Their most popular song was "Sixteen Candles" which rose to number 2 on the Billboard charts in 1958.
The 1984 John Hughes teen movie Sixteen Candles took its title from The Crests' song, which was rerecorded by The Stray Cats for the Sixteen Candles soundtrack.
It should be noted that Johnny Maestro went on to form the Brooklyn Bridge who had two number one hits including "The Worst That Could Happen" . His voice got better with age but unfortunately Mastroangelo passed away last year of throat cancer at the age of 65.
A Year Ago Tonight
The Crests Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You were sixteen
The sweetest teenage
Queen I've ever seen
A year ago tonight
I let you know
That sixteen candles
When you made wish, kid
I was wishing too
That I'd be saying
Happy birthday
Your whole life through
Oh, yeah
A year ago tonight
I kissed you dear
And told you that
I'd be yours
Throughout the years
Now, Father Time
Has proven we were right
Woah, woah, two lovers
Born a year ago tonight
(Tonight, tonight)
When you made wish, kid
I was wishing too
That I'd be saying
Happy birthday
Your whole life through
Oh, a year ago tonight
I kissed you dear
And told you that
I'd be yours
Throughout the years
Now, Father Time
Has proven we were right
Woah, woah, two lovers
Born a year ago tonight
(Tonight, tonight)
Woah, woah, woah
Two lovers born
A year ago tonight
Yeah, yeah
Two lovers born
A year ago tonight
The Crests' song "A Year Ago Tonight" is a romantic ballad about two teenage lovers who shared a special moment on the girl's sixteenth birthday. The song begins by introducing the girl as "the sweetest teenage queen" the singer has ever seen, and then goes on to describe how he expressed his feelings to her on that fateful night. The singer tells us how he told the girl that he would always cherish her sixteen candles in his heart and that he would wish her a happy birthday for the rest of her life. The song is punctuated by a sweetly nostalgic chorus that repeats the sentiment that two lovers were born on that night, and that Father Time has proven them right.
The lyrics of "A Year Ago Tonight" are a classic example of teenage romance, charming and sentimental but not overly saccharine. The song celebrates the magic of young love and the hope that it can last forever, with a catchy rhythm and melody that perfectly match the wistful tone of the lyrics. The Crests' performance is full of energy and emotion, with the lead singer's soaring vocals backed by a lively upbeat band soundtrack.
Line by Line Meaning
A year ago tonight
Exactly one year ago, on this very same night
You were sixteen
You had recently turned sixteen years old
The sweetest teenage
You were the most charming and delightful teenager I knew
Queen I've ever seen
You were the most attractive and regal teenage girl I had ever laid my eyes on
I let you know
I conveyed to you through my words and actions
That sixteen candles
My love and adoration for you burned as bright as sixteen candles on a birthday cake
In my heart would glow
I would always hold a special place in my heart for you
When you made wish, kid
When you blew out the candles on your birthday cake and made a wish
I was wishing too
I was silently hoping and praying for something special as well
That I'd be saying
That I would be the one to wish you a happy birthday
Happy birthday
Sending you the best wishes and luck for your birthday
Your whole life through
For the rest of your life, I would want to wish you a happy birthday every year
Oh, yeah
An exclamation of agreement or affirmation
I kissed you dear
I leaned in for a kiss and showed you how much I cared
And told you that
I expressed to you through words
I'd be yours
I would belong to you and pledge my loyalty
Throughout the years
Our love and devotion would last for a long time
Now, Father Time
Time itself
Has proven we were right
Has confirmed that our love for each other was justified
Woah, woah, two lovers
Two people in love
Born a year ago tonight
Whose relationship began exactly one year ago on this very same night
(Tonight, tonight)
Emphasizing the significance of this particular night in their relationship
Woah, woah, woah
An expression of surprise or admiration
Two lovers born
The beginning of the romantic relationship between two people
Yeah, yeah
An expression of affirmation or agreement
Two lovers born
The beginning of the romantic relationship between two people
A year ago tonight
Exactly one year ago, on this very same night
Contributed by Reagan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.