Music History Today: December 13, 2021

December 13, 2008: Beyonce takes the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 single's chart with "Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)."

This catchy fun song is not about materialism and getting gifts from your man; the ring is symbolic of treating a woman with love and respect and commitment, and not being selfish and taking her for granted. 

Beyonce

(sign up to follow by email)

“Don’t treat me to these things of the world. I’m not that kind of girl." means both she’s not materialistic nor into being played by men. Actually this song urges women to dump their boyfriends if they don’t propose. 

Read more: Story of Song

December 13, 1969: Mel and Tim make it to the Top 10 US single's chart with "Backfield in Motion."

Mel and Tim, an American soul music duo active from 1969 to 1974, are best known for the hit songs "Backfield in Motion", "Starting All Over Again" and "Good Guys Only Win in the Movies". "Backfield" reached number 3 on Billboard magazine's R&B chart and number 10 on its pop chart in 1969. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc. 

Read more: Wikipedia

December 13, 1975: "Golden Years" by David Bowie entered the US Top 100 single's chart.

"Golden Years" set the tone of Bowie’s tenth studio effort, Station To Station. It was the first track Bowie took on in the studio and was the first to be finished. 

David Bowie

While the majority of tracks on Station To Station took weeks to revise and hone, ‘Golden Years’ seemed to arrive fully formed and was released as a single just a week after it had been mixed and mastered, after which it gradually climbed the charts. 

Read more: Far Out Magazine

December 13, 1986: Bruce Hornsby & The Range took the top spot on the US charts with "The Way It Is."

With “The Way It Is,” Hornsby seemed set for a career as a meditative singer-songwriter; his collaborations with Don Henley (“The End of the Innocence”) and Bonnie Raitt (“I Can’t Make You Love Me”) bolstered his adult-pop cred. Instead, he has followed his own unpredictable muse for three decades. 

Read more: Rolling Stone

December 13, 1997: LeAnn Rimes peaked at Number 2 in the US with "How Do I Live."

Written by prolific hitmaker Diane Warren, this country crossover ballad was originally recorded for the soundtrack to the Nicolas Cage movie Con Air by two different artists: LeAnn Rimes and Trisha Yearwood. 

 

LeAnn Rimes

Warren offered it to Rimes. Rimes brought the tune back to Texas, recorded it with an orchestra, and shot a video. Con Air producer wanted some changes that Wilbur Rimes (LeAnn's father and producer) was unwilling to make, so Bruckheimer suggested that Yearwood record the version for the movie. 

Read more: Songfacts

Single Ladies
(Put a Ring On It)
Beyonce