The founding members of the group were Conleth (Con) Cluskey (born 18 November 1941; died 8 April 2022), Declan (Dec) Cluskey (born 23 December 1942), and John Stokes (Sean James Stokes) (born 13 August 1940). In 1957 they formed their first band together, "The Harmonichords" (also seen as "The Harmony Chords"), a classically styled instrumental harmonica-act.
As The Harmonichords, they appeared on Hughie Green's 'Opportunity Knocks' on Radio Luxembourg[1] and on the 'Ed Sullivan' TV Show St. Patrick's Day Special (filmed in Dublin, broadcast 15 March 1959), where they played "Danny Boy."[2] They also played background music plus featured pieces in a 25 week radio comedy series called 'Odd Noises' on Radio Éireann featuring Eamonn Andrews.[3] They changed their name to "The Bachelors" in 1962 at the suggestion of Dick Rowe, A&R at Decca Records, who reportedly recommended the name "because that’s the kind of boy a girl likes."
During the 1960s, they had many successful songs in music charts in Europe Australia, South Africa, South America, parts of the USSR, and the United States. Some of the most successful were "Diane" (1964), "Marie" (1965), "I Wouldn't Trade You For the World" (1965), and "In the Chapel in the Moonlight" (1965). In 1965 they had the 'most played juke box track' with "The Stars Will Remember" from a film they made with then-current DJ Sam Costa.
Live work carried them into the 1970s with record breaking theatre season shows, but after a successful start to the decade with the album World of the Bachelors hitting the top 5, the band became less and less dominant in the music industry. Along with singers like Tom Jones they found themselves stuck in a decade of Glam Rock, unable to change with the times. They remained successful recording artists and moved to the Pye label, which contracted easy listening stars like Frankie Vaughan and Max Bygraves. Despite their last chart single being in 1967, they continued to play the cabaret circuit, still maintaining the original line-up until 1984, when there was "a messy split" between the Cluskey brothers and Stokes.
Following the split, the Cluskey brothers appeared as "The New Bachelors" and Stokes as "Stokes & Coe", Stokes allegedly also then appeared as "The New Bachelors" so the Cluskey's now perform as "Con & Dec The Bachelors"
In 2008 a compilation CD, "I Believe - The Very Best of The Bachelors," featuring the 60s hits together with two new songs recorded by Con and Dec Cluskey, was released through Universal who had acquired the Decca catalogue (available in the US as an import from Uni Classics Jazz UK), reached #7 in the UK Radio One album chart 27 July - 2 Aug 2008. Con and Dec Cluskey appeared on TV and radio to promote the album.
Charmaine
The Bachelors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Charmai-ai-ai-ai-ai-aine
I wonder why you keep me wai-ai-aiting
Charmai-aine (my Charmaine)
Rise in vai-ai-ain (rise in vain)
I wonder when bluebirds are mating
Will you come back agai-ai-ain
Will our dreams be the same (be the same)
I wonder if ever you think of me too
I'm waiting, my Charmaine, for you
I wonder why you keep me wai-ai-aiting
Charmaine (my Charmaine)
My Charmaine (my Charmaine)
I wonder when bluebirds are mating
Will you come back agai-ai-ain
And I wonder if I keep on praying
Will our dreams be the same (be the same)
I wonder if ever you think of me too
I'm waiting, my Charmaine, for you
Just for you
I'm waiting, my Charmaine, for you...
(Just - for - you...)
The Bachelors' song Charmaine is a love song about a man waiting for his lover named Charmaine. The song expresses longing and anticipation for Charmaine's return, which the lyrics suggest has been delayed for quite some time. The singer wonders why Charmaine keeps him waiting, and ponders whether or not she thinks about him as well. He wonders if his prayers will make their dreams come true, and if they will be reunited. The repetition of Charmaine's name throughout the song emphasizes the singer's strong feelings for her.
Overall, the song is a classic example of a romantic ballad. It encapsulates the feelings of yearning, longing and unrequited love that many people can relate to. The melody and lyrics are simple and easy to remember, making the song a popular choice for karaoke and romantic occasions.
Line by Line Meaning
Waiting just for-or-or you
I am patiently waiting for only you
Charmai-ai-ai-ai-ai-aine
Addressing the person named Charmaine
I wonder why you keep me wai-ai-aiting
I am curious about why you make me wait endlessly
Charmai-aine (my Charmaine)
Reaffirming the name of the addressed person
Rise in vai-ai-ain (rise in vain)
My waiting is fruitless as there is no response from Charmaine
I wonder when bluebirds are mating
I am pondering when the ideal time for you to come back would be
Will you come back agai-ai-ain
I hope you will return soon
And I wonder if I keep on praying
I am uncertain if my wishes will come true even if I keep praying
Will our dreams be the same (be the same)
I am worried if we still share the same dreams or if they have changed
I wonder if ever you think of me too
I question if Charmaine still remembers me and thinks about me
Just for you
My waiting is exclusive to you
I'm waiting, my Charmaine, for you
I am waiting for Charmaine to return
(Just - for - you...)
Emphasizing that the waiting is solely for Charmaine
Lyrics © Budde Music Publishing GmbH, Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ERNO RAPEE, LEW POLLACK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@barryjacobs8524
RIP Con. Thanks for the memories❤
@stuartgraham3282
What a singer.
@sarah.cpalise8374
I still have their LP that I got for my 21st Birthday ,I am now 76 .
@glynismcgourlick
That's amazing Sarah, keep going, take care x
@CooperTroopa
Wow
@lindaswift6486
I've always loved con
My mams favourite group
I'm now 66 I know all the the words to there songs
@paulkerrane7879
Great musicians.
@miltonwilliams168
Diane was the Bachelors biggest hit, they went on to record Marie, I Believe plus numerous other songs Their lead singer had a very unique sound which kept them so popular for many years.
@randolfo1265
One of Shel Talmy's earliest productions. Shel Talmy went on to produce some of England's biggest rock hits in the sixties and seventies
@joanneguy7685
I I’m