In total, the duo had 34 singles chart hits on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, seven RIAA platinum albums, and six RIAA gold albums. Because of that chart success, Billboard Magazine named them the most successful duo of the rock era, surpassing even The Everly Brothers. In 2003, they were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. They were also placed #15 on the Billboard Magazine list of the 100 greatest artists of all time and the #1 duo, while VH1 placed the duo as #99 on their list of the 100 greatest artists of all time.
From their first hit in 1974 onwards, Daryl Hall and John Oates' smooth, catchy take on Philly soul brought them commercial success— including six number one singles and six platinum albums as referred to before. Hall & Oates' music was well-constructed and produced; at their best, their songs were filled with strong hooks and melodies that adhered to soul traditions without being a slave to them by incorporating elements of arena rock and new wave.
Daryl Hall, born on October 11, 1946, began performing professionally while he was a student at Temple University. In 1966, he recorded a single with Kenny Gamble and the Romeos; the group featured Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Thom Bell, who would all become the architects of Philly soul. During this time, Hall frequently appeared on sessions for Gamble and Huff. In 1967, Hall met John Oates, a fellow Temple University student. Oates was leading his own soul band at the time. The two students realized they had similar tastes and began performing together in an array of R&B and doo wop groups. By 1968, the duo had parted ways, as Oates transferred schools and Hall formed the soft rock band Gulliver; the group released one album on Elektra in the late '60s before disbanding.
After Gulliver's breakup, Hall concentrated on session work again, appearing as a backup vocalist for The Stylistics, The Delfonics, and The Intruders, among others. Oates returned to Philadelphia in 1969, and he and Hall began writing folk-oriented songs and performing together. Eventually they came to the attention of Tommy Mottola, who quickly became their manager, securing the duo a contract with Atlantic Records. On their first records — Whole Oates (1972), Abandoned Luncheonette (1973), War Babies (1974) — the duo were establishing their sound, working with producers like Arif Mardin and Todd Rundgren and removing much of their folk influences. At the beginning of 1974, the duo relocated from Philadelphia to New York. During this period, they only managed one hit — the number 60 "She's Gone" in the spring of 1974.
After they moved to RCA in 1975, the duo landed on its successful mixture of soul, pop, and rock, scoring a Top Ten single with "Sara Smile." The success of "Sara Smile" prompted the re-release of "She's Gone," which rocketed into the Top Ten as well. Released in the summer of 1976, Bigger than the Both of Us was only moderately successful upon its release. The record took off in early 1977, when "Rich Girl" became the duo's first number one single.
Although they had several minor hits between 1977 and 1980, the albums Hall & Oates released at the end of the decade were not as successful as their mid-'70s records. Nevertheless, they were more adventurous, incorporating more rock elements into their blue-eyed soul. The combination would finally pay off in late 1980, when the duo released the self-produced Voices, the album that marked the beginning of Hall & Oates' greatest commercial and artistic success. The first single from Voices, a cover of Righteous Brothers' "You've Lost That Lovin' Feeling," reached number 12, yet it was the second single, "Kiss on My List" that confirmed their commercial potential by becoming the duo's second number one single; its follow-up, "You Make My Dreams" hit number five. They quickly released Private Eyes in the summer of 1981; the record featured two number one hits, "Private Eyes" and "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)," as well as the Top Ten hit "Did It in a Minute." "I Can't Go for That (No Can Do)" also spent a week at the top of the R&B charts — a rare accomplishment for a white act. H20 followed in 1982 and it proved more successful than their two previous albums, selling over two million copies and launching their biggest hit single, "Maneater," as well as the Top Ten hits "One on One" and "Family Man." The following year, the duo released a greatest-hits compilation, Rock 'N Soul, Pt. 1, that featured two new Top Ten hits — the number two "Say It Isn't So" and "Adult Education."
In April of 1984, the Recording Industry Association of America announced that Hall & Oates had surpassed Everly Brothers as the most successful duo in rock history, earning a total of 19 gold and platinum awards. Released in October of 1984, Big Bam Boom expanded their number of gold and platinum awards, selling over two million copies and launching four Top 40 singles, including the number one "Out of Touch." Following their contract-fulfilling gold album Live at the Apollo with David Ruffin & Eddie Kendrick, Hall & Oates went on hiatus. After the lukewarm reception for Daryl Hall's 1986 solo album, Three Hearts in the Happy Ending Machine, the duo regrouped to release 1988's Ooh Yeah!, their first record for Arista. The first single, "Everything Your Heart Desires," went to number three and helped propel the album to platinum status.
However, none of the album's other singles broke the Top 20, indicating that the era of chart dominance had ended. Change of Season, released in 1990, confirmed that fact. Although the record went gold, it only featured one Top 40 hit — the number 11 single, "So Close." The duo mounted a comeback in 1997 with Marigold Sky, but it was only partially successful; far better was 2003's Do It for Love and the following year soul covers record Our Kind of Soul.
You Sexy Thing
Hall & Oates Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know you could have been a candle
I'm holding you so tight
You know you could have been a handle
The way you swept me off my feet
You know you could have been a broom
The way you smelled so sweet
Well, you could have been anything that you wanted to
And I can tell the way you do the things you do
Ah baby
(The way you do the things you do)
(The way you do the things you do)
As pretty as you are
You know you could have been a flower
If good looks was a minute
You know that you could be an hour
The way you stole my heart
You know you could have been a cool crook
And baby, you're so smart
You know you could have been a schoolbook
Well, you could have been anything that you wanted to
And I can tell the way you do the things you do
(The way you do the things you do)
Ah, baby
(The way you do the things you do)
Yeah
You made my life so rich
You know you could have been some money
And baby, you're so sweet
You know you could have been some honey
Well, you could have been anything that you wanted to
And I can tell the way you do the things you do
(The way you do the things you do)
You really swept me off my feet
(The way you do the things you do)
You made my life complete
(The way you do the things you do)
You made my life so bright
(The way you do the things you do)
You make me feel all right
(The way you do the things you do)
You make me feel all right
(The way you do the things you do)
The lyrics of Hall & Oates's song "You Sexy Thing" are a playful and romantic expression of admiration towards someone's captivating qualities. The verses use metaphors to compare the person's attributes to various objects or concepts.
In the first verse, the singer highlights the person's bright smile by saying they could have been a candle, symbolizing light and warmth. Holding them tight implies a sense of affection and intimacy, with the comparison to a handle suggesting that the person can be held onto and relied upon.
The second verse continues to describe the person's enchanting effect. The lyrics suggest that the way they swept the singer off their feet could have been as effective as a broom. The mention of their sweet smell, akin to perfume, adds to their alluring nature. These comparisons emphasize how the person has a captivating presence and has the ability to bring joy and charm.
The third verse focuses on the person's appearance and intelligence. The lyrics state that the person could have been a flower, emphasizing their beauty. The reference to being an hour if good looks were measured in time suggests that their attractiveness is prolonged and enduring. Additionally, the metaphor of them stealing the singer's heart implies irresistible allure, while being smart enough to be a schoolbook suggests their intellect and admiration for their intelligence.
The final verse expresses gratitude for the person's impact on the singer's life. The lyrics suggest that the person made their life richer and sweeter, using the metaphors of money and honey. These comparisons imply that the person brings abundance, fulfillment, and sweetness to the singer's existence.
Overall, "You Sexy Thing" celebrates the enticing qualities of someone who has a captivating presence, beauty, intelligence, and ability to make the singer feel complete and content. The lyrics affirm the person's influence on the singer's life, emphasizing their exceptional and alluring attributes.
Line by Line Meaning
You've got a smile so bright
Your smile is radiant and captivating
You know you could have been a candle
It is as if your smile could light up a room like a candle
I'm holding you so tight
I have a firm grip on you, embracing you closely
You know you could have been a handle
It feels like I am holding onto a handle, securely holding you in my arms
The way you swept me off my feet
You completely amazed and enchanted me
You know you could have been a broom
Your ability to captivate me is akin to how a broom sweeps everything away
The way you smelled so sweet
Your scent is incredibly pleasant and alluring
You know you could have been some perfume
Your fragrance is so appealing that it could be compared to a high-quality perfume
Well, you could have been anything that you wanted to
You possess the potential to be anything you desire
And I can tell the way you do the things you do
I can discern your true nature and capabilities through your actions
As pretty as you are
Your beauty is remarkable
You know you could have been a flower
Your beauty rivals that of a delicate flower
If good looks was a minute
If attractiveness could be measured in time
You know that you could be an hour
Then you would represent an extended period of beauty and allure
The way you stole my heart
You effortlessly captured and won my heart
You know you could have been a cool crook
Your charm and magnetism are comparable to that of a suave and clever thief
And baby, you're so smart
You possess intelligence and wit
You know you could have been a schoolbook
Your knowledge and intellect are comparable to educational textbooks
You made my life so rich
You have brought immense joy and abundance into my life
You know you could have been some money
Your presence and love are as valuable as wealth
And baby, you're so sweet
Your kindness and affectionate nature are incredibly endearing
You know you could have been some honey
Your sweetness and charm are comparable to honey
You really swept me off my feet
You completely enchanted and overwhelmed me
You made my life complete
With you, my life feels whole and fulfilled
You make me feel all right
In your presence, I experience happiness and contentment
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@farcry223
Man you can never go wrong with Hall and Oates
@Juliaflo
Hard to believe it, but Mr. Hall is turning 75 soon.
@joejones9944
@@Juliaflo One of The Greatest
@2009kdizzle
I second that!
@farcry223
@@2009kdizzleDamn right
@CoachDarren
So true 👍
@MegaShiva1
Hall and Oates are a duo that has put out many hits. This is one of them, and a hit that still holds up well over 40 years later!
@dylanmorgan2374
As a guy in his mid 20s currently.. this song is an absolute banger!!
The 80s truly rules in music 🎶
@alexanderashford113
and from a guy from the 80's your not wrong.. best ever..
@lemonadedreams399
Cant agree more sir !