1. The Temptations … Read Full Bio ↴The Temptations may refer to at least two groups
1. The Temptations are an American Motown singing group whose repertoire has included doo-wop, soul, psychedelia, funk, disco, rnb, and adult contemporary. Formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1960 as The Elgins. The group, known for its finely tuned choreography, distinct harmonies, and stylish suits, has been said to be as influential to soul as The Beatles are to rock. Having sold an estimated 22 million albums by 1982, The Temptations are one of the most successful groups in black music history and were the definitive male vocal group of the 1960s. In addition, they have the second-longest tenure on Motown (behind Stevie Wonder), as they were with the label for a total of 40 years: 16 years from 1961 to 1977, and 24 more from 1980 to 2004 (from 1977 to 1980, they were signed to Atlantic Records). As of 2005, The Temptations continue to perform for Universal Records with only one original member, founder Otis Williams, in its lineup.
Like its sister group The Supremes, The Temptations' lineup has changed frequently over the years. The original group included members of two local Detroit vocal groups: second tenor/baritone Otis Williams, first tenor Elbridge Bryant and bass Melvin Franklin from The Distants; and first tenor/falsetto Eddie Kendricks and second tenor/baritone Paul Williams (no relation to Otis) from The Primes. Among the most notable future Temptations were lead singers David Ruffin and Dennis Edwards (both of whom became successful Motown solo artists after leaving the group, as did Kendricks), Richard Street (another former Distant), Damon Harris, Ron Tyson, Ali-Ollie Woodson, Theo Peoples, and G.C. Cameron.
Over the course of their career, The Temptations have released four number-one pop hit singles and 14 number-one R&B hit singles, and their material has earned them three Grammy Awards. Most of the early Temptations hits, including "The Way You Do the Things You Do", "My Girl", and "Get Ready" were written and produced by Smokey Robinson and other members of The Miracles, while composer/producer Norman Whitfield and lyricists Eddie Holland and Barrett Strong crafted most of the group's later hits, including "Ain't Too Proud to Beg", "I Wish It Would Rain", "Cloud Nine", "I Can't Get Next to You", "Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)", and "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone".
2. There was also a 50s doo-wop group from New York named the Temptations. They are best remembered for their 1960 top 40 hit "Barbara. After this hit, lead singer Neil Stevens went solo.
Ball Of Confusion )
The Temptations Lyrics
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People moving out, people moving in
Why, because of the color of their skin
Run, run, run but you sure can't hide
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
Vote for me and I'll set you free
Well, the only person talking about love thy brother is the preacher
And it seems nobody's interested in learning but the teacher
Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration
Aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation
Ball of confusion
Oh yeah, that's what the world is today
Woo, hey, hey
The sale of pills are at an all time high
Young folks walking round with their heads in the sky
The cities ablaze in the summer time
And oh, the beat goes on
Evolution, revolution, gun control, sound of soul
Shooting rockets to the moon, kids growing up too soon
Politicians say more taxes will solve everything
And the band played on
So, round and around and around we go
Where the world's headed, nobody knows
Oh, great googa-looga, can't you hear me talking to you
Just a ball of confusion
Oh yeah, that's what the world is today
Woo, hey
Fear in the air, tension everywhere
Unemployment rising fast, the Beatles new record's a gas
And the only safe place to live is on an Indian reservation
And the band played on
Eve of destruction, tax deduction, city inspectors, bill collectors
Mod clothes in demand, population out of hand, suicide, too many bills
Hippies moving to the hills, people all over the world are shouting, end the war
And the band played on
Great googa-looga, can't you hear me talking to you
Sayin' ball of confusion
That's what the world is today, hey, hey
Let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya
Sayin', ball of confusion
That's what the world is today, hey, hey
Let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya
Ball of confusion
The Temptations's song Ball Of Confusion is a social commentary about the state of the world in the late 1960s. The song reflects on the chaos and confusion that are prevalent and escalating during that time. The lyrics describe the various issues that the world is facing, including racial discrimination, segregation, drug use, political corruption, war, and societal unrest.
The first verse criticizes the discrimination and racial segregation that are still rampant despite the Civil Rights Movement. The second verse describes the massive drug use, societal decay, and the increasing violence in American cities. The third verse talks about Cold War-era politics, including the arms race and space exploration, and how politicians use taxes as a quick-fix solution to the country's problems. The concluding verse describes the societal tension that is present due to the complex mix of issues.
Despite the dystopian and bleak picture, the chorus provides a sense of hope, urging people to unite and push for change to fix the world's problems.
Overall, Ball Of Confusion is a powerful protest song that accurately captures the unique zeitgeist and disillusionment of its time.
Line by Line Meaning
People moving out, people moving in
The world is constantly changing with people leaving and entering certain areas.
Why, because of the color of their skin
The reason for some of these movements is due to discrimination and prejudice against certain races and ethnicities.
Run, run, run but you sure can't hide
Despite people's attempts to escape these issues, they always seem to be present and unavoidable.
An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
Violence and retaliation are common responses to conflicts, treating one injury with another.
Vote for me and I'll set you free
Politicians promise freedom through their leadership, but they often fail to deliver on their promises.
Rap on, brother, rap on
Keep speaking out about the issues and spreading awareness, brother.
Well, the only person talking about love thy brother is the preacher
The only person promoting love and unity is the religious leader, but few others seem to be following suit.
And it seems nobody's interested in learning but the teacher
Few people are actively seeking to educate themselves on social issues and only teachers seem to care about spreading knowledge.
Segregation, determination, demonstration, integration
These are key elements and stages of the fight for equality and ending segregation and discrimination.
Aggravation, humiliation, obligation to our nation
These are the negative emotions and struggles people must face as they fight for change and progress in their country.
Ball of confusion
The state of the world is a chaotic and disordered mess.
Oh yeah, that's what the world is today
This is the current state of the world today, full of confusion and chaos.
Woo, hey, hey
Just an expression of excitement, possibly sarcastic given the tone of the song.
The sale of pills are at an all time high
Drug abuse and addiction are rampant in society right now, with more drugs being sold than ever before.
Young folks walking round with their heads in the sky
Young people are experiencing rising expectations and dreaming big, sometimes to the point of being unrealistic.
The cities ablaze in the summer time
Summer can be a time of heightened tension and unrest, with protests and riots breaking out in cities.
And oh, the beat goes on
Despite all these upheavals and issues, life still goes on and people carry on with their daily routines.
Evolution, revolution, gun control, sound of soul
These are key trends and movements in society, including cultural changes, political unrest, and debates about gun laws and music trends.
Shooting rockets to the moon, kids growing up too soon
Science and technology are advancing rapidly, while young people are being forced to mature and face adult issues at younger and younger ages.
Politicians say more taxes will solve everything
Politicians often come up with simplistic solutions that they say will solve everything, when in reality it's much more complex than that.
And the band played on
Despite these serious issues, entertainment and leisure activities still continue as usual.
So, round and around and around we go
Society seems to be stuck in a never-ending cycle of the same issues reappearing again and again.
Where the world's headed, nobody knows
The future of the world and society is uncertain, and it's impossible to predict where we'll end up.
Oh, great googa-looga, can't you hear me talking to you
An exclamation expressing frustration and disbelief that more people aren't listening to the calls for change and progress.
Just a ball of confusion
The state of the world is simply a chaotic and confusing mess.
Fear in the air, tension everywhere
Society is permeated with fear and tension, making people uneasy and uncertain about the future.
Unemployment rising fast, the Beatles new record's a gas
Despite the serious economic issues, people are still looking for distractions and entertainment, such as the latest Beatles record.
And the only safe place to live is on an Indian reservation
Discrimination and prejudice against Native Americans has led to reservations being the only safe places for them to live.
Eve of destruction, tax deduction, city inspectors, bill collectors
These are all negative elements of life, including impending doom, taxes, city officials, and debt collectors.
Mod clothes in demand, population out of hand, suicide, too many bills
These are all further societal issues, including fashion trends, overpopulation, increasing suicide rates, and financial troubles.
Hippies moving to the hills, people all over the world are shouting, end the war
These are further elements of social movements, including hippies seeking refuge in more rural areas, and widespread protests against wars.
Sayin' ball of confusion
Reiterating that society is a disordered and confusing mess.
That's what the world is today, hey, hey
This is the current state of society, full of confusion and chaos.
Let me hear ya, let me hear ya, let me hear ya
An invitation to the listener to join in and express their own thoughts and feelings about the state of the world.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BARRETT STRONG, NORMAN WHITFIELD, NORMAN J. WHITFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@TonyPaskitti
Love this song! So ahead of its time!! Here are the lyrics:
People moving out,
People moving in,
Why, because of the color of their skin,
Run, run, run, but you just can't hide.
An eye for an eye,
Tooth for a tooth,
Vote for me and I'll set you free,
Rap on, brother, rap on.
Well, the only person talking about loving thy brother is the preacher,
And it seems nobody's interested in learning, but the teacher,
Segregation, demonstration, integration, determination, aggravation, humiliation,
Obligation to our nation.
Ball of confusion,
That's what the world is today, hey.
The sale of pills is at an all time high,
Young folks walk with their heads in the sky,
The cities aflame in the summertime,
And oh the beat goes on.
Evolution, revolution, gun control, sound of soul-shooting rockets to the moon,
Kids growing up too soon,
Politicians say, "More taxes will solve everything,"
The band played on.
So, round and around and around we go,
Where the world's headed, nobody knows
Oh, Great Googamooga,
Can't you hear me talking to you,
Just a ball of confusion,
That's what the world is today, hey.
Fear in the air, tension everywhere,
Unemployment rising fast,
The Beatles new record's a gas,
And the only safe place to live,
Is on an Indian reservation,
The band played on.
Eve of destruction, tax deduction,
City inspectors, bill collectors, mod clothes in demand,
Population out of hand, suicide, too many bills,
Hippies moving to the hills,
People all over the world are shouting, "End the war!",
And the band played on.
Great Googamooga,
Can't you hear me talking to you,
Just a Ball Of Confusion
Written by: Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong
@hannahsings19
The fact that this song still speaks the truth in 2023 shows that we as a society really haven't changed...
@David-zd6jj
Damn
@Sloryde
And likely never will change😢
@bobmalon7244
Someone's been watching too much MSNBC
@bojibear7957
500 years of the Big Bang Spinning Water ball having its impact. “The Global Lie” by celebrate truth Robbie Davidson
@jduwayne1
@@bobmalon7244 why you say that!?
@mdt007
The Temptations were ahead of their time. This world we live in from back then to today is truly a "Ball Of Confusion". Nothing but chaos. A damn shame too.
@wtf_usa5597
Written in 1970. And here we are in 2023. Thank you for posting this. Good luck everyone. God bless you all. 🙏
@jefferyparchman1392
First recorded by Undisputed Truth I like both version and yes we still living on a ball of confusion
@richardrodriguez4229
Although this record is 53yrs old, it still has a lot of meaning today! The world is a ball of confusion!