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)
My Rainbow Race
Melanie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One ocean, lapping all our shores
One earth so green and round
Who could ask for more?
And because I love you
I'll give it one more try
To show my rainbow race
Some folks want to be like an ostrich
Bury their heads in the sand
Some hope for plastic dreams
To unclench all those greedy hands
Some want to take the easy way
Poisons, bombs! They think we need 'em
Don't they know you can't kill all the unbelievers
There's no shortcut to freedom
One blue sky above us
One ocean, lapping all our shores
One earth so green and round
Who could ask for more?
And because I love you
I'll give it one more try
To show my rainbow race
It's too soon to die
Go tell, go tell all the little children!
Go tell mothers and fathers, too
Now's our last chance to learn to share
What's been given to me and you
One blue sky above us
One ocean, lapping all our shores
One earth so green and round
Who could ask for more?
Melanie’s song “My Rainbow Race” talks about the importance of unity and love in a world that can oftentimes be divided. She highlights the interconnectedness of different elements of nature, like the skies, oceans, and the earth. The message of the song is that humans are just one small part of a larger world, and that we need to take care of it in order to thrive. Melanie believes that we all need to work together to make this happen, and she encourages others to join her by declaring, “And because I love you, I'll give it one more try to show my rainbow race.”
Melanie also laments about the different attitudes that some people have towards the world - some burying their heads in the sand and others resorting to violence or greed. However, Melanie believes that there is a better way forward, and that change can happen through collective effort, rather than individual self-interest. She makes a plea for people to come together to learn to share what has been given to us, and work towards making the world a more harmonious and equitable place.
Overall, Melanie’s message in “My Rainbow Race” is about the importance of love, unity, and cooperation in a world that can be divisive and challenging. She urges listeners to look beyond their differences and work together to create a better future for all.
Line by Line Meaning
One blue sky above us
The sky is a constant reminder that we are all connected under one vast, unifying sky. This serves as a beautiful reminder of how small we are compared to the universe
One ocean, lapping all our shores
The ocean is a great equalizer which touches every continent, bringing with it a reminder of our connection to each other and the environment
One earth so green and round
The earth is the beautiful, fragile planet that we all live on. Its lush green colors and round shape serve as a reminder of the symmetrical and peaceful harmony we should all be striving for
Who could ask for more?
The world is beautiful as it is, and there should be no need for individuals to ruin or tarnish its natural wisdom and beauty.
And because I love you
Love and compassion drive the fight against corruption, oppression, and prejudice. It is the individuals who are willing to extend a hand that push the world in the right direction.
I'll give it one more try
The fight for peace, love, and harmony is never-ending but is worth it, and it is something we should all strive for continuously. Believing in that progressive and everlasting fight is key.
To show my rainbow race
There is a place for everyone under the umbrella of love and compassion, but we must continue to reach out and spread it to make that space accessible for every individual. Acknowledging and celebrating our differences is what brings us together
It's too soon to die
The world's ugliness can wear you down, and you may feel like giving up. But to give up now means the world will never see the beauty and love it has to offer.
Some folks want to be like an ostrich
Some people would instead ignore the world's problems instead of addressing them. Naivety and ignorance aren't solutions to world issues.
Bury their heads in the sand
Some people are too comfortable or too scared to step out of their comfort zones, burying their heads in the sand instead of combatting and addressing issues.
Some hope for plastic dreams
For some, material wealth, whether deserved or not, brings them ultimate happiness, and they will do anything to maintain it even when that means sacrificing the world's wellbeing.
To unclench all those greedy hands
We need to let go of our selfish tendencies—greed and a lack of compassion are what make us turn a blind eye to the harm we cause the world.
Some want to take the easy way
Confronting issues can be scary and stressful, and some prefer the easy way out, even if it means allowing the world's problems to persist and escalate.
Poisons, bombs! They think we need 'em
Some believe that violence is the only way to combat the world's problems, no matter the long term effects of it. Their misguided beliefs are what perpetuate harm in the world.
Don't they know you can't kill all the unbelievers
Respectfully accepting and understanding differences and working towards biases and prejudices are essential to building a peaceful world. Killing or ignoring the persons who don't align with our beliefs won't lead to a better world.
There's no shortcut to freedom
There is no quick and easy way to establish a world revolving around peace, love, and understanding. It comes through persistence, unity, and dedication to the cause.
Go tell, go tell all the little children!
The younger generations need to understand how crucial peace and love are; they represent the future and the world's hope.
Go tell mothers and fathers, too
Parents must teach their children the importance of compassion and unity and lead by example to prepare the younger generation to tackle world issues.
Now's our last chance to learn to share
The world's current state is fragile, and it's our last chance to come together as one and solve the problems for a better's world future.
What's been given to me and you
We all share one planet and the living world in it. It is everyone's responsibility to safeguard it and make a better world for everyone.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: PETER SEEGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind