Bernadette (Four Tops song): Difference between revisions
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'''"Bernadette"''' is a 1967 hit song recorded by the [[Four Tops]] for the [[Motown]] label. Written, composed, and produced by Motown's main production team, [[Holland–Dozier–Holland|the Brian Holland-Lamont Dozier-Eddie Holland partnership]], the song is one of the most well-known Motown tunes of the 1960s. Depicting a man's excessive desire for and jealousy over his girlfriend, the song reached #4 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]], and was The Four Tops's final Top 10 hit of the 1960s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Four Tops Awards|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-four-tops-mn0000071812/awards|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=2014-03-15}}</ref> On the soul chart, "Bernadette" went to number three.<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=212}}</ref> It also reached #8 in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|title=Four Tops charts|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/four%20tops/|publisher=officialcharts.com|accessdate=2014-03-16}}</ref> In 1972, the song "[[Keeper of the Castle (song)|Keeper of the Castle]]" would return them to the Top 10 charts. "Bernadette" is known for its false ending, when the chorus holds a long cadence note and then Four Tops lead singer [[Levi Stubbs]] shouts out the title and goes on with his insecure passions as the song ends in a fade out. |
'''"Bernadette"''' is a 1967 hit song recorded by the [[Four Tops]] for the [[Motown]] label. Written, composed, and produced by Motown's main production team, [[Holland–Dozier–Holland|the Brian Holland-Lamont Dozier-Eddie Holland partnership]], the song is one of the most well-known Motown tunes of the 1960s. Depicting a man's excessive desire for and jealousy over his girlfriend, the song reached #4 on the [[Billboard Hot 100]], and was The Four Tops's final Top 10 hit of the 1960s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Four Tops Awards|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-four-tops-mn0000071812/awards|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=2014-03-15}}</ref> On the soul chart, "Bernadette" went to number three.<ref>{{cite book |title= Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004|last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research |page=212}}</ref> It also reached #8 in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|title=Four Tops charts|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/four%20tops/|publisher=officialcharts.com|accessdate=2014-03-16}}</ref> In 1972, the song "[[Keeper of the Castle (song)|Keeper of the Castle]]" would return them to the Top 10 charts. "Bernadette" is known for its false ending, when the chorus holds a long cadence note and then Four Tops lead singer [[Levi Stubbs]] shouts out the title and goes on with his insecure passions as the song ends in a fade out. Critic [[Maury Dean described the effectiveness of Stubb's shout of "BERNADETTE!!!" as being the key ingredient in getting listeners to buy the record, even if Bernadette herself may not have heard him.<ref>{{cite book|title=Rock 'n' Roll Gold Rush|author=[[Maury Dean|Dean, M.]]|page=164|year=2003|publisher=Algora|isbn=0875862071}}</ref> |
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[[Allmusic]] critic John Bush calls it "dramatic" and "impassioned."<ref>{{cite web|title=Reach Out|author=Bush, J.|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/four-tops-reach-out-mw0000202389|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=2014-03-15}}</ref> |
[[Allmusic]] critic John Bush calls it "dramatic" and "impassioned."<ref>{{cite web|title=Reach Out|author=Bush, J.|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/four-tops-reach-out-mw0000202389|publisher=[[Allmusic]]|accessdate=2014-03-15}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 00:10, 17 March 2014
| "Bernadette" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "Something About You" or "I've Got a Feeling" |
"Bernadette" is a 1967 hit song recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Written, composed, and produced by Motown's main production team, the Brian Holland-Lamont Dozier-Eddie Holland partnership, the song is one of the most well-known Motown tunes of the 1960s. Depicting a man's excessive desire for and jealousy over his girlfriend, the song reached #4 on the Billboard Hot 100, and was The Four Tops's final Top 10 hit of the 1960s.[1] On the soul chart, "Bernadette" went to number three.[2] It also reached #8 in the UK.[3] In 1972, the song "Keeper of the Castle" would return them to the Top 10 charts. "Bernadette" is known for its false ending, when the chorus holds a long cadence note and then Four Tops lead singer Levi Stubbs shouts out the title and goes on with his insecure passions as the song ends in a fade out. Critic [[Maury Dean described the effectiveness of Stubb's shout of "BERNADETTE!!!" as being the key ingredient in getting listeners to buy the record, even if Bernadette herself may not have heard him.[4]
Allmusic critic John Bush calls it "dramatic" and "impassioned."[5]
Interpretations by other artists
The song was remade in French and released by Claude François under the same title.[6]
Personnel
- Lead vocals by Levi Stubbs
- Background vocals by Abdul "Duke" Fakir, Renaldo "Obie" Benson, Lawrence Payton, and The Andantes: Jackie Hicks, Marlene Barrow, and Louvain Demps
- Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers
- Written and composed by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Edward Holland, Jr.
- Produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier
Notes and references
- ^ "Four Tops Awards". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 212.
- ^ "Four Tops charts". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 2014-03-16.
- ^ Dean, M. (2003). Rock 'n' Roll Gold Rush. Algora. p. 164. ISBN 0875862071.
- ^ Bush, J. "Reach Out". Allmusic. Retrieved 2014-03-15.
- ^ "Claude François - Bernadette" on YouTube