voice training. That was his natural voice (before auto-tuning). The song was about a man in prison longing for his mate to wait for him. As far I know it didn't refer to any specific girl.
Wow!
it was an era of romance and romantic music....the young people today know nothing of romance...you can tell by how they respond and are blown away by these songs...and as I think you mentioned, you could hear the lyrics, every word...you danced check to cheek with your girl and those lyrics were you lyrics to her...and there were songs for the broken heart....ROY ORBISON was the master of those songs. Bring up some some songs from his BLACK AND WHITE NIGHT album. was all star cast. Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, Tom Wait...singing back up was Jackson Brown, JD Souders and on the platform singing harmony was Bonnie Rait, K.D Lang, and Jennifer Warrens. and listen to Linda Ronstadt,...no just one song, she sang about 6 genres .It was a great time to be alive...
Bobby was not just a tenor...he was a countertenor!!! He could match a female mezzo soprano in the range department!!! Truly, one of the very finest male vocalists from those wonderful 60s!!!
Effortless, never straining....perfect vibrato and control!!
@Onthebrink5
Are you really that clueless?? You obviously don't know jack about singing.🙄🤣
Bobby Hatfield was one of the very finest singers from a time full of great ones!!! Here's a trained opera singer and vocal coach analyzing his performance. She does it justice...getting deep into vocal technical analysis. She likens Bobby's falsetto to that of a countertenor...which is equivalent in range to that of a female mezzo soprano. Her words should make you ashamed of your "uninformed" comment. I'm trying to be nice.
ua-cam.com/video/nyXfCq1ix3g/v-deo.html&ab_channel=TheCharismaticVoice
"We people" remember when music was wonderful...unlike today. We miss it...that plain and simple.
@Onthebrink5 🙄🙄🙄🙄 🤣 Your comment is beyond laughable. Bobby Hatfield is one of the very finest singers from the 60s.
Today's "music" is an absolute joke compared to this. That's why "we people" love this and other songs like it. But....I wouldn't expect someone like you to have any knowledge about real music and singers.
@Onthebrink5 Really sad that you lack appreciation for one of the finest male vocalists of all time. Read the comments on this page...it speaks to a simple truth:
"We people" care because all the wonderful music of this era is gone. Today's music SUCKS!!! Ca Va??
@Onthebrink5
You must have viewed my channel on UA-cam. That is a tiny representation of the music I cover.
There is still some decent music today...but it's not mainstream as it once was. I find myself listening to classical and smooth jazz these days...and of course...my Old School R&B.
Most would agree with my views about music today. As a music historian, I have done focus group studies on it. Pop music has become total trash....a result of Dumbed Down America. Yes, I live in another era...and I have plenty of company.
That you don't agree with me??? I couldn't care less.
The song was the theme song for the 1956 movie "Unchained". The movie was about a prisoner who was battling with himself about whether to escape or serve the remainder of his time. The song was sung in the movie with a guitar. This song has been covered by nearly 1000 artist, but Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brother on this redition owned it. This on stage performance was on the Andy Williams Show in 1965. It has been #1 one the charts 3 times. It was in the movie Ghost. That was not makeup it was a Tan. His parents were in the audience that night.
I just knew it - Bobby Hatfield slays another beautiful woman with this iconic rendition. And actually, it is a song from a prison movie where the protagonist is pleading with his girl to still be there for him when he is released.
Yesss
I don't know where you get that idea. She was dismissive of it all. Did she have one positive thing to say? I totally missed it if she did. Oh right she did say she liked the color of his suit. Brilliant.
Song was written in 1936 by William Stirrat about a girl he liked. It was a great slow dancing song. Man o man.
🤍🤍🤍
????? Noooo
I can only imagine how this song affected our guys in Vietnam and the girls they were whisked away from back home. I was 9 when this was recorded. It was also, the song my wife walked down the aisle to. Yeah, it's been an influential part of my life. Great reaction to a wonderful song by a gorgeous lady.
I don't think his woman was mad at him, it's that he's been away a long time and misses her and is afraid she's found someone new.
So emotional! 🥺
The great Bobby Hatfield!! ...
I was 12 years old in 1965: whenever I hear this it brings tears to my eyes!
He was a amazing singer
So happy to be watching this.
🙏😃
I was also 12 and I still get goosebumps and tears, absolute perfection ❤
I always thought the context was a young soldier who had been drafted and shipped to Vietnam wondering if his girl had waited for him to return (not some Joe asking his girl if he was still mad at him). I guess prison time works, too.
Can't understand why you didn't comment on his voice 🤔 Actually he was one of the greatest singers ever. Maybe you have a different opinion
I liked his voice!
I admire how you reply to those who leave comments. They have many very good songs as a Duo. You lost that Loving Feeling Soul and Inspiration Just once in my life and The Nightime is the Right Time and more
Thank you Maddy for appreciating this incredible singer!
Maddy, did he make you blush? 😊 Thanks for sharing! Loved it!
☺️
Written for the prison movie "Unchained" in the 1950s, it originally questioned whether his girlfriend still loved him while he was doing time. In the 1960s, when Bobby Hatfield (half the Righteous Brothers) sang it, it became a love letter home from every soldier in the jungles of Vietnam. So, not questioning if she was mad at him, but was the time apart too much for their relationship to last.
Not at all about being mad at someone. It's about being separated from the one you love for a long time, and Bobby was often singing to soldiers leaving for Vietnam, and their wives and sweethearts back home. The song had been around for ten years before Bobby recorded it, but his version was the biggest hit.
Oh wow
@@MaddyReactions yep! And he’s saying “are you still mine” not “are you still mad” lol I can see where you were hearing that though, I’ve misheard lyrics quite a few times and think to myself this song makes 0 sense until I figure out the actual words 😂
My grandma before she passed away was huge fan of him, she told me this song is "Eternal" as it will stand the test of time just like classical music.
This is written as the heartfelt plea of a man serving time in prison for his woman.
So emotional
Hi Maddy I've just run across ur channel and I'm enjoying watching ur reviews.
Thank you ☺️
The performance is what is significant here. Simply put as good a live voice as there has ever been on this night. Bobby sung the perfect song.
Definitely
"UNCHAINED MELODY". From what I have read, this soul-wrenching song was originally written as a letter by a man who was spending a "long and lonely time" in prison. It was later made into a song and sung by many singers but was made quite famous by Bobby Hatfield of the Righteous Brothers in the 1960's. The prisoner, writing to someone he deeply loved, expressing to her that "I hunger for your touch", wanting to know "are you still mine" and how much "I need your love", wanting her to "wait for me" as I would someday be "coming home". A very touching and heart-felt song. Hope this helps put it in deeper perspective.
One of the best love songs ever recorded!
Agreed!
He's asking her, "Are you still mine."
Los Angeles California, it was originally written as a song for a movie called “unchained” but the way Bobby Hatfield rendition will never be sung with the style of the Righteous Brothers.
Back then because of the relatively poor picture quality on television they would have to lay the makeup on pretty thick so that you could make out their faces. With the modern ability to enhance the picture quality you can see the makeup and it looks overdone.
Oooh! That makes so much sense! Super cool fact 💖
Funny because people apply so much make-up now you can't see their real faces. Make-up is used to apply a mask rather than enhancing " your, " face. lol
The most played song on the radio in the 20th Century..@@MaddyReactions
Thank you for that explanation. I know it seems to be taboo to write negative reactions to UA-cam videos. This was one that I had to really hold myself back. You did a much better job than me. Thank you
It was filmed in black and white
I am sure some one already mentioned it but the song is from a movie in the 1950's where a man is being released from prison and he is asking if his wife was still there for him, is she still his!
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Live, one take. Years before autotune. I first heard this when it was first a hit back in 1965 (yep, I'm THAT old) and I loved it then and I love it now. Great reaction as always Maddy.
this is another one to sob too :)
I disagree with you saying it was a good reaction. She really didn't comment on his voice. Tho she's a beautiful woman
@@amb6899 Her looks had nothing to do with her reaction, and my comment. I have seen literally hundreds of people reacting to this track and everyone sees it differently. Her obvious joy when Bobby hits that high note was worth it. Merely my opinon.
Thank you for understanding that I did enjoy his voice! Lol I feel I don’t need to say everything, my face expresses many things!
“Great reaction??”. You’re joking, right?
All she noticed was his makeup…. and how he apparently “made this song” for a girl that was mad at him!! Ok…🤣
This was originally from a movie in 1955 about a man in prison, then recorded in around 1960 by (I think) the Platters, then In 1965 by Bobby Hatfield from The Righteous Brothers.
Aww
One of the greatest live performances ever without a doubt!!! ❤ you need to check out You've Lost that Loving Feeling it is 🔥, Good one Maddy! ❤❤❤
Thanks!
Bobby kills this one ( Blue Eyed Soul) but You've lost that Loving Feeling Bill and Bobby both kill it!
@@MaddyReactions Yes sweet Maddy please do the Dec. 1964 version in black and white. That's the best one. It was the most played song on radio of the 20th century. It will have you asking again, did he get his lover back with this song?
He might not have needed too much makeup. His mom was from Sweden, he lived in California so he probably opened the curtains that morning to see if it was sunny and he tanned before he turned around and went back to bed. Thank you so much for digging back in time to react to one of my teenage heartthrobs. The Righteous Brothers were so talented.
Bill Medley was only 25 the night he performed this live on the Andy Williams Show, 1965. I was seven and saw this performance. Back then there was no cable TV. You got four networks, ABC, CBS, NBC and your local PBS and that was it. Watching TV was a family event and variety shows like this were huge.
You had this show and the biggest show of all The End Sullivan Show on Sunday nights.
Sullivan was so important to popular music. He was older but introduced The Beatles to America in February, 1964 and 73 million tuned in for that which still may be a record for the largest audience for a TV show now, 59 years later. He gave us The Rolling Stones, The Doors, and so so many bands and solo artist from America and the UK. It's a who's who of popular music from the sixties. Also pretty much every black soul artist from that time. I remember seeing The Jackson 5 for the first time in 1969 with their performance of "I Want You Back". So many great soul artists like Diana Road And The Supremes, The Four Topps, Marvin Gaye, The Spinners, The Fifth Dimension and just so many others.
I saw it all from The Beatles and everyone else from A to Z. Great time to be a kid back then.
Only a woman would pick out too much make up on him. Hilarious! I enjoyed that one.
Peace ❤
Wow! Impressive
That's Bobby Hatfield, not Bill
@@Aurora-tp3dy Correct, I don't know what the hell I was thinking about.
Maybe age creeping up on me?
@@dougsusie2319 If you noticed, I originally wrote "That's Bobby Hatfield, Bill." I know I thought "not Bill." Guess sometimes there is a disconnect between the brain and fingers. It happens to all of us.😎
@@Aurora-tp3dy Wait till you get to be my age.
Several weeks ago my neighbor and I walked downtown to a really good Italian restaurant.
I brought like half a pizza home and the next day I couldn't find it. Tore the kitchen apart and even checked freezer in basement. My blood pressure was definitely up, like I was ramped up.
The next day I was about to turn my oven on and it dawned on me. Did I check the oven yesterday?
I open the door and there sat a pizza box with half a pizza in it. I'm still sketched out as to why would I come home and put a pizza box in the oven? Good thing I checked and didn't turn the oven on, that could have not turned out very well. Several days ago it was hot as hell here and wasn't cooking. I put a frozen dinner in the microwave for 5 minutes.
I opened the door to stir potatoes and there was no dinner. I put it in the fridge. That's a little concerning, I'm 65, if I make it to 75 or 85 what the hell is that gonna look like? Wait about 30 years young lady, you're in for a treat. When that guy corrected me I had to go back and check. I know all day, everyday that's Bobby Hatfield. I haven't a clue young lady were my brain was at. Definitely a brain fart moment. Here's a song for you, Bob Dylan from his 1965 iconic Lp "Bringing It All Back Home" the song is "It's Alright Ma ( I'm Only Bleeding) there's a live version video from 65 and it's great but the technology for sound wasn't real good back then. The studio Lp version is the one you would want. Dylan's a legend, would love too see your reaction.
John Lennon + Paul McCartney + George Harrison + Ringo Starr = The Beatles + Bob Dylan =
The two all time GOAT'S of popular music and it ain't even close!
Peace
The best song of all time. Listening to it once a day is a balm for the soul. Health to you!
Robert Lee Hatfield (August 10, 1940 - November 5, 2003) -Bobby Hatfield, who had a higher countertenor voice to Bill Medley’s -William Thomas Medley (born September 19, 1940)-baritone, sang lead on this track. It was his idea to record it, since Medley and Hatfield were each allowed to choose a song to sing as a solo vocalist on their albums. As Medley tells it, Hatfield knew the song well, and was a big fan of the Roy Hamilton and Al Hibbler versions of the song. In 2003, Hatfield died of a heart attack at age 63.
*The Righteous Brothers version was a huge hit, but it was recorded with far more modest expectations. Phil Spector considered it album filler and released it as a B-side. The single had "Unchained Melody," with no producer credit on the label, as the flip to Gerry Goffin and Carole King's "Hung on You," but many DJs preferred "Unchained Melody" and played that one instead. This infuriated Spector, who subsequently left no doubt as to which side of a Philles single was the A-side.
* The famous climax of this song where Bobby Hatfield sings the high "I need your love" line wasn't how the song was written. In an interview with Bill Medley, he explained that Hatfield did two takes of the song, then left. He would often reconsider his performance and come back later to change it, and that's what he did on this track, returning to ask Medley if he could make an edit. This was no easy task, since with a maximum of four tracks to work with, you had to record over part of the original take, but Medley accommodated and Hatfield delivered that soaring vocal line. Said Medley: "I punched that in and he left. He said, 'No, I can do it better.' And I said, 'No, you can't.' [Laughs] And I think it's a big part of that song."
* This was released on Philles Records, Phil Spector's label. Spector, known for his "Wall Of Sound" technique, did not produce this - Bill Medley did. In a 2007 statement to the Forgotten Hits newsletter, Medley said: "You have to remember that I was producing our stuff before Phil Spector... I mean I produced 'Little Latin Lupe Lu,' 'My Babe' and all that stuff. Then when we went with Phil, Phil asked me if I would produce the albums because it was too time consuming for him to produce the entire albums. So he was going to do the singles and I would do the album. And so that's how that happened and that's how I produced 'Unchained Melody,' which Phil Spector apparently now takes credit for. He can have the credit. And I'm not a producer. I know how to produce. But it's obviously not a Spector production. 'Unchained Melody' was never intended to be the single... it was produced to be on the album. It was put on the B side of a Phil Spector single 'Hung On You' and the minute it was released 'Unchained Melody' just went through the roof."
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This was a fine explanation of the production of this song which adds to its popularity. Thank you for the comments.
HEY FOLKS? I'm late to the party, but do note she loved the song so much she cried.
Cut her some slack for bringing back and appreciating memories. ❤️❤️❤️
PS: and she's gorgeous. 😊
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Couldn’t be more wrong about the origins of the song and what it meant in 1965. It was the height of the Vietnam War and people were leaving without wanting to and knowing they might not come back. The context in 1955 when composed has already been commented on.
Nice, thanks ☺️
It's a song about a man in jail singing to his lady asking if she still loves him, wants him back.
If you enjoyed this performance, you'll like "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" and "Soul and Inspiration." Both Righteous Brothers sing in those. They're not related, BTW. This is my second video of yours; I have a hunch there will be more.
Oooh 😮💖
@@MaddyReactions It's also said that "You've Lost that Loving Feeling" was the most-played song of the 20th century (on radio, I'm assuming).
@@charlesf2804 According to BMI, which tracks these things, it was indeed the most played song on radio and television in the 20th century. Amazing!
I enjoyed all of them. I was 16 in 65 & have been thinking of Little Latin Lupe Lu lately.😁
Listen….. I love that song! My parents used to listen to it on Saturdays…. But this woman’s face is electric! I’ve never seen such an immaculate woman! God bless her! I’m enamored
This is live. No auto tune or gimmicks, pure voice. Only one of the 2 are singing in this one. Check out their othrs. Their music is called Blue Eyed Soul. They hav so much soul. The Blue eyed Soul name came because they both have Blue eyes and they have soulful songs. Check out " Soul & Inspiration " & others, you'll love them. They are the originals. And this song has been covered over 600 times by artist.
So amazing
What artists can sing like that now.? That was recorded live, no second chances on TV back then.
This brings back memories. I kissed a girl for the first time to this song at my high school prom during a slow dance. I was 17 years old yes. Lol.
Awww lol so cute!
This song is the soundtrack for the film Ghost. It's a very well-known film here in Brazil. I highly recommend you watch it, this film is a work of art. The song is about the loss of your love, about how much you miss it and how much you hope to find that love on the other side of life. Here the music is more related to this film.
Actually Daniel it is from a 1955 movie called Unchained. While it was part of the Ghost soundtrack, it really has nothing to do with the movies story.
Regarding the make-up, there is an original version which is colour correct. He looks human in it
That’s awesome 🩷
You heard he’s voice and spoke about he’s make up. Criminal
This song was written as part of the score of a prison movie. The singer is the prisoner longing for the love of his girl, and asking whether she will still be there for him when he is released.
Makes sense 💖
This song seems to be a man singing to his girl as he hopes that she will wait for him to come back from war.
You really should watch the entire show. This is from The Andy Williams Show. Also, Bobby said this was the first time he sang (professionally) in front of his mother and he was really nervous.. She was a huge Andy Williams fan and Bobby got her tickets to be in the audience.
Oooh 💖
Can hardly wait for you to react to Andy Williams, another voice that will take your breath away.@@MaddyReactions
At night sometimes in Nam this would be heard comin' from one of the hootches... we were far from home and wanted to know if our girl was still our girl. He's lettin' her know how important she is to him... nothin' to do with forgiveness. It was originally from a prison movie, but I know my generation adopted it. (It was a 'Ladies Choice' at our teen dances and Man, would the girls hold you tight).
Oh wow
The song was originally in a movie about being locked up in prison. The character who sang this was wondering if she would still be waiting for him when he got out. Also, he was sick for a few days prior to this performance, but his mom was in the live audience, and she had never heard him sing on stage before.
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Please forgive me for saying so - and I assure you that I do not mean it in any untoward fashion , but rather as a genuine observation , you are a very lovely young Lady
That smile on her face throughout the song says it all
Agreed
He was smiling like that because his parents were there.
His mother was there. Not father.
Maddy, I hate to correct anyone, but the line is actually "Are you still mine"! BTW you are spectacularly beautiful!!
Thank you 💖
This film clip is from The Andy Williams Show's 1965 Valentines Day Special; a longer and "restored" version of this show the other other, Bill Medley dressed identically to Bobby Hatfield, Andy Williams is wearing a pink pullover and whit pants.
Unchained Melody IS Bobby's song; many sang it before him and still more afterwards, but no one has come close to equaling his amazing vocal talents.
I we had seen the longer version, Andy Williams, an extremely accomplished vocalist along the lines of Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole, Dean Martin, was talking with them, it was mostly scripted, and Bobby was the key respondant; he appeared to be out of breath, huffing & puffing like he had just done a lap around the parking lot.
Actually, he was suffering from an upper respiratory infection, a had cold or bronchitis.
On top of his ailment, he suffered from chronic, intense stage fright, to the point of losing his lunch, rather violently, before going on stage.
If that wasn't enough, his mother was in the audience watching her 25-year-old son performing live for the very first time and he was terribly worried about disappointing her.
I think it's safe to say that absolutely no one was disappointed with his performance on that Valentines Day.
Re: the longer clip. Bill and Bobby had an agreement that they would each have one solo song on all of their albums. They both wanted to do Unchained very, very much and neither of them would give in. Finally, they decided to let the toss of a coin make the decision; I think the coin got it right.
Thanks for the great reaction!
OMG, the Righteous Brothers. The late righteous. Bobby hatfield he owns this song. No sang this song like he did!
Agreed!! 💖🤗
This is a man who is being released from prinson. He hopes his girl still loves him..
Always brings a tear to my eyes when I think of the film " Ghost " , such a classic and what a voice!
Awww 💖
Hello, I do believe " Ghost " was the studio version.
Lyrics are: "Are You Still MINE" NOT MAD. omg
Great reaction Maddy! This song has been covered by many singers, but this version is by far the best cover. He sounded amazing...one take before a live audience, no autotune, and he killed it! The performance was live on the TV show The Andy Williams show so that's why the makeup.
Ahhh, it was a lovely song!
Andy Williams is a great singer as well, you should look up 'Moon River". Peace and brother love to you and all.@@MaddyReactions
Actually, this song was in a movie. The guy was in jail, counting the days, missing her and agonizing over whether she'd be there for him when he got out. Content, not fluff
Thanks, Maddy - Bobby Hatfield was extraordinary - hitting those notes, that breath control... no straining or screaming... also, word is that he was nervous b/c his MOM was in the audience for this LIVE performance.. (I'm sure she was proud...) - appreciate your reaction! (p.s. - "Unchained Melody" - he was in prison.. get it???.. also, the make-up was standard stage make-up for a live TV show... yes, kind of "ken-doll" but that's the last thing I would have noticed... oh, the goofy salmon-colored suit, etc.. but damn.. hearing that voice, it's hard for me care that he looks like a dork..
So amazing
@@MaddyReactionseven your replies to your fans are curt,flat and offhand. Like you hired someone to do a chore.