Today’s song is “Blueberry Hill” by Fats Domino.
Fun Facts
- Blueberry Hill was originally written by Vincent Rose in 1940 and was first sung by Gene Autrey in a Western movie named “The Singing Hill”. This song found commercial success, with six different artists recorded the song during the 1940s. In 1949, Louis Armstrong was the first to chart the song, reaching number 29 on the Billboard Top 40.
- But it was Fats Domino that made the song famous across the globe. Domino’s 1956 recording rose to number 2 on the Billboard Top 40 and spent 8-weeks as the top song on the R&B Best Sellers Chart.
- This song was more than just a great hit in the 1950’s; it is considered by many to be a rock-and-roll standard, and Rolling Stone has listed the song as number 82 in their 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
- The song tells the tale of a man who fell in love with a young lady while sitting in the moonlight, on top of Blueberry Hill. But, alas, there is heartbreak in the end as the lovers had to part ways. Their love survives only in this man’s memory.
- It is amusing to note that Domino was never planning to record the song. It was recorded one night, on a whim, after the band had run out of material but still had time left on the studio clock.
- One may wonder why such a short, simple song, recorded by so many artists prior, would leave such a lasting impact on rock-and-roll history. It is important to note that the backdrop of Domino’s song was the 1956 racial tensions; just a few months after Rosa Parks refused to stand on a bus. The song was a cross-over hit, not only across music charts but also across white and black audiences. Today, we can look back at this song with fondness and respect, but in 1956 the mixed-race crowds produced frequent riots at Domino shows. Domino, and this song, broke down stereotypes and contributed to the Civil Rights Movement.
Sources Used:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blueberry_Hill_(song)
https://www.songfacts.com/facts/fats-domino/blueberry-hill
Lyrics
(Azlyrics)
I found my thrill on Blueberry Hill
On Blueberry Hill, when I found you
The moon stood still on Blueberry Hill
And lingered until my dreams came true
The wind in the willow played
Love’s sweet melody
But all of those vows you made
Were never to be
Though we’re apart, you’re part of me still
For you were my thrill on Blueberry Hill
The wind in the willow played
Love’s sweet melody
But all of those vows we made
Were never to be
Though we’re apart, you’re part of me still
For you were my thrill on Blueberry Hill
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