This all got started when the girls met at James Monroe High School in the Bronx, New York. Lead singer Judy Craig was a mere 14-year-old while Patricia Bennett and Barbara Lee were both only 13, all of them facing a lot of challenges if they wanted to be stars. Yet they felt enough determination to hook up with writer/manager Ronnie Mack and sign with Big Deal Records. Though still an embryonic group, their version of "Tonight's the Night" went up to #76 in September 1960, showing the group's potential. Soon their trademark tight harmonies, coupled with their high-stepping confidence and the production duo Gerry Goffin and Carole King writing for them, earned the Chiffons had popular success in song after song.
Made up of the aforementioned Judy Craig, Patricia Bennett, and Barbara Lee at first, Sylvia Peterson of Little Jimmie And The Tops came into the group in 1963. That year, their song "He's So Fine" was the #1 record on both the Billboard Pop and R&B charts. The Chiffons' seemed to have completely 'made it', appearing on programs such as 'American Bandstand'.
British singer-songwriter George Harrison's 1971 song "My Sweet Lord" was musically almost identical, prompting a copyright infringement claim. A judge later found that the ex-Beatle had unintentionally plagiarized the earlier song. The Chiffons went on to record a competing version of "My Sweet Lord" in 1975. The case is often cited as one of the most famous and influential legal cases in the music industry.
The Chiffons' initial run at success was followed by other notable tunes such as the aforementioned "One Fine Day" as well as the songs "Sweet Talkin' Guy", "A Love So Fine", and "I Have a Boyfriend". Although many of their recordings were derivative of the period, fans appreciated their take on the contemporary pop sound. Their Top 40 single "I Have A Boyfriend" was notably playing on Dallas station KLIF on November 22, 1963 and was interrupted by the first radio bulletins of the JFK assassination.
The group also released material under the title 'The Four Pennies' that explored different musical styles. Though finding some fans, the phantom artist failed to break through commercially. The Chiffons themselves faced changing musical tides with the British invasion and the rise of many different trends, and their run of popular success appeared to have pretty much come to an end when the 70s began.
Though Craig left the Chiffons, they continued on as a trio. As the years passed, the group toured in the 'oldies circuit'. In 1992, Lee died from a heart attack the day before her 45th birthday. While that seemed to have put an end to the group, Craig decided to return. Peterson retired shortly thereafter and was replaced by Connie Harvey. Harvey has since left to pursue a solo career with Bennett also retiring. Craig continued on with replacement backup singers. After the turn of the millennium, Craig has still been touring as the Chiffons with her daughter and her niece by her side, performing at select shows throughout the U.S. and internationally.
The Real Thing
The Chiffons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Doo da doo, m doo da do ba do do do
Doo da doo, m doo da do ba do do do
Looking forward to seein' you
But it's been such a long, long time
Looking forward to feelin' your
Love, its been so heavy on my mind
On my mind, all the time
On my mind
Had a chance to look forward
To be part of your loving my dreams
But I can't be happy with
Fantasizing instead of the real thing
The real thing, not my dreams
The real thing
There are no words that can express the way I feel today
Cos I feel today, like no other day, longing more and more for your loving
There are no songs that I can sing to ease my troubled mind
Cos my troubled mind will be troubled blue
Until you say you're coming home to me, hooo, hooo
Let me hear you say baby, let me hear you say the words
Sing your love in a hurry
Send it's melody via love bird
A love bird, send your word,
By a love bird
There are no words that can express the way I feel today
Cos I feel today, like no other day, longing more and more for your loving
There is no other someone that can ease my aching heart
Cos my aching heart told my troubled mind, the only remedy to this pain is your love
Let me hear you say baby, everything's gonna be alright
Stop my heart from aching
Stop my eyes from crying through the night
Through the night, I won't cry
Through the night
Doo, doo doo, doo doo doo doo
The real thing, not my dreams,
The real thing, not my dreams
The real thing, not my dreams
The real thing
"The Real Thing" by The Chiffons is a song about longing for a loved one who has been away for a long time. The singer is eagerly waiting to see and feel the love of her partner, which has been heavy on her mind, but it's been such a long time since she has seen them. Although she has fantasized about their reunion, it can't compare to the real thing that she is yearning for. The singer's troubled mind can only be eased by the real love of her partner, and she repeatedly asks for them to come home and stop her heart from aching.
The lyrics of "The Real Thing" evoke a feeling of nostalgia and heartache that many people can relate to. The singer's yearning for the real thing is a universal desire that encompasses everything from love and success to happiness and fulfillment. The use of metaphors such as "love bird" and "troubled blue" adds to the emotional depth of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking forward to seein' you
Anticipating your presence
But it's been such a long, long time
However, it has been a very long time
Looking forward to feelin' your
Eager to experience your
Love, its been so heavy on my mind
Affection for you has been on my mind constantly
Had a chance to look forward
Opportunity to anticipate
To be part of your loving my dreams
To be included in your loving and affectionate dreams
But I can't be happy with
However, I cannot be happy with
Fantasizing instead of the real thing
Imagining or visualizing rather than actual experience
There are no words that can express the way I feel today
No description can explain how I feel presently
Cos I feel today, like no other day, longing more and more for your loving
Because I am experiencing an unprecedented longing for your affection today
There are no songs that I can sing to ease my troubled mind
No song can soothe my disturbed mind
Cos my troubled mind will be troubled blue
Since my upset state of mind will remain unresolved
Until you say you're coming home to me, hooo, hooo
Until you promise to return to me
Let me hear you say baby, let me hear you say the words
Requesting to hear affectionate words from you
Sing your love in a hurry
Express your love quickly
Send it's melody via love bird
Send the message through a bird symbolizing love
There is no other someone that can ease my aching heart
There is no other person who can comfort my pained heart
Cos my aching heart told my troubled mind, the only remedy to this pain is your love
Because my anguished heart communicated that your love is the only cure to this agony
Let me hear you say baby, everything's gonna be alright
Asking to hear assurance that everything will be fine
Stop my heart from aching
Please relieve my heart from hurting
Stop my eyes from crying through the night
Prevent me from crying endlessly the whole night
Through the night, I won't cry
I won't cry for the entire night
The real thing, not my dreams
Real love and affection, not just imagination
The real thing, not my dreams
Real love and affection, not just imagination
The real thing, not my dreams
Real love and affection, not just imagination
The real thing, not my dreams
Real love and affection, not just imagination
Lyrics Β© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEVIE WONDER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Invisible Sun
This was the original B-side to Laurie 3301. Both sides were sung by one of my all time greatest singers Sylvia Peterson. Not sure why they changed it but meh, Sylvia still makes my heart speed up a beat π
frankie hunter
The original was sung by Tina Britt. Recorded also by Betty Everett. Composed by Ashford & Simpson before signing with Motown.
BeepBeep3000
1965