Cher's version,recorded with instrumental backing by L.A. sessions musicians from the Wrecking Crew,[2] was recorded on May 21,1973 at Larrabee Sound in Los Angeles. Lyrically,the song describes the life of a girl who faces societal rejection due to having a White father and Cherokee mother. It contains themes of racism and double standards. The song reached Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100,becoming Cher's second solo Number 1 hit in the US.[3] The single was certified Gold in the US in 1974 for the sales of over 1 million copies.[4]
Song information and story
The 1973 version was the first international release from Cher's album Half-Breed,recorded and intended for the American market. Written and performed by non-Natives,it is a classic "Tragic mulatto" narrative,from a non-Native perspective,of a young woman with a White father and an alleged Cherokee mother. The song offers a scenario in which the singer relates that oppressive Whites call her "Indian squaw",and claims that Native Americans do not accept her as one of their own because,"The Indians said I was White by law."[5] The lyrics are in error,as the Cherokee (like most Indigenous peoples of the Eastern Woodlands) are a matrilineal culture,meaning that a child born to a Cherokee mother is accepted as Cherokee,no matter the nationality or ethnicity of the father,and thus the parental ethnicities would have to be reversed—a White mother and native father—for such a situation to arise.[6]
The song is written in the key of A minor,with a moderato tempo of 116 beats per minute in common time. Cher's vocals span the notes of F3-A4.[7]
Reception
In 1973,"Half-Breed" topped the United States Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks,becoming Cher's second solo and third overall Number 1 hit,and second Gold certified solo single for the sales of over 1,000,000 copies. It was a Number 1 hit in Canada and New Zealand,and a Top 10 hit in Australia and Quebec,respectively.
Peter Fawthrop wrote that this song has a jingling rhythm and that it is one of the lighter-hearted songs on the album.[8]Rolling Stone recommended it and described Cher's vocals as frantic and the production as supremely commercial.[9]
German singer Joy Fleming recorded a German-language version titled "Halbblut" ("Half-blood") as a single in 1973. It peaked in the West German charts at Number 38 in February 1974.[27]
↑ Cher [@cher] (Dec 22, 2017). "Cher tweets about Half-Breed" (Tweet). Retrieved June 28, 2023– via Twitter. I Did Song 50 yrs ago,& it wasn't meant 2🐝offensive. However,That's kinda Bull Shit excuse.Need to retire beautiful Costume,& stop singing it,it's WAY past time.
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