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)
Left Over Wine
Melanie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And what do you do when the show is all done
I know what I'll do in the alone of my time
But what will I do with the leftover wine
A line from a poem of my childhood has said
That visions of sugarplums were gonna dance in my head
I'll spend my whole life making the time rhyme
I'll spend my whole life making the time rhyme
And then I'll sing them a song of mine
You know I'm gonna do anything
Just to take up time
'Cause I can't find a taker for the leftover wine
(and) what do you do when the people go home
And what do you do when the show is all done
I know what I'll do in the alone of my time
But what will I do with the leftover wine
I'm gonna spend my whole life making the time rhyme
And then I'm gonna run to the people
And I'll sing them a song of mine
You know I'm gonna do anything
Just to take up time
'Cause I can't find a taker for the leftover wine
I'll drink some of yours
If you'll drink all of mine
Because I can't stand the taste of that leftover wine
And I'm gonna drink some of yours
If you'll drink all of mine
Because I can't stand the taste of leftover wine
And I'll drink some of yours
If you'll drink all of mine
I can't stand the taste of leftover wine
The lyrics to Melanie's song "Left Over Wine" explore the theme of loneliness and what one does when they are alone. The song opens with an inquiry about what to do when people have gone home and the show is over. The singer then reflects on the time alone, indicating that she will spend her whole life making the time rhyme. The artist draws on a line from a poem of her childhood that describes visions of sugarplums, indicating that even in times of solitude, one can dream big dreams.
As the song progresses, the artist sings about not being able to find someone to share her wine with. She is willing to drink somebody else's wine if they will drink hers, as she cannot stand the taste of leftover wine. She sings about doing anything to take up time, including writing songs and singing them for other people to hear. Despite her best efforts to fill the time, the singer remains alone with her leftover wine.
The overall message of the song seems to be one of longing for human connection and filling the empty space left behind when people aren't around. The lyrics suggest that even in times of solitude, we can still dream big dreams and find ways to make the most out of our time.
Line by Line Meaning
What do you do when the people go home
What activities do you engage in after everyone else departs?
And what do you do when the show is all done
What do you do when the event or activity has concluded?
I know what I'll do in the alone of my time
I know what I'll do during solitary moments.
But what will I do with the leftover wine
What should I do with the remaining wine?
A line from a poem of my childhood has said
A phrase from a childhood poem is remembered.
That visions of sugarplums were gonna dance in my head
The poem predicted having pleasant daydreams about sweet treats.
I'll spend my whole life making the time rhyme
I will devote my entire life to composing songs.
But I'll still have a bowl of leftover wine
Despite my efforts, I will still have unconsumed wine.
And then I'll sing them a song of mine
I will serenade others with my original tunes.
You know I'm gonna do anything
I am willing to do whatever it takes.
Just to take up time
Just to occupy myself.
'Cause I can't find a taker for the leftover wine
Because I cannot find anyone who wants to drink the leftover wine.
I'm gonna spend my whole life making the time rhyme
I plan to devote my whole existence to creating music.
And then I'm gonna run to the people
Then I'll hurry off to see people.
You know I'm gonna do anything
I am prepared to do anything.
Just to take up time
Just to make time pass.
'Cause I can't find a taker for the leftover wine
Because no one wants to drink the remaining wine.
I'll drink some of yours
I am willing to drink some of your wine.
If you'll drink all of mine
If you finish all of my wine, I will drink yours.
Because I can't stand the taste of that leftover wine
I find the unconsumed wine displeasing to my palate.
And I'll drink some of yours
I will consume a portion of your wine.
If you'll drink all of mine
If you promise to eliminate all of my wine, I will consume yours.
Because I can't stand the taste of leftover wine
Because I detest the flavor of unused wine.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: MELANIE SAFKA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MelaniesafkaTheRealMelanie
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart~ It moves me so deeply to know that I've touched so many of yours.... Love, Melanie 💜
@mickmcloughlin1646
Will always love you dear. Bless you. Wishing you peace.
@zamurai_the_producer
I stumbled across your songs purely by chance, you have the most haunting and beautiful voice I have ever heard! Like it stop me in my tracks like very few others have!
@judyperry5435
I've always loved you!!!
@FreeRangeHuman1
Still striking the heart strings of todays youth. Some music has no shelf life, its always fine, and always relevant. :) Greetings from Sweden.
@pete21pete21
Melanie, I have always loved your soul it is so pure thank you .xPete21. if you ever visit Derby in England and are stuck for somewhere to crash my home as small as it is, is yours.
=
Posted on another page by me
3 months ago
I still own this album (candles in the rain), I brought it from RE-CORDS record shop in saddlergate Derby in 1972, it was an American import, I love her voice and the chilled-out rhythm, those early free spirit years of the early 1970s are imprinted in my mind forever, I get it out for a listen once or twice a year, there is something about old vinyl that gives out a deep warm feeling, peace
@defshepard
Rest in Peace Melanie. Thank-you so much for the beautiful song and all the great music.
@PushSueAside
Melanie is the reason I’m still alive. Her voice helped a very sad little boy that thought the world would be better off without him. She was like a real friend when there were none. I will always love you Melanie
@carmenpeters728
I hope you a living a full life with happiness.
@MrYorickJenkins
What a fine tribute to a wonderful woman