Picariello grew up in the North Boston suburb of Lynn and learned to play guitar as a boy. In high school, he formed a band and tried to emulate the hard-driving style of Little Richard. Picariello eventually signed with Philadelphia label Swan Records, a recording studio in which Dick Clark had an interest. Clark brought Picariello national exposure through numerous appearances on Clark's TV show, American Bandstand. Cannon holds the record for most appearances by a performer (110) on Bandstand! He and Clark continued to collaborate on Bandstand reunion concerts long after the TV show ended.
By 1959, Picariello was singing using the stage name, Freddy Cannon. He was also called "Boom Boom" because of his thundering musical renditions and the "Cannon" name. From 1959 through the early 60s, Cannon had three Top Ten hit:
Palisades Park
Tallahassee Lassie (A song written by Cannon's mother. It was also the first of 22 songs which appeared on the Billboard Charts for Cannon.)
Way Down Yonder in New Orleans
On June 24, 1966, Cannon played himself and performed one of his own songs during the final episode of the teen soap opera "Never Too Young." The role of Cannon was played by David Julian Hirsh in George Clooney's 2003 film, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.'
As of 2006, Cannon was a resident of Tarzana, California, and continued performing in concert.
Happy Shades Of Blue
Freddy Cannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A blue skies up above
A bluebird's over the rainbow
And your blue ribbon love
Shining in your blue eyes
I'm a lucky man
Bluebells, blue skies
I got the blues
And I got em glad
(CHORUS)
Oh, oh, oh
Hap, happy shades of blue
Over you, I mean y-o-u
I got a hap, happy shades of blue
Over you
(CHORUS)
Some folks sing a blue song
When they're feeling sad
A blue straight out of St. Louis
Always brought it bad
Now I don't understand them
Cause I've always had
(What do you have)
Bluebells, blue skies
Bluebird, blue eyes
I got the blues
And I got em glad
(CHORUS) 2X
Freddy Cannon's song Happy Shades of Blue is an upbeat and lively tribute to the various shades of blue that bring joy to his life, particularly the love of his partner. The opening lyrics, "Bluebells on my doorstep/A blue skies up above/A bluebird's over the rainbow/And your blue ribbon love," set the stage for a joyful celebration of the color blue. The bluebells and blue skies add a touch of natural beauty to the scene, while the bluebird provides a symbol of freedom and possibility. However, it is the "blue ribbon love" of his partner that truly brings joy and fulfillment to Cannon's life.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Hap, happy shades of blue/Over you, I mean y-o-u/I got a hap, happy shades of blue/Over you." It's clear that Cannon is deeply in love with his partner and that their love has brought him a sense of contentment and happiness. This is contrasted with the second verse, in which Cannon describes how some people sing a "blue song" when they're feeling sad. While the blues is often associated with sadness, Cannon rejects this association and celebrates the positive aspects of the color blue, which he has always had in his life.
Overall, Happy Shades of Blue is an optimistic and joyful tribute to the colors of the natural world and the love of a partner. It reminds us that even something as simple as a blue sky or a bluebird can bring happiness if we approach them with the right attitude.
Line by Line Meaning
Bluebells on my doorstep
I have a pleasant surprise on my doorstep in the form of bluebells.
A blue skies up above
The sky is a beautiful shade of blue above me.
A bluebird's over the rainbow
A bluebird is flying over a colorful rainbow in the sky.
And your blue ribbon love
I have your love that represents the first-place ribbon color of blue.
Shining in your blue eyes
Looking into your blue eyes brings me happiness.
I'm a lucky man
I feel fortunate to have you in my life.
Bluebells, blue skies
The bluebells and blue skies continue to bring me joy.
Bluebird, blue eyes
The bluebird and blue eyes are a symbol of my happiness.
I got the blues
While traditionally a sad feeling, in this context, it means I have an overwhelming sense of happiness.
And I got em glad
I am overwhelmingly glad about the happiness in my life.
Hap, happy shades of blue
I am experiencing an abundance of joyful moments associated with the color blue.
Over you, I mean y-o-u
The happiness I'm feeling is specifically because of you, my love.
Hap, happy shades of blue
Once again expressing how happy the color blue makes me feel because of you.
Some folks sing a blue song
Some people feel upset and express it through music with a 'blues' song.
When they're feeling sad
They use music to cope and express their negative emotions.
A blue straight out of St. Louis
An ultra-sad feeling associated with the 'blues' genre of music typically originating from St. Louis, Missouri.
Always brought it bad
This kind of sadness has a negative effect on people, and often leads to a worsening of their mood.
Now I don't understand them
Personally, I don't understand people who choose to wallow in sadness through music when there are so many reasons to be happy.
Cause I've always had
Since I've been lucky enough to experience such true happiness, it's hard to understand why one would choose to focus on the negative.
Contributed by Isaiah O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.