Posted on 02/01/2024 1:27:25 PM PST by simpson96
"Bernadette" is a 1967 hit song recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. The song was written and composed by Holland–Dozier–Holland, Motown's main songwriting team, and produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier.
The song is notable for its false ending, where the instruments drop out and the background singers hold a chord. Lead singer Levi Stubbs then shouts "Bernadette!" and the song resumes, ending in a fade-out. Critic Maury Dean described the effectiveness of Stubb's shout of "Bernadette!" as being the key ingredient in getting listeners to buy the record, even if Bernadette herself may not have heard him.
"Bernadette" - Four Tops (1967)
As a Boomer, all things Motown are in my sweet spot. We actually had The Four Tops perform at a formal when I was in college. Unforgettable.
seems like yesterday, and yet, it seems like 100years ago...
Great song. HDH was really on fire. And listen to the amazing bass line by Jimmy Jamerson. He was killer. Next level.
I’m a boomer, too, but I could never enjoy Motown. I think seeing the ‘64 to ‘69 ghetto race riots every night on the TV news turned me off so much I couldn’t enjoy the music.
Wow, I am impressed. I’ve seen the Four Tops and Temptations, but they only had one original member each. But both were pretty spry for their age. Levi Stubbs, who sang lead on this died in 2008.
Unforgettable, Nat King Cole sang it best.
The thing is, in the 60s, Motown was seen as very conservative. Berry Gordy was very strict that all performers dress neatly in formal attire. Nothing countercultural was allowed in appearance, performance or subject matter. No earrings for men, etc. In the 70s, it eventually loosened up. But in the 60s, they would never allow a reference to rioting, etc. In fact, I don’t remember even a positive reference to civil rights, like say The Impressions.
Then came Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On".
A year ago, we went with friends to see “The Temptations” musical revue in Spokane. They showed the band members meeting with their managers and that exact point was made. It was really the first time I became aware of that.
As you say, as times changed and the group members turned over, that all changed.
And here I thought when he shouted, “Burn a debt!” he was referring to paying off his mortgage...
I am a middle Boomer, 12yo when this came out, on my way to three years in Japan. As a naive tween, I never understood at that time why the Motown women had to be so over made up and over haired, and the men had to shuffle while singing all the time, but I was, even as a middling classical pianist, moved by their music, much more so than the British invasion stuff—that took a few more years before I began to appreciate that style.
I remember “Burnadette” from the time it came out; I liked it then, and after nearly 60 more years of living in classical and sacred music, I still like it now.
I have been watching three related series: Inspector Morse, Lewis, and Endeavour. If you haven’t seen them you might enjoy their complexity and period drama about 1960 thru 1990 is covered. Definitely the better of the British police procedurals with probably the best character development. Best watched in the order I listed. Conservative Laurence Fox stars in one of them.
You might enjoy the early, classical, and sacred music in them.
Motown Records had really great music and I was lucky enough to see The Four Tops perform live on stage.
I loved the Four Tops. I think Levi Stubbs had a great voice. Tops did my favorite version of “Just Walk Away Renee”.
Could it Be You? (1956)
Lol
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