Seasons in the Sun
From Free net encyclopedia
Seasons in the Sun was a worldwide hit song for Terry Jacks in 1974. It was first released in the United States and Canada early in the year, and rose to #1 in America by March 2.
The song was based on a song called "Le Moribond" ("The Dying Man") by Jacques Brel. Brel's song was translated into English by poet Rod McKuen, and McKuen's English version was recorded by Bob Shane of the Kingston Trio, which did not sell. Jacks rewrote part of the lyrics to "lighten them up," and it was his version that became an international hit. According to a posting on McKuen's website [1] the royalties from "Seasons in the Sun" "helped pay for a new roof on my house."
The song has been covered by Westlife, Too Much Joy, Black Box Recorder, Nirvana, Alcazar (band) and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Terry Jacks's version has been cited as one of the worst songs ever. It has also been cited as an example of something called the gear-shift, the overuse of key changes in an attempt to prolong listener interest.
External links
- Seasons in the Sun at Super Seventies.
- "Goodbye, Papa, It's Hard to Die: The enduring appeal of an abominable pop song" (Slate.com, March 16, 2005)
- "Gear Changing" or unnecessary key shifts in Seasons in the Sun
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