Unchained Melody

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Bear Paw Jack

Hawkeye
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I don't know if this is my all time favorite song, but it's certainly right up there. I give you what is probably the top three performers of the song. Who is your favorite??

Roy Orbison https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTicB2BYaew

Elvis Presley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmLOt9mRD18

Righteous Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoEwR9_Sy_M

I would have to say this is ONE of my top 10 favorites. Enjoy
 
And Matt Monro did a great job of it also. The orchestra behind him is beautiful. After the Righteous Brothers, this is the version that I expect to hear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2z2yWaxbRY
 
And how 'bout Les Baxter's orchestral and choral rendition. Gorgeous!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NVrfgMHXE0

This song is just as intact today as it was when I was a kid. Will the subsequent generations that grew up on synthesized music and rap ever learn to love the old "real" music, or will the old music be gone when I am gone?
 
I've got to vote for the blue eyed soul of the Righteous Brothers

Found the history interesting.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrquswYcwV0
 
I have to give my nod to the Righteous Brothers version. I was lucky enough to have seen them in concert 3 times. Live is excellent.
A little trivia.
Did you know that this song, is the only song to have been released by the same artist, in different decades, to become a number on hit twice? Yep, by the Righteous Brothers.

LeAnn Rimes in her early years does an excellent job,, in her recorded version. Her ability to hit the high note near the end is excellent.
 
One of my most favorite songs no matter who the artist. Everytime I hear this song, it brings back many fond memories and makes me a bit teary eyed. My wife and I danced to this song at my son's wedding a year ago April. Anybody have some extra tissues?
 
Beautiful song! Roy's version is my favorite. Nobody beats Roy!

I'm in a local bar band. I'm 53 years old and we specialize in a lot of hair band hits from the 80s. I'd love to do this one, but the other guys in my band would never go for it. :(

...of course, I could always ask! :)
 
BPJ, I had forgotten all about this song --- but it is one of my favorites especially by the Rightous Brothers. It was playing in Sears (when it was on State St.) when I met one of my favorite people in 1965, in the record department! :mrgreen:

ps. I just bought it from Itunes
 
A man with one of the most incredible contemporary voices covered the classic a couple years back. His range for the high notes is just out of most singers leagues.

https://youtu.be/urHB-SJQT0k
 
I think most of us can agree that this song,, as noted in many venues,, is a timeless classic. It will be one of those songs that will outlast many artists,, and will be done by many more over the years. Truly one of the all time great songs.

I was raised in the music industry a bit. My Dad was a professional dancer, and later a talent booking agent. We owned a nightclub. When I was a baby, in a crib, downstairs from the nightclub, on a Saturday night,, upstairs,,, live bands played. I've heard all kinds,, from bar bands to the top names in the business. My brother became a DJ, and for a while a Union Rep for the music industry.

For a song to become a timeless classic, it has to have a meaning,, that speaks to peoples hearts. This song does that. The biggest thing is that any song must be sung in such a way to allow the people to understand the words the very first time they hear it. And those words,, presented in a way to stir feelings. Several of these artists have done that.

Unchained Melody will outlast all of us.
 
Like so many things that are old and golden....I graduated from High School in 1955..the year the movie Unchained and the song were introduced...that was a very interesting time for music as the big band era and the pop singers like Eddie Fisher, Rosemary Clooney, Dinah Shore, Patty Page, etc were just at the end of the era where they were so very popular...and then we ease into the era of Orbison, Prestley, "Rock around the Clock" with Bill Haley and his Comets, and the other rapidly changing music....Always interesting to go to our little Friday night church dance for teens...they would "push the envelope" by playing the slow standards to begin...then work in a few of the hot new songs and bands and then ease back into the slow dance music at the end of the night and always end with "Goodnight Irene"..If you were not there in person there is no way to explain that era...to say we were confused only began with the music of the day.
 
A.J. said:
Beautiful song! Roy's version is my favorite. Nobody beats Roy!

I'm in a local bar band. I'm 53 years old and we specialize in a lot of hair band hits from the 80s. I'd love to do this one, but the other guys in my band would never go for it. :(

...of course, I could always ask! :)
Click to expand...

My vote goes to Roy Orbison also. No other popular singers had a voice like him. He had an operatic voice. He could hit the "E" above high "C". Nobody else could do that. His voice could go from falsetto down to a base tone without it cracking.

All Roy Orbison fans should have the CD "Roy Orbison a black and white night". It shows him in concert at the Coconut Grove in Hollywood. Oh yeah, he had a side kick named Bruce Springfield with him also. There must have been at least 15 people in the orchestra backing him up. This is a must see CD and available on Amazon.
 
Bear Paw Jack said:
I don't know if this is my all time favorite song, but it's certainly right up there. I give you what is probably the top three performers of the song. Who is your favorite??

Roy Orbison https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTicB2BYaew

Elvis Presley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmLOt9mRD18

Righteous Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoEwR9_Sy_M

I would have to say this is ONE of my top 10 favorites. Enjoy
Click to expand...
Righteous Brothers, my all time fav. Thanks for making me tear up. My fav. song of all. Roy is real close to top.Elvis not bad.
 
toyhunt said:
Bear Paw Jack said:
I don't know if this is my all time favorite song, but it's certainly right up there. I give you what is probably the top three performers of the song. Who is your favorite??

Roy Orbison https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTicB2BYaew

Elvis Presley https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OmLOt9mRD18

Righteous Brothers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoEwR9_Sy_M

I would have to say this is ONE of my top 10 favorites. Enjoy
Click to expand...
Righteous Brothers, my all time fav. Thanks for making me tear up. My fav. song of all. Roy is real close to top.Elvis not bad.
Click to expand...
Yep, ditto!
gramps
 
Roy Orbison didn't have a bunch of screaming little girls ganging up on him everywhere he went. So, as far as fame, maybe Elvis had it over him but, As far as real musical talent, I think Roy Orbison was way above Elvis. Roy didn't need the crazy hip action that Elvis did. When you see him perform in person he just stood at the mic, feet spread apart and rocked back and forth the music. Then there was always that pair of shades that gave him that look. 8)

Believe me I have nothing at all against Elvis. I had a lot of his albums as a kid. He had his notch in history.
 
Righteous Brothers version for me. Only because I have strong associations with a particular person. Good night J.O. where ever you are.
 
Righteous Brothers without a doubt.
No others compare although Roy Orbison is a great singer and musician, and Black and White Nights is a go-to on a quiet and moody night. Brings me back to my younger days.
Elvis murdered that song.
 
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