Starting out as the Dreamers, the Blossoms were students at Fremont High School in Los Angeles and in 1954 they were discovered by singer Richard Berry at a school talent show. At that time the group consisted of Fanita James, sisters Annette and Nanette Williams, and Gloria Jones. They backed Richard Berry on several of his singles that were recorded in 1954 and released in 1955 on the Flair label. All three of the releases received local air play, but only "Bye, Bye" sold, and made the national R&B charts. By late 1956 the Dreamers had their first chance to record on their own. The results were two beautiful R&B ballads. "Since You've Been Gone" and "Do Not Forget," both written by Richard Berry and are recognized as forerunners of the girl group sound.
"Since You've Been Gone" never got the full support tiny Flip Records had to offer, the reason being that the label had its hands full following the success of the Six Teens' "A Casual Look" with their new release "Far into the Night." They were also preparing a recording by Richard Berry and his new group the Pharaohs which was "Louie, Louie."
Though their records weren't hits, the Dreamers stirred interest from numerous places in the music business, garnering the group a great deal of backup work. Their first chart record came as backup vocalists with Jessie Belvin on Etta James' 1955 hit "Good Rockin' Daddy."
It was through vocal coach Eddie Beale that the Dreamers were brought to their first major label, Capitol Records. Executive Tom Fransend renamed the group the Blossoms. Between 1957 and 1958 the group had three singles that didn't do much. However, they did have another backup hit with Ed Townsend on "For Your Love" in April 1958.
That year also brought a lineup change: Fanita James attended a wedding and heard a twenty-year old Darlene Wright sing. James then invited the gifted Wright to become the lead singer of the Blossoms. By 1960, the Williams twins had left and the group was now a trio.
The Blossoms' first solo chart record was for the small Challenge label. The group just barely cracked the Billboard's top 100 with "Son In Law"(#79) in May 1961, but neither that nor immediate follow-ups were enough to make the public aware of them. Still, they kept earning a good living doing backup, as on Sam Cooke's hit "Everybody Love's to Cha-Cha-Cha" (#13, 1959) and as Duane Eddy's Rebelettes on "Dance with the Guitar Man" (#12, 1962).
In the summer of 1962, fate stepped in to make the Blossoms the ultimate unaccredited group of the '60s. Producer Phil Spector was in Los Angeles with his newest discovery "He's a Rebel." Convinced that this was a #1 hit, Spector was mortified to learn that the Crystals were reluctant to come to Los Angeles from Brooklyn because they were afraid of flying. Knowing that if he sat on the song too long someone else would certainly record it, Spector consulted with his Philles Record's partner Lester Sill who recommended the Blossoms. So on July 13 one of the classic rock and roll songs of the '60s was cut with the Blossoms and with vocalist Bobby Sheen singing high tenor. The Blossoms never imagined that "He's a Rebel" would be released under the name of the Crystals, nor did they guess that by November that it would be the #1 record in the U.S. and reach #19 in England.
A few weeks after the release of "He's a Rebel," Darlene Wright was signed by Spector, but she never knew whose name would be used on the released record. For example, on August 24, they recorded a "wall of sound" version of the Disney classic "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah," with Bobby Sheen singing lead and the Blossoms doing the backup. When it was released in November the label read Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans. Though the Blossoms continued backing artists as diverse as Doris Day and Duane Eddy, their main claim to fame came from their Spector recordings from 1962-1964. They began in 1963 with "He's Sure the Buy I Love" (#11), which again was credited to the Crystals. In February it was back up the charts as Bob B. Soxx and the Blue Jeans with "Why Do Lover's Break Each Other's Heart?" (#38).
In April, "(Today I Met) the Boy I'm Going to Marry" was released and credited to the new name Spector had given Wright, Darlene Love.
Just as it had become predictable that Sheen or Wright would lead the Blossoms on Spector's new recordings, Darlene's lead was removed from what would be another Crystal classic. Lala Brooks, second lead of the Crystals, replaced Wright's lead vocal on "Da Doo Run Run" while all three Blossoms did their usual backup (that's three Blossoms that included Wright, since they had already recorded the backup track). "Da Doo Run Run" went to #3 and became the Blossoms last unaccredited or credited top 10 record. They finished out the year with and another Bob B.Soxx and the Blue Jeans song and three more Darlene Love singles.
The first was "Wait Until My Bobby Gets Home" reminiscent of the Angel's "My Boyfriends Back," and "A Fine, Fine Boy" (#53), which showed some nice vocal work. However, by this time it was apparent that Spector was more interested in his new find, the Ronettes, than in developing his backup vocalists into stars, even though they had collectively had more hits than most groups at the time (nine in one year for Philles Records alone). The fourth Darlene Love and the Blossoms single of 1963 was what might be the most exciting, emotion wrenching Christmas recording ever made "Christmas Baby Please Come Home." It included not only the Blossoms' vocals, but also the Ronettes, the Crystals and Cher. It could have been a number one record, but the assassination of John F. Kennedy put a shroud over anything that was not traditionally Christmas for that season.
In 1964, the Blossoms with Jeanie King, now in place of Gloria Jones, were introduced to producer Jack Goode by recording artist Jackie DeShannon. Goode brought the group to an audition for the television show Shindig, which led to two years as regulars on the show. They issued one record under the name the Wildcats ("What Are You Gonna Do" in 1964), but it wasn't until 1966 that they recorded under their own name with "Good, Good Lovin'," written by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. They released several non-charting singles, while singing backup for Bobby Darin, Paul Anka, and Buck Owens. Jean King remained with the Blossoms until her death from a heart attack in Las Vegas in March, 1983.
From 1967 through 1972, the Blossoms recorded ten records on various labels, most notably covers of the Righteous Brothers' hits "You've Lost that Lovin' Feeling" and "Soul and Inspiration" in 1969. In the early '70s the group toured with Elvis Presley. The Blossoms also toured with Tom Jones from the early 70s through the mid-80s. Love left the group in the '80s, performing first in Las Vegas and then singing in Jeff Barry's soundtrack for the film The Idolmaker while doing backup work for Dionne Warwick in 1982. She did The Darlene Love Music Special on cable TV, performing old Crystals, Bob. B. Soxx, and Darlene Love songs backed by her sister Edna and Gloria Jones. In 1985 she appeared in Ellie Greenwich's musical The Leader of the Pack, for which a cast album was released. As the '80s ended, Love had a budding film career (Hairspray and Lethal Weapon) and a Columbia album was released in 1988.
In 1989, the Blossoms released a single under their own name for the first time in seventeen years when they recorded "Lonely Friday Night" for Classic Artists Records. The song was reminiscent of the Chiffons' "One Fine Day," but was even more reminiscent of the time the Blossoms were the premier West Coast hit vocal group that the public never knew.
That's When The Tears Start
The Blossoms Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey, hey! hey Start: Dash!!
Hey, hey! hey Start: Dash!!
Ubuge no kotoritachi mo
Itsuka sora ni habataku
Ookina tsuyoi tsubasa de tobu
Sono hi ga zettai kuru
Kimi mo kanjiteru yo ne
Hajimari no kodou
Ashita yo kaware
Kibou ni kaware
Mabushii hikari ni
Terasarete kaware start
Kanashimi ni tozasarete
Naku dake no kimi janai
Atsui mune kitto mirai wo
Kirihiraku hazu sa
Kanashimi ni tozasarete
Naku dake ja tsumaranai
Kitto, zutto
Kimi no yume no chikara
Ima wo ugokasu chikara
Shinjiteru yo, dakara start
Hey, hey! hey Start: Dash!!
Hey, hey! hey Start: Dash!!
Ameagari no kibun de
Takamaru kitai no naka
Tsumazuita koto sae mo
Omoide ni shiyou
Ashita ga saku yo
Kibou ga saku yo
Tanoshii merodii kuchizusami
Saa ikou dash
Yorokobi wo uketomete
Kimi to boku tsunagarou
Mayoimichi yatto soto e
Nukedashita hazu sa
Yorokobi wo uketomete
Kimi to boku susumu darou
Sore wa (sore wa)
Tooi yume no kakera
Dakedo itoshii kakera
Kanata e to boku wa dash
Mada hitotsu no yume ga umare
Kanashimi ni tozasarete
Naku dake no kimi janai
Atsui mune kitto mirai wo
Kirihiraku hazu sa
Yorokobi wo uketomete
Kimi to boku susumu darou
Sore wa (sore wa)
Tooi yume no kakera
Dakedo itoshii kakera
Kanata e to boku wa dash
Hey, hey! Hey, Start: Dash!!
Hey, hey! Hey, Start: Dash!!
The Blossoms’ song "That’s When the Tears Start" is a beautiful ballad about hope and perseverance in the face of adversity. The song discusses the feeling of being overcome with sadness, but also the belief that things will eventually get better. The opening lines in Japanese, "Ubuge no kotoritachi mo Itsuka sora ni habataku Ookina tsuyoi tsubasa de tobu," translate to "Even tiny baby birds will someday fly high in the sky, flapping their strong, large wings." This sets the tone for the rest of the song, emphasizing the idea that even though struggles may seem insurmountable, hope and strength will eventually help us move forward.
The lyrics explore the theme of sadness in two ways. The first is a more passive reaction to sadness, where one would just accept the situation and give up. However, the song urges listeners not to give up but rather continue to believe in brighter days ahead, even during the darkest moments. The song encourages listeners to hold onto their dreams and believe that they have the power to make them a reality. This is illustrated in the lyrics, "Kimi no yume no chikara Ima wo ugokasu chikara Shinjiteru yo, dakara start" which translates to "The power of your dreams is the power to move forward now. Believe it, and start now."
The Blossoms' song is a powerful ode to hope and perseverance. Its lyrics remind us that even when things seem unbearable, we have the strength to overcome difficulties and make our dreams come true.
Line by Line Meaning
I say Hey, hey! hey Start: Dash!!
The singer is introducing the song with a catchy phrase to grab the listener's attention.
Ubuge no kotoritachi mo Itsuka sora ni habataku Ookina tsuyoi tsubasa de tobu
The singer encourages even small and weak birds to soar high with strong wings, implying that anyone can achieve greatness with effort and determination.
Akiramecha dame nanda Sono hi ga zettai kuru Kimi mo kanjiteru yo ne Hajimari no kodou
It's important to never give up because the day of success will definitely come, and one can feel its presence through the palpitations that arise at the beginning of a new journey.
Ashita yo kaware Kibou ni kaware Mabushii hikari ni Terasarete kaware start
The singer urges to change for a better tomorrow, to be filled with hope and bright light, and to take the first step towards a new start.
Kanashimi ni tozasarete Naku dake no kimi janai Atsui mune kitto mirai wo Kirihiraku hazu sa
Although someone might feel trapped and swallowed by sadness, they aren't just someone who cries. The strong emotions within will surely unfold a better future.
Kanashimi ni tozasarete Naku dake ja tsumaranai Kitto, zutto Kimi no yume no chikara Ima wo ugokasu chikara Shinjiteru yo, dakara start
Crying alone in sadness is pointless, and has no effect on one's future. The singer believes in the power of the listener's dreams, to give them the strength to believe, and to start anew.
Ameagari no kibun de Takamaru kitai no naka Tsumazuita koto sae mo Omoide ni shiyou
Even the embarassing moments, within the high expectations that arise after the rain has stopped, should be cherished and turned into memories.
Ashita ga saku yo Kibou ga saku yo Tanoshii merodii kuchizusami Saa ikou dash
Tomorrow will bloom along with hope, and a happy melody should be hummed as the singer urges the listener to hurry and start growing.
Yorokobi wo uketomete Kimi to boku tsunagarou Mayoimichi yatto soto e Nukedashita hazu sa
Holding onto joy, the singer invites the listener to move forward together, leaving behind the lost wanderings behind.
Yorokobi wo uketomete Kimi to boku susumu darou Sore wa (sore wa) Tooi yume no kakera Dakedo itoshii kakera Kanata e to boku wa dash
Taking joy with them, the singer invites the listener to move forward together towards a faraway dream, treasure within - something dear that the singer will take all the way there.
Mada hitotsu no yume ga umare
Even though we may have achieved our dreams, there is still one more dream to be born which will add to our happiness.
Hey, hey! Hey, Start: Dash!!
The song ends where it starts, with the same phrase that sets the energetic mood for the music.
Writer(s): van Mccoy
Contributed by Colton O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.