'Congratulations' was a global hit as it became a much bigger hit than 'La, La, La', which beat Cliff in the 1968 Eurovision song contest. Shortly after 'Congratulations', which was one of his solo efforts, Cliff recorded his last single with The Shadows. Again in 1973, with 'Power to All Our Friends', he entered the Eurovision song contest--this time reaching 3rd place.
The most sold artist in British Pop history - with over 40 top hits.
Worked with Stock Aitken Waterman in 1989 and the single "I Just Don't Have The Heart".
Sixty appearances at Wembley, plus sellout tour to celebrate 50 years in the business.
First hit: Move It, 1958, first no. 1: Living Doll
As big as he is in the UK, he has only had 3 Top 10 hits in the USA with the biggest still being his breakthrough 1976 single "Devil Woman" which made it all the way to #6.
Has also worked with Elton John, Mark Knopfler, Julian Lennon, Freddie Mercury, Stevie Wonder, Phil Everly, Janet Jackson, Sheila Walsh, Van Morrison, and Olivia Newton-John.
A Stranger In Town
Cliff Richard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
when you're a stranger in town.
And every chick looks so cute and slick,
when you're all alone and all down.
And then a smile will open the door
and in a little while, you'll be a stranger no more.
But till then, every girl is a beautiful girl,
And then a smile will open the door
and in a little while, you'll be a stranger no more.
But till then, every girl is a beautiful girl,
when you're a stranger, your heart is in danger,
when you're a stranger in town.
The lyrics of "Stranger in Town" by Cliff Richard convey the idea that when one is a stranger in a new town, every person of the opposite sex appears attractive and appealing. The song speaks to the feelings of loneliness and alienation that come with being in an unfamiliar place, but also highlights the hope and possibility of making new connections and finding companionship through a simple smile.
The lyrics suggest that even though every girl may appear beautiful, finding true connection and familiarity takes time and requires a friendly gesture from the other person. The line, "till then, every girl is a beautiful girl" implies that while the beauty of these new people is appreciated, it is not necessarily a substitute for authentic human connection.
However, the lyrics also seem to warn of the potential danger of getting too caught up in the allure of unfamiliar people and places. The line, "when you're a stranger, your heart is in danger" implies that being a stranger in a new location can be risky and may lead to making poor decisions. In this way, the song seems to present a cautionary tale about the risks and rewards of seeking adventure in unfamiliar places.
Line by Line Meaning
Every girl is a beautiful girl,
Every girl seems beautiful when you are in a new place and don't know anyone.
when you're a stranger in town.
Being a stranger in a town makes every girl look beautiful.
And every chick looks so cute and slick,
Every girl appears attractive and well-dressed.
when you're all alone and all down.
The feeling of loneliness accentuates the allure of every girl.
And then a smile will open the door
A welcoming smile will make it easier to connect with people.
and in a little while, you'll be a stranger no more.
With time, you will make connections and no longer feel like a stranger.
But till then, every girl is a beautiful girl,
Until you feel more at home, every girl will seem attractive.
when you're a stranger, in many towns.
Being a stranger in different towns exacerbates the feeling of attraction towards every girl.
But till then, every girl is a beautiful girl,
Again, until you feel more comfortable, every girl will have a certain appeal.
when you're a stranger, your heart is in danger,
Being a stranger can make you vulnerable to falling in love or being hurt.
when you're a stranger in town.
Once again this emphasizes that being a stranger can be difficult but also brings a sense of attraction to those around you.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PETER MYERS, RONALD CASS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TomElvisSmith
@@rumbers In the early '60's, after the '50's rock and roll boom and before the British Invasion, Ed ignored a lot of the contemporary popular music except for a few performers like Connie Francis, Jackie Wison and Paul Anka, all of whom Ed really liked. There were some other exceptions (brief early '60's appearances by acts such as the Four Seasons, Lesley Gore and the Beach Boys, none of whom at that point were given as much time as the older more established performers), but they were few and far between. I get the feeling by things that he said that he had enough of rock and roll after the '50's ended, and decided to focus more on adult and older music during this time period (which he preferred anyway).
Hence, many of the early '60's pop and rock and roll stars were not on the show during that time. No Gene Pitney, Bobby Vee, Del Shannon, Johnny Tillotson, etc. only one appearance by Roy Orbison after the Invasion, etc. Someone like Neil Sedaka would only sing a very brief medley of his hits and instead focus his performance on more adult music such as "My Yiddishe Momma", "As Long as She Needs Me", etc.
Ed pretty much ignored the pre-Motown girl group sound which was all over the charts and radios in the early '60's besides having the Angels on for one appearance. You won't see the Shirelles, Chiffons, Crystals, Ronettes, etc. During this time, he would feature acts like the McGuire Sisters regularly instead, harking back to an older sound.
It was only when the British Invasion came along that Ed started featuring rock and roll and contemporary popular music acts with regularity again, as he had done in the '50's., since he needed to stay up with the times for ratings.
When a contemporary early '60's performer like Dion, Bobby Rydell, or Cliff Richard did appear, they would often be encouraged to sing standards or lighter fare during this time period. That's the feeling I get from studying the episode guides and footage from the early '60's.
@judydee7644
This was 60 years ago and he's still rockin' in concerts. He has kept up with the times musically. Sold millions of records, CDs and concert DVDs worldwide. Few can compare.
@brockthehistorian5951
I wish he was big in America, he is such an incredible singer.
@that70sgirl90
He had a nice voice, and he is a doll! 😍
Loved the dancing! 💃
Happy Saturday... thank you for sharing! 💖
@marcusbagshaw3081
Cliff was “in town” to promote his latest film Summer Holiday released in 1963 in which A Stranger In Town was featured. I have never heard Cliff sing A Stranger In Town outside of the movie so thrilled to have discovered this performance which is a rare rendition indeed. The musical arrangement and staging is almost identical to the movie version and goes to prove what a versatile performer Cliff is even at this early stage in his career. He acts, sings, moves and dances with tremendous ease and doesn’t miss a beat. Thank you Ed Sullivan for enabling this fine performance from one of England’s a greatest and versatile singers!
@csucrr
In May of that year (5 months before the Ed S show), Summer Holiday was the #1 album in Canada, and the top two singles were Bachelor Boy and Summer Holiday. Cliff's 60's success north of the border, "Up in Canada" was massive !!!!!
@adambrocklehurst4211
Hes still with us!
@sannguyen4685
Love IT ❤
Young Cliff with his sweet voice.❤
@basilmanolakos4926
Isn't Cliff Richard from England? Very talented & versatile.
@theoloutlaw
Cliff should have been a 'hit' in the US, but as this performance shows, everything is off. For starters, it's 1963, he really should have had his great band 'The Shadows' with him doing more Rockin' type material that established the career he was known for. 'Cliff and The Shadows' were the 'big' band before the you know who's in the UK......
@csucrr
It wasn't his choice, it was Ed's 'demand', same as having Cliff do a musical song and dance from The Young Ones in 1962.