Posted on 03/17/2026 5:47:17 AM PDT by 11th_VA
Exactly 60 years ago today, on March 11, 1966, a song that was widely embraced at the time was the No. 1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. While ‘The Ballad of the Green Berets’ by Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler was a huge success, the track would ultimately earn a reputation as one of the most divisive No. 1 songs in U.S. chart history.
Released in January 1966, SSgt. Barry Sadler’s ‘The Ballad of the Green Berets’ quickly caught on with many listeners. After the song debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 on February 5, 1966, it reached No. 1 on March 5 and held that position for five weeks. That means that 60 years ago today, on March 11, 1966, the track was dominating the charts.
In addition to reigning supreme over the charts in March 1966, the song would enjoy a staggering amount of sales success for much longer than that. After all, it spent a total of 13 weeks on the charts in total, and History.com reported that ‘The Ballad of the Green Berets’ became “Billboard magazine’s #1 single for all of 1966.“
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IMHO the best song about Vietnam
Camouflage - Stan Ridgway
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMiY3ZebTUE
Used as the theme for the John Wayne Movie, “The Green Berets.”
My only issue wuth the Green Berets is that stupid faggoty French beret. Why didn’t they get a more manly, American kind of head covering, like a kepe (okay, I know that is French too, but a kepe doesn’t just slouch all over your head like a limp quiche or something.)
Or one of them stiff little hats like the kraut Afrika corps wore?
Nothing beats a garrison cap for sheer stupidity and uselessness in a head covering.
Are you sure Don MacLean wasn’t referring to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band since they were a marching band?
Thought at the time that it was a great song, & I still play it from time to time.
Thought at the time that it was a great song, & I still play it from time to time.
I’m sure Ken’s journal could write an entire magazines worth of copy about how Lola was an inspirational and inviting song that inspired millions…
The sargeants in American Pie referred to the beatles sargeant peppers lonely hearts club band.
I remember listening to it as a child.
THE BALLAD OF THE POWER POINT RANGER
(sung to the tune of “The Green Beret”)
Requests are made from day to day;
Briefings held and changes made.
Graphic slides, a must they say,
Power Point is the only way.
Computers crash and printers stall,
Overloading protocol.
Network’s down and soldiers cry
Briefing’s late, so heads will fly.
Pin Power Point slides upon my chest,
Full color slides, they look the best
100 slides were made that day
but only 10 made the final display.
Smiles upon the General’s face
Slides were done, looked really great
Was up all night really working late,
Just to hear the General say ....
My soldier son, your slides were great,
Briefing’s done, staff’s up to date,
One problem son, you took too long,
So put in one more change, then go on home.
So tell my Mom I done my best,
Pin Power Point slides upon my chest
100 slides were made that day,
but only 10 made the final display.
The most likely reference is to the Beatle’s Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band....
I don’t remember it being in any way controversial.
I believe, interestingly enough, the “B” side was “The A Team.”
But not not the “A Team” with George Peppard and Mr. T . . .
It wasn’t.
this one and the Blood on the Risers song,, thanks Dad ..
I remember singing that song with my friends when I was a kid living in Yokosuka, Japan.
We thought it was a great song. But we began to notice not everyone thought it was a great song.
Yeah, divisive to who?
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