Ariel (song)

Last updated
"Ariel"
Ariel by Dean Friedman US single side-A.png
Side A of the US single
Single by Dean Friedman
from the album Dean Friedman
B-side "Funny Papers"
ReleasedApril 1977
Genre Soft rock
Length3:22(single version)
4:22 (album version)
Label Lifesong
Songwriter(s) Dean Friedman
Producer(s) Rob Stevens
Dean Friedman singles chronology
"Ariel"
(1977)		"Woman of Mine"
(1977)

"Ariel" is a hit single written and performed by Dean Friedman, released in April 1977. It was the first of two hits from Friedman's eponymous debut LP. "Ariel," however, was his only hit in North America. It reached number 26 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart, number 17 on the Cashbox Top 100, [1] and number 19 in Canada. The song spent 22 weeks on the Billboard chart and 24 weeks on Cashbox.

Contents

Background

"Ariel" has been described as a "quirkily irresistible and uncategorizable pop song about a free-spirited, music-loving, vegetarian Jewish girl" [2] from Paramus, New Jersey, where Friedman grew up. The lyrics describe the young girl from "deep in the bosom of suburbia," who sang "mighty fine," with "'Tears on My Pillow' and 'Ave Maria'." It describes the girl Ariel, "standing by the [since dismantled] waterfall at Paramus Park," one of the many shopping malls in Paramus. The quarters she was collecting for "friends of BAI" refers to the New York radio station WBAI, and their listener association, [3] while the song also makes reference to "channel 2", which refers to local CBS flagship station WCBS-TV.

Chicago radio superstation WLS, which gave the song much airplay, ranked "Ariel" as the 60th most popular hit of 1977. [4] It reached as high as number four on their survey of August 20, 1977. [5]

Controversy

The record label (Lifesong) that produced "Ariel" insisted Friedman change the song's second verse, which refers to the eponymous Ariel as "a Jewish girl", believing that radio stations might use it as an excuse not to play the record. [6] The management company received threats from the Jewish Defense League protesting against the edit in the single, which also varied from the album version by having the third verse removed to make the single shorter for radio. [7]

Chart performance

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Child (song)</span> 1968 single by Diana Ross & the Supremes

"Love Child" is a 1968 song released by the Motown label for Diana Ross & the Supremes. The second single and title track from their album Love Child, it became the Supremes' 11th number-one single in the United States, where it sold 500,000 in its first week and 2 million copies by year's end.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dean Friedman</span> American singer-songwriter (born 1955)

Dean Friedman is an American singer-songwriter who plays piano, keyboard, guitar, and harmonica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shop Around</span> American popular song written by Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy

"Shop Around" is a song originally recorded by the Miracles on Motown Records' Tamla subsidiary label. It was written by Miracles lead singer Smokey Robinson and Motown Records founder Berry Gordy. It became a smash hit in 1960 when originally recorded by the Miracles, reaching number one on the Billboard R&B chart, number one on the Cashbox Top 100 Pop Chart, and number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was the Miracles' first million-selling hit record, and the first-million-selling hit for the Motown Record Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Too Much, Too Little, Too Late</span> 1978 single by Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams

"Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" is a song performed by singers Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams. Lyrics and music were arranged by Nat Kipner and John Vallins. The single was a comeback of sorts for Mathis as his last U.S. top 10 hit was 1964's "What Will Mary Say" and his last U.S. #1 hit was 1957's "Chances Are."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">More Love (Smokey Robinson and the Miracles song)</span>

"More Love" is a 1967 hit single recorded by the American soul group The Miracles for Motown Records' Tamla label. The single, included on the group's 1967 album Make It Happen, later reissued in 1970 as The Tears of a Clown. Kim Carnes's 1980 cover of the song reached the Top 10 of Billboard's Adult Contemporary and Hot 100 charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Rapper</span> 1970 hit single for The Jaggerz

"The Rapper" is a song by The Jaggerz, written by band member Donnie Iris. Released as a single, it reached No. 2 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart, behind Simon & Garfunkel's smash "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and it was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1970 for selling over a million copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keep On Singing</span> Early 1970s hit song

"Keep on Singing" is a 1973 song composed by Danny Janssen and Bobby Hart, and was originally recorded by Austin Roberts from the album Austin Roberts. It was released as a single on Chelsea Records and reached No. 50 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 39 on the Cash Box Top 100. In Canada it reached # 79. "Keep on Singing" was best known as a hit single by Helen Reddy in 1974.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lonely Night (Angel Face)</span> 1976 single by Captain & Tennille

"Lonely Night (Angel Face)" is a song written by Neil Sedaka. The song was first recorded by Sedaka and appeared as a track on his 1975 studio album, The Hungry Years. The following year the song was made popular when covered by the pop music duo Captain & Tennille, who took their version to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Use ta Be My Girl</span> 1978 single by The OJays

"Use ta Be My Girl" is a song by R&B vocal group The O'Jays. Released from their hit 1978 album, So Full of Love, it became a crossover hit. The song spent five weeks at number one on the R&B singles chart. It also peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart. "Use ta Be My Girl" became one of the biggest and most familiar hits by The O'Jays. The song has also been certified by the RIAA as a million-seller.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hitchin' a Ride (Vanity Fare song)</span>

"Hitchin' a Ride" is a song written by Mitch Murray and Peter Callander issued as a single by the English pop/rock band Vanity Fare in late 1969. It reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart in February 1970 but was a bigger hit in the United States, reaching number 5 on the Hot 100 on June 27, 1970. Billboard ranked the record as the number 14 song of 1970. In Chicago, the record achieved even greater heights, topping the WCFL Big 10 Countdown on 18–25 May 1970, ranking #4 for all of 1970 and ranking #12 on rival WLS Radio 89 Hit Parade on 6 July 1970, ranking #10 for all of 1970. "Hitchin' a Ride" sold a million copies in the United States alone, and it became a gold record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm in You (song)</span> 1977 single by Peter Frampton

"I'm in You" is the hit song released by Peter Frampton as a single from his album I'm in You, released in 1977. It rose to No. 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the Cash Box Top 100 and in Canada, becoming his most successful single. The song was kept from reaching the top spot on Billboard by Andy Gibb's "I Just Want to Be Your Everything".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">She Did It</span>

"She Did It" is a song written and originally recorded by Eric Carmen in 1977. Carmen's single was a Top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching number 23. "She Did It" was covered in 1981 by actor and singer Michael Damian, who reached number 69 on the Hot 100 with his version.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Made Me Believe in Magic</span>

"You Made Me Believe in Magic" is the title of a 1977 international hit single by the Bay City Rollers, taken from their album It's a Game. The recording, a mid-tempo disco-styled pop tune featuring strings and horns, had its greatest impact in North America, where it was issued as the album's lead single in May 1977 to reach number 10 on the US Hot 100 in Billboard magazine that August. "You Made Me Believe in Magic" was the Bay City Rollers' third US Top 10 hit; the follow-up single "The Way I Feel Tonight" (#25) would mark the group's final Hot 100 appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Always and Forever (Heatwave song)</span>

"Always and Forever" is an R&B song written by Rod Temperton and produced by Barry Blue. It was first recorded by the British-based multinational funk-disco band Heatwave in 1976. Released as a single on December 3, 1977, the song is included on Heatwave's debut album Too Hot to Handle (1976) and has been covered by numerous artists, becoming something of a standard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady</span> 1975 single by Helen Reddy

"Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady" is a 1974 written and first recorded by American singer-songwriter Harriet Schock. It was covered by various other artists, and saw its greatest success when it was covered by Helen Reddy, whose 1975 rendition became a top 10 hit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot Line (song)</span> 1976 single by the Sylvers

"Hot Line" is a song recorded by American family group the Sylvers, from their 1976 album Something Special. It was written by Freddie Perren and Kenneth St. Lewis. It became an international Top 10 hit, and is a gold record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">An Everlasting Love</span> 1978 single by Andy Gibb

"An Everlasting Love" is a song written by Barry Gibb, performed by Andy Gibb, released in June 1978 as the second single from his second studio album Shadow Dancing. The song peaked at #5 on the Hot 100 on 23 September 1978 and #10 in the UK. "An Everlasting Love" was Gibb's only Top 10 hit in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Much Love (Leo Sayer song)</span> 1977 single by Leo Sayer

"How Much Love" is a popular song from 1977 by the British singer Leo Sayer. It was the third of three single releases from Sayer's 1976 album, Endless Flight. The song was co-written by Sayer with Barry Mann.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love in the Shadows (Neil Sedaka song)</span> 1976 single by Neil Sedaka

"Love in the Shadows" is an uptempo pop song written and recorded by Neil Sedaka. The song became an international Top 20 hit in 1976.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Soul Deep (The Box Tops song)</span> 1969 single

"Soul Deep" is a song by The Box Tops. It was the third of three singles released from their 1969 Dimensions LP. Lead vocals were provided by Alex Chilton.

References

  1. ↑ "Top 100 1977-08-06". Cashbox Magazine . Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  2. ↑ "Bio". www.deanfriedman.com. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  3. ↑ "Newsletter - August, 1995". Deanfriedman.com. Retrieved 2014-08-06.
  4. ↑ "The WLS Big 89 of 1977". Wlshistory.com. Retrieved 2015-05-02.
  5. ↑ "wls082077". Oldiesloon.com. August 20, 1977.
  6. ↑ "Dean Friedman - "Ariel" : They're Playing My Song". www.songfacts.com. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  7. ↑ "Dean Friedman - FAQS Q. Are there two different versions of Ariel?". www.deanfriedman.com. Retrieved 2019-06-07.
  8. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 114. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  9. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2015-05-02.
  10. ↑ Steffen Hung. "Dean Friedman - Ariel". charts.nz. Retrieved 2015-05-02.
  11. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN   0-89820-089-X
  12. ↑ "Top 100 1977-08-06". Cashbox Magazine . Retrieved 2015-06-12.
  13. ↑ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Retrieved 2015-05-02.
  14. ↑ "Top 100 Hits of 1977/Top 100 Songs of 1977". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2015-05-02.
  15. ↑ "Cash Box YE Pop Singles - 1977". cashboxmagazine.com. 1977-12-31. Archived from the original on 2010-12-13. Retrieved 2015-05-02.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.