They were first organized in Sheboygan, Wisconsin in 1946. The original members of the group were Janet Ertel (1913-November 4, 1988), Carol Bushman (her sister-in-law), Dorothy Schwartz, and Jinny Osborn (or Lockard) (April 25, 1927-May 19, 2003). In 1952, Lynn Evans replaced Schwartz, and in 1953, Margie Needham replaced Osborn (who was having a baby), though Osborn later returned to the group. Nancy Overton also was a member of the group at a later time. Originally they sang folk music in the style of The Weavers, but eventually changed to a harmonizing style of the type known as barbershop harmony. Part of this change seems to be influenced by Osborn's father.
Jinny Osborn was born in Seattle, Washington. She was born Virginia Cole, the daughter of O. H. "King" Cole, who was president of the Barbershop Harmony Society (then known as SPEBSQSA), and Katherine Flack.
After performing locally in Sheboygan, they went on Arthur Godfrey's radio program, Talent Scouts in 1949.They went on to feature status on Godfrey's daily program, and then went on to make a number of recordings for Columbia Records.
In 1953, Godfrey's music director and orchestra leader, Archie Bleyer, founded Cadence Records. He signed a number of Godfrey regulars and former regulars, including the Chordettes, who had a number of hit records for Cadence.
Their biggest hit was Mr. Sandman in 1954. Archie Bleyer himself is on that record along with the group, Bleyer stripping the sound down the better not to clutter the girls' voices. They also hit the top twenty with 1958's "Lollipop," and also charted with a vocal version of the themes from television's Zorro (1959) and the film Never on Sunday (1961). Other hits for the girls included "Eddie My Love," "Born to Be With You," and "Lay Down Your Arms" in 1956 and "Just Between You and Me" in 1957.
Janet Ertel married Bleyer in 1954. Her daughter Jackie married another Cadence recording star, Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers. She died of cancer in 1988.
The Chordettes appeared on American Bandstand August 5, 1957, kicking off the first episode of the show over the ABC Television Network.
In 1961, Jinny Osborn left the group, and they were unable to find a replacement with whom they were happy, leading to a breakup.
The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2001.
Jinny Osborn (by that time Jinny Janis) died in 2003
Teenage Goodnight
The Chordettes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Goodnight, goodnight
Our school dance is over
They're dimming the lights
Let me hold you close
Just for a moment
And whisper a teenage goodnight
My darling, my dearest
To love you is right
Kiss me now to prove
That I'm not dreaming
Goodnight, goodnight
Let me hold you close
Just for a moment
And whisper a teenage goodnight
My darling, my dearest
To love you is right
Kiss me now to prove
That I'm not dreaming
This wonderful teenage goodnight
Goodnight, goodnight
The Chordettes' song "Teenage Goodnight" is a sweet love song that paints a picture of a high school dance coming to a close. The singer is asking her love interest to let her hold him close for just a moment before saying goodnight, and she wants to use a kiss to prove to herself that their connection isn't just a dream. The overall mood of the song is gentle and romantic, with a hint of nostalgia for the innocent days of teenage romance.
The chorus of the song, which repeats throughout, seems to be a nod to the idea that teenage romance is often fleeting and bittersweet - even when the love between two people is real, they may not be able to make the relationship work beyond their youthful years. As the dance ends and the lights are dimmed, the singer is acutely aware that this moment of being together may be all they have. The line "whisper a teenage goodnight" feels both joyful and sad, as if the characters are savoring the present while mourning the fact that it won't last forever.
Line by Line Meaning
Goodnight, goodnight
The singer is saying goodnight twice to the person they are addressing.
Our school dance is over
The singer and the person they are addressing were at a school dance which has now ended.
They're dimming the lights
The lights in the room are being dimmed, which may indicate that it's time to leave.
Let me hold you close
The artist wants to be physically close to the person they are addressing.
Just for a moment
The artist only wants to hold the person they are addressing for a short period of time.
And whisper a teenage goodnight
The singer wants to say goodnight to the person they are addressing in a way that's appropriate for their age.
My darling, my dearest
The singer is expressing affection towards the person they are addressing.
To love you is right
The artist believes that loving the person they are addressing is the right thing to do.
Kiss me now to prove
The artist wants the person they are addressing to kiss them as a way of showing that they're not just imagining things.
That I'm not dreaming
The artist wants to confirm that what's happening between them and the person they are addressing is real.
This wonderful teenage goodnight
The singer is enjoying the moment and thinks that this way of saying goodnight is wonderful.
Contributed by Natalie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.