There are at least two artists named 'The Orlons':
(1) The Orlons, R&B (… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists named 'The Orlons':
(1) The Orlons, R&B (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S)
(2) The Orlons, Surf Rock (Haifa, Israel)

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(1) The Orlons consisted of lead singer Rosetta Hightower, Shirley Brickley, Marlena Davis, and Stephen Caldwell.

Before they became the Orlons, they were an all-girl quintet called Audrey and the Teenettes. They formed in the late 1950s in junior high school and consisted of Hightower, Davis, and three Brickley sisters: Shirley, Jean, and Audrey. However, after the Brickleys' mother did not permit 13-year-old Audrey to sing in certain clubs with the group, she and Jean quit, making the group a trio.

In high school, the group's three remaining members discovered fellow student Stephen Caldwell, who was lead singer of a local group called the Romeos. Impressed by him, they invited him to join the group in 1960 and named themselves the Orlons as a tongue-in-cheek nod to the friendly rivalry they had with a popular group at their high school, the Cashmeres.[1] (Orlon was a synthetic fibre widely used around that time.)

A high school friend, Dovells lead singer Len Barry, encouraged them to audition for Cameo Records at the turn of the decade. The group took his advice in the fall of 1961, but were rejected at first, although the record label eventually signed the group after two more auditions. Cameo executive Dave Appell appointed Hightower as the lead singer, and began writing songs for them.

Before rising to fame with their first national hit, "The Wah-Watusi," the group provided back-up vocals for Dee Dee Sharp's hits "Mashed Potato Time" and "Gravy (for My Mashed Potatoes)." They recorded their own cover versions of those songs for their debut album, The Wah-Watusi.

Davis and Caldwell quit the group in 1964, and were replaced by Sandy Person for about a year. A short-lived stint by Yvonne Young was followed by original Teenette, Audrey Brickley, Shirley's sister. By then, the group's popularity had waned in the United States due to misdirection of their record company, Cameo Records. They continued to perform into the late 1960s with success in the UK. They disbanded in 1968 after Hightower decided to stay in England after a tour. Hightower had (and still has) a successful career as a soloist and as an in-demand session singer, backing Joe Cocker, John Holt and other popular artists. She married record producer Ian Green.

In later years, Davis married and found work as an executive secretary, while Caldwell became president of the bus drivers' trade union in Philadelphia and served on the Philadelphia Board of Education for 25 years. In 1988, Caldwell and Davis re-formed the group with two new members and performed live on the oldies circuit until Davis's death in 1993.

On October 13, 1977, Shirley Brickley was shot to death by an intruder in her home in Philadelphia. Davis lost a battle with lung cancer on February 27, 1993 (age 48). Audrey Brickley died of acute respiratory distress syndrome on July 3, 2005 (aged 58). Steve and Jean Brickley still perform as The Orlons with two cousins.

(2) The Orions (from Haifa, Israel) play high energy instrumental surf rock'n'roll, dance or die!

Band members:
• David Miretski - Guitar
• Itai Alzaradel - Guitar
• 'Mediterranean Buddha' Ezra - Bass
• Guy Offenbach - Drums

Listen to The Orions: http://theorions.bandcamp.com/
The Orions on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/orionsband

Bon-doo-wah
The Orlons Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

[Chorus]
Bon doo wah bon doo wah bon doo wah
Bon doo wah, baby I don't know

You're treating me like a plaything
You're treating me like a toy
That's why I call you a bon doo wah
It means you're a big bad boy (Hit it hard)

[Chorus]

I give you lovin' (you give me nothin')
I give you kissin' (you keep on missin')

[Chorus]

Well, you give me nothin' but trouble
You give me nothin' but shame
I'm gonna put you in misery
You're scandalizin' my name

(Everybody)
[Chorus]

I give you lovin' (you give me nothin')
I give you kissin' (you keep on missin')

[Chorus]

(Ease it now) Bon doo wah bon doo wah bon doo wah
Bon doo wah, say you'll love me so

(Hit it hard)
[Chorus]

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The Orlons' song Bon-doo-wah is about a woman who is being treated poorly by a man who is not reciprocating her love or affection. She calls him a "bon doo wah" which means he is a big bad boy, implying that he is not treating her with the respect she deserves. The chorus is a repetition of "bon doo wah" and "baby, I don't know," which signifies her confusion and frustration with the situation.

The verses of the song explain how the woman is giving the man love and affection, but he is not returning the favor. He is treating her like a toy and causing her trouble, which she refers to as "scandalizing her name." She is fed up and threatens to put him in misery if he does not start treating her better.

The song combines elements of early rock and roll and doo-wop, with its upbeat rhythm and catchy chorus. It tells a relatable story of a woman who is tired of being mistreated and demands respect from her partner.

Line by Line Meaning

Bon doo wah bon doo wah bon doo wah
Repeating the phrase 'Bon doo wah' which refers to the person being called a big bad boy

Bon doo wah, baby I don't know
Admitting confusion about the behavior towards her

You're treating me like a plaything
Suggesting that she is being treated like a doll to be played with

You're treating me like a toy
Reemphasizing that he treats her like an object

That's why I call you a bon doo wah
Explaining the meaning of the term used for him

It means you're a big bad boy (Hit it hard)
Describing a man who behaves badly and hurting her, with emphasis to hit the message home

I give you lovin' (you give me nothin')
Expressing disappointment that she feels like she has been giving affection but not receiving anything in return

I give you kissin' (you keep on missin')
Explaining further that the lack of emotional response is visible in his actions

Well, you give me nothin' but trouble
Outlining that the relationship brings nothing but problems

You give me nothin' but shame
Feeling that the actions of the other person bring shame to herself

I'm gonna put you in misery
Deciding to cause him pain too

You're scandalizin' my name
Accusing him of behaving in a way that brings shame to her name

(Everybody) Bon doo wah bon doo wah bon doo wah
Everyone joins in the repetitive phrase referring to the man's bad behavior

Ease it now Bon doo wah bon doo wah bon doo wah
Lessening the tone, but still repeating the phrase used to describe the man's behavior

Bon doo wah, say you'll love me so (Hit it hard)
Asking him to love her in spite of his previous bad behavior, with emphasis to ensure he understands her feelings

[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus, as it is a refrain throughout the song

Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVE APPELL, KAL MANN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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