Teenage tragedy song

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A teenage tragedy song is a style of ballad in popular music that peaked in popularity in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Examples of the style are also known as "tear jerkers", "death discs" or "splatter platters", [1] among other colorful sobriquets coined by DJs that then passed into vernacular as the songs became popular. Often lamenting teenage death scenarios in melodramatic fashion, these songs were often sung from the viewpoint of the dead person's sweetheart, as in "Last Kiss" [2] (1961), or another witness to the tragedy, or the dead (or dying) person. [1] Notable examples include "Teen Angel" by Mark Dinning (1959), "Tell Laura I Love Her" by Ray Peterson (1960), "Ebony Eyes" by the Everly Brothers (1961), "Dead Man's Curve" by Jan and Dean (1964), and "Leader of the Pack" by the Shangri-Las (1964). [3] The genre's popularity faded around 1965 (as a mostly American phenomenon, it was one of many musical styles drowned out by the British Invasion), [4] but the hits from its heyday inspired a host of similar songs and parodies over the years.

Contents

Origins and format

By the mid-1950s, postwar youth culture in the U.S. was embracing rock and roll, and the folk revival was also approaching its zenith the narrative style of many teenage tragedy songs had similarities to folk balladry. [5] Prison ballads (such as the Kingston Trio's "Tom Dooley", based on a folk song about a real murder) and gunfighter ballads (such as Johnny Cash's "Don't Take Your Guns to Town" and Marty Robbins' "El Paso", with similar themes of death, were also popular during the form's heyday. ("El Paso" was followed at #1 by two consecutive teenage tragedy songs, "Running Bear" and "Teen Angel".)

The teen tragedy genre's popular era began with "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots", written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Released just before 24-year-old actor James Dean's death in an automobile accident in the fall of 1955, it climbed the charts immediately afterward. [6] Teenage tragedies had specific thematic [7] tropes such as star-crossed lovers, [7] reckless youth, eternal devotion, suicide, and despair over lost love; along with lyrical elements that teens of the time could relate to their own lives [5] – such as dating, motorcycles and automobiles (car songs also being popular during the 1950s), and disapproving parents or peers. [3] [8] Contemporary girl groups of the '60s also borrowed the genre's melodramatic template (as well as the use of sound effects, orchestration, echo and other sonic touches) for non-fatal but otherwise tragic story-songs, such as Reparata and the Delrons' over-the-top "Saturday Night Didn't Happen" and its B-side, "Panic", in 1968. In the Pussycats' 1966 "Dressed in Black", (co-written by George 'Shadow' Morton, and originally a Shangri-Las B-side) and in "We Don't Belong" by UK singer Sylvan (1965), the heartbreak and melancholy are palpable – and in Sylvan's case, nearly suicidal. [4]

Ethnomusicologist Kirsten Zemke considers these songs as forming a strictly musical genre that was bound by common thematic tropes, musical style and production elements; and as being particularly of their time. As for their popularity, she writes:

They sold well in their time, and the style has persisted throughout the decades in various forms. And … they have an interesting history. The question some writers have asked is "why?". Some of the reasons suggested for this genre’s macabre popularity are:

These were the ultimate teen rebellion songs. The only way out of parents' (and/or societal) control and expectations was death.
They were a natural extension of the "unrequited love" song, facilitated by the obvious rhyming of: good bye, cry and die.
There were a number of publicized deaths of pop stars and young actors during that period, including Sam Cooke, Johnny Ace, Eddie Cochran; and of course the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper in 1959. This might explain the interest in songs around death, tragedy and sorrow. [9]

Examples

TitleOriginal artistYearSongwriter(s)SynopsisNotes
"Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots" The Cheers 1955 Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller Protagonist collides with speeding train, presumed dead but never found.U.S. #6.
"Endless Sleep" Jody Reynolds 1958 Jody Reynolds, Dolores NanceMan believes his girlfriend has drowned, goes to the sea to do the same but finds and saves her.Precursor of the genre. [10] The song's original ending was to have the man's girlfriend die, but it was changed at the request of the record company to give the song a happy ending. U.S. #5.
"The Grave"Tony Casanova1958Tony CasanovaBoyfriend laments the death of his girlfriend, cause of death unspecified.
"Running Bear" Johnny Preston 1959 J. P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) The couple drowns.The chart success followed Richardson's own death in a plane crash along with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. U.S. #1.
"The Ballad of Angel"Bobby Swanson1959Bobby SwansonNarrator’s girlfriend has died, cause unspecified.
"Teen Angel" Mark Dinning 1959 Jean Dinning, Red SurreyCouple’s car stalls on railroad track; boyfriend pulled girl out in time but she ran back to get his ring and got killed.U.S. #1.
"Tell Laura I Love Her" Ray Peterson [11] 1960 Jeff Barry, Ben Raleigh Protagonist dies in an automobile racing accident while trying to win the $1,000 prize money to buy an engagement ring.Cover by Ricky Valance was #1 in the UK. U.S. #7.
"The Water Was Red" Johnny Cymbal 1960Stanley WagnerNarrator meets girl on the beach, then she dies in a shark attack. Devastated, the narrator picks up a knife and sets off to kill the shark in retribution.
"Ebony Eyes" The Everly Brothers 1961 John D. Loudermilk Protagonist's fiancée dies in a plane crash on the way to the wedding.U.S. #8, UK #1, Can. #2
"The Prom" Del Shannon 1961Del ShannonNarrator is on his way to the high school prom, sees his date fatally injured in a car accident.
"Moody River" Pat Boone 1961Gary D. BruceSinger's girlfriend commits suicide by drowning.U.S. #1.
"Johnny Remember Me" John Leyton 1961 Geoff Goddard Protagonist's girlfriend died a year ago, cause unspecified, he still misses her.Produced by Joe Meek; later covered by psychobilly band The Meteors. UK #1.
"Last Kiss" [2] Wayne Cochran & the C.C. Riders1961Wayne CochranNarrator’s girlfriend dies in a traffic accident.The J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers cover was a 1964 U.S. #2
Cover by Pearl Jam was a 1999 U.S. #2.
"Jimmy Love" Cathy Carroll 1961Jody Reynolds, Bert CarrollNarrator walks home with her fiance, lightning strikes a tree, a branch breaks off and kills him.
"Star Crossed Lovers"The Mystics1961T. Cooper & E. ZolasYoung couple elope, die in car crash.B-side of "Goodbye Mr Blues".
"The Ballad of Billy Brown" Mort (Doc) Downey, Jr. 1961Mort Downey Jr.Boyfriend has unexpectedly died, cause unspecified.
"A Thousand Feet Below"Terry Tyler1961C. Miller-Munn & J.W. FosterGirlfriend commits suicide, boyfriend blames himself but doesn’t specify why, decides to do it too.
"Leah" Roy Orbison 1962Roy OrbisonProtagonist thinks he's drowning while diving for pearls to give as love tokens, wakes and realises it's a dream about his dead girlfriend.U.S. #25, Can. #7
"Call Me Lonesome" Arthur Alexander 1962Arthur AlexanderAt a party another man dances with protagonist's girlfriend; when challenged, he stabs protagonist to death.Unreleased until 1987; early version of "Lonely Just Like Me"
"Patches" Dickey Lee 1962 Barry Mann, Larry KolberPatches commits suicide by drowning; her boyfriend follows suit.U.S. #6.
"Echo" The Emotions 1962The Emotions, Henry BoyeNarrator reminisces about the time he crashed a car and his girlfriend died.
"Chapel Bells Ringing" Gene Summers 1962M. TorverProtagonist's fiancée has died, cause unspecified.
"Oh, Susie Forgive Me"Kenny Karen1962 Barry Mann & Cynthia Weil Reckless boyfriend crashes car leaving girlfriend paraplegic; he robs a store to fund her surgery, gets shot by cops and lies dying at her feet as he realises she can walk after all.
"The Pickup"Mark Dinning1962 Helen Carter Narrator on a first date feels overwhelmed by his strength of feeling for the girl, is embarrassed so says he doesn’t want to see her again; she swiftly kills herself and he is sad.B-side of "All of This for Sally".
"Tragic Honeymoon"Cody Brennan & the Temptations1962Tony LindauerNarrator recalls his friends; newlyweds get distracted while driving, crash and die.
"Teenage Honeymoon"Kenny Ancel1962Buddy MizeNewlyweds killed in a car crash.
"A Tear for Jesse"Jody Reynolds1963George R Brown, Dennis HardestyCouple try to elope but her parents catch them; she commits suicide.
"The Girl From King Marie"Jody Reynolds1963Jody ReynoldsSinger's girlfriend dies after being struck by lightning.
"A Young Man Is Gone" The Beach Boys 1963 Bobby Troup, Mike Love Man dies in car crash.Though it doesn't mention him by name, it appears to refer to James Dean.
"B.J. the D.J." Stonewall Jackson 1963 Hugh X. Lewis Country music radio DJ gets little sleep and drives a poorly maintained car, with fatal results.U.S. Country #1
"Dead Man's Curve" Jan and Dean 1964 Jan Berry, Roger Christian, Brian Wilson, Artie Kornfeld The protagonist is severely injured; his racing opponent is killed.U.S. #8.
"Terry" Twinkle 1964Lynn Ripley (Twinkle)Couple have an argument, boy leaves on his motorcycle and fatally injures himself; unclear if it was deliberate.UK #4 [4]
"Leader of the Pack" The Shangri-Las 1964 George "Shadow" Morton, Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwich Jimmy, the titular motorcycle gang leader, is killed in a motorcycle crash.U.S. #1, Can. #3.
"The Hero"Bernadette Carroll1964B. Nosal, P. MaheuProtagonist's fiance is a high school football player, his team bus crashes and kills everyone aboard.A regional airplay hit in North Carolina (#1), Florida, West Virginia and elsewhere [12]
"Down Where the Woodbine Twineth"Jody Reynolds1964Jody ReynoldsSinger breaks up with girlfriend; later changes his mind and returns only to find that she has hanged herself.
"Laurie (Strange Things Happen)" [13] Dickey Lee1965Milton Addington, Cathie HarmonNarrator recounts a tale similar to the story of Resurrection Mary.U.S. #14, Can. #6.
"Give Us Your Blessings"The Shangri-Las1965Jeff Barry, Ellie GreenwichA girl’s parents don’t approve of her boyfriend, the couple elope and both die in a car crash with an unspecified cause, vision impeded by tears is suggested.U.S. #29, Can. #11
"I Can Never Go Home Anymore" The Shangri-Las 1965George "Shadow" MortonFollowing an argument with her mother, the narrator runs away only to regret it when her mother dies of a broken heart.U.S. #6, Can. #2.
"A Young Girl of Sixteen" Noel Harrison 1965 Charles Aznavour, Oscar Brown Jr., Robert ChauvignyRich girl elopes with a man who eventually leaves her; she dies in an unspecified manner.From a French song recorded by Aznavour in 1959 [14] and by Edith Piaf in 1951. U.S. #51, Can. #5.
"Nightmare" [15] Lori Burton/
The Whyte Boots
1966 Pam Sawyer, Lori BurtonGirl’s boyfriend goes off with another girl; goaded on by her friends, she attacks the other girl and accidentally kills her."The Whyte Boots" were a fabricated girl group; Burton sang lead and the track is on her 1967 LP Breakout [4]
"Ode to Billie Joe" Bobbie Gentry 1967Bobbie GentryLocal boy commits suicide, narrator’s family are somewhat indifferent.U.S. #1, Can. #1
"Condition Red" The Goodees 1968 Don Davis, Freddie BriggsGirl’s parents disapprove of her boyfriend; he leaves on his motorcycle and immediately fatally crashes into a car.U.S. #46, Can. #14 [4]
"Sweet Rosie Jones" Buck Owens 1968Buck OwensProtagonist’s girlfriend falls for another man; she says she’d ‘rather die than hurt you’, but it’s unclear if she actually does die; either way, he plans to drown himself in response.Title track from Owens’ album of the same name. #2 US Country, #4 CAN Country.
"D.O.A." Bloodrock 1971Jim Rutledge, Lee Pickens, Ed Grundy, Chris Taylor, Stevie Hill, Rick CobbProtagonist was in a plane crash, has lost both his arms and is now receiving medical attention but is about to die from his injuries.U.S. #36
"Seasons in the Sun" Terry Jacks 1974 Jacques Brel, Rod McKuen Man reflects on his life in light of his impending death.English-language adaptation of Brel's "Le Moribond". [16] CAN #1, US #1, UK #1
"Emma" Hot Chocolate 1974 Errol Brown, Tony WilsonTeen sweethearts get married, some time later the wife kills herself due to failure to be a film star.U.S. #8, U.K. #3
"Run Joey Run" David Geddes 1975 Paul Vance & Jack PerriconeProtagonist gets his girlfriend pregnant; her father goes after him with a gun; girlfriend pleads with father for mercy; father accidentally shoots daughter; angels sing.US Billboard #4, Cash Box #1; Canada #12
"Hello, This Is Joanie" Paul Evans 1978Paul Evans, Fred TobiasProtagonist had a drunken argument with titular girlfriend and she left in anger and died in a car crash; he consoles himself by listening to the outgoing message on her answering machine.UK #6
"Bat Out of Hell" Meat Loaf 1978 Jim Steinman Protagonist is a motorcyclist, riding "faster than any other boy has ever gone." He is so involved that he "never [sees] the sudden curve till it's way too late." Drums and a roaring guitar indicate the crash. The biker lies fatally injured, "torn and twisted at the foot of a burning bike." He can see his "heart still beating." Throughout the song, the repeated line "I'll be gone when the morning comes" is a double entendre of leaving his lover and of his impending death. [17] [18] The song was inspired by as "Leader of the Pack", "Terry" and "Tell Laura I Love Her"; Steinman wanted to write the "most extreme crash song of all time". [18] UK #8

Deathless themes

Teenagers meeting with tragedy in song was not new in the 1950s (or for that matter in the 1650s, around the time "Barbara Allen" was popular). In literature, it has been a recurring and resonant theme over centuries, most notably in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet . Another early example in song is "Oh My Darling, Clementine", published in 1884 but based on earlier songs and apparently written as a parody. [19]

As popular music and the society it mirrored changed from the late 1960s onward, the themes carried on in different forms and styles. Songs and spoken-word productions about the dangers of drug abuse joined the parade of pathos on radio airwaves, ranging from three-minute morality plays to lamentations (from the parental perspective) on the generation gap. These include "Once You Understand" by Think (U.S. #23, 1971) and radio and TV host Art Linkletter's Grammy-winning single "We Love You, Call Collect" (U.S. #42, 1969). Recorded before his daughter Diane's apparent suicide in 1969, the record also included Diane speaking the reply, "Dear Mom and Dad". [20] Into the 1970s, as the Vietnam War continued, hit ballads of youth and death included Terry Jacks' No. 1 hit "Seasons in the Sun" (1974), their protagonists of indeterminate age, or slightly older than teens. A song that was thought to have referenced the Civil War was Paper Lace's 1974 hit "Billy Don't Be a Hero", made a bigger hit in the U.S. by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods. Hard-rock acts recorded vehicular death scenarios such as "D.O.A." (Bloodrock, 1971), "Detroit Rock City" (Kiss, 1976) and "Bat Out of Hell" (Meat Loaf, 1977).

Teenage tragedy would continue to chart through the 1970s. In 1979, "I Don't Like Mondays" was written by Bob Geldof and Johnnie Fingers, [21] inspired by the Grover Cleveland school shooting in San Diego that occurred while the Boomtown Rats were on tour in the U.S. [22] The song went to No. 1 in the U.K., and No. 4 in Canada. [23] The Smiths' 1987 song "Girlfriend in a Coma" also took inspiration from teenage tragedy songs, by taking the melodramatic aspect and pushing it to extremes. Some songs merely updated the sound of the previous era, such as "Racing Car" by Dutch group Air Bubble (1976), while others used the melodic and stylistic tropes of teen tragedy in tougher, grittier settings, as in the Ramones' "You're Gonna Kill That Girl" (1977) and "7-11" (1981), and the Misfits' "Saturday Night" (1999). "Teen Idle" by Marina and the Diamonds (2012), evoking an archetype of disenfranchised youth, is a thematic heir to the original teen tragedy oeuvre. [24]

Satires and parodies

Notable parody songs, satires and send-ups of teen tragedy over the decades have included:

See also

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