2. Melanie: Midwest Auckland emo four piece Melanie released their full length album 42 Losers in May 2020 and have been playing a fine selection of gigs and house parties since
1. Born on the 3rd February 1947 in Astoria, New York deceased 23rd January 2024, Melanie made her first recording, "Gimme a Little Kiss", when she was five.
She first found chart success in Europe. Her 1969 song "Bobo's Party" reached number one in France. Later that year she had a hit in the Netherlands with "Beautiful People" before performing at Woodstock. Apparently, she was inspired to write "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" by the audience lighting candles during her set; the song became a hit in both Europe and the USA. Her biggest hit in the USA was "Brand New Key", also known as "The Roller Skate Song". She has been awarded three gold albums.
Three of Melanie's compositions were hits for The New Seekers: "Look What They've Done to My Song Ma", "Beautiful People", and "The Nickel Song".
With one exception her albums have been produced by her husband, Peter Schekeryk. Her three children - Leilah, Jeordie and Beau-Jarred -are also musicians. Beau-Jarred is a guitarist and accompanies his mother on The 2003 Australian hip-hop track "The Nosebleed Section" by The Hilltop Hoods sampled Melanie's "People in the Front Row".
In 2004 Melanie released Paled by Dimmer Light, which is co-produced by Peter and Beau-Jarred Schekeryk.
In 2010 the last album co- produced by her now late husband Peter Schekeryj and their son Beau Jarred Schekeryk was released: Ever Since You Never Heard Of Me
Melanie, who became the voice of an era in one magical instant onstage at Woodstock, has been putting the pieces in order.
Pieces of a career, scattered by the winds of experience and assembled again by the force of love into the most personal and brilliant moments of her musical journey.
Melanie is poised to enlighten new generations about what it means to sing with both passion and eloquence, to write at once with intelligence and emotion, and to inspire through song… and nobody does this better than Melanie.
Others learned this that night at Woodstock, where as a New York kid barely known outside of the coffeehouse circuit in Greenwich Village, she sang her song "Beautiful People" and inspired the first panorama of candles and cigarette lighters ever raised at a concert event. That, in turn, moved the young singer to write "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain"), which sold more than one million copies in 1970 and
prompted Billboard, Cashbox, Melody Maker, Record World, and Bravo to anoint her
as female vocalist of the year. Her single "Brand New Key," an infectious romp about
freedom and roller skates, topped the charts in 1971.
And so her story began.
With guitar in hand and a talent that combined amazing vocal equipment, disarming
humor, and a vibrant engagement with life, she was booked as the first solo pop/rock
artist ever to appear from the Royal Albert Hall to Carnegie Hall, the Metropolitan
Opera House, and later opened the New Metropolitan Opera House in New York, the
Sydney Opera House, and in the General Assembly of the United Nations, where she
was invited to perform on many occasions as delegates greeted her performances
with standing ovations.
The top television hosts of all time -- Ed Sullivan, Johnny Carson, and Dick Cavett --
battled to book her. (After her stunning performance on his show, Sullivan goggled
that he had not seen such a "dedicated and responsive audience since ElvisPresley.")
Accolades rolled in, from critics ("Melanie's cult has long been famous, but it's a cult
that's responding to something genuine and powerful -- which is maybe another way
of saying that this writer counts himself as part of the cult too," wrote John Rockwell
in The New York Times) as well as peers ("Melanie," insisted jazz piano virtuoso
Roger Kellaway, "is extraordinary to the point that she could be sitting in front of us in
this room and sing something like 'Momma Momma' right to us, and it would just go
right through your entire being.")
In the years that followed Melanie continued to record, continued to tour.
UNICEF made her its spokesperson; Jimi Hendrix's father introduced her to the
multitude assembled for the twentieth anniversary of Woodstock. Her records
continued to sell -- more than eighty million to date. She's had her songs covered by
singers as diverse as Cher, Dolly Parton, and Macy Gray. She's raised a family, won
an Emmy, opened a restaurant, written a musical about Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity
Jane…
She has, in short, lived a rare life. But all of it was just a prelude to what's about to
come.
"For the first time, I'm not afraid to voice exactly what I feel. I used to feel that I didn't
want to say too much, but now I can say anything. I feel like a person who's never
been heard. Maybe people think they've heard me, but they never really have. I'm a
new artist who is having so much fun with my voice -- a person shouldn't be allowed
to have so much fun. I'm the woman I wanted to be when I was sixteen and going for
Edith Piaf. It's me -- I'm back."
(Written by Robert L. Doerschuk)
I've Got A Brand New Pair Of Roller Skates
Melanie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I rollerskated to your door at daylight
It almost seems like you're avoiding me
I'm OK alone but you've got something I need, well
Refrain:
I've got a brand new pair of rollerskates
You've got a brand new key
Try them on to see
I been lookin' around awhile
You got something for me
Oh, I got a brand new pair of rollerskates
You got a brand new key
I ride my bike, I rollerskate, don't drive no car
Don't go too fast, but I go pretty far
For somebody who don't drive, I been all around the world
Some people say I done all right for a girl
I asked your mother if you were at home
She said yes, but you weren't alone
Oh, sometimes I think that you're avoiding me
I'm OK alone but you got something I need, well
Refrain
The lyrics to Melanie's song "Brand New Pair of Roller Skates" tell the story of someone who is pursuing a love interest. The first stanza sets up the premise as the singer rides past the object of her affection's window on her bicycle, then skates to their door during the day. The refrain reveals that the singer has a brand new pair of roller skates and that the love interest has a "brand new key" - presumably to the singer's heart. The suggestion is to get together and "try them on" to see if they are a good match.
The second stanza provides some background information about the singer, revealing that she does not drive but instead rides a bike and rollerskates. Despite not having a car, she has still managed to travel the world. The final lines of the stanza suggest that some people doubt her abilities because she is a girl, but the singer feels as though she has done well for herself.
The third stanza brings in the element of conflict as the singer asks the love interest's mother if they are home. Although she is told that they are, it seems as though the love interest may be avoiding the singer. Despite this, the singer insists that she is okay alone but implies that the love interest has something that she needs.
Overall, the lyrics to "Brand New Pair of Roller Skates" show a playful pursuit of love and a strong, independent narrator who is confident in herself but also willing to put herself out there for the possibility of a connection.
Line by Line Meaning
I rode my bicycle past your window last night
I pedaled my bike and passed by your window last night
I rollerskated to your door at daylight
I glided on roller skates to your doorstep in the morning
It almost seems like you're avoiding me
It appears as if you're shunning me
I'm OK alone but you've got something I need, well
I can manage being alone, but you possess something that I require desperately
I've got a brand new pair of rollerskates
I possess a fresh and new set of roller skates
You've got a brand new key
You own a brand new key
I think that we should get together and
I suggest that we unite and
Try them on to see
Test my skates to see how they fit for you
I been lookin' around awhile
I've been searching for some time
You got something for me
You possess something I require
Oh, I got a brand new pair of rollerskates
Oh, I have new and unused rollerskates
You got a brand new key
You recently purchased a brand new key
I ride my bike, I rollerskate, don't drive no car
I ride my bike, I rollerskate, and I don't operate any vehicle
Don't go too fast, but I go pretty far
I don't rush, but I've traveled many places
For somebody who don't drive, I been all around the world
Considering I don't drive, I have roamed around the world
Some people say I done all right for a girl
Some folks believe I have accomplished sufficiently as a female
I asked your mother if you were at home
I inquired from your mother if you were present at home
She said yes, but you weren't alone
She replied affirmatively, but conveyed you were in company with someone
Oh, sometimes I think that you're avoiding me
Oh, at times I infer that you're ignoring me
I'm OK alone but you got something I need, well
I can manage being alone, but you possess something that I require desperately
Contributed by Colton I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jennymccoy5832
I rode my bicycle past your window last night
I roller skated to your door at daylight
It almost seems like you're avoiding me
I'm okay alone but you got something I need
Well, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key
I think that we should get together
And try them out, you see
I been looking around awhile
You got something for me
Oh, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key
I ride my bike, I roller skate, don't drive no car
Don't go too fast but I go pretty far
For somebody who don't drive, I been all around the world
Some people say, I done all right for a girl
I asked your mother if you were at home
She said yes, but you weren't alone
Oh, sometimes I think that you're avoiding me
I'm okay alone but you've got something I need
Well, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key
I think that we should get together
And try them out, you see
Oh, I got a brand new pair of roller skates
You got a brand new key
@descendantsanddoctorwhofan5998
I drove my tractor through your haystack last night (ooh aah ooh aah)
I threw me pitchfork at your dog to keep quiet (ooh aah ooh aah)
Now something's telling me
That you'm avoiding me
Come on now darling you've got something I need
Cuz I got a brand new combine harvester
An' I'll give you the key
Come on now let's get together
In perfect harmony
I got twenty acres
An' you got fortythree
Now I got a brand new combine harvester
An' I'll give you the key
She made I laugh ha ha
I'll stick by you, I'll give you all that you need
We'll 'ave twins and triplets
I'm a man built for speed
And you know I'll love you darlin'
So give me your hand
But what I want the most
Is all they acres of land
Cuz I got a brand new combine harvester
An' I'll give you the key
Come on now let's get together
In perfect harmony
I got twenty acres
An' you got forty-three
Now I got a brand new combine harvester
An' I'll give you the key
Ooaah she's a lovely bit of stuff an' all
For seven long years I've been alone in this place
Eat, sleep, in the kitchen, it's a proper disgrace
Now if I cleaned it up would you change your mind
I'll give up drinking scrumpy and that lager and lime
Cuz I got a brand new combine harvester
An' I'll give you the key
Come on now let's get together
In perfect harmony
I got twenty acres
An' you got forty-three
Now I got a brand new combine harvester
An' I'll give you the key
Who loves ya baby ha
Weren't we a grand couple at that last wurzel dance
I wore brand new gaters and me cordouroy pants
In your new Sunday dress with your perfume smelling grand
We had our photos took and us holding hands
Now I got a brand new combine harvester
An' I'll give you the key
Now that we'me both past our fifties I think that you and me
Should stop this galavanting and will you marry me
Coz I got a brand new combine harvester
An' I'll give you the key
Aahh yu're a fine looking woman and I can't wait to get me 'ands on your land
@Megafoot2164
RIP Melanie 💔 I grew up up listening that song.
My mum used to try to hit the high notes in jest and we’d all laugh when it came on the radio. So much fun .
Condolences to her family, friends and all the fans. The music lives on.
RIP Melanie 🎼🎸❤️💔😪
@AnnWelch-jy7ds
Astonishingly I can STILL hit the high notes ha ha ha. Loved this song.
@scottrobinson529
Did you ever see the animation they made for it? I think it was on a variety show. Sony and share or Carol Burnett or something.
@ArtByAugleAugle
Amen
@kylaanklam6415
I can’t believe this is how I’ve learned of her passing RIP Melanie!
@antman5474
Me too. Her YouTube channel.
Kinda saddened.
She was a poppet ❤
@danceswithcritters
For those who may not know, the old style roller skates needed a key for making adjustments .(sorry, I'll go now) .
@taylajane2752
I didnt really understand the song 😂 it makes sense now thankyou
@bluesloverdelux5010
Don't go man,you're ok :D
@boxxylegoplaymobil8906
i dunno, melanie never mentioned that in all the interviews she gave about this song. she did mention it wasnt a reference to anything specific, more about her drive and focus after her father was teaching her how to rollerskate and how she'd always fall when she realized he wasnt holding her. she remarked the freudian imagery of keys and dicks was pretty well-established, but just came to her ex nihilo.