Psalm 137. By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. 2There on the poplars we hung our harps, 3for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” 4How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?
The Melodians recorded "Rivers of Babylon" in 1970. It became a hit in Jamaica after the government banned it for its overt Rastafarian references. The lyrics are taken from Psalms 19 and 137. The Melodians version is one of the killer tracks on the soundtrack to the film, The Harder They Come, starring Jimmy Cliff. Boney M. turned it into a pop song, keeping some of the reggae sway along with the spiritual feelings, but they took out the Rastafarian references.
I think songs like this and a song like VENUS are way older than we know like 4000 years old... redone by the Fallen Angels because they are Hits and Make Money... Just played over and over again nothing new under the SUN(god)
Yeh,a German record producer ran the whole thing. But that doesn't take away how popular they were. In Australia rivers of Babylon was no1 for 16 weeks,them and Abbas Fernando basically owned a year together top if the charts
Great reaction. Discovered Rivers of Babylon late in life and I'm from the era. This group does a Christmas song titled Mary's Boy Child. Check out the Extended Version, which really brings out the sound and vibe as Mary's Boy Child wraps up. Both songs are spiritual and uplifting and make you wanna dance.
The lead singer in this one was both beautiful and had an amazing voice. It's too bad they never really made it here. The only reason I know who they are is because I spent 3 months traveling Europe in 1980.
I’ve got the 12” extended mix on vinyl from back in the day. Was a huge club hit in early 80’s. Everyone would pack the floor and sing along. Austin Tx circa early 80’s
Liz Mitchel is the lead singer and boy can she sing . Bobby Farrell used to mime his voice was not used but boy could he dance . He made up for it with his dancing .
Biz, I dug the video, but I hope you will listen to the original one day. That beautiful version of Rivers of Babylon, by a group called the Melodians, is one of the great cuts off "The Harder They Come", one of the most important reggae albums of all time. Their version had been banned by the Jamaican government because the government believed the subject matter was rastafarian, something that was considered too subversive to receive airplay. The group's producer Leslie Kong fought back saying that the words were taken almost entirely from the Bible. Eventually the Jamaican government lifted the ban, and Rivers of Babylon became a huge hit in Jamaica, and one of the most popular cuts off "The Harder They Come" soundtrack.
The four original members of the band's official line-up were Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett from Jamaica, Maizie Williams from Montserrat, and Bobby Farrell from Aruba.
Boney M was a German - Caribbean group(!). There were partly different people on the records and mimicing on stage. Eg. Bobby Farrell was a dancer rather than a singer. Different songs hitted very different in different countries. "Ma Baker" (based on a Tunisian folk song) was a huge no 1 hit in many European countries (and their only song I remember from the 70s in Sweden), but reaching 96 only in US. Many songs are covers like "The ride to Agadir" - interesting, but I prefer Mike Batt's original!
I’m glad you’re getting in to this stuff so i’m not complaining, but you should have done the Melodian’s version. If you want a great old burner, try Toots and the Maytals “Pressure Drop”. or Desmond Dekker “007 (Shanty Town)”. Fire.
Frank Farian creat this Band in the 1970 ..he is the composer,produser and singer from BONEY M. BOBBY FARRELL WAS THE DANCER FROM BONEY M. FRANK WANT NOT BOBBY SINGEN ON THE BAND ,THE VOICE WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE BAND TWO WOMAN SINGEN LIVE BUT 1 DONT SING AND BOBBY TOO. FRANK FARIAN IS GERMAN LIZ IS FROM THE CRIBIAN AND BOBBY WAS DUTSCH... YES FRANK FARIAN GREAT MILLY VNILLI TOO. GREETINGS FROM GERMANY 👋
Song lyrics straight from the bible. First sang by the Melodians in Jamaica. Incidentally the 2 people of the 4 from Boney M that actually sing on recordings are Jamaicans. They are Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barret , the other 2 never sang a note. The producer altered his voice in the studio for that low baritone !
Most singers and bands have someone else write their songs. Songwriting is a very special talent and only some have it. Elvis never wrote any of his songs.
GREETINGS EARTH MAN: Rob the male singer is lip syncing. I loved this when it came out in the mid 70s. It's based on a Psalm, it may be 37 or 137. The interesting thing about that Psalm is that it ends by talking about bashing children's heads against the rocks.
Psalm 137.
By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
when we remembered Zion.
2There on the poplars
we hung our harps,
3for there our captors asked us for songs,
our tormentors demanded songs of joy;
they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”
4How can we sing the songs of the Lord
while in a foreign land?
The Melodians recorded "Rivers of Babylon" in 1970. It became a hit in Jamaica after the government banned it for its overt Rastafarian references. The lyrics are taken from Psalms 19 and 137. The Melodians version is one of the killer tracks on the soundtrack to the film, The Harder They Come, starring Jimmy Cliff. Boney M. turned it into a pop song, keeping some of the reggae sway along with the spiritual feelings, but they took out the Rastafarian references.
thanks for sharing this information.
I think songs like this and a song like VENUS are way older than we know like 4000 years old... redone by the Fallen Angels because they are Hits and Make Money... Just played over and over again nothing new under the SUN(god)
A MELHOR BANDA DE TODOS OS TEMPOS , SENSACIONAL BONEY M.
Fantastic song, great concert, and awesome good vibes. Many thank yous to Boney-M
Loved ❤ growing up with Boney m in the UK, wales and this song xxx
Yeh,a German record producer ran the whole thing. But that doesn't take away how popular they were. In Australia rivers of Babylon was no1 for 16 weeks,them and Abbas Fernando basically owned a year together top if the charts
Yes, the same guy behind Milly Vanilli...
Takich już, niestety, nie ma. Sopot to POLSKA! Boney M będą z nami zawsze, bo to radość, pogoda ducha i miłość!
Great reaction. Discovered Rivers of Babylon late in life and I'm from the era. This group does a Christmas song titled Mary's Boy Child. Check out the Extended Version, which really brings out the sound and vibe as Mary's Boy Child wraps up. Both songs are spiritual and uplifting and make you wanna dance.
Guess what? yes I have the 7" vinyl sleeve of River's of babylon, only signed by original vocalist Liz Mitchell!
Timeless and stellar. - C 04/23
The lead singer in this one was both beautiful and had an amazing voice. It's too bad they never really made it here. The only reason I know who they are is because I spent 3 months traveling Europe in 1980.
Grew up with them , fantastic group I learned history from them lol. "Brown girl in the ring ,". " Daddy cool" 😎
Thank you bro. pleased my soul.
I rmb listening to their music when I was very young while my dad drives his car
People seem to be amazed when psalms are turned into songs, when in fact psalms were always meant to be sung!
This song came straight from the Bible, it's my favorite
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 reaction and video. Hope to see more of Boney M :)
I’ve got the 12” extended mix on vinyl from back in the day. Was a huge club hit in early 80’s. Everyone would pack the floor and sing along.
Austin Tx circa early 80’s
The group is my childhood, rip to the male singer
Mine to , I learned more history from Boney m than I did school , just beautiful memories,. "Brown girl in the ring ". Was another favorite. ,
@@timmistorey5989 same
100% Bobby was brilliant RIP
Liz Mitchel is the lead singer and boy can she sing . Bobby Farrell used to mime his voice was not used but boy could he dance . He made up for it with his dancing .
When I was a kid I never realised it was based on a Psalm
love that you did this song...
I believe this was a double A-Side with, 'Brown Girl In The Ring', on the flip side.
the lyrics chorus they sing is from the bible verse Psalm 137 ;By the rivers of babylon...nice song
Biz, I dug the video, but I hope you will listen to the original one day. That beautiful version of Rivers of Babylon, by a group called the Melodians, is one of the great cuts off "The Harder They Come", one of the most important reggae albums of all time. Their version had been banned by the Jamaican government because the government believed the subject matter was rastafarian, something that was considered too subversive to receive airplay. The group's producer Leslie Kong fought back saying that the words were taken almost entirely from the Bible. Eventually the Jamaican government lifted the ban, and Rivers of Babylon became a huge hit in Jamaica, and one of the most popular cuts off "The Harder They Come" soundtrack.
The Harder They Come was pretty good movie also!
@@Zebred2001 For sure, Vince. Great film. I loved it. Jimmy Cliff was perfect for the role.
Sopot 79-Poland,To był Festival piosenki zagranicznych i przyjechali na zaproszenie.😊
Boney m son fantasticos
Good cover of the Melodians classic.
You do know that this group was from Germany. And the original is straight out of the Old Testament.
This was a cool song
classic!
2 were Jamaicans and the man Bobby Farrel was from one of the smaller Islands in the Caribbean
The four original members of the band's official line-up were Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barrett from Jamaica, Maizie Williams from Montserrat, and Bobby Farrell from Aruba.
Boney M was a German - Caribbean group(!). There were partly different people on the records and mimicing on stage. Eg. Bobby Farrell was a dancer rather than a singer. Different songs hitted very different in different countries. "Ma Baker" (based on a Tunisian folk song) was a huge no 1 hit in many European countries (and their only song I remember from the 70s in Sweden), but reaching 96 only in US. Many songs are covers like "The ride to Agadir" - interesting, but I prefer Mike Batt's original!
So e digo quando precisar de ajuda leia essas passagens, vai de dar o que precisa.
When I read the title I thought of Jimmy Cliff.
I’m glad you’re getting in to this stuff so i’m not complaining, but you should have done the Melodian’s version.
If you want a great old burner, try Toots and the Maytals “Pressure Drop”. or Desmond Dekker “007 (Shanty Town)”. Fire.
I've heard these words before and hey is dancing bro wearing a halter top 😅
Great song.. but they do a song called daddy cool.. real funky disco
Frank Farian creat this Band in the 1970 ..he is the composer,produser and singer from BONEY M. BOBBY FARRELL WAS THE DANCER FROM BONEY M. FRANK WANT NOT BOBBY SINGEN ON THE BAND ,THE VOICE WAS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE BAND TWO WOMAN SINGEN LIVE BUT 1 DONT SING AND BOBBY TOO.
FRANK FARIAN IS GERMAN LIZ IS FROM THE CRIBIAN AND BOBBY WAS DUTSCH... YES FRANK FARIAN GREAT MILLY VNILLI TOO. GREETINGS FROM GERMANY 👋
Song lyrics straight from the bible. First sang by the Melodians in Jamaica. Incidentally the 2 people of the 4 from Boney M that actually sing on recordings are Jamaicans. They are Liz Mitchell and Marcia Barret , the other 2 never sang a note. The producer altered his voice in the studio for that low baritone !
Bone-ee M.
Psalm 137 Holy Bible❤️✝️🙏🏽☝🏽
Check out the original by The Melodians some time
Try Night Flight To Venus. 👍🏻
Do you realise that all their audiences were white... They ruled the seventies... Incredible achievement.
Most singers and bands have someone else write their songs. Songwriting is a very special talent and only some have it. Elvis never wrote any of his songs.
A Rastafarian anthem. I love it.
The lead singer is Jamaican
El salmo biblical
It’s BONE - E M. Not Bonnie
Musica del diablo
Considering it's taken from the bible how is it demonic
The lyrics all came from bible Verses ! God should get the publishing !
GREETINGS EARTH MAN: Rob the male singer is lip syncing. I loved this when it came out in the mid 70s. It's based on a Psalm, it may be 37 or 137. The interesting thing about that Psalm is that it ends by talking about bashing children's heads against the rocks.
You keep pronouncing their name wrong.