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)
Little Bit Of Me
Melanie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Balanced on the mountain
With the people all around
Who say that I've been up too long
And they want to bring me down
Well I wouldn't mind the falling...no
It's the ones who come to see
Is a little bit of me
Won't you hold my hand now
Hold my hand tight
Hold lightly in the day
And hold harder at night
Well I don't mind the coming down
It's the way it's got to be
What I hope I got left inside
Is a little bit of me
Now when it is all over
And I become a seed
They'll plant me in the universe
Where the balance gotta be
Now I don't mind the dyin', no.
It's the way it's got to be
But I hope I leave behind
Just a little bit of me
A little bit of me
Balanced on my mountain
With the people all around
Who say that I've been up too long
And they want to bring me down
I don't mind the coming down
It's the way it's gotta be
What I hope I got left inside
Is a little bit of me
Hope I got something left for me
Hope I got something left for me
Hope I got something left for me
The lyrics of Melanie's song "Little Bit of Me" narrates the story of a person standing on a mountain, surrounded by people who believe that they have been there for too long and want to bring them down. The individual is not afraid of falling, but they are worried about losing themselves in the process. They hope to have at least a little bit of themselves left, even after they come down from the high point. The lyrics suggest that the singer has a desire to remain true to themselves and not lose their identity in the midst of others' opinions.
The song encourages listeners to strive for balance in life instead of seeking constant highs. The mountain is a metaphor for success and ambition, and the people who say the singer has been up too long may represent the naysayers who discourage them from chasing their dreams. The song implies that achieving success might not be as significant as preserving one's authenticity and leaving a meaningful impact.
Overall, "Little Bit of Me" is an inspiring song that reminds listeners of the importance of staying true to themselves in the face of external pressures. The lyrics encourage listeners to focus on balance, authenticity, and making a positive impact on the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Balanced on the mountain
Melanie is strong and steady in her position, even though people are trying to knock her down.
With the people all around
There are many people surrounding Melanie, suggesting that she is in the public eye.
Who say that I've been up too long
Some people think that Melanie has been successful for too long and want to see her fail.
And they want to bring me down
These people are actively trying to sabotage Melanie's success.
Well I wouldn't mind the falling...no
Melanie accepts that she may fall or fail, but she is not afraid of it.
It's the ones who come to see
People who are only interested in Melanie's failure and not her success.
If all I've got left inside
Melanie is questioning whether or not she still has something valuable to offer, even if she does fail.
Is a little bit of me
Melanie hopes that she can still give something worthwhile even if she does fall or eventually dies.
Won't you hold my hand now
Melanie is reaching out for support in her vulnerability.
Hold my hand tight
She wants someone to hold onto her and stay with her through difficult moments.
Hold lightly in the day
During normal times, she doesn't need as much support as when things are tough.
And hold harder at night
When things get dark, she needs additional strength and comfort.
Now when it is all over
Melanie is reflecting on what will happen when she passes away.
And I become a seed
Melanie imagines the metaphorical idea of her life being planted and growing into something new.
They'll plant me in the universe
Her life and legacy will become part of something greater than herself.
Where the balance gotta be
Her life will become part of a greater balance in the universe, contributing to a larger picture.
Now I don't mind the dyin', no.
Melanie is accepting of the idea of dying.
But I hope I leave behind
Even though she is aware of death being inevitable, Melanie still wants to leave a mark on the world.
Just a little bit of me
She hopes that even if her life is just a small piece of a greater picture, it still means something.
Hope I got something left for me
Melanie is concerned with her own success and legacy, wanting to leave something valuable behind.
Hope I got something left for me
Melanie repeats this twice to emphasize her hope that she has contributed something worthwhile.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind